Hair Care Essential - Shampoo and Conditioner

Herbal Essences Bee Strong Shampoo and Conditioner £2.29

Every now and then I feel the need for change when it comes to health and beauty in my life!  It's a sudden urge that leaves me immediately seeking out an alternative.

Last week it was my hair care.  I've been using the same products for a while and I don't feel that I am getting the same results.  I am also bored with my mid-length hair and desperate for it to grow.

So cue quick supermarket (cheap) splurge on hair care in the shape of Herbal Essences Bee Strong Shampoo and Conditioner, which allegedly makes your hair stronger in just one wash.

Now I won't lie, my hair did not feel stronger after one wash, but I wasn't expecting miracles, that isn't going to happen at £2.29 each!  What I did get though was a lovely scented, very lathered, silky experience!  Which is what I was looking for.  Some shampoos don't like to lather (usually because they actually have less abrasive ingredients in them) and I just wanted to feel like my hair was really clean.

So I lathered, rinsed and then applied the conditioner.  I rinsed again and my hair was silky and smooth.  It did dry easier and the straightness lasted well (until I worked out that is).  Also the smell of honey followed me around all day which was also very nice.

I've used Herbal Essences before but only the blue Hello Hydration one.  They both smell delicious so I would recommend either.  I think they are the perfect shampoo and conditioners to get in travel size for trips away or after the gym etc!

Do any of you use Herbal Essences?

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Guest Post - Review: Lush Soak and Float, Veganese and Sweetie Pie hair and body products

I was guilt tripped by the BBC's Orangutan Diaries recently. I couldn't cope with seeing baby Orangutans losing their habitat because of unsustainable palm oil plantations, then Michaela Strachan proceeding to lecture about how we buy far too many products containing palm oil produced from these plantations. I was already aware of the problem before watching Orangutan Diaries but my busy life saw me consuming whatever was convenient. This time, I decided to do something about it. 

One of my new year resolutions was to be more conscious in my decision making. That's not only things I buy, but in life in general. Even if it's something small. I don't profess to be able to change the world and be the perfect human being. But if I can make a slight change for the better with my actions, it's good enough for me. I thought beauty products would be a good place to start so I took some time to look into brands which are palm oil conscious. Lush came up high on the list (http://www.rainforestfoundationuk.org/Hair_Products). Most people usually talk about how nice the bath bombs are from Lush and that's about it. So I was pleasantly surprised to find they offer a whole range of beauty products.

Changing my hair routine is a big deal. My natural curls, which I definitely don't have time to straighten day in, day out, require moisture and lots of it. As long as there's a good cut going on, products are my focus. So, that's: shampoo, conditioner, an intensive condition once in a while, serum to de frizz, styling cream to boost and styling spray to set. Complicated, potentially expensive and long-winded, yes. But pretty much essential when it comes to keeping my curls, well, curly. Looking for something which was going to be able to do this was an important factor when considering using more ethically-sound products. Here is my verdict. 

Soak and Float shampoo

My requirements: Hair needs to be squeaky clean and keeps those pesky flakes away. My dark hair makes them much more noticeable, you see.

Name: It sounds a bit wrong. Or is that just me?

Appearance: Round soap bar with a beige vibe. Even more natural than natural.

Smell: Wow. And this isn't a good wow. It's the cade oil, which has a "strong smoky, woodsy aroma", apparently.Hmm. Cade oil is also known as juniper tar, which according to Lush has antiseptic, antimicrobial and fungicidal properties. 

Feel on hands: A good amount of lather but not over the top.

Feel on head: The lather continues to stay normal and is straight to the point. .

Rinse: Rinses out quickly and easy.

Result: After over 3 weeks of using it, so far, so good. For me, I have to use it twice. It may smell strong but an affordable product that's natural and can meet my requirements wins hands down over the chemical alternative. Plus the smell doesn't linger in your hair after you rinse it out. 

Ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Water, Cade Oil, Lavender Oil, Marigold Petals, Rose Petals, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume

*occurs naturally in essential oils

Veganese conditioner

My requirements: MOISTURE.

Name: You don't have to be vegan to use it but it's a good indicator for those who are dedicated to that lifestyle. For this, I will give it at least a point for function.

Appearance: Creamy with very faint pistachio tint.

Smell: Sweet, sweet lemon.

Feel on hands: Slightly runny, which didn't fill me with too much joy. However, my quest for moisture meant that in the past I was going for thick conditioners that weighed my fine hair down. The feel is something I'll have to get used to. 

Feel on head: Soaks in very quickly.

Rinse: Again, rinses out quickly and easily.

Result: Love it. My hair is manageable, smooth, shiny plus it had a really pleasant, long-lasting lemony smell. It's quite pricey (but value for money when considering how long a big bottle will last), so I went for the smallest size, just to test. I'll be purchasing the largest bottle possible of the Veganese once pay day comes around because it really does the trick. My favourite purchase out of the 3.

Ingredients: Lavender Flower Infusion, Fresh Rosemary Infusion, Agar Agar Gel, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Cetearyl Alcohol and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cetrimonium Bromide, Lemon Oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Fresh Organic Lemon Juice, *Citral, *Limonene, Perfume, Methylparaben

*occurs naturally in essential oils

Sweetie Pie shower jelly

My requirements: Clean me.

Name: This is cute and it encouraged me to pick it up on a whim. 

Appearance: Purple, wobbly jelly. It's supposed be sparkly but I couldn't see the sparkles. Upsetting. 

Smell: Cherry.

Feel on hands: Wobbly, stretchy and very difficult to get out of the pot.

Feel on body: It just stays the same. Where's the lather?

Rinse: After some hard work, the lather appears. It rinses off quickly.

Result: A fun idea but it doesn't translate into an effective shower gel in my eyes. I should have known what I was getting, seen as the packaging clearly describes it as shower jelly. Unfortunately the novelty wore off after the fact it wasn't easy to use. 

Ingredients: Glycerine, Cherry Infusion, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coconut Infusion, Propylene Glycol, Carrageenan Extract, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Cassis Absolute, Cypress Oil, *Limonene, *Linalool, Snowflake Lustre, Colour 17200, Colour 42090, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

*occurs naturally in essential oils

Overall verdict

When it comes to shopping at Lush, I'd honestly suggest browsing the engaging website and buying on line after a trip to the Arndale shop. Staff were a bit pushy plus you only have to walk by the entrance to be overawed by the combination of flowery, powdery aromas coming from inside.

Their products are what makes the experience in my opinion. On top of their palm oil policy, they don't test on animals plus it's an easily accessible brand. The shampoo and conditioner gets a big thumbs up from me. Guilt free, effective and similarly priced to to higher-end chemical-based products; I've been converted.   

https://www.lush.co.uk/

     

About me: My name is Karolyn, I'm a writer and I've been friends with Dani for 5 or 6 years. I also blog like Dani but my Wordpress site Gone Out is focussed on events, culture and occasional rants.Check it out at www.goneout.wordpress.com or follow me on Twitter: @karolynsgoneout.

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My Current Hair Care Routine

I’ve recently had my hair cut.  Hurrah!  Honestly though, it’s one of those things that fills me with dread.  Mainly because I never come away happy.

This time however I do actually like the cut and in celebration of that I thought I would do a post on my present hair care routine.

Shampoo and Conditioner.

For the most part I am using Lee Stafford’s Breaking Hair Shampoo £8.99 and Lee Stafford’s Breaking Hair Conditioner £8.99.  I picked these up at the Clothes Show in December after being sweet talked by one of the people on the stand.  It was four products for £12 which considering it would have cost me £18 for two ordinarily,  is pretty good. 

I must say though these are not my favourite products I have ever used and I am in no way in love with them.  I cannot really say anything too negative as they do what any other shampoo and conditioner do, but that is the problem.  I feel they are very average and would never pay full price for them (nor would I repurchase).  My hair continues to break whilst using them and also doesn’t look any smoother as a result of using them so I am just using these up until I have been paid and can justify purchasing some more products – such as Redken or Wella.

For those days when I would like my hair to feel a bit more conditioned (and I have time) I use Neal & Wolf’s Intensive Care Treatment which is £12.95*.  I like the smell of this product and it is nice and thick so my hair definitely feels conditioned when I use it and smoother.  This is something I would recommend although probably something I would not purchase – simply because I rarely use conditioning masks on my hair (I know – very naughty).

Styling.

When it comes to styling I have a vast array of products.  Many of which are only used from time to time.  So I have focused on those that I use regularly (for the most part) and I like.

First up is Redken’s Extreme Anti Snap £13.50 – 16.50.  This is something I have been using on and off for around 4 years now and definitely something I recommend and repurchase.  I must say, it works best on hair that starts off in good condition – so I find it is better when my hair has had all the dead ends cut off, as a preventative measure (rather than a cure when it has split and needs a cut!).  I apply it when my hair is just towel dried and prior to blow drying.  One thing I would say is that this usually results in it taking longer to blow dry for me as it locks in some of the moisture.  A definite must have though if your hair is prone to splitting.

Another regular favourite of mine is the John Frieda Frizz-Ease Extra Strength Hair Serum £6.29.  If I am not using the Anti Snap I put this on prior to blow drying.  If I have used Anti Snap, I apply a teeny tiny (less than 5p sized) amount and apply to the  ends and layers before straightening.  I know you are not supposed to actually do this, but it really does make a big difference between frizzy and non frizzy so I am going to continue!  I could not live without this product so much so that I have 5 spares in case they ever discontinue it and my parents always buy it me for birthdays and Christmas!

Also, depending on my mood and whether I think my hair needs it, I use Neal & Wolf’s Heat Protection Spray £10.95*.  This is just one of those sprays to apply either before blow drying and straightening.  I fluctuate between both.  In all honesty, I don’t feel like my hair feels any different as a result but that probably isn’t a bad thing as the product is nice and lightweight and if it is protecting my hair then that’s a good thing.  I wouldn’t purchase though as I need to see or feel results in order to use a product again after running out.

Once blow dried and straightened I like to use Batiste’s XXL Volume Dry Shampoo £3.99.  This is great for creating volume when you have just washed your hair or for the between washes days when your hair needs a bit of a lift.  I just apply it to the roots rub in and then brush.  It works well although you have to be careful not to apply too much or (if you are brunette like me) you will end up with a very powdery finish – not a good look.  I would definitely recommend this though as it is great for freshening up hair, but it really does create volume.  I couldn’t be without this either (although I don’t have 5 of these stashed away as they are too big!).

Finally, this is a product I haven’t used much so far but know I will.  It’s the Label.M Sea Salt Spray £9.80.  Yes, the spray that everyone who has amazing tousled hair seems to use.  I am aiming for that look.  It seems to work pretty well so far and is great for creating a bit of texture in your hair where the layers are.   I spritz a bit on whilst blow drying roughly and it gives my hair a bit more of a rougher and choppy feel.  Gone are the days where I want super sleek hair so this is perfect for me.  It also works if my hair has got a bit damp from the (rubbish) English weather and is a bit kinky.  A spritz of this and a quick scrunch means the kinks look intentional! Result!

Here's my YouTube video if you fancy a watch xx

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MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo and Hair Dyeing

Without Flash

With Flash

So I wanted to try and find a red that would work for Christmas time but red can be a very intimidating colour when it comes to lipstick. 

I spotted a lot of pictures on the net with girls rocking MAC's Ruby Woo though so I thought I would give it a go too. 

I really like it.  It goes on matte - so watch out for it sticking to dry bits - I used my MAC Lip Conditioner underneath it so it applied nicely.  I should also mention that I applied using a brush and built up the colour.  It felt safer although I am not sure that I will do that next time.  Was a pain!

What do you think??

Also, I dyed my hair using L'oreal's sublime mousse - got to say that I wasn't that impressed but the colour can be seen above. 

Hmmm

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Nicky Clarke Manchester Salon Review

So this is going to be one of those posts where there will be lots of pictures of my new hair (which incidentally is now around 3 weeks old)

I should have taken some pictures of the salon (naughty blogger) but it was a last minute things and I felt too shy to ask!

So if you are familiar with Manchester the Nicky Clarke salon is on the avenue in Spinningfields (off Deansgate) which, without giving too much away, is very close to where I work.  And also close to where I live.  

So it was a natural choice for me when I was looking to try a new salon one Friday afternoon.  

Now, I must say I was persuaded by the Manchester Confidential deal which allows you to get a restyle for £30.  As that was what I paid back at home I was happy to give it a go.  Albeit very nervously. 

I needn't have worried.  The salon was lovely and really big but you aren't on show.  The girls take you upstairs and wash your hair with a mini head massage which was lush and then sit you in front of a big mirror and get to work.  It's all very well lit and feels very chic.  fI saw a girl called Roisin and she was fab.  She listened to what I said and told me what she was going to do so that I didn't panic when I started to see hair on the floor and she kept the length which is what I asked for as although for a lot of you this won't be long - it's really long for me!

Here were the results (after a 15 minute walk back to the flat also).

Sorry about the red eye!

Now I absolutely love this.  It's got volume, it's what I like to call flicky and not super straight.  I love how sweeping the fringe is too. 

She managed this just by blowdrying my hair which no one has managed before.  Very impressive.  

Sadly I can't quite recreate this look although my hair is still manageable when styling.  

A cut is usually £45.  I will definitely be going back and would definitely recommend the salon and stylist.  I was so glad I had a good experience as it's tough trying to find new hairdressers!

Now to try some Nicky Clarke hair products!

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What To Use For Perfect Hair - John Frieda Full Repair

Shampoo - £5.59 (link)
Conditioner - £5.59 (link)

Ok, so this review (along with a good few others) has been a long time coming.  I can only apologise.  Life has been hectic with trying to deal with work, commuting, looking for a flat to move to and trying to fit in some socialising along the way.

I wish I was much better at multi tasking, but I am not quite there yet.

Anyway, the good news is that whilst many of you may have now tried this, for those of you that have not my review is based on a month and a half's usage!! So very thorough!

I received these samples back in July and began using them straight away.  It was perfect timing because my hair was in dire condition, flyaway and frizzy and nothing I used seemed to ease that.

So I tried this in the hope of a miracle and that's practically what I got!

Why is it so good?

Well, firstly it smells lovely. 

Secondly, it does not leave me with build up or an irritated scalp (this is something I had been suffering with and was finding flakes to be a real problem as a result -  not good when you are brunette).

Thirdly, it seems to make drying my hair somehow easier.  

Fourthly, my hair dries less frizzy and straightens fantastically.  If I am wearing it curly I have so much less frizz than when I use other products.

Fifthly (and most importantly for me), it retains my style.  So I don't find that my hair immediately changes and becomes really frizzy when stepping out the door (this is with the added assistance of john frieda hair serum - which I always use and is the most consistent element of my hair routine and has been since I was 14).

Is it worth the price tag?

Yes.  Whilst I appreciate it is a little more than some of the other brands out there, I have used higher and lower end products and I think that this fits perfectly within it's pricing.  You are not paying too much (which I have done in the past for less impressive results) nor are you paying next to nothing but achieving poor results.  

Also, I haven't had to replace this yet in almost 2 months which is impressive for me (wash every other day and use a hellaload of conditioner)!

The good news is that they do a smaller travel sized version so you can always try that before you buy the full size!

I would definitely recommend this shampoo and conditioner and would love to hear how anyone else has got on with it!! I want to try the other products in the range yet so if you have tried and reviewed send me your links!!

Also, the John Frieda team are on YouTube!

Next mission - create the perfect top not!

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New Hair!

Oh hello highlights!

Seriously - you would think I was shaving my head with how worried I was to do this but being the crazy person I am (not) I got my at home highlighting kit by L'oreal and went for it! Go me!

Normally I go for a dark all over colour though but I wanted something lighter to try and bring out some colour or something!

So glad I did - I really like it!  I would say though that actually I wish I had put even more in around my face and might do some more soon because I really like it!

In terms of application I found this a little tricky.  You apply standard dye, rinse out after 25 mins (I did about 20 so as not to look like a goth) and then start again with a large mascara type wand and a blue mixture which is the highlighting dye.  My problem was that because my hair is curly it was so hard to get the strands I wanted to do and of course I was worried the whole time that I would end up looking ridiculous.

Next time I will be a bit more confident!

Have any of you used these?

What do you think?

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GHD Ceramic Vented Radial Brush - Size 4

Purchase for £17.50 here

As most of you now know, naturally my hair is pretty curly and because I no longer have it chemically straightened, it's a bit of a battle to wear it straight. 

It takes a good hair cut, lots of products, and a good initial blow dry. 

You see, if I straighten my hair from curly, or just blast dry and then straighten it my hair just looks dry and flat.  Not a look I am going for - obvs.

Therefore it is really important that when I wear it straight I get a good blow dry in first and seeing that I am doing it myself I like to make it as easy as possible!!

Which means a good brush. 

My recent brush is now a few years old and needed updating so when I was offered the chance to review the GHD Ceramic Vented Radial Brush I snapped up the opportunity as I am a GHD straightener user and have used some of their hair care range over the past 10 years (eeeek - old much!).

This is another GHD product that didn't disappoint!  It makes drying nice and easy and makes my hair nice and smooth and shiny.  I wouldn't say that it sped up drying time but I think that is because I am still getting used to it - my previous hairbrush had a much thicker handle and this one is definitely thin!!  It takes some getting used to with my clumsy hands!!

I do really like the finish it gives my hair though, it makes it really easy to then straighten - which is hard at the moment because i need a good cut!!

I would definitely recommend and think it is totally worth the money as it's hard wearing too (I had it in my travel case against my makeup bag and it didn't disfigure the bristles at all which is very good!)  

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Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner

I've recently seen on a couple of blogs that some of you girlies are using shampoos and conditioners from the Organix range so when I spotted a travel size version in Boots last week I thought I would give them a try. 

I have washed and blow dried straight and washed and left to dry naturally curly also. 

I found that the shampoo doesn't lather as much as others I have but that it will lather up after a bit of hard work.  The conditioner does leave my hair feeling nice and soft.

I am addicted to the smell for definite and my hair feels really nice and soft so I like that about it, but what I would say is that when my hair was straight it was very fluffy.  So a little frizzy and static.  I have decided to see if it is as a result of the styling products I have used afterwards as my hair can be like this when straight generally so I will keep you posted.  

I really want to like this range however I have seen very mixed reviews online and therefore I am not entirely convinced I will be completed convinced.  It will really depend on whether I can get my hair to calm afterwards!

Does anyone else use these?

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Macadamia Natural Oil - Healing Oil Treatment Review

Hi lovelies!  As you all no doubt know, hair oil seems to be taking the beauty world by storm.  I have used various oils since I first relaxed my hair back when I was 15 (lonnnnng time ago!), so I have been extremely happy to see them become more mainstream.  So when I was lucky enough to be sent a Beauty Box from Boudoir Privé in September with this sample enclosed I was very excited. 

As I was only able to pick it up from the post office in October I guessed you had all already had your monthly fill of blog posts on the contents of September's box and therefore concluded I would review each product in turn after I had been able to try them thoroughly.  

The Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment was provided in a sample size of 10ml, although it usually comes in a 125 ml size pump bottle.  Macadamia Natural Oil describe this treatment as a therapeutic oil perfect for all hair types and is especially beneficial to dry, damaged hair and I must say, I am certainly convinced.

The product is alcohol free which is an instant positive for me and although I don't use it before drying there is plenty of information on http://macadamiahair.co.uk/ regarding usage and reducing your drying time by 40-50%.  I personally apply it after I have dried and styled my hair to nurture and smooth out the ends.  It works fabulously for this by the way.  It instantly smooths my hair with the added bonus of making it smell divine.  I can use a teeny tiny bit all over, which is why I know this product will last me ages never mind the full size one. 

So would I purchase this when my sample is finished?  I think so, yes.  I love how it makes my hair feel and do believe it is a good substitute for some of the harsher products I have used to keep my hair neat and sleek in the past.  It seems to retail at around £18 on amazon

Overall a definite recommendation from me and I will certainly be testing out other products from their range in the future, as they look as equally promising.  To find out more click here.  

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Yogi Hair Wand

So I recently purchased the Yogi Hair Wand on Sarah's blog. I picked it up for a mere £20 which was a bargain given that they retail at £59.95.

I haven't had time to experiment with my hair until this weekend, so I was of course very keen to try them on Saturday.

So I washed, conditioned and dried and then wrapped my bushy locks around the barrel and voila - beautiful, bouncy and full waves!

No Flash

With Flash

Yogi Hair Wand

I really like this look and if you have seen any of my weekend posts you will have spotted me sporting the waves in them. 

It was easy to do - took 20 mins to do whole head section by section.  This probably wasn't necessary - I think if I ran the straighteners over my hair I may have been able to just do the ends and create a really subtle look. 

I loved this look though.  I went out for a meal on Saturday night and it was perfect for that - not overly styled but not boring, flat, straight hair (my hair always looks better with curls and waves).  Definitely impressed with how well it hid my desperately needing a hair cut hair. 

The style stayed in until the next day and was a little looser when I woke up - but I liked it.  Perfect for a weekend relaxed look. 

I will definitely be using these again and I am really glad I bought them off Sarah!  In all honesty though - I probably wouldn't pay the full price for them personally, but that is because I already have tongs and also believe I can create good curls and waves already with my GHD's. 

If you do fancy looking at the wand though you can view their website and full product listing here. 

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TRESemme Split Remedy Range

So to begin this review I would firstly like to say  ta da!

Here is my hair after use of the Split Remedy Range.  This is a near miracle - my hair won't tame for anyone at the moment and the fact that it is actually falling down rather than frizzing left, right and centre shows that this product works for me.

Apologies for the lack of face - I was makeup-less

So on to the formal review. 

Most of you will now know that TRESemme launched the Split Remedy Range in September.  I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch, but alas - as much as I wanted to go, professional life got in the way as it so often does.  

I was very kindly offered the chance to try the range anyway and I naturally jumped at the chance.  My hair is as split as the next girl who has a passion for heat styling and I love TRESemme as a brand generally. 

I was provided with the Shampoo and Conditioner, RRP of £4.99 each.

And also the Serum and Leave In Treatment, RRP £5.50 each.

So, in the name of good hair, I set some time aside to wash, condition, further condition and blow dry my hair and the above look was the result.  I was very pleased.

What you don't get to see was how silky my hair felt to touch and also the fact that it lasted 2 full days of looking sleek without needing to be washed.  Definitely a positive.

So what do I think of the range?  Thumbs up from me.

The Shampoo and Conditioner smell lovely and my hair instantly feels softer.  Lathering up is easy and the products rinse out easily.

In relation to the serum and leave-in treatment - I used these both.  I firstly applied a little leave in conditioner (one pump only) and then some serum (one pump also).  I could feel the product on my hair at this point - but no more than any other products I use.

One thing I did notice was that my hair stayed wetter longer, which meant it took longer to dry with my hairdryer.  It didn't make it anymore difficult to dry though like some products can i.e. it didn't leave my brush dragging through my hair or anything.

Once it was dry though I would have left my hair as it was if it only had a bit more style.  My hair was full and bouncy and the ends look so much smoother.   Straightening was a doddle and took much less time than usual.  Yay!  When I have my hair cut back into shape I imagine I will be able to just blow dry it with a round bristle brush and leave it.

So all in all I would say these are a good product if you are looking for something to make your hair smooth and shiny.  It certainly worked for me and the use of the leave in treatment and serum did not leave my hair weighed down.  If in doubt use a little and build the product up is what I say!

I would guess that some of you have already had good results with this range, but if you haven't got around to trying it I would definitely recommend as it works a treat for me!

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Glad Hair Day

So Saturday is traditionally the day of the week that I try new hair products, or dye my hair, or try new styles.

Today was no different.  I happened upon some Soap & Glory small Shampoo and Conditioner in Boots earlier this week.  It was 3 for 2 and I thought it would be good to pick up some smaller sizes to try.

As a side note, let me just say I love travel sized products.  Seriously, I buy them all the time now because it means I to try something without worrying about spending too much and get to use it at the gym! Perfecto!

The good news is that I am looking forward to using these at the gym.  It's weird, when I used them in the shower I was thinking "uh oh" and "my hair is feeling pretty traumatised".  Sometimes conditioners make your hair feel amazing immediately, I'd say this does not but my hair definitely felt super clean.

Buuuut, the amazingness became apparent as I began to dry my hair.  It dried in no time, smooth and super shiny.  Me = happy happy.  My ends were smooth and I therefore couldn't even bring myself to straighten it because it looked like the best blow dry I have ever had!

So love it.  My hair looks and feels amazing and I get to use less heat than usual.  Sorted.  I mean, I had heard a girl I know saying that their hair range was good, but I must admit, I was doubtful.  Especially as I am desperately trying to grow my hair at the moment so I'll be the first to admit it needs a good trim.  I was wrong.  It really is good and next time it will be the full size version for me.

What do you think ladies? Have any of you used this?

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Colour Xtreme Hair Art Sprays

Having recently seen Lauren Conrad sporting a colour ombre look I was eager to try something similar myself.

However having dark hair I knew this might be a bit trickier in terms of how well any dye would show up and the colours to use. So I was excited when I was offered the opportunity to review some wash out colour dye sprays.

I received the Colour Xtreme Hair Art Sprays in the below colours...

I was impressed with how they worked. Unfortunately, pink didn't show up on my hair at all. It's really strange but of course it would show up really well on blonde hair.

The other colours however showed up fine and looked like this.

White, Blue and Purple Dye - Ombre and Streak Look

My favourite colour is the purple and you can see it alone below. I actually will use this as it's suble and looks pretty good I think. The other colours are a bit OTT for me, and it was hard to get the blue not to look to sprayed on with the colour of my hair.

Purple Dye Colour Ombre Look

In terms of application these apply well, but are a little messy. Obviously you don't want to have anything that could get coloured nearby so I chose to do it with a plastic bag on my shoulder so that I could spray away happily. Got the blue on my hands and took quite a while to remove.

One thing is for sure, you will need to brush it out once sprayed on (as advised in directions for use). If not, it looks kinda sticky and fake - a little like the white colour above (I hadn't brushed that).

All in all I would say these are great for creating a fun look, they retail at £4.07 and are available at Boots. Definitely worth a purchase if you want something a little different for your hair on a night out. Obviously choose your colour wisely though!!!

Anyone else tried these? Or indeed had their hair done to coloured ombre effect?

Do you even like the trend!?

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Redken Extreme Anti Snap

I recently filmed a March favourites video (not uploaded) which got me thinking about my all time favourites and I couldn't believe that I had not shared this with you before.

Just by way of background I should add at this stage that I have always been a lover of Redken. Well I say always, what I mean is ever since I started using it around 4 years ago. Don't get me wrong, I do use other products, but I know that using Redken keeps my hair shiny and soft when it's at it's worse so I know it is good for my hair.

Ok, on to this particular Redken Beauty. It is part of the extreme range (dark blue) and is a leave in treatment which reduce friction from brushing by smoothing the hair cuticle and therefore resulting in less breakage. The texture itself is like a very runny conditioner. I would take a picture but frankly it looks a little disturbing...

Despite the appearance (if you over analyse when trying to describe!) this product works really well. I started using this around 2 years ago and I would definitely not go back to life without it. I have noticed significantly less breakage for sure and always swear by it.

Now this is not a miracle product for me, in that my hair hasn't magically grown to Rapunzel like length as a result of using this, but it is always more manageable, styling much easier in addition to maintaining the shape of the style for longer in adverse weather conditions.

This is one of my vitals in my hair care routine being applied immediately after washing.

This is a definite recommendation. I have been paying £16.10 for it from a salon in Manchester. ERROR. Feelunique offer it for £13.60 with free delivery here.

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Clairol Nice and Easy Hair Dye in Medium Golden Brown

So I wanted to give a lighter colour a go on my hair because usually I look a bit goth-like when I use dark browns.

I had a search in my local supermarket, which if I'm honest did not have that much choice, particularly because I was looking for a semi permanent on the advice of my hair dresser.

In the end I chose Clairol's Nice N Easy Dye in Medium Golden Brown and here is what it looked like...

(sorry it's another picture from the weekend. I had planned on posting this the same day I posted my FOTD trying MAC Paint Pot in Indian wood)



In terms of application this product was easy to apply. You simply mix two liquid together until they are blended and you are good to go! The gloves are RUBBISH though so I ended up using some latex ones I already had.

So what do I think?
Well it didn't dry my hair which is a result but the colour didn't do that much to my existing hair colour other than give it high shine. Having said that I didn't want loads of colour which is why I went for a shade that would warm my hair up and make it glossy. Which worked and was a bargain at £3.99!

Any of you got any hair dyes you swear by??

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Hair Extensions Anyone!?!?

Gosh it's a while since I have used these bad boys! Well not these precise ones but extensions in general. Found a fresh pack that I had saved in the back of my wardrobe the other day - I was very excited!

They are Dream Girl 100% Human Hair Extensions, shade 4.

I'll be honest - the pics above are just of me messing around with them. They are just draped around my shoulders. However, I think I will sew them up, sew on some clips and keep them in reserve for nights out. I'd love to wear them daily - but I just find them too high maintenance. Plus I feel a little too done up. This is simply because EVERYONE knows my hair isn't this long.

When I did used to wear them in the day though everyone would always comment on how nice my hair was. I'd always reply by saying "it's not real" haha - I always have to tell people I am faking it.

Anyway I know it was very fiddly when I first made my first set of extensions all those years ago, so I wondered if any of you fancy me posting a step by step guide of how to sew on the clips etc for extensions and how I apply??

Any of you girlies already wear extensions? Daily, or night's out?????

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Curly Locks!

Hey lovelies! Hope you are all well!?

I've had a very busy week this week so please excuse the lack of posts.

Also I'm trying to get used to wearing my hair natural again - what do you think?




The plan is no heat and straightening (apart from fringe) with the aim of it growing!

Fingers crossed the lack of heat will help with me obtaining luscious locks!

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See My Natural Curls and How I Styled

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Herbal Essence Shampoo and Condtioner - Hello Hydration

So as you know now from time to time I find my self in serious need of a hair wash whilst away from my usual shampoo and conditioner. This time I got to try out Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner.

Firstly, this smells DIVINE - totally coconutty (which I love!). The smell lasts for ages too - even after drying and straightening! I just love it when I get whiffs of my clean scented hair!

So these products lather and apply like any normal shampoo and conditioner really. Aside from the smell - I didn't notice anything spectacular about them. But nevertheless my hair was left shiny and soft. See below...



One thing I did notice however was that my hair was slightly more flyaway than usual so I didn't get to wear it down for long before it started to bug me!

That said, I still think that this would be a perfectly good shampoo and conditioner to purchase if you want a cheap nicely scented product to do the job. For me though, I need something that it just a little more moisturising to feel that it has done the job I need!

If you fancy this - or fancy a good sniff at least - just look for the blue bottle!

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