Hair Archives - Conversations through the middle

Kiss and brush up – Denman for Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2013

With Valentine’s Day just a few sleeps away I thought I would introduce you to a few love-ly gift ideas I’ve come across this year.

First up is this red and black kisses decorated hair brush by Denman. If you have an 11-year-old daughter then I bet you find she’s always brushing her hair – I know because mine is. Dot starts to panic if she doesn’t have one of her dozen or so hairbrushes to hand at all times of the day (I have to cajole her to go in the shower though, which is weird. Perhaps that’s the grubby little kid part still remaining in my pre-teen hair–obsessed darling.)

As soon as this came through the door she commandeered it. By all accounts it’s a very good brush, strong bristles that works through tats (what we call knots up north) with no problem.

I was once the owner of a Denman vent brush that was lightweight and great for keeping in my always overloaded bag. Alas, that has been snaffled also. I see it from time to time, peeking out from Dot’s bag. *Sniff*

This also comes in pink and black; I’ve just looked on the website and at the moment you get a free lip gloss with it. (Don’t tell Dot that.)

Home hair colour – Schwarzkopf Color Mask

January 23, 2013

Today I coloured my hair. It’s not my favourite job, as I get the stuff everywhere – sink, ears, boobs, neck – but when you‘re blessed with hereditary greys as I am, it’s a total necessity.

When I’m feeling rich I leave it to the professionals – alas I haven’t been feeling rich for a while now so I’m having to just get on with it. There was a bit of excitement this time though – I used a new product, a colour mask (oh how I live on the edge).

According to the manufacturer, the difference with this new product – the Schwarzkopf Color Mask – is that it incorporates a deep conditioning mask alongside the colour. (It also includes pro vitamin B5, apricot kernel oil and amino acid proteins to nourish and moisturise the hair.)

What I noticed was how much thicker the product is than other hair colours I’ve used before. The good thing about that is it doesn’t drip everywhere (though I still managed to get it in a few odd places), the downside however is I ended up using more product than I realised on the front of my hair so I ended up running short for the back.

Another plus point is that you just use your fingers to apply it (gloved, obviously), which is so much better than having to fiddle with applicator tips and comb attachments.

In fact I really liked this product. The only real drawback is that it takes 30 minutes to develop. I generally use Perfect 10, which takes just 10 minutes, so waiting 30 minutes seemed like for-ever.

If I was more organised that wouldn’t be a problem, but…

I will definitely be using this again, though not when I’m in a hurry.

Christmas gifts – hair

December 17, 2012

If your Christmas is about dressing up and partying then check out these great gifts for glorious tresses…

Paul Mitchell always comes up with great gift ideas for Christmas and this year is no exception. The gift set for coloured hair caught my attention as unfortunately, I now colour my hair as a matter of course (I blame my dad who went grey in his 20s).

The Color Care Gift Set costs £17.50 and includes Color Protect® Daily Shampoo 300ml and Color Protect ®Daily Conditioner 300ml

Paul Mitchell does not test on animals, which is another reason the brand figures among my favourites.

The Alterna Caviar Moisture Duo gift set with Caviar Replenishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner is a luxury buy at £43.20, but if you’ve noticed your hair is not as shiny, vital or gorgeous looking as it once was then it could be for you. It contains marine botanicals, to repair and moisturise your hair as well as caviar extract to create shine, increase elasticity and make your hair more vibrant.

The shampoo and conditioner are sulphate, paraben and gluten-free, and they don’t contain synthetic colours or petrolatum. Find them at www.alternahaircare.com

For straight hair this Christmas check out the Corioliss Couture Professional Styler Lace. It’s not only pretty to look at but it does the business when it comes to getting rid of kinks and frizz. And it has floating titanium plates. £99.99 from Boots.

Argan oil has been a bit of a buzz product in beauty this year, for skin and hair, and the Lee Stafford Argan Oil gift set (£25) is one way to try it if you haven’t so far. Lee is a friendly guy who gave me several hair care tips for 40s Chic when I met him – still to come so stay tuned – so this is one set I would love to try (Don, take note). It contains Argan Oil from MoRocco Miracle Nourishing Oil, Deep Nourishing Treatment and Miracle Heat Defence Spray. Find it at Boots.

Finally, get yourself in a spin with the John Frieda Spinning Brush (£49.99), which actually rotates as you style your hair. It promises shine, volume and shape and a salon blow-dry finish. From Boots.

Beauty review – haircare

September 20, 2012

I have been meaning to write about Jo Hansford Illuminoil for a while – I thought I had done already actually, but a look back among the beauty posts and I can’t find it so here goes… (darn you memory).

Illuminoil is for coloured hair, it’s designed to add shine and take away frizz. It smells like pink grapefruit and it has a silky, rather than oily, consistency. One of its plus points is you only need a small amount so the bottle, which is quite big (though I don’t know how big as there’s no weight on it), will last you for ages. I have had my bottle for around two months and I’ve hardly made a dint in the product although I now use it regularly.

Generally, I apply it when I’ve just washed my hair, before it dries, but I have also used it on dry hair to smooth frizz and flyaways after styling. Reading the bottle you can also use it as an overnight flaky scalp treatment, or as an intensive booster after shampooing and before conditioning – apply to ends of hair and leave for up to 10 minutes, rinse off then condition. Who knew?

As for ingredients, it contains sweet almond, argan, jojoba, karanja and pomegranate oils – but no grapefruit.

Celebrity colourist and guru of all things hair colour, Jo says: “I created Illuminoil for all hair types, harnessing the healing power of the world’s most exotic and precious oils.” She adds that the oils “combine in this unique formulation to hydrate and nourish your hair, leaving it glossy and radiant”.

Find out more here.