Whenever I pick up a magazine I always look for the beauty news section to see what other people have recommended. This week in the Sunday Mirror Magazine I found some really great tried and tested products that all had a score out of 10. One of the columns was entitled Shampoo & Conditioner Sets For Brunettes and Mark Hill Gorgeous Brunette (£5.49 each) came out on top with a score of 9/10. Competitors included Andrew Collins Brunette Salon (£4.49 each, 6/10), M&S Brunette (£3.50 each, 6/10) and Davines Alchemic System Chocolate (£11.90 and £14.50, 8/10).

Mark Hill Gorgeous Brunette is described as a luxurious shine reflective shampoo and conditioner for highlighted or full colour dark brunettes. The tried and tested user claimed it transformed her hair from the first application leaving it smooth and silky.

Let me know if you have tried Mark Hill Gorgeous Brunette, is it as good as it sounds? Available at Boots.

Nicky Clarke’s Optimum Condition in 60 Seconds has won the Grazia Hair Award for ‘best budget deep conditioner 2007’. The conditioner is part of the popular Smooth It range where all the products are dedicated to keeping hair straight and frizz free. The product is a high shine moistening treatment that conditions deep into the roots ensuring your hair is always perfectly soft and smooth.

The treatment also helps protect hair against heat styling such as blow drying, straighteners and curling irons.

The product only costs £4.99 for a 150ml tube, this is one of the reasons the product was chosen by Grazia – because it offers customers great value for money. Available on the Superdrug website.

I haven’t actually used this conditioner but a couple of my friends absolutely rave about it, if you’re a fan of Mark Hill products yourself then please let us know your opinion of this conditioning product.

This specific conditioner is for you lasses and lads with curly hair, the product helps define curls while nourishing the roots and helps to repair damaged hair. You should apply the conditioner after you have shampooed thoroughly and leave it in for 5 – 10 minutes if you have time. This will really help soften then hair and make it appear shiny and healthy. It also helps to control frizz if this is your problem area.

Mark Hill Salon Sexy Curl Conditioner is currently available at Boots for just £5.49.

Apparently there is a right and a wrong way to wash your hair, if you don’t wash your hair correctly you could damage it and end up with far from luscious locks. Here are some handy tips to make sure you always shampoo and condition your hair to perfection.

Firstly, comb your hair before you get in the bath or shower, if you have tangled hair before you rinse it you will end up splitting and damaging your hair. Once combed, rinse your hair with warm water to open up your follicles and rinse out any previous products you have used while styling. Then place a circle of shampoo onto your palm and rub your palms together slightly, now apply the shampoo to your scalp and gently massage. Be careful not to get too much shampoo on the ends as this dries the hair and also avoid rubbing vigorously as this will split and tear the ends. Rinse off the shampoo thoroughly.

Some people like to shampoo their hair again to ensure their scalp is properly treated, I tend to just do this once a week though. Once the shampoo is out, place a small amount of conditioner onto your palm, rub hands together and apply to the ends of your hair and around your hair line. Don’t place too much conditioner directly onto your scalp or your hair may appear greasy once dry. Try to leave the conditioner on for 5 – 10 minutes, this will soften the ends and help to stop it from drying out.

Finally, rinse out the conditioner using warm water, then turn the heat down and give it a quick rinse under some cold water - this will add a little extra shine once your hair is dry. During the process of washing your hair, try not to tug it or rub too hard or you could damage your strands leading them to break off.

And done!

This reconstructor for highlighted, damaged or chemically treated hair is perfect if you have put your hair through a lot of colour treatment or stress over the years. The conditioner is packed with proteins and helps repair the damage that colour unfortunately causes.

The only thing I didn’t like about the product was the smell; unlike other leading hair products that smell of chocolate or fruits, I thought it smelt a little like plasticine which put me off a bit.

Aside from this the product does work pretty well and leaves hair feeling soft and conditioned. It is called Dumb Blonde and is made by TIGI Bed Head, available at HQ Hair for just £12.65.

If you have split ends or dry damaged hair then Ego Boost could be your dream come true. This nourishing leave-in conditioner can be applied after shampooing and should not be washed out. I used this product a year or so ago when my hair looked and felt damaged due to too much bleach in my hair and Ego Boost made it feel much better. It also helps protect against hair drying damage, brushing and straighteners.

The product is part of the popular Bed Head range from Tigi and costs £10.80 according to the Tigi Website however depending on where you shop it may retail for slightly more. Currently available at Kudos Cosmetics for £10.20.

I’m not quite sure what I’d do without my Oatmeal and Honey shampoo and conditioner, I use it once a week instead of my usual products and it works wonders on my hair. Each time I use the products it feels like I have just spent the afternoon at a salon and it looks in excellent condition; so soft and shiny.

The treatments help restore chemically treated or damaged hair but I wouldn’t recommend using it more than once or twice a week depending on how many times you wash your hair. If you do, your hair is likely to get used to the treatment and not work as well.

The best thing about this range of products is the smell; all oatmeal and honey treatments smell so yummy you will want to use them every day! Both shampoo and conditioner treatments are available at www.hqhair.com.