Rusk Review Series: Thermal Shine Spray

*Press Sample*

I recently tried out some new hair products by Rusk, and I plan to review them for you in a series. All of the products were sent to me by Beauty Stop Online* for the purpose of review. I am not being paid to review the products, and I intend to give you my honest feedback based on my experience with them. I will always provide my honest feedback on a product I've tried out, whether I've purchased it myself, won it in a contest, or received it from a company for the purpose of review.

The first product I tried out was the Rusk Thermal Shine Spray ($11.99). I am a heat-styling addict. I freely admit it. My hair is heat styled into submission any time I am leaving the house. Be it a quick touch up with my flat iron, or a full on blow out and/or flat iron treatment. Yep, my hair receives some serious heat-related abuse. And yet, I have to say, I manage to keep it from becoming too damaged (hey, I'm not totally immune to some split ends) or fried. I like to think this is due in part to my practically religious use of heat protectants. So, when I was given the opportunity to pick out some hair products, a heat protectant was definitely on my wish list.

Here is how the site described the product:

Rusk Designer Collection Thermal Shine Spray 4.2 oz [the website says 4.2 oz, but the bottle says 4.4] - A micro spray that adds body and shine with heat protection. Conditions and protects the hair internally and externally. UVA/UVB sunscreens, exclusive Thermplex hair protection combined with Ceramic Complex leaves hair smooth, silky-soft, sleek, and shiny. 

I liked the idea of a thermal protectant that also provides shine and has sunscreens in it. After all,  your hair and scalp also need protection from the suns damaging rays. Plus, the promise to condition was also a huge attraction. Soft, shiny, silky, sleek hair, who doesn't want that? I was ready to give this product a shot. So here is how my experience measured up against the products claims:

Rusk's thermal shine spray definitely delivers on its shine promise. Interestingly, I got different shine results depending on whether I used it with my flat iron or my blow dryer. But, I do have to say that whenever I flat iron my hair, I feel it looks shinier than when I blow dry. I have my theories on why this happens, but that's not why you are reading this post.

I also felt my hair was soft and silky after using the thermal shine spray, and I was particularly pleased with the micro spray's lightness. I especially like that the micro mist, when sprayed on dry hair, does not dampen the hair like my other heat protectants do because they are a liquids that are applied using a regular spray bottle. Have you ever run a flat iron over a damp strand of hair? Even when it's heat protectant that's dampened it, you hear that sizzling sound that just sounds damaging. You don't get that with the micro mist.

The product also has a relatively pleasant odor. It's a sweet smell, that reminds me of my Strawberry Shortcake doll and the strawberry scented "kisses" she'd blow if you squeezed her belly.  I don't mind it, but for anyone who isn't a fan of saccharine fruity scents, this product's odor might be considered a downfall. It's not an overpowering smell, but you certainly will notice it, at least immediately after you spray it. I don't notice the scent once I'm just walking around after doing my hair.

The only claim the product made that I can't really substantiate, is the claim that it will give your hair more body. To me, that means volume, and quite frankly, I didn't experience that. My hair was definitely shiny and soft, it wasn't weighed down, and had movement, but I wouldn't really say it had more body. I'd say, if you are looking to add volume, you might want to also use a volumizing product.

Other observations:

The bottle looks pretty small compared to my other heat protectants (my Aveda heat protectant is 8.5 oz). It's 4.4 oz, but I'd venture to guess that it will still last. The micro mist helps diffuse the product better, so you end up using less (unless of course you are heavy handed, in which case you may want to practice a bit more restraint).

If you are a die-hard Rusk fan, then you are probably happy to hear that you can get this product at Beauty Stop Online for about 25 percent less than its normal retail value of $16, and you don't have to wait for there to be a sale going on. If you have been curious to try Rusk products, this is one I would recommend since it lived up to most of its claims.

I like Rusk's Thermal Shine Spray, I plan to use it in conjunction with my regular heat protectant. Why? Because my current heat protectant also works as a detangler, which protects my wet hair from combing damage. So, Rusk will now become my heat protectant on days when I heat style my second- and third-day tresses. I don't wash my hair daily (as I've mentioned before) and I really like that this protects without dampening my hair when I use it (no more sizzling hair sounds for me!), and is so light it won't create a lot of product build up, helping my hair still look nice and fresh and feel silky and soft even a few days after washing.

Have you used Rusk's Thermal Shine Spray? What do you think? Have you been curious about trying Rusk products? Are you excited to find them at a discounted price?


* Beauty Stop Online is a wholesale provider of professional beauty products and tools including: flat irons, curling irons, hair dryers, skin, hair and nail care, waxing and hair removal, salon and spa equipment, and more. They have partnerships with numerous manufacturers and vendors that make it possible for them to provide name brand products at affordable prices. 


Beauty Stop Online offers free US shipping on purchases of $50 or more

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”