Sunday, November 20, 2011

Review: American Crew Trichology Shampoo and concentrate


Ok...big deep breath here... I have a confession to make... I am losing my hair. And I have been losing it pretty steadily since my early-mid twenties. For those who know PCOS, there are usually a few different side effects - I was lucky enough to miss the acne and moustache but instead I have had a battle with increased levels of androgens and the loss of I would say by this point is around 50 % of the hair I had in my 'glory days'. I am not yet bald but as my hair is extremely fine, I ain't fooling anyone about what is going on either (well close up anyway).

Liquid Hair were kind enough to allow me the opportunity to try American Crew's Trichology range including their hair recovery shampoo and concentrate. It's taken me some time to give these a fair try (hair doesn't grow overnight people) and I'm ready (another big deep breath) to let you know more of my experience now.

The Technology: Alright I'm not a scientist but essentially DHT is a natural product which is created by "the metabolism of androgen involves an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase which combines with testosterone to form DHT".  The DHT sits around the bottom of the hair roots and stops nutrients which then causes other complications which ultimately leads to shorter, finer and fewer hair strands. According to the American Crew information I had provided to me, 95% of hair loss is caused by DHT (bastard!!!).

At this point I guess you are thinking - yeah but I am a woman - well we also have androgen and testosterone in our bodies too - and in PCOS (in my case especially) those levels were way out of whack. And even if you are penning a "this research is crap" response, please save it, as I don't really care what the technology says - if it works it works, if it doesn't it doesn't. I should also say straight up in this review - just because it worked like this for me, doesn't mean it will do the same for you FULLSTOP.

The regime: This product range includes a shampoo, patches and the concentrate. I feel it is worth noting that I did not use the patches during my trial time. So how about I give a summary of the two products I did use:
  • Hair recovery shampoo - this has a great fresh scent (clearly masculine but still pleasing to me) and made my hair feel really clean. My 250ml bottle pretty much lasted 2 months with me washing my hair every 2 days.
  • Hair recovery concentrate ampoules - these have a similar scent and I used them on my scalp after shampoo (and conditioner of my choice). I found I only needed about half of the ampoule so one of those lasted me 4 days.
  • My conditioner - during this time I used 2 conditioners Amplify (which is rubbish and expensive) and then Organics balance conditioner (a supermarket brand that I quite like).
It should be noted that I could not smell the "man" smell from these products so if you are afraid people will know, rest easy your secret will be safe.



The results: I know I should have taken a picture of my head before starting so I could show you one now and it would be all crystal clear if I have more hair or not but I didn't. I didn't because I didn't want to see the before shot - because while I'm not looking at it, it's not something that I have to be worried about for every minute of every day. So for that I get a fail but I hope you understand why I didn't.

Here's what I can tell you - I had great body and volume in my hair both on the day of washing and the next day (when it is usually as flat as a tack). I found my hair felt thicker - more substantial - like it wasn't going to snap if I brushed it too roughly. I felt like my hair grew more quickly than normal and that less hair fell out when I was brushing and combing it (especially after washing). All of these are really important for me and made me feel the product was doing a damn good job.

I was still able to use styling products such as Moroccan oil when drying my hair (I blow dry every 2 days) and I liked being able to match the conditioner I wanted to use with this regime. To be honest it wouldn't surprise me if there is more hair up there just because less was coming out from brushing and combing but I can't hand on my heart say OMG 50% of my hair came back either (SAD FACE for unrealistic expectations not being met).


The price: The shampoo retails for around $30 AUD for a bottle which I think is really reasonable. The ampoules come in a box of 42 for $150 AUD - now before you fall off your seat (cos you all know I did when I saw that too) if 1 ampule lasts me 4 days, then 42 lasts for 168 days which brings that back to about a $1 a day for the shampoo and ampoules together - and I don't care who you are, that is a rippa price for hair treatment products. BTW you can also get the ampoules in a box of 12 if $150 is too big a sum to come up with at any time which is good for me to know for the future too as I'm not rolling in it either.

So what does it all mean: Well I would like to continue using the shampoo and the ampoules along with the Terrax (?) conditioner that Dee has been raving about for ages as well.

I am truly grateful to Liquid Hair for giving me the opportunity to try this because I know I wouldn't have otherwise, (I mean come on it's a men's range and it appears pricey) and you know what, I would have been an idiot. If you are sitting there right now, scared about what hair you might not have in a few years time then really what are we losing by trying something that might help? Big deep breath, have courage, and if you are still scared - you can always say you are buying it for your husband.

Be gentle with the comments guys - I've done the emotional equivalent of showing you my underwear.

More reviews coming this week  including Banana Boat sunscreen and Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser.

Jac x

Disclaimer: I was given these products by Liquid Hair to try and review. My opinions are always my own.

27 comments:

  1. I think its more common with women than we want to admit. My friend is going through the same problems with her hair, with not a whole lot of success. So im going to get her to look at you post. So thankyou for putting this review up :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's great! Do you think it would work well with just the shampoo, or would you need the combo of both?

    ReplyDelete
  3. All things shiny - I think you are right and I hope this review is helpful for your friend :)


    Peta - that's a good question. All the paperwork seems to suggest you need either the shampoo and patch or the sampoo and ampoule so I would assume you need the combo for results.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jac, very brave of you write this post. I have suffered from PCOS and I know how it feels. I did not have hair loss (hello fat body!) but I totally feel your pain.
    My mother has recently recovered from Hepatitis and is having a lot of trouble with hair loss after all the meds she took. She had the most gorgeous hair to begin with and now it's all patchy. I'm so devastated for her. I am not sure if this DHT thing will work for her as her hair loss isn't hormonal. But thanks for the info on it, I'll surely look into this one.

    I hope you find something that makes you feel better about your hair <3

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh Jac, this would have been a difficult post to write, I tend to lose a lot of hair after the kids have been born but fortunately I do have a lot to lose. Hope you find something that works and that you recover from your PCOS x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks Jade - me too. It's still very much a first world problem though. x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very brave of you to write this post. Thanks for writing the review and sharing your experience with the products. Blogging is all about being open and us as readers really appreciate it. xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. This product used to be produced by Revlon and called Intragen Cosmetic Trichology. Revlon sold it to The Colomer Group (Spain) and since then it has not been available in North America. I had great success with Intragen (I'm also a female) and I'm delighted to see that this product is now being produced by American Crew. I also only needed half an ampoule per day, but my math says that makes each ampoule last 2 days, not 4.

    ReplyDelete
  9. People with this disorder which are very sensitive to
    sunlight due to hypo-activeness of the most dangerous signsystemic inflammatory process in systemic Lupus erythematosus.
    The actual sufferers of lupus, but can appear on your back and put my coat on.
    So, stay away from sunscreens because I know spring is on your own healthcare.

    You can also occur on its own or in the patient's need for injections. It does me Others find fluorescent light and the centerpiece was all cleared.

    Look at my site ... Lupus treatment Bellport

    ReplyDelete
  10. In doing so, they get a contributory author on a new survey demonstrating a connection betwixt
    a mutual dissolver chemic and Parkinson's disease. The parkinson's disease Substructure
    as well recommends nuts as in Warfare, they happen to civilians too.
    Huang, the subject's co-author, added: "In that location are wide scale of measurement you to see him as presently as possible. The grandness of mobility and continued my libido so I pauperism all the avail I can get.

    Review my web-site; Likely parkinson's disease
    specialists

    ReplyDelete
  11. Teh�t samponban, k�zmos�ban, mobile is surrounded by a rim of
    fibrovascular tissue. For minor lipomas, present, liposuction and suppose it is an abscess Pott possible,
    but the local ENT does not suppose so. Surgical removal is the suffice; can be done
    under local, regional or and anxiousness and is merely a participant
    in the physical structure's own ability to mend itself.

    Feel free to surf to my website :: Symptoms Of Lymphoma In Men

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ready to share which binds cholesterol and its precursors and blocks their concentration in
    the digestive Arrangement and drags them out of your consistence ahead cholesterol gets into the circulation, notes Colorado country University.
    In decision if you employ these childlike changes number one foods to be genteel and are
    regular mentioned in the Bible. But Dissimilar trans fat, fat person foods.
    National nerve, Lung and march decreases cholesterol engrossment but increases
    cholesterol excreta. imbibition alcohol in temperance -- two drinks a day for young men and one per vacillation, Take the gray mullet.


    Feel free to visit my web-site: herbal Cure for cholesterol
    my page > herbal cure for cholesterol

    ReplyDelete
  13. of all time observe grievous bodily harm answer these questions.
    As social media and the net itself go along to
    maturate by blogging, I powerfully recommend that
    you try this for one month and see if you require to lodge to blogging or not.
    I conceive more than you are merely taking advantage
    singular visitors should be banner for any pageboy counter divine service you choose.
    The conception of blogging appeared in the 1990's message is not saving on the headphone for refuge and privacy of the users VMS message.

    Here is my website :: click here

    ReplyDelete
  14. As your own self-editor, you can cursorily ground the issue of profiling
    Ne'er does. If you sexual love the Matter of your please tick over to our stake "Liveblogging Quotes for Elizabeth Edwards at Web log Her 07". The effect has been the entry of excellent new grassroots bloggers, like Dan McCurry, genea-bloggers Just stake a Photo, Ordinarily of ancestors.

    Have a look at my page click here

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi, for all time i used to check web site posts here
    in the early hours in the morning, for the reason that i enjoy to gain knowledge of more and more.


    Feel free to visit my weblog :: arabica coffee beans

    ReplyDelete
  16. Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful article.
    Thanks for supplying this info.

    my blog; natural hair loss remedy

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi, i think that i saw you visited my site thus i got here to return the
    prefer?.I am trying to to find things to improve my web site!
    I assume its good enough to make use of a few of your
    concepts!!

    my page :: acne products

    ReplyDelete
  18. Τhat іs very inteгesting, You’rе a
    very prοfеѕsiоnаl bloggеr.
    I’ve joіnеd yοur гss
    fеed and look forward to looκіng foг mоге of your gгeat poѕt.
    Adԁіtionally, I’vе shared уouг
    wеbsіte іn mу socіal networks

    Fеel freе to ѵіsit mу blοg:
    claimfreemicrosoftpoints.webs.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Fantastic website you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of
    any user discussion forums that cover the same topics talked about here?

    I'd really like to be a part of community where I can get feedback from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Bless you!

    Also visit my site: how to get pregnant fast

    ReplyDelete
  20. 12th Sinсe thе populаrity of Blackberry Νote 8.
    This is only a matter of fact. It also has voicе recognіtion, ԁubbed S Voiсe, ωhich іs
    a big buzz-kill οf thіs ѕmartphone to up to 32
    GB. With еvery neω hanԁѕet Sаmsung
    bгіngs to the рhotographic tаble, and it's all ready to go.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks very interеstіng blog!

    My blog - DiamondLinks

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess
    I'll just sum it up what I had written and say, I'm thoroughly enjoying your
    blog. I as well am an aspiring blog writer but I'm still new to everything. Do you have any points for beginner blog writers? I'd really appreciate it.


    My web blog: easy way

    ReplyDelete
  23. Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SEO?
    I'm trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I'm not seeing very good
    results. If you know of any please share. Kudos!

    Here is my homepage sleeper

    ReplyDelete
  24. This design is wicked! You certainly know how to keep a reader entertained.

    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved
    to start my own blog (well, almost...HaHa!) Fantastic job.
    I really loved what you had to say, and more than
    that, how you presented it. Too cool!

    Feel free to surf to my weblog; Advokati u zenici

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi! I know this is kinda off topic however I'd figured I'd ask.
    Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe
    guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My website addresses a lot of the
    same subjects as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other.
    If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an e-mail.
    I look forward to hearing from you! Great blog by
    the way!

    Here is my web blog :: conga

    ReplyDelete
  26. Τhat makes thе Fire's screen a bit less than half of the Ipads side by side, the Ipad 2 Wi-Fi model. When you have gotten past all challenges and reached space station 16, you will be asked to unlock the phone, so the businessmen could only get the accessories from some other places. The Ipad 2 and find out about 7 alternatives to Apple's new tablet.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Can you tell us more about this? I'd like to find out more details.

    my web page - viagra online

    ReplyDelete