The fastest way to straighten hair EVER?!

I was recently contacted by a representative of the website Irresistible Me and given an opportunity to choose one of their products to review. I had been following the huge internet hype surrounding the revolutionary concept of a hair straightening brush, so when I saw they offered this product I couldn't wait to try it out for myself!

When the Jade ceramic hair straightening brush arrived, I dug out an American plug adaptor and immediately tried it out on myself and was amazed at how it completely flattened out any kinks and waves with only one brush. However, as my hair is naturally quite straight I wanted to give it a proper trial run and so I put it to the test on one of my friends, Catherine, who has far curlier hair than I do. Hopefully this review will give you a proper idea of whether the hair straightening brush lives up to the hype! Catherine's hair usually takes about 30-40 minutes to straighten completely as it is very thick. However, using the Jade brush it only took 15 minutes to do her entire head of hair. She was impressed with the results but did say it left her hair a little thicker than when she uses regular straighteners, but noted that it made the bulk of the work easier and that she would just go over the hair once quickly with her normal straighteners to smooth it down, knocking an impressive 15-20 minutes off the usual time it would take to achieve sleek, straight hair!

Before

After

One of the things which surprised me most while using the brush on both myself and Catherine was just how simple it was to use. There was no faffing about with extensively separating the hair into tiny sections, you can literally just pick up a large section and brush it through, and it is left straightened. So, I would recommend looking into a hair straightening brush whether you have relatively straight hair and just need to flatten out any kinks or waves which have appeared overnight or from wearing your hair up, or if you have thicker, curlier hair which takes a long time to straighten and you want your morning routine to be faster! 
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Bblonde Maximum Ombré Kit* Review

I've been thinking about lightening my hair for some time, but it wasn't until after I got 16 inches cut off for charity that I could really physically do it, as it would have been a mammoth struggle when my hair was all the way down to my bum! I wasn't quite ready to lighten my hair all over, and I don't have the spare time to deal with retouching my roots, so I decided to try out ombré to refresh and brighten my hair for the New Year.

August Favourites

August has absolutely flown by and I can't believe it's already time to go back to college! I've had a proper "sorting my life out" kind of month; clearing out and reorganising my room, getting through my huge book pile, working out and eating properly. As well as that, I have made some fantastic memories with my closest friends, including drinking a little bit too much champagne at my results day gathering and having a great night! If any of you are wondering, I got 4 A's in my AS levels, in French, Maths, Philosophy and English Literature, surprising even myself! I'm planning to work just as hard (if not harder) next year to keep my grades up and get into my university of choice.

Argan Oil for Healthy Hair

As you can see, my hair is EXTREMELY long so it is very important I keep it looking healthy and tame. Recently I have discovered hair oils, which have made a massive difference to the appearance and feel of my hair, making it softer, smoother, shinier and easier to manage.

I apply a hair oil after washing & drying my hair (I don't use any heat on it, so this can take some time!) by rubbing a few drops between my fingers and brushing it through. If I have a lot of flyaways or frizz I also find a hair oil can work wonders to smooth my hair down again for a sleek finish.

Argan Oil is a plant oil originating in Morocco, which  has massive benefits for the hair due to its anti-oxidants, fatty acids, omega 3 and vitamin E which all work together to repair split ends and damaged hair while strengthening weak strands.

 

I am currently using some samples sent to me from Argan Dew of their Miraculous Oil* and Replenishing Hair Mask*. Argan Dew use pure Argan oil as their primary ingredient to provide high quality hair care products. The lady who sent me the samples said "Argan Dew products help protect your hair from daily damage, while maintaining thick, full, shiny and healthy hair" so obviously I was very excited to try them out!

I applied the Replenishing Hair Mask to my wet hair after washing & conditioning, than brushed it through and left it to dry as usual. I noticed a significant difference in how easy it was to brush my hair, my usual tangles were far more tame. I think I might have been meant to wash the product out, as it left a slight residue in my hair, but it wasn't noticeable at all to the eye. 

I applied the Miraculous Oil to the ends of my hair once it had dried fully. Like most hair oils I use, it made them shiny and smooth. I love how hair oils instantly tame the ends of your hair and make it look healthier, even if you have a couple of split-ends. I was pleased with the results but I am currently in love with my L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil and probably will continue to use that.

If you have never tried using Argan Oil on your hair, I would really recommend it as I have found it has drastically improved the look and feel of my hair and certainly made it look healthier. The lovely people from Argan Dew have given me a 20% off discount for you if you follow this link to their site and enter the code argandew at the checkout. If you'd rather pick up a product from your local Boots or Superdrug, there are plenty out there which also work wonders!

Haircare Tips & Tricks for Long Hair

 Without a shadow of a doubt, the first thing anybody who meets me notices is my hair. It's pretty hard to miss - It's naturally golden, pin straight and is so long it can now touch my bum! (These photos were taken at my prom last July...) This also means it is extremely hard to handle. As much as I love being nicknamed "Rapunzel" by all of my teachers and friends (I have always wanted to be a princess!), maintenance is difficult and I occasionally find myself daydreaming about what it would be like to chop it all off à la Taylor Swift - not that I would ever have the guts to!

I have had long hair for pretty much the entire duration of my life, although as I have grown myself I have let it grow more and more. This means I have had a lot of time to experiment with different ways of managing long hair, some of which I will write about in this post. It is important to keep your hair in the best health possible, especially if you are keeping it long, as you won't be continuously cutting it, meaning the ends will be around for a while to retain damage.

1. Avoid using heat - It is always tempting to blow-dry your hair, it gets the job done much faster so you don't have to sit around with a heavy, wet lump of hair dripping around your shoulders. However, I can't stress how much better it is for your hair to avoid using heat on it altogether!
   "Human hair contains keratin proteins and hydrogen bonds. When you use heat styling tools such as curling irons, flat irons, tongs or blow dryers, they strip your hair of its natural oils and proteins by breaking down its hydrogen bonds." discovergoodnutrition.com
   
   I avoid using heat by showering at night rather than in the morning. I put a towel over my pillow and sleep with towel-dried hair. Personally, I adore the way this makes my hair look, as it is very natural with a bit of bounce and volume. However, if you feel you need to straighten or curl it, remember to use a good heat protectant! The same goes for if you are in a rush and have to blow-dry it.
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2. Brush it carefully - Long hair often gets into huge tangles which can be frustrating to remove, especially if you are in a rush. This often leaves you pulling and tugging at hair, ripping pieces out and making the knot worse. I use the Beautybay Detangling Brush and start from the very bottom with a small section of hair, brushing until it is completely free of tangles before moving up the section. This will ensure you don't just push the knots into a clump at the ends of your hair. If you are really struggling, try adding a small amount of leave-in conditioner to help.
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3. Trim it often - A common misconception when growing your hair is that you shouldn't cut it. However, this leads to damaged and dry hair and accelerates split ends which look awful and will mean you have to have a much larger amount cut off when it comes to visiting the hairdresser. It is recommended that you have your hair trimmed every 4-8 weeks, at least. This may shock you, but if you only have a tiny trim, 5mm for example, it will accelerate hair growth in the long run.
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4. Don't wash it every day - Many people I know wash their hair every day, claiming it goes greasy if they don't. The problem with this is, by washing out the natural oils produced by the scalp, it causes your body to produce even more oil, increasing the problem. By taking the leap and switching to washing your hair every other day, or even every three days, your hair will eventually stop producing so much oil and going "greasy" in the space of a day. It can be scary at first, but try doing this when you won't be seeing anyone, such as in the school holidays or over a weekend.
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5. Use an oil - Similarly to the previous point, many people I know are appalled when I talk about using oil on my hair, wondering how this does not make it greasy. Using an oil on your hair actually intensely nourishes it while giving it a gorgeous shine. There are many products out there, popular ones being Moroccan Oil and Argan Oil. Personally, I have used the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil ever since I first tried it around 3 years ago. I absolutely fell in love with the softness it gave to my hair, as well as sleek and glossy locks. It claims to be a "5-in-1 Miracle Hair Perfector: Hair has a glowing shine, Feels intensely nourished, Flows with silky softness, Seems sumptuously smooth, Looks beautifully perfected" and I 100% agree! It has definitely been a miracle product for me and I don't think I, or my hair, could live without it. I either put it through the ends of my hair after towel-drying, or before going out. Either way works fine, and I have noticed if I use it before going out it keeps the ends of my hair smooth, sleek and perfectly straight, even if it is raining!

I hope these tips & tricks are helpful for you, whether you already have long hair or are trying to grow it. The most important thing it to be gentle with it! Having long hair can be hard work but when it's healthy, it looks absolutely gorgeous. For me, my hair is probably my favourite feature, so I try to keep it as nourished and healthy as possible; my haircare routine comes second only to skincare!