Night Out Essentials

Big night out on the town planned? Add the following to your shopping list...

Heels... not really my forte if I am honest, I am pretty useless when it comes to high heels and nine times out of ten I opt for a more comfortable option, but on that odd special occasion I do love a good ASOS pair, the fit is always perfect and the range of styles available means you can find the ideal pair to go with any outfit, my current favourite pair are the ASOS Positive pointed black high heels, this style is incredibly classic and the curve design really elongates the legs. I will be truthful though, these are most definitely style over comfort, that burn you get after wearing heels for too long? Yep, these sure deliver on that -these babies will kill your feet.

If I am getting all dolled up for an evening out I always like to have big, bouncy hair with lots of volume, to achieve that I use the Living Proof Instant Texture Mist, this can be used to prep the hair pre blow dry or as a finishing spray. This plus a backcombing brush equals big hair, I like to keep everything in place with a truly classic styling product - the L'oreal Elnet Hairspray, available in a variety of hold levels means there is something for everyone. If I am working with freshly washed hair then I like to use a couple of Velcro rollers through my parting for added oomph.

Last of all on my list but certainly not least is a big, dramatic pair of false lashes. Currently I am loving the Eylure 212's, these are bold, black and very full. To secure in place I use the Duo Lash Glue in clear/white, a steady hand and a pair of tweezers. I find I always have to trim my lashes slightly to fit the shape of my eye so have a pair of scissors handy too. Youtube is great for tutorials on putting on falsies if you are a newbie.

So in summary I like big hair, big lashes and high heels, what are your must haves for a night out? Comment below.

The Effortless Topknot

Sometimes less is more and if you have gone for a dramatic look with your make up or your outfit is making a real statement a simple topknot is all that is needed. However this particaular style can sometimes be harder that it looks, and creating the effortless 'I just threw my hair up' kinda style takes a little prep...

First start with second day hair, from personal experiance freshly washed hair likes to slide around alot and is a little less managable. So your hair will need a refresh, for that I use Batiste's XXL Volume Dry Shampoo, this guarentees oil free hair and it gives that much needed volume boost which is essential for creating this look. I spray this into the roots of my hair and leave for a few seconds, then using my fingers I gently rub it in making sure all the powder is absorbed, if your hair is super dark you might want to consider a coloured dry shampoo as this will help you to avoid the 'grey' root look that the original formula can often give.

Once you have freshened up your roots then you can look to add volume to the rest of your hair, I like to use a dry texturising spray like the Bumble and Bumble Dryspun thickening spray but if you are looking for a budget option then the Charles Worthington Dry Texturising Spray also works wonders. Also a backcombing brush can be a great way to  achieve thickness, gently tease and the roots to create more volume and texture.

Once your hair starts to resemble a birds nest with all the backcombing and thickening then you can begin to form the topkot, tip head up side down to secure into a tight high ponytail using a hair tie, don't worry that it looks too pulled back we will fix that later, next begin wrapping the hair around the hair tie and secure with hair grips, try to do this in an organic, messy way, the more 'thrown up' it looks the more effortless it will appear. If it is looking too neat loosen the bun slightly by pulling out strands of hair. Lastly pull out hair to frame the face and give the hair that is pulled back more volume.

Finally spray with a good hairspray to keep the topknot in place and you are good to go! Will you be trying out this simple look?

Spring Hair Boutique - Salon Review

 

After seeing Spring Hair Boutique launch late last year I knew I had to pay the salon a visit to get my hair re-ombred as the colour had faded since my last trip to the hairdressers... 

 

I love going to the hairdressers, there is something so nice about leaving with a fresh new look and that salon style blow dry that is impossible to re-create at home. Salon owner Claire has created a stylish boutique vibe in her quaint salon situated in Tarring, Worthing. I love the way she has designed the space, it has a real rustic feel to it with its handmade shelving and hanging flowers in the window. 

 

My stylist Holly wanted to use a Balayage board to colour my hair which created a natural melt/fade as opposed to a prominent line where the colour changes, she used Schwarzkopf colour which left my hair in lovely condition, she also gave my hair a miracle oil conditioning treatment and head massage which felt very relaxing. After my colour was rinsed she gave my hair a much needed trim and added in some layers to give it more body and movement.

 

I really enjoyed my experience at Spring Boutique and my hair looks in such good condition considering it was bleached and coloured. I was treated to a professional blow dry which left my hair feeling bouncy and created lots of volume, I will definitely be going back next time I need my hair doing for a night out! 

 

Spring Hair Boutique - 37 New Broadway, Tarring Road, Worthing. 01903 423123.

Check out the salon's facebook page here!

 

Haircare 101

The low down on my current hair routine, the new products I am loving and the staples that are here to stay...

I truly believe once you find a group of products that works wonders for your hair then there really is no need to chop and change your routine, saying that though of all the things I experiment most with it is haircare - there are just so many products out there! I may have found however my staple shampoo and conditioner duo, enter the John Frieda Luxurious Volume Touchably Full range. The shampoo cleanses the hair without stripping it of all the essential oils needed to give hair its gorgeous shine, the clear gel like shampoo lathers up really well leaving you with squeaky clean locks that genuinely are touchably full, the formula also contains sea salt which helps to give hair added texture, the conditioner is great if your hair is tangle prone, a little goes a long way with this too!

If I don't have time to do the whole wash and blow dry thing I use the Batiste XXL Volume Dry Shampoo, this is not only great for getting rid of grease, it also helps to boost hairs volume at the root for a freshly blow dried effect. If I do have time for a blow dry then I use the Trevor Sorbie Volume Thickening Spray, formulated with body building ingredients this helps to give long lasting volume and texture for a professional look, it feels lightweight on the hair so is ideal for layering with other products like the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray, this works in a similar way to build volume and give the hair lots of texture.

Bumble and Bumble's Un-Dressing Creme is a product I like to apply to either damp or dry hair to give freshly washed hair that grit and feel of next day hair, another product great for that is the Bumble and Bumble Dry Spun Finishing Spray, I like this to be the final step to my haircare routine as it holds the hair in the desired style as well as giving further texture and body.

What are some of your current favourites? Let me know in the comments below!

Big Hair Don't Care

My thoughts on the Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce range...

I picked up this duo whilst in Boots the other day, I wanted a high street texturising spray that would give me similar results to the Bumble & Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish Spray without the price tag. I went for the Charles Worthington Volume and Bounce Texturising Spray, this stuff promises thick, full and textured hair with a back combing like effect, it isn't quite as undetectable and the Bumble and Bumble spray but I do think the results are longer lasting, I spray this onto my roots after styling with my GHD's and use my fingers to rough up my hair a little. If I have freshly washed my hair and it is looking a little flat then this product is a must use. I also picked up the Thick and Full 3D Boosting Creme, this is used on damp hair pre blow dry to give the hair maximum volume and texture, again I concentrate this product onto my roots and then blast my hair with the hairdryer whilst parting my hair in different directions which increases volume.

These two products together are great for giving the hair a lot of lift, the texture spray lasts really well and you can always use this on the go if you need a little boost. Have you tried anything from this Charles Worthington range? What are your favourite products for creating texture? Let me know in the comments!

An Old Favourite - Herbal Essences

There is nothing like falling back in love with an old flame, that's exactly whats happened with my love for the original Herbal Essences collection.. 

I recently purchased the Shimmering Colour Shampoo and Conditioner after Herbal Essences bought back a few favourites from the old collection, this duo contains hibiscus, ylang ylang and raspberry and they smell divine. Formulated especially for coloured and highlighted hair it is perfect for my ombred locks. This feels super nourishing on my hair without being heavy or weighing it down at all. The shampoo lathers up really well and removes all product build up without stripping the hair of its natural oils. The conditioner makes pre wash brushing a tangle free experience and gives the hair a lovely healthy shine. I am so pleased Herbal Essences have re released these old originals, let's hope they are here to stay! I think I'll be popping back into Boots to pick up the Moisture Balance Duo with Chamomile and Aloe Vera... sounds dreamy.

Hair Styling Must Haves

The products you need for volume and texture all with a tangle free brushing experience ... Hello Wet Brush!

It wasn't so long ago that I was a wash n go' kinda gal, but since joining the gym I have been forced to wash my hair more than I would like to, no one likes sweaty hair! And as we all know the more you wash it the less volume it has. So in a bid to achieve more volume I have come across some real styling gems...

The Wet Brush - I have never got on with a Tangle Teezer, the no handle thing makes brushing a little bit of a pain, so when I saw The Wet Brush, which comes with all the same 'no pain, easy brushing..' promises with the added benefit of a handle I couldn't resist a purchase. This has changed my life! No lie I save about ten minutes with this brush! No more eyes watering because my brush gets stuck .. I have pretty unruly hair ok. Easier brushing also means I'm not using as much conditioner as I used to meaning more volume!

Toni & Guy Sea Salt Spray - This is beach hair in a bottle, It gives the hair such a lived in texture that can be quite hard to achieve with freshly washed hair, did I mention this smells divine too ...

Bed Head Colour Goddess - Leave in conditioner is a must if you have the whole ombre look, coloured ends need all the help they can get and this does just the trick. Apply this after towel drying for beautiful shiny locks.

Bumble & Bumble Dry Spun Finish - This lightweight spray can take your hair from fine and flat to full and thick, it really is magic in a bottle, unlike the Toni & Guy Sea Salt Spray this feels almost invisible in the hair. I spray this on the roots to add a little bounce to my barnet.

Bumble & Bumble Hair (un) Dressing Creme - This is a pre-blow dry creme that helps to give the hair a lived in gritty feel, it adds so much texture. This plus an upside down blast with the hairdryer and flat hair is long gone!

V05 High Volume Hairspray - I like to use a hairspray to keep all my hard styling work in place, I am currently loving this one by V05, it also adds a lovely shine to the hair to keep it looking super healthy.

 

What are some of your favourite styling products?

Klorane Shampoo Review

Disclaimer: This product was sent to me for review.

I am always trying to stretch the days out in between hair washes, let's be honest no one likes drying their hair. So I am always on the look out for products that are going to help extend a hair wash, when I was sent this Klorane Nettle Shampoo specially formulated for oily hair I thought it would definitely be worth a go. I have been testing this out for a few weeks and it has really been helping keep oil at bay, the shampoo itself lathers up really well and makes my scalp feel really fresh and clean, it promises to detoxify your hair whilst still being gentle. I have also found that it gives my hair some much needed volume and texture.

I really recommend this if you find yourself washing your hair a little too often, it helps to re balance your hairs natural oils meaning you wont find your hair looking greasy a day after washing it. Klorane also have a dry shampoo that is part of the Nettle range which I can't wait to try.

What is your favourite shampoo at the moment?

You can buy Klorane products from Escentual.com

Damage Control

I have gone without a hair cut for ages now, I'm the kind of girl that asks for literally dust off the ends but the other day I decided to bite the bullet and have my hair cut and coloured. I wanted a very multi tonal ombre look with super dark roots gradually fading to a caramel hue. I also wanted a good two inches cut off the ends, brave girl I know. As my sister is a hairdresser I knew I was in safe hands. I am so pleased with the results, my hair was definitely due the chop and it feels so much healthier. Every girl knows a new do' calls for a new hair routine, so off I went to Sally's looking for the perfect shampoo and conditioner, I came away with Schwarzkopf Bonacure Repair Rescue Shampoo and Conditioner.

Now I have been using this duo religiously, my hair was completely re-coloured so it needs a little loving care. The shampoo lathers up nicely and smells delicious, and the conditioner is just what my hair needs at the moment, I was a little worried that it would be too heavy after a few washes but I have been using this every wash, around three to four times a week, and it has left my hair feeling super soft and not at all weighed down or greasy. After blow-drying my hair I feel like I have come right out of the salon - that's how good this stuff smells!

Overhauling my hair routine has never smelt so good! What is your current shampoo and conditioner combo?

Beach Babe

Lets talk haircare, I always stick to the same routine when it comes to shampoo and conditioner, up until recently I have been using the Headmasters Brunette range, after having my hair coloured I noticed that its current condition was looking a little unloved, after searching for a repairing duo I came across L'Oreal Elvive Triple Restore shampoo and conditioner, the packaging said that if your hair has a tendency break then this would do the job, so after using it for a couple of weeks I thought I would let you know how I got on. The shampoo lathers up really well and leaves my hair feeling super clean after just one shampoo, my favourite of the pair is the conditioner, I have definitely noticed a real difference in how my hair feels after using this, it is now alot softer and feels much stronger than before. Once my hair is washed then I get down to the styling...

Most days I like to rock the beach babe look as it is by far the easiest to achieve, I have naturally wavy hair so that helps alot, I like to apply the Wella Ocean Spritz onto towel dried hair and then rough dry with the hairdryer, next I neaten things up a little with my GHD straighteners just on the very ends and around my hairline where things can look a little wild. And there you have it, sexy, undone, tousled beach hair.

What is your favourite everyday hair look?

Kevin Murphy Damage Manager

A heat protector spray is probably one of the most important products you can own, if you dry, curl or straighten your hair then I am sure you already know this, but how many times do you get mid blow dry and realise you have forgotten to apply some protection? I know I am rubbish at remembering! That is until I started using the Kevin Murphy Damage Manager - this product is an instant heat shielding spray, it makes my whole blow dry process much easier, this also makes my hair easier to manage when brushing, and when I use straighteners after apply this they seem to glide over the hair instead of dragging. As I find this such a pleasure to use I hardly forget this crucial step of my haircare routine now!

This product is a little on the pricey side but you do get 150ml and this will last a while. Also Kevin Murphy products don't test on animals if that is something that you think about when purchasing beauty products.

Born Again Masque Kevin Murphy

Once a week I like to give my hair some sort of intense pampering treatment, I use heat on my hair pretty much everyday and although I religiously use heat protect sprays it can take it's toll. Recently I have been using the Kevin Murphy Born Again Masque, an ultra intense, rich masque designed to deeply penetrate the hair shaft providing nutrition, nourishment and fortifying the hair molecules.   

I apply this after using a detoxifying shampoo and massage it into my scalp right down to the ends of my hair, it says to leave for ten minutes so if you are having a real pamper session this is when you can pop the face mask on, lie back and relax. After washing this off, my hair feels a lot more nourished and I can really see a difference after blow drying.

I really recommend using this once a week for a little hair resurrection. Will you be adding Kevin Murphy's Born Again Masque into your pamper routine?

Available in Part One Boutique Hair Salon

Bumble and Bumble

I'm not great when it comes to haircare, I'm more of a wash and go girl, and my husband has no idea why I feel the need to spend all our pennies on 'hair stuff'  so Bumble and Bumble isn't a brand that usually makes it's way into my bathroom cupboard. 

After deciding the laziest look to create is a messy one I ordered the Bb Texture (un) dressing creme, that promises a undone yet done look as modeled by the sexy Guess models in the photo below. I went for the 60ml size as I like to try things out before splurging. This product gives lift, volume, texture and adds some grit to the hair. I apply this to damp hair and work it into my roots and mid-lengths before blow drying upside down for even more volume. This is definitely something I would re-purchase full size. 150ml retails at £22.00

Next up is the Bb Thickening hairspray 50ml which came free with this months Elle Magazine, this product promises a lot; it says it thickens and hold fly away locks, it contains wheat proteins that moisturise and condition, and honey extract repair split ends. From my extensive tests on this miniature I can say it does live up to my expectations, my hair looks a lot fuller and thicker after using this, and my ends look in a nicer condition after a few spritzes of this.The full size bottle of this is £21.50 for 250ml and I can see it lasting a good while as I only use a few pumps each time. 

The two volumizing products combined create that sexy bedhead look that holds all day.

Did you pick up this months Elle?

Bb Texture Hair (un)dressing Creme here.

Bb Thickening Hairspray here.

Hair Resurrection

After years of dip dying my hair I can safely say the ends are pretty dead! I'm not quite brave enough to chop it all off and start a fresh, so I have turned to every sort of repair/damage control/serum/lotion..... anything to give my hair it's life back.

I have been looking for a good hair oil for a while now and when I stumbled across L'Oreal's Mythic Oil I thought I would give it a go.I had always been slightly skeptical when it came to an oil, my worry was that it would result in an oily finish... not sexy. Oh how wrong I was.

The Mythic Oil is like a hair resurrection product, I apply this to my hair on the ends in between blow drying and straightening/curling, it really does breathe a new lease of life into my do!

Available here at Look Fantastic.