Hair care and everyday styling products

Herbal Essences Bee Strong

 I'm one of those people who can never find the perfect product that i can stick with and as soon as the advert comes on the tv, AMAZING NEW BE ALL AND END ALL PRODUCT! AAAAAHHHHH!!! yeah i'm an impulse buyer, and i'm not ashamed. But so far apart from the Wella SP products i mentioned in the hair history chapter, they are not cheap or come in large sizes. Not good for someone who does not have a full time job income.
So throughout  my quest i came across Herbal Essences Bee Strong shampoo and conditioner. And i must say it is brilliant! especially the conditioner. With my hair being quite weak still its more important to me to keep my hair rather than keep my color vibrant. I usually shampoo my hair twice because the first wash gets all the products and grease out then the second gives a clean slate for the product to be soaked in. Then with EVERY conditioner i put it in and comb/brush it through and leave it in as long as i can ( i usually do this first and then leave it in while i wash). Then when it washes out, its amazing! my hair feels as soft as cashmere. So far the best and greatest value for money so far.

Dove's intensive repair mask

 Once a week or whenever i have time, i sleep or spend a lazy day with a reconstructing hair mask in. This was promoted by my hairdresser when my hair was falling out. After washing (but don't condition) i pat dry my hair and apply the product and brush through. Then using a hair wrap towel, i leave it in for hours or sleep in it and wash it out at night. This is just so the hair has plenty of time to penetrate and reconstruct the hair strands. With its protein rich formula it reconstructs and prtects the hair from further breakage and heat styling issues by coating each hair with a protective coating which also smoothed down split ends and ragged bits.

Directions conditioning color in Cerisé

 Usally for a pick me up for my hair color and a nice refresh i usually add a few spoonfuls into a pot of hair mask (like the one above) and leave it on for half and hour or so. The color is just as vibrant and it makes the pots last so much longer.

Dove's hair therapy color radiance and Wells SP Luxe oil

 After washing or treating my hair I spray on Dove's hair therapy : Damaged solutions- color radiance leave in conditioning spray and care spray. The lightweight spray is great for detangling, conditioning and keeping my hair color more vibrant. after spraying the whole head and brushing through i then use 2 or 3 squirts of the Wella SP Luxe oil into my hands, rub together and ONLY apply to the mid length to ends of hair as it can make the roots greasy. then brush through the ends. I have found that the luxe oil is 100000X better than morrocain oil. The moroccain oil didn't smooth the broken ends of my hair and one squirt make it super greasy as my hair is quite fine and all it does is smooth hair and hydrates, whereas the luxe oil adds keratin for protection, oil and protein to rescue damaged hair and reconstructs the hair too. All this and makes it as soft and silky as na newborns hair! love love love it! not cheap but you get what you pay for. Usually it can be found cheaper on Ebay or beautybay and feel unique, basically shop around for the cheapest price.

Nicky Clarke - Tease me instant backcombing

 I'm constantly backcombing my hair for the big and messy look, but it does take a huge toll on the hair, often it knots up and i have to literally rip it out and the follicles weaken and snap. Is it worth it? erm, im not really sure, probably not. But Schwarzkopf and Nicky Clarke have made these backcomb powder in a bottle products, i prefer Nicky Clarkes to Schwarzkopf's  as theirs makes my hair greasy the next day and it harder to sort out the next day. The product is applied in sections and the nozzle sprinkles the dust which reacts with the heat from the head to make a waxy texture so when roughed up gives a lift and boost to the roots and a dynamic texture without the stress on the hair of back combing. Far better.

Denman Large, Tangle Teezer and smoothing brush

Hair brushes, they may not seem that important when it comes to hair care and styling but it really is, especially if you hair often gets knotted and is prone to snapping then the tangle teaser is great (middle brush), its great for the first morning brush and brushing out a style as the specially designed bristles reduce stress and tension in the hair strands to avoid snapping and the different levels help slowly untangle. It is also great for when applying conditioner as it helps to evenly spread the product into the hair.
The end brush is the smoothing brush, with loads of fine bristles it can either help to smooth down flyaways and create a sleeker look, but also it is great for using it the opposite way and back combing, with the bristles not deeply knotting the hair but creates a more bouffant effect for underneath boosts.
Then my recent purchase to the left is the famous Denman styling brush. Ideal for smoothing and styling with rounded pins for comfort when brushing. The red rubber pad at the end ensures anti-static in the hair if it is fine and this brush is hygienic and endurable, you buy one and it will last FOREVER, providing you take care of it and wash and remove excess hair from it.

Tresemme Volume Styler

Finally, i don't very often blow dry my hair (or even heat style) unless i'm going out. But when i do blow dry i found it bloody annoying and exhausting for my arms to blow dry my hair as well as brushing it up with the rolling brush to add volume. Then the clever sods at Tresemme made this beautiful gadget, and i must say it is a godsend!
What it is is basically a hairdryer and brush in one, so one hand can be free whilst the other uses this. Starting from the roots and rolling it and brushing the hair to the ends creates a boots at the root and the keratin covered brush smooths the ends of the hair so you don't have to get the straighteners out to tame down the broken bits. With 3 heat settings it is a must buy! But do remember to use hair boosting products like a mouse and ensure it has heat protection to, this is just to keep the style helt all night as you don't want it to fall after 1 hour.

Anyway that's enough babbling for one day!
I hope those who have read this have found it helpful, any questions don't be shy!

Zoe *