Recently I was given the opportunity to try some products I have been desperate to use since it launched. Liz Earle’s Botanical Shine range. I adore everything from Liz Earle, Cleanse & Polish being one of my most coveted products. Now Liz has put her expertise in skin to hair. The four-piece range has something for everyone, with a universal shampoo there are three specially designed conditioners, one for normal hair, one for dry and damaged hair and another for fine and oily hair.
I have been using the shampoo and conditioner for dry and damaged hair. I torture my hair daily with a hairdryer and straightening irons, and then suffocate it with hairspray and styling products. Therefore, my poor locks rarely get a chance to breathe.
Botanical Shine Shampoo – I love it! It has a scent that reminds me of two things; herbs and clean. However, not herbs in a horrible stuffy way, more fresh and uplifting. And by clean, I mean it is squeaky clean! You can actually hear is squeak when you run your fingers along it.
With West African shea butter, natural source vitamin E, shine-boosting apple and orange extracts plus naturally derived cleansers, Botanical Shine Shampoo gently cleans without stripping to leave hair soft, shiny and smooth. Better still, it does not contain sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate.
Botanical Shine Conditioner for dry and damaged hair – another love!! Conditioners often leave my hair limp, especially if its designed to repair damaged hair, as I have fine hair which get droopy quite quickly (hence the styling product overload) but this one is a really winner! My hair looked so shiny after use, felt soft, and not in the least bit dry.
Specially formulated with West African shea butter, yangu oil, blue seakale and shine-boosting apple and orange extracts, our ultra-rich colour safe conditioner leaves dry or damaged hair hydrated, under control, soft and smooth.
Liz Earle notes the following on how she and her team created the range
‘Creating one naturally-based shampoo for all hair types, free from sodium lauryl sulphate, laureth and olefin sulphates (all of which can irritate sensitive scalps) was a real challenge for us, which is why it took so long. Mainly because the usual more naturally-derived foaming ingredients don't perform very well as washing agents. They tend not to foam properly, can strip or fade colour-treated hair and cause static. We know this because we tested over 100 different formulations using many different kinds of ingredients. Then, our team discovered a new breakthrough ingredient which does deliver outstanding amounts of foamy lather that gently cleanses without stripping, drying or irritating hair or scalp.’
‘We have tested our shampoo on very many different hair types, from fine, limp hair to thick, coarse hair, young children's hair, older thinning hair, fine, wiry, colour-treated, permed – you name it, we have been there and tested on it! And the most exciting news of all is that our shampoo works wonderfully well on all hair types. Yes – just as Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser works for all skin types, so Botanical Shine Shampoo works well for all hair types.’
Ian, Liz Earle’s hair care expert recommends the following
One shampoo for everyone
When Liz and Kim first approached me with their concept for hair care; I was not surprised to find that they had once again come up with something truly original that could benefit everyone. In the same way, that Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser suits all skin types, their Botanical Shine Shampoo would suit and work on all hair types, including coloured and damaged hair.
So choosing the right shampoo is easy. All that is left for you to decide is which conditioner will be best for your individual needs.
Choosing and using the right conditioner
It is vital to choose the correct conditioner for your hair type and to use it in the right areas. Think of your hair as three separate parts – the roots, the mid-lengths and the ends – as each part might need slightly different treatment.
All the Botanical Shine Conditioners are very high-performance, colour-safe and packed full of botanical ingredients, so a little goes a long way and you only need to use a small amount of conditioner. Apply just enough to coat the surface of the hair – any more will be a waste, as the hair can only absorb a certain amount of hydration.
Do not assume that your hair type will always remain the same. Regular use of the Botanical Shine range can change hair texture, and as your hair becomes more manageable, you may want to alter your choice of conditioner. If in doubt, always choose the less intense option.
Fine hair: if your hair is long enough to catch back in a ponytail and your ponytail is only as thick as a finger, your hair is probably fine. Generally, people with fine hair suffer from a lack of volume and have hair that is often oily at the roots and flyaway at the ends. Avoid using water that is too hot or over-stimulating your scalp when shampooing, as both can increase the amount of natural oil you produce.
Normal hair: normal hair is neither dry nor greasy. It needs regular care to maintain and enhance its healthy lustre. Normal hair can sometimes become dry on the ends due to weather conditions, changes in your environment such as central heating, medication or regular swimming.
Recommendation: use Botanical Shine Conditioner for normal hair after shampooing on mid-lengths and ends.
Oily hair: the people most likely to complain of oily hair will either have fine or normal hair. It is vitally important that the scalp is not over-stimulated during shampooing as this can exacerbate the problem. Also, very hot water can make the scalp produce more oil, so wash with cooler water.
Dry or damaged hair: many people with dry hair or damaged hair find that it is parched, brittle and lacks shine. While shampooing, use warm water and vigorous massage to help the scalp increase natural moisture levels.
Grey hair: this hair type is often considered to be parched and dry. It is generally coarser than non-grey hair.
Recommendation: apply Botanical Shine Conditioner for dry or damaged hair to mid-lengths and to ends, although if you consider your hair to be thick and dry from the roots to the ends, apply this conditioner to the roots as well.
My recommendation is – get this for Christmas...Botanical Shine Christmas Gift
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