UNITE is a line of luxury haircare products created by LA-based hairstylist Andrew Dale. The high end brand was developed to treat hair concerns that he encountered both in the salon and behind the scenes on photo shoots and at international fashion weeks.
Andrew Dale trained with Vidal Sassoon in London before moving to LA to work in the Sassoon salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, where he gained a following of A-list clients (Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria and Jessica Alba are fans of the UNITE range).
UNITE launched in the UK in 2010 and is sold in salons and at Beauty Retreat at Harrods. For a few weeks now, I’ve been trying the UNITE VOLUMIZING Collection, which was prescribed for my naturally curly, coloured hair.
The UNITE VOLUMIZING Shampoo (£17.40) worked well for me, leaving my hair properly cleansed and soft without any residue or coarseness. Reassuringly, all Unite products are completely free from sulphates, parabens, sodium chloride, DEA and MEA. They are also 100% vegan and contain colour locking antioxidants to keep hair colour looking fresh.
Unlike many synthetic shampoos, the UNITE VOLUMIZING Shampoo sometimes doesn’t lather immediately, so it’s necessary to work it into the hair a bit more, or for best results rinse and repeat.
The UNITE VOLUMIZING Conditioner (£18.80) works extremely well for my hair, giving lots of volume at the roots and plenty of movement. The first time I used Unite products, I was amazed that my hair was ready to go with minimal styling and I attribute this to the conditioner.
It has a creamy, smooth consistency and hydrates the hair without weighing it down. While the VOLUMIZING range is ideal for bringing bounce and movement, I’m interested to see if alternating it with the MOISTURIZING range would help add some extra hydration.
Both the VOLUMIZING Shampoo and Conditioner have the kind of luxurious fragrance that I tend to associate with high end hair salon products. It’s not an overwhelming aroma, but when I take my hair down or swish it around, it has a lovely, fresh scent.
UNITE 7SECONDS Condition (£16.90) is a fantastic pre-styling product. It has a nourishing protein complex and UV protectors that fortify hair fibers and seal the cuticles. The leave-in conditioner comes in a handy spray and is rich and creamy with a light floral scent.
It quickly detangles my curls and leaves them feeling soft, hydrated and ready for styling. I like that it helps lock in colour and helps protects against heat and environmental damage.
UNITE BOOSTA Spray (£16.60) is a super-light mist that adds a bit of extra volume and texture to the hair. Admittedly, I sometimes forget this step as I often let my hair dry naturally, but it’s a great way to add some extra body and protect the hair from heat styling. The fragrance is pure coconut bliss, like the Caribbean in a bottle.
UNITE “BOING” Curling Cream (£16.60) is great for adding definition and hold to natural curls. The lilac-coloured cream has a rich, almost balm-like consistency and an intense tropical watermelon and coconut aroma. Applied to evenly damp hair, the curl cream quickly sets on the hair, giving it a light, flexible hold. I still use a tiny amount of my usual styling glaze to fight the frizz, but the UNITE “BOING” Curl Cream has become my main styling product and a little goes a long way.
UNITE is a truly impressive range that I found produced excellent results. If you like using premium ranges such as Moroccanoil and Kérastase, it’s worth trying UNITE and finding your star products – mine are definitely the VOLUMIZING Shampoo and Conditioner and 7 Second Conditioner. UNITE hair products also come in handy mini sizes (59ml), making them ideal for travel or testing before investing in the larger sizes.
The full UNITE haircare collection is available to buy in salons or online at Urban Retreat Beautique.
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