not so Dumb Blonde

Everyone knows that I am a serial bleaching addict and as a blonde I definitely have more fun! What isn't fun however is waking up to find that my blonde isn't as white as I want it to be! Unwanted brassiness is the bane of my life, but, thank the hair gods, there is now a heat protection toning spray that I can now use alongside my silver shampoo to help keep my hair bright and white.

TIGIs Dumb Blonde range is ever expanding and they have just released two new products into the range! There is a new toning shampoo which contains purple toners to reduce horrid yellow tones whilst its built in conditioners and cleansers leave the hair feeling clean, and frizz free.

But, the product I am really excited about is the Toning Protection Spray! The product uses Protein Booster Technology to help repair damaged hair whilst the purple toners help fight off brassy tones. Also it works as a leave in conditioner, detangling, smoothing and adding shine to your tresses!

TIGI Dumb Blonde Toning Protection Spray

First things first, like all TIGI products is the smell! It is amazing! Like a sweet apple based fruit cocktail. And, even better the smell lasts long after you've perfected your style. Also it really is purple (don't worry there'll be no granny rinse here) and it really helps tone your hair! After one use I definitely noticed a difference in the colour, it wasn't perfect but after one use I wasn't expecting dramatic results. I know with continued use though that the colour will gradually get more and more toned. 

I made a silly mistake of using too much the first time I tried it it which left my hair feeling a bit crisp, so I wouldn't use too much.  As they say, a little goes a log way! But, I am really happy with this product and would definitely recommend this to serial blonde addicts. 

Being sold at £14.95 it is definitely worth grabbing it as an add on to your cut and colour.

(I got mine from iNkfish Hair and Beauty in Truro. Take a look at their website www.inkfishhairandbeauty.co.uk, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iNkfishHairAndBeauty?/fref=ts or call the salon on 01872 222468)

Let me know how you get on with the toning spray.

Till next time

R x

time for toner?

Every blonde (especially those of the bleached persuasion) knows the importance of toner. Without it hair is left the colour of lemon curd, and as tasty as lemon curd may be, nobody wants their hair to be that colour. This is where toner steps in. Toners are used to neutralise (cancel out) the tones that make hair look brassy or yellow! Toners tend to have violet bases. Why violet? Well purple is yellows complementary colour and will neutralise it. Translated into hair talk when you put a purple-based toner onto yellowy hair it whitens and brightens it to a more platinum/ashy hue (much more pleasing to the eye)!

The best toners are the ones you get given in the salon, and although they are relatively inexpensive in terms of salon treatments (often costing between £10-£20) it is not affordable every time you need a toner pick-me-up! So I have tried and tested some (nearly all) of the high-street toners in order to save you money and to keep your blonde at its brightest.

1.     La Riche Directions White Toner £2-£5

This is the most inexpensive product I have tried. You can buy this from about £2 on amazon.co.uk and I would recommend it. It comes on a small tub (250ml) so if you have long hair you will definitely need more than one tub. The colour of the product is a very pale purple (to cancel out the yellow) and I promise it won’t dye your hair lilac. The directions say to apply the toner to towel dried, damp hair, however I found this toner works best on dry hair! For best results centre part dry hair and use a tinting brush to apply the product to the roots and then to the lengths. Carefully section the hair and apply in the same way until your whole head is covered. The instructions say to leave for 15 minutes but because this product is not peroxide based I leave it on for much longer (mot likely over an hour!!) Then wash off with silver shampoo and condition and hey presto - you’re done! I found that the product toned down the brassy sections of my hair but they were still very pale yellow in colour so not completely gone! My non-brassy sections however became a gorgeous silver colour so with some more applications my whole head of hair should be a gorgeous colour!

2.     Schwarzkopf Live Colour XXL HD Toner Mousse £5.49

This is new product out, and so I just had to try it! I was impressed by the price but was apprehensive about the ‘mousse’ thing (don’t know why but hey). It claims to neutralise brassy/yellow tones in up to 15 minutes. Apply to freshly shampooed, towel dry hair. I’d suggest using a good clarifying shampoo to remove any product build up and to allow more of the toner into the hair shaft. Once towel dried I applied some of the mousse (greyish-white in colour) into the palm of my hand and then applied it carefully to my hair. The mousse texture meant it applied quickly and evenly and it didn’t take long to apply to my whole head. Although it said leave on for 15 minutes I left it on for much longer (because there was no peroxide) and was really pleased with the results. Once rinsed there was no need to use a conditioner (unless hair is very dry), as my hair felt very soft. I blow-dried and styled as usual and was happy with the results, my hair looked much more even in colour but the effects didn’t last long, only 2-4 washes but for the price it is affordable to do more than once. Also you can use this product more than once! A can of mousse will give you up 3 uses if you have short hair, 2 for mid length hair and once for long hair. All-in-all a good newcomer to the market.

3.     Jerome Russell BBlonde Platinum Colour Toner £4.99

Out of all the toners I tried this was the one I like the least. It is a single use product but there was a lot left over after I covered my hair so I was wasting a lot. Also the product made my head itch slightly (I'm not sure if it was a reaction or if it was just me). The toner claims to “refresh and improve the shade and condition of your blonde hair in one wash! Easy to use and ideal for refreshing your colour, as it neutralises yellow and brassy tones, restoring natural, subtle blonde tones. Platinum blonde adds subtle cool blonde shades that last up to 8 washes”. The product is a purple jelly-like substance and was easy to apply. Like the other toners apply to towel dried hair. Cover head in toner, with hands and comb through. Cover head with shower cap and apply heat for 5 minutes with a hair dryer (this step just seemed to prove a hassle). Allow the toner to process for 10 minutes and then check development. If the desired colour has not been reached then check frequently for up to 30 minutes until the colour is as desired. Rinse off, no need to condition and blow dry and style as normal. The colour results were ok, and I wasn’t displeased but for the hassle of applying heat, and also the product wastage I probably wouldn’t buy it again!

4. BLEACH London White Toner £7

I am so pleased that BLEACH London have started selling products and I am so happy that they have made this toner! Unlike all the other toners I have reviewed this one is as close as you will get to a salon toner at home. This product CONTAINS PEROXIDE, (1.9%, so it is mild), but use with caution and follow ALL INSTRUCTIONS. Do not use if your hair is over-processed/very damaged! Once you have shampooed and towel dried your hair, mix the crème colour and developing lotion together. It then suggests using the nozzle apply to the roots, however I emptied the toner into a tinting bowl and used a brush to apply the colour more carefully! Firstly, centre part hair and apply to the roots first and then through the lengths, section by section until your whole head is covered. Leave for 20 minutes (NO LONGER) and then wash off. Follow up with the Reincarnation Mask (which is amazing!) and you will have lovely, white, soft hair! I am so impressed with the results of this product, it definitely tackled the brassier sections of my hair, and they are much less noticeable than they were before.  I will definitely be buying and using this product again, so worth it! Only available at BOOTS.com, selected BOOTS stores and BLEACH London's Salons (Dalston)

So there are my toner reviews! I hope they have been useful. If there is anything you have tried that you have found INCREDIBLE then leave a comment and I’ll try it out!

Much love

R x

happy healthy hair

It is cold out there! Winter is definitely upon us and I for one am not enjoying it at the moment. But, "What does this have to do with hair?" I hear you say...

Well, extremes in weather can ravage your tresses so it is important to keep it healthy over the colder months. Cold air and wind alike can really dry your hair out, and, so can the intense and dry heat of central heating and fires. This can lead to hair looking dull and potentially frizzy (not what you want when going to all the Christmas parties.)

So, you need to keep your hair as hydrated as possible. A weekly hair treatment is the best way to combat this dryness however salon treatments can prove expensive. This post will show some of my favourite home hair treatments. There will be some bargain beauties alongside some more premium treats so whatever your budget, you will find something!

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor - £4.99

I love this product! I first used this when I majorly damaged my hair with my straighteners when I was 14. The damage to part of my hair was unrepairable (so I shaved it) but for the rest of my hair this product worked amazingly.

The product is thick and smells gorgeous. A very delicate minty fragrance to me. After shampooing your hair can feel dense and tangled but as soon as you put this in your hair it becomes instantly more managable. I often leave this product on for more than three minutes but it definitely is worth it.
The product washes out quickly and easily and leaves hair soft and manageable. A definite purchase for those in need of quick hair recovery!

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque - varying prices depending on size.

I was first introduced to this after I started bleaching my hair almost two years ago. I asked for a conditioning treatment after my first round with the dreaded bleach and I fell in love. The masque is a  combination of macadamia oil and argan oil along with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts which hydrate, nourish and repair dry and damaged hair. Extended benefits of the product are said to include extension of the life of colour treatments by reducing fading, natural UV protection and the reduction of drying time an amazing 40-50%. 

The main thing I noticed about this product was the fact that I didn't have to use very much of the product at all. A little went a very long way. The mix of oils, including aloe as well meant that the product was very calming on the scalp so great for over processed coloured hair. The recommended usage time for the masque is 10 minutes but I have left it on longer for a more intensive treatment. Once washed off my hair feels light and nourished - not weighed down like some oil based products can make hair. I didn't notice any difference in drying time however, but, this masque is definitely worth a try. Available from most salons and feelunique.com

http://www.feelunique.com/p/Macadamia-Deep-Repair-Masque-250ml?gclid=CNuMs5_J4boCFRMftAodOSgAOA

Moroccan Oil Masques - varying prices

The Moroccan Oil masques are the most luxurious hair treatments I have tried, and are the most expensive ones too! However, although pricey they are most definitely worth it.

                       

Hydration Masque (brown lid) - is a rich, creamy treatment, designed to hydrate and repair damage.

"Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Mask does not need heat to be activated; only 5 to 7 minutes will treat hair with much needed moisture and protein, adding elasticity and shine. This highly effective mask revitalises and hydrates hair, restoring shine and manageability."

This masque leaves hair feeling, soft and manageable - the cheapest I have been able to find this product is £24.95 on feelunique.com. It is such a good product, no other product matches the quality of it.

Restorative Masque (orange lid) - A therapeutic remedy for colour/chemical damaged hair. I would not recommend using this product at home but if your hair is in desperate of need of saviour then book in for a salon treatment and ask for this. My hairdresser told me that if this product is left on for longer than the 5 minute usage time that the hair will break because there is so much protein packed into each treatment so BE CAREFUL!

"Moroccan Oil Restorative Hair Mask penetrates deep into the hair to help restore elasticity and rebuild strength while repairing damage caused by chemicals and other environmental stresses. This unique formula is rich in proteins and will help bring out hair's inner health, leaving it incredibly moisturised with a brilliant shine."

Ok, I could ramble about different masques I have tried all day, but I will leave you with these three brands. Please comment below with any you have tried and I will have a look!

Much love 

R x

#street style - Dark Craft Glamour

I've photographed Rachael for my blog before and when I saw her the other day I couldn't resist snapping her again. I loved her deliciously gothic inspired outfit.

The black dress looks great underneath the burgundy fluffy jumper (bonus points for use of texture!! she was so soft). I'm also loving the cut out leather ankle boots, I basically love black ankle boots (it's hard to go wrong with them).

Also, I am loving Rach's choice of burgundy lip colour, colour coordination at its best!

#street style

Something I really want to do more of is street style. from now on I'll be taking my camera out with me where I go and take pictures of inspiring outfits, or outfits I find interested.

To start, I want to share with you one of my work colleagues and dear friends Rachael. She always looks great and I have taken a few photos of her in the past and I think it's the right time to share my favourite with you.

I adore this outfit. It's as simple as that. The simplicity of this outfit really shines through for me. The snakeskin 3/4 sleeve shift looks great on Rachael's frame and looks great paired with black leather cut out boots (cut out leather will be big this winter). Simple gold jewellery finishes the look off perfectly.

Dress and Boots - TOPSHOP

Rachael also has her own blog; http://www.little-sister.co.uk/
Go and check it out
R x

Return to Tradition

Now that summer is over, we see a turn away from the bright colours and harsh clean lines that we saw with S/S13. This trend is all about cosy warmth that you associate with winter. Time to think check shirts, Aran knitwear, boots and a big overcoat. Traditional heritage pieces and the great British outdoors influence the trend and although this suggests the countryside (which may seem dull) the trend effortlessly stylish whilst being practical for the time of year. Layering is perfect to create a look for this trend. My best suggestion would be to wear multiple thin layers rather than just one or two big ones as you can take off or add on depending on how you feel. Key pieces to look out for cable knit jumpers; stick to muted colours, like stones, burgundy’s, rusts and olives. Denim is also but think raw indigo denim or darker blues, these look amazing when worn with the brown boot. Boots are important for this trend and A/W 13 sees a thicker soled more hardwearing design. This trend will allow you to go out and enjoy what the great British outdoors in style.

As it's not too cold at the moment I haven't layered too much in this outfit. I have layered however by teaming a flannel check shirt with denim shirt. I have paired this with my staple black skinny jeans and green Dr Martin books.

This is one of my favourite trends as it's wintery and cosy so I will post more outfits/ways to wear over the next few weeks.

Check shirt - TOPMAN

Denim Shirt - Vintage Wrangler

Jeans - TOPSHOP

Shoes - Dr Martins

banish the brass

Blonde, highlighted or silver hair is the easiest of hair colours to become dull and lifeless. In order to combat this you need the help of a dear, dear friend; silver shampoo.

There are so many out there to choose from so which one do you go for? I have tried and tested a few and I want to share with you 4 that have really stood out for me!

Daddy-O by Lush

I have to admit I had never bought from Lush before but when I got given a sample of their silver shampoo I was completely bowled over. The product smelt amazing, really fruity and was a gorgeous iridescent purple colour. The tone was warm so I was unsure as to whether this would combat brassiness but it worked brilliantly. The product mixes violet pigments with the power of lemons to create a shampoo that neutralises yellow tones whilst adding superb shine. Unlike other silver shampoos I've tried this one didn’t leave my hair feeling dry and sticky once I’d rinsed it out. It is quite strong though, I tend to leave my silver shampoo in for a while but after just five minutes or so my hair had turned a pale lavender colour (which I loved) but be careful! It comes in three sizes at increasing prices; 100g for £5.25, 250g for £10.45 and 500g for £16.75 so buying the bigger size is better value for money!

Touch of Silver by Pro-Voke

This is my all time silver shampoo bargain! If I’m feeling stretched for cash mid pay month then I will buy this. Retailing at £3.09 in Boots this product is a bargain, and, it works so well! The product is a really deep violet colour, a lot bluer than the Lush competitor. This has the added bonus of neutralising more orange tones as well as the dreaded yellow! The product has a pleasant smell but is not as fruity as Daddy-O. I like leaving this product on for about 15-20 mins as it makes my hair go a gorgeous silver colour. This result is not guaranteed as everyone’s hair is different, some peoples hair will take the shampoo much better so be careful with how long you leave it for! The one downfall I've found with this product is it makes my hair feel quite dry before I condition it but once I've popped my conditioner on it’s back to normal. Unlike other brands Pro-Voke have also got an entire range of products designed for blonde, highlighted or gray hair, including hair spray and dry shampoo.

Violet Toning Shampoo by Fudge

I love this product but it is very strong! If you leave this on for too long it will give you lilac hair. The product is more of premium brand than the other two I have reviewed so uses stronger ingredients. If you want gentle toning then I would suggest mixing the product with your normal shampoo. For stronger toning use on it’s own, but again be careful how long you leave it on for. I have found it quite hard to source this product as not many places sell Fudge but I have managed to source it on Amazon for £10.38 (online price correct at time of writing) so it is more expensive but it will last you ages as it is so strong.

Fashionista by TIGI

This product has only recently been released for sale. I was told about it by my hairdresser and I was so excited. This is TIGI's first proper silver shampoo and it is overdue. This has to be my favourite out of all the silver shampoo's that I've tried. It comes out much lighter in colour to the others so at first I was unsure about how well it would tone my hair. I also noticed that it looked a bit sparkly. I proceeded to wash away. It worked up a nice lather, and smells amazing! I can't put my finger on the scent but it is incredible! You can leave this product on from between 1 and 10 minutes, I obviously left it on for 10 as I wanted the best toning results! After I washed it out my hair felt clean and soft, not like some of the other products I have used which had left my hair feeling dry and matted. I followed up with my usual conditioner and my hair felt so healthy. The colour was also better than I had expected, it had really neutralised the brassier sections of my hair and the small sparkly bits had really added shine to my hair. For £11.95 it doesn't cost much more than any of the others so if you can afford it then get it as it is so worth it. There is also a violet conditioner as well which I am hoping to trial soon!

There are of course other brands of silver shampoo out there so please feel free to leave a comment on any you have tried and tested.

I hope you may have found this post helpful. Until next time, bye!

R x

#ootd

Had a monochrome day at work yesterday which I think is the perfect time for simple, classic styling. For this outfit I paired a crisp, white, oversized shirt with super skinny black jeans and black suede tassel slippers. For accessories I kept it simple and added a small set of collar tips!

Shirt - Vintage
Jeans - TOPSHOP
Shoes - TOPMAN
Collar Tips - TOPMAN

blonde ambition

Blonde is undoubtedly the hair colour of summer. Whether honey, ash, caramel or platinum; blonde shades never fail to impress (when coloured correctly that is). However, being a blonde, whatever the shade proves to be high maintenance. Whether this be upkeep of re-growth or keeping the tones non-brassy it is a lot of work. The biggest thing for me though it the longevity and condition of my hair.

Good conditioned hair not only feels great but is also youthful. Unfortunately I'm not rich enough to go for weekly keratin smoothing and conditioning treatments like the A-listers do, so I have to rely on the high-street. I have been known in the past to be a bit of a hair product snob, only buying shampoo and conditioner from local salons to attain the highest results. This, much like the colouring process itself gets rather expensive after a while, but, I have a new saviour at a fraction of the price of salon brands. Dove’s “Nutritive Solutions” has taken pride of place in my bathroom cabinet and blondes; this is our saviour! With its “weightless nutri-oils”; including a mix of argan, coconut, and almond oils Dove’s range manages to smooth and nourish the hair without weighing it down. My hair feels so light once blow-dried, and it styled so much more easily than it did before I started using the product. I would recommend this for those whose hair is feeling ravaged by over processing or excessive heat styling.

Dove’s “Nutritive Solutions” comes in a mere £2.69 per bottle so it’s not only light on your hair, it’s light on your bank balance as well.

Dove "Nutritive Solutions" is available from high-street retailers, Boots, Superdrug, as well as all leading brand supermarkets.