HerCut Catalyst - I Tried It! (and haven't had to wash my hair in 5 days!)

by Courtney Dunlop (Subscribe to Courtney Dunlop's posts)
Posted Feb 17th 2010 at 8:00AM

HerCut Catalysts teach your hair to behave! Photo courtesy of HerCut

When StyleList first reported on HerCut -- which is a line of styling catalysts designed to enhance your hair cut -- I thought it sounded gimmicky and, I'll be honest, I had doubts.

But at a recent press appointment, hair stylist and HerCut brand ambassador Kyan Douglas (from Queer Eye!) explained the technology behind the products to me and my doubts were replaced by curiosity.

Here's how the product works: You choose your catalyst based on your cut -- bob, pixie, shag, blunt cut or long layers -- and apply it to towel-dried damp hair from roots to ends before you use anything else, and then you blow dry.

In fact you have to blow dry because the products' molecules are heat activated and won't do anything if you air dry.

Each style catalyst has a unique molecule structure that reacts to enhance the cut, e.g. they give bobs weighted, forward movement or piece-y separation to shags.

"You get the look of the first day of your hair cut throughout the life of the cut," Kyan explained. "These products understand what your hair stylist was doing when he or she cut your hair."

Hmm. Ok.

So here's the thing: I hate washing my hair and will do anything possible to keep my hair looking good for as long as possible. Around day four my long layers start to clump together and look stringy.

I used HerCut Normal-Dry Shampoo and Light Conditioner, followed by the Long Layers Catalyst (side note: I was worried that their explicit directions to "apply from roots to ends" would make me greasy, but it didn't) and my layers look swingy and un-clumpy -- and I'm on day five. I'm going to see just how long I can coast!

HerCut is available at Sephora and if you need your own tutorial from Kyan catch him on QVC this Thursday, February 17 between 1 - 2 pm EST.

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Filed under: Hair Care, Cuts & Style, Beauty, Hair
Tags: hair cut, hair styles, HairCut, HairStyles, hercut, I tried it, ITriedIt, kyan douglas, KyanDouglas, qvc, sephora

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READER COMMENTS

(57)Add A Comment

SailorKnightWing, 2-20-2010, 8:20PM

Might have to try this, depending on the cost. My hair reaches my waist so I don't wash it often either. But does it take texture into account? What will it do to my oily curls?

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Marie R., 2-20-2010, 10:22PM

Mine is also waist length without layering, so I don't shampoo very often either, sometimes going a week, depending on how it looks and if we have a social occasion to attend. And water is so bad for your hair. Most people don't know that. I also use a leave in conditioner, not the one in this article, but I've been using it for years and have found it to be wonderful and doesn't make my hair greasy looking even after a few days of not washing. I read some famous women who admit that they go a week without washing their hair, so we aren't alone. I know for a fact it's much healthier to not shampoo freqently. The shampoo strips natural oils needed for a heathly scalp and in the end that is how so many senior women end up with very thin hair or even outright baldness. I'd rather have dirty hair than no hair at all.

Monique, 2-20-2010, 8:22PM

Wow! Not washing hair for 5 days must really smell bad. Many people don't realize you scalp is a breeding ground for yeast. Uck!

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Marie R., 2-20-2010, 10:34PM

Not true. My hair never smells unless I get something in it or on it. People who wash their hair every day or every other day are doing a disservice to their scalp. Ask any hair stylist. They will tell you that too much washing is very bad for your hair in the long run.

HollyG, 2-20-2010, 10:38PM

Also, bathing (or showering), and washing your hair are certainly not the same. I agree it's very gross to go too long between bathing, but I pin my hair up when I shower to keep it dry if I feel it doesn't need washing. The body needs to be washed regularly but the scalp suffers if washed too often.

tomsmom62, 2-20-2010, 11:37PM

Actually, Monique people with dry frizzy hair are recommended to wash once a week. But I can agree with you on it may smell but only if it were oily hair. : )

Erika, 2-21-2010, 4:14AM

I have frizzy hair, and I go 2-3 days without washing and I have found that my frizz is less, when I go in between without washing my hair. I also find that I dont have as much dandruff as when I used to wash my hair daily. And my hair doesnt smell after 2-3 days unless I have worked and sweated, then I wash my hair.

cheri, 2-20-2010, 8:25PM

Do you need to keep putting it in everyday or just once for it to work for days??

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Curious, 2-20-2010, 8:36PM

When I was growing up we washed our hair once a week. I can't name one person who didn't do the same. I was raised in a very affluent area of St. Louis so I wasn't poor. My dad was a business owner and in the medical field so it's not like we were uneducated. That was the way it was in the 1950's and 1960's. We didn't have 1000's of products to wash our hair daily or feel the need to do so. I still only wash my hair every 4 or 5 days now unless I get all sweaty working in the yard. And ya know what? I have never had anyone complain about it either!

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Hey Marie! Howdy, 2-21-2010, 4:57AM

Curious - Same when I was growing up. We actually really had a bath and washed our hair only on Saturday night, No one complained, we weren't dirty and of course only had a few shampoos, creme rinse (if mom even bought it) and hair spray for my mom only. Every summer our mom would put baby oil on our hair and scalp and we'd have to leave it on for 2 days. My guess is that it was to condition our scalps after the summer heat before school started? Anyway, people are too "overly washed" these days which explains so many with dried out skin and such. I'm not saying that anyone should smell bad, but IMO it's all over-done these days especially with all the chemicals that are in products these days. Unless you work a must shower every day job like construction or anything strenuous like going to gym, showering/bathing/hair washing doesn't HAVE to be a daily thing. Less also really does save your hair, scalp, and skin.

Aida, 2-20-2010, 8:43PM

I recall something similar back in the '70's, it was called "Psssssst" and the commercial lady stated that even though she couldn't pronounce it, that it worked. I tried it once, and never tried it again.

Gimmicks!

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Shanna, 2-20-2010, 8:55PM

I only wash my hair every 2-3 days. Washing your hair daily strips it of the natural oils. Which leaves your hair dry and frizzy. I think 5 days is totally pushing it. I wear my hair up so after 3 days it still smells like I just washed it, but wearing it down after 5 days; I can't imagine that would smell pleasant. I don't believe in any of these hair products. Every product states that it works great; it's like a miracle cure!! Whether I use SunSilk, Herbal Essence or Suave my hair is exactly the same!!

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mamalee, 2-20-2010, 9:31PM

You are soooo right!

Shannon, 2-20-2010, 8:52PM

Funny, I remember in the eighties and early nineties reading from a textbook in German class that Elke only washed her hair every nine days. We were all like, "Ewwww!" but since the German textbook was from the early seventies, I guess this was a common practice then. Personally, I can't imagine going five days without washing my hair. After the second day, my hair starts to smell musty. I don't know if other people can smell it or it's just in my head, but that odor really bothers me so I must wash my hair every day. Back when I worked in the nursing home though, they used to only shower the residents every three days, and I smelled the same musty odor on my resident's heads by the third day.

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Shanna, 2-20-2010, 8:58PM

Old people just naturally smell musty to me. Alot of old people believe that since they aren't sweating that they don't stink. They usually don't wear deodorant or bathe often. I can't imagine your hair smelling that bad after 2 days! lol

WyoHoopsFan, 2-20-2010, 9:51PM

You are correct about nursing home patients unfortuately. Patients on medicaid only get showers twice weekly - this is all medicaid will pay for. Private-pay residents are permitted to shower daily, however. Lovely system, isn't it!

JJ, 2-20-2010, 9:16PM

Shanna, your comment that old people all smell musty is just plain rude. I do not know one old person who smells musty. In fact they smell better than most youner people. They DO take the time to bathe daily and everyone I know uses deodorant. Where did you grow up?? You should be ashamed of yourself for such a nasty comment. I wonder how you will smell when you get old????

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