IGK Haircare is a brand that was founded by four renowned Hair Stylists: Aaron Grenia; Franck Izquierdo; Chase Kusero; and Leo Izquierdo (for more about them click here). FYI, these guys all look like rock stars (don't all celebrity hair stylist do?) and these guys STILL work as hair stylists (there are IGK Salons), which I personally think is cool, as they are in the industry, dealing with all sorts of types of hair textures, hair types and hair trends. So you can say they are on the cutting edge of haircare technology, creating haircare products that make life easier (for me in any case) and are on trend. I like the edgy lifestyle vibe to IGK Haircare. I like the packaging. I like the name of the various IGK Haircare products. The names sound cool, get right to the point and make me just want to reach for them all the time.
All of the products (as far as I am aware) are:
Vegan
Cruelty free
Gluten free
No parabens or sulfates
UV and heat protection
Conditioning and color safe
Formulated without mineral oil
So in this article I will be reviewing my Top Five Faves from IGK Haircare. They are:
IGK First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo (RRPAUD42)
IGK Good Behaviour Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray (RRPAUD49)
IGK Trust Issues Instant Scalp Rebalancing Treatment (RRPAUD44)
IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm (RRPAUD44)
IGK Mixed Feelings Leave-in Blonde Toning Drops (RRPAUD44)
The RRP recommended retail prices I've quoted above are for the Australian Market. In Australia, you can purchase IGK Haircare at Sephora, Adore Beauty; and Oz hair and beauty.
As a side note, The caps on the spray canisters are TIGHT. Which I like when I pop them in my bag. No risk of the cap coming off and accidents happening.
[Disclaimer: All of the photos here are taken by me. You cannot use them without obtaining my written permission first. These are my personal views and I do not any way guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any message and will not be held responsible for the content of any message. These products were provided to me for my review.]
IGK First Class Dry Shampoo
Okay Okay Okay, this IGK First Class Dry Shampoo has charcoal in it which is pretty cool. Charcoal as you know has been used to detoxify lots of things, think charcoal tablets for food poisoning and charcoal water filters. So it makes sense to me that they would use it in this product. It sprays clear and doesn't have a powdery texture. There is a fragrance to it that dissipates so fast I can only describe it as maybe a bit like cucumber. You spray it on, leave it for 30 secs and massage it in. I have an oily scalp now (my once long locks are gone - it got as far as bum length) with my pixie cut. And this is such a life saver on lazy days (a.k.a. I wash my hair every 2-3 days) and this keeps the oil in check.
I don't get any white powdery leftovers in my dark brown hair from this (this sometimes happens with other try shampoos) and it does give my hair lift, volume and a touch of rock star texture. It also has in ingredient in it that seems to soothe my itchy scalp. (Who knew ultra short hair would be harder take care of than long tresses!). I found the texture of it, i.e. the non-powderyness to be unique among the dry shampoos I have tried in the past. It sprays out a bit like hairspray really.
This keeps my hair/scalp oil free for a good 24 hours. My scalp doesn't itch as much when I use this. Works well between washes.
IGK Haircare recommends this for oily scalps and fine, medium to thick, and coarse texture hair. I think this is one of IGK Haircare's best sellers. This is the 288ml size and they even have it in a travel size (click here) for approximately half the price.
RRPAUD42 might seem a bit steep for a dry shampoo but you have to remember that this is a hair/scalp treatment as well. One or two sprays are sufficient and it has lasted me a good long 10 months.
Active ingredients in this are:
Charcoal Powder - Detoxifies, lifting dirt and buildup.
White Tea Powder - Soothes the scalp
And as noted above, it is vegan, cruelty-free, and provides UV protection. It is free of gluten, artificial colors, triethanolamine, mineral oils, harsh detergents, methylisothiazolinone/methylchloroisothiazolinone, and petrochemicals.
Full list of ingredients:
Butane, Propane, SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat.), Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Zeolite, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrated Silica, Charcoal Powder, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Carbonate, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-59, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Acetate, Water, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Good Behaviour
The name alone got me. "Good Behaviour" oh yes! Then the longer tagged on name "Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray" sounded like a very healthy smoothie. Definitely another very interesting product from IGK Haircare.
So what does it do? It helps with frizz (says 24 hour frizz control) and has 450℉ heat protection. It smells a bit like cotton candy, though the scent does dissipate fairly quickly if smelling like candy is not your thing.
It has a very light texture that feels cool to touch when you first spray it (it smells like a vodka cucumber cocktail when I think about). It dries very quickly, which is superb. When I had long hair, I used this a lot and it did make my hair look a whole lot smoother and shinier (not in the oily way). I used it with heat styling tools and it worked a treat especially when it came to straightening my hair. Definitely helps with frizziness. I also noticed that my hair dried faster while using it for blow dries. Pretty nifty.
It is recommended that you use this one damp hair. I did try it with dry hair when I was rushing to straighten my hair for a meeting and I don't think the results were as nice as they were when used on damp hair.
I think you will like the formula. It's not greasy/oily, it's light and dries down fast and it does what it says it will.
They say it is safe for colour and chemical treated hair.
Again the retail price might seem a bit steep, but this bottle served me well for 10-12 months (and there's heaps left).
As for the magical spiruline, this is what the folks at IGK have to say about it:
Spirulina protein strengthens and nourishes while an innovative formaldehyde-free bonding polymer mimics the coating and smoothing properties of a keratin treatment when activated by heat.
Active ingredients:
Spirulina Protein: Plant-based protein rich in amino acids, vitamins, minerals and biotin to help heal the hair, keep it healthy and nourish the scalp.
innovative Bonding Polymers: Formaldehyde-free bonding polymers mimic the frizz-free, high shine coating of a keratin treatment.
Full List of Ingredients:
Alcohol Denat., Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Aqua/Water/Eau, Vanillin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Silicone Quaternium-16, Undeceth-11, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Butyloctanol, Undeceth-5, Butylene Glycol, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Parfum/Fragrance, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Trust Issues
Yes, there is a snake on the bottle and it is called "Trust Issues", very Eve and the Snake in the Garden of Eden vibes. SO cool. I love it. I dunno, I just really appreciate it when people put in so much thought into their packaging and product names. Out of the five I recommend, this has the prettiest bottle.
So what does it do? Well this is described as an "Instant Scalp Rebalancing Treatment'. This one helps when my scalp gets all itchy and dry (OMG I have scabs on my scalp from scratching).
This smells like apples. AND again, it has that miraculous texture of a "dry" spray. The other treatments I use when my scalp gets irritated leaves a wetness (which I don't really mind, it just takes longer to get ready or do other stuff). This one dries down almost immediately. The scalp-soothing properties kinda kick in after a few brief minutes and helps me from going crazy from scratching my head and leaving embarrassing bits of skin on my shoulders/table/pillow/bed/every where). Out of all of the five products, I think I like the scent of this one the best. Though like the others, the scent does dissipate fairly quickly.
It doesn't leave a residue (seriously, it doesn't. Try spraying it on your hands when you're next in Sephora, if you don't believe me. This is mind-blowing but I know it's probably the alcohol in these products that gives this effect).
In terms of helping with my itchy scalp, on days when I've washed my hair, I need one or two sprays and it lasts all day. For two/three day old hair, I do use it a bit more frequently.
Interestingly enough, check out the cool active ingredients below (they are my fave foods).
Active Ingredients:
Yuzu Lemon: A fruit high in anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.
Apple Cider Vinegar: A natural clarifier that helps purify the scalp environment and soothe
Full List of Ingredients:
Butane, Alcohol Denat., Propane, Acetic Acid, Citrus Junos (Yuzu) Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Menthyl Ethylamido Oxalate, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Linoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Dimethyl Lauramine Isostearate, Aminopropyl Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Benzophenone-4, Isopentyldiol, Glycerin, Water, Propylene Glycol, Trehalose, Urea, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Serine, Parfum/Fragrance, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional.
IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm
The IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm is coconut-based. I wouldn't describe this so much as a balm (which I think generally has a thicker texture). This has a gel-like light texture to it which quickly melts to a very light oil. Like the products before, it absorbs remarkably quickly. No sticky feeling.
I used this when I had longer hair on my dry ends and it worked a treat without leaving any greasiness. It does have a very faint coconut scent to it with a touch of lemon. On my pixie cut, I sometimes use it to style my hair. It does give a subtle healthy looking shine.
If you are lazy like me and sometimes skip the conditioner, this is a nice leave-in treatment after hair washes,
Definitely the big selling point for me with IGK Mistress is its light formula. I hate heavy greasy balms and this get works well for me. Sometimes hair treatments like these make my face oiler but I haven't found this to be true with IGK Mistress. IGK Mistress (kind BDSM vibes, no?)
I also found that this was very useful with tangles. When you have bum-length hair, expect hair balls and hair snags. This worked well as a de-tangler.
Active ingredients:
Coconut Oil: Nourishes hair.
Shea Butter: Adds rich moisture to the hair to address the cause of dryness.
Argan Oil: Nourishes hair.
Full List of Ingredients:
Water, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Fragrance, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Polyacrylamide, Laureth-7, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Benzyl Salicylate, BHT, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin.
IGK Mixed Feelings Leave-in Blonde Toning Drops
I don't have blonde hair (anymore, I did once go blonde or silver). However, I had a lot of fun with this product. It is a leave-in treatment of concentrated purple pigments that you mix in with your other hair treatment (works well with IGK Mistress and/or your regular shampoo).
For the longest time, while I was growing out my blonde/silver hair, the lower third part of my hair would turn so brassy orange. This worked to tone down that crassness. The effect would last for at least a week (sometimes 2 if I used it with a leave in treatment). It might look tiny, but a few drops are all you really need.
Now with my pixie cut, I sometimes get a redness through my hair (in Asians, apparently this is a sign of malnutrition. However, I've almost always had a red tint to my hair since young and it still exists even if I am eating super healthy). So I do still use this product once in a while to cool down that redness.
Just for fun and to experiment (and this is not what it is intended for), I have used it to highlight my hair. I applied a few drops on my brush and brushed it through and sat in the sun. It gave me some highlights!
This one doesn't smell like much. At most, maybe like violets? It is highly concentrated, so do experiment first when you use it and adjust the amount accordingly. 1-4 drops is plenty. The IGK website has a dosage chart as well, see below:
There are shampoos and other treatments out there that do the same thing, but what's cool about this one is that you can adjust the dosage to get a more customised results. The IGK website has a dosage chart as well.
There is a version for brunettes which I have just discovered. You can view it by clicking here. That's definitely on my to-buy list, as that formula includes blueberry extracts and artichoke as actives.
Full List of Ingredients:
Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Parfum/Fragrance, Glycerin, Polysilicone-29, Panthenol, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, BHT, Glycolic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Coumarin, CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2).
So I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful. I'm pretty much on my social media platforms in some way or fashion 7 days a week. I hope you enjoyed this review.
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