Redken All Soft Review NZ: The Fix for Dry, Brittle Hair

If your hair feels dry, rough and snaps a little when you brush it, All Soft is the Redken range I reach for first. It is built for one job — putting softness and moisture back into hair that has gone brittle.

All Soft is one of Redken's longest-running ranges, and the reason it has stuck around is simple: it works on the exact hair most of us have in Central Otago. Dry air, wind, heat tools and a bit of colour add up to hair that drinks moisture and still feels straw-like by the ends. Here is the honest stylist take on what is in the range, who it suits, and how to actually get the most out of it.

What makes All Soft different

The range is built around Argan-6 Oil — a moisture complex that softens and adds slip without the heavy, coated feeling some "moisture" ranges leave behind. It is for dry and brittle hair that needs softness and manageability, rather than hair that is genuinely damaged and breaking (if that is you, read on for Extreme instead).

The picks, and who each suits

All Soft Shampoo is your everyday cleanse — gentle, softening, and it doesn't strip. Follow it with All Soft Conditioner to detangle and lay the cuticle down so hair feels smooth, not squeaky.

All Soft Argan-6 Oil is the one most people fall for. A few drops through damp mid-lengths and ends before drying tames flyaways, adds shine and makes the comb glide. It is lightweight enough for fine hair if you use it sparingly, and it doubles as a finishing oil on dry hair for shine.

All Soft Heavy Cream is the weekly rescue — a rich, leave-in-or-rinse-out treatment for very dry, coarse or thick hair that needs more than a daily conditioner. If your ends feel parched no matter what, this is the upgrade.

How to use it properly

• Shampoo once, massaging the scalp, then condition mid-lengths to ends only — keep richness off the roots so fine hair doesn't go flat.
• Use the Heavy Cream once a week as a 5-10 minute mask, or leave a small amount in if your hair is very coarse.
• Always seal damp ends with a couple of drops of the Argan-6 Oil before you blow-dry. It is the single biggest change for dry, brittle hair.

What to realistically expect

All Soft makes hair feel softer and more manageable from the first wash, and the brittleness eases over a couple of weeks. What it won't do is rebuild structural damage — softness is not the same as repair. If your hair is breaking, snapping or over-processed, you want a bond or strength range. See our honest comparison in the All Soft vs Extreme guide, or our wider best shampoo for dry hair NZ roundup.

11% off your first UKIYO order with code WELCOME11. Free NZ shipping over $75. Genuine salon Redken, shipped from our Wānaka studio — online pricing matched to and 10c under the big retailers.