“Slow-growing hair is the source of frustration for many people. A bad haircut lasts months (instead of weeks) when hair growth is slow. Trying to keep up with the latest hairstyles can be aggravating. But now, with the safe, mild, natural blend of herbs & essential amino acids, hair can grow up to 45% faster and have more body, shine & bounce than you ever imagined.

Use F.A.S.T for just one month and you’ll begin to see great results. If your hair grows at a rate of 13 per month, you can expect to see an increase of as much as 1.5? per month. That means longer, stronger, more beautiful hair in half the time. F.A.S.T is perfectly safe for daily use and, unlike other shampoos, actually benefits your hair with each use.

F.A.S.T contains the essential nutrients that hair needs to grow healthily and FAST and it doesn’t leave product build up. It’s more than just a shampoo – it’s a hair growth therapy. It can be safely used in conjunction with any other processes or treatments (colour-treated hair, permanent waves, relaxers, afro hair, weaves etc) without fear of negative side effects.

This hair product is perfect for :

* Men & Women whose hair naturally grows very slowly
* Anyone who desperately wants to outgrow a bad haircut
* Anyone whose hair needs nutrition – FAST not only boosts hair growth but also greatly improves hair condition. It also helps treat scalp problems like dandruff, itchy scalp, flaky scalp…

F.A.S.T works on all hair types and it helps rejunvenate your hair through faster hair growth."

What is it about bad hair days? The worst thing is, they usually happen on days that you want to look nice, for a special occasion or business meeting. Well, we have some good news. John Frieda seems to know all too well the hassles women face every day with frizzy and seemingly un-tamable hair. That's why the company has developed a new formula created specially for those girls with mind-of-their-own hair types.

Frizz-Ease from John Frieda

The new Frizz-Ease brand promises to revitalise your hair, creating a smooth look that even the boyfriend would notice. Now that is saying something.

So what's it really like? And does it really transform my hair from frizy to fabulous?

The shampoo and conditioner smell extra nice. That's a good start. Now down to the important stuff. When washing, the products don't tend to generate a great lather with the usual small dollop needed. So I had to go for a second application. The second time round it did, in fact, now lather generously but if you need to do this each time, it could cut the product's shower-shelf life in two. The conditioner, however, took only one rinse and my hair already felt fairly sleek.

Results: After drying and styling as normal, I did notice a difference. The ususal just-been-electrified-whisps of hair that stick up near my parting had been flattened and instead replaced by.....an almost nothingness. Yes, nothing. Except a couple of rebel strands which I'd obviously not plied enough with the shampoo.

Out came the Frizz Ease Original Hair Serum. This went on nicely without having a greasy feel about it and seemed to do the job on smoothing down the remaining frizz. I even received a compliment (well worked for with those second lathering efforts I have to say) later on in the day about how nice and shiny my hair looked.

I decided to test out the Frizz Ease Heat Defeat Protective Spray another day so as not to overwhelm my locks. I don't often use hairspray, I must admit, but the first thing I noticed was how sweet it smelt. Almost blossom-like so very pleasant. This was actually my least favourite product out of the range, though, but, to be honest, I wouldn't have a lot of sprays to compare it to anyway. It did hold my style for an hour or two but eventually succumbed to all the every day natural activities that we undergo as women. You know, nipping out to the local shops, popping out for a coffee - that sort of thing.

I have, however, been using the shampoo and conditioner since the day I first tried them. As well as the new de-frizzy look I'm now sporting, I've noticed I haven't needed to wash my hair as often which is an added bonus. This just leaves me more time for those pressing activities I mentioned.

Check out the John Frieda Facebook page for more info.

The new nourishing Shea Butter and Cashmere shampoo from Schwarzkopf promises to provide intensive care for dry, lifeless hair. It certainly looks the part. For starters the colour of the liquid is almost pearly and transparent; it oozes nourishment and luxury and gives off a lovely, soft and comforting smell.

The product contains a unique formula of shea butter and cashmere protein which moisturises your precious locks and helps keep them looking healthy. After using, hair feels soft although not to an extreme. Sometimes, products such as these which offer softness enhancing treatments can leave your hair too soft so that no style stays. This shampoo, however, felt rich on my head and really seems to have given my hair a shine.

Admittedly, I didn't use it with the Gliss Shea Cashmere Conditioner but it still felt great; if you already have fine hair you may even just want to use it on its own.

New Gliss Shea Cashmere Shampoo and Conditioner is priced at £1.99 RRP and is available from independent chemists (now), Savers and Bodycare (from May), and Superdrug (from June).

Like everything else, there are many myths surrounding our hair. Does vinegar really make your hair shine? Are you really supposed to leave it a week before washing it??

Here below are some of the most common myths:

Wash once a week
Ok, so not everyone is lucky enough to be able to leave hair for 3 days without it looking greasy. I'm one of the unlucky ones as my hair is fairly fine. But how often should you wash it? You should try to give your hair at least one day's break to let your natural oils do their job and repair any hair damage caused by straightening etc. However, washing hair every other day is just fine, just make sure you buy the right shampoo adapted to your hair otherwise you may end up stripping it of those good oils.

Split ends can be repaired
The only cure for split ends is the chop. Cutting your locks allows for natural regrowth. It's a bit like cutting your nails - if you don't get rid of the torn edges, they will never grow back nice and strong.

Lemon juice is good for bleaching
This is an old wives tale which probably started long before the days of the good old hair dye. Nowadays, the best way to bleach hair is to go to a hairdressers/hair specialist and get the treatment done properly. Who knows what the acid in the lemon juice could do to your lovely tresses?

Shampoo resistance
Some people often say they become immune to a certain shampoo or conditioner if they've been using it for awhile. The hair products still have the same benefits for your hair, it may just be that because you've been using it for some time you can no longer see this yourself. However, if you do fancy a change, there's no harm in that either, so switch brands for a short time and switch back again if you find one you particularly like.

Schwarzkopf’s brand new got2b range is out with a vengeance and has launched some great summer products designed to hold, protect, volumise and shine.

got2b Shine Hairspray.

The hairspray comes in a lovely pinkish silver bottle which instantly shouts glitz and glam. The spray itself smells wonderful, almost sweet-like and I must admit I even gave my room a little spritz, just for that sweety freshness. It seems to do well at holding hair in place (although as with most hairsprays you can’t touch your hair too much without the spray wearing off). One thing for me though, is that the product didn’t deliver very well on the promised 'Shine' factor. It may smell good and get a few oohs and aahs from those lucky enough to brush up against your locks but I wouldn’t necessarily buy it just for its hold and shine. Overall opinion? Smells fantastic, does a good job in keeping hair in place even if this wouldn’t particularly distinguish it from others, but lacks a little in the dazzle and shine department.

got2b ‘Guardian Angel’ Heat Protection Spray.

Again, a lovely perfumed aroma makes this Schwarzkopf brand new product from the got2b range an absolute hit with me. Spray on towel dried hair, using heated hair appliances afterwards. The product claims to protect against heat up to 220 degrees, which, after just a couple of tries, I can’t testify for just yet. However, I definitely noticed that my hair appeared fuller and much more volumised once I’d both dried and straightened it. This effect isn’t one of those strongly promoted on the back of the bottle, but it clearly had some sort of volumising effect on my hair. I had a couple of comments from friends who remarked on a fuller hairstyle (although I have to point out they did think it had been cut – which it hadn’t). Ah well, if the compliments keep rolling in I’m happy to continue using it, especially if it protects my hair (or so they say) at the same time!

got2b ‘2Sexy’ hairspray

I've described the fragance of the above two products as sweet and fresh. Well, with a smell this good no wonder the got2b ‘2Sexy’ hairspray lives up to its name! With such a fruity, moreish aroma (smells like berries), even your tastebuds start tingling. It certainly has the wow effect and got colleagues at my office asking for a try when I first tested it out in the open space. Make sure you have a mirror handy once you've used this product though as it is incredibly strong ('ultra strong' as it says on the can) and your hairstyle may need a bit of shaping to tame those heights. It is really easy to brush out, though, and still holds your hair to some extent without taking it to the extremity. As far as the info on the back of the can goes - "adds a boost of volume", I would have to wholeheartedly agree. Just go easy though, otherwise you may end up looking like you're wearing a toupée.

All three products are available at Boots, Superdrug, Sainsbury’s and Wilkinsons RRP £3.95

Ever wondered how you can keep that colour longer? As a highlight enthusiast, I always go for the colour enhancing shampoos to get the most out of my new locks. Especially when they can cost you up to around £50 a time at the hairdressers. John Frieda’s new sheer Blonde Go Blonder collection has just recently come out, and already being a fan of the brand, I decided to give it a whirl.

It states that it “visibly lightens for sun-kissed sparkle”. We’ll see, I thought. I’ve had too often an experience of buying these expensive brands which promise wonders and never deliver. This, however, seems to do what it says on the tin.

Having only tried both the shampoo and conditioner a couple of times since first acquiring it (I wash my hair every other day), it already seems to have made a slight difference. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, I’m not sure. But it certainly seems to have done something. My hair feels softer and the conditioner has given it a wonderful, fresh smell. I even had a compliment from the boyfriend, so it can’t be bad.

The products are slightly expensive (at £5.49 each) but if it continues to work like this, it’ll save me much more in avoiding those less-needed hairdresser appointments. The only thing I would mention is that the products are a bit “gloopy” for want of a better word. Although my hair looked fine after the usual hair drying and straightening, I did notice in the shower that it felt slightly heavier, making me feel like I wanted to add a second dollop of conditioner to soften it up. This may give me slightly greasier hair in between washes but that’s what dry shampoo was invented for wasn't it? And in the meantime will my hair really lighten that much? Only time will tell I guess.

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