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4you Beauty Board tests frizz-control products

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TBO.com

Published: July 15, 2011

If you're never quite sure whether the ads for popular beauty products can be believed, relax. Our 4you Beauty Board is made up of veteran testers ready to try the latest when it comes to all things beauty. We'll share what worked and what bombed with the hope of making life a little easier for you.

Check out our online database of reviews at TBO.com, search: Health.

Keratin Earth

Available online at keratinearth.com and by phone at (866) 684-5573; kit sells for $79.95

"Keratin Earth employs a unique combination of ingredients to safely deliver straight hair while minimizing damage."

Rating: A

Cloe says: I've tried salon keratin treatments in my struggle to tame my thick, wavy, unruly hair, and they've worked wonders. But concerns about the health effects (many of them contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen) left me searching for a safer and more affordable alternative. Luckily, I found Keratin Earth. This easy four part system -- shampoo, conditioner, strengthening therapy and mask -- relaxed my curl and left my hair silky smooth, hydrated and feeling healthy for about six weeks. And it's so easy to use. You just wash, leave the strengthening treatment on for about 20 minutes (depending on your hair type), condition, blow-dry and flat iron. My hair still has the body I like, but it's smoother. So you can be frizz-free without formaldehyde!

Cloe Cabrera, 44, covers entertainment for the Tampa Tribune, News Channel 8 and TBO.com

John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight

Available at Target, Walgreens and other retail stores; $9.99 for 3.5 ounces

"Our revolutionary heat-activated formula with keratin protein wraps each strand to seal in longer-lasting straightness without weigh down."

Rating: B-

Kim says: My hair has just enough curl to make it a pain to tame, plus it's damaged from being color-treated and overheated. Throw in a super-humid Florida summer, and what you have is one big mess. Last year, I cut my hair short in May; but hubby likes it long, so what are ya gonna do?

I've tried other John Frieda anti-frizz products with minimal success, but this one sounded promising. You just spray it on damp hair, blow dry it straight, then flat iron. Pretty easy.

My hair isn't perfectly straight, and that's OK. I worry more about frizz, and though on rainy days I'm still a wreck, it definitely is an improvement.

A big benefit is that the product also adds some shine. And it does last – at least two days. I can't go any longer than that without shampooing.

Kim Franke-Folstad, 52, is the editor of 4you and Baylife.

Ion Keratin Smoothing Treatment

Available at Salon Beauty stores and www.sallybeauty.com; $29.99 for two applications

"Helps to smooth and soften any hair type into one with luxurious texture and intense shine. It minimizes frizz 90 percent to 100 percent while reducing curl up to 50 percent. Strengthens and reconstructs while protecting from humidity."

Rating: A

Wendy says: I've heard a lot about keratin treatments – good and bad – but this was my first. I have color-treated, frizz-prone hair, so I wasn't expecting great results.  I was more than a little daunted by the unfamiliar chemicals and the instructions to make several passes over my color-treated, highlighted hair with a flat iron heated as high as 450 degrees. I used the treatment on a weekend, figuring that if I damaged my hair, I would have time for professional intervention before going back to the office. That wasn't necessary. I washed my hair with clarifying shampoo, dried it, combed the smoothing treatment through, let it process for 15 minutes, dried my hair again, then used the scary flat iron. Though the process was time consuming, the results were impressive. My hair was soft and smooth. I was caught outside in a downpour a few hours after the treatment, and days later I still have smooth hair. The maker says the results will last six to eight weeks, depending on the type and frequency of shampooing. The company also recommends using other Ion products for maintenance. I haven't done that, but I'm happy with the results.

Wendy M. Whitt, 44, is the Tribune's audience editor.

Nu Naat Karite Special Line

Available at www.nunaat.com, www.walgreens.com and Walgreens stores; $27.98 for complete line

"Karite Special is an intensive treatment for restoring dry and damaged hair. "

Rating: A

Shantae says: Karite Special delivers a wonderful line of salon treatment products at a fraction of the cost. Keratin is the key ingredient that offers women a more effective way of managing frizz. It's also rich in shea butter which helps to leave the hair soft and silky. The creamy shampoo does not contain sodium chloride and provides deep cleansing without being abrasive. The deep conditioner leaves hair easily untangled. The intensive hair mask also helps to defrizz and tame unruly hair. When used with a flat iron, the leave-in conditioner helps to seal the cuticles. The anti-frizz cream is heat activated and helps prevent hair from frizzing throughout the day. After using this line for a couple of weeks, I can clearly see that my hair is more manageable and silky. Karite offers salon performance results at home.

Shantae Brewster, 39, is the Tribune's Readers Desk supervisor.

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