Having more fun... (John Frieda Beach Blonde)

Member Name: nikkisly

Product:	John Frieda Beach Blonde
Date:	25/05/01 (4523 review reads)
Rating:

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Have you ever bought a product 'on spec', used it, and had a sudden dawning realisation that it's so good that you are probably going to use it regularly for the rest of your life? Having tried John Frieda Beach Blonde Sun Streaks, I can now understand exactly how Victor Kiam felt when he said his oft quoted line "I was so impressed I bought the company!"

Let me tell you about my hair. If you were being exceptionally kind to me, you might probably describe it as "fair" or "dark blonde". If you were telling the truth, then "mousy" might be the word used. However, at the first touch of the sun in the summer, it goes a real "Baby Spice Blonde".

I look better with blonde hair. I FEEL better with blonde hair. But there's a problem. With the 'fair' hair goes a 'fair' skin which doesn't like the sun at all. So, while the sun may turn me into a ravishing blonde (!), it turns my skin into a lumpy,itching, puce mess. It also gives me headaches and brings forth an uncanny ability to projectile vomit for England.I'm prone to sunstroke, heatstroke and any other stroke you can think of.

If I told you the things I had done over the years to turn blonde, it would probably make your hair curl. I've been down the "pay a fortune to stick your head in a tight plastic helmet and have your scalp attacked with a crochet hook" route. I've plastered my hair in everything from lemon juice to salt water to mayonnaise and fried my brain in the sun in the name of beauty. I've tried sprays, lotions - in fact there isn't much I haven't tried.

So, when I noticed a three for two offer on John Frieda products in Boots, I was at the till waving my Advantage card before you could say "Blondes have more fun".

"Beach Blonde Sun Streaks" is a thick, clear gel which comes in a bright yellow tube. It is a "heat accele
rated highlighter" with a "mild peroxide" formula, which, according to the tube, gives the user "sexy summer hair year round". It is reccommended for use only on blonde to medium brown hair.

The word "peroxide" above should immediately strike a warning bell since it means 'permanent' - in other words this is not a temporary colour,so should be used with caution. It should also be kept away from clothes, soft furnishings, eyes etc and you should do a strand test first to guard against the possibility of skin irritation.

The first good news (for me, anyway) is that it works just as well with a hairdryer - you don't need to fry to get that sun-kissed blondeness. Using it is simplicity itself. You apply the gel onto dried hair where you want it to be highlighted, then expose it to heat or sun. You don't even need to wash it out, although you should wash your hands after use. I did 'brush' it out though - I found very hot sun dried the product too quickly and made me look as though I had a severe case of dandruff - Gary Rhodes, as I live and breathe!

The more times you use the product, the greater the lightening effects. Hence, my advice would be to do it gradually - you can always repeat the applications - but you can't change your mind afterwards. You can apply the gel selectively to create skinny or chunky streaks and even use it to touch up roots. I got the best results by 'tousling' my hair with gel coated fingers.

So, having used this product for two weeks, how would I rate it? Well, after several applications, my hair is looking great - even Mr Nikkisly has noticed, which probably says more for the product's effectiveness than any opinion I can write. My hair is soft and shiny and not in the least 'straw like". The blonde colour looks natural and there is no hint of brassiness.

The gel is light,practically odourless and thick enough to s
tay put rather than run or drip when applied. In fact, my only criticism of this product would be a slightly facetious one - the packaging is very, VERY similar to my "Boots Hair Removing Cream" - a disaster waiting to happen, maybe?

The price quoted below applies to a 125 ml tube which I think will probably last me the whole summer. And, as an added bonus, you can buy any three John Frieda "Blonde" products for the price of two at Boots at the moment.

So - do ya think I'm sexy? At my age, I need all the help I can get!

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