Rahua’s Smoothing Hair Balm: Perfect for Shiny Hair Fans?
Main image – Rahua
For tackling my naturally frizzy (read: triangular) hair, I’m a huge fan of Rahua (pronounced ‘ra-wa’), the US-based brand sustainably harnessing Amazonian ingredients for shiny, healthy locks. And one of my favourite products is their Smoothing Hair Balm.
But do you *really* need a hair balm (on top of the other roughly 10,000 hair products we all seem to collect)?
Read on to find out!
Image – Rahua
This is new, up-to-date information. We updated this article in July 2023 to add our further thoughts on Rahua’s balm, complete with updated prices.
Rahua Smoothing Hair Balm review
Free from parabens and sulphates, this wax-like balm contains sunflower seed, coconut, rapeseed, cocoa seed, clary sage, rahua, sacha inchi seed and morete fruit oils to nourish, tame frizz and add shine.
The addition of gardenia oil also adds a light floral and feminine scent, while vitamin E provides antioxidant protection.
In colder temperatures, this balm initially takes on a slightly hard texture but melts quickly in the warmth of hands, making it easy to work through hair. The results on my thick, damaged tresses are heightened control, softness, natural shine and zero frizz (a must for my hair in the slightest humidity).
For finer hair types I suspect only the teeniest amount of this balm would be needed as its texture is so rich and it’s going to be frizzier or even short hair types who are likely to benefit most from the control properties here.
As well as controlling frizz and adding shine, I really enjoy knowing that the ingredients here are only doing good things to my hair, not drying it out.
Image – Rahua
How do you use it?
To get the full de-frizzing, moisturising benefits from Rahua’s Smoothing Hair Balm, warm a small amount between palms before smoothing over lengths and ends.
This balm can also be used on skin as a moisturiser so massage over any dry spots for glowing hydration.How
The full list of ingredients
Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Blend of Hydrogenated Cocos Nucifera (Coconut), Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) and Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oils, Organic Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil, Organic Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Oil, Oenocarpus Bataua (Rahua Ungurahua) Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis (Sacha Inchi) Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa (Morete) Fruit Oil, Organic Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides (Gardenia Enfleurage) Oil, Aroma, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Kaolin Clay.
The takeaway
For those who like their hair products on the natural side, as well as some control alongside their shine, then this could well be the prefect product.
Yes it’s expensive, but because it’s a solid texture it’s almost impossible to use too much and my tiny pot still has loads left. And as an added bonus, this natural balm can also be used to moisturise lips, cuticles and dry skin, making the value here slightly better.
Finally, sustainable beauty fans will probably be pleased to support a company dedicated to protecting rainforest and indigenous tribes in the Amazon.
For those who prefer their products with a more serum-like texture though, IGK’s Mistress and Gisou’s Honey Infused Hair Oil are both excellent frizz-taming (and beautiful-smelling) alternatives.
Great for: Natural product fans and anyone whose hair veers towards the fluffy (me, me!).
Not-so-great for: Budget buys, although this is really quite a rich formula and I just don’t need to use a lot.
Rahua’s Smoothing Hair Balm is £32 for 17 g, Naturisimo, UK and $32 for 17 g/ 0.62 oz, Rahua
Get Glowing!
