RATED: Bumble & Bumble hair powder

I always thought this was just really pricey dry shampoo, but I take it all back. It's actually quite a unique product and really rather useful!



If you have really weedy fine baby-like hair (like me *sigh*) this product works wonders in a few ways. Firstly, it’s amazing at concealing any sparse areas, so any places where you scalp shows can be covered really quickly with a few direct sprays. Secondly, it absorbs oil like a piece of KFC, so if you're prone to oily hair and the daily washing becomes a chore, then this is your savior. Finally, if your hair is too silky to stay in an up-do, then a few tiny sprays of this coal dust and it will stay put all night. It's perfect for adding volume and that grungy - haven't slept in days, haven't had time to wash, but I still look hot – Dalston type look. ;)

A few tips:
1- This hair powder + white pillows = disaster
2- It can be a little difficult to brush through, so less is more.
3- When you wash it out, rinse through with shampoo twice, or apply your regular shampoo to dry hair and massage through before rinsing thoroughly. It seems to be the best way to get rid of any product build up
4- I use the black for dramatic looks and the brown for daytime. Having tried both, the black seems to be a stronger more dense product – but slightly harder to use/control.

£27.50 from SpaceNK, Liberty and HQ Hair online

LADYGOSHLOVE: Bumble and Bumble

Hair products are a funny one. Can you honestly say, hand on heart, that any hair product has changed your life?


I really couldn't. The best I'd found was the Frederic Fekkai range that - for the most part - did exactly what they said on the tin. Then I randomly stumbled across the Bumble & Bumble Mending range and I can truly say that these products worked like a dream for me. The shampoo and conditioner left my hair clean and swingy, the lotion make blow drying a breeze and the mask was an extremely nourishing treatment that I left on overnight a few times a week. I'm in love with this range, and I never thought I'd say that about haircare, trust me. Worth every penny as far as I'm concerned and yeah - unfortunately - they're not cheap :( We're looking at £21 upwards, but either use really sparingly, buy when you're in the US, or go for the shampoo and lotion I'd say.

PRODUCT ROUND UP: Here's what I'm loving

I had a bit of a manic month where I was testing like a million products. I’ve calmed down now, and here’s what I’m using this month and how I rate it:

MORNING
HAIR: Bumble and Bumble Mending Shampoo (£21), Bumble and Bumble Conditioner (£23) and Bumble and Bumble Complex (£23). Best hair products I've ever used...can't rate them highly enough. They’ve actually changed my life and make a good blow dry a total breeze.
BODY: Dr Bronners Peppermint Castile Liquid Soap (£9.65). Wakes me right up in the morning, works well as a shaving oil too and is gentle and moisturising for eczema prone skin.
FACE: I was using Rodial A-list cleanser (£48) but it’s headed to the ‘urgh’ pile along with Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser (£31.95) and Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Cleanser (£5.00). I’ve tried most of the cleansing balms around and really only rate the Eve Lom Cleanser (£28) and Bobbi Brown Extra Balm Rinse (£38). I’m now using Shu Uemera cleansing beauty oil premium (£55), which is a little too rich for me, but still a lovely product.
Then on to Chanel Beaute Initiale spray serum (£56). Absolute genius! Seriously, if your skin is quite oily and you’re a bit on the lazy side, this is a fab way to moisturise. One light spray in the morning and you’re good to go. At the moment a light day cream and a rich night cream is totally working for me.

DAY
MAKE UP: My usual kit, with Lancôme Hypnose precious cells mascara (£22), ByTerry Baume de Rose SPF 15 (£32), Chanel Le Crayon Kohl (£16) , MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 (£12.50) and Shu Uemera Glow-on Blush (£19).
HANDS: Guerlain Super Aqua Hands hand-cream (£34). I don’t know why but I just love this cream and it smells like roses!

NIGHT
HAIR: Bumble and Bumble Mending Masque (£27)- Used overnight every few days, beautifully soft hair in a tube!
FACE:Lancôme Absolue Precious Cells (£83) and Lancôme Absolue Yeux Precious Cells (£73.)I want to say they’re not worth the cash, but they are. My skin is really soft and plum, it feels just like cashmere. My forehead gets a little dehydrated and it’s so smooth now I look like I’ve had botox. Really lovely products. Sorry, I want to say there is a cheap version, but I just don’t think there is.
BODY: I have really dry skin so use almond oil (£3.00), from Indian food stores. I tried using extra virgin olive oil once, but ended up smelling like an Insalata caprese. GROSS. Almond oil doesn’t have a smell, it’s packed with Vitamin E and if you like add a few drops of essential oil to it like rose otto or lavender. It’s cheap too and clearly I’m bankrupt from night cream, so have to save a few pennies here and there. Such is the price of beauty!

To die for: DRY SHAMPOO

Hands up who reached for the dry shampoo to transform their lank, greasy roots, only to end up like an extra from Dawn Of The Dead with a cobweb-grey tinge to their barnet? I thought it was just me, but as Boots reported an almost a 50% rise in sales in 2008-2007, I’m probably not alone.

Fact is, dry shampoo doesn’t blend flawlessly into dark hair, so it's best to leave it for a minute to dissolve the grease, then brush it through to remove the chalky residue. If you’re looking for volume and texture for beehives, bouffants and quaffs, it’s seriously useful stuff and gives that matte catwalk look. The main reason I use it is to cut down on styling and heat damage, so I've tried quite a few. Here are my faves:


Charles Worthington Front Row Refresh Revive, £6 (love this – the powder is really fine and blends well)

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Dry Shampoo, £5 (can be a bit chalky, but still a lovely product!)

Klorane, £7 (quite hard to control the nozzle, but great stuff all the same)

Batiste Dry Shampoo, £2, from Boots (cheap and does the job – what’s not to love?)

Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder, £27 (Argh, expensive, but it comes in black/brown/blonde shades, which is novel. If my last name was Branson and my daddy was called Richard, I'd buy this on a regular basis fo' sho!)