Top 3 : Hair Masks feat. Goldwell, Kérastase and Schwarzkopf

If your hair is anything like mine : colour damaged, sun damaged, fine and tangled and prone to breakage then you will know the necessity of a good hair mask to nurse it back to health.

A hair mask or masque if you want to get all fancy about things, needs to tick a few boxes for me to continue to using it:

* The Wash Out : A hair mask needs to be able to be completely rinsed out of your hair and not leave any kind of residue in your hair once it's dried.

* Roots To Tips : You should notice a difference in your hairs texture from the root to the tip.

* Lasting Power : The improvement in your hair should last the duration between mask applications and not just until you wash your hair next.

Here are my Top 3 favourite Hair Masks which have been rescuing my tired locks lately.

Goldwell Blonde & Highlights 60 Sec Treatment $20.95 available from www.hairhousewarehouse.com.au

I love being a blonde even though the 6-8week visits to my colourist drives me crazy, I can't stop and I won't stop being a blonde. Goldwell's 60 Sec Treatments are available across all the formula's but 'Blondes & Highlights' is obvs' my favourite, it is a very thick gluggy mask which I apply in the shower and leave on for the duration of the time it takes to shave my legs. It feels very nourishing to the hair and coats each strand even in my half arsed attempt in rubbing it into my scalp. If I feel my hair is lacking shine or looking a little brassy this is the mask I reach for, when my hair is dry the lighter highlights look glossy and pick up natural light like a freakin' crystal.

Kérastase Resistance Age Recharge Firming Gel-Masque $41.10 available from www.feelunique.com

If you have ever had a bad bleaching or dying experience whether it be at home or at a salon, you know what I mean when I say 'HOLY BREAKAGE HELL' your hair is so weak afterwards and just snaps off. Kérastase is a pretty fancy brand but in my experience if you need a product to do specific thing like strengthen then it is worth paying a little extra knowing it will work. I would advise going into a salon which stocks Kérastase and ask about what products would help your hair. For me it is the Resistance range, the Age Recharge Firming Gel-Masque strengthened my hair back to a normal state. It is a gel formula which needs to be left on the hair for about 1 hour, the best way to apply it is post shampoo pre conditioning, so mid shower get out and apply the mask put a shower cap on and do the vacuuming or watch YouTube for an hour or so and then get back in the shower rinse and condition. The effects of this mask take a while to take effect, and I was patient and used the mask weekly for 2 months,  noticing small changes weekly but by the end of the month...wowzer's hello healthy hair!

Schwarzkopf Ultimate Oil Elixir Treatment $8.99 available from www.priceline.com.au

Ok so confession time when I first tried this mask I was so obsessed with it I used it everyday as a conditioner, is that bad? NO! My hair loves this stuff, it makes your hair super soft and shiny without taking away natural body and texture. Also this is the ultimate de-tangler, if you have fine knotty hair then apply this in the shower and comb through with a wide tooth comb and knots be gone!

It is also affordable and convenient to pick up when you are doing your weekly shop, so if you are looking to try out a mask for the first time then I would totally recommend starting out with this Schwarzkopf beauty.

xxx Nella

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New hair! Cut and Colour by Prema featuring Goldwell products

Prema Shop 5, 490 Crown St Surry Hills 9360 8080 www.premalove.com

(Check Prema's site for pricing on styling and colour)

After my beloved colourist Gilly (Hi Gilly, I know you're reading this in India and having the best time ever!) left the country I have been on the hunt for new colourist who would be able to freshen up my tired blonde locks. The lovely ladies at Prema understood and listened to me before starting my colour, I told them about how sensetive my scalp was and that I was trying to get my blonde hair back into a more healthy state. Going into summer I wanted a beachy-blonde and not such a 'done' look so they suggested a half head of foils to let my darker natural blonde come through a bit more which would add texture and depth to my hair. The process of colour was relatively quick compare to previous colour appointments which can take up to 4 hours, only taking an hour and a half.

I was really happy with my colour, it is a little different to what I am used having a lot more of my natural colour coming through but it feels much healthier and I have had far less breakage since the colour. The salon was a comfortable friendly environment, and I felt relaxed chatting whist enjoying a hot chocolate.

Alarna gave me an amazing cut, taking a much needed 2 inches off my length, addingsome body to the ends so that when my hair dries naturally I would have a natural wave.

Dualsenses Blondes & Highlights Anti-Brassiness Shampoo & Conditioner $24.95each, Dualsenses Blondes & Highlights 60Sec Treatment $24.95, Dualsenses Blondes & Highlights Shine Serum Spray $24.95 available from www.hairhousewarehouse.com.au

When having your hair coloured is really important to continue at home to maintain the colour at home with complimenting products, also your colourist needs to know what you are using at home because some shampoos and conditioners can interfere with the bleaching or dying process. Goldwell's Dualsenses range for Blondes and Highlights has been amazing in keeping my hair looking a lovely creamy vanilla blonde and not turning brassy or too warm for my skin tone. I am also obsessed with the Serum spray, so obsessed I have used a quarter of the bottle in 2 weeks, it is amazing to spritz in wet or damp hair before brushing through. It helps with any knots or tangles and gives your hair a little moisture boost. The 60 second treatment I have been using weekly for a little pampering and especially since I have been heat styling my hair more frequently.

I love the natural texture my hair has now without being thinned out with layers. The length is perfect for summer and stopping just below my collar bone. With my new do I am ready for the warmer weather, salty swims and leaving my hair to dry naturally in beachy waves.

xxx Nella

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The Colour Series with Gilly Parry : BLONDES

The Colour Series is a collaboration with the lovely and very talented Sydney based Colourist, Gilly Parry. It is often very confusing and frustrating when talking to your hairdresser about colour, not all of us are versed in the secret language of T-Sections, High & Low lights or Balayage? Each week will feature a different hair colour : Blondes, Redheads, Asian-tones, Pastels and Brights & Brunettes! Gilly will give you the low-down on what to ask for when taking the colour plunge and also how to maintain your new do, with tips to keep your new locks looking lush and save you time and money when visiting the salon!

WHAT TO ASK YOUR COLOURIST FOR TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK?

Elle fanning is a simple case of the Classic Highlight. This classic technique has taken a back seat with Balayage taking the spotlight recently. When highlights are performed with love and technical care by a well educated colourist the classic highlight should never be underestimated.

TIP - It’s really important to ask for a couple of different blondes to create depth, shine and a natural.

Full Head Highlights : Covers all areas of the hair 

Half a head highlights : This covers the area you see PLUS the middle parts of your hair creating more colour and colour bulk.

T- Section : Top section of your hair where is visible if you were standing above someone or tying your hair back. 

Gloss It : If you don’t have the time for highlights its also a great idea to pop in for a toner in between sessions this can lift the colour and add a couple of weeks to your next appointment .

TIP - Alternate the above - This saves money and time in the chair.

WHAT MAINTENANCE WOULD THIS COLOUR TAKE?

To achieve this heavily coloured blonde you would need to book your appointments every 6-8 weeks. Regular top ups this would help build up the blonde and also keep your roots at bay. To make this more cost affective you wouldn’t need to do a full head of highlights every time you could alternate it with.

WHAT TO ASK YOUR COLOURIST FOR TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK?

You can really alternate this look with Half a head of highlights to soften and lift you roots and ask for balayage through the ends to create that heavy ended look 

WHAT MAINTENANCE WOULD THIS COLOUR TAKE?

This look is super easy maintenance and depending on the look you want you i.e. if you like being lighter and are a blonde addict you can come in when you like, or let your natural colour grow out to create an effortless fuss-free look. Otherwise you can leave this look for up to 6 months but ideally to keep yourself looking groomed go for top ups every 3 months.

TIP: In between colour appointments have a 'Gloss Tint' for an instant pick me up . 'Gloss Tint' is a less abrasive semi-permanent colour which lifts existing colour and gives your hair a bit of a treatment at the same time.

WHAT TO ASK YOUR COLOURIST FOR TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK?

This is a full on Bleach and tone of your entire head. For the first time achieving this it would be ideal if the hair had not been coloured before and virgin hair. It would be a huge job the first especially if your hair is long. So be sure to leave a lot of time and explain to your Colourist when making your appointment what you are looking to do and achieve so ample time is left.

WHAT MAINTAINENCE WOULD THIS COLOUR TAKE?

To up keep this look you would need to be in the salon every 4-6 weeks .

It is important not to leave it longer than this as you will get nasty colour bands in the  hair .

TIP: Before you undergo such a major bleach job make sure to patch test the bleach and toner on the back of your neck behind your ears - You are looking at approximately 3-5hours in the chair with bleach or tone on your skin, so you want to make sure you aren't prone to a reaction. Also treatments on coloured are a must for healthy hair soft hair!

BLEACH IT OR DYE!

Thinking of going Blonde? You totally wont regret it babes!

The lovely Gilly Parry is offering you an AMMMAZING deal this week to get you looking great for Winter.

Self maintenance these days is off the hook with prices creeping up higher and higher so this week we have the best deal for you : $100 off your CUT and COLOUR service when you book them together.

Damn Girl!

This means your cut will be $50 total and then another $50 off your colour. Pretty good dont you think?!?

Give Gilly a call with any questions or queries and lets see what fun we can have this winter to change your look and make you feel a million dollars .

Gilly Parry - 9331 0380

gilly.parry@gmail.com

xxx Nella

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Romance Was Born

 1. Installation by Pip and Pop (Tanya Schultz) made of sifted and dyed sugar 2. The set in a pre show neonglow 3. Finale

The Romance Was Born 'Mushroom Magic' SS14 show was phenomenal, it played out all my pastel-phsyc dream sequence fantasy's. Walking into the huge cavernous show space a glowing set of miniature sugar cities were set a glow and came to life as the lights went up and the show started from then on I was hypnotised with the grandiose spectrum of colour and and creativity shown. Hopefully this show proved even the slightest Romance Was Born critic wrong, Anna and Luke created a well rounded precise collection.

Top 3 Looks : Sequin Encrusted Babushka look, Caterpillar doona coat with chiffon bell sleeves, Tahlita Getty Kaftans Coat pant suit.

Exploring the realm of 70's psychedelia seemed to come very naturally to Romance Was Born, trippy tonal prints ranging from Moroccan colour palettes to pastels and some down the rabbit hole Cheshire cat references - it was a friendly high. Shapes mimicked some of my favourite fashion icons amazing Tahlita Getty Kaftan Coats and slim leg pant suits (MY FAVOURITE LOOK OF THE WHOLE SHOW!), Penelope Tree sheer chiffon bell sleeves nipped at the wrist, floaty tired dresses with pearl encrusted collars which I was absolutely obsessed with. This collection was brilliant, and I have a wish list a mile long for the pieces I am going to order.

BEAUTY

Hair: Alan White for ghd
A rainbow of pastel coloured mushroom pixie bob wigs the base and adornments such as sprouting flowers and martian antennas were added on top were created by Hair Stylist Alan White for ghd. Each wig was hand dyed, cut then styled to match the look the model was wearing - none two were the same. The hours of work would have gone into each wig and the finished result was impeccable and very very cute.

Makeup: Val Garland for M.A.C
Legendary Val Garland designed the makeup looks for Romance Was Born, previously known for the amazing makeup at Vivienne Westwood shows and also collaborating with Lady Gaga. Like the hair each model had a different makeup look designed around the outfit, although there were strong themes that did run through the makeup design:
-Bright opaque colours using pigments, creams and pencils to create opaque colour blocked areas of the face
- Appliques, pom poms attached to lashlines, sequins and heavy layers of glitter.
- Exaggerated features, over drawn larger than life eyes, stuck on lips using card and big pigmented yellow cheeks.
I was super excited about seeing the makeup up close and ran backstage afterwards to admire Val's work, it was a dream come true to see Val's visionary makeup looks and I couldn't think of a better fit than her working with Romance Was Born.

xxx Nella

COMING UP TOMORROW: Jayson Brundson & Alice McCall

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New Hair, Don't Care!

Two hair Posts in one week......Who am I becoming?

So I have gone from blonde to blonde, it's still a change. Super bored of high maintenance lemon bright white blonde hair I decided to switch it up, being THAT blonde took a lot of time, money and effort.
Explaining this to Jaye last week he totally understood, even though we both knew I would regret it in a week when season 3 of Game of Thrones starts and Khalessi is all on with the dragons being a mega babe. Anyway now my hair is a much more natural and manageable honeycomb blonde, with lighter creamier Blondie balayage to soften the colour around my face.
I am over the moon crazy about my new hair, it feels like a change but I still feel like me. The team at Edwards and Co are all super friendly and welcoming - Shout outs to little Liam the Salon Assistant who turns 18 tomorrow! 

xx Nella

Jaye Edwards @ Edwards and Co
Level 1/255 Riley St Surry Hills
9212 7516
http://edwardsandcoblog.com/

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Sebastian Trilliance Shampoo & Conditioner

My hair is a work in progress at the moment, it is having its own extreme makeover of sorts - everything is going on colour, length the whole shabang!

So I thought with my hair overhaul I might switch up my routine and try a new shampoo and conditioner combo from Sebastian's Trilliance line. Taking my hair back to a more natural colour (ashy-strawberry-dark-blonde) it was lacking shine and softness from all the bleaching and toning. Within the first week of using the shampoo and conditioner my hair was looking and feeling AMAZING! 

Sebastian Trilliance Shampoo: Very refining and removes any product build up, which for me is lots of dry shampoo and also hair oils which stick to the hair attracting dirt. This is all I want from a shampoo, to really clean my hair and not leave any residue which will way it down. 

Sebastian Trilliance Conditoner: I have never used a conditioner which actually makes your hair shine like this...like ever. Applying it in the shower I generally leave it in for 3-5mins while I shave my legs or do other shower things, then rinse out by combing out any excess product with wide tooth comb. 

If I let my hair naturally air dry it doesn't frizz up, feeling weightless and falling into shape and not looking too out of control. After blow drying is when you can really see how shiny and soft your hair is from the Shampoo and Conditioner, glistening Twilight style in the sun. 

Sebastian Trilliance Shampoo $34.00 & Sebastian Trilliance Conditioner $36.00 available from selected salons for more info www.sebastianprofessional.com

xxx Nella

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Neon Orly Mani's at Edwards and Co

Having the blondest of blonde hair takes a lot of maintenance, like A LOT! I am at the salon having my roots bleached and lifted, then toning and trimming religiously every 6 weeks. It is a 4 hour session minimum, as a hyperactive chatty cathy I was so excited that Edwards and Co now has an in house manicurist! The amazingly talented and lovely Fiona - Australian Ambassador and Creative Director for ORLY. Instead of sitting there flicking through magazines wanting to scratch my burning scalp off I was distracted and pampered by Fiona giving me a very luxurious manicure.

I decided on half moons using nudes and neons, a design which I always mess up when trying to attempt them at home. I cannot tell you how much of a treat it was having someone else do my nails - usually I am in Fiona's position. The nude base is ORLY 'Glow' - which I am obsessed with and need to have in my collection ASAP it is the perfect balanced nude. Half-moons are my preferred two-toned design it elongates your nails, rather than a tip which on shorter nails just makes your nails look even shorter. I couldn't choose between ORLY's Beach Cruiser (pink) and ORLY's Glowstick (neon yellow) so I had both. Too much? As if! 

Manicures aren't the only cute distraction at Edwards and Co....Meet Cash, Jaye's adorable puppy who scamppers around the salon getting lots of pats and cuddles from clients.

Check out the Edwards and Co Blog HERE!

Edwards and Co
9212 7516
Level 1/255 Riley St Surry Hills

ghd Styling: Heat Protect and Straight & Tame

Ghd is a brand known for their excellent and very HOT styling tools, but before you go in on your virgin baby hair with a 200 degree ghd Styler I suggest you invest in some products which will protect your locks.

Hair oils are great, I love them BUT do not put hair oils in prior to using any heated tools, because what happens when oil gets hot? IT FRIES and will make your hair look like a bag of hot chips!

Ghd's Heat Protect works best sprayed all over damp hair and then combed through with a wide tooth comb to spread the product throughout your hair, then blow dry as you do. If you like to leave it at that - then thats cool apply a little hair oil to your hopefully not split ends and off you roll.

If you like a more polished look or a have a serious power bob which needs to be slightly more perfected then while your hair is still slightly damp apply a small amount of ghd's Straight & Tame (maybe the size of a prune) to the palm of your hand and rub through your hair. Your hair should feel slightly tacky to touch, now finish off your blow-dry with a big round brush continuing to spread the product through your hair whist blow drying. 

These 2 products have saved my bleached dead hair from looking as big and out of control as Einstein's.

ghd Heat Protect Spray $24.00 

ghd Straight & Tame $23.00

www.ghdhair.com.au

Blondes on Film

Sissy Spacek 'CARRIE' 1979

I am guessing that this was Sissy's natural hair colour in Carrie, she is pushing the outter spectrum on the blonde-sphere and verging on ginger but I am definately pulling more strawberry blonde. Her hair has the most beautiful natural highlights and the tone complimenting her sweet freckles. It is styled mostly straight (sometimes bloody) through the movie but in the prom scene she has had the ends set in rollers to give a drop curl effect.

Babyliss 32mm Curling Tongs $84.95 Bumble and Bumble Shine On Finishing Spray $50.00

'Breasts, Mama. They’re called breasts, and every woman has them' - Carrie

Alicia Silverstone 'CLUELESS' 1995

BABE ALERT! My be all and end all inspiration in life...I give you...CHER HOROWITZ. She proves all you need is a half a head of well blended ash blonde highlights and you can go from a mousey brown to a sun goddess valley girl. The girl also took hair accessories to a whole-nother level, Alice bands for a preppy casual and side pinning parts for evening date looks. She was way ahead of her time.

ghd Limited Edition Pink Cherry Blossom Styler $289.00 ghd Heat Protect Spray $24.00 ghd Straight & Tame Creme $21.95

'So okay, I don't want to be a traitor to my generation and all but I don't get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants and take their greasy hair - ew - and cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so.' - Cher Horowitz

Daryl Hannah 'SPLASH' 1984

This was one of the first ever movies I saw as a very young and impressionable child and my thought process was something along the lines of 'when I grow up I really want to look like Madison in Splash' and I did a great job at growing my nautrally white blonde locks half way down my dack until about year one when my mum chopped it all off because there was a plague of nits at school. But lets get back to Daryl, her waist length signature 'nordic' blonde treases are incredible! The styling is hilarious a loose crimp which would have been done with braids or those foam curlering noodles that were way big in the Physie-Culture scene of the late 80s. 

Kérastase Cristalliste Lait Luminous Perfecting Shampoo & Conditioner $20.15 & $24.05 Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray $44.00  Vidal Sassoon Wave Envy Styler $52.95

Michelle Pfeiffer 'SCARFACE' 1983

The frosted ice blonde highlights in Michelle Pfeiffer's hair in Scarface took coke glamour to a brutly high freqnecy. She was all glamour power bob and no one fucked with her, I think it was because of her serverly perfect rolled in ends. They would have taken a shitload of time to blowdry and anyone that dedicated to a style means business.
Vidal Sassoon Big Hair Styler $78.95 Loreal Elnett Very Sexy Volume $8.90

'Even if I were blind, starved and begging for it on a desert island you'd be the last thing I'd ever fuck' - Elvira Hancock 

Kirsten Dunst 'MARIE ANTOINENETTE' 2006

My second favorite new wave hollywood blonde (The Fanning sisters are first!) Kirsten Dunst has great hair in general all cool girl styles. She is naturally dark blonde I'm assuming and has coloured it with a base and varying width white blonde high lights. What I really like about her hair in Marie Antoinette is that she has very visible darker roots, it gives the lighter hight lights of blonde in her hair depth and texture. The later in the film she goes hair party mental, then a pink tinge - which was actually historically popular in the time of Marie Antoinettes reign as the Dauphine of France 1770-1774 (not cool girl Coppola time), dyes were made of berries and tea.
Klorane Oat Milk Dry Shampoo $10.99 Kevin Murphy Color Bug ' Pink' $24.95

'I have enough diamonds' - Marie Antoinette

Hair Trend : Bobby Pins - Cute Attack!

Lady Jane Bobby Pins $6.39 Kit Cosmetics Bobby Pins $7.95

Bobby Pins are trending big time and I couldn't be more excited!
Hair Grips or Bobby Pins are holy grail status to me, I always have a handful scattered through my bag, bed, makeup purse, shower, bathroom sink THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. If I am ever lost in the wilderness please advise the SES to track me via fallen out bobby pins.

The trend of visible contrast or bright placement Bobby Pins really gives some cute youthful  humor to a look. To make this look wearable try placing the pins on one side of your head only just above your ears and space them whichever way you like. (See my interpretation above) Try mixing bright colours or metallics if you are feeling extra cute!

Going back to Blonde!

Here are some reasons girls dye their hair:

- You got dumped by your boyfriend then he started going out with your best friend.

- You're best friend called you fat/mean/bitchy/slutty/fridgit

- You failed University

- Your Mum gets laid more than you do

- You saw a photo of Alexa Chung

- You saw your ex-boyfriend making out with a random girl at the bar and she had cooler hair than you

I think I dyed my hair because of all of the above and some even more stupid reasons on top of that.

First up it was a disaster, I went to a small salon in the even smaller suburb I live in. After 3 hours and 54654168764million foils I walked out looking like I was straight outta of an apprentace hairdressers hair expo '93 exhibit. There was every different coloured foil in my hair brown, dark dark brown, white blonde, golden blonde, ash blonde and none of it blended. It was a zebra of miss-matched foils. So I went back the next morning in tears after digesting it in a variety of different lights trying to tell myself it would calm down and it was cool 'I can start a trend', it wasn't - in the end I asked for a redish brown semi to be put through it. That was 5 weeks ago, now because I am naturally an ash blonde (I think?!?) I have hideous blonde roots, so I am back blonde.

Needing a new hairdresser STAT my friend Fleur recommended her hairdresser Jaye. He was so lovely as soon as I arrived at the salson and gave me all the warnings 'you know you are going to destroy your hair' etc but he was really excited about what I had asked to be done to my hair and so was I. I knew that I wanted to be blonde….REALLY BLONDE. My inspirations were Elle and Dakota Fanning on the cover of W magazine and Kaleesi from Game of Thrones. So we embarked in a 6 hour bleach marathon, at times I did want to scratch my scalp off and I also did become a little delirious with the peroxide fumes but Jaye was really great and talked me through every step and while he was doing it.(This is my favourite thing - I didn't feel like an experiment) He also hacked off a good 2 inches which I was cool with - hey hey blunt bob. My scalp and ears are still a little sore and tight from the bleach and I think I want to next time have a more golden toner put through at my next appointment in 6 weeks - but other than that I am thrilled to bits with my new hair. 

Jaye Edwards - Torquil Murray

Level 1 255 Riley St Surry Hills, Sydney.

9212 7516

Dry Shampoo: It's kind of like magic!

It's the depths of winter here in Sydney and drying my hair has been a dramatic process of shivering in my freezing bathroom trying to un-fog the mirror without opening a window, gone are the summer days of towel drying my hair and then letting the sun do the rest whilst walking to buy my morning coffee. Trying to avoid the freezing bathroom floor dance with my hair dryer I have only been washing my hair twice a week, to stop the greasy build up dry shampoo on non hair washing days has been a life saver (not a real life saver like Penicillin - just a hair saver.).
On another note regarding Dry Shampoo can someone please tell me some Dry Shampoo brands that are available in Japan? Last year I spent at least 72 hours pacing up and down the isles of various chemists (there are A LOT!) in Shibuya trying to find dry shampoo with my friend Holly (Holly is a Flower Enthusiast with an excellent blog The Flower Drum : read it - I dare you!) spraying anything in a can in our beyond static and humidity effected locks.

MY MOST FAVORITE:
1. TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo $10.95
This is great, it really de-grease's and smells lovely. Only problem is its pretty ugly, I don't have this on my bathroom sink it is well and truly in a cupboard somewhere.
2. Klorane Shampooing sec extra-doux  $10.99
Oh so frenchy so chic, Klorane is a great brand for hair care in general. Their dry shampoo contains oats and some other natural type ingredients - but how natural can you get with an aerosol can really? It does cast very white and powdery on your roots so its a good idea to brush it out after spritzing especially if you have darker hair. Just a little heads up this is usually on offer at Priceline.
3. Batiste Dry Shampoo $3.99 small $8.99 large
The heavyweight champ on the Dry Shampoo circuit is Batiste, its the most readily available - the other night I picked up a mini can at a 7/11 on the way to a date. I'm only a fan of 3 out of the now 7 scents Blush, Original & Tropical, the others are sickly scented. Batiste works really well for that extra spruce going from day to night and it also gives quite a bit of volume. Only con with Batiste is that the product build up is quite extreme and gross, so you need to do a double clarifying shampoo when you do finally wash your hair.

NON- AEROSOL DRY SHAMPOO:

Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo $13.50

Aerosol cans are completely bogus for the environment, they give the ozone layer the finger. Lush has a powder alternative dry shampoo which is quite good, the end result is the same as the aerosol varieties   its just the application is a bit of a nightmare. This should only be applied whilst you are wearing a towel in the safety of your bathroom. Do not apply it at your desk whilst wearing head to toe black as I did or you will end up looking like you just got Punk'd.

LEAST LOVED:

1. Lee Stafford Dry Shampoo Original for Oily Roots $14.29 large $5.99 small
Thank goodness I only spent $5.99 on the small can because this was rubbish, it didn't get rid of any of the grease in my hair and it smells kind of toxic.
2. Toni & Guy Cleanse Dry Shampoo $11.99
This is a pretty average dry shampoo, it does take away excess oils from your scalp but it doesn't give any volume and it weighed down my hair with product.

If you are totally obsessed with Dry Shampoo then have I found the website for you:
http://www.dryshampoo.com/

Dorota Spring Summer 2013 : Hair and Makeup

Sometimes when I am not eternally trawling the isles of Priceline or swatching myself silly at David Jones, I do real jobs like Style my friend Dot's Look Book for her women's wear label 'Dorota'. She was inspired by the cakes she ate whilst on holiday in Italy, we spoke and emailed back and forth on things we were feeling for the styling and hair and make up. Here was an original image board:

It turned out like this:

The makeup was very simple, soft wash of colour on the lids and under eye to deepen the socket and a strong brushed out brow with a very subtle lip. The hair was coined 'The corn-row Astrix loop party' it really worked with everything in the context of Dot's themes and lifted the looks. Maybe not an everyday look to go to the shops or maybe it is? I have been known to not been bothered to take off a full face of glitter eye make up when meeting friends for a coffee.

Model : Philippa Gleeson 

Photography: Carine Theveanau

www.dorota-drabarek.com

(Dorota is stocked at The Corner Shop in Sydney)

Winter Hair Care

So its finally winter, no more bare legs and skirts or just letting your hair dry naturally on your way to work - Yep its cold, its snuggle weather.
When initially starting this blog I did think to myself - probably wont write much about hair stuff because I don't do that much to my hair. That was a load of baloney! After a long summer of sun, beach, salt, maybe washing my hair once week because it looked good all beached out and gross. I am now paying the price, my hair is having a meltdown. Also I should mention I just dyed my hair from blondie to dark red after having a personality crisis stemming from a certain boy - I also pierced my ears with a second hole but that's another story.
Now I have got a handle on my mane here are my favourite winter hair care products :


1. Organic Care Shampoo and Conditioner 
This is from Woolworths its stinking cheap like $3.90 or something like that - no more than $5.00.

But its REALLY GOOD! My favourite thing about it is that its got No SLES, SLS, ALES, ALS and is free of Parabens and Prochemical cleanser.

2. Lady Jane Wide Tooth Comb
Heaps of hair dressers say that you shouldn't comb your hair when its wet - screw them. Using a wide tooth comb to get your leave in conditioner or treatments all through and well distributed is the best. The Lady Jane one is cute and has a nifty handle to hang off your tap in the shower. It was like $3.49 from Priceline.
3. La Biosthetique Conditionneur Protection Couleur
Ok bring out the big guns - this is expensive. I dont even know how much it costs because I have permanently deleted the memory of spending that much on a fancy conditioner. La Biostehtique is a salon brand, so maybe just try a treatment when you are next at a salon that uses it. This does make my hair shiney and lovely but I am looking for another alternative because I wont buy this again. But if you're really ritzy and you want to have a posh bathroom get it - fuck it get the 1500ml salon size!
4. John Frieda Sheer Mist Perfect Ends Full Repair
Any heat protecting product is a must in winter, you're not letting your hair dry naturally - and if your are - you're crazy! I am full heat blow drying the shit out of my hair within 10mins of getting out of the shower. Cold wet manky hair on my neck in winter is just gross and you will get a cold. This stuff is great, it doesn't leave any residue in my hair and makes the ends nice and silky, but I think I use too much because I have been buying a bottle every 2 weeks or so because its so good.
5. Mason Pearson Hair Brush
This has never not been in my hair care routine - since my mum was brushing my hair as wee blonde babe till now. Everyday I have used a Mason Pearson hair brush, and they are THE BEST. I've grown up and so has my brush, I now use the Boar bristle and Nylon. It really gives your scalp a good massage and all those lovely good oils get distributed through your hair when brushing.
6. Kérastase Elixir Ultime
Firstly this smells exactly the same as Tom Ford's Black Orchid. Is that enough? When that whole Moroccan oil thing started I tried it - wasn't my thing. If you have tried one of those oil type products and haven't got on well with it like it make your hair all slick and gross. Try the Elixir Ultime, it makes your hair super shiny and pageant worthy without being oily or heavy. Did I mention it smells like Tom Ford's Black Orchid? Probably the best winter scent ever.