Salon64 have launched a range of shampoo containing real 24-carat gold. But is this the latest beauty must have, or an expensive marketing gimmick?
Courtney Pochin put the Liquid Gold range to the test for The Mirror. “If there's one thing I love in life, aside from my husband-to-be, it's a little bit of sparkle,” said Courtney.
“I firmly believe that everything is a little better when there's glitter involved. So when I was told Salon64 had launched a range of shampoo and conditioner with real 24-carat gold in it, I knew I had to try it.
“The Liquid Gold range costs £44.99 per 250ml bottle and is intended to strengthen and transform 'tired and weak hair'. Both the shampoo and conditioner are vegan, with ginger, dandelion and burdock inside to 'aid the recovery process' and get hair to a healthier state.
“I was invited down to the London-based salon to try the products out for myself and have been using them at home as well for a few weeks - and I definitely have some thoughts. When I arrived at the salon, (after braving Storm Eunice to get there), it's fair to say my hair was looking pretty bad.
“It was dry, dull, incredibly windswept and in need of some professional help. The team gave it a good wash using the Liquid Gold products - which smelled divine as they were lathered into my hair - and I was amazed to see that the shampoo and conditioner really do sparkle as they come out of the bottle.
“This might just have been the most luxurious hair wash I've ever had. Before this I'd felt my regular products (Percy and Reed Wonder Wash Shampoo and TIGI's oatmeal and honey conditioner) had been weighing my hair down, leaving it looking dull and feeling unhealthy - and it seems they were and it was time for a change.
“When Ricky Walters (the owner of Salon64) finished working his magic with the Liquid Gold, my hair was feeling lighter on my head, silkier and appearing much shinier. Under the salon lights, you'd be forgiven for thinking the gold shampoo had also somehow made me blonder, as I did look much more vibrant after the wash - like the gold had somehow seeped right into my hair.
“It was partly due to the products and partly due to the lighting in the salon - but either way, it was completely fabulous. Ricky, who has a number of celebrity clients including Nicola Roberts, explained how the Liquid Gold range was intended to be used in 'small bursts'.
“He told The Mirror how all shampoos and conditioners serve a different purpose - whether that's to strengthen hair, provide moisture or tackle frizz - and once your hair gets what it needs from them, you should swap to something new. The Liquid Gold is meant to strengthen and Ricky advised I use it for a month or two at a time before alternating it with other products.
“But he adds that it's important to remember that while the gold shampoo looks magical, it's not actually magic and won't work overnight. It will take a little while to see results from any product and this is true of the Liquid Gold. I've now been using the range at home for just under a month and over that time have seen how my hair has changed gradually - I hope it's never the same again.
“The products smell wonderful, making you feel like you've stepped straight out of the salon, instead of your own shower and my hair is still much softer and lighter. So do you need to spend almost £90 on shampoo and conditioner? Almost certainly not.
“But if you've got the money to spare and your hair is in desperate need of some TLC then I'd definitely recommend giving Salon64's haircare range a go. You deserve a little sparkle.”
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
