However, sometimes, with hairdressers in particular, famous people define who they are (think of Nicky Clarke for instance) and there's no escaping this fact. And when a name appears, seemingly from nowhere, it can be useful to pigeonhole them and their products with the help of a few well-known (and hopefully glamorous) names.
So it is with Tara Smith. Tara who? Well exactly. She is the UK-born 'celebrity' hairdresser, whose range of reasonably priced haircare products, launched last year, is now selling all over the UK. Her client list — if such things mater to you — is impressive: Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman, Anna Friel, Natalie Imbruglia, Quentin Tarantino (is his hair lovely?) and Orlando Bloom, to name just a few.
Which is interesting, but what I am more drawn to is the labels on the little round bottles of C Curls Shampoo and Conditioner (from £2.25 - 100ml) which state "tested on film stars and not on animals". Now that's more like what I want to know about. That and the fact that it's "made with natural and organic earth friendly ingredients" and "we say no to parabens, sodium laurel sulphate and phthalates and more". Finally, as its aim is to "hydrate and tame frizzy hair", I'm hooked before I've even tried it.
The Shampoo has only the faintest smell (citrus with a touch of lavandin, eucalyptus, peppermint, geranium and clove — all organic) and despite being almost chemical-free, it lathers really well and feels very creamy (which always feels important, even if it isn't). After rinsing, my hair really did squeak! The active ingredient is rosemary leaf extract, which works as an anti-oxidant as well as a stimulent to nourish the hair and enhance blood circulation of the scalp. There is also soybean protein to energise and protect the hair.
The C Curls Conditioner includes olive oil extract to help retain moisture, plus marine and yeast extracts to help repair damaged hair and provide nutrients. Phytokeratin gives shine. What I really like about the Conditioner is that it can also be left in — which is great for a between-washes boost to moisturisation and frizz management. I simply dampen my hair a little and work some through from root to ends. It does the trick.
Finally, I apply Tara's Base Coat Serum (£4.99 - 50ml) described as a "foundation primer for every hair type". Its main ingredient is borage oil — a nutritional supplement. Whether it's the shampoo, the conditioner or the serum, I have to report that my usually unruly hair, after I release it from its plait 12 hours later (I never blow-dry) is considerably softer, with bouncier, shinier, defined curls, than usual. Three days and two rain showers later and it still feels good. Maybe the celebs have something after all.
The full range of Tara Smith haircare products is available from Asda, Tescos and online - www.bodycare2000.com and www.cultbeauty.co.uk |
