Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Line Review

Introduction

One of our favorite Hair Talk regulars, Keth'ryn from Hawaii, has done a spectacular job of testing and reviewing all of Aveda's Pure-Fume Brilliant Line. Keth'ryn is a hairstylist. As you will see, she gives all the scoops on this relatively new Aveda haircare line. If you would like to get to know Keth'ryn, pop over to Hair Talk and read some of her great postings on hair.

Thanks Keth'ryn. Great job.

Review

First let me start off with a little background on my hair. I have shoulder length, dark brown hair. I've had it chemically straightened, bleached, and dyed countless times. It is naturally curly and quite coarse.

When I first tried the Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Line I was searching for some sort of miracle in a bottle. My hair was damaged, wiry, frizzy, weak, and mostly just dry. I had heard a lot about the line from a friend who works in an Aveda salon and I was dying to try it. Off I went and before I knew it I was sitting in my living room with a rather large bag full of hair care products. YAY!

I bought the entire Line which consists of:

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Shampoo 8 oz. $7.00 - Their Price: $10.00

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Conditioner 8 oz. $13.50 - Their Price: $18.00

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Thermal Styling Creme 8 oz. Your Price: $10.50 - Their Price: $14.00

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Retexturizing Gel 8 oz. Your Price: $11.25 - Their Price: $15.00

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Forming Gel 3.8 oz. Your Price: $8.85 - Their Price: $12.60 16 oz. Your Price: $31.50 - Their Price: $45.00

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade 2 oz. Your Price: $10.10 - Their Price: $14.40

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Humectant Pomade 2 oz. Your Price: $10.10 - Their Price: $14.40

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Emmolient 3 oz. Your Price: $16.80 - Their Price: $24.00 16 oz. Your Price: $75.60 - Their Price: $108.00

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Spray On for Hair 3 oz. Your Price: $8.85 - Their Price: $12.60

I rushed to the bathroom to try my brand spanking new Aveda stuff, which brings me to the first product....

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Shampoo

I ran a warm bath and gave myself the usual scalp massage followed by a quick and careful brushing. Then I steped into the tub and thoroughly wet my hair swishing my head to and fro in the water. I applied a dime sized drop of the shampoo and worked up a good lather.

The first thing that hit me was the really enticing aroma. In fact, I'd say it's downright addicting! I personally find myself taking a little sniff of the shampoo every chance I get.

The next thing I noticed was the lack of hairs on my hands due to breakage. Usually when I shampoo I get a few broken hairs left here and there due to my weak and damaged hair. There were none to be found with the Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant. In fact, in the whole time I've been using this product, I've never had the breakage which was once an all too familliar thing.

I rinsed my hair gently, but thoroughly, then I inspected my newly clean hair in the mirror. I've never seen my hair so shiny and smooth. It looked very hydrated and I had to test the detangling factor. The product claims to make combing even the curliest and most textured hair easy, so I tested the claim.

I would never usually attempt to comb my hair before conditioning as I think I'd either lose the comb or lots of hair. I was feeling lucky though, so I took my wide toothed comb and ran it through from root to tip with no resistance at all. WOW!

This stuff really does everything it says it does.

I've found that regular use, at least for me, has not diminished the great results I get with this shampoo. Everytime I wash there is smooth, shiny, tangle free hair where once dwelled a rats nest.

I highly recommend this product to all you people out there who have dry, textured hair. It really changed my shampooing ritual from a chore to a priviledge.

Rating: 9 out of 10 perfect product points

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Conditioner

After my great experience with the shampoo I could not wait to try the conditioner.

First I applied a nickle sized dollop of the product to my hair, making sure to get the ends. I left it on for five minutes, enjoying the wonderful aroma the whole time. Then I rinsed my hair with lukewarm water and wrapped my head in a towel. Five minutes later as I was gently blotting my hair I was nearly blinded from the sheen off my hair. Not only that, but it was smooth.

I've never combed my hair so easily in my life. There was just the faintest trace of that yummy aroma and my hair felt great. I really like this conditioner as it added just the right softness and bounce to my hair. This product is a fabulous addition to the Shampoo and they work wonderfully together.

Rating: 8 out of 10 perfect product points

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Thermal Styling Creme

This stuff is so cool. I've been using it in tons off different ways and it works great no matter what I try. From blowdrying to curlers to just a leave-in I always get shiny, smooth hair with great hold. I no longer get the heated styling tool burnout I used to. I really feel that my hair is protected by the Termal Styling Creme and I believe this to be the most versatile procuct in the line. I would highly recommend this product, it works great.

Rating: 9 out of 10 perfect product points.

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Retexturizing Gel

I'm a daily hairstyling fanatic so I couldn't wait to try out this Gel. I'd heard it was great quality and very versitile. I've been using it in two ways which I really love.

1. To add shine, contol frizz, and define and hold my curl. When I do this I apply the gel to my damp hair making sure to distribute it evenly. I turn my head upside down and run my fingers through my hair to seperate the curl and then flip head right side up. This adds great body for me. Next I shape and define my curls to my heart's content and let it air dry. My hair is shiny, smooth, and holds my curl all day.
2. To blow dry my hair straight to control frizz, add body, add hold, and add shine. I personally don't try to get the really straight look. When I blowdry I just want smooth volumized waves. Thats exactly what I got with this Gel. I've found however that it works even better if I use a combination of the Gel and the Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Thermal Styling Creme. I add the Styling Creme to my damp hair and work it through evenly. Then I flip my head upside down and add a bit of the Gel to the bottom of my hair. Then I flip it right side up and begin blowdrying with a round brush. When my hair is nearly dry a smooth just a little gel into it and finish the blowdrying.

I find the last bit of Gel really cuts the frizz, adds sheen, and holds the waves and shape much better. I really like this Gel as I'm a hardcore styler but if you are just a wash and go type of person you might like the Forming Gel better.

Rating: 8 out of 10 perfect product points

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Forming Gel

This Gel is great when you don't want to put a lot of time into styling your hair. I've found it adds body, shine, light frizz control, and very soft hold. It allows great movement and your hair stays quite soft.

I used it on days when I was in a rush. I applied it to nearly dry hair and brushed it in gently. I think this would be great for finishing braids.

My hair was nice and tamed but by no means under heavy control.

Rating: 7 out of 10 perfect product points

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade

This would be a great product for those of you who have chemically straightened your hair. This Pomade is clean, smells great, gives good hold, definition, and frizz control. Also you people who spend forever blowdrying your hair straight only to have it curl right back up due to humidity. This stuff is great for humidity control.

I live in Hawaii and if the humidity here couldn't beat this product I don't know what could. I love how this Pomade controls frizz. It's like a protective frizz shield. I've got only great results with this product and I highly reccomend it.

Rating: 9 out of 10 perfect product points

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Humectant Pomade

This product is the flip side to the Anti-Humectant Pomade. Instead of repeling humidity and moisture it attracts it. What this means is more moisturized hair. I personally loved how it made my hair super curly and added just the right definition and hold.

My hair was shiny, shiny, shiny, with this one. My hair felt more hydrated after I used this product and best of all it had that same great aroma that I just can't seem to get over. If you have wavy or curly hair and want good curl definition get this one. It's a gem.

Rating: 9 out of 10 perfect product points

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Emmolient for Hair

Now those of you who use hot oil treatments or jojoba oil for your dry ends or simply just dry hair may want to give this one a try. I personally thought it was beneficiary for my hair. I used it as a treatment. Appling the Emmolient to my hair after washing and wrapping my head with a warm towel for 30 minutes.

It worked pretty well. I'm not sure if I'd buy this again as it's actually pretty expensive and only made a mild difference in my hair. I found it too greasy to just leave in and it didn't do very much as a treatment for me. I suuppose others may have better results with this but I personally wasn't all that impressed with it.

Rating: 5 out of 10 perfect product points

Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant Spray On for Hair

I personally did not find much use at all for this product. It did add shine and help with the frizz but seemed almost pointless to me. I suppose you could use it for finishing an updo or just curled hair or something but I didn't feel the need while I was using all the other products.

Perhaps this would be a good one to buy if you just wanted a light conditioning spray to finsh with and you're not using the other products from the line. Also I think it just weighed down my hair when I used it with the Gels and Pomades It did work moderately well on my clean hair but I don't think I'll be buying this again anytime soon.

Rating: 4 out of 10 perfect product points

Summary Of Aveda's Pure-Fume Brilliant Line

In conclusion I really like the Pure-Fume Brilliant Line as a whole. I think a lot of thought went into designing each product to work well alone and with the other products. My one exception being the Spray On for Hair.

I am currently using several of the products and I'm still happy as can be with them. They've really made a difference with in my hair health, texture, and performance. I highly recommend the Aveda Pure-Fume Brilliant line and I think it's on a par with ARTec Textureline Smoothing which I also loved.

Rating: 9 out of 10 perfect product points.

Pricing Information

You can buy Aveda's Pure-Fume Brilliant products at any Aveda Concept Salon (go to www.aveda.com to find a salon nearest you) or from the comfort of your home on the net.

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Original Publication: 12/1/1997 - Revised Publication Date: 05/22/10

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