I am currently on a mission to sample every product from Lush, including their considerable haircare range. Curly Wurly shampoo was a product that I avoided trying for a while, mainly because I used to struggle to keep my hair straight, but since I have lately grown my hair out and found that it waves naturally, I decided to give this product a try.

Curly Wurly shampoo has been around in Lush for a while, named after someone on the online forum with the name of 'Curly Wurly Girly'. It belongs to the 'liquid' shampoo family, as it certainly couldn't be described as a solid (it comes in a black pot, like Big Shampoo) but it is very, very thick, and you scoop rather than pour it out of the pot. A bonus is that it does not contain preservatives: the particular combination of ingredients ensures that they are not necessary. Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) is a common ingredient in hair and bath products, but it can cause irritation, so the fact that it is not included in this product is a cause for celebration.

As the name suggests, the shampoo is designed for curly hair (though other hair types could certainly give it a try too). It has been formulated to moisturise hair while not weighing it down: it should make curls coil and bounce. The greatest ingredient is coconut - desiccated coconut and (in lesser quantities) extra virgin coconut oil - which is very good at conditioning the hair and defining curls. The other ingredients are all included with the aim of moisturising hair without weighing it down. Cocoa, shea and avocado butters are all well known for their moisturising properties, as is extra virgin olive oil. Vanilla absolute adds a hint of sweetness to the scent. The conditioner isn't suitable for vegetarians, as it contains both egg and lanolin: egg sounds bizarre but I've heard in the past that it is good for making hair shiny, while lanolin is made from sheeps' wool and helps to coat the hair and look after it. Lemon juice and fresh papaya are also included in the conditioner, and help to give the hair shine.

I found using the shampoo to be a bit different than with most shampoos, as it is so thick. Those of you who have used Big shampoo before might be more familiar with the thick texture of the shampoos that come in tubs. I don't feel too worried about leaving the tub open on the side of the bath, as it is so thick I doubt that it would make much of a mess if I knocked it over (although I wasn't tempted to test this for the review!). To use, I wet my hair and scoop some out - a 50p-sized piece for my more or less shoulder-length hair - enjoying the lovely coconut tropical scent. It is thick and bitty, as the desiccated coconut pieces are prevalent and prominent. I rub the shampoo onto my scalp, trying to spread the shampoo evenly around the top of my head. This is tricky as it doesn't lather very well (possibly down to the lack of preservatives or SLS) I learnt not to mind the lack of lather and to just ensure that I spread the shampoo evenly over my head, concentrating on my roots - the greasiest part of my hair - and letting it run down to the ends which need less intensive shampooing.

Rinsing out the shampoo is a little tricky, as the coconut bits can stick. I just make sure I rinse for longer and massage my hair to get all the bits out. I often find that I've missed a bit and when I'm combing my hair out afterwards the odd bit of coconut comes out. Still, my Tangle Teezer is pretty good at getting hold of any odd bits.

After shampooing, I use conditioner on my hair as normal, then dry my hair with a towel. Recently I've stopped using the hairdryer and have stuck to letting my hair dry naturally (although I usually do use some sort of product on it, such as V05 Miracle Mist, or a serum if I'm going out somewhere).

When I use this shampoo, I have noticed the following:

- My hair is softer to the touch, more manageable to comb through and more 'bouncy', without being frizzy or too 'big': though I don't have proper curls as such, I feel that the waves in my hair are more defined.
- My hair is also more shiny than usual, though how much is down to the shampoo and how much to the conditioner I use with it, I'm not sure. My hair can be quite dry, so I'm not willing to forego conditioner.
- My scalp is less itchy, and looks and feels in better condition: this is possibly down to the lack of preservatives or SLS in the product.
- Without being dry, my hair is not greasy, even if I go for two days without washing it, which I prefer to do to keep my hair in good condition. The shampoo seems to do a good job of balancing out my hair, which can be dry at the ends and sometimes oily at the roots.
- Unfortunately, my colour (I dye my hair dark brown) hasn't lasted as I hoped it would. The shampoo is not designed for coloured hair, and it does contain lemon juice which lightens hair, so I can't complain too much, but it's worth noting if you dye your hair.
- Though it is claimed that the shampoo makes your hair smell of coconut throughout the day, I didn't find this to be the case (possibly because of the conditioner I used afterwards, which I COULD smell). This isn't a big problem for me, however.

All in all, I think four positive, one neutral and one negative effect on my hair is pretty good going - for hair that is as awkward as mine is, at least.

Curly Wurly shampoo is a little pricey at £9.50 for 220g. However it is excellent quality and is made without preservatives, and I feel it's often worth paying more sometimes to get better quality. In addition, I find a tub lasts me a lot longer than a normal container of shampoo, so it's better value than you might think. You can also, when you've finished the shampoo, take the black tub along to Lush with four others and get a free face mask.

My overall verdict is positive. This is a shampoo that I would buy and use again, provided that I went back to my natural hair colour (or lighter) first - it's not the best product to be used on dark-dyed hair. Also, I would only use it when I wanted a natural waved look - I'd probably choose another product if I was planning to straighten my hair. Still, this is a really good shampoo that fulfils the majority of its claims, and I recommend it.