Affordable Hair Care Part 1: Palmers Strong Roots Spray & Repairing Conditioner

A few weeks back while sorting through all my hair care bits I realised I didn't really own anything you can pick up in the likes of Boots or Superdrug for less than a fiver. The only reason I can think of for this is because for the longest time I've been trying to get away from hair products containing sulfates, parabens etc and completely ditched the 'drugstore'. My scalp has calmed down quite a bit over the last few months, it's still dry and easily irritated but I decided it was time to try out a few products which are affordable and easy to get hold of. Palmers body products are loved by many but I'd never heard much about their hair care which instantly made me curious when deciding on a brand to go for, I also love coconut so it was an obvious choice.  

I bought both products (and a few more, I'll review them soon) from Superdrug. They were, and still are on a 3 for 2 offer.

Palmers Coconut Oil Repairing Conditioner, 250ml, 2.99: I need to point out that this conditioner is for fine, limp hair. It doesn't state this on the website so just be careful if you're placing an order online. My hair isn't fine but can be quite limp once straightened as it's so thick and heavy. With any conditioner, I clip my hair up for around 5 minutes while I get washed and if I'm not in a rush I'll brush it through with either my Denman Be-Bop or Tangle Teezer. The texture is on the thick side and spreads easily over the hair which made me think it was going to be very moisturising and heavy but I couldn't get my detangling brushes through it as easily as I can with the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque but when you compare the prices and the fact Palmers Repairing Conditioner isn't a mask, I wasn't expecting miracles. When rinsing the conditioner I noticed my hair didn't have much 'slip' to it, my hair felt REALLY clean where the conditioner had been which is obviously why it's best suited to fine, limp hair. Once out of the shower though I was able to brush my hair without sectioning it off or using any detangling products and my hair smelt amazing! I'm sick of my hair smelling nice when first washed then the scent disappearing after I've straightened it but this stuff sticks around till the next wash. Every time I move my head I can smell coconut, it's gorgeous. Is it the best conditioner I've tried? No but I bloomin' love it! I'm able create big waves without my hair looking lank or dropping halfway through the night and it smells like coconut which is always a winner where I'm concerned. I've even ordered another tube. People with fine hair will love this but if you're like me and have a heavy lions mane it's still great at smoothing frizz in a way that won't add any more weight to your hair plus it adds the most gorgeous shine.

Palmers Strong Roots Spray, 150ml, 3.49: I really wasn't sure how I was going to get on with this product but I loved the idea of it. It claims to promote healthy hair growth, moisturise  hair and scalp, soothe tightness and itch as well as refreshing hair in between washes. In my head I thought it was going to be a thick oil and couldn't understand how it was going to soothe and moisturise without making my hair oily but I'm so glad I decided to try it, it's brilliant! Just like the conditioner it's scented with coconut but with the addition of pure peppermint and eucalyptus to stimulate the scalp. At first I found the scent quite odd but it's definitely grown on me and once on my hair it smells like coconut only. I can't smell any peppermint after a few minutes. After washing/conditioning my hair I part my hair roughly into 6 sections and spray once or twice along each parting directly onto my scalp. I then massage it in with my fingers before brushing from roots to ends. It doesn't make my hair oily at all but if you over-do it I'm sure the roots could end up looking a bit slick. Once I've worked it into my scalp I can feel the tingle, it only lasts for a couple of minutes but really makes my scalp feel more comfortable and fresh. I have no idea if it promotes healthy hair growth but it adds the most amazing shine and when paired with the Repairing Conditioner I'm able to create a lot more volume at the roots.

By no means are they the best I've ever tried but both products are affordable, free from sulfates and parabens, allow me to create styles that last all day without dropping flat and make my hair smell great for days.

Have you tried any hair care products from Palmers?

Both products are available from Superdrug

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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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*PR sample

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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