A Touch of Silver shampoo review

Anyone who has read my blog or follows me on Twitter will know that I battle the grey so have a beautiful (well I think so anyway) streak of blonde hair at the front so I don't have to visit the hairdressers more than 6-8 weeks at a time.

My hairdresser always puts toner on to try to get it as 'white' as possible, which she does achieve, but it never lasts as long as I would like it to. I was asked to try Pro:voke Professional A Touch of Silver, a range that really helps grey, white and platinum blonde hair. It uses violet pigment which neutralises the yellow and helps colours not to fade between applications.

The Optical Brightener and sunflower seed extract make colours bright and protect and the conditioners help to soften and moisturise too.

I really liked using the shampoo and conditioner which I was sent along with daily versions and even dry shampoo (which I don't really use but will have to start). It is not overly scented but I must say even after a few days my hair had started to lose it's white shade and was turning yellow but with this it was back to white again!

My hair is also a bit shinier, which blonde hair just doesn't normally have and soft. I would recommend these products to all you bottle blondes, or those with a lot of grey who want to keep it that way...

The range is available from a wide range of high-street stores and online including Boots. Prices start at around £2.

Image: Fabulous Magazine

Splish Splash - Aqua Splash from Tangle Teezer

As most readers of this blog will know I have a constant battle with my hair. Okay so I do have curls which lots of people envy (why I have no idea but there you go) and I can afford a regular visit to the hairdresser to keep the grey at bay. However my hair is a law unto itself especially when it comes to brushing when washed. So it was with great joy that I discovered the Tangle Teezer a while ago (I have already blogged about it here). And it is with even greater joy that I received from those clever Tangle Teezer people, their latest addition to the range, the Aqua Splash, a brush which loves water!

The Aqua Splash from  Tangle Teezer simply glides through tangles with no pulling or tearing which ruins hair - mine especially.

This is the first upright, non-slip, water-loving, detangling hairbrush with a hollow design that makes getting rid of tangles before you've even left the shower a doddle. It is easy to grip and  has a nifty little drying foot so it can stand upright in your shower alongside shampoo and conditioners.

It is available  in four colours; Pink Shrimp, Blue Lagoon, Green Marine and Black Pearl. Aqua Splash from Tangle Teezer, £12.99.

Wella Professional for curls

So I was very lucky and was sent these Wella Professional products from the PR to try out. She obviously knows that I have the curliest of hair that needs a constant change of products as it gets too used to the same one's and they lose their efficacy fairly quickly.

I was going out with the girls last night so decided to put them through their paces after washing my hair. This is a bit of a moody instagram photo so it's difficult to see what is featured (apologies for that) but I have got Wella Professional Velvet Amplifier/Wet Style Primer (£2.41, Amazon), Wella Professional Curl Craft/Wet Wax Mousse (£8.75 Amazon) and Wella Professional Sublime Reflection shimmering spray (£15.49, Amazon).

After washing my hair as usual I used a ten pence sized amount of the Velvet Amplifier through my curls. It is a concentrated serum which prepares my hair for styling and makes it more manageable. Then I used a good sized squirt of the Curl Craft mousse. This smalls of summer berries and is delicious with no chemical after smell like so many mousses on the market. After my hair was dry I sprayed it with Sublime Reflection which I must admit did give my hair a bit of shine - no mean feat on curly, blonde highlighted hair I can tell you.

Impressed? Not at all bad - my curls were well defined without being 'crunchy' - those with curly hair who use mousse know exactly what I mean by that! I couldn't really tell what the Primer did and the Sublime Reflection shimmering spray did make a slight difference but I am sure is much more effective on dark, straight hair...

Play It Straight from got2b

My hair has been horribly frizzy recently - humidity, rain, heat, all conspire against me having glossy locks. I hanker after shiny straight hair but know that it doesn't suit me but I still keep an eye on products that help maintain smooth locks when your hair has natural kink and frizz.

So here is a newcomer to the market which is already making waves (if you'll pardon the awful pun).

got2b play it straight is a semi-permanent solution to unmanageable hair giving you the first straightening blow dry kit from got2b.

In two simple Smoothing & Sealing steps you can create perfectly sleek and straight styles that last up to 10 washes - yes 10 washes. So it's like having a professional blow-dry at home every day really.

play it straight contains a special protein that helps loosen the bonds that make hair frizzy. The formulaiton also contains keratin, silk and wheat proteins for caring and conditioning. These advanced formulas help to seal in lasting smoothness to create a weightless humidity - resistant barrier to frizz - and we can all do with some of that!

So how does it work?

Step 1.
The Smoothing

• Shampoo hair without massaging the scalp
• Towel dry and comb then secure hair into 4 sections with plastic hair clips 
• With gloves on, apply the smoothing serum to each section, then comb through to straighten the hair
• Let the serum process for 20 minutes (or 25 for thicker hair)
• Comb hair 3 to 4 times during the process to ensure it remains straight
• After 20 mins rinse hair with lukewarm water - but don't shampoo!

Step 2
The Sealing

• Repeat the same steps with the sealing cream and let it process for 10 mins
• Comb the hair again, 2 to 3 times
• Rinse hair - again don't use shampoo but use a conditioner if needed

Now your hair is ready to blow dry with a round brush to create beautifully straight and shiny hair that will be noticeably smoother and faster to style. For poker straight hair use straightening irons.

If you want to wear your hair curly then allow it to dry naturally then blow dry or use a diffuser to hold your natural curl - these will be far less frizz prone too.

got2b play it straight is priced at the bargain price of £6.99 RRP and is available now from Boots, Superdrug, Asda, Savers and Amazon. For further information visit got2b or Facebook.

got2b products are available in the following sizes - 

• got2b guardian angel HEAT PROTECTION                          200ml
• got2b beach matt PASTE                                                       100ml
• got2b sparkling shine HAIRSPRAY                                       300ml
• got2b rockin’ it DRY SHAMPOO                                           200ml     

 

Agadir Argan Oil - a little miracle!

I am constantly testing out new hair treatments for curly and slightly dry hair but it is not often that I am genuinely excited by a product - but I am now! Agadir Argan Oil products are extracted from the rare and exotic Argan Nut which is a cross between a walnut and an almond, and because the resulting Argan Oil is lightweight it is perfect for hair products as it won't weigh hair down.

It penetrates the hair shaft so really works hard on softening, repairing and strengthening dry and frizzy hair - and it really does work. It also miraculously reduces drying time by about 40%. It is a natural anti-oxidant and helps with dry scalps too. My hair looks seriously soft, curly and well-conditioned - someone even commented on how nice it looked.

The good news is the whole range of products from shampoo and conditioner (both of which can be used daily) to more consentrated spray treatment oils can be bought online at Feel Unique.

Prices start at £15.30 for the shampoo and conditioner. Treat your hair especially now the sun is out - you really will reap the benefit!

Naked Style

Here is a glorious little pot which of hair serum which, if you have hair like straw (like mine) you will want to rush online and buy. Naked Style Extra Shiny finishing serum has moisturising botanical extracts with natural minerals and has added a glossy shine to my hair - even the dyed to death blonde bits.

It also smells heavenly - without sounding too much like a '90's TV wine expert, I get hints of grape, watermelon and peach, but that may just be me! It's silicone free and, as the labelling says isn't tested on Bambi, Lassie or Skippy.

It was Highly Commended in the Natural Health Beauty Awards 2010 and is an affordable £4.99 for 50ml.

Expert Colour At Home

As you can see in my pictures, although I have a fetching (even though I do say so myself) blonde streak, I am in no way blonde. However my daughter is a wonderful golden blonde - born that way (with blue eyes to match) and keeping it that way with the help of home colour.

Garnier Nutrisse is her favourite as it is easy to use and also (unlike so many others) smells lovely too. She is following in her mother's footsteps as I have always used home colour kits to give more depth to my natural, dull brown hair, so when her hair became darker with age, grabbing a home kit was something that we didn't ever have to think about.

Garnier Nutrisse has a wide range of blonde shades to choose from - so you need never look like you've dyed your hair as there will be one to complement your skin-tones and natural colours.

But using a home colour kit isn't just for the young and these colours can happily be used to cover grey - you just need to follow a few extra guidelines to make sure you have even coverage. For grey hair, which tends to be around the temples and at the front of the hairline, you should add the colour first and leave for around 25 minutes before adding through to the roots. This is where the handy nozzle really helps as you can easily target areas to apply the creme to first.

If it's been a while since you've coloured your hair (three months say) you should always use all the mixture across all the hair and if it's been 4-6 weeks between colours you should again colour the roots first, leaving it for around 15 minutes before taking the colour through to the ends.

As with all hair the better the condition, the better it will look and Garnier Nutrisse comes with a gorgeously rich conditioner containing avocado oil which helps maintain your colour and bring out the shine!

Don't just take my word for how easy Garnier Nutrisse is to use, here is some advice from their expert.

Why be boring when you can be blonde? Discover your shade today.

This is a sponsored post.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Treatment - the perfect New Year's resolution

After a week being battered by storms and abused on the pretty dirty London Underground after a fortnight's respite my hair was looking less than lustrous. I am prone to dry and frizzy hair - one of the hazards of curls, and if I don't give it regular tlc then it really does curl up and die.

So I thought that this was the perfect time to give a go to Liz Earle's Botanical Shine Treatment which has been developed especially for frizzy, coarse and very dry hair. You apply it after washing and leave for at least ten minutes so it isn't a wash and go treatment, but as with all good things the wait was well worth it. For an extra boost you can leave it for 30 minutes quite happily - I found 20 minutes was absolutely enough for my poor neglected hair.

First off the smell is heavenly. As with most of Liz Earle products the ingredients are natural and it really does smell like an expensive spa treatment. I'd have been happy to smear it all over my body if I'm honest, that's how good the smell is. The ingredients include red algae and sumac wax which help to enhance your hair's natural barrier and cotton extract to make it extra smooth. The gorgeous fragrance comes from the eight essential oils which include sweet orange, rose-scented geranium and vanilla extract.

And the result? Glorious! My hair really did feel like it had been moisturised - many products claim to do this few in effect do, but this does. I will be making a regular treatment with Liz Earle Botanical Shine Treatment a New Year's resolution I am happy to keep.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Treatment, £14 for 150ml.

An evening of hair-styling with Peter Lux and Head & Shoulders...

We had another night out last night - this time at the St Martin's Lane Hotel hosted by Handpicked Media and Head & Shoulders. Head & Shoulders has been around an amazing 50 years this year making it even older than me (ha ha). So it was born the same year that Audrey Hepburn swept the board at the Oscars for her performance as Holly-Go-Lightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's. So we all started on our strange heads of real hair 'dolls' with an Audrey inspired style for good measure.

I haven't got any pix of this yet but here is one of Peter Lux, the brand's Creative Beauty Director who is full of brilliant hair ideas and is a great person to spend an evening with.

And hasn't he got a great head of thick, shiny hair - he uses nothing but Head & Shoulders or so he says... I must say I do actually believe him...
To quote Peter
'Personally, I like to think of Head & Shoulders as the little black dress of haircare - you know that when you use it, you'll always look and feel good; and of course, wearing black is the ultimate torture test for an anti-dandruff shampoo.'

Well I don't know if using a shampoo actually makes me feel 'good' exactly, but the cocktails served last night (along with the mini burgers) certainly made me feel way too good (hence the slightly delicate feeling this morning which certainly can't be blamed on my shampoo).

Holiday must-haves - Aveda hair suncare

Last night we got to hang out in P Diddy's favourite suite at the Soho Hotel and trial the latest hot products from Aveda who have been ethically producing pure flower and plant essence products for years.

They are an interesting company being the first beauty company to manufacture using 100% certified wind power where their wind energy purchase offsets all the electricity used by their primary manufacturing plant in Minnesota, USA. 90% of their essential oils and 89% of the raw herbal ingredients are certified organic too and they have even raised 11,000,000 US dollars for various environmental and social causes - even their packaging has the hightest possible post-consumer recycled content. So if this is a priority for you and you haven't come across their products before then you really should try them out as they are as good as they sound.

For holidays there is a 3-step Suncare system for your hair containing UV protection while cleansing and protecting from sun and salt damage for up to 16 hours which is impressive. It even smells of holidays containing neroli, ylang-ylang , cinnamon and green tea extract among other ingredients. The Aveda Suncare Hair and Body Cleanser means you don't have to pack separate products and is £14 for 250ml.

The Aveda Suncare Protective Hair Veil which can be sprayed on dry or damp hair is £17.50 for 100ml.

The Aveda Suncare After-Sun Hair Masque which can be left for as little as 2 mins (perfect on holiday when, let's face it we don't want to spend time on our hair) is £16.50 for 125ml.

Tangle Teezer and the launch of BeautyandtheDirt TV

As we're the sort of team who are constantly sniffing out new products and trends to bring to the ever successful BeautyandtheDirt, a weekly TV update to introduce the team and bring it all to life was long overdue. So Thursday this week saw myself, Editor Krista Madden and Deputy Editor Emma Skipper produce the first episode of Keeping Up With Beauty & the Dirt - think Loose Women when it was informative and watchable, although we like to think it's more akin to The Culture Show (but who are we kidding). Anyway we wanted to prove that you can produce good video content easily yourself without expensive film crews and studio spaces.

Check out our first mini-programme at BeautyandtheDirt - it may not be as high-tech as Harry Potter 3D but you will find it full of new products all tested by the team and not only that but each Friday we will also bring you our take on all the celebrity gossip, looks and secrets and will have a few guests join us too.

My favourite products to land on my desk this week were the latest versions of the Tangle Teezer. If you haven't come across this little beauty yet then you are missing out. I saw them first on Dragon's Den and I have to say have been the saviour of my curly hair which when wet has seen the demise of many a comb and hairbrush. This all plastic brush has two lengths of soft plastic 'bristle' which bend and therefore don't tear the hair but gently get out every single knot and tangle effortlessly. I have had a boring black version in my bathroom for at least two years now so am very happy that there are some exciting colours now added to the range. The bright orange is the latest colour and can we found at Tangle Teezer for £10.20.  Check out the inventor of the Tangle Teezer and how to use it to best effect below...