Jerome Russell | Bblonde Lightening Spray

As I mentioned in my previous post, I often use lightening sprays and tints on my hair. My hair has been in such good condition and has grown no end since I stopped bleaching it and piling on the hair dye and for the past 3 years or so, I've tried my best to embrace a slightly more natural look when it comes to my hair.  Luckily, I quite like the colour of my natural hair but sometimes, especially through the winter, it can look a little bit lack-lustre. To combat dullness, I often cheat a little bit with lightening sprays and similar products - it gives my hair a little boost without me having to commit to a hair dye or highlighting kit because the results are gradual. For the past few weeks, I've been using Jerome Russell's Bblonde Lightening Spray*.  I've used their hightlighting kits in the past and have always managed to achieve a good result.  I've also always found Jerome Russel to offer me the closest result to salon-applied highlights (provided you use it carefully and correctly) so I had high hopes for this spray. 

As you can see from the guide on the side of the box, this is more for subtle lightening and lifting the hair a couple of shades as opposed to full-on lightening from brown to blonde.  As my hair is mid-dark blonde naturally, I'm able to achieve the desired result quite easily and quickly.  It gradually lifts the hair colour in around 3 applications and provides a permanent lightening solution.  To use, I simply spray on the area I want to lighten after I've washed and towel dried my hair (in my case, I tend to use it at the roots) and then I'll use my hairdryer as usual.  Because the product is heat activated, I concentrate the hairdryer in this area for a while before moving on the drying the rest of my hair.  It contains thermal protector which is a handy little bonus, as it limits the amount of damage from any further heat styling.  I noticed a difference after 2-3 washes and I stopped using the product as soon as I achieved the desired lift after around 6 washes.  I like the fact that this spray seems to work quite quickly and it also seems to limit brassiness.  Whilst I still use a purple shampoo alongside it to combat any yellow tones (if you're lightening your hair this way it's quite difficult to cut it out completely), it does seem to lighten the hair without causing those nasty 'false' looking brassy hints.  

As with most lightening sprays, it can dry out your hair a little. I always like to apply a deep-conditioner whilst I'm using these sorts of products to try and combat the dryness and limit any damage.  I wouldn't say as if it feels as if I have product left in my hair, but I can tell when I've used this as my hair can feel a little bit gritty - if you're going to apply it through the ends of your hair, it's worth being aware of as it might make your hair less manageable for the time your using it.   Aside from this, the end result is a lovely, naturally sun-kissed look - it's not dramatic but that's exactly why I like it.  It lifts the tones I already have in my hair and just brightens it up a notch - which, through the winter months, is exactly what I want.  I would have posted my results, but seeing as I use products like this quite regularly, I don't think you'd get a true idea of how it works.  I often get questions about my hair and what colour I ask for at the hairdressers and the truth is, I don't! I just use a lightening spray whenever I feel as if my colour needs a lift.  If you're thinking of lightening your hair but are scared of it looking too 'bleached', then it's well worth looking in to a lightening spray.  Just make sure you stock up on the deep conditioner and grab a toning shampoo before you start!  You can find the Jerome Russell Bblonde Lightening Spray on the website here, and you can also find it in Boots.  It retails for £5.99*.

Have you ever tried a lightening spray? What did you think?

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?

Foxy Hair | Clip-In Extensions

Foxy Hair Extensions | #18/22 | £84.95* | Link

When I took my first steps into the world of blogging around 3 years ago, I remember hearing about Foxy hair and their range of extensions.  They've always been highly recommended - I've heard lots of good things over the years about the company and I know a couple of girls who've ordered their extensions from Foxy and have been suitably impressed. That's why I jumped at the chance to give them a whirl just recently! I must admit I do love my clip ins. I've never had any bonded extensions as I like the fact that I can have a play around and take them in and out whenever I please - the versatility and the fact they're fairly low maintenance is a massive plus point for me.  Due to having long hair to begin with, I tend to use extensions for volume as opposed to length. Having a set of clip-in pieces works well for me as I can pick and choose how I want my hair to look - I've tried my fair share of them over the past few years! Here's what I thought of my Foxy hair set...

Shade and Colour Range:

The colour I decided to go for is #18/22 - 'Medium Ash Blonde/Golden Blonde Mix.  My hair is always a toughie to match so this is one of the most important things for me when looking for a good hair company - I like a wide range of shades to choose from as 'standard' bleached blonde shades don't work for me. I don't have highlights put through my hair anymore and I tend to let it do it's own thing - so my shade of blonde is a big mix of light brown, warm honey blonde and ashy tones.  I have to be careful I don't go too light, as my hair is much darker underneath and when I'm not careful, it can be easy to give the game away! In the past, I've been known to order two shades - but after a few messages to the Foxy team, I settled on 18/22.  My hair isn't particularly ashy but i often find that extensions can be far too warm for my hair. This mix is perfect as it has a certain honey tone to it, but also has ashy bits running through which give it a nice neutral balance.  It's slightly too light for the bottom lengths of my hair but I never expect a perfect match anymore - and once they're all clipped in, the difference is minimal and hardly noticeable at all. Foxy do a good range of shades including mixed brown/blonde and ombre. You can find their colours here.

Hair Quality, Thickness and Options:

Foxy hair is made from high quality Remy hair - something I always like to look for when choosing extensions as I think it makes such a big difference to the overall appearance, quality and the actual length of time they last for before needing to replace them. The full head set which I have contains 120g of hair - pretty much what you can expect from most standard full-head sets of extensions. Upon opening the pack, I noticed the hair was glossy, smooth and soft to the touch - I've since styled mine and I have to say they've stayed very glossy and smooth.  Admittedly, they aren't the thickest set of extensions I've owned - the ends aren't as 'full' as some of my other extensions but I always trim a small amount off to give more 'body' anyway (little tip for you there if you want to make your extensions appear thicker!). This being said, for a regular full set of extensions, they're much better quality than other packs I've spent money on in the past - I've noticed minimal shedding and the ends still look lovely and smooth - no frazzled bits to be seen! If you're after something with more body then it's worth opting for a quad weft or their 'Delxue Full Head Set' which contains 160g of hair.  Personally, although I do like some of my other sets with thicker wefts, I often find slightly thinner ones like this much more practical as there's less chance of the clips/wefts showing through your own hair and they often look more natural (I don't have thin hair but it's also not the thickest so the less bulk, the better for me!).  It's all about how I feel on a certain day - sometimes, I'll often just wear a couple of pieces (again, my hair is long so I can get away with this) and I find the standard full head set more than enough for me. It all depends what sort of look you're going for - if you're a hair extension novice, a full-head set like Foxy's would be a great place to start.  You can see on the pictures above just how much hair you get - it's pretty impressive to say how bulk-free the wefts are.

The Clips and Pieces:

As with most full-head sets, there are 8 pieces to a pack. I often will just clip in the 3 or 2 clip pieces if I'm in a rush and it gives me more than enough body and volume.  I also find the 1 clip pieces so handy for hiding shorter layers around the front of my hair.  The clips are easy to apply - they're a little bigger than some of the other extensions I've tried but it doesn't really matter. They hold really well and are comfortable to wear.

As you can see, they're slightly lighter than the bottom layers of my hair but they seem to merge in really well and they match the top layers perfectly.  I personally like the fact that some of my lighter brown tones show through and I guess it helps that my hair is virtually the same length anyway. If it were shorter, I'd probably have to order a slightly darker colour for underneath but I didn't think it necessary (i don't like my hair being all one colour!)  They don't give huge amounts of volume, so if that's what you're after you're probably better off with a quad weft or thicker set, but for everyday wear this is the sort of look I like to go for.  I'm really not the type who likes to spend ages gripping in bits of hair of a morning!

Overall, I'd recommend Foxy hair if you want to give hair extensions a try and want to be assured of good quality and a good range of shades.  They don't offer the widest range of length or weft choices but they keep it simple and straight forward - perfect if you're new to extensions and just want to see how you get on with a standard full-head set and don't want to faff around with triple wefted or quad weft pieces along with all the bells and whistles! If it's a lot of volume and thickness you're after, it might be worth looking into the quad wefts or deluxe sets - as this standard set offers more of an 'everyday' look and not a huge amount of volume (in my opinion). If, like me, you sometimes struggle to find shades to match, it's well worth looking at their colour chart and range of mixed shades.  They aren't the cheapest at £84.95* - this was the only thing I was slightly unsure of considering you can find similar sets on the market for slightly cheaper containing more grams of hair. I do think the price point is slightly high but I guess it's competitively priced for the overall quality of hair. You can find the Foxy hair extensions range on their website here.

Have you tried Foxy hair in the past? What were your thoughts?

Current Eyebrow Favourite | HD Brow Kit in 'Bombshell'

Even before I started blogging, I wanted a HD Brows kit. When I saw this kit in a blogsale a good while back for around the £6 mark I practically snapped the fellow blogger's hands off for it.  Sadly, I wasn't handed the naturally amazing eyebrows card in life, and after a serious over-plucking mishap when I was about 13 I think it's fair to say that I'm definitely not blessed with the most defined, full brows in the world. Trust me - without a little bit of colour whipped through them they look quite sparse to say the least.  Being blonde, my eyebrows haven't got a great deal of colour to them as it is, and as eyebrows essentially frame your face, I find that I do need a selection of products in order to give me a helping hand. I like them to look naturally defined and noticeably darker than my hair, but not so much so that I end up rocking a scouse brow.  For a good while now I've been happy using my Sleek Eyebrow Kit which comes with the wax and the powder - but ever since I purchased my HD Brows I've been switching back to pure powders a little more.

I bought my palette in the shade 'Bombshell'. I'd always had my eyes peeled for the brunette version (I believe it's called Foxy?) as I must admit I'm partial to a slightly darker brow, but when I saw this I thought I'd just throw caution to the wind and give it a try whilst I had the chance.  I'm so glad I got the blonde version now - the colours are actually quite pigmented and look dark enough without look false. I won't harp on about the kit too much as I'm sure you can all recall the rave reviews that hit your laptop screens a couple of years ago now when people received these palettes in their Glossyboxes, but I really think it's worth a mention on my blog as it's something I've really been loving recently.  The powders themselves are very soft to the touch and really highly pigmented, making them perfect for definition. You definitely don't get any 'fluffy' smudgy edges with these shadows and it's very easy to get a crisp, even line.  Usually, I don't use the brushes that come with kits and palettes, but I actually really like the little brush in this one - the slanted edged one is particularly useful for getting that perfect shape and defining the arch - and the fact it's so travel friendly means it's great for on the go (you even get a mirror in the lid). I personally find a mixture of the two brown shades works a treat for me, and I use the slightly darker one for the arch of my brow.  I pop on a little bit of Mac's Brow Set in 'Beguided' on afterwards to add that finishing touch and I'm good to go. If I want an even more defined look, I will apply a little bit of wax from my Sleek kit beforehand and apply the powders from this set over the top to set the colour from the wax.

The nude shade doesn't show up on me too well unfortunately - and for that reason it doesn't get a great deal of use but I often pop a little bit under the brow bone for a subtle finishing touch.  What I love about the HD Brows kit is that it's so versatile.  You can use the powders as long wearing eyeshadows also - meaning Carbon is perfect for a smokey eye on a night out.  I've used eyebrow powders in the past and have always been a little bit disappointed with the finish and the wear time, but the HD Brows kit really does last all day and stays in place whilst looking natural and groomed. I'd go as far as to say I couldn't be without it in my makeup drawer now. I really do think it's worth browsing blog sales every now and then - I've certainly grabbed some bargains! If you spot a product you've always wanted to try but never been able to get your hands on or never been able to justify the price tag - then it's a really good way to try something out. I picked up an barely used Nars Multiple the other week and am so glad I found it as I'd never felt entirely sure about parting with £30 for one! I shall be doing a post on blog sales soon - I've found some really good things from my fellow bloggers and it's a really good way to discover things you might not have discovered before.

Have you found any bargains in any blog sales recently? If you have one running currently then let me know - I'm getting quite the bargain hunter! David Dickinson eat your heart out, pal!

Tigi Bed Head | Dumb Blonde Smoothing Stuff

 Tigi Dumb Blonde | Smoothing Stuff £9.99

I think it's fair to say that I am a marketer's dream. Put something in a shiny pink ball and I will buy it regardless of what's in it, but Tigi's Dumb Blonde Smoothing Stuff has to be the most beautifully packaged product I've ever laid my eyes on.. Amazing packaging aside, I've been in the market for a new smoothing serum - my hair has been quite dry due to the cold weather we've had just recently and it's been looking a little bit sorry for itself. I needed something not only to smooth any 'birds nest-y bits' but also something that would add a bit more shine and general all round 'oomph'. Blonde hair sometimes needs a little bit of help in the shine department, and I wanted a product that wasn't going to weigh my hair down - I'm a big fan of huge glamorous hair, so heavy serums and glosses are a big no-no for me.

This has to be my new go-to smoothing product. It's light, it's shimmery, and it does the job without weighing down the hair. It doesn't leave it feeling sticky or overloaded with product, and it settles down any dry frizzy bits effortlessly. It has more of a gel-like texture to it that's really light and cooling and a little goes a long way. It smells good enough to eat - very strawberries and cream. In fact, if any of you remember Calpol when you were little? Because it smells ridiculously similar to that (I swear i used to imagine up headaches and sniffles just so I could have a spoonful of Calpol..) It also doesn't dull the hair, making it the perfect smoothing serum for my fellow blondies - it contains tiny iridescent shimmers in it, which help to combat any brassiness and it generally just leaves my hair feeling smoother, softer to the touch and more manageable.

Have you tried Tigi's Dumb Blonde Range?

 ♥

Halo Hair | The Halo | First Impressions & Information

Halo Hair Extensions in 'Mixed Blonde 18/22' * - www.halohairextensions.com

One of the things I'm really passionate about as a lover of all things beauty, is hair products and styling. Ask anybody who knows me and they will tell you the same thing - I'm obsessed.  I like to take good care of my hair and I like it to look good. I'm sure most of you, like me, will have dabbled in hair extensions in the past, and found them to be absolutely amazing for adding volume and/or length to your hair. I've only ever tried clip-ins, and although I like the fact they're so versatile, the only thing I didn't like was the faff of applying them. So, when I was given the chance to try 'The Halo' concept from the lovely team at Halo Hair Extensions, I was superlyduperly excited to say the least. The thought of hair extensions without clips or glue, or hours of painstaking application intrigued me, and I thought I would give you a little run down of my first impressions and experience so far. 

Colour Matching & Service:
Firstly, I just want to say that the service I have received from Halo Hair has been amazing. From past experience, I'm aware that my hair isn't the easiest colour to match. I'm sure you've all seen my hair colour in previous outfit posts, but it's quite light on top, with a mix of different blondes through the mid-lengths, and a dark mousey brown on the bottom. I sent Halo an email with 3 different photographs of the different tones in my hair, and had a reply within a few hours from John, who suggested 2 colours for me to have a look at. He was really helpful, and assisted me in choosing a shade to best match my rather awkward blonde hair.

My package arrived the next day and I was so impressed with the delivery and way in which the whole parcel was presented. Inside, you get a little envelope containing the instructions for application depending whether you have opted for the clip-ins or 'The Halo', and a little bottle of shampoo and conditioner - which is such a lovely little extra. I did notice that the colour was a little too light for my hair - although I think my barnet is impossible to match exactly anyway due to the mix of shades running through it (in the past i've ended up having to opt for a shade slightly darker or lighter and tinting it to blend in perfectly). I exchanged a few more emails with John regarding the colour, and after removing the hair from it's packaging I've come to realise it actually does blend in fairly well. If anything, it's a little bit too warm for my ashy blonde. I've been reassured that dying the extensions is perfectly fine, so I'm going to attempt to tone the colour of them down slightly next week. Overall - I was just so chuffed with the service. The team at Halo are honestly so helpful. Being the little pest I am, I sent a couple of further emails regarding the colour, but each time I had a reply within a few hours and each time I had my questions answered.

The Hair:
The hair is 100% human remy hair - which means that the weft has all of the hair cuticles intact and running the same way, which prevent any tangles or matting. The longevity of the hair is improved and the appearance is smoother and more natural looking. You get a choice of length (16", 20") depending on how long your natural hair is - I opted for the 20" -  because my hair is fairly long to start with.

The Halo:
So what exactly is 'The Halo?' i hear you ask. Well, it's a weft of hair - similar to what you would get with clip-ins but slightly thicker, attached on a thin piece of transparent wire that you place around your head and adjust accordingly (you can see the adjustment wires in the photographs above). If my description completely baffles you, then Halo have an array of videos on their website that you can view here. I must admit, I found adjusting the Halo a little tough at first - it takes a bit of wiggling to get the wire moving but I managed to get it to fit in the end. Once on your head, the wire is completely invisible - which is the main thing I was unsure of.

I know you all want to see pictures of the Halo in action. Fear not my pretties, my next post will include photos of the hair styled after I've dyed them to match my own hair completely as at the moment I don't think I could show them to their best potential! I also need to curl them to match my usual hairstyle.. But I do hope you've found this post helpful in some way. Please do keep your eyes peeled for my next post - where I shall be giving you a more in-depth review of The Halo after I've dyed them and styled them, and how I'm getting on with application/wear.

In the meantime, if you fancy a nosey at Halo Hair, then head over to their website. 
The Halo retails for £89.99 (16") and £99.99 for the 20".

Have you tried Halo Hair? Do you have any questions for me to answer in my next post? 

 ♥