TLC's Stars of 2013: Haircare

I am soooooo late with these Favourites posts!! No joke, I have spent the entire last 10 days buried under university essays and there has been zero time for anything else. There were days where I actually forgot to EAT! Thankfully I've now found a couple of days respite so I'm going to be working hard to get the rest of my 2013 Favourites out as well as a January Sales haul and a few new product reviews. This haircare favourites post is going to be a little brief compared to the previous skincare one. 2013 wasn't the best year for my hair by any means and I didn't seem to stick religiously to any specific products. However, here are a handful that I have really appreciated over the last year...

Wella SP Luxe Oil* - BeautyBay

Obviously, I'm am a fan of hair oils. I've tried a fair few in my time (hello... former hairstylist over here). It is because of all the oils that I've tried in the past that I appreciate this one from Wella all the more. It doesn't rely entirely on Argan Oil, also incorperating Almond and Jojoba oils. This makes is super lightweight and it's the only oil I've ever felt l like I can use freely on dry hair. It absorbs completely and does not weigh my hair down or make it greasy. My favourite thing about it, however, is the smell. OH EM GEE this stuff smells like heaven. Better even than Moroccan Oil!

TIGI Catwalk Session Series Transforming Dry Shampoo - FeelUnique 

I'm not a fan of dry shampoos by any means. I find them chalky and even the best selling drugstore brands haven't made a massive impact on me. I was introduced to this product in the Spring of 2013 and am now on my third can! This stuff is MAGIC. I have very heavy hair and struggle to get texture and volume that lasts any length of time but a spray of this all over after straightening and a bit of ruffling completely transforms my hair. It's not sticky but gives a lovely matte texture. The smell is gorgeous and really clean. I'd recommend this as a texturising product for any hair type. 

Twisted Sista Curl Activator - Beauty@Creightons

I find it so refreshing when a budget beauty product makes it into my 'essentials' category. You can buy Twisted Sista products in Poundland and other discount stores as well as via Creightons (check out their site by the way, they have some real gems). This Curl Activator has become a handbag staple for me as the weather has got colder. Wind and rain are not a friend to my hair but this product rescues me every time. I just scrunch it through and it turns the 'drowned rat' look into naturally tousled and hydrated. Worth every penny and then some! 

I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't love that many hair products last year. This year I am already on a mission to find more perfect products and, of course, I will let you know any special finds I make. 

What were your haircare essentials in 2013?? 

The Perfect Long Hair Blowdry with ghd

 Morning all!

Today i want to switch back over to the world of hairstyling. Much to my delight, my hair has done a LOT of growing over the past 6mths and it's finally got to that length that i can start to consider using a lovely big hair brush again for my blow dry. As a hairstylist myself, I really really rate a good paddle brush for giving amazing control over long hair whilst drying while giving a super smooth, sleek finish. And they don't make em better than ghd....

ghd Paddle Brush*

When i was asked if i would like to review this product i jumped at the opportunity as it has reunited me with an old friend. See, i swore by this very brush for a long time before i foolishly lopped off most of my long, thick barnet (then bitterly regretted it). The design of my previous brush was slightly different, but it was still the same brush. It used to have a ribbed rubber handle which, consequently, got chomped to death by my two ferrets (crazy lil rubber fetishists - i have no idea why they go so mad for it), which meant that i had to say goodbye to it. Now it's BACK, and it's had a new, sleek makeover!!

This brush is just perfect for smoothing, controlling and detangling the hair whilst you dry. It's designed to control large sections of the hair, whilst providing perfect tension for creating smooth, sleek looks. I also use it for wrap-drying (where you dry the hair by wrapping sections around your head for extra control and root volume without having to separate the hair with clips). The padded base is flexible and hugs the head without being harsh on the scalp and the bristles separate and control the hair like a dream. 

I'm in love with the stylish, modern shape of the new version of this brush and it really is a pleasure to use. I'd totally recommend it for anyone with medium to long hair as it saves drying time and gives a fantastic finish! It's a little on the pricier side for a hair brush at £20 but i firmly believe that ghd is a name you can rely on and it's worth parting with that little bit extra for a great quality product that will last a long time (especially now that it's ferret-proof) and deliver consistently good results. I couldn't be without this brush now and will enjoy using it as my hair continues to grow back to it's former glory!

You can buy this brush direct from ghdhair.com for £20. You can also find it on ASOS (Link) and Feel Unique (Link)

What are your must-have long hair tools?? Do you rate ghd for hair styling tools?? What products can't you live without??

Making it BIG with THX

Hello beauty lovers!!

Been a while since i've featured a new styling tool on this blog. I've been pretty dedicated to my Diva Argan Styler and barrel tong for all my heat styling needs for quite a while now, but once in a while we all need to step out of our comfort zone and try something different. When i was contacted by the lovely people at THX (Total Hair Experts) about a brand new range of stylers that had just launched in Tesco before Christmas i knew i didn't just want another tong or iron. I wanted to try THIS....

THX 'Make It Big' Hot Air Styler*

This is a kind of tool that i am totally inexperienced with, even as a hairdresser. I suppose i'd typically achieve a big, bouncy blowdry with a regular hairdryer and a massive round bristled brush, but this little beauty is all that in one! 

Here are the vital statistics....

- Ultra fast warm up

- Ionic Tourmaline Technology (reduces static and calms frizz)

- 800W drying action with 2 heat settings and cold shot

- 50mm ceramic barrel

- RRP £24.94

The end result?? This product aims to deliver fullness and body to the hair with the option to flick out, curl under or, on long hair, you can use it to curl all over. For the purposes of this post i opted for the bouncy, curled under look. 

This tool took a LOT of getting used to for me. I'm used to having the dryer in one hand and my brush in the other whereas, with this, i had both in ONE hand. I must admit i was fingers and thumbs the first time i used it, but i got used to it. I had to experiment a few times with it as i have a LOT of hair. On me, this styler takes a LONG time to dry my hair from wet so, personally, i have learned to wait until my hair is almost dry and then finish it off section by section using this product. On those with finer hair, however, i can imagine that this would be a very fast and convenient way of drying and styling hair in one sitting, rather than having to dry, then style. Total time saver! I'll be interested to try this on my mum as she has very fine hair cut into in a bob (by moi). 

Using the styler, once i got used to it, was quite easy. The only grumbles i have (i'll get those out of the way first) are that if you hold it the wrong way, you catch the barrel release switch and the end falls off mid-drying. The barrel also gets pretty damn hot. The very end of the barrel is heatproof but it's quite easy to want to grab the barrel so i would suggest using one of those heatproof gloves if you're inexperienced. 

I was really pleased with the results from the blowdry above. I find it really hard to capture big hair on camera as it never seems to do it justice, but i hope the photo demonstrates how the product smooths and shapes while it dries (even with my dodgy, growing out layers), eliminating the need for further straightening. I love this for minimising heat impact on the hair. I also love how SHINY my hair was afterwards. The bristles are a lot softer than they look and very kind to the hair. My hair felt bouncy and soft and the shape held well with just a spritz of hairspray. 

For more info and to find out about the other products in the THX range visit www.totalhairexperts.com. Products range in price from £24 up to £59 which, in my opinion, it totally reasonable. As i mentioned before, this brand is being sold exclusively in Tesco stores so be sure to have a nosey next time you're picking up a loaf of bread! 

Have you tried the new THX products yet?? What are your styling saviours?? Do you favour a big, bouncy blowdry?? 

Diva Professional Styling: Argan Gold Styler

Hello there beauty seekers!!

I'm going to be a bit controversial today. Well..... You know GHDs?? The BEST hair straighteners in the biz?? The ones nobody (including me) who has tried them can live without?? Well i've actually found some i PREFER!! Shock, horror!! Don't get me wrong, i still adore my GHDs, but i do not reach for them on a daily basis anymore and, believe it or not, did not bring them to my new flat when i moved. They are in reserve at my parents house so that i have a spare pair there at all times haha. So which ones did i plump for?? It's THESE.....

Diva Professional Styling: Feel The Heat, Argan Gold Styler

I make no secret of my ADORATION for Diva products. I've reviewed several on this blog including the Ultima hairdryer, the Heatwave and their Hot Tong. I first heard about the Feel The Heat, Argan Gold styler at the SoapboxPR press day back in April when i got treated to a demonstration and got to try them for myself. Obviously the idea of Argan Oil infused into ceramic plates is the stuff that dreams are made of, isn't it! Well Diva only went and DID IT! 

For anyone who may be confused as to HOW the Argan Oil is integrated into the plates, i'm informed that it works very similar to a Teflon coating on a saucepan (that's about the simplest way i can describe it to you). You cannot see or feel it on the plates, you just know it's there. As you run the plates through the hair, a slight coating of Argan Oil is deposited onto the hair giving unbelievable shine and an altogether smoother finish to your style (be it poker straight or curled). This also means that you end up using less product on the hair, and it gives great control over frizz and flyaways!

The other thing i love about this styler is that it has variable heat settings. I was never comfortable to straighten my hair extensions with my GHDs as i just found them too HOT! This styler, as with most other Diva tools, has variable heat from 120 up to 220 degrees. I find this a major bonus because if i want to straighten my extensions i only want around 140, whereas my thick, unruly natural mop can easily require 180-200! With this, i can just crank it up or down accordingly!

You may be wondering about the 'Intelligence' of this styler... Well, like the more recent models of GHD, this one knows when you've forgotten about it and will promptly switch itself OFF! In fact it's quicker off the mark than GHDs which can either be a good thing or if, like me, you tend to switch your straighteners on then go off and start something else while they heat up, then it can be a minor annoyance when you go back to them and they're stone cold again haha. I can live with it though, purely for the reassurance that even if i've left the house and not switched them off, then they will happily do it themselves. Saves on that paranoia that we've ALL experienced with heat styling tools! 

Well that turned out to be quite a long-winded post didn't it! I just find that i have a lot to say about this product because i love them so much and it's part of my daily life now! I just felt i owed it to them to do a full review. Up to now i've only mentioned them in favourites and other styling posts. 

This model of the Argan Gold Styler (they also do an 'Elite' version that i would give my left leg for) retails for £79.99 and can be found by searching on Amazon or from Sally's and other professional retailers.

What is your must have styling tool?? Have you been tempted away from your beloved GHDs?? What features do you look for in a good styler?? 

Perfect Ombre with Halo Hair...

Afternoon ladies!

This is such a late post!! In among all the carnage of me moving to London I'd only gotten round to taking half of the photos, and then once i actually GOT here i just never got the excuse or time to style myself up all nice and take the rest! So i'm writing this post with the previous Instagram images i took of the style! The product in the spotlight is, of course, my beloved Halo Hair Halo....

I have posted about the Halo before. However, due to hair colour changes and a little growth spurt, it was just no longer suitable. As my hair has been ombre for quite a while now i opted for the 20" Halo in Dark Blonde (#18). The Halo is made up of 100g of Indian Remy Human Hair. And NOTHING else. 

There is another major difference between this Halo and my previous Halo other than the longer length. And that is that Halo have come out with the FABULOUS idea of making the wire adjustable to fit any wearer like a glove. It works very similar to the way you would adjust a handbag strap. I must admit i am a total clutz and managed to snap off the very end of mine so i have a random piece of wire that i now have to carefully tuck away each time i wear it. 

Above is the mini instructional you get on how to fit the Halo. It really couldn't be simpler and, once you've adjusted it to your perfect size, takes less than a couple of minutes to put in and take out. 

The colour match between my hair and this Halo wasn't exact. As a hairdresser i am well aware of the tonal NIGHTMARES that come with lightening hair. Naturally, as is often the case, my ombre ends were slightly darker and brassier in tone than the Halo which, although warm in tone, was lighter than i had expected it to be. It really wasn't that much of an issue though, and it only took a careful ombre with a medium/dark blonde semi permanent tint to get them blending. Once my hair was curled (in the photos below i used my Diva Hot Tong) it produced a really lovely tonal blend!! 

These photos are merely Instagram snaps as, every time i have done my hair recently (for weddings etc) there has just never been time to take proper photos. The photo above was the Halo as i received it and the one below was after i had darkened it down just a little. Please note that the filter used below may effect how well you can see the different tones.

If you would like to know how to ombre hair extensions i will be doing a post VERY soon on how to do this, as i have just dyed over my own ombre with a golden brown and, therefore, need to darken down the Halo ombre too. I like the idea of ombre that i can put in and take out whenever i like, so will be doing a step by step tutorial-style post on the best way to get this effect with hair extensions. 

I was a little nervous on how hair extensions would work with my ombre. I thought i would have to pay big bucks to get fancy pre-dipped extensions, but luckily i was able to stick to my beloved Halo! I really do love Halo for their service as well as their products. They are super nice and take every opportunity to help. This has always been my experience of them. You can keep up with them on Facebook or keep an eye out for their next Giveaway on Twitter (they have them often). 

You can also get 10% off your own Halo by using code HALOLOVESLISA at the online checkout. Just because i love you all so much!!

New BARGAIN Super Serum!

Hello again beauty seekers!! 

Tonight i wanna talk about hair.... again. Specifically, i would like to tell you about a great little discovery i made lately over a cuppa with the lovely Kate from Soapbox PR. We'd arranged to meet up for a cup of tea and a catch up but i just HAD to rummage through all the lovely Twisted Sista goodies in her office to see if there were any new ones i hadn't sampled.... and i found THIS!!

Twisted Sista 'Different Strokes' Hair Serum

I'd been looking for a new serum as i've drained all my posh hair oils dry and can't afford to buy any more posh hair oils for a while. My ultimate favourite serum of all time is the Paul Mitchell Super Skinny serum but, unfortunately, i can't afford that EITHER (boooooo), but boy am i glad i found this one!! A very lucky coincidence that Kate let me take this home really!

Twisted Sista by Urban Therapy are a brand i have mentioned before on this blog. They are a London based brand but have recently expanded to the US market. They have consistently impressed me because of the AMAZING quality you get for the price of their products (the RRP for this particular serum is £4.99 but I've seen it for less depending on where you buy it). 

Different Strokes contains Argan Oil and Green Tea as well as Vitamin E antioxidants. It is a serum and not an oil product so it does contain silicones (that's what gives that extra shine you always get with serums), but with all the extra yummy ingredients you get in this one and the fact that it is completely free from sulphates, parabens and other such synthetic nasties, i reckon it's a winner!! 

The product itself is on the thicker side for a serum, but a little goes a long way. I tend to apply two pumps rubbed in my hands to my damp hair before i blow dry (or dry naturally) and maybe run a little through my ends if i've straightened my hair. I just find it makes my hair REALLY soft, shiny and easy to comb through. 

The product protects from UV damage and colour fade, even on hair that has been dyed, and the Vitamin E also helps protect your hair from the elements. 

I'm extremely impressed by this product! For a budget product i think it performs fantastically and i am not missing my Moroccan Oil at all at the moment. Of course i will repurchase it as a special treat once i have more cash to play with, but for me this is a perfectly adequate substitute. I'm not saying it's comparable with Moroccan Oil, just that i love the finish it gives just as much. 

Twisted Sista products are sold in Tesco stores and selected Superdrug stores. They have a great range of products for all hair types, straight or curly. This is definitely a product that i could not live without at the moment as, as we all know i've given my hair a bit of a battering lately. 

What are your everyday hair favourites?? Do you have any drugstore hair products you can't live without??

My Summer Essentials Pt2: Haircare and Styling

Evening all!! 

I'm back tonight to bring you the second part of my Summer Essentials series. Yesterday saw my skincare and tanning choices and today it's all about hair! Gonna round it all off tomorrow with my favourite makeup products and summer shades. 

Summer can be a stressful time for your hair and it's so important to protect it and give it that extra bit of TLC when spending time out in the sun, swimming and styling. Humidity is also a major hair issue for a lot of people (remember Monica in Friends) and I'm no exception. Doesn't take much to make me look like something out of Saturday Night Fever!

Since the heat has been on i've been majorly turning to products that contain UV protector and it just so happens that i have a few Twisted Sista products in my cupboard at the moment. All of these products in this post contain UV filters and antioxidants so you know you're going to be protected throughout the washing, drying, styling process. I'm not necessarily trying to push these particular products on you, but these are exactly the TYPE of products you should be shopping for. If you do want to know more about the range than you can find information and stockists HERE!!

Straightening Thermal Protector:

Heat protection spray should be in everyone's beach bag. The name of this product really doesn't mean that it's only to be used for straightening. I spray this all over my hair after washing, even when i'm letting my hair dry naturally (blow drying, for me, is a hot, sweaty and unnecessary process in hot weather). I sometimes even take a heat protector in my bag when i'm on holiday or out in the sun, just for the odd spritz to help it along. 

De-Frizz Shampoo:

This product actually won a Hair Award last year for Best Shampoo and Conditioner Under £5 (all Twisted Sista products are under a fiver). De Frizz products really come into their own in the summer months, and there are many on the market, but i'm liking this one. 

Straightening Blow Dry Cream:

Of course, if you're in a hurry or REALLY desire a poker straight, smooth style, then blow drying with a styling product like this with UV filters built in is a must. I haven't used this product yet but I'm glad i have it on standby for emergencies!! Twisted Sista also do a blow dry cream for curly, permed or afro hair (which my boss has really been enjoying).

Hot Curls Perfector:

If you're not blessed with naturally wavy hair (can be a blessing AND a curse, believe me) and desire a curled look or beachy waves than this is a great product to be using with your hot tongs, rollers or wavers. I give each section a spritz of this before tonging and it just helps combat the heat, enhance shine and protect your curls against dropping as well as the heat.

Ojon Damage Reverse Serum:

Of course, at the end of a day of glaring sunshine, your hair will need as much TLC as your skin. Heat can completely change the structure of your hair, even if you can't see it like you can on your skin. Intensive serums and oils are a great way of putting back in what the heat takes out. There are several ways to use them. One is to actually smother your dry hair with them BEFORE going out in the sun as an intense conditioning treatment (the heat of the sun opens up your hair so the product is absorbed straight into the cortex), then wash it out, or you can use it on your hair wet after washing and leave it in. Silicone based products such as Moroccan Oil are also okay for this, but for a real treat, try to go for a pure Argan oil (or similar). 

OSIS Style Shifters Texturising Spray:

These kinds of products are a must for me. My hair has a natural wave to it and its such a godsend to just be able to let my hair dry naturally then scrunch in some of this to create natural beachy waves. If you're not blessed with natural waves, don't worry, I'm coming to you in a minute. Other products similar to this that i have used in the past are the Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray and the Lee Stafford Sea Salt Spray. All have their merits and are very similar, but just appeal to different budgets. 

Diva Professional Styling Heatwave:

As promised, for you straighter ladies, you can still get gorgeous, beachy, mermaid waves with minimal hassle. Even i use this sometimes after scrunch drying just to tease my waves into shape. Make sure you use a good heat protector (like those mentioned in this post) and use a medium/low heat setting. The titanium plates also enhance shine so your hair will appear more glossy. 

My summer hair - EEEEK no makeup (apart from lip butter hehe). This is having washed my hair and drying naturally, followed by a spritz of OSIS and a quick going over with the Diva Heatwave. SORTED! And i don't have to worry about frizz or kinks.

Diva Professional Styling Feel The Heat Styler:

Can you tell i'm obsessed with Diva products?? Not gonna tell you or show you too much about this product today as i'm planning a full review in the near future, but this is the first EVER styler to have ceramic plates INFUSED with Argan Oil! Perfect for smoothing holiday frizz!!

Straightening can be an absolute NIGHTMARE on holiday and in hot, humid weather. My top tips for summery straight hair would be (at risk of sounding like a stuck record here) a good heat protector at every stage and choose a styler with variable heat settings. Heat stressed and frizzy hair will only be made WORSE by going in with your irons on full whack. If you own GHDs (which is no bad thing, as i also use those wonderful things) you don't have to fork out for another expensive styler as there are several cheaper alternatives available from drugstores with variable heat settings, which may be handy to have just for holidays. If you use hair extensions then i'd advise you should invest in one also, as GHDs really are a bit too hot for use on even human hair extensions.

So i hope you got some handy hints on hairstyling in the sun. If you have any further questions about styling or care then i'd be happy to answer them. Just comment below! See you later in the week for my top makeup and colour picks for summer 2012!!

What are your summer hair issues?? Any must have products i need to try?? 

A Hair-Raising Challenge from Clynol

Afternoon lovelies!!

How gorgeous is this weather?!?! Stark contrast to what we've been getting lately! Hopefully it's a change for the better and will stick with us. Don't fancy having yet ANOTHER Winter this year, do you??  Unfortunately, today, i am stuck indoors chained to my laptop as i have uni assignments to get handed in (left it til last minute, bad Lisa), BUT i wanted to pop this post out there before i get too carried away as i was invited recently by the lovely ladies at ImmediatePR to take part in their hair challenge featuring some hardcore Clynol Products! 

So the product up for scrutiny in this case is the NEW Clynol Grip Hairspray, however i thought this would also be the perfect opportunity to unleash my Clynol Hairshine for a proper testing. 

So the brief was to create a wild, fierce, extreme editorial look worthy of the runway. It's been a little while since i've gotten silly with my styling so i jumped on it. With a little help from my trusty Patrick Cameron Long Hair Kit, the Clynol hairspray and a HELL of a lot of kirby grips I came up with THIS.....

Now, i did fail somewhat, with these photos, to capture the true SIZE of this hairstyle. It was MAHOOSIVE! Unfortunately due to camera flash and the darkness of my current colour it wasn't easy to get photos that did it justice. 

Anyhoo, I'll talk ya through it.... 

This is a look i originally did on a model last year for a hair showcase. I suppose it's your typical Faux-Hawk really but PERFECT for testing the metal of any hairspray out there. Didn't work quite so well on ME, as my full fringe/bangs are used to growing forward and did NOT wanna go back. To give the hairspray it's props, it put up a HELL of a fight and was even semi-successful, but the fringe is still a little wayward in these pictures. 

And there are what i used to create the look. It isn't as time consuming as it may appear BUT it's soooooo much easier to do on other people than it is to do it on yourself. There is a fair amount on sectioning involved and a LOT of backbrushing.

 Here's a little idea of HOW i did it...

- Take the front, top section of your hair (ending just BEFORE the crown) and clip it away. 

- Then secure the two side panels of hair so that you are left with just a long section of hair running down the back of your head from the crown.

- From this section secure smaller sections into ponytails using snag free hair elastics so that you end up with a vertical row of little ponytails going down the back of your head (how many ponytails you end up with will depend on the amount of hair you have)

- Take down the side sections and take them back piece by piece (like you would with a french braid), criss-crossing them in between each ponytail and securing with a grip.

- Smooth the sections back as you go using the Hairspray and a bristled brush like the one shown above. 

- Once all hair at the sides is smoothed back you can begin backbrushing. I find it easier to start from the nape of the neck and work up.

- Apply hairspray throughout the backbrushing process.

- Once all of the sectioned hair and ponytails are MASSIVE you can then take out your front section and carry on backbrushing (directing the section backwards as you go).

- Apply another layer of hairspray to finish. As i mentioned before i also added a layer of Clynol Hairshine.

For anyone more interested in the makeup side of this look here's what i used...

Face: MAC Matchmaster Foundation - Shade 04

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural - Medium Plus

Sleek Contour Kit - Medium

Cheeks: MAC Melba

Eyes: VIVO Pearl Eyeshadow - 09 Goddess

Shades from my HD Brows palette (Vamp)

Brows: Also HD Brows

Lips: MAC Matte Lipstick - Heroine

Bourjois Effect 3D Lipgloss - Beige Elastic (dabbed over the centre)

Same VIVO eyeshadow as before applied over the gloss. 

So that's about as FIERCE as my hair gets!! I'll add in a little photo at the end just to give you all a giggle and show you what you can expect when you REMOVE all the grips and bands. The hairspray itself performed VERY well and wasn't as difficult to brush out. My hair is very heavy and its difficult even to get backcomb to stay in place for long but Clynol Grip put up a good fight. If i'd been allowed to use a model i may have come up with several different styles using the product but, thats not the rules haha. 

RAWWWWR!! Bonnie Tyler eat ya heart out!!

BIG Curls with the Diva Pro Styling Hot Tong and Halo Extensions

Afternoon lovelies!! 

As you all probably know by now i am a MASSIVE fan of Diva Professional Styling tools. So, when i was on the lookout for a jumbo barrel tong, they were my first port of call!! And they haven't let me down. Their 'Hot Tong' is part of their Titanium series and comes in 3 sizes from 25mm up to 38mm so they've pretty much got one for any curl you fancy!!

I'm such a sucker for packaging!!! There are almost TEARS whenever i take a new Diva product out of its box!! Good job they're worth it.

I got this tool a week or so ago and have been patiently waiting for an excuse to use it and i found my inspiration yesterday from Holly Willoughby on the cover of the latest Cosmopolitan. What a great example of BIG, loose Rock-Chick curls!!

So i popped in my Halo hair extensions and got set for an EPIC curling session!!

 So, as is standard for most Diva styling tools, you get variable heat settings ranging from 160-200 degrees (heating up in approx 30seconds making them SUPER quick for any hair type). For use on my hair extensions i always use on the lowest heat, and only after spraying with heat protector. On my normal hair i crank up the heat a little as my hair is THICK and stubborn. 

The tong i have is the medium (32mm) version with the blue handle. The 25mm is red and the 38mm is pink. I went for this size because my hair is pretty medium in length (although its growing FAST lately) so the BIGGEST tong would probably be wasted on me, while the smallest would produce much tighter ringlets than i would like. It comes with a neat built in stand so no need to worry about scorching any surfaces and the clamp is BIG and easy for grasping the hair. 

Other perks include a generous, salon-length, rotating cord and a cool tip so easy reach and no burnt fingers! 

 Here i thought i'd just show you a comparison. I'd sectioned my hair up leaving only the very bottom layers down and curled AWAY from my face using 1 or 2inch sections of hair (smaller sections will give you more defined curls and larger ones will give a more subtle effect). I did brush the curls out after i'd done the whole head but this just shows you the power of the styler. For my shorter top layers it didn't really curl as such, but gave MASSIVE volume and shape. I don't think these pictures actually do justice to just how BIG and bouncy my hair was after i used this tong. 

 I love how these curls are big and bouncy but still soft and natural. Even with my Halo in, I haven't got the length that Holly has in her pic so my hair is much more sparse, but i LOVE this look!! Barrel curls have got to be my ultimate favourite. Much more so than if i use my conical wand. I just love the volume and finish they give!

So if you want thick, MASSIVE, natural curls I'd definitely recommend Diva. Their Hot Tongs are priced at £39.99 making them a very affordable, professional option compared to some brands. They are available to buy from sallyexpress.com 

How do you achieve your dream curls?? What are your favourite styling tools??

OSIS Style Shifters Comp: Hair Saviour of the Day!

Evening lovelies!!

This post is coming to you tonight via the medium of my iPhone as all the photos I wanted were on it plus I'm just out of the cinema from watching Breaking Dawn so I'm on the move! Its only a knackered old 3g so the photos aren't AMAZING but it did the job while i was rushing around to get ready!

This slice of blog tart is dedicated to Schwartzkopf OSIS and their fabulous new product range, Style Shifters. I am aware that this is a competition, although I doubt my entry will win any prizes as my hair is just too boring and in-between lengths at the moment to do anything exciting with. HOWEVER this product did save my bacon today and here's why....

Style Shifters are an ingenious, funky range of texturising sprays. They range from light hold (for long or fine hair), medium hold (medium hair) and strong (short hair). I plumped for the light hold one as I'm forever living in fear of 'crispy' hair and this hasn't let me down.

The product is marketed as a great, simple way to switch your style around eg. Going straight from the office to the bar and I totally agree. Just a quick spritz definitely makes the hair more pliable and easier to work with for quick on-the-go restyles. It's not a shiny product and does not leave a feeling of 'build up' on the hair.

And here's how it came to my rescue....

Here's my hair in a nutshell.... Thick, wavy and it HATES ME! So I really should know better than to sleep on my hair while it's still wet. Trust me, Worzel Gummidge has got NOTHING on me when it comes to wet bed hair. When I woke up this morning my unruly barnet was facing every which way and to truly tame it would require washing it AGAIN and starting from scratch which I didn't have time for. Queue Style Shifters....

Anything was worth a shot at this point as I had only half an hour to haul ass and get to work. I tipped my head upside down, sprayed a good layer of this through my hair and SCRUNCHED my little heart out! And to my surprise and delight it totally paid off!!

All else that was needed was a quick sweep of the straighteners through my fringe (which I am still LOVING by the way) and I skipped off to work looking a MILLION times better than I had done 5mins previous!

As I was going to the cinema tonight and because I'd spent most of my shift today wanting to yank my hair OUT I did repeat the process and added a bit of further shape at the roots with my Diva Heatwave.

Overall I really like this product. If you've got naturally wavy or curly hair and want a quick fix alternative to spending ages with heated styling tools then this is for you!!

I'd better sign off now as I've only got 6% battery left. Good luck to everyone who entered the competition! Don't think you've much to fear from my entry haha.

OSIS products are stocked exclusively in Professional salons and retail for around £8.75 per 75ml spray bottle. You can also pick them up HERE! All entries for this competition can be found on the wall of the OSIS Facebook Page along with video tutorials and info on the range. 

What products are your hair saviours??