Avon Advanced Techniques Moroccan Argan Hair Oil

The Avon Advanced Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Leave In Treatment literally has the longest product name I have ever written on this blog...literally ridiculous.  I don't even know how you would fit that in the tiny box that you write the product name in on the Avon hand written order forms!  Joking aside, this is a hair treatment which I have had for quite a long time but have only started using again recently.

I don't know why I stopped using this, as for the price (currently just £2.55 on the Avon website!), this really is a great product.  It is called a hair oil, but it feels a bit thicker than your normal oil, kind of more like a serum - it doesn't uncontrollably run around my hand, and doesn't leave behind an oily residue.  It has an almost fruity scent that is really pleasant, but doesn't linger once on the hair.  As far as ingredients go, I can't actually see anything on the website or on the bottle, but I don't imagine it to have a high content of Moroccan Argan Oil!

I don't really care for spending a fortune on hair care; as far as shampoo and conditioner goes, I usually just buy whatever is on offer at the time.  But more recently, I have found that I needed a little something extra to add to my routine to keep everything that little bit neater.

My hair is naturally straight, but always has that annoying halo of frizzy hair just everywhere, and seems a little more unruly since I bleached the ends.  The Avon Argan Oil really smoothes all that down and leaves my hair looking neat, really shiny and definitely easier to brush after I've dried my hair.  My hair doesn't feel greasy after use, and doesn't look or feel like it has any extra product in it.  My hair is quite lacking in volume as well, so I was worried that an extra product would take out any "volume" I had, but it is so light weight!

I apply a small amount of this to the lengths of my hair when it has been towel dried, and then continue as normal.  An oil was something that I never really thought I'd like to apply to my hair - my hair gets greasy really easily, and the last thing I thought I'd want was an oil.  But on using this, my hair has become so much more manageable and just feels so much nicer!  I'm pretty much out of this bottle now, maybe a few more applications left in this bottle, but I definitely think I will treat my hair to a second!

When was the last time you bought anything from Avon?

Bleach London DIY Dip Dye Kit

Bleach London is a brand I've constantly admired, but a brand that I never thought I'd dip my toes into.  I've done a lot to my hair in the past, and have dyed my hair on and off for years, but bleaching my hair was never something I thought I'd do.  I was scared blonde wouldn't suit me, and I feared the damage that bleaching could do to my hair.

A few weeks ago, I decided to grow a pair and finally jump on the bleaching band wagon by opting for an ombre on my hair.  I am way late to the ombre party, but I just don't care!  I thought about booking in at the hairdressers, but having just got back from holiday, things are a bit tight and to be honest, at home kits can often be just as good!

I did a bit of research before opting for Bleach London's DIY Dip Dye kit, which contained two sachets of bleaching powder, a unique blending lotion to banish the dip line, an intensive moisturising mask (which was amazing!!), brush, gloves and a mixing pot.  I was so, so nervous before bleaching my hair (as you might have seen on my Twitter account) - I have quite dark hair which still has remnants of a red dye from years ago on the bottom two inches of my hair.  I was convinced that I would come out with a botched bleach job.

With a little assistance, the Bleach Kit is surprisingly easy to use.  I think working solo on my hair would have been so difficult, so if you decide to have a go, be sure to have a friend to help!  The results are far better than I ever anticipated, and the colour of my hair has been lifted really well.  I am left with some brassy tones, but I completely expected to be considering how dark my hair was initially.  I left the bleach on for a total of forty minutes, but if I had left it on any longer, the bleach would have started to really damage my hair, and I would have risked some serious breakage.

The only downside is the blending lotion, which didn't work out for me as well as I would have liked.  My hair is naturally straight and when I leave it straight now (which I usually do every day) you can clearly see a dip dye line.  I am opting for choppy, textured waves in my hair from now on which is hopefully disguising and blending in the bleaching line.  Despite my worries though, I've had lots of compliments on my hair since doing it, and a couple of people have even asked where I got it done - hurrah for at home dyes!

I'll be picking up a toner to make it a touch lighter, but in the mean time I've picked up a silver shampoo and conditioner which is helping calm down the brassiness.  I might even throw on another kit in the next few weeks as it cost me just £7.00  from Boots, which compared to salon prices is a total bargain.  Maybe I'll have a play with the Super Cool Colours too - I've always wanted some pastel shades on my hair, and maybe someday soon I'll be brave enough to test those waters!  But I might opt for taking a trip to the Bleach London salon to do a full head of colour!

Have you tried anything from Bleach London?

Converted to Reverse Hair Washing

I have seen the word 'co-washing' thrown around the internet for a while now.  I first read about products specifically appearing for the purpose of co-washing - conditioner washing, in which you ditch your shampoo once or twice a week and just cleanse with a nourishing conditioner.  But I've more recently read about reverse washing - washing your hair with conditioner before you use shampoo.  Co-washing didn't appeal to me at all.  I have fine hair, which is pretty thin, it's naturally straight, a bit flat and does get greasy ridiculously quickly.  The idea of washing my hair in a rich conditioner just didn't make me think clean hair, it made me imagine grease, and lots of it.

A few weeks ago, I was feeling particularly daring and decided to reverse wash my hair.  I applied my conditioner, concentrating on the mid lengths and ends, rinsed and then worked my hair into a nice lather with my shampoo.  On drying I was actually really surprised.  My hair didn't feel dry at all and felt super clean.  I felt like I could see every hair strand where as normally it all blends together.  My hair felt totally smooth, and normally I have a bit of frizz but everything was smoothed into place!  I didn't notice any extra volume on my roots, but my mid lengths and ends, which are normally weighed down with conditioner residue, definitely had a lot more body.  My flat roots were easily fixed with some volumising hair mousse.

I'm completely a reverse hair wash convert, and have been reverse washing every single time!  My hair is getting all the nourishment from the conditioner still, but it's not being weighed down with any residue because shampooing after completely cleanses the hair.  If you have fine hair like me, or if you find conditioner too heavy, I'd completely recommend trying this because I think you'll be surprised!

Have you tried reverse washing?  What's your top hair care tip?

Introduction to Klorane Nettle Shampoo

I think it's fair to say that most girls are envious of somebody elses hair.  I am pretty envious of most people; I have fine, flat and straight hair which I have to wash every day or every other day with dry shampoo in between.  My ends get split quite easily, but a positive is that my hair does grow quite quickly.  I have zero skill for styling my hair as I've always been a make up girl at heart, my sister was the hair expert.

This month, I will be trialling the Klorane Nettle Shampoo* in a bid to help prolong the time between having to wash it, and I have to say I'm really looking forward to testing it!  The nettle used helps to enhance volume, and detangles hair as well as regulates your sebum production.

I'm a little worried about testing this, because I wash my hair in the evening and leave no time for hair washing in the morning.  I'll definitely need a bottle of dry shampoo on stand by, but I'll see how this goes!  Even worse...I sweat like no other when I am at the gym and my hair remains in the same position when I take it out the bobble. Can't wait!  Onto the testing...I'll report back soon!  If you can't wait for my review at the end of the month, you can buy Klorane Nettle Shampoo at Escentual here.

Have you tried Klorane?  How long do you leave until you have to wash your hair?

*PR Sample. This product was sent to me for review.

Tangle Teezer Original

Way back in November, I took a glorious trip to Boots to do some Christmas shopping and somehow ended up with this in my basket.  I paid £10.99 for this from Boots, but I have recently found it cheaper elsewhere if you have a browse!  I have really fine hair, I malt like I don't know what and my ends lately have been getting really bad.  My Dad's girlfriend is a hairdresser, so I regularly get my hair trimmed, but I always end up hating my hair.

In a bid to start looking after it a bit more, I have bought myself this Tangle Teezer in the hope that by not dragging a brush through my hair, I will have fewer split ends.  I didn't really know what to expect from this brush...I didn't think my previous hair brush was that bad, even though I have had it for as long as I can remember.  BUT!  Since using it, I can't believe how much of a difference this makes.

I find that it takes longer with the Tangle Teezer to get rid of all of my knots, but it is so much nicer to use so I don't really mind.  I never really was bothered about brushing my hair before this, as in it didn't hurt, but I can't get over what a difference it makes.  I've not used my previous brush since!  My first dive into detangling brushes has been a good one.  In fact, the only downside I find is the lack of a handle.  I have got into a habit of brushing my hair onto the left side of my head because I can't reach the bottom of my hair, so I've been waking up with some very questionable partings...

What I haven't noticed a difference in though is my split ends...I still get them really quickly!  I think I need a proper hair care routine, so if anyone has any suggestions for fine hair, please share them with me!  I think I might be due a few inches cut off after Christmas too...New Year, New Start and all that...

Have you tried the Tangle Teezer?  What's your hair routine?

Eden Organic Care Avocado Oil

It seems I'm getting an Avocado trend going on...this is my last avocado related post this month!  (Have any of you managed to make your own guacamole yet?!)  I promise it's a good one though.  A while back now, I won another competition on Olivia's blog, Beauty from the Fjord, and I got this bottle of Avocado Oil!

I've had cleansing oils, and hair oils before, but I've never had an oil that is a moisturising skin oil!  This avocado oil can be used on both skin and hair, so it's really a multi tasker.  I really like the design of the bottle, it's got like a clear casing with a cylinder inside, but I find the pump to be a little stiff so I can't get a very controlled amount of product on my hands.  Mine has also leaked a little in the casing which might have been because of it being laid down in the post?

I've mainly been using this on my skin and I've found it to be really nice for when you've got the dreaded winter skin; popping this on before bed is just amazing and I really find that my skin is sorted by the morning.

The oil is, I'm going to contradict myself a bit here, a luminous but murky green and the smell isn't the nicest but I've found that it disappears really quickly so it is fine for me to use.  It's completely natural so what you're getting is a natural colouring and scent.  But because of the colour, it is definitely an oil for the evening, or you might get a yellowy tinge to your skin!

The avocado oil has so many benefits as well, more than what I expected to be honest!  I photographed the box so I just wasn't quoting, but just look....Vitamins A, D and E, and acids!  If reading beauty blogs has taught me anything, skin and acid is just one big positive.  Except for the chemical/science acids...obviously.

I am really trying hard to start looking after my hair, so I really ought to try and get into a routine of using this regularly.  I've used it a few times, but I think to really see the results on my hair, I need a proper regime, especially improving my split ends.  Maybe when and if I get the chop, I'll start properly!  The few times I have used this though, my hair has definitely got an improved shine, seems much more manageable and generally smoother!

I'd definitely buy this again when this bottle runs out, and I have seen that Eden also do a few other oils including Argan, Rosehip and Jojoba.  At the time of writing this, they were updating their website for new product launches so I'll leave their Twitter as you should definitely give them a browse!

Also!  Something I found out whilst looking up general organic products...did you know that it's not illegal for companies to put the word "organic" on their label, even if it isn't organic?  I didn't!  Which is why you need to look out for the soil association logo on packaging as a sign that it is truly organic!  The Eden Organic Avocado Oil has it on the bottle and on the outside box!

What oils do you enjoy using?  Have you tried Avocado Oil?
*This bottle of  Eden Organic Care Avocado Oil was won through a blog giveaway.