How To Maintain Red Hair

A long, long time ago I made the very poor decision to bleach my hair. I quickly realised that my skintone and the white blonde did not work well together, at all. You could see every red pigmentation in my face, every spot and every dark circle. I went to the hairdresser and she suggested I go red before trying any other colour as it could potentially turn my hair green. So I did, I went for an auburn colour and I immediately fell in love. I looked so much healthier and my hair didn't look as dry and frizzy. 

Since then I've come to realise that red hair is the hardest to maintain and can be a bit of a pain to keep looking fresh and healthy. If you're thinking of going red, or if you've already taken the plunge and need a bit of advice, take a look at these top tips to maintain red hair. 

Keep your hair moisturised and healthy. This might seem like a given for any hair type, but the more moisturised and healthy your hair is, the better the colour will be. It's always a good idea to keep heat styling to a minimum, or if you have to heat style like I do (without it my hair will literally do nothing) make sure you're using a good heat protectant. 

Use a good colour protecting shampoo. My personal favourite is the Tresemme Colour Revitalise Shampoo and Conditioner. I've tested out a lot of colour specific shampoos and this is the only one I could see a noticeable difference with. My colour lasted for a good few weeks longer than usual when I was washing my hair with Tresemme. 

Wash as little as possible. You'll notice that after you've had your hair coloured the colour will still be washing out of your hair, even after 2-3 washes. If you want that colour to last as long as possible, try and wash as little as possible, this will also stop your hair from drying out from over-washing. 

Colour top ups. Make sure you're getting your colour topped up every 6-8 weeks to keep it looking its best. My hair grows relatively slowly so sometimes I can last up to 10 weeks without a top up on the roots, but after about 6 weeks I do notice it has faded and looks a little dull. 

Have you had any experience with red hair? Thinking of taking the plunge and joining the red headed army? 

New In: Skincare, Makeup & Hair

Whilst out getting some much needed Christmas shopping, I may have stumbled into Boots and The Body Shop and my debit card may have fallen out and into the card machine. I can't seem to buy presents for other people without buying something for myself, but I needed at least half of these things (so that's ok, right?). 

As I write this I'm waiting to head out and get my hair coloured and cut for the first time in forever. I used to get a bright red colour done at the hairdressers every 6-8 weeks, but then I became a student and the funds went a little downhill. Now I'm back in the working world and I want to get a bit more fun with my hair colour. However, with bright colour comes much responsibility, so I picked up one of my favourite hair masks, the Charles Worthington Melting Balm. This stuff is truly amazing and since I haven't had a cut for a while, my hair is in much need of some TLC.

Whilst perusing down the hair isle I picked up a small bottle of the Toni & Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray. With my hair being a bit shorter these days, I find that I turn to the messy look a lot in times of need. I've been wanting to try a sea salt spray for a while so thought I'd give Toni & Guy a shot.  

It was 3 for 2 in Boots so I spent an extremely long time having a look for something else to add to my shopping basket. Finally I settled on a Sleek Eau La La Liner in Venom. I seem to be collecting a lot of lip liners recently and I find the Sleek liners really buttery and pigmented, so I can't wait to give this a good test run. 

Finally I picked up the Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter after hearing nothing but good reviews about it. I've recently run out of my Neutrogena Grapefruit wash and I had a lovely O2 code for The Body Shop, so I thought I'd finally pick it up. 

I'm now on a bit of a spending ban till payday but with my birthday coming up and half my Christmas presents already bought, I'm hoping to do a bit more 'me' shopping. 

Have you bought anything shiny and new recently? Do you have trouble shopping for other people without spending money on yourself? 

I Never Knew I Needed You

Have you ever bought something on a whim? How often have you fallen completely in love with a product you never thought you needed? Well, that's what happened to me and these lovely products. At the time, I didn't really need any of these products, I just wanted them and luckily for me, they are amazing!

The Naked Basics palette was always something I felt like I needed, only because I had the previous 2 Naked palettes. So many times I looked at this little palette and thought 'I really don't need another neutral palette'. Then one day the temptation got the better of me and I added it to my shopping basket. I am so glad I did, it has quickly become one of, if not my all time favourite palette. It is so perfect for everyday makeup and perfect for work. Even the size makes it handbag friendly and it holds every shade you need for the perfect neutral eye. 

Benefit Hoola was another product that I didn't really need, I already have more than enough bronzers, but the hype surrounding this just made my curiosity too much to bare. After using this for the first time I fell in love, it really is as amazing as everyone says. Not only does it blend like butter, but it's also a great shade if you are of the more fair skinned variety. 

When it came to purchasing the MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation however, I did think up an excuse for buying it. Summer was fast approaching and I always turn into an oil slick in the warmer months. I bought this to mattify my foundation and also give me a bit of extra coverage for the mass amount of breakouts I was having at the time. I wouldn't recommend using this to set foundation as it can make you look a little cakey, but on it's own it is amazing. This will forever be a summer makeup staple for me. 

Finally there is the TIGI Totally Baked Volumising Hair Meringue. I saw HeyClaire using this in a tutorial and the packaging drew me in immediately. I have very fine hair so getting volume into it is a task and a half. This is the first and only product I have ever found that really gives me the volume I need without making my hair greasy and it smells just like lemon meringue! 

It just goes to show that sometimes it's a good idea to give into impulse buying. Maybe not on every little product you see, but sometimes you could find your holy grail product by just taking that chance. 

What products have you bought on a whim that you now couldn't bare to be without? 

Current Haircare Essentials

I've had an a love/hate relationship with my hair for many years, it's very fine, so it's hard to style, it falls out like crazy and it grows excruciatingly slowly. The one thing that has stayed the same over the last year or so is the types of products I use on a daily basis. 

Having very fine hair means that volume is virtually non-existent and finding a product that gives you volume that really lasts is a tough task. The TIGI Totally Baked hair meringue is the first product I have ever used that has given me noticeable volume that really lasts all day. It also smells absolutely delicious! 

As I'm also a serial dyer, my hair can get extremely dry and frizzy. I usually use a quick and easy spray leave in conditioner, but the TIGI Bed Head Ego Boost gives too good a result to ignore. Hairdressers have used this on me for years, but I never got round to purchasing it until now. It smells amazing like most TIGI products, but it also leaves the ends of my hair smooth and soft. 

To protect my already damaged hair from any more abuse, I use the Tresemme Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Spray. The Tresemme heat protection sprays are amazing, they give you a nice even spritz so your hair isn't left soaked in product and it adds a nice shine and smoothness to freshly styled hair. 

To keep everything where I've put it, I like to give it a light spray with Elnett Hairspray. Most hairsprays end up coating my hair and making it feel stiff and crispy, the Elnett hairspray fixes my hair in place, but also allows some natural movement so I don't feel like my hair is glued to my head.  There is nothing worse than Lego hair. 

The products might have changed, I may have upgraded to some more premium quality versions, but in essence the type of products has always been the same. I can't overload my hair with product or I risk making it look horrendous, not to mention it's not very nice for your hair. 

Let me know in the comments if you use the same types of products on your hair and if so, would you ever think of adding or taking away a product from your routine?

New Hair

If you have seen any of my very first YouTube videos you will have seen that only 2 years ago I had very short, pixie cut hair. It was nice for a while, super easy to do and always looked good, then slowly I started to get bored, there's not much you can really do with a short back and sides. 

As the years have rolled on, I have longed for super long hair so I could play with styles, curl it, crimp it, plait it but my hair grows so slowly. Then one day whilst looking in the mirror and styling my frizzy ends and grown out style, I realised that I DON'T want super long hair. My hair is extremely fine and having my hair any longer than my shoulders makes it look flat and lifeless. I don't know whether it's just me finally growing up and not caring about 'what everyone else is doing', but I decided in that moment that I wanted a hairstyle that actually suited me, not one that was fashionable or popular. 

You see it all the time on sites like We Heart it and Tumblr, girls with super long, thick hair that makes us all envious. The truth is that not all styles will suit everyone, there is no point of me having super long hair because it won't ever look good on ME. I'm happy to have a long bob, it's sleek and sophisticated and still long enough for me to have a play around with styles. 

Do I wish I had super long thick bouncy hair? Yes! Of course I do, but that isn't me. From now on I'll be working with what I've got, and to be honest, what I've got isn't all that bad. 

Current Haircare Favourites

I am a habitual hair dyer; I've been so many colours in such a short space of time that my hair is practically screaming for mercy.  I recently had a go at a bit of 'at home' ombre, I love how it looks but the ends of my hair are now well and truly frazzled. 

I tend to switch up my hair products pretty regularly anyway, but recently I've found a handful of products that actually work! These products are really helping me keep my hair in good condition whilst I wait patiently for it to grow to a reasonable cutting length. 

Tresemme Platinum Strength Shampoo and Conditioner

I trust Tresemme to do what it says on the tin and their Colour Revitalise was my favourite when I had bright red hair. This duo really keeps your hair feeling healthy and strong, not to mention silky soft. I've made it no secret that I'm not a fan of how Tresemme products smell, but if it does what it says, I can let that slide. 

Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave in Conditioner

I've tried many an Aussie product in the past and they all smell divine. I wanted a spray leave in conditioner that wouldn't way my very very fine hair down and that also gave my dry ends a bit of moisture. This is perfect and I use it pretty much morning and night. It does leave your hair looking a bit wet though, I tend to spray it on as soon as I wake up and leave it to soak in whilst I get ready. 

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Spray

It's always hard to review heat protection sprays because there is no way to tell if it really is protecting your hair. I do like how evenly this sprays though; it gives good coverage and doesn't make your hair feel soaked in product. I use this before blow-drying and before straightening and it helps control that annoying frizzy fuzz that can sometimes happen on the top of your head.

Moroccanoil Original

If I could wear this as a perfume I would, it smells unbelievable! I only use this on the ends of my hair as I find the original formula a little heavy (I will be purchasing the light version fairly soon) Saying that it really controls my frizzy bleached ends and gives an extra element of smooth. 

How do you keep your hair in tip-top condition? What are your 'go to' products?

BLEACH London Dip Dye Kit

I would call myself a seasoned pro when it comes to home hair dying. I've been dying my own hair since I was a young teen, trying to figure out if I wanted to be 'Emo' or not. Home dip dye on the other hand is still fairly new to me. I've had a bash at the L'Oreal Ombre kit about a year ago and found it super easy to use with pretty stable results. 

Then came BLEACH London, bursting onto our Boots shelves with its quirky urban coolness and I couldn't resist. This kit contains a handy blending lotion, designed to combat that dreaded 'line' where your colour stops and the bleach begins. I had a good read of the instructions the night before, just to make sure I knew exactly what I was doing, as bleach is a little tricky. I'm not going to lie, the instructions are a little complicated, more complicated than the L'Oreal Wild Ombre kit. 

The next day I grabbed my designated dying towel and prepared to take the plunge. I'm pretty brave with my hair so I'm never too distraught if it goes wrong (lucky for you lovely readers) I set to work applying the blending lotion, which smells divine by the way. You have to apply the lotion where you want the colour to blend into your natural hair colour, which gets a little tricky around the back of your head. I then set to work applying the bleach with the brush provided. I'll say right now I am absolutely rubbish with that little brush. I left the bleach on for the full 30 minutes and it looked pretty bleached to me, so I set about washing it off.

As for the results, I'm a little... meh about it. There are some areas at the front, which I did first, that are slightly blonder than the back. It's also a little bit yellow, but that's nothing that a good silver shampoo can't fix. Plus I do have a bit of a line on the left side; I probably didn't blend the lotion in with the bleach properly. It looks 'OK' not as lovely and fantastic as I was hoping for but I am going to be whacking a semi-permanent colour on soon anyway.

A few tips I would give if you're planning on using this kit:

• Don't do it on your own, get someone to help you. It was super difficult to get it even all around with just me alone. 
• Make sure you put A LOT of the blending lotion onto where you want your ombre to blend. 
• Brush the bleach through a little to really distribute it evenly. 

I would recommend this kit, it's a good little kit that gives the impression it really knows what it's talking about. I think my downfall was the sheer ineptness that is my dip dying skills. But do make sure you have someone to help/do it for you and stick to the instructions verbatim!

RRP: £7.00 (available at Boots online & in larger Boots stores)

Have you tried BLEACH London Dip Dye Kit? Or any at home dip dye kit? 

 

❤ September Favourites ❤

It's time for my monthly favourites! Just like last month, I've thrown in a few music and random favourites. Plus rthis time you can check out my Luvocracy page! I've made a collection especially for my September Favourites just for you guys! Well I hope you all enjoy and remember to tell me what you've been loving this month. 

Save My Locks! | Pantene Colour & Smooth Masque

  I recently had highlights put in to try and get rid of some of my remaining ginger shade, this has of course caused my hair to become very dry and mega frizzy. There was a 3 for 2 offer at good ole' Boots, so I thought I'd pick up a few hair rescue essentials and this was one of them. 

I've used Pantene products in the past and I always love how they smell. They have a really strong perfumed fragrance that lingers on the hair and just makes you smell lovely and clean throughout the day. 

I really love the actual tub of this as well, it is super easy to get into when you have wet slippy hands in the shower. The lid flips open and closed so you don't have to struggle to twist it open or resort to trying to open it with your teeth. The actual product is pretty thick but not so thick that it's hard to get a  good even coverage of the hair. It also only takes 2 minutes to work it's magic, so no waiting around in the shower trying to think of other things you can wash in the mean time.

I noticed a massive difference in how silky soft my hair was after using this, it just felt so healthy and nourished and it really made the blonde stand out more. It does contain Bisaminopropyl Dimethicone which is a silicone, but to be perfectly honest I always expect drugstore hair products to contain some sort of silicone. 

This is a really affordable way of getting silky soft nourished hair and Pantene is a brand I have a lot of history with, they haven't let me down yet so this a must try.

Have you tried the Pantene Colour & Smooth Masque? Do you prefer drugstore or high-end hair masks?

Oh Moroccanoil, How I Love Thee

You might be able to tell from the title that this isn't going to be a negative post. It took me a while to grit my teeth and buy Moroccanoil, the price had always put me off. After trying the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil and finding out it was pretty much just silicone in disguise, I wanted to try the real thing. 

I decided to start with the small 25ml bottle; at £12.95 it appealed more to my frugal side. I'm jolly glad I did! (Thumbs up for stereotypical British phrase) 

The smell was the first thing I fell in love with when I opened the bottle, there are no words for how good this smells! I'm actually not going to even try to describe it because I won't do it justice, you'll just have to trust me. 

I also love how smooth and silky the oil is. The Organix, compared to this, is super super greasy; you can't get it off your hands once you've used it. This however just disappears once you've applied it to your hair. It doesn't take a million washes to get it off your hands.

It leaves my hair so soft and healthy. I have the original version, which I think weighs my hair down but only very slightly. I'm intrigued to use the light version just to see if that feels any lighter.

Now I've finally tried this, I don't think I can live without it. If I had all the money in the world, I would buy every single person a bottle of Moroccanoil! 

What do you think of the Moroccanoil Hair Treatment? Have you tried their other products?  

July Monthly Favourites

I finally had time to film a monthly favourites video woopee! You may have already seen these products in previous posts or videos, but they have been 101% loved throughout this rather scorching July. 

First up is the L'Oreal Skin Perfection Micellar Water. This stuff has been building a very positive reputation since it's release. I couldn't tell you if it is a dupe for Bioderma, as so many bloggers and YouTubers claim, but what I can tell you is that it is a demon at removing makeup. This has changed my whole routine, switching me from using my Simple wipes to take my makeup off, to this much gentler water solution. 

I've already done a review of the Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm from Clinique here, but I really am super impressed with it. It really cuts through stubborn makeup and doesn't dry out my sensitive skin. 

Moroccanoil is loved by one and all, and now by me! I fell in love with this the very first time I used it. It's not greasy and makes your hair feel so healthy and soft it makes me want to cry a little. 

The Bourjois Delice de Poudre is the only bronzer I own (yes I know, I'll get shopping right away) It's not too muddy and not too orange (as long as you don't go crazy with it) I love it and I love the smell, It's been in my collection for a while and it's not going anywhere any time soon. 

The Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer had me confused, I couldn't decide if I loved it or hated it. I definitely think it's too dark for me in the winter (I have the lightest shade available FYI) but in the summer I love it! When I put it on I always cringe because it looks too dark for me. Once blended out it looks completely fine and really brightens up the eye area. 

And finally we have a little sample of mascara I got free in 'In Style' magazine. This little Rituals Perfection Volume mascara has been doing me proud. It is such a lovely day mascara, super lengthening, just the right amount of volume and zero clumps. It reminds me of the Chanel Le Volume De Chanel mascara in its overall finish only the formula is less thick and prone to clumping. 

What products have you been loving this month?