Rediscovering Curls – With BaByliss and John Frieda

Babyliss has rebooted a fondness for curling my hair. I’ve always loved curly, but found the effort necessary to get my locks suitably coiled really not worth it. My freshly tonged or crimped wavy hair would look fab, but one sleep later and I’d be left with a head full of lifeless limpness.

Then along came BaByliss Pro Perfect Curl. Now, with this nifty gadget, which I bought last summer, I can create precision curls that last me from one hair wash to the next (that’s around 4 days!)

Sadly, the same enthusiasm cannot be applied to styling products. If money were no object, I’d stock my shelves with nothing but Living Proof (or perhaps my new crush R+Co).  But I cannot justify spending £20 on a shampoo and even more on a styling cream for week-in week-out hair.

So, I’m constantly on a mission to find good value alternatives (especially with my frizz prone hair). I was recently given samples of some new John Frieda ‘Frizz Ease’ styling products to try, plus a BaByliss Boutique hairdryer. Let’s get curling…

John Frieda – Nourishing Oil Elixir (with argan oil)

What the label says:
- 2x frizz fighting power (of non conditioning shampoo)
- nourishes
- smoothes

I applied this to freshly washed hair (can be used on dry). It is a rich golden oil (reminded me of pouring honey) and smells fruity. I dispensed 3 pumps into my hand (instructions say one but I have a lot of hair), rubbed my hands together and applied ready for drying…

BaByliss Boutique Italian AC Dryer 2400

 Key features include:
- 2400W
- heat balancing ceramic technology
- Ionic technology for smoother hair
- 3 heat/2 speed settings (and true cold setting)
- 2.7m salon length power cord
- hanging loop
- removable rear filter
- thermal hair brush included

I really wasn’t expecting to be wowed by this. I have been a loyal user of Parlux Professional dryers for years. They are workhorses and loved by many professional stylists.

The BaByliss is more compact, though a tad heavier – perhaps because it  has a more powerful 2400w motor (my Parlux is 2000w). I plugged it in, set power and heat both to max and switched on.

Goodness. The oomph of this hairdryer took me by surprise, even in spite of the higher spec. My hair was dry within minutes and I didn’t need to switch to a lower heat, as I do with my Parlux. My hair never got hot once. Dry, my hair felt soft, silky, shiny and nourished – no frizz! Next step – style prep…

John Frieda: Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Creme Serum

What the label says:
- eliminates frizz
- repairs damage
- treats split ends
- nourishes

A multi-tasker, this crème serum can be applied to wet or dry hair. I chose to apply this next as it has thermal protection, vital if you are using seriously hot styling tools as I am about to. I dispensed 3 pumps into my hands, rubbed together and applied ready for curling...

BaByliss Pro Perfect Curl

 It’s a cinch to use. Simply load a small section of hair near the roots in to the device’s chamber and clamp together. Hair is drawn automatically in to the chamber. Next you’ll hear an audible beep. When it stops, release hair and bingo! – gorgeous bouncy curls. 

To finish the style, I loaded more John Frieda serum into my hands, rubbed them together and raked my fingers through my hair to loosen, define and hold the curls. Finito!

Last words

I’m totally in love with the hairdryer. My Parlux may be getting rather ancient but I wasn’t expecting such superior results from another dryer. Both John Frieda products are good affordable options for every day hair but of the two I prefer the serum because it does so much.

BaByliss Boutique Italian AC Dryer 2400 costs £70 and can be bought here. BaByliss Pro Perfect Curl is available at Sally Express for £149.99 here.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Nourishing Oil Elixir 100ml is available widely for £9.99 and the 50ml Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Crème Serum is currently on offer at Amazon for £5.98 here.