Review: New L'Oreal EverStyle Texture Series Tousle Creme

In the beginning of January, L'Oreal released three new EverStyle products: Tousle Creme, Beach Waves Spray and Energizing Dry Shampoo (click here for pics and info). I purchased both the Beach Waves Spray and Tousle Creme the moment I spotted them at the drugstore (I haven't found the dry shampoo yet but I will definitely purchase/review that product as soon as I find it, since you know I have a thing for dry shampoos!).

Today I'd like to show you the new Tousle Creme, which I've been using for a few weeks now.

New L'Oreal EverStyle Texture Series Tousle Creme

(retail: around $6.99, 5.1 oz)

Keep reading for my full review...

 

Exactly what is a tousle creme? Well it's just a fancy way of saying "texturizing cream" really. If you're looking for some definition and separation without the heaviness of a wax or pomade, a tousle creme could be a great option for you. What drew me to this product in particular is that it claims to be pliable (I can't stand it when my waves look crunchy or--worse yet--greasy) and also that it's free of "drying alcohols."

The label also states that this formula is vegan and not tested on animals.

This product comes in a standard flip-top squeeze tube, and the consistency of the product itself is thin and gel-like:

Here's a photo of my hair taken without any styling products (I just let my hair air-dry straight out of the shower):

No product (air-dried)

And here's what my hair looks like after using L'Oreal EverStyle Tousle Creme and allowing my hair to air-dry:

With L'Oreal EverStyle Tousle Creme (air-dried)

As you can see, this product does not really enhance my natural curls or make my hair more curly (nor does it claim to!). But what does it do? Well I think it gives my natural waves nice uniformity and it also gives my hair some good definition and texture, and also some frizz control. I have that "piecey" thing going on for sure, but at the same time it's not weighing my hair down or making it look crunchy. If you look toward the ends of my hair, you can see that there are a few segments that look a little "stuck together" but you really have to be looking for those pieces. Overall, my hair doesn't look greasy when I'm using this product and, more importantly, it doesn't add grease to my already-oily hair.

The texture of this product is like a thin, almost-watery gel. It's quite easy to distribute through the hair and I've had no problems with application whatsoever. I use about a nickle-size amount for my long hair and that seems to do the trick (if you have thick or coarse hair, you'll probably need a bit more). I've been applying it almost every day to my towel-dried hair, and I find that all I really need to do is give my hair a few light scrunches and then just allow my hair to air-dry to get the results you see above. I do think that a hair dryer would ruin the texturizing effect of this product, but that's the case for every texturizing creme I've ever used.

The fragrance of this product is, well, divine. It has a spicy "floriental" type of vibe, which was a beautiful surprise (for some reason I expected this product to have a generic "clean" fragrance to it). I swear, if L'Oreal sold this fragrance in a body mist I would buy it and wear it daily.

This might be for you if... 

....you're looking for a product to give your hair some added texture and "piecey-ness" without weighing it down. If you're trying to avoid crunchiness and/or greasiness and your hair is medium-to-fine in texture, this product will probably give you the control and definition you need, without any of the crunch or grease. And if you like spicy floriental fragrances, I think you might fall in love with the fragrance of this product.

This might not be for you if...  

...you're looking for a product that will enhance curls or give more curl to your hair. This product does not claim to do anything for curls, so if you have curly or wavy hair, it will only give your hair texture, definition and uniformity--no curl enhancement. Also, if you have thick, coarse hair, this formula might not give you as much control as those with medium-fine hair. So if you're looking for a product to do double-duty (texturize and control frizz) you might find yourself reaching for an extra frizz-control product to use in addition to this one. Also, if you absolutely must use a hair dryer every day, you probably won't get the maximum effect of this product, as it's best for hair that's going to be air-dried. Lastly, if you don't care for spicy floriental fragrances, you might want to pass on this one.

FINAL VERDICT: I have fine hair (but a lot of it) that's oily at the roots, dry at the ends and naturally wavy. If your hair is similar to mine, I'm willing to bet this product is going to work quite well for you. If your hair is not like mine, then just be sure that you know what you want going into it, if you're going to try this product. If you're not trying to make your hair more curly and you're just looking for texture and definition without crunch or grease, then this might be the product for you. It doesn't weigh down my hair or make it feel (or look) greasy or crunchy, while at the same it gives my strands a nice "piecey" look. Those with thick, coarse hair might need to use an additional frizz-control product in addition to this product, if frizz is a concern (on my fine hair, it does a nice job at controlling frizz). And the fragrance just seals the deal for me--it smells so lovely that I can't stop sniffing my hair whenever I use it.

Have you tried any of the new L'Oreal EverStyle styling products? Thoughts? Please Check back soon for my review of the new L'Oreal EverStyle Beach Spray!