affordable haircare

Haircare for a Special Occasion

- Vicki Leave a comment
Party Hair Prep

Party Hair Prep

I went to my brothers’ wedding last weekend and I don’t really do the whole dressing up all glam, I’m 100% more comfortable in a casual setting, so when it came to styling my hair I knew I was going to go for a look that was simple. My Mum, Bride & a few other girls went to the salon to have their hair put up or styled but I like to do my own, that way you get exactly what you want. I thought I would share a few of the products I used on the day.

Pureology Fullfyl Shampoo & Conditioner

This duo is so good at giving your hair a really good clean but leaving it with a little volume and a gorgeous healthy shine. It is more for colour treated hair but I always think haircare that is formulated for that is gentle and less striping and this range is perfect for that. It also leaves my hair with fewer flyaways and gives it a nice texture once styled. I have the full sized versions but how could I resist taking these minis away with me. Pureology is 100% vegan and sulphate free so your hair is in good hands.

Shea Moisture 10 in 1 Multi-Benefit Hair Masque*

If I am honest when it comes to hair masks I am a little lazy and more often than not it is a step I skip. I do have my favourites that I use when my hair is looking lacklustre or when I need my hair to look its best for a special occasions. This Shea Moisture SuperFruit Complex one is one that never lets me down, its rich formula gives your hair a boost of hydration and just leaves it feeling silky soft. I leave this on for as long as I can, generally about 45 minutes, it contains so many lovely ingredients and the positive results are not only visible immediately but also long-term.

  • Superfruit–a blend of red raspberry, ketones, goji, acai and guava extracts rich in anti-aging antioxidants
  • Marula oil–contains natural plant peptides that help support hair’s elasticity
  • Biotin–nourishes individual strands for thicker, stronger hair
  • Shea butter–deeply moisturises while conditioning hair and scalp

OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection

My hair is naturally wavy so when it comes to styling it for special occasions I like to wear it as natural as possible. If I try and straighten it I know that a few hours later it will have kinks in it & if it gets wet its pretty much a frizzy mess & game over. If I add a little curl to it I find it holds really well and looks better throughout the night. I love OGX haircare and this Curling Perfection Cream is fantastic to help my waves/curls look natural and doesn’t weight them down. It’s not going to leave your hair crusty or heavy with product, so if you like more of a natural effortless wave to your hair this product is for you.

Nicky Clarke Supershine Conditioning Tong

Nicky Clarke Supershine Iconic Steam Conditioning Tong* £39.99

As I said my hair is naturally wavy but to ensure it looked a little more polished and like I’d made an effort I used this pretty swish black & rose gold curling tong from Nicky Clarke.  I like that this tong is super lightweight, the barrel is 25mm which is perfect for creating subtle, natural curls and you can vary the temperature to suit your hair type from 130c to 210c.

  • Ceramic finish barrel gives fast, even heat and smooth, snag-free styling for soft, silky styles
  • Ionic conditioning locks in moisture to keep hair healthy and frizz-free
  • Automatic safety shut-off after 60 minutes.
  • 30 seconds heat-up time.
  • 5 settings up to a maximum of 210ºC, with digital controls and LED display

There is a little reservoir at the tip of the tongs which you fill with water so you can release a little steam to lock in moisture and help your curls have a little more structure to them. I also run my fringe through these to give it that slight curl under. All in all, this is a great quality styling wand and it looks very luxurious too, my hair kept its curl all day and night. There is also a hairdryer and straighteners in this Supershine range & if like me you often forget to turn them off this range has an auto shut-off after 60 minutes for safety, such a great safety feature.

I didn’t take many photos from the Wedding of my hair but I do have this one of me & my husband towards the end of the night.

Wedding Guest Photos

*PR Sample

Duck & Dry Hair Styling Products

- Vicki 1 Comment
Duck & Dry Hair Styling Products

Duck & Dry Hair Styling Products

Duck & Dry is a beautiful hair salon on the Kings Road which first opened its doors back in 2014. It specialises in Blow Dry Styles and Updo Looks, they offer a simple menu of 8 signature blow dries and 8 up-dos so you can get your hair spruced whilst you relax and sip Prosecco. With the success of the salon Duck & Dry have released a range of luxurious styling products which enable you to achieve that salon look at home.

‘Staying British to the core, their innovative formulas are dreamt up in London and masterfully crafted in Somerset using natural active ingredients fused with modern science that deliver real results whilst being kind to the hair, all of which are paraben and sulphate free. The initial two products of the six part series introduce Blow Dry in a Bottle, to create blow dry finished locks from your home, and Instant TLC, a magical leave-in conditioner to wave goodbye to straggly manes. Packed with Duck & Dry’s signature fragrance, expect touches of Wild English Meadows to dance on the hair.’

Duck & Dry Instant TLC Leave in Weightless Conditioner £18.00

If you like your hair to look healthy, glossy and smooth then this product is for you. I spray it on the the length of my hair whilst damp and it not only smells incredible but it also hydrates, nourishes, strengthens and adds shine. I really notice the difference when I use this product, my hair is naturally wavy and this tames my frizz, makes my normally dry hair look very healthy and bouncy. Its a lightweight formula and once your hair is dry you can’t feel the product at all.

Duck and Dry have added so many wonderful natural ingredients to this conditioner including, Honey, Shea Butter, Vitamin B and Coconut Oil these help hydrate, improve growth, ad softness, elasticity and strength. It is also paraben and sulphate free.

Duck & Dry Salon London

Duck & Dry Bow Dry in a Bottle Mega Volume Spray* £18.00

If you like your hair to look voluminous, sleek and glossy then you will love this. You spray it on to damp hair and blow dry for the full effect. It gave my hair body in the roots and so much volume and texture through the length. For days my hair had so much va va voom but without the dreaded frizz, I was pretty damn impressed. The scent is sophisticated and luxurious and you can smell it on your hair throughout the day (which I really liked).

As with the Leave in Conditioner it has so many lovely natural ingredients including, Honey Locust, White Nettle, Ginseng and Essential Oils to help give volume, natural root lift, add texture and deliver nourishment, health and sheen.

I don’t wash my hair everyday and when I use these Duck and Dry products my hair stays looking clean, volumised and glossy for at least 3 days. I have been enjoying using them so much and even convinced my husband to use them too (don’t tell anyone thats a secret). I just can’t tell you how lovely these make my hair look and feel (and smell). I 100% recommend them and I will be purchasing back ups so I’m never without them. I think for the quality of these they’re so well priced, I don’t really get excited about haircare but these have been working their magic with my barnet & making me look like I have made maximum effort.

I really like the packaging too, its simple, sleek and the product dispenses in a nice even mist on to your hair. You don’t get too much product so your hair isn’t left feeling greasy or weighted down. I think Duck & Dry are a brand to keep an eye on, I’m excited to see what other hair treats they will release and if I am ever in London I will pop into the Salon

Duck & Dry

335-337 King’s Road

London

SW3 5ES

*PR Sample

Schwarzkopf got2b Mind Blowing xpress dry styling spray

- Vicki 9 Comments
got2b xpress styling spray

got2b xpress dry styling spray

I might have quite short hair but it is still very thick & prone to being frizzy so anytime I can cut out blow drying, is time that can be put to better use. We all know that the longer we spend blow drying & using heat on our hair the more damaging it is & for me the frizzier & dry my hair is. So I have been putting this new Schwarzkopf got2b Mind Blowing Xpress Dry Styling Spray* to the test. It is part of Schwarzkopf’s new Unisex Mind Blowing Styling Collection which includes a Moose, Hairspray and Xpress Dry Styling Spray all of which are designed to bring you the perfect blow dry in a fraction of the time.

To use, just spray the product liberally & evenly on to damp / towel dried hair and blow dry and style your hair as normal. Don’t expect your hair to be dry in seconds, that’s just not realistic but I did notice I my hair was a drying a couple of minutes quicker than before & I will take a couple of minutes as a victory. So if you’re someone that is in a hurry in the morning this might be ideal to add to your styling routine. Not only does this spray have fast drying technology buy it will also protect your hair against heat damage and if you have hair that’s prone to knotting then this will help detangle too. So it’s quite the multi-use styling spray.

got2b xpress styling spray

The packaging is quite young & fun looking – with its aqua blue & pink colour scheme it is eye-catching and a little different. The spray nozzle is handy to use and helps apply the product evenly without spraying too much at once. This 200ml bottle will last a good few months depending on how often you wash and style your hair.

As with all Schwarzkopf products its a range that’s affordable and easy to get hold of, with prices starting from as little as £4.05 its a range that won’t break the bank. The full range is available at Boots & Superdrug.

Let me know if you have tried any of the products in this range.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Tommy Guns Hair Care

- Vicki 2 Comments

My hair is the longest it’s ever been in my 34 years on the planet. I struggle to keep it looking healthy and manageable. It is naturally wavy with a slight curl and gets greasy very easily. Tommy Guns is a brand I have heard of & I use their Winter Dew Drops. I adore the way this product gives my hair a beautiful glossy sheen. I have blogged about them here.

I’ve been testing out the above Shampoo and Conditioner* combo and I have to say the fact that they are a nice plum and pink colour makes me very happy. These smell quite masculine and not sickly sweet. I find them both uplifting and great for a morning shower. I also like the packaging, I think the simple design looks sleek and they look great in my shower.

The Fig and Plum Shampoo is targeted for Frizzy & Unruly hair, this is my hair in a nutshell. This was lovely to massage in and didn’t lather up into a crazy foamy mess. I hate it when the shampoo is over foamy, it is also easy to wash out and requires minimal effort. It states that the Fig is to smooth and soften the hair and the Plum helps to enrich the hair leaving it more manageable. I would have to agree with that, my hair is left sleek and I have less flyaway strands, especially on the top where I tend to get major frizz. This shampoo did tame my frizz.

I also used the Conditioner from the same line and together they make quite the pair. The conditioner is Fig, Plum and Marshmallow. How amazing does that sound! This smells lighter than the Shampoo but still fresh and quite Autumnal, must be the Fig. In this conditioner, the Marshmallow is used to soothe and enhance the hairs elasticity and to help prevent breakage while the Fig & Plum help enrich the hair leaving it more manageable for styling.

Tommyguns Hair Care

When using these I was able to go 3 days without washing my hair. My hair didn’t go greasy as quickly as it normally does and I thought it looked glossy while my curls had quite a bounce to them. These have been a pleasure to use and my husband has also used them and liked the shampoo in particular.

They also have Pomegranate and Orange / Blueberry and Ginseng / Jasmine and Wild Nettle / Sage and Basil / Bergamont and Inula. I like the sound of Pomegranate and Orange, it sounds very festive. Tommyguns online.

Both the Shampoo and Conditioner are £5.50 for 250ml

Products marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do the reviews are 100% my own.