John Frieda Luxurious Volume Fine to Full Blow Out Spray Review

I got this blow dry spray a few weeks ago now and wanted to give it some proper testing before writing a review.

The spray is part of John Frieda's luxurious volume range and generally John Frieda is a brand that I trust. It's a high street brand that I think had performed really well over the years and although I would never say that all of their products have worked for me, there are a couple that stand out and this spray is one of them.

The blow dry spray is designed to be used in semi-wet hair before you blow dry. You're meant to towel dry your hair first, then spray this in and off you go.

I tend not to towel dry my hair too much as I find it roughs it up too much and it's bad for split ends, so instead when I have time I just wrap a towel around my hair and leave it like that for an hour or so whilst I go and do something else.

If you spray this in when your hair is too wet, it'll just dilute really quickly. If you're in a rush, blast your hair for a few minutes then spray this in before you finish off.

If you want a massive dose of volume, blow dry your hair upside down. Otherwise, this spray works great with any style of blow dry.

I find that this does make my hair bouncier and it also holds my style for longer without ever feeling sticky or greasy. I can tell I'm wearing the product as my hair feels different, but in a good way - it feels like it's got natural hold and like its got some real volume at the roots.

The spray is pretty cheap and you can get it on the high street at Boots. For the price, I think it's really good value and you don't have to use very much each time you style to get good results.

I'd recommend this product to anyone looking for bouncier hair or anyone who finds it difficult to get volume in their hair when they blow dry it.

Have any of you tried this? What do you think?

xo

Foods for Healthy Hair

'You are what you eat' is a very true saying - I'm a strong advocate of eating a healthy, balanced diet because everything you put into your body has an impact on your outer self.

Many of us are guilty of buying into or overloading on expensive products in the never-ending search for perfect skin and hair, forgetting that focusing on what we're eating can help us achieve these goals naturally.

Now, I'm not saying that eating certain foods will give you great hair no matter what, and I definitely think there are many products out there which can improve your hair. If you mistreat your hair, overstyle it or use heated appliances all the time, eating well won't have the same effect because your hair is being neglected from the outside.

But, teaming a good diet with good haircare can help you achieve heavenly hair much quicker.

Below, I list some of the top foods for healthy hair....


1. Fruit and vegetables

I know, I know...This one is obvious! But it's also one of the most important food groups for your hair. Leafy, dark green veggies (think spinach and broccoli) are high in iron and calcium and fruits that are high in vitamins A and C are essential for the production of sebum - an oil which your hair follicle generates to keep your hair conditioned and shiny. Fruits which are high in these vitamins include strawberries, oranges and kiwis - and they're great for keeping a cold at bay too!

2. Nuts

Not only are nuts a great, easy snack for mid-afternoon hunger pangs, but they're really good for you and provide a big dose of zinc which keeps your hair strong and prevents shedding. Brazil nuts are especially good for scalp health, whilst walnuts, almonds, cashews and pecans all provide healthy hair minerals.

3. Omega 3 fatty acids

Omega 3 fatty acids are amazing at rejuvenating both hair and skin and help your hair get that enviable, mirror-like shine. The best source for these is fish - so stock up on salmon, mackerel and sardines for the best impact.

4. Low fat dairy

Your hair needs calcium if you want it to grow and the best source for this is low fat dairy products such as skimmed milk and yoghurt. Yoghurt in particular is not only a great source of calcium but also protein which helps your hair stay strong and resilient.

5. Eggs

Eggs are a great source of protein and are loaded with other hair heroes such as iron, zinc and sulfur which makes them a great all-rounder for a happy head.

6. Sweet potatoes

Swap out your normal potato for a sweet potato and you'll be helping yourself to a higher intake of vitamin A. Low vitamin A levels can lead to an unhealthy scalp which inhibits hair growth and makes your hair dull so filling up on sweet potatoes is a great way to ensure your scalp is in top condition.

7. Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the best fruits you can eat for your hair because they are loaded with Vitamin C which prevents hair breakage. Mix some blueberries into low fat greek yoghurt and you've got a yummy, hair friendly snack.

8. Poultry

White meat, such as chicken, contains high levels of protein as well as zinc, iron and B vitamins. Poultry is also rich in cysteine - an amino acid promotes hair growth by helping to increase the thickness of each strand of hair. Cysteine can also be found in eggs, garlic, broccoli and red peppers.

9. Grains

Great for a hit of iron and zinc. Whole what bread also provides essential B vitamins which help carry oxygen to your hair, increasing growth rate. 

10. Beans

A lot of people don't realise how good beans are for your hair and skin. Kidney beans and lentils contain high levels of protein to stimulate hair growth, and beans also contain lots of zinc and biotin - perfect for preventing breakage.

What are your top tips for healthy hair? Share your ideas in the comments box below.



xo

Pastel Coloured Hair - Eek or chic?

This is a trend that has been growing for a while now but seems to be gathering momentum. Last week, models backstage at Givenchy were seen flaunting the trend...

Backstage at Givenchy A/W 2013 Paris Fashion Week Show

I think it's safe to say this is a trend that only blonde haired ladies can try out. This wouldn't show at all on brown hair.

Off the back of this growing trend, L'Oreal designed a range of pastel hair dyes - available in pink, lilac or peach, for those who want to give the trend a go themselves.

I've heard on the grapevine that brighter, 'rainbow' hair colours are going to be popping up this Summer. A trend for the brave!

Would you try any of these crazy colour trends? Have any of you tried them already? Do you love it or hate it?



Liz
xo

Kerastase Initialiste Review

I've been using Kerastase Initiailiste for nearly 1 month now so thought it was a good time to do my first proper review of the product.

If you don't know what Kerastase Initialiste is, it's a serum designed for your hair and scalp which claims to make your hair look and feel shinier, stronger, and more resistant to breakage. The product promises up to 93% less breakage in your hair and the formula is the first of its kind, using plant cells to 'rebuild' your hair structure and give you more resilient locks.

Overall, I have been impressed by this product. The claims made about the product, and the £40 price tag, gave me very high hopes. I wouldn't say that my hair has been totally transformed, but it has definitely improved my hair so far and I can feel a difference in  my hair if I forget to use it which I think is a good sign.

The serum itself is quite runny and watery. It comes with a dropper which I think is a really handy way of getting the product out of the bottle without using too much. I dispense 3-4 droppers into my hand then distribute it from the scalp to the ends, working it in as I go and massaging it in at the scalp. This product should be applied to thoroughly towel-dried hair for the best impact, but I have to admit that sometimes it has gone on to wetter hair, simply because I haven't had time to keep towel drying it! Kerastase have a video to show how you *should* apply it, if you have time to do it this way...

Once on the hair, you can't feel the product at all, it just sinks in and dries with your hair. This is a positive point because I don't like products which improve the condition of your hair but leave an oily or greasy residue - after all, what's the point if improving your hair means it has to look greasy on a daily basis...

On to the most important part of the review: what has it actually done to my hair?

Since using the serum, my hair has definitely started to feel stronger. I had a trim about 2 weeks into using this, so I can't say whether it improved my split ends or if they just improved because I cut them off! However, I would usually start to notice split ends around now and so far I've only spotted the odd one or two (I use heated tools every day so that's pretty good going!)

One really obvious benefit of the product is how shiny it makes my hair. After I've applied the serum, my hair looks really shiny and 'swishy' without feeling too fly-away or fluffy. It just looks a lot healthier and better kept.

My hair feels softer than it did 4 weeks ago, and is easier to style because of this. I find because the condition of my hair is better, my styles hold for longer. I don't know if my hair has actually got thicker (it was quite thick already!) but it looks like it has got slightly thicker and because the condition has improved, the overall appearance of my hair is better.

 Pros:
- Hair feels softer
- Hair look shinier
- Less split ends
- Hair is easier to style
- Hair feels ( a little) thicker
- Easy to dispense the product with the dropper

Cons:
- Takes a while to thoroughly towel-dry hair so overall styling time is longer
- Expensive
- If you have long hair, you use a fair bit of product each time
- Thickness has only improved marginally

I hope my review is helpful to anyone looking to purchase this product. If you have any questions about the serum you want answered, leave me a comment and I will try my best to answer!

If any of you have used this serum, I would love to know your thoughts too.

Liz
xo

Tresemme Platinum Strength Monodose

I've been trying a couple of other products from this range by tresemme in the hope that, as well as using Kerastase Initialiste, I can expect a big improvement in the quality and texture of my hair.

This is the 'Monodose' from the range, which contains 15ml of intensive conditioner in a cute little squeezy tube with a twist off cap.

Tresemme Platinum Strength Monodose

The idea behind this product is that you put it on the mid-length to ends of your hair for just 60 seconds at the end of your shower/bath and it delivers a concentrated dose of healing and beautifying ingredients so that when you wash it off, your hair is as good as new.

I've used this twice and have to admit that I have noticed a difference in my hair after using it. It has felt shinier, softer and almost thicker, without being fly-away or static which many intense conditioners can cause your hair to do.

After using this, my hair felt really silky and as if I had just had a salon treatment applied to it - which is really good for just £1.49 a go.

I think the ideas is to use this once or twice a week so it's a great pick-me-up for damaged hair that needs a treat at the weekend. I've been using this alongside the 'Stay soft' leave in conditioner from the same range, as well as Kerastase Initialiste - both of which I would also recommend.

Has anyone else been trying the products from this range? What were your thoughts?


Liz

xo

Anna Sui Autumn/Winter 2013 New York Fashion Week

Anna Sui Autumn/Winter 2013 show was ALL about the sixties. The clothes themselves were the epitome of sixties fashion with textured, patterned fabrics, bright, clashing colours and graphic accessories.

The whole show was colourful, playful and very retro.

The hair and make-up for this show was very fitting for the sixties look, with voluminous, bouncy hairstyles and the classic cats eye done with a modern twist...

Photo courtesy of @patmcgrathreal

Make-up artist Pat McGrath created a monochrome look for the face which offset the bright colours of the clothes perfectly. The cats eye was achieved by applying a black pencil along the eyelid, exaggerating the shape by increasing the width and arching the tip up towards the brow (leaving about half an inch between the liner and the eyebrow).

On the bottom lash line, a black liner was used to create a dotted line. This reminds me of the Clarins 3 Dot Liner, but in this case it was done using a pencil. Nonetheless, it adds something really different to the look, bringing a dose of modernity to an otherwise very retro look. The rest of the face was kept clean with a sheer, matte base and nude, shiny lips.

The hair for this show was very Catherine Deneuve (an inspiration for the show I believe) - bouncy, shiny hair with great height. The hair was very fresh and young. Longer styles were pulled into high ponytails, teased at the roots for volume then rolled under into a big bouffant.

I actually really loved the way they styled the shorter hairstyles for this show. Models with shorter hair were styled with a chic and classic bob. Volume was applied at the crown by backcombing the roots underneath the top layer of hair and a full fringe was clipped in which framed the face (and dramatic eyes) perfectly.

Photo courtesy of @patmcgrathreal

Gorgeous!

Liz 

xo

Kerastase Initialiste

I've been wanting to try this product for a while now and finally purchased it a few days ago.

With a £40 price tag, it's not the cheapest of hair products, but the benefits that it promises to deliver are far too inviting to ignore...

I'm always on the look out for hair products that can keep my hair in good condition. I have medium-long, thick, dark hair and use heated appliances every day. Inevitably, this does give me split ends and dryness - so my hair is a good test for this product.

Kerastase promise thicker, shinier and stronger hair with up to 93% less breakage. The serum contains plant stem cells, which are meant to build and repair your hair. The clinical studies carried out on this product showed that applying it 3 times a week for a month delivered better overall hair quality, thickness and softness.

With all of the research and statistics behind this product, I was sold!

I have only used this twice so far but am already impressed with the results. There is no dramatic change in my hair, but then I wouldn't expect that this early on. However, my hair does feel a bit shinier and thicker, making it easier to style and giving it a glossy, bouncy sort of look.


The bottle comes with a dropper and you apply 2 pipettes (fine hair) or 4 pipettes (thick hair) directly to the scalp after washing and towel drying your hair, massaging it in to ensure full coverage.

The serum itself is a non-oily texture so once this is on your hair, it leaves no residue and once your hair is dry you wouldn't even know it was on - except for the lovely apple smell!

I'm going to try and regularly update you all on how this product is working, maybe every few weeks so I have time to notice a difference! At the moment, I would recommend it for the way it makes your hair feel alone, but I will let you know if I start to notice a real difference in the structure and quality of my hair.

Let me know if you are trying this product and what you think!

Liz
xo

Tresemme Platinum Strength Stay Soft Leave In

I've been using this product for a couple of weeks now so thought I'd post a review. I use heat appliances on my hair every day and my ends tend to get a bit frazzled if I don't get it cut regularly so a  range of products that claims to visibly repair up to 2 years of damage sounded like a dream come true.

Here's the product in it's bottle...

Tresemme Platinum Strength Stay Soft Leave in

This product is designed to be like a leave-in conditioner and it definitely has the texture and smell of a conditioner when you put it on, which is a nice feature. I apply it to damp hair before drying and sometimes smooth a little extra on the ends once it’s dry – but be careful because it can feel a little greasy if you apply too much.

This product definitely makes my hair softer and shinier. It doesn’t make it so soft that it’s impossible to style either, which is something I dislike in a lot of conditioning products.

I can’t say it’s made a huge difference to the quality of my hair (in particular the ends which are still a bit dry and frazzled) so I’m not sure how good it is at actually repairing the hair.

In general I think Tresemme products are pretty good and really reasonable in price. This item comes from the ‘Platinum Strength’ range which also features a shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioning treatment and an ‘Instant Rescue Shot’ – all for under £6 each which I think is a real bargain. You can only buy them at Superdrug at the moment as far as I’m aware, but I’m sure they will be widely available in future.

Apparently these products work better if you use two or more together so I am tempted to purchase some of the others in the range and see if that boosts the repairing properties.

Has anyone else used any items from the ‘Platinum Strength’ range? I’d love to know your thoughts on which one I should try next.

Liz 

xo