at the start of the year, i picked up this lovely suite of hair care products from kheimistrii, an independent gourmand bath and body brand that sells a wide range of products from artisan soaks and scrubs to body care products such as deodorants and moisturisers.
kheimistrii's niche production allows for better-tailored formulations that may be harder to find in the mainstream realm, as well as having the unique element of being scented in their own house scents. plus, i love that their products are cruelty-free and for a large part vegan-friendly, and with the meaningful goal of "bringing back the simplicity of basic body care, without all of the harsh chemicals of mass-production and their inferior ingredients".
i was honoured when the owner Kheim reached out to me on Instagram to ask if i would be interested in reviewing some samples, and took the opportunity to get these hair care products as i've been having some issues with a dry scalp as well as dry and damaged hair.
i purchased the 4 oz of Revitalizing Scalp Elixir and 2 oz of Honey Toffee; i had wanted to purchase a smaller size of their Blueberry Grape Rice Water (ordinarily only sold in 17 oz and larger packaging) and had offered to pay a pro-rated amount, so i was surprised and extremely grateful to find that Kheim had included a smaller 4 oz bottle of this for me free of charge.
now this review was a long time in the making because the thing about hair care products is that their effects are rarely discernible after a single use, and i wanted to be able to provide an accurate experience in line with what a typical customer would have after using the products for a while.
i gave myself three months of regular use of these, and i must say that used together as part of a regular routine, they have honestly made a world of difference for my hair.
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first up, the Revitalizing Scalp Elixir - this is described as "a root stimulating oil that helps soothe the itching, the thinning hair and the irritation associated with dry scalp, a powerful merger of plant extracts chosen specifically to target hair, scalp and follicle, combat scalp dryness, promote hair growth and restore balance in both hair and scalp".
it seems packed with a whole powerhouse of ingredients - the label lists lavender to promote hair growth, double-roasted jamaican black castor oil to restore moisture, rosemary to treat dandruff and dry scalp and stimulate circulation, cedarwood to stimulate hair follicles and reduce irritation, lemongrass and peppermint to stimulate the scalp and reduce dandruff, and amica flower extract to support healthy hair growth and calm inflamed scalp.
in the bottle, this has a relatively strong herbal smell that reminded me of a traditional Chinese medicine shop, which is something i could tolerate but it may be a bit strong for others' preferences. the first time i tried this was by using the dropper to apply a few drops directly onto my scalp, then attempting to gently massage it with my fingers. now that went as well as one might expect, with most of the oil ending up in my hair and my scalp remaining as dry as it was - an inability to see what i was doing, coupled with the disorienting sensation of using a dropper above my head, made for much amusement when i realised how horribly i had messed things up.
through some trial and error over the next few evenings, i quickly learned that it was far more efficient to get my husband to do it for me, or if i really had to apply it on my own, to drop the liquid onto my fingers and massage it into my scalp that way. when used properly on my scalp, it had relatively good absorption (i was able to lie down on my pillow within an hour after that, without fear of getting oil everywhere) and i barely noticed the herbal smell any more after a few hours.
i also tried the overnight treatment recommended, liberally applying the oil to my scalp and covering with a shower cap before rinsing off in the morning. it wasn't a comfortable experience but that was more the fault of my unfamiliarity with wearing a shower cap to sleep, rather than the product itself.
after a couple of months of regular nightly use (save for the evenings when i used the Honey Toffee), i definitely could feel a difference in that my scalp was nowhere near as itchy, and i was much less apprehensive about wearing dark clothes (for fear of shedding on my shoulders and upper back).
as someone with very fine hair, i think it's a little early to say whether it has had positive results on the hair growth side, but i do feel much better about my hair now than i did at the start of this year. my 4 oz bottle is quite likely to last me for the rest of the year too, making it quite cost-efficient and value for money. it's a product that i'm happy to have purchased and am likely to buy again when this runs out.
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next, the Honey Toffee - this is a "hydrating hair smoothie", described on their website as "a thick, delicious confectionery, that emulsifies into a decadent, deep-conditioning lotion when applied to wet hair". its ingredients include pure grade A raw Texas clover honey, royal jelly, ginseng, bee pollen and Moroccan argan oil.
i was certainly very apprehensive before trying this out for the first time - the thought of deliberately putting honey in my hair gave me fears of a difficult time washing it out afterwards, rather than the relaxing and rejuvenating hair treatment it offered. thankfully, it was nowhere near as stressful an experience as i had feared, and i actually really enjoyed myself with this one.
in the bottle, this smells really really delicious, a combination of rich, sweet honey and a handful of fresh herbs. and it's just as good in my hair as it is in the jar - for the entire half hour that i allowed it to do its magic, the bathroom was filled with a lovely sweet herbal honey scent.
the Honey Toffee is easy to use as well. the label had cautioned me against introducing excess water into the product jar, so i used a dry teaspoon to measure out whatever i needed before i started. i found that it took approximately just over three teaspoons when i had longer hair (just below shoulder length) and i was able to get by with one teaspoon after going for a significantly shorter cut. the toffee was sticky in the jar but not difficult to work with; on wet hair, it took on a texture not unlike a creamy lotion that was easy to apply.
i left it on for the recommended 30 minutes, and was very glad that washing it out was no more stressful than using any other generic hair mask or conditioner products.
oh, and the best part? for the rest of the evening (and the next day, and even the day after that), i absolutely could not stop huffing the fabulous honey-with-a-pinch-of-herbs aroma that wafted from my hair. it got to a point where i would actually block off the two days after Honey Toffee treatment to not need any perfume or other scented products, because of how good and long-lasting the honey fragrance was.
i use this once a fortnight regularly - apart from being a luxurious and fun self-care experience, i've noticed that i have significantly fewer strands of dry and broken hair now, and am shedding much less. i'm kicking myself hard for not having ordered a larger size (2 ounces does not go very far even when you use a teaspoon at a time) and now understand why kheimistrii even has a 16 ounce option. it's much pricier than generic mainstream alternatives, but i really love the fun of playing with this and the unparalleled scent experience it offers. definitely a must-repurchase for me, notwithstanding international shipping costs.
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last but not least, the Blueberry Grape Rice Water that Kheim had so kindly gifted a small size of to me for free together with my order. this one is a moisturiser made with fermented rice water, and the label describes it as "infused with a plethora of vitamins, minerals, botanical extracts and herbs to strengthen, protect, moisturize and nourish your hair and scalp".
there were several recommended ways to use this; i used it as a conditioner (leaving in for 15-30 minutes before rinsing) twice a week, and as a leave-in detangler daily.
both in the bottle and in my hair, this has a really bright blueberry / grape candy smell that one would be hard-pressed to replicate with mainstream products. when i use this as a leave-in detangler, i get to enjoy the occasional whiffs of candy scent for the rest of the day; it's significantly more intense (in a good way!) when used as a conditioner though the scent only persists for up to three to four hours after rinsing out.
my frugal use with this 4 oz bottle lasted me just under three months, which on extrapolation is quite decent value for money considering that kheimistrii sells this in 17 oz and 34 oz formats. my hair is definitely less dry and easier to work with now, and i feel so much better about it than i used to, both from a health and beauty perspective.
all things considered the Blueberry Grape Rice Water is a product that i enjoy using though am a bit more on the fence about purchasing (compared to the other two) - blueberry grape candy smells awesome but it's not really a smell i can see myself permanently integrating into my routine to the exclusion of any other morning perfumes or scented products. perhaps i would try a different scent in future, though the product itself is promising.
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some products that i had purchased at a discount with my own money, and some additional products for review received for free (as disclosed above) that were included with my purchase. i didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with kheimistrii and as always, all opinions remain my own.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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