How To Protect Your Hair From Heat Damage With Neuro Style

Paul Mitchell’s Neuro Range with HeatCTRL

If your hair is as unruly as mine then you’ll know that skipping the straighteners is a way easier thing to say than actually do. To be honest I’m looking at my annoying cowlick right now and thinking it could do with a clamp down at 185° to pull it back into line.

If you’re heat styling as much as me though you definitely need to use a protector to help prevent damage, otherwise you could find your hair getting really dry or even worse snapping off. This is why I was so excited about the #stylingsociety delivery this month as it was full of Paul Mitchell’s Neuro range which is specifically for protecting your hair against heat. It features their HeatCTRL technology which is heat activated and helps to protect your hair while holding your style in place for longer.

I’ve been trying it out for a few weeks now and I really love these products so I thought I would show you my step by step routine. Once I started using them and prepping my hair properly for styling I noticed a huge change in the health of my hair so it’s definitely been worth making the switch. Here’s what you need to do…

Step 1 – Shampoo and Conditioner

I need to start by saying that this is the best shampoo and conditioner I’ve ever used for calming my frizzy hair. It felt so soft after getting out of the shower and way less dry than usual so I would definitely recommend it if your hair is on the wild side.

I start my routine with the Neuro Lather Shampoo which is really gentle and doesn’t strip my hair of too much oil. This is important as dry hair can be way more prone to heat damage so if you’re styling you don’t want to use anything too harsh. I also like to keep this concentrated at my roots and try not to wash the ends of my hair too much to keep them hydrated. I follow this with the Neuro Rinse Conditioner which I love as it’s really thick and creamy. I like to leave this on for around 10 minutes so that it really sinks into my hair and then I rinse it off but sometimes I repeat this step if my ends are looking really dry.

Step 2 – Blowout Primer

Once I’m out of the shower I then prep my hair for blowdrying with the Neuro Blowout Primer which is a really thick styling balm. I find this is good at smoothing down my hair so that there are less flyaways and it makes it a lot more manageable. This is also a really heavy duty heat protectant which is perfect for blowdrying!

Step 3 – Blow Dry

To blow dry my hair I use the Neuro Round Brush as it’s the best size for getting that healthy, bouncy look and the rubber handle makes it really easy to use. The vents on the brush also help to distribute the heat more evenly through your hair to speed up the process which is perfect if you’re in a rush or find it really tedious.

 Step 4 – Ion Hairspray

Before straightening or curling my hair I prep it with the Neuro Protect Ion Hairspray as it’s a heat protectant but also provides loads of hold. I normally apply this in sections as I’m styling my hair and I find that it makes curls especially last way longer than usual. It’s also just really convenient in a spray bottle and I like this for a quick top up when I need to restyle in between washes.

And that’s my heat protect styling routine complete! If you have any tips of your own or have tried out any of these products then let me know in the comments below. You can also click here for more haircare tips and my fave styling products.

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6 Benefits Of Using Paul Mitchell’s Marula Oil

Paul Mitchell’s cold pressed Marula Oil range has fast become my favourite for it’s amazing hair benefits and gorgeous packaging.  If you haven’t heard of Marula Oil before here is a little background. The oil is harvested from the nut of the Marula Tree which is farmed in southern and eastern Africa. It was traditionally used as skincare but it actually has amazing benefits for your hair too and has been proven to make it stronger and healthier.

After falling in love with the range I thought it would be cool to share the 6 main benefits of using Paul Mitchell’s Marula Oil, along with some cute pics.

1. Instantly silky hair

Marula Oil is very rich in fatty acids including omega 6 and 9 which sink into your strands to provide a serious boost of moisture. It also makes your hair 80% shinier than normal and provides 60% more antioxidants than Argan oil to keep your hair looking good.

2. Say goodbye to split ends

Studies have shown that Marula Oil improves the condition of your hair and reduces split ends by 80% making your locks healthier and stronger.

3. It’s lightweight

Unlike a lot of natural oils, Marula is really light because of it’s molecular structure so it won’t weigh down your hair, making it perfect for finer hair types. It’s also great to use as a deep treatment if you have a dry scalp. You just need to work it in once a week to keep your skin nourished.

4. It’s amazing at fighting frizz

As it’s so moisturising and really sinks into your hair it’s amazing at preventing frizz and keeping your locks under control. I like to use it through the lengths of my hair and I find it really helps to keep it looking smoother for longer.

5. It’s also great for your skin

You can also use Marula Oil on your skin as it has antimicrobial properties which help to fight acne causing bacteria. It may sound really crazy to put oil on spot prone skin but it actually works. This is because the molecules in Marula Oil are way smaller and much closer in consistency to the oil your skin produces naturally so it’s non carcinogenic and won’t clog your pores.

6. Girl power

Paul Mitchell’s Marula Oil has created 7,000 fair paying, sustainable jobs for women in Africa and if that isn’t enough of a reason to put it on your hair I don’t know what is.

To shop the range click here

4 Dry Shampoos For Fine Hair

When it comes to beauty I’m actually really, really lazy. Especially with my hair because I’m hating it at the moment, so the sooner I can hide it in a messy bun the better! It figures then that dry shampoo would be my go to product, as prolonging the gap between washes and getting some extra volume is exactly what I need. I thought it would be cool to share my 4 faves on here to inspire some of you who are just as lazy as me and to hopefully make your hair care routines a little bit easier.

Batiste  or Batiste Divine Dark 

Batiste is the original and it’s so heavy duty, it’s like the power lifter of the dry shampoo world. I find that it keeps my hair looking fresh even on the worst days and gives me an unbelievable amount of volume and texture. It’s very thick which can be a blessing and a curse but you just need to really work it in and brush it out properly. I also wanted to include the Divine Dark version that I’ve been using recently as I find it way easier to blend and I don’t get any annoying white patches either. You do have to be careful though as I had a smudge of brown on the side of my face one day last week but at least I didn’t look like I was going grey. Not sure what’s worse?

CoLab Original Dry Shampoo

I love this one because a. it’s invisible and b. I’m totally obsessed with anything Ruth Crilly does, she’s amazing. It comes in the nicest packaging too and each one has a different fragrance so they kind of double up as a hair perfume, making it perfect for reviving your locks in between washes. This one has a bergamot and rose scent which is really pretty and works with my regular perfume so it’s become my go to. The formula is also completely transparent so it’s perfect for taking around with you and for touch ups as there’s no risk of stubborn residue. I was also lucky enough to go to the launch party of this a while ago which you can read about here.

Paul Mitchell Dry Wash

This is a new discovery and one of my most used products last year. I don’t know how but it always makes my hair look freshly washed and sucks up the excess oil without drying it out at all. It’s so light and there’s no residue so my hair looks really fresh and is easy to style.

I hope you like these! If you try any of them let me know and leave me your recommendations in the comments box, I’m always up for trying new hair products!

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Paul Mitchell Modern Marble Express Ion Smooth+ Review

I received these Paul Mitchell Modern Marble Express Ion Smooth+ straighteners a few weeks ago and I’ve meaning to get this review up ever since! As someone who’s had the same pink (don’t judge me) GHDs since I was in high school it’s really exciting to have something new to play with. Especially when they’re this photogenic! Here are my thoughts…

Usability

When I first saw that they were a little bit wider I was wondering if I would be able to get right to my roots but you definitely can. The size is perfect for mid to long length hair and you can easily create super soft waves with the plates too. They’re also designed for professional use so the cord is 9foot long which is so useful!

The Heat

I love that these come with an adjustable heat dial as it means you can set the temperature to whatever you like and watch it count up so you know when they’re hot. I keep it at 180° as that’s the perfect temp for styling. I mean I’m no scientist but I’m pretty sure that’s the temperature at which the structure of your hair changes but it won’t cause any damage. The ceramic plates have even heat distribution too so there won’t be any hotter sections that could cause damage.

The look

With the white and gold colour scheme, marble effect and minimal look these were sooo made for Instagram. I’ve never seen a pair of hair straighteners like this before and it think it’s really cool to have a pair that are different. You can also pick up a black version which has slimmer plates in the same effect, definitely worth checking out!

The Brush

I have a few of the Paul Mitchell 413 sculpting brushes and I honestly couldn’t recommend them more, they’re super gentle, really lightweight and come in a big range of colours. This one came with the straighteners and has the same marble pattern which is the fanciest thing ever, so matchy-matchy. I like that the bristles are really far apart too so that my hair doesn’t get caught or snap.

Damage control 

I actually find these leave my hair looking way healthier than any other straighteners I’ve tried. Sometimes it can feel super crispy afterwards and a little bit thin but with these my hair is smoothed over without loosing any volume. The temperature control is amazing too as if you have finer hair you can set it as low as you need to.

Want to see how these work in real time? I’ve popped my youtube review below…

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Best Beauty Products of 2017

_{I’m wearing my amazing Custom Dressing Gown by TuneToo UK}

I get that some highly organised internet people had their favourites together last December and a post about the best beauty products of 2017 might now seem a bit late, but nevertheless her I am with mine! I’ve really changed up my beauty routine this year and fallen in love with new products and brands that have really changed my skin, makeup and hair routines. At the start of this year I was working as a Visual Merchandiser at M&S and having a discount card for their beauty department has a lot to do with that. Even though I no longer work there though my desire to discover new things and try new looks has definitely stuck with me.

Before we get into it, I want to warn you that this post is a little bit long. So get comfy, put your feet up and be prepared for your beauty wishlist to get a lot longer.

Makeup

Foundations: My skin has been the best it’s ever been this year and so trying out foundations has become way more exciting. My two favourites are the Nars Sheer Glow (which I’ve talked about a million times!) and the Kat von D ‘Lock It’ Foundation which is absolutely game changing. Before I get into both products I want to mention something that I think might be useful. I’ve started to swap out my normal shades this year for slightly darker ones, with a yellow base and I’m finding that it makes me look way more alive. For example in Sheer Glow I’m normally Mont Blanc, which is a really popular shade but I’m now wearing Fiji. It just makes me look a little sun kissed while still blending into my neck. I’m not sure if this is useful but I just thought it might be worth mentioning! As for Sheer Glow itself, it’s an iconic product for a reason and the healthy, dewy glow it gives me will never be matched by another product. The Kat von D Lock It gives me a much higher coverage though and has become my go-to night out/dinner/want to look flawless beyond belief foundation that is also 100% vegan and cruelty free. If you want to learn some more about it though you can read my full review right here.

Kat Von D ‘Lock-It’ Setting Powder: Baking was a big thing this year and became way more mainstream thanks to our favourite beauty guru’s on YouTube. I love baking my face. Yes, I’ve had some shockers with it already (flash photography is a no no) but if you want to look ‘snatched’ this is how you do it. I was given the Kat von D ‘Lock It’ Setting Powder with the foundation and it’s so glowy and light. It mattifies my face longer than anything else but doesn’t make me look cakey at all.

Bronzer: I’ve included this Laura Geller one for the sake of a pic but honestly, this year I’ve been loving bronzer in absolutely every way, shape and form. I use it to contour and also as an eyeshadow and there just isn’t any other product that makes me feel quite as alive as a good bronzer!

Mascara: I got these two Dior products for Christmas, so they’re a last minute addition to my list but still amazing. The lash primer is so ridiculously good, it makes your lashes look HUGE and helps you to separate them all evenly to get the best look. The mascara is the one Bella Hadid has in the advert where she squeezes the tube and combined with the primer it gives you the biggest lashes ever. It has a high concentration of wax and elastic fibres which plump and lengthen each individual hair.

NYX Lip Liners: These are quite a new discovery too and they’re also £3 so definitely the cheapest on the list. As I have super thin lips I like to just overdraw them and colour them in with liner and the NYX ones come in so many shades I can always find one I love.

Makeup Brushes: This year my two most used makeup brushes have to be the PUR Cosmetics foundation brush and the Zoeva crease brush. The PUR brush is the key to flawless coverage and makes my foundation look really even and well blended. It takes a while to get used to the shape but I’ve found it helps to work in a small amount at a time. The Zoeva one is what I use to put bronzer on my eyelids and it just makes blending and getting the powder in the right place so easy. I couldn’t find the exact brush on their website but I think this one is pretty much the same shape.

Skincare

Charlotte Tilbury: Charlotte Tilbury is good at literally everything to do with makeup, so it makes sense that she would bring out the best products to prep your face. The Goddess Skin Clay Mask has been one of my go-to products all year to tighten my pores and brighten my skin, especially before weddings or going out for dinner. It’s so good and definitely does what it says on the tube, giving you baby smooth skin. I’ve also written a full review here if you want to take a look. The second thing I wanted to mention is Wonder Glow, an illuminating face primer that seriously saves my skin when it’s looking tired.

Avene: I love Avene products and use the micellar water and cleansing foam everyday. Their products are so gentle and work really well for sensitive and acne prone skin like mine.  I’ve also recently picked up the Physiolift night balm and it makes me look super fresh in the morning.

Glam Glow super-mud mask: This is the best face mask if you have oily or acne prone skin and you can literally see it draw the dirt out of your pores. It works really well to clear spots and calm redness without being too harsh or leaving you feeling dry. I’ve actually written a full review of this here if you want to take a look.

Emma Hardie Amazing Face: Finding a good day cream is so hard but this has been my holy grail find of the year. This cream makes your skin look so glowy and fresh, as well as having SPF 30 to protect you from the sun. Unfortunately it’s really pricey, so you might want to keep an eye out for offers if it’s something you want to try. Like most of the things on this list, I have a full review of the cream right here too. 

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Blemish Formula: My go-to spot product is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo but it’s pretty pricey so I was up for finding a cheaper dupe. The Ordinary was definitely one of the biggest beauty brands of 2017 and is so forward thinking and affordable, it’s definitely made me re-think the products in my skincare routine.  Their Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Blemish Formula works in a similar way to Effaclar Duo and soaks up the excess oils leaving my skin mattified. It also reduces congestion and regulates sebum production to prevent spots and keep breakouts under control.

Liz Earle Eye Bright: I can honestly say I will use this product for the rest of my life. It’s insane. If you have dark circles or puffy eyes this gets rid of everything and makes you look totally refreshed.

Haircare

Paul Mitchell Express Dry Wash: I’m a bit of a dry shampoo junkie. Not just for greasy hair days but to add some much needed volume to my messy buns. I was sent this one to try and wasn’t sure how I would like it seeing as I’m quite picky with hair products but it was actually amazing. It sucks up any oil without making your hair look dull and adds lots of texture too, making your hair look fuller and freshly washed.

Kenra: I was also sent some stuff from Kenra to try this year and can tell you that the hype around their products is 100% justified. I have two faves and my first is the Blow Dry Spray which cuts down drying time and also helps my hair to hold a style making my blow-dry last longer. The second is their Silkening Mist which basically gives you super shiny, healthy hair immediately and is great at hiding dry, crispy ends. I’ve actually written a whole guide to Kenra haircare that you can read here.

Josh Wood Radiant Hair Oil: This is hands down the BEST hair oil I’ve ever tried and works really well to make my locks look healthy and shiny, especially after lots of heat styling. The oil is really nourishing and smells amazing and I love putting it in my hair when it’s wet so that my blow-dry looks super shiny.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Extreme: If you’ve over bleached your hair, this is exactly what you need to bring it back from the dead. The Elasticizer hair mask is really nourishing and repairing and replacing moisture that is lost from dying and heat styling. It’s a holy grail product for me and has really helped this year while I grow out my awful hair cut.

Body

Autograph Tan: I love wearing a thin layer of fake tan to take the edge of how pale I am and I also think it helps to cover any redness in my skin tone too. The worst part about fake tanning is getting streaks and over the years I’ve found it really hard to find a formula that works for me. The Autograph tan range from M&S is the best I’ve ever tried, even over the more expensive ones. My favourite is their dry oil as it’s easy to apply, smells amazing and never leaves me streaky.

Hotel Chocolate Body Butter: I was given this butter for Christmas last year and it’s by far one of my favourite scents ever. I’ll be honest, before this I didn’t even know they did skincare but I’m so glad I’ve found out about it. It’s a great moisturiser and is really rich but not too sticky or oily.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs: I get that this has been around for a million years but my friend suggested it to me for a wedding this year and now there’s no way I would go bare legged without it. It’s essentially a foundation but gives your skin a golden glow while making your legs look completely flawless. Just make sure to avoid white sofas!

Fragrance

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle: This bottle makes me happy every time I look at it because it’s just so beautiful and I’m so excited to have it back in my collection. I actually used to wear this scent when I was younger too and it’s one of my absolute favourites as it’s girly without being overly sweet or floral. It’s main notes are orange, violet and rose making it a really sophisticated take on a feminine fragrance.

The Scent Intense by Hugo Boss: This is a new discovery of mine and was sent to me for a collaboration with Fragrance Direct. It has top notes of honeyed peach and freesia blossom which are feminine but not too sweet. This is mixed with the warm scents of cocoa and vanilla which combined makes it a perfect shout for the winter months. I am also completely in love with the bottle, it’s so luxurious and the colour is totally divine.

Velvet Rose & Oud Cologne: This is my all time favourite scent and if I had to name a perfume that was most me, it would definitely be this. I love rich fragrances and anything that includes Oud or Amber I’m instantly drawn to. It’s unfortunate that this is unbelievably, ridiculously and outrageously expensive though but I guess in a way, that’s what makes it so special. If you’re not into typical girly or floral fragrances I would definitely recommend this.

Marc Jacobs Decadence: Of all the perfumes I’ve ever had, this one has brought me the most compliments. It’s mix of scents like Italian Plum, Iris and Saffron that make it a really rich and glamorous fragrance. I think this year they have developed a new version of this too, so it’s definitely one that’s sticking around.

If you’ve made it to the end of this post, thank you so much for reading! It’s a little bit crazy how many beauty items I’ve worked through this year but I’ve definitely learnt a lot about what works for my skin. If you have any 2017 favourites of your own or have tried any of these, let me know what you think in the comments below!

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Trying out Kenra Haircare

It’s been just over a year that I had my big bleach disaster and lost a lot of my hair in an attempt to go grey. Even though this killed my confidence for the longest time, its actually forced me to get a lot more clued up on haircare. About a month after this disaster I also started working with Salon Success who send hair products out to bloggers to review on their blogs. It seemed like the best coincidence in the world and some of the products I’ve reviewed this year have seriously improved the condition and manageability of my hair. I owe them a lot!

This is 100% true of Kenra too and I’ve honestly found some holy grail products for me in their range. I thought that for today’s post I would work through each one and explain why I like them and how they’re fitting into my routine. I’m by no means a professional! But hopefully I can clue you up on some products that will work for you.The Kenra Moisturising Shampoo and Kenra Moisturising Conditioner are not like any other I’ve tried that are specific to dry hair. At first I thought it was strange that they weren’t as thick or oily as other shampoos and conditioners for dry hair which if i’m being honest made me a little bit sceptical. Once my hair was dry though it looked glossy and healthy and had way more volume. Rather than just weighing it down, the products had left my hair moisturised but also clean and light which I absolutely love. They are a holy grail product for thin hair for sure!

One of my favourite products is the Kenra Silkening Mist, a fine spray that adds instant hair advert worthy shine while making your locks smoother and more manageable too. I love using this after curling my hair as an end step to make it look really glossy and it also helps to disguise my frazzled ends (YASS).

The Kenra Volume Spray 25 is their most hyped product and has won the Stylist Choice Award for Best Hairspray 11 times in a row. It’s the perfect combination of giving a really strong hold to your hairstyle while also looking natural and allowing movement. Gone are the days of crunchy hairspray gurl!

The product I’ve used the least is the Kenra Root Lifting Spray even though that’s what I need the most. This is just a personal thing but I’m a little bit lost when it comes to using a moose. I’m not sure if I’m applying it right but when I worked this into my roots it did give me a lot of lift. It also dries in the same way a hairspray does to hold that lift all day and it kind of smells like watermelons too!

My most used of all these products has been the Kenra Blow-Dry Spray  mainly because it’s easy to use and it protects against heat up to 220°C which is perfect when I want to style my hair. It reduces blow-drying time too (amazing!), tames frizz and softens your hair making it easier to work with. It’s also very lightweight which makes it perfect for thin hair like mine as it doesn’t feel heavy or tacky like some other heat protectors I’ve tried.

Lastly the Kenra Revive Oil is amazing for smoothing over your strands and making them look shiner and feel softer. I love using this on the ends of my hair, especially in the morning as it keeps my hair from looking less dry throughout the day. I’ve also barely used any so far, so I feel like this would last you forever as one pump goes a really long way. The only weird thing about this one, is that it smells like mens cologne, which isn’t a bad thing and it’s not overwhelming but I was surprised at how different the scent was from the other products.

I’ve linked everything in this post but if you need any more info or want to ask some more questions leave them in the comments and I’ll get back to you asap. I’ve really loved using this range and I feel its made a big difference to my hair and has definitely helped me through the awkward growing out a bad haircut/dye stage.

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Paul Mitchell : Limited Edition Rose Gold Express Ion Unclipped Review

It’s amazing and it’s unreal and I feel like the luckiest girl ever that I get sent beautiful things to review, this being one of the most beautiful. Paul Mitchell is fast becoming my favourite hair brand and the shampoos, oils and treatments I’ve got to sample so far have made a vast improvement to my hair. After my dye disaster last September it feels really good to be experimenting with different looks and getting my confidence back.

I started using this curling iron the moment I received it and I really can’t express how many nice compliments I had over my birthday. I find the styler really easy to use and I’ve been loving trying out all the different wands. I like the rose gold and charcoal colour scheme too, it’s so on trend and I like that they managed to incorporate that into the product. Everything about it feels luxury. I decided to create three looks with the different wands below, so that you can see the results and curls in more detail.

   This is the wand I’ve been using the most and I love that it creates a really soft, natural and full bodied curl. I like to start by curling my whole head in sections and then gently combing through to create a soft wave but keeping the volume. I find that this is the easiest wand to use, if like me your not that great at hair and just want a style that looks effortless and is quick to create.

I also wanted to mention one of my favourite features about the styler here too. Once you’ve selected the temperate you want, it then counts up to it on the digital screen while your waiting. This means you know how hot it is and your less likely to burn yourself, which happens to me all the time with my other one. I feel like if I was shopping for a new curling iron that would definitely sway my decision.

For the second look I decided to go for a half up half down style, as this is my go to if I’m in a hurry to get ready. I love that the tapered rod creates soft ringlets which look really pretty and feminine. The finished look feels a lot more polished and they held in place really well. I also love the idea of just curling my pony tail, I think it would be a really nice look and is simple and easy to create.

The bubble rod is for creating tousled waves. I love the bouncy ringlet style curls in this look but I think the idea is that you use thicker strands to get a less stringy finish. For me I would describe this wand as creating soft ringlets, if that makes sense? It would be perfect for a beachy look and because it guides the hair in the right place on the wand you get an even curl every time.

I also received two more goodies in my gift box that I wanted to share with you. The first being this gorgeous mini brush, that is just as instagramable as it is good for my hair. I love it because the bristles are quite far apart which means it’s more gentle on my hair and I don’t hear that snapping sound while brushing. It’s also only £7.50 which I think is amazing and comes in a larger size for £12.25 so they are very budget friendly. Lastly, the Hot off the Press Heat Protectant Hairspray is a bit of a game changer for me. I used it to spray my hair before curling and it makes such a difference in the longevity of the look and keeps my hair nice and shiny.

I hope you liked this post! If you’ve tried this or have any Paul Mitchell favourites post them in the comments below.

The styler will be out this April and retails for £89.95

This product was provided to me free of charge from Salon Success, in order to review it. However, the opinions expressed in this review are independent and my own.

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My Haircare Essentials : Dry and Damaged

I’ve become a little obsessed with hair products, since joining the blogging community it’s something that is constantly posted about and has definitely rubbed off on me. I’m also currently recovering from the worst haircut and dye job of my life, which is just the catalyst you need to start taking a hair routine a bit more seriously. These last few weeks I’ve put everything possible on my head to try and improve the situation and speed the growing process along. Below are a few Holy Grail items that have really been helping and I wanted to share them with you today.

Philip Kingsley : Elasticizer Extreme 

I haven’t tried the standard Elasticizer, as I felt my hair was far past that point, so I went for the big guns straight away. This is a mask that I first heard about while at University, when everyone was dying their hair crazy colours and I was told it could bring your locks ‘back from the dead’. With this pretty impressive rumour I had high hopes and it did not disappoint. I started off using it on dry hair but thats a faux pas, you need to apply to damp hair for it to be fully effective so bear that in mind. It’s also a pre-shampoo treatment and does take a good two rinses to properly remove from your hair. However, it’s results are amazing. My hair looks 100% healthier, smoother and is more easily manageable after using this. I wouldn’t say it reverses damage but it certainly helps to make your hair feel thicker and look healthier, as well as smoothing out fly away split ends.

Shop Here

Josh Wood : Radiant Shine Treatment Oil 

I actually got this in my M&S Beauty Advent Calendar and only put it on by chance just before going out. It wasn’t one of the products I was excited about but it’s actually become my favourite and most used item from the calendar. It contains Pracachy Oil and Kukui Nut Oil and has a really lovely fragrance and texture. It’s quite thick compared to other hair oils and really sinks in, leaving a shiny rather than oily finish. I like that it doesn’t make my hair feel sticky, I would say it’s the best I’ve used and I couldn’t be without it now.

Shop Here

Paul Mitchell : Ultimate Indulgence Awapuhi Wild Ginger Repair Set

I’ve been trying out products from the Awapuhi range for a while now and I absolutely love them. They are so luxurious, moisturising and repairing which is exactly what my hair needs right now. The basis of all these products is described on the website as “KeraTriplex® a protein blend that penetrates from the inside out to repair and seal damaged hair, while Awapuhi extract balances moisture for manageability and shine”.

I start in the shower with the Moisturising Lather Shampoo, it’s lovely to use and leaves my hair feeling clean but not striped or dry. I then use the Keratin Intensive Treatment to really boost the moisture and it’s an impressive in shower mask. I use this twice a week and it makes my hair look noticeably healthier and shinier. Before blow drying I use the styling treatment oil and the Hydromist Blow Out Spray to prep my hair and make the look hold for longer. It’s also worth mentioning that I use the Paul Mitchell Neuro Brush as well to do my at home blow dry and it’s a really gently brush. Once dry I go back in with the treatment oil for a high shine finish.

Shop the range here

L’Avoly : The Special One 10 in 1 Leave in Treatment

Ok so let me list all the amazing things this one product does… it’s detangling, prevents split ends, boosts shine, controls frizz, is heat protecting, moisturising, protects hair colour, protects against damage from salt and chlorine, provides UV protection and primes your hair ready for styling. It’s also got a lovely, if a little masculine, scent and is a very nourishing and repairing product. It’s not too heavy and it really does make my hair feel stronger and look healthier. I would highly recommend this if your quite low maintenance when it comes to your hair routine.

As always if you liked this post or you have any of your own haircare tips let me know in the comments below. I need all the advice available!

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Paul Mitchell’s Marula Oil

 If you read my post about the Salon Success diner a fortnight or so ago, this is me finally getting around to reviewing some of the products from that night. I decided to start with this range because it sounds like it’s what my hair has been crying out for. It promises to hydrate, repair and moisturise…perfect.

 I guess I should begin by explaining my hair type as a starting point. I have very dry, frizzy, thin hair, that takes a lot of effort to look shiny and healthy and it’s been dyed several times every possible colour. I always look for products that are nourishing, moisturising and replenishing but not so heavy that they drag my hair down.

So firstly I want to talk about the rare oil treatment, which is my favourite out of the four products. This is probably one of the best oils I’ve tried of late and it’s really lovely to use. It smooths out my hair and feels weightless instantly, meaning it doesn’t get weighed down but looks shiny and healthy. I find it works really well as a finishing product just to smooth any fly aways and polish the look. You can use it on your body which is just as lovely, giving you a glowy finish and it smells great too.

 Onto the shampoo and conditioner, I really loved these two. I found that my hair felt instantly nourished and looked more shiny and it lasted even after styling. The smell is amazing and it doesn’t feel heavy but actually quite light. I can feel residue on my hair when I use it but it doesn’t feel greasy or weighed down. I can tell that the oil has smoothed my hair and it has a thicker, healthier texture overall.

Once or twice a week I used the Intensive Mask too but I struggled with this to begin with. It’s a lot stronger than your average mask and as I usually slather them on generously it didn’t work that well for me. I used too much product and my hair was weighed down and felt greasy really quickly. I think what is testament to the quality of the ingredients is that you really don’t need to overdo it. I started using a smaller amount and really working it into the ends of my hair and that gave a much better result. It’s definitely a once every now and again treatment because it’s a heavy product. However, it does leave your hair super shiny and moisturised.

If you want to find out more about the range click here or if you’ve tried anything out let me know your thoughts below. I’m going to be using this for a little bit longer also, so I can keep you posted on the progress.

Dinner with Salon Success

Of all the events I’ve been to so far in my short time blogging, this was by far my fave.

  I was very, very lucky to be invited to a cosy diner at St.Davids hotel by Salon Success, in the most amazing room overlooking Cardiff Bay. It was the perfect gals evening to just chat, drink some wine and talk about beauty.

 We began by going through some makeup from New CID, including this amazing nude lipstick which lights up and a pretty incredible eyebrow pencil. We all got to play with the products and take a little goodie bag home, so I’ll make sure to share all those with you very soon.

 Diner consisted of a yummy leak and potato soup, with mini Welsh Rarebit (cute coincidence!), chicken and veggies for main and an Apple Tart Tatin for dessert. Sounds dreamy doesn’t it?

 The first haircare products we talked about were the Marula Oil ones from Paul Mitchell’s new range. Marula oil comes from the nuts on the Marula tree and the concentration of it in these products is very high, which helps to hydrate and repair damaged hair. They smell incredible also and my favourite product so far is the rare oil treatment, which is extra nourishing.

Lastly we talked through the Awapuhi Wild Ginger range (still can’t pronounce it) also by Paul Mitchell. The Awapuhi plant is grown on a farm in Hawaii, purchased by Paul Mitchell and his friend John Paul DeJoria to produce the plant sustainably. Very impressive! It has the most gorgeous smell too, like the richest ginger biscuit you could possibly ever find and I can’t wait to try it out.

I was so grateful to be invited to this, it was such a lovely evening and I’ll get these reviews up very soon! If there’s anything in particular you would like to hear about though let me know in the comments.

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