Jo Jo Hair Wax

As I have stated in many of my reviews on hair care products, years of disregard for my locks left my head of hair in a terrible state. A combination of over-brushing, dyeing, straightening and using cheap shampoos amongst other crimes, left my hair dry, thin and almost unmanageable - it got to the stage where I was throwing on a hat overtime I left the house because I just couldn't bare to show the world the car-crash on top of my head. 

For this reason, I am always slightly hesitant when it comes to new products that I've not tried before. While I do test out new shampoos and conditioners - experimenting to find combinations that work well with my hair, I try not to expose my locks to too many alien products - my motto being that hair care should be as natural as can be. 

So when I obtained a generous block of Jo Jo Solid Hair Wax from the Oxford Street store, I was slightly terrified as to what state it would leave my hair in afterwards. As it turned out, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to use, how little I needed to use to get the desired results and how good it felt once it was in place.

One of two new solid waxes (alongside Queen Bee Hair Honey), this self-preserving beauty may look a little daunting at first. It doesn't come in a fancy tin or offer itself up with too many instructions on how to use it effectively, so it's ultimately down to you to experiment - a task that may either excite or terrify a person, depending on their disposition.

Designed to replicate a truckle of cheese, this product is named after the generous helping of jojoba oil that goes into making this as effective as it is. Containing a combination of vanilla and tonka absolute, along with a dash of orange oil, this wax happens to smell rather pleasant - albeit more so when it's in your hair. 

Jo Jo has a gentle, sweet musky aroma - one that elevates with the heat of both your fingers during application and the warmth of your head once it's been set in place. It's one that's strong enough to make an impression on the wearer, but one that would no doubt compliment whatever other aromas you may have lingering from your shampoo and conditioner. 

Created to 'to remedy fluffiness in shorter styles', this wax works equally as well with longer styles as well. To use, you can do one of the following; if you only want a minimal amount, simply run your finger along the surface of your piece and then apply this directly to your hair; if you want a more substantial amount for heavy styling, it's soft enough to break off a small piece with your hands, massage it between your fingers until it's melted and ready to use and then apply it that way. 

In regards to how much product you should use, it really depends on what style you're aiming for and how much hair you have to work with. I would say on average that someone with a grade 3-4 hair length would probably need a piece the size of a large pea - but again it depends on how much 'work' needs to be done to achieve the style you want. 

As I have shoulder-length hair, I'm not really a candidate to use this product at all, but Lush products are normally very versatile and I found that it was equally as effective in my hair. I didn't need much so brushed my fingers across the length of its body and then worked it through the straggly hairs that sit on the crown of my head. Not only did it take mere seconds to set the hair in place, but it gave my locks a slight shine that didn't look at all greasy, which was pleasant. 

When I used a little more to give my hair a messy, wavy look, I found that I needed very little wax to do this and Jo Jo was effective at setting my hair in place without becoming rigid or sticky. While I could tell that I had 'product' in my hair, it wasn't heavy or noticeable to others and I would be confident using this as part of my daily routine. 

Even better was the fact that I was able to brush my hair once the wax was in place and then re-style my hair slightly differently, without needing to add any extra product to get that effect. The wax then held itself in place throughout the whole day and only relented when I washed my hair in the evening.

While I wouldn't use this daily, this is no reflection on the product - more because of my decision to not plaster my hair with endless styling products as best as I can help it. Having said this, Jo Jo is natural enough that it won't damage your hair, dry it out or flatten it over time, and while it will set you back £9.95 got 100g, the piece will outlast any commercial brand that stands against it. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Organic Castor Oil (Ricinus communis), Organic Illipe Butter (Shorea stenoptera), Candelilla Wax (Euphorbia cerifera), Japan Wax (Rhus succedanea), Organic Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis), Perfume, Sweet Wild Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis), Tonka Absolute (Dipteryx odorata), Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia), Rose Wax (Rosa damascena), Black Wax (Specerit Black), *Benzyl Cinnamate, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Coumarin, *Limonene.

Vegan?: Yes.

Price: £9.95 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2015.