Tuesday 19 November 2013

Viva.....

.... La Juicy.


I got this box set a from Boots a month or maybe 2 ago. It was a chance sighting. I think it was part of the Christmas Star promotion but I was running into Boots to get a pack of tissues and Olbas inhaler and my eye glanced the bright pink box and the price...better than half price.... whoooop.

I didn't have enough pennies on me but vowed to get it the next week before the offer expired. And I did lol. Im a Juicy Couture Charm addict and wait for sales or visit outlets to peek at the charms when I can. I LOVE their bags and the jewellery so this box set really had me at BTHP.


The perfume is one of my faves and my previous bottle is running on fumes so I had been wanting to replace it and it made sooo much sense to get the box...... buyers justification anyone.....
it's sweet but not sickly and fruity but also has very a subtle floral spritz to it that stops the scent being clawring. Its a lovely candy scent which has me giggling.

The lipgloss is a lovely pink colour {LOVE PINK} and as I am into pink lips at the moment was a great find. The texture is creamy and not too gummy or sticky which I love as I hate when lip gloss is sticky. The colour is a lovely shade too bright but not garish and has a pearly look.



The nail varnishes look lovely but I haven't tried them out yet.

Oh the charm!! A cute black and gold stilleto shoe, so cute and petty, I hope it is hard wearing as I have found some of Juicy charms to loose parts and or gems or wear very quickly which is a shame.

I love the make up bag, its quilted metallic yumminess is too pretty. The little JC logo is a nice touch. I used it as a little clutch for a fancy dress party and my phone, lipgloss, mints and such fit in nicely, hubby even had it in his back pocket at one stage, obviously it stuck out the top but the width was a great fit.

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Straight Airdry

Still loving my hair after my magnif combo lol.

Here's the drying part of the combo:

I couldn't wait to use my new hair treats so after I washed my hair I opened the bottles with glee.

Remove excess water with towel, wrap hair with tshirt or pj bottoms.... I love to tie the legs around my head and it stays on better than tshirt ;)

let hair dry to just damp.... hmmmm percentages are odd to me but I'd say about 80% dry. I worked in my familiar 4 sections. Carefully detangle with Mane and Tail detangler - tiny amount as I didn't want to overload as I knew I wanted to try new prods.
Spray a little Chi Keratin Mist(Dubai find). I then poured some Chi Keratin Silk Infusion (tk maxx bargain) but was surprised at the actual product...for some reason I thought it was a cream but it's like a serum... I decided to use it to seal the moisture in instead of an oil as I was going to use oil for the wrapping stage.
I couldn't decide which leave in to use so decided to use a combo with Kanechom Styling Cream and Cantu Shea Butter leave in..... just a tiny bit of both, then sealed with the Chi Keratin Silk Infusion.
After I went through all 4 sections, I combed the two side sections into one, I sprayed a bit of the Chi Mist onto my mini boar brush and brushed my edges, I put a little Holland and Barret Aloe Vera Gel on and brushed into a side pony, I wrapped the ends and placed a band over it.
I did the same to the other side. I tied a scarf at my edges and left the back open

I left my hair to dry completely.

After my hair was dry.... this was the moment I did my first "huhhh???!!" It felt soft but realllly straight, like I had blowdried it. My edges were smmmooothhhhh lol.

I slicked a bit of coconut oil and wrapped my hair securing it with bobby pins as I went - now please understand... my roots were puffy as I am over 3months post relaxer but they had volume not looking like a fluff ball - And the wrapping was not pretty lololol
 I smoothed some oil at the front and around and tied my scarf again, I used the little trick of turning the scarf to the front in the direction I had wrapped my hair.

Thats it... Next morning take wrap down and hair will be smoooth... no lie it was like I had used my GHDs on them and I am not exaggerating.... well maybe a little as like I say my puffy roots were waving at me but yea...

I have been wearing my hair in a sleek high bun all week and up to today my hair lay nice and behaved itself.


I plan to try this airdry method again tomorrow, I'll try to add photos so I have a log.


**Edit 18/11 argggghhh!! I forgot that I used my new paul mitchell supper skinny serum during my air dry.... I cant even remember at which stage I only remembered when I went to grab it this wash day and I cant find it..... anywhere gah!!**

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Hair Wash Recipie


ok so here's my fab-u-lous wash day magnif combo:

preshampoo treat:
place Ojon Restorative Pre Cleansing Treatment on hair and gently work through
mix Dabur Alma Oil, Honey, Maggi coconut milk powder - I used to use coconut milk in liquid form from a tin but I found I had to use more conditioner to make the consistentcy right and I also would end up wasting alot of the milk as I dont always cook with it and that did not feel good ethically or financially. I came across the powder form in a little sachet and jumped on it then when stocking up on groceries in a west indian/indian shop I saw the box!Score!! my wasting guilt is satisfied and the cosistency of the prepoo is great. 
Herbal Escences Hello Hydration Condidtioner in bowl and put on hair smoothing edges and ends.

put on shower cap, leave for 15-20mins (I get on with bathroom duties) then rinse out the huney makes my neck sticky - I forgot to add the baby banana puree this time round I find it gives the mixture some cream to the texture and makes it not so "cloggy"

make tea rinse so it can seep a little(see bellow)

mix deep condish so its nice and ready to apply when needed(see bellow)

shampoo:
place Ojon Restorative Shampoo on hair massage through. Rinse. do the same with Ojon Hydrating Thickening Shampoo, leave for few mins then rinse.

Tea Rinse:
put Thyme tea bag, Sage tea bag, Pepermint tea bag, Roobus Vanilla tea bag, moderate drops of Rose essential oil into measuring jug, pour/add hot water to fill jug. - this is the 2nd time I used the thyme and sage and 1st that I used roobus vanilla. The herb ones I got in Dubai but the roobus I got like weeks ago but kept forgetting to try it on hair and been drinking it instead, its lovely and tastes great without any sweetner. I have been using just pepermint before this.
 Squeeze bags to get more goodness out (gently or they may break) Pour some of the tea mix into a small spray bottle and turn dial to a mist and spray onto hair let it sit for a few mins. Pour the remaining tea over hair and let it fall over whole head.
Pat hair, dont rub.... hair will feel cloggy but dont panic... again
lightly pat with towel to remove excess tea rinse so hair isn't soaking wet.

Deep Conditioner Treat:
mix in equal parts - Kamechon Karite/shea butter conditioner, Organix Macadamia oil Intensive Moisture Mask and a very small amount of Naat Silicon condish mask, a few drops of following oils; coconut, olive, avocado. ugh I cant remember if I added some grapeseed too...- I use different mixes of oils in my deep condish and this can vary each time but I tend not to use coconut with protein condish and didnt add my prized macadamia oil since I was using the organix macadamia mask lol
Oh yes! I added Kamechon Argon conditioner to the mix at the last moment as I have it in big size and the yummy karite one is finishing and I cannot find it again


put some of the mix in your hand and smooth over hair, I do this before I section hair as the tea rinse makes my hair a lttle cloggy and combing it feels all shades of wrong, when I smooth a little condish mix my hair just instantly goes slick and soft.
Take 1/4 Section of hair at front... gently ... smooth condish mix through section and gently detangle, use lightly wrap hair on flexirod - I tried all different ways keep sctions, pins.. clips.. bands... all of them ripped my hair when i removed them... twisting or plaiting also made hair fall and me wail as well as making me have tangles. If I left the hair free it either tangled or the ends just cried, the flexirods allow my ends to be engulfed in condish goodness and sections sing. I still get shed on them but no ripping.... please note I do not curl the hair round nor is it tightly closed, The aim isnt to use it as a roller but as a seperator.
Repeat process with front 1/4 and back. smooth condish on hairline, edges as they sometimes peep out, nape and at each section partings. add Jamaican Black Castor Oil to hairline,edges and nape.
Put on Shower cap - I have used bags if no caps ar in house(no jugdies :p ) put on scarf - I use the satin scarf that has smooth side and soft side that I used to use at night but which always came off.

And thats it lololol, It may look like alot but I have tried many combos and different products to try and see which works for my hair. I'm still young at this healthy hair stuff so will no doubt try many till I get what I want it to be.
I have taken out a few things and added but will post about that in another ramble informing post.

I'll post my airdry teqniques tomoz as its now 3am and I need to force myself to sleep .

**Edited 18/11  - I forgot that I did an ACV rinse with Aspall Cydr Vinegar as the very last step of the wash day recipie**











fab-u-louss wash results - straight airdry

lolol, I am in love with my wash day results!!
I have been meaning to document my wash days as I want to try and get the magnif combo.... whats that you may ask? well its the perfect combo that gets your hair looking gorgeous.
I started off blowdrying and straightening with ghds every time I washed my hair but my hair wasn't healing and it was still shedding alot and breaking. Added to the clip ins and straightening mid week to blend.... I was doing more harm do my damaged barnet.
I have been keeping heat away from my hair while I try to get it back to its lovely self and each and EVERY time I have just had to deal with the rough.... and tough.
The first time my hair looked like a fluffly ball, second time.... it looked like the wad of lint from my condensing clothes dryer.... then I used sponge rollers... now hear me out, I bought them has I wanted to use them to blend my hair into the curly upart I planned to make for my holiday , and they were looking at me saying "rollers can get your hair straight looking, why not use us?" and I was tired and not thinking and I used them.... and of course when I took them out my hair was a fluffy afro..... no kidding a small fluffy fluff bag! I actually had a small hissy panic and went to cowash my hair but son number 1 had taken residence in the bathroom gahhhh so I thought and used my leave in condish spray to wet my hair slightly and then added moisturiser and combed and then oiled.... my afro turned into a springy coily thing and I was happy, I counted my loses and just pinned up my hair.

I just sort of resigned myself to having fluffy hair while I banished heat..... reading inspiring blogs and youtubers I saw that the lovely ladies were getting great results
I tried the bun method, with little gel to edges - better but not straight....
I tried the banding method -  softer but still crinkly


fassst forward to this last wash on Saturday.... I got to the deep condish part of my wash and as had already I decided re plait my eldest sons hair I thought why not wash it too(am I SILLY??) I thought seeing as I had condish mix etc for my own hair I might as well, Ive been telling him to take his hair out for weeks but that's another story. I ended up taking it out too.... anywayyy as I was getting on with the day I decided this was the day to get my hair looking like it was straight, I remembered a "curly girl" got great results wrapping her hair but me and wrapping are not friends and I had watched with awe but kind of dismissed it for me.
I thought why not search for straightening curly hair for ideas.... I mean if full on curls behaved why couldn't my mixed grill of a barnet behave too?
Looking at the search results I noticed the same techniques so I searched for natural hair.... with the same thought that if natural hair fixed up my mop could too. I found terminology stretching natural hair.... hmmm interesting I wanted to stretch my new growth....

I was on full kiddy patrol as the hubster was at a football studio thing for the day and evening so I kinda searched when I wasn't cooking lunch, refereeing squabbles, cuddling, comforting..... cooking dinner...... getting drinks.... you get the picture haaaa

I started to take out sons hair and carried on watching and reading..... we decided that I'd take it out that night and he'd wear it in a bun for church (sun) and I'd plait it in the evening

THEN!!! I came across a blog post that had different pictures and videos on it a couple were what I had found but one.... that ONE la la la lalllllaaaaa (ok calmed down now) showed the lovely lady putting her hair in two buns.... hmm I thought, surely that wont work but then I carried on reading that she had it in two buns to finish drying in the day and then wrapped her hair overnight..... hmmmm I watched the vid and wow!! now by the time I actually found it it was after 2am and my hair was still wet as I had rinsed the deep con out and wrapped it up to dry.
I briefly pondered actually trying it out next week but the silliness in me made me try it then... I have crazy sleep pattern and knew I could let it dry in two buns. so I did but I used a bit of the normal bun method in that I put in my leave ins and added aloe gel to my edges, tied a scarf and let it dry.
When it felt dry I took of the scarf in order to take out buns and wrap my hair and MY DAYS!! my edges felt straight! huhhh?? I could not believe it, I took the buns out and felt my hair..... SOFTNESS!! huhhh??? yup I could not believe that either.... thinking I must be more tired than I thought, I decided to go into the bathroom to wrap in the mirror I stared at my hair... it looked like I had blowdried it!!! from TWO BUNS??!! sooo I added a little coconut oil and wrapped my hair... it wasn't pretty lololol, my regrowth is big and my hair is shorter than my inspo but I just went with it.

I woke up on Sunday LATE!! and head full of cold and throat sore.... ugh last thing I wanted to do was battle with a let down air dry (I don't know why I'm so pessimistic sometimes) after washing and teeth brushing I took of my scarf and bonnet and MY DAYS!! my hair looked like I straightened/flat ironed it.... huhhh??
As I was going to wear upart I put the back in a bun and left leave out, downstairs, I helped son 1 to put his hair back as he had tried but it wasn't neat enough.
Hubster took one look at my hair and asked "did you blowdry your hair??" result!! lol he knows I'm trying not to use heat but thought I must have been so tired that I just blowdried it for easy sake.

Even up to today (tues) he was commenting that it looks like I used my straighteners.... oh I'm sooooo happy with this airdry la lla lllaa laaaaa

I had my own hair up in a pony with the end twisted.... I haven't had my own hair showing for a very long time, since my hair crumbled on me I just felt unconfident with it and have had clipins, then uparts and hair added for buns I actually just put it up and went out... this is a change in the right direction as I have to admit I have started to wonder if I am using false hair as a safety blanket and don't want to get attached so much that I can have my own hair showing.....
Hubster kept looking at it and smiling.. awww.... and saying how different I look with hair off my face, we laughed that before it was odd to see me with hair on my face as I always used to have it in a pony or bun (isn't it funny that I took it for granted when it was longer?) and that it didnt even look like it "needed relaxing" ... awww bless him.

now dont get me wrong, my hair isn't like a relaxed hair straight but it is straight, it has its little quirks but soooo much better than all the other airdry attempts. I know that your hair does get trained so maybe it is listening to my airdry hints. Or maybe the new products I used made my hair behave??!! I'm deffo gonna try it out this wash day and see.

I'll write up wash products in a mo as I want to remember the combo for the next try.

Friday 1 November 2013

Fresh Blog.....

..... Fresh Start!

Having started to blog again, I had a read of my blag and wow!! such memories... some great some not so...
It made for an emotional time reading.
Was thinking about whethter to keep posting on blog, delete blog or all different stuff but I have decided that I will start a new blog and keep the old for memories, after all memories are what mold us.
So I will start from scratch all the lovely people I have met through my blog and online communities you are welcome to jump over with me and those who couldnt give a fig can stop being notified or glancing at new entries lol.

It seems odd starting over but also fun, I have changed sooo much from my very first blog post till now, I have had two more kids for a start.... oh hold on it could be three more! Oh the shame of losing count of kiddies, yep I do a head count before we leave anywhere

 


Sooooo let the blogging begin *cheese alert*