Charlotte Mensah is an award­ winning celebrity hair stylist and owner of the Hair Lounge Salon, based in Portobello Road. She has 26 years of expertise in haircare and offers first class service in afro hair care and maintenance.

So when I heard she’d brought out her own haircare range I was very eager to try it, especially after she has invested six years of research, development and testing.

Move over Coconut Oil, Charlotte has chosen a unique blend of organically sourced Manketti Nut Oil, as the hero ingredient in her products. Famed for its softening, hydrating and detangling properties, this mega emollient oil delivers moisture without the weight. Used in Africa for centuries it’s said to be the richest, most hydrating ingredient nature has to offer. It is sourced from Manketti nuts which grow on Mongongo trees in Northern Namibia and it is loaded in Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Protein, Zinc and Copper. Unlike Coconut Oil, which is high in saturated fatty acids, this it is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which act as a barrier to help prevent moisture from escaping from the hair for longer.

The range is formulated for all curly, afro, colour­treated and relaxed hair types that are dehydrated, undernourished and/or damaged, that want moisture, but with weightless movement. Seeing as my non­-relaxed hair is perpetually dry and has been dyed with permanent hair colour, I think I'm a perfect candidate for this haircare line. I have all three items that currently make up Charlotte Mensah’s haircare range, which includes the Manketti Oil Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Oil.

Starting with the shampoo, this is a sulphate free product that generates a super rich lather, while caring and hydrating your hair. This shampoo is formulated to moisturise and fortify as it cleanses, leaving your hair supple and manageable. My worry with sulfate free shampoos that have conditioning properties and oil based ingredients, is that my hair will not feel clean after washing, I can say this is not the case with this shampoo; my hair felt clean, hydrated, but not striped.

I followed this with the Manketti Oil Conditioner, which I applied to towel blotted hair from root to tip and combed through and rinsed. This product is formulated to repair damage and help prevent breakage. My hair felt super nourished while this conditioner was in my hair and it really helped to define my curl pattern. But this is a multi­-tasking product that can be used as a leave-in when emulsified with water. It can also be used to refresh your style mid­week when mixed with water in a spray bottle, used as a pre­-shampoo deep conditioning steam treatment, as well as used as a traditional conditioner.

Last but by no means least is the Manketti Hair Oil, designed to instantly improve the appearance of your hair by adding shine and reducing frizz, Charlotte claims that with continued use this helps to repair and protect against chemical styling and environmental damage, leaving your hair looking stronger and easier to manage, it can also be applied on wet or dry hair. I applied this on my damp hair and followed with heat protectant and then blow dried, I also sometimes added a little on dry hair to add shine. Again another multi­-tasking product that can be used as a pre­-poo deep conditioning treatment, as a cuticle oil and a lip oil. This is housed in a black glass bottle, with a pipette dropper, you only need a small amount, so it should last a little while.

I really like this range, especially the multi­-tasking angle, so you don’t have to have an army of haircare products in your bathroom to have gorgeous hair.

Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo and Conditioner are priced at £22.00 each and the Manketti Hair Oil is £42.00.

For more information, please visit the website.