MASAMI Mekabu Hydrating Shine Serum & Styling Cream ♥ BEAUTY REVIEW
About a month ago, I was reached out to by the Japanese hair company, MASAMI. I had never heard of MASAMI before, but was intrigued by the hair brand because their products are made from Japanese seaweed, an ingredient I’ve never used on my hair. They sent me their styling products, the Mekabu Hydrating Shine Serum & Hydrating Styling Cream, to test out and review for you all.
MASAMI launched in 2023 with four products: Mekabu Hydrating Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling Cream, and Shine Serum. MASAMI translates to “truly beautiful” in Japanese. Their products are created with carefully selected, natural, active ingredients that are good for you. Free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. Color safe, vegan, and cruelty-free. MASAMI’s nutrient-rich formulation is made wth freshly harvested Mekabu powder from Northeastern Japan, making their products luxurious and hydrating without weighing your hair down. MASAMI claims that their products eliminate frizz, and using their hair products makes your hair soft and shiny.
MASAMI isn’t just a haircare company, they also launched the MASAMI Institute following the destruction of the bays and marine life by the tsunamis. The MASAMI Institute supports local marine biology research to help protect ocean life and the surrounding communities. They work with the local fishermen and coastline preservation groups to research, monitor, and document each season’s growth. Their goal is to preserve and restore the fragile ocean ecosystem and to educate the world about the importance of preserving the ocean and it’s natural habitats. MASAMI’s mission is to make effective haircare products while protecting the natural habitats from which the Mekabu is harvested.
DISCLAIMER: These products was sent to me for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Links included in this post might be affiliate links. If you make a purchase with the links I provide, I may receive a small commission.
My HAIR TYPE
I have curly/wavy hair, I’m a type 2B-2C. I have thin, medium porosity hair, and my hair frizzes easily. I’ve been on my natural curly hair journey since late 2020. I wear my hair naturally curly 99% of the time and the only heat-styling tool I use is a diffuser. I no longer follow the Curly Girl Method rules but I am mindful of what ingredients are in the hair products.
MASAMI MEKABU HYDRATING SHINE SERUM | 1.7 fl oz./50 ml $34.00
MASAMI Shine Serum, enriched with the Japanese ocean botanical Mekabu, gives even unruly, dull, lifeless, over-processed hair a hydrated, smoothed and nourished look. Our Shine Serum works on virtually every hair type and texture to enhance shine while leaving hair soft and silky. It adds vibrancy to hair color while providing the nutrients necessary for long term nourishment and care. Great for any hair type and texture – anyone who wants salon hair every day.
INGREDIENTS
Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Undaria Pinnatifida (Mekabu) Powder, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract, Fragrance (our fragrance is naturally derived and phthalate-free)
MY EXPERIENCE
I was super impressed with the bottle of this shine serum! It comes in a glass bottle with all the words embossed on the outside. It felt super luxurious! The serum comes with a pump applicator, making it easy to distribute to your palms. The serum isn’t oily, and the light-weight formula is easy on the hair and doesn’t weigh your hair down. If you have thin hair like me, this is a relief!
I pump 2-3 times and apply this serum on clean and dry diffused hair, to scrunch away any cast that may have developed from the styling products I used. This serum was very helpful at breaking a cast! The scent is very fresh yet sweet and makes my tousled curly waves smell heavenly! However, in terms of shine, it’s very subtle.
https://tidd.ly/42IDdyZ
You can purchase the MASAMI MEKABU HYDRATING SHINE SERUM here
MASAMI MEKABU HYDRATING STYLING CREAM | 4 oz $36.00
Mekabu and Aloe Vera add hydration, protection and shine, while Vitamin E, Grapeseed, and Sweet Almond Oils help nourish the hair from root to tip, eliminating frizz for a natural, soft, silky look. This curl-defining formula is non-greasy, non-sticky and boasts the benefits of a wax, paste and cream for a flexible, all-day hold, that can be messy, sleek or anything in between. Use on wet or dry hair.
INGREDIENTS
Water Grapeseed Oil Cetearyl Alcohol (non drying, helps soften the hair and retain moisture) Glycerin (derived from plants, helps attract & retain moisture) Glyceryl Stearate SE (keeps hair from drying out and becoming damaged) Glyceryl Stearate (traps moisture) Stearic Acid (protects and conditions) Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate (natural surfactant derived from coconut oil, corn and fruit sugars) Isopropyl Palmitate (vegan emollient and thickener) Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil Peg-40 Castor Oil Xanthan Gum (thickener) Panthenol (moisturizing compound) Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) Undaria Pinnatifida (Mekabu) Powder Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Maltodextrin/VP Copolymer (helps define curls and reduce frizz) Dehydroacetic Acid (mild preservative) Benzyl Alcohol (preservative and stabilizer) Fragrance (our fragrance is naturally derived and phthalate-free).
MY EXPERIENCE
The Mekabu Hydrating Styling Cream was formulated for a curly-hair type, which I have! I only used this product on wet hair as part of my curly hair routine. Because the shine serum came in a glass bottle, I thought the cream would also come in a glass jar, but sadly, the cream came packaged in a plastic container.
The formula is thick, like a combination of cream and pomade, but you only need a tiny amount! The smell is… unpleasant. It smells very herbal and earthy, but not in a good way. However, the scent doesn’t linger, especially if you layer multiple hair products, like I do. You only need a finger dip full of product, too much and you’ll regret it! Like I did! The first time I used it, I applied too much, and my hair felt full of product to the point that I had to wash my hair again the following day.
After following my usual curly-hair routine, I got some super-defined curls! Especially when I used a foam or mousse with this cream. The results also lasted a second day! This is rare for me as I’m a pretty reckless sleeper and my curls fluff up dramatically overnight. So, it passed the overnight test!
You can purchase the MASAMI MEKABU HYDRATING STYLING CREAM here
Have you tried any hair products by MASAMI before?
