Tela Beauty Organics, where have you been all my wavy-haired life? Both your Healer product (leave-in conditioner) and Encore (styling creme) work wonders. Gisele Bundchen and Jennifer Anniston — step aside, girls (lol)! Here comes Karen’s hair!
If you have naturally curly or wavy hair and, like me, can’t or won’t use hair products that contain silicone, you probably struggle to find silicone-free leave-in conditioners and de-frizzing products in which dimethicone or amodimethicone aren’t listed near the top of the list of ingredients. In the hair care industry, it seems like silicone is everywhere you turn.
What’s so bad about silicone? Well, nothing according to the cosmetics industry, but theirs isn’t the only opinion. Silicone coats hair, protecting it from heat damage, and makes hair shiny and smooth.
But others warn that overuse of silicone-containing hair products forces the hair cuticle out of position, potentially killing it and leading to hair thinning and loss.
Most experts agree that occasional use of quality brands shouldn’t lead to long term problems with hair.
With Healer and Encore, Tela Beauty Organics has solved the silicone dilemma in a novel way. They don’t use it. Neither Healer nor Encore contain silicones, and both products create smooth, silky hair. The catch (there’s always one)? Price. Available exclusively at Barneys New York, Healer costs a whopping $48 for a 1.6-oz. bottle, and Encore will set you back $45 for a 1-oz jar. All together now: “OUCH!”
Both products are expensive, but they also work very well.
Healer is a leave-in treatment that repairs hair and damaged ends. I have really thick hair and found that I had to use about a silver dollar-sized amount, massaging it throughout my hair after getting out of the shower. Then, using my fingertips and a wide-toothed comb, I worked a pea-sized amount of Encore’s styling paste in, particularly at the ends to reduce frizz, and air dried.
Tela Beauty Organics Healer
Price: $48 for a 1.6-oz. bottle
Use: To repair hair and damaged ends, and to create smooth, loose waves
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
Tela Beauty Organics Encore
Price: $45 for a 1-oz. jar
Use: To smooth ends and reduce frizz
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A
Tela’s products turn my frizzy, hard-to-tame mess into loose, touchable waves. Not only do I think my hair looks shinier, but the ends, in particular, behave better and don’t stick out in different directions like they usually do. Both Healer and Encore contain a light, lavender scent, which lasts throughout the day. Both products are USDA certified organic, too.
Although I wish Healer and Encore were cheaper and easier to find, my hair hasn’t looked this good in a long time.
Learn more about Tela Organic’s Healer and Encore at Barneys New York.
It’s barely 9:30 in the morning and I’m craving Thai food something fierce. Is that weird? Vegetable pad Thai and a tall glass of Thai iced tea would really hit the spot right now…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
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Tekoa says
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 amHeh. You have the opposite hair type than me. My hair is uber fine and as flat as the Saskatchewan praries. Oh yes, AND oily.
Is Thai iced tea different than regular iced tea?
Karen says
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:16 amHi Tekoa,
Yep, total hair opposites. Do you go for volumizing products?
Thai iced tea is different — the tea by itself is a very rich tea black tea, and then it’s sweetened with condensed milk. It’s really delicious and refreshing on a hot day.
Glosslizard says
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 amThose sound so nice! I would love to try the Healer, but I’ll have to wait and ask for it for Christmas! Meanwhile I’ll stick with my beloved Oscar Blandi products which probably use silicones, but are more affordable and work quite nicely for me (no hair falling out yet)!
Mmmmmmmmmmm, Thai iced tea! 🙂
Karen says
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:43 pmHi Glosslizard,
Yah, I know for some people silicones are really the hair gods’ gift to womankind! Gotta say you make that Oscar Blandi stuff sound pretty great.
I had to rush out the house to work so no Thai iced tea for me, boo hoo!
Marisol says
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:39 pmThese products sound like a dream but a bit much on the wallet.
Thai food sounds delish.
Marisols last blog post..P.S. I Love You
Karen says
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pmHi Marisol,
Yeah, I wish they were cheaper, too. The price doesn’t compare to my Freeman conditioner, which is a heavenly 3 bucks.
I’m still craving veggie pad Thai. I want some with really crunchy broccoli!
Jess says
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:54 pmHoly craparino these are way too expensive for me…. $48 for conditioner, that is not going to happen.
Glosslizard says
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:32 pmWell, if you ever want to try out Oscar, they’re very generous about gooping some of the hair stuff into the little pots at Sephora! One use, no risk! 🙂
Aaw, maybe Thai ice tea tomorrow!
Miss QQ says
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:56 pmLooks like I need both of them. I have wavy hair and the climate here makes my hair very frizzy too. It is worth the price since it doesn’t contain silicone. Thanks, Karen.
BeautyGirl says
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:01 pmTela is awesome! I bought Healer and Melody (shampoo/conditioner) from Barneys.com and only use it now. The price is high, but well worth it… no petro/paraben stuff, all real ingredients and organic – I love it! Just wish it was easier to get… Sephora or Ulta need to sell it.
Jessica says
June 24th, 2008 at 7:59 amMmm … Thai iced tea …
Jessicas last blog post..America’s Finest City
Dao says
June 24th, 2008 at 9:41 amMy hair is the opposite of yours: stick straight Asian hair! I’ve been using different brands of volumizing shampoos but Rusk full rocks my world right now. Tekoa, you should give it a try. Thai tea is awesome, I tried to make it at home but I’m not so lucky. However, I can make Indian chai without breaking a sweat.
Karen says
June 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pmHi Jess,
Yeah, girl, it ain’t budget friendly. I’m so going to the drugstore tomorrow to look for some cheaper options.
Karen says
June 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pmHi Glosslizard,
Sounds like a plan! I’ll probably be going this Friday so after I check out the ingredient list I may just be heading into Oscar sample heaven. 🙂
Karen says
June 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pmHi Miss QQ,
You’re welcome, girlie! I’ll be heading to the drugstore tomorrow to look for some cheaper alternatives. Maybe I’ll find something a bit more budget friendly. 🙂
I didn’t know you had wavy hair! What products do you like?
Karen says
June 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pmHi BeautyGirl,
I think I want to try the conditioner next. Is it heavy on your hair?
Karen says
June 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pmHi Jessica,
RIGHT? I’m still lemming Thai tea!
Karen says
June 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pmHi Dao,
Ooooo… how do you make chai? Details, girl!