Keeping the Brassiness at Bay | Josh Wood Colour Shade Shot

When I clapped my eyes on the Josh Wood Shade Shots at the Boots Beauty Festival I just knew it was meant for me. After taking the plunge and blonding-up my balayage a few months ago I have been plagued with ever-brassy locks. My natural hair colour is medium brown but it does tend to go very auburn and kinda brassy in the sunny months and with the blonde running through I want to avoid the orange tone that so many natural brunettes end up with.

Beach Hair Travel Essentials | CoCo LoCo jeT sET

I have developed a habit of taking just hand luggage with me on trips abroad in recent years, even on trips as long as 7 or 8 days. This is coming from a place of sheer cheapskatedness but if I wasted £60 on hold luggage for every trip I wouldn't be able to go away nearly as often as I do. I am hoping to write a cheap travel guide soon but for now I wanted to share my travel hair essentials for the perfect beachy day look as well as a sleek evening 'do.

Laser Vs IPL Hair Removal | Which is Actually Permanent?

There's always been a question of how effective IPL is compared to Laser hair removal. A lot of people think they're the same thing, but that's far from reality!

After having my third Laser Hair Removal session yesterday, I thought it best to answer some common questions relating to hair removal.

For starters, only IPL is possible at home. You can purchase relatively low cost machines which will remove hair at home using low energy light waves. Laser is much higher power and needs to be done by a professional. They both emit light and both are used to permanently remove hair. That's where the similarities end however.

Dependant on your skin and hair colour, the result you get from either type of removal differs greatly, just as the spectrum of light each machine emits.

The energy from the light causes irreparable damage to the hair follicles it targets, stunts their growth and eventually, after enough applications, permanently stops any hair from growing. The light specifically targets the dark pigments in the hair, so those with darker skin need to be careful. Laser and IPL hair removal may cause damage to skin tissue pigmentation as well. This is also why Laser technicians ask that you don't tan for months before and during your treatment.

Laser

There are tonnes of different Laser Hair Removal machines. All for different skin types and hair colours. Pulse Light Clinic*, where I'm getting my treatment done, have 3 laser machines. The Soprano XL which is pain free and can be used on tanned skin, the Nd:YAG which is a specialist machine for darker and Asian skin, the Alexandrite, which is the strongest laser and gives the fastest results, and finally they can use what they call the Duetto which is a mix of the Alexandrite and NDYag (30%/70%) and is used to treat finer hairs such as blonde, red and light brown and can also be used on the fairest of skin.

As mentioned in my previous posts, the laser works by emitting an extremely concentrated monochromatic (single wavelength) light wave and targeting the hair follicles of the area you wish to be hair free. It is very concentrated light of a single colour and form designed to target the melanin within hair. Once the light penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the hair pigment, the light energy is converted into heat. This then travels down into the root and destroys it beyond repair. These then need targeting at every regeneration in order to ensure they don't grow back.

Between 6 to 8 treatments are needed for light skin and a couple more for darker skin.

Intense Pulse Light (IPL)

IPL devices are usually small and handheld and can be purchased for home use. These emit a wide spectrum of wavelengths of light. Because of this, it is commonly argued that IPL is not as effective as Laser. They are only able to target a few hairs at a time, compared to the wide coverage that Laser offers.

Due to the many wavelengths of light, the body receives a lot of wasted and unneeded wavelengths of energy that can actually cause damage to the skin's structure. It cannot effectively isolate the single wave of light needed to target and destroy the hair, therefore IPL doesn't always work and takes many treatments for hair to be completely removed. There is also a risk of burning and scarring of the skin if not done properly. Due to the higher levels of radiation, the long term effects of IPL remain unknown.

For those with olive skin or lighter skin, both laser and IPL will provide the same or similar results. However, for darker skin colours, IPL will most likely not provide the desired results due to the thickness and dark colour of the hair.

Both Laser and IPL are options for both men and women. The most popular areas for treatment for women are the underarms, bikini area, legs, upper lip and chin. For men, popular areas include back, abs, chest and shoulders, along with the face and neck.

With Laser removal, the treatment is only effective when it targets hair in the anagen phase. This is known as the active growth stage - when it's regenerating below the skin's surface.  Because hair grows at different rates, it is only possible to target a few hairs per treatment. Appointments are then spaced around 4-6 weeks apart.

It is worth noting however, that there is no 100% guarantee that either treatment will permanently remove all hair. They promise up to 90% removal. Only electrolysis can guarantee 100%.  This means that one day you may see regrowth, but the hairs will definitely be thinner and more sparse, but at some point (hopefully when I'm 80!) the hairs will start to grow back.

I'm just looking forward to being hair free and not worrying about getting my armpits out on the tube in this disgustingly hot and sticky weather.

Have you had hair removal treatment? Did it work? How long did it last?

You can bag yourself a package deal: 6 x Laser Hair Removal treatments for bikini and underarms only £300! Contact @pulselightclinic at Tottenham Court Road. Tel: 02072054085 to book in. That's the best deal I've seen! Simply quote "deluxe300" when booking.

Pulse Light Clinic - No Hair, Don't Care! Laser Hair Removal Review*

Don’t you just hate it when you've got dressed up ready for a night out and you leave the house to get in your taxi and you always think you've forgotten something? For some, it’s their ID, for others it’s forgetting to shave your armpits, which is a big no-no if you’re wearing a vest top or strappy dress.

The cringey moment when you’re dancing the night away and get a glimpse of your pit stubble just ruins your entire night. Well, for me, these kinds of slip ups are a thing of the past! Never again will I have the rush of embarrassment on the tube when I don’t get a seat and my stubbly pit is in someone’s face. (This actually has never happened to me, but just the thought of it makes me feel a bit ill...) So last Thursday I underwent laser hair removal. Honestly the best decision I've made and already I'm reaping the benefits!

Pulse Light Clinic, Fenchurch Street

After doing a considerable amount of research on the subject, I decided to go under the laser at Pulse Light Clinic, Fenchurch Street, London, and get those pesky unwanted hairs removed permanently. Unlike getting a tattoo... this is definitely something you can look back on when you’re 50 and still think it was a good idea! I'm much more comfortable with permanently removing something from my body than permanently adding something, even though I do have tattoos!

Before you can begin your laser treatment, which, depending on the area on your body you’re having done, can take multiple visits (for underarms it can take between 4-6); you must go for an initial consultation and skin test. The appointment its self only lasted a few minutes and it’s more to gauge whether your skin will react to the laser or not. Whatever your skin type and skin colour, they are able to select a machine that is best suited to you, to ensure you get the best results in the least amount of treatments as possible

I, for some unknown reason decided to book my appointment with Pulse Light Clinic for the day of the August Tube Strike, so it took me many bus journeys and ended up with me running across London to make the appointment! Upon arrival you must fill out a form detailing whether you've recently had exposure to the sun or are wearing fake tan or have treated yourself to a sun bed or two. Secondly they assess how sensitive your skin is and whether you’re on any medication. Basic questions really!

The skin test itself is simply a session of the laser treatment on a very concentrated area. For me, the technician zapped away 3 hairs in my left armpit. Pain-wise, it didn't hurt at all, it was just a bit weird. Not as painful as waxing by far but more like a small pluck of the hairs.

Blowing ice cold air on the area whilst zapping with a piping hot laser, it’s a rather weird sensation, but after about 5 seconds it was over! Getting to wear cool goggles and having my top off could have easily been the highlight of my week… no joke.

After the patch test was over, I put my top back on and went on my merry way. The next 48 hours were to test whether the skin would react badly or not. Luckily, I had no reaction at all, meaning I could go ahead and book my first proper appointment for the following week.

After the patch test, I didn't really notice any difference as I wasn't too sure where she’d actually zapped me. But now my entire underarms have been done, I'm really starting to see the hairs just fall away and not regrow. The aim is to keep the area shaved. Not shaving before the appointments could land you with a fine, so make sure you shave first!

At my first proper appointment, I was a bit apprehensive as I didn't know what pain to expect for the whole underarm, I could hear people in the rooms saying “ouch”… It’s a bit like waiting for your dentist and you can hear the drill going, working yourself up. But I had nothing to worry about, the staff were super friendly and chatty and make you feel relaxed.

At Pulse Light Clinic, they specialise in many forms of laser and IPL treatment, improving the appearance of veins, rosacea, tattoo removal and hair removal.  They also specialise in the hair removal from those with Asian and darker skin, which means a minimum of 6 treatments for any area due to the hair type and thickness and IPL is not recommended.

Treating both men and women, the staff at PLC are all fully trained and are just as eager for you to be hair free as you are! They have 3 laser machines which can get you smooth; the Soprano XL which is pain free and can be used on tanned skin, the NDYag which is a specialist machine for darker and Asian skin, the Alexandrite, which is the strongest laser and gives the fastest results, and finally they can use what they call the Duetto which is a mix of the Alexandrite and NDYag (30%/70%) and is used to treat finer hairs such as blonde, red and light brown and can also be used on the fairest of skin. I think, by the look of the machine, the Alexandrite was used to treat me, which is great as I’ll start to see results very quickly!

My first proper treatment lasted around 5 minutes and still was almost painless! I could start smelling the scent of burning by the time my second armpit was complete though, but still just felt like a few hairs were being plucked out. The technician noted that the underarm which didn't have the patch test was noticeably hairier than the one that did, meaning even a few zaps in my consultation made a huge difference!

The treatments aren't cheap, but they are affordable and they even offer finance plans to suit your budget. No two treatments cost the same as no two people are the same! They price the treatments according to your skin type, hair thickness and length of appointment, so if you've got super fine sparse hair, you’d be laughing! A typical treatment on the underarms is around £84 per treatment and can be bought in packs of 6 or 8, which if you think about it, isn't really that far off the cost of a few waxing appointments.

Why take endless trips to your local salon and suffer the same pain over and over again as the beautician rips away at your underarms, when you can undergo a small collection of appointments to remove the hairs permanently.

My almost hair-free underarm!

No more stubble rash, no more inflamed underarms where you've had to dry-shave, only to add to the pain by deodorising. Thankfully, this will now be all in the past once my hairs begin falling out just 9 days after first treatment!

Despite being apprehensive in my first appointment, I'm definitely excited to revisit Pulse Light Clinic and keep up the treatments so this deforestation is permanent.

Have you ever tried laser hair removal? What are your thoughts on permanent solutions such as this? Let me know by commenting below :)

My Heart Belongs to Phyto

Phyto is a hair care brand i've become really familiar with over the last year and their ranges are so varied I want to try everything. My favourite shampoo is definitely the Phytojoba Intense Hydration Brilliance Shampoo, it makes my hair feel so clean but soft too and it smells insanely good. Washing my hair has been tricky since my hair disaster which means I have to find the balance between getting my hair clean and not stripping all the moisture out. I don't usually spend €10 on a shampoo but this is the exception to that rule.  The dry hair range, Phytojoba also includes the Intense Hydrating Brilliance Mask which I have been using once a week to try and get my hair looking like hair again.  I have already been through one 30ml bottle of the Phytokeratine repairing thermal protectant spray, it really feels like it's doing my hair good rather than just sitting on top of it like many heat sprays do. When I saw the special blow-dry kit in my new favourite pharmacy I couldn't resist and was very happy to see another bottle of this included.  The set has also given me the opportunity to try the Phytovolume Actif, which is a volumising spray for fine hair. My hair is definitely the opposite of fine, but since having it cut into a long bob, I like have a little extra oomph.  I have a vast array of oils for my hair and the Huile Supreme is a welcome addition, its especially for dry, thick & rebellious hair which sums my hair up nicely. Finally, the Secret de Nuit Intense Hydration Regeneration Cream is a lovely leave in treatment for reviving damaged hair.  Have you tried any Phyto products? For more info this is their UK site.  xo

Haircut Inspiration & dying disasters

.Val. Hilary. Jessica. Lily. Selena. Margot.  

I'm hoping to get my hair cut whilst I'm in the UK, I actually can't even wear it down with confidence anymore because it just looks so bad.  As you may know, a few months back I decided to ruin dye my hair. I only really wanted it a medium/caramel brown but because I had dyed my hair black 7 months before I had really dark hair to lift plus darkish brown long roots. I researched how to do it properly myself at home and epically failed, all the websites that say go to a salon are correct and I had to learn that the hard way.  I console myself with the fact that most professionals would have refused to lift my hair colour as much as I wanted, but really I was a complete fool. My first mistake was trying to bleach my whole head at once, obviously I should have left the 'virgin' roots alone! The results meant that I spent weeks trying to get the colour even to no avail. I ended up with yellow/white straw that would snap off mid-length just when I ran my hands through it. I believe this is called a chemical haircut.  I thought my hair was in bad condition before, but boy, was I wrong! A centimetre of dodgy ends is nothing in comparison to over-bleached hair that feels like strands of elastic when wet. Even after weeks and weeks of deep conditioning treatments it's still difficult to comb it. I had about 3-4 inches off the length last time I was in the UK and I avoided getting layers because that usually means more damage for my hair.  That was another mistake, because due to my hair type, I now have a pyramid head. The top half of my hair literally sticks out horizontally unless I straighten it to death which is only making the damage worse. I know I need to have at least another 15cm off the length which will make it the shortest style i've had in over 10 years. The worst of it is that I had decided to grow my hair super long last year and obviously I just completely self-sabotaged.  I want a mid-length, light style that's easy to maintain and fix every morning. I don't want my hair to be any shorter than my collarbone because I will look like more of a potato than usual! Hopefully I will end up with something similar to the ladies in the pictures above.   xo

Serious Hair Care: Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor

I recently destroyed my hair completely by bleaching it to the grave and was desperately searching for a quick fix online. Unfortunately hair cannot repair itself so all I can do is make it appear half decent whilst I grow it out, which will take years. 

I read about Aphogee hair products on a hair care forum and there was a 2 step treatment that was really raved about. I couldn't find any sites that offered postal options for France so I went for the Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor instead. It smells like sweet coconut which is lovely and summery. 

The instructions say to towel dry hair as much as possible before application and to leave it on no longer than 5 minutes. My hair feels stronger after use which is miraculous and it looks less like old straw when dry. I'm not sure whether it really reconstructs hair but I've been using this 1-2 times a week for a month and my hair seems to be better than when I ruined it with bleach.

I'm definitely going to try and get hold of some of the 2step treatment as I'm keen to see if it will work as well for me as this 2 minute treatment has.

What are your tips for ruined hair?

Xo

UK Hair Care Haul

Last month I hopped on the Eurostar to London to spend some time with my family for a few days and fortunately managed to squeeze in some shopping. One of the things that I have grown to appreciate after living abroad is the abundance of cheap hair care products in England. Staples that I have been using since my teens are often double the price here or even not available at all. I recently saw some Aussie products for nearly 10 euros a piece and they didn't even have 3 minute miracle!

I've been majorly slacking on heat protectant this past year and as a result I had to have 3 inches cut off to deal with some of the damage. I also bleached my hair which has completely ruined it but i'm still in denial about that and i'd rather blame it on my GHDs. I chose the L'Oréal Studio Line Hot & Smooth Hot Straight Spray because I liked the packaging and I've had good experiences before with L'Oréal heat protectant products. This one claims to be 3 day straight  (I don't think they test on my hair type for this though) and up to 230 degrees heat protection which is brilliant. You can find it here for £3.69. I know I keep swearing off dry shampoo but I swear it's hair care crack, once you've incorporated it into your life it becomes impossible to live without it. There are so many varieties available but I went for the Cherry Scented Batiste Dry Shampoo because it smells heavenly. The scent is described as 'fruity and cheeky'  and it was only £2.99 and available here.

This was recommended to me by a hairdresser to deal with the state of my hair after the Bleaching Disaster that seems to have turned my hair to elastic when wet *sob*. I have used Vo5 Hot Oil before but it was in a squeeze tube/ bottle rather than piddley little vials. Even after having a load of my lopped off I still needed 3 of these to cover my hair (and that's not even saturating it). This makes these tubes a bit of a false economy but I didn't have much choice as it's all Boots had in stock. There was no discernible difference after using this oil but I think my hair is too far gone as I really enjoyed using this product in the past. They were quite pricey at £4.29 for 60ml of product and can be bought here. 

I received one of these hair masks in my Christmas stocking and absolutely loved it, it made my hair very soft and manageable and felt really luxurious to use. Fortunately for my purse they were less than £3 a piece and available at good old Primark. The Hask Argan Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment is supposed to strengthen, restore and smooth dry, damaged hair and I have to agree that it does. The Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Deep Conditioner softens & prevents breakage in weak, damaged hair and I felt a real difference in the elasticity of my hair after use.  What hair care products have made it into your shopping basket this month?
Xo

Bumble Bumble Curl Conscious Holding Foam & Reactivating Mist

I quite like the Curl Conscious range from Bumble and Bumble and these nifty little products have only increased my appreciation. It's very rare that I find curly-hair products that a. actually do what they say they do and b. don't make my hair gross. I have never really gotten along with mousse, it often leaves my hair crispy and generally very grim. The Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Holding Foam seems to be an exception to the rule and i'm quite surprised at the results it gave.

Part of the problem with my hair is the thickness and length, when its curly it looks like a bushy pyramid and is revolting. My curls don't always turn out the same either, sometimes I have tiny ringlets, other washes will leave me with looser waves. More often than not I'll get a combination of the two and there is guaranteed to be a halo of frizz either way. 

The foam helped my curls stay curly and regulated the shape a little bit but I don't think I can say i'm a convert to the dark side and give up my GHDs just yet. I really still have to straighten and then re-curl my hair to get it how I like but this mousse is great for holding a springy curl in!

My favourite of the two products has got to be the Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious Reactivating Mist. I use it on styled hair to help retain the curl and spruce them up if the curl is starting to fall out. I have to be careful not to get too carried away spraying this on because it can make a bit of a sticky mess. It helped a little with my frizz problem so this is definitely a product worth keeping on the shelf.

You can find them both here for between £20.50 and £23.50

Xo

Phyto7 Day Cream

I was always led to believe that France had really strict rules about when shops could have Sales but apparently they have a way around it: Just don't mention the word "soldes". My closest department store is BHV which I think is part of the same family as Galeries Lafayette (which, coincidentally, I work very close to). They all had something going on titled 3 days or 6 days and I didn't understand what was going on until I had to pop to a haberdashery department. 

My search for thread did't end well because I tried to pay for it at a till on the wrong floor (humph) but I did manage to spot this little gem. Phyto is a brand I see everywhere and I have only ever heard good things about it so when I realised they had a few products at 50% I thought i'd seize the opportunity to give something a try. I went for the Phyto7 Day Cream which was only about €7.50 instead of the usual €15. I was really intrigued by the idea of a day cream for hair and quite frankly, my hair could do with all the help it can get. 

The Phyto 7 name is in reference to the 7 plants that give it the magical hair treatment abilities. I've only been using the cream for a few weeks and I'm already in love! It does't leave any residue or greasiness behind and it makes my hair look at lot smoother without using silicone and it definitely appeared shinier and more moisturised. I think I may have to try out some more Phyto products to see if they live up to the hype. 

I've found it on Amazon here for cheaper than the pre-discounted price. 

Xo

Bumble Bumble Curl Conscious Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner

I normally am pretty faithful to Aussie shampoo and conditioner but recently I have had a lot of product buildup and they weren't really doing anything for my naturally curly hair. I've wanted to try Bumble Bumble Curl Conscious Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner for a while to see how well they suit my hair.

The shampoo felt like it was really cleansing and was easy to rinse out, which is always a bonus. The conditioner wasn't as rich as I would usually like but it was still very nourishing and if and when I need something more heavy duty, I can always use a hair mask. The shampoo and conditioner aim to form more shapely curls and I <think> its the glycerin that allows it to do that. 

My hair is usually a mass of tight curls, loose waves and frizz all in one. At the moment, i'm in dire need of a haircut so it doesn't really have much shape to it (aside from triangular). As soon as i'd removed the towel from my head I could see that my curls where a lot more uniform which is ideal because I usually have to straighten and re-curl my hair before I am happy with how it looks- this is awful for my hair and I love the fact that I've finally found some products that can help me avoid heat damage and wear my hair in its' natural state. 

There was a bit of residual frizz but I don't think I will ever be able to do anything about that! A quick slick of serum and my hair was good to go.

Neither of the products weighed my hair down, as is often the case with curly hair products and I'm keen to explore more of the Bumble and Bumble Curl Conscious product line.

I would highly recommend this range for any naturally curly girls in need of a smoothing helping-hand. If you'd like to try either of these products the shampoo is £18.50 and the conditioner is available for £20. 

Xo

John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight

I finally bought the John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight spray last month after wanting to try it for years. It kept getting pushed to the bottom of my wish list and when I spotted it for 50% during the sales I went for it. I wish I had bought this sooner because it has meant that I spend less time faffing styling my hair everyday and I haven't had to touch up with straighteners nearly as often. 

There are some definite pros to using this every time I wash my hair, curly-haired girls will know that washing, drying and styling hair (if you wear it straight) can eat up a lot of time, even more if your hair is long and thick like mine. I can usually get away with washing my hair every 3 days but the style never holds that long. I usually wake up with some kinks and maybe a random ringlet somewhere and this spray has really helped. My hair did not stay poker straight for 3 days, no product could ever make it do so- especially because my hair never straightens to be super super straight anyway. 

By day 2 my hair was still straight but had a bit more shape to it around my face, which I quite liked and by day 3 it was ever so slightly wavy. My main problem with this product is how heavy it made my hair feel. I didn't even use the recommended amount on the bottle and my hair felt sticky- almost like I hadn't rinsed the conditioner out properly. I have used this spray about 8 or 9 times now and I keep meaning to take before and after photos and always forget one or the other! After this going on for over a month I've given up and you'll just have to take my word for it ;)

I found it had a similar hold to a light hairspray as well, which was good for keeping the flyaways in check. John Frieda Frizz-Ease 3-Day Straight is supposedly 'semi-permanent' which is laughable because that just means temporary whilst implying its super long lasting. Yes, it does make a difference, but by no means is it miraculous. I like the fact that it contains heat-protectant and it made my hair quite glossy. 

I would recommend this if you're looking to cut down on the amount of time you spend styling and want to make your straight hair last that little bit longer. You can buy it here for £6.99.

Xo

Klorane Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

I swore off dry shampoo back in October after taking a year to finish a can of Batiste but came across so many glowing reviews of the Klorane Extra-gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk that I felt compelled to give it a go. I was googling must have french pharmacy products and this came up over and over again, plus I felt pretty insecure knowing I had no quick-fix remedy for 3rd day hair if I was short of time. The fanfare and hype over this product really started after Gwyneth Paltrow raved about it it on her GOOP blog here and if an A lister swears by it, it must be worth having, right??

As far as I know Klorane is a very popular brand for bébé care products and gentle hair care. Adults tend to buy the shampoo for nostalgic reasons over anything else but the formulation of some of their products look interesting so I may be tempted to try some out in the near future.

I didn't want to go crazy and buy the full sized dry shampoo as it was nearly €10, which seems extortionate when I'm used to paying closer to £3 for Batiste! The 50ml can set me back around €4 and i'm a sucker for travel minis so I didn't really figure out that this wasn't as good value for money until i'd gotten it home (The full sized is 150ml). 

I'm not impressed with this at all, and I'll be sticking with Batiste for any future lazy dry shampooing situations. It is very gentle, and light which meant that it made very little difference to my in-need-of-a-wash hair. If my hair is at the point that I am using a dry-shampoo its because it looks greasy not because i'm in need of any lift or volume (which this didn't give in any case). It didn't leave any residue or colour my hair white which gets it points and smells quite calming but if a product can't fulfil its' basic purpose nothing can redeem it for me. 

What do you think of Klorane Extra-Gentle Dry Shampoo? If you live in the UK and would like to try it for yourself, you can buy the full size here for only £8.96 (Cheaper than Paris!).

Xo 

Hair Care Essentials: TRESemmé

 Every girl has their trusty few hair products that can be relied upon when they are in a hair pickle. For me, these tend to be products that can limit the damage I do to my hair with heat styling or dye.