Beauty product of the month

Much attention is paid to blonds. Witness all of the hair care collections launched in the past year designed to beat brassiness and keep blonds bright. But most of us (60 per cent, according to John Frieda) are natural brunettes—and need just as much attention. The majority voice the same complaint: their hair colour is "mousy," dull and monotone. Brunette hair naturally contains a variety of brown tones and more pigment than blond hair, so it tends to absorb light, not reflect it. The result: lack-lustre locks.

John Frieda has responded with a line of cleansers and styling products called Brilliant Brunette with an aim to make hair sleek and shiny. The Light Reflecting Conditioners are available in two families: Cognac to Maple for lighter shades of brown; and Hazelnut to Espresso for richer shades.

We asked one of the office's brunettes—a self-professed beauty junkie—to give the Brilliant Brunette hair care products a spin. She gave a big thumbs-up to the shampoo and conditioner. "It made my hair feel really soft and look glossy," she said, adding that she'll be stocking them to her shower caddy. She will take a pass on the styling products, however. "I tried a few and only used a dab. I combed it through to the ends but I still found them a little too heavy for my fine hair," she explains.

The products sell for $10 each at drugstores and mass retailers.

First published in Chatelaine.com's March 2004 issue.
© Rogers Publishing Ltd.