Philip Kingsley saved my life.

Okay, okay so I may be known for some overt drama queen tendencies - if you want proof just ask my closest friends about that Monopoly game in 2008... But regarding this little tube of pure magic my proclamations are entirely justified.

Despite having a sizeable mop of naturally curly hair my locks are a downright slave to styling. The past ten years have been spent blow drying, straightening and then blow drying some more. Since I mastered the art of the curly blow dry some years ago, my locks have been whipped into big bouncy waves practically every other night, undergoing at least twenty minutes of intense heat per session. Although I'm pretty heavy handed with the heat protection spray (currently using this - mainly because it smells like Chanel Chance Eau Tendre and seems to do the job), with SIX barrelled brushes in tow breakages are always inevitable.

I'm currently at the stage where my hair is due for a trim (but I'd rather spend the money on new shoes...) and I'm starting to resemble a banshee who's been hanging out of a helicopter. I was therefore delighted when I spotted InStyle magazine were giving away a free 40 ml tube of Philip Kingsley Elasticizer with their October issue. Despite having a subscription to InStyle, which unfortunately does not include the free gifts, I'd heard such great things about this product and had much success with other Philip Kingsley products that I decided to buy another copy to bag this bargain.

I ran a dollop of this intensively conditioning pre-shampoo treatment through wet hair, piled it on top of my head with a couple of sectioning clips and donned a very sexy plastic shower cap. I pottered about for twenty minutes before rinsing out and following with my current shampoo and conditioner favourites. Even whilst wet I noticed how smooth and nourished my previously parched ends felt, but following my usual bouncy blow dry routine I was astounded by the results. Not only was my hair completely transformed into shiny, nourished waves, but it appeared to have added volume and my curls were noticeably heavier, without weighing down my roots one teeny bit. Even more miraculously, despite having to tie my hair back for my ten hour shift in work the following day, when shaken out for after-work drinks I needed to do little more than run a comb through the front sections and add a few kirby grips for my desired half-up half-down look.

24 hours later

I am mightily impressed with this little freebie (well done Philip Kingsley & InStyle) and will definitely be purchasing the full sized version in future months. Well my dramatic episodes just wouldn't be the same without the big hair now would they?