After Some Trial and Error, I've Fallen in Love With This Curl-Preserving Spray
I have been trying to figure out what to do with my hair for awhile. I wore it clipped up for pretty much all of 2020 and 2021, and when I decided to wear my hair down and do something with it in 2022, I had no idea what to do. I was a hot roller fan for years, but when I moved here I switched to just curling my hair with a flat iron. I don’t know if my hair changed or if my preference changed and I no longer liked how my hair looked when I curled it, but my hair would look how I wanted for like, an hour, and then it would just fall flat. I tried different products, styling tools, and even changed my haircut! Nothing was getting me the results I wanted. But I know a solution is out there and I’m not giving up. That’s why, when I saw this TikTok, I knew I was buying whatever this creator was selling.
@christinacarlssoncoif I honestly didn’t know this experiment would work so well 🧪💯 #hairstylistsoftiktok #hairstylistproblems #hairstylistlife #hairtok #pov #behindthechair #learnontiktok #stepbystep #productreview #beautyhacks #styletips #amika #beforeandafter ♬ original sound - CC Coif
A heat protectant up to 450 degrees AND style preservation through sweat and humidity?? I ordered myself a can of Amika’s The Shield immediately. I went across town to pick it up from the only Sephora that had it in stock, I couldn’t possibly wait days for a delivery (plus it was sold out online). This is the part where I’m supposed to tell you it’s a miracle, that I can’t live without it, that I only have good hair days now. None of that happened. BUT, I still love The Shield and would absolutely repurchase. There’s just a learning curve.
My first two attempts at using The Shield, I was curling it with a flat iron (but a 1.5” flat iron, not my usual 1”). I would take a section of hair I wanted to curl, spray it with The Shield, then curl in the flat iron. I did this for every section, all over my head, and then went on my way.
Before going out
After coming home
Not only do I look like I survived a light horror movie (I just went to dinner!), my slight waves are nowhere to be seen. BUT, do you see that one piece on my right side when I got home? That only remaining curl gave me hope, and I tried again. This time, i used hot rollers. I also watched more TikToks of folks using The Shield to give me some ideas, and I had not one, but two big a-ha moments. First: I didn’t spray each section of hair, instead opting for a light spray over my whole head, dividing my hair horizontally so that every layer was covered. I did this about three times (roughly: nape of neck, middle of head across ears, crown). Then I put in my rollers, waited till they were cool, took them out (and did not touch my hair!!), sprayed with hairspray, THEN brushed out. The results were significantly better.
Before
After
The curls fell a little, but still clearly curly! I was outside for most of this 80 degree day — my hair was definitely a little tangled, and I was brushing out some snags with my fingers on my way home, so I think my hair could have ended the night looking even better, but I’m not mad about this!
I’m still figuring out how to do my hair after a two year hairdo hiatus, but once I remembered a few basic tips (thank you TikTok University!), I definitely have a better routine down. Amika’s The Shield will definitely be added to my hair routine, now that I know how to use it. There’s a learning curve for some (me), but it’s worth trying a few times to see if you can get the hair you want and deserve. As an added bonus to this experiment, I also learned the light in my living room is not as flattering as I like after the sun goes down!
