'Concoction' giving you the option to personalise your hair care

Concoction Hair Care is available exclusively through David Jones and www.davidjones.com.au

Concoction Shampoo $19.95, Conditioner $32.95 and Superserums $5.00

It is rare that a new line of shampoo and conditioner will make me raise an eyelid, basically its all been done before. That was until I tried Concoction, which allows you to personalise your Shampoo and Conditioner by adding super serums to cure all your hair woes. Serums are $5.00 each and with a selection ranging from Thermo-straight, curl up serum and beautiful brunette there is something for every hair type. You simply crack open the serum and add to your conditioner or shampoo bottle and shake well before using and shampoo and condition as normal.

I've been using the Concoction Shampoo in Black Pepper and Citrus with the High Definition Blonde Serum combined with the Concoction Conditioner in Cashmere and Lavender and have been loving how weightless and clean my hair has been feeling. The combo of the two leaves my hair free of any product residue and squeaky clean.

If you are due for a hair care switch up then I would definitely recommend trying out Concoction for a personalised touch in your hair routine.

xx Nella

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @beautegazette

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

Bloglovin' HERE

John Frieda's Frizz-Ease Favourites : Nourishing Oil-Elixir, Original and Perfect Finishing Serum

John Frieda Frizz-Ease favourites Nourishing Oil Elixir $16.99,  Original 6 Effects Serum $16.99 and Perfect Finishing Polishing Serum $16.99 all available at www.priceline.com.au

John Frieda's Frizz-Ease range has had a major make over, the new candy coloured packaging made me swoon just a bit and the range has been expanded to include some great new products. The new look packaging is bright and fun, with each product colour coded making it easy for you to pick out your favourite on the sea of white and beige shelves of Priceline. I was lucky enough to be able to try out the complete range for review, I've picked my favourite products to share with you and a few tips and tricks on how make them work with my hair:

Frizz Ease Nourishing Oil Elixir
This is the oil of the gods, if you have dry or over processed coloured hair this is like giving your hair a zap of hydration whilst also treating your ends to a bit of TLC. It is best to apply this oil when you are straight after of a hot shower, towel dry your hair warm two pumps of oil between your hands and apply to hair in a finger combing motion - oil loves warmth to thin it out and apply more evenly. After you have worked the oil through evenly pop your towel back on your head to allow it to penetrate into your hair even more. If I am having a lazy then this is all I will do and let my hair air dry, the oil gives great shine and controls fine fly aways and frizz like a pro.
Original 6 Effects Serum
The Original Serum is still as amazing as ever, best applied to semi dried hair and then brushed through with a bristle brush to allow for a more even coating of the hair. If I am blow drying or straightening my hair then this is an essential, it protects against heat styling and controls my very fine hair from being a static mess, without weighing it down or becoming too oily. If you are looking to try John Frieda's Frizz Ease line start with Original and the best.
Perfect Finish Polishing Serum 
This product has been a revelation for me in attacking helmet hair! I love putting loose waves in my hair but it can look a bit too 'done' and like a helmet if I don't add a bit of slip and movement to it I end up looking like I am wearing a wig. After curling my hair I spritz with a small amount of John Frieda Sheer Blonde Crystal Clear Hairspray (amazing for blondes!) then brush through to loosen the curl, 2 pumps of the Polishing serum rubbed between my palms I finger comb the serum through - magic! It breaks up the wave and gives an amazing finish to your loose curls

If you are looking to try a new serum, the new candy coloured John Frieda range cannot be missed, and with a serum for every kind of hair woe you can imagine from major frizz to minor John Frieda has got your back!

xxx Nella

FOLLOW ME!!

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @beautegazette

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

Bloglovin' HERE

TUMBLR HER

** I was kindly gifted these products for blog consideration. This did not, in any way, influence my opinion on the product. Please refer to my policy and disclaimer for more information.

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

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @nellavanveenendaal

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

Bloglovin' HERE

TUMBLR HERE

TONI & GUY : Hair Wardrobe Review : Style Spray Wax, Dry Shampoo & Sculpting Powder

When I was about 15 I remember saving up to get my hair cut at a Toni & Guy salon in the city, it was $80.00 for a 'Top Stylist' and I wanted some very 90's layers....That hair cut was the talk of school assembly for the next month and at least 6 more girls went and got the exact same haircut from the same 'Top Stylist' because it was so good.
Cut to now, a little over 10 years later and I have started using 3 products from the Toni & Guy Hair Wardrobe collection in my day to day hair routine - the products are great and give me that little buzzy feeling I had when I was 15 stepping out of the salon with my sassy layers.
Style Spray Wax
The Style Spray Wax was a little intimidating, wax is intimidating as a product in general it reminds me of a product Justin Timberlake would have used to tame his curls during the N'Sync era. My hair is fine and there is lots of it, also it is due for a cut which means it can get very fluffy and just does not want to behave at the best of times, also winter static drives me crazy!! So I spritz a few squirts of the Style wax in my hands, rub my hands together to get an even coating of product and then work it through dry fluffy hair from the tips to the roots. The result is a totally casual non fluffy hair giving it a piecey effect, if you have heat styled your hair with a wave this is also a great substitute to a hairspray because it will hold the wave without making it look too stiff and static.
Dry Shampoo
I cannot live without Dry Shampoo, it is an addiction and I am a happily dependent addict! Toni & Guy make an excellent Dry Shampoo, there are 2 reasons I love it and will re-purchase it. Firstly, the powder that it disperses is super fine and if you don't have a brush handy it is easy enough blend into your hair with your fingers. Secondly, the smell. It is super fresh smelling, there is not trace of ditzy coconut or overly floral scents which give me a headache just a fresh non irritating smell.
Sculpting Powder
If you have dreamt of voluminous textured hair? Well here is my secret weapon the Toni & Guy Sculpting Powder. Applying it to straightened hair gives it a little more texture and weight. My favourite way to apply it is when putting my hair up in a bun or ponytail, dusting it through my roots gives my hair body and a slight 60's look.

The entire range of Toni & Guy styling products are priced at $15.99 each.
Toni & Guy's styling products are available from www.priceline.com and selected supermarkets.

xxx Nella

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @nellavanveenendaal

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

Bloglovin' HERE

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

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @nellavanveenendaal

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

Bloglovin' HERE

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/

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @nellavanveenendaal

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

Bloglovin' HERE!

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

Twitter @beautegazette

Facebook HERE!

Instagram @nellavanveenendaal

Google +  +Nella van veenendaal 

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

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/

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.