New hair with Balayage highlights!

Hey everyone,
For the last few weeks I felt it was really getting about that time that I got some highlights in my hair again. During the summer months I don't tend to highlight my hair at all because luckily my hair naturally gets more sun-kissed over that time. But with the winter month's fast approaching my roots really need fixing! However with so much on recently; moving, trips and work I hadn't had time to fit this in. This week I desperately tried to get an appointment to get my hair done this weekend but most salons were fully booked. Since moving to London I haven't really found my go-to salon, I've more been trying different salons on the search to find my favourite. Struggling to get an appointment my friend was so kind to recommend her hairdresser to me and he was able to fit me in on Friday evening after work, perfect! :)

My friend had found her hairdresser in London, after moving here from Beijing, because he was recommend by her hairdresser in China. She was specifically looking for someone that could give her 'french' highlights like she'd always had done in Beijing. Before my appointment on Friday she told me; don't expect much of the salon, it's nothing flash but she raved about the talents of her hairdresser Cedric.

Credric works from the City, Cuts & Colours salon in Victoria, which is indeed nothing flash but promises experienced top hairstylists without the high price tag. After a consultation with Credric I decided to try comb highlights instead my standard foil ones. Comb highlights, or also known as 'Balayage' is the hottest thing in highlighting right now. Instead of applying foils it's a freehand technique where a stylist 'paints' on highlights giving the client a natural sun-kissed highlight look. I'd read quite a bit about this technique already (with celebs like Jennifer Anniston being a fan) so was definitely keen to give it a go!

This is me while getting my highlights done!

As you can see Credic painted stripes of highlights throughout my entire hair to get a more natural look. I only have colour on my roots because I wanted my roots to match the ends of my hair, which means no need to take the colour all the way through to the ends (as this would only damage your hair!)
After applying the colour, he placed me under the heat for about 10 minutes to let the colour fully develop. Then he washed out the colour and gave me a quick cut (nothing special, because I am still growing out my fringe) and TADA here I am with my finished new hair:

I have to say I love my new hair! It feels so nice to be all blonde again & I think the painted highlights look FANTASTIC! Balayage is also popular because your re-growth should be more forgiving; not providing that harsh re-growth line that foil highlights can give but I suppose time will tell with that :)

Cedric actually has a great website and besides working at the salon in Victoria he also does mobile hairdressing, which means he can do your hair from the comfort of your own home at a great price! 

Check out his website here. I think maybe I have found my to-go-to hairdresser in London? ;) xoxo

How to create a messy bun with Goody spin pins!

A few month's ago I saw this advert on TV for the product 'Goody Spin Pins' and I was instantly intrigued and knew I just HAD to get myself some of these pins. They said 'now available at Boots' so the next day I rushed myself to my local Boots store, but no luck :( Over the next few weeks, every time I was near a Boots store I would go in full with excitement only to be disappointed....I couldn't find them anywhere! Turns out I wasn't the only girl who had been intrigued by this advert because the Goody Spin Pins were pretty much sold out everywhere in the UK. So yes after a few weeks of searching the excitement eventually wore off and I'd pretty much forgot all about them until I actually spotted some in Boots accidentally few months later! There they were the Spin Pins right in front of me for only £4.99.....and so the love affair with these pins began ;)

Now some of you might be thinking, what on earth is she going on about?! Well let me tell you about these brilliant pins. Would you like to create simple messy bun's like this but have always found it too tricky to do?
Well than the Goody Pin Spins are the answers to your prayers!! It's super easy to twist and style with the Simple Styles Spin Pins. They come in a pack of two (available in shades blonde and brunette) and each pin has the equivalent hold of 20 bobby pins!

These are the Blonde ones!

"All you need to do is wrap hair around itself into a top knot, bun or romantic side bun. Then simply twist the Spin Pin through the bun to insert, and untwist to remove. It glides smoothly in and out of hair, without snagging or tangling thanks to the double dipped ends. A compact six-layer coil design with the hold of 20 bobby pins, smaller than a lipstick it fits perfectly into make up bags.

The flexible tension spiral moves smoothly through all hair types. The Spin Pin adjusts in size for optimum hold in fine to super-thick, straight or curly hair to create free-floating suspension."

Here are the instructions provided on the back of the packet!


I am seriously in love with these pins and have been telling all my friends about them. It's such a brilliant concept and it works with thin or thick hair and you'll be amazed how only two pins can hold the bun so tightly all day long! Here is another look I created using the pins....

And to show you how SUPER SIMPLE it is to create this look I have filmed it for you!

Here's my little turorial video :)
UPDATE: If the below video is blocked in your country, here is the link for a version without sound so hopefully you can view that one! Let me know if any problems....

I honestly think these pins are such a FAB invention and would recommend them to any girl that wants to create fun and simple up-dos :) You can purchase them at Boots online here now!

Have you heard of these Spin Pins before? Hope you enjoyed my little video xoxo

Volume Refresher Spray - Beauty Junkie London!

"Hello lovely readers of Dutchess Roz, I’m very happy to be doing a guest post as this is a blog I absolutely love. So hope you enjoy!

First off, please can I just ask that you excuse the angry face… the ‘before’ picture shows that I was clearly very unhappy at how much the volume flops out of my hair over the day... 
Sadly, vanishing volume is something I ‘suffer’ from on daily basis (being a tad over dramatic there…) but I do have fine hair, and whilst I do what I can, I do need an extra helping hand. As the day goes on it does tend to flop. This is why the John Frieda Volume Refresher Spray has become my new savior and earned a place in my handbag.

The reasons I like this over other dry shampoo is that it manages to add volume but without making hair all crispy or dirty feeling – when some other brands do. There is another product I'm going to talk about over on my blog soon does deliver amazing volume but I don't like to use it too often as I don't like the ‘dirty’ feeling.

The final result of a quick spritz around the roots and a ruffle with my hands - hence the messiness. But that's what I'd do to refresh at the end of the work day if I was going out, so it's a fair idea of the difference it would make. It definitely gives my hair a boost, but not to the point where I'll be mistaken for Dolly Parton... which is a good thing for me.

Plus the can is only a little bigger than a small hairspray can, so easily fits in my handbag. Any bigger and it wouldn't be practical.

So there we have it, a speedy review of my currently volume boosting essential!
Thank you for having me as a guest blogger Roz!"

Thank you SO much Jen - Make sure check out Jen's fantastic Blog 'Beauty Junkie London'  now ♥
Jen is one of the bloggers I have been following for yonks; I love her honest reviews and am so lucky that I have got to know her in person since moving to London because she's one of the loveliest bloggers around! Mwah thanks again Jen xoxo

Going Green..

Hi lovelies,
I hope you are all having a fabulous week? I am in a great mood because I finally heard back regarding a job interview in London! They confirmed a time which means I will be going back to London in early October for an interview, its all looking very promising, yippee yah yay!

So today I went green.....(MakeUp wise then haha).
Therefore sharing a quick green ETOD look:

♥ Eyes:
Urban Decay Mildew e/s (all over lid)
MAC Wedge e/s (crease & lower lash line)
Urban Decay Maui Wowie (tear duct)
MAC Dazzlelight e/s (brow bone high light)
MAC Fluidline in blacktrack (upper lash line)
Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara

To finish off today's post; a quick self portrait shot showing off my hairdo.

All I did was twisting the top of my hair (on each side) braiding it and then pinning it back. Like?

Happy Hump Day %

Another bad fringe morning...I have a real love/hate relationship with my fringe (aka bangs; which is what they are called in the US right?)
I think my face shape suits a fringe but then on days when it just doesn't want to style properly I consider growing it out....then once it grows out, I get it cut again...It's a constant cycle, sigh! ;)

So today to fix up my annoying bad fringe day I tried something new. I made two little braids just above my ears on both sides and then guided them across to the other side of my head and secured them with bobby pins. Result = a pretty braided headband. I like it!

My make up today was inspired by a look Natalya did for Valentine's Day. Her makeup is always so beautiful and she does amazing tutorials; so definitely check her out on you tube if you haven't watched her video's before! I didn't have all the shadows she used so I improvised : )

 ♥ Face:

MAC Studio Fix Fluid - NC20
MAC Studio Fix Powder - NC20
MAC MSF Sunny by Nature (Bronzer)
Napoleon Perdis - Colour disk #92 Fuschia (Blush)

♥ Eyes:

UDPP (base)
MAC Dazzlelight (all over lid)

MAC Scene (cut crease and outer V)
MAC Crochet (to blend out scene from crease to brow highlight)

CS 88 Shimmer Palette - Vanilla colour (under brow bone to highlight)

MAC Smolder eyeliner (waterline)
MAC Liquid Liner (black)

♥ Lips:

MAC Plink! Lipstick
MAC Lustreglass lip-gloss - Pinkarat

HAPPY HUMP DAY!

Messy bun with a twist

I had a bit of a bad hair day this morning when I woke up so I decided to wear my hair up. I braided the hair on the sides of my face first ( & secured them with small hair-ties). Then I put the rest of my hair in a messy bun. I tied the braids to the back and wrapped them around the bun and secured them with bobby bins. 

Was quite happy with the end result! I think it's a fun twist to a simple messy bun.

Eyes of the day was using Barry M Dazzle Dust #24 (Old Gold) all over the lid. Such a lovely antique gold/grey colour. Think I need to get myself some more Dazzle Dusts because am loving them!

Am off to bed now for an early night in. Went to my first ever spin class at the gym tonight....and I survived it (just!) LOL :p

Night night!