Yet Another Questionable Texture Release component

Avlon's Texture Release Thermal Protecting Mist

I decided to open this spray and discovered solid particles inside which I question if it is mold?  The batch code is 14F2704.  Outside of the shampoo that comes in the Texture Release kit, everything else has become instable.  I have documented another Avlon product with mold growth on this blog before.

http://phenomenalhair.blogspot.com/2012/03/keracare-intensive-restorative-masque.html

I am sure that Avlon wants the best for its customers, and I am sure they are desiring to correct any defects.

I just caution people to definitely pay attention to the Texture Release kit products.  I am convinced that the Texture Release launch has been a failure.

March 2016 Update:  The bottle contents started to smell.

This dark liquid came from this bottle.  In the trash it goes!

Texture Release Curl Shape and Shine Cream Review

Avlon Texture Release Curl Shape and Shine Cream comes in the Texture Release System kit.  

In the past, it has worked well for "wash and go" final styling.  Except now, this new jar seems to be stiff and expired.  Can you see my fingerprint?  I don't remember any other hair product  but edge gel leaving this much of an indentation of a fingertip.

This new jar was just opened and unsealed, and I have no idea what has made the entire contents stiff.  Avlon really was premature to market with its Texture Release line.  It has been one disappointment after the next with this kit.

Thermal Reconditioning with the Basic Hair Care System

I finally experienced an "express" smoothing treatment application that was easy, quick, and it delivered fantastic results.  The Basic Hair Care System's One Step Treatment worked as "easy as pie."  I found the perfect match of hair texture for the system.

Healthy Hair by Benita Blocker, 2015

My model's hair was treated with the Avlon Texture Release System back in December 2014. The results were documented in a different article on this blog.  We decided to try the  Basic One Step Smoothing Treatment this trial, and it was "like heaven."  I believe the Avlon Texture Release system was too heavy of a product for her hair.  The Basic Smoothing system is a lightweight foam, and it made the whole process simple without even going under the platform dryer.

This is my model's "before" picture.  Again, nine months ago, we completed the Avlon Texture Release thermal reconditioning system.  Her resistant curl pattern did not lose its curl. Her cuticle is overall smooth in texture. She finds that heavy oils dry her hair out which is probably why the Avlon Texture Release system did not style very well for her.  That system is a Royal Jelly based system.  The Basic One Step Treatment is a much lighter product; so styling was phenomenal.  We were very pleased with the results.

The left side was a blow dry without any leave-in conditioners.  The right side was a blow dry with the Basic One Step Treatment Foam already applied.  After I applied the foam to both sides, I let her sit at room temperature with a plastic cap for 20 minutes.

Then we blow dried the "foam processed" hair again.  No rinse required.  The Basic Hair Care System Smoothing Treatment requires two blow dry services but only ONE ironing service.

Healthy Hair by Benita Blocker

I flat ironed and curled using the Paul Mitchell Smoothing (flat) iron.  The hair did not smoke.  We achieved incredible shine.  Based on Design Essentials education, flat irons are recommended for smoothing treatments to avoid removing the smoothing product from off the hair.  The conventional stove and marcel irons are discouraged because the direct heat may work against the smoothing treatment for maintenance purposes.

As much as I wanted to resist using the flat irons, this natural hair movement has forced me back to flat iron use as required by smoothing treatments.

Disclaimer:  The results from these smoothing treatments will vary based on the texture and porosity of the hair that you are working with. My model wanted smooth curly hair versus bone straight styling.  The treatment is said to last up to 20 shampoos. The results will vary.

Avlon's Texture Release Update

July 2015 Class - This type 3c Hair Model's Quadrants have been misted with the Texture Release Spray in picture above.  Type 1 or Type 2 curl patterns are not recommended as a good match for this procedure.

July 2015 class - all quadrants have been combed through and the model is ready for "deep conditioning" time.

If clients do not alternate between wash n' go and straight, then no, blow-drying nor ironing is needed for wash n' go hair.  That was the be biggest change in directions compared to the July 2014 class.  The class material still showed a lotion versus a spray for product application.  So no updated literature was available at this class.  The instructor did confirm that too much product/lotion was used on the model in the July 2014 class.  I wished they would have notified the students from the July 2014 class of the errors and  changes.  Without attending this class update a year later, I still would not have known that the platform artist was in error.  

But, on a separate note, I did not stay over for the finished look for this model only because the model's hair was NOT a resistant hair type.  I was really hoping for a model with type 4 - kinky curly hair, but I am willing to try the spray out again.

Final Review: Avlon Texture Release New Formula

 The new formula of the Avlon Texture Release system is in a spray bottle. Pictured above is the new bottle versus the old squeeze bottle.

My client's hair is resistant based on the amount of shrinkage that she has, but her curl pattern is a 4a/4b in various areas.

 My client is natural, and she maintains her own hair at home.  Her hairstyling is the results of a twist-out.

 This is another "before" picture of my client's hair from the back.  Again, her hair elongation is from a twist-out.

 Pictured above is her hair after the Avlon Texture Release service.  Her results are silky but not bone straight.  Due to the fact that she has resistant hair, the Texture Release system serves more as a texturizer. This is the finished product as far as straightness is concerned.  A titanium plate ionic flat iron was used to achieve this look.

My client and I were pleased with the final results and pleased that her hair is going to be more manageable for her own home maintanence.

As far as my personal preference, I just purchased another smoothing system that I have yet to try.  The Brazilian Blowout system really spoiled me from a simplicity standpoint, but it scared me from a health standpoint.

The Avlon Texture Release system is designed to be healthy for the professional who works with it, but it took three and half hours to complete this service.

I am hoping that the new smoothing system that I just got shipped in by yet another company will be a happy medium between healthy application and a quicker process.

Special thanks to my model/client Sierra!

Avlon's Texture Release System: Original Formula

 Hair by Benita Blocker, October 2014

I used the original formula of the KeraCare Texture Release Smoothing System with this client.  Having been trained on the Brazilian Blowout smoothing treatment, I found the application phase of the Texture Release system to be slower and more difficult than the Brazilian Blowout formula.  However, I also experienced a nose bleed assuming it came from excessive exposure to an original formula of the Brazilian Blowout solution. 

I did get fumes from the Texture Release System, but apparently, because this old formula is a concentrated petroleum base product, it caused a haze in the salon. 

 Side view before smoothing treatment.

My client's mom explained that my client's hair is a mixture of Mexican and Black.  So thickness and curliness are both full throttle.  Luckily, my client says she likes "big hair" but she needed more control.

 Hair by Benita Blocker, October 2014

Application time was an hour to get the Texture Release from root to end throughout the head.  Flat ironing was another hour or more.  Typically, Brazilian Blowout would require a final water rinse and masque and another blowdry style phase.  KeraCare Texture Release does NOT require another water rinse, but there is a gamble that the client could be sensitive to the Texture Release System.  Avlon Industries' test salon actually recommends a "patch test" on the day before for anyone that has sensitive skin.  I told them that I did not realize that the system rose to a patch test level.

I hope to get my hands on the new Texture Release kit soon.  Apparently, the Thermal Protection spray will be less concentrated, and the smoothing solution is going to be in a spray bottle.  I actually like the origninal formula of the Thermal Protection Spray so I am going to be dissappointed that another good thing will be gone.

Back view before smoothing treatment.

My client was pleased with the service. I felt that it was a little oily than what I would prefer, but the extra oil will disappear with her next wash. We just considered it as a hot oil treatment.

Also, a note to the hairstylists, the chemical smell of the Texture Release system lingered on my clothes and hands.  My cover-ups have to be laundered after performing this Texture Release service.  I hope the smell from the new Texture Release formula is better.  This original formula does not smell worse than a "curly perm," but it is a strong second as far as I am concerned.

When I get to try the new formula of the Texture Release system, then I plan to add a separate article on this blog about it.  Until then, stay tuned.  Thanks for following me!

Breaking News: Update on Avlon's Texture Release System

With a client in my chair for the Texture Release System service, I discovered the Releasing Lotion was NO LONGER a creamy consistency.  It was a runny liquid!  I had not exposed it to heat nor elements.  I was dumbfound.  I told the client that something was wrong.  Luckily,

• The client appointment was happening early enough in the afternoon that  it was still Avlon Industries business hours.
• A live person answered Avlon Industries telephone so I could explain that this was an emergency with a client in my chair regarding their Texture Release System.
• Avlon Industries was able to get the Director of Education on the phone to speak to me.
• Avlon Industries was already aware of this "bump" in the road.

So in the future, the Texture Release Lotion will be in a spray bottle because the solution went back to its original form.  I was instructed to pour the liquid from my lotion bottle into a spray bottle as seen in the picture above.  Everything else was the same.

The application of this runny liquid was messy, and I had to apply to client with her head reclined at the shampoo bowl because there is no way to control the application area.

The good news is that the results still worked!

The system is heat activated so I blow dried and used a small curling iron to straighten the hairline as well as run the hot curling iron carefully along the shorter hair to smooth out the texture.  Then I re-wet one side in the picture above to show you the straightness.  This client has relaxed ends, and we were trying to push out her relaxer frequency by performing the Texture Release procedure.  She is a roller set client, and I performed the Texture release around her perimeter hairline in front, nape, and sides only.

Based on feedback from a different Texture Release client, the system made her non-relaxed hair more manageable and tangle-free, but it did not control her swelling of her hair. So I decided only to test the system on the perimeter hairline for this client to see how it works for her.  If it works for her, then we will perform the Texture Release System through her entire head of hair.  So I will have to update everyone again in a few more months.

Unleashing Avlon's Texture Release!

 If you are ready to come out of the relaxer or the thio based body wave (Wave Nouveau, etc), then Avlon's Texture Release system may be perfect for you!

In my opinion, it is a "cousin" to the "Diva Smooth" process (separate blog article) and healthier than those keratin smoothing treatments.

It is a temporary curl elongation.  It is a hair filler that is heat activated and offers you wash n`go styling or just frizz-free straightness for up to about 10 weeks depending on the hair type.  My salon (Applebaum Salon) now offers this service.  The pictures in this article are from my training class.

 Avlon's Texture Release system is a Nano Technology. There is NO formaldehyde NOR any type of aldehyde deriative.  There are no fumes as you flat iron.  It has NOT been tested on children.  So this system like any other hair chemical is for those past puberty.

The two models have been shampooed and dried.  Their hair texture is VERY SOFT.  Their curl pattern is a Type 4, but they do NOT have resistant hair.

 Color correction or any color services should be done a week after this Texture Release service to avoid fading your color or removing the color.  The lotion should not be applied to the scalp but if the scalp comes in contact with the product then it is not life threatening.

 The blow dry service is what starts the activation of this system.  The client has to be blown dry first then they can be re-wet for a wash and go styling or "hot ironed" for straighter results.

 When re-wetting the blown dry hair, allow the curl memory to come back.  It may take a little longer to curl up, but it will start to wave in about five or 10 minutes.

There is a Curl, Shape and Shine Cream for "wash and go" styling which was used section by section to crunch this model for final styling.

The other longer haired model at the beginning of this article was flat ironed at 400 degrees with 2 to 3 passes of the flat iron.

I am really excited about this product. It is double the price of the relaxer service, but it qualifies as a healthier version of the smoothing treatments on the market.

I will try to post more feedback from my own clients as I get more people on the system.