Beauty, Bargains and Beyond

Curly hair has a personality all of its own. It’s bold, unpredictable, and sometimes downright stubborn. Over the years, I’ve tried countless brushes and detangling tools, most of which left me with frizz and/or breakage. So when I picked up the Unbrush , I was curious could it really glide through curls without the drama? The design is lightweight, which instantly made it feel less intimidating than the heavy paddle brushes I’ve used before. The flexible bristles caught my eye as they looked like they might actually bend with my hair rather than fight against it. I decided to test it straight after washing, when my curls are at their most delicate. Normally, this is the moment I dread, knots, tangles, and the risk of snapping strands. The Unbrush surprised me, it slipped through sections with minimal resistance, the bristles flexed instead of pulling, so I didn’t feel that painful tug at the roots and my curls stayed nice and defined.  It genuinely felt like the brush was working ...

If you’ve ever stared down a halo of baby hairs mid photo shoot or wrestled with rogue strands during a slick bun attempt, you’ll know the struggle is real. Enter Primark PS Hair Wax Stick. At just £3.50, it promises to tame flyaways, moisturise and hold hair, all without the faff of gels or sprays. But does it deliver? The packaging is compact, handbag friendly and it gives grab and go energy. The scent is subtle and clean with no overpowering fragrance, which is a win if you’re layering with other hair products. Texture wise, it’s smooth and waxy without being greasy. It glides on easily and doesn’t leave that dreaded sticky residue. Infused with jojoba oil, this stick doesn’t just style, it nourishes. Ideal for dry or damaged hairlines, it adds a touch of hydration while keeping everything in place. I tried it with my signature hairstyle which is a low ponytail which when done on my frizzy curly hair I am cursed with stubborn flyaways and it held up beautifully. The wax offers a g...

As a person who has dry, frizzy, curly hair I love the JVN Hair Care Range.  The JVN Complete Nourishing Shine Drops are infused with meadowfoam ester, hibiscus extract, and squalane, making your hair shiny and protected from damage, humidity, and colour fading. One of the standout features is the lightweight formula that absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue. It effectively tames frizz and flyaways, leaving your hair smooth and manageable. Plus, the subtle fragrance with notes of honey, florals, grapefruit, and tangerine makes the application a pleasant experience. I love the natural-looking shine these drops provide and my hair feels healthier and more vibrant with just a small amount of the product. It costs £23 for 50ml which is a lot but the benefits are worth it. The JVN Complete Nourishing Shine Drops are a fantastic addition to my hair care routine, delivering lightweight shine and effective frizz control.  Another of my favourite JVN products is the JVN Co...

If you have dry, curly hair, you know that finding a product that hydrates, defines, and protects without weighing your curls down can feel like an endless search. Enter Olaplex Nº.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum, a product that promises to provide nourishment, frizz control, and protection for your hair while maintaining the integrity of your natural curls. As someone with dry, curly hair, I was excited to give this serum a try.  Olaplex Nº.9 comes in a sleek, modern-looking bottle with a pump dispenser. The design feels both luxe and practical.  Its easy to hold and control the amount of product you dispense. The serum itself has a lightweight, gel-like consistency that isn’t overly runny, but not too thick either. It has a subtle, pleasant fragrance that’s not overpowering, just a light, clean scent that dissipates after a few minutes. Curly hair tends to be on the drier side, and finding products that add moisture without causing frizz or weighing down curls is cruc...

I remember wearing claw clips in my hair when I was a teenager, so I am happy that they are having a comeback (along with scrunchies it seems). I love these Kitsch Eco-Friendly Chain Claw Clips in Neutral shades from Cult Beauty . At only £8 for 3 they are an absolute bargain and I love the beige and brown shades. They hold my curly hair perfectly, without pulling on it and they are also really useful to use when I am straightening my hair.   Leigh 💜 I purchased these products with my own money

If any of you reading this have those stray flyaway hairs that you struggle to control then Primark Hair Frizz Tamer is the product you are looking for.  Its basically a mascara wand, but instead of mascara it uses transparent gel to hold your hair in place.  Its easy to use but you have to have a light touch if you have frizzy hair like me, as the wand can easily get caught up in your hair and drag it out of place rather than tame it, but once you get used to it, its a doddle to use and best of all it doesn't leave your hair feeling sticky or hard.  It only costs £2.50 for 10ml which is a bargain.  I'm definitely going to stock up on them next time I'm in Primark.    Leigh 💜 I purchased this product with my own money

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I have recently being trying out the The Corrector Drops* in Brunette which banishes orange tones in brown hair which is a useful product for me as I colour my hair on a regular basis and do find that my hair can get orange tones the longer I go between my visits to the hairdresser.  This product is a unique pigment concentrate which can be added to your usual haircare products.   You can customise the level of pigment to suit your shade.  Just add 3 - 5 drops in both your shampoo and conditioner for maintenance, or 6 - 8 drops in your conditioner or hair mask for deep toning.  Make sure its mixed well in a tub or bowl or if using hands make sure you are wearing gloves as it may stain your hands and then apply to towel dried hair. Leave for 5 minutes and then rinse well. If you require more intense toning then you can leave it on for 15 minutes. This is a great product that  helps tone do...

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I am always on the look out for great hair products as I've been blessed with curly unmanagable frizzy dry hair that has always been the bane of my life. I also straighten and colour my hair on a regular basis which has resulted in some breakage recently so I need all the help I can get. Luckily I was sent BondiBoost Rapid Repair Shampoo* & Conditioner* to try out which looks like it will help with a few of my hair problems. BondiBoost is a brand I hadn't heard of before, but I always love to try out new brands. BondiBoost Rapid Repair Shampoo* is suitable for dry and damaged hair, Its formulated with an innovative technology to rapidly repair damaged hair, seal the cuticles, reduce breakage and banish split ends by up to 60% if used regularly and is ideal if you are hoping to grow your hair. I definitely have long hair aspirations. BondiBoost Rapid Repair Conditioner* works in a similar way to the shamp...

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I'm a big fan of The Hair Boss range and have tried out a number of the products so when I was sent The Hair Boss The Scalp Scrub* I couldn't wait to try it out.  The Scalp Scrub* is a pre-shampoo scrub which removes build up from your scalp and hairline.  It helps to reduce dandruff, stimulates hair follicles and helps to improve scalp health.  I must admit that I haven't tried out this type of product before, but I do get an itchy scalp with all the buildup so its a perfect product for me as its an exfoliator which helps to remove dirt and oil from the hair follicle leaving the scalp free from the buildup of styling products. You can use this product weekly and start by sectioning damp hair with fingers so you can see the scalp and just squeeze a small amount of product onto your fingers and gently massage into your scalp.  Then just repeat until your scalp is fully covered and make sure you includ...

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I have tried quite a few products from The Hair Boss by Lisa Shepherd range now and been impressed with all of them. The Heat Protection Hairspray* is no exception.  I have curly hair, but I like to straighten it, so heat protection products are important to me. This one is a great combo of a hairspray and heat protection, so it provides hold as well as protecting your hair when using heated tools The Heat Protection Hairspray contains heat protection for up to 230ºC. This hairspray can be used to spray onto dry hair prior to using heated tools and you can also use it after styling your hair for a flexible hold. This has a nice spray which is not too heavy or light and is easy to direct and it does not leave your hair feeling crispy or stiff.  The Hair Boss The Heat Protection Hairspray costs £8.99 for 200ml from Superdrug  or direct from The Hair Boss website . You can read more about the brand here.   L...

If like me you have naturally curly hair that you regularly straighten then you might be interested in a couple of products that help to tame my frizz when I straighten my hair.  The first one is IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm. This is a leave-in conditioning balm that helps to tame frizzy ends, leaving my hair soft and smooth. You can use it on damp or dry hair and its vegan, cruelty free, paraben & sulfate free, petrolatum and mineral oil free and contains UV protection. It costs £14 for 50ml and £25 for 145ml at SpaceNK . When I blow dry my hair straight I swear by Color Wow Dream Coat. This spray is a humidity sealant which helps prevent frizz and is activated by heat. It keeps hair frizz free for up to 4 washes.  It costs £12.50 for 50ml or £26 for 200ml direct from the Color Wow website . You can also buy it at Marks & Spencer & Cult Beauty.  This product is cruelty free and vegan. Both these products help keep my hair frizz free even in the ...

  *I received these products for free but the opinions are my own. I have curly hair so I definitely suffer from the frizzies around my hairline (even when I straighten my hair those pesky short hairs around my forehead can be such a pain to deal with), so I was happy to try out The Hair Boss The Anti-Static Mist* and the Humble Biodegradable Bamboo Toothbrush* (I know you are probably thinking what has a toothbrush got to do with frizzy hair, but stay with me folks and I will explain all). First of all the Hair Boss The Anti-Static Mist* is a superfine mist that neutralises and controls fly-aways, static and frizz. It smooths split ends and at the same time enhances shine (another god send for curly haired peeps). This spray forms a thin coating around the hair shaft and is suitable for all hair types. You can use the mist before and after styling for a shiny, smooth finish. It doesn't leave your hair feeling sticky or stiff either. It costs £8.99 from Superdrug for 150ml...

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I'm a big fan of The Hair Boss and have tried a few of the products already and really liked them. The brand is developed and manufactured in the UK, by Lisa Shepherd who has been in the hair industry for over 30 years. I was kindly sent the  The Clear Shine Gloss * to try out which is a semi-permanent treatment that helps to revitalise all hair colours without changing the tone. It helps to transform dull lack-lustre locks and works by smoothing the cuticle of the hair.  As someone with curly hair that regularly straightens it, I cannot tell you how much my hair needs a product like this. It definitely helped to give my hair a just out of the salon shine.   You wash your hair as normal and remove any excess water and then apply a generous amount of The Clear Shine Gloss, ensuring your hair is saturated. Massage it through your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes, rinse and then follow with The Condition...

Hi everyone.  I just wanted to do a really quick post to show you my first bargain of the year.  I picked up these The Inkey List hair products from Home Bargains for £1.49 a piece.  I have tried The Inkey List skincare products which are great for the price, so I thought I would give their hair products a try. Caffeine Stimulating Scalp Treatment (hair loss reduction serum) - 50ml (usually costs £14.99 for 150ml) Chai Seed Curl Defining Hair Treatment (curl enhancing cream) - 50ml (usually costs £7.99 for 50ml) Shea Oil Nourishing Hair Treatment (conditioning oil) - 50ml (usually costs £9.99 for 50ml) Amino Acid Anti-Gray Scalp Treatment - (anti-gray serum) - 50ml (usually costs £14.99 for 50ml) Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Hair Treatment (not pictured - frizz control serum) - 50ml (usually costs £9.99). These products are suitable for all hair types and since I have thinning hair around my hairline, curly frizzy hair which is dry and brittle and patches of grey, these p...

I thought it would be interesting to go back into the archives to see which products that I have reviewed over the years I still use.  One of the first products that came to mind was Da'Dude YoungHair The Root Fix Temporary Root Cover.  I reviewed it in May 2019 and the review is below (I did initially receive it free to try out and review a couple of years before the review below, but since then I have purchased it a number of times as its my go to root cover up - please note that this is not a sponsored post).  Other than the price I haven't altered my review below as it says everything I want to say although I must admit I have a bit more grey then I did back then, but I have my hair dyed regularly at the hair salon rather than doing it myself and this is a great product to cover the regrowth between visits. Previously posted 1/5/2019 I thought I would post about one of my must use products that I always use when I have those pesky grey hairs showing at my roots when ...

  *I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I was kindly sent The Colour Enhancing Gloss & The Corrector Drops by the Hair Boss* to try out. I have already tried out some of the other products from this brand which I loved and you can read my reviews  here  and here . I was excited to try these products as I do colour my hair regularly.  The Colour Enhancing Gloss is semi-permanent and lasts up to 6 washes. The Gloss was Golden Balayage and it enhances beachy blonde tones. It is a treatment that adds soft, sun kissed colour whilst adding salon shine. The formula deposits a subtle colour while smoothing the cuticle of the hair and they recommend following this treatment with The Conditioning Milk (now renamed Conditioning Lotion - a sachet in included in the box) to seal in the shine and add moisture. To use this product, you simply shampoo your hair as normal and then after removing excess water, apply a generous amount of the Gloss, ensuring...

*I received this product for free but the opinions are my own. I was kindly sent The Detangling Mist by the Hair Boss* to try out. I have already tried out some of the other products from this brand which I loved and you can read my review here . Targeted to fix frizzy and damaged hair, its designed to strengthen and smooth strands as well as protect your hair by preventing breakages and deterring split ends. You use it on towel dried hair spraying it on the mid lengths and ends and then blow dry or air dry as normal.  It can also be used on dry hair to tame stray hairs.  Its like this product has been designed especially for me as I have dry, frizzy, unmanageable curly hair.  I use this product every morning on damp hair and it detangles my hair so that I can brush it without my brush tangling in any knots.  It really makes such a difference to my morning routine as I'm not struggling to brush out the knots in my hair.  I don't wash my hair every day as i...

   *I received these products for free but the opinions are my own. I had not heard anything about The Hair Boss before I received the products, so I was really interested to try them out. This is a brand developed and manufactured in the UK, by Lisa Shepherd who has been in the hair industry for over 30 years. You can read more about the brand here  and there is a useful hair consultation page which helps you select the right products for your hair type. The first product that I tried out was The Clear Shine Gloss * which is a semi-permanent treatment that helps to revitalise all hair colours without changing the tone. It helps to transform dull lack-lustre locks and works by smoothing the cuticle of the hair.  As someone with curly hair that regularly straightens it, I cannot tell you how much my hair needs a product like this. It definitely helped to give my hair a just out of the salon shine.  You wash your hair as normal and then apply a generous amount of...

I went to an event at Harvey Nichols in Leeds and happened upon a brand that I have never heard of before.   We Are Paradox is an Irish haircare brand and the CEO Yolanda Cooper founded the company when she realised that her bathroom shelf was filled with natural, organic makeup, skincare and bodycare, but the haircare side of things was sadly lacking. The Paradox products are natural, organic, rich in powerful extracts and free of toxic ingredients. Inspiration is taken from Ireland and ingredients include seaweed, moss, shamrock, whisky, hops and cider.  I was slightly worried that my hair would smell like a brewery, but luckily that's not the case. This company cares for the environment and they use as little plastic as possible and instead use aluminium packaging.  It is a company with a conscience and donates 1% of it's sales every year to non profit organisations which are caring for the environment in order to protect our future.  They are also cru...

I was really happy to receive some hair colour products from COLOUR:VIBE* recently as I love changing the colour of my hair.  I have dark brown hair with a few grey strands thrown in for good measure and usually stick to mahogany or chestnut brown semi-permanent colours.   I was sent a couple of colours from the Vibrance semi-permanent hair colour range* to try out - Fuchsia Bloom , Bright Violet and Silver Ray .   Each product can provide up to 10 applications depending on the length of your hair and will provide colour for up to 10 washes. They contain pure honey and marula oil which helps to keep your hair soft and shiny. They can be applied to bleached, previously coloured or natural hair and you can use the product to create a full head of colour or simply use it for an ombre look or even streaks,  Whatever you fancy really.  Obviously it works better on light coloured or bleached hair for a really vibrant look, but I wanted to see if it would giv...