Have you ever fancied washing your hair with an aroma-therapeutic blend of twenty five pure flower and plant essences? Well, if you use Aveda’s best selling shampoo 'Shampure' then this is exactly what you will be doing.

For those of you unfamiliar with them, Aveda is an American company and manufactures a premier range of salon quality products and exclusive blends. They work on the principles of 'Aromacology' which is 'The art and science of pure flower and plant essences' and are very environmentally friendly and aware. They are constantly trying to reduce the amount of synthetics and petrochemicals used in their packaging and products and use a high percentage of naturally occurring plant and flower extracts.

Along with some other premium brands, Aveda have manufactured a shampoo which can be used on all hair types - dry and brittle; greasy; fine; out-of-condition or normal to name a few. Shampure contains Coconut Oil rather than a synthetic detergent to produce the lather and also has plant proteins to replace the moisture as it cleanses the impurities and grime from the surface of the hair. As it is protein enriched, with regular use it can strengthen hair and make it less susceptible to breaking and splitting.

Some of the ingredients in Shampure’s unique blend include: rosemary, lavender, aloe vera, avocado and ylang ylang and it has a wonderful aroma. Personally it reminds me of a mixture of cherry with a hint of lemon but it is a fragrance that is quite difficult to describe.

~ Can it be used for those with sensitive skin or flaky scalp? ~

If you have a flaky scalp this may be due to a number of things, one of which could be a fungal infection that may need treatment with a medical shampoo. Shampure is safe to use on this but, as it doesn’t have any anti-fungal agents, it may not clear it up and thus medical help and a specific anti-fungal shampoo (eg from the doctor or pharmacist) may be needed.

Well, yes, I have to admit that the Aveda range is on the expensive side when you compare it to the shampoos that you find in your local Boots or Superdrug. It is available to buy in selected House of Fraser, Debenham’s and Fenwick stores around the country. You can also buy it from QVC (Sky Digital Channel 630) and the website Look Fantastic (www.lookfantastic.com).

By purchasing this size, it can actually work out more economical in the long run when you compare it on a 'price per 100ml basis' as it means that 100ml only costs £2.10 when you buy this size. Comparing this to regular brands of shampoo which may cost £2.99 -£3.99 for a bottle (150-250ml) means that Shampure compares well.

Well, I can only speak for myself and my mother who both use it but we are very pleased with the results achieved. This was the first Aveda shampoo that I purchased and, after only using it for a few weeks I found my long hair to be much softer, shinier and brighter looking. Although my hair was out-of-condition with plenty of split ends, my hairdresser noticed an improvement in the overall condition of my hair, especially at the roots - and this was from using Shampure in combination with my ordinary conditioner.

~ Why should I buy it? ~

Perhaps if you are going somewhere special and want to look your best, then investing in a salon quality shampoo might make your hair look that little bit more shiny and healthy.

Tel: 020 74101600 (for details of stockists around the country)