| Mild Hold | #1 through #5 |
| Medium Hold | #6 through #15 |
| Maximum Hold | #16 through #26 |
I used Concrete with a hold factor of 22, Outshine with a hold factor of 01 and Quick Dry with a hold fator of 18.
Concrete (22) is aptly named as it is a described as cement paste. It is used for molding your hair into the style you want and keeping it there for as long as you want it. After application, it stays pliable for a minute or two, long enough to work into the style and then it hardens. Concrete dries with a matte finish.
Outshine (01) is a polishing milk designed to remove frizz and add shine. At a hold factor of 01, it is not meant to be used as a holding product.
These and other Redken styling products may be used in combination to achieve different effects. I didn’t feel that I wanted a ‘concrete’ type of hold and I do like shine, so, as suggested in brochures, I placed a quarter-sized dollop of Concrete in my hand with a slightly smaller dollop of Outshine. Using it in this way, should adjust the hold factor down slightly and add shine. Rubbing my palms together, I mixed and emulsified it into one creamy substance. I then worked it into my hair. It did stay pliable long enough for me to create fullness and pull the ends of my hair out in little spikes. It then hardened and kept my hair exactly where I placed it. After sleeping on my hair, I found that it still had plenty of body. I could work with it and pull the ‘spikes’ into place fairly easily.
While it did keep my hair right where I wanted it, there was a dry, stiff feeling that I’m not fond of. Even with the use of Outshine, my hair still had a matte finish, with no shine that I could detect.
If you want a stiff, spikey or stylishly messy look that stays in and does not fall, Redken’s Concrete is for you. Even with lowering the hold factor by the addition of Outshine, it provided as much hold and staying power as I would ever want.
Side comment: I have a habit of running my fingers through my hair occasionally. I don’t advise this after using Concrete. The hair doesn’t give way and it is painful.
I tried using Outshine alone. It took the frizz out of my hair and gave it a nice, natural looking shine. The only draw-back that I detected was that it gave my hair a ‘weighted’ or limp feeling. This, however, is not a problem for those who have curly/frizzy hair that gets too full.
Finally, I used Quik Dry (18) instant finishing spray. With the name Quik Dry, and described as 'instant,' I expected a faster drying time.
However, it did dry after a normal amount of time, and was very firm. It doesn’t allow for styling after it dries, so make sure your hair is in place before you spray it. This product left a ‘dry’ feeling also, that I didn’t care for. However I will stress that my hair did not look dry or feel dry after the Quik Dry was brushed out.
All three of these products shampooed out of my hair easily. There was no need for a special cleansing or clarifying shampoo to remove build up. I liked this feature.
In conclusion, the Concrete and Quik Dry will hold your style for as long as you want it but are not for pliable, swingy hair styles. Outshine will defriz your hair but might be too heavy for fine hair.
These items are very effective and useful for creating the styles for which they are designed.
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