Denman D91 Dress-out Brush

(RRP £2.87 + VAT & P&P from Denman but I purchased mine from Amazon for £3.19)

I'll be honest in saying that I'm not a brush or comb person and invariably wash my hair, blow dry and occasionally go over it with a Tangle Teezer. I rarely straighten my hair or use any sort of brushes but on a night out to add volume to my hair I like to backcomb it which is where the Denman Dress-Out Brush comes to light. The brush itself looks like more of a thin comb to me and the styling itself is gorgeous. It's a pink-purple and doesn't feel too bulky, perfect for popping in a handbag. 

The brush itself has a pin tail that can be used for sectioning hair and 'taming' and the brush part itself has three rows of nylon bristles for grip and control. The handle itself is sturdy and strong enough that it can backcomb my hair steadily without feeling as though it's tugging on it providing a good balance. Unlike other brushes it doesn't leave my hair frizzy or tacky and, due to the quality of the bristles, backcombs to an extent where my hair is still styled naturally rather than looking overly ruffled or damaging.

I love the Denman Dress-Out Brush and am so happy with my purchase, it leaves natural looking volume which is perfect for a night out without looking like a scarecrow. My only, very small downside, is the packaging which I feel really could be improved a lot. It is a thick 'plastic' container which is tricky to undo and very fiddly. I feel as though it could be cased in something much more friendly to open and prettier looking. Despite this I'll definitely be looking at others in the Denman range.

AVON daily hair refresher

(RRP from Avon for £2.50)

Avon have described this product to be used to leave hair smelling clean and looking fresh. It's suitable for all hair types and should be used on dry hair. Obviously dry shampoo is the ideal product for those wanting to freshen up their hair but this is a different way of making your hair feel fresher - by spraying a wet fragrance, essentially 'washing' your hair without the shampoo/conditioner elements.

The packaging is a really generic looking clinical bottle, not helped by its see through look which I think really makes the product look cheap. However, I like the pink accents which reflects the 'theme' of cherry blossom.

The product itself smells quite like a typical hair product - it has a sort of musty scent which the 'cherry blossom' doesn't really cover. The cherry smell is too dull to really be overpowering enough but it does freshen hair a little.

The nozzle means it's easy to distribute on hair and only a few sprays are needed (see below). It refreshes hair as another option to dry shampoo and makes my hair actually feel more 'awake' than shampoo which instead keeps it dry. This is a sort of 'wash between washes' and I use it when I'm not going out for the day to boost my hair a little. It's good for a change to the likes of dry shampoos but the smell is no different than any other hair product.

Hair care!

If there's one thing I'm really happy with I have to say it's my hair! I used to have my hair shaved at the back in 2009 and began growing it in early 2011. It's grown rather quickly - I'm really proud - and I don't actually do much to it itself. I had my hair cut recently and it's left my hair in beautiful condition: both colour and cut. Check out my pictures and tips below on how I keep my hair in good condition:

sorry for the overload of pictures! the colour is 'ruby red' by schwarzkopf but it was put over the top of cyber purple several weeks ago.

Top tips:

• Have it cut regularly
  By regularly it's recommended 6 - 8 weeks although if your hair is in okay condition and you're growing it then I've left mine for 12 - 16 weeks at times however I'd say anything around 10 weeks is suitable to stop split ends.
  
• Use a good conditioner/hair masque
  Treating your hair is very important. It's laziness not to really and there's no excuse. We all have to wash our hair. Well we don't have to - but in terms of hygiene and feeling good it's recommended! Once a week I use a leave-in conditioner. I recommend the Naked ranges or TresEmme but pretty much any will do. It keeps my hair strong and in good condition.
  
• Put down the straighteners!
  I rarely use straighteners unless it's a special occasion or I've come back from the hairdressers. I do blow dry my hair although not all the way through. I encourage this lack of heat on the hair as not only does it leave my hair looking drier but it's damaging. If you are going to use straighteners regularly I highly recommend a heat protecting spray. It's the same as going out in the sun - your hair will get burnt and damage will be caused if you apply heat on a regular basis.
  
• Don't wash every day
  I am a sinner of this guide. I wash my hair 4 - 8 times a week so in a way I'm being hypocritical but it's recommended to give your hair a break so that natural oils can build up and replenish your hair. I personally find my hair is fine with the amount I wash it currently and have a mild 'OCD' about my hair looking greasy but dry shampoo is the perfect alternative.
  
• Try not to go too light
  If you want to dye your hair lighter than the colour you have currently you will have to strip it of colour which usually involves using bleach. The problem with this is that it dries out hair a ridiculous amount and can make it prone to breakage and damage. I've dyed my hair blonde twice and both times it has come out horrendously. If you go lighter please, please make sure it's done by a hair professional to avoid any mistakes which may cause even further damage. I usually dye my hair dark shades of brown, purple or red. None of which put particular stress on my hair and actually leave it really shiny and in good condition afterwards.

Have you got anymore tips you could recommend?

Percy & Reed Moisturising Conditioner

(RRP £16/250ml)

I received this free in Glamour magazine a while ago and have finally got round to reviewing it. Bad blogger! I love a good freebie and am really impressed with the level of product that magazines are bringing out lately - although it can be very hit and miss.

First of all, the packaging is absolutely gorgeous. It's classy and stylish and is simple but one that I think is very reflective of the product itself. You can tell it's expensive just from the drawing on the outer package. However, £16?! My first thought was that this had better be a stunning product to be worth £16.

It contains blueberry extract, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil and aloe vera. It states to 'hydrate and deeply nourish your hair'. The first thing I noticed was the smell. It is absolutely divine - it's like heaven in a conditioner bottle. The formula itself is that of a typical conditioner - silky and smooth without being too sticky. At the moment I see no real worth of the £16 price tag. I did use it as recommended 'working from roots to ends, then massage. For extra conditioning leave for 1 - 2 minutes'.

I don't like the idea of working from the roots as this makes my hair especially greasy. I was looking forward to my hair being moisturised and shiny however, the result was very disappointing. My hair was extremely knotty and no real different than using a lower priced product. I'd never have dreamt paying anywhere near £16 for this product. The smell stays for a relatively good amount of time if you don't put product on over the top. I'm just shocked at the price tag for such a middle of the range product. I'd pay no more than £4 for this product and believe that the 'Percy & Reed' label is what makes this product so expensive. And of course, the expensive products that make such a gorgeous smell. Sadly, the conditioner itself is nowhere near as impressive as my initial expectations.

Umberto Giannini Flirty Curls Scrunching Jelly

(£4.79 from Boots)

This is defined as a 'long-lasting curl creator for defined, sassy smooth curls'.  Straight away the packaging is one that catches my eye. It's a strong pink colour but bold enough to not be too girly but more of a strong colour. I have naturally wavy hair but like scrunching my hair up and making it go curly.

I tried this when my hair was thinner and slightly shorter and I was very unimpressed. It didn't have much of an effect on my hair and left the style feeling very lacklustre and pointless so I stored it away in my mum's cupboard. However, it has made a recent appearance.
I run the formula through damp hair and scrunch it at the ends followed by a quick blow dry and then tying it as a bun on my head. When I let it out my hair's more bouncy and has a beachy look to it. 

I still can't define the look as 'curly' but perhaps that's because my hair isn't curly as it is - just wavy - so there's less for the jelly to work with. Regardless, my hair still looks really good after using it correctly.

Herbal Essences - Dazzling Shine

I go through lots of shampoos and conditions ... but always find myself making my way back to Herbal Essences. They describe this shampoo/conditioner combo as a 'fabulous formula with shimmery pearl & rose extracts will add flare to your hair'.

I always commend Herbal Essences for their excellent products and selling points - the packaging has curve shapes that fit together in a sense and put together make a really pretty set. The bright colours that vary due to what you want your hair to look like and the hair type you currently have are a brilliant addition to any shower or bathroom. Their products work and have never left my hair feeling greasy or knotty. They wash out traces of dirt and grime and leave my hair feeling clean and smooth and shiny and smell absolutely amazing - a scent that lasts all day and feels like I've just walked out of a spa. 

Good for: Beautiful smelling hair
Bad for: People that prefer more neutral fragrances

Tangle Teezer

The Tangle Teezer appears to be the new style gadget for a lot of bloggers and beauty fanatics as of late and after seeing Holly's review of the Tangle Teezer I decided to look more into it. The Tangle Teezer was invented by Shaun B who appeared on Dragon's Den with the infamous hairbrush which, surprisingly, did not manage to win over any of the dragons. However he pushed through and the Tangle Teezer came to life in stores throughout the country. 

According to their website the original Tangle Teezer (pictured above) is a detangling brush that eases through wet, dry, sensitive or colour treated hair without pulling and simply unknotting it. These specific ones retail at £10.20.

I personally found this quite a high price to pay for a hairbrush and was uneasy at the thought of purchasing one. However, after eyeing it up for a while, my best friend bought me the bubblegum pink Tangle Teezer for Christmas. I've been growing my hair for a year and it's been getting ridiculously unruly as I haven't brushed it properly or regularly since I started growing it. I started getting worried as knots were gradually emerging in my hair and pulling them out was making my hair become even more damaged. 

I was slightly apprehensive as I thought it may pull on my hair and hurt trying to get the knots out but entirely the opposite happened. It glides through my hair easily and, with a little more pressure applied, it takes knots out in an instant. After first using it my hair felt so treated, soft and straight and I couldn't stop touching it for hours on end! My only issue was getting hair out of the brush afterwards but, low and behold, there was a really easy solution to this - just use another brush and it's clean as new again.

My hair isn't generally too damaged anyway but with the Tangle Teezer my hair is improving and I no longer have nasty looking tangles or knots. This is a product I'd recommend to anyone and the variety of products and colours appeal to everyone as well! 

Good for: Leaving hair in pristine condition, combing out knots and increasing hair confidence
Bad for: Lazy girls who don't like brushing out a brush