Kiss Aging Hair Goodbye With The Living Proof Timeless Collection
Even when it comes to hair, age ain’t nothing but a number — or, at least, that’s how the scientists behind Living Proof are trying to make it. See, while we associate thinning strands, substantial hair loss, and baldness with men (see Donald Trump’s perplexing comb-over, which some even theorized to be a weave), women actually grapple with age-related hair problems too. Yes, wrinkles tend to dominate our conversations about aging-centered beauty gripes, but it’s by no means the only shift in our appearance that can be attributed to the passing of time. If you’re in your 30s, you’ve likely started to notice that your hair isn’t quite behaving like it once did. Perhaps it feels thinner or looks a bit more limp. Maybe your hair color looks dull and lackluster. Perhaps your once wavy strands have turned straighter or vice versa. And maybe gray hairs are staring back at you when you look in the mirror. All these changes are, of course, normal, but that doesn’t mean they’re inevitable or that you can’t, at the very least, stave them off for a while. To that end, Living Proof created its new Timeless collection, a line of hair products specifically designed to tackle and reverse signs of aging hair.
The range consists of four products: the Living Proof Timeless Pre-Shampoo Treatment ($26 at LivingProof.com and Ulta.com), the Living Proof Timeless Shampoo ($28 at LivingProof.com and Ulta.com), the Living Proof Timeless Conditioner ($28 at LivingProof.com and Ulta.com), and the Living Proof Timeless Plumping Mousse ($28 at LivingProof.com and Ulta.com). All four products feature a unique Fortifying Complex developed specifically for the Timeless collection. This technology incorporates amino acids that strengthen strands, replenishing lost protein; ceramide-like lipids that work to seal the cuticle, serving as the glue that holds together the scales that comprise that outermost layer of the hair; and OFPMA, a key ingredient in all Living Proof products that’s, in essence, a humidity-repelling molecule that creates a fine and invisible film around each strand, thereby helping to prevent moisture loss and fend off frizz.
Now, each product in the Living Proof Timeless range is recommended for women within a certain age bracket, but these guidelines aren’t meant to be enforced too rigidly. If, for instance, your hair is manifesting some of the problems that a particular product is designed to address, it’s advisable for you to begin using that offering — even if your DOB doesn’t fall within the “recommended” parameters (again, these are suggestions, not laws!).
After testing out all four products, I can say I’ve had the best, most awe-worthy experiences with the Timeless Pre-Shampoo Treatment. So first off, what is a pre-shampoo treatment, you ask? Well, it’s a product that you apply to dry strands, working it from roots to ends, well before you step in the shower (at least 5 minutes prior, but you can apply it hours beforehand if desired). Their purpose is to give hair a first line of defense — in this case, the Timeless Pre-Shampoo Treatment helps to smooth and strengthen strands but, moreover, features a shampoo-activated technology that actually protects color-treated hair, preventing it from fading or becoming brassy and dull. According to Living Proof, this pre-shampoo potion acts much like a retinol would when applied to the face: stimulating regeneration, correcting signs of aging (in the case of the skin, we might be talking about elasticity or hyper pigmentation), and fending off any external aggressors. The Pre-Shampoo has a lightweight, almost milky consistency that makes it easy to work through strands. Best of all: it works with any shampoo so, if you already have a go-to shampoo and conditioner and you really can’t imagine doing without those, you can still use the Pre-Shampoo Treatment to enhance your experience and protect your strands. This product is particularly beneficial for those of us with color-treated hair since it protects against UV rays, water rinse-out, and heat styling — all of which can alter or weaken your dye job.
Now, the Timeless Shampoo and Conditioner are recommended for women over 40 and, while I’m not in that demo just yet, I do worry about my hair becoming more brittle and thin, so I decided to try these out. The result: my hair has way more body! Even when I just air-dry my hair, it’s got a ton more volume to it. But here’s an interesting fact: when I don’t use the Pre-Shampoo Treatment prior to using the shampoo and conditioner, the results aren’t as striking. So, at least for me, using all three is necessary for dramatic results. Also interesting: within a month of using these, I started to notice that I was shedding way less. Now, normally, I’m like a St. Bernard, leaving hair everywhere (seriously, sometimes I’ll find a random strand in my food, and I’ll be none too pleased), but with this powerhouse trio, I’m no longer shedding quite as much — a relief to everyone in my household (including my hubby, who’ll sometimes discover a blonde hair on his beard or his coffee!).
As for the Timeless Plumping Mousse, it’s designed to restore hair’s volume, working as a temporary filler to make strands look up to three times fuller. Now, because I have pretty big hair as it is (we’re talking Gloria Estefan during her Miami Sound Machine days), I don’t really need to use this particular styling product. That said, if you want more va-va-va-voom hair, this mousse is great since it’s not sticky or tacky, it doesn’t dry out strands, and it leaves hair soft to the touch (as opposed to other mousses that leave you seething, “Don’t touch my hair!”).
All in all, these are great products that I imagine I’ll use even more devoutly in the coming years. For now, I’m most likely going to keep coming back to the Pre-Shampoo Treatment. If you’ve got color-treated, dry, somewhat brittle hair, it’s a life-saver — and your first step in your anti-aging routine for your mane.
