I've always been a bit of a hair abuser. I don't mean to, I mean, I just want my hair to look pretty. Is that really too much to ask? For the hair, actually it can be. I've bleached, toned and dyed my hair all manner of colours - from turquoise to platinum blonde, from lilac to white blonde with rainbow hues. Putting my hair through all that torture has meant I've needed to up my haircare game.
You might find that there are some decent products out there on the high street, but it can be a bit hit and miss, so I've moved to high end-ish products, as I find they tend to work a lot better with fragile hair. And no matter what anyone tells you, coloured hair may look awesome, but it's not all sweetness and roses. It's hard work!
Also, when your hair is coloured, you have quite a tense relationship with heat. When I first coloured my hair, I didn't realise quite how much I'd taken blowdrying and straightening for granted - it's just the normal thing to do and doesn't really cause many issues. But with coloured hair, it's not so straight forward. The hair has been chemically treated, and therefore weakened, so it does not deal with the heat well.
Luckily, there are plenty of life-saving products out there to ease the pain. Kerastase's Ciment Therminique is one that I've repeat purchased from HQ Hair countless times, but of course, the Hair Junkie in me is never truly satisfied. Just because something works well, doesn't mean there isn't something better out there.
This is when I was sent *GHD's Advanced Split End Therapy:
GHD claim it's a lightweight cream (but to me feels more like a creamy serum), that uses heat to help fortify damaged ends and nourish the hair leaving you with sleek, silky locks. Here's a bit more detail, straight from the horses mouth:
"Utilising a propriety Thermo-Marine Bonding System, this treatment fills and binds broken hair fibres together, instantly repairing split ends while the Super Nutrient Complex prevents future breakage by surrounding each strain with a protective coating."
They're literally promising the earth here, so how could I not give it a whirl?
The instructions suggest you shampoo the hair, towel dry it then apply the product. Once your hair is fully covered, you blow dry it out and seal it with your straighteners. Honestly, this all sounded nuts to me - doing all that with damaged hair felt like I was asking for trouble. And so it turned out - I just couldn't comb through without my beloved conditioner, and my hair felt awful as a result.
So, to hell with the instructions then! I attempted to use it in the same way I use my Ciment Therminique instead, applying conditioner after shampooing, and it actually worked really well. My hair felt sleek, silky and moveable - almost as if it wasn't even bleached, a bit like those Timotei adverts from the 90s. And if you've ever bleached your hair, you'll know just how precious that feeling is!
It doesn't quite live up to its lofty promises on split ends unfortunately. It hasn't bonded any of the fibres together or repaired the split ends in my hair, it's just made them much less noticeable. That being said, when used as a traditional heat treatment, it definitely does prevent split ends.
Sadly then, *GHD's Advanced Split End Therapy is no miracle cure for your split ends, but if you want my advice, use it as a standard heat treatment, and your hair will start to feel as good as it looks. You can purchase it from HQ Hair at £19.95 - you'll just have to wait till it's back in stock again, it's actually so good, it sold out!
*PR Sample
15 comments
Fab post and that first photo is GOALS *all the heart eyes* I really need to get my hands on this! I love my balayage but alas, my hair does not - it's more straw-like by the day! xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that it didn't live up to all the claims but at least it helps with prevention :)
ReplyDeleteRosy | Sparkles of Light Blog
How have I only just found your blog?? It's AMAZING! Not only is your hair gorgeous, but your make-up is too. I've already gone through a lot of posts. Such a shame the treatment had such silly instructions, who doesn't use conditioner? That's insane! And it's not great it didn't work as stated, but at least it does help some!
ReplyDeleteRaindrops of Sapphire
The instructions are quite unique...I don't know how I would feel about covering my hair in the product while dry and then blow drying it. And those are some HIGH claims there...too bad the product doesn't live up to them.
ReplyDeletexo, Lily
Beauty With Lily
Love your reviews here!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.angelemall.co.nz
Wow, you rockin' this look!
ReplyDeletex, Kat of Nested Thoughts
As a hair junkie myself, I tend to buy lots of products and I had my eyes on this one, now I want it ! It prevents split ends and it's already a good thing !
ReplyDeleteFashion and Cookies - fashion and beauty blog
This product does sound good, even if it's not quite the miracle worker it claims to be! It would be good for me with my bleached hair. x
ReplyDeleteKate Louise Blogs
Thanks for being honest, I have terrible split ends, colouring really does take it out of your hair.
ReplyDeleteIt does claim to do quite a lot. I always appreciate an honest review!
ReplyDeletexoxo Lauren | Will Sing For Makeup
Thank you for the honest review! It may not have performed as it promised but at least you noticed some differences. And hair damage and high maintenance are the two reasons why I dare not colour my hair until now, it's just too much for me.
ReplyDeleteShireen | Reflection of Sanity
Too sad it was not a good product! I love the photo!!
ReplyDeleteLoving your blog! Followed on Bloglovin!
Dora www.BangsBang.com
My hair needs something like this. No matter what Ii do it always feels like straw. I've tried products before that have instructed not to use conditioner and they never work, my hair needs conditioner!
ReplyDeleteAah good old timotei haha x
It's so nice to read such an honest review.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd ever believe that a product like this could actively repair split ends, so it's silly for a brand to make those claims, as customers will only be left disappointed! But, it does sound like it would make a nice heat protecting/leave-in conditioner alternative, like you say :)
ReplyDeleteAlice / Alice Grace Beauty
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