In partnership with Bondi Boost.
As we age, pretty much every part of our bodies change, including our hair. While I’ve always known this and have always had pretty thin hair, it wasn’t until the pandemic started that I felt like I had to do something about it. My hair was coming out in clumps when I showered or brushed. Was it the stress? The years of highlighting my hair? Was it medication or just hormonal changes? I didn’t (and still don’t) know, but I was willing to try pretty much anything to get my hair back to how it once was. From expensive hair masks to getting my blood drawn to see if I was deficient in any vitamins important for hair growth, my efforts really ran the gamut. I share this to show that I was serious about finding a solution.
So, when the opportunity to try The BondiBoost Healthy Hair Starter System came my way I was excited to try it, albeit skeptical. Could switching up my shampoo actually make my hair grow? Short answer, yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that -- which I’ll get into later. But, for now, let’s start with the product itself.
Because First Impressions Matter
BondiBoost is an Australian hair care brand that makes a range of products that help you reach your hair goals. All of the products target a problem -- itchy scalp, dandruff, breakage, dullness...the list goes on. Everything from BondiBoost is vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and free from parabens, silicones and sulfates (so it’s safe for color-treated and keratin-treated hair too).
While BondiBoost sells plenty of different products, the Healthy Hair Starter System ($99.99) is made specifically for weak, thinning, and dull hair...aka mine. One of the first things I noticed upon checking out the packaging is that BondiBoost doesn’t make any extraneous claims about what each product does. Instead, the brand focuses on the fact that the products make hair look healthier and feel thicker. I actually saw nothing claiming to make my hair grow miles overnight. Let’s be real: as much as I may be a sucker for bold marketing, I’m constantly disappointed by products that fail to help me let down my hair Rapunzel-style.
So, I approached BondiBoost with a more nuanced mentality. My hair should look healthier, but I wasn’t expecting anything to be that different.
The first products I used were the HG Shampoo ($23.99) and HG Conditioner ($23.99). Both of these products feature the same hero ingredients: Aloe Vera, Peppermint, Rosemary and Saw Palmetto. Together, this blend is said to gently cleanse your scalp from buildup, defend hair from environmental elements and oxidative stress, and ultimately allow thicker, fuller hair to grow.
When I tried these two products, the first thing I noticed was that they both smell divine. As I lathered my hair in the suds, my shower filled with whiffs of peppermint. If you love fresh, zingy, spa-like scents, the BondiBoost scent profile is a winner. Getting out of the shower my hair felt normal: clean, but not unlike any other positive shampoo/conditioner experience I’ve had.
After cleansing my strands, I spritzed on the Intensive Spray ($19.95) and massaged into my scalp. The spray is formulated to keep your scalp healthy and promote thicker hair, with ingredients like Vitamin B5, Tea Tree Oil, and Peppermint. The scalp is something I’ve never given much consideration, but clearly should have been, as the scalp is really where haircare begins.
How I BondiBoost
I began incorporating these products into my routine more frequently. I’d use the spray daily on wet or dry hair, the Elixir Oil ($19.95) to nourish hair before washes (emphasis on the before, as no one wants to deal with greasy hair), the shampoo and conditioner about every other time I wash my hair (I wash my hair a lot, I know I know), and the Miracle Mask ($27.99) once a week or whenever I feel like my hair needs a boost. This stuff is loaded with nutrient-dense oils like castor, jojoba, and macadamia and my hair soaks it right up. A little goes a long way in making your hair silky smooth and shiny with this stuff.
BondiBoost says it takes about 4-6 weeks before you really see the results of the products. But, I truthfully feel like my hair started looking healthier after just a few uses. I highlight my hair about twice a year and while I have gotten plenty of de-frizzing treatments (full transparency, I have one in right now), my ends were still looking dry and brittle. After a few times using BondiBoost, I genuinely felt that the ends looked and felt softer, fluffier, and all around healthier. When I started getting compliments saying my hair looked healthy and long, I was shook.
Getting Scientific...
BondiBoost works with an advisory board of haircare experts, including a hair stylist, trichtologist, and a cosmetic physician. I felt good about the fact that real subject experts were involved in the making of the products I was using, but I still had questions.
To better understand just how, and if, these products actually work I consulted another expert, Dr. Joshua Zeichner, board-certified dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital.
According to Dr. Zeichner, hair growth products work in two ways. First, they help strengthen and improve the appearance of the hair that you already have. Second, many of these products help encourage healthy follicle functioning and/or reduce scalp inflammation so that new hair can be produced optimally. While new hair growth takes several months before improvements are noticeable, cosmetic benefits on the already existing hair shaft can be seen immediately.
The BondiBoost products count rosemary and saw palmetto as hero ingredients. According to Dr. Zeichner, essential oils like rosemary have been reported to enhance microcirculation around the hair follicles. Saw palmetto has been shown to block DHT, one of the hormones thought to be associated with thinning hair.
“When it comes to thinning hair, the earlier you address the issue, the better off you are,” he says. “It’s far better to help keep the hair that you have to regrow it after it’s gone. If you’re noticing hair thinning, visit a board certified dermatologist for professional help if over-the-counter treatments aren’t helping.”
Dr. Zeichner’s insights helped me understand that what I was seeing and feeling was not just a placebo effect, but noticeably healthier hair. My hair really isn’t that much longer at this point (using the product for about a month), but I’m feeling good about the fact that these products are keeping my hair in prime condition so that it can grow. That’s called believing in the process.
5 More Reasons To Love BondiBoost:
- If You Don’t Like It…: Get your money back. BondiBoost has a 30-day money back guarantee, so you have enough time to try the products and see if they work for you.
- Giving Back: For every purchase made, BondiBoost donates $1 to one of the following nonprofits: Zambi Wildlife Retreat and Sanctuary, Westmead Children’s Hospital, Mettle Women Inc.
- For All Hair Types: BondiBoost works for all hair types, from dry to oily. With so many different products that address different concerns, there’s something for everyone.
- Just What You Need: Buy a bundle, or just the products you need. BondiBoost has thoughtfully curated bundles to help you meet your haircare goals.
- For Furry Friends Too: Want to give your pooch the BondiBoost treatment? The brand has a Pooch Wash ($19.95) made specifically to nourish your pup’s coat and keep them flea-free.
