Alterna Bamboo UV+ Color Protection review
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase.
Dyers rejoice: These colors won’t run.
photo: we heart this
I change my hair like I change my nail polish – sometimes I just want to mix things up for awhile. Since hair is one of the first things that people notice, changing your hair color can make you seem like a whole different person. Making a change like that instantaneously tells other people something about your attitude in the present moment, something about who you are now that’s different from who you were before.
Actress Julia Roberts likens the color of her hair to the color of a mood ring: it indicates how she’s feeling to other people without saying a word. And when you’re making statements like that, a little care is necessary to ensure that you’re being perfectly clear.
And that’s where the Green Monday approved hair care gurus at Alterna come to the rescue. Their BAMBOO UV+ Color Protection line was created to preserve your latest color while nourishing your hair. Plus, like all Alterna products, this line is formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, phthalates, GMOs or triclosan.
My hair has endured a bit of trauma in trying to get my latest message right. I recently dyed my hair black, and then not long after, decided to dye it red. It ended up a rusty orangey brownish red. And while it looked alright, it was definitely NOT what I was trying to say. That color said, “I’m not sure what I’m trying to do with my hair. This may or may not have been intentional.”
What I wanted was red. Really, really red.Cherry red. Rihanna red. Fire engine red. A shade of red that says, “Yes, my hair really is this color. No, you probably don’t see it around too often. But just let your eyes drink in the awesomeness.” So I had it dyed again, and it was perfect.
But that perfection would be short lived unless I gave my hair a lot of TLC, since the bleach did a little damage, and red hair color is notorious for fading fast. Fortunately, I had just received a box of Bamboo UV+ Color Protection products for review.
This line not only helps keep color vibrant it also protects your hair from UVA/UVB rays and soothes damage from the hair coloring process. Containing fairly traded, ethically sourced Certified Organic ingredients, these products all use bamboo extract to strengthen hair and feature and a rinse-resistant UVA/UVB.
I found that the Vibrant Color Shampoo ($20) does a fantastic job of gently cleaning hair without stripping your hair of color, while the Vibrant Color Conditioner ($20) lightly moisturizes. Both of these products have a fresh green scent that livens up my shower.
For those, like me, that have really put their hair through the ringer, the Rehab Deep Hydration Masque ($24) gives colored hair an extra dose of moisture. With the same yummy scent as the shampoo and conditioner, this rich masque uses Kalahari Melon extract (which is in all four products) to soften hair and lock in color
The Fade-Proof Fluide ($24) adds shine and enhances your hair color, while preventing UV damage and fading. This lightweight oil smells deliciously sweet and tropical. Applied to damp hair before blow drying it adds another layer of protection from damaging rays.
Pros:
• Nice packaging.
• The shampoo cleans hair without removing color.
• Products protect without leaving hair heavy or greasy.
• These will last awhile – a little goes a long way.
Cons:
• A little spendy.
• The lid of the Masque container is difficult to open with wet hands.
• Fluide was only moderately effective in adding shine and soothing frizzes.
photo: marilyn for we heart this
Overall, I’m really impressed by Alterna’s BAMBOO UV+ Color Protection products. They’ve worked a small miracle on my slightly over-processed hair. There is a bit of red dye leaching out of my hair when I shower, but that’s inevitable. What’s important is that my hair looks healthy, feels strong and as you can see above is still really close to the vibrant shade of red that it was when I first dyed it.
Alterna is a company that’s unapologetically making a statement that what’s good for the environment and what’s good for your hair are not mutually exclusive.
Marilyn is a makeup maniac and slow but stubborn runner. She loves color coding her day planner, reading celebrity gossip and drinking good wine. Marilyn blogs about makeup and fitness over at her blog, Lipgloss and Spandex.
Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. It also contains an affiliate link, a link that gives us a small commission if you purchase the item. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.
Well, just last week I had my hair blown out at Pure Beauty and they used BAMBOO UV+ Color Protection products on my hair.. It rocked all weekend long!! I was first turned onto this AMAZING line by WHT sometime ago with thier Caviar Anti-Aging Overnight Hair Rescue. which I loved entirely. Than after getting a few keratin treatments, I needed to find something that was without parabens, sulfates, so currently I’m using Alterna’s Caviar Anti Aging Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner! I am so happy to have found a line that is so good for my hair in general! Great review and I will be getting some of these soon since I color my hair every dang month!
LOVE the hair color, I tried it over the summer, with teal extensions for added oomph, but I just wasn’t feeling it. Now I’m back to my usual, the crown of my hair is a nice dark brown and everything else is pinky/magenta. I’m very interested in trying the shampoo and conditioner, and probably the mask as well. I’ve had to switch to getting my hair done at the salon since I developed some chemical allergies… Too many years of changing my hair color every week. I’ll can’t wait to look these up.
Thanks, Shaya! It’s a really fun color :) The shampoo and conditioner are great for any kind of color treated hair. It really is amazing that they’re so gentle yet do a good job of cleaning my hair (especially since I have an oily scalp).
You had me at bamboo…so plentiful a plant with so many green uses! I’ll def put this on my “To Try” list.
I would love to try this one! Sounds like it works amazingly well with color treated hair!
I love, love your hair color Marilyn! It is beautiful! And these products sound fabulous. I am always looking for products to protect my color.
Aw, thanks Kellie! :)
I’m seriously amazed by the shampoo and conditioner. I’ve tried some pretty nice products, and really loved my last shampoo (until it caused my haircolor to wash down the drain)! My standards are pretty high, and not many products make my hair feel “clean” enough, even before I colored my hair, because I have an oily scalp. And since I’ve colored (and now recolored) my hair red, I thought it would be even more difficult to find the perfect products, since I’m trying to avoid washing it too frequently, to maintain the color. This means that when I do wash my hair, my shampoo and conditioner really need to get my hair VERY clean, but without wrecking the color. The Alterna Bamboo UV+ Color Protection line does that perfectly. Yes, a little color does still come out. But instead of looking drab and dull, the color is still bright and true (although a little faded). And the easy squeeze bottles are so cute and practical too. The masque is very conditioning–if you have fine hair, go easy on it! It’s quite rich and moisturizing. However, it didn’t seem like there were many applications in one jar, which decreased the value for me. The Fade-Proof Fluide wasn’t the best value either, because it took quite a bit of product to get noticeable shine or for it to tame my frizz. However, that may be beneficial to those with fine hair, because it’s hard to over-do it. I do like that it doesn’t weight down my hair, like some serums. Overall, I’d give these products four stars out of five. The price is a bit spendy, but the shampoo and conditioner are totally worth it. The masque and fluide are worth a try for those with thin hair, but don’t give me enough bang for my buck.
I’m a total chicken when it comes to coloring my hair because all the processing tends to leave me with broken straw for strands. But then, I’ve never been able to find a product line that could really breathe the life back into my hair! Maybe it’s time to try again, I’ve been feeling the itch to add some spark to my look. Highlights and BAMBOO UV+ to keep it healthy? Yes, please!
I love Alterna products and these sound like must-haves! If I’m going to spring for color, it makes sense to protect my investment with the best products available. I’ll be checking this line out for sure. And your color is beautiful, @lipglossandspandex !
@lipglossandspandex – your hair color is AMAZING! Thanks for the great review. If anything can keep red in your hair, it’s got to be good.
Thanks @Stef and @turboterp! I’m so glad I finally got up the courage to dye it, and I’m even happier that I have good products to maintain it (because it takes a LOT of work to get it this color).
ok so just like marilyn i have ( for about 2-3 weeks) that color red and before you know it after maybe a wash or two my hair becomes this brown. brassy. orangy color. soooo this product does seem very appealing and i am very excitedf to try it out. so im due for a touch up the 28th of feb. i will let you know how it works and how i feel about it. bc i have tried everything to keep the vibrancy and health and i know i have to upkeep red bc its a hard color but seriously every 3 weeks to the salon. crosses fingers- i hope it does me justice =]