Can Boucleme tame my curls?
Regular readers here know about my love/hate relationship with my curls. As a child I hated my hair – brushed to a mass of 70s frizz it either stuck out of my head like a pelmet or was plastered to it like a curly swimming cap.
It wasn’t until I became a regular at my now favourite hair salon, Silhouette Du Barry, run by my gorgeous friend Zoe and her husband (stylists to the stars at London Fashion Week and X Factor no less) that I learned to look after, style and love my curls.
That said I’m always looking for new products to help me make the best of my ‘do’ and I’ve written before about the ones that made my top 5. So when I saw that there was a new girl on the scene – Michele Scott-Lynch, founder of Boucleme – I was keen to try out her range. (I’ll also be sharing my interview with her here soon.)
Lately I’ve been cheating on my curls with my straighteners and it’s wrought havoc with my curl pattern so I was keen to see if Boucleme could bring back some bounce to my bouff!
The range includes a Curl Cleanser, Curl Conditioner and Curl Defining Gel and unlike so many so called ‘natural’ curl products on the market all three are completely free from sulphates, silicones, mineral oils, petroleum, propylene glycol, PEGs, parabens, artificial fragrances and colours.
Both the Curl Cleanser and Conditioner have a lovely rich consistency and smell divine. You can see below just how yummy and moisturising they look! My curls were SO ready to drink in all this goodness I can tell you.
The Cleanser immediately felt different on my hair to a normal shampoo – there was no squeakiness, no foaming, in fact it felt more like a conditioner than a shampoo. Michele explained to me that was because normal shampoos actually strip curly hair of moisture – which is just exactly what our hair needs!
After rinsing out the Cleanser I used the Conditioner and rinsed this out too before applying another small amount to the mid lengths and ends and leaving it in. Michele advised me to play with the amount I left in to see what worked best – there are different curl types and textures and they all need varying amounts of moisture. (Read more about this and work out which curl type you have at the Boucleme site.)
The next step was to apply the Curl Defining Gel which Michele explained again needed to go on WET rather than towel dried hair to lock as much moisture as possible within the curls. The consistency reminded me of the Paul Mitchell Round Trip liquid that I’ve been using for years but it did smell nicer, I have to admit.
My hair is just below shoulder length when it’s wet and I used about half of the amount you’d need to cover an Oreo cookie, combing it through with a wide tooth comb before flipping my head upside down and scrunching the hair from root to tip, ‘clumping’ the curls together to encourage them to form bigger curls rather than separating out which can cause frizziness.
MICHELE’S TOP TIP: Revive 2nd day curls by spritzing hair with a mixture of cool boiled filtered water and Curl Defining Gel.
The next step was patience! I don’t tend to use a blow drier on my hair as I prefer to leave it to dry naturally – but this can take a good couple of hours. Michele says it’s important to resist the temptation to touch your curls until they are completely dry as that can lead to more frizz.
One thing that is a little disconcerting is that as it dries the Curl Defining Gel creates a ‘cast’ around the hair, making it hard or crunchy to the touch. But Michele explained that once the hair is dry I just needed to scrunch this ‘cast’ off to leave my hair shiny, super soft and bouncy.
Love this handwritten note from Michele – there’s nothing like the personal touch is there!
My patience definitely paid off! Once my hair was completely dry I scrunched away the crunch and there were my curls, definitely less frizzy and more completely formed than before. I’m still not completely happy with the way my curls have a different texture on the top, sides and underneath so I must admit I do use a curl wand to create a more consistent look but these photos show my hair untouched by heat products so you can see the natural me!
I’ve been using the Boucleme range for just over a week now and I’ve really noticed a difference in my curls. They feel and look healthier and more moisturised and there’s less frizz for a much better curl shape. It’s amazing how something as simple as as feeling good about your hair can lift your spirits! Huge thank you to Michele at Boucleme for showing me – and now you! – how to use the range to best effect.
For full details of the range, and to buy online, visit Boucleme.
What products do you use on your curls? Do you have a special routine you follow to make the most of your tresses or do you fight the frizz and straighten it?
Linking up with Image of the Week at Truly Madly Kids, PoCoLo at Verily Victoria Vocalises, Welcome to the Weekend at Claire Justine, All About You at Mama and More, Tried and Tested at Going on an Adventure, Share with Me at Let’s Talk Mommy, Brilliant Blog Posts at Honest Mum
Ooh this looks like a great product. I have awkward curls that I usually straighten or put up, as I’ve never quite figured out how to tame them properly. Off to have a look at website x
Charlotte recently posted…Avocado, Bacon and Chickpea Salad
I have the same curly hair and its different on top on the sides and underneath too. I have never been satisfied with it with just products. These sound great but I will always have to refer to a curl wand to keep it all looking the same and more tame. lol So I can relate. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Jenny recently posted…Friendships, a game, and startrite shoes #littleloves
Michelle I will share this with Hannah my friend as she has amazing curls but I bet she will love this…
Your hair is beautiful xx
MamaMuse
Rebecca Slinger recently posted…
I grew up with frizzy hair. I think thats my middle name =P
This product looks promising and I wish I can use something like it too. Just so I can learn to love my hair. #sharewithme
Merlinda Little ( ) recently posted…My Son’s Sweetest Smile
I think I’ve basically straightened out my curls, my hair is pretty short now and really thick so having it curly was a nightmare, interested to try those products though, worth a shot! #brilliantblogposts
I’ve been straightening my hair a lot recently and I’d never considered that it would affect my curl pattern, but now you’ve mentioned it I think it really has! You learn something new every day!
I’ve tried lots of finishing products but I tend to stick to the same shampoo/conditioner, which is maybe where I’m going wrong with my curls? Thanks for sharing this. x
#sharewithme
Betty and the Bumps recently posted…It’s not all about the scales (Weight Loss Diary #12)
You have lovely curls. I used to have long, thick, curly hair but since using straighteners it’s never quite the same. The product looks great, glad it doesn’t stay crunchy, thats one of the things I hate about curly hair products.
EmmaH recently posted…A day in the life of a quadruplet
Sounds like I need to try this!
Eat Pray Wear Love
stunning hair you have there! As the mother of a curly girl (I am a straight haired gal) we feel the sometimes pain of having curls. However, it is the most gorgeous of hair when tamed – we use all sorts of products to try to beat the frizz, so I might try this one #AllAboutYou
Sharon Pickles recently posted…
Sounds so lush and after reading this I left my hair super curly this weekend and I’m loving it #sharethejoylinky x
HonestMum recently posted…The Happy-Making Little Things
Your curls are lovely Michelle
I need something to make my too straight hair more curly, I have to plate/curl my hair to get a bit of waves..great review.. Thanks for sharing at the weekend blog hop..
Claire recently posted…
I’ve been growing my curls after a couple of yrs of short daily straightened hair. Like the look of these. I tend to skimp on the quality of shampoo and conditioner but swear by umberto giannini curl gel stuff from Boots. Love curls but they are hard work!
Yours are looking beautiful x
76sunflowers recently posted…Canal Life {Bradford-on-Avon}
Wow, just look at your curls, need this for my girls. They both have very curly hair, and I really struggle to find the right product for them as I have completely straight hair and have never had to use products like that.
Mirka Moore recently posted…Olivia Starting Nursery
Sold! I was nodding along as I read this, I agree with everything she says. Must check this out. And your curls look fab here
xx
Franglaise Mummy recently posted…Dancing for a better life with Comic Relief
Wow your curls look gorgeous, these products look like they’d work a treat on my hair too, thanks darling, fab review x
HonestMum recently posted…Celebrating Inspiring Women-#ARWOMAN
Ooh I love any product made with curls in mind! I tend to only use shampoo if I’ve got product build up, otherwise I ‘shampoo’ my hair with a cheaper conditioner and then use the thicker, more intensive one afterwards to deep condition.
I might give this a go – I’m loving the level of curl definition you’ve got going on in these pics!
Tinuke recently posted…Why I won’t be buying my mum a car for Mother’s Day
I think based on that you’d love this range Tin as the cleanser feels very much like a conditioner – which reminds me I need to go and buy some of the bigger bottles myself! x