Lush H'Suan Wen Hua Hair Treatment

Happy Friday lovelies!

On a recent trip to Lush in Cardiff for a blogger event I was won over by the sound of the H'suan Wen Hua hair treatment; although I have absolutely no idea how to say it!

This hair treatment claims to improve the condition, lustre and combability of hair; it's protein rich and nourishing containing ingredients used for centuries to help strengthen hair.

It contains free range eggs, bananas and avocados along with a myriad of oils.

It did concern me that it also contains alcohol and SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) which can damage your hair by drying it, but when I asked the assistant in store she explained that the treatment can be so thick that it is necessary for them to be present to help remove it from the hair or it would never come off. This is understandable and hopefully the positive effects will outweigh any effects of the alcohol and SLS.

So as in the image above you apply this treatment to dry hair for 20 mins before washing and conditioning as normal. I normally think of this too late and don't have 20 minutes spare but I've been trying hard to actually use the things I buy and have made special effort to get my hair in good condition for being cut and dyed.

The treatment is thick and cream coloured, with a strong smell of cloves. To be honest i wasn't a huge fan of the smell but it wasn't too overpowering so I put up with it! I'm not one of those people who like strong fragrances at all, I'm that person who likes the 'fluffy towels' or 'clean cotton sheets' type candles so cloves really aren't my thing!

That said it was easy to apply, if a little cold feeling and I pottered around setting up my shower and getting my clothes out for afterwards whilst it worked its magic. It rinsed off really easy and then I shampooed and conditioned as normal.

I really liked this hair treatment, I'm not sure I'd rush to repurchase as it's quite expensive for the £9.75 price tag for what was three applications worth. My hair is very long so it is quite a lot when you compare with other hair treatments which cost around £5 for the same size tub.

It's really nice to know that the ingredients are 100% natural and I know you pay more for it but still, it is something that i have to factor in to my choices nowadays.

If money was no option though i would repurchase because I liked the results, my hair was shinier and appeared to be in better condition. it also felt stronger too and after more applications I'm sure it would improve quite a lot. 

I'd definitely recommend the H'Suan Wen Hua hair treatment, though maybe for individuals with longer hair there may be a cheaper alternative? Who knows, I'll have to investigate!

Have you tried this hair treatment? Which is your favourite? 

My hair needs more suggestions asap!

L xxx

How to: Make Your Hair Grow

Hello!

I've got a different kind of post for you today. I'm one of those people that always wants their hair to grow....but I can't resist having it trimmed regularly either because I hate having dead ends which always look worse on longer hair.

So I've been trying to grow that little bit longer each month and I think I've got some tips on how to make it grow longer and stay in better condition that i thought I'd share.

1) Condition, condition, condition! This isn't a new thing but its so important to keep your hair strong. My favourite products for this are Mane n Tail conditioner (post here), Aussie's 3 minute miracle and Macadamia's Deep Repair Masque. 

I use the Mane n Tail conditioner throughout the week and then the Aussie and Macadamia once per week depending on which I can afford!

2) Detangler, Heat Protection and Protein Sprays. Use as many as you like but all will help. I was never a fan for hair products as I never felt they did anything, but the detangler will help when you brush your hair and stop hair breaking as easily. I am currently using Ojon's Revitalising Mist. Heat protection sprays I have no idea about really, but apparently they do work and I think if a light covering over your hair prevents even a small percentage of it from heat  I'm all for it!

As for Protein Sprays there's only one for me and its the Label.M Protein Spray. It's lightweight and really does the job for adding an extra hit for your hair.

3) Tangle Teezer. I barely need to say any more, but I can assure you since getting one for Christmas I have never gone back and used my paddle brush since. 

It has stopped my hair breakage almost 100% and glides through my tangles without pulling or snapping any of them yet the miraculously disappear. This would be my number one tip for anyone wanting hair growth!

4) Give up the styling. For some people this is really hard. Unfortunately/fortunately for me I have to wear my hair tied up and in a bun every single day which has helped greatly with reducing my usage of heated styling. I seem to end up straightening or curling my hair twice a month now for special occasions but its made a huge difference to my hair.

Even if you could swap 2 days of beautifully styled hair for a neat bun it will help a lot. Bun rings are all the rage at the moment and for an extra bit of hydration I have covered the ends of my hair in oil before tying it up in a bun so it can hydrate itself all day long whilst I'm working!

I'm currently using Ojon's Rare Blend Oil.

5) Food. One of my favourite topics! I believe that a diet rich in protein, veg and good fats has made a huge difference to my skin and hair.

Not only is it better for yourself to eat a diet like this anyway but it will greatly improve your skin, hair, nails and general fitness and wellbeing.

Try adding in some extra oily fish like salmon, nuts, eggs, spinach, sweet potato, poultry and greek yogurt to your diet a few times a week and your hair will definitely improve from lank to full bodied and shiny.

I hope this has been helpful for you, it's made a massive difference for my hair and its now almost at waist level.....woohoo!

L xxx

Everyday Favourites: Hair Products

Last week I shared my everyday make up favourite (you can read them here). Today I thought I'd share my hair products I always use.
Label.m Protein Spray* (review)
This is something I've loved since I first tried it. It's a lightweight spray that has helped improve my hair and it seems to grow a quicker while using this in combination with other products listed. This is something I'll be repurchasing. I've had it since July and use it every time I wash my hair and as a heat protection spray. I love that it's multifunctional.
Sebastian Penetraitt Shampoo and Conditioner (review)
This is my go to shampoo and conditioner. I can't be without it. As someone who majorly abuses their hair with lots of heat and dye (I'm such an indecisive person and my hair takes the brunt of it). This is the only shampoo and conditioner that helps to control my hair falling out. It can be too heavy so I tend to alternate between this and others. It's a must for damaged hair though.
Macadamia Deep Repair Masque (review)
After trying this in my hairdressers a few years ago I've always gone back to it when I can afford it. It makes my hair super soft and smooth. I tend to use it once a week. Definitely worth the money. I've not found one that compares.
Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Leave in Treatment
This is my go to hair oil though since discovery protein spray and the strengthen and protect leave in treatment below I've not been using it as much. It's a really reasonable price and does a good job. It's lighter than most I've tried so doesn't weigh my hair down. A great hair oil. I sometimes like to use this as an overnight treatment if I'm going to wash my hair in the morning.
Avon Advance Techniques Strenghten and Protect Leave in Treatment
This and the protein spray are what I apply to wet hair. I love the combination of these too. My hair feels soft and smooth. It helps my dry ends and has improved the condition of my hair. It's a lotion/gel texture and has taken over from hair oils for me. I didn't expect to find a product like this I liked more than hair oil. This is now a must for me.
Are any of my hair must have products on your list?
Love M
xxx

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque

We've done a brief review on this previously as it's a product L and I have both had samples of this. I absolutely love the Macadamia products I've tried and had wanted the full size of this and the healing oil for a while.

My hair always seems to be in the best condition when I'm using the Macadamia range. The mask is a really thick mask that is for dry and damaged hair which mine is due to years of hair dying and heat styling.

It is suitable for all hair types including afro hair and can help improve the hairs condition. It says to leave on for 7 minutes but I've left it longer and had no negative effects. I find after using this I just wake up with softer hair. I also love that even though it's moisturising it doesn't leave my hair feeling greasy.

It does contain silicone which I wish it didn't but I don't mind products with silicone in as much now I'm not wearing extensions. My hair doesn't feel coated and I've not noticed a build up from it. I love that the pot has a stopped inside the lid to stop it going everywhere when I open it.

This is an expensive hair masque but after using it regularly for almost 2 months my hair feels so much nicer. It's softer and more manageable and definitely in better condition than if I hadn't been using it. I really think it's worth the money and will be repurchasing the oil soon as no cheap alternative seems to have the same effect.

You can often find Macadamia products in TK Maxx. I always keep my eyes out for it.

Have you tried the Macadamia range? What are your thoughts?

Love M

xxx

Coconut Oil

Happy Friday to everyone!!

I'm here today with a bargain beauty treat.

Everyone who's anyone has been talking and raving about coconut oil for ages. The health benefits are so extensive, not only can you slap it straight onto your skin and hair but you can also cook with it creating amazing tasting dishes whilst also being low in bad fats.

I have been looking for ages for a tub of this but could only find large tubs for large amounts.....which put me off.

I did however find this bargain in Superdrug (thanks to M for telling me about it!) and snapped it up for a mere £1.78.

This tub of Coconut Oil is not the pure and organic product that you can cook with, but for £1.78 I was prepared to give it a go on my patches of dry skin and chemically treated hair.

You can't cook with it because it's hydrogenated and also contains parfum (which is a little annoying...) but for such a small amount of money I just didn't care!

The oil is a solid white product at room temp but as soon as you scoop a bit out (try a spoon or get it under your nails - like i did!) it melts pretty quickly.

It feels so odd to apply this straight to dry hair but this is exaclty what you need to do and depending how dry your hair is, leave it on for a specific amount of time.
I left it on for a couple of hours before washing it out and conditioning as normal. It left my hair so silky smooth I couldn't believe it.

I also put it on my dry skin patches such as elbows and knees and it sinks in so easily and my skin is no longer dry at all.

I really would recommend this for such a bargain price!

Have you tried coconut oil on your hair or skin?

L xxx

Review: Macadamia Oil

Absolutely months and months ago in the February JolieBox I received a sample sachet of the Macademia Oil Deep Repair Masque.

For some reason I rarely use hair products even though I own loads of them and so this has taken me a while to get around to using.

I have however had really dry hair that's felt really brittle and just generally not nice, so I routed around in my collection to find it and test it out.

Firstly, as I've had this for so long I only have the one photo which is pretty lame so I apologise for that. I thought I had more and used it and threw it out so I'll try not to babble on too much!

I'd heard great things about this sachet, not just about the contents but that fact that the sachet was so big it allowed you to have multiple applications of the product, which is always lovely as using something once can be misleading.

I managed to get 2 applications out of this as I have really long hair and slapped in on all over my head.

I could have got 3 if say, I'd concentrated it on the ends which is what I would normally have done if my hair hadn't felt so dire.

The other thing I'd heard was that it was a fabulous product that really worked.

Having never tried Argan oil or Moroccan oil before I had nothing to compare it to aside from other hair masks, and I have to say this is one of the best ones I've ever tried.

The mask felt really nice on my hair to being with, not too runny it ran onto my face but easy enough to spread around my entire head covering all of my hair. I've no idea how long I left it for but I showered and scrubbed etc in the shower meaning it was on for around 10 minutes.

My hair instantly felt softer and smoother after washing it out and after drying with my hair dryer as normal it felt in much better condition. I used the other half of the sachet 5 days later in an attempt to improve the condition further and keep the softness there and it worked a treat!

I would buy this in a heartbeat, especially as Cheap Smells have the entire range, with a huge 500ml pot of this retailing at £24 instead of the RRP of £36, bargain!

If this sounds a lot to you then let me explain, the sachet was 30ml meaning 15ml for each application for longer hair.

The 500ml tub contains 33 full applications working out at 72p each.

Pretty hard to say no to that isn't it??

I'm in love!

L xxx

When L told me she had this in her joliebox I was so envious. I adore the Macadamia products. My hair dresser introduced me to the range probably two and half to three years ago, the salon used this mask as a treatment. I also used to add this on when I went there and pick up this sachets.

It leaves your hair feeling so soft, manageable and really helps improve the condition. Unlike L I'm a hair mask  lover. I've tried my fair share. I'm currently using the Lee Stafford for hair that doesn't grow treatment (not entirely convinced it works but can't stop using it now I've started in case it does)

This product also smells amazing. I should add her I'm blonde and have never had problems with it and my hair dresser used it on me, as I did read in some posts people had been told it's not suitable for blonde hair.

The Macadamia healing oil treatment is amazing as well. Its on cheap smells for £13.68. Which is such a bargain. This bottle is 125ml and lasted me 6 months when I had it. It is by fair the best oil I have tried. Recently I've been trying cheaper versions to try and save myself  money and they aren't as good. While L has found it as this bargain price I'll be ordering. It'll work out at just £2.50 a month. Bargain.

Have you tried the Macadamia Range? I love it!!

Love M

xxx