It's a bit sad when im walking around Boots writing down everything I'm hoping Santa will be bringing me for Christmas this year isn’t it? Well on my recent trip there I came across lists of things that I am hoping for and a few products that sounded so good I had to buy them.

I have been a big fan of Lee Stafford products for a while now, Poker Straight has served me well since I began using it a year or so ago and I have since tried other products from this range such as the straightening shampoo and conditioner and I have been equally impressed. More recently however I came across a product called “R U Taking Protection – From Oily Roots” and I was intrigued because yes it is an issue I deal with from time to time when my hair grows tired of a particular shampoo and even more so since I started to use straightening irons, so as it was on a BOGOFF offer so I duly bought it. This product would usually retail for £4.99 and within the bottle you would get 100ml.

The Lee Stafford ‘R U taking…’ range has slightly different packaging to the Poker Straight range in that the bright fuchsia pink has been replaced by a rather stark looking purple which still clearly displays the Lee Stafford Logo.

When using this product there are some instructions on the bottle, it is important to note that this is a spray product and as with any products like this, make sure your room is well ventilated when using it. The simply shake the bottle vigorously for a few seconds before you want to use this product and it is suggested that you can use it as often as you feel it is necessary and then:

• Spray onto dry hair from about half an arm’s length to the affected root area. Please only use it on the roots of your hair where it has been specifically designed for to make sure it works properly and then:
• Then vigorously rub away with your fingers. So once it has been added to the roots of your hair you will need to rub it with your fingers to spread the products and ensure it works quicker with your roots.

So what's in this remarkable product? Well on the back of the bottle it says that it contains a corn starch derivative that will lead to the drying up of any oily roots to then leave them feeling clean and fresh. Then we have betaine which is produced from sugar beet molasses and worksto strengthen the hair and reduce the stickiness feel that oily roots can often create as well as increasing the hairs lubricity it contains detangling properties. Another ingredient is modified corn starch is used to mop up the excess oil which your hair creates naturally and some people make more than others which causes the oily roots and the corn starch will leave your hair with a smooth, velvety feel after using.

So after looking into the properties of the ingredients I decided to give this product a try to see if it does help to control the said problem of oily roots.

The one notable thing with this product is that you do not have to wash your hair after use, it is designed to be used on dry hair, preferably after it has been washed and dried and I find it works even better between the times when your hair is due to be washed again. If you are like me and use styling products with your hair straighteners, your hair will produce more sebum than it would do if you didn’t use them, so sometimes it is necessary to try and control it with a product such as the one I am reviewing. There's a slight sweet smell which does emanate when you first spray this product but as with all of Lee Stafford products they smell very similar and the smell does not linger after using.

Since I have been using it I can honestly say that I have noticed a big difference in how my hair looks, feels and is styled. To a degree the oiliness has been controlled, although having only used the product for just over six weeks I am still expecting to see bigger results, but for the time being it does seem to be doing what it promised it would do. The bottle itself lasts quite a long time, I would estimate that I’ve used around a third of my bottle in the time I have been using it and I use it twice possibly three times a week at the most and once I have used it there is no obvious signs that it has been used and there is no product left behind after usage.

I definitely recommend to anyone that they do try this product if like me they have a problem with oily roots, even if the problem is sporadic because you will see a remarkable improvement. After I have straigtened my hair, I do have soft velvety feeling hair. So the next time you are in Boots grab some.