Mr Thickening Shampoo and Conditoner + Giveaway

Back in May of this year when I opted to move away from the boy band hairstyle (it was starting to look more Wrong Direction rather than youthful One Direction) I was given an outstanding hair makeover and hair care master class by Jamie Stevens. If you read this blog a lot then you’ll know that I have been raving about how it boosted my confidence no end and I’ve raved about the cut and style, I’ve raved about the salt spray from his Mr Range and even done my first ’in conversation’ piece with him about his background, motivation and tips for us blokes when it comes to looking after our hair. Today, yes, it’s another review of products from the Mr Range, this time I’m looking at the MR Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner.

The first time I used this myself was a set gifted from Jamie for me to try and review and when I went and had my hair cut and styled I was given another set to take away. That set got binned at Heathrow when I stupidly packed it for a flight to Glasgow. Since then I have been and bought two more bottles of the shampoo and I have plenty of the first conditioner left. I’m massively addicted to this product and this will come through my thoughts on it below, but be assured, it is an unbiased view and as a product I’ve only one found shampoo and conditioner set either before or since that comes close to having the same exceptional results.

You can read about the Jamie here and get the low-down on the shampoo here and the conditioner here.

You can pick up the shampoo and conditioner at most larger Boots stores or direct from the Mr website here. For a 250ml bottle of the shampoo costs £10 while 200ml of the conditioner again costs the same, £10, which to me is really reasonable when you consider the price of other shampoo and conditioner sets which more often than not leave my fine hair feeling brittle.

The shampoo has dual active Pea Peptide and Hexapeptide-11, and it promises to remove dirt, grease and product build up. They also say that ‘MR. THICKENING SHAMPOO helps promote thicker, stronger hair that’s resistant to breakage when used in conjunction with MR. THICKENENING CONDITIONER’. Bold claim indeed, bold claims!

Every time I use this I have flashbacks to having my hair cut and the smell of Jamie’s salon in Kensington. It brings a smile to my face, and when you are using a product on a daily basis, and first thing in the morning that smile is a great pick-me-up. It’s fresh, light and gives of an air of almost sterile. As a person who loves the smell of bleach (yes, I’m weird) I love it.

It does what it says on the tin, it removes even the most stubborn of hair products, it strips out the pollution and grime that builds up on a daily basis and ewww you can see the grime in the water as it comes off. With a dab of the conditioner and a rinse my hair feels really much stronger (after using it about a month). Patting dry rather than rubbing (excellent tip from Jamie that one) does seem to have stopped the thinning on either side of my forehead and my hair is now sooooo thick!

Styling does appear to take me a lot less time now as well which is weird as I have so much more hair to style!

Personally I really can’t see myself moving away from this shampoo and conditioner set. When applying a touch of salt spray after drying my hair has extra thickness, has greater volume and feels great to the touch. It’s the bees knees people and that is why I’m offering a set to a reader. See below for details and remember to complete the mandatory entries otherwise your entry will be invalidated and if you are under 18, ensure you have parental permission to enter because I will need your home address!

a Rafflecopter giveaway If you don’t win this set, I suggest you dip deep and go and try it. There are often deals to be had if you check out the Mr or Jamie’s own Twitter feeds.

FORGET THE REST, TRY THE BEST 

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In conversation: Mr Jamie Stevens

You may have seen the post, but on 5 May this year I walked into the hair salon owned by Jamie Stevens and the way my hair looked, the way I styled it and the way in which  I cared for it changed forever. If you didn’t see the write up (it is rather gushing) of my new hair style I really recommend that you do (and you can do easily by clicking here). I found the entire experience amazing, and while I could remember some of what was said as we chatted I really wanted to share some of the conversation - so today you have a Q & A session with Jamie Stevens. 

Source

This wasn’t your run of the mill conversation with a hairdresser or barber, you won’t find any “are you going anywhere nice on your holidays” patter here. Instead we talked about why Jamie became a hairdresser, and as my hair was styled I had the opportunity to ask about the MR range from Jamie Stevens while picking up some tips.

Why did you want to become a hairdresser?

My mother, grandmother and great-grandfather were all hairdressers so you could say hairdressing runs in my blood. By the age of eight, I was already helping my Mum in her salon which I then went on to take over from her at 18 and have never looked back.

When did the MR range launch?

We launched the MR by Jamie Stevens range in October 2015 going directly into 360 Boots stores nationwide.

What inspired you to create your own range of hair styling products?

Hair loss is a big concern and causes real fear and anxiety for a lot of men, whether they care to admit it or not. As someone who has thinning hair, I hope that getting men to talking about the issue will stop them suffering in silence whilst also addressing how prolific and serious it can be for self-esteem and confidence. The solution doesn’t have to be expensive - I wanted to create high performance products that combine effective treatment with the best ingredients so that men no longer have to be afraid. 

What has the feedback on your products been so far?

We have overwhelming feedback, it has been incredible so far, actually really emotional for me as so many men and also women have sent us messages saying it's changed their lives and made them feel so much more confident. This is why we aim to continue developing and giving something new to the market.

If you had to pick your favourite product from the range, what would it be and why?

Salt spray has to be my favourite, it is a versatile product that can be used to blowdry into the hair to give the hair a slightly thicker feel or you can spray into wet hair and let it dry in which gives the hair a matt like beach look.

The disguise sprays, there is nothing like it out on the market, a water resistant colour spray which instantly makes your hair look thicker.....It's like having a hair transplant but in a bottle and it's only £18 not thousands of pounds and best of all it's pain free! 

Did you see a gap in the market, was there something about the offer already out there that you didn’t like or you found frustrating?

Working in men’s hairdressing for so long and winning a lot of awards I felt the market was crowded in styling but nothing was there for an inexpensive alternative to helping people with hair issues. I felt this was a big part of the market that could really work for so many people and is one of the reason the disguise spray and fibres are such a significant part of the launch. It helped create a men’s range for everyone plus the range is suited to all ages from 16-60. 

Most of the products have our trademarked ingredients system PPX which helps reduce the rate of hair loss and keeps the hair you have thicker, fuller and stronger.

Do you see the range expanding further?

I always see the range expanding, we have had a great initial launch and I always see us adding to that and tinkering so watch this space. 

How did your life change when you became hairdresser in residence for the X Factor?

It changed in a big way as it gave me a platform to be showcased to 10’s of millions of viewers in the consumer market and allowed me exposure to many more people, with the continuation of my residency my profile continually raised and got me to a point where I felt confident enough to launch the range.

If you could offer one haircare tip to a regular man on the street, what would it be?

So many guys don’t actually know how to treat their hair so I would say make sure you use a specific shampoo and conditioner for men and not just whatever is in the shower, e.g. your partners or shower gel and most importantly when you get out of the shower don’t dry your hair roughly, pat it dry, I know so many people really rub their hair aggressively with a towel to dry it and this undoes so much of the smoothing work done in the shower. Invest in quality products to look after your hair as you only have it once! 

If you could give one styling tip to someone like me who uses a lot of product, what would it be?

Try cocktailing, where you use a base of wax and then your usual styling product of say a paste. Apply it  from back to front rather than from front to back, you’ll find less product build up at the front and it makes styling so much easier, particularly for your new style where you don’t want too much volume on top.

Source

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I will be writing about my experiences with the products over the next few weeks now that I have had the chance to really give them all a good try. While Jamie said that one of his favourites from the range is the Salt Spray (which I agree is great), for me at the moment I'm torn between the cocktailing wax and paste to style my hair or the shampoo and conditioner which have left my hair feeling and looking fantastic. 

My hair is naturally very fine but there is a lot of it. After my hair had been cut using the shampoo and conditioner for three weeks solid has added body to it and keeping the style flat to my head not only makes my massive forehead look smaller, but it also covers the receding zones brilliantly, even when stood in really bright sunlight, or well lit rooms. 

If you haven't seen the MR range yet, go on read Jamie's blog The Grooming Room where you can see the positive effect his products can have on your life.

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Beard Control by Billy Jealousy

I spent the first thirteen years of my life trying to grow a beard and then the following twenty years doing everything possible to keep hair off my face with as little effort as possible. Now I’m in my (cough - late) thirties I’ve given up and from time to time embrace my facial hair (not literally, the look would be on a par with me trying to chew my own ear - just sit back and picture that without laughing). With facial hair comes great responsibility (no, no it doesn’t, but it sounds good). Joking aside growing a beard is a pain in the butt, so anything that can help the growth process, reduce the itching (yes, beards itch as they grow) and help style it so I don’t look like a hobo is a bonus. Enter stage right Billy Jealousy Beard Control.

This came into my possession as part of a Selfridges&Co male grooming bag back in July 2015 (yes, it’s been sat in a box that long) and finally I have a beard of sufficient length that I’ve been able to take it out and use it on the bushy beard currently covering two thirds of my face, chin and neck. Untouched I do look like I’ve slept rough for a few days and knowing that I’m off to be shaved by a professional (sounds slightly creepy) later this week I needed something that would style the bristles, keep the white hairs plastered down rather than sticking out and reduce the itching.

This is what they say about the product over at the Billy Jealousy website here:

'We all need a little control right? Beard Control delivers a deliciously light hold while giving you the best of both worlds: a natural look with just a smidgen of definition. Conditions and protects without weighing hair down. Softens naughty curls, leaving your beard looking like you were cut from royalty.

KEY INGREDIENTS

• Aloe Leaf Juice:  Softens and hydrates beard and skin. 
• PVP:  Styling agent, helps hold hair in place. 
• Jojoba Seed Oil: Stimulates, conditions & shines. 
• Panthenol:  Provitamin conditioner.'

So, this is designed to condition, smooth and style your facial hair and it doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. It really is the bees knees on all three fronts but for me the first impression was lovely as I applied it to my face. It has a deep Aloe Vera aroma to it has gets so much stronger as you rub the cream between your palms. Lovely! 

Even with a heavily moisturised face such as mind the cream is absorbed into the hair and skin really quickly - I think I applied far too much the first time yet it soaked it so quickly and left just a slight hint on the surface of the hair - it has a shine to it that made it look almost damp. After five minutes my face wasn’t greasy to the touch yet it has already had an effect on the bristles and stubble. It felt so much softer to the touch and when trimmed around the edges the hair was removed much, much more easily. 

After I had used my palms to smooth down the hairs on my chin they remained in place. It isn’t like using hair gel on your face and it feeling crispy. The beard retained its body but the hair was less likely to stick out at an awkward angle making me look a bit special. But don't just take my word for it, I've put together a before and after picture below to show how it can help keep facial hair under control.

The top two pictures are before using Beard Control, the bottom two are after using it

I received a 88ml tube of this in my beauty box and when it runs out I will be investing $20 for a 236ml tube to have on hand for the next time I fancy growing a beard of some length.

Beard Control was a winner of the 2014 Men’s Health Grooming Award and I can see why. Not only does the hair on my face feel smoother to the touch, even hours after applying it smells amazing and keeps my beard well and truly under control. Result.

I’m really pleased that I finally managed to grow a beard long enough to really put this through its paces. After a week of using it I have found that the itching has reduced to such a point that I’m no longer bothered by it and for that I am truly thankful. It’s almost a shame that I will be losing this four weeks of growth soon.

RECOMMENDED

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AB Crew Nitro Conditioner by Deciem

I remember the 'good old days' when deciding which shampoo and conditioner was a choice between about three products. No, I didn't grow up in Communist Russia, I'm just old, and remain constantly staggered at the explosion of brands and products to choose from. Today I will be giving my thoughts on AB Crew Nitro Conditioner by Deciem, one of the items that arrived in my recent Selfridges&Co grooming bag of goodies.

Hands up here, while it made be brightly packaged I can honestly say that the chances of me picking this up while shopping were zero - it wasn't on my radar and normally I condition my hair probably once, twice a month which usually means I just steal whatever conditioner the wife has left closest to hand after I have dived into the shower.

At £17 for a 120 ml tube of the conditioner this isn't cheap in my opinion, but the marketing write up promises good things. This is what they say about it over at the AB Crew website:

If you thought you have tried conditioners that cool the scalp, get ready for a freeze. One use and you'll wake up in an instant. And obviously it's a good conditioner. Instead of a bunch of synthetic chemicals, we mixed up a conditioning Amazonian palm derivative and exotic mushrooms to make the hair super soft as you enjoy aromas of Spanish rosemary and field mint. The girls who find this in your shower will keep coming back for more.

First of all with a name like 'Nitro Conditioner' I had to try it out straight away - and the fragrance instantly reminded me of Tea Tree Original Source Shampoo, it is so fresh and minty! So minty in fact that once it has been rinsed off it actually helps clear my sinuses (which is never a bad thing - being able to breathe normally tends to be a bonus).

After washing all of the gunk applied to my hair out using my current fave shampoo it was time to test this baby out. This has almost a creamy consistency and only a small amount is needed to really cover quite of lot of hair (I'm currently rocking lots of hair and a mighty mullet). 

It spreads brilliantly and is absorbed into the hair quickly. For the first few minutes nothing and then BOOM.......the strangest, weirdest sensation ever! My head started to feel really cool and then cold.....

I first started using this in June during the stupidly hot weather and I have to say, just the conditioning experience had me hooked on this - it was so refreshing and the cooling sensation does have the effect of spanking you awake in the shower - bonus!

In terms of how it leaves hair feeling this again gets top marks - my hair looks hydrated and shines. To the touch my bonnet feels silky smooth and my longer hair before applying any styling products has an almost flyaway property to it. 

All in all, while it might cost a bit more than I would usually spend (i.e anything at all) I have to say this has impressed me and possibly saved the conditioners of my other half from being plundered - it is brilliant, has a great effect when using and provides excellent results.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 

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