I’ve been obsessed with vegan beauty brand Lush since the store opened its doors on my local high street over a decade ago (the whiff of bath bombs could be detected half a mile away). Over the years, Lush has seriously upped the ante when it comes to afro haircare, introducing a plethora of products such as its J’s Mom’s Okra Conditioner and Curl Power Curl Pudding, pledging to add even more.
I’m pleased to say that Lush has kept its promise and has launched a new afro haircare range in store and online which is available now. In-house afro haircare specialist Sarah Sango has formulated six new products for Lush, including two conditioners, a co-wash and three styling products which can be applied using the L.O.C method (a technique that uses liquid, oil and cream to moisturise hair). With prices ranging from £10 to £27, each product is inspired by family recipes, made with natural and vegan ingredients and, of course, smells utterly divine.
I was very fortunate to be given an exclusive sneak peek at the new range ahead of time and received endless compliments after trying it out. But what about my honest thoughts? Click ahead for the real lowdown…
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Avocado Co-Wash
Lush convinced me to switch my bottled shampoo for its planet-friendly shampoo bars and I don’t regret a thing. The products get through airport security and – bonus – don’t explode in your bag. While travelling may be off the cards right now, this avocado co-wash should be a staple in your bathroom. This is actually a reformulation of the old avocado wash (one for the OGs) without the sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). It still contains fresh avocado and proteins, as well as lecithin and potassium to deeply moisturise the hair. I was worried that it might make my hair feel squeaky clean like other shampoo bars but was surprised to discover that it left my hair feeling as though I had applied a deep conditioner for hours. My hair felt clean, soft to touch and detangled. Plus, it smells so delicious you’ll want to eat it. Don’t do that, please.
LUSH Avocado Co-Wash, £10 per 100g, available now from LUSH.
Power Conditioner
You know the feeling when you’re so hungry and finally the waiter brings your food to the table? You take one bite and do the food dance. That’s exactly what I did in the shower when I opened this pot of conditioner. It is soul food for your hair. It’s packed with shea butter and sweet maple syrup, which deeply conditions, repairs and adds shine to curls. My hair has never felt so deeply nourished after a 10-minute conditioning/singing/dancing session in the shower.
LUSH Power Conditioner, from £10, available now at LUSH.
Glory Conditioner
Glory is for anyone who requires moisture (so, er, all of us with afro hair) as it contains the super ingredient, okra (a regular feature in Lush’s afro haircare range), which deeply moisturises, softens, thickens and volumises. I have fine, low porosity 3c/4a curls which can often look a little lifeless if I don’t use the right products, but I can confirm you’ll love it. This conditioner gave life back to my curls.
LUSH Glory Conditioner, from £10, available now at LUSH.
Super Milk Conditioning Spray
With my hair sopping wet from the shower, I doused it with this priming spray. I don’t tend to like sprays because I usually end up spritzing more product onto my bed than my head, but I applied as much as I could before combing the product through. I was surprised to discover how lightweight the formula is. It’s packed with almond, coconut and oat milk and did everything it said on the tin: it detangled, increased definition and boosted hydration. This can also be used alone as a leave-in conditioner as part of your wash and go.
LUSH Super Milk Conditioning Spray, from £13.50, available now at LUSH.
Renee’s Shea Souffle Hair and Scalp Oil
This is the hero product for me. Not only can you work it through your hair and give yourself the best massage in the world, it also leaves hair feeling soft, moisturised and shiny. It’s based on a family recipe for a homemade hair treatment and contains Ghanaian shea butter, essential oils and castor oil (hello, hair growth), which are like an elixir for healthy curly, kinky and coily hair. You can work in as little or as much as you like. Rub between hands and apply through wet or dry hair to style. It’s also great for protective styles, such as braids, cornrows, twists and sleek buns, as well as moisturising and keeping your edges hydrated. I used it as part of the L.O.C method to add extra moisture to my dry ends. I’ll take this product everywhere with me.
LUSH Renee’s Shea Souffle Hair and Scalp Oil, from £12, available now at LUSH.
Curl Power
If you’re a prolific finger coiler, this hair cream is for you. It can be used as a leave-in conditioner to define and hold your curls in place. It can also be scrunched through towel-dried hair. It contains linseed oil and molasses to deeply moisturise and define your curls. This was the last step of my L.O.C method and it honestly transformed my curls — I even finally said goodbye to the scraggly bits on my fringe. If you have fine hair, you don’t need to use a lot. Take a penny-sized amount and work it through your hair. Either leave your hair to air-dry or diffuse for the best curls you’ve ever seen.
LUSH Curl Power Hair Cream, from £10, available now at LUSH.
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