So naturally my hair is very dry, very curly and very thick. I’ve struggled over the years when I’ve attempted to go blonde, which resulted in broken, brittle and singed hair. I’ve also been addicted to the GHD since the age of 14 and for most of those years I never used heat protection! I know… it’s a recipe for disaster and an utter sin. On top of this, I used regular supermarket shampoos and conditioners (full of sulphates) from the likes of L’Oreal, Aussie and Garnier, which sometimes offered manageability but most days I would leave the house after scorching my hair and achieving a sort of smooth result and end up with my hair exploding within seconds due to humidity on the bus or train, or the slightest mist of rain. All because of dye, damage and not using the right products.

These days I’ve found the answers that I have been looking for! My hair tends to be in good condition, it’s strong and smooth – even with colour in it. If I leave it curly, the curls will be intack unlike the frizzly, dry mess I was left with before. So I just wanted to share what really worked for me and what really didn’t! I’m not saying that the products I didn’t like were bad products, they certainly were just not for me.

Since my first pregnancy in early 2017, my hair quality definitely improved so I have to mention that first. But around that time, I also started investing in some premium hair products. I was living in New York and started using Joico K-Pak Keratin shampoo and conditioner, which I picked up at a Walgreens. I don’t know why, but even though they were still pricey, because I found them in a Boots-type pharmacy it felt like less of a sting than going to a salon to buy it. I know, that makes very little sense but because mentally I could just chuck them in the basket, there was less of a decision and it was more of a casual purchase. After a short time of using this, I found that after blowdrying my hair, I didn’t need to straighten it as the finish was a nice smooth wave. It was a double win… better shampoo and conditioner meant far less straightening! I really loved this brand and product, but I was intrigued as to what else I was missing out on. But would I buy this product again… yes!

Enter Kerastase! I decided to splash out on the Kerastase Discipline range, I say splash out because in New York it is OUTRAGREOUSLY priced. $45 for the shampoo and $45 for the conditioner. It sickens me thinking back, I wasn’t aware how much less they cost here or I would have had it brought over instead. The verdict? Great product for my hair type, delivered a smooth, shiny and healthy result. However, my skin is quite sensitive and this product caused my back to break out in a rash every time I washed my hair. Did I repurchase? Yes… because I loved what it did to my hair. Do I still use it? Nope.

When I moved back to Dublin I ventured into Terrisales in Blanchardstown SC and decided to try the Wella Brilliance shampoo and conditioner for coarse hair. This did not work for me at all, absolute disaster. My hair became extremely dry, tangled and just overall crap. I thought it was to do with the highlights I had gotten maybe a month before, but one day my sister was staying with me and tried it (I didn’t mention that I thought it might be affecting my hair so she tried it with an open mind). We went out shopping and then she started complaining about the condition of her hair and that it felt like straw! It was then I knew, it was that particular product range. The lovely manager in Terrisales was very sound about it and let me exchange the products for something else, even though he said his wife used that range and swore by them.

Leading me to L’Oreal Serie Expert Liss Unlimited range. Unfortunately, this was still not the right product for me. It definitely made my hair smooth and soft but also left a heavy residue and created a lot of product build up on the back of my scalp making it look incredibly greasy. Rather than returning it, I just gave it to my husband to use.

My current favourite range is Pureology Hydrate Colour Care shampoo and conditioner, and I’m also using their Superfood Hydrate hair mask. I really love these products as they work wonders for my hair and a little bit goes a long way. Here are the benefits which I’ve lifted from their website;

• Advanced Hydrating Micro-Emulsion Technology deeply hydrates to revitalize dry hair and enhance color radiance
• Sulfate-free formulas preserves color
• Natural extracts including peppermint, sage and rosemary
• Exclusive AntiFade Complex protects color vibrancy
• 100% vegan
• Made with 95% Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) packaging

They don’t irritate my skin at all and they really keep the colour looking shiny and healthy. Will I repurchase? Absolutely.

Last but not least, a brand I don’t think you can get in Ireland (hence why I’m not using it), R+Co. It’s widely available in the States so if you come across it, I absolutely recommend it. I love the product ranges, I love the packaging and I love the names of the products. If anyone knows where it can be purchased in Ireland without crazy delivery costs, please point me in the right direction!

Hopefully you’ve found this post somewhat helpful, any questions please let me know! Ciao!