Product Review: Biomega's Volume Shampoo

Oh, the joys of washing your hair. It should be a pleasurable experience, right? When I use Biomega's Volume shampoo, I don't entirely feel that way. Despite the fact that this product was voted 2011's best volumizing shampoo by SELF Magazine, in my honest opinion, I think that this shampoo has some major flaws. Three that I can name off of the top of my head...

For one, this shampoo doesn't lather well and doesn't feel like it thoroughly cleanses your hair. I may be going out on a limb here, but isn't the primary purpose of any shampoo to cleanse? If you have a cocktail of products in your hair or have built-up natural oils, you will most likely need to wash your hair 2 or 3 times with this shampoo. My peers and I have noticed that it can be a struggle to work the shampoo into a rich lather and that really effects the spreadability of the product. Most of the times, it requires a pre-wash, and then you'll be lucky if you get it to lather the second time around, and still, don't expect a very dense foam.

Biomega recommends that you use Moisture Mist conditioner along with Volume shampoo, which brings me to my next point. I don't like the idea that Biomega doesn't offer a traditional-type conditioner. I am not 100% gaga over spray-on or leave-in conditioners and using Biomega's recommendations, you would have no other option than to use it. We don't feel like Moisture Mist conditioner makes a noticeable difference that you wouldn't already get from a product for blowdrying. It leaves the hair with a dull and lackluster appearance. Hair still feels pretty dry and sometimes after shampooing twice, we have noticed the tendency to get an itchy scalp.

Biomega claims that this shampoo 'revitalizes fine, limp or thinning hair' and all of this is done through an infusion of omega-nutrients, gugo bark extract and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. There truly are a lot of benefits to these ingredients:

• Omega 3's have been used as a natural alternative to DHT inhibitors (blocks a 'balding hormone') and awakens the hair follicles. 
• Gugo bark extract is often used in hair products to stimulate hair growth, reduce hair loss and minimize breakage. 
• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein has been used to re-hydrate hair, reduce split ends, and coat hair strands for a more even porosity.

Biomega says that Volume shampoo is formulated to thicken hair from within, create fullness for longer lasting styles and provides the perfect blend of conditioning & body. With that said, we know that this product does have a lot of benefits, but we don't feel that this product is as well-rounded as Biomega claims. So, there it is. All the negatives. Now on to the attributes that we did like.

We really enjoyed the smell of this shampoo. It can best be described as clean and fresh with a ever-so-slight floral fragrance. Biomega's Volume shampoo washes out really easily. The shampoo also contains UV protectants that help keep colors vivid and really make them pop. Probably the best part about this shampoo is that it does not contain parabens, gluten or sulfates. That should be a big positive for those of you who examine the ingredient list of shampoos.

Sad to say, although we really wanted to fall in love with this product, it just did not score well amongst any of us. It provided a poor job compared to most other shampoos, but in all fairness, the positive qualities of this shampoo do make it a very attractive choice, and because of the ingredients (or lack thereof), we wouldn't completely disregard Biomega's Volume shampoo as a potential recommendation.

+Pros
+Ultra-gentle formulation with no sulfates, no parabens, no gluten and no sodium-chloride
+Smells really good
+Ingredients (omega-nutrients, gugo bark extract, HVP; all great for the hair!)
+Contains UV protectants
+Voted best volumizing shampoo in SELF Magazine's 2011 Self Healthy Beauty Awards

-Cons
-Doesn't lather well
-Biomega does not offer traditional-type conditioner for Volume shampoo
-Doesn't feel like it cleanses as well as other shampoos
-Can leave hair with dull and lackluster appearance
-Tendency to make scalp itchy if you shampoo twice
-Can leave hair feeling dry
-Even with good ingredients and gentle formulation, the shampoo doesn't feel well-rounded

This product was rated on:
Fragrance:  4
Moisturizing:  3
Richness of lather:  2
Cleansing ability:  3
Product benefits:  5
Averaged rating:  3.4


Available in various sizes. Find your local retailer HERE

Styling Fine Hair - Building Body & Volume

Here's a quick tutorial on building body and volume with fine hair. The steps are listed below. These steps will help you create a very voluminous style, but can be used as the foundation for your flat-ironing routine for a straight style with body. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Step 1: Apply a blowdrying product to create texture. I use a light gel or mousse (or a combination of the two). Light weight sprays don't give hair the texture that is needed.

Step 2: Apply a root-lifting product. These are sold as spray, powders and foams. Make sure that the product gives your roots enough lift.

Step 3: Give your hair a rough blowdry in the opposite direction of your hair growth. At this stage, you're really getting rid of excess moisture and building the foundation of your style.

Step 4: Roundbrush your hair in sections, working up to the crown. Once you get to the crown of your head, overdirect the sections toward your face. Overdirect the sides upward to build more body. Finish roundbrushing the rest of your hair as usual.

(I would like to apologize for the shoddy first attempt at a video, but we are still trying to adjust the video settings. Thank you for viewing!)

Styling thin hair

"How do I make my hair look fuller?"

This is the most common styling question that I'm asked. For people with fine or thinning hair, this can seem like an endless struggle. The reason that it is essential to create body and fullness when styling thin hair is because the flatter the style, the easier it is to see the scalp. Creating body and fullness is, without a doubt, one of the most important things to do in order create the appearance of thicker hair.

There are a few things that tend to happen when thin hair is styled. I have noticed that people find it difficult to make their hair full without looking frizzy, especially when using a blowdryer. Thin hair also has a tendency to fall flat rather quickly. If you've experienced these problems before, using the correct types of hair products should be able to provide an easy solution.

It is also important to note that thin hair that has grown too long will appear straggly and more thin. This is a particularly big problem with people who become attached to the length of their hair. If you have thin hair, here is a short guideline that you can follow to create the fullness that you've always wanted.

If you have thin hair, your objective should be:
Increase body and fullness
Create the appearance of more hair

This is how to achieve optimal results:
Use root lifters
Use mousses/gels ONLY as a foundation for a blowdry
Use a blowdryer to establish lift at the roots
Using spray waxes may prove helpful for creating the traction your hair needs
Get the correct type of haircut for your hair density and texture

These are some things to avoid:
Growing hair too long/ Hair should never be left too long
Using mousses and gels as a primary styling agent (crunchy hair)
Oily substances

If you're wondering how to use styling tools and products, I'll be posting a video of thin hair styling within the next couple of weeks. Until then, I hope that this has helped eliminate a bit of confusion related to thin hair. Feel free to comment or E-mail me with any questions or concerns!