SuperFish Stiffish Cream by Fish Soho

Do you ever use something for so long that its just there and becomes part of your routine? For me, SuperFish Stiffish Cream by Fish Soho is currently that product, and one that I have used for months without ever thinking about writing about it. In fact, it wasn’t until I wrote up my thoughts on GO24-7 Texture Paste that I realised I hadn’t imparted with my wisdom.

So here it is….

Any regular readers will know that I’ve tried out a few Fish Soho products since I started up the blog and while these little beauties find their way into my collection thanks to their lovely PR people. This doesn’t mean they get gushing reviews of how much I love their products, in fact looking back I have to say it’s probably been 50/50 when trying out their hair and body products. 

SuperFish Stiffish Cream probably falls into the gushing category as to be frank I love it, the fragrance, the texture, the ease of application and most of all, the hold that it offers to varying lengths of hair.

The cream itself is white in colour and has a fresh clean smell to it. You can rub your fingertips through the pot and in an instant have enough of the cream to style. Rather than being a but tough like wax, paste or clay the cream is really pliable between the fingertips which mean that when it comes to applying it the chances of breaking into a sweat are as likely as Gary Barlow from Take That winning Taxpayer of the Year 2014. 

When my hair is around an inch in length I like to apply the cream to dry hair - it means that as it dries it leaves my hair with a matte finish but with hints of a shine as my spikes stay rigidly in place for well over 10 hours. As the length increases personally I switch to applying it just after stepping out of the shower. As my longer hair is slightly damp it spreads the cream more evenly from root to tip.

There is no need to blow dry a style either which cuts down on much needed time when getting ready to go to work or go out in an evening. This dries really quickly and while you are waiting there is zero risk of the style falling out (unless you go and stand in a wind tunnel) - as soon as it is applied each strand of hair takes on the consistency and pliability of a pipe cleaner. A joy to style with and it’s rare that I say that.

Once dried the dreaded white flakes are nowhere to be seen so no need to be self-conscious which I find a bonus.

Fish Soho haircare products are reasonably priced for what you get - I’ve been using a 100ml tub for months now and it has probably another month of daily use left in it. 

If you are looking for a hair styling product that is good value for money, a breeze to style with and has exceptional hold then you can do a lot worse than Superfish Stiffish Cream.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED  

View Post

Ted's Grooming Room - Step 02 Shave Gel

What’s that you say - slapping lots of white stuff over your face is ever so slightly homoerotic? Erm, well unless you fancy looking like a hillbilly or are really into aforementioned look then us blokes have to shave or we really do start to look like cavemen.

Unlike some of the ‘just of out university’ boys in the office I can actually grow a pretty healthy beard and that presents problems as I hate shaving. As I pointed out in an earlier blog post about Gillette Fusion Proglide Shaving Gel, shaving has in the past left me with red blotchy skin and that’s not a look I want to rock to be honest.

Personally, with this hatred of shaving I like to keep a bit of stubble and tend to use a beard trimmer most of the time. On occasion however as part of my job I do actually have to look respectable (before you say it, yes I know, a shock that someone who employ little old me!)

After testing out and writing about Ted Baker’s Grooming Room before, imaginatively starting with Step 01 - Face Scrub I was very keen to try Step 02 - Shave Gel.

Now follows a marketing blurb intermission…..and basically some background on why such a fantastic designer/label/brand such have Ted Baker have expanded into grooming products.

Ted Baker have the offshoot called Ted’s Grooming Room. No it’s not the inappropriate type of grooming, it’s the type of grooming that was very welcome before the advent of the Internet but I digress, probably to the intense displeasure of their PR people who are slapping their foreheads and pulling out their hair. He’s managed to link shaving gel to online grooming!!! 

Since the successful launch of Ted’s Grooming Room in three central London locations, the next step for Ted was to develop his own range of Ted’s Grooming Rooms products, catering to all the stylish gentlemen who like things trim and proper. It’s provides a modern take on the traditional Turkish ‘efe’ barbers.

Step 02 - Shave Gel claims to triumph over skin irritation with menthol infused gel with claming Aloe Vera powder to leave skin feeling clear, refreshed and ready for action.

Anything that claims to soothe any skin irritation is a bonus in my book. I’ve used the King of Shaves menthol shaving gel in the past with good results so I expected good things. Was I disappointed?

In a nutshell, no, I was blown away and that wasn’t just from the lovely Aloe Vera fragrance or the fact that the gel wasn’t white at all. As the pictures show it is green in colour - well it looks green to me when on my face.

Two quick pumps of the dispenser and an amount the size of a 50 pence piece is released. Seriously, this is all you need. While it takes a lot of massaging into the face to produce a small amount of white lather the gel before this spreads so easily - it’s like a hot knife through butter.

As the gel is massaged into the face the menthol is released. You know this as it really hits your nose and you can feel it in your eyes. Put too much on and I can guarantee you’ll be in tears, however if you’ve got blocked sinuses, this is the trick.  No word of a lie - I had a blocked nose and breathing this in was like inhaling those menthol rubs you get. Awesome!

As the lather isn’t that thick or rich shaving is a breeze - the razor almost glides across the face and the blades don’t get as clogged as they normally do when using foam or other gels.

After using Step 01 that softened my beard I can hand on heart say I’ve never had an easier shave. In fact, the only way I’m likely to have an easier shave is if someone shaves my face as I lay back and relax.

Sorry competition but this blows the socks off everything I’ve ever tried before and I’m massively impressed.

A 150ml tube and considering how little is needed will last me for months.

Yes, an initial outlay of £8 is expensive in comparison to the competition and in the past I’ve said that I think £8 is too much, but in this case, with the lovely shaving experience, lack of irritation and the length of time there will be before I have to buy another one means that it does actually represent good value for money.

It’s a luxury product that delivers luxury results.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED*

*I know I’ve been gushing about the product but I can assure you Ted Baker are not paying me to say any of this.

In the words of Alan Partridge, “kiss my face”.

Thank you for taking the time to read my ramblings here. 

If you enjoyed the read why not leave me a comment or follow me on Bloglovin or Twitter using the tabs on the left hand side?

View Post