UNICO AND ME: An Australian Love Story.

Things to love about Unico, an eco friendly hair care line born and bred in my very own Melbourne. (I love this city!)

It's homegrown

Let's give a big shoutout to those fabulous Australian (sorry, Ozstrayyyyyan) brands that are proudly waving the beauty flag – Bloom, mor, Lanolips, Aesop, Jurlique, Grown… the list is endless and it is Proud. I am quite happy to now add Unico to that stellar list.

Unico was created by Melbourne hairdresser Sofia Basile. Melbournians might be familiar with the Unico hair salons, and finally they have their own darling product line to add to their empire. Applause.

It's eco friendly

Greenies, unite and give thanks – Unico products are designed, sourced and manufactured in our fair land. They don't have to be imported from overseas, so if you like to fret about your carbon footprint, this should help you sleep a bit better at night.

The products are chemical free and contain lots of sweet ingredients like vitamins, pure plant ingredients and essential oils.

Unico are living proof that hair products don't have to be created by some foreign hair guru with no understanding of our dry, barren land – I do love a sunburnt country, Dorothea Mackellar, but golly goshballs I hate what my hair does in an Australian summer. It's like it gets a free pass to play hookey and thinks it can spend the summer blissfully unaware of tress-tamed commitments I might be running in my social calendar. Let me tell you, mop: It Is Not On. You will behave and I will employ all manner of styling products and tools to whip you into shape.

They actually work

They put their money where their mouth is. Or their product where their promise is. Or something to that effect. I was lucky enough to choose a couple of products from Adore Beauty to try and honestly, I have been nothing but satisfied with these gems. For the purposes of this incredibly detailed investigation into the line (I take my hair seriously, people), I trialled the Leave In Spray and the Hair Serum, both with dazzlingly successful results.

Oh hello lovers – don't you look nice today.

In the green corner:

Leave in Spray, $21.95 for 250ml

Unico say:

Ideal for those who lead busy lives, designed to add shine and protect hair with the convenience of not having to rinse.

I say:

Spot on, dudes. How did you know I'm so busy?

I am, quite simply, allergic to leaving my hair product-free once I'm out of the shower. I can't remember the last time I let my unruly curls dry without some product slapped in to tame the beast.

This is rich in UV filters and ideal to protect your precious mane from a harsh Australian sun – it's all very well to slip, slop, slap your body and face, but hair is important too! It also has apricot (no overwhelming smell here, though) and protein (hint: good) to strengthen your hair, and repair it from any heat abuse you've been inflicting on your hair lately.

I have had these products for awhile and have been using the leave-in spray constantly – whether I straighten my hair or let it air-dry. It detangles. It makes it feel a little bit softer and more manageable. It plays nicely with my other styling products, or holds its own solo. I have only used this on wet hair but allegedly, you can also use it on dry hair. Further investigation required, obviously.

It's very light and doesn't give my curl any crunch, which is my pet hate. I was nervous to begin with about overloading my hair with this – I have fine hair that gets weighed down by too much product – but I could spray to my heart's content without greasy ramification. It's fine to spray this on my roots liberally.

Enter contestant number TWO:

Hair serum, $22.95 for 50ml

Unico say:

Designed to seal in moisture to split ends, adding shine and gloss (most effective when used before and after hair drying).

I say:

Hmm. I'll pay that. I really put this stuff through the wringer – I used it on wet hair, dry hair, mixed it with my straightening balm, mixed it with my curl products, used it with the leave-in spray, used it before AND after blowdrying, let it fly solo. It held up to all situations. I have to say I love this most used for a post blow-dry shine – honestly, a few drops after all that hard work gives me a lot of shine for minimal effort.

I have to keep reminding myself to be careful with this – please note: Less Is More. Literally, a few drops is ample. One pump is more than enough. I warm it up in my paws for a second and then get it into my mop.

The thing I like most about this stuff is that it isn't greasy in the slightest. It doesn't make my hair feel slippery. I don't feel like my hair's on product-overload on the second day. So many finishing serums just make my hair feel slimey but this one, using just a few drops, doesn't give me any grief.

It smoothed my hair wonderfully after straightening, tamed any frizz and was a sweet little antidote to any flyaways. Allegedly it's also very good for split ends, but I don't really have a good 'before' case to judge this. Given that it's been such a little star in all other areas, I'm just going to take Unico's word for it.

And in conclusion…

May I please remind you it does NOT say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty! Cue gum pulling.

My Cher Horowitz moment aside, I feel it's time for one big squishy pool of love for this range. I think the products are very well priced and the sizes are substantial – I've been using them heaps and have barely made a dent in them. Next up, I think I'll be buying the volumising shampoo and protein treatment. They're Australian. They work. They have slick packaging that looks nice in my bathroom cabinet. All in all, I would have to say two very enthusiastic thumbs up.

I need to watch Clueless this weekend.

You can view the entire Unico range at Adore Beauty here. Get. On. It.