A UK-favourite make-up brand has launched a hair care line – but is it as good as their cosmetics?
High-street Italian make-up brand Kiko Milano has just launched a hair range.
The budget cosmetics brand has become one of the UK’s most loved make-up labels, with 26 stores nationwide.
Best known for its dual-end lipglosses and 2-in-1 complexion products, Kiko has earned its name as one of the best budget cosmetic brands in the market.
Never before has the brand tiptoed into the haircare scene, so its recent launch – which features five new hair products – has taken us all by surprise.
This month, the brand launched a shampoo, conditioner, mask, serum and hairspray, in collaboration with stylist Rossano Ferretti – AKA the World’s Hair Maestro.
I’ve tried each of the products, and here are my honest thoughts on each.
Kiko Nourish & Protect Shampoo
I’ll be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for shampoo from a brand I know and love for its lipglosses.
My hair is incredibly thick, so a shampoo literally has to do a lot of heavy lifting to clean it.
Usually, I’ll wash my hair twice a week and tend to reach for deep-cleaning formulas to whip my locks into shape.
My hair is very frizz-prone, too, so formulas with frizz control are an absolute must – and thankfully, the Kiko Nourish & Protect Shampoo promises to do just this!
Kiko Nourish & Protect Shampoo, £19.99
This shampoo has a fine, liquid texture that lathers into a thin foam.
This meant that it was easy to distribute across my entire head, but trickier to work deeply into my scalp.
It took a few extra dollops of product before I felt satisfied that my hair was clean, but its lightweight formula was a dream to rinse out.
I usually try to swerve heavily scented products in all of my beauty products except haircare – where I’m a sucker for a fruity, refreshing scent.
However, this shampoo has a very subtle, powdery scent – which isn’t a million miles away from sunscreen.
Kiko Nourish & Protect Hair Mask
I’ve never been much of a fan of hair masks – mostly because I get impatient and want to wash them away immediately!
The Kiko hair mask advises that you apply it after shampooing, and let it sit on your locks for up to five minutes.
So I adopted a new tactic while trialling this mask: I applied the mask from my hair’s ends to my scalp, then occupied myself by shaving my legs while I waited for it to do its magic.
Kiko Nourish & Protect Hair Mask, £22.99
When I first applied the mask, I was concerned by its rubbery, plastic-like texture.
However, once on, the mask has a lovely, lightweight texture, which is easy to massage into your hair and scalp.
It didn’t feel heavy or greasy like so many masks do, but it did take me a few attempts to wash it away thoroughly.
Kiko Nourish & Protect Conditioner
This conditioner has a very intriguing formula.
Rather than resembling a cream, it has a lovely whipped texture meaning it isn’t sticky or heavy.
I worked the product from my ends and up to my crown, and it didn’t leave the back of my head greasy.
Kiko Nourish & Protect Conditioner, £20.99
According to Kiko, 90% of users found that it helped decrease dryness – which is something I definitely agree with.
When I rinsed the conditioner away, it didn’t leave a greasy residue on my skin and my hair felt instantly softer.
While this conditioner worked wonders on my thick hair, it would also be a great match for finer locks, as it won’t weigh them down or leave hair feeling greasy.
Kiko Nourish & Protect Hair Spray
If you’ve never used a liquid hairspray then they can take a bit of getting used to.
Aerosol sprays produce a fine mist, whereas liquid hairsprays have heavier, ‘wetter’ consistencies.
But I like using liquid sprays because they can be spritzed into hands and massaged into hair to optimise precision and texture.
If you like locking your style in place but want to avoid crispy strands, then a liquid spray is definitely the way to go.
Kiko Nourish & Protect Hair Spray, £21.99
The product has a lovely formula which isn’t wet or sticky – so much so, I actually sprayed it directly into my hair.
The spray helped lock in my style after straightening, without leaving my hair feeling weighed down or crunchy.
My style still had plenty of movement, and it lasted a few hours longer than usual.
Kiko Nourish & Protect Daily Hair Serum
A great hair serum can be a game-changer.
A good formula will add movement, texture and bounce to your hair – though, be warned, a bad one can make hair look limp and greasy.
I’m a die-hard fan of Arkive The Good Habit Hybrid Oil serum, which I use to slick back ponytails, hydrate frazzled ends and add texture to blowouts – so I already had pretty high standards.
Kiko Nourish & Protect Daily Hair Serum, £22.99
The Kiko serum has a very unique formula, that lathers into a heavy cream and feels similar to hand soap.
I initially dispensed three pumps, but soon found that one pump was plenty, as the formula is so thick.
At first, the serum felt oily and greasy in my hair. However, after working it through with my fingers, my hair felt soft and hydrated.
My advice is to use it sparing on thick locks, and give it a swerve if you have finer hair.