Review: L'Oreal Preference Brasilia (Dark Brown)

Buongiorno! 

It's been a while, but this time I think I'll be back for good.  I've had a rough year, but at last (touch wood) I am back on track.  I suffer from a chronic illness called Interstitial Cystitis and have only recently been given a diagnosis and effective medication, after a painful 6 years, which has felt like a whole lifetime to be honest.  

I forgot what it was like to live a day without feeling pain...and now the days without pain outnumber the days with.  I feel so happy to have my life back.   I will get round to writing a post on I.C, as I feel it's important everybody should know more about it...but, for now, here is a review of L'Oreal's Brasilia (dark brown) hair colour from their Recital Preference range.  

                   

I was a blonde until the beginning of autumn, but I was lured back over to the dark side a few weeks ago.  The blonde was enjoyable while it lasted, but my heart is brunette.  I only wish I had been certain of this BEFORE (fml) I shelled out a small fortune on my blonde 'do.  

The first dye I used over the blonde was a mid brown, however I have decided to take the plunge by going super-dark.  I eventually chose L'Oreal's Brasilia (3 Dark Brown) as it was on special in Boots for £6, and I remember a friend I had when I was younger used this shade, and it always turned out lovely on her.

The box describes 3 Brasilia as "an intensely dark brown.  Rich and exceptional.  For all brunettes searching for radiant colour.  Works well on all skin tones."

                     

The amount of mixture you get isn't great, my hair is a shoulder length bob, but any longer would require 2 boxes in my opinion (for all of the hair to be well covered to ensure an even colour).  However, the consistency was really creamy so didn't drip all over during application.

The smell of this dye was quite eggy and strong, however this was improved once the little pouch of "High Shine Elixir" (I think it's just their fancy way of saying conditioning oil) was added.  The developing time for this dye was 30 minutes, but I left it on my hair an extra 10 (on purpose, brown dyes fade quicker from hair that has been lightened).   I made sure to wipe my ears and around my hairline to minimise the dye from staining my skin.

Once I washed the dye off, I used a generous blob of the High Shine Conditioner which is included in the box.  This was amazing, and my hair felt instantly smoother, even as I was massaging it onto my head.  A quick rinse, and all that was left was to blow dry my hair, and ta-da!  

The colour I was left with was a deep blue-black colour, which I personally love, but I know this will fade a lot over the next week.  I will probably end up dying my hair black, even though my mother will kill me!  As you can see on the photo above, my hair has been left in marvellous condition too - it hasn't looked so shiny since the last time I was a brunette! 

I highly recommend L'Oreal's Brasilia to anybody wanting to achieve a glossy, vibrant darkest brunette. I will post another picture in a week or so to show you all how much the dye has washed out.  

Have any of you used another colour from the Recital Preference range?

What is your favourite brunette hair dye?

Love, hugs + silky-smooth, ultra-shiny brunette ponytails!

xo

  

Batiste welcome gorgeous new scents for summer

Earlier this week, I was thrilled when Batiste sent me some of their latest products to try out.  

I'm sure you girls are well aware of who Batiste are - but if you're not, they are THE dry shampoo company.  I say this because before Batiste, dry shampoo was relatively unheard of, despite being invented back in the 1970s.  

However, Batiste have helped to revive and popularise (dare I say it? single-handedly) this miraculous, bad hair day saving product.  Apart from rescuing thousands of us from attacks of teenage greasy hair syndrome over the years, it's fair to say almost every haircare company have taken Batiste's lead and have released their own dry shampoo.

The three latest additions to Batiste's ever-expanding wardrobe of scents are fruity and cheeky "Cherry", seductive and elegant "Lace", and sassy and daring "Wild".  I really love how Batiste are evolving, as they seem to be focusing on the design of the tins and choosing fragrances which appeal to girls as individuals, based on their personal style and interests.  

After all, we know the product does exactly what it says on the tin, so the only thing Batiste can do now is experiment with scent and packaging. 

But, which one will you be throwing in your suitcase this summer?  Cherry, Lace or Wild?  Read on to find out.

Cherry

"fruity & cheeky"

Style icons: Katy Perry, Dita Von Teese and Paloma Faith

What "Cherry" smells like...

Despite the name, Cherry doesn't have a particularly cherryish fragrance, which disappointed me a bit. The scent however is not unpleasant, it's light and fruity and is bound to appeal to younger fans of Batiste and those of you who prefer subtle fragrance.  And with a kitsch cherry-print design inspired by vintage glamour and bygone eras, Cherry is bound to be a hit amongst burlesque-y babes and retro lovers.

A few of your favourite things...

Polka dots, red lipstick, pearls, ribbons, pretty dresses, ice-cream sundaes, vintage cars, John Travolta in Grease, half-moon manicures,  lusting after Christian Louboutin heels

Where to buy?

Superdrug, Boots, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Wilkinsons, Savers and Lloyds chemists for £2.99 (200ml)

Lace

"seductive & elegant"

Style icons: Florence Welch, Alexa Chung and Fearne Cotton

What "Lace" smells like...

With a hearty base of white musk, cedarwood and sandalwood, flirty top notes of citrus, nutmeg and pink pepper and a generous dose of floral tones including rose, orchid, iris, jasmine and ylang-ylang, Lace is Batiste's most grown-up and sophisticated scent to date.  Fans of classic scents such as Chanel No.5 and Miss Dior Cherie will fall in love with this; if not for the dreamy fragrance, the design inspired by vintage embroidery and lace is guaranteed to make you swoon.  The scent of Lace is not unpleasant by any means, but may be too heavy and cloying for some.

A few of your favourite things...

Lace dresses, collecting vintage jewellery, leather handbags, drinking tea, romance, visiting museums and art galleries, old-school starlets like Audrey Hepburn and Anna Karina 

Where to buy?

Available in Boots and Superdrug for £2.99 (200ml)

Wild

"sassy & daring"

Style icons: Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Jessie J

What "Wild" smells like...

A seriously sexy blend of cocoa, oriental florals, delicious vanilla, heady musk and wood - Wild is by far my favourite of Batiste's new releases.  Bold and edgy, Wild instantly reminded me of Thierry Mugler's special edition of Angel, magnified with bitter cocoa powder, from his "Le Gout Du Parfum" range.  And with a design inspired by sassy animal print, which has experienced a huge revival in the fashion world, your dresser can look as chic as your wardrobe.

A few of your favourite things...

Your leather jacket, eyeliner, house parties, false eyelashes, sequins, festivals, dancing, animal print, experimenting with new hairstyles, sky-scraper heels

Where to buy?

A Boots exclusive, grab yours now for £2.99 (200ml)

_____

Which new Batiste fragrance will you be buying?

Which Batiste dry-shampoo is your favourite?

What fragrance would you like to see released by Batiste?

Love, peace + dry-shampooed ponytails

xo

Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own.  I have not been paid to advertise products- it is something I do for fun in my spare time, however endeavour to deliver honest reviews.  If you would like to use any of my original photography featured on the blog, feel free, but please link back to me and give credit where due.

review: john frieda 'go blonder' range

Like a little sucker, the day after I got my hair blonde, I was straight down the shops looking for new hair care products to adorn *cough* clutter *cough* my dresser.  I really could open my own branch of Boots from my bedroom as the amount of cosmetics/beauty + hair products I own is insane.  

On a not so glamorous trip to ASDA with Mother Bear, I made a beeline for my favourite isle!    Oh yes, I have a favourite isle.

No not the cake isle!  

THE SMELLIES ISLE!  For all of you who are confused by the word "smellies" I'm not surprised.  It's one of those words either your family uses or doesn't.  Anyway, one offer caught my attention - ASDA currently have a 3 for £10 promotion on luxury haircare.  I normally buy all my cosmetics from Boots; when I compared the prices they also have a 3 for £10 on the same lines.  

The 3 items I chose were the John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder shampoo, and the conditioner from the same range (normal price £5.89 each for a 250ml bottle), and the John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder lightening spray (normal price £6.99 for a 100ml bottle). 

PACKAGING:
Not the prettiest - I absolutely adore ultra-girly packaging by brand such as Soap & Glory, and packaging is obviously the first thing that attracts someone to a product. But it's not the outside what counts, it's what the product does.  The bright white and yellow bottles can be spotted for a mile off, so I suppose that's a good thing.  However, the packaging is nothing special and if the product hadn't been on offer it wouldn't have jumped out at me.

SMELL/CONSISTENCY/VALUE:

I love fragrant products, and this is where the range really disappointed me.  I expected a pretty-smelling shampoo and conditioner, and is the minimum you'd expect from a high end product like this.  It's clean and simple smelling with a hint of menthol, but nothing special.  


The consistency of the shampoo was good, and it lathered well- it's really thick so you don't need a lot (a 50p sized piece is more than enough for long hair), and the conditioner was rich and creamy.  A little really does go a long way; use this product sparingly and it would last you 2 months or more.  Personally, I'm going to use this product a few times a week as a way of brightening up my hair if I'm going on a night out/somewhere special - so hopefully it will last me longer than that!  


The lightening spray is just a liquid you apply to your hair after you've washed it and whilst it's still damp.  I sprayed liberally around my crown and blow dried my hair on a low heat (this product is heat activated so it's probably best to avoid straightening/high heat because you could really dry out your hair).

EFFECTIVENESS:
After one use of the shampoo and conditioner, I really did notice a change in the colour of my newly blonde hair.  No, it wasn't drastic, and if you're looking for a miracle product, this isn't it.  Ultimately, to get bright blonde tresses, highlights are the way to go.  The shampoo and conditioner will simply enhance your blonde and will make it really dazzle. However, my hair certainly did look brighter and a more "clear" blonde, and it really helped to tone down the coppery tones.  The spray on the other hand...WOW.  I read reems of negative, terrifying reviews on the net so was apprehensive.  I have used the spray twice now, and it's helped to lift the darker parts of my hair that will be lightened even further when I go for my second round of highlights.  The darker bits now blend in much better with the blonder parts of my hair.

PROS:

:) Such a bargain when it's on an offer 3 for £10, you'll save around £7 if you take advatange of this!


:) The conditioner left my hair feeling extremely soft and manageable, despite it being processed quite heavily over the past week.


:) The lightening spray (when used CORRECTLY!) is amazing in brightening up existing highlights and blending roots and darker patches.

CONS:

X The price of this stuff when not on promotion is a bit steep, and I can't imagine a lot of students could afford to replenish their supplies on a regular basis.  However, I would be prepared to pay the £6.99 non-promotional price of the lightening spray, as it works absolute wonders.


X After I rinsed the shampoo off, my hair did feel quite dry- however the conditioner worked amazingly well in restoring moisture levels which the shampoo had stripped my hair of.

X There's no denying the huge numbers of mainly negative reviews on the lightening spray.  My hair is slightly damaged from taking it from black to blonde, but that's to be expected, and it's nothing a deep conditioning treatment and a good trim can't sort.  But if your hair is naturally dry, or really damaged/brittle from colouring, I honestly wouldn't recommend you use this.  Personally, the lightening spray made my hair feel a tad dry after use, but after a good old dousing with Argan oil treatment, it's back to being its silky-soft self.  If in doubt, do a patch test before spraying it all over.  DO NOT USE THE LIGHTENING SPRAY DAILY.  Once a week will suffice!

OVERALL VERDICT:

Shampoo 3/5

Conditioner 4/5

Lightening spray 4/5 (if used correctly and sparingly)

*BEWARE*

! Do not use the Lightening Spray on intensely lightened/bleached hair, there's a big risk you'll damage your already over-processed locks (this product comes with a warning on the packaging).  The spray contains hydrogen peroxide AKA bleach!  This stuff can be nasty and extremely damaging.  You have been warned. ! 


Love, hugs + blonde ponytails
xo

blonde ambition

On my last post, I told you all how I have recently dyed my hair blonde.

For anyone who knows me, you'll know that this decision was an extreme one - I have been dabbling with dark dyes since my early teenage years.  I had even forgot what my natural hair colour was, as it has been constantly hidden under endless amounts of raven and blue-black dyes for over a decade now.  So, at the ripe old age of 21 (WAHHHHHHHHHHH!), I decided enough was enough, and before I knew it, last week I found myself sitting in the hairdressers asking for blonde hair.  Me, blonde.  Blonde.  Hmm.

ABOVE:  Before, with my dyed black hair

I think the reasoning behind this drastic change is because I feel like since I first started dying my hair I have changed so much as a person.  The majority of the years I spent with black hair weren't particularly the happiest.  Blonde hair is fun, light and summery.  So...if I can't bring the sun to my hometown of Sunderland (which is, ironically, NEVER sunny), I'll bring the sun to my hair. 

It set me back £65 (a small fortune by any student's standards, luckily I have a small job to fund such crazy moves) for a cut, full head of blonde highlights and a toner.  This was an extremely reasonable price in my opinion - I know many friends who have spent hundreds at salons correcting their dark locks in a bid for a blonde mane.  Dare I even say it?  I think £65 is a bargain.  

ABOVE: Kaedere <3

At the start of the year, I discovered a little salon called Kaedere in Sunderland, and I have a wonderful hairdresser there called Lesley.  She does my sister's colour, and has managed to get it a pure platinum blonde without her hair looking or feeling over-processed or damaged.  I would highly recommend it, you won't be disappointed girls!  After the amazing job Lesley done on my sister's colour, I don't think I would have trusted anyone else to take me to blonde.

ABOVE: Blonde!  (Not the best picture, but it shows how lovely the colour is)

After 3 hours in the hairdressers seat, I was absolutely thrilled with the result.  Looking in the mirror, I felt like a new woman (I'm really not exagerrating).  The end result was a warm dark blonde with slight copper undertones, which is to be expected when your hair is extremely dark, either naturally or artificially.  I have an appointment booked for 20th June for another round of highlighting which will eliminate the darker/coppery patches, and I will have the light honey tresses that I am lusting after, just in time for my amazing summer holiday in Morocco!


I can't wait.  


Stay tuned for several reviews I have lined up - since becoming a blondie I have stocked up on a plethora of colour enhancing hair products.


Love, kisses + (blonde) ponytails


xoxo

review: superdrug "chocolate brownie" dry shampoo

First and foremost, to all of my lovely new followers, welcome and thank you all for reading. I've been blogging barely a week yet, and I'm already becoming seriously addicted!

Last night I found out I had been given the Kreativ Blogger Award by the beautiful Jennifer (check out her blog here- you will not be disappointed!) And so, it is my job now to pass this award onto 10 other bloggers. I will be posting my winners later on so stay tuned to find out if you've been nominated :)

And now I have a little review for all of you lovely ladies (and gentlemen, if there is any at all reading this).

Yesterday, I was doing my usual run around all of my favourite shops for beauty buys, and came across Superdrug's own make dry shampoo. There was an offer at the front of the shop that caught my eye, buy 1 and get 2 free!  And all for the bargain price of £1.99 (usually the cost of one).  Plus the packaging looked cute.

Being a brunette, I chose "Chocolate Brownie", which is chocolate scented..obviously (and brown tinted).  Well, if I'm trying to cut down on chocolate, maybe I could replace eating it with smelling it? Actually, maybe not (I say, making my way through a Christmas selection box which has somehow miraculously survived being eaten by me, until now).  

With dry shampoo being an essential to ANY student's survival/stay clean kit, I just had to try it.  I mean, why get out of bed half an hour early just to wash your hair?  It's hard enough to get a good 8 hours in your bed, without putting boozy nights out, all-nighters to meet your deadlines, 5am bedtimes and general adolescent laziness into the equation.

So, this morning when I got up for work, I didn't wash my hair.  I was praying to god this dry shampoo actually worked, I was relying on it, as greasy lank hair is not a good look. 


And...it worked absolutely brilliantly!

The smell was really sweet, it reminded me a bit of bourbon biscuits.  Plus, the rich brown tint in the dry shampoo stopped me looking like I was greying, which other brands of dry shampoo tend to do, even the tinted brown Batiste.  And most importantly, my hair went from lank to bouncy, yummy smelling and clean looking.  

I would most definately recommend this product to dry shampoo virgins, lovers, and even the haters- because if this product won't convert you then nothing will.  

There is a whole range to choose from, however at the minute, only "Away With The Fairies" Superdrug dry shampoo is available to buy online (click here to have a spy!), but you can find the full selection in your local Superdrug store.

Pros

:)  bargain price of £1.99 versus Batiste's £2.99 (or more)

:)  on offer at the minute for buy 1 get 2 free

:)  great value for money

:)  smells good enough to eat! but please don't, that's just stupid

Cons

:(  honestly can't think of any cons! I love this product <3

Who would I recommend this product to?

Brunette haired girls, who love a quick fix in the morning, or at any other time of the day to freshen up.  I think I'll probably skip washing my hair more often just so I can use this product which smells AMAZING!

Rating

5/5

Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed on this blog are my own.  I have not been paid to advertise products- it is something I do for fun in my spare time, however endeavour to deliver honest reviews.  If you would like to use any of my original photography featured on the blog, feel free, but please link back to me and give credit where due.