Bzz Agent Review: John Frieda Luxurious Volume Core Restore

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#GotItFree, #greathairday, Beauty, feedback, Freebies, Hair product, John Frieda, Review

 

After receiving my free samples of John Frieda Luxurious Volume Core Restore from Bzzagent, I have to say, I was really looking forward to testing it out.

Freebies from Bzz Agent

For a start it has been years since I have actually spent any serious money on hair care products and though I used to use John Frieda products in my clubbing days and liked them, for some reason I just don’t really splash out anymore. I guess this is what happens when you stop going out and start living on a budget, darn getting older!

Upon first investigation of the freebies, I found that I had a shampoo and conditioner which I would usually use but they had also given me a volumiser treatment, so I put that to one side as I had no idea where my hairdryer was packed away: I always feel it wastes time, so I tend to leave it to dry naturally.

 

First impressions: The packaging is sleek and modern, and something that I can imagine on the shelves of an expensive hair salon. For me personally, it actually reminded me of some men’s shaving gel we had hanging around, and I was hoping that I wouldn’t get confused since the conditioner is actually a clear gel too (looking at them now, I would consider myself an idiot if I did). The shampoo smelt fresh with that almost cucumber type smell (not my favourite) which most people like, but the conditioner smells a little more chemically, like you would expect from a salon product. The smells do lessen after applying to the hair and drying though. The most important thing for me was that it’s usable on coloured hair: so a big thumbs up for that.

 

I first tried using the shampoo and conditioner as I would normally; leaving my hair to dry naturally. I found after this, my hair felt sticky: as though I’d used lots of hair product which I didn’t like at all.
Next time I tried them, I used less product as they do seem to lather up very well and I thought that maybe I wouldn’t need so much as other conditioners: usually my hair is quite dry and I seem to use more conditioner than shampoo. After using less of the conditioner I found this did seem better but still my hair didn’t feel natural. On the plus side, it did actually add more volume: my usually flat hair definitely had more of a bounce to it which was a nice change.

I continued to test using differing amounts of the shampoo and conditioner and found that I could even go without using the conditioner which seemed unusual for my hair type. Using only the shampoo, my hair still felt moisturised and soft with added volume. If I used a little of the conditioner afterwards it did work out a lot nicer for my hair and added extra boost but I was getting a little concerned that it didn’t smell as nice or feel as natural as my normal brands.

I should point out that it was only me who felt this though and both my boyfriend and mother didn’t see any difference, so maybe it was just a personal preference. My mother did notice the difference in the volume added: as usually my hair is very fine, so any bit of extra body is quite visible. Then I decided I should be trying all three of the core restore collection together for maximum results.

After finding out my hairdryer, I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed by the results.  The volumiser treatment was nice and easy to use, and I liked that it was a pump action gel rather than a spray type which seem to produce more waste and mess. I also liked that the bottle was a good size to handle and seemed a good fit to put in an overnight travel bag (unlike the shampoo/conditioner).

For me personally, I don’t think I would use the core restore shampoo/conditioner instead of a usual brand, however I might put them into the rota (I tend to swap around brands). I think it’s something I might want to use for a night out to look good, but not to use all the time: I prefer a more natural feel to my hair. Also the price does not really fall within my weekly budget (unless it was on offer), so using it infrequently would suit me better on both levels.

Overall the Core restore set were good products. They did give my hair extra volume and bounce as promised and I like the fact that a little goes a long way. My original good opinion of John Frieda has been reaffirmed: it is still a good brand which does what it says on the tin.

Now I just have to go and try separate this into three reviews grr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NaNoWriMo – readers & opinions welcomed

Tags

Challenge, Creative Writing, critique, dragon, fantasy, feedback, fiction, NaNoWriMo, Novel, Writing

**Please note due tio the nature of NaNoWriMo this is an unedited draft so may contain spelling mistakes but please let me know if you liked or disliked characters etc

——————

The beast loomed above them.

Nostrils flared and creating small puffs of smoke with every exhalation. It’s thick claws grappling with the cobblestones, as it steadied itself in the unfamiliar surroundings. The stone dragon had received a rude awakening that afternoon and now all that stood between it and them was a flimsy metal shield and a broken mace.

“Stay behind me, if we move together then we can make it to door over there”

“The storage door? Are you mad?… I knew this was a bad idea, if only we had just done as we had been asked then..

“SHUT UP! .. RUN!”

The half mace flew through the air and landed with a thud on the stone dragon’s right claw. The impact was just enough to unsettle it for a few seconds as Tiffin and Estella made their way towards the small wooden door. The beast followed seconds after and was upon the door before it swung shut.
Once inside the beast froze, it stood in the darkness listening, tilting its head in the direction of the soft murmurings. It took a step forward towards a low muffled squeak, and inhaled deeply, filling it’s lungs with the damp air. Then it sat up on hind legs, lifting it’s nostrils high in the air, again it inhaled deeply, in preparation of securing its target.

*THWACK*

A large metal skillet flying through the air hit the stone dragon right on the bridge of his snout, and two small shadowy figures crept towards the hessian sacks in the corner of the room. The beast let out an almighty howl as it whipped around, eyes trying to focus on the moving blurs.
It’s hesitance now replaced with rage as it bared his jagged teeth for all to see. Clambering over the large sacks, the beast’s claws tore through the hessian with ease. Vegetables spilled out onto the floor as the beast made its way to the top of a large mound of potatoes. There it stood hissing and spitting whilst Tiffin and Estella crouched nearby, arms clenched around one another.
The smell of earth from the vegetables crept into their nostrils, tickling their noses and causing Tiffin to sneeze. Estella tried to muffle the sound but it was too late, the beast charged towards them, Tiffin let out a yelp, Estella held her breath…

And suddenly light flooded the room.
The net landed upon the dragon swiftly and without warning, as did the cold water which appeared to shock the beast into complacency.

“Estella! …..Where are you? are you hurt?”

The gruff voice echoed through the storeroom followed by a large figure brandishing a sword in his left hand. Behind him trailed four men who set about the captured and now silent beast. As they began to tie the ends of the net around a long wooden pole, Estella stood up and shook the dust from her tunic.

“I’m fine father”

Her tone a little more indignant than one would have expected after being saved from such an ordeal.

“Fine you may be, but what if we had not been here to save you? What if Cook had not enquired how we had got rid of this beast so fast, and what if I had not been there to realise that only you would be so foolish as to approach the creature rather than pass the message on to one of the lizard catchers!”

Estella scowled a little at that remark then revealed a jagged wooden stick she still had clenched behind her back.

“I would have been fine, I still had this”

She shook what was left of the mace in the air whilst her father let out a sigh, his eyes looking past her and fixing on Tiffin.

“And what of him?”

Estella turned to see Tiffin still crouching behind a sack of potatoes, head in his hands and eyes locked on the netted stone dragon.

“You need to consider your actions Estella” His tone had calmed as he laid a gloved hand upon her shoulder “you cannot keep dragging poor Tiffin into your wild schemes, these dangerous excursions need to stop, I will not always be here to save you’

Estella thought about this a moment and nodded silently, then she turned to help Tiffin get up and led him past the placated beast. Her father watched them pass then turned to follow, his foot catching on something as he moved. Reaching down to pick up the dented skillet he smiled to himself as he noticed the leather straps crudely riveted to the inner side, and the outer side of the pan displayed a lightly etched oak tree. Without thinking he drew his hand to his chest, emblazoned with his own oak tree crest and even with all his frustration Lord Oakenhart could not help but be mildly impressed with his daughters ingenuity. In that moment his annoyance subsided and he tenderly called after Estella.

“Don’t forget your shield, little one”