Review: L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology

I’m all about the volume. Big hair makes just about anyone look more youthful, healthier and downright sexier. This isn’t just a case of my personal preference for tresses, it’s a scientific fact that the diameter of the hair shaft diminishes as we age. The same goes for health – many illnesses and treatments cause hair thinning or loss resulting in a lanker, more brittle mane. The question is, how can we get Cheryl-esque locks without maintenance-heavy extensions?

I wrote an earlier post on Lush Big Shampoo, which I really like for its all natural ingredient list and boosting formula. L’Oreal’s Fibrology range is the scientifically researched, aggressively advertised, glossy big brother of the Lush version – with a whole mega-range of L’Oreal sibling products to use alongside.

To quote good old Jennifer Aniston – here comes the science bit. The products contain an ingredient called Filloxane which penetrates wet hair and widens each strand by up to 60%. Pretty impressive findings. What’s more, the thickness increases with each wash and stays put.

I purchased the shampoo, conditioner and booster (to be sandwiched in post-shampoo and pre-conditioner). The booster is an odd product. The texture is watery and difficult to apply. Instructions to use a similar quantity to conditioner (annoying when the tube is only 30mls and nearly twice as expensive) had scores of reviewers on Boots.com reeling.

After showering, my hair definitely felt different. Much like the Lush product, it made the strands feel coarse – a dream if you need your style to have staying power. Not an option however, for ladies fond of silky, stroke-able tresses or shine devotees. I’ll be honest; I didn’t notice a difference in terms of bulk, at least not at the beginning. However after a few weeks, I was getting compliments at every turn. Colleagues were saying my hair looked “amazing”, had “so much body” and even seemed (laughably given my penchant for blow drying and straightening the life out of it) “healthy”.

Encouraged in my quest for volume, I persevered with the products. And continued getting compliments. Friends who have tried the range have reported nothing short of hair miracles.

L’Oreal may have cracked the code on this one. A cheap and cheerful answer for girls who crave a boost without nasty extensions. I predict a host of copycat products in the coming months...

Review: Lush Big Shampoo

I’m a big fan of volume. Anything that promises to make my hair bigger, bouncier and downright outrageous in height is worth the money as far as I am concerned. So when a friend recommended Big Shampoo by Lush, it is safe to say I was fairly intrigued. I don’t usually believe the hype around shampoos and conditioners which claim to give you sleekness, volume or silky curls – as long as it doesn’t leave my hair lank and heavy with product I’m happy to roll with it.

For starters, Big Shampoo doesn’t come cheap. At £11.50 for a pot (it comes in a useful screw top tub rather than the usual tube) it certainly isn’t your typical Boots buy. The texture is reminiscent of an abrasive sugar scrub - this definitely isn’t like any shampoo you have used before. Rubbing the citrus scented granules into your head is counter-intuitive, it feels like you are simply tangling and pulling the strands. However after a minute or two, satisfying foam appears and the salt disintegrates. A good conditioner is a must après-Big Shampoo as the hair will seem slightly matted (hence the sea salt – for that beachy effect). After applying a detangling spray and pulling through carefully with a wide toothed comb, dry as normal. This is where the magic happens.

During blow-drying, I noticed a stiffness as I ran my hands through the roots and lengths – almost resembling a chalky (although invisible) coating. This made my hair sit taller and stay set – it barely moved – a feat even Elnett can’t achieve. It smelt glorious all day, a heady mix of lemons, limes and vanilla. People commented on my new “big” hair, a colleague even noting that I had probably gained a few inches in height due to the volume I was sporting on top.

£11.50 may be a bit steep for your average shampoo, but the catch is that this is far from average. Go forth and volumize, children!