Product Review: Frederick Benjamin

Sophisticated. Modern. Light.  These are the three words that come to mind when I think about Frederick Benjamin products. After years of working in the industry, Michael James founded Frederick Benjamin as a bit of an homage to his ever so-stylish grandfather.  When I came across Frederick Benjamin products, I was instantly excited about the brand’s emphasis on providing multicultural men with modern and sophisticated products, which is missing from the current marketplace.  Frederick Benjamin meet MANE MAN!  Today, I’m thrilled to share with you my first impressions of the Frederick Benjamin hair care line.

Shampoo (Invigorating Cleanser): I have to admit, I was a little skeptical of using the shampoo. All of Frederick Benjamin’s products are designed for normal to dry scalp and hair and the second ingredient in this product is Sodium Laureth Sulfate, a product that many natural hair care enthusiasts (including myself) try to avoid as much as possible.  Many people claim SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) is drying to hair and since most traditional shampoos use it, I found it very surprising that I didn’t find this shampoo drying at all.  I actually found it to be quite gentle on my scalp (and my self diagnosed dermatitis).  The combination of oils left my hair and scalp feeling clean, nourished and not stripped of natural oils.  Overall, a very good product. Oh, and it smells minty too!

Conditioner (Invigorating Moisturizer):  Like the invigorating cleanser, Frederick Benjamin’s conditioner also has a minty, natural smell.  I personally don’t find it overwhelming and unlike some other mint-based products I’ve used, once I started using the conditioner, I actually started to feel my scalp tingle a bit.  I definitely got the feeling that something was happening up there (my head) and it was a pretty enjoyable experience. My only real qualm about the product is that it didn’t have a lot of slip so those with longer and thicker hair may want to take extra care to be patient when detangling. That being said, on my second try, I used a bit of Tresemme Naturals Conditioner with it and was then able to detangle with relative ease.

Daily Hydrator (Styling Creme): By the time I applied the styling creme on wet, clean hair my scalp was tingling away.  And I mean TINGLING! This product is super lightweight which made it surprising that I enjoyed it as much as I did, especially because I tend to favor heavier creams and puddings for styling.  I really love the softness that I get once this dries, and it dries relatively quickly.

Overall Impression: So far I have thoroughly enjoyed using Frederick Benjamin products. This line provides me with soft and touchable hair while providing lasting moisture and hydration.  In my book, Michael James has absolutely filled a gap in the male grooming market and I’m excited to continue using the products and see what he comes up with next!