Trevor Sorbie Hampstead

Trevor Sorbie is the multi award winning hair dresser who's styled the locks of some of the planet's most famous faces. He's also the owner of a quartet of salons that have picked up industry prize after prize after prize. To cut it short, this man has major hair skills.

After setting up shop in London's Covent Garden the brand has recently decided to expand it's capital based clientele by venturing North to the beautiful, less hectic surroundings of Hampstead. Situated opposite a generous sized Space NK and slap bang next door to an Organic Pharmacy store, this really is the dream spot for any beauty lover who enjoys a browse...

My hair colour a few weeks after visiting the salon - still very blonde!

Inside the salon is beautifully bright and airy giving the perfect feeling of space without being at all clinical in its tone. I was quickly whisked away to chat to both my hair and colour stylists about what I wanted, what they thought would best suit, and what would help my hair's general condition. Eventually we plumped for a light trim, focusing on adding both height and volume to the crown which had become embarrassingly flat and heavy. As for colour a full head of highlights were applied, mixing in cool and warm shades to help visually lift my hair and tone down any areas of brassiness. All I had to do was sit back, relax, drink free cups of coffee and indulge myself in endless pages of weekly gossip magazines - marvellous!

Throughout my whole experience I felt completely in good hands, not to mention criminally relaxed thanks to the reclining massage chairs (dark light + warm water + lying down = so comfortable I actually nodded off for a minute). The staff are incredible and a real credit to the salon. Having all worked within the Trevor Sorbie family for years, it was refreshing to hear honest advice on haircare without feeling like I was merely being sold products to bulk up the cash register. If you're a resident of North London or merely popping down to the Capital for a few days, this is definitely worth a visit if you're looking for some hair TLC. A few weeks on and both my cut and colour are still in tip top shape, something which I think is the real testament to how good a salon truly is.

You can find out more about Trevor Sorbie Hampstead by clicking here.

*this appointment was arranged via PR*

Hair Shine Formaldehyde Free Brazilian Blow dry Keratin Treatment

Like many, the one thing stopping me from ever taking the plunge with a Brazilian Blow dry has always been the constant horror stories regarding the use of formaldehyde. From tales of people experiencing severe nose bleeds, to sore and sensitive eyes, it personally never felt like a risk worth taking - especially considering the high cost of the process. Thankfully that's all changed thanks to a Brazilian company called Hair Shine, who've now made it possible to experience the benefits of this restoring treatment using a mixture that's completely free of the 'F' word.

Top of hair - unbrushed, unwashed - before treatment

I was lucky enough to be invited down to top London salon Percy and Reed. Having worked on the locks of celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Sophie Dahl to name but a few, this award winning team are exclusively offering the Hair Shine treatment before it goes nationwide this summer. Upon arrival I was quickly whisked upstairs to have my hair rinsed twice using a restoring, protecting and cleansing shampoo. This gentle PH5 formula not only preps your barnet for stage 2 of the process but also increases general fibre resistance. How multi tasking!

Once my hair was rough dried to around 80% the second step of the treatment could begin. Using the formaldehyde free Perfect Restore Volume Reducer, my stylist combed the product into sections of my hair, leaving it to settle in and work its magic for around 20 minutes. Then, my hair was rough dried again before being sectioned and styled with straighteners. This was then left for a further 10 minutes before the treatment could be washed out.

Finally, a nourishing conditioner packed with Keratin particles is applied to the hair for 10 minutes. All that's left then is a quick rinse, blow dry and voila! You're done! Skipping out of the salon with hair that promises to stay sleek, smooth and shiny for up to 10 to 12 weeks...

After Treatment

As someone who has been repeatedly dying their tresses for over 10 years, I cannot say enough about how much this process has restored both the overall texture and quality of my hair. It's softer, bouncier, lighter and a whole heap easier to style - not to mention ultra fast drying! Whilst Brazilian Blow dries are often advertised to women with thicker, curlier hair as a way of providing straighter locks, I generally think this process would work wonders on all hair types, simply due to it's restoring properties. To add longevity to the treatment I've been religiously using the Hair Shine salt free shampoo and conditioner - a gentle formula that helps prevents the process from being 'stripped' out of the hair. Having had mine done around 5 weeks ago I'm still finding the results going strong, although it's sadly not as glossy. If you're looking into having a Keratin treatment then this formaldehyde free route is definitely the way to go!

At present you can book a Hair Shine treatment at Percy and Reed, London - contact details here. Alternatively, the treatment will become available nationwide in selected salons this summer, so keep your eyes peeled!

*this treatment was a free appointment arranged by the Beauty Bite*

OSMO Extreme

Having over processed and weakened hair makes styling somewhat of a mission impossible in my experience. Whilst some formulas weigh down the roots and fluff up the tips, it's hard to find a texture that not only performs well but also appears relatively untraceable. For the last few weeks I've been trialling two products from professional label OSMO: Resin Extreme Glue, a high performance gel for hold, and Extreme Xfirm Glue Spray, a styling mist designed to maintain shape whilst adding shine.

Testing the items on as many hair types as possible - thick, thin, long, short, straight, curly - whilst it was obvious some styles better suited specific products, in general both OSMO formulas stood up well. Possessing an extremely neutral scent, this British company have hit the nail on the head when it comes to unisex formulas. After all, it's kind of nice to have a product on the bathroom shelf everyone can share.

Resin Extreme Glue excels in short hair, making it the perfect candidate for those of you with pixie crops. When applied to a wet barnet and styled with a hair dryer, it's literally effortless to create a whole spectrum of looks and textures. Once locked into position the hair itself doesn't feel overly tacky or greasy, which instantly makes me favour this method more than applying directly into dry hair. Tested on a man with a thick and curly mane, the resin managed to hold a smooth and straight quiff for 9 hours straight.

For longer locks I'd recommend the the Xfirm Glue Spray. This slightly heavier scented mist is ideal for creating messy beach waves by simply using a crunching motion with your fingers whilst blasting under a hair dryer. Though you need to be cautious with how much product you apply (if you get too spray happy then hair will become sticky) this spray really is a fool proof way of adding a burst of shine and hold to your look - which for styling novices like me is a very good thing indeed. Whilst I didn't find the results lasted as long as the Resin's, over all I felt relatively pleased with both the effect and stamina of the product.

If you haven't already looked into OSMO's ranges before then I'd highly recommend a browse.

OSMO's Extreme Styling Range is available from selected retailers priced at £7.25 upwards. Check out www.osmo.uk.com to find your nearest stockist.

*these products were a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

Windle & Moodie Speed Styling

If you live, work or play in London and need a quick follicle fix then there is only ONE hair care service you need: Speed Styling at Windle & Moodie.

My hair 6 hours after appointment

In just 20 minutes flat you'll be transformed thanks to the capable hands of a salon stylist pro. Specialising in editorial looks, this service allows you to rock up with any snap of your favourite model or celebrity, safe in the knowledge that the folks at this uber talented establishment will have you rocking that very same look within a matter of moments.

You can even get your nails done by the extraordinary Zoe Pocock

I was lucky enough to get my hair done by Fran, an extremely funny and friendly individual who managed to make my very greasy, very knotted hair into a bouncy barnet of curls and cuteness. The styling was extremely quick and managed to hold up remarkably well throughout the rest of the evening. The top picture shows my tresses nearly 6 hours after the appointment - as you can see, still in pretty good shape! Because of this I honestly couldn't recommend a better place to go if you're looking for perfect party hair.

I absolutely love the idea of this concept and the team at Windle & Moodie are without a doubt the best hands for the job. If you want a sophisticated do for a works night out, a barnet of braids for a summer shindig, a cascade of curls for drinks with the girls then pop in for a bit of speed styling... not to mention how unbelievably awesome you'll look in all the Facebook snaps."TAG!"

You can learn more about Windle & Moodie Speed Styling by clicking here.

Jason Cocking @ Lisa Shepherd

There are two things you need to know about Jason Cocking:

1.) He doesn't like drinking water.

2.) He's a bloody amazing with hair.

Although he asked me very nicely not to include a picture of himself in this article, I decided I simply had to - after all, this man is like the Jimmy Saville of hair (don't worry, he doesn't shuffle around the salon wearing a shell suit and puffing cigars...) because if your cut and style just isn't working then Jason'll fix it. And then fix it some more. And then fix it a tad extra until your barnet starts looking like it belongs to a movie star. Do you hear me boys and girls, a movie star!

With over 15 years experience in the industry, his scissors have graced the locks of celebrities such as Cat Deeley and the Olsen twins to name but a few. I was fortunate enough to see him down at his London base - The Lisa Shepherd Salon in Mortimer Street - to get my very own cut and dye with the king of colour.

As someone who has been unhappy with their barnet for years, I simply cannot stress enough how much of an improvement Jason made to my hair. Rocking up to his chair with a tangled brassy blonde mess of a mop, Mr. Cocking gave me the sun kissed, lifted colour I've longed for daily these past 3 years. Informing me that my hair was stripped of protein, not moisture, he was able to steer me towards the right products I need to insure my crowing glory remains just so. It was hugely refreshing talking to a professional who not only really knows their craft, but is able to explain it in such a humorous, friendly and extremely accessible manner.

That night I left Jason's capable hands feeling a million dollars. Even though it was pouring with rain outside and I'd forget to pack my umbrella, I strutted the whole walk home happy in the knowledge that my-now-soaking-locks were in their best condition for years. Several weeks on and my boyfriend still repeatedly tells me how great my tresses look, something which is obvious thanks to the cut maintaining its beautiful bounce and shape. Now that's what I call a Fix It!

If you're in London and having a bit of hair crisis then Jason is definitely your man. Trust me, he'll make you look so good you'll want to buy him a drink as a thank you - just make sure it's something a bit stronger than tap water...

If you fancy getting your hair seen to by Jason Cocking, you can get all rates and information here.

Tommy Guns Jasmine & Wild Nettle Haircare

Like most people, my hair seems to take on a life of it's own during the winter months; the combination of cold brisk winds and stuffy central heating sure as hell don't make a happy barnet! I've been desperately trying to quench my follicles thirst by switching to Tommy Guns' latest range of Jasmine and Wild Nettle Haircare, a blend designed specifically for brittle, coloured manes.

The shampoo itself smells delicious and certainly adds to my longing for spring. Sporting a very countryside aroma this refreshing scent doesn't linger too heavily on the hair when rinsed out, which in general makes this a great uni-sex product. Working up to a slight lather, the formula doesn't feel at all slick or greasy and is easily washed away in a matter of moments.

The conditioner - complete with the added bonus of Sweet Almond - not only smells delicious but also leaves my hair feeling super, super silky soft when removed. It too is easy to rinse out and doesn't cling leaving any greasy residue near the roots.

Once dried my hair felt nourished and hydrated, yet perhaps not as shiny and voluminous as I like. However, in a strange turning of events, my barnet actually looked better on the SECOND day after washing - so good in fact I actually shouted "WHAT THE WHAT?!" when greeted with my reflection. It's fair to say my boyfriend said something patronising in response.

In general this is a good winter hair care saviour, particularly if you're finding the dryness is causing random strands to knot and tangle. Whilst I wouldn't pick this to prep my hair before a big night out, Jasmine & Wild Nettle certainly makes my day-to-day style simple, soft and natural. If you're looking to put a bit of TLC back into your routine than this is a sweetly smelling way of doing so.

Tommy Guns Jasmine and Wild Nettle shampoo is available from waitrose and johnlewis.com for £5.50

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

Phil Smith S.O.S Daily Defence 220' Blow Dry Cream

After discussing my hair woes earlier this month, I've been hugely enjoying the benefits of this rich and protective styling cream by budget friendly brand Phil Smith.

The process is pretty fool proof: simply apply a portion of product to damp hair, style as usual, and wow the world with your wonderfully glossy locks. I notice a HUGE difference after blow drying with this defence lotion, finding my hair stays both sleeker and fuller as the day goes on. When teamed with the S.O.S Shampoo and Conditioner, the overall state of my mane is vastly improved, feeling nowhere near as brittle or fried.

I'm incredibly lazy when it comes to styling products, mainly because I never seem to get the results I want. Daily Defence helps de-frizz dry ends and adds a generally more polished appearance to the hair. Although I wouldn't use this everyday - as a weekly treat or pre-party prep it definitely makes me feel a lot more confident within my locks.

Phil Smith S.O.S Daily Defence 220' Blow Dry Cream is available from selected retailers worldwide and kmiclub.com for £3.99.

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

A Hair History...

Skincare, I love. Cosmetics, I adore. But when it comes to hair I've never really know what works best for me. I chop and change every day regarding what colour I want; wondering if I should remain blonde, return to brunette, or venture into the world of red...

I'm at a complete loss. I'm unhappy with the way my barnet looks and don't quite feel like I've found my style yet. When I was a teenager my hair idol was Debbie Harry - I became obsessed with the messy, unbrushed, bed head look and repeatedly brightened my hair with half head highlights. I'm naturally a mousy blonde and loved adding a bit of oomph to my colouring. I stuck with this look for years - it was easy to manage, fun to dress up and, ultimately, young.

When I met my boyfriend everything changed. Dumbstruck in love I did a Jessica Simpson and decided to dye my sunshine locks brown in order to match my new beau. Big mistake. The home colour kit reacted badly with my salon treated hair and transformed my mane into a purple mess. I'd just started working at the BBC and had to leave the colour to settle in for over a week before my hairdresser could see me. Let's just say over those 7 days the question "what happened to your beautiful golden hair?!" was asked at least 3 times an hour.

After much discussing with my hairdresser we decided the best option was to dye my now nearly lilac toned hair dark brown. I was anxious as to whether of not the colour would wash me out and nervously starred back at my ever changing reflection. To my relief it worked amazingly well; the purple nightmare was washed away leaving glossy brunette locks. In a matter of seconds I instantly felt like a woman.

Whilst the brown hair looked amazing to begin with, the roots soon started to kick in - and that's when the problems began. Blonde roots on brunette tresses mainly come across grey - not a good look in any way shape or form. Having to step up my yearly dye count in order to tackle the problem, my barnet soon turned into a dried out, split end infested, protein weakened mess. It's a times like these I really wish I'd never started colouring it in the first place.

Reluctantly I went to the salon and had it all chopped off. Initially I hated it. In the space of 10 months I'd gone from a glossy beach blonde to a bobbed brunette; every time I looked in the mirror it felt as though someone new was starring back at me. My friends were openly split about my short do - some copied it, others claimed it made me look like a boy. I soon grew to love it; yet the growing out stages weren't the most chic period of my hair's life...

I'm now back to blonde; in fact, it's pretty much similar to how it was during my teenage years. I don't like it. At work when I catch my reflection it always looks dried out, flat on top, bushy on bottom and generally not well kept. I'm not sure where to go mainly because I don't know what suits me best. Has anyone else been in a complete and utter hair rut? How did you find your way out?!

John Frieda Precision Foam Colour

Foam in general is a good thing; bubble bath, sponges, raucous raves attended by young people in sweatier climes. But foam in relation to hair colour is better than good; it's great.

Autumn saw the launch of John Frieda's latest innovation in home dying - a time saving non-drip foam promising to cover each and every strand in shiny, natural looking colour. I handed over a sample of shade 5N: Medium Natural Brown to an eager friend who simply couldn't wait to check out it's revolutionary home colouring claims.

"I'm not the most talented person at home dying. No matter how hard I try to apply the formula correctly my hair inevitably ends up as a patchy block colour lacking miserably in shine and depth. When I was told John Frieda's Precision Foam Colour was as simple as shampooing your hair, my inner lazy cow jumped at the opportunity of experiencing salon quality results whilst apparently giving no effort at all on my part.

After participating in a 48 hour allergy test (I had horrors of this review simply being made up of the sentence "my head swelled up and it hurt.") I was ready to begin my futuristic hair colouring journey. I naturally have mousey blonde hair and tend to dye it several shades darker, mainly because I can't afford the highlights needed to make sun kissed locks work for me. Anyone who is blonde with darkly dyed hair will know just how bad the roots can get, so my main concern with all colour based procedures is to make sure the top of my scalp is evenly finished.

I followed the step by step instructions to a t; gently tilting the developer and colourant in the plastic bottle provided. Once throughly mixed, the bottle is squeezed to dispense the lightly scented foam mixture into the palms before massaging directly into the hair. Using lathering motions, I began by applying heavily to the roots before spreading out and foaming my entire scalp in the non-drip formula. This experience was by far the easiest, cleanest and most pleasurable I've had in terms of home dying, mainly because I didn't have to spend the afternoon with my head dangled over the bath looking like I'd just lost a mud fight.

I left the dye on for just over 20 minutes before rinsing it out and styling with a blow dry. The colour was glossy, vibrant and beautifully even. My roots were completely saturated with the shade and blended perfectly with my already previously dyed hair. After 6 washes the colour is still holding up well and hasn't lost too much gloss or shine.

As far as home colouring kits go, Precision Foam Colour is one I would definitely use again. If someone as modestly skilled as myself can make it work then I'm sure the more talented of you out there could produce some genuinely excellent results."

John Frieda Precision Foam Colour is available from all good chemists for £9.99 and superdrug.com for the limited offer price of £5.99

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

Bumble & Bumble (really) Thickening Serum

Mmm...lovely, lovely volume. How we crave your super thick strands and gorgeously uplifted roots. But alas, the power of genetics decided instead to hand us the delicate package of fine, fragile hair. Ain't that always the way?

Luckily this spring we stumbled upon this bad boy: Bumble & Bumble (really) Thickening Serum.

Containing both Algae Extract and Cholesterol (to strengthen and thicken each strand), this nightly, leave-in treatment fattens and fortifies the hair straight from root to tip. Simply apply two pumps of the water like serum to wet or dry hair, massage in, and patiently wait for volume like you've never known before. It took around 3 weeks of daily use for us to see noticeable results, yet - 4 months in - our hair is looking fuller, healthier and a whole heap thicker.

Two pumps of serum applied to hands.

Friends repeatedly keep noticing how much our barnet has changed, and even the Boyfriend is astonished by just how much hair we seem to have developed. Obviously, this won't give you volume like Beyonce or Cheryl Cole - but if you're anti extensions and want something a bit more "permanent" than a boosting mousse; then this serum can certainly help move things along.

Bumble and Bumble (really) Thickening Serum is available internationally and at windlehair.com for £20.95

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

Aussie Dual Personality

Firstly we'd like to say a huge sorry for being somewhat quiet these past few days - work has been intense to say the least. However, we've got some great products to review for you all over this forthcoming week, including In The Groove; the gorgeous new mineralize collection from MAC. Hurrah!

But to begin with we wanted to mention a little wonder product that's been serving us very well lately: Aussie's Dual Personality Volume + Conditioning Mousse.

We always crave a bit of OOMPH! to our roots, and this cheap and cheerful can of wonder has never knowingly let us down. Containing Wild Cherry Bark extract, this product is one of the best we've ever used in terms of noticeable, instant volume.

Mousse sprayed from bottle

With just a simple shake and spray of the bottle, the expanding mousse is generously applied to damp hair and styled as desired. We find the volume usually lasts between 8 to 10 hours, but after a day's wear our hair is generally a lot greasier than normal. It's because of this we don't reach for this product on a daily basis; it's only flaw in an otherwise glowing report.

Non sticky, reliable and an absolute doddle to use - we're sure most of you already have this in your bathroom cabinet. Let us know your thoughts! We'd love to know what your ultimate volumizing weapon is.

Aussie Dual Personality Mousse can be picked up at various drug stores internationally and boots.com for £4.59.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo

Dear Reader,

Please could you possibly forget every single exciting beauty product you've ever seen in your life? If only for the next few minutes? Because otherwise this poor little shampoo doesn't stand a chance. Honestly. It'll just be left forever on the shelf dreaming of a home to call it's own.

If you suffer, or have ever suffered from either Dandruff or an itchy scalp, you'll know just how much it can lower self esteem. As the haircare market literally over flows with brands claiming they can restore your locks back to flake free gorgeousness - with so many relying on harsh, damaging chemicals to provide quick fix results, it can be a bit of a struggle to find a product your scalp can really make peace with.

E45 Shampoo swatched

E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo is a delicate, clear gel designed to provide soothing relief from the discomforts of itching. Whilst some brands rely on the scalp becoming "addicted" to their formulas, E45 is intended to be used, at first, to completely diminish the flakes - then simply as an occasional 'top up' to prevent the problem returning. Our tester found that after just 3 washes their hair was soft, shiny and 100% clean.

12 weeks later? It's still as clear as day.

Perfume free, hypoallergenic, recommended by dermatologists and suitable for eczema sufferers; who needs bright colours? Pretty packaging? Limited Editions? If your itchy scalp is getting you down, then what's more exciting than getting back your va va voom?

E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo is available at selected drug stores and boots.com for £4.99

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*