Living Proof Prime Style Extender

Hair primer? Whatever next? When I first read about hair primers I promptly dismissed them as a load of rubbish. That was, however, until I started reading rave reviews on all of my favourite beauty blogs – it was then that my ears pricked up and I decided to investigate. I asked Julia to bring back some Living Proof Prime Style Extender from London so that I could see if hair primers are all they’re cracked up to be.

What is it?

It’s a style extending hair primer. It promises to extend hair styles for twice as long, thereby enabling you to go for longer between washes, with fewer touchups.

How does it work?

The priming system is designed with Living Proof’s “miracle molecule” OFPMA, and priming emollients to create a thin, weightless shield around every hair strand. This shield keeps hydrogen bonds in place so hairstyles stay beautiful for days. OFPMA also repels dirt and oil, so your hair stays cleaner for longer.

What’s hydrogen got to do with it?

Hydrogen bonds are the network deep within each hair strand that give it its shape. When you style your hair with water and heat, you are reshaping this network of hydrogen bonds into your desired stye. The problem is that as the day progresses these hydrogen bonds revert back to their original positions and the hairstyle you created in the morning falls out.

Where does it fit in?

Pre-styling. It is applied to clean damp hair and can be used alone or in conjunction with other styling products. I was a little bit disappointed to find out that this does not contain a heat protector, so please remember to pop some of your usual heat protector over the primer to avoid damage caused by hair dryers, straighteners or curling tongs.

Does it work?

I wash my hair every other day as I have very greasy roots (but dry ends – why me?). On the days in-between washes my hair looks flat and limp, which is why I usually scrape it into a ponytail. To add insult to injury, by the end of day two my hair is offensively greasy – I have to use a whole can of dry shampoo (basically) if I want to go out in public.

I have used this product a couple of times now and I like it, I really do. It definitely delivers in terms of extending my style – my hair looks smoother and bouncier on the in-between days, and in general I’ve found that it makes my hair softer and more manageable. However, I don’t buy into the whole “oil repelling” schtick – admittedly, by the end of day two my hair does look a little less greasy than it normally would, but I certainly wouldn’t try to get another days’ wear out of it.