When I was pregnant I became a little bit obsessed with the content of the shampoos, conditioners, creams and shower gels I used. I even stopped using my favourite every-day fake tanning lotion. My main concern was with the paraben content of my everyday beauty favourites.

Parabens are preservatives, man made ones, and studies that cannot rule out the link between using them and certain cancers. Note my use of the word ‘cannot’. I just wanted to be sure I was doing the best for my my unborn child.

Fast forward a few years – and a few bottles of everyday fake tan later. I’ve not really been paying so much attention to what I use to wash/beautify myself, but Imogen (my daughter) has been as far as I know, a paraben and sulphate free zone; sulphates being another questionable inclusion, as they are  harsh detergents that can strip the body and hair of its natural oils.

It was while I writing a piece on cancer  for one of the financial trades I work for a few weeks back that I became ‘content’ conscious of the various lotions and potions I use. The article, by the way, which happened to mention that women are more likely to get certain cancers in the late 30s through to their early 50s.

So on my next trip to the supermarket I decided to try L’Oreal’s new sulphate free range. The Paris Hair Expertise EverStrong Reinforcing & Vitality shampoo and conditioner which were on special offer for £9 for the both. A bit pricey, but not as pricey as my usual brand. So I gave them a go. The smell was the first thing that I noticed, there were no chemical undertones, and my hair looked and felt better – it was easier to style, and when I didn’t blow dry it, still looked okay.

So I thought try some other brands, this time ones that were paraben free too.  My hair is in fairly good condition, apart from last being cut 10 weeks ago (I’m growing it so I’m holding out for three monthly cuts at the moment), but it could do with a bit of a boost.

First up was Keratherapy’s keratin infused shampoo and conditioner. You can only buy this through hair salons and it’s marketed as a product for those wanting that sleek blow dried look without having to have the permanent blow dry. The smell was subtle and the consistency was something you’d expect from a protein-packed lotion. I didn’t use protective product when I blow dried my hair after using this and it still managed to look shiny. It did also hang straighter.

Macadamia Natural Oils – I tried the rejuvinating shampoo and moisterizing rinse producgts. These were a little runny but don’t let that put you off, they smelt like sun tan lotion and my hair, which can look lank if I use a heavy conditioner, managed to hold its style (I used this on a day when I curled my hair with rollers) all day.

Essential Care – the gentle herb shampoo promises to be so mild you don’t need a conditioner. I have to say I’m a conditioner addict so I still used one! But out of all the products this was the one that didn’t actually smell of anything at all. I used it on Imogen, as she certainly doesn’t need a conditioner, and was impressed. Three days after using it her hair was still looking freshly washed.

Ogario – if I had to go by smell alone these would win hands down. I tried the restore and shine hair masque, which smelt like chocolate and lemon; the revive and shine shampoo and conditioner, which also had a wonderful lemon aroma. I later read that the masque had sage and lavender while the shampoo had nettle and rooibos, while the condition had horsetail and hibiscus. It felt like a waste to put these on my hair and I debated actually tasting them (and no I’m not pregnant). My hair felt soft and was shiny.

Verdict: Giving my hair a break from sulphates appears to have improved its condition generally. These products are not ones I’d normally buy. I’ll be trying some more mainstream brands, including the Body Shop and update you on my findings.

If you have any recommendations let me know and we can include them here.

Our lady in Italy has embraced the Tuscan countryside, but can she find a decent hairdresser?

All my adult life I’ve dreamed of living in the Italian countryside….

Five months ago I moved from a life where coffee shops, beauty salons and gyms were all within walking distance, to a house on a hillside in rural Tuscany, where the nearest shop of any description is a 15 minute drive.

I knew I could live without the waxing, the gym (I have stunning running routes right outside my front door), Waitrose just round the corner…. And although Italy may be the birthplace of the barrista there’s no ‘just’ nipping out for a café macchiato every morning.

I wasn’t too worried about the serious stuff either. Having experienced Italian A&E with a histrionic seven year old on holiday one year, I felt confident about the healthcare system.

The one thing that did make me fret though – would I be able to find a decent hairdresser.

My untreated hair is an unappealing shade of salt and pepper, and having spent years trying various salons and brands of hair colour I’d finally got it right.

I managed to track down an Aveda salon, conveniently located by the station in our nearest city of La Spezia and embarked on a new hair relationship.

Stefania, the colourist at Redstyle is a fan of all things English, in particular rock music, and is delighted to have a regular client from the UK.

‘Is that Rooot?’ she positively shouts when I ring up to book my appointment.

I’d been worried that my explanations of what I wanted wouldn’t make sense.

Did the dictionary word for highlights – mechies – mean highlights in your hair? My UK hairdresser had written out the colour mix she’d used – would Stefania understand it?

However, with typical Italian positivity, she and husband Danielle who does the cutting, listen patiently to my explanations and we get there in the end.

While my colour is applied we enjoy the usual hairdresser-client chat – the weather, how are the children doing? Stefania already remembers the names and ages of my children and where they work/study.

She’s worried that her own daughter will speak English with an American accent because her teacher is from the US.

Then I’m offered tea/coffee – and a whole array of sweets and biscuits.

Stefania explains to me (in Italian) the flavours of all the chocolates. The last one is chilli – ‘Red Hot Chillee Peppers’ she booms in English.

After an hour reading about the world’s most papparazied women (the Italians have a verb – to paparazzy) Kate and Pippa in the Italian equivalent of Hello, my hair is washed with familiarly scented shampoo and Daniele takes over.

He is much quieter than Stefania, who chats to me about other clients with English relatives while he works. His scissors positively fly and I have no idea how he can tell what he’s doing. But 20 minutes and a blow dry later, it looks – immaculate.

With effusive goodbyes I depart to the station – and breathe a sigh of relief that there will be no bad hair days for the next month.