Shea Moisture lands in the UK

I've tried Shea Moisture products before - usually by buying them in the US and bringing them back home, then using the tiniest amount possible to make sure I don't run out.  But now the range has landed in the UK, and in Boots no less - so all my fellow dry haired folks can easily try out this incredibly moisturising range.

I was sent the Extra Moisture Retention shampoo, Restorative Conditioner, and Curl & Shine Style Milk to try, and my general impression continues to be that this range is for hair which struggles to get proper moisturisation from other ranges.

The Extra Moisture Retention shampoo is thick and luxurious, lathering up well despite the lack of sulphates, and leaves my hair feeling very well hydrated and smooth.  The Restorative Conditioner, £10.99, is the richest conditioner I've ever tried, bar none - the first time I tried it, I pumped out a good handful - cursing the stingy pump for only giving me a tiny squirt at a time - and applied it to my hair.  After I dried my hair, I immediately re-washed it - it was so well lubricated that it lost any texture.  My fault.  Now I use a few small pumps and leave it to the driest, most straw-like bits of my hair - the ends - to avoid weighing my hair down.  I also use a single pump as a leave in conditioner, or half a pump to tame the ends between washes.  If your hair is very, very dry, you NEED this conditioner in your life.

The Curl & Shine Milk, £10.99, is a product I'm getting on less well with - it's also very hydrating, so unless your hair is very dry and rebellious, using all three products is a bit too much.  It does provide some curl definition, but it doesn't really enhance my curls - they form loose, smooth s-curls and ringlets, but don't spring up at all.  I prefer curl products which tighten my curls, and this one definitely doesn't.

I'm so glad Shea Moisture has made it to Boots - I'll definitely be trying out other products from the range, particularly the Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo.  You'll find all the Shea Moisture goodies on Boots.com, and a selection in-store now.

Disclosure:  PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

KMS Curl Up Perfecting Lotion and Leave-In Conditioner

There are a myriad of products for curly hair on the market.  Most claim to define and moisturise curls - and these two new products from KMS, part of their Curl Up range, claim the same thing - moisturised, defined curls which aren't crispy and retain movement and bounce.

The Perfecting Lotion provides definition and also claims to allow re-definition during the day with a bit of scrunching.  The formula is a fairly thin but still rich and slippy liquid which distributes evenly throughout the hair.  My normal curl routine is to apply product and then scrunch gently before leaving my hair alone to encourage curls.  I found that the Perfecting Lotion did reduce frizz, but didn't really encourage my curl very much - the end result was more wavy than curly.  I suspect that this is partially down to the lack of ingredients which pull up the curl and set it in place - this definitely avoids crunch, but means the curl enhancement isn't quite as impressive as other products which do leave a bit of residue behind.

On the other hand, the Leave-In Conditioner delivers brilliantly on its promises - which are to simply add moisture and reduce frizz without weighing the hair down.  The light feeling cream is also silky in texture, and the ends of my hair were definitely less fuzzy after use.  Avoid applying on the root area unless your hair is super dry, though - this stuff may feel light, but it's very moisturising, and over application will leave your hair feeling a bit overcoated.

Unfortunately neither of these products rocked my curls - but I will continue to use the leave in conditioner for well moisturised, less fuzzy hair.

Disclosure: PR samples

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

In another episode of "Things I Bought In America Recently", here's Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie, a potently moisturising blend designed to define curls, tame frizz, and make your hair smell amazing.

I chose to pick up this bumper-sized tub because of my overwhelmingly positive experience with some other products from the Shea Moisture range - specifically the Frizz-Free Curl Mousse - and I wondered how my hair would like the much heavier Smoothie.  The Smoothie is definitely one for dry, rebellious curly hair - the Curl Mousse is light enough to use on less demanding hair.  At first, I found myself using far too much Smoothie, and ending up with hair which felt almost greasy on the ends from over-moisturising - a rare experience indeed.

Anyway, for my dry, colour-treated curly hair, a tiny dab distributed through the mid-lengths and ends adds plenty of moisture, and defines my curls somewhat into very loose ringlets.  The Curl Mousse encourages a slightly tighter, although still not too tight, ringlet - neither product causes the hair to spring up shorter.

Whilst I'm enjoying using the Smoothie, I don't think I'd buy it again - I think it's better suited to incredibly dry and rebellious hair which needs weighing down.  My hair is dry, but not that dry, and additional weight tends to make it look lank.  If you're constantly fighting dryness and frizz, the Curl Enhancing Smoothie is definitely worth a try.

I paid around $12 at Walgreens in the States, but you can find it online in the UK for £12.99 - not a massive markup, comparatively, but still a lot more expensive than bribing someone to bring a tub home for you, if you're desperate to try it.

Disclosure:  Bought by me.

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Shea Moisture Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser & Frizz-Free Curl Foam

One of the things I love about travelling to the US is the opportunity to browse Walgreens and CVS for drugstore finds we don't get in the UK.  A recent browse for haircare products saw me reaching for these Shea Moisture products - they're available on some specialty websites in the UK, but they aren't as easy to find as they are in the States.

Anyway, the Frizz Free Curl Mousse is a bit of a revelation - it's a clear liquid which gets aerated as you pump it out.  It smells strongly of coconuts, and despite the lack of silicone and other heavy ingredients, it's hydrating and smoothing.  It also helps my curls to form without the loss of any length - rather than making them spring up tightly, it encourages a loose ringlet.  I still get flyaways on the top of my head, but the lengths are well defined and smooth.

The Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser is also excellent, although it behaves pretty much like any other cleansing conditioner - massage well into the roots, spread to the ends, keep massaging, and then rinse.  It works best when applied to wet hair, massaged in a bit, and then emulsified with a bit more water - the key thing is to massage really well, or the hair might not come out completely clean.  Once you've mastered the technique, though, hair is clean and shiny after use - and as you've avoided any surfectants, colour is preserved much better than with a traditional shampoo.

You can get hold of the Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser in the UK via the Curly Emporium, where it costs £13.99, but these products are best acquired in the US - they were both around the $12 mark in Walgreens.

Disclosure:  Bought by me.

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Enhancing Oil

A two-phase hair oil! Shake it to make it! It's just like those marvellous bi-phase eye makeup removers. Sort of addictive. Shake shake shake. /childish reverie

Besides being very fun to play with, John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Enhancing Oil purports to do lovely things to curls. It comes in a large-ish box, but the product itself is dinky - about the size of a travel-miniature shampoo or conditioner, with a large flip-top cap.

Once you've jiggled the two liquids into a translucent haze, you dispense 10 drops into your hands, rub together, and then apply to damp hair in sections. It's a lot like a serum, but a bit more liquid. It has a light, fresh smell - not very distinctive, but certainly pleasant.

Results-wise, I was sadly not blown away by this. I think it's because I have curly hair that is also quite fine, and like many curl products, the Dream Curls oil is intended for thicker, coarser hair that needs more taming power. On my hair, it's sort of overkill, and results in a look that's a bit too product-y. Not 90s perm or anything, but it definitely looks like hair with something on it, rather than naturally defined, bouncy curls.

If you have thick curly hair and you fancy a new shaky-shaky way of taming it, give this a look. It costs £9.99 for 50ml and you can buy it from Boots.

Disclosure - PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating our copyright.

Quick Pick: Kerastase Oleo Curl

I have a soft spot for Kerastase. In recent years I've found myself veering more towards products that are light on silicone, but there was a time in the past (which coincidentally corresponds with a period of intense straightener usage) when little else would make my hair glossy, manageable and soft.  Whilst their products are ludicrously expensive, they're undeniably luxurious to use, and generally deliver on their promises.

Oleo Curl is a curl definition cream which add moisture and shine to the hair, defining curls and protecting against tangles too.  The texture is relatively light but with a lot of slip (that'll be the silicone alongside some natural oils).  A small dab is all that's needed to make my thick, dry, curly hair smooth - and whilst the curl definition it provides isn't the most ringlet-spring inducing thing I've ever used, it's enough to keep the hair looking groomed and non-fuzzy.  Plus, it dries soft, not crunchy, always a plus point with curl enhancing products.

Finally.. my favourite thing about this product.  In keeping with the orange packaging and orange colour, the scent is a light, fresh citrus-y orange affair, which I absolutely love.

Find it at HQHair, where a 150ml bottle will cost you around £15 (RRP £18).

Review: Miss Jessie's Curly Meringue

Last year, when I stopped using shampoo and silicone in an attempt to calm my curls down a bit, I discovered British Curlies, which is a veritable goldmine of curl-related information.  I learned a lot from their very useful forums, which staffed by some very knowledgeable curly haired ladies, and from there also heard of Miss Jessie's.  Miss Jessie's is an American brand, targeted firmly at people with curly hair.  It's not particularly well known over here in the UK, not least because very few places stock it.

With product names such as Curly Pudding, Curly Buttercream, and Curly Meringue, I was intrigued.  So when I spotted a display of Miss Jessie's products over in New York, I had to bring one home.  I chose Curly Meringue, not least because I'm quite fond of meringues.  And true to its name, Curly Meringue has a very zesty, lemony scent, which has an edge of sugar - pleasant, and quite foody, but also a little bit synthetic.  Good thing it doesn't last long on the hair!

Designed to work on all types of curly hair, from loosely curly hair like mine through to Afro hair, the product itself has a very unusual texture.  A thick styling cream, it has a strange springiness to it - you can bounce your fingers on the surface of the product.  Straight out of the jar, it's almost sticky, too.  Once rubbed across the palms and warmed up a little, I've found that a little goes a long way - the cream is extremely moisturising, even to the extent of being a little heavy, so unless your hair is extremely dry or rebellious, you'll only need a little.

The product is a medium hold styling cream, which also promises to maximise curl length.  Many styling products cause curls to coil up and shrink in order to provide definition, but not this one.  Where I've used mousses in the past that contract curls and make them crunchy, Curly Meringue doesn't shrink my curls at all, just provides plenty of definition.

The directions suggest that Curly Meringue is best applied to wet hair, scrunched gently in, and left to air dry.  It's also very effective used in tiny quantities in the mornings, applied to dry hair.  A fingernail sized blob, spread over the palms, and scrunched into dry hair provides plenty of extra definition if the hair does go fuzzy overnight, and also adds moisture.

Because I need such a tiny amount of product, I've gone through barely any of my tub since I bought it.  Would I repurchase?  I rather think I would.  Whilst this product hasn't changed my life, it's a lovely, rich curl cream which leaves my hair soft and shiny, with plenty of definition, and if I don't use too much, leaves my hair entirely crunch free.  Worth noting, too, that this product isn't truly free of silicone - it contains PEG-12 dimethicone, which is water soluble, making the product compatible with a SLS/silicone free haircare regime.

If you'd like to try this one for yourself, you'll find it at the British Curlies store.  There are a variety of sizes available, with the smallest 60ml tub costing £6.95 - perfect if you want to try it out before investing in a larger tub.

Have you tried any Miss Jessie's products?  What do you think?  Let us know in the comments!

Review: Naked Take Control Firm Hold Styling Gel

Disclosure: PR sample


Naked are a LBR staple: we both love their foaming products, which are SLS free and rather gloriously scented, and I'm a convert to their conditioners, which work fabulously well on hair that's sworn off SLS and silicone.

Their Take Control firm hold styling gel has the same eco and skin friendly credentials: no silicones, vegetarian and vegan, and with very little weight to it, the instructions direct you to apply to dry hair and allow to dry.

Well.. that's not quite how I use it.  Styling gel is not just the bastion of those looking for a slicked back, well held style - it's also very useful for controlling curls whilst they air dry.  I apply a glob of gel to my wet hair, scrunch thoroughly (how very 80s), and leave to dry.

The aim is to reduce the frizz that can form during the four or five hours it takes to air dry my hair.  And the result is indeed less of the fuzzy edged look that I hate so much; it's not miraculous by any means, but it definitely does help.  Curls are also enhanced and defined by scrunching gel into wet hair; the scrunching action helps to form the ringlet shape, and the gel itself helps to hold that shape whilst the hair dries.

So far, I've told you mostly why gel is useful in general, and not much about the Naked gel specifically.  Let's remedy that with a handy list:

• As with all Naked products, it's incredibly light. No build up, no residue, no heaviness.
• The scent is pretty much undetectable on the hands and in the hair
• Once dry, the hair is completely non crunchy.  Not one jot of crunch.
• Despite the presence of alcohol in the ingredients, it's not drying at all

All in all, a pretty serviceable gel, for use on wavy/curly hair.  While the lack of crunch may be a positive point for most people, I actually prefer a bit of crunch - it signifies an ultra-strong hold which really secures the curls in place whilst they dry, keeping frizz and flyaways to a minimum.  Anyway - that's just me.  For most people, I imagine the lack of crunch is a good thing.

If you'd like to try this one out for yourself, you'll find it at Boots, where it will cost £1.99 for 150ml, or on Naked's website, where it will bizarrely cost you quite a bit more, at £3.49 for 150ml.

Review - Jo Hansford Anti-Frizz shampoo & conditioner

Disclosure - PR sample

Jo Hansford's famed hair-colour expertise makes her a natural choice for a celeb haircare range. 

This one's a cut above (owww, I'm going to pun hell, aren't I?) most in terms of how it's pitched - the shampoo is £14.50 for 250ml and the conditioner £16.50 for 250ml, and the range is found in Harvey Nichols. Definitely one for the discerning shopper with a sizeable budget.

What makes them special? Well, apparently "the Anti-Frizz duo combine the repairing properties of ethically harvested Castanha do Brasil from the Amazon, with Sunflower Extract which extends the life of colour. Keratin boosts the hairs strength, improving its protein structure and protecting the hair from further external damage, while UV filters protect against sun damage." (from press release)

The colour-care aspect will be a driving factor for many, as this is JH's whole area. As my hair isn't coloured, I can't comment on how effective the products are in this regard. I applaud the multi-tasking approach though. The ethical considerations are also a welcome aspect. Slightly surprised to see SLS in the ingredient list of a colour-caring product, but I'm sure Jo knows what she is doing.

In practice, both products get high marks. The packaging is neutral and sophisticated, and although having screw tops rather than flip caps makes opening slightly more time-consuming, it's classier somehow - less utilitarian. There's a lovely satsuma-grapefruit medley going on scent-wise ("green jelly" is how my boyfriend, who has also tried them out, describes it), with a slightly baffling undertone of Marmite. Nice, though.

I found that after using both products, and the conditioner especially, there was a noticeable "coated" feeling on my hair. The conditioner doesn't create the usual slippy streaming effect on rinsing. Instead it clings to the hair with a kind of waxy, squeaky after-effect. Despite this, hair stays easy to brush and style, and feels definitely clean.

On air-dried, curly hair, I'm afraid I was still getting frizz  - but I think that's only because I skipped on my usual serum and curl-styling products when testing these. It isn't a *lot* of frizz, and the curls are quite well defined. On other occasions when I blow-dried smooth, the effect was very soft and shiny with lots of movement.

One warning - after a couple of weeks straight of using these products, I did need to strip the build-up out of my hair with a clarifying shampoo. 

Verdict - nice products for a luxurious treat, but honestly not ones I'd buy repeatedly (unless I won the lottery), mostly owing to cost per ml.

Wishlist: Tangle Teezer

I have thick, curly hair. I usually make it more-or-less manageable by using a thick conditioner, covering it in curl cream, and leaving it to dry naturally. But when I want to wear it straight, the prospect of combing it through so I can begin blowdrying mostly makes me think OUCH. Similarly, brushing out my stepdaughter's hair is a task that makes her go OUCH, regardless of how gentle I am.

Enter the Tangle Teezer; it found fame on the Dragons Den, and has since gone on to be a bit of a hit product. I never really saw the point, thinking that it just seemed to be an ergonomic comb.. until a hairdresser recently used it on my hair before a blowdry.

As she gently worked it through my hair, I found that there was no pulling, no snagging, and no tugging. I have no idea how it works, but it definitely does work; detangling hair is much, much easier with this than it is with a regular brush (or comb). I want one for myself, and one for my stepdaughter after trying to tame her long, thick hair this weekend.

If you'd like to try one for yourself, you can get them in a range of colours from BeautyBay.com for £9.75.

Unexpected Bonuses

Since I quit the shampoo and went silicone free a few months back, I've been enjoying well defined curls and hair that feels truly moisturised and healthy. The past few days have involved a lot of arrangements, running around, and not enough time for air drying - my hair takes 4 to 5 hours to fully dry, and I've just not been able to find it this week. So I broke out my hair dryer and prepared to do battle.

Ordinarily, blow drying my hair takes about 45 minutes, by which stage I've usually given up attempting to get it sleek, and settled for roughly straightish hair (with a LOT of body) and very achey arms. This time, though, I found that my hair was a lot less puffy after blow drying, and it only took me 20 minutes or so to get it into a vaguely sleek state. All this, with just a small amount of Naked silicone free serum. This is a definite improvement, and a very unexpected bonus.

Silicone & Shampoo Free: Comparsion Photos

Please ignore the fact that my second photo is so badly focused. I'm not great with a camera, particularly after an evening at the pub!

The left photo shows my hair before I started a shampoo and silicone free regime. The right photo is after about 5 weeks of using nothing but silicone free conditioner and styling products on my hair.

Aside from the main lighting, colour and focus differences, I think that the main difference is that my hair is more curly than it was previously. Before, my curls were concentrated mostly around the back of my head, with the front parts containing a mix of loose curls and waves. After skipping the shampoo and silicone, even the front parts of my hair are curly, particularly in the mid-lengths.

Frizz wise, there doesn't look to be much of a difference. However, the right hand photo was taken after coming home from a night out in London - a very windy night at that. So the fact that the level of frizz there is comparable to the left hand photo, which was taken after a wash and airdry entirely indoors, is a good thing in my book.

I'm pleased enough with the differences in both the feel and look of my hair that I'm going to continue this regime indefinitely.

Silicone & Shampoo Free: One Month In

Last month, I decided to make a radical change in my haircare routine and ditch shampoo and silicones, which in theory would give me softer, less dry hair, with better curl definition. It's now been four weeks since I washed my hair with shampoo - and I'm very impressed with the difference.

My hair is no longer particularly dry; it feels very soft at all times. My curls are much more defined than they ever have been, and even look more ringlet-y than they did before. And frizz? I only really get a little bit of frizz on the second day after washing now.

Two things thus far have convinced me that I'm on to a good thing: firstly, my recent sun-and-sea holiday. Spending most of the day in the sun, in the sea or the pool for a week usually leaves me with hair like straw. Washing my hair every evening with conditioner prevented the damage.

Secondly; I had my colour done very recently. My hairdresser said that she could feel the difference in my hair, that it was smoother and less dry. Since she's been my hairdresser for about 7 years, I'm taking that as a sign of a tangible result.

The only downside I've found is that my roots have a tendancy to get oily slightly quicker than before. Since I previously only washed my hair twice a week, I can cope with a slight increase of co-washing 3 -4 times a week.

As I've just had my colour done, I'm sporting a semi-straight blow dry, so no pictures this week, but I promise to take some next week. So far, so good!

Review: Boots Essentials Curl Creme

As part of my new shampoo-free routine, I had heard a lot of very good things being said about Boots Essential Curl Creme, which is a silicone free styling product which apparently can be used on wet or dry hair. Last time I was in Boots, I took the opportunity to pick one of these up.

The curl cream is a fairly thick product with more of a gel texture than a cream one. It claims to "smooth away frizziness and hold your curls". And it really does deliver - a small dab distributed through wet hair gives light hold while the hair dries - resulting in significantly less frizz. I also felt that the cream was slightly moisturising - my curls were not only less frizzy, but also very smooth and shiny.

The one downside is that as with many curl products with build-in hold, you can end up with a slightly crunchy feeling 'do after air drying - but this is easily scrunched out, and well worth it for the definition the product provides.

Best thing about this product? The price. For just £1.29, you get a whopping 250ml of product, and given that you need so little, the tub should last for ages. I'm bowled over by this product - really wasn't expecting this kind of performance for this price.

Boots Essentials Curl Creme, £1.29 for 250ml at Boots.com.

Silicone & Shampoo Free: One Week In

Last week, I wrote about the Curly Girl method, which hypothesises that curly hair does better without shampoo, as the most common cleanser in shampoo, SLS, is too harsh for delicate curly hair. In order to cut out shampoo, one has to also cut out anything that'll build up on the hair - silicones and polyquatariums.

I started off my shampoo free routine with one last shampoo - without silicone - to rid my hair of any build up before I began. I used Aussie Miracle Moist, which is silicone free and actually rather nice. It's been donated to my husband, now though, as after conditioning with Original Source White Pear and Avocado conditioner, I was free of silicones and ready to start co-washing.

For my next wash, I applied a palmful of conditioner to my scalp, and massaged with my fingers as I used to do with shampoo. Obviously, I didn't get any lather, which was a very strange feeling. After rinsing thoroughly, I applied some more conditioner to the lengths of my hair, and then I was done. I was very surprised by how clean my hair felt and looked after a rubdown with just conditioner; easily as clean as with shampoo. My hair also immediately started feeling softer and less dry.

A week on, my curl definition has improved, and although I'm still somewhat frizzy, I think it's less so than it used to be. I have noticed that my fringe gets greasy much faster - I think I'm probably using too much conditioner on it, so I'm trying to tone down. My big fear, that I would end up looking lank-haired and greasy, seems to have been unfounded thus far. So far so good!

I'll report back soon, and hopefully will have some before and after photos to compare too.

Going Silicone & SLS Free - The Curly Girl Method

I've read several articles recently about the Curly Girl method, which supposedly helps to keep curly hair well moisturised and frizz free. Apparently, the SLS in most shampoos (which is generally a fairly drying ingredient) strips moisture from curly hair, which is in general more dry than other hair types. Primarily, the theory is that by giving up shampoo, and therefore SLS, curls become more moisturised, less frizzy, and more well defined.

Now, the thought of skipping the shampoo makes me shudder - I can't feel properly clean if my hair is greasy. According to followers of the CG method, cutting out conditioners and stylers that contain silicones cuts down on the build up on dirty hair - and hair that's dirty with natural oils only can be washed with conditioner (silicone free, of course).

So, I've taken the plunge - I started off a couple of days ago with a final shampoo (which didn't contain silicone), and today tried out my first "co-wash" (conditioner wash). I applied a silicone free conditioner to my roots and sort of massaged as I would normally do with shampoo. I'll admit, this felt very weird, given the lack of foam. After rinsing thoroughly I applied the same conditioner as I normall would, and rinsed again. After a careful application of (silicone free) stylers, my hair is clean, shiny, and soft.

In the coming weeks I'll continue to steer away from the shampoo and try out a variety of silicone free conditioners in a bid to control my frizzy curly hair - and reporting on it along the way.

Review: Lush Coolaulin Conditioner

A recent trip to Lush led me to pick up their Coolaulin conditioner, a coconut conditioner for dry, processed or curly hair - and coincidentally, my hair is all three!

The most striking thing about this conditioner is the scent. I absolutely love the smell of coconut, and I was expecting this to smell very strongly of it. I was surprised, and also pleased, to discover that the coconut scent is rather subtle, and has slightly woody undertones - smelling to me like a more natural scent than that in products I've used before.

While the instructions don't call for it to be left in the hair, as with most conditioners, I left it in my hair for 15 minutes to get maximum effect. I wasn't disappointed! My hair was left soft and much shinier than usual, with a slight scent that didn't linger for long. While not an intensive conditioner, it'll make a good regular use conditioner for dry hair.

The only reservation I have about this is the inclusion of SLS, or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which is a surfactant used to lift oil from the hair, or to thicken or add lather to a product. Lush say they use it as a thickener. This seems odd to me, given that this product is marketed for curls, despite SLS often being thought of as damaging to curly hair.

If you'd like to try it for yourself, you can get it from Lush, £6.30 for 240ml (and available in other sizes too).