Dry shampoo nirvana

I find dry shampoo perplexing. I know approx. 80% of women swear by it and walk around with bigger and bigger hair held up by copious amounts of what is basically a talc. But I've never mastered it and believe me, I've tried. I have purchased so many different dry shampoos and felt underwhelmed. Sure, some have been better than others but none have made me a dry shampoo disciple.

This one is different. It's micellar water and therefore it is damp. It works. By god, it really works and it doesn't leave you with a dusty scalp. Application is the same, spray on, wait 45 seconds, massage in. But it instantly works and there is something quite nice about your hair being damp. It's only a little bit damp, it keeps its style. Which is the point of using dry shampoo, after all.

Maybe you're in the happy Batiste camp and if so, you carry on because this is more expensive. But, if you're also a struggler, this could be The One for you.

Beauty round-up

Apologies for not posting in a while. I hope to atone by sharing lots of goodies I have recently acquired or played with. I was in Chicago a few weeks ago and made the most of the beauty opportunities available to me.

As always when I fly, I get my moisturiser packing all wrong. This is most frustrating since I have a lot of moisturiser. Maybe it's subconscious though so I feel justified in buying more.

I bought this Sunday Riley Tidal cream because the week before I was reading some beauty writer saying this is what she would use all the time if she could have it for free. Even with the crappy exchange rate, most beauty is cheaper in the US. Even so, they didn't give me this in Sephora sadly. However, I can report that it's marvellous. It sinks in immediately, no grease whatsoever but massively moisturising and just what my jet lagged skin needed. It does smell 'of the sea' somewhat which may put you off but I don't mind it.

While in Sephora, I played with Drunk Elephant. It launched here last week which I expect you know about because it was in every single thing I picked up, all over Instagram and I got about a dozen emails telling me. It's expensive. It was expensive in the US and it's even pricier here. Is it worth it? I dunno. I tried the C Firma Serum which felt lovely, if oily. I splodged other things on the back of my hand. The packaging is very cute but I can't justify £80 on packaging and when it came down to it, I just decided against the expense. Reviews vary wildly on this and I am a little sceptical of the whole 'clean' promise. 

One of my favourite rituals on any trip to the US is my foray into Sephora. I love their own range of cleansers, foot masks, hand masks etc. We can no longer access the US site in the UK which is so annoying, I have no words for my rage. I got the coconut dry shampoo and at last I have found a dry shampoo where I can cope with the scent. It's delicious and only $8. 

On to haircare and Target. I had been tipped off about Kristin Ess haircare by a friend of mine who is a millennial and therefore much cooler than me. It's exclusively sold in Target and (of course) cheaper in the US. Off I went, taking my pal with me. 

I bought The One shampoo and conditioner. It smells heavenly and I have to say, it's great. I am loving it. It's a joy to use, rinses out easily and leaves my hair in great condition. 

I also bought the Blow Dry Mist. This claims to cut down blow drying time and give shine blah blah This is true! It does! And you hardly need any (I found out the hard way) so it lasts for ages. 

My friend also bought from the range and is equally happy. You can buy this in the UK from Feel Unique but it's more expensive. Obviously.

If you know anyone crossing the Atlantic, you now have your shopping list. You're welcome.

Grow Gorgeous Cleansing Conditioner

My lovely friend gave me this for my birthday and I am here to tell you it's a game changer. I was massively sceptical I must admit. This is a 'no poo' conditioner and the thought of not cleansing my hair freaked me out a little.

She gave me clear instructions: soak your hair, use quite a lot, massage in, leave for three minutes, comb hair, rinse out. If you follow these instructions, then you will have amazing shiny hair. I am blown away by it. I had my hair cut and coloured last week and my hairdresser asked me what I had been using to make my hair look so good.

I wouldn't use this every time I wash my hair because I think hair does need a proper cleanse now and then but I am using it every other wash (I wash my hair twice a week) and I love it. It also smells great. Perfect for holiday hair too.

You can read more about it here. You can buy it here (cheaper). And you can thank me below in the comments.

Function of Beauty

I love this idea so much. Function of Beauty allows you to create your own formula for shampoo and conditioner, pick your colour, pick your scent and it puts your name on it.

Obviously, the very moment I heard about this, I was all over it like a rash. You answer a hair quiz, then you select five hair goals, then you pick colour and scent and finally you add your name so they can put it on the bottle. If you use more shampoo than conditioner, you can order a bigger bottle of shampoo and vice versa.

After all that excitement, the only question is, is it any good? I am delighted to tell you yes, it really is. My order arrived quickly (it comes from the US), it comes with separate pumps (which I only found after raking through my recycling) and it smelt divine (I picked feeling (f) ineapple). An important hair goal for me is anti-frizz. Frizz is my mortal enemy and if I can find something that keeps it at bay, I am happy. This does that. And it makes my hair very shiny. I really do love it. It's very concentrated so a little goes a long way.  There are a selection of sizes, my order was £29. Which is not cheap but it's also not eye watering.

It's such a great idea that you wonder why nobody has done it sooner.  It's fun and it works, what's not to like?

Ouai dry shampoo foam

I aspire to be someone who has a blow dry once a week and makes it last. Imagine how blissful life would be if you never had to wash and style your hair again. I was recently in Amsterdam and had the best blow dry ever in a funny little salon which was in the hotel. It was an old-fashioned kind of place with hood hair dryers. The woman was very Dutch in that she listened and then sharply moved my head around, told me off if looked down, and set my hair in rollers after the blow dry. I admit I was a bit scared of what I would look like. Not least because I had to walk straight back into a meeting room afterwards, no time for it to calm down. Basically I looked like something from the 60s and all the better for it. Swingy, shiny, bouncy hair which did settle down but it was a miracle. I waited four days without washing it.

Now, this is a long preamble to say if I'd had this product in my arsenal, I could have made it last even longer. This is a dry shampoo foam. I have yet to find a dry shampoo spray that works for me, it's probably my fault but they all just seem cakey. This is a revelation. work it into roots and you're done.

I like it very much and there is no worry about white, dusty hair. It's £10 from here for 50g which is a generous size can. The 150g must be enormous. It's my first recommended product of 2018! Happy new year to you all.

Charles Worthington Everyday Gentle Micellar Shampoo

I read about this in three separate places in the space of a week in which there was much raving, and I decided I needed to try it with the conditioner. It protects colour and is very gentle. You can Google micellar, I am not going to try and explain it.

Anyway, it's really good. Nice and foamy despite no sulphates and rinses out very easily. It leaves my hair very bouncy. Forgive the cliches but I can't think how else to describe it, bouncy and light. It's my new favourite hair product. I highly recommend it if you want hair with some ooof. Yeah, I am never going to become a hair journalist.

Percy & Reed

I have a new wonder hair product! I didn't think I could add anything more to my hair routine but this miracle product has won me over.

Percy & Reed Wonder Prime Light. It basically extends your hairstyle an extra day. We all know, an extra day of not having to style your hair is something to be applauded. Spray it on damp hair, add styling products, blow dry, add this:

Percy & Reed No Oil Oil.  Stupid name but I love this. No grease, no slick, just shiny and frizz-free hair.

So basically three different products go on my hair because I am still addicted to Perfect Hair Day 5 in 1 styling treatment. Oh, and of course I add hairspray. It's amazing my hair doesn't go up in flames to be honest!

Anyway, try the primer, I absolutely love it.

L'Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Re-Balancing Shampoo

I love my Living Proof shampoo and conditioner and I've been using nothing else since discovering it. However, I read such good reviews about this that I simply had to give it a go. It's also a fraction of the price of Living Proof.

I've used it this week and can report that it makes one's hair extremely bouncy. This is the perfect shampoo and conditioner for that elusive bouncy shine that doesn't weigh your hair down by day two. I am very impressed with it. I still use my Perfect Hair Day because you have to prise that out of my cold dead hands.

This does contain SLS which doesn't thrill me but crucially there are no silicones. I am very impressed with it. I won't stop using my Living Proof, it's not quite as good as that but for a change it's great value.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume 7 Day Volume Treatment

India Knight recommended this a while ago in her Sunday Times beauty column. It was sold out for ages in the various Boots I went into which intrigued me. When it finally was back in stock, I bought a bottle.

Now then, I don't have fine hair but I figured, neither does India. Her father is Indian and (sweeping generalisation coming up) Indians have sumptuous hair. Thick and lustrous. She raved about this saying it just made her hair better. Who doesn't want better hair?

I've held back from sharing my thoughts on this as I wanted to give it a good go. So three applications in (you're only meant to use it every 3-4 washes) and my verdict is ready. It works. It's a bit strange, it feels odd when you put it on, a bit like plastic. You leave it in for 3-5 mins (which is a bore when you are in the shower but I use that time to exfoliate properly) and then rinse out. When you first blow dry your hair, you see no difference whatsoever. But the next day, I definitely saw a more volume. It somehow makes my hair easier to manage while adding subtle volume.

It's £9.99 surely it's worth a shot at that price? It's not going to change your life like a Parlux hairdryer but I plan to keep using it.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day shampoo and conditioner

I'm sorry about this, I really am. But I have found the perfect shampoo and conditioner and it's by my new favourite brand in town, Living Proof. The Perfect Hair Day has already changed my hair life but now the set is complete. I picked this up in New York last week and I am in love.

It is sulphate free which is becoming increasingly important to me as I get older. It lathers up a dream (you hardly need any) and it smells great. But importantly it just makes your hair feel great, shiny and easy to style. You need the Perfect Hair Day styling treatment as well and yes, none of it is cheap but you don't need much. And this is your hair. On your head. Being important.

You can buy Living Proof at SpaceNK but I can't see this range. They have the Full shampoo and conditioner. I have no idea what that is like but this stuff, this is magic. Read all about Living Proof here. Sephora ships to the UK now. Just saying.

Beauty round-up

I'm back and just sneaking in a June post before we officially enter Cover Girl's Birthday Month. I've been kind of busy jet-setting to Monte Carlo and Madrid (for work), moving back to London and settling into my new house. My new favourite pastime is picking Farrow & Ball paint colours and considering what plants I should put in my garden.

Yes, I am officially middle-aged but no less fanatical about beauty. The busier you are, the more you need those products that make you look fabulous in minutes. These are my June hero products.

Origins Smarty Plants. This product is miraculous, I reviewed it back in March. No matter how you look, this will make you look better. I simply adore it.

I also love my Nars Multiple matte blusher. The difference the matte makes is extraordinary. This makes you look healthy and glowing and is the easiest blusher in the world to put on.

I bought this Smashbox eyeliner in New York and I am absolutely heartbroken to tell you they have discontinued this line of eyeliners completely. I have no idea why.

If you find this on eBay in Black Gold, buy it. It's the most flattering colour I've ever worn, it's easy to apply and it lasts all day long. I wear it most days.

This Sephora own brand jumbo eyeliner is also good. It's not as good as Smashbox but it's cheaper and it still pleases me. I have Dark Taupe Shimmer and it's a good day colour.

Sephora now ships to the UK so if you are buying one of the jumbo crayons, bung this in your basket too. It sharpens it beautifully and lots of people complain that normal pencil sharpeners don't work.

The 5 in 1 Living Proof cream still amazes me. Put this in your basket with your Sephora order too.

Finally, a beauty salon just opened up opposite our new house. It's like they knew I was arriving in the 'hood! I now Shellac pretty much all the time, the no chipping together with stronger nails works for me. If you have had a bad experience with removal (lord knows I have) then I must say it's worth looking around and finding someone you trust. My nails have never looked better!

Exciting new hair product: Living Proof, Perfect Hair Day

My friend bought this on a visit to NYC and sent me an email saying I needed it. Obviously I wasted no time in picking up a bottle. You smooth it through wet hair and then style. It's FABULOUS. It smells gorgeous and it makes your hair super shiny, manageable and all swingy without any grease whatsoever. You can read more about it here and then I suggest you run and buy some immediately and a present for me for telling you about it.

Spring hair beauty round-up

I am going to say this very quietly but I think Spring might have finally hit New York. Today I went outside and was too warm. The sun was shining and the gay boys downstairs are having a party on their balcony with no tops on. It's time to shed off the layers and dust down the body ready for summer. It's also time to move away from the dark colours and brighten up. I am well aware that the UK has sprung but here in New York, we've been getting excited about this moment. It's been so cold. I won't go on about it but there are parts of my body I had forgotten about.

To celebrate I thought I'd talk about a few hair products that I've been exploring recently. Firstly, this Thickening shampoo by L'Oreal. Sali Hughes raved about this and then so did a trusted friend. I bought some despite the fact that I don't have fine hair. I find my hair is a little flat in this city so I figured I'd give it a whirl.

There is nothing wrong with it but it makes no discernible difference to my locks. It is a perfectly acceptable shampoo and conditioner however so it's not going in the bin but I won't buy it again.

I bought this, which my sister raved about. Living Proof Style Extender.

This isn't cheap, you smooth it on your wet hair and then style as usual. It repels grease and dirt meaning you can go longer between washes. It does work I must admit but my problem is I live in a polluted city and I go kickboxing. Leaving my hair too long between washes is just icky. It may look ok but I have to live with it! It would be good for holidays perhaps.

Despite knowing all this and the fact that I don't get on with dry shampoos, I still bought yet another one this weekend.

Psssst! Best name ever! It's $6 for a huge can. It doesn't smell disgusting and it does appear to work. I will probably use this more in London than New York but I am giving it a cautious thumbs up.

My conclusion is that I need to be rich enough to afford a blow-dry three times a week. Nothing makes you feel as fabulous as professionally blow dried hair. I reckon I would actually save a fortune as I would stop buying all these products and wouldn't ever need any shampoo! I'd just always get it washed professionally. Oh well, maybe one day.

Pantene

It's years since I've used Pantene shampoo and conditioner but it's clear I am susceptible to advertising. I have become addicted to Hulu since moving to New York. It's an online TV service and I am ploughing my way through Grey's Anatomy like my life depends on it. Anyway, it has adverts that you can't skip and there is a Pantene one featuring Gisele. I have no time for Gisele and her yoga poses with her baby but one has to admit, she is beautiful. There is no way on earth my hair could ever be like hers but there I was in the shampoo aisle debating over which to buy and somehow my hand reached for this.

I am annoyed with myself for buying into the advert. I don't even kid myself thinking my hair will tumble luxuriously as a result of using this and the conditioner. However, I must say I am enjoying it. My hair does feel smooth and shiny. It smells good. It's cheap. Basically, it's a win.

Have I stuck to my no-buy January? Well, yes and no. OK, no, not exactly. I bought a new hairdryer - the one in my apartment broke and life without a hairdryer is unthinkable. It broke while I was sick so not only was I confined to my bed, I was confined to my bed with frizzy BAD HAIR. Horrors. I also bought an eye pencil from the Sephora range because I read it was a good dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury eye crayons and in my logic, that was actually saving money. More on that in a future post. And I bought a hair product my sister is raving about. Again, more on that soon when I've tested it further.

Bumble and Bumble Dryspun finish

Once again, we can thank Sali Hughes for bringing this to my attention, she mentioned it a few weeks ago. You spray on dry hair and it gives it bouf, oomph, pizzazz. And it really does. New York is not a natural friend to my hair, I noticed in my first few weeks that my hair was looking lacklustre and a bit, well, flat darlings. I dislike flat.

I went into Sephora (as I tend to do at least once a day) and had a play with this and I am impressed. It's easy to use, it doesn't smell nasty and it works. It's also $29 and I simply can't justify it at the moment. Curses buying a house, it's eating into my beauty fund.

Frankly, why bother buying it though? I can just go to a Sephora and use the sample. My sister became somewhat obsessed with this on her visit and made it her mission to spray at least once a day. I blame her for the fact that now every time I go into a branch, the canister is empty!

Maybe Santa will be kind to me. In the meantime, my hair seems to have acclimatised and it's improved somewhat. I am not sure it's for sale in the UK yet (could I be any more annoying?) but when it lands, check it out.

Beauty buy update, part 2

I forgot some things. Yeah, I bought so much I forgot to tell you about some of them.

Now I am loving this, you pop it on, go about your business for 10 mins or so and then just rinse it off. It comes off easily, no chipping away at dried on mask and it makes your face brighter. Very nice.

I am also adoring this Grapefruit shower gel. It's lovely and refreshing and nicely rich, a little goes a long way.

Yesterday I went to Boots and got this.

I have tried so many dry shampoos and never understood the point of them, they never seemed to work on me however I think I have found The One. XXL volume is fantastic, I sprayed a bit on my hair yesterday which was looking a little lank and flat and instant volume was mine. I was amazed. There are now 14 varieties of Batiste so clearly it's a case of finding one that's right for you. Also, it's refreshingly cheap!

Loving it at the moment

It's been a while since I've done a beauty round-up. Today is a boiling hot day and I've just emerged from a cool bath feeling revitalised and ready to share my current loves.

First up, Maybelline eye tattoos. Since blogging about these, I've been back to buy the gold and bronze shades. Not so keen on the gold but the bronze is a winner. I love how easy these are and that they last all day. They are cheap as chips, I am tempted to buy every colour just to play!

John Frieda Full Repair shampoo and conditioner. With my new, choppier hair cut I am really liking this, it's weightless and gives hair more body. I took it on holiday and it was perfect for when you need to wash your hair every day.

My beauty tip of the month is acetone-free nail polish remover. I know I know, this is so obvious and I am late to it but this makes a massive difference. Before my nails flaked, now they are much stronger. I actually can't believe it took me this long to try this. You can get any brand in Boots - I am sure they are all similar.

Bliss pedicures. I went back. The one I had in July lasted a month and that includes a week on a beach. Deeply impressed. I had the Hot Almond and Milk one on my second trip and can report that it's divine. It's an hour of pampering that I heartily recommend.

Givenchy Mister Radiant.  My sister bought me this for my birthday - it has little beads in it that explode to give you a healthy glow. It's very nice although a little scary at first, you really have to blend. It's very good mixed with moisturiser too.

MAC Prep and Prime. This primer is very good, it's slightly sparkly and is perfect in this hot weather to keep your make-up in place.

Finally the Liz Earle mascara base is soooo good. It's one of my favourite new products of the year.

Evo Root Canal Style Spray

I am having something of a hair crisis. About a month or so ago I had another Brazilian Blow Dry. I didn't really want to have it but I'd already paid for it. Since I'd had my hair chopped, I didn't really see the need. Anyway, I had it done and since then my hair has gone lank. Brazilians really only suit long hair. I have no body. Driving me mad it is. I am patiently waiting for the stupid treatment to break down and wash away and am actively seeking shampoos with all the sulphur nastiness I can find.

In the meantime, I went to my hairdresser today for a cut and colour. The problem with shorter hair? It grows out faster. Layers require maintenance. Anyway, he used this little baby on my hair: Evo Root Canal. And it's excellent. Unfortunately they had sold out (always a sign of something good) and so I had to order some online when I got home. The good thing about any beauty crisis is that it's a reason to buy more products to solve the problem.

Silver linings and all that.

Tangle Teezer

Firstly, I've no idea why the post under this is the Bliss shower gel one that I wrote a year ago. Baffling!

Anyway, tangly hair, we've all been there. Mine's been terrible lately so I invested in one of these (in pink naturally) and it's miraculous. If you have tangly hair, get this immediately. I got mine from Look Fantastic but I've seen them in loads of places.

I've also had a bit of a radical haircut. I got heartily sick of the same cut so I've had inches cut off, layers put in and red bit. Oooooh. It's quite exciting. I might need new products to maintain...

An update

I wanted to update you on a few things, none of which warrant an individual post.

First up, you may remember I wanted to try the new MAC moisture gel. At the airport last week, I had some time to kill and there it was. At £20 I figured, why not? It's nice and very light, this is not for winter time. It's actually a good holiday moisturiser when you've put on loads of sun cream and need something light after your evening ablutions. No SPF. This would be great on teenage skin I am sure but it's a little bit too light for my ravaged face!

I am sure you've all been on the edge of your seat awaiting a status update on my Shellac nails. It's good news my friends! We are eight days in and not a single chip and the nails are still super-shiny. I'm a bit fascinated by this, how can it be possible? My only complaint is I've knocked a few nails on something white as they have very tiny white marks on them - this is my fault however. ETA: I just used nail varnish remover to get the white marks off and it worked! I shall be doing this for any future holidays as it's great to have your nails done and that to be that. I won't be doing them regularly though as I don't like committing to a colour for so long, I'm already a bit bored with this red. Nonetheless, recommended highly.

A Brazilian Blow Dry update. It's been three months since I had the treatment and it has pretty much worn off now. My hair was much easier to style and generally looked better every day than when I don't have it done. This is not a life-changing treatment but I think it's worth having. So much so that I've booked it again through Wahenda. I wouldn't spend over £200 on it but then you never need to with these offers.