FANTASTIC Haircare

I work for a cosmetics company called LUSH. It's pretty popular so some people have probably heard of it, there are loads of shops world wide. I've been bleaching my hair recently and have been looking for products that keep it in good condition or improve the condition of damaged hair.

I'm vegan, so I have to be careful about the products I use on my hair, and ensure they are suitable for me. I'm also very strong on animal rights and treatment and refuse to use anything tested on animals (For example - L'oreal, clairol, wella etc etc)

I'm also conscious about the ingredients used in products. I don't like to use harsh chemicals (Other than my actual dye!) or any conditioners with silica in which is silicon plastic. This coats the hair and gives the illusion of softness, but does nothing to improve the condition. Here are some excellent products that really work well, for vegans and non vegans alike.

All can be found on http://www.nakedbodycare.co.uk/index.html and https://www.lush.co.uk/index.php

Naked Rescue conditioning mask - I leave this in for five minutes to an hour, it's also excellent to mix toners into, as well as dyes if you want a paler colour on light hair. It's 97% natural, as is the matching shampoo for damaged hair.

Jasmine and Henna Fluff Eaze - Contains red henna for enhancing red colours and auburn hair, it's a hair mask and you put it on dry hair, quite a bit of it (I get away with a quarter of the tub) for 20 minutes, then wash and condition.

Marilyn - "Softness, brightness and shine for blonde hair (real or otherwise). Marilyn is for blondes who would like to stay blonde and become even blonder, in a gentle, soften, shiny, natural way. It's not good for your hair to bleach it, so we suggest that you use The Blonde shampoo then use Marilyn pre-wash conditioner as a regular top-up. We make it with softening linseed gel, chamomile for lightness and to calm your scalp, saffron for golden colour, lemon for shine and olive oil to moisturise your hair. It also lightens hair gradually; all things come to she who waits." Also leave in for 20 minutes.

H'Suan Wen Hua - "Mega-moisturiser for super-conditioning care and attention to feed your hungry hair. It's Lush salad dressing' for the hair, a nutritious treat which makes hair more healthy and pleased to be alive! Avocados are nutritious and softening on the hair, balsamic vinegar gives amazing shine and watercress infusion is exceptionally high in vitamins and gives your hair extra strength. H'Suan Wen Hua means The God of Hair in Cantonese (we think) and our intention is to give you the hair of a goddess (the kind of goddess who has lovely hair, obviously, not a bald one). Use it on days when you'd like your hair to be worshipped." Use for 20 minutes again.

Veganese conditioner - Lavender and lemon all round conditioner for all hair types. Our vegan customers have quite enough to put up with without having rough, dull, tangled hair. The majority of Lush products are vegan, but making a vegan conditioner (without lanolin from sheered sheep's wool) took us a few years because it was so difficult. Absolutely refusing to be beaten, Helen Ambrosen finally found a formula that reached her high standards, using agar seaweed gel as a hair softener with lavender and lemons for shine. It's an effective conditioner for you to use. Vegans and everyone with fine hair should choose this one and stick with it.

American Cream conditioner - Double Strength Conditioning Cocktail. American Cream was inspired by a vision of 1950's US milk bar, bright red-leather-and-chrome, neon-lit cafes where teenagers went to meet each other and drink frothy, fruity, thick, creamy milkshakes. Our fruity, creamy conditioner is what the girls would have used to make their hair soft and strokeable before going out on a date, all dressed up in their bobby socks and circular skirts. The scent of honey, vanilla, strawberries and oranges is so sexy and sweet that dates can't stay away. If your hair gets a bit messed up, American Cream makes it easy to brush through and smooth out again.

Coolaulin conditioner - Coconut conditioner for dry, curly or processed hair. Coconuts fresh from the tree are completely different from the dried up brown things we get in the west. Their milk is amazingly nutritious and is used for all kinds of tropical beauty and medical treatments; coconut flesh is soft, calming for the body and softening for the scalp and hair. Our Coolaulin conditioner has a load of coconut milk and fresh coconut flesh to make dry, curly and processed hair soft and shiny, plus exotic, Eastern essential oils of vetivert and benzoin gum to calm your scalp. It's been with us for eleven years and is still going strong. If you've not tried it yet, better late than never.

Jungle solid conditioner - Solid Conditioner to tame all hair types. Helen Ambrosen was the first person to make a solid conditioner work and we are mightily proud of her. She discovered that cocoa butter will slide on to your hair to make it softer, then dissolve in water to leave it shiny and smooth. Jungle feels different on your hair from liquid conditioner; in fact, until you wash it off you hardly notice it's there. It's worth getting the hang of though, because it's great and giving hair a smoothing, detangling, fruitily scented coat of shininess. Smooth it along the length of your hair from root to tip, them rinse out like liquid conditioner. Dry your hair and your comb will slide through your former tangles like a hot knife through cocoa butter.

Retread conditioner - Cantaloupe, Orange and Violet Triple Strength Conditioner for Extra Softness. As with so many Lush products, Retread appears on first contact to resemble a posh, cholesterol laden pudding. It is scented with violets and oranges with a hint of sensual (animal free) musk. You can use a spoon if you like, but we prefer to dip our hands in and plaster the super-smoothing cream all over our hair for the seaweed, yoghurt, cantaloupe melon and jojoba oil to give seriously sad hair its shine back. Do not use it if your hair is lifeless and limp Retread would squash it flat. Do use it when your hair is feeling rough, harsh and wrecked. Retread will restore its sanity.

I hope this helps! I plan on writing an article soon on some really great haircare, and include shampoos etc etc.