Chill* Ed Blonde Shampoo & Conditioner | Beat the Brassiness!

I've been a blonde for the majority of my life (aside from the one time I dyed my hair black on a whim and spent the next few months helplessly trying to get it back to a form of decent blonde - a task and a half I'm sure some of you will be aware of and also one of my life's greatest mishaps).  Ever since said dye mishap, I try to stay away from colouring my hair and all I'll do is tint it or use a lightening spray on the roots now and again. Whilst this means that my hair is pretty low maintenance, it also means that pesky yellow tones often show through and make my hair look rather brassy.  I find that ever since I've gone 'natural', the darker blonde seems to hold on to brassiness much easier than it did when my hair was highlighted and bleached. This is why I'm never without a purple shampoo.  It's pretty much a key part of my hair-care routine and I always make sure I have some handy - especially at this time of year as my hair tends to get a little duller.  As well as knocking out brassy tones, I also think a purple shampoo can really brighten and lift your hair colour - it keeps it looking fresh and bright.  Enter the Chill* 'Ed Blonde' Shampoo and Conditioner duo...

Chill* Ed Blonde Shampoo | £9.99* | Link

Containing grape seed oil, proteins and violet pigments, this shampoo is said to knock out bassy tones whilst richly moisturising the hair, and is suitable for use on coloured or natural blonde. Firstly, I was really impressed with the colour of this shampoo. If you've never used a purple shampoo before it's pretty scary to say the least, but the pigment and shade of it is exactly what I look for and as scary as it seems, it successfully takes away the brassiness.  I've tried slightly lighter ones in the past and I've found I've had to use them a few times before noticing any difference, which is all well and good, but sometimes you just want a quick fix! And that's exactly what Chill Ed Blonde gives you.  I noticed a difference straight from the first wash - and it's something I tend to use every now and again whenever I think my hair needs it rather than every time I wash my hair.

It doesn't lather extremely well, (which is something I've noticed with other purple shampoos in the past - i think it's a purple shampoo thing?) so I did have to work the product in quite a bit before I felt like I'd given it a good clean, but it worked well nonetheless (just bare that in mind if you like a good bit of lather!) Also, the smell of the product is lovely.  In my opinion, it has one of those gorgeous 'salon' smells to it which lingers ever so slightly on the hair once you've washed and dried it.  I personally like this - I'm always a happy chappy when my hair smells and looks salon fresh!  As for knocking out yellow tones, it did so straight away from first wash - without leaving my hair with that 'lilac' tone.  If your hair is naturally blonde like mine and you've always thought purple shampoo is for bleached hair - think again! I always use purple shampoos despite my blonde being quite dark and it works a treat!

Chill* Ed Blonde Conditioner | £9.99* | Link

I must admit, despite my love of purple shampoos I've never invested in a matching conditioner.  If my hair ever gets brassy, it's usually in the top sections and I've never really thought I'd benefit from a matching conditioner. However, it is undoubtedly nice to have a set - especially when you like the scent of a shampoo and want to keep it going when it comes to your conditioner.  This one is quite creamy in consistency and I've found it to be really moisturising - which is great if your hair is feeling a bit parched! It 'rebalances moisture in your hair and closes the cuticle to leave it super soft and shiny'.  Again, it contains grape seed oil and violet pigments to continue the treatment through to the ends of your hair and gives that extra little 'kick' in knocking out brassy tones.  I actually really like this conditioner - it's well worth investing in to use as a second-step to the shampoo. It leaves my hair feeling soft, shiny and manageable.

Overall, a fabulous option if you're after a new purple duo to kick out the brassiness in your blonde! I used to struggle to find them but it's great to see different brands popping up offering different versions - this is definitely a great contender.  It's worth mentioning that the packaging is also really lovely - it's girly, easy to use and looks nice on your shower shelf (the metallic finish also pleases me...its so pretty!) You can find the Blonde range by Chill* on the website here along with other products for coloured hair.

Have you tried anything from the Chill* range?

Halo Hair | The Halo Review

 Halo Hair Extensions | 'The Halo' in 'Dark Blonde' (20inch) £99.99* - www.halohairextentions.com

A while back, I had the chance to try some hair extensions from the lovely folks at 'Halo Hair' and was so excited to give their infamous 'halo' concept a whirl. I've tried clip-in extensions in the past and I love how much volume they provide, but hate how much of a 'faff' they can be - The Halo is glue-free, clip-free and sits on the crown of your head without the need for spending ages on application.  If you wish to read my first impressions and learn a little more about the concept then you can read my previous post here.  I thought I would take the chance to answer a few questions I had at the beginning, offer an all round general opinion and hopefully help some of you decide whether or not the Halo is for you. If you want to learn more about application then there are videos and step-by-steps provided on Halo's website here.  

Is application as easy as it looks?
Yes. Although it is best applied on completely tangle free hair (I use my tangle teezer before applying). I also find it is best to style your own hair after you have secured the Halo in place so as to avoid having to pull any curls or waves over the wire.  If you're a fellow curly-barnet fan like me, bare this in mind.  It does take a little getting used to and if I'm honest it took me a good while to get the 'knack' - I find it best to start pulling hair through with a tail comb at the back of my head and working up towards the sides. I also find it easier when I haven't got any hairspray already in my hair - the smoother you own hair is, the better.

Is the wire completely invisible?
It is completely undetectable in your hair and as long as you pull enough hair over towards the crown of your head.  I've just realised I have no close-up photos of the top of my head.. but trust me, it isn't noticeable in the slightest.

Does it feel secure?
This is the bit I was most worried about. When you first place it on the head it feels a little strange. But once you begin pulling hair over it feels completely secure and even if you tip your head backwards there is very little movement. The weight of your own hair will keep the Halo secure and in place, and even in windy conditions it will be just as secure as clip-ins.

Can you dye the extensions and how good is colour match?
This is the bit I struggled with slightly. I have dark blonde hair that has about 4 different tones running through it and I always struggle finding a perfect match if I opt for extensions.  I had to dye mine to get them to match as the Dark Blonde shade was a little too warm for my hair and also a little light for some of the light brown tones I have.  I applied a gentle dye to tone the warmth down, and then highlighted/low lighted sections so that they blended more with the mousy tones I have towards the bottom of my hair.  The quality hasn't been ruined - just make sure you use a good conditioner and that you don't use heat to dry them afterwards! If you're worried then ask a hairdresser to colour match them to your hair - I recommend using a dye that's only a shade lighter or darker.  Halo offer a colour match service so if you send them a photo of your hair colour in natural light they will get back to you with the closest match.  This is what I found most helpful - I had so many questions about colour and they were so helpful and patient with me.

Can you see the extensions in your hair/feel them on your head?
No you can't. Although people with thinner hair might find clip-ins a better option as the weft is quite thick.  I have thick hair and had to backcomb around the sides and at the back so that it was undetectable. The only bit I found a little 'niggly' was the side where I'd adjusted the wire - it can come up slightly and show through a teeny-tiny bit at the side but I often tease my hair so I didn't find it to be too much of a problem - and a little bobby pin underneath the hair will do wonders. As for feeling them on your head, you can - but hardly! No more than clip-ins.. if not less so! The wire doesn't hurt - you can't feel it and they don't feel heavy or itchy.

Can you style it as usual?
As with most extensions - the Halo can be styled with heat just like your own hair.  I try not to spray mine too much with hairspray but they brush through and curl like a dream. 

How about quality?
Halo hair is really soft and looks so sleek and frizz-free (human remi-hair is the best quality hair available as all the cuticles are still in tact and running in the same direction).  Even after dying mine twice and applying a bleach they remained in good condition.  Treat them like they're your own hair and you won't have any problems. I also haven't experienced any shedding, which I've found to be a massive problem with cheaper hair extensions.

What about length?
There are two options in length - 16", 20" and 24" (in certain shades). I opted for 20" inch as I have fairly long hair to begin with. In fact, the Halo is more or less the same length but I liked it because it added so much volume!

Do I prefer the Halo to clip-ins?
The Halo is fabulous for nights out and when I need a lot of volume in my hair. The hair is really thick and luxurious and blends in perfectly whilst adding a lot of 'oomph' to the lengths. I must admit I personally like clip-ins due to the fact I can choose how much to put in and where to place them on my head but on the other hand it's great to have a one-step option. The quality of Halo Hair has been amazing and they look so natural at the same time as being easy to maintain and style. I guess I'm still undecided as to whether or not I prefer the Halo - I think I prefer each one for different things and occasions.  For nights out it looks incredible and achieves volume I very much struggle to get with clip-ins. The only thing I had trouble with was colour match - I think there needs to be a cooler toned dark blonde, as those with 'in-betweeny' shades like me might struggle to find a perfect match between the lightest brown and the darkest blonde if they haven't got a lot of warm tones in their hair. Overall though, I've been impressed. The site is easy to navigate, delivery is speedy and customer service is fabulous.

Have you tried Halo hair? What are your thoughts on the concept?
 ♥