POST WASH HAIRCARE FAVOURITES

As a serial hair dyer, haircare has always been a very important and necessary step for me. Damage is of course inevitable when dying the hair and whilst it can't really ever be prevented, it can be managed and proteins and nutrients can be added back into the hair to at least partly restore it back to health. 

Whilst trimming and the removal of dead ends is an important step in keeping hair healthy, I have also found some great products that I found to be effective (at least aesthetically). In todays post, I'm going to show you these products and tell you why I love them so much!

AUSSIE Miracle Hair Insurance Conditioning Spray

This is essentially a leave in conditioner - it can applied to either damp or dry hair and should be sprayed evenly throughout and combed through. I always apply this on my hair when it's damp as I personally prefer the results. I find this to not only be conditioning, but it also adds some much needed shine to my hair too once it's dry. It's great for detangling as well which I find can sometimes be an issue on my finer, long hair. I've repurchased this several times and it's definitely a cult favourite for me!

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Leave in Treatment

Whilst this product is meant to stimulate hair growth, I use it mainly as a source of nourishment and conditioning for the hair. It contains nutrients and proteins which I have found at least from an aesthetic standpoint have improved how my hair looks and feels. Does it promote hair growth? I can't really be sure but I have noticed steady, consistent growth in my hair and am continuing to do so.

Joico K-Pak Colour Therapy Restorative Styling Oil 

I love oils for my hair as moisture and a lack of it can be an issue when using colourants. The problem is, with locks on the finer side, certain oils and products in general can be far too heavy. This oil however is not and I find it to be easy to apply and weightless even in my hair. As with all oils, I keep this applied to the mid-lengths and ends - where the hair is driest and in need of moisture the most. I do find that this product locks into the hair well and it does help to define my colour and add a lovely shine too.

MoroccanOil Treatment - Light

The benefits of Moroccan Oil are well known and this is probably my favourite oil product for the hair. It has a wonderful smell to it that lasts throughout the day and I really find that it penetrates the hair follicle and provides my hair with moisture and visible shine. As with the oil above, I apply this to damp hair focusing on the mid lengths and ends but I do also occasionally also like to finish off a style with this too by applying a tiny amount all over. This product comes in two variations depending on your hair type - a normal formula for thicker hair and a light formula for finer hair making it an accessible and versatile product for everyone. 

There you have my current favourite post wash haircare products. 

Are any of these in your favourites?

Levinia, x

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REVIEW: Denman Brushes

Haircare has become something that I've been wanting to invest more time and well, money in. I want to be able to look after my hair a little more and hopefully find good quality products that are still affordable and effective. So, I thought a good place for me to start would be with getting a good set of brushes together. 

Denman is a brand I've heard a lot about in the beauty community and I received my very first one for Christmas just gone. I now have 3 of their brushes - varying in both size and use - and having had them for a while now, I think I can give you all a good review of them as well as letting you know why I like them and what I like to actually use them for.

D3 Classic 7 Row Stylish brush:

This brush retails for around £6.75 and is as the name suggests, your classic hairbrush. It's one of those 'essential' hairbrushes for basic styling.

One of the things I really like about this brush is the fact that the pins (or bristles) of it don't have those horrible 'bead' things on the ends of them. As we probably all know, when those 'beads' break, it makes brushing the hair a very painful, scratchy experience. The pins of this particular brush however are made from nylon and are round-ended so there's no scratching. 

The pins of the brush are nicely spaced between one another which I think is one the reasons that this brush is actually great for brushing out wet hair. I know, it's not recommended to brush wet hair but to be honest, I'm pretty sure we all still do it. If I don't brush my hair out it becomes a messy, knotty mess and with this brush, I can easily and comfortably brush out my hair without any pulling. It works similarly to my Tangle Teezer, in fact!

I also love the sleek, sophisticated design of this brush - to me it just screams quality. I love the shinny black finish of the brush and the engraved lettering of the brand on the back. I think it's a really lovely designed brush and I can definitely see this being used in professional salons as the brand says it is.

D81M Grooming brush:

This brush retails for around £9.79 and is great for conditioning and grooming your hair.

It has these strange 'porcupine' like bristles on the brush, which help to evenly distribute the oils from your root to the tip of your hair. This therefore helps to condition your hair and improve it's health as well as making it feel really smooth and soft. I like to use this brush to finish of my styles for that smooth, sleek look as well as just for brushing my hair through the day.

Once again, I really like the classic black and red design of this brush. It's sleek in design and is easy to grip and use. This brush has really in my opinion improved the feel and softness of my hair and over time, I think I'll definitely be seeing more of a different with continued use.

D91 Dressing Out Brush:

This brush retails for £4.29 and it's primary purpose is sectioning the hair and taming fly aways or bumps in your up do's. 

I think this brush works really well for those uses but I also find it really effective for backcombing due to it's long and tightly packed bristles. It's also perfect for combing out and taming that backcomb once you're finished with it or simply just for tidying up your look. 

Unlike the other two, this is a little different in design and is instead a bright orchid purple, which as a lover of purple I personally like! This brush is very effective and it does it's job well helping give my thin hair some lift and volume. 

So, those are my thoughts on Denman brushes and the ones that I have in particular so far. Overall, I think that as a brand, Denman offer quality hairbrushes for a very affordable and reasonable price. I'd definitely recommend then and a good starter brush would be the D3 Classic Styling!

GUEST POST: 8 Amazing Ways to Prevent Dry Hair During Winter!

This article was submitted by Cosmetology & Spa Academy. Located in Illinois, CSA is a beauty school with over 30 years of experience in the cosmetology, aesthetics and beauty industry.

Winter can be really harsh on hair. The dry air can wreak havoc on even the most luscious of locks. You can kiss softness and moisture goodbye if you abandon your hair during these trying times.

Let’s be honest, nobody likes dry hair and its lackluster look. But if you’re serious about maintaining texture, sheen, and the general health of your hair, winter won’t snow on your parade. Let’s take a look at how to maintain healthy hair during the cold winter days.


Deep Conditioner is Delightful

Did you know that you can maintain your hair’s elasticity and softness by using deep conditioner throughout the entire year? That’s right, deep conditioner isn’t just for winter! This simple hair management change will save you a world of trouble.

Basically, deep conditioners contain amazing oils and other unique ingredients which coat your hair. Since they deeply penetrate the follicles, you’ll quickly notice the invigorating effects of deep conditioner. However, don’t forget about your typical shampooing routine. Deep conditioner is meant to be used in addition to your regular hair care methods. 

Moisturizer is Magnificent

A high quality, water-based moisturizer can do wonders. Its main job is to hydrate and nourish follicles, thus fighting off the dry winter air. Since moisturizer dives deeply into hair shafts, it’s a great ally in the battle against winter.

By the way, you always want to make sure that your moisturizer is water-based, oil-based ones will only act as sealants. Oil doesn’t moisturize hair, it merely attempts to seal moisture within the follicles themselves. Ideally, your moisturizer of choice should also contain humectants, emollients, and occlusive components. Some moisturizes can be heavy on the oils, but the one you should go with really depends on your hair type. If you want to learn more about the characteristics of hair, a cosmetology program could be what you’re looking for.

Style is Stupendous

The style of your hair has a significant impact on how you should manage it. You can actually just style your hair with moisturizer if you’re going for a full look! But if you want a very defined hairstyle, you’ll need the right styling product that holds your hair together. Keep in mind that styling products greatly vary when it comes to quality. Go for a gel or cream-gel with oils and humectants in order to stay stylish and healthy.

Always apply your gel after your moisturizer so that you don’t have to be concerned whether or not your styling product has high amounts of glycerin and humectants. Your hair is likely to stay soft during the winter as long as you don’t mix up your product order.

Wash Your Hair Less Often

There’s really no need to wash your hair every day during the winter. In fact, doing so will dry out your follicles and remove precious oils. Furthermore, exposing wet hair to the cold elements is also not a good idea. Try to modify your morning routine to give your hair enough time to dry, otherwise it will become very brittle.

It’s also a good idea to apply some nourishing hair oil after your hair has been shampooed, as this will make your hair soft and shiny.

Shampoo Combing & Oil Application

Another hair strategy to think about is combing dry shampoo from the roots of your follicles to an inch or so down. This can scrape off the product that is causing dryness by accumulating in your follicles. Once you’re done with the comb, apply oil to the ends of your hair. If your hair is very thick, feel free to use liberal amounts of oil.

Trimming is Transformative

Regularly scheduled haircuts and trims will maintain your hair’s tip-top shape. Aim to get your hair cut or trimmed at least once every two months in order to get rid of dryness and stop split ends before they ever happen.

Humidifiers are Handy

If your hair is constantly drying out, consider purchasing a humidifier. They’re actually not very expensive and will increase moisture levels around your home. If you do end up buying a humidifier, use it on a daily basis

Preciously Protect Your Hair

When the weather gets crazy, protect your hair with a hat or a hood. Satin lined hoods won’t take away any of your hair’s moisture. And if you’re worried about messy hat hair, wrap your hair in a silk scarf before putting your hat on. Simply put, hats and hoods are some of the best way of protecting your hair during the harsh winter weather.

Review: Tigi Bed Head Epic Volume Shampoo & Conditioner

Hey! Now, I know it's a beauty blog and all, but I've been talking an awful lot about makeup recently and I thought it's about time I wrote about something hair related...

So I got this duo from Look Fantastic and I have to say right off the bat that this stuff smells FANTASTIC. It is heavenly, it truly is. It smells like you're washing your hair with strawberries, and candy floss and all sorts of beautifully delicious smelling treats. So yeah, it's sweet (think along the lines of Lush's Snow Fairy if you're into that) and very pleasant to use in my opinion. Of course, if sweet smelling hair doesn't sound good to you, then I'd steer clear because this scent does stick around. I'm pretty sure though that I'd buy these products are purely for their lovely smell so as you may already have guessed, I like it a lot.

Now, perhaps we should get into how it actually works and stuff, eh? So Tigi's Epic Volume Shampoo and Conditioner is of course made to provide your hair with volume and body. It promises to thicken your hair, boost volume and give you bounce and fullness without the heaviness. As a girl with thin hair, volume is definitely something I struggle with gaining and maintaining so this is one of the main reasons I wanted to try these. Upon application, the shampoo is very creamy and lathers well - though I tend to need to use around 1 and a half pumps. Similarly, I use around 2 pumps of conditioner though I do still find both easy to apply to the hair. The shampoo is sulphate is free which is something I've been looking for more in hair products because sulphate shampoos and conditioners can be very drying and damaging on the hair. However, I'm pretty sure that the conditioner is not sulphate free so that's something to bare in mind.

I do think that the shampoo and conditioner provided me with volume and I definitely see and feel more body and fullness within it. Whether it's epic? Maybe not that far - but I'm still happy with the results as I am noticing a difference nonetheless. I haven't actually blow dried after using these products so perhaps that would really provide you with some mega volume if that's what you're going for. I don't however blow dry my hair but I think the fact that I still notice a difference without that means it would most likely definitely do something for those of you that do!

So, the price of this shampoo and conditioner is on the expensive side - at £24.50 (LookFantastic), they are definitely an investment but there are still products out there that are definitely a lot more expensive. You do also get a generous 750ml per bottle which is definitely going to last you a while so I feel like that does even it out a little bit. As well as that, this shampoo definitely does something and the smell is divine - I consider it luxurious because of all these things so it's something to consider a treat for your hair as well. I think at the end of it all, it depends what you're looking for in haircare - if you're not bothered about your shampoo and conditioner then maybe this isn't for you or perhaps it would be a better gift. If on the other hand you're looking for something luxurious and something that's gonna smell great and do a specific job, I'd give this a go. You can buy a smaller 250ml version of each product too if you're wanting something a little less pricey to try out. Overall, I love this duo and it's definitely going to stay in my hair product rotation!

Boots & Superdrug Haul!

Hey there! Recently I did just a teeny bit of shopping (ok, maybe more than a teeny bit but still!) and I thought I'd show what you I got. It's all beauty and skincare - most of the things I picked up I have never tried before either which is always interesting, hopefully I'm going to love them!

So, first of all I popped into Boots and got some beauty bits. They currently have a 2 for £10 deal on ALL Revlon cosmetics (check it out if you haven't already) and so I took advantage of this and got 2 lipsticks from their Super Lustrous range. The first I picked up in the shade 002 Pink Pout and the second was in the shade 663 Va Va Violet which I am particularly excited to try.

I also headed over to the Maybelline stand and they had a buy 1 get 1 half price deal - you see, it's really the shop's fault that I spend so much... Anyway, from there I got their new 'Matte Maker' face powder. They didn't appear to have much of a shade range, nor did they have a translucent as far as I could see so I just got the lightest shade. 

From Maybelline, I got their Brow Drama brow mascara as well - I've tried clear brow gels but nothing like this and so I was quite intrigued about this product. I got this in the shade Dark Brown.

From the Soap and Glory stand I picked up one of their makeup products. I've never really delved into what S & G have to offer in terms of cosmetics and I was particularly interested in an eyeliner products. And so with that, I picked up their super cat eyeliner which is a liquid liner in a felt tip form.

Lastly from Boots, I picked up this Charles Worthington hair mask. My hair has been feeling kind of dry lately and so I wanted something to bring some more moisture and softness into it. I have actually see blogger and Youtuber MissBudgetBeauty talk about this product a lot and so I thought I'd give it a go.

Now, onto Superdrug! I firstly picked up some mattifying sheets - perfect for this hot, sunny weather when you want to remove some of that nasty oil build up on your face. 

I then got some coconut oil - this I have tried before but it was in a different form. I have tried the organic coconut oil which you'd predominantly find in supermarkets because you can cook with it. This is hydrogenated and lightly fragranced but so far it still has the cosmetic qualities that I got it for and it is gentle on my very sensitive skin. It's a natural, multi-purpose product and if you haven't already, I would definitely try it out for yourself. 

Finally, I got some eye care products from Simple. I really love Simple because all of their products have gentle formulations that are perfect for even sensitive skin and not to mention, their products are super cheap. I picked up an eye roll on and an eye balm - looking after the area around your eyes is very important - it's going to help to eliminate signs of aging but to also care for them as they are very sensitive.

And that's my haul complete! I hope you liked this post and maybe found some products you might want to try for yourself.