The six hair products I can’t stop using!

When it comes to hair care products, I’m always out to find new ones that work. But there are a couple that I’ve tried and tested and will never stop using! Today I’m going to share them with you.

These six products are ones that I’m always stocked up on. I use most of them on an everyday basis (and have been for a good few years now). They’ll always be my staples when it comes to looking after my hair! Here they are…

My six favourite hair products

#1: Schwarzkopf Gliss Hyaluron + Hair FIller Shampoo & Conditioner

These two go hand-in-hand, so I’m counting them as one product. I’ve been using Schwarzkopf shampoos and conditioners since high school days, and have always loved them. It’s a great quality brand! But only up until pretty recently (about six months ago) did I start using these specific ones. I always used to use the Gliss Liquid Silk shampoo and conditioner (the light pink bottles), and then I thought I’d try something new for once! The words “hair filler” are what sold me. I mean, who doesn’t want thicker hair?

Anyway, back to my thoughts on these products. The shampoo leaves my hair feeling wonderfully light and squeaky clean without leaving my ends too dry. I’m not at all a fan of shampoos that leaving your hair feel weighed down, so this one I really love! The conditioner, on the other hand, is also really light. It rinses out easily. I use this pair on a daily basis. It’s become my go-to shampoo and conditioner! I must say, they’ve also been pretty helpful in reversing some heat styling damage over the months I’ve been using them. I can’t say I see a difference in thickness in my hair, but I’m okay with that. These products don’t strip my hair of its colour (platinum blonde), leave it feeling weighed down or dry my hair out – and that’s what’s most important to me when I make a judgment on a shampoo or conditioner.

#2: L’Oreal Professionnel Silver Shampoo

If you’re blonde (natural or coloured), you’ll find this product awesome! I’ve tried a number of “silver” shampoos in the past. Yes, they’re actually purple in colour but us blondes refer to them as silver shampoos because that’s the effect they have on our hair – they get rid of all the unwanted yellow or coppery tones and replace them with a gorgeous silver tone! I’ve also tried going the “natural” (if I may call it that) way to silver blonde hair – AKA using a few drops of gentian violet in a jug of water in my hair. And that’s just incredibly drying, so I won’t try that again!

I love this shampoo because I only have to use it once a month. Literally! A bottle lasts me a good eight to nine months. And I use a generous amount of product when I do use it. It leaves no purple hues in my hair at all (some silver shampoos do) and with just one wash gets rid of all the dull yellow tones. It’s amazing! I always make sure to condition my hair well after using it though to prevent drying and split ends. Using a hair mask after applying any silver shampoo is in fact an even better idea. I always do that if time allows.

#3: Schwarzkopf Gliss Liquid Silk Hair Mask

It’s important to treat your locks on a weekly basis at least. This hair mask is seriously affordable and does a fantastic job! It’s important to use a hair mask to keep your hair hydrated and healthy. If you don’t, it might ended up drying out and looking seriously dull. And who wants that? I’ve been using this same mask for years. I’ve tried a number of other Schwarzkopf masks, but this one remains my favourite. I’ll always go back to it.

This hair mask is a winner in my opinion because of the shine it gives my hair. Seriously, it gives my hair the most amazing healthy shine! No other mask I’ve used has the same effect. I use it twice a week and leave it on for at least five minutes when I do. It leaves my locks feeling wonderfully replenished, soft and moisturised without weighing it down. It also smells great! The tub promises you “hair like silk”, and the product delivers just that.

#4: Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur Satin Relax Express Conditioner

Okay, last Schwarzkopf product, I promise! This conditioner is a leave-in one. And it conveniently comes in a spray. While this product isn’t a bare necessity like the others I’ve mentioned so far, it still makes a significant difference to my hair. The price tag is a bit hefty for a basic leave-in conditioner, but you don’t have to use it everyday, so you can make it go a long way. I only use it three or four times a week.

This conditioner just gives my hair an additional shine and moisture boost. It also makes it easier to brush through while it’s wet before blow drying (goodbye, tangles!) and I like to believe it offers a degree of protection from heat styling too. It’s super light, so it won’t leave your hair feeling greasy or weighed down like many leave-in products do. So that’s another thing I really love about it! I’ll kept repurchasing it mainly because it just makes my hair feel ever so easier to work with and style.

#5: Batiste Dry Shampoo Coconut and Exotic Tropical

Yes, I’m a huge fan of anything coconut scented for if you haven’t yet noticed. And every girl’s got to have a dry shampoo in her handbag, right? Of course! Trust me, it comes in handy when you oversleep and don’t have time to wash and style your hair before work. It’s also great for just freshening up your hair in general. And it smells delicious!

This product is a handbag and cosmetic bag staple. It’s very nifty for travelling too. I always take it on the plane with me when I travel. The cherry flavour is great too, but I think this will always be my favourite. It really is a great dry shampoo – I find it works really well! My second best would probably be one by the Fudge Urban brand, but I’m going to review that in another post…

#6: Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum

Yup, another coconut product… Surprise, surprise! Seriously though, this stuff is the bomb dot com. I feel naked if I don’t have this product in my hair! It really is the ultimate anti-breakage serum – it’s not just your average hair serum or silicone. It does so much more than just smooth out your hair and make the texture of your locks look sleek and shiny.

This product is ideal for using whether you’ve let your hair dry naturally, heat styled your hair or even just blow dried it. I’m always straightening or adding a few curls to my hair, so I mainly use it after heat styling. It can make straightened hair look ultra chic, and give curls some extra bounce. Plus, it smells delightful and it lasts forever. I only use one light-handed pump at a time and that’s more than enough for my thick head of hair.

Let’s talk hair care!

Hello lovelies!

It’s been a while since I last blogged about hair care and maintenance, so I thought I best give an update on my current hair care routine and products. I look after my long locks using a number of shampoos, conditioners, toners, masks and serums. Please read further for the scoop on what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to looking after your hair!

SHAMPOOS & CONDITIONERS
I have a number of different shampoos and conditioners that I make use of on a regular basis. My shower is cluttered in bottles! Although this may seem unnecessary to some, I find that having three different shampoos and conditioners is essential – one pair for everyday use, one for special use, and then one for “very special use”. For everyday use, I use Alberto Balsam Coconut & Lychee Shampoo and Conditioner. Not only does it smell deliciously fruity, it’s also super inexpensive and leaves my hair feeling fresh and extra clean. Although these products are more on the lower end, they don’t seem to strip my hair of any oils, which is also a huge plus!

For special use, my all-time favourite is L’Oréal Paris Elvive Nutri-Gloss Crystal Sparkling Shampoo and Conditioner (the pink bottles) – such winners! When I use these products, I ensure that’s my hair is never hidden away in a bun or ponytail! If you’re looking for a beautiful shine, look no further. Seriously, these products are the bomb when it comes to enriching hair with moisture and a healthy shine. The conditioner is also super lightweight, which I love. It doesn’t leave my hair feeling weighed down like most conditioners do.

For “extra special use”, I love my Schwarzkopf Professional Gliss Liquid Silk Shampoo paired with the Extra Repair Conditioner. The shampoo gives my hair a boost of radiance and shine and the conditioner, which is a gorgeous-smelling leave-in spray, leaves my hair tangle-free and lusciously soft and silky once blow-dried.

TONERS
Because I have almost platinum blonde hair, I make use of “purple” toners to rid my hair of any unwanted yellow and copper tones that may come up a few weeks after having my hair highlighted in the salon. My favourite toner to use is undoubtedly L’Oréal Professionnel Serié Expert Silver Shampoo. Although a bit on the pricy side, this shampoo does just the right job of taking all brassiness out of my blonde locks! I use this toner weekly and it lasts me 5-6 months. Definitely worth the splurge!

If I’m on a budget, I mix half a bottle of gentian violet with a three-quarter full bottle of any relatively cheap shampoo. Although this method has proven to be quite drying to my hair, it does just about the same trick as any purple shampoo that you’ll find in the salon. I would still, however, suggest investing in a salon quality purple toner if you’re also a blonde.

MASKS
In my opinion, it’s essential to use a hair mask at least once every two weeks to keep your hair in tiptop condition and to restore any oils that your hair has been stripped of by means of over-washing or heat styling. I love my tub of Schwarzkopf Professional Gliss Ultimate Repair Anti-Damage Mask. It leaves my hair unbelievably silky and shiny! Once every two months or so, I also make use of a rather strange hair repair mask that I came across in the states; my Organic Root Simulator Hair Mayonnaise. This baby is the bomb when it comes to moisturising and deeply penetrating dry or damaged hair. It rejuvenates and renews my hair instantly, although the application process is a tad lengthy.

SERUMS
Oh, hair silicone… how I love thee. To keep hair from looking dry or tacky after heat styling, I also use just a drop of my all-time favourite hair serum, my Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum. I purchased this baby just over a year and a half ago and it’s still half-full! It only takes a drop of this serum to complete any style. It can also be blow-dried into towel-dried hair.

xo