by Fiona likes to blog | Dec 20, 2019 | BEAUTY
Sponsored post
I don’t normally review beauty products, but since having my hair cut short and bleached ash blonde (read the full story with pics here) I have been in desperate need of a variety of products to keep my hair colour looking fresh.
I was first attracted to the beautiful packaging of these bottles. I can’t bear to put them in the bathroom cabinet and have placed them out on the windowsill for all to see! I was also pleasantly surprised to read the price in Boots; only £5 per bottle. Compared to the John Frieda equivalent (generally priced around £5.99) I find this to be a total bargain! The John Frieda one in my opinion is heavily diluted and can basically be used every day without damaging the hair but also not counteracting brassiness as effectively.
The scent of the Bleach London Shampoo and Conditioner is reminiscent of my favourite Yankee Candle called Midsummer’s Night. I know this candle is a firm favourite with a lot of females who like the smell on men’s aftershave, and for me it was just another reason to buy this wonderful product.
The shampoo
itself is watery in consistency, with a dark purple colour which look almost like ink. It creates a small lather and brightened my hair within one wash. The conditioner
is rich and creamy, and left me hair really soft considering how dry and brittle it has become due to the bleaching process. I have been using the shampoo twice a week and the conditioner at least three times a week. I have had no problems with my hair going lilac as is often the case with these types of shampoos, and am pretty sure the bottles will last me through to the end of the year. Bear in mind I have rather short hair!
I’ve found that since I started bleaching my hair it’s become very dry and brittle, so I’ve been trying really hard give it some extra TLC. I had no idea that my heat styling tools were doing so much damage to my hair until I read this article about how to fix and prevent heat damaged hair! Now I’ve been trying some of the tips like drying it gently and it seems to be in much healthier condition.
Hope you found this helpful. What are your favourite products to use on bleached hair?
Update: Check out my latest hair transformation here!
by Fiona likes to blog | Oct 4, 2017 | ANXIETY, BEAUTY, DEPRESSION
Look let’s not beat around the bush. Christmas is coming. Depending on when your reading this, it may be nearer than you’d like to admit.
As I’m writing this in October, I’m aware that many of you are December Deniers. You’re refusing to accept that the festive season is imminent, soaking up the the thick stench of Autumn and bathing in pumpkin spice lattes with Hocus Pocus playing on repeat in the background. I feel you.
I’m all about that Autumnal life. I live for that sweet season where it’s too warm to wear my Practical Coat but cold enough to buy new scarves, hats and boots. But here’s the thing – Jon Snow was right and Winter is coming.
I’ve written at length before about coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder over the colder months, as well as my general disdain for Christmas in general, but I can’t avoid that December is on the cards.
So what do those of us with anxiety do when something is worrying us? We prepare, goddammit and we prepare WELL. Say what you will about my mental illness but I really know myself, so now is the time for my ultimate self-care protocol to come into full effect.
We all know that January is all about a ‘new you’ (I can smell the bullshit diet books already) but I have a plan. I want to take all the sadness and disappointment that comes in the new year and I want to deal with it now, before it becomes overwhelming.
Dealing with things before they get out of hand is becoming my thing. I just set up a Facebook group called Get Stuff Done with Depression (if you have depression or even just feel unmotivated you should definitely check it out) which is really flourishing.
I realised that I’ve been heading towards this big mental barrier which occurs in December and January so I wanted to get organised. So that’s what we’ve been doing. I’ve created a Get Organised in October challenge which offers a tip every day of the month to help me and my group get on top of things. It includes everything from savings plans, to emails, to clearing out the cupboard under the sink. The best part is, we’re dealing with it before it gets out of hand.
Then I was invited to the Superdrug Christmas event where they showcased some of the new products they’ll be releasing for Christmas, and I just had to share the best ones with you. This is not sponsored, and I honestly hadn’t planned on doing a blog post about the event but I was just SO blown away by what they had on offer that I felt obliged to share it with you.
So here are some of this ways I’ll be taking care of myself in the lead up to Christmas to ensure I have a mentally stable holiday:
Take dem vitamins
I’m proud to say I’ve been following a plant based diet since January this year, but the one thing I’ve noticed is that my hair hasn’t been as healthy as it used to be. Maybe it’s the lack of animal products, or stress (or a combination of both) but it’s been starting to get me down. When I was offered these Hairburst Chewable Vitamins I was so chuffed, cause it’s really exactly what I’ve been looking for. Hopefully by January the breakage will have calmed down and I will be feeling a bit better about my hair.
Famous for nursing even the worst hangover, these Blackcurrant flavoured Vitamin C effervescent tablets are xx flavour and are a great little pick me up for those days when you’re low on energy. I’ll be knocking these back with my hair supplements and my usual daily dose of b12.
Treat those feet
It’s funny how in summer feet are out main priority (sandals don’t get much of an outing in the UK) and when Christmas comes we forget all about them. These treatment socks are doused in moisturiser and promise to keep your tootsies in tip top condition. Perfect for the party season too.
Flu jab
It’s bad enough if you suffer with mental illness over winter but to be struck down with flu as well is a total downer. It’s exhausting and can really have a knock-on affect to your mood if it takes a while to shift. That’s why I opted for the flu jab from Superdrug. Although it’s not guaranteed to stop you getting the flu it does help protect against the strains which are most likely to take hold this winter. I didn’t even know you could get the flu jab in Superdrug stores so check out if your local one offers it here.
Spruce up your make up bag
Now is the perfect time to invest in updating your make up bag before you blow your next pay check on Christmas presents for everyone else. I love the B. range which is exclusive to Superdrige and the Revolution range is always a favourite of mine. Did you know you can get E.L.F make up in Superdrug now too? It’s so reasonable and great for updating your colour range every season.
Time for a holiday?
If possible, schedule a little break away before the Christmas madness starts. I’m lucky enough to be having a week in the sun in October and I think it’s really going to help me through the winter months. Maybe get a long weekend away in a hotel or even stay with a friend to get a change of scenery. A walk along the beach even on a cold day does a lot for my mental well being so I’m really looking forward to soaking up some rays this month.
Are you prioritising your self-care routine this Winter?
by Fiona likes to blog | Sep 16, 2016 | BEAUTY
Moving to a new city comes with so much excitement. There are new restaurants and bars to visit, sites to see, friends to make and hidden gems to seek out. But finding a new hairdresser? Nah mate. I’m not up for it. I don’t need to tell you that the relationship between a woman and her hairdresser is a sacred one. They have the power to make you feel revived, rejuvenated and ready to take on the world. The best hairdressers will listen, give you advice and tell you what you need to hear – all part of the free therapy session that comes with the best haircut.
So, with that in mind I did my research to try and find a good quality salon in my new local area. Living in Birmingham means I have endless options. With so many to choose from it seemed wrong to simply choose the one that was most convenient for me (close to where I work) but true to form, I went with the lazy option and did it anyway. James Bushell has two salons and the branch I visited is located just outside of the city centre, on Calthorpe Road. It has a huge glass front meaning if you have anxiety like me, you can walk past awkwardly several times and look at the layout before you pluck up the courage to actually walk in.
I knew I was onto a winner as soon as I made my appointment, because within minutes I was in the chair with Advanced Colour Technician Allan who gave me a free consultation to discuss my colour. Planning to go from blonde to red, I knew I might be met with some hesitation as I know it can be hard to get the colour to stick to bleached hair. However he explained to me that dying it orange first would solve this problem and then he spent time helping me pick the exact shade of red I wanted. I’m no colour expert, so having someone suggest which colour might look best along with using celebrity examples for reference was super helpful and put me at ease with my final decision. He quickly did a patch test and I booked my appointment for the following week.
As soon as I sat in the chair I was offered a cup of tea, and Allan went through the colour chart again to make 100% sure I was happy with my choice. This was great because after a week I honestly had forgotten which one I’d picked. He warned me that the first shade of orange would be close to neon (it truly was magnificent) but not to worry, it would be dyed over with the right colour straight after. Everything he said was true, and the final colour was exactly what I’d asked for – a warm copper that looked like it was my natural hair. Even if my colour had turned out a disaster, having my hair washed whilst sitting in a vibrating massage chair would have been worth the hassle. No joke.
I opted for a simple trim and my stylist Kim was happy to oblige. She could tell my hair was thick and heavy and took little off the length but loads of weight out of the ends – just what the doctor ordered. Whilst she got to cutting my new ginger mop I took in the atmosphere in the salon.
Juniors were busy cleaning, sweeping up and helping stylists with odd jobs. Every client was tended to with either a cuppa, a glass of wine or some much-needed relationship advice. An elderly lady with dementia was having her colour done and I heard the staff dealing with her needs with with decorum of a family member. Another lady was feeling faint and two stylists sat with her on the front step until she was ready to come back in.
The place was buzzing with activity, but I still felt like I was taken care of intently from start to finish. No customer was ignored, but in the same breath no staff member seemed stressed or spread too thin. After my cut my final colour was reviewed by Allan; another personal touch that really made me feel valued as a client.
The prices are really reasonable considering the standard of service that you’re guaranteed to receive. I can’t recommend these guys highly enough and can’t wait to go back for my next visit. Now for the important bit – before and after shots:
Have you ever been to James Bushell ?
by Fiona likes to blog | Jan 16, 2014 | BEAUTY
After the popularity of my Bleach London Shampoo post I thought it might be worthwhile reviewing another silver shampoo which I have been reaching for regularly. This Fudge Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo was recommended by a friend and also by the lovely Kate at gh0stparties who both have luscious ash blonde hair, so I just had to give it a go.
I searched online and managed to get this 300ml tube for under £10 on Ebay, conveniently delivered to my door without having to visit a salon or department store. After feeling quite pleased with my Bleach London Shampoo I wasn’t expecting this one to be any better or different. However, I was amazed at the results I got from this product after the very first wash.
The shampoo itself is dark purple (hide your white goods!), and on application creates a lovely lather which you don’t always get with toning products. I used my usual conditioner, but when I came to style my hair it was noticeably softer and I can only put that down to the Fudge shampoo. Hydration is fantastic, but the real point here is to dull down brassy tones ain’t it? Well I can tell you that I have been using this every other day for 5 weeks and my hair is probably more ashy now than the day I came out of the salon!
My colour feels refreshed after every wash, looks brighter and cleaner as well and soft and shiny. Can a bleach blonde lady ask for anything more?
If you enjoyed this post please take a moment to vote for my blog in the UK Bloggers Awards 2014 by following the link below.
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by Fiona likes to blog | Nov 8, 2013 | BEAUTY
This was taken in summer 2012. It took me approximately 4 years to get my hair to this length after having is shoulder length for a few years as well as growing out a fringe. I had it like this for a year or so before I started to think maybe I should go short. This is my natural colour too. A little hint of ginger!
The photo above was taken in December 2012. After seeing these pictures I was adamant I was getting my hair cut short because it looked to limp and lifeless. My hair very thick, poker straight and supersoft. I dreamt of luscious, voluminous waves that I simple couldn’t create.
This picture above was when I went for the chop. I went for shoulder length but with long side shorter than the other. I would strongly recommend this style for anyone who is scared they will miss the length. It gives you a definite edgy ‘style’ without losing the feminine comfort of having hair falling round your face.
I finally went for the ‘big’ chop in summer 2013. I had absolutely no regrets and loved it from the second I saw it. I stuck to the asymmetric style which left me with a nice chunk of hair framing my face. This was me before a night out, although day to day I ended up tucking the longer section behind my ear.
A couple of weeks later I decided to go for the look I’d been dreaming of since 2012 and get the long side of my hair cut short. I think the hairdresser was worried but I was really happy with it. It definitely gives me more of a tomboy look, so I have had to reign in the old Primark men’s section shopping sprees (not joking). In this picture I had just bleached it at home. Not a good idea. I live with it like this for about 2 weeks before getting it done professionally.
I quickly got my hair bleached professionally and I was really happy with how it looked after that. Keeping it cool-toned was essential for me to I was always using my favourite toning products by Bleach London and Fudge. At this point I was a little sad to have cut off my long hair, but really only for a moment or two. But what’s done is done, hair will always grow back.
A few weeks after that I was totally sick of long section at the front and went and got all that chopped off too! I was starting to realise that having short hair would be higher maintenance that I first thought, because you need your hair cut more often to keep it in the desired style. With this in mind I told the hairdresser to go as short as she could to give me more time until my next appointment. She got the electric razor out and shaped the hairline round my neck beautifully. I couldn’t believe I’d gone from having mountains of hair to having it shaved at the back in no time at all!
If you are thinking about cutting your hair short I would recommend taking some time to think it over. Like I did, try an in-between style with one side shorter than the other to ease you into the lifestyle of a lady with shorter hair! Be prepared to wash and style your hair everyday, it doesn’t necessarily take more time to style longer hair.
Consider if it will suit your face shape. I have lost a lot of weight in the past 4 years and wouldn’t have felt confident with this haircut when I was heavier. Luckily I have quite small features and a pointy jawline which lend themselves to a shorter haircut.Try looking at photos and see what face shapes look good with the style you want. Ask your friends honest opinion, even your hairdresser too.
What do you think of my decision to get rid of my long hair?
