Salon Hair At Home

There's nothing quite like the feeling after you return from the hairdressers. Swishy hair with the perfect amount of bounce and volume makes you feel awesome, it's just a fact! However, the comedown when you realise you're never going to recreate that look at home can hit hard, and I think I've found the solution.

A few months back I was invited down to the Richard Ward salon in Sloane Square for a blow out and man did my hair look good (you can see it here). They sent me home with their Keratin Sleek shampoo and conditioner. And it's love.

The Richard Ward haircare line is all Keratin based, and for good reason. Keratin is the hair's natural protein and is key in maintaining hair health, and products infused with Keratin help rebuild the hair's natural fibres, leaving your hair thicker and healthier. It also contains Lychee and Strigosa seed which together help add back that lustrous, silky texture to your hair. The sleek range is designed to smooth and de-frizz, giving your hair back much needed gloss and hydration.

I use this two out of three hair washes (when I'm not using clarifying products) and I'm pretty much in love. This stuff does exactly what it says on the tin, or bottle rather. My hair is thicker, healthier, smoother and glossier. And it looks, well, like salon styled hair.

And the best part? It's only £6 a bottle. Not salon prices at all.

What are your go tos for salon smooth hair?

My Summer Hair Love

I've spent a good four years on the hunt for that perfect, tousled, beachy hair that seems to be attributed to the world of salt sprays. Unfortunately for me, despite trying a LOT of them, I never managed to find anything that made my hair look, well, anything but crunchy.

Enter stage left the Bumble and Bumble Surf Infusion. I had my reservations, since the Surf Infusion's older sister, the Surf Spray was the closest I ever got to a good salt spray but didn't quite cut the mustard, so to speak.

Bumble and Bumble say that the Surf Infusion is  "A salt-in-oil innovation, this mellow mix of tropical oils and texturizing sea salts creates soft, sea-tossed waves with sheen, For anyone looking for soft, touchable waves" and I think they've got their description spot on. Whilst the Surf Spray gave my crisp, crunchy waves, this keeps my locks soft and smooth, but with thickness and body I could previously only dream of. The oil laced formula means that it's not at all drying like most salt sprays, and it keeps your hair looking soft and healthy.

I like to spritz a little of this into the roots of my hair before blowdrying, and then a little in the ends after. You don't need a ton, a little goes a long way, and the result is thick waves that I just love. It brushes out really well, and I've found that whilst my hair keeps it's body on day two, an extra spritz to the midlengths helps just liven it up again.

The gist? I'm in love. It's the only styling product I've been reaching for, and the only one I'm taking away with me next week!

Have you found your perfect salt spray?

The Only Haircare Product I'll Ever Need

Did you know that a haircare product can change your life? I didn't. Not until the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Styling Treatment came into my life.

Now, maybe I'm being dramatic, because I still require shampoo and conditioner, and heat defence spray. But other than that, I'm all set.

I think what makes this stuff so damn great, is the fact that it recreates the texture of second day hair without it feeling like there's any product in your hair at all.

I literally take a pea sized amount and run it through the lengths of my locks, before blow drying, and what I'm left with is hair that has volume, hold, texture, and not a flyaway in sight. I've found that my hair lasts longer between washes, and I can style it once, and it'll hold for a good three days before getting limp. I mean honestly, what sorcery is this?

It's not out in the UK right now, I got my dad to pick me up a bottle from Sephora whilst he was in the states, but cross your fingers that it'll be winging it's way to British soil soon. Until then, maybe it's time to place a cheeky Sephora order?

The Best Affordable Haircare

Whilst I have a few high-end haircare loves, there are some seriously kick-ass hair products available in your local Boots, Superdrug, even Tesco! Haircare is something I don't talk about too regularly here, but I'm pretty loyal to a lot of products, so they deserve a little attention!

The newest addition to my budget haircare line up is the Richard Ward Argan Hairspray, which has made it into my loves list for a few reasons. Firstly, it smells good, which is rare for a hairspray, and secondly, it's infused with argan oil, which means it gives your hair shine as well as hold, and my hair needs all the help it can get when it comes to looking healthy.

From the newest member of the haircare shelf to the oldest, the Frizz Ease Secret Agent Styling Creme is something of a family secret in our house, even my dad uses it! Us Rockett's are definitely prone to frizz and flyaways, and this stuff just smooths your locks, without leaving a trace. A real essential, I couldn't even tell you how many of these I've used up!

I'm now the proud owner of two Tangle Teezers, one of the compact ones for on the go that I got in a stocking years ago, and a more recent purchase of a full size lilac one! This by far my favourite brush, it's gentle on the hair but really gets rid of knots and tangles easy!

I bang on about the Colab Dry Shampoo a lot here, but it deserves all the attention. This removes any traces of oil or grease from my hair without leaving any hint of powder. It's so light and it smells amazing too!

I talk a lot about the Herbal Essences Clarifying Shampoo that I love so much, but I rarely mention the Herbal Essences Soft and Smooth Conditioner which is just as good. This leaves my hair feeling soft and hydrated, without weighing it down or making it feel greasy. I love the mandarin scent too!

And lastly, my new found texturising love, the Tresemme Dry Defining Spray. Thick, voluminous, textured tresses, in a spritz!

You really don't need to splash the cash for good haircare, but a bit of trial and error can be involved!

Do you have any affordable haircare loves?

5 Reasons Your Hair Is Lacking Volume

Getting volume into your locks is something a lot of people really struggle with, and until recently I did too. Over the last six months, I've made a few changes to my routine that have made a massive difference to how thick and voluminous my hair looks, so I thought I'd share my tips with you guys!

1. You're washing your hair wrong. Did you know that you're supposed to rinse your hair for four minutes after shampooing or conditioning for all the product to be removed? I definitely didn't. If you've got residual product in your hair it can really weigh it down, and make it look a lot a lot heavier than it really is!
2. You're washing your hair in the wrong order. I started reverse washing my hair a few years back, and I'm totally hooked. I did a full post on reverse washing here if you're unfamiliar with the concept, but it's essentially just conditioning and then shampooing when you wash your hair. The result is your hair is hydrated, but all traces of conditioner are removed, so your hair isn't as slick and product-dense. Not only does this make your hair last longer between washes, but it also really gives it a lot of volume.
3. You're not using a mousse. Mousses have come a long way since I first came across them, they're no longer synonymous with crunchy, sticky, hard hair. A mousse like the Tresemme Perfectly Undone Wave Creating Sea Foam will give your hair body, lift and hold, creating a much more voluminous look.
4. You're blow drying your hair wrong. Let's be real here, no one has time to give themselves a full on, salon style blow out every day, but what you can do is flip your head upside down when it's almost dry, and give the roots a real blast. It helps the roots get that lifted look!
5. You're not using a texturising spray. When people say they haven't used a texturising spray, I kind of feel bad for them, it's THAT good, and THAT essential to my routine. I love the Tresemme Perfectly Undone Dry Defining Spray, and  the V05 Give Me Texture!

I hope that some of those tips help any of you who are coming up short on your quest for volume! It's certainly helped me, I love a more voluminous hair look!

What are your tips for voluminous locks?

The Chelsea Blow Out

Letting someone else style my hair is one of my favourite things, up there with fresh Krispy Kreme Donuts and Sunday mornings in bed. Despite being happy to spend ages on my makeup in the morning, I hate doing my hair. It takes ages, it makes my arms ache, and it never looks as good as when somebody else does it. So, when an invitation to the Richard Ward Salon dropped into my inbox, I said yes rather quickly. It worked out kinda perfectly too, since the appointment was for the day before my birthday, meaning I had awesome hair, and I didn't have to do anything to it!

The salon is located in the heart of Duke of York Square, just a few minutes walk from Sloane Square station, and very close to the best Zara I ever did shop at. From the outside it looks pretty small, but inside is one of the biggest salons I've ever seen, with separate rooms for washing, cutting and styling, colour treatments, a beauty salon, as well as a very well stocked bar. My coat was whisked away to a cloakroom and I was offered pretty much any drink I could have asked for (typically, I'd just drank my body weight in green juice at Jo and the Juice, so I politely declined, for fear of having to leave the blow dry half way through to go to the bathroom). After a few minutes in the waiting room/bar area, I was introduced to Salon Director Matt, who chatted to me about my hair, how I like it styled (anything that looks good) and the condition it was in (terrible). He decided the best course of action for me would be to use the Keratin Sleek shampoo, and Keratin Rehab mask to give my tired locks a little TLC. What followed was the best head massage of my life, I swear I could have fallen asleep in the chair and slept for a week, it was total bliss.

Post sleepy hair wash, I was back in the styling room, where Matt spritzed the lengths of my hair with Keratin Shine spray and the Keratin Bulking mist, which definitely gave my hair the volume and shine it so desperately needed. From there he got to work with a big old roundbrush and hair dryer, and within 20 minutes, I had the big bouncy hair that Disney dreams are made of. He even trimmed my fringe back in for me, which was greatly appreciated!

You can visit the Richard Ward salon for the Chelsea Blow Dry experience for £25, perfect for special occasions or when you just want to feel fancy. My hair lasted four days of looking fab (with a little dry shampoo help at the roots), and it looked great in my birthday pictures! It was also a seriously luxurious experience, I felt thoroughly pampered when I left! I'm definitely going to be heading back for my graduation, that's for sure!

3 Ways To Wear Your Hair Up

Ever since my hair has gotten that bit longer (I think it's safe to say I'm out of the 'lob' zone now!), I've been really enjoying finding different ways to wear my hair up. I love wearing my hair down, but it's just not practical for everyday, and the traditional pineapple bun does nothing for me! I thought I'd talk you through the three ways I've been styling my hair recently, I really love them!

THE TWISTY BUN

I really couldn't think of a better name for this. This is definitely the most fiddly of the three looks, but it's probably my favourite, I think it's so pretty, and I can see this working for an evening event or a wedding too. To do this, I like to use a big 'alice band' but you can do it without too. I split my hair into a half up half down ponytail, and place the hairband round my head, under the ponytail, so the bottom section of hair is underneath it, and then let the ponytail down. I then gather all my hair into a loose low ponytail in the middle of my head, along the line of the hairband, and secure with a hair tie the same colour as my hair. From there, you twist the ponytail in on itself, this photo explains it better than I can, but I like to make mine messier than this! I just keep twisting until I'm left with the very ends of my hair out, and I use 101 grips to hold it all in place! I like to keep my fringe and a few pieces of hair loose around my face, but that's totally down to personal preference!

THE DUTCH BRAID BUN

If you know how to dutch braid, this is easy as pie. Sometimes I do this with the braid going across the top of my head like this, or sometimes from the other side going around the back of my head, you can really play with this a lot. I simply dutch braid (the same as french braiding, but you cross the hair underneath instead of over) from my parting down to just behind my ear, on the side that has more hair (if you have a center parting you can use either side!), and then gather the rest of my hair into a loose bun at the bottom of the braid. Simples! I like to pull the braid apart a little to make it look bigger and chunkier, and pull out a few strands of hair on the opposite side so it looks more casual! If your hair is longer than mine, it looks really nice to continue the braid with the rest of your hair instead of gathering it into a bun, but mine's not quite long enough to look good like that, the end of the plait ends up being too skinny for my liking!

THE BRAIDED PONY

This is my go-to for the gym, travel and desk days, it's comfy and it keeps my fringe off my face. You simply dutch braid the top midsection of your hair, gathering as much hair as you can from the sides, until you reach the crown of your hair, and just pull the rest of your hair into a ponytail. Again, I like to pull out the braid a little and mess it up, but that's just personal preference!

What are your favourite updo's?

Not Your Average Hair Mask

I'm always up for trying something new in the haircare department, and recently I've been doing just that. Over the last couple of months, I've accumulated three different hair masks which are, well, just different. I'm used to hair masks sole purpose being to hydrate the hair,  but these three all do something a little different.

The first addition was the Percy and Reed Lovingly Light Foaming Treatment Mask. This one is particularly different because it's a mousse, I've never seen a mousse hair mask before. I apply this post-shampoo, concentrating on the roots of my hair, and it simultaneously hydrates, repairs and volumises my locks. Who knew one product could do that?! As the name would suggest, it's incredibly light on the locks, it doesn't leave your hair feeling heavy at all, but it really makes a difference. A good choice for anyone who needs a little hair TLC, but gets greasy quickly!

Last month, the Phillip Kingsley Stimulating Scalp Mask* dropped through my letterbox, and I'll admit I was intrigued. This claims to work by plying the scalp with tons of good vitamins and minerals, whilst stimulating blood circulation to encourage hair growth. Bold claims to say the least. I was a little concerned by the idea of the using something I was imagining as a scrub in my hair, but I actually really like this, especially after a long day! As far as hair growth goes, I'm not seeing any results as of yet, but my hair definitely feels healthier!

And last but not least, the Dove Advanced Hair Series Oxygen Moisture Souffle Treatment, a bit of a mouthful. This stuff claims to add moisture whilst volumising the hair by 95%, leaving your hair bouncy and smooth. Whilst I'm not sure about 95%, this definitely makes the hair lighter and easier to keep volumised, and it feels incredibly soft and nourishing too. It's got a whipped texture, which feels light in the hair, and it smells incredible. I can't imagine anyone not liking this!

Have you tried any weird hair masks recently?

Braids Best Friends

So, braids are having a bit of a moment aren't they? Until recently, when I thought of braids I thought of the face stretchingly tight pair of french plaits that my mum gave me whenever there was a dance show or someone in my class got nits. Oh the glamour.

But you only need to look at Pinterest, or any blogger's Instagram to know that braids are back, and it looks like they'll stick around a while. Over the last month or two I've been experimenting with braids a lot more (more on that soon) and I've assembled a small army of products and tools to help make complicated hairstyles so much simpler.

Let's talk products first. There are two occasions when I tend to go for a braid, the first being when my hair is freshly washed and I haven't had time to style it. Freshly washed hair is a total pain in the ass to braid, it lacks the texture and grip necessary to make chunky, messy plaits, it either sits perfect and super tight to your head (a la nit braids), or it falls out. See, nightmare. However, I've literally found the perfect solution, and it comes in the form of Bumble and Bumble's Texture Undressing Creme. This stuff was made for braids and messy bedhead styles I'm sure of it. I take a tiny amount, the size of a pea, and run it through the lengths of my hair. It feels quite tacky but it dries and just makes your hair feel thicker and grittier. Perfect. It also offers a bit of hold too, so when you pull apart your braids to make them look messier.

Also good for this scenario, the V05 Give Me Texture Texturising Spray. This stuff is the drugstore equivalent of the purse achingly expensive Oribe Dry Texturising Spray, and it's fantastic. I like to spritz this into my finished braid before I pull it all apart, and it just makes it look a bit better.

The other braid necessary occasion is when my hair really should have been washed already and I just didn't do it. Bad Jaye. But you know, it happens, and on those occassions it's all about the Co Lab Rio Dry Shampoo, which smells great and doesn't leave a powdery residue in your locks.

Hairspray is of course, a given, I love the Fudge Urban Iced Vanilla and Raspberry Hairspray, because not only is it a great hairspray (there's not much to say about hairspray is there?), it smells FREAKING AMAZING. Seriously.

Moving on to more tool-y things, first off, these tiny little elastic band hair bands, they are amazing for braids. I always pick up the clear ones from places like Claire's Accessories, and they're just great because you can't see them in your hair. Especially if you're doing something where you are pinning the braids up, they're invisible and they don't leave lumps in your hair either!

Also handy are these big hairdressing clips, I got mine from Sally's Beauty Supply, but I'm pretty sure you can get something similar in Boots! These are great for when you're only braiding a section of your hair, they hold everything else back! Easier to clip in and out than using a hairband (and they're great for blow drying too!).

And lastly, I find that if I'm wearing my hair in a simple side braid, or just braiding a section of my hair, I want a little more volume in the roots of the rest of my hair, so I've been taking to my mane with a Backcomb brush. Again, I picked this up in Sally's for about £2, and it's great, I just use this to tease the roots of my hair at my crown, to make it look less sleek!

That's everything I can think of! Is there anything that you find essential for braids?

Currently Loving: Hair Things

I had my first haircut in over a year this month, and I'm loving my hair again now. I say a haircut, I didn't really have much off in terms of length, but I had my fringe cut back in and I decided to lose the layers, my hair's all one length now, just with a little bit of shaping around the front and it's so much more manageable. It looks healthier, and it's easier to style, amazing how much of a difference just a bit of tidying can make!

I've been enjoying styling my hair a lot more because of it, and there are three products that are really standing out for me at the moment. The first thing is the Bumble and Bumble Texture Undressing Creme, which I've been using on days where I don't want to style my hair. I just run an amount the size of a pea through the ends of my hair, and just let it dry naturally, and I'm left with a more defined version of my natural curls! It's such an easy way to make sure my hair looks nice without much effort!

I've been using the Co Lab Rio Dry Shampoo for a while now and I love it, it's perfect for when my hair doesn't need washing, but my fringe is looking a bit sad. It smells amazing and it doesn't leave any white residue in my hair!

I've also been loving the Percy and Reed It's So Cool Heat Protect Styling Mist, which doesn't leave the greasy residue to your hair that some heat sprays do. It's light on the hair, doesn't smell offensive, and keeps my hair looking healthy!

I've also been loving my Tangle Teezer even more, but you've heard enough about that I'm sure!

What haircare bits are you loving right now?

Why I Reverse Wash My Hair (and why you should too!)

I've been reverse washing my hair (conditioning and then shampooing for those not in the know) for over a year now but I've never really spoken about it here before. There was a bit of a reverse washing fad this year, and everyone seemed to be talking about it, so I decided to wait for the storm to pass before adding my two cents.

My hair is pretty thick and naturally curly, and it can be quite dry, so I like to smother it in heavy conditioners to really add back in the moisture. However, these products tend to leave a residue in my hair, which leaves it feeling slippy and hard to work with, and never quite clean. By applying conditioner first and letting it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing and shampooing, I get the full benefits of the conditioner, but the shampoo cleans the remainder out. My hair feels healthy and clean. It also helps me reap the full benefits of using a clarifying shampoo, without ruining all the efforts with conditioner.

I'm also incredibly lazy, and I like to go as long as possible between washes (hair not body!), and by using the shampoo last, I actually find I get an extra day or two before my hair starts to get a little greasy, which I'm all for. My hair feels healthier because I'm washing and heat styling it less.

Speaking of styling, because all remnants of conditioner are removed, my hair holds a curl better, because it's not as slippy with product, which is only a good thing!

I do have to use a detangling spray when I get out of the shower, but I'm okay with that!

It really does work wonders for my hair, I wouldn't go back!

Have you tried reverse washing?

Current Haircare Favourites

I thought it was about time I dedicated a post to the hard working haircare products that get me and my mop through the week. I'm pretty picky when it comes to haircare, and it's not something I like to splurge on, so we've got a roundup of products that do their job well, and come in at budget friendly prices.

First up, the only clarifying shampoo that has ever hit the spot for me, the Herbal Essences Fresh Balance Clarifying Shampoo. This just gets the job done in every way possible, leaves your hair feeling spectacularly clean but not stripped, smells amazing (citrus-y), and comes in at £3.99. Bargain.

I used to be awful at remembering to use heat protectant, until I discovered the Dove Style & Care Heat Defence Spray. Because I reverse wash my hair, it can be a little tangle-y when I get out the shower, and this doubles as a detangler, so I spray this liberally into my hair from root to tip before using my Tangle Teezer to comb it through. It smells fantastic, and means I don't have to remember two steps.

I don't use the It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Product every time I wash my hair, but when it needs a little TLC, I'll disperse a few sprays of this through the mid-lengths and ends of my hair. I'm not sure how it does it, but this stuff is like hair magic, it makes my hair feel so soft, smooth and healthy. I just wish it was a little easier to get ahold of in the UK, but it is available online.

When it comes to styling my hair, I don't use much, but whether I've straightened or curled my locks, I'll always take a little of the Percy and Reed Finishing Polish through the lengths of my hair. It eliminates frizz, smooths and adds a little hold, without making your hair feel sticky or crunchy.. It's not massively cheap, but it's by far the best product I've tried, and it lasts a really long time.

I've mentioned the Tresemme Renewal Hair and Scalp Tonic fairly recently, so I'll keep this brief. The gist of it is that applying this cooling tonic right in the roots of my hair once a week keeps my scalp happy, and makes my hair generally feel more comfortable.

And lastly, the long serving hero, the Dove Refresh and Care Dry Shampoo. I always come back to this, and I even have a two bottle emergency stash. I use this not only to spruce up second day hair, but also to add a little volume and texture to my freshly washed mop. The best dry shampoo I've tried by miles.

What are your favourite haircare products?

The Review: L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss

Since my hair-dye-disaster of 2012, I've steered clear of the stuff, sticking with my mousey-brown natural locks whilst the poor stuff recovered. Now I've left the pixie cut and damaged tresses behind, and my hair is looking healthier than ever, and it's reached a much more respectable past-collarbone length.

I had no intention of reaching for the dye again, but I missed my hair being a little darker, with a hint of red to it. I didn't feel quite like me without it. A little research led me to the L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss, an ammonia-free wash out 'conditioning colour'. Basically, this stuff is so intensely hydrating, it can actually improve the condition of your hair, and the colour is only semi-permenant (I found it lasted about two months of near-daily washing & swimming in chlorinated pools, before I wanted a top up), and therefore not as damaging as a permanent formula.

I decided to bite the bullet and go for the shade 515 Chocolate Truffle, which is a few shades darker than my natural mop, with a slight warm sheen. This is the second time I've used it now, and I left the colour on a little longer (I was a little terrified the first time in case all my hair fell out again) and the result is a much richer colour. I love how it looks, you can see a slight red sheen when the light hits it, but my hair really is just a touch darker. The main difference is how soft and healthy it feels, so many people have commented how shiny and healthy my hair looks!

Application is super easy, it's a simple two product mix, it's easy to apply even on your own (I did enlist the boy for help this time just to make sure I got it all. He ended up dying his hands too, since the gloves were a little small for man-hands. Something to keep in mind if you're getting a guy to help!), and the formula is non-drip. Also, since this is a wash out colour, any dye that gets on your face/shoulders/neck/ears, can be wiped off and won't leave a mark.

The verdict? I might just be a Casting Creme Gloss convert.

Mastering Second (or Third) Day Hair

It's hard to strike the right balance with my hair. If its freshly washed, its usually too soft to style, and if it's not, it creates this lovely greasy-at-the-roots-dry-on-the-ends look. Exactly what you want.

However, I have discovered a few products that make managing second day a hella lot easier, and actually make it look pretty damn good, if I do say so myself.

The first thing I do is attack my hair with my Tangle Teezer, I don't know how but my hair seems to tie itself in knots whilst I sleep, and this is buy far my favourite brush. Knots out, I like to spritz a ton of the Dove Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo right into the roots, and I mean a ton. I go to town with this stuff, and then leave it for 10 minutes or so whilst I do my makeup, to absorb any oils, before brushing it through again. After that, I take a pea sized amount of the Percy & Reed Finishing Polish through the lengths of my hair. This stuff is the absolute BOMB, it's like a de-fluffer and hairspray in one, it gets rid of any frizz and flyaways, whilst adding a little hold into your hair. Whether my hair is straight or curly, this just makes it look so much more polished and perfected!

Normally I stop there but if my hair has developed any weird kinks overnight, I've gotten into the habit of artfully pinning hair out of my face and over kinks. I like to think of it as artful, but I probably just look totally nuts. Anyway, Boots do extra long grips which are fab for this!

And if all else fails, just go for a messy bun!

The Hair Oil That Changed Everything

Sometimes a product comes along that just really gets the job done. Something that really impresses you, that just changes everything. This happened with a hair oil.

I was sent the Old Wives Tail Melado Organic Hair Growth Treatment* back at the beginning of the month. I was pretty intrigued since the company use all organic oils, and my Mum is on something of an organic/paraben free/sulphate free crusade at the moment (don't tell her I said that). This particular treatment is simply a blend of Olive, Almond, Argan and Lavender oils!

I just take a few drops of this and massage it into my scalp, and all through the lengths of my hair. It smells deliciously soothing, like lavender, and is super relaxing. They recommend leaving the oil in for an hour, but I find that even leaving it in for twenty minutes whilst I have a bath really helps. Or, I leave it in overnight and sleep on a towel for a super intense treatment.

Whilst I haven't been using this product long enough to figure out if it's making my hair grow, I can tell you it's made a MASSIVE difference to the quality of my hair, it's so much softer, sleeker and generally healthier, you can see a noticeable difference!

You can find out more about Old Wives Tail Products here, and be sure to enter their giveaway to win some of their products! You can find out how to enter here.

*This product was sent to me for review consideration, this does not affect the opinions expressed in this blog post!

Learning to Love the Long Bob

It's been a rough road for me and my hair. Teenage stupidity led to me dying my hair every colour under the sun whilst I was at college,

big

mistake, and I ended up with hair so dead it snapped off in clumps if I touched it. Not a good luck. One horrendous pixie cut, about seven sets of hair extensions, copious hair growth masks and a year and half later, and I'm kinda happy with my hair.

Now, I'll be honest, my hair is still WAY shorter than I like it, but it's miles better than the boy crop I was sporting back in January last year. I won't be happy until my hair is trailing around my underboob region but this is progress people. 

I've kinda settled into a routine with my hair that is working for me. I'm a reverse hair washer, when I jump in the shower I coat my hair in a super hydrating conditioner, leave it for a few minutes, and after I've rinsed that out I use a super clarifying shampoo to get any residue out of my roots. I've been doing this for over a year now and it makes my hair last longer between washes (

I'm lazy so this is good)

, which supposedly makes your hair grow faster? I'm trying everything here. This works super well for me anyway!

 I don't blow dry my hair anymore, unless it's a special occasion, to save my hair the heat, I just wash my hair in the evening and then let it dry whilst I sleep. For the most part, I'll then keep my hair natural, but drop a few extra waves in with my

Lee Stafford Argan Oil Twisted Curling Wand

, brush it out with my fingers and then spritz it with a hairspray. It's easy, it looks very beachy and undone, but I quite like it. Every now and then I'll straighten my hair using my

GHD's

,

and a ton of heat protector. I don't like to do this too often, but every now and then I'll get the urge. I like to stick my hair in a giant pineapple on the top of my head immediately after straightening while it cools, and after a few minutes I'll take it down and it's got a bit of volume to it!

I'm still desperately trying to grow my hair, but I don't hate it as much any more!

Do you have any tips on growing your hair? Or have you had any hair disasters?

The Hair Problem Solvers

My hair is probably my biggest problem area. It's dry, messy, easily affected by wind and rain, and my fringe never does as it's told. I spend a lot of time fiddling with my hair throughout the day, but I now have an arsenal of hair products in place for when it starts acting up!

THE PROBLEM: My hair is dry, damaged, and too short!

THE SOLUTION: Lee Stafford's Treatment For Hair That Never Grows Past a Certain Length. This stuff is a seriously heavy duty in-shower treatment, that blasts hair with the nutrients it needs to be in the optimum condition to grow! I'm never without a pot of this, it's seriously good stuff.

THE PROBLEM: All the hairsprays that work smell bad and make my hair crunchy.

THE SOLUTION: Fudge Urban Iced Vanilla and Raspberry Stron Hold Hairspray. Not only does this stuff smell amazing, but it holds your style firmly in place without making it look like there's anything in it at all. Bloody brilliant.

THE PROBLEM: Dry Shampoo leaves my hair feeling dirty and itchy, with a grey cast.

THE SOLUTION: Dove Hair Therapy Refresh & Care Dry Shampoo. This stuff is seriously the bomb. It makes your hair not only look clean, but feel clean too, it smells super fresh, and it doesn't leave a trace. Go buy it now. 

THE PROBLEM: Hair that looks dry after styling.

THE SOLUTION: Dove Style & Care Serum. I keep this in my handbag and if my hair starts to look dry throughout the day, I just take a pump of this and run it through the lengths of my hair. It instantly adds back a bit of shine and makes it look more healthy! 

THE PROBLEM: Frizzy, flyaway hair! 

THE SOLUTION: Frizz-Ease Secret Agent Flawless Finishing Creme. This is a family secret weapon in our house, even my dad uses this (but I never told you that!). A tiny pea sized blob ran through the lengths of hair instantly smooths and tames all frizz. Lifesaver!

And when all else fails, I always have a few grips and hairbands in my bag!

What are your go-to hair problem fixers?

Dirty Looks Hair Extensions

My hair is currently in the awkward, shoulder length, not a bob but not long hair stage, and as well as being a bugger to style, it just looks a bit strange. I've been on the hunt for a few weeks now for a set of hair extensions to add an inch or two to my hairs length, and add a bit of thickness too. I miss having long hair so much, and was desperate to have enough hair to have more styling options than up, or down. As luck would have it, around the same time the lovely ladies from Dirty Looks got in touch and offered to send me a set of extensions to try. Perfect timing right? I explained what I wanted and they suggested a full set of extensions, in 16-18", they even colour matched me after I sent a few photos of my hair to them.

The extensions I received are the HK Full Head Hair extensions* in the shade Organic. The pack contains 10 Wefts of varying size and thickness, with all the clips already attached and ready to go. The kit comes with a little booklet showing how and where is best to apply the wefts (and if you lose the booklet, the diagram is also on the website), they're all numbered for ease of use. The first time I wore them it took around ten minutes of fiddling with my hair to figure out where they needed to go, but now I can pop them in in under 5.

The extensions themselves are fantastic quality, they are made from natural human hair, they're incredibly soft and glossy, they put the condition of my hair to shame! That being said, they still blend nicely with my natural hair, and the colour match is spot on. They're thick from top to bottom, a lot of extensions I've had before have been thinner at the bottom which can make them look a little ratty.

Since these are 100% human hair, it's safe to heat style them. I imagine that if you continually heat styled them they'd eventually need a trim, but otherwise they're absolutely fine. I personally like to just curl the ends with a barrel curler, to add a little shape and dimension, I've never been one for pin straight hair!

They aren't heavy when they're in and I can wear them all day without feeling irritated by them which is a plus. I love that I have so many more options when styling my hair with these in, and have been trying out loads of different styles with these in! 

Overall I'm really impressed with these extensions, the quality is excellent, delivery was super fast, and they look great! I do think that next time I'm at the hairdressers I may take these along and just get an inch or two cut off, for general day to day these are a little long for me, having had short hair for so long! They've definitely made me excited for when my hair is long again!

You can find these extensions on the Dirty Looks website!

I also just wanted to take a minute to thank you all, I reached 500 Bloglovin followers this weekend and I honestly feel so touched that there are 500 of you who like listening to me ramble enough to follow me! Thank you all so much, you mean the world to me! 

Do you wear extensions?

*These extensions were gifted to me by Dirty Looks, this doesn't affect the opinions expressed in this review!

The Drugstore Dupe #4

It's not often I have a high end haircare dupe for you, because I don't really have much high end haircare. What I do have, is three Bumble and Bumble products I love that I talked about in this post a couple of weeks back, but since writing that post, I've realised as much as I love the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray, I have a much more affordable dupe for it already hidden in my stash.

If you missed the post where I talked about the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray, the gist of it is that it's a liquid hair spray that has a similar effect to a salt spray. I like to spray this into damp hair pre-blow dry, to add lift, volume and texture to my hair. It's pretty straightforward, but it's a nice product and it leaves my hair looking effortlessly good. The L'Oreal Studio Matt and Messy is a styling product I've had kicking around for a long time, I was obsessed with it about six months ago, but it kinda fell by the wayside to other products. I've had it back out recently though, and after a little comparison, have discovered that when spritzed into damp hair pre blowdry, or spritzed into the ends after straightening, it has an identical effect to the Bumble and Bumble offering. 

For a fraction of the price, I'd definitely reccommned L'Oreal's offering, however, I like that I can use the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray as a hairspray too! 

Have you tried either of these?

The Dry Shampoo Battle

Even when my locks are freshly washed, I like to use Dry Shampoo to style it. I just find it adds a little grit and texture to my hair making it easier to style, and hold it's volume. Also, I find that my hair gets oily quickly these days, and 24 hours after washing, I need a little dry shampoo to perk up my roots. That being said, I'm pretty picky in terms of what I use, so I thought I'd give you a rundown of the dry shampoos in my stocks at the moment. I have a fair bit, but I use it so much that I get through them pretty damn quick, so I like to stock up when they're on offer. 

First up is a newbie to the ranks, the Lee Stafford Original Dry Shampoo for Oily Roots*. This is one I've been reaching for for day old hair as opposed to freshly washed hair, since it's one of the most cleansing in the stash. I like this because it makes hair feel clean, without feeling dry, a winning combination in my books. 

The current favourite is the Dove Hair Therapy Refresh + Care Dry Shampoo, a shampoo that doesn't leave a white cast, and makes your hair feel freshly washed, no grit, no powder, no dryness, just clean and soft locks. 

I picked up the Girls Only Dawn Til Dusk Dry Shampoo in an emergency root cleansing situation, but I actually really like it. It makes my hair look clean, but also really bumps up the volume in my roots. You can however feel it in your hair, and by the end of the day it does get a little itchy. 

The Tresemme Instant Refresh Volumising Dry Shampoo comes a close second to Dove's offering. Cleanses your hair without leaving a white cast, but because it can leave a bit of a gritty finish, it's good for texture and volume. Doesn't leave your hair feeling as clean as Dove's, but it's great for styling.

I have a few cans of Batiste Dry Shampoo* on the go, Cherry*, Dark Brunette*, the Original* and this one Tropical*. I find Batiste Dry shampoos to be much of the same, they make your hair look clean but not really feel clean, and they add good volume, but that's because they leave quite a heavy residue in your hair. I use this stuff, but it's definitely not my favourite, and to be honest, I'm not sure I'd repurchase any of them. It's worth mentioning that I loved these until I discovered the others.

What is your favourite dry shampoo? Which should I try next?