Who Minds A FAT CAT?
Written: Nov 16 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Worth the price. Works well with fine straight hair.
Cons: Color of product. Small bottle, big price.
The Bottom Line: When properly matched to the right hair type it works well. I love it with my shorter hair style. No drying effects or residue.
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| LauraSunflower's Full Review: Redken Fat Cat Treatment |
I'd finally succumbed to it.
I'd had enough.
I had my longer than shoulder length hair cut off. I'd personally had enough. Old highlights, split ends, and an endless feeling of no good hair days. I'd clung to the head of hair thinking it made me feel more "girly". My forehead in recent photos looked like I could rent out advertising space on it. I'd begun to look dated and I was doing less and less with my hair. I had three styles for my hair: partially pulled back, ponytail, and down and out flat. I'd fell in a hair rut and almost couldn't get out of it
I found I liked sleeping in more than spending time with a round brush desperately trying to add volume to straight and fine hair. Volume was what my old style lacked, even with added layers of all kinds. I'd tried it all.
I was ready for change. I'd also realized my hair type was somewhat to blame for the blahs I'd experienced. My texture, type and hair density needed something less "heavy".
After debating far too long, I settled on a style after arming myself with several photos of hairstyles I liked that was referred to as a "choppy rounded bob" with "graduated" layers. Whatever that means, I like it. This "new me" has a secret weapon for boosting the volume and giving oomph to my spunkier style. I used to use Redken FAT CAT Body Booster Fine Hair treatment with shorter hair some time ago and now have revisited it after "liberating myself" of my former hair.
Redken FAT CAT Body Booster Fine Hair treatment is a product recommended for those with fine hair seeking more volume for their hair. This product has been on the market for some time now and the FAT CAT line is a well established one within Redken's product line.
FAT CAT in simple terms "Fattens fine hair. The complete body boosting system for fine hair. The FAT CAT Body Booster system of products adds substance, enhances body, improves resilience and increases support." (http://www.redken.com)
The line includes shampoo, detangler, fine hair body booster and fine hair voluminist spray. Granted, it's a small line of products, yet I have found the products are well developed and suited to the fine hair type.
Redken states that Redken FAT CAT Body Booster Fine Hair treatment "Maximizes volume and body by infusing hair with a megadose of protein." Additionally, advises that for best results "Use 2-3 times per week, or as often as desired to create body. Apply to clean, damp hair for 2-3 minutes. Rinse. For improved 'combability', follow with FAT CAT Detangler." (http://www.redken.com)
The product comes in a distinct 5 fl.oz. white bottle that is the trademark of this line within the Redken brand with aqua blue and black lettering. The bottle is just like a small shampoo bottle with a push top for dispensing the treatment. It's a plastic bottle that is well made with no experiences of leaks to date. The bottle is also coded for recycling.
I'd vouch for buying the product at CVS. It's $8.99 there for the 5 fl. oz bottle. It's more at Trade Secret and other Redken salons. Sometimes as high as $12.00 a bottle. I realize CVS is not a licensed Redken salon, but hey, that's something for another day completely. I am always out to save a dollar or two for a product I repeatedly buy.
The treatment itself is not as attractive in color as I'd hoped. It's a heavy amber color (yech!) that is thicker than a hair gel in consistency. It's not sticky or tacky feeling. This product takes a good squeeze of the bottle to dispense fully. I was told by my hairdresser that Redken avoids adding colors and dyes to it's products because most times it sacrifices the optimum results of some of their solutions/treatments (especially on color treated hair). Due to the fact that the protein that is described in the product is a hydrolyzed soy and vegatable protein, that is why strong amber is the product color. Don't fret tow-heads, my blonde friends find this product leaves no strange color in their locks. Mine is a medium to dark brown and I've seen no change in hair tone or color.
Other ingredients include water, taurene, sclerotium gum, ceteareth-25, hydroxypropyl soy protein, magnesium sulfate, glutamic acid, ethylparaben, methyl-paraben and fragrance.
The smell of the solution isn't nearly as bad as the color of it. It's slightly medicinal with a artifical sweet smell. It doesn't cling to your hair, or make your hair smell badly in any way. I haven't noticed any after smells that make me shudder.
Please note this is not a shampoo or a conditioner. It is a hair treatment. Read on, I'll tell you how it's used.
I shampoo and lightly condition my hair with products other than Redken before I apply the Redken FAT CAT Body Booster Fine Hair treatment to my hair. I squeeze out excess water from my hair before I apply to my entire head of hair. For my new length of hair, I use about a quarter sized amount. I used to use more with my longer hair (about twice the amount). Note that Redken gives and provides NO direction as to how much should be applied to your hair on the bottle or on their Web site. I figured these amounts by hit or miss. It's what seemed to work for me.
I massage the treatment completely through my hair by using a wide-toothed plastic comb I keep in the shower. I pay particular attention my roots as this is where I have found great success in achieving more volume and less "flat" hair. I keep it on for 2-3 minutes. If I am feeling particularly "divaesque" I slip on a plastic shower cap for a few minutes longer. For me and my scalp, it's worked like a dream. I've achieved better volume this way with no scalp flakes or flaking. After a few minutes have passed, I rinse completely with cool to tepid water (for added personal shine) and towel dry my hair.
This product with it's repeated and continual use has NOT dried out my hair or compromised hair texture or shine. It's always improved my hair for the better.
I don't do anything else differently. I don't always add detangler next or anything special. I simply blow-dry and style. I do notice a boost in volume. It's funny because when I use this product my hair is less likely to become flat by afternoon. I've also noticed this product works well with winter hats and prevents "hair dents" caused by hats and hoods. Seriously! Don't laugh, but when you live in Michigan you get plenty of winter days to figure this out.
I use Redken FAT CAT Body Booster Fine Hair treatment 3 times a week. I can usually get by on one bottle for about 4 months. This usually depends on whether or not I have time in my morning routine to remember to use it or decide to shave instead. (Don't laugh, we all make those sacrifices!) I am also using less than I did when I had longer hair, so my usage is cut down significantly.
I've muddled over the longer vs. shorter hair debate with this product and whether or not it works better for one or the other. Simply stated for me and my hair type, I found it worked better with my shorter hairstyle. I'd experimented around with how I applied it and the amount, but just found the volume was more significant with my layered and shorter style. This is NOT to say that it didn't work with longer hair, I found my longer hair did achieve a bit more oomph and bounce when I used Redken FAT CAT Body Booster Fine Hair treatment.
I keep buying this product. I like it. I am not a scientist, but I think the proteins coat the hair shaft to provide more lift and body boost. I just try to remember that some products can only do so much. This product promised more boost to fine hair and it does that. I enjoy the "finished" look of my hair when I use the product in combination with hot rollers or a curling iron. I think I could win a "big hair" prize.
To tell you the truth, I've never experienced more good hair days when using this product consistently with my shorter fine hair. It's worth the price for what it offers. I've tried other products that promise the same thing but usually find myself dissatisfied.
I trust and respect the Redken name and the products they offer. I think others with fine hair will also enjoy what it can do for their hair. I think one thing to keep in mind is that not every product is for every head of hair. It's important to know your hair type and what products will work well for you. If you're not sure, ask your hair stylist or hair professional for advice. Nothing is worse than pouring money down the drain (literally) through mismatched products for the wrong hair type.
I've never been one for CATs, but I'll keep FAT CAT around. It is somewhat strange to say that I have been experiencing more good hair days due to one particular FAT CAT.
Thanks for reading.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
LauraSunflower
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Member: Laura
Location: Hockeytown
Reviews written: 57
Trusted by: 45 members
About Me:
Busy raisin' kiddos.
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