Cotton Uzu

2 Reviews

1. 

   lazyOryx4

   Reply

   I have 2C canopy with 2A/B underlayer, coarse texture, low-normal porosity, low-normal elasticity and low density hair.

   After growing out my short bob a bit for 9-months, I decided it was too long (collarbone length) and got a chop 2 weeks ago, back to a short bob. I envisioned my hair to be a bit tousled and volumized (think French girls’ relaxed tousled hair), but I have low density hair and the routine I had before, while constantly gave me sleek, neat, shiny waves, don’t give me the lift and tousled look I want.

   So I overhauled my routine.

   I decided to stop co-washing and back to using shampoo for root lift. I also got lighter conditioner (Paul Mitchell The Conditioner) and volumizing styler (Paul Mitchell Thicken Up), along with hairdryer and diffuser (I had been airdrying for about 4 years, my hair barely touched any heat other than the sun). But freshly washed hair, albeit nicely defined, still looks a bit too fluffy and doesn’t look “slept-in”.

   And enter Shu Uemura Cotton Uzu Flexible Defining Cream.

   I bought this together with Bumble Bumble Brilliantine, but that one, albeit giving gorgeous shine and sweet softness, doesn’t contribute much into making my hair looks “piecey” and weighs it down too much, negating any effort I made to make it looking volumized.

   But Shu Uemura is perfect! It gives less shine, but 3 fingertips very light dip into the jar, and my freshly washed waves looks piecey, tousled and not weighed down, until the next day. If there’s a bit of frizz, I just need to run damp hands lightly on the canopy. If needs be, a tiny dab of this fixes things right up without ruining the waves. I have to be careful not to use it too much, though, or my hair will end up looking greasy.
   I also haven’t tested this out on damp hair. Only clean, completely dried hair.

   The product is housed in a pretty white jar, which is not too convenient I think, especially for accident-prone person like myself. It’s also on the pricey side, but this 75g cream would last me a loooong time.

2. 

   mildGatorade7

   Reply

   I can’t believe no one has reviewed this product yet! It is not only my HG styling product, but it completely transformed the way that I wear my hair. My favorite stylist began carrying the Shu Uemura line alongside Kerastase, and I had never tried any of their hair products before he used Cotton Uzu on me after a cut.

   I have fine, abundant, STRAIGHT hair. Or so I thought. Turns out, I have WAVY hair with awesome natural texture and have been fighting it for the 25 years I have been heat styling my hair. Seriously. I was 38 years old when I learned that the right product could actually turn my fine straight hair into a lush mane of be achy waves that I had only thought possible to achieve through lots of heat styling.

   I discovered Cotton Uzu in December 2013 and I’m still using it in September 2014. I have repurchased it once (a little goes a long way ) and I will not be without it again. It comes in a tub (would prefer a tube or pump) and is on the pricey side. But like I said, a little goes a long way. I only repurchased my 2nd tub in August, so the original last about 7 months.

   I’ve used it on my very long layered style and am still using it on my short bob cut. I take a quarter-sized dollop rom the tub, emulsify in my hands, and then spread from mids to ends. Then, I go through my hair and loosely finger twirl it into spirals. Then I go through and give the whole thing a couple of good scrunches from the bottom. Then – and here’s the most important part – I leave it alone until it’s dry. Rake my fingers through, fluff the roots for volume, and voila. Perfect beach waves every time.

   I used to blow dry my hair, THEN flat iron it, THEN curl it with an iron or wand if I wanted waves. No more. I hardly ever even blow it dry anymore.

   I. love. this. stuff.