Karine Jackson Hair & Beauty - Organic Hair Colouring review - Go Straight - Fordham White Hair and Beauty

Leading London salon Karine Jackson Hair & Beauty has introduced an exceptional new range of organic colour, Organic Colour Systems, which uses naturally derived ingredients that are kind and nurturing to the hair. As a holder of the prestigious L'Oreal Colour Specialist Degree, Karine knows good colour inside out, and was keen to offer an organic alternative to the usual big-brand ranges. So we thought we'd put it to the test - read what Angela, the Tiscali tester, had to say below...

As someone who has spent a large portion of her adult life colouring her own hair, there isn't much I haven't tried. Since I was sixteen, my locks have ranged from standard shades of blonde, brown and black to more lurid purple, red and even one very memorable magenta for the summer of 2005. Tints, semi-permanent, permanent... In fact, just about the only thing I haven't experimented with is organic colouring, which is why I found myself at the stylish Karine Jackson Studio in Covent Garden. The friendly staff provide drinks and nibbles while Karine gets ready to attempt the near-impossible: fixing over a decades' worth of home colouring. (Image above: Angela's 'before' picture)

The state of my hair upon entering the salon is best described as 'a bit of a mess'. Having gone through the winter with it black, it's now migrating back to a more natural state of blonde again, thanks to a large amount of bleach. But I'm no professional and it has a taken on a distinct banded look, where regrowth and bleachings have collided. As I sit down, I can't help but think "good luck, you're gonna need it".

Time for some science. The Organic Colour System uses ingredients derived from natural sources, including aloe vera, orange and grapefruit extracts and, most importantly, it doesn't contain ammonia. That means that your hair keeps its protein balance, and doesn't end up looking and feeling like straw afterwards. As with all hair dyes though, a skin irritation test is required a few days before a treatment, just to ensure you don't suffer any allergic reactions to the ingredients. Luckily for me, those many years of colouring has left my scalp impervious to anything short of all out germ warfare, and it's safe to proceed.

The good news is that organic colour comes in an immense range of shades, so there's something for everyone. Though I'm briefly distracted by a tempting violet, I'm determined to be properly blonde again in time for the summer months. But what kind? Karine explains that different shades will suit different people, based on the tone of your skin. Using a colour fan - a palette of colours that are held under your face - she quickly establishes that I'll never be a platinum blonde. My pale skin becomes even more ghostly and washed out next to the cooler, blue areas of the fan. Instead, warmer, honey golden blondes are more flattering to me (which might explain why I was never able to pull off the green hair look).

Now we've established what suits me, the question still remains of what to do. She decides to run a series of highlights through my hair, to even out any crimes I may have committed. A couple of different shades will balance out the overall colour, and give it a more natural look: hair that is all exactly the same shade tends to look fake and dull.

The colourant is applied straight on dry hair, and the biggest thing you notice about the dyes is the smell; or rather the lack of it. Anyone who has coloured their hair in the limited confines of their own bathroom knows the full horror of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide combined in an enclosed space. With organic colour, it's actually rather pleasant which makes a refreshing change (I keep being reminded of liquorice). It takes twenty minutes in total to develop, just like most off-the-shelf products. Half the time is spent under a heater, and all the time is spent in a fetching plastic cap, the price of beauty being looking a little undignified for half an hour.

When the time is up, it's washed out and ready to be finished off. As she blow-dries, I'm amazed at not only how well the colours match up to what was originally in my hair (a challenge in itself) but also at how smooth and glossy it all looks. Seems like no ammonia really does make a difference. The blonde highlights are so bright and vibrant, none of this dull, lifeless hair for me. (Image above: Angela's 'after' picture)

For anyone interested, this chic little salon also offers all the rest of the hair care experience, as well as beauty treatments to go with your newly coiffeured tresses. There's even a loyalty card - get it stamped for six treatments and the seventh is free.

Two weeks later, and the colour is still going strong. I think I'm a convert.

Karine Jackson Hair & Beauty is at 24 Litchfield Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9NJ. For appointments, call 020 7836 0300 or visit www.karinejackson.co.uk.

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