Review: Silky Sexy Hair Frizz Eliminator For Thick/Coarse Hair

 After trying out a few products from the Big Sexy Hair line I decided to change direction and go down the silky, sleek route. I still want big hair but if you're a frizzy girl like me, you need something to tame the dreaded frizz, leave your locks feeling soft and help out a wee bit in the shine department. Silky Sexy Hair Frizz Eliminator does just that even when used along side mousse which is how I use it. The results are amazing! You still get the hold you need from a mousse but instead of ending up with a mane which feels coarse and stiff, my hair feels like silk. My colour looks more vibrant, the shine makes my hair appear healthy which it isn't and the softness stays until the next wash.

The fact that it's been designed for thick/coarse hair gave me the impression it would be thick, gloopy and weigh my hair down but it hasn't in the slightest. I would go as far as saying it's one of the best serums I own and the claim of being humidity resistant is true. I got caught in the rain while waiting on a taxi on Saturday night which would usually leave me looking like I've jumped head first through ten hedges but nothing happened. My curls stayed intact, they didn't frizz up and even by Sunday my hair still looked decent.

I work 3-4 pumps through my midlengths/ends then take whatever product is left on my hands through my roots to help with flyaways. It can be used after styling too if the ends of your hair are a bit worse for wear and you need  to further disguise any damage.

Have you tried this or any other products from the Silky Sexy Hair line?

Silky Sexy Hair Frizz Eliminator For Thick/Coarse Hair is available from www.hairtrade.com

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Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask

I'm a big fan of the much loved oil from Moroccanoil but the shampoo and conditioner just didn't do it for me. My hair felt and looked lank after every use and needed washed more often but I was curious to see how I would get on with the Intense Hydrating Mask*

If you love the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque then you'll more than likely love this too. They both work in a similar way and leave my dry/damaged hair feeling soft, smooth, hydrated and a lot easier to manage. Unlike the shampoo and conditioner, the Intense Hydrating Mask doesn't leave any residue behind on my hair, instead it feels nourished without being weighed down nor do I need to wash my hair more often than I usually would. Another good thing is how little product you need to use as the texture is rich and creamy, and spreads easily. I usually leave it on for around 10 minutes while I'm shaving, doing a body scrub and all that jazz then make sure I rinse it out well. My hair is on the thick side and damaged due to years of using heat and dabbling with bleach but if you have fine hair that isn't too damaged I would give this a miss, you definitely don't need something this intense and it may weigh down your locks. If your hair sounds similar to mine though, it'll work wonders. Works a treat on curly hair too.

It makes a huge difference in the shine department and if you're a straightener addict you'll be pleased to know my hair stays straighter for longer without the ends fluffing up as the days go on.  Do I like it better than Macadamia's offering? No but that's down to cost more than anything else. 

Have you tried this hair mask?

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask 250ml, 24.75 from www.hairtrade.com

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Review: Macadamia Flawless 6-in-1 Cleansing Conditioner

Macadamia is one of my favourite hair care brands, the Deep Repair Masque and No Tangle Pre-Styler are both fantastic products which I constantly recommend to anyone whose hair puts up a fight at the sheer sight of a comb. It's definitely a brand I trust but I have to be honest and say I was more than just a bit sceptical when it came to this 6-in-1 product.

Macadamia Flawless Cleansing Conditioner* is like no hair product I've tried before. The most obvious difference being the texture - mousse. The no-suds mousse is so dense, creamy and luxe, it feels more like something you would expect to come from an eye wateringly expensive body care brand, not something that is essentially a shampoo. So yes it claims to cleanse hair as well as condition but it also promises to reduce blow-drying time, detangle, enhance volume and eliminate frizz. The directions say to apply the mousse to the scalp area and gently massage through to the ends. It can be left on for upto 5 minutes and needs to be applied to wet hair. 

Does it work?

 As soon as the mousse came into contact with my hair it instantly felt softer, almost as if I'd applied a mask. The mousse is so rich and dense that I reached for my usual shampoo thinking I would need to use it straight after. My thinking was 'how can something this moisturising cleanse my hair' but it did! I used it a few more times over the next lot of weeks to make sure it wasn't a case of first time lucky but each time my hair felt clean and had an amazing shine. I think how well it works as a conditioner will vary from person to person depending on hair type/how much damage you have but for me it works perfectly well and believe me, my hair is anything but easy to manage. It eliminates frizz to a certain degree but I still like to use a serum or oil of some sort to make my hair look and feel a bit healthier than it really is but unfortunately I didn't notice much difference when it came to blow-drying time or volume.

It definitely works and is something I'll purchase again and again and again but not to replace my usual shampoo and conditioner. For me this is the perfect product for taking on holiday as it doesn't weigh as much as a separate shampoo and conditioner, won't take up much space and is a time saver.

Have you tried this?

Were you sceptical like me?

Macadamia Flawless Cleansing Conditioner: 8.75/90ml, 25.75/250ml 

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TIGI S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray Heat Defender

Want to protect your hair from heat damage, keep frizz at bay and have sleek, glossy locks that smell great without weighing down every strand with a handful different products? Of course you do so read on.

My hair can take a lot of different products at once as long as I don't apply them too near the roots and I kinda enjoy the whole hair care routine ritual that takes place everytime I wash my hair but I know a lot of  people steer clear from thermal protectants and styling products as they can sometimes overload the hair and lank locks are never something we aim for. TIGI S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray Heat Defender* offers protection from heat styling and daily UV rays but because the texture is very fine, light and almost oily it helps tame frizz and adds a gorgeous healthy looking shine to the hair. For me it acts as a heat protector, frizz serum and a shine spray. I even use it on the ends of my hair after styling once my hair is fully dry to seal any split ends then run whats left on my hands over the rest of my hair. The formula contains vitamins A and E to condition and nourish the hair and protect hair from enviromental damage.

The scent of this heat spray is going to be the decider for most people as it's very sweet which I know everyone isn't a fan of but if you're like me and don't mind your hair smelling like a bag of Pick 'n' Mix, it won't be an issue. It would be great for travel too as it's easily decanted into a travel sized spray bottle and cuts down on the bulk of hair products you'll need to bring.

What heat spray do you use?
Have you tried this one from TIGI?

TIGI S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray Heat Defender, RRP: 16.50 but only 9.22 from www.hairtrade.com

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Paul Mitchell Super Strong Liquid Treatment

Anything that claims to strengthen my hair, I'm all over it. For the last 2 weeks or more I've been trying out the Paul Mitchell Super Strong Liquid Treatment* it claims to repair hair from the inside out, seal split ends and strengthen each strand by up to 60%. If you have long hair or want to grow it, you need to do everything you can to keep it strong or the ends just snap off every time you brush/blow dry/straighten it and it never seems to grow past a certain length. Anyone who uses bleach on their hair will probably notice this more as broken bits of hair end up all over their clothes after brushing it. Yes, I am speaking from experience. Back in the day I had what can only be described as a neck fringe at the back of my hairline. I don't colour my hair very often these days but the condition still isn't great, my hair is naturally curly with a good dose of frizz thrown in. I get way too excited over products that make my hair look and feel healthy and when they don't weigh it down, that's even better.

Before I even get into what the Super Strong Liquid Treatment did do, I can tell you what it didn't do and that's weigh my hair down. I can NEVER feel this product in my hair which is great for not only anyone with fine hair but for people like me who use more than one product in their hair after every wash. The treatment is in a spray bottle and should be used after you've washed, conditioned and towel dried your hair. It feels like a silky water and even though it contains silicone, my hair doesn't feel coated or slippy. It acts as a bit of a detangler too so, if your hair isn't too tangly it takes away the need for a separate detangling product. It also claims to replace lost minerals and proteins. Obviously I have no idea whether or not it does this but in the short period of time I've been using it I have noticed a difference. I usually use it every other day so can only imagine the results will be even more impressive over time and I'm glad it doesn't claim to get rid of split ends, hate when hair products say this. It does seal split ends but that's only down to the silicone, nothing will ever put an end to split ends apart from a good trim. 

After styling, my hair looks healthy, less frazzled and doesn't look like it's laden with product. Anyone with oily hair shouldn't have a problem with needing to wash their hair more often when using this.

Have you tried this before?

Does your hair seem to stop growing when it gets to a certain length?

Paul Mitchell Super Strong Liquid Treatment, 100ml, 7.40 from www.hairtrade.com

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Review: Macadamia Natural Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo & Moisturizing Rinse

Macadamia Rejuvenating Shampoo | Macadamia Moisturizing Rinse

Macadamia Natural Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo, 300ml, £11.47*: is a shampoo designed to add moisture back into your hair, so anyone with hair that can look/feel a bit crispy at the ends is going to benefit most from this. It claims to gently cleanse the hair which I totally agree with, there's no squeak at all when rinsing the shampoo out and that worried me a bit. When hair squeaks it isn't always a good thing as it can cause the hair to feel dry but for me, squeaking is a good indication that all the build up from products and daily grime has been removed and more often than not a good squeak leads to incredibly shiny hair. It 100% improved the look and feel of my hair but unfortunately it didn't remove product build up and by the next day my hair fell flat at the roots and lacked the shine I'm used to. I would say this is best suited to those with dry/damaged hair as claimed but only if your roots as well as the midlengths/ends are extremely dry and you don't use many styling products. Macadamia Natural Oil Moisturizing Rinse, 60ml, £4.20*: Is a nourishing conditioner light enough for daily use and should suit all hair types. It's infused with oils designed to detangle and nourish hair but it isn't a patch on the Deep Repair Masque. Lets be honest though, what is? It still does a great job and leaves my hair soft, smooth and easy to comb. It rinses out easily and doesn't weigh down my hair at all.

It's also worth mentioning that both products are SLS/Paraben free and even though they're scented (signature Macadamia Scent) neither of them irritated my scalp in the slightest

There has definitely been a Macadamia theme running on my blog lately. I think it's safe to say I'm more than just a wee bit taken by the brand. Unfortunately the Rejuvenating Shampoo hasn't made it onto my adore list but by no means is it a bad product, it just doesn't seem to suit my hair.

Have you tried either of these products?

What's your favourite Macadamia product?

Both products are available from www.hairtrade.com

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Review: Macadamia Control Hairspray

Macadamia Control Hairspray*

I'm back with yet another product from my current favourite hair care brand. I really can't get enough of Macadamia at the minute, most of the products I've tried so far have really, really impressed me. The products can be on the pricey side but fear not, ebay and discount websites like CheapSmells have got your back.

All I ask for when it comes to hairspray is the right amount of hold, a natural non crispy finish, a scent that doesn't make me run to the nearest window to escape what smells like a cross between nail polish remover and fly spray, and the ability to be able to brush my hair without ending up with what looks like clumps of druff! Does it deliver? In one word, yes. The scent is pleasant, the end result is never 'helmet head', it brushes out easily without leaving any white residue behind and the huge 300ml bottle will last a long time if you're like me and don't use hairspray on a daily basis.

Macadamia Control Hairspray is humidity resistant and provides light to medium hold. It's enough for day to day use on most styles but if you prefer your hair to be completely budge poof you'll have to look elsewhere.

Have you tried this hairspray?

Macadamia Control Hairspray RRP: around £15 , currently £10.54 with free delivery from Beauty Bay

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Tangle Free: Denman D6 Shower Brush 'Be-Bop'

 Denman Shower Brush*

For a few weeks now I've been trying out a product which really appealed to me. I'm a huge fan of the Tangle Teezer for brushing my hair after a shower but as most of you will know, it isn't so great on dry hair as the bristles don't reach through the hair to the scalp. This isn't a problem for me as I only use it on wet hair and take my hair into sections but I think it may be the reason some people don't get on with it. If that's the case for you then you might get on well with Denman's offering.

I've always used Denman brushes, the Classic Styling Brush was always my mums weapon of choice when it came to tackling my bushy barnet so I'm no stranger to the brand and had high hopes. The Denman Shower Brush is available in various bright colours inspired by the neon shades of Spring/Summer. It's easy to hold (the handle slips over the back of your hand with the flat back of the brush being held tightly against your fingers/palm) and is designed to be used in the shower on wet hair. The pins are all the same length and stiff which makes it great for getting right down to the scalp. The pins do soften slightly from the heat of the water so they don't feel harsh at all, it actually feels like you're giving yourself a mini head massage. For me it works best if I take my hair into sections while my conditioner is on but it can also be used on wet hair after showering and I use it when my hair is completely dry too.

As I've said before, my hair is an absolute nightmare, I would be lost without products like this. the brush does exactly what it claims to do and doesn't cost a fortune.

Have you tried this brush before?

Are you plagued by tangly tresses?

Deman Detangling Brush £3.50 available from www.denmanbrush.com

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Worth The Hype: Macadamia Deep Repair Masque

 Macadamia Deep Repair Masque*

I'm probably one of the last people to try this miracle hair mask but I just need to say it's as good as all the reviews I've read. If you're yet to try it and were thinking about buying one of the sachets to try first my advice would be don't! Go straight for the full sized tub. The only reason I can imagine some people wouldn't love this mask as much as me is if they have short, fine, limp hair that isn't particularly tangly or hard to manage but if you're like me and you're hair has a mind of it's own, Macadamia Deep Repair Masque will tame the beast from the very first use.

My rules for washing hair go straight out the window when I'm testing out shampoo/conditioner for the first time. I don't brush my hair before getting into the shower, I don't comb my conditioner through and I don't apply any detangling products before reaching for my Tangle Teezer. My hair is thick, long, curly/wavy, frizzy, colour treated and everything else in between. Not many conditioners/masks stand a chance against my hair but when they do everything I wanted and more I feel the need to tell everyone about it.

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque has such a thick texture. You can hold the tub upside down for ages and not one drip will escape and unlike a lot of hair masks, I didn't need to use much product at all. It's so concentrated and spreads easily over every strand of hair getting to work straight away. It claims to penetrate and rebuild hair, improving elasticity and shine. I have no idea if it really does rebuild hair. Hair is dead so I always ignore any claims of rebuilding hair/repairing split ends etc but it does make my hair feel like it belongs to someone else. Someone who has never coloured or used heat on their hair, it's so strange. My hair was easier to style. I didn't even need to use straighteners after blow drying with a paddle brush and I purposely didn't use any styling products just so I could see how well it smoothed out my hair. My hair stayed smooth (with a few kinks) untill the next wash and had a really glossy finish. What surprised me most was how light my hair felt. It contains silicone so I was expecting my barnet to look lank and feel weighed down but it didn't in the slightest.

Macadamia are really doing it for me lately. Most products in my current hair care routine are from Macadamia (apart from shampoo) and I love them all.

Have you tried Macadamia Deep Repair Masque?

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque (250ml) £18.40 available from www.hairtrade.com

 

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Color Wow One-Minute Transformation Styling Cream

Color Wow One-Minute Transformation Styling Cream*

When it comes to hair care I'm always drawn to products thats create shine and feel weightless. I can't be doing with crispy, tacky or matte hair which is the main reason I avoid those powdery root boosters. My arsenal of styling products is limited, not many make the cut but every so often a stunner comes along.

Color Wow is a collection of professionally formulated products designed to disguise roots and solve issues associated with colour treated hair. The brand was developed by renowned beauty innovator Gail Federici and John Frieda. The collection includes Root Cover Up, Colour Security Shampoo & Conditioner, Brass Banned Mousse, Pop & Lock and the product I'll be talking about today: One-Minute Transformation Styling Cream.

One-Minute Transformation Styling Cream creates what I describe as controlled texture. I hate my hair to look too perfect but at the same time I don't want it to look like a complete mess. This allows me to add texture where I want it without the usual crispy almost frizzy finish. It adds shine to distressed hair, calms frizz and can be used to restyle next day hair. You can't see it at all in the hair and best of all, you can barely feel it either. I've tried it while my hair was down and straight, up in a pony tail and in a fishtail braid. It works well for all those styles. It smells good and is paraben free.

If you're like me and can't stand the look or feel of product in your hair then this might be worth looking in to. The collection is designed for coloured hair but I can't see any reason why this product wouldn't work just as good on virgin hair. I haven't tried any of the other products but have a feelin Pop & Lock will be purchased very soon. ;)

Have you tried any products from Color Wow?

What styling products do you always reach for?

Color Wow One-Minute Transformation Styling Cream £16.50 (120ml), £9 (30ml) is available from QVC and colorwowhair.com coming to victoriahealth.com and Space NK in July.

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Macadamia No Tangle Pre-Styler

In my Tips For Tangles post I mentioned I'd recently started using Macadamia No Tangle Pre-Styler. I've been using it for over a month now and wanted to share my thoughts.

The few products I've tried from Macadamia have really impressed me so on my search for a new detangling spray, Macadamia was my first port of call. No Tangle is a lightweight pre-styler which also detangles hair. When I bought it I had no idea it was a pre-styler and still had no idea untill I looked it up online before typing up this post to find the price. It claims to add volume and help create a smooth, sleek look. Yes it creates a smooth, sleek look but I honestly dont know how it would add volume, I certainly haven't noticed my hair looking more voluminous. If anything it would weigh the hair down if used near the roots.

It comes in a spray bottle but unlike most detangling sprays, No Tangle is a light lotion that shoots out rather than spraying out in a fine mist so for that reason I spray it into my hands then work it through my hair. It does a brilliant job detangling my stubborn birds nest and any hair in my Tangle Teezer at the end is minimal so I would have to agree with the claim of No Tangle reducing breakage. It leaves the ends of my hair looking seriously shiny, feeling nourished (even though my ends are brittle and dry) and has the added benefit of UV protection making it a great product to take away with you on your jollies!

Used near the root area it may weigh the hair down because of it's texture but used on the mid-lengths and ends causes no problems at all. It is lightweight and never leaves my hair feeling like it's coated in product and even on my thick hair I only need to use 2 pumps (each pump dispenses only a small amount of product)  for each side of my hair. I could use more but 4 pumps is all it takes to detangle my unruly mane so I have a feeling No Tangle is going to last me quite a while.

My Search to find a paraben free detangler is over, hurrah! :)

Have you tried Macadamia No Tangle Pre-Styler?

Macadamia No Tangle Pre-Styler £8.95 available from www.cheapsmells.com

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Tips For Tangles

Todays post is one I've wanted to write up for a while now but didn't as many of the points are obvious but I realise not everyone with matted, tangled hair may be aware of them. As I've mentioned before, my hair is thick, wavy/curly/frizzy, colour treated, long, damaged from heat styling etc. It's a complete beast, the devil in hair form. Not only have I struggled to get a brush through my own hair for many years but many of my clients had the same problem. I would spend more time trying to untangle their hair than cutting or colouring it. Once you find a detangling routine that works for you it really does make a huge difference. So here's what I do:

Source

Brush Before Washing: Before you get in the shower, brush your hair! This alone make's a big difference and unlike detangling treatments, it's completely free.

Don't Go OTT With Shampoo: When washing your hair you only want to concentrate on the scalp/root area. There is absolutely no need to pile shampoo onto the midlengths and ends of your hair scrubbing like you would do with your scalp unless you're doing a weekly build-up removal. Washing your hair this way is just asking for trouble.

Conditioning: Atleast once a week use a conditioning mask. Towel dry your hair first though as this stops the mask dripping straight down the plug hole. If you don't own any hair masks just apply your regular conditioner in the same way, clipping it up out of the way for around 5 minutes while you get washed, shave your legs or whatever. Before rinsing give your hair a quick comb through.

Towel Dry Your Hair: Pat the excess moisture from your hair, never rub! Rubbing your hair with a towel not only creates masses of tangles but can also break the hair.

Invest: I was always told to use a wide tooth comb on wet hair but honestly, they're rubbish. You NEED to invest in a Tangle Teezer or something similar. There's a few different brands on the market now at different price points. You also need to get your hands on a good detangling spray. You can pick them up anywhere but the trouble is, most of them weigh the hair down. You just need to find one that works for you. My favourite is Beever Daily Revive, I could pour the whole bottle on my head and it still wouldn't weigh down my hair. I've also recently started using Macadamia No Tangle which is more of a cream so better suited to thick, course hair.

Section & Work Your Way Up: I know sectioning is a bit of a pain in the arse and most people including myself try to avoid it but sectioning your hair will get the job done quicker. Section, section, section and brush/comb your hair starting from the ends and work your way up. Brushing from root to tip is just going to gather tangles in the midlengths.

Doing pre-shampoo treatments doesn't hurt either. They help the condition of your hair and more often than not, the worse your hair is, the more tangles you end up with. There's no need to buy overly expensive products though, organic coconut oil works brilliantly and make's you smell like a bounty! :)

Do you have a fight with your hair everytime you wash it?

Leave your detangling tips below.

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Macadamia Healing Oil Spray

I was a bit late jumping on the Macadamia Oil bandwagon but now that I've tried a few products from the brand, I want to try everything!

Macadamia Healing Oil Spray*

A while back I tried the oil and didn't think there would be much difference between that and the healing oil spray but there is. The Healing Oil Spray is oil obviously but much, much thinner. It sprays out of the nozzle in a fine mist and can be used on wet or dry hair. It claims to provide intense nourishment, leave your hair with a tangle and frizz free finish, add amazing shine, extend the life of colour treatments, provide UV protection and reduce drying time by 40-50%. My hair can take alot of product before it starts to feel/look weighed down so because the Healing Oil Spray is so lightweight I find it works better for me as a finishing spray to add even more shine, tame any flyaway hair etc. I use the normal Macadamia Oil while my hair is still wet, style it then add a few sprays to my hands, rub them together and smooth it through the midlengths/ends of my hair. It's great for keeping in your bag if you have frizzy hair. People with fine hair might even prefer it to the original oils as it's so lightweight.

What's your favourite Macadamia product?

People keep Recommending the mask, is it really that good?

Macadamia Healing Oil Spray £8.05 from hairtrade.com

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TIGI Bed Head Foxy Curls Hi-Def Curl Spray

TIGI Bed Head Foxy Curls Hi-Def Curl Spray*

I've been giving my hair a well deserved break from heat mostly due to laziness ;) but also in an attempt to improve the condition. My hair is really long, thick and curly/wavy but if I ever want to leave it curly I need to use product of some sort or I'm left with what looks like a mountain of frizz! I'm probably the fussiest person alive when it comes to styling products, I can't stand products that make my hair look wet or feel hard/crispy but at the same time a bit of hold wouldn't go amiss.

Tigi Bed Head Foxy Curls Hi-Def Curl Spray is designed to help you achieve highly defined, frizz-free, separated curls. It can be used on wet hair after washing or on dry hair to give your curls an extra boost. After washing, conditioning and tangle teezing my hair I squeeze the excess water from my hair with a towel just how I would before using hair oils or any styling product. Once my hair is wet but not soaking I tip my head upside down, do a few sprays then tip my head back doing the same to the rest of my hair. I use my tangle teezer to make sure the product is worked through evenly so I don't end up with random missed parts of hair then scrunch and leave to dry naturally. I wake up the next morning like curly sue but a few head shakes loosens it up and if any stray frizzies appear around the top of my hair I smooth them down with a tiny bit of oil.

I would describe the finish of Hi-Def Curl Spray as very natural. Once you realise how much product is enough for your hair (my hair can take quite alot) you won't end up with that wet perm look, just defined, soft , natural curls. And did I mention how good it smells?!

Have you tried this before?

What curl products would you recommend?

TIGI Bed Head Foxy Curls Hi-Def Curl Spray £6.37 from hairtrade.com

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Review: Milk_Shake Active Milk Mask

Milk_Shake Active Milk Mask £13.69*

This month from Hair.trade.com, one of the UK's leading online retailers of  hair extensions, hair care and beauty products I've been trying out Milk_Shake Active Milk Mask. Milk_Shake is a haircare brand which is new to me. I've never heard of Milk_Shake before and it's not a brand I've ever spotted on the highstreet so I was interested to see how well it worked. I'm really fussy when it comes to hair masks/treatments and the majority do little to help my long, thick, over processed hair. One of the things I dislike about hair masks is having to wait 20-30 minutes while a the mask does it's job so the fact Active Milk Mask works in 3-5 minutes definitely appealed to me.

Milk_Shake Active Milk Mask is a rich mask based on milk proteins. It contains rice and avocado oils, Vitamin E and Integrity 41 (a special ingredient to help strengthen the hair). As I mentioned above, my hair is very long (mid back length), thick, curly/wavy and coloured. My mid-lengths and ends are very dry but my roots get greasy very quickly which is why I cant stand products that leave any resdue behind. Active Milk Mask comes in a 200ml pot with an easy to open screw off lid. The texture isn't runny but it isn't overly thick either like I expected it to be since it is designed to deeply nourish and reinforce dry/damaged hair. The scent is lovely, it smells like sweet cream and lingers on the hair all day. After washing my hair I wring out the excess water and apply a generous amount concentrating on my mid-lengths/ends and then skim whatevers left on my hands through the rest of my hair. I don't comb it through, I just clip my hair up and leave it to work it's magic for 5 minutes while I get washed. If my fingers can glide through my hair while I'm rinsing off a hair mask then I know it's good and that's exactly what I was able to do with Active Milk Mask. My hair felt like silk, it was easy to rinse and after straightening my hair felt so soft and stayed that way untill the next wash.

Milk_Shake Active Milk Mask is an impressive hair mask and one I would fully recommend to anyone with hair similar to mine but there is one thing that ruins it all for me - it contains parabens. If you're not bothered about parabens then this won't be a problem for you but I'm finding myself letting more and more paraben packed products into my routine because they just work so well (not the parabens, the products).

Have you tried this mask before?

Milk_Shake Active Milk Mask is available from HairTrade.Com

*Product sent for review

Review: Beever Daily Revive

Beever Daily Revive*

First things first - the name cracks me up! Yes I'm immature and easily amused. I'd never heard of Beever untill a few weeks ago but its a professional hair care brand with a whole host of hair care products for both men and women. Beever teamed up with a team of top British hairdressers to create a product that would leave hair looking lustrous yet be light enough for everyday use and never leave the hair feeling weighed down.

Daily Revive is a specialist hairspray (not even slightly similar to normal hairspray. Theres no hold etc). After washing your hair and before combing you mist it all over damp hair. It helps to detangle, lightly moisturise and improve elasticity, texture and shine. I'll be the first to admit I didnt believe the blurb about it not weighing hair down. Any detangling/conditioner spray I've tried before has left my hair feeling flat, dull and just lifeless with an icky feel to the touch. Daily Revive absorbs easily and leaves NOTHING behind, no matter how much you spray on the hair. My hair was easy to comb (Tangle Teezer), felt and looked healthy (which it isnt) but the biggest difference I noticed was when straightening my hair. Instead of havin to run my GHDs over and over the same section of hair I was able to get perfectly straight hair just by going over the section once! It can also be left to dry naturally to encourage loose beachy waves and throughout the day if the hair feels like it needs some added moisture.

Beever Daily Revive £10.40 directly form from Beever and Beever stockists

Have you heard of Beever or tried Daily Revive?

*PR sample

Review: Orofluido Sahara Hair Protection

 Orofluido Sahara Hair Protection*

We all love our hair oils now dont we? A few years back I'm sure most of us never imagined we'd be using an oil on almost a daily basis but you cant deny how much healthier they make our hair look and feel, even ones that dont contain any hair benefiting ingredients.

Orofluido Sahara is a dry oil spray for all hair types to protect hair in extreme conditions. It was tested in the extreme heat of the Sahara Desert and helps to protect both the external and internal structure of the hair against loss of colour and dehydration. The dry oil contains Argan oil, Cyperus oil, Linseed oil and solar filters which protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun but it also protects hair against exposure to cold and wind.

Orofluido smells gorgeous, not too dissimilar to Moroccon oil but better. It can be applied to damp or dry hair. I always use it while my hair is wet then once its dry I'll spray more onto my hand and use it on the midlengths and ends of my hair as a serum. It adds an amazing shine to the hair, tames frizz, makes the hair look healthy and feel like silk. I've been using Moroccon Oil for the last 2 years but prefer Orofluido for two simple reasons - its not heavy and I dont end up with any build up. Theres a whole range of Orofuido products including the regular hair oil which I think might have to be mine next.

Have you tried anything from Orofluido? What hair oil are you using?

Orofluido Sahara Hair Protection is available from various online stockist 160ml £13.99 (I found it reduced to £8.79 on BeautyBay)

*PR sample

A Bit Of A Hair Hero: Revlon Professional Nutri Color Creme

Revlon Professional Nutri Color Cream in shade 513 Deep Chestnut*

New from Revlon is Nutri Color Creme - a treatment colour range available in 11 shades to revive coloured hair that has faded or lost its vibrancy. Nutri Color Cream wont work on virgin hair, it needs to be used on coloured hair but dont worry its not a 'dye' and isnt going to completely change your hair colour. The creme uses an exclusive 3 in 1 formula that combines colour, softness and shine.The colour immediately takes effect by using ionic concentrated pigments. The best part? It only takes 3 minutes.

The creme is packed full of AHA fruit acids to enrich your hairs natural moisture without a heavy conditioning effect. It smells fantastic (reminds me of Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel) and the sent stays on the hair once dry. The shine it adds to the hair is like nothing else. It smooths each and every strand of hair making it look in brilliant condition, even when it isnt ;) Nutri Creme claims to brighten, revive, accentuate, neutralize and correct tones. I can confirm it actually lives upto its claims.

How to apply:

Shampoo hair as normal (skip conditioner) then apply Nutri Color Creme and rinse after 3 minutes

Its so simple to use and because its not a dye you dont have to worry about missing any random bits of hair. After rinsing my hair was so, so soft and tangle free then once dry my colour just looked 10x better but without looking dyed. I used it over my highlights too (I only have a few scattered through my hair) and it helped tone down the brassy look.

If you cant get to a salon as often as you'd like then Nutri Color Creme would be perfect for you. It'd be great to use just before a night out aswell as its so quick to use and improves the overall look of your hair. I received a 100ml tube but its available in various sizes. My hair is very long (mid back length) but I'll get 4 uses from the 100ml tube.

A huge thank you to Catalyst PR for introducing me to this beauty!

Revlon Professional Nutri Color Creme 100ml £10 available from various online stockist (I found it on FragranceDirect 250ml £11.99)

*PR sample

Phil Smith Moisture Rich Shampoo & Conditioner

Phil Smith Moisture Rich Nourishing Repair Shampoo* & Nourishing Repair Conditioner*

Last week I mentioned I added some highlights to my hair and have been looking for more moisturising shampoo/conditioner options. I posted about the JASON Sea Kelp Shampoo & Conditioner (link) but I've also been trying out this duo from Phil Smith.

Phil Smith Moisture Rich has been designed for those with dry/damaged hair. I've been using the shampoo & conditioner once a week for some added moisture but still use my SLS free shampoo the rest of the week. My scalp can be crazy but I've got it under control and using this duo once a week hasnt caused any bad effects. As soon as I lather up the shampoo my hair instantly feels so much softer. I can almost run my fingers through it before I've added conditioner and thats saying something! It reduces frizz and just helps the overall look of your hair. The Nourishing Conditioner isnt a hair mask but if I leave it on for 5 minutes or longer I get the same results as an intensive treatment mask and my hair is so much easier to style. Once styled my hair feels like silk, even when I havent used a hair oil or any other styling product. My hair is on the thick side but the conditioner is light enough to be used on fine hair and using it once a week means I never end up with my hair feeling weighed down.

I felt a bit funny about introducing SLS back into my hair care routine which is why I only use it once a week and dont plan on changing that any time soon but my hair just needed some extra help and once a week seems to be working fine for me.

Have any of you tried this duo or any other Phil Smith products?

Phil Smith Moisture Rich Shampoo & Conditioner £3.99 each from Sainsburys

*PR sample

Review: JASON Smoothing Sea Kelp Shampoo & Conditioner



A couple of weeks ago I got bored of my hair being one colour and decided it would be a smart idea to add some highlights. I love how it turned out but since then my hair has needed a more moisturising shampoo. The SLS free shampoo I've been using is still one of my favourites and probably something I'll repurchase for the rest of my life (Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo) but I just felt my hair needed something a bit more. I've been trying out two different shampoo/conditioner combos, one SLS free and one which isnt.

JASON Smoothing Sea Kelp Shampoo £6.29* is free from SLS, parabens and phthalates. It cleanses my hair in the same clarifying way that all SLS free shampoo seems to but it adds a lot more moisture as its enriched with Sea Kelp, Ginseng Root & Kukui Nut Oil. If my hair is left to dry on its own after using this it looks frizzy (if you use SLS free shampoo you will know what I mean) but you can tell the hair hasnt been stripped, its just not weighed down with any nasties, and the shine it leaves behind makes your hair look so healthy like you've never used heat or even coloured treated it. It also lathers up really well which is something some SLS free shampoo can struggle with. JASON Smoothing Sea Kelp Shampoo is enriched with multi vitamins and botanical extracts - Vitamin A, C, E and the botanical extracts help to protect your hair from enviromental stressors.

JASON Smoothing Sea Kelp Conditioner £6.29* is packed with vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. It conditions the hair really well but doesnt leave build up which means I'm able to go longer between washes. My hair never feels heavy and once I've left my hair to dry naturally it still looks a bit frizzy but once I've straightened it it's completely smooth and the style stays in for days.

Each bottle is huge - 480ml and the price is so reasonable. The scent reminds me of coconut and remains on the hair untill the next wash. I havent had any irritation at all since using this shampoo/conditioner and would fully recommend it to anyone who feels their hair needs some extra moisture. If you dont really style your hair then maybe give this a miss as it doesnt leave any build up which means the hair can be a bit frizzy when left to dry naturally.

JASON Smoothing Sea Kelp Shampoo & Conditioner can be purchased here for £6.29 each

My Hair: I have long, thick, naturally wavy, colour treated hair. My scalp can be quite reactive to certain ingredients and tends to be itchy/dry if I use the wrong products. My roots get oily very quickly but my midlengths/ends are dry/damaged.

*PR sample