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philip kingsley REVIEW
Soft, glossy hair with reflective shine to rival Claudia Winkleman?
I road-test Philip Kingsley’s science-led 4 step system…
Renowned for trichology-led formulas, Philip Kingsley is
I road-test the 4 step system from Philip Kingsley, a haircare brand known for its science-led formulas…
From a reputable haircare brand (Philip Kingsley) known for trichology-led formulas. From a brand known for its hair-science credentials (Philip Kingsley), which adds trust for those looking for specialist haircare. leave hair luxuriously glossy, soft and with a gorgeous reflective shine.
Loose, soft waves with a “lived‑in” finish — the catwalk trend to replicate now
The key hairstyling trend for Spring/Summer 26? Hair that’s intentionally undone — polished, yet never overworked. Cast your eye over the catwalks of fashion month — from Dior and Chloe, to Simone Rocha — designers were all about the following aesthetic language:
Hair that embraces imperfection, celebrating natural texture and spontaneous movement.
Romanticism revival — designers are leaning into 70s influences, refreshed with a modern sensibility.
Soft waves, subtle bends and a piece-y texture, rather than uniform, rigid or severe ringlets.
The “perfectly undone” aesthetic — hair that’s wild, relaxed and messy (in a controlled way).
Achieving that “just-woke-up” effortless look is challenging, deceptively so. It often requires huge skill, not to mention hours of backstage prep time — think hair oils, salt sprays, texturising shampoos, hair clips to set the shape, combs, wands and curling irons. But Mermade’s cult 32mm Original Pro Waver is one way to cheat the look…
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer is one of the brand’s most famous hair treatments — it’s a deep-conditioning pre-shampoo mask originally developed for Audrey Hepburn in the 1970s. It’s designed to add elasticity, moisture, strength, and shine to the hair without weighing it down.
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer is a luxury pre-shampoo deep-conditioning treatment designed to restore elasticity, moisture, and shine to all hair types. Its award-winning formula features a blend of natural oils, proteins, and conditioning agents that strengthen and smooth the hair shaft. The key ingredients include Hydrolyzed Elastin, a protein derivative that improves hair stretch and resilience, and Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, rich in ricinoleic acid triglycerides that nourish and protect strands. Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil adds deep hydration and shine, while Glycerin (C₃H₈O₃) and Propylene Glycol act as humectants to retain moisture. Conditioning agents such as Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetrimonium Chloride enhance softness and manageability, and Amodimethicone, a silicone polymer, provides a smooth, protective coating that reduces frizz. The inclusion of Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA (C₂₀H₃₁NO₂) offers UV protection, while Citric Acid helps balance pH for optimal scalp health. Together, these ingredients create a scientifically balanced formula that strengthens hair fibers, restores elasticity, and leaves hair silky, supple, and revitalized after every use.
Today, it remains our bestselling hair damage treatment — with one sold every minute.
Here’s a quick overview:
What It Is
A pre-shampoo treatment (you apply it to damp hair before washing).
Acts like an intensive conditioner that helps repair and protect the hair shaft.
Suitable for all hair types, though it’s especially popular for dry, damaged, or chemically treated hair.
Key Benefits
Improves elasticity (hair stretches more before breaking).
Reduces breakage and frizz.
Boosts shine, hydration, and softness.
Helps maintain bounce and volume.
How to Use
Dampen hair with water.
Apply the Elasticizer generously from mid-lengths to ends.
Cover with a shower cap or towel and leave for 10–20 minutes (or longer for deep conditioning).
Rinse thoroughly, then shampoo and condition as usual.
Everything you need to know about Mermade’s 32mm Original Pro Waver:
The concept:
Unlike a traditional curling wand, where you wrap each strand of hair around a single barrel, the Mermade Waver works more like an old-school crimper. Instead of twisting or rotating the tool, you simply clamp sections of hair between all three barrels, stamping the wave pattern directly onto the hair.
The triple‑barrel design creates big, bouncy, soft waves.
Styles hair 50% faster than other wavers on the market.
Compared to single-barrel curling wands, it’s designed to deliver large, even waves quickly and with less effort.
The barrels are made of ionic ceramic to help reduce frizz, seal hair cuticles and add shine.
It has multiple heat settings to suit different hair types (180°C is the default).
An auto-shut off feature kicks in after 60 minutes for safety.
Includes a heat protection glove (essential!)
How long do the curls last? It holds the curl for 2-4 days (note: the length of time a curl holds will depend heavily on hair type, texture, porosity, weather/humidity, product use and how well you “set” the wave after styling)
Price: £69
Alternative tools on the market: ghd Wave Triple Barrel Waver, Beauty Works Waver, Amika High Tide Deep Waver
The concept:
It’s a leave-in conditioning spray that works on both wet and dry hair
Your hair has to face daily stressors — heat styling (blow-drying, straightening, curling), UV exposure, environmental damage, detangling, etc. This product is positioned as your hair’s “personal bodyguard” against those stresses.
Key benefits:
improves detangling, increases manageability, reduces breakage, boosts shine, controls frizz, provides UV and heat-tool protection
Signature ingredients:
Hydrolyzed Elastin — adds strength, body & elasticity
Sweet Almond Seedcake Extract — contains amino acids & proteins to help smooth and strengthen each strand
Pro-Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) — regulates moisture, plumps hair shaft for shine
Price: Full size £31.00 (60 ml travel size for £11)
How to use it
On wet hair: After washing, while hair is damp, shake the bottle, spray through mid-lengths and ends, then comb through and style as desired. concentrate mid-length to ends, avoid roots
On dry hair: You can also apply to dry hair to refresh, detangle, add smoothness, or protect before restyling. For coarse hair you might “scrunch” into dry hair; for fine-medium hair spray through mid-lengths & ends.
Why you might pick it:
Suitable for all hair textures, fine to coarse.
Multi-tasker, detangling, protecting, smoothing, shine boost.
Good for those who style with heat tools (blow-dry, straightener, curling iron) and want a lightweight option rather than heavy creams
Also offers UV and environmental defence (not just heat)
Verdict
Things to keep in mind because it’s leave-in and designed to work every day, if you apply too much (especially on fine hair) you might find it slightly weighing hair down. makes the hair look greasy
It’s a premium price product compared to many heat-protect sprays.
With any leave-in spray, good distribution (mid-length & ends) is key – missing sections can lead to uneven protection.
Alternatives on the market
If you like the concept of Daily Damage Defence but want to compare options (maybe lower price, different texture, etc), here are some alternatives:
Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant: £23.80
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Heat Slayer Spray: £5.99*
Philip Kingsley Frizz‑Fighting Gloss Smoothing Serum
The concept:
A smoothing serum designed to tame frizz, control unruly hair and add shine. According to the product description: “instantly smooths and controls frizz, leaving hair luxuriously glossy, soft and silky, with brilliant reflective shine.
The formula offers heat protection up to 190 °C
Improves moisture retention and boosting hair vibrancy & colour longevity.
Key ingredients:
Phytantriol to enhances the appearance and feel of hair
Palmitamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, a conditioning agent to smooth & tame
A blend of silicones for shine, slip & smoothing
Price: £25 for 50 ml size
How to use it:
After washing, apply a small amount of serum to towel-dried, damp hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends, and then blow-dry
It can also be applied to dry hair, as a finishing touch, for extra shine or to tame flyaways.
Use every time you wash your hair (especially when you intend to blow-dry or heat-style) to maintain smoothing effect. ([Philip Kingsley][1])
Verdict
Great pick if your hair is **frizz-prone**, **unruly**, or you regularly style with heat and want both smoothing and shine.
Offers multi-benefit: smoothing + shine + heat protection + improved moisture retention.
Suitable for coloured hair and boosts vibrancy / colour longevity.
From a brand known for its hair-science credentials (Philip Kingsley), which adds trust for those looking for specialist haircare.
Because it contains silicones and smoothing agents, you only need a small amount — over-applying may weigh hair down, especially fine hair.
Alternatives on the market:
Kérastase Gloss Absolu Glaze Drops Hair Oil
The Verdict:
Disclaimer, this is my personal opinion — these observations will vary depending on your hair texture, length and volume.
So did I achieve that coveted undone, yet polished hair? Here are a few conclusions I’ve drawn:
The barrels are very wide in circumference (and there’s three of them! a throuple) so you can style thick sections of hair at top speed. We’re talking 5 minutes, compared to the Dyson Airwrap which would take northwards of 20 minutes.
The tool itself is extremely weighty and quite unwieldy to hold, especially when it’s red hot.
This particular 32mm model won’t be optimal for hair that is shorter — a bob for example. The barrels are too wide.
I agree the waves last 2‑4 days, especially when using a finishing product like hairspray. But they are nowhere near as defined as when you first create the curl. However, due to the sheer speed of the curling process, you could easily go over a few sections to give more definition and a refresh, as required.
To get the wave pattern just right (lining up each clamp so the “S” waves are smooth, avoiding indentations) takes practice.
If you have shorter layers of hair framing your face, you need to adapt your process or risk looking like a poodle. Try one stamp in the middle of the hair section to give just a hint of wave.
