How To Get Silky, Shiny Hair

Every girl wants shiny, sleek and healthy looking hair, right? I know it's something i've always been trying to achieve. A few of my friends have naturally really soft and super shiny hair that just catches the light. I've never really had that kind of hair- it just isn't my hair type.
My hair is quite frizzy and coarse and I have a lot of it!! I used to have pretty dark hair (dyed) and that is probably the most shiny it had looked. I then began bleaching the ends of my hair to create a balayage look and this seemed to really take any shine I did have, away. It didn't look very healthy and almost looked a bit straw like.

I am always swapping and changing my hair care routine and products because as mentioned in previous hair posts, I don't often find a shampoo and conditioner combo that I love enough to settle with. Sometimes, it's not even that as I have now found a few products I really like but I generally get bored and enjoy trying new products. Each time I need to repurchase, I usually try something new because I just like trying new things!

I recently had a bad experience with a Kerastase product which left my hair feeling really weighed down and super greasy (which is strange because I usually love Kerastase and I actually purchased the same products that my hairdresser uses on my hair). Anyway, that's another story! Basically, I was a bit miffed that I'd spent all that money on a 'higher end' hair product and it just wasn't working for me. So, I went into superdrug and was on a mission for a cheap shampoo, conditioner combo. I ended up going for the L'oreal Elvive Nutri-Gloss Luminiser combo as it was dead cheap and the 'high shine' promise jumped out to me!

I have almost finished both the shampoo and conditioner and can honestly say I have loved using them. I totally saw a difference in the appearance of my hair. It was super soft, felt really clean and most importantly, was really shiny (without looking greasy!). I just find that my hair looks really healthy and glowy in all lights and it has definitely taken away that dull look I had before. It smells great, lasts a long time and is always on offer in places like Superdrug.

This is another of my holy grail hair products. I have repurchased this many times and been through numerous bottles of this stuff! Again, I have a bit of an obsession with trying new hair products, so I have tried many different hair serums and oils, but this is by far the best one in my opinion. I love that when my hair is feeling a bit frizzy, dry and brittle, I can run some of this through the ends of my hair and it instantly transforms the feel of my hair. It feels soo super soft and again, makes my hair really shiny and healthy looking. I also sometimes use this on my damp hair before blow drying to keep my hair cuticles sealed and my hair looking sleek.

So there it is! Those are my favourite products at the moment for keeping my hair looking shiny and healthy!

What is your favourite hair product of all time? Let me know in the comments :)

Abbie x

Tresemme Cleanse and Replenish

When it comes to hair care products, I am always on the hunt for new things to try out. I rarely find hair products that I really love and that suit my hair type perfectly. Shampoo and Conditioners are exceptionally hard for me to find as I'm never totally satisfied with most that I try and often don't even end up finishing the bottles before I go on the search again.

I had previously been using and loving the Toni and Guy Shampoo and Conditioner for damaged hair. I really liked this combo and repurchased a few times which is unheard of for me! However, I do get bored very easily and find that my hair gets too used to a product and after a while I don't see the same results anymore.

I had never tried any of the OGX range, so thought I'd give their coconut milk one a try. I loved the smell of this combo but did find it far too heavy on my hair and it made my hair become quite greasy. This is when I realised that for a long time I had been using heavily moisturising shampoos on my hair thinking that my hair still needed it, but since I had a good 4 inches cut off my hair a few months back, my hair is in much better condition and doesn't really need all the 'for damaged hair' moisturising products as I tend to have quite oily roots anyway.

This is when I found this Tresemme combo and thought it was definitely worth a try. I loved using my Toni and Guy detox shampoo but as it is quite harsh and the ends of my hair are bleached, I could only use it weekly. This Tresemme shampoo and conditioner is gentle enough for daily use (I only wash my hair every other day anyway) and it really does cleanse all the rubbish that gets all clogged up in your roots (yuck!!). My hair feels super squeaky clean after using this shampoo and the conditioner is just so silky and leaves my hair the most manageable it has ever been. It's soft, has hardly any tangles and feels bouncy and full of life. I have also found that my roots are a little less oily and my hair doesn't get greasy and feel weighed down as quickly after a wash as it used to!

I would definitely reccomend this shampoo and conditioner combo to anyone with oily roots that wants their hair to last that bit longer between washes and look and feel healthy, shiny and super soft!
These bottles are also huge so will last a long time and are so affordable too- what's not to love?!

What is your holy grail hair product?

Abbie x

Top 5 autumn hair care products

When the colder months greet us, I tend to change up my skincare and hair care a little. I do find that my hair becomes a lot dryer in the colder weather just like my skin. I think it's really important to use the appropriate products to keep your hair in the best condition possible as the cold weather can be just as damaging as anything else we put our hair through!

Here are my Top 5 products that I like to use to keep my hair in tip top condition throughout the Autumn/Winter. 

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

This has been a favourtie of mine for years! I have tried many different hair masks and deep treatments and still always reach for this one over any others. Firstly, it smells delicious just like all Aussie products! I also love that this hair mask only needs to be left on for 3 minutes to reach it's full potential (obviously there's nothing wrong with leaving it on for longer but 3 minutes is enough to see benefits). I'm often in a rush when it comes to doing my hair so 3 minutes is the perfect amount of time. When you wash this out of your hair, it feels like silk! Some hair masks and deep treatments can be a bit too heavy for my hair but I find this one just right! It is so moisturising without weighing my hair down too much which is perfect!

Moroccan Oil

Again, I have been using this product for many years and still use it religiously. It doesn't weigh my hair down but gives it the most beautiful shine. I usually apply this to my damp hair before blow-drying and it leaves my hair so soft and healthy feeling and looking! This is also a great product for using on dry hair to style. It is great for after you have curled your hair and the ends are looking a bit dry because it just adds a healthy shine and makes your curls look glossy and well kept!

Tresemme Expert Botanique Nourish and Replenish Hydrating Mist

Wow that was a mouthful! This product smells absolutely beautiful! If you love a coconut scent, you will love this! It is to be used on damp or dry hair as a hydration spray. I was worried this would leave my hair feeling greasy but it doesn't. I use it on damp hair before blow-drying if I haven't used my Moroccan oil and it does leave my hair very soft and of course, smelling gorgeous!! The only annoying thing about this is the way the nozzle sprays! It doesn't spray out in a mist as the name suggests and does not give very even coverage but I just comb my hair through as I go to ensure even distribution. 

Superdrug Coconut Oil

This product is great! It's the most affordable coconut oil for use on hair and skin I have found! A lot of people just use normal coconut oil you can use for cooking etc but I found these pretty pricey in my local Supermarkets. Ok, this Superdrug one may not be the purest form of coconut oil, but it does the trick for me! It is a couple of pounds and so worth it! I use this once every couple of weeks as a hair mask. I apply it to my dry hair from top to bottom, give my scalp a little massage and tie my hair up in a bun. I leave it on for  good few hours and then hop into the shower to wash it out. I will admit, it takes a bit of work to get out and usually a double shampoo (which I do every hair wash anyway as my hair is so thick), but the end result is so worth it! My hair is always so soft and shiny and feels fuller and generally healthier. I feel like it really strengthens each strand of hair. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo- Tropical

Firstly, the scent of this is again, a big plus for me as it smells like coconuts! I've added this into my top 5 as I know that when it comes to the colder, darker mornings, I struggle to get out of bed and ready and really lack motivation!! Sometimes it's easier to just snooze the alarm a few times, roll out of bed, dry shampoo your hair and tie it up in a messy bun rather than battling with yourself to get your bum out of bed when it's cold and miserable!

What are your staple hair products for the colder months?

Abbie x

Product Empties

Over the past month or so, I have come to the end of some products and luckily, I have enjoyed using all of these! I have never done a product empties post but I always enjoy reading or watching videos on these as it shows what people have enjoyed enough to get to the end of! I find it's like a favourites but also like a little review as sometimes we do just persevere with things that may not be the best but they're still okay.

Loreal Elvive Full Restore Shampoo and Conditioner

I bought these to try a while ago as I'm always on the hunt for new hair products. I mentioned in my haircare routine post that I find it very hard to find hair products (especially shampoo and conditioners) that I really love and will stick with. I find that every time I run out of a set, I will just go and purchase a completely different one and rarely repurchase. I didn't mind this shampoo and conditioner combo as it left my hair feeling super soft and smelling gorgeous, but like a lot of other repairing hair products, it did weigh my hair down a little and I had to keep swapping it up to give my hair a break. This is where the next hair product I have finished comes in nicely!...

Toni & Guy Shampoo for Advanced Detox

This is a massive favourite of mine now! The bottle has lasted me ages because you only need to use this once a week. I use this when my hair is starting to feel a bit heavy and build up is becoming an issue. No one likes that feeling when you've washed your hair, dried it etc and it still feels a little greasy and yucky! This shampoo sorts that problem right out! It is quite strong and drying so you do need to use a good conditioner on the ends of your hair along with this. I am definitely repurchasing this!

Loreal Telescopic Mascara- Magnetic Black

This is my second tube (tube?! Cannot think what to call it!!) of this mascara. I have just repurchased again because I love it and it's probably the best mascara I have found yet! It gives me lenth, volume and separates my lashes beautifully to really give that falsies look, yet still looks natural. 

Nivea Double Effect Eye Makeup Remover

I have used this product for a loooong time now and always repurchase. For a long time when I was younger, I was just using face wipes to remove my eye makeup. I never liked the thought of using this eye makeup remover as it is partly oil based. My Mum has always used it and when I started complaining that my eyelashes were falling out a lot, she told me to use it. I went and bought some and have never looked back. It removes my eye makeup without all the pulling and tugging that is soooooo bad for your eyes. I will continue to repurchase this for a long time as it is also so affordable at about £3.89 (it is often on offer as well in various supermarkets and drugstores). 

What are some products that you will always repurchase? 

Abbie x

Current hair care routine

I am one of those people that has always bought different shampoos and conditioners every time I run out because I had never found one I really loved and would stick with. I have probably tried most hair products out there because up until now I never liked anything I used and found certain brands just didn't suit my hair type. 

In terms of what hair type I have, I would say it's pretty average. I don't have a major issue with oiliness unless I touch my hair a lot during the day (which I've tried to stop myself doing!). I wash my hair every other day and on it's second day I tie it up as it is a little oilier. 

Toni & Guy Reconstruction Mask

I recently tried the Toni and Guy reconstruction mask and absolutely loved it- the smell, the consistency and of course, how it made my hair feel and look. I tend to leave it on my hair for 3-5 minutes and then wash it out. It leaves my hair soo silky soft that I can't help but touch it! I can't really say whether it 'reconstructs' damaged hair as I personally don't believe that any product can 'fix' or 'repair' the damage that is already done and that the only way to do this is to get a trim so that the split ends are gone. 

Toni & Guy Shampoo & Conditioner For Damaged Hair 

After trying and loving the reconstruction mask I decided to try some more products from the range. I picked up the shampoo and conditioner combo for damaged hair because like most girls who love their hair straighteners and curlers, my hair is far from perfect and I am not short of a few split ends! Again, the consistency and smell of these products is just beautiful and I have found it to be the only combo that has made my hair feel clean yet super soft and manageable (everything I've ever looked for in a hair shampoo and conditioner!!). 

Toni & Guy Shampoo For Advanced Detox

Once a week I use the cleanse advanced detox shampoo as my hair does seem to gather a lot of build up from different products and this just makes it feel squeaky clean again! However, as it strips the hair of all nastiness and oils etc, it does leave the hair quite dry which is why I then skip conditioner and just put on some of the reconstruction mask for 5 minutes before washing out and this sorts it out! 

Superdrug Coconut Oil For Hair and Skin

Every 2 weeks or so I like to do an intense treatment on my hair (if it is feeling particularly dry or damaged). For this I use the superdrug coconut oil. I have actually just had a good few inches cut off my hair so at the moment it is in the best condition it has been in a while so I haven't used this for a while. However, when my hair was a lot longer (and damamged :O ), I used this coconut oil about once a week and I could honestly tell the difference straight away! My hair felt much smoother and more manageable and I also felt like it made my hair feel thicker and grow quicker than normal. I either leave this on overnight (tie hair in a bun and put a towel over your pillow- can be messy!) or I would just leave it on for 2-3 hours and wash it out. 

Tresemme Nourish and Replenish Hydrating Mist

After I have washed my hair and it is feeling super soft and clean, why not add some more 'soft creating' products?! I have been loving this tresemme mist as it smells of coconut and even after blow drying, the smell still stays! Obviously it's great at making my hair that bit softer and shiny as well but the smell is probably what makes it a winner for me!

What are some of your favourite hair care products?

Abbie x