I think we all have certain products or ranges of products that we seem to rate very highly. Some of mine include - Heinz, Cadburys, Loreal, Dior, and Lancome.

Don't get me wrong I also love own brand products and am in no way a label snob. Basically if I like something I buy it no matter what the label but there are certain things I must admit I do prefer to others.

For those that know me you will already be aware I adore my health & beauty items and am always trying out new stuff. I must've tried hundreds or haircare products over the years but one brand I always trust and seem to like is Paul Mitchell.

Paul Mitchell was set up 26 years ago by two friends who had a vision of founding a company by hairdressers for hairdressers one that would provide tools of success for hair care professionals, their salons, and the entire beauty industry. It all began in 1980, when John Paul DeJoria and Paul Mitchell first decided to launch their professional hair care system around a revolutionary new styling method - hair sculpting, and a revolutionary new styling product - Hair Sculpting Lotion®.

In 1980, they established a partnership with a borrowed $700.00 which eventually become known as John Paul Mitchell Systems®. The two partners began marketing their products under the brand name Paul Mitchell®, as Mr. Mitchell was the hairdresser of the two and other hairdressers would respect a hairdresser's name.

The packaging the products are so well reknowned for actually came about because resources were so limited that the Paul Mitchell® brand's now-famous black and white packaging was a result of not being able to afford color ink. Who would dream it when you see what the company has become in todays age.

To help them get into salons acrross the USA the pair offered their products on a sale or return policy something that was new to the industry and made them the fastest growing privately-held companies in the United States.

The company which currently produces over 90 products has something for has sub ranges such as Paul Mitchell, Modern Elixirs™, The Tea Tree Collection, Paul Mitchell LAB™, Paul Mitchell Professional Hair Color. All products are produced in the USA but are available for puchase in 73 countries around the world.

Still owned by one of the original founders John Paul DeJoria the company according to its original vision. Despite hugely lucrative offers from public corporations to purchase John Paul Mitchell Systems, John Paul refuses to sell the company because of the initial vow he took to stand by the professional beauty industry. Since no public corporation can guarantee it will market John Paul Mitchell Products exclusively through salons, for John Paul - selling is simply not an option. Tragically, Paul Mitchell died of pancreatic cancer in 1989 but through his ex-partners determination to fulfill their original idea his memory still lives on through the products available to se many people.

They have such a wide range of products available it would be virtually impossible for me to list them all here but I will pick a few at random.

For those with coloured hair there is a comprehensive range of colour care items including - Colour Protect Shampoo & Coditioner (seperate items), Colour Protect Locking Spray and Colour Protect Reconstructive Treatment.

For those need extra body there is a range of items designed to give your hair an injection of fullness including - Extra Body Daily Shampoo & Daily Rinse (seperate items), Extra Body Sculpting Gel, Thicken Up.

They even make products which are aimed at the younger members of the family in their kids range.

Paul Mitchell as a company are completing opposed to animal testing and were actually the first hair care company to publicly oppose animal testing. They work as a team working to ensure the company follows earth-friendly policies and strategies.

I first tried Paul Mitchell products when aged 16 I took my very first pay packet from my Saturday job at Woolworths and had a spiral perm at a proper hairdressers instead of having my mums friend do it in her living room. Of course as they sometimes do they gave me the talk about what products they'd used and my hair looked so good I immediately bought the shampoo and conditioner they suggested would be bestsuited to make the most of my springy locks.

Once I used the shampoo and smelt how gorgeous and exotic it smelt (almost like being on a beach smothered in coconutty sun tan lotion) I knew I was going to like it. Then after using the conditioner and seeing how it kept my hair and my new curls in amazing condition I was hooked. I carried on using these products for a number of years but then as I changed my hair style I changed my products and these kind of took a back seat for me.

Just recently though my liking of these products has been ressurected in the form of the Instant Moisture Daily Treatment which has taken my hair from dry and damaged to soft and healthy again and the Awaphui Shampoo which has really helped workwith the Moisture Daily Treatment to restore my hairs natural moisture balance. I was lucky enough to win these in a competition and it has bought Paul Mitchell back onto my bathroom cabinet once again and with pleasing results.

The range can be bought from hair dressers nationwide. I would always recommend if you are new to buying this range that you speak with someone in the salon about what your needs are and what your hair type is as they can offer advice and suggestions for which products would be best suited to your hair and what your requirements are.

You can also buy these products from Ebay where they are available at cheaper prices and at online hair and beauty retailers. Once you know which products you are best using you can buy replacements from these kind of places to save a bit of money.

Priced between £3 and £15 the products may seem expensive but they contain natural ingredients and they always smell absolutely divine as well. Also there is the added bonus of them actually doing what the claim to do on the packaging and I have never tried one of these products that hasn't delivered when I've tried it.

If I could afford it I would buy a lot more products from this range but these are like a luxury treat to me and something I can only have once in a while.

You can find out more information on the products available on their website http://paulmitchell.com/home.asp

I would definitely recommend this range if you want to splash out on some higher quality hair care items. Their shampoos are brilliant and they last for ages making the higher price tag slightly more bearable.

Thanks for reading, please ignore the ratings below as they aren't relevant to this review.

Shazza x