by Dana Whitcomb

Created on: September 08, 2008

I work for a professional haircare distributor, so I'm exposed to "fancy", "designer" (read - expensive) brands all the time. I have tried more hair products in the past year than most women do in a lifetime.

During one of my weekly trips to Target for random home necessities (or, as my boyfriend says, a $100 bar of soap...you go there only needing a bar of soap and end up spending $100), I noticed that Target now sells Frederik Fekkai hair products. Normally these are only available at stores like Sephora or Ulta, or in salons, so I was pleasantly surprised to see them at Target.

Despite the expensive price tag (which is even more noticeable at Target since everything else is so cheap), I bought the Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner, as well as the Glossing Spray. I came home and excitedly hopped into the shower, anxious to try my new products.

The pluses: A great, clean scent - both the shampoo and conditioner smell very clean, almost grassy. The lather - even though it's an American myth that if something lathers well, that means it cleans well, it still makes us feel good when a shampoo REALLY lathers...and this one did. The conditioner feels a little bit greasy (some of Fekkai's products are actually made with Olive Oil), but doesn't go on feeling heavy and it rinses out nicely.

The minuses: The price - it may be "designer" hair care, but it's still pricey. Availability - while I was able to find Fekkai's products at Target, I've heard from people in other areas that it's not so easy to find, unless you're willing to order it online and probably pay shipping. Ingredients - for people who color their hair, these products are really not ideal. Hair color is destroyed (its integrity, longevity, and intensity) by ingredients called Sulfates. Ammonium Laureth Sulfate (an ingredient that aids in lather) is one of the biggest offenders. Fekkai's products (at least the Glossing line that I tried) contains sulfates and is therefore not great for people who have colored hair. I spend way too much on my hair color to risk damaging it.

The bottom line: If you're willing to spend a little extra on your hair and you like a fresh, clean scent, Frederik Fekkai is definitely for you - it gives great shine. If you color your hair, you may want to stay away, and find something created especially for color treated hair (look for Sulfate-free products, ideally).

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