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.

If you have really fine hair that gets oily quite quickly then this product is for you. It was recommended to me by a friend who has to wash her hair every day in order for it to look clean and healthy. She said that Bed Head Self Absorbed works like a dream for her because it keeps her hair looking less greasy for longer.

The product is a shampoo with vitamins A, B, D and E, it also contains a tiny amount of conditioner so hair is properly nourished without the strain of a normal heavier conditioner. Many people who suffer from greasy hair think that cutting out conditioner all together will solve the problem, however, this is not the case – hair still needs to be properly cared for and conditioner formula contains the nutrients we need.

Is Bed Head Self Absorbed the best shampoo for oily hair? Let me know if you have found one that you think works better. Bed Head Self Absorbed can be bought from HQ Hair for just £6.70.

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!

As the festival season draws closer it’s inevitable that your luscious locks won’t stay so luscious if you’re planning to spend the weekend in a tent. There’s one hair product you simply shouldn’t be allowed to leave the house without if you’re off to a festival this year – Batiste Dry Shampoo. This tropical version is available for £1.99 (bargain) from Amazon.

I also saw a new coconut version advertised recently if you want to go for a really natural, fresh smell. Simply spray this product through your roots as soon as your hair turns a little greasy and it will keep your hair gorgeous for at least another day.

And it’s not only those of you off to a festival that should use this; if you suddenly find yourself in a rush and unable to tend to your hair (or like me, think you can get away with another day without washing it but wake up late and wish you had) this product really can prevent a very bad hair day!

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.