Precious Things...
This is a large blue jar from H&M ( £6.99) which I use to store my bobby pins, obviously you can put whatever you like in them. I think this looks really nice on your dressing table and its really handy. It comes in white and blue and in sizes small and large.
Thursday, 11 July 2013
Stylish Storage
Hearts and all....
Here are some cute heart shaped baskets, I found at TK Maxx for £2.99 each. These are great, you can use them in the bedroom, in the bathroom and even in the kitchen, they are a bit different to your average storage and can be used for loads of products.
Here are some cute heart shaped baskets, I found at TK Maxx for £2.99 each. These are great, you can use them in the bedroom, in the bathroom and even in the kitchen, they are a bit different to your average storage and can be used for loads of products.
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Colour Care
Andrew Barton Colour Care Shampoo and Conditioner
I'm planning on colouring my hair in a month or two and decided to buy these in advance, I picked them up for 99p each at Home Bargains.
Shampoo
*Colour Care Shampoo 400ml
*Paraben Free
*Passion flower & Ylang Ylang
Conditioner:
*Colour Care Conditioner
* Paraben Free
*Passion Flower and Ylang Ylang
*Rich Conditioner
I'm planning on colouring my hair in a month or two and decided to buy these in advance, I picked them up for 99p each at Home Bargains.
Shampoo
*Colour Care Shampoo 400ml
*Paraben Free
*Passion flower & Ylang Ylang
Conditioner:
*Colour Care Conditioner
* Paraben Free
*Passion Flower and Ylang Ylang
*Rich Conditioner
Thursday, 20 June 2013
Summer Essential: Colour Brilliance Serum
I was looking for a product which will add a little shine to my hair. This Pantene Colour Brilliance Serum seems to be doing the trick. I use it on my hair when its wet, dry, curly or straight. Its great for protecting the hair and ensuring my ends are moisturised so there is no breakage. You only need to use a pea sized amount for the hair, and the best part is, it only cost £1 from the pound Shop.
Since I have been searching for products for a couple of years now, I can easily decipher what products I know work well for my hair. I can instantly tell what type of products I need to buy. It really is a case of trial and error but once you get a hang of what works for your hair you'll be able to scout for bargain products too.
Summer Essential: Frizz Tamer Mask
Tame that Frizz!
Summer is nearly here, thats always a good thing! however excess sunshine and humid weather could be a problem, especially for curly hair. Here I have managed to purcahse this hair mask, which is a frizz tamer by Andrew Barton. I have used it a couple of times and I think I'm in love, this transformed my dry hair, and made it super soft. Its always very difficult to find products for my hair that are of a good consistency and actually do something for my hair. This hair treatment has rice bran oil and pomegranate, which is an antioxidant that smooths the cuticle. This is available in 300ml tubs or there are handy sachets which are great for travelling. This product is available to purchase online and should be available at Asda.
Summer Essential: Leave in Spray
Frizz Free: Hooray!
Here is a leave in spray which is frizz free by Charles Worthington. Since my hair is naturally curly, I need to use a leave in spray or conditioner. It is essential for putting moisture back into the hair after you've washed it. I did purchase this a while ago from superdrug I. can't remember the exact price but I know that in my local superdrug all of these products are under £6 each. There is a new updated Charles Worthington range available on his website as well.
Friday, 7 June 2013
Shampoo, Condition, Style
Updated Products
Here are the products I've been using for a couple of months now. I purchased them all from Superdrug, they may vary in price but they are all under £6 each. This is the range from SAMY, and they are from the age defying haircare range. These products make my hair supersoft, I only need to use a small amount and it softens my hair. I have definitely noticed a difference in my hair, as it has become alot fuller and seems to be alot less thinner and weaker on the ends.
Whipping creme mousse |
Sulphate and salt free shampoo and age defying conditioner |
Here are the products I've been using for a couple of months now. I purchased them all from Superdrug, they may vary in price but they are all under £6 each. This is the range from SAMY, and they are from the age defying haircare range. These products make my hair supersoft, I only need to use a small amount and it softens my hair. I have definitely noticed a difference in my hair, as it has become alot fuller and seems to be alot less thinner and weaker on the ends.
Tealight Delight
Multi purpose tealight holder
I recently purchased this tealight holder from H&M it was only £1.99. I love the style of it because it reminds me of a moroccan style pattern. There are various different sizes but these are fairly large, and I use this one to store my make up brushes as well as using it as a tealight holder. Its a great space saver and looks pretty on my dressing table.
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Summer Moisturiser
Battling the heat
Since summer is nearly here, I found a great conditioning spray to use in my hair after washing. Since the weather changes all the time you definitely need a moisturiser to stop the heat making your hair dry and brittle. This icing moisturiser is by SAMY and its a conditioning treatment that's sulphate and salt free. It contains plant cell botanicals from chamomile, yarrow, sage, witch hazel and amino acid. This product keeps my hair really soft and moisturised and its much easier to brush and comb my hair. One thing I was really surprised about was the consistency of it. Its described as a moisturising spray but its more like a creme which I love. This should be available at Superdrug, amazon or ebay.
Since summer is nearly here, I found a great conditioning spray to use in my hair after washing. Since the weather changes all the time you definitely need a moisturiser to stop the heat making your hair dry and brittle. This icing moisturiser is by SAMY and its a conditioning treatment that's sulphate and salt free. It contains plant cell botanicals from chamomile, yarrow, sage, witch hazel and amino acid. This product keeps my hair really soft and moisturised and its much easier to brush and comb my hair. One thing I was really surprised about was the consistency of it. Its described as a moisturising spray but its more like a creme which I love. This should be available at Superdrug, amazon or ebay.
Here's a close up of the moisturiser |
Monday, 20 May 2013
Quick Tip #1 SPILT ENDS
Unless there is severe damage that requires you to trim alot of your hair, you can easily maintain your split ends. I section my hair into about 8 sections and under a light I look for any split ends and trim them. You don't need to trim off large amounts but just trim just above the split end so its healthier to grow. I wouldn't rely on products that claim to repair split ends because once they have spilt they do need to be trimmed to prevent any further damage to the hair shaft. I would recommend using a good organic oil such as argan oil and coconut to help strengthen the hair especially the ends, and make sure you are constantly adding moisture into the ends of your hair to prevent any further damage.
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Leave in Conditioner
Finding an old friend
Here is a leave in conditioner I purchased a while ago but managed to find it recently when I was having a clear out, this is by Charles Worthington and its the hair healer leave in conditioner. I forgot the wonders this works on my hair. I literally only use a pea sized amount on my hair and it instantly makes it soft, retains the moisture and makes my hair more manageable. Some of the benefits of this include a lightweight formula so the hair isn't weighed down. One thing I will comment on about this product is that its very light, and its perfect if you have curly hair or alot of hair and don't want it to be weighed down. It protects your hair during heat styling and it includes rice protein and antioxidant white tea. Its 200ml and its available at Boots and Superdrug and its just over £5 but it varies in each store.
Monday, 13 May 2013
Stepping into Summer with a Splash of colour
Summer Bits and Bobs
Here are a couple of pieces I have bought for summertime. The first one is a zebra maxi dress from H&M which i bought for £19.99. Usually I steer clear of maxi dresses because I can never find one that flatters my shape, but this is a great buy for summer and can be worn all throughout the year. I plan to mix and match it with accessories so I can wear it for various occassions. The clutch bag is from Monsoon and was £12 in the sale, its a vibrant orange and just adds a twist of colour to any outfit.
Monday, 29 April 2013
Shampoo
Halos & Horns
Here is a new shampoo I bought recently. I was in desperate need of a sulphate free shampoo which was not too expensive. I went to have a look in the baby section of Boots and I managed to find this berry burst Shampoo and Detangler for £2.75. This is really gentle on my hair, it smells really fresh and it actually keeps my hair quite moisturised, because usually when I shampoo it really dries my hair out. If you are in need of a cheaper shampoo without all the chemicals in it, then this is worth a try.
Here is a new shampoo I bought recently. I was in desperate need of a sulphate free shampoo which was not too expensive. I went to have a look in the baby section of Boots and I managed to find this berry burst Shampoo and Detangler for £2.75. This is really gentle on my hair, it smells really fresh and it actually keeps my hair quite moisturised, because usually when I shampoo it really dries my hair out. If you are in need of a cheaper shampoo without all the chemicals in it, then this is worth a try.
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Curls Curls Curls
My Curly Hair
So here is a picture of my hair in its natural state, all I've added is a little bit of pure coconut oil and this is pretty much all I need to do to my hair. When I do go out depending on the weather I tuck the ends in, but this is how I wear my hair all the time. I probably straighten my hair less than 5 times a year, so it pretty much stays like this, as I said before I don't blow dry or anything. My main goals are to retain length and keep my hair healthy. I do have a simple routine that I do, but its literally just wash, shampoo, condition and I add a little coconut oil.
So here is a picture of my hair in its natural state, all I've added is a little bit of pure coconut oil and this is pretty much all I need to do to my hair. When I do go out depending on the weather I tuck the ends in, but this is how I wear my hair all the time. I probably straighten my hair less than 5 times a year, so it pretty much stays like this, as I said before I don't blow dry or anything. My main goals are to retain length and keep my hair healthy. I do have a simple routine that I do, but its literally just wash, shampoo, condition and I add a little coconut oil.
Monday, 22 April 2013
New Haircare Range: Superdrug
New Haircare Range from Superdrug
Ok, so here is an amazing product I managed to find online from Superdrug. They do a complete line and its called " This One". The product in the photo is a light hair oil, and it is working miracles on my curly hair. I only use a pea sized amount and it makes my hair supersoft after I've finished washing it. It has Argan, Pequi and Jojoba Oils, it smells amazing as well.Its currently £3 on an introductory price.
Ok, so here is an amazing product I managed to find online from Superdrug. They do a complete line and its called " This One". The product in the photo is a light hair oil, and it is working miracles on my curly hair. I only use a pea sized amount and it makes my hair supersoft after I've finished washing it. It has Argan, Pequi and Jojoba Oils, it smells amazing as well.Its currently £3 on an introductory price.
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
TRESemme Protect
Heat Defence Serum
Here is one of my favourite products, I find it difficult to find heat protectant serums which smell good, because I don't like using heat defence sprays on my hair. This is a great little product by Tresemme, it smells very pleasant and protects my hair really well. You only need to use a small amount, it has heat defence of up to 230 degrees, it smooths frizz, protects hair from high heat styling and it seals in shine. The only negatives I would personally say about this product is that for what you get which is 30ml it is expensive, and I think that they should make it in a larger size especially if you have long hair, your going to use it up quicker. You can purchase this from Boots and Superdrug for about £4.99.
Here is one of my favourite products, I find it difficult to find heat protectant serums which smell good, because I don't like using heat defence sprays on my hair. This is a great little product by Tresemme, it smells very pleasant and protects my hair really well. You only need to use a small amount, it has heat defence of up to 230 degrees, it smooths frizz, protects hair from high heat styling and it seals in shine. The only negatives I would personally say about this product is that for what you get which is 30ml it is expensive, and I think that they should make it in a larger size especially if you have long hair, your going to use it up quicker. You can purchase this from Boots and Superdrug for about £4.99.
Sunday, 7 April 2013
New Month New Items
New Serum/ Hair update
This is a new Serum I managed to pick up by Trevor Sorbie, its very lightweight and is available at Trevor Sorbies website, its part of the Beautifully Straightened collection.
It includes heat protection and shine technology, its smells really good and I must mention its very scented, so if you want your hair to smell good and fresh then this is a fantastic serum. I tend to use it on the ends of my hair just to stop them from getting dry. I use it on my hair when its curly or straight.
March 2013 Hair update
This is a new Serum I managed to pick up by Trevor Sorbie, its very lightweight and is available at Trevor Sorbies website, its part of the Beautifully Straightened collection.
It includes heat protection and shine technology, its smells really good and I must mention its very scented, so if you want your hair to smell good and fresh then this is a fantastic serum. I tend to use it on the ends of my hair just to stop them from getting dry. I use it on my hair when its curly or straight.
March 2013 Hair update
This is just an update of my hair in March 2013, its only been a couple of months since I last straightened it so I did not expect miraculous growth or anything. My hair is alot more healthier and is beginning to regain all its strength and health so thats the main thing.
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Anyone for Tea?
Here are just a FEW of the selections of Tea I have. I can't deny that I love a good cup of ordinary tea and coffee, but I do love herbal tea just as much. I have herbal tea in the morning and at night. My favourites are Nettle and Green tea. Sometimes I drink these cold and leave them overnight in the fridge and they taste delicious as ice teas.
My Top 5 Teas
1.) Green Tea
2.)Nettle Tea
3.) Chamomile and Honey Tea
4.) Rooibos Tea
5.) Peppermint Tea
Some of the benefits of herbal Tea:
Cleansing properties
Provide antioxidants
Provide calmness especially at night time.
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
How I clean my Denman
Denman D 3 Styling Brush
So here's a classic brush, I purchased from Boots for around £6.99. I use this when my hair is straight and it styles my hair really well. Denmans are solid brushes and last years, here's how I maintain and clean mine so it looks brand new again.
Step 1
Products used to clean:
* Tea Tree oil
* Empty jar or container
* A new paintbrush
* warm water
*cotton pads
*Bobby pin
*most importantly the brush, as you can see in the picture I have taken it apart to clean it. That's the beauty of the Denmans, you can easily clean them whenever you need to, nobody likes a grotty hairbrush. As you can see from the picture mine was due for a good cleaning!
Step 2
So as you can see from the picture above, theres alot of product build up. Here are some easy tips to clean your brush.
* Firstly fill a quarter of jar or container with warm water.
* Add 6-8 drops of tea tree oil and mix together
* Use the paintbrush to transfer the mixture onto the Cotton pad.
* Use bobby pin to clean inside holes if need be
Secondly
* use the paintbrush to clean the combs of the brush ( take extra care as these are fragile)
*dry the combs with a cotton pad
Lastly
* Make sure all the combs are completely dry
* You can also dry the brush with a towel (do not use any heated products to dry the brush)
Step 3 Results
Here's my lovely clean brush, which looks brand new! Your all set :)
Extra Information
* I used Tea tree oil because it has antibacterial properties and it sanitises the brush.
* It took me less than 10 minutes, so its a quick and easy solution to clean your brush.
* Paintbrush is optional if you don't have one you can just use the cotton pads.
* Also you can replace the Bobby pin with a cocktail stick to clean the holes if need be.
So here's a classic brush, I purchased from Boots for around £6.99. I use this when my hair is straight and it styles my hair really well. Denmans are solid brushes and last years, here's how I maintain and clean mine so it looks brand new again.
Step 1
Products used to clean:
* Tea Tree oil
* Empty jar or container
* A new paintbrush
* warm water
*cotton pads
*Bobby pin
*most importantly the brush, as you can see in the picture I have taken it apart to clean it. That's the beauty of the Denmans, you can easily clean them whenever you need to, nobody likes a grotty hairbrush. As you can see from the picture mine was due for a good cleaning!
Step 2
So as you can see from the picture above, theres alot of product build up. Here are some easy tips to clean your brush.
* Firstly fill a quarter of jar or container with warm water.
* Add 6-8 drops of tea tree oil and mix together
* Use the paintbrush to transfer the mixture onto the Cotton pad.
* Use bobby pin to clean inside holes if need be
Secondly
* use the paintbrush to clean the combs of the brush ( take extra care as these are fragile)
*dry the combs with a cotton pad
Lastly
* Make sure all the combs are completely dry
* You can also dry the brush with a towel (do not use any heated products to dry the brush)
Step 3 Results
Here's my lovely clean brush, which looks brand new! Your all set :)
Extra Information
* I used Tea tree oil because it has antibacterial properties and it sanitises the brush.
* It took me less than 10 minutes, so its a quick and easy solution to clean your brush.
* Paintbrush is optional if you don't have one you can just use the cotton pads.
* Also you can replace the Bobby pin with a cocktail stick to clean the holes if need be.
Monday, 11 March 2013
Dogtooth Nails
Dogtooth Nail Decals
Here's a picture of some dogtooth nail transfers I bought. These are the ones you shape and stick on the nails, I've finished them off with a top coat of clear polish. I threw away the packaging but I think they are by Sally Hansen. I don't know what it is about dogtooth but its a print I've been collecting in my wardrobe for years, so I thought why not put it on my nails. I also used a sky grey nail polish on my thumb nail as I love grey and wanted a bit of variety on my nails.
I managed to purchase these for £1! I also bought a variety of different decals... for that price why not ?
Here's a picture of some dogtooth nail transfers I bought. These are the ones you shape and stick on the nails, I've finished them off with a top coat of clear polish. I threw away the packaging but I think they are by Sally Hansen. I don't know what it is about dogtooth but its a print I've been collecting in my wardrobe for years, so I thought why not put it on my nails. I also used a sky grey nail polish on my thumb nail as I love grey and wanted a bit of variety on my nails.
I managed to purchase these for £1! I also bought a variety of different decals... for that price why not ?
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Organix Hair Collection
My Organix Hair Collection
Here are some items from the Organix Hair Collection that I have. I have also previously tried the Argan oil conditioner, which to be honest wasn't that great for my particular hair. It didn't really condition my hair and I didn't really like the texture of my hair after I used it because it didn't provide enough moisture for my hair. Since my hair is so curly I have to use products that will provide lots and lots of moisture.
Having said that, the Moroccan Argan Oil ( penetrating oil) is one of my favourite products. It isn't pure argan oil, but I do like it because it really softens my hair and prevents it from being dry. Its probably best to use it as a serum to stop your hair from breaking when your hair is either dry or wet.
The Coconut Milk serum is an anti breakage serum and this is fantastic on my hair. I use it on the ends of my hair when my hair is damp. I purchased both of these products from Boots, each product ranging from £5-£7. I think the price is reasonable but usually when they have these products on offer I buy a few of them, especially since I have alot of hair.
I have seen on Organix Hair website a vast array of products but besides from Boots, TK Maxx there isn't that many places to buy these products. I have recently found out that Superdrug have started selling these products. I really want to try the Organix Macadamia Oil Dry Style, so I'll be purchasing that to try.
Here are some items from the Organix Hair Collection that I have. I have also previously tried the Argan oil conditioner, which to be honest wasn't that great for my particular hair. It didn't really condition my hair and I didn't really like the texture of my hair after I used it because it didn't provide enough moisture for my hair. Since my hair is so curly I have to use products that will provide lots and lots of moisture.
Having said that, the Moroccan Argan Oil ( penetrating oil) is one of my favourite products. It isn't pure argan oil, but I do like it because it really softens my hair and prevents it from being dry. Its probably best to use it as a serum to stop your hair from breaking when your hair is either dry or wet.
The Coconut Milk serum is an anti breakage serum and this is fantastic on my hair. I use it on the ends of my hair when my hair is damp. I purchased both of these products from Boots, each product ranging from £5-£7. I think the price is reasonable but usually when they have these products on offer I buy a few of them, especially since I have alot of hair.
I have seen on Organix Hair website a vast array of products but besides from Boots, TK Maxx there isn't that many places to buy these products. I have recently found out that Superdrug have started selling these products. I really want to try the Organix Macadamia Oil Dry Style, so I'll be purchasing that to try.
Saturday, 9 March 2013
OZ Botanics Conditioner
Oz Botanics Conditioner
As you can tell I go through quite a few conditioners. I was out shopping and decided to try this conditioner by OZ Botanics, its a major moisture conditioner with extracts of Tasmanian blue gum. I tried it yesterday and its a pretty good conditioner for £1. It smells very similar to the Tara Smith conditioner and also the Happy Hair days. The consistency is fairly good, its not too thin and overall it made my hair softer. One thing I did notice with this conditioner was that it made my scalp really fresh, and when my hair was wet it wasn't as frizzy as it usually can get. I'll continue using this for the next month and perhaps offer a final review once I've used it over a longer period of time.
This was purchased at poundland, you don't have to spend a fortune to make your hair look good ;)
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Preview...Brazilian Keratin Treatment
Brazilian Keratin Therapy 30 Day Smoothing treatment by Organix
This is a preview of what I am going to be using on my hair this summer. I have used this on my hair before and I'm planning to use it around July/August time or whenever the weather is alot warmer, simply because when I do straighten my hair, it tends to frizz up especially in summer therefore the best time for me to use this is around summer, because it keeps my hair straight.
My experience of using this a year ago.
Pros:
My hair stayed super straight until it was washed
Hair was extremely shiny
Reduces frizz
I did not have to keep retouching with straighteners, my hair remained straight for over a week
My hair reverts straight back to curly when washing, so there's no worry about any permanent straightening of the hair or long lasting damage.
Formaldehyde free
Its cheaper than going to salon, I managed to purchase this at Boots for £12.99
Less damaging ,I don't colour my hair anymore, I dyed it twice last year. I don't relax or use any other chemical straightening methods. Also I don't blow dry my hair, I always leave it to air dry, and I straighten my hair less than 5 times a year. So as far as damage is concerned I don't really have any to deal with. I only use this treatment once a year.
Cons:
You do have to leave the product on your hair for 48 hours and you can't tie your hair back so you need to make sure that you have two free days that you can't go out the house, or when you don't need to tie your hair up.
If you apply it too quickly it will flake, so you just need to take care when applying.
The blow drying process; when you are blow drying it through your hair there's alot of steam, so make sure your in a well ventilated area.
I will be posting pictures of the results around summer time.
Bobby Pin/ Hair Grip Madness!
Bobby Pin Madness
I don't know about anyone else but I always seem to lose my Bobby Pins, no matter how many I buy :(
Sometimes when I've washed my hair I tend to pin curl my hair and use alot of bobby pins, therefore I need to make sure I have an ample supply at all times.
As you can see from the picture above I went slightly crazy and bought three packs of bobby pins, each pack has 200, whats even crazier is the price I managed to get them for. I bought 600 bobby pins for £1.50 amazing!!.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Mists and Sprays
Here are a few mists and sprays that I use. I use all these products as finishing products when my hair is straight or curly. One mist I don't have a picture of is by Label M and is possibly one of the best sprays I've ever used, its weightless, protects the hair and smells amazing.
1. Charles Worthington salon finish, light as air serum mist. Firstly this smells amazing, and its really light, but it doesn't seem to add alot of shine to my hair, compared to some other shine mists. It doesn't feel like a mist on my hair its more like a spray. It could work really well for others but it hasn't made too much of an impact on my own hair. I managed to buy this for under £4.
2. Umberto Giannini Salon shine glossing mist. This is another one of my favourites I always buy. It adds immediate shine, smells good and is under £5 and really brings the colour out.
3. Loreal Elnett hairspray
This is a classic and a staple piece in my bathroom, it holds the hair, its not sticky and brushes straight out. You can get a 75ml bottle for under £3.
I only tend to use mists, a couple times a day, as I don't want to use too much product on my hair otherwise it tends to get too greasy.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Emergency Hair treatment
Aussie 3 minute miracle reconstructor and shine serum
These are my holy grail hair products. Whenever my hair is extremely dry I use this reconstructor and leave it on my hair for 3-5 minutes and my hair is transformed. It smells amazing. I sometimes use it on all my hair when I want to give my hair a deep treatment, I also use it a few times a week just on the ends of my hair.
I use the shine serum on my hair when its straight. I'm not really a fan of hairsprays except for Loreal Elnett, as many other hairsprays I've used always leave my hair sticky or flaky. I would definitely recommend trying the Aussie range, it definitely tames my curly hair when its wet.
Happy Hair Days Updated review!
Happy Hair Days Glossing conditioner
I did briefly mention this product however I wasn't able to offer too much feedback as I hadn't used it yet. But now I've finished the bottle I can comment on it.
Things I love about the product:
* The bottle, its a nice little bottle, easy to use and doesn't spill everywhere.
*It cleans and clarifies
* It makes my scalp and hair feel soft, clean and fresh
Cons
* For me the only thing I can say is that I'm not too keen on the smell, and that's not because it smells unpleasant, but I'm very sensitive to any sort of smell, so sometimes it can be slightly overpowering, but apart from that I love this product, and if I can find it again I will be repurchasing.
Extra information about the product
* Lemongrass and basil scent
* No parabens
* No sulfates
* I managed to buy it for £1!!!
I did briefly mention this product however I wasn't able to offer too much feedback as I hadn't used it yet. But now I've finished the bottle I can comment on it.
Things I love about the product:
* The bottle, its a nice little bottle, easy to use and doesn't spill everywhere.
*It cleans and clarifies
* It makes my scalp and hair feel soft, clean and fresh
Cons
* For me the only thing I can say is that I'm not too keen on the smell, and that's not because it smells unpleasant, but I'm very sensitive to any sort of smell, so sometimes it can be slightly overpowering, but apart from that I love this product, and if I can find it again I will be repurchasing.
Extra information about the product
* Lemongrass and basil scent
* No parabens
* No sulfates
* I managed to buy it for £1!!!
Monochrome Madness!
Monochrome Madness
If you are aware of the trends for S/S 2013, Monochrome is one of them. Whilst I appreciate the trends, it doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to run to the shops to try and find something that is monochrome. I had a look through one of my wardrobes and have already collected a few pieces within the last year which I can wear. The high street shops in particular have picked up on this trend so I'd just thought I'd show you a few key pieces that I have which I could perhaps wear. Best of all I managed to pick up these items in the sale for a great price, and is definitely what I call savvy shopping!.
1.) Marks and Spencer Autograph black and ivory tuxedo blazer
Originally £69, I managed to get it for £2!!!!!!! Crazy bargain, one of my best buys from 2012 * No longer available on the website but there are similar jackets available from other shops.
2.) Black and white bodycon dress from H&M
It only retailed at £3.99 absolute bargain! * This particular dress isn't available anymore, however I know H&M have another dress similar to this when I last checked, the good thing about H&M is they do have various dresses at different price points.
3.) Dogtooth Jersey jacket from Primark.
I bought this for £7 * Its a nice jersey fabric and will make a nice summer jacket. * Its very good quality, good lining and nice gold buttons *
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Media and Beauty
This is just a quick post, but when we think about fashion and beauty we are constantly bombarded with images of celebrity's or even people who are deemed to be good looking. I personally don't think that media affects my thoughts about how I look, or my self esteem and I don't feel I have to conform to what society believes it to be good looking or beautiful. I'm not really swayed by people in the media because as many of us know, pictures are airbrushed and people don't look how they do in the magazines.
I personally would like to see more people in the media who are themselves and are comfortable with how they look without all the artificial enhancements. Surely instead of caking your face in makeup you should think about alternative ways to look after your skin, because when you are literally painting on a face of makeup your not happy with your own skin. Again its the same with hair, most celebs or public figures tend to wear extensions, again there is nothing wrong with that, but surely you have a problem with your own self if you can't go out the house without your weave.
I think the message that should be sent especially to young girls is that, you can only be you, and embrace that you are who you are, if there is something you don't like about yourself ( because we all have our own hang ups), try and think of all the positives you have, and if its really that serious then you always have the choice to change what you don't like. What we perceive as our own imperfections other people may not even notice. You don't need to be self conscious about going out make up and weave free, you are perfect just the way you are. You can certainly do things to enhance yourself but never try to cover up who you really are.
I personally would like to see more people in the media who are themselves and are comfortable with how they look without all the artificial enhancements. Surely instead of caking your face in makeup you should think about alternative ways to look after your skin, because when you are literally painting on a face of makeup your not happy with your own skin. Again its the same with hair, most celebs or public figures tend to wear extensions, again there is nothing wrong with that, but surely you have a problem with your own self if you can't go out the house without your weave.
I think the message that should be sent especially to young girls is that, you can only be you, and embrace that you are who you are, if there is something you don't like about yourself ( because we all have our own hang ups), try and think of all the positives you have, and if its really that serious then you always have the choice to change what you don't like. What we perceive as our own imperfections other people may not even notice. You don't need to be self conscious about going out make up and weave free, you are perfect just the way you are. You can certainly do things to enhance yourself but never try to cover up who you really are.
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
My 10 Top fav shops
So heres a list of some of my favourite shops I like to use online, the majority of them are clothes shops, but some of the other shops are where I like to purchase beauty items and perfume from.
1. ) Urban outfitters
2.) Rare London
3.) H&M
4.) Marks and Spencer
5.)Bohoo
6.) Apricot
7.)Everything five pounds
8.) zara
9.)Boots
10.)The perfume Shop
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Pros/Cons of Extensions/Weave
If anybody is thinking of getting extensions or a weave, I will list some pros and cons of my experience with them, hopefully this can be helpful, but I must stress DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR HAIR UNDERNEATH!
Pros
Increased my hair length
Wearing extensions allowed me to rest and grow my hair. After bleaching my hair blond, my hair was damaged, the edges of my hair were short, so I got extensions to give my hair a break. I managed to grow my hair past my shoulders but after I had grown my hair to a certain length, I no longer needed them.
Easier to manage
When I had my extensions in there is no denying that they were extremely convenient when you have lectures to go to, you can just shower and go straight out the door. However because at that time I had no interest to look after my hair, I didn't realise that my own hair was easier to manage once I got the hang of it.
Cons
Cost
The price of getting extensions installed plus paying for the hair itself soon adds up. Now I look back three years later I can't believe I spent the amount of money I did. The ironic thing is that my own natural hair is longer than any weave I've had so I was spending unnecessary money when I had my own hair.
Time consuming
Its not only time consuming to sit for hours to get your hair done, but just the maintenance of wearing extensions can be tedious. You have to make sure that you look after it, and look after your hair underneath. There is no point wearing extensions if underneath them is a hot damaged mess. It is very easy to spot and see people who spend alot of money on their weave but neglect their real hair. This is totally apparent when they have dry and damaged leave out, eaten out edges, and to top it off some of them don't even do anything about it. It can be a daunting process wearing your natural hair, but honestly, nothing is better than washing your own hair, having a clean scalp and being able to tie it up in a bun.
Just to add a little disclaimer, it is up the individual what they choose to do with their hair, and I do recommend extensions if you want to grow your hair and switch up your style now and then...why not? , I have used them and they do help to grow your hair and give your hair a break, but just don't neglect your real hair. It does really baffle me that some people are so insecure about their natural hair that they can't step out the house without a weave/extensions in?
Length Check Jan 2013
Length Check Jan 2013
So here's a pic of my hair in January 2013, I will be doing a length check in July 2013. I plait it into a fishtail braid just to get an accurate length. To me it doesn't matter how cute my outfit is, if my hair isn't on point it really does spoil my whole outfit, thats why I'm extremely focussed on making sure my hair is healthy and looks healthy. Hair is like an accessory so make sure you make the best of what you have.
My own hair story
Ok so if anyone has looked at my blog so far, alot of the things I post about are related to haircare. Why?
Many years ago, when I was younger I used to have really long hair, then I went through a phase where I didn't use to look after my hair, I bleached it blond, dyed it brown, then back to black, red , black again and then black cherry. So that's alot of colour.I don't really use heat on my hair so the main damage came from bleaching.
What is my hair texture?
I'm mixed so I have a mixture of two types of hair, when my hair is wet it is extremely curly. I do not relax or chemically straighten my hair, the only thing I do is colour my hair.My hair isn't coarse in texture its fine when its wet. However when its dry my hair is alot thicker, and can be prone to dryness if I don't look after it.
What am I trying to achieve with growing my hair?
The main thing for me in the first couple of years I started growing my hair was health, and I do feel that after nearly three years, my hair is very healthy, it isn't damaged and has grown alot. My hair three years ago was just above shoulder length, it was blond and quite frankly resembled the texture of straw rather than hair. Now my hair is halfway down my back and it strong soft and healthy, I am hoping to grow my hair to waist length if possible.
What am I hoping to achieve in the future?
This blog is to help me document my own hair growth. I also hope it can help others if they want to look after their hair.
Many years ago, when I was younger I used to have really long hair, then I went through a phase where I didn't use to look after my hair, I bleached it blond, dyed it brown, then back to black, red , black again and then black cherry. So that's alot of colour.I don't really use heat on my hair so the main damage came from bleaching.
What is my hair texture?
I'm mixed so I have a mixture of two types of hair, when my hair is wet it is extremely curly. I do not relax or chemically straighten my hair, the only thing I do is colour my hair.My hair isn't coarse in texture its fine when its wet. However when its dry my hair is alot thicker, and can be prone to dryness if I don't look after it.
What am I trying to achieve with growing my hair?
The main thing for me in the first couple of years I started growing my hair was health, and I do feel that after nearly three years, my hair is very healthy, it isn't damaged and has grown alot. My hair three years ago was just above shoulder length, it was blond and quite frankly resembled the texture of straw rather than hair. Now my hair is halfway down my back and it strong soft and healthy, I am hoping to grow my hair to waist length if possible.
What am I hoping to achieve in the future?
This blog is to help me document my own hair growth. I also hope it can help others if they want to look after their hair.
Saturday, 23 February 2013
Finishing products, serums and styling
Organix coconut milk anti breakage serum
This is an anti breakage serum by Organix. I have been purchasing this for years. The coconut smell isn't too overpowering and it does what it says on the tin. I tend to use this when my hair is damp and dry just on the ends of my hair as these are oldest and most fragile parts of the hair. Its available at Boots for £5.99 and is really worth the money.Organix have a good line of products, I have tried the penetrating argan oil serum and also use it as an anti breakage serum.
Inecto pure coconut glossing spray
As you can see I have used alot of these. Its a coconut oil glossing spray which provides a great finish. When these run out I keep the bottles and make my own hair products. I don't use alot of this, its more for a sheen on the hair.
Charles Worthington Shine polish
This has been a surprise find for me, I didn't think it would do much for my hair but its a really great product. I only use it on my hair when its straight because when my hair is curly it doesn't really take well to finishing products. However when its straight it has a shiny finish as the product states and the texture of the product binds so well with my hair that its soft and holds a style in place. The bottle is very small but its definitely something I will be buying again.
Pantene ice shine serum.
As you can see this is a little bottle of pantene shine serum, and as you can guess it smells just like pantene!. I purchased this really to carry in my bag when I travel just in case the ends of my hair become dry and they need an emergency top up of moisture. It does give your hair a shine, however I have to admit for me the smell of pantene products can be overbearing for my personal taste so I only use a bit at a time, but its a nice little serum to keep handy.
A couple of conditioners...
Dove Heat defence conditioner
So I tried this Dove conditioner which is a heat defence conditioner. It smells really good and on the first two times I used it, it made my hair feel really soft. However on the third time I used it I seemed to have a lot of excess shedding. Now I'm not sure if that's because my natural hair is very curly and it didn't react well to it, but I haven't used it since. Everyone's hair is different therefore it is important to trial products. The main reason this product appealed to me was because of the heat defence. I don't blow dry my hair but I do straighten it about 5 times a year, so I will definitely be looking for products that have a heat defence in it, so I can use it next time I straighten my hair.
Gum Hair Salon argan oil conditioner
This has been my staple conditioner for the past month. It smells amazing, it has a thick consistency which provides adequate moisture for my hair. It is reasonably priced at £2.99 so I will continue using it for now, until I try another product.
2013 Shampoo
Hairtrition Shampoo
So, I have been using this for a couple of months now, and its great. It smells really good, it makes my hair feel really clean. Its sulfate free and a colour protect shampoo, also it doesn't dry out my hair. I managed to purchase a salon size bottle so hopefully it should last a while.It has alot of nutrients to keep the hair in good condition. Thumbs up so far!
So, I have been using this for a couple of months now, and its great. It smells really good, it makes my hair feel really clean. Its sulfate free and a colour protect shampoo, also it doesn't dry out my hair. I managed to purchase a salon size bottle so hopefully it should last a while.It has alot of nutrients to keep the hair in good condition. Thumbs up so far!
Friday, 22 February 2013
Kleenex facial cloths
Kleenex facial cloths
I randomly picked these up when I was shopping, I've never seen them before but they are really handy and much better on the skin than a flannel or a cotton pad. I tend to use these when I get in from outside just to clean my face because the impurities on your skin build up even when you've only been out for a while. So I use them just to stop dirt from building up in my pores. They are quite large and soft and reasonably cheap for under 70p.
I randomly picked these up when I was shopping, I've never seen them before but they are really handy and much better on the skin than a flannel or a cotton pad. I tend to use these when I get in from outside just to clean my face because the impurities on your skin build up even when you've only been out for a while. So I use them just to stop dirt from building up in my pores. They are quite large and soft and reasonably cheap for under 70p.
Neutogena Wave
Neutrogena Wave
This is a power cleanser, with small exfoliating pads which attach to the end of it. I really like this as it tends to cleanse more deeply then if you did it by hand. Again its small enough to take when travelling and seems to be working. On the first use my skin doesnt feel as rough and definitely feels softer. I will continue using this over a few months but so far so good. I'm very much trying to look after my skins condition as I don't really wear any make up except for mascara, as I don't like the feel of make up on my face for hours, so hopefully this will improve the condition of my skin.
This is a power cleanser, with small exfoliating pads which attach to the end of it. I really like this as it tends to cleanse more deeply then if you did it by hand. Again its small enough to take when travelling and seems to be working. On the first use my skin doesnt feel as rough and definitely feels softer. I will continue using this over a few months but so far so good. I'm very much trying to look after my skins condition as I don't really wear any make up except for mascara, as I don't like the feel of make up on my face for hours, so hopefully this will improve the condition of my skin.
Body Shop face brush
Body Shop face brush
This is perfect for exfoliating the dead skin off your face, I tend to do it a couple of times a week, and let my skin recover. Its perfect to take with you when travelling and its relatively inexpensive at £3.99
This is perfect for exfoliating the dead skin off your face, I tend to do it a couple of times a week, and let my skin recover. Its perfect to take with you when travelling and its relatively inexpensive at £3.99
Monday, 4 February 2013
Another new product for 2013
Happy Hair days conditioner |
Here is a new product I managed to find at Home Bargains in the UK. It was only a pound and I have yet to try it, but its something I will be using in the future once my current conditioner has run out. The conditioner I am currently using is Gum Hair Conditioner with Argan oil, it smells amazing and the smell lasts for days. Its super conditioning and is one of my favourite products to use, plus its a snip at £2.99 from home bargains, its also available online.
Monday, 14 January 2013
Natural, Cruelty Free and Organic? Argan Oil
Creation's Garden 100% Argan Oil
The 3rd Product is 100% Argan oil by Creation's Garden. I managed to buy this on the off chance from TK MAXX and I purchased it for £9.99. I think its worth the money and is a great anti frizz product, as I said earlier I do have curly hair and this seems to tame it. They do have a website which can easily be found when typing in Creation's Garden argan oil where you can learn more about this specific product and see other products they do. I tend to use this product when my hair is damp as it makes the ends of my hair much softer, also it prevents dryness.
The 3rd Product is 100% Argan oil by Creation's Garden. I managed to buy this on the off chance from TK MAXX and I purchased it for £9.99. I think its worth the money and is a great anti frizz product, as I said earlier I do have curly hair and this seems to tame it. They do have a website which can easily be found when typing in Creation's Garden argan oil where you can learn more about this specific product and see other products they do. I tend to use this product when my hair is damp as it makes the ends of my hair much softer, also it prevents dryness.
Natural, cruelty free and Organic?? Tara Smith Conditioner
This is product number 2 its a conditioner from Tara Smith. Heres a link to her page if you want to learn a bit more about her product range. http://tarasmith.com/
I think this particular product is still available in some shops and online, she does have a new range out now which I will be trying at some point so this may be an older product, but if you are able to find it I would definitely recommend purchasing it. This product was amazing on my hair, my hair is very curly when wet and it makes my curls look really defined. The smell isn't too strong and it just smells really fresh and makes my hair feel soft and clean.
Natural, cruelty free and Organic?? Coconut oil
As the post title states, here are a selection of products I have used which are organic and natural. I know that some people are very particular about what products they use on their hair especially if you are into using natural products that are sulfate free and contain no silicone's or parabens etc. So here are some products I would recommend.
Coconut oil
This is a 453g tub of pure coconut oil which retails at £14.99 from Holland and Barrett. This is great for using on damp hair, I tend to use this on the ends of my hair and it keeps my hair moisturised for 2-3 days in between wash days so my hair is constantly moisturised. There are other types of coconut oil such as extra virgin coconut oil so it all depends on your budget and what you can afford, you don't have to spend alot of money to look after your hair. I tend to bulk buy this when they have it on offer as £14.99 for one tub is quite pricey. It does tend to go on special offer either at half price or they sometimes have a penny sale where you can get two for £15.
Coconut oil
This is a 453g tub of pure coconut oil which retails at £14.99 from Holland and Barrett. This is great for using on damp hair, I tend to use this on the ends of my hair and it keeps my hair moisturised for 2-3 days in between wash days so my hair is constantly moisturised. There are other types of coconut oil such as extra virgin coconut oil so it all depends on your budget and what you can afford, you don't have to spend alot of money to look after your hair. I tend to bulk buy this when they have it on offer as £14.99 for one tub is quite pricey. It does tend to go on special offer either at half price or they sometimes have a penny sale where you can get two for £15.
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