Aveda, Tigi and Ojon - A Tale of Three Hair Products ...

Bonjour!

Yes ... well ... thick hair and myself do not go hand in hand and it's getting worse as I get older (and believe me I'm getting older!) ... my hair has always been fine but as well as generally thinning with age there's a patch around my crown (apparently I have a double crown!) which is getting more and more sparse - my hubby swears he can't even tell (he is a man though!) but you know when you're conscious of something?  Anyway, I'm willing to try almost anything out there - if it promises thickness or volume so ... enter these three which I've been using in rotation over the last few months ... all are applied to damp hair before blow drying ...

Aveda Thickening Tonic - I've wanted to try it for a while but it's expensive at £19-£20/100ml so I held out for a 20% off deal at House of Fraser and then jumped in. It claims to thicken hair in one use by expanding strands, using botanical extracts, from roots to ends.   The pump delivers a fine spray which has a sweet clove-like smell, I apply approx. 8-10 pumps all over from roots through the lengths. After blow drying my hair looks noticeably thicker (to me), the thinning patch on my scalp looks much more healthy and I can't glimpse so many gaps between the lengths of hair.  There is oomph and texture and it  kind of 'bouffes' the hair out, if that makes sense, but not in a non-shiny, frizzy way.  More good news - the thickness lasts until the next wash - it's a good one and definitely works!

Tigi Bedhead Superstar Queen for a Day Thickening Spray - this one seems good value (I think) - it can vary from £8 - £15/300ml. It's meant to contain ingredients that create thickness and add strength, elasticity and smoothness and has a 'great style memory with a low tack and a natural feel'. I spray mainly around roots and through mid lengths and then dry.  It has a fresh citrus scent and the spray is fine but very wet.   I didn't find this added masses of thickness, especially on the 'bald bit' (and too much product leaves my hair a bit gunked up, stringy and weighs it down) but the right amount gives good root lift and leaves hair super soft and shiny and it definitely holds the style into the next day.  It can also be used to add texture on a second day style by spraying in and blasting with hairdryer, I've tried this a couple of times and again have to use sparingly but it leaves hair with a much 'piecier' look to it, although this doesn't seem to last very long.  It's not a bad product but not one I'd use for loads of thickness or texture - shame!  

Ojon Volume Advance Animated Volumising Cream - this is the latest of the three purchases and again I've wanted to try for a while but been put off by the price of £20.50/125ml tube.  It's a 'light, whipped cream fortified with pure Ojon Oil' meant to leave hair full with texture , shine and grip. Easy enough to apply to damp hair, a little goes a long way and I only need to use a small squeeze of cream (too much leaves hair sticky) so this tube will last for ages.  It has a delicate sweet scent and once hair is dried it's left soft, shiny (again) and with light hold, a bit of texture and a bit of bounce. Not loads of va va voom or volume for me but just enough to disguise my 'patch'  - a good 'everyday hair' product for natural looking (and feeling) hair.

So  ... when it comes to thickness the Aveda Thickening Tonic seems to win ... the problem is the bottle doesn't last as long as I feel it should for the price, I wash my hair every other day so it soon goes down.  It's something I'd repurchase but much as I'd want to, I'd end up saving for special occasions - such a dilemma! 

For the moment I'll just be awkward and continue my quest for the perfect hair thickening product at the perfect price. Am I being a skinflint?  Would you pay out?  Have you tried any decent hair thickeners recently?

Jen x

Bouffe Dry Spray for Bigger, Thicker-Looking Hair - Review

Bonjour!

Anyone who a) knows me b) reads my blog c) follows me on Twitter/Instagram will know that my hair is super-fine, flat and getting thinner and greyer by the minute!  Needless to say I was over the moon when Bouffe very kindly offered to send me a can of their Dry Spray 'for bigger, thicker-looking hair' to try out!

I was sent the  Bouffe Dry Spray in Dark Brown ... it is available in several other options - light blonde, dark blonde, light brown, black, silver and 'all colours'.  It contains a bespoke formula which is meant to thicken and bulk up the hair as well as giving root lift and disguising grey bits. Sprayed onto my hand above - it's grabbed and fattened up the hairs which are usually barely visible  to the naked eye ... it follows then that it should work the same way on my barnet?

I've learnt by trial and error to follow the exact instructions ... spray onto the appropriate sections (I concentrate around the root area) from about 15 cm (roughly a hand-span) and leave for a couple of minutes to dry (it's important to let it go from wet to dry) then smoosh in with your fingers. I don't use it instead of washing my hair as you would certain dry shampoos, this is more of a texturising, plumping spray.   It's really really  concentrated and pigmented and so you only need a few shorts bursts, you will feel like there is product in your hair and let's face it you will end up with it on your fingers (just don't forget to give your hands a little rinse!) - I'm used to both of these scenarios and neither bother me!  Basically it does what it claims on the can ... it gives the impression of a plumper head of hair ... adds body and gives volume and lift to the root area which lasts all day.  It covers the never ending greys and disguises the thinning bits and ever widening partings around my crown.  It's brilliant for creating texture and grip for updoes and bulking up my barnet if I want to wear it down.  Honestly I'm impressed ... it just makes my hair bigger - bigger is better and I'll definitely be repurchasing!

You can check out the full range of colour options over on the Bouffe website here and buy for £5.99/200ml (which I think is really reasonable) from Boots here.  

Have you tried out the Bouffe Dry Spray yet? Which is your favourite product for bigger, thicker hair?

Jen x

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence - Review

Bonjour!

We're talking hair again - 'oh no not again!' I hear you say ... yep sorry -it's my obsession of the moment!  I bought this duo of Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence (from QVC) back in August just before holiday (seems so long ago now).  It's not cheap at approx £20/250ml but I'm a big fan of the iconic Philip Kingsley Elasticizer and so was certainly intrigued to try the Daily Damage Defence.  For those who aren't aware my hair is super-fine, curly, frizzy and thinning - good (not) combination eh...?

It contains ingredients to help smooth, strengthen and provide more elasticity together with heat and UV protection, and aids anti-breakage, frizz fighting and general manageability.  I took the mini bottle on holiday and have been using the larger one for the past few months.  The spray is easy to use with a super-fine mist and you don't need to use much, hence there is still loads left in each bottle. It doesn't cling to the hair or weigh it down and is not sticky or crispy. Plus - it smells lovely!

On holiday - I found this a brilliant product for enabling me to wear my hair curly, helped with the frizz whilst leaving my hair to dry naturally (something I don't often do - trust me it's frightening!), sprayed lightly after washing and also in the mornings to help tame and define curls which had succumbed to my usual overnight holiday hair madness! Yes - I do remember reaching for this most mornings!

Back home - again, sprayed lightly through mid-length/ends and layered with whichever other styling product I happen to be using -it does (usually) leave my hair softer and fairly frizz free - however I do still have bad hair days (when nothing I use seems to work!).  What I have found is that the Daily Damage Defence doesn't so much stop hair from becoming frizzy if I'm caught out (hat and hood-less) say on a damp school run but is great at rectifying the matter to a degree. I just spray lightly over the affected areas, which will have curled and frizzed up.  It renders the curls much less frizzy, softer and wearable.

Unfortunately - my hair is still prone to breakage in places,  maybe due to missing my haircut appointment?  I do think, sometimes, no matter how lovely the product you are using, if you let yourself get run down and stressed (as I have done recently) then it shows in the state of your hair (and skin) - well it does in mine anyway.

For me the Daily Damage Defence is a brilliant product for fighting established frizz. Not sure about the long term effects as Phil the hairdresser says he didn't see a vast improvement in the condition of my hair but then again it wasn't in as bad condition as I thought it was anyway - confusing!  I'm not sure I'll re-purchase immediately as there are similar products I want to try but it will be interesting to see what happens once it runs out - although I'll be saving the travel size to take away on holiday again next year...!

Have you tried the Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence? Which leave-in conditioning spray do you use?

Jen x

Another Great Hair Dilemma ...

Bonjour!

As you may have guessed I'm having another hair dilemma - well I have them all the time to be honest (my friends are laughing)!  It's like I can sort of manage my skin (more or less) but my mop is a different and an 'oh so unpredictable' kettle of fish!

I tried to skip a cut (well I went about 12 weeks) but it simply does not work for my hair - as it's so fine it just thins out and splits on the bottom - so lesson no 1 learnt (you'd think I know this at my age) regular trims are a must have. Lesson no 2 is that longer hair is a thing of the past - although it grows quite quickly - again - splitting and thinning are an issue - so... I've recently been bobbed off again and I think this is the shape of things to come - had a few layers cut back in (after growing them all out) as I didn't want to look like a monk!

So - I'm booked in with Phil (hairdresser) to have a colour this week and herein lies the dilemma! Highlights or semi, highlights or semi...can't decide in the slightest. So I'm looking at hair colour here and trying to imagine it on a bobbed head!

Every weekend I see Claudia's hair on Strictly and lust after the richness and shine of a semi-permanent colour which will cover the greys (there aren't loads but they stick out like a sore thumb)  and perk everything up a bit - shimmering and multi-tonal - that's what they say isn't it?

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And of course Alexa's hair is always on my mind! So do we go for darker Alexa ....

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or lighter Alexa ... in which case I'd need lots of fine highlights (instead of a semi) - which will also add texture and give the hair a thicker look?

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or all over chunkier slices of colour and sod the growing out phase ...

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...and then just to confuse matters I go and notice this gorgeous glossy colour and am now swaying back to dark again...?

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or am I ...? I think I need some help! You think I'm mad don't you?

Which do you prefer - would you choose highlights over a semi?  How often do you have your hair cut and what do you do with your hair colour in Autumn/Winter?

Jen x

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray - Review

Bonjour!

You'll have probably heard about the current freebie with the September issue of Elle - the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray.  I was actually given a 30ml sample size of the same spray a couple of months ago by the kindly assistant on the Bumble and Bumble counter at Boots (must have been an 'extra-flat' day!). She told me to take it away and see what I thought. I put it away and meant to use it but kept putting it off for some reason - having a plethora of other products to use up (seriously - the amount of hair products I have is verging on the ridiculous!).  Dug it out last week to finally have a go - resulting in me dashing out to get the latest copy of Elle with the 50ml freebie!

According to Bumble and Bumble the spray..."Helps fine hair achieve styling lift-off, but also works wonders on any hair type - thick, thin, or otherwise." (source)

It can be used as a styling aid and/or as a finishing product and is apparently suitable for any hair type. Obviously I'm only coming at this from an extremely 'fine haired' point of view!  What I'm constantly after - as well as a bit of root lift - is the look of thicker hair through the mid-lengths and ends.  So ... I've been spraying it on the root area and also onto my hands to spread through the rest of my hair before blow drying. I've also spritzed a little of the spray on afterwards as a finishing product.  It's left my thinning hair bouncy and with more guts than I've seen in a while.  (I added some hair oil to the ends for a bit more condition)  I can tell that I have product in my hair but not excessively so - it's more of a textured feel - you can still run your fingers through it if you so wish as it's not sticky, greasy or crispy with volume that has lasted all day and even into the next (wonders will never cease!).  The scent was bugging me at first as I couldn't quite place it - smells of cinnamon or cloves - sweet and spicy.

You're probably wondering what all the fuss is about but believe me this is the fullest my hair has looked in a while.  Apologies for the split ends but I'm due a trim!  I must say that getting a suitable angle to photograph my barnet was not easy without a tripod ...however, trying to get my husband to take the pic correctly was even more of a chore so I gave up and did it myself ...

Basically I am impressed with this product - both as a styling and finishing product. A true multi-tasker and something that I'll definitely be taking on holiday this year.  The full size is expensive at £21.50/250ml but to honest, I'm prepared to pay the price if it does what it says on the can - which it does. Just to put a spanner in the works - several other products on the Bumble and Bumble website have also now got my attention - help me someone please!

Have you picked up your sample of the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray yet?  Please tell me I'm not the only one with a plethora of hair products - just so I don't feel weird!

Jen x

Giovanni 2 Chic Flat Iron Styling Mist & Ultra-Sleek Leave-In Conditioning & Styling Elixir - Review

Bonjour!

The Giovanni 2 Chic Flat Iron Styling Mist and Ultra-Sleek Leave-In Conditioning & Styling Elixir were recently sent to me from Skin Nutrition - online beauty retailer offering a range of natural/organic skin and body care and sister company of the Nutrition Centre.  Giovanni Eco Chic Cosmetics is a family owned company in Los Angeles founded in the 1970s aiming ...  "to create hair products inspired by nature but that were still compelling, high performance formulas....the products are as natural as possible without sacrificing total performance."  According to the Giovanni website their products use lauryl and laureth sulfate free latherers and are paraben-free. 

Both products are suitable for all hair types and contain Giovanni's Dual Smoothing Complex made with Moroccan Organic Argan Oil & Brazilian Phyto-Keratin which are said to smooth and soften, help with the frizzies, whilst providing condition and protection against heat damage.  I've used each product on my daughter's head of medium textured, long, abundant hair and my own short, fine mop. They both have a subtle coconut 'holiday type' aroma.

Styling Elixir  - used on damp hair  before drying - only a small pump is needed for myself - I'd say more like two pumps for my daughter and concentrate on mid lengths to ends - if too much is taken too close to the roots it can feel a bit greasy. It's helped to tame and smooth our collective locks and keep frizziness at bay. My daughter's hair is very tangle prone and this has kept her hair from doing it's usual 'wild thing'.  Also a good one to apply to damp hair if leaving to dry naturally - I've done this a couple of time since the weather has become warmer and it prevented my hair from turning into a frizz ball so I imagine a handy product for holiday evenings.

Flat Iron Styling Mist - can be applied either to wet hair before blow drying or to dry hair for straightening.  I don't straighten my daughter's hair very often so have used it on both our hairs before drying and for myself before straightening. It doesn't weigh hair down at all and leaves it shiny and conditioned - especially important for me now I've had loads of colour put through - I'm desperate to keep the ends from doing their usual 'drying out' trick and so far they look and feel ok so fingers crossed!

Both these products have been great for keeping hair 'tamed' and neither are sticky or crispy.  My daughter's hair has been kept under control with the minimum of tangles, so much so that she's managed to brush and style her own hair in the mornings - apparently my next task is to create the 'Taylor Swift' curls look - whatever that is - wish me luck!

There is a whole range of Giovanni hair and body products available on the Skin Nutrition website here with a current 20% discount. The Flat Iron Styling Mist and Leave-In Conditioner are down from £7.99/118ml to £6.39.  I've really enjoyed using these products from the Giovanni 2 Chic range and being a complete haircare junkie can see myself making a few sneaky purchases pretty soon...the question is which product(s) to go for...too many to choose from!

Have you tried any Giovanni products?  Will you be making any purchases (sneaky or otherwise) from Skin Nutrition?

Jen x

Dove and Happy Hair Days on Offer!

Bonjour!

Just a quickie to let you know of a few 'bits' I picked up from my local Sainsburys.

Dove Body Lotions...half price.

Dove Indulgent Nourishment and Essential Nourishment

Dove Deep Care Complex - 'moisturises skin from within'

I do like Dove products but tend to buy the body lotions when they're on offer, I use so much of the stuff I have to try to economise somehow!  Since these are half price at Sainsbury's at the moment it's a perfect opportunity to pick up a couple of my faves. The hand creams were on offer too but there were none left - shame.

Dove Indulgent Nourishment Body Lotion - I love products containing Shea Butter so this is a bit of a treat, lovely subtle scent which lingers on the skin for hours after. Standard 250 ml size but pretty good value at half price of £1.99.

Dove Essential Nourishment Body Lotion (formerly Rich Nourishing) - a good one for colder months, easily absorbed, skin softening and moisturising with a  'fresh and clean' smell. A whopping 400ml, so should last for ages and great value at half price of £2.49.

Happy Hair Days Shampoo and Conditioner...half price.

Happy Hair Days Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner

Happy Hair Days state "We aren't perfect but we try to use 'good stuff' where we can!"

I've hovered over this range several times, attracted by the no parabens, SLS or SLES , as my scalp can sometimes react and become flaky with continued use of certain shampoos.  Now that they're on offer what better time to try them out?  There are four different shampoo and conditioner options, all half price at £2.00 per bottle -


Marshmallow and Coconut Colour Care
Pomegranate and Ginger Moisturising
Rosemary and Mint Thickening
Blueberry and Pear Smoothing

I picked up the Blueberry and Pear, (initially went for the thickening but it had sold out) after lack of volume/thickness my next 'hair problem' is controlling frizziness.  Thought I'd therefore try the smoothing option.  My little girl also has the most tangle-prone hair ever, she has loads and loads of fine hair which is gorgeous but we have a constant battle with combing/brushing out, so as this is a gentle formula we'll give it a go and see if it helps.  Will report back on progress in due course!

I understand that these offers are on until next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Will you be picking up any 'bits' this week or next?

Jen x