Product Review: Max Green Alchemy Styling Gel
OK, first thing’s first: I’ve definitely said many times on this site and elsewhere that I don’t use leave-ins. It’s not that I was lying, exactly, it’s just that I don’t rely on leave-ins to get my hair looking and feeling the way I want. I’m not attached to them. I can take them or leave them, pretty much. That was my refrain, until I realized that I actually do use leave-ins. Like, every day.
It all started when the seasons changed and I started using a hairdryer more often. Always one to cut corners when it comes to hair drying, I thought using a product might shorten the time it takes to get my hair looking just so. Which is why, one day a couple of months ago, I was rifling through the cabinet where I store my extra products, and found a bottle of gel.
Gel, eh? I thought. Who uses gel? The answer, it turns out, is moi.
As you can see from above, the product is Max Green Alchemy Styling Gel. I. Love. This. Product. I’ve actually mentioned it in the past; the bottle has been lying around for a while, and I’ve used it on occasion to airdry my waves during summer months, or smooth my ends. It works great for that, but I like it even better on straight styling, with a dryer.
A word about the gel thing. I’m not picking bones here, but I wouldn’t really call it that. Yes, it has a gel-like consistency but it doesn’t dry crunchy, or wet-looking, and it doesn’t provide much hold, at least on my head of heavy hair. What it does is smooth the shaft so that drying is at least a third quicker than it normally is, making sleek straight styles really pretty effortless. My hair looks shiny, has nice volume at the roots, and movement, but isn’t weighed down at all. No residue. No stickiness. And the stuff washes out with one shampoo, so no build-up, either.
Finally, it also doesn’t smell much like anything, which is good because I’m still obsessed with the smell of my shampoo and conditioner, and might have an issue with a product that competes with that.
Ingredients: Herbal Infusion [Purified Water (Aqua), (Glycyrrhiza Glabra* (licorice) Root, Tussilago Farfara+ (coltsfoot) Leaf, Achillea Millefolium* (yarrow), Salix Alba+ (willow), Tabebuia Impetiginosa+ (pau díarco), Arctium Lappa* (burdock) Root, Berberis Aquifolium (mahonia), Calendula Officinalis* (calendula), Equisetum Arvense* (horsetail), Urtica Dioica* (nettle)], dehydroxanthan gum (plant derived styling agent), Hydrolysed Soy Protein, Aloe Barbadensis* (aloe vera) Leaf, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Anisate, Panthenol (pro vitamin B5), Leptospermum Petersonii (lemon tea tree), Melaleuca Alternifolia* (tea tree), Lavandula Angustifolia* (lavender), Pelargonium Graveolens* (geranium), Rosemarinus officinalis* (rosemary).*Organic +Wildcrafted
Have you ever tried it? Got another leave in you like? Stay tuned, by the way…. There are two other leave-ins I love just as much.
I haven’t tried it, but I like the idea of a pretty much unscented product. I love John Masters Shine On (no scent, for a little more control and neatness of my curls or for blow drying straight) and also the Bourbon Vanilla and Tangerine Texturizer (for texture, like it says, with some hold, shine and AMAZING smell). Both the JM products are great on my thick and crazy hair. I think you could use them on other texture hair, just use a small amount of product (especially with the texturizer). Otherwise I’m all about sea salt spray and argan oil. I have to use some sort of leave in, or I feel like my hair just looks messy, like I’ve made no effort, and lacks style.
I literally just bought this product! And I had already read rave reviews about it on their web site, but now I’m even more sure of that it will work great on my hair as well! Another leave in I’m loving is the Intelligent Nutrients Leave-In Conditioner – it seriously transformed my hair. (Well, perhaps not quite, but you get the picture. It’s really GREAT!)
That sounds great! I am using yarok feed your shine at the moment and like it pretty good.
Can’t wait to hear about the 2 other leave ins that you like!Will you write about them soon?:)
I’m still in search of a “go to” styling product. I bought some of this today and can’t wait to give it a try.
I ordered some of this styling gel as soon as I read the review. I was almost out of the stuff I was using and I wasn’t loving it, so the post came at the perfect time. Speaking of coming at the perfect time, the shipping from MGA is lightening fast, and this was the week before Christmas! I also really like the product. It is very light, but does the job of taming frizz, encouraging curl and resisting crunch. I have a weird cowlick at the crown of my head, but if it is behaving, I can get two days out of the curls.
Love the Rahua Finishing Treatment.
I use gel for styling my hair into an Afro puff or bun. I make my own gel–DIY Flax Seed Gel with Honey. The honey increases the hold and shine factor of the flax seed gel. [Don't worry, no creepy crawlies attack me while I have the gel in my hair. ;) ]
I love my DIY Flax Seed Gel ’cause it’s natural, effective, easy to make and affordable. It’s also preservative-free–It lasts 2 weeks in the fridge. For info on how to make flax seed gel, check out NaturallyCurly.com
As for leave-in conditioners, my fav is Alba Botanica Leave-In Conditioner. It’s super moisturizing yet non-greasy. It makes my hair super soft and my hair style turn out well with it.