Share

Pump up the volume!

accreditation
Hi girls!

Despite being a fine, limp-haired girl, I've never really bothered with volumising products. (This probably has a lot to do with the fact that the last time I attempted to 'boost my roots', I was a not-so-salon-savvy 12 year old. My attempt involved combing a pink gel through my locks before blow drying it upside down. The end result? Total troll doll... )

After such an electrifying result, I decided to make peace with my poker-straight locks. I also liked to comfort myself with the fact that I have a zillion friends who spend hours with a flat-iron just to get their hair looking very much like mine. (Ha!) However, I might not be sitting in the catbird seat much longer as it would appear as though the flat-iron era is coming to an end. (You only have to channel surf or pick up a tabloid to see that just about every celeb is sporting gorgeous waves and big bouncy curls). Yesiree, big, sexy hair is making a major come back!

This is why I made a real point of paying attention during the styling demo of the most recent launch I attended – a do for TRESemme's new 24 Hour Body range. (A collection of volumising shampoo, conditioner and styling products, it's essentially everything you'd need to get hair like those enviable trollops on Keeping up with the Kardashians...)

Now, having tried the shampoo and conditioner, I can tell you I really liked them. At first, I was a bit nervy about using something that wasn't geared for coloured, damaged hair (regular readers will know I've got that particular nagmerrie frizz patch that needs seriyas TLC). Fortunately, as it turns out, "volumising" doesn't mean "riiiight... we're going to strip your hair of all moisture and every drop of product build-up in an attempt to lighten/fluff it up and that's what's going to perk it up". Oh no. In fact, it's just the opposite. These guys actually contain lush amounts of "silk protein and collagen" to "plump up" your locks. And it really does work. I got out the bath expecting to not be able to get a brush through my notorious "patch o' evil" and was surprised when the tangles came apart with ease. Love that!

As for the styling products, I found TRESemme 24 Hour Body Amplifying Mousse, R56,99, particularly fabulous. I only needed a golf ball-sized amount to create a glam-looking, voluminous blow dry of which any Miss Universe contestant would be proud. I also liked that it lasted all day and got me a few slightly off-topic compliments. "Oooh, what's that smell...", "You smell divine. New perfume?" Nope, it's my mousse!, I'd shriek, shoving my roots into their faces. ('Cos I'm classy that way...) The whole line has a fresh, juicy watermelon scent that people really do seem to like!

Look out for the TRESemme 24 Hour Body range in stores – it's sitting on the shelves right now.

Other glam goodies you should know about are Maybelline Color Sensational lipcolour, R100, and L'Oreal Glamshine Diamant lip gloss, R129,95.

Maybelline's new lippie is truly lovely in that it's mega-moisturising with a great colour payoff. (I've gotten to test so many 'nourishing', 'treatment' lipsticks which have all felt divine, but due to the addition of so many emollients, they all tend to slide off within minutes). This baby, however, feels fantastic and imparts deliciously rich pigment that actually sticks around.

More of a gloss fan? Try L'Oreal's Glamshine Diamant on for size. Our Celeb Gossip editor, Kele, is a crazy fan of Nude Carat, a sexy champagne-coloured hue. So much so that she sent me an e-mail the other day just to let me know how well things were going with her new amore.

"The moment my eyes smacked on this, I thought all my luscious lips fantasy had been answered," she raved. (Like I said... crazy fan...)

"Usually glosses with this much sparkle have a gritty, irritating feeling but somehow the folks at L'Oreal have managed to bypass this hurdle. The gloss has main ingredients of pearl particles and Metashine silver (a metal-coated glass flakes) and is completely non-sticky so your lips feel smooth. I'd love to try the other eight colours it comes in. I'm obsessed."

Indeed.  
 
We were also lucky enough to have some very nice PR peeps send us a big ol' box of Impulse body sprays, R16,99. The team and I particularly liked the new Impulse City Collection – three body sprays each inspired by a big fashion capital, namely London, Paris and New York. The latter, however, is definitely the Women24 favourite in that it's a nice "recessionista" dupe for DKNY Be Delicious EDT. (Its notes include apple, red fruit and jasmine). Yum!

Anyway, that's it from me for now. I hope to see you at the beauty counters...

Love, love

Leigh

X x

P.S. Tell me girls, are you embracing the 'big is beautiful' hair trend or will you be straightening your locks to the grave?
 
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE