What Time Is It??....'TOOL TIME!!'

Anybody else used to watch Home Improvements when they were a kid?! I loved that show!

So after my last post on hair products I use, I thought I'd do a post on the tools I use too!

I am pretty lazy if I'm honest and drying my hair is the bane of my life because it 'clings to water like a bitch!' as my friend once said.

I pretty much go by 'old hair and yesterdays eyeliner always look better'. Beauty bloggers everywhere are probably cursing that! I do take my make up off but I seriously think yesterdays eyeliner looks wayyy better! Anyway, this isn't about make up! This is about hair!

Right, let's get started, this is what I do when I have freshly washed hair...

First of all I use my magic Gliss spray, when I have wet hair, I use a wide tooth comb to detangle, this helps prevent breaking hair, as hair is weak when it's wet. I then go through it with either my tangle teaser or a paddle brush - whichever is around.

Then to blow dry my ends I'll use whatever round brush is around, but if I am blow drying it properly I use two different brushes, I'll use a large barrel brush for volume, and a medium barrel brush for the ends. I use Head Jog brushes, which you can get online if you can't get to a wholesalers. I tend to buy the sets and then just add any extra brushes I need as I go. I think the sets are good value. I'd definitely get a decent brush if you are a regular blow dryer, you don't want to be snagging your hair or getting it caught in the brush. I could do with some new ones myself right now!

Then I have my prized possession. My hairdryer. I love this thing like a child. I have two. A pink one and a black one. My pink one I've had for about 8 years which is genuinely shocking, but that's the one I use for my own hair and I am dreading the day it packs in. It was my first real pro hairdryer.
My black one was part of my college kit, my mother seems to have adopted this one and this is the one I use on other people.
I use Parlux hairdryers. They're not cheap but I would probably only ever use Parlux now. I want a matte black one or a purple or burgundy one for christmas!
One thing I would stress about hairdryers for blow drying, make sure you have decent nozzles. The nozzle on my hairdryer is so skinny in comparison to my sisters hairdryer, it's so narrow but this is perfect for a nice smooth blow dry, because the air flow is more concentrated and focused. Also getting your wrist at the right angle helps. Try not to touch your hair with the nozzle (you don't want burned hair...it stinks!) and point it down so the air is parallel to the hair so it is blowing your hair poker straight..if that makes sense?
So yes, I believe a decent hairdryer and brush are a great investment.

I don't straighten my hair, ever, I only curl it from time to time, normally I just shove it in a bun or braid it before bed and however it is when I take it out in the morning is how I'm having my hair! But when I do curl it, I use the ol' Enrapture Encode Totem Styler. I like this because it's easy to use, you can adjust the heat settings on the three barrels and create your own curls!

I use the odd roller here and there, but only at the front of my head and around my crown for a bit of bounce and volume. I'm not the full head, walking around town kinda girl! I just shove em in while I'm getting ready to go wherever I'm going!


So, that's my little two part hair post done. I quite enjoyed doing these! It's made me want to blow dry my hair a bit more often!

Hairspray. & Other Stuff...

I thought I'd do a little post on my favourite hair products and what I use most often!

I'll be honest, I'm pretty low maintenance so hair products for me tend to be a special occasion kinda thing.

My most used products definitely have to be;

My absolute FAVOURITE shampoo and conditioner of all time, is strangely enough super cheap and unexpected. Its a Morrison's Soak It Up own brand shampoo and conditioner, blueberry and orchid. Not only does this smell ridiculously amazing (I've had people comment -I'm not sure why people were THAT close to me but hey! I'll take it! ) It is the best I have ever used. I know that is a bold statement to make, but it's true. It's about £1.09 a bottle, and they're not small bottles. This stuff makes my hair super manageable, super soft and smooth. My friend recommended it to me while I was in the process of bleaching my hair and nothing was working to help it. Her hair is really long and thick and super coarse and its an absolute nightmare when she washes it and she got me some to try and I haven't used anything else since. It just works. I thank this stuff for still having a full head of hair after all the bleaching and colouring.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Liquid Silk. Man, that's a long name!

This is a leave in 'express repair conditioner', with liquid keratin. I LOVE this stuff. I have really thick hair and it get's really knotted after I wash it, especially after all the colouring I do. I used to use the Loreal kids de-tangling spray after I had washed my hair just to get a brush through it! But I suppose this is the more grown up version because it makes my hair so easy to brush and so soft, and it really has made a super big difference to the condition of my hair. It's a nightmare when I run out and have to brush my hair without it! Or comb should I say, you should use a wide tooth comb when dealing with wet hair, for less breakage etc. learned that nice little tip in college when my tutor was mortified as she watched me dragging a paddle brush through my wet hair!

Tresemme Volume & Lift Mousse

I have never used mousse really, but my hair refuses to stay curly when I curl it and goes flat as a pancake when I try to blow some volume into it! So I decided to just try some because I used to always see it in college and avoid using it because I just imagine it to make my hair.... crunchy. I found this one on offer in Superdrug a while back and thought I'd just try it for when I can be bothered to actually blow dry my hair properly, which isn't very often at all. I decided to try it a month or two ago but then once I had put it in my hair the thought of actually blowing my hair seemed like a nightmare so I just did my usual and threw my head upside down and blasted all of my roots and mid lengths dry, then parted it and blow dried the ends properly (I am the laziest self hairdresser ever) but it really worked!! I actually had volume and lift, so I haven't even bothered blowing it properly yet, I just throw it on and throw my head upside down and VOILA! Perfect! I also curled it a few times and it held my curl a LOT longer than usual!


Reincarnation Mask by Bleach London

THIS STUFF. UGH. I love it. I don't even know what to say about it. Use it.  It works. Makes my hair feel incredible! And you definitely need a decent hair mask to have a proper top to toe pamper. May as well be one that is magical!

They're the main players in my hair game I guess.

I use other products too, but only when I'm making an actual effort I suppose you could say!

I'm a big fan of dry shampoo. I try not to wash my hair too much, I'm training it at the minute to get down to twice a week, eventually I'll get it down to once a week, I just don't think you should wash your hair every day, but I give in every now and then and just feel like I HAVE to wash it, I need to start wearing my hair up more often, I might get away with it more then! BUT I'm getting distracted now by thinking about how to wear my hair up....back to dry shampoo, I grabbed this from Superdrug the other week super fast, I don't even know why, I didn't need it but I was like 'Better to have more in than none!' I didn't read it or anything and when I got home I realised it's 'Killer Volume' dry shampoo by Superdrug and it's boss!! I did wear my hair up the other week and I don't like my hair slick to my head - I'm a bed head kinda gal, so this was great for a bit of volume and a bit of oomph! I think I'll be sticking to this!!


I also like 'After Party' by Bed Head. I was convinced for years this was called 'Party Girl', because a stylist used it on my hair when I was about 15 and I kept calling it that until I worked in a salon that sold Bed Head and I kept asking if we were getting 'Party Girl' in and then I saw it on the shelf and my manager laughed at me because I was like 'Oh, they must have renamed it.'.... they hadn't, I'd just been wrong for years. But yeah, this is nice for when I have blown my hair and it just smooths it and prevents fly aways! You only need a tiny amount AFTER you've done your hair though! So it lasts an absolute age!!


I don't often hairspray my hair, only if I have it curly or up and I can be fussy about my hairsprays, I do not like crunchy or solid hair! I've been using Wella Performance Hairspray since I left college because that's what we used there, it's not a super strong hold, but that's not what I'm after so I really like this and I like the smell too! Wella products actually smell amazing!


And last but definitely not least!... Wella Flowing Form Smoothing Balm. I LOVE this stuff!!! It smells so good and you feel like you have been in a salon when you blow dry with this balm! You don't need a lot and you just put it on before you blow dry your hair (not throw your head upside down) and it just makes your hair silky and smooth. I always use this on my Mum and sister when I blow dry their hair straight because they both have curly hair and this definitely helps smooth it out!!


What are your favourite products?

Do you use any of the ones I've mentioned and like/dislike them?

My next post will be a post on the hair tools I use!

InstaWeek2

Wow, I'm actually carrying on with this instagram thing... 

SO yeah, it's not been the most eventful of weeks...well, actually it has but these pictures didn't quite capture the good times, because I was, well, you know, living them haha.

Ahh this week has been pretty pleasant actually. It started well and has ended well!

Tuesday was steak night so me and two of my bestest went for steak and a drink and to watch a bit of football.  Marvellous as usual and so nice to catch up! Then one of my friends left and Vicky and I went off to see our good bud Ogo at open mic in Hannah's bar and had a cocktail or two!

Then I took a picture of the 'Wig-Wam' Cathedral while we waited for our cab. I love that about Liverpool, you stand on Hope Street and you can see a Cathedral either end! I think that's pretty special!

SO I have this thing for Robert De Niro. I love him. So I watched The Deer Hunter. If you haven't seen it, you should give it a gander it's pretty bloody good!!

If you know me and are reading this then you'll probably be sick of my adoration for Natasha Lyonne. Ican't even help it though. I love her even more than De Niro. I just think she's incredible and I whole heartedly love her as Nicky in OITNB (obviously) but watching interviews with her and stuff, she's pretty amazing, and I totally want to be her best mate, and that accent!!! It's my favourite. (But yeah, LOVE Slums of Beverly Hills)

This was my Friday.

This is my best mate. My Nan. Janet. Took her shopping on Saturday morning, which is always hilarious because my Grandad does his own thing and walks off with the trolley and she's usually gabbing away and doesn't realise. Also, that cardigan she's wearing, I wore it to her house one time and she made me go buy her the same one. Twinz. 

Still couldn't get rid of the green tinge in my hair from the Washed Up Mermaid so I shoved a bottle of Rose on it again to try and fade it out again...hoping it works this time. So, yeah, I have pink hair at the minute!! Fun fun....

Saturday night. Well, Saturday night turned out to be a lot more than I expected. I haven't laughed that much in a long time! Spent the night listening to old music on YouTube and being hilariously serenaded until about 5am. It was the best. ever.

Had a lazy Sunday chilling with my family and trying to tune my little uke. Wish I could re-do the end of this week again right now. Definitely got Monday blues creeping in but I'm hoping for more of the same next week!!

My Week On Instagram

SO I'm having a bit of a weird one lately. Bit up, bit down, bit in between :/ if that makes any sense?

I can't focus on one thing to write about and haven't been able to for a while so I thought I'd do a week on Instagram. I do love Instagram.

Here we go then...

I LOVE ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK.

I finished the second series after re watching the first and I just love it. Nicky has to be my favourite (I'm only slightly biased because I love Natasha Lyonne).

Had a night in with a bottle of gin and one of my best and we watched youtube clips and listened to music all night. Was actually one of the best nights I've had in a long time. Needless to say, we needed some refreshments the morning after so went to the shop and ended up buying whatever orange flavoured stuff we saw.

I wanted to eat bad stuff and I've been so good that when I needed, and I mean NEEDED pizza I put on a crop and pencil skirt to remind me not to eat the pizza!!

Stayed on the healthy wagon....

So this happened and I fangirled a lot harder than I probably knew I could.

Found old pic's and yeah, my bedroom door was sooooo cool when I was 14.

Had plans...then I didn't... so sorted my mush and watched some more Natasha Lyonne films.

Stubborn green hair :|

Had a nice little Saturday afternoon with my Pop's. If you didn't know, my Grandad is my favourite man in the world.

Then the pie got a shower. 

So there was a little glimpse of my week...not the most exciting but I like weeks like this!!

Send over your Instagrams! I'm at Sarahhhh88

xo

Washed Up Mermaid. Bleach London Review.

So, 'Washed Up Mermaid' was one of the Bleach London Colours I got for my birthday and I was dying to use it after looking it up!

I saw a girl once at download and she had turquoise hair, it was the prettiest hair I had ever seen and ever since I have been wanting it but been too scared to do it! 

So, when the Bleach London temporary colours were released and they said they were supposed to last 2-10 washes I couldn't have been more excited! 

Now, it's taken me a lot of effort and time to get my hair blonde and in the condition that it's in, so after reading mainly negative reviews on this colour about staining and leaving a green/blue cast on your hair that is near impossible to get rid of, I bottled it a bit I'm not gonna lie, I really did. But my sister was like 'Oh just do it'...so I just did it.

It's weird, I haven't had crazy coloured hair in a long time and this is definitely different for me and when I first did I, I hated it. 

I'll be completely honest in saying my expectations were high, but I was disappointed. It's really pale and wishy washy, completely patchy and I'm a trained hairdresser so I'm pretty aware of how to apply colour correctly. Some of my hair is still blonde, some is blue, some is green :/ (excuse the lack of make up, I was more concerned with my head!)

I noticed it seemed to just slide off my hair as I was applying it and not really taking, but I soldiered on anyway. It said to leave it on for 15 minutes but because I thought it wasn't going to take I left it on for half an hour, I think I should have left it on a lot longer. It didn't damage my hair in any way, smelled pretty pleasant and was quite conditioning. It was really easy to use and you get a fair amount of product and I think it is definitely worth £5 and it's great for a short term/weekend/school holiday change!

 I think I will try other colours (I already have Rose and Blullini waiting to be cracked open!) because I've heard good things and I think that although I was disappointed in this particular one, and I'm not the only one, that maybe it's just this colour and it all depends on your base colour and hair condition at the end of the day so I'm not totally discouraged.

Weird thing is though, I hated it in daylight but at night it looks boss! Really Mermaid-y!

I had to put my flower crown on (obvz) because I think the colour looks so pretty with the colour of the roses!

I'll do an update with the 'Washing Out Liquid' when I try to remove this and le you know how it goes!! 

How do you like the Bleach London Colours??

xx

P.S I still haven't figured out my new Camera so sorry about the phone pics but you get the jist?!

Sunday.....

Hmmm... I still havent really figured my blog out. I don't really know what it about or if it's even about anything in particular at all and my posts are pretty sparse because sometimes...... I just don't know what to write.

So, I think I might start a Sunday summary kind of post so that I can at least write one post a week.

I guess it will probably just be about what I've been up to and that sort of stuff. (they may be picture heavy occasionally with drunk/trashy pics!)

SO yeah, here goes week 1.

This has been a weird week, I've not actually done that much...

 I've kind of been unofficially offered two jobs, so that's good...because I'm skint. But we'll see if anything actually  happens with them.....

Went out last Saturday with my two best friends and it was such a good night! Even if my feet were in agony the next day! Thats what dancing in heels til 6am does to you!!

Then had a little girly night in with Vicky on Friday watching tv which was nice!

Saturday and today were pretty sweet, actually, pretty amazing. But a bit of a mess. Oh, and I just happened to fall down the stairs - infront of someone!!! Embarrassing doesnt even cut it. Oopsyyy.

However, I've just had one of those moments when you say something and as soon as the words leave your lips you want to shove them back in, ARGH!!!!

Well here's some pictures from this week!!

Little bit of Christmas in Liverpool

And a couple from Halloween

So yeah, that's about it! :) 

Competition Entry

So, as I said before (see previous post), here are a few pics from my competition.

I couldn't get very many because, well, because I was busy with her face!....

Introducing my lovely Vee.....

I just went for a romantic woodland windswept kind of look...... I enjoyed doing her make up sooo much! especially her lips!...We even went the pub for a celebratory lunch and she wouldn't take her make up off! What a babe!

Love's Not A Competition......But I'm #Winning...Kinda.

So, as you know from my previous posts, I've been super hectic with college lately doing work and practice in and out of college.

One of my assessments was to take part in a competition. We got told about this months ago and we had to make a mood board to reflect the theme we had gone with for the hair style.

I'll be honest, I was really into this when we first got told about it and figured I had ages to think of something, I mean the second it was mentioned I had an image of roses and pastels and waves and plaits but I couldn't work out what my theme would be if it involved all of that. So I kept putting it off and concentrating on revising for my 9 exams, but it quickly came around and I had no idea what I was going to do, so with a couple of days to go I went and bought a canvas ( a small one) and just stuck things that were on my wardrobe on it, I didn't put much effort in, which isn't like me, I love that kind of stuff, and handed it in. I said my theme was a 'dreamy summer romance/Titania from a Midsummer Nights Dream'.

The day before the competition, in the absolute pouring rain, my feet squelching, I ran to the pound shop because I am low on funds and thought they might have some little bits and bobs.....I came out with mini strip hair extensions, fairy wings, a bunch of plastic roses, some chalk and some paper craft roses. Then I decided to pop into good ol' Primark to see if they had anything because we also had to provide a costume and make up, but I ended up coming out with a floral crown/headband. Got home and  just looked at it all and still had no idea what I was going to do for a style.

Luckily for me, my model was my friend Vicky who has super thick, long, blonde hair, so I knew I'd be able to do something with it!

I sat her in the chair and just looked at her and said "I know how I want your make up....but I still haven't got a clue what I'm gonna do with your head', so I decided to curl her whole head.
This turned out to be a good idea, it looked lovely! Then I decided I wanted some volume so made a quiff and it all looked a little plain but pretty so I did two plaits either side of her head and brought them around and secured them under the quiff. Time seemed t be running away so I wired in a few pink paper roses throughout it and cracked on with her make up.

I wanted a weird kind of mystical look and I knew I wanted her to have blue eyeliner that came right out onto her face and some little gems here and there so she sparkled...she also ended up with blue eyebrows and a row of gems above each one!! Then I was thinking of something to do with her lips to tie in with her eyes...so I coloured them in blue too! but then I glued little gems all over and they looked amazing!!

On went the flower crown and the earthy dress and wings and bunch of roses and the judges came in.

I sat in the corner with my friends from class and looked around knowing I wouldn't win anything, people had lions manes and DIY celery hair extensions and pipecleaners and stuff, but I wasn't really too fussed because I hadn't gone in with a plan or anything.

Then the ridiculous happened.....I came second. I still have no idea how. Really. I even asked why I got picked and my tutor said it was for the simplicity and the detail and I had stuck to my theme and the make up  was great ( which I think is a bit stupid for a hair comp to be fair) and I felt quite bad as we had an option to use the make up students on our models and in the end I was marked up because I had done it myself, and a lot of the class has used the make up students. We weren't told that we'd get extra brownie points for doing it ourselves so I think that was a little unfair. But hey, I came second and I'm beyond happy and amused by that!

I even got a little prize. We use Wella products in college and we got a little Wella goody bag!

This is what it looked like..........

Just a few random products! I could however, sit here and sniff the shampoo forever. I love shampooing peoples hair with Brilliance, it just smells so damn good!! They also threw in a Max Factor Lipfinity Lasting Lip Tint!

Can't wait to use them all!! :)

I'll post some pics of my competition entry too!!

p.s......if anyone would like to donate a new camera...that would be marvellous haha!