Salon Hair At Home

There's nothing quite like the feeling after you return from the hairdressers. Swishy hair with the perfect amount of bounce and volume makes you feel awesome, it's just a fact! However, the comedown when you realise you're never going to recreate that look at home can hit hard, and I think I've found the solution.

A few months back I was invited down to the Richard Ward salon in Sloane Square for a blow out and man did my hair look good (you can see it here). They sent me home with their Keratin Sleek shampoo and conditioner. And it's love.

The Richard Ward haircare line is all Keratin based, and for good reason. Keratin is the hair's natural protein and is key in maintaining hair health, and products infused with Keratin help rebuild the hair's natural fibres, leaving your hair thicker and healthier. It also contains Lychee and Strigosa seed which together help add back that lustrous, silky texture to your hair. The sleek range is designed to smooth and de-frizz, giving your hair back much needed gloss and hydration.

I use this two out of three hair washes (when I'm not using clarifying products) and I'm pretty much in love. This stuff does exactly what it says on the tin, or bottle rather. My hair is thicker, healthier, smoother and glossier. And it looks, well, like salon styled hair.

And the best part? It's only £6 a bottle. Not salon prices at all.

What are your go tos for salon smooth hair?

My Summer Hair Love

I've spent a good four years on the hunt for that perfect, tousled, beachy hair that seems to be attributed to the world of salt sprays. Unfortunately for me, despite trying a LOT of them, I never managed to find anything that made my hair look, well, anything but crunchy.

Enter stage left the Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion. I had my reservations, since the Surf Infusion's older sister, the Surf Spray was the closest I ever got to a good salt spray but didn't quite cut the mustard, so to speak.

Bumble and Bumble say that the Surf Infusion is  "A salt-in-oil innovation, this mellow mix of tropical oils and texturizing sea salts creates soft, sea-tossed waves with sheen, For anyone looking for soft, touchable waves" and I think they've got their description spot on. Whilst the Surf Spray gave my crisp, crunchy waves, this keeps my locks soft and smooth, but with thickness and body I could previously only dream of. The oil laced formula means that it's not at all drying like most salt sprays, and it keeps your hair looking soft and healthy.

I like to spritz a little of this into the roots of my hair before blowdrying, and then a little in the ends after. You don't need a ton, a little goes a long way, and the result is thick waves that I just love. It brushes out really well, and I've found that whilst my hair keeps it's body on day two, an extra spritz to the midlengths helps just liven it up again.

The gist? I'm in love. It's the only styling product I've been reaching for, and the only one I'm taking away with me next week!

Have you found your perfect salt spray?

The Only Haircare Product I'll Ever Need

Did you know that a haircare product can change your life? I didn't. Not until the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Styling Treatment came into my life.

Now, maybe I'm being dramatic, because I still require shampoo and conditioner, and heat defence spray. But other than that, I'm all set.

I think what makes this stuff so damn great, is the fact that it recreates the texture of second day hair without it feeling like there's any product in your hair at all.

I literally take a pea sized amount and run it through the lengths of my locks, before blow drying, and what I'm left with is hair that has volume, hold, texture, and not a flyaway in sight. I've found that my hair lasts longer between washes, and I can style it once, and it'll hold for a good three days before getting limp. I mean honestly, what sorcery is this?

It's not out in the UK right now, I got my dad to pick me up a bottle from Sephora whilst he was in the states, but cross your fingers that it'll be winging it's way to British soil soon. Until then, maybe it's time to place a cheeky Sephora order?

The Best Affordable Haircare

Whilst I have a few high-end haircare loves, there are some seriously kick-ass hair products available in your local Boots, Superdrug, even Tesco! Haircare is something I don't talk about too regularly here, but I'm pretty loyal to a lot of products, so they deserve a little attention!

The newest addition to my budget haircare line up is the Richard Ward Argan Hairspray, which has made it into my loves list for a few reasons. Firstly, it smells good, which is rare for a hairspray, and secondly, it's infused with argan oil, which means it gives your hair shine as well as hold, and my hair needs all the help it can get when it comes to looking healthy.

From the newest member of the haircare shelf to the oldest, the Frizz Ease Secret Agent Styling Creme is something of a family secret in our house, even my dad uses it! Us Rockett's are definitely prone to frizz and flyaways, and this stuff just smooths your locks, without leaving a trace. A real essential, I couldn't even tell you how many of these I've used up!

I'm now the proud owner of two Tangle Teezers, one of the compact ones for on the go that I got in a stocking years ago, and a more recent purchase of a full size lilac one! This by far my favourite brush, it's gentle on the hair but really gets rid of knots and tangles easy!

I bang on about the Colab Dry Shampoo a lot here, but it deserves all the attention. This removes any traces of oil or grease from my hair without leaving any hint of powder. It's so light and it smells amazing too!

I talk a lot about the Herbal Essences Clarifying Shampoo that I love so much, but I rarely mention the Herbal Essences Soft and Smooth Conditioner which is just as good. This leaves my hair feeling soft and hydrated, without weighing it down or making it feel greasy. I love the mandarin scent too!

And lastly, my new found texturising love, the Tresemme Dry Defining Spray. Thick, voluminous, textured tresses, in a spritz!

You really don't need to splash the cash for good haircare, but a bit of trial and error can be involved!

Do you have any affordable haircare loves?

5 Reasons Your Hair Is Lacking Volume

Getting volume into your locks is something a lot of people really struggle with, and until recently I did too. Over the last six months, I've made a few changes to my routine that have made a massive difference to how thick and voluminous my hair looks, so I thought I'd share my tips with you guys!

1. You're washing your hair wrong. Did you know that you're supposed to rinse your hair for four minutes after shampooing or conditioning for all the product to be removed? I definitely didn't. If you've got residual product in your hair it can really weigh it down, and make it look a lot a lot heavier than it really is!
2. You're washing your hair in the wrong order. I started reverse washing my hair a few years back, and I'm totally hooked. I did a full post on reverse washing here if you're unfamiliar with the concept, but it's essentially just conditioning and then shampooing when you wash your hair. The result is your hair is hydrated, but all traces of conditioner are removed, so your hair isn't as slick and product-dense. Not only does this make your hair last longer between washes, but it also really gives it a lot of volume.
3. You're not using a mousse. Mousses have come a long way since I first came across them, they're no longer synonymous with crunchy, sticky, hard hair. A mousse like the Tresemme Perfectly Undone Wave Creating Sea Foam will give your hair body, lift and hold, creating a much more voluminous look.
4. You're blow drying your hair wrong. Let's be real here, no one has time to give themselves a full on, salon style blow out every day, but what you can do is flip your head upside down when it's almost dry, and give the roots a real blast. It helps the roots get that lifted look!
5. You're not using a texturising spray. When people say they haven't used a texturising spray, I kind of feel bad for them, it's THAT good, and THAT essential to my routine. I love the Tresemme Perfectly Undone Dry Defining Spray, and  the V05 Give Me Texture!

I hope that some of those tips help any of you who are coming up short on your quest for volume! It's certainly helped me, I love a more voluminous hair look!

What are your tips for voluminous locks?