Showing posts with label Dexter the cat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dexter the cat. Show all posts

Friday, October 09, 2015

Hanz de Fuko Gel Triq Extreme Hold

So many jokes with this product, particularly if you take it’s full name into account – "you can turn some ‘triqs’ with Hanz de Fuko" – boom boom! No, seriously, today and forever more (the Internet never forgets a wise man once told me) every time I apply this I pull my tee over my head and pretend that I‘m either Beavis or Butthead (of early 1990s MTV fame) crying out that they are the great buttholio!

Anyhow, I’m going off on one before I’ve even said what I’m going to be reviewing today – which is Hanz de Fuko Triq Extreme Hold Gel, which came as part of the beauty bag I lightly reviewed back in July here. Now, when I first wrote my review of the bag in July I hadn’t tried this so when I did finally get around to it I was shocked – especially when I saw that it was £14 for just 118ml of the stuff!


Hanz de Fuko Gel Triq Extreme Hold Gel
Dexter keeping guard over the gel.....
This is what they say about the gel over on the Selfridges website here:

‘Hanz de Fuko's Gel Triq extreme hold gel is perfect for short dramatic styles or for total control over longer hair for the entire day. It dries quickly, won't flake and leaves hair with a high-shine finish. A little goes a long way.’

Having never used (or heard of) this before I was expecting the usual 99p crap that you can find as a filler for any blokes beauty bag, but boy have I been shocked, and this is why……

While it does have the consistency of the 99p gel that you could find in a corner shop that is where the similarity ends – it is thick when it leaves the tube, reassuringly so in fact, so that when applied to dry hair it means you can instantly style. Apply it to damp hair and while it takes a few minutes, run your palm through three or four times and it starts to set, and set it does, like glue, no, like cement.




To the touch it isn't the greatest – personally I hate my hair feeling crispy to the touch, but if you read on you’ll understand why I tolerate it. After a weekend in Manchester with no rain (I know, that never happened in the 24 years I lived here) on the Tuesday (this Tuesday) the heavens opened and the rain came in sideways it was so hard. Now, my hair was spiked, and after a good twenty minute walk in the rain, a quick dog like shake outside my hotel door and lo and behold, the style has not altered one jot. Even better (and something that happens a lot with hair styling products) it hadn’t run down my face leaving it all sticky – happy days.

Pretty impressed that despite the monsoon rains the spikes remain....

When using in non-monsoon conditions (read London, rather than Manchester) this keeps short and spiky styles erect and looking good (with a wet look) for a good ten hours. In fact, I applied this at seven thirty on Monday morning and after waking on Tuesday morning my hair looked exactly the same – yes it had lost the wet look and had a matte finish but the spikes where still rock hard and stood up straight like a guardsman outside Buckingham Palace – excellent.

This isn’t cheap stuff, but for the fact that has the longevity of Tom Jones (if you don’t know who Tom Jones is, then please stop reading my blog) I can’t help but recommend it. Personally I find it has excellent hold, but for the price I prefer Osmo Clay – it does the same thing, in the same conditions for half the price. If you really don’t care about cost then go ahead.

I recommend this stuff, but purely down to the fact that it does what it says on the tube (not tin, sorry Cuprinol) and for that it cannot be faulted. Want a hair gel that will give you an extreme style? This’ll do the triq!

RECOMMENDED

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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Guide London Shirts + Giveaway

If you saw my TK Maxx Haul earlier in the year you will have seen the lovely flowery shirt from Guide London I managed to pick up well below the recommended retail price. Pleased was an understatement then and still is!

When I was asked if I would to take a look at their Autumn collection and choose a shirt to style I didn't have to think twice, and opted for the slim fit Dark Blue Dobby Shirt at £60.


Guide London Shirts

With free delivery on orders over £45 then you really can't argue, and I have to ask, why aren't you currently checking them out for yourself? There are loads of shirts, tees, blazers and malewear over at the Guide London site here.

And this is what it looks like when worn by yours truly! 


Guide London Shirts
Guide London Shirts

Guide London Shirts

Guide London Shirts

This is, if my memory serves me correctly the fourth shirt I've owned from Guide London and each one has lasted for years and years. The colours don't run, the stitching is rock solid and best of all, the cuffs and collars never fray. Years after purchase they look as good as the day I bought them. 

Personally I'm looking forward to many years of wear out of the new addition to my wardrobe.

Now here is the good part, you have the opportunity to win a Guide London shirt worth up to £80 using the competition widget below. Good luck!

Win a free Guide London Shirt Worth £80 with Beauty King UK 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Friday, December 05, 2014

Molton Brown Black Peppercorn Body Wash

Back in June I wrote about a male beauty box from Selfridges&Co - I was really excited when it arrived with a range of products for me to try. A few impressed me (winking in your direction Scaramouche & Fandango), a few left me feeling cheated (I’m glaring at you Commes des Garcons 2). One that sat around for an absolute age without me trying it was a 100ml bottle of Molton Brown Black Peppercorn Body Wash.

In fact, it sat in the bathroom for two months until it was packed away (size over dedication to the body wash was the deciding factor) for my holidays. I tanned nicely, a bit too nicely around my shoulder and tattoo which meant using harsh or abrasive body washes would have been agony. 

Selfridges&Co Male Grooming Box

As a little background, I’m not committed to the brand, I’ve tried and written about their Seamoss Stress-relieving Hydrosoak in the past so was intrigued as to how this would react. My initial thoughts where why the hell would I want to smell like a peppercorn! 

So how do I rate this?

A 300ml bottle of the body wash is available here from the Molton Brown website for £18. This is what the site has to say about the body wash:

‘A luxurious bath and shower gel with Madagascan Black Peppercorn oil.

The fragrance
Top note: Refreshing coriander.
Middle note: Black peppercorns.
Base note: Aromatic vetiver. 

Formerly known as Re-charge Black Pepper.’

Not much waffle is there and what is this? Notes, for a body wash. Have I fallen into a different dimension? This is the first body wash or scrub I’ve seen that has notes!



On holiday I found this body wash a godsend. After spending all day in the sun fishing lets just say I smelt, erm,…..ripe. As soon as I unscrewed the lid the most masculine, deep warm amber smell hit me. You can detect hints of coriander but the base notes of vetiver punched straight through to the fore. This has a powerful fragrance, and it matches this in the washing stakes too.

After pouring a little onto my hand I found that it lathered up really well making washing very easy. The rich lather maintained its strong aroma and after a good scrub it worked its magic. Despite being a little tender the body wash seemed to soothe it slightly and didn’t irritate my skin.

The strong aroma dies down really quickly, within around 10 minutes of drying off but it lingers ever so subtly on the skin. Not only did the face leave me feeling refreshed I loved the earthy fragrance notes and the warmth that it produced while showering. Only a small amount was needed and even now with regular use (amongst the other many products I have to try) I have half a bottle left.

Personally I really like this and wish I hadn’t waited for so long to try it. 

As an aside, in the lead up to Christmas 2014, Molton Brown have a bauble of the body wash available as a limited edition gift here.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

What is your favourite body wash?

Finally, a random picture of Dexter the cat....he is like a sniffer dog....



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Friday, August 15, 2014

Mont Blanc Legend Intense

I've always loved Mont Blanc pens and cherish the one I own. It was a few years ago that I tried their Presence for Men and I actually rated it for a while but its draw wore off and I went back to firm favourites.

A 50ml bottle of Mont Blanc Legend Intense fell into my possession thanks to Beautyqueenuk when she returned from France - she dodged the cigarettes I asked for and brought me aftershave, the one thing I don't think I've ever needed. OK, rant over, I feel much better now.

Dexter stands guard over my aftershave

Anyhow, a 50ml bottle of this baby will set you back around £40 for something that is marketed as: 

'Legend reflects the contemporary elegance of the Montblanc brand - both modern and timeless.

The fragrance starts with the fresh aromatic duo of Italian Bergamot and French Lavender.

The heart note is magnetic, revealing a unique woody note - White cedar.

The dry-down owes its unforgettable signature to an overdose of virile Oak moss.' 

Now that marketing blurb would suggest to me a very masculine, earthy fragrance that screams out at me usually to steer clear. In the end I looked up the full notes before trying it out.

They are:



  • Head: Italian Bergamot, French Lavendar
  • Heart: White cedar
  • Dry down: Oak Moss

It's exactly, yes exactly as marketed. 

First impressions when taking it out of the box were 'wow', the bottle is shaped like a hip flask and looked like it had been coated in chrome. It looks uber cool and you can't help but stare at yourself in the bottle.



Two squirts from the atomiser and boom, it was a fragrance explosion - the bergamot and lavendar combine brilliantly and form a strong and floral scent that lingers for some time. The first blast remains for well over 10 minutes and is warm as it dries down to a light woody undertone.

The white cedar is subtle yet after about an hour it felt warmer again, the earthy tones and oak moss brought out a depth that was actually quite overpowering at first. I got used to it and it passed the office smell test.



I really liked this and would say its probably best for daywear, around the office or doing something manly and rugged. You will get noticed wearing this and it is so inoffensive you can do no wrong. However, it is pricey and for that I expect something extra special - well this does it. It has exceptional, nay obscene staying power like no other aftershave. 16-18 hours after applying people still notice it and compliment.

For this and the lavendar explosion I have to say its worth it - just for the cool bottle.

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