Terre de Mars - 010 Irrévérence Nourishing Shampoo

The shampoo is an essential part of a good hair care routine to keep beautiful and healthy-looking hair. However, the most crucial step is to choose the right one from the huge array that is available. At The Amazing Blog, we found a shampoo to suit almost every hair type, in fact, it’s so nourishing that you don’t really need a conditioner - making it almost a co-wash. It’s another one of our #amazingfinds, meet the 010 Irreverent Nourishing Shampoo from Terre de Mars. As regular readers may remember, our wonderful reviewer Simon already tried their amazing Resonance Body and Hair Oil.

The French brand was founded by three friends: Alexandre, Poulad and Salem all of whom have parallel careers with the company, one works in fashion design, another in consulting and the last one in new technologies. These three serial entrepreneurs have created a 100% natural, coffee-based, vegan and cruelty-free unisex skin and hair care brand. All their products are made and packaged in France and are COSMOS, COSMEBIO, vegan and cruelty-free certified, and gender fluid. They have designed all their formulas to comply with ECOCERT Standards.

The initial thing that attracted us to this brand is the design. We love their packaging it’s stylish enough to adorn any bathroom. The shampoo is made from coffee extract, aloe vera, almond protein and rosemary leaves and a lemony fragrance, which gives it a delicious and subtle smell. At first, we were a little afraid that the coffee element might be too overpowering and strong, but there’s not even the slightest whiff of coffee here! It only has the mildest touch of citrus. The hydrating elements are the wheat and sweet almond proteins, helping to make hair shiny and supple, and the result after two rinses with this shampoo was very good. Furthermore, it is unisex, which means that everyone can use it. You can now say goodbye to the nightmare of finding the right shampoos for each of the family, because this will make the whole household happy. Best of all it’s organic, vegan, chemical-free and silicone-free; this product is quite simply a must-have. Furthermore, for those who are familiar with the Yuka App, this shampoo is very well rated! To purchase the 500ml 010 Irrévérence Nourishing Shampoo see here for £33.

Douvall's Argan & Ungurahua Oil Shampoo & Conditioner

Most people when you mention Argan oil, think about it from a culinary perspective and their gastronomic trips to Morocco. However, here at The Amazing Blog we want to talk about it as a key ingredient in skin and hair care. For centuries women in the Arab Maghreb have been using Argan oil for its beneficial properties in their hair. Today we’re featuring Douvall's latest launch of Argan & Ungurahua Shampoo and Conditioner. Douvall’s were one of the first British brands to use organic Argan oil here in the UK.  We’ve reviewed their Moisturiser here and more recently, their Organic Hemp & Argan Oil and  Cannabis & Argan Oil here. Knowing how much we love their products, we couldn’t wait to try these! 

As mentioned previously, Douvall's is a British make-up and skincare brand whose key ingredient is organic Argan oil, founded by mother and daughter, Alicia and Georgia Douvall.  They produce vegan, cruelty-free, eco-friendly cosmetics made from only natural ingredients. They use no chemicals, artificial fragrances, sulphates, parabens or alcohol and the brand also commits to support charitable causes such as the breast cancer charity The Haven. They also partner with the women's cooperatives that produce their argan oils in Morocco. This partnership has led to the construction of a school and a reforestation project. 

The Shampoo and Conditioner look quite similar; the packaging is recyclable brown plastic pump bottles which are useful as it allows us to see how much product we’ve used. The label is a pale salmon pink with gold and black writing which makes the duo both girly and aesthetically pleasing. The fragrance of each is natural and subtle where we could easily pick out green tea extract. The key ingredients in both are Argan oil (which we know about) with its antioxidants, vitamin E, omega 3,6 and 9. The other, Ungurahua oil was new to us. It derives from the rainforests of Central and South America, dating back centuries to the time of the indigenous people. It is high in unsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid and due to its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, Ungurahua is also considered to be one of the best remedies for treating scalp problems, especially itchy dandruff and hair loss. Plus, it stimulates the regeneration of follicle cells. Impressive!  We wonder if this will set the trend, and we’ll see more hair care containing this new ingredient soon. 

They both also contain the same ingredients such as organic green tea, aloe leaf, rosemary leaf, honeysuckle flower and raspberry leaf. The Shampoo complements the Conditioner perfectly. We particularly like that they are both colour safe, which we find this is a rare find in the world of organic and natural hair care. As one of us has coloured, long, fine and curly hair, this cetainly set a challenge. Not only did it step-up to the mark but actually detangled without damaging and left hair silky, shiny and soft to the touch. Will we be buying more? Absolutely! To purchase 275ml Argan & Unguraha Oil Shampoo for £24 and the 275ml Conditioner for £26 see here.

Untamed ™ The Defrizz Wave Tame Machine Hairdryer

As regular readers will know, at The Amazing Blog we’re always trying to find you ‘something a little bit different…’ Well, today we’ve got a truly new and innovative product. Think hairdryer but with a spritz, in fact, an Argan spritz!  Say goodbye to frizzy hair and meet Untamed™

Untamed has an impeccable pedigree in the world of hairdressing. They’ve had years of experience working with top hairdressers and premium brands, which is when they saw a gap in the market for those (like us) who complain about their unruly frizzy locks. Having spent over two years perfecting this unique hairdryer/ styling tool, they said: “ This is the most amazing styling tool for all hair types. We want to bring an end to frizzy hair. Our Untamed™ defrizz wave tame machine is more than a hairdryer it is a styling tool. It is unique and a UK first”. This little beauty first came to our attention when it won the Editors Choice for the Beauty Shortlist 2020 Awards. It has taken hair drying to a whole new level dispensing Argan oil on your hair as you blow-dry.  What could be better timing to purchase such a product, when we’re all missing our wonderful hairdressers and scrambling to get our hair looking good enough for our Zoom parties or work meetings.  

Thrilled to be one of the first to try out this Untamed™ in isolation, it has cheered me up no end!  As we’re always extolling the virtues of Argan oil in different products here, you’ll see we’re big fans of this magical oil, particularly for dry skin or hair.  The oil contains vitamin E and fatty acids and has antioxidant properties, so it has all bases covered.  I started out being a little sceptical as my hair is very fine, curly and flyaway and I was nervous about spritzing Argan oil after a conditioner in case it made it flat and lifeless.  However, I’m happy to report my fears were ill-founded – it was far from flat or greasy giving me only a lustrous finish. Following their advice, I part dried my hair first and used the Argan oil sparingly, I’d recommend you go slowly at first as everyone’s hair is different.  It is quite easy to use, powerful and yet lightweight.  Putting the Argan oil spritzer onto the hair drying nozzle was super easy but you can check out the video clip on their website if you need it here. I found the heat came out evenly, so it won’t damage the hair over time.  Also after reading the blurb, I discovered that emitting negative ions was also helping stop static and frizz, who would have thought? Well, Untamed™ did!  In addition to the 5 other settings, I finished with the cold shot to keep everything smooth; as we all know, it’s something hairdressers always do at the end of the blow-dry.  The Argan oil bottles do of course run out, how quickly depends on how often you use them, but you can refill with any other Argan hair oil.  I loved this Untamed with or without the Argan oil. It gave me the results I wanted and I found it to be quicker and kinder than other hairdryers I’ve used. I’m happy to report that the home blow-dry just got professional! To get your Untamed™ for £69.99  with 3x 5ml Argan oil bottles and 3 x different styling nozzles see here.

Scurl® Fine Grooming: Beard Wash, Oil & Balm

As always those resourceful girls at The Amazing Blog have been on the hunt to find me some beard grooming products (this lockdown has played havoc with my whiskers!) And lo and behold they’ve found me yet another new grooming brand to add to my repertoire. This time it’s a brand that’s a resounding success across the pond. Meet the rather sleek looking Fine Grooming range from Scurl®.

Scurl® is the newest addition to the product line from the Luster Products family. Luster was established in 1957 by the late Fred Luster, Sr a successful barber in Chicago, Illinois, and has grown from a modest shopfront into a multi-million-dollar global enterprise. It all began with Fred Lustre Sr saw a gap in the market to develop a line of hair care products specifically catering for the African American market. Today Luster is available worldwide and has an extensive stable of over fifteen hair and grooming product ranges for both salon professionals and consumer use. We love that they also have a philanthropic arm and non-profit charitable foundation My Neighbor's Keeper (MNK) which is an employee outreach programme, under the umbrella of the Luster Product Black Heritage Foundation. Which to date has contributed more than $1million to other non-profit organisations such as the American Cancer Society, Habilitative Systems, Lawndale Community School and The Rising Star. This Scurl ® range has a diversified range of men’s hair care products which includes sprays, relaxers, texturisers and beard grooming.

Although this Scurl ® range has been primarily created for men of colour, these Fine Grooming of products are suitable for all hair types. We were sent a trio of products and I’m going to start with their gentle Beard Wash, it’s a 4-in-1 instant cleanse and condition. Easy to use morning and evening but I liked using this at the end of the day, ridding myself of the hideous London grime and pollution. It lathers up nicely and leaves a lingering fragrance that is fresh and almost cologne-like, and of course, it’s always good to know that there are no nasties as it’s sulphate-free. Extra goodies here include shea butter (moisturising) aloe vera (soothing) and olive oil (nourishing). Next, we turn to conditioning; I used the Beard Balm, it’s 100% natural and left a delicious smelling cocoa butter residue on my beard. Key ingredients are olive oil, cocoa butter and shea butter; and it comes with a plethora of coconut, argan jojoba, soya bean oils – all beautifully blended into a waxy finish. I found this better to use in the morning working into my beard for styling and smoothing effect. Then last (but not least) I used the Beard Oil, which is not only good for encouraging beard growth but also ideal for hydrating the hidden skin under my whiskers! I loved the subtle scent which is a hybrid combo of coconut + shea butter. Again, this too is brimming with natural ingredients from grape seed, soya bean, jojoba, coconut, shea butter to marula. I loved how this mix of oils softened and detangled – oh, and did I mention how long my lockdown beard is getting? To purchase these any of these products, go to their website for international sellers here or for the UK here; all three products retail at £4.99 each.

Charlie Miller Haircare - New Styling Products

With more time on our hands, at home haircare has never been more popular; and as regular readers will know at The Amazing Blog we’re big fans of Charlie Miller’s shampoos and conditioner (see here). This Scottish haircare company has now expanded its range by adding four new styling products bringing more of their luxurious and professional experience into the home.

Let’s start with our two favourite products which are the 10 in 1 spray and the Smoothing Blow Dry Creme. The 10 in 1 spray, is the perfect starting point before you start styling. This spray provides various benefits such as intense conditioning, a detangler, protector from heat and split ends whilst fighting frizz and adding shine. To use simply mist onto damp hair and style as desired. This clever multi-tasker does away with the need for other protectors or styling products. However, if like us you have flyaway hair then the Smoothing Blow Dry Crème is for you too. This creme is a leave-in treatment with an added heat protectant. It also stops coloured hair from the dreaded fade whilst smoothing hair and easing combing. To use, apply one to two hazelnut-sized drops into your palms before applying to damp, clean hair and blow-dry for smooth, shiny hair. Both products have a zesty/fruity fragrance making them fresh and light to use. The 10 in 1 Spray retails for £18.00 for 250ml here and the Smoothing Blow Dry Creme is £20 for 250ml here.

Another exciting addition to the styling products is the Soft Clay Wax. This unisex clay wax is made of kaolin, a naturally occurring clay to mattify the hair for the ultimate texturised look. Work the wax in the fingertips before running it through the hair for a long-lasting controlled hold that is also easily washed out. The final product in the range we used is their Gloss Oil which we recommend using as a finishing oil. It replenishes dry, damaged hair to enhance shine and seals split ends. It is rich in vitamins and nutrients, making it the perfect leave-in oil treatment for damaged hair. Apply one to two drops to the palms before running it through styled hair for weightless shine. The Soft Clay Wax is £19 for 100 ml, here and the Gloss Oil is £24 for 100ml here. All products are paraben and sulphate free and can be purchased at a Charlie Miller Salon location or online here.