In my recent  sojourns across the world wide web, I came across a discussion  about a product that helps define curls, elongates curls & also gives hold.

Although I do not care much for having super defined curls (hey! my hair is gonna do what it’s gonna do, anyway), I was kinda excited about this product, especially when I learnt that it is a popular food product and can be picked up for about £1 in the UK.

Before I go into this experiment, I just want to say that I am not against the use of curl definition-type products.

In my personal experience of formulating hair products, i have discovered that when certain conditions are met in product making, the hair’s natural texture will be defined.  Now my hair’s natural texture is kinky curly……I know that, I accept that.  I also know that I am never ever going to have spirally, ringletty Botticelli -type curls without the use of some kind of product and in my opinion, the use of products to achieve a texture foreign to your own natural hair texture doesn’t feel completely natural to me.  Of course, the products only create a temporary effect, many of you would argue , so it is still natural.  To be honest, I am too lazy to be concerned about daily curl definition and as long as my hair is healthy, moisturised and not frizzy, I have noticed that it would clump and achieve its own coil definition.

However, for the benefit of you my readers, especially those who would love to have curl definition, I decided to look into various ways of achieving curl definition.

So what is this wonder product that some people claim to give curl definition, curl elongation and also give hold?  Well, this product is none other than ………….*pause for dramatic effect*……….Coke!  You know, the drinking kind….not the other kind.  Naughty!

Now, you see that expression you have on your face right now……yeah, I also had the same expression when I learnt that Coca Cola is apparently the ultimate hair product.  Say whaaaaaat??!

Here the claims:

“It actually works!  It not only makes curls loose, but they stay that way all day long.  It makes your hair smell yummy too, but it does get sticky after about 4 hours and if you get sweaty, the coke will dribble down your face”

Okay, fine.  Let’s do this thing, then!  The general directions was to “pour a can of flat coke on to the hair & leave it in for a few minutes before washing for perfectly separated curls”

So I bought a large bottle of coca cola on Friday evening, drank a little and let it sit till Sunday evening for it to get flat.

Knowing that hair products (including gels, curl definers etc) work best on freshly cleaned hair, I washed my hair first with African Black Soap and rinsed very well.  I then allowed it to air dry slightly and here is what my hair looked like at about 80% dry.

FRESHLY CLEANED HAIR:

I then got my bottle of coke - pic below is from Google images as I forgot to take a picture of the Coca Cola bottle

And poured it on to my hair

COKE WASHED HAIR:

Using my hands, I squeezed out as much of the excess liquid as I could.

Couldn’t resist catching a few drips.  I love Coca Cola!!

Here is what my hair looked like about a couple of hours later.  I could already feel the stickiness of the coke on my skin & neck and my hair still wasn’t completely dry.

Yeah I could see a little of coil definition going on there.  Not quite curly, but my hair seems to be clumping into coils.

By bedtime, I put my hair up into two buns and went to bed.  The next morning, I woke up to this!

My hair looked like it was very mildly straightened out!

I guess this is the curl elongation they talked about.  However, I am not sure if this is also due to me pulling my hair into two buns which would stretch out the hair strands as well.

What do you guys think?  Do my curls look defined?  Do they look like they have been elongated?

It sure looked good ……ish, but it didn’t feel nice.  My hair stunk of coke and felt very stiff, I guess, due to the sugars in the coke.  It also felt very crunchy & hard.

So what is my verdict on the Coca Cola Hair Treatment?

• Yes, it does give some curl definition, although it is nothing to be too excited about.
• Re the claims of curl elongation – the jury is still out on that one
• On the promise of curl hold – sure, it gives hold, if you like the stiff, crunchy feel and look.