When you get to test what feels like ten million zillion products you can become a little jaded. In fact – and I’m not proud to admit it – I’ve been known to slather expensive (yet crappily formulated) night creams on my legs and arms like a body lotion, ‘cos, well, I can.  Still, this never detracts from the sheer delight I take in discovering the odd gem; a product that makes me go ‘Flip! I have loads of free goodies to choose from and yet I’ll gladly fork out my hard-earned cash to buy more of you’. One such little darling is this boy:

Philip Kingsley, if you didn’t know, is a big deal British trichologist (someone who specialises in hair and scalp care). He has his own hair care line but his bestseller is still his mega-moisturising Elasticizer. He actually created it for Audrey Hepburn (yes, really!) to help restore the condition of her hair which was always taking a beating thanks to all the colouring and styling that went down on her movie sets.

Ingredients-wise, the Elasticizer contains hydrating ingredients like castor seed oil, olive oil and urea as well as hydrolised elastin. It promises to deliver an intensive dose of moisture into your hair’s shaft and restore its elasticity and bounce. It also offers a bit of UV protection that can help prevent your hair colour from fading in the sun.

To use it, you’re to massage it into your hair, pull on a shower cap and leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes. Afterwards, you can rinse, shampoo and condition as per usual. Still, as I’m a time-strapped lass, I did all of the above but only for ten minutes and skipped out on the shower cap. Afterwards, when I shampooed my hair, I worried that I’d wash out the good stuff but it seems as though the shampoo only removes the excess that doesn’t penetrate your hair shaft. As for conditioning, this also made me nervy and I thought I’d end up with hair that looked too weighed down or greasy. Merrily, I needn’t have worried one bit ‘cos, despite having super fine hair that turns greasy in a flash, the Elastizer left my locks feeling as soft as silk as well as light and bouncy. I also loved that my wet hair was incredibly easy to brush, without a tangle in sight. Love, love, love!

As I’ve got fine chemically processed hair, Philip suggests I use it once a week. Those with curlier, coarser hair should try it twice a week. However, if your hair’s completely in its moer, you might want to try Elasticizer Extreme. I’m now a huge fan of the regular version and yes, I know it’s frikken pricy, but ag wat; I justify it by telling myself that my hair is the one thing I wear every single day. And if it’s good enough for Ms Hepburn…

Love, love

Leigh

Philip Kingsley products are stocked at selected Edgars, Phililip Kingsley Trichology Clinics (in Jozi and CT) as well as sold online over here. If you take a look at foreign websites you’ll see it’s less expensive to buy the product overseas but then you might get klapped with import tax.

UPDATE: Just been told that Philip Kingsley also have a 75ml Elasticizer for R329. Nice.