While CBD charged hair products aren’t new to the scene, Leaf and Flower is. It can be really hard sometimes to try and decipher which items are more gimmicky and capitalizing on the current swing in the market versus which things really had a lot of thought put into them and are actually worth the money you invest into them. When I opened my suite I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t ever carry anything I didn’t believe in, so have no doubts that I’ve done my research and talked with multiple reps and tried out the products for myself before bringing this up to you at all.
Leaf and Flower checks off enough of my boxes; being cruelty free, vegan friendly, and free of most other ingredients we try to avoid. It’s also THC free, which means that you won’t in any way get high from this product line. I recommend visiting your nearest legal dispensary if you want to explore THC infused products.
What makes Leaf and Flower different?
This was the very first question I asked myself when it was mentioned to me as a potential new line. It turns out there’s enough to set them apart from most of the other CBD lines I’ve run across. The key difference is in the type of cannabinoids used and the process used to extract them. High pressures with low temperatures are used to isolate, preserve, and maintain the purity of the oils which are then combined into a unique formula to bring out the natural brilliance of your hair and promote stronger hair with consistently predictable styling results.
In their proprietary formula you’ll find:
- CBD – Cannabinidiol (21 known amino acids)
- CBG – Cannabigerol (Rich in Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids)
- CBC – Cannabichromene (balance sebum production)
Let’s delve a little more into what each of those things mean.
CBD:
The hair strand is made up of 95% keratin, which is a protein you’ll recognize as a common suggestion for brittle hair for repair (more on another post). Woven in and around the keratin in your hair are about 18 amino acids; supplied in large part through a tiny blood vessel in the follicle bulb along with other needed minerals. (This is where your diet and other potential health conditions play such a huge role in the health of your hair)
The amino acids in the CBD used by Leaf and Flower help to repair any broken bonds in those those amino acid chains which promote strength and shine without the worry of using too much protein.
CBG:
The fatty acids found here have been proven to prevent hair lose and promote thicker healthier hair when taken as a supplement. When used in products externally, they add body and shine to the hair.
CBC:
Sebum is a naturally excreted oil on your scalp. Everybody’s sebaceous glands act a little differently but this is usually why your hair starts looking “dirty and greasy.” Sebum is your body’s way of providing a natural lubricant to protect both your scalp and hair strands. Regulating this is important, and the products you use only make up a part of the story; the rest is the schedule you wash your hair on. The more frequently you wash, the more your body needs to replace the oils on your scalp, and it learns what kind of a schedule it needs to stay on to keep up with your routine.
How many things does the line consist of?
Pleasantly, not that many. The flagship product of Leaf and Flower’s line is actually a treatment and is the anchor for the entire line, which was designed to be used to maintain the results from the treatment.
3-in-1 Molecular Mender is paired with a CBD Corrective Complex Boost. The short version on the brochure is that it will instantly restore dry and damaged hair while infusing the hair strands with anti-humectant properties, sealing split ends for up to 10 washes. The amino acids in their CBD work on the dry and damaged hair, and the anti-humectant seal will help to keep the moisture your hair needs in, while keeping frizz causing humidity out. If you wash your hair 2-3 times a week, you’d be almost due for a haircut by the time you needed another treatment anyway, and with the take home products you can easily upkeep the results until your next visit.
CBD Instant Damage Correction Shampoo/Conditioner is the recommended base for maintaining the results from the Molecular Mender. The shampoo is sulfate free making it color safe (and also a good product for after your Brazilian Blowout) and the blend of cannabinoids in both the shampoo and conditioner promote a healthy growing environment which can help prevent hair loss and encourage new growth and density, as long as you’re using it consistently.
Something to note is that the shampoo doesn’t suds like you might be used to, and isn’t going to be as effective if your hair is extra dirty. That being said, you can easily do a quick wash with something to pre-clarify before you use the L+F. I’ve personally been liking Hydrate my Hair from Eleven Australia. The note on the conditioner is that it really does need at least 4-5 minutes to soak into your hair to give you the results you want. If you shampoo as soon as you get in the shower and let the conditioner sit while you do everything else, that’s usually more than enough time to be effective without feeling like you’re staring at the wall.
CBD Instant Frizz Remedy is going to be your go to for maintaining frizz free results if you use heat styling. Along with that magical cocktail of cannabinoids to help repair any damage, this product has a heat protectant to prevent further damage and is hydrophobic to keep out the moisture that activates the frizz.
To further minimize heat damage from blow drying, or even from hot tools, and cut down on your styling time Leaf and Flower offers a 7 Minute Blowout spray. It’s designed to be used with a blow dryer, but I have consistently seen similar products help when air drying as well. My hot tip for this is to apply it first, comb it through, and do everything you’d normally do to get ready and then head back to dry and style. This gives the product a head start and takes away even more time that you would have needed with the blow dryer.
The last product in the hair care line up is the CBD Phyto-Molecular Oil. This is a lightweight oil that can be applied from scalp to ends on wet or dry hair. It won’t build up in the hair over time like some other oils, and it won’t alter your color.
Leaf and Flower breaks their hair care regimen into 3 categories: repair, prevent, and maintain; which can help you and your stylist decide where your investment focus should be.
Repair:
– 3-in-1 Molecular Mender
– Shampoo/Conditioner
Prevent:
– Frizz Remedy
– 7 Minute Blowout
Maintain:
– Phyto-Molecular Oil
Bonus: skin care!
Despite being a minimalist line Leaf and Flower is very well rounded, finishing off with two different skin care products.
The first is the CBD Molecular Skin Shield which was designed to absorb into the skin quickly with no residue, while also replenishing essential hydration and promoting elasticity. It’s also designed to create a thin barrier to counteract the drying effects of soaps, alcohols, and other irritants (especially important during a pandemic). Bonus: if you work in gloves a lot it will keep your hands feeling cool and comfortable. While advertised as fragrance free, I do find it has a light almost floral scent when putting it on but isn’t overwhelming and doesn’t hang around.
My personal favorite of everything in the line is the Maximum Pain Releaf cream. The active ingredient is Histamine Dihydrochloride, which is a common topical analgesic, for fast acting pain relief in muscles and joints. Other notable ingredients are arnica, chamomile, and (of course) CBD. Arnica and chamomile are other popular topical anti inflammatory ingredients, helping to reduce swelling. While the tube advertises it as being fragrance free, it does have a nice whiff of peppermint upon application, but it quickly becomes noticeable only if you’re sniffing the area directly. For me, I find that I have a lot of tightness in my neck and lower back, along with periodic flares of sciatica. This cream is easy for me to apply, sinks in quickly, and really does help to alleviate the extra tension I normally have.
Investment Cost
First and foremost I want to reiterate how much I’m not a fan of investing in an entire line at one time. To me, it feels overwhelming, and I imagine it feels very similar to most people. You and I will figure out together which items are going to be a priority for you at home and that’s where you should start. Budget wise, here’s what you’re looking at per product:
- $29 – Molecular Skin Shield
- $35 – Frizz Remedy and 7 Minute Blowout
- $37 – Instant Damage Correction Shampoo
- $39 – Instant Damage Correction Conditioner
- $60 – Phyto-Molecular Oil
- $65 – 3-in-1 Molecular Mender Treatment
- $89 – Maximum Pain Releaf
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Sources:
Activilong
PubMed.gov
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