Lush 'American Cream' Conditioner

If you read Sunday's post, you'll know that I've recently branched out into the Lush hair care range.  My mum bought me this small bottle of 'American Cream' conditioner to try as a little stocking filler when it was my birthday a few months ago and, not that I want to spoil the ending for you, but I bloomin' love it! Honestly - I'm addicted.  'American Cream' is said to be a 'milkshake thick conditioner that helps cleanse and soften the hair' whilst leaving it silky smooth and super shiny. With its strawberries and cream inspired fragrance and soothing hint of sage and lavender, it really does smell good enough to eat! I was instantly sold on the scent - it is simply divine and the delicate hint of sage stops it from being overly sweet.  It's rather unique - definitely a more luxurious version of your typical, vanilla scented products.  The scent lingers on the hair for ages afterwards - I wash my hair every other day and I could still smell the scent after the second day - it's almost like a conditioner and subtle hair perfume in one in my opinion! I found myself deliberately swishing my hair about just so I could keep catching a whiff of this stuff - it's so dreamy...

Not only does it smell beautiful but it does an amazing job at conditioning the hair too. It isn't overly thick in consistency but it's so smooth and creamy in texture - you really don't need a large amount at all.  The first time I used this, I think I must have over-applied like I do with my normal conditioners - but you only need to work a small blob in through the mid-lengths and into the ends for this one to do its job.  My hair was left feeling so unbelievably soft and smooth - it was baby soft to the touch and the ends looked really shiny and healthy.  If you're going to be styling your hair the next day - I'd bear this in mind as I've found that it can make it a little bit fly away but this stuff really does deliver in the softening stakes! It's been a while since my hair has felt so soft and easy to comb through after washing. If your hair is in need of some gentle TLC and has been feeling a little dry and brittle of late, I really recommend trying a bottle of this.  I'd actually go as far as to say it works better than some of my deep conditioners (and let me tell you I've tried my fair share) and as soon as this bottle runs out, I'm going to invest in a larger size -  it definitely deserves a space on my bathroom shelf!  

The small bottle that I have retails at £4.50 for 100g (larger sizes - £8.95 for 250g / £14.25 for 500g) - it's more of a treat than a daily conditioner but one that's well worth it since you don't need to over-apply in order to see its moisturising benefits. If that doesn't get you hooked, the scent most certainly will! It's one of those pamper products I really look forward to using after a long day or simply when I just fancy a bit of a beauty treat - i found it worked really nicely alongside their 'BIG' shampoo too (review here) - together they really do work well at cleansing the hair and making it soft, shiny and altogether much more radiant and healthy.

You can find 'American Cream' on the LUSH website here.

Have you tried any LUSH hair products?

Chill* Ed Blonde Shampoo & Conditioner | Beat the Brassiness!

I've been a blonde for the majority of my life (aside from the one time I dyed my hair black on a whim and spent the next few months helplessly trying to get it back to a form of decent blonde - a task and a half I'm sure some of you will be aware of and also one of my life's greatest mishaps).  Ever since said dye mishap, I try to stay away from colouring my hair and all I'll do is tint it or use a lightening spray on the roots now and again. Whilst this means that my hair is pretty low maintenance, it also means that pesky yellow tones often show through and make my hair look rather brassy.  I find that ever since I've gone 'natural', the darker blonde seems to hold on to brassiness much easier than it did when my hair was highlighted and bleached. This is why I'm never without a purple shampoo.  It's pretty much a key part of my hair-care routine and I always make sure I have some handy - especially at this time of year as my hair tends to get a little duller.  As well as knocking out brassy tones, I also think a purple shampoo can really brighten and lift your hair colour - it keeps it looking fresh and bright.  Enter the Chill* 'Ed Blonde' Shampoo and Conditioner duo...

Chill* Ed Blonde Shampoo | £9.99* | Link

Containing grape seed oil, proteins and violet pigments, this shampoo is said to knock out bassy tones whilst richly moisturising the hair, and is suitable for use on coloured or natural blonde. Firstly, I was really impressed with the colour of this shampoo. If you've never used a purple shampoo before it's pretty scary to say the least, but the pigment and shade of it is exactly what I look for and as scary as it seems, it successfully takes away the brassiness.  I've tried slightly lighter ones in the past and I've found I've had to use them a few times before noticing any difference, which is all well and good, but sometimes you just want a quick fix! And that's exactly what Chill Ed Blonde gives you.  I noticed a difference straight from the first wash - and it's something I tend to use every now and again whenever I think my hair needs it rather than every time I wash my hair.

It doesn't lather extremely well, (which is something I've noticed with other purple shampoos in the past - i think it's a purple shampoo thing?) so I did have to work the product in quite a bit before I felt like I'd given it a good clean, but it worked well nonetheless (just bare that in mind if you like a good bit of lather!) Also, the smell of the product is lovely.  In my opinion, it has one of those gorgeous 'salon' smells to it which lingers ever so slightly on the hair once you've washed and dried it.  I personally like this - I'm always a happy chappy when my hair smells and looks salon fresh!  As for knocking out yellow tones, it did so straight away from first wash - without leaving my hair with that 'lilac' tone.  If your hair is naturally blonde like mine and you've always thought purple shampoo is for bleached hair - think again! I always use purple shampoos despite my blonde being quite dark and it works a treat!

Chill* Ed Blonde Conditioner | £9.99* | Link

I must admit, despite my love of purple shampoos I've never invested in a matching conditioner.  If my hair ever gets brassy, it's usually in the top sections and I've never really thought I'd benefit from a matching conditioner. However, it is undoubtedly nice to have a set - especially when you like the scent of a shampoo and want to keep it going when it comes to your conditioner.  This one is quite creamy in consistency and I've found it to be really moisturising - which is great if your hair is feeling a bit parched! It 'rebalances moisture in your hair and closes the cuticle to leave it super soft and shiny'.  Again, it contains grape seed oil and violet pigments to continue the treatment through to the ends of your hair and gives that extra little 'kick' in knocking out brassy tones.  I actually really like this conditioner - it's well worth investing in to use as a second-step to the shampoo. It leaves my hair feeling soft, shiny and manageable.

Overall, a fabulous option if you're after a new purple duo to kick out the brassiness in your blonde! I used to struggle to find them but it's great to see different brands popping up offering different versions - this is definitely a great contender.  It's worth mentioning that the packaging is also really lovely - it's girly, easy to use and looks nice on your shower shelf (the metallic finish also pleases me...its so pretty!) You can find the Blonde range by Chill* on the website here along with other products for coloured hair.

Have you tried anything from the Chill* range?

Longer, Healthier Hair | Michael Van Clarke '3 More Inches' Range

If you've been reading my blog for some time, you'll know that I have a bit of a 'thing' for hair products! I always spend a little more on my hair care and conciously make an effort to update and switch my products depending on what my hair needs.  I'd heard of Michael Van Clarke after reading a few blog posts about it in the past, and I'd also clocked it in SpaceNK.  Having long hair already, I've always pondered over whether or not I really needed to invest in a range like this. '3 More Inches' is described as a 'unique formulation which naturally slows down the ageing process, allowing the hair to stay stronger and healthier during its lifetime, so it can grow naturally thicker, longer and more lustrous'.  The scientific ingredients and understanding behind the range both care for your hair as well as providing key nutrients it needs in order to grow stronger and healthier.  Unlike a lot of products on the market that claim to help hair grow, this range has a lot of science and research behind it - if you fancy reading more about it (I wouldn't be able to do it justice...) head over to their website here.  So, I've been putting a selection of products from the range to the test the past few weeks, and I thought it was about time I shared with you all my findings...

3 More Inches Pre-Wash Treatment | £29.00* for 500ml | Link 

This pre-wash treatment is HUUUGE. Honestly, I have long hair and it's going to take me a good while to get through all of this! You simply pump as much as you need from the bottle and coat your hair with it from root to tip prior to washing.  It recommends to leave it on for around an hour, so it's definitely not something you'd want to do if you were in a rush - but for those days where you feel like a bit of a pamper-sesh, it's a really nice little treatment to do.  It contains cashmere proteins and an amino acid blend to help slow the ageing process and providing essential nutrients for growing hair. It doesn't seem much when it's on the hair - but once you wash it out, it leaves your hair looking smooth and shiny - without being weighed down.  The only thing I wasn't too keen on is the smell - it doesn't have a strong scent but seems to have a very strange 'kick' to it that I personally wasn't too fussed on. This being said, I can't fault anything else about the treatment.  I love the big bottle - if you've tried treatments like this in the past and found you were getting through them like they were going out of fashion - then it's worth looking into this one.  Even the small bottle is bigger than my head... (almost)...

3 More Inches Shampoo | £17.00* for 250ml | Link

Out of the whole range, this is the one thing I wasn't too sure about.  I love the fact it contains ingredients to 'feed' the hair and keep it looking soft and shiny but it just didn't 'wow' me like I expected.  I think it's down to the fact that it didn't lather up as much as I'm used to.  Having long hair, I like a shampoo to get a good lather going on!  Of course, this is just a personal preference but there wasn't even a salon scent for me to enjoy whilst applying it.  However, what it did do was leave my hair feeling amazingly soft and lightweight.  I haven't tinted my hair since June (trying to get my hair in tip-top condition) and now that the winter months have well and truly drawn in, I've found my natural blonde-ness to be getting a little dull.  After using this, it seemed a great deal brighter and glossy - I was really surprised at the brightening effect it gave and it was a nice little pick-me-up.

 3 More Inches Conditioner | £17.00* for 250ml | Link

I much preferred the conditioner compared with the shampoo.  It isn't the richest conditioner on the market and it sinks into the hair really quickly rather than sitting on top of the hair - it feels strange at first and I felt like I had to apply more than I usually would but it washed out really well and left my hair feeling silky and easy to manage afterwards.  I really liked the fact it felt like it was doing something rather than just coating my hair in product.

3 More Inches Volumizing Mousse | £12.50* | Link

I loved this mousse right from the first try.  I always use mousse in my hair before blow-drying in order to add a little bit of texture, stop flyaways and too add some much needed volume!  I actually used quite a decent palm full of this (brave, I know...) and it didn't leave any crispy-ness whatsoever.  I'm able to apply a good amount without feeling weighed down - which is such a plus point for me. I usually find that I have to seriously ration myself with mousse and often apply less than I need in order to combat straw-hair! It gave my hair a lot of body and bounce, especially at the root, and left it feeling 'swishy' at the same time.  You can't beat a good bit of swish!


Overall, I've really enjoyed using this range - it's just a little different to what I imagined!  I expected more of a 'salon' scent' from the range that I just didn't get - it's not a big deal but I do like a bit of a 'professional' smell if I'm spending a bit on my hair care. Little gripe out of the way, 3 More Inches is definitely one of, if not the best hair growth range I've seen on the market - it's just got a little more substance and fact behind it - the scientific aspect sets is aside from other products that claim to do the same thing.  Of course, I haven't seen any noticeable growth yet, but my hair does feel stronger and smoother, and I've noticed less split-ends and flyaways.  I can imagine with a few more months use, I might manage to get my hair past that 'awkward' stage it seems to be in right now.   If you're really, really conscious about growing you hair, I recommend looking into this range - it's not the cheapest but if you're serious about growing longer hair and want to use products like these, then I'd definitely give them a shot! The Pre-Wash treatment is especially good, and I'd recommend maybe trying this first as you can still use it with your regular shampoo and conditioner at the same time until you decide to take the plunge with the whole range! It's worth mentioning that you can buy a 'travel trio pack' of mini products for £24.50 (link) if you want to try them out before you invest in full sized bottles. You can view the rest of the range from 3 More Inches here.

Have you tried the Michael Van Clarke '3 More Inches' Range? What did you think? Is this something you'd consider trying?

New John Frieda Products | Tried and Tested!

John Frieda is undoubtedly one of, if not my favourite hair care brand on the market.  I religiously use their 'Blonde' range and I always feel at a bit of a loss if I don't have my trusty 'Volume' shampoo at hand! Whenever people ask me about my hair care routine, I guarantee there's always a John Frieda product or two in there - it's fair to say that my bathroom cabinet houses my very own little JF army!   So, when I had the chance to try some of the new offerings from John Frieda, I was rather chuffed to say the least.  What I love about John Frieda is that there's always something new - the ranges are tailored perfectly for different hair colours and types and the products are almost always of amazing quality and all at a competitive, high street price.  I've been trying these products now for a good few weeks and thought I'd give you my two pennies worth; have they managed to make it into my 'John Frieda Army' or are they just a fleeting member of the 'Not so Sure' crew...? Let us find out, shall we?!

John Frieda | Full Repair | Deep Conditioner 'Hydrate and Rescue' | £6.99*

The John Frieda 'Full Repair' range often finds it's way into my shower! I love the conditioner and often use it if my hair is feeling a little in need of a moisture boost - so I was really intrigued to try the Deep Conditioning version.  This bottle promises to 'restore softness and shine' whilst deeply nourishing the hair strands and repairing the look and feel of any damage.  I found this to work really well on my hair - it left it feeling smooth and silky and easy to comb through and style, and left it looking in good condition with a good bit of shine. Having long hair means that my ends can sometimes lack a little bit of life but this perks it up no end.  It says to leave it on for 2-5 minutes so I always leave it on for as long as I can - the longer you leave it the more beneficial it will be. It's by no means the greatest deep conditioner on the market, and if your hair is considerably dry I'd recommend using this in-between a thicker treatment - but it is without a doubt a very good little deep conditioner that I will definitely repurchase.

John Frieda | Full Repair |  Flyaway Tamer Smoothing Wand | £10.99*

Ok. I'll be honest. Out of everything I thought this would be the one I wasn't going to be too fussed about.  I was intrigued by the wand concept but was unsure if it was going to be more of a gimmick and do nothing more than stir up memories of my 11 year old self getting creative with the blue hair mascara (don't lie, you went there too).  I was wrong.  I actually really like this one! I can only describe it as a serum in handy little tube, that you simply smooth on using the mascara-like wand. It distributes an even amount of product and instantly tames any fly aways.  I get one heck of a load of 'wispy' bits so this has been a little gem of a product for me! It's so simple, and is the perfect handbag friend due to it's size and easy to use concept - no sticky serum hands on the go! It's perfect for going to uni or work, or for events where you might get a little bit of frizz going on (I'll definitely be taking it to my graduation - there's no way that I'm having any 'bird's-nest-barnet' in my photographs!)  The only downside is that it can get a little straw-like if you overdo it.  It's easy to go a bit heavy handed on it (I did simply because I liked the motion of mascara-wanding my hair...) so it's worth using a very light hand and using quick, gentle 'wispy' motions rather than full on combing!

John Frieda | Frizz Ease | Dream Curls Enhancing Oil | £9.99*

This one still holds the 'undecided' status with me.  I have naturally straight hair that I curl or wave using hot tools or rollers - so straight away I wasn't so sure this would work for me what with it being tailored towards naturally curly hair.  However, I gave it a good go.  I noticed it feels more like a cross between a serum and an oil rather than a pure oil - it didn't provide the moisture I usually want from a hair oil.  However, it did seem to work well at defining the curls I went on to style and didn't seem to weigh them down at all - which is great.  I do think it does it's job - I just wasn't blown away by it.  I've taken to using it now as a finishing oil to smooth on once I've styled my hair rather than before - or I mix a drop or two in with my usual oil to give it a bit of 'oomph' which seems to work better for me.  I like it, don't get me wrong, I just don't love it.  Maybe it would work better for people who do have naturally curly hair as I can imagine it would provide a good bit of definition and tame any frizz. 

So, yet again, John Frieda doesn't disappoint! I love that they're always bringing out new things, and for me they still hold a special place in my bathroom cupboard. You can have a nosey at their products on the John Frieda website here, or have a gander at Boot's website - they often have 3 for 2 offers on which is when I tend to replenish my stash - so keep your eyes peeled!

Have you tried any of these products from John Frieda? Have you got a favourite JF product?

KMS California | Tame Frizz Range

KMS California Tame Frizz Range* | Link | Frizz Fighter Kit |

If you know me, you'll know that one thing I'm really fussy about is my hair.  I often spend a little more on my hair care, and have a drawer full of my favourite treatments (honestly it's like there's a little hair product pick 'n' mix going on in there).  Recently, I had the chance to try the new 'Tame Frizz' range from KMS California. A brand I actually hadn't tried before but one that my mum uses often (my mum's also a bit of a hair fanatic so if she uses something and likes it then I can often rest assured that I will like it too..), Tame Frizz is the new offering that aims to do just what it says on the tin - Tame your frizz! Now, I've been struggling no end just recently to keep frizzy-bits at bay! I won't harp on about this but I've been noticing changes in the texture of my hair just recently due to medication I've been taking - so to say this range interested me is an understatement as my hair has been a little unmanageable at times and quite a bit drier than what I'm used to.

| Tame Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner |

Before I go into what I think about the performance of the shampoo and conditioner - let me tell you that they smell absolutely divine.  I have to say it's one of the nicest smelling shampoo & conditioner sets I've used - it almost has hints of vanilla to it and leaves your hair smelling beautiful after you've blow dried.  It doesn't take much to get a good lather going on with the shampoo, and when used alongside the conditioner you really do notice how smooth your hair is upon rinsing out.  I noticed a bigger difference after I'd used the products for a couple of weeks or so - of course, it leaves your hair silky soft from first use but it lives up to it's claims of controlling humidity after you've used it a few times.  It's moisturising but not overly so - so if you're more in the market for a moisture surge for very dry hair then it might interest you to know they do a Moisture Repair range (I stole some off my motherbear and it's lovely).  Tame Frizz seems to concentrate more on controlling fly aways and frizzy bits - and leaves your hair smooth to the touch and easier to brush through afterwards.

| Tame Frizz De Frizz Oil |

If I had to pick a favourite product from the range it would be this one.  As a person who hoards hair oils, I thought 'do I really need another?'. Well...Yes. Yes I do.  You can use this oil just as you would any other hair oil - applied to the ends of the hair after washing and towel drying.  It really does work a miracle on my hair, and I find it best to use when my hair is dry.  I find the top layers of my hair sometimes get a little bit frizzy, but with a couple of pumps ran through lightly it banishes any sign of fly aways in an instant and leaves the hair feeling moisturised a soft without looking greasy.  It's lighter than some oils I own (it's not as thick or heavy as some) which makes it perfect for more multi-purpose use - either when your hair is wet or dry.  I really recommend trying it when your hair is having a bit of a cruddy day - it smooths it out and adds a little extra shine and moisture to hair that's lacking a bit of life. It also adds heat protection - little fruity bonus there!

| Tame Frizz Smoothing Lotion |

Another one of my favourites from the range and I reckon I'll be buying this pretty soon.  I use the smoothing lotion like a finishing touch to my hairstyle - a small amount rubbed into the palms of your hands and lightly smoothed over the top layers of the hair or through the ends and provides a smoothing effect; banishing any frizzy-bits and generally just adding that finishing touch. You can also use it when you're hair is damp depending on what works for you. I really like this one - smoothing cremes are something I've used since I was a teenager and I find them so beneficial for those days where my hair looks a little dishevelled!

| Tame Frizz Taming Creme |

The Taming Creme is very similar to the smoothing lotion, but just with that extra bit of hold that the lotion doesn't provide.  It's ever so slightly thicker in consistency but works in more or less the same way - adding that extra bit of control if your hair is being particularly devilish!  It adds heat protection which is really handy and can be applied to hair wet or dry. It's quite lightweight to say it adds a little bit of hold - so if you want a bit of control but don't want to weigh your hair down with sprays or heavy styling products then it's worth giving something like this a whirl.

Overall, I really like the KMS California Tame Frizz range and am so glad I've been introduced to a brand I know I will go back to. Would I buy into the range in future? Absoloutely yes.  The hair oil is something I couldn't live without now despite my array of different bottles and brands that I have - I find it the most lightweight and versatile oil I currently own, and I really love the effect it gives on dry hair. It's worth mentioning that their 'Frizz Fighter' kit also comes with an anti-static comb (not pictured) - really handy for those untameable days! I really want to try their Moisture Repair shampoo and conditioner next - and can imagine using them alternatively with the Tame Frizz will work wonders for me and my hair.  You can find KMS California on Look Fantastic, Beauty Bay and Feel Unique, and also in salons across the country. You can have a nosey at their website here and discover more about the ranges they do.

Have you tried KMS California?
What product from them would you recommend if you have?