Damaged Hot Oil Treatment by Lush

Do you remember those little Hot Oil hair treatments that you use to put into a mug of boiling water for one minute, snip the end of and then cover barely 1/3 of your hair? Me too... So when I heard Lush had their own version, the chances of me leaving the store without one was pretty slim!

There are a total of three hot oil treatments to try - Kinky which is for those with curly hair, Damaged for those who need a little bit of TLC for their hair and Tangled to tame those tangles.  I opted for Damaged.

Damaged Hot Oil Treatment is packed full of extra virgin olive, shine-enhancing almond and avocado oils to replenish deeply and re-hydrate thirsty locks. It comes packaged on a stirring spoon, made of wood, which is a handy tool to have for this treatment.

To use, you place the treatment in a suitable container and whilst in Lush, they used an empty black pot during a live demonstration, so I use one of my empty black pots too.  Then you need to boil the kettle and once boiled, slowly add a small amount of water to the solid treatment and then gently stir. You do need to add the water slowly so that the product will thicken.  Then after around 5 minutes of gradual stirring, you should have a nice creamy hair treatment and an empty stick!  

You then apply the treatment to dry hair and leave it on for around 20 minutes before shampooing, to allow the ingredients to get to work, hydrating and replenishing your hair.  Once I applied the treatment, I put my Shower Cap over the top to ensure there is no spillage.  Once those 20 minutes are up, you shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would do.

What I love about this treatment is firstly making it, standing there and doing the stirring in a pot is oddly relaxing but it also smells absolutely delightful and it does leave your hair feeling soft and smooth, incredibly hydrated and an absolute pleasure to style.  For £6.50 this is one product I will be purchasing again.

Have you tried any of the Lush Hot Oil Treatments?

Stay well, warm and in control this winter with smart meters

Autumn has arrived and with winter hot on its heels, I’m already starting to think about how the colder weather and darker evenings will affect our energy bills. To suggest that our flat is rather draughty is the mother of all understatements and I absolutely hate dragging myself out of bed on a winter morning.

Energy bills are not the sexiest of subjects but once the mortgage has been paid it’s actually one of the largest outgoings in our household. Combine draughts and expensive-to-run storage heaters with a husband who can multi-task to watch football on the TV and a film on the iPad, whilst simultaneously bashing away on a laptop, and our bills look something like the national debt.

Having no way of knowing how much electricity we’re using, or how much it is costing us as we go along is a pain. This plays out with the constant chopping and changing of our direct debit to our energy supplier – either being in debt to them, or as is the case at the moment, them owing us (a lot).

I’m always looking out for ways to save on our bills, so I was really pleased to hear that the energy industry is finally modernising, and help is on the way.

Between now and 2020, every home in Great Britain will be offered a smart meter by their energy supplier, at no additional cost. Smart meters automatically measure and communicate the gas and electricity we use, meaning accurate bills and an end to unpredictable estimates. Best of all a smart meter display provides near real time information on energy use in pounds and pence, so we can finally keep track of what we’re using (in my case, what my husband is using!) and reap instant rewards from any energy saving changes we make in our homes.

It’s essential to stay cosy and comfortable during the winter months – and I’m certainly not one to scrimp on lights and heating when I need them on – but there are plenty of small changes we can all make to help keep the costs down… and no, I’m not talking about locking my husband out! Smart meters make this journey a whole lot easier because they let us see the real cost of leaving devices on standby, and help us compare our outgoings when we invest in some thicker curtains to keep the heat in, or run the washing machine at a lower temperature.

Smart Energy GB is the consumer campaign for smart meters. Their independent research report Smart energy outlook has shown that those who have a smart meter are more confident in the accuracy of their bills and the information they have available in order to make decisions about energy.

Sometimes we all need a helping hand to cut back, but using a smart meter is just one way to stay well, warm and in control this winter. Even if – like us – you haven’t had yours installed yet, this Smart Thermometer graphic will help you get started with some tried and tested energy saving tips from smart meter customers and energy experts. I’m definitely going to give them a go this winter.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored content – however, my husband does work for Smart Energy GB (and raves constantly about smart meters).