Review: Kerastraight KS Ultimate Treatment

Before & After KS Ultimate Treatment

Last month, I was invited to Salon International to try out the Kerastraight Ultimate treatment. Although I didn’t have the KS treatment applied in a typical salon environment, I was impressed with the results and wanted to share my experience.

You may remember last year I reviewed the Goldwell Kerasilk Keratin Treatment and I loved the results! My hair stayed frizz-free, smooth and manageable for just over 4 months. However, I found the after products irritated my scalp so after 2 weeks I stopped using these and used my normal sulphate-free products instead, which I found worked fine. My hair grew in length and looked and felt healthier after the treatment as I didn’t need to use as much heat on my hair.

KS Ultimate Treatment promises to transform frizzy, unmanageable hair and dramatically reduced your hair styling routine. This multi-award winning semi-permanent hair repair and smoothing system provides unrivalled condition, strength and shine to all hair types including dry, damaged, coloured, chemically treated and even Afro-Caribbean hair! I was excited to save precious minutes to my morning routine, bidding farewell to frizz and waking up to management, silky smooth and healthy looking hair.

The treatment involved having my hair washed with a pre-treatment shampoo, which was left on my hair for 5 minutes to open up my hair cuticles ready for the Keratin treatment to be applied. KS Ultimate Treatment was applied to my hair in small sections and wrapped in a plastic cap and left to work for 45 minutes. The treatment simply feels like a conditioning treatment has been applied and contains no harsh chemicals, so doesn’t burn or sting like some other Keratin or Brazilian Blowdry treatments. The treatment was rinsed for 30 seconds and a conditioner was applied but again just rinsed for 20 seconds and not fully washed out. My hair was then blow-dried and straightened to active and seal in the treatment.

After my hair was blow dried, it felt silky smooth and soft, the product is so light in texture that it was impossible to tell that the treatment had been dried into my hair. The whole process took around 3 hours, you are able to shampoo your hair after just 30 minutes and there’s no growing out period, the results naturally fade away. The real test was when I left the venue it began raining, normally my hair would become frizzy and curly yet it stayed straight and smooth! I found the treatment does take some washing out after the process. I would recommend rinsing well for and shampooing your hair twice to ensure the product has been completely removed. 

Since having the treatment I am pleased that my hair needs minimal styling and heat, I can even leave to dry naturally without my hair becoming frizzy and unmanageable. I'm excited that the results can last up to 4 months and it is recommended to use the after care products to maintain the treatment. If, like me, you suffer with frizzy unmanageable hair then I would definitely recommend this treatment especially since its safe and formaldehyde-free. 

KS Ultimate Treatment costs from £150. For more information and to find your nearest salon please visit: http://www.kerastraight.com Have you ever thought about trying a Keratin Hair Treatment?

Hair Super Foods - Eating for Hair Health

The old saying goes that beauty comes from within and to a certain extent it's true. Eat well, avoid junk food and don't drink too much and you'll probably exude a healthy glow. But did you realise this even holds true for your hair and there are certain 'hair super foods' that can contribute to strong, glossy locks? Include foods rich in the following nutrients regularly in your diet to keep your hair in tip-top condition. 

Nutrients for Healthy Hair 

Vitamin E - this fat soluble vitamin will protect your hair from sun damage and keep it strong and healthy by ensuring a good supply of blood to the scalp. You can boost your intake by eating nuts, leafy green vegetables, avocados and seeds.

Iron - this essential mineral contributes greatly to a healthy head of hair and people suffering from anaemia are often plagued by hair loss. If you have too little iron in your body, the nutrient rich blood supply that your hair and scalp depend upon will be compromised. The best sources of iron are red meat, poultry and fish, and you can increase the availability of iron to your body by eating these along with Vitamin C at the same time. Vegetarians can get iron from leafy green vegetables, sunflower seeds, nuts, whole grains and, amazingly, dark chocolate.

Omega 3 - these fatty acids are essential for healthy cells throughout the body and they contribute substantially to keeping your scalp healthy. Without an adequate supply you run the risk of dry hair and an itchy scalp. The best source is oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and herrings. Vegetable sources include walnuts, avocado, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds.

Protein - this is the basic building block of your hair, so you'll need a diet containing sufficient high quality protein if you want luxuriant hair growth. The tell-tale sign of poor protein levels are dry, weak, brittle hair—or even in extreme cases, hair loss. The best quality proteins come from eggs, poultry, fish, dairy products, nuts and pulses.

Biotin - you need this B vitamin for strong hair and a deficiency of biotin will make itself known with weak, brittle hair. Choose whole grain bread for higher levels of biotin and eat eggs, liver and other offal, legumes and chocolate.

Zinc - a lack of zinc causes dull, fine hair and premature greying, along with dandruff problems due to a dry scalp. Good sources of zinc include oysters, red meat, poultry, fish and shellfish, nuts, eggs, whole grains and dairy produce.

Selenium - this important mineral is a growth booster for hair while being at the same time a potent weapon against dandruff because of its anti-fungal properties. Eat plenty of lean meat, seafood, Brazil nuts, legumes, eggs and seeds.

Vitamin C - you already know that Vitamin C is a vital antioxidant but one of its other main roles in the body is to assist with the absorption of iron. Vitamin C is critical for the production of collagen, which is an important factor in growing strong hair. You'll find Vitamin C in a wide range fruits, including strawberries, oranges, blueberries, kiwi fruit, papaya and black currants, along with sweet potatoes and red and yellow peppers. 

NiceHair is a hair loss prevention specialist website featuring tips, tricks and advice on hair loss prevention, interviews, healthy eating, delicious recipes as well as beauty tips, reviews and lists a number of best vitamins for hair growth. For more information please visit nicehair.org. What are your top tips for Healthy Hair?

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Haircare

Liz Earle has introduced their new and improved Botanical Shine Haircare, with their new ingredient, Kalahari melon oil. Kalahari melon oil replaces yangu oil, which was previously a key emollient ingredient in the Liz Earle Botanical Shine Hair Conditioners and Hair Oil. No longer able to sustainably source yangu oil, Liz Earle explored alternative options to this ingredient. Kalahari melon oil is a highly effective nourishing ingredient that is rich in linoleic acid and omega 6, leaving the hair perfectly nourished, smooth and with a brilliant shine. 

The Botanical Shine Haircare range features five naturally active products, including re-formulated Botanical Shine Nourishing Hair Oil and three Botanical Shine Conditioners:

Botanical Shine Shampoo for all hair types (£10 for 200ml)

Dubbed 'Cleanse & Polish' for hair, this fresh scented botanical shampoo contains nourishing West African shea butter, natural source Vitamin E and gentle naturally derived botanical cleansers to leave hair smooth, clean and soft. Extracts of apple and orange encourage impeccable shine and natural gloss. 

NEW Botanical Shine Conditioner for fine or oily hair (£10 for 200ml)

Formulated with specially-selected extracts of black cohosh, Kalahari melon oil, blue seakale and shine boosting apple and orange extracts, this naturally active conditioner balances oily, dull or lifeless hair leaving it shiny, volumised and full of life.

NEW Botanical Shine Conditioner for normal hair (£10 for 200ml)

Help your hair reach its true, radiant potential with this creamy, colour-safe conditioner. Specially formulated with botanical extracts of meadow foam, nourishing Kalahari melon oil, blue seakale and shine boosting apple and orange extracts, this naturally active conditioner leaves normal hair glossy, hydrated and in perfect condition. 

NEW Botanical Shine Conditioner for dry or damaged hair (£10 for 200ml)

Specially formulated with botanicals extracts of softening West African shea butter, Kalahari melon oil, blue seakale and shine boosting apple and orange extracts, this luxurious conditioner nourishes dry or damaged hair, leaving it hydrated, smooth and under control. 

NEW Botanical Shine Nourishing Hair Oil (£17.25 for 50ml)

Formulated with a luxurious blend of specially-selected botanicals and enriched with nourishing Kalahari melon oil, this sublime hair treatment is luxurious, yet lightweight. Applied to damp or dry hair, it instantly conditions, protects against heat damage caused by styling and infuses hair with a natural shine. It evens helps reduce blow-drying time.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Haircare range is available from Boots.com and John Lewis. 

Tried & Tested: Micro Mist Treatment & Blow Dry at Easton Regal Salon

I visited the Easton Regal salon recently for their fifth birthday celebrations for a colour, cut and blow dry and to try out their signature micro-mist treatment. The Clerkenwell salon is set over an impressive three flours and has a contemporary, modern feel.  The owners Bryn and James, who started their careers at Trevor Sorbie, aim to offer a luxury 5 star personalised service.

After a consultation with the stylist, I opted for going one shade darker colour-wise and a trim to get rid of my split ends. The micro mist treatment was applied after the colour and before the cut, which involved an intensive mask being applied to my hair before sitting under the Japanese hood that uses the power of mist to penetrate hair and lock in any treatment right down to the hair follicle.

Before & After: Colour, Cut, Blow Dry and Micro Mist Treatment

Eco-friendly and Paraben-free Kevin Murphy’s Born Again Mask for damaged hair was applied to my hair and I was left under the device for around 10 minutes. Microscopic droplets circulate around the head and the device uses a warm mist not steam to swell the hair and open up the cuticle. Particles of mist are much smaller and lighter than those of steam and so can penetrate the cuticle of the hair to a greater depth and micro mist pushes the product deeper into the hair. The cool shot at the end of the treatment, closes the cuticle and traps the treatment inside the hair shaft which gives longer lasting results. 

Overall, I was impressed with the service I received and would recommend adding the micro mist treatment on to your visit as the end result was silky smooth hair that lasted a couple of weeks and it's definitely helped my semi permanent colour last longer! Have you ever heard of the Micro Mist treatment?

Micro Mist Treatment and Blow-dry costs £55 at Easton Regal Hairdressing, Clerkenwell Road, EC1 

Goldwell Kerasilk Keratin Treatment Review

Before & After Kerasilk Keratin Treatment

I have thought about getting a Brazilian Blowdry type treatment for a few years however I've read mixed reviews and was put off by the strong chemicals are used that can damage hair and make your eyes sting during the treatment! Funnily enough my old Brazilian flatmate told me that she has never heard of a Brazilian Blowdry - it does not exist in Brazil!

I recently tried out Goldwell's Kerasilk Keratin Treatment which is the first customisable long-lasting smoothing service for hair like silk for up to 5 months. It makes unruly, frizzy hair manageable, softens waves and smoothens the overall hair structure and reduces styling time significantly without using strong chemicals and is bespoke to your hair type and your required end result. 

Goldwell Kerasilk Keratin Treatment is a two-component system, meaning that it can be customised to suit individual client needs according to their existing hair type and texture and desired finish. Formulated with smoothing glyoxylic acid and additional keratin and silk proteins, the treatment penetrates deep into the hair to create new keratin bonds and stabilise the new hair shape for up to five months.

The service began with a consultation to discuss my hair concerns, my hair type and how I like to style my hair. My stylist explained that the Kerasilk Keratin Treatment is bespoke and customised to the individual and so we decided that the end result should take my hair from frizzy and naturally curly to be smooth but not poker straight as I like to wear my hair wavy.

To begin with my stylist suggested we chop off the dead ends and my hair was washed roughly blow-dried. Next the stylist applied the bespoke mixture of the two Kerasilk Kertain lotions (Rich and Ultra Rich formulations) and left on my hair for 15 minutes before my hair was roughly blow dried. There was no strong smell or discomfort at all, it felt almost as if just a conditioning treatment had been applied to my hair. 

My hair was then straightened using straightening irons in small sections, with each section straightened repeatedly four times. Afterwards my hair was washed and conditioned and the stylist applied Kerasilk Lock-in Serum before a basic blow dry. There is no need to leave in the product for several days after the treatment, the hair can be immediately washed, however it is recommended not to colour your hair for 2 weeks after the treatment. My hair felt glossy, smooth and frizz-free and felt much healthier and thicker but the real test of course was when I washed it for the first time at home! The whole process took around two and a half hours and I was given Goldwell Kerasilk shampoo and conditioner to use at home to help maintain the treatment. 

A few days after the treatment, I washed my hair using my usual shampoo and conditioner and used no styling products and only roughly blow-dried my hair without a brush. I am amazed at the results: smooth, glossy, thicker, no frizz and with the minimum of effort! Usually the hard water in London makes my hair even more frizzy than normal! I didn't need to style or use any products or further heat on my hair.

I am excited that my hair now needs minimum effort for the next 5 months - I can see this  treatment becoming addictive! For anyone who has frizzy unmanageable hair, especially when the weather is humid or hot, I would 100% recommend this treatment! 

Goldwell Kerasilk Keratin Treatment costs £120 to find your nearest salon please visit Goldwell. Have you ever tried a Keratin Hair Treatment? I'd love to hear what your experience!

Windle & Moodie Haircare Collection

Last week I went along to Windle & Moodie salon in Covent Garden for the launch of their haircare line. Hairdressing duo Paul Windle and Neil Moodie have 30 years experience in the industry working with A-list celebrities and models have launched a new haircare collection. 

The collection boasts 22 eco-friendly shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling products that include the key organic ingredients of rooibos tea, green tea and natural coconut, argan, manoi, apricot, camellia and oat oils. All the hair products are infused with high-quality teas which are known for antioxidant properties, free of sulphates, propylene glycol, silicones and parabens and they are made in Yorkshire.

  

The notable products in the collection are Invisible Day & Night Cream, which is a light moisturiser that brings the skincare concept into haircare. This can also be used as a hand cream even on the most sensitive of skins! Foundation Spray is a detangler and moisturiser which prepares hair for styling; and Essentials Oils Elixir is a pre-shampoo treatment which nourishes and perfects glossy hair. I'm looking forward to trying these!

Windle & Moodie Haircare collection is launching in Liberty London on 1st September and priced between £12.50-£29. 

Concoction Personalise & Blend your own Shampoo!

Concoction is a new beauty brand that allows you to mix up and customise your own personal haircare blends - I reviewed Concoction before it was launched over two years ago! Concoction has been inspired by the Art & Science of cocktail making, and uses mixology technology to create 'ShampYou' individually customised to YOUR hair type and colour. You choose the fragrance and choose the shots to create your own personal blend. 

Each blend is individually personalised by specially trained mixologists; consisting of a 'base blend' and two concentrated 'SuperSerum shots' using a blend of natural extracts, vitamins and scientific actives. Knowing that hair can have multiple care and nutrition needs, Concoction has created a prescriptive system that delivers multiple benefits simultaneously. Each blend is paraben and silicone free plus it delivers intensive conditioning properties and an ionic system (detangling, anti-static and frizz reducing). There is an incredible 256 individual blend combinations that can be created. 

Concoction is leading the trend in DIY (Design it Yourself) beauty, giving customers a bespoke, fun, personal and highly interactive experience. As a new business start-up they have recently launched a crowd funding campaign to help the brand become more established. By supporting the campaign you can be involved in the next generation of new products and get to try your own ShampYou at a discount plus your bottles will be personalised too! 

ShampYou + 2 shots normally costs £14, but thanks to the campaign you can purchase your own personalised shampoo for just £10 including free delivery! If you fancy mixing up your own personalised ShampYou like mine and help 'mix up' the next concoction of products then you can visit www.concoctionclub.com.

#Bootscamp Twitter Party Storify

The #Bootscamp Twitter Party that I hosted this week was very successful, we shared so many great tips, gave away some great prizes and the hashtag #bootscamp trended! If you want any further information on Bootscamp, you can visit www.boots.com/bootscamp. We have pulled together a Storify of the Tweets from the party so thought I would share:

#Bootscamp Twitter Party!

Today is the Day! From 1-2pm we will be tweeting all things beauty at the #bootscamp Twitter Party! Make sure you follow myself @perfectpolished and @NatalyaFGM and share your Summer Beauty Tips and ask the experts your questions using the hashtag #bootscamp to win some fab goodies!

Will you be joining us?

#bootscamp Twitter party Terms and Conditions
• This #bootscamp Twitter party give-away is free to enter and no purchase is necessary
• It is open to residents of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), excluding employees and their families of the Promoter, its associated, affiliated or subsidiary companies and agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion
• Participants must be 18 years or over
• Everyone who uses the hashtag #bootscamp will automatically be entered into the draw to win
• All winners will have used the hashtag #bootscampwith either a great tip for beauty, hair or makeup this summer or with a question for the Boots Camp experts
• All winners must be following either @PerfectPolished or @NatalyaFGM
• It is a condition of entry that all postings are subject to the terms and conditions. Submission of a posting will be taken to mean acceptance of the above rules and terms and conditions
• You can open a FREE twitter account here: www.twitter.com
• All entries must take place between 13:00 and 14:00 on Wednesday 12th June 2013
• Winners will be notified via DM to the Twitter account they used for the party. They have 48 hours to respond and claim their goodie bag after being notified, after which time the goodie bag will be considered unclaimed and will be re-assigned using a random selection method
• The Promoter may vary or amend the promotion at its absolute discretion
• The Promoters accept no responsibility for technical difficulties which may result in tweets not appearing in the Twitter stream as viewed via Twitter.com and therefore not eligible
• The Promoter is Boots UK Limited. Registered office: Nottingham NG2 3A
• Tweets with the Party hashtag(s) may be used in promotional materials for Boots, used on Twitter,Facebook, Google+, Pinterest and other social media platforms
• Participation will be taken as agreement for use of material in this way
• Events may occur that render the competition itself or the awarding of a gift impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Promoter and accordingly the Promoter may at its absolute discretion vary or amend the promotion and the entrant agrees that no liability shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof.

You've Invited to Get Out There #bootscamp Twitter Party!

I am excited to announce that I am hosting a Twitter Party next week along with Makeup Artist Daniel Sandler (@danielsandler) and Natalya from Filthy Gorgeous Makeup (@NatalyaFGM)! Join us on Wednesday 12th June between 1pm-2pm over on Twitter @perfectpolished when we will be sharing our makeup and hair tips and trends for Spring/Summer. 

Myself and Natalya will be answering your personal summer style questions and sharing advice on how to look and feel confident and gorgeous this summer! We shall be joined by Charles Worthington's Art Team Director @MarcTrinder and International Makeup Artist @danielsandler along with Skin Finishing Expert at St Tropez @jules_sttropez. 

Throughout the hour we shall be giving away six goodie bags crammed full of fabulous products inspired by Boots Camp. To be in with a chance of receiving one, make sure you share your top hints and tips for making the most of summer including the hashtag #bootscamp and we'll pick our favourites! Follow @perfectpolished and @NatalyaFGM to join in with the Twitter Party and tweet us your tips and questions using the hashtag #bootscamp So Come and join in the #bootscamp fun and let's get out there this Summer!

Boots Camp is an online destination for customers that will be integrated with the summer tab on Boots.com. Boots Camp is a place to go to help you get ready to get out there this summer and is full of inspiring hints, tips, tricks and offers categorized into six steps to help you make the most of summer. Launching on 12th June it will run for 12 weeks throughout the summer and there are six steps of Boots camp:

· Dare to bare: Make the most of your legs, arms and all your other bits so you feel confident before you get them out there for the first time this summer. Everything you need to help you look and feel fabulous from top to toe

· Sun-up to sundown beauty: New ways to wear your hair, get stunning nails, and experiment with your make-up looks. Perfect for summer from dusk till dawn

· Protect in style: Make the most of every last drop of sunshine with some great new sunnies this summer and discover how to keep eyes healthy and prevent signs of aging

· Glow your own way: Find out how to get and keep that perfect glow throughout the summer

· Go al fresco: Everything you need for an al fresco day out so you can enjoy it all come rain or shine

· Raring to go: Everything you need to make sure you’re ready to get out there on holiday

Will you be joining us for the #bootscamp Twitter Party?

FREE Ojon Hair Products worth £41.50!

Ojon are offering customers the chance to take home a full size Damage Reverse Shampoo and full size Damage Reverse Conditioner by simply trading in any empty shampoo or conditioner bottle, no purchase necessary! You can read my review of the Damage Reverse Shampoo & Conditioner and also the Damage Reserve Treatment.

Customers are invited to visit their nearest John Lewis, selected Boots stores, & House of Fraser on November 8th 2012 to take part in this one day only event. Customers will receive the Damage Reverse Shampoo and Conditioner, worth £41.50 in exchange for an empty shampoo or conditioner bottle from any brand. This offer is on a first come, first served basis and the offer will only stand until stocks last. My tip would be to get there early as this is such a great offer!

In line with Ojon’s commitment to ‘protecting the welfare of the land and peoples of the region’, all returned packaging will be sent to our recycling partner, Wastecare, where the packaging will be recycled or used for energy recovery.

StraightWear™ - A New Discovery In Hair Straightening from Macadamia Hair Oil

Thought I would share some information for a new at home straightening kit from the makers of Macadmia Oil that promises 100% safe and chemical-free formulation that transforms curls and frizz into smooth, silky hair in a single product application for a perfectly smooth, beautiful finish that lasts for 4-months and delivers the following key benefits to hair:

• Up to 4 months of unparalleled straightening
• Hair reverts to natural texture with no re-growth issues
• Intensifies colour with brilliant shine
• Reduces styling time to minutes
• Infuses touchable softness
• Safeguards hair against heat damage, breakage and split ends
• Use after chemical services with confidence

StraightWear™ is a new simple two-stage system for effective long-lasting results: Purify shampoo clarifies and preps the hair by removing build-up with its infusion of botanicals and citrus extracts, paving the way for Smoother; a single product that smoothes and straightens hair in one simple application. Enriched with Macadamia Oil and Quinoa Seed Oil, amplifies the hair's moisture as it simultaneously strengthens and intensifies colour and shine. And unlike any other smoothing system on the market, StraightWear™ delivers up to 4 months of hair straightening with no formaldehyde, no thioglycolic acid, no lye or other harsh chemicals used in the process.

The new range starts at £10.50 and will be available on Beauty Bay, CheapSmells.com, feelunique.com and Fragrance direct. Have you tried the original Macadamia Oil treatment? What do you think to the new StraightWear?

Free ghd air Blow-dry

You know I love the ghd air hairdryer it's definitely worth the investment and is the best hairdryer I have tried to date! You can currently save £20 here off ghd air. I wanted to let you know that ghd air boutique are on tour in the UK and the first stop is London in Covent Garden this weekend 8th-9th September from 10am - 7pm where you can receive a FREE blow-dry using the ghd air hairdryer!

Will you be popping along?

FREE Batiste Dry Shampoo!

Batiste Dry Shampoo are on tour this summer handing out FREE mini 50ml cans of Batiste, and giving top tips for application from the experts and hosting competitions with great prizes such as an exclusive Batiste Vespa!

The Tour dates are:

• Exhibition Square, Bournemouth on Thurs 9th Aug - Friday 10th Aug
• Churchill Square, Brighton on Sat 11th Aug
• Broadmead, Bristol on Thurs 16th Aug
• Outside of St David's Centre, Cardiff on Friday 17th Aug - Sat 18th Aug
• Liverpool One Shopping Centre on Fri 24th Aug - Sat 25th Aug
• Briggate, Leeds on Thurs 30th Aug - Sat 1st Sept
• Northumberland street, Newcastle on Fri 7th Sept - Sat 8th Sept
• Arndale Centre, Manchester on Thurs 13th - Sat 15th Sept
• Bullring, Birmingham on Thurs 20th - Sat 22nd Sept
• Westfield London Shepherds Bush on Thurs 27th Sept - Sat 29th Sept 

This weekend Batiste are making an appearance at V Festival handing out free 50ml cans to all festival go-ers! Will you be going along to the tour to pick up some top tips and claim your free 50ml can?

£20 off ghd Air Professional Hairdryer!

Prepare to be blown away...She's got the perfect silhouette; amazing lines and curves in all the right places. She's the envy of the others - stylish, smart, fresh, cool and commanding. Everybody's talking about her. The music starts, the lights go down, a hush falls upon the front row. The time has come to make her debut. She strides out, confident and powerful. The flashbulbs are blinding; the applause is deafening. Meet the new supermodel, ghd Air.

Features of ghd Air Professional Hairdryer:
- Professional strength 2,100 Watt AC motor at 240v
- Advanced ionic technology
- Variable power & temperature controls, including cool shot
- Ergonomic design for right & left handed users
- 3m power cable
- Fitted with a UK 3-pin plug and 1 year manufacturers guarantee

You may remember I reviewed the ghd air hairdryer about 6 months ago? I would definitely recommend this hairdryer - its the best I have used and makes drying hair super quick and my hair far less frizzy! 

Feel Unique  are offering £20 off for a limited time only so if you have been thinking of purchasing now is the time! ghd air normally is normally priced at £99 but Feel Unique  are offering a £20 discount making it £79 plus free delivery! Have you tried the ghd air?

GLOSSYBOX July 2012

I arrived home last night to my July GLOSSYBOX and as usual the products came beautifully packaged as normal using a pale pink box with black tissue paper with and pink ribbon. With Festival season upon us, this month's box is full of festival beauty essentials to get you glam in an instant. You can save 15% off by visiting GLOSSYBOX and entering the code AFFJULY15OFF at the checkout (ends 31/7/12).

BEX LONDON Londoner Urban Fragrance (worth £1.62)
This is a brand I was unaware of until now, this is a highly concentrated, modern fragrance, inspired by the unique character and idiosyncrasies of London. I received the SE1 Urban Fragrance which is an unusual and spicy scent and I'd say is more of a unisex fragrance. This reminds me of the unusual perfumes you find in Liberty London but I can't believe the full size price is £81 - little steep if you ask me!

Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist (worth £3.70)
Give thirsty hair and skin the moisture they crave this spray helps you feel refreshed all day long. I have really enjoyed using the Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Treatment so have high hopes for this spray, it's also handy for taking away when travelling as all my hair styling products tend to be on the large size!

MONU Eye Cool Gel (full size worth £16.95)
This refreshing gel instantly revives and tones tired eyes, reduces puffiness and dark circles. I am really excited to try this as I absolutely adored the Monu moisturiser that I tried (you can read my product rave here) so have high hopes this will be just as good. This is a full size product and it is quite a generous size for an eye gel.

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Lip Frosting (full size worth £10)
I have tried this product before - it's a Multi-functional cream gloss - use on lips for a tint of colour or cheeks for a luminous glow. It smells just like Strawberry Calpol and I love using on the apples of my cheeks to create a healthy shiny glow.

NUXE Nuile Prodigieuse (worth £3.50)
I have been wanting to try this dry oil for so long so very happy to receive this! Apply this dry oil to your face, body and hair all year round to nourish, repair and soften. Can't wait to try this out!

*Bonus* Elizabeth Arden's Visible Difference Gentle Hydrating Skincare
3 sample sachets of Elizabeth Arden's Gentle Hydrating Skincare - cleanser, serum and cream; plus if you show the Glossybox Card at any Debenhams Elizabeth Arden counter you will receive a free deluxe sample. It is quite nice they have thrown in a bonus item as I feel that perfume samples shouldn't be classed as one of the 5 items as this is something you can usually pick up for free on a perfume counter.









This month's box contained two full size products plus a bonus item and I have totted up the value of the products and it comes to roughly £35.77 which for £10 (plus £2.95 P&P) is great value! I am most excited about the NUXE Dry oil as it's something that I have been wanting to try for a while and I'm curious to try the Monu eye gel as I loved the moisturiser so much so have high expectations that this will be equally as good! You can find out more and order your own GLOSSYBOX here. You can save 15% off by visiting GLOSSYBOX and entering the code AFFJULY15OFF at the checkout (ends 31/7/12).

What do you think of this month's GLOSSYBOX? Did you receive anything different to mine?

Concoction: Mix your own Bespoke Tailor Made Shampoo!

I have been recently testing out a new shampoo by Concoction which is a new brand that are shaking things up in the hair care world! Their unique Mixology Techonology, they have created a new ground breaking hair care system offering luxury made-to-measure blends and let's you call the shots....literally!

It means that you can create your own 'bespoke' and 'made to measure' products that are completely tailored to your hair type. A lot of products try and label you as 'dry', 'greasy' or 'blonde' - but your hair can be many different things at the same time. Concoction let's you choose your own fragrance, and you get to 'boost' your shampoo with shots of their special super-concentrated nutritional super-serums. Freshly prepared by mixologists, every concoction's Nourish + Protect blend contains natural extracts, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Vitamin E, a natural antioxidants and their shampoos are paraben and silicone free.

I selected the following combination to create my own bespoke shampoo:

Base - blend of Rosemary Mint Fragrance - which is cool, refreshing like pure mountain air. I then added two Super Serum Shots: Thermo Straight which protects hair from heat damage and Gimmie More Moisture to quench the thirst of my dry ends. The shampoo arrived nicely packaged and the scent was refreshing and was nice to use. I did notice my hair felt more nourished but I still used a heat protective spray when using heat tools on my hair! I think this is a great concept to create your own shampoo tailor made to your hair needs. The only niggle I had is I prefer to use the same shampoo and conditioner from the same brand - maybe I'm weird but it just doesn't feel right mixing them! The company will be soon launching conditioners, intensive hair masques and nourishing hair oil to compliment the shampoo and in the future they plan to have 'Hair Cocktail Bars' which sounds exciting!

Concoction Shampoo costs £12.50 including free delivery from http://www.concoction.me/ What do you think to this concept? Have you ever thought about creating your own shampoo tailor made to your hair needs?

Label.m Therapy Age Defining Range

With the weather this summer being so changeable your hair will need nourishment to help battle the elements which is where label.m’s first luxury prescriptive sub-range 'Therapy Age Defining' will come in handy with its moisturising White Caviar properties.


Comprising four essential, restorative products - label.m Therapy Age-Defying is formulated using expert knowledge to deliver youth-enhancing results. An intensively tested combination of ingredients that are infused with renowned White Caviar, technologically advanced, this Sulphate-free range works to rehabilitate age-challenged hair - by helping to deliver a look of youthful restoration, replenish loss of hydration, as well as working to rejuvenate hair which has become seriously brittle and lack luster.


The mention of 'anti ageing' properties doesn't mean this range hasn't been designed specifically for mature ladies, it means the longer your hair the older it shall be, especially on the ends and this range helps counter the five signs of Hair Ageing. The affects of hair ageing lies not only with inevitable chronology and maturity, since as we get older - the follicles produce hair which is finer and less voluminous, but there are three key factors which sum up the acceleration of follicle decline: Environmental, Thermal and Chemically-assisted. Therefore it’s possible that a 20 year old can actually have the chronological ‘hair’ age of someone who is 60!


The Five signs of Hair Ageing:



1.  Coarseness : It boosts collagen to smooth and reduce coarseness.
2.  Thinness :  It strengthens thin hair with volume-building proteins.
3.  Dryness : It has moisture retention properties to combat dryness.
4.  Weakness : It reinforces fragile hair and minimises breakage.
5.  Dullness : It gives dull or greying hair increased luminosity and revitalised shine



I love the chic luxurious silver matt versus purple gloss packaging, which looks more like a skincare range than a haircare range, and the pump action bottles are really handy to disperse the products in the shower. The products have a pleasant fruity scent that does linger in the hair once dry and the products contain White Caviar, European Sweet Chestnut, African Baobab Tree, Iron Rose Crystal. The shampoo and conditioner are on the pricey side but a little goes a long way as the products are so concentrated. My hair is quite weak and damaged on the ends from using heat and of course dying and using bleach! I have been using this range for the past week, and after the first wash I noticed my hair felt much stronger, healthier and super shiny, especially on the ends. I left my hair to dry naturally and normally it would turn frizzy, but after using these products my hair was smooth and much less coarse.


Therapy Age-Defying Shampoo (200ml) costs £13.75; Therapy Age-Defying Conditioner (150ml) costs £16.50; Therapy Age-Defying Protein Cream (50ml) costs £17.50; Therapy Age-Defying Recovery Mask (120ml) costs £17.50 all available from  Look Fantastic, labelm.com and specially selected salons nationwide. Are you a label.m fan?

Summer Hair Trends from Lisa Shepherd London

Last month I attended a Bloggers Summer Hair Trend Event at Lisa Shepherd London Salon. This Summer the hottest trend from the high street to the beach is all about the vintage headscarf. Whether nautical, rocky or classically cool Hermes, this is definitely the look of the season. We caught up with Jason Cocking, celebrity hairdresser for a gossip over a cosmo cocktail, cakes and donuts and he shared his four favourite ways to rock the retro headscarf and showed us how to re-create the looks at home.

Pretty Plait using a vintage head scarf

Holiday Honey using a Vintage headscarf

Festival Femme Fatale:

“Great for day old hair, spray the roots of your hair with the fantastic Batiste dry shampoo to give it staying power. They have some fantastic fragrances on offer now – perfect for that in-between wash - Cherry is a particular favourite with my staff. Work the hair into a high top pony, knotting the scarf at the base, then backcomb the hair. Next, wrap the hair and scarf around the band, like a donut, or if hair is fine just wrap. Secure with a couple of grips if necessary.”

Celebrity Inspiration: Kim Kardashian with a festival twist

Holiday Honey:

“This style is perfect for beach hair – whether you’re in Brighton or Barbados. After a day at the beach with the seawater spray, or cheating with a spritz of Bumble & Bumble’s surf spray, you’re hair will be perfect to style. With a fine mist of Batiste’s dry shampoo at the root, for volume, fold the scarf to create a triangle, scoop the hair with your thumb and fingers, popping it into a pony. Then, rather than adding a band, knot the scarf to secure, letting the hair fall down.”

Celebrity Inspiration: Katy Perry 

Contemporary Vintage:

“For that that sexy vintage look, start by backcombing your hair. A sprinkle of Clynol Powder Punch at the roots will add volume and give the hair staying power. Then, pull the hair into a low ponytail at the nape of the neck and push up, this gives you the height you need for this ‘Swinging Sixties’ style. Use the scarf as a headband, loosely tying it to just cover your forehead, and leaving you the option to puck the pony underneath. Vintage? Voila!” 

Celebrity Inspiration: Nicole Richie

Prettier Plaits:

“Use the scarf as a headband and pull the hair underneath to the side. Split the hair into three

sections and plait normally. Knot the ends, leaving a little length, to backcomb in disheveled boho style.”

Celebrity Inspiration: Blake Lively

What do you think to the summer head scarf trend? Will you be re-creating any of these looks at home?

Lisa Shepherd 
24 Mortimer Street, London, W1T 3JP
0207 4679560 

Five Knots No More Winners!

Thanks to everyone that entered the Knots No More giveaway! Knots No More is The Must-Have back-to-school brush for kids. Ever tried the Tangle Teaser? Well this is the fun kids version shaped like a butterfly! It has flexible bristles that glide through the hair without snagging, a hnady cip-on pot for storing bobbles and an easy-grip design to encourse children to brush their own hair it's the back-to-school essential every parent has been waiting for!  Knots No More will be launching this month at Sainsbury's priced at £6.99. 

I have picked five winners using Random.org :

Kim P

Gillian H

Jodie Winyan

Leanne 

Nina

Congrats to everyone that has won if you can email me (perfectlypolishednails@gmail.com) your address details then I can get your prizes sent off to you as soon as possible!