Pantene Pro-V Intense Rescue Shots | photography by: Angie Garcia
Sugar. Highlights. Cookie Dough. Curling Irons. Caffeine.
Why must all good things in life also be used in moderation?! It’s as if my favorite things also have a point in which they don’t serve you well, and can, in fact, cause damage.
As bittersweet as that fact is, today I’m talking about a drugstore haircare product to combat that. Imported from Brazil, it will hit shelves next month- and you better believe I think you need to buy it by the gallon. 😉
You may remember that in early November, I did quite the hair change. It may not have seemed as noticeable to you, but I was essentially just not coloring my new growth for about 6 months and then I’d had enough. I told my stylist to go as blonde as I could possibly go.
Exhibit A.
I was blown away by all your kind messages via Instagram and many of you were asking how I avoided damage. I mean you all know I believe in the power of a curling iron and the power of highlights. Both lead to the loss of nutrients in your hair which equals rough, dull, and lackluster locks.
I got to test out a new product a little early and to compare I tested 2 other similar options. The other 2 options? I had ordered on Amazon. Waited two weeks. Used them in place of my conditioner and I was FILLED with regret. My hair felt like sandpaper once it was blow dried.
Which product helped me transition to the bright blonde?
Pantene Pro-V Intense Rescue Shots.
Let’s Talk Damage:
If you are part of any female Facebook groups, chances are you’ve seen questions and conversations all about damaged hair. A girl will come on, say she went a little crazy with the hair bleach, and ask what she can do to fix it. I’m sure you have seen those memes before about Facebook groups, but boy do you get some conflicting answers!
Girl A, will swear by coconut oil!
Girl B, will come on and give science as to why she shouldn’t use coconut oil.
Girl C, will say she uses this one product and promises you need to use half a cup 3x a week.
Girl D, will tell you that you CAN’T use half a cup because it will actually harm the hair by overdosing
Girl E, will tell you that Girl C’s product will coat the hair and won’t penetrate, so what Girl C is actually feeling is just a film on the hair. It isn’t actually healed.
This will go on for hours and you sit there and think, “Well, now I’m even more confused! What is a girl to use?! What should said commenter use to fix her hair? And should Girl A really be using that?! That’s what you were using?!“
Trust me, I basically feel that way each time I read a comment section on Facebook. Part of these conversations is due in part to the fact certain products work for certain women and most beauty products don’t work for a diverse range of women.
So why would I be covering what I have used the past two months? Because this product changes all of that.
Let’s Talk Intense Rescue Shots:
This is Pantene’s first at-home rescue treatment imported from Brazil. It hits shelves January 2019 {I lucked out testing with my job!}. This product is made for girls with color-treated or heat-styled hair OF ALL TYPES! This is to “rescue” over-processed hair in between your salon treatments.
Let’s Talk Why:
This product is potent! You get a box with 3 tubes that are all single-doses. It is filled with a super absorbing blend of Pro-Vitamin B5, strengthening lipids and natural glycerin that targets the damaged areas of your hair. This gives your hair flexibility and resilience so that it can endure styling! You know how if you highlight your hair and then you feel like you can’t use a curling iron for a week or so, this helps combat that! You seriously feel like you left the salon with a blowout and treatment after. The reason this is also amazing is that it doesn’t weigh your hair down and the strengthening lipids in the dose absorb IN the hair, it doesn’t heavily coat like most hair masks. After you use most hair masks that “soft” feeling is generally just a coating. This noticeably repairs extreme damage, so if you feel your hair is brittle, you’ll notice a difference in the health after one use. This product was also formulated to PREVENT overdosing so that you won’t experience the effects of using too much. Just use the single dose tube once a week in place of conditioner.
Let’s Talk How:
Another reason I was so excited to share this product is that you can’t mess it up! I’ve tried some at-home salon treatments where you mix and then you wait and then you cold rinse and then you massage and then you cold rinse again. And you’re so busy reading instructions you don’t even know if you did it correctly.
To use:
- Shampoo with your favorite Pantene shampoo. I love the Pantene Charcoal Shampoo – I’m convinced it helps me go longer in between washing. I can go an entire week. Shh! Don’t tell. I also love the Repair & Protect Shampoo.
- Once a week, use the Intense Rescue Shots in place of your normal conditioner. Apply to fully saturate your entire head- root to tip! Don’t stress on “Do I just do my ends? Do I just do the roots?” Just saturate all over and concentrate on areas where you feel most damage. If you have a lot of breakage in one area, give it some TLC. You won’t overdose since you have the single shot.
- Leave in for 30 seconds.
- Rinse for 30 seconds- but not longer! You don’t want to over rinse.
Let’s Talk #NoFilter:
Here is a photo with no filter right after I washed my hair using the Intense Rescue Shots, dried, and styled. I have NO extra product in my hair so you can see what it looks like. No oils, etc.
This product hits shelves in January, but you can purchase this exclusive product now to repair damaged hair nd let me know what you think! I’d love to see pics, so tag me on Instagram!
In partnership with Pantene. All opinions are my own!
I’d love to try these out! Sounds like a miracle worker alright! 😀
Hope you have a lovely New Year’s Eve, Katey! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I will definitely be trying this! I just got my brunette hair balayaged with white-ish blonde highlights and I was wondering if this will help combat brassiness? My hair lady said I needed to find a purple shampoo, if this product isn’t right for that do you have any recommendations? Thanks!! Happy New Year!
Hi Aspen! Definitely do a purple shampoo, as that will be more color correcting! My stylist recommends Oligo purple shampoo- I see it on Amazon but I always order from her shop! I hope that helps! xx, Katey
My opinion, Pantene is the best! Particularly the Repair and Protect. I have used this every day for the past, WOW, 12 years. Before that, other Pantene products. I have, in these past 25+ years, have never had split ends. I’m an ala-natural gal, no colors no cuts. Just trims about 2 times a year. If you have school aged children, or you are teacher, or care giver, any place where head huggers are prevalent, Pantene should be your partner in keeping head huggers at bay. I believe Pantene offers good clean living. NASP
I just bought the rescue shots, but do you squeeze the entire bottle into your hand for one use or just a little bit?!
Hi Abby! I use the whole single tube! 🙂 xx, katey
Hey girl! So I LOVE these things, they make my blonde hair super soft– but my friend told me that Pantene contains some bad chemicals that are overall bad for the health of your hair. I haven’t done much research on it, but now I’m afraid to use this again! I know they are amazing temporary effects for my bleached blonde hair, but I’m worried they are harming the overall integrity of my hair. Are you still using this product? What do you think about this?
Hi girl! Oh no! What did she say she was worried about? I’m still using and my hairdresser says my hair is great, but curious what she said she was worried about! Was she speaking about Pantene as a line or this specific product? xx, Katey
I absolutely love the rescue shots. I have used high end products but to me Pantene rescue shots do give me the best results. I have natural dry hair and it puts the moisture back in my hair. But I have a question all hair stylist tell me Pantene products coat the hair, and she told me they was terrible, I have heard that by lots of hair stylist. But I’m wondering if maybe it was the older products Pantene first came out with or was it still bad. I know Pantene e has came out with some great new lines that I have absolutely loved.like the gold serious, and charcoal. I ont know much about the ingredients.. but I’m wondering if stylist would still say this about the new products that Pantene has come out with? I asked one stylist and she said she didn’t know. But insist Pantene coats the hair and that she actually could scrap the products off ofsomeone that Pantene products all the time. So it kinda worries me. Just wondering if you know much about the ingredients or heard the same thing? Thank you
Hi Angie! I think that might have been from when there were sulfates and parabens in the product. Now they have reformulated and these products don’t’ have that! I Hope that helps! xx, Katey
HI! I just used the pantene rescue shots but they don’t seem to do anything for my hair. In fact, my hair is more damaged now. I’m at my wits end trying to find something for my dry, damaged hair, but I’m not sure what to do . Any tips?
Hi Sara! Oh no! What is the color of your hair? Do you dye it? Trying to think. What does your stylist say? I’m not sure if she may have a professional damage treatment available to you. xx, Katey
Hi. The directions on the box say to use the rescue shots after shampooing and using Pantene conditioner. You suggest using instead of conditioner. Can you clarify that for me? Thanks!
Hi Jill! You can do both, but I find when I use these I don’t have to use conditioner! xx, Katey
Just bought it today going to try when I shower tonight I’m so excited to try this product hoping for great results. I will let you know what I think after I let it air dry tonight. Again so excited to try this product. Sincerely Janice Wood