FRAGRANCE-FREE Curlsmith Shine Recipe First Impressions Review & Routine

This post is sponsored by Curlsmith. Affiliate links are included. All opinions are my own. #ShineWithCurlsmith #CurlsmithPartner #Curlsmith

Have you heard? Curlsmith just released their new FRAGRANCE-FREE line, the Shine Recipe. I was so excited to share these with you all because I know so many people struggle with fragrance allergies or sensitivities to the strong smells that most hair products have, and there are just not enough fragrance-free curly hair products on the market. Today, I’m putting them to the test in a first-impression review and routine so you can see what I think and how they performed on my low-density, high porosity, medium/coarse textured hair.

The new Shine Collection is designed to be a simple, 4-step system that works with any hair type, even straight hair! I love how simple and universal these are, and how there are 2 options for gels depending on what your hold level preference is. The line contains a mild shampoo, conditioner, lightweight leave-in, strong hold gel with humidity protection, and a light hold gel.

Wash Day Routine

1. Wet hair and apply the Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Shine Shampoo to the scalp, and gently massage it until a lather forms. Rinse throughoughly. Repeat if you still feel and residue on your scalp.
2. Apply the Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Shine Conditioner to the lower half your hair and work the remaining amount up to the roots if needed. Let sit for a few minutes and gently finger detangle. Rinse & wrap hair in a hair towel.
3. Spritz hair with water and apply the Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Shine Cream, focusing on the lower half of the hair. Comb through.
4. Section hair and apply the Curlsmith Shine Gel or Shine Jelly. Use a styling brush to create clumps and ringlets if desired. Scrunch.
5. Scrunch out excess water with a hair towel, and glaze a light layer of gel on if any frizz forms. Diffuse until dy.
6. Once hair is compeltely dry, fluff the roots and scrunch out any unwanted gel cast with dry hands or an oil/serum.

My Results

Products Used

• Curlsmith Shine Collection, 10% off with code GENAMARIE10
• Bouclème Flarisol Mist Spray Bottle, 15% off with code GENA15
• Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangler Brush
• HairRepear The Ultimate Hair Towel,

What do you think of the results?! I can definitely tell I have more shine. In terms of the smell, mostly all of the products had no noticeable smell at all. The Shien Jelly in particular had a noticeable smell that is due to the styling agents, and not from added fragrance. Curlsmith assured me that there is no added fragrance and the Jelly is safe for sensitive skin along with the rest of the Shine Recipe.

For this routine, I used the Shine gel which is the hard-hold gel. This gel reminded me a lot of the Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer because of its thick formula and strong hold. It has similar ingredients and has humidity-blocking polyquaternium. I had very long-lasting results with this gel, and I didn’t need to add any extra when refreshing. I could refresh with just water which was nice. However, I did notice a slight product-y feeling on my hair by the time it was ready to be washed again. This is common with polyquaternium since it’s a polymer that seals the hair. I still got great volume, but if you have fine hair I recommend the Shine Jelly or using just a small amount of the Shine Gel.

If you’d like to see my routine and results using the Shine Jelly, check out my Instagram @genamarie.co where you’ll find a Reels using it.

Do you plan to try the Shine Recipe? Let me know! And let me know if you’re someone who prefers fragrance-free products and would like to see more in the market.