Product Review: Advance Techniques Summer Rescue Highlighter for Blonde Highlights by Avon

When I was younger, I had really light blonde hair, but as I've gotten older, my hair has gotten darker. Right now, I would say that my hair is a "dirty blonde" color, and recently I've gotten interested in tweaking my hair color just a bit and making it a little bit lighter. I've recently been seeing ads for a product called "Sunsilk Color Boost" that promises to brighten up your blonde just a bit, but I've had difficulty locating this product in my local stores. I was flipping through an Avon catalog recently and noticed a product called Advance Techniques Summer Rescue Highlighter for Blonde Highlights which sounded similar, so I decided to spend the $5.99 and give it a try.

When my Avon lady delivered the Summer Rescue Highlighter, I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the product smelled. Since it contains bleaching agents, I expected it to have a harsh, chemical smell, but instead the product had a clean, fresh scent. According to the instructions on the Advance Techniques tube, I could apply the product to dry or damp hair, and allow my hair to dry naturally or with a blow dryer. The packaging also stated that I should "reapply until desired lightening effect is achieved," so I knew it was going to take more than one application.

I had big expectations the first time I used Avon's Summer Rescue Highlighter. I applied the product to my dry hair at night, and I thought I would wake up and be noticeably blonder. However, the next day, I couldn't really tell any difference at all. I used the product for the next few nights, and perhaps it made my hair a bit lighter, but not enough for me to be able to tell and definitely not enough to justify the expense of the product. I was disappointed, but determined not to give up my quest for the ultimate blonde.

I remembered from the days when I used to bleach my hair that heat intensifies the effect of the peroxide, so I decided to get out my trusty blow dryer. The next day, after showering, I applied the Advance Techniques Summer Rescue Highlighter to my damp hair after showering, and then used the blow dryer to dry my hair. Within a few hours, my hair was noticeably lighter. Over the next few days, I repeated this process with my hair dryer, and soon my hair was the same shade of blonde I remember having as a kid.

Overall, this product from Avon delivers on its promise to make blonde hair lighter and brighter. A few words of caution, however. First, the product does not seem to work without heat, so regardless of what the packaging says, you'll need to use a blow dryer for the best effect. Also, I used almost a whole tube of product to achieve my desired level of lightening, and I have a short, men's haircut. I would imagine that if you are a woman with longer hair, you would need more than one tube of the product. Finally, the tube states that the product is for light hair only, and if someone with dark hair uses it, it could result in red or orange tones. In conclusion, I like the product for what it is, but don't expect any overnight miracles.

Avon's Advance Techniques Summer Rescue Highlighter for Blonde Highlights is available through your local Avon sales representative or by visiting http://www.avon.com.