Show Beauty Lux Volume Mist & Premiere Finishing Spray

 Show Beauty Lux Volume Mist (£35) & Show Beauty Premiere Finishing Spray (£30)

Celebrity endorsed products aren’t usually my thing.  I don’t like their cheap gimmicky packaging and the cheesy advertisements that go along with it.  However, when I saw Tamara Ecclestone’s range of luxury haircare products, Show Beauty, I had to admit I was rather impressed.  

At first glance, the packaging is gorgeous.  With a colour scheme of black, silver, golds and a dash of crystallised glass here and there, these products look and feel expensive.  The downside?  The price-tag reflects that too.  I’ve had a quick browse on their website and I don’t think you can buy anything from the range for less than £30.  Ouch!  So, are they worth it?

The Lux Volume Mist is my favourite product of the two I own.  I know I keep raving about the appearance of the bottle but look at it - it’s just so pretty!  Although the heavy lid does keep falling off which is a bit annoying.  I spray this into the roots of my hair when it’s wet before going to town on it with hairdryer.  When I flip my hair back there is a LOT of visible volume.  I like how it’s very much ‘spray and go’ without too much work required.  As a girl who can’t properly blowdry her hair (I don’t use a fancy round brush or a hairdryer nozzle) this is mega important to me.

I also own the Premiere Finishing Spray which is essentially just a hairspray.  I’m not really a hairspray kinda girl as I’m lucky and my hair holds volume quite easily.  I know it’s strange but I never really notice when a hairspray is good, I just notice when it’s really bad and makes your hair feel all sticky.  I think I need to pay more attention to my spraying habits.  My boyfriend however can vouch for the quality of it as he is a bit of a hairspray fiend and uses it religiously to keep his coiffed hair in place.  He says it smells sweet and holds well but me, being the evil witch that I am, won’t let him use it often because it’s expensive and I want it all to myself.  Selfish I know!

Overall, I do think both of these products are very good but you could get something else for half of the eye-watering price tag.  For example, I can achieve the same amount of volume with the L’oreal Elnette Volume Spray if I work with my hair a little more.  And as I’m not 100% passionate about hairspray,  I don’t think I could bring myself to pay this much for a tin of the stuff.  Both are beautiful products if you can afford them but I can’t justify paying the price when I know I can get the same results for a lot less.  I will of course be saving the empties to bring a little bit of class to my dressing table as Show Beauty does get the award for prettiest packaging ever.

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Avon Advance Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Mask

Avon Advance Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Mask (£3.50)

And the award for the longest name for a hair mask ever goes to...this!  I’m a sucker for anything containing argan oil so you can imagine my excitement when I came across this hair mask whilst flicking through the pages of the Avon catalogue.  Did I really need another hair product?  No.  But when it costs £3.50 allowances can be made.  Avon has quite a wide range of argan oil products so it may be worth a look if you’re wanting to try the ingredient but don’t want to break the bank by purchasing the ever-popular yet super expensive Moroccan Oil.  FYI, I’m yet to part with my money for this holy-grail product.  I do expect to cave and try it eventually but so far I have stayed strong.

Although the instructions advise you to smother your hair in this Avon mask after shampooing, I personally like to do it before so I can ensure I get all product residue out.  There’s nothing worse than your hair looking greasy and lifeless because you haven’t washed a product out properly!  I’ve been using it once a week and love how silky soft and conditioned my hair feels afterwards.  It came in handy last week when I needed to get out the masses of backcombing which was done to achieve my birthday beehive.  After 5 minutes of chilling in the tub whilst the mask soaked into my hair, I was able to wash and comb my locks without any tears or tantrums.  Ideal.

Okay so the results may not be as luxurious or as visible as what you’d get more with a more expensive mask but I like that because I can use it without feeling guilty.  Does anyone else feel that too?  I spend a lot of money on pricey wonder products yet I’m reluctant to use them as I don’t want them to run out.  Please tell me I’m not the only one with this strange beauty habit?  I’m almost at the end of my tube now but I will definitely be adding another when I place my next Avon order!  Does anyone else have any favourite Avon gems that I should be adding to it?

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Ojon Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy

 Ojon Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy (£30)

One bottle of hair oil finished and another one opened.  I seriously could not cut this step out of my hair regime now and don’t know how my hair was ever in a reasonable condition without it.  My oil of choice at the minute is the Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy from haircare superstars Ojon.  And doesn’t it look pretty?  I love how the three different coloured layers sit on top of each other in the bottle making it look very space age but luxe at the same time (think chic lava lamp!)

The magic happens when you shake up the bottle and mix all three liquids together to achieve the creamy looking consistency you can see in the images above.  At this point, I pour one or two drops into the palm of my hand and warm it up before putting it through the ends of my damp hair.  I think this bottle would really benefit from a pipette or a pump however, as it’s easy to accidentally use too much product like I did upon first use.  And because I used far too much, the oil didn’t absorb properly and my hair looked a little greasy.  Never a good look after you’ve just spent hours washing, conditioning and styling your hair!

At £30 this is one of the more expensive hair oils I’ve seen on the market but if you do have enough pennies in your beauty budget this a good investment.  I suppose you could justify the hefty price tag considering you’re not just getting one oil, like argan for example, but a blend of other utterly lovely ingredients which will do nothing but good for your hair.  If you’re reading this and still not using a hair oil - it doesn’t have to be this one - then your locks are missing out.  Get on board the oil revolution and don’t deprive them any longer.

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Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus

 Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus (£32.50)

A good hair mask does wonders for reviving your locks and restoring goodness when you hair needs a little TLC.  I am currently loving the Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment Plus which deeply treats are repairs damaged hair.  I reached for this last week after I’d gone a little too crazy with my backcombing the night before.  As we all know, backcombing does wonders for hair volume but nothing for the quality so it’s important to nourish the hair if you’ve been a little harsh with it.  Cue this little beauty from Ojon.

The first thing that stands out for me with this mask is the consistency.  Not your average squeezy-bottle-lotion type formula, the mask takes the shape of a solid wax in a sturdy little pot.  Using the scoop/comb that comes with the mask (I use a spoon as I’ve lost my scoop), I take 1 - 1.5 teaspoons of product and pop it in the palm of my hands and begin to rub them together.  The wax melts like butter and soon has an oil like consistency.  It’s at this point I begin to lather it through my hair and then comb it from root to tips.  I do this again and again until all of my hair is covered in the mask and it begins to look wet.  It soaks quickly into my hair, penetrating the follicles and really getting to work.  I don’t know if it’s just mind over matter but I can feel the treatment working straight away.  

The mask has a very natural, earthy, wood-like smell which makes the product subtle enough to leave in overnight if you want to.  If I’m not mistaken, I think the fragrance has been re-formulated as I remember reading reviews on this product a couple of years ago and a lot of people commented on it’s very overpowering, almost unbearably strong smell.  It’s good that Ojon took note of this and made some changes as it seems a shame for anyone to write this product off just because it doesn’t smell too good.

After allowing the treatment to work it’s magic for a good twenty minutes, I jump in the shower and shampoo and rinse as normal.  When I dry my hair I can instantly see a difference.  It’s smoother, feels softer and has a gorgeous salon-like shine.  It feels a lot healthier too and I start to feel less guilty about the rigorous backcombing.  Any product that can do that is definitely worth my money!  So...money!  How much will this little gem set you back?  A 100ml sized tub is £32.50 which I think is a decent price for a good, reputable brand like Ojon.  A little goes a long way with this treatment so it will last a fair amount of time if used weekly as recommended.  I’ve noticed you can buy smaller tubs too so if you don’t want to fully commit to the full sized product, why not treat yourself to a little taster 50ml size for £16.  Go on...you hair wants you to.  

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L’Oreal Elnett Heat Protect Spray Volume

 L’Oreal Elnett Heat Protect Spray Volume (£5.99)

Being a massive fan of Ms Cheryl Cole (let’s face it...which girl from the North East isn’t?), she could put her name to anything and I would probably buy it.  So when L’Oreal released their new range of styling sprays, modeled by Chezza and an array of different hair do’s, I knew I had to give them a go.

There are three different products in the L’Oreal Elnett Heat Protect Styling Spray range: volume, straight and curly.  My every day hair is neither poker straight or curled but more of a messy, undone look so I picked the volume spray.  To get the best results, I apply it to the roots of my hair when it’s wet and then blast my hair with the hair dryer.  Instantly, my hair looks bigger and thicker with a natural bounce to it.  I also really like using this spray alongside my sleep rollers as it helps to hold in the volume from the roller and create extra height.  I make sure I use the two together before a big night out for mahoosive hair!  I’ve never used the spray on dry hair but I’m sure it would be okay to do so if used in moderation.  Remember dry hair doesn’t absorb anything as good as when it’s wet.

The spray promises to hold volume for at least three days and whilst I don’t think it lasts quite that long, my hair still has oomph the next day.  I often wake up after a heavy night looking slightly worse for wear but with my hair still full of life.  The handy trigger dispenses just the right amount of product and it feels weightless in your hair.  I really love this product and I’m definitely going to treat myself to the other two for when I change up my locks a little.  I think you should too!  After all...we’re worth it!  Sorry, sorry...couldn’t resist!

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The Original Tangle Teezer

The Original Tangle Teezer in Bubblegum Pink (£10.20)

The first Tangle Teezer I ever saw was being used by my friend's little girl to tame her unruly curls.  Despite being impressed by it's innovative design and bright colour, I wrote it off as a product designed for children and thought no more about it.  My next encounter came during my Grazia internship where I discovered all of the beauty girls were obsessed and had one, if not two, each.  Taking their expert advice, Tangle Teezers were back on my radar and when my hairdresser used a very sleek black one to de-tangle my wet locks, I knew it was about time to invest in one for myself.

Created by award winning hairdresser Shaun P, the initial aim for the Tangle Teezer was to smooth and tame hair without breaking or snapping it.  I'm obsessed with preventing split ends and just about break down in tears if I hear a hair snap or if I accidentally pull out any hair.  My boyfriend once got some of my hair caught in his watch in the middle of a supermarket and it didn't end well, let's put it that way.  I've noticed a real change in my hair since using my Tangle Teezer and I no longer dread brushing my hair.  It used to be a massive ordeal as my hair gets extremely tatty and knotted for some reason whenever I wear it down but now I quite enjoy it.  Unlike a normal comb or brush, the teeth are evenly spaced and a lot more flexible so it's not too harsh on your hair.

In true girly style I opted for the pink one but there are so many colours available in the range so there is something for everyone.  They have some really cool compact ones which fit perfectly in your handbag, they have an expensive-looking chic gold one and they have a one especially designed for use in water - I'm thinking this would be perfect to use whilst shampooing after a backcombing session - definitely my next purchase!  After adding the nifty Tangle Teezer to my hair routine, I can see why the Grazia girls can’t just stop at one!

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