Masque Nada

I absolutely love a good hair mask. The right one can transform the way you feel about your hair. My hair starts out as what I would call 'Classic Black & White Mixed Race Hair'. Key characteristics are:

* Volume - it gets bigger and bigger each day

to the point where it's inflation is actually indicating for me to wash it.

* Dryness - matte and raw looking

* Ringlets and frizz combo

I used to really detest my hair. I lusted after straight hair-styles that seemed to frame the face, rather than waft around it unpredictably. I'd go to clubs and people would say "Wow, your hair's so cool!" then promptly ruffle it with their sweaty palm, as if I were someone's dog. I never took this as a compliment at the time. I was firmly in that 'Straight Corner', dreaming about the day I would be rich enough to have it blow-dried once a week. Maybe one day I could graduate to a fringe! Something like my beautiful friend, the Life Coach, Melissa de Lisle:

Deary me...Anyway, I have always been into 'hair packs' as we used to call them. The first one I ever tried was most probably the V05 Hot Oil Treatment. I used to use at least two of those babies, before shampooing it out reluctantly. The Body Shop became the go-to place for products during my teens. Then John Freida's Frizz Ease came out and although I hated the word 'Frizz' on my hair products, I bought the whole set. Shampoo, Conditioner, Serum, Deep Hair treatment and so on. I used them religiously, but ultimately didn't know how to style my hair, so swept it into it's usual wet, serum-saturated bun, satisfied that the front of my head wasn't frizzy. A result for a spotty, chubby, 14 year old me.

Years later I was experimenting with my hair and various products and hit the bingo. I finally created a frizz-less, curly, mane of glossy hair that had weight, swish and bounce.

The styling is never that perfect if I don't use a wonderful mask beforehand, to seal in the moisture.

A good hair mask gets the styling process off to a fabulous start. A longer lasting style, shininess and a lot less frizz.

Here are some examples of my hair when the whole hair mask thing is going well!

Now for the products I LOVE!

1. Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask £22.85 for 250ml at HQ Hair

If you're a beauty junky, you may have noticed that a walloping great hunk of cash has been invested into the advertising for their products. I have yet to open a magazine without seeing it. The packaging is luxurious, tropical and classy. The smell of this thick whipped product, reminds me of the smell of products designed for Afro hair. For me this is a comforting smell that reminds me of growing up with my beautiful aunties who are all close in age to me. The product is really sensational. You don't need to heat-wrap your hair to activate it at all. It's on after a towel-dry for as long as you've got and washed out thoroughly, you'll see the change. It's brilliant.

2. [A'Kin] Ginkgo & Jojoba Intensive Moisture Vitamin Masque £7.49 for 150ml at Boots

This is the one I recently tested. I really love it! Which is great, because it's cheaper than the Moroccanoil. It smells divine. The tube packaging is brilliant too, because it's so easy to overdo the application amount when you scoop out of the tub packaging of the Moroccanoil.

A'Kin is an Australian brand. If you look on the back of their herby packaging, you'll see a little 'AUSTRALIAN MADE AND OWNED' near the bottom. I can't resist saying this in a 'FOUR X' accent when I read it, but really the genius is that their products are paraben and sulfate free. I bought their Lavender Body Wash in the summer and it was the only product I was allowed to use at the Secret Garden Party solar-powered showers, as it was fully biodegradable! I used the gel as my face and body was throughout the festival and it was delicious. This brand is going places, mate!

3. Aussie 3 minute Miracle 'Luscious Long' Deep Treatment £2.99 for 250ml at Superdrug

Cheap, brilliant, smells good and lasts a long time. It's almost too easy for me to buy this all the time. I have to get my feelers out and try new stuff, however this is always in my bathroom. It's there in case something runs out. It's there in case a friend needs a treatment while they're staying with me and it's there because I love it's quick results. There's money off at Superdrug now, so buy yourself several bottles to keep around.