FAMOUS' Editorial Assistant and resident guinea pig Sophie Penhallow turns super sleuth and sorts the best from the rest in the complicated world of beauty products.

I can still remember the day when my hair suddenly decided it wanted to be curly. It was my 21st birthday and out of nowhere, my once thick, frizzy mane suddenly sprung up into a mass of ringlets following one of my ritual three month haircuts. Despite feeling like a walking tribute to Diana Ross and most of the Supremes for the first couple of months, I finally decided to embrace my 'fro and have been on a one-man mission to hunt down the perfect curling products ever since.

So I thought I'd get things started with the basics because let's face it, you can have a million different potions in your bathroom cupboard but if your shampoo and conditioner are lousy, no amount of styling gel or texturising paste are going to cut it!*

So if your curls are looking a little less Keri Russell in Felicity and a little more Kath from Kath & Kim, then maybe it's time to check out some of these products.

Sophie xx

* Please excuse this painfully obvious hair-related pun.

MY PICK

TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock Shampoo, $23.50 and Catwalk Curls Rock Conditioner, $22.95 (02 9439 9666)

Hit: I've heard so much about the Curls Rock range I was praying it was good as everybody was saying. The fresh and fruity smell was the first big tick and the feeling of the conditioner successfully working it's way through my tangled tresses was also a huge plus. However, the fact that I was showered with compliments about how great my hair looked when I entered the FAMOUS office the following morning, probably says the most about this product!

Miss: Although my co-workers agreed my hair looked super curly, one did comment that they didn't look as soft as they usually do. So it seems I'm stuck with a catch 22 - have well-defined, bouncy curls that perhaps aren't as soft and shiny, or have soft and shiny curls that are a bit more wavy and a little less defined. It's like Sophie's Choice all over again!

Rating: 3.5/5

SunSilk Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner (200ml), $4.49 each (1800 061 027)

Hit: For all of you savvy shoppers out there who want something simple that will moisturise your curls and eliminate frizz without the exxy price tag, then SunSilk is your answer. Loved the foaming effect created by the shampoo, and the conditioner went on like silk. So far, so good!

Miss: Although this combo made my hair beautifully soft and shiny, it didn't necessarily give my curls much volume, so I had to add a bit of mousse to get things into shape. I'd recommend this for people with tight, frizzy ringlets that need to moisturise and tame their 'fro's.

Rating: 4/5

Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Shampoo, $42 and Conditioner, $47 (03 9827 9822)

Hit: After trying the cheap-as-chips SunSilk I thought I'd go to the other end of the scale and try the Rolls Royce of hair care - Bumble and bumble. First of all it smelt divine. The shampoo had an essence of mangoes and guavas and the conditioner smelt like apples and mint so by the end I had worked up quite an appetite! My curls the next morning looked soft and defined, but in a more relaxed Farrah Fawcett way as opposed to tight corkscrew curls.

Miss: This range certainly left my hair shiny, soft and bouncy but at almost $90 for the set, this might be a bit pricey for most. Highly recommended for those armed with credit cards and in the mood for a splurge, though.

Rating: 3.5/5

CELEB PICK

So what are the stars using to keep their wavy manes in check? One word... Kérastase. Check out which products keep pride of place in the bathrooms of these Hollywood hotties.

Debra Messing - The Will & Grace star is just one of many who are obsessed with this cult-brand. "I get it through my salon and it's the Holy Grail for me. It's literally, like, 'before Kérastase' and 'after Kérastase'. It's like life began when I discovered it."

Scarlett Johansson - Her red-carpet looks span from 1950s glamour curls to sleek and shiny up-do's so to keep her locks healthy and strong, she turns to the brand's bright green line. "When my hair is looking lifeless, I use the Resistance range," she says.

Katherine Heigl - Not only is she an Emmy Award winner but her natural beach waves are the envy of many. Katherine maintains her tresses by combing Kérastase conditioner in it daily "so it doesn't turn into a big dreadlock!", she laughs.

Kérastase Paris - 1300 365 552 or check out www.kerastase.com for more info.

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