Argan/Moroccan Oil aka Liquid Gold for your hair!

One of the biggest hypes in 2011 in the hair-care world seemed to be Moroccan & Argan Oil. The hype was kicked off by the brand moroccanoil, who did some brilliant marketing that led to a frenzy sell out of their products and got many salons and beauty professionals raving about this miracle-working ingredient. After the initial hype calmed down a little I noticed that other hair care brands and salons also started incorporating this oil; often dubbed ‘liquid gold’ for your hair into their products.

What is it?
Basically Moroccan Oil hair styling products contain Argan oil which has been a beauty secret for hundreds of years. The oil is extracted from kernels of Argan fruit that comes from, you guessed it, the Argan tree that grow in the desert of South West Morocco

Some of the stated benefits of Argan/Moroccan oil for hair are:
♥ Hydrates the hair naturally
♥ Penetrates into the hair pores or shafts and enhances the elasticity of hair
♥ Very nourishing for the growth of hair
♥ Adds shine, gives hair a silky soft feel making it more manageable
♥ Fights the frizz, lightweight, absorbs instantly, no oily feel
♥ Contains vitamin E which is a fabulous agent for hair treatment, protecing your hair from flat irons & other heat-styling tools.
♥ Cures the brittle hair and increases the life of color treated hair.
♥ With rich content of unsaturated fatty acids like Omega 3, it will strengthen the protein bonding structures in hair thereby improving strength of hair and healing the split ends of hair.
 
After hearing so many positive feedback about the results of using Moroccan/Argan oil I was definitely keen to give it a go but just hadn’t gotten round to it yet! Then Gielly Green, a chic London boutique salon, produced Argan Rescue and asked me if I wanted to give this product a try…now how could I say no to that? ;)

Argan Rescue is just one of the hair care products they have launched as part of their ‘Boutique Collection’, a range based on the world’s finest natural substances. This is an intense oil that, although is predominantly Argan, combined with Neem oil (great for brittleness and dandruff) and Sea Buckthorn (protects hair from sun rays and promotes tissue regeneration) becomes even more impressive. It effectively smoothes out frizz, revives dull hair and leaves a noticeable non greasy shine.

After I have washed and towel dried my hair, I apply a small drop of the oil to my hand, rub my hands together to spread and slightly warm the product and smooth it throughout my hair. Then just brush it though and style as usual.

I have been using Argan Rescue for almost two month now and I am completely hooked on the stuff!!

Why? Simple:
1) it smells A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Very fresh, actually it smells a bit like cucumbers. And yum I love cuc's ;)
2) even though I was concerned about putting an oil in my hair for the fear of it looking greasy, the Argan rescue oil absorbs instantly and gives my hair a lovely natural shine without turning my hair into a greasy mess! and 3) it manages to transforms my dull, boring hair into lusciously soft locks whilst protecting and conditioning it at the same time! So what's not to love! :)

Gielly Green - Moroccan Argan Oil Rescue is available online here for £19.50
Have you tried any of the Moroccon or Argan oil products yet? xoxo

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

You spin me right round, baby, right round!

Don’t us girls always want, what we don’t have? Well, being a naturally straight haired girl, I am always on a mission to find great products that give me that perfect sexy wavy beach hair look that I adore so much! I usually curl my hair with my GHD’s (my straightening iron of choice!) and I have to say I have become pretty quick and good at creating curls this way but I still find the curls a little too ‘perfect’. Sometimes I just crave to have perfectly messy boho hair; like the Olsen twins!

You see what I mean??? ;) Love it ♥

So when over a year ago I kept reading reviews about this blow-dryer that could dry your hair and create a curls at the same time I was intrigued. What were they talking about? Well it’s the Remington Spin Curl Dryer. I read raving reviews and loved the results people were showing in pictures so from then on I was dying to get my little paws on one! But I was out of luck, I couldn’t get it anywhere in NZ or online! Then time passed, and I had kind of forgotten about this product until I stumbled across it at Sainsbury’s (my local supermarket) just before Christmas offered at ½ price! The normal price is £39.99 and I got it for £19.99! Because I needed a UK plugged dryer anyway this was ideal because the Remington Spin Curl is basically a normal blow dryer that comes with a wind tunnel attachment.

Instructions on how to use the Remington Spin Curl Dryer:
♥ Wash your hair the normal way and detangle it, so it’s nice and smooth
♥ Apply some curl enhancing mousse/spray to help create better and longer lasting curls. (I normally use my Aveda's Phomollient Styling Foam) 
♥ Use the nozzle and blow dry your roots & fringe first!
♥ Then attach the spin curl (wind tunnel) attachment..
♥ Section your hair, starting at the bottom and feed small sections of your hair into the cylinder (one at a time) and turn the dryer on its most powerful setting and highest speed. You can use small or chunkier sections, depending on how ‘tight’ you want the curls to be.
♥ Let each section of hair get twirled around for about 20 seconds while you slowly move the dryer up and down.
♥ Don’t be scared (I was initially too) but there’s nothing that your hair can get stuck in. It’s just a tube and the air will spin your hair and twist the sections so they come out looking like dreadlocks!
♥ Continue doing all your hair until you pretty much look like a rastafari! See below :)

Now all you have to do is just let the dreadlocks cool down. When cool gently separate them (with your hands) to create that soft natural wave! So this is me with my Olsen Twin hair!

Makeup I am wearing in these photos is: Bourjois Little Round Pots in #90 (white) #93 (gold) & #74 (dark brown). Blush is Well Dressed by MAC and on my lips is Sephora Super Shimmer Lipgloss in "Apricot Soufflé

So what do you think of my wavy hair?? I LOVE it! With my hair like this I feel so different and almost a bit like Shakira, haha! Definitely would recommend this product if you are after boho beachy hair – it's super easy to use and creates long lasting wavy hair. xoxo

Day of Pampering with Aussie & Herbal Essences

On the weekend I was invited for a lovely day of pampering at the luxurious Soho Hotel in London! I'd been at this hotel before for an event and love it's fabulous design and style. Aussie & Herbal Essences had rented this AMAZING hotel room for the afternoon where we got to meet Liz Taw, Aussie ambassador, to get a mini hair styling session, get our make up touched up and nails done. Plus there was a range of tea/drinks and treats for us to enduldge in. What a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
Plus I got to catch up with other beauty bloggers like the lovely Jen and Hayley!

Liz Taw, the hair stylist, gave me some great tips on how to use my straightening iron and velco rollers to create a 'blow-dry' effect at home! Basically grab a lock of hair & glide it through your iron's with a comb - then apply your velco rollers, spray some hairspray on them & let the hair cool. Then apply your make up, have your breakfast or just chill out and when you take the rollers out (once cool) you will have the same blow dry volume effect without the struggles of not having enough hands to blow dry & use a round brush all at the same time (I admit - I fully can't do this!) Give it a go, I'm really liking the results!

On the day Aussie also introduced us to their new 'Lusciously Light' conditioners!

I am already a big fan of AUSSIE shampoos and conditioners. My favourite is their 'Take the Heat' Range.
I personally don't mind this too much but a lot of people find their conditioners quite heavy! So now they have developed a miraculous lightweight formula which means that you can get the conditioning you love, without it weighing your hair down. So you have all the goodness of your favourite Aussie post-shampoo moisture boosts with an extra pick-me-up! The lightweight formula will ensure you hair doesn’t fall flat, leaving you with lusciously light locks that are rich and bouncy.