Pureology Style + Protect Mess It Up Texture Paste For Color-Treated Hair Provides Medium Hold Texture and Shine, Sulfate Free & Vegan
Gives soft hold and texture and protects color-treated hair from fading, heat damage and environmental stressors.
★★★★★
$34
Style Protect Mess It Up Texture Paste
Finding the perfect balance in a styling product is often the hardest part of a hair routine. Gels can be too crunchy and stiff, while creams might not offer enough hold to keep your style in place. Waxes can sometimes be difficult to wash out, leaving a heavy residue that weighs hair down over time. For those seeking that “perfectly imperfect” look where hair has structure but still moves naturally the search often ends with a high-quality paste.
The Style Protect Mess It Up Texture Paste is the ultimate solution for versatile styling. It is a medium-hold styling paste designed to give you the freedom to mold, shape, and reshape your hair throughout the day. Whether you are rocking a pixie cut, a textured bob, or simply want to tame flyaways on a long blowout, this paste delivers flexible control without the stiffness.
In this guide, we will explore what makes this paste a stylist favorite, the ingredients that protect your hair while you style, and how to use it to achieve effortless, modern looks.
The Art of Flexible Control
Unlike hairsprays that lock a style in place instantly, a paste is all about workability. The Style Protect Mess It Up Texture Paste is formulated to remain pliable. This means you can run your hands through your hair hours after application to refresh your look or change the direction of your style.
It provides a sophisticated finish that adds soft texture and shine. Many matte pastes can leave hair looking dry or dull, but “Mess It Up” is designed to reflect light, giving your hair a healthy, polished appearance even when the style is messy and textured. It is the ideal flexible control paste for anyone who wants their hair to look intentional but never over-styled.
Key Benefits
- Medium Hold: Strong enough to define layers and keep short styles upright, but soft enough to avoid the “helmet head” effect.
- Workable Texture: Allows you to manipulate the hair fiber to create separation, spikes, or piecey waves.
- Natural Shine: Adds soft texture and shine rather than a flat, matte finish, enhancing the dimension of your color.
- Color Protection: Infused with the exclusive AntiFade Complex to shield color-treated hair from fading due to UV rays and heat.
- Non-Greasy: The formula is creamy and lightweight, absorbing into the hair without leaving a sticky or oily residue on your hands or scalp.
Ingredients That Style and Shield
This medium-hold styling paste isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about maintaining hair health. The formula is enriched with ingredients that nourish the hair fiber while providing structure.
| Ingredient | Role | Benefit to Hair |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable Protein | Strengthening | Penetrates the hair shaft to reinforce structure, preventing breakage during styling manipulation. |
| Castor Oil | Moisture & Shine | A natural emollient that smooths the cuticle and adds a healthy luster to the hair. |
| Candelilla Wax | Hold & Texture | A plant-based wax that provides grip and hold without the heavy buildup associated with beeswax or petroleum. |
| AntiFade Complex | Color Care | A proprietary blend of sunflower seed oil and UV filters that prevents color oxidation and fading. |
How to Master the Messy Look
Using a paste requires a bit of technique to ensure you get the right amount of product in the right places. Here is how to use Style Protect Mess It Up Texture Paste for maximum impact.
1. Start Small
Pastes are concentrated. Scoop out a dime-sized amount (or even less for fine hair). You can always add more, but removing excess product is difficult without washing.
2. Warm It Up
This is the most crucial step. Rub the paste vigorously between your palms until it warms up and turns transparent. This emulsifies the waxes and oils, ensuring the product spreads evenly through your hair rather than clumping in one spot.
3. Application Techniques
- For Short Hair (Pixies/Crops): Apply the product in a chaotic motion, rubbing your palms back and forth over the hair to create texture. Use your fingers to pinch and define individual pieces or spikes.
- For Mid-Length/Bobs: Focus on the ends. Scrunch the product into the bottom few inches of your hair to separate layers and add movement.
- For Long Hair: Use it to smooth flyaways at the part or to add definition to the ends of a blowout. It’s also excellent for taming frizz in a ponytail.
4. Reshape as Needed
Because this is a flexible control paste, don’t be afraid to touch your hair. If your style falls flat midday, simply massage your roots or scrunch your ends to reactivate the texture.
5. Combine for Customization
For a stronger hold, finish with a mist of Style Protect Lock It Down Hairspray. For extra volume, apply Style Protect On The Rise Root Lifting Mousse before blow-drying, then use the paste to define the ends.
Real Customer Reviews: What Users Are Saying
The Style Protect Mess It Up Texture Paste is a staple for those who love short to medium hairstyles. Here is a summary of user feedback:
- Perfect for Short Cuts: Users with pixie cuts and textured bobs consistently rate this as their holy grail product for defining layers without stiffness.
- Smells Incredible: The signature aromatherapy blend is a major highlight in reviews, with users loving the subtle, clean fragrance.
- Long-Lasting Tub: Customers appreciate that a little goes a long way. One jar can last for months, making it a great value.
- No Flaking: Unlike some gels that dry out and flake off, users report this paste stays pliable and invisible throughout the day.
- Shine without Grease: Many reviews mention that it adds soft texture and shine that looks healthy, not oily—a difficult balance for many styling pastes to achieve.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are answers to the most common questions about this versatile styling paste.
1. Will this paste make my hair look greasy?
No, provided you warm it up in your hands first and apply it sparingly. It is designed to add a natural shine, not grease. If you have fine hair, use a pea-sized amount and focus on the ends only.
2. Is it hard to wash out?
Not at all. Unlike heavy petroleum-based pomades, this water-soluble formula rinses out easily with regular shampooing, leaving no buildup behind.
3. Can I use it on damp hair?
Yes. Applying it to damp hair before blow-drying can provide a softer, more controlled hold. However, for maximum texture and separation, applying it to dry hair is recommended.
4. Is it suitable for long hair?
Yes, though the technique is different. For long hair, use it primarily to tame flyaways, smooth split ends, or add piecey definition to layers. Do not apply it to the roots of long hair as it may weigh it down.
5. Does it protect hair color?
Absolutely. It contains the Pureology AntiFade Complex® to protect color-treated hair from UV damage and environmental aggressors.
6. What kind of hold does it offer?
It is a medium-hold styling paste. This means it provides structure and shape but allows for natural movement. It is not a hard-hold cement.
7. Is it vegan?
Yes, Style + Protect Mess It Up Texture Paste is 100% vegan and cruelty-free.
8. Does it work on curly hair?
Yes, it is excellent for defining curls and reducing frizz. Apply a small amount to dry curls to separate them and add shine.
9. What does it smell like?
It features a luxurious aromatherapy blend of Tuberose, Almond Milk, and Cedarwood.
10. Can men use this product?
Yes, it is a unisex product. It is excellent for men’s grooming, perfect for styling quiffs, pompadours, or messy textured looks.
11. Does it contain sulfates?
No, the formula is sulfate-free, ensuring it is gentle on the hair and scalp.
12. How is it different from a clay?
A clay typically has a matte, dry finish and a stronger, grittier hold. This paste adds soft texture and shine and remains more pliable and creamy than a clay.
13. Will it hold up in humidity?
It offers moderate humidity resistance by sealing the hair cuticle with castor oil and vegetable proteins, helping to keep frizz at bay.
14. Can I use heat tools after applying?
It is best used as a finishing product after heat styling. If you apply it to damp hair, you can blow dry over it, but avoid using flat irons directly on the paste to prevent residue buildup on your tools.
15. Is it good for fine hair?
Yes, because it is a flexible control paste, it adds weight and thickness to fine strands, making hair appear fuller and more substantial. Just use a small amount to avoid weighing it down.
