Project Repair Hair - Phase One

If this is the first you're hearing of my recent hair trouble you can see the original post here.

In an attempt to somewhat repair the damage yesterday I started with a DIY deep conditioning treatment. I mixed together a healthy dose of Moroccan Oil and this hair mask I received free in Glamour - I believe. The hair mask alone is actually really nice and having tried it on my pre-ruined hair I thought it would work well for this. I've done A LOT of research into hair damage this week and this method has come up time and time again so I thought I'd share it.

After slathering my lengths and ends (avoiding my healthy roots) in the mixture I popped on my Soap & Glory turban which I'd microwaved damp so it was toasty and warm. I then microwaved a second wet towel and bundled that on top in an effort to contain the heat. I did have to reheat the top towel once every 5mins or so during the treatment to keep everything warm but it wasn't so much of a hassle as I'd made myself comfortable in the kitchen by this point.

You can see my freshly chopped locks for the first time below..

I had already cut more than an inch of my ends myself in an attempt to save the rest and althoughthis treatment didn't restore health it definitely smoothed and conditioned.. it helped!

Also.. Note how straight my hair is. The straightening treatment worked I can't deny that but it absolutely wasn't worth the hair horror that ensued!

Unfortunately I'm still frazzled so step 2 will be protein. I ordered treatments from Redken and Aphogee, The Redken arrived as I was typing this but I'm going to hold out and use the Aphogee first as I've heard the results can be amazing. It's a salon brand and from what I've read it's not pleasant to apply but I can't wait to share that with you. You do have to be careful with protein as if you overdo it or your hair doesn't need it can also be very damaging so I'm nervous but when used properly it sounds like an absolute miracle product.

Aphogee was recommended to me on twitter and I'd never have heard of it otherwise so please, if you have any suggestions, let me know!

Miss BB

Current Haircare

It's been a while since I did a post on haircare so I thought it was about time I update those of you that don't watch my videos and missed my recent ramble on the subject (I will link it at the bottom of the page for those interested). My shampoo and conditioner has been the same now since I think October time and I've only just had to repurchase a bottle of each. I never genuinely thought that it made a difference what shampoo you used, conditioner, yes but not shampoo. Aussie changed that, the Miracle Moist range is just fantastic. I try not to wash my hair more than twice a week so as not to lose the natural oils it needs to stay healthy but every time I do I use this and I think it's really helped the condition improve. 

Every other was I use an intensive masque. If my hair is particularly dry I will add a deep treatment to the ends of my hair over the top of my regular Miracle Moist conditioner. Both the 3 Minute Miracle and the Macadamia Deep Repair work well for me but if I had to choose the Macadamia would win. I hate that as it's so much more expensive but it's super moisturising and it really helps to smooth and control frizz.

Talking of smoothing.. Oils! I recently repurchase the 125ml bottle of Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment as well as a 100ml bottle of the Moroccan Oil. After using each for a few months now I would say I prefer the Macadamia in wet hair as a leave in treatment and the Moroccan for styling and smoothing fly aways. Both are great but the Moroccan is heavier and easy to accidentally over-use and look greasy where as the Macadamia is lighter and more like a serum so it's my oil of choice. 

Lastly I've only recently really started using heat protectant. I know that's very naughty of me but I just didn't do it. These are the the ones I'm using at the moment. The Aussie isn't the best because it squirts a concentrated stream of liquid which saturates one spot of hair whereas the Trevor Sorbie gives a wider mist. Either way I tend to spray them on my brush and run that through my hair so as to avoid weighing my hair down with unnecessary excess of products.

So that's everything I'm using right now. I recently tried a few things from the new Mark Hill range at Boots and you can expect to see a mini review of that soon. I only used the shampoo and conditioner once and it's definitely not going to make it in my regular rotation. I'm an official Aussie convert and Macadamia Oil products do wonderful things for dry, damaged hair so if you're looking to improve the condition of yours I would strongly recommend you give them a go!

Miss BB

A Hair Raising Plan

I look at this picture of Elizabeth Olsen and think, 'she's pale like me! Maybe I could pull off that blonde.. but the picture below tells a different story. I look paper white! I'm sure I'm not quite so ghostly in real life but you may have noticed my new hair colour. You can see the shade I was here. I used ColourB4 to take out as much of the dark colour as possible. It left me with warm brown tones. I have an appointment at the salon tomorrow and my intention is to have about an inch chopped off the bottom, all of my layers trimmed and... as many highlights as they can cram on my head!

I've been brunette for more than a year now which someone pointed out to me is probably the first time in a decade and I'm bored! I've been contemplating a change for a while and I thought, why not in time for our honeymoon in Vegas? I love experimenting with new makeup when I change my hair colour but it takes a while to find the right combos so I wanted a little while to get used to it before we go away. They also say that there's only 2 weeks between a bad haircut and a good one.. well we fly 2 weeks on Sunday so fingers crossed I'm loving my new honey coloured mane by then!

I wanted to share my plan ahead of the appointment to prepare you for the 'reveal' post and inevitable YouTube video that will follow. Annoyingly I did just buy a new set of chocolate brown hair extensions which I mentioned in another post. I never showed you them because they weren't a perfect match and now they obviously won't be. I'm sure I will be brunette again at some point so I will keep them until then. If you want to see them I uploaded a video wearing them (link)

Until tomorrow...

Miss BB

I Resolve...

This year I have 3 main resolutions (that would concern you on this blog that is) they are as follows...

1. Look after my hair
2. Look after my skin
3. From the 1st January until the 1st March - NO SPENDING! 

So technically the third isn't a resolution for the whole year but I will still be pretty impressed if i manage to keep it all the same. The reason for the spending ban is our trip to Vegas on March 18th. I'm allowing myself a couple of weeks off just before in case there are any last minute "essentials" I need to pick up. We need to save as much as we can for spending money while we're over there and once we're back we intend to save towards a new car so hopefully I will learn over the next 2 months how little I actually NEED to spend and can continue to cut back once the self-imposed ban is lifted. I don't know about you but like most shopaholics (yes it's a real thing!) I get a buzz from the initial spend, I shop to make myself feel better and of course I shop because I have a seemingly unending list of must-have items I do not yet posses. I am going to try my absolute darnedest not to shop for that short(ish) time and if I can do it ANYONE can.. who's with me?

The relationship I have with my hair has always been the same. I expect too much out of it when I put very little in. I TORTURE my hair and expect it to shine and grow faithfully and when it doesn't I lose interest. I chop it off (MYSELF!!!) because it needs a cut and then I'm bored with the colour and so bleach the health right back out of it.. It's put up with an awful lot from me over the years and it's about time I gave it some proper attention. I am 25 now (soon to be 26), the time for pink streaks and home highlights is over! I hate to have it cut but I know it must be done. The split ends are spreading and it's breaking off halfway up my lengths.. I've spent mountains of cash on treatments, conditioners and oils only to realise until it's been seen by a licenced professional nothing will help. My hair is effectively a money pit right now so.. I declare 2012 "Project Hair". On January 1st I will take a picture of my hair as it both dried naturally, straightened and the state of my ends. I will shortly after be visiting the salon for the first time in over 2 years for a cut and making repeat appointments for regular trims until such a time that the condition will actually allow it to grow. I have already started some necessary damage control and added a heat protectant to my regime (never before used *slaps wrists*), will limit heat styling to once a week and just generally be as kind as I possibly can be to my poor, neglected mop. I know lots of people initially found my videos and blog through my hair adventures and I hope to be able to help those of you who did by taking you on this next journey with me. I will be regularly updating on condition, what I'm using and of course GROWTH and sincerely hope this time next year to have the beautiful hair I've always dreamt of.

Skin. I thought I'd found my skincare mojo earlier this year. I have my HG Clean & Clear Moisturiser and I found Superdrugs Tea Tree Toner and Cleanser to be a great addition to my routine.. Then I discovered Liz Earle. All I will say is it is everything they've said it is and more. If it's not working for you chances are you're not doing it right or you're not doing it regularly. The first few times I tried it I wasn't impressed but once it became a nightly cleanse.. wow! I'll admit I'm not great at keeping up a routine but now I know what it can do for my skin I really do try to get it in once a day. I just invested in a huge 150ml pump so that will definitely be a 2012 staple. As /i mentioned previously I have recently acquired a Clarisonic (very exciting!) also so between the two I am confident I will see a huge improvement in my skin. Unforunately as I've grown older my skin has changed and my trusty clean & clear doesn't seem to be doing the same magic it once did. It's still a great treatment for blemishes but I require something a little heavier to see me through now so I'm on the look out for my next great moisturiser.. i may go back to Clinique. Lastly one addition I will definitely be purchasing in the new year is a good eye cream. I'm considering the Loreal Youth Code range at the moment.. but then should I go the whole hog and get the matching night cream too? I'm quite sure that's a post in itself. 

It must be my age and where I'm at in my life (nearly married with 2 kids) I feel settled an I feel my appearance should reflect that. I don't want to look like a teenager with ratty hair and spotty skin.. I can afford to forgo my weekly makeup fix (or at least downsize it) to make way for some much needed base-level pampering, can't I? I mean after all anything I put on my skin or my hair will look so much better when they are in great condition. Being a blogger is great for so many reasons but one that's fitting now is motivation. If I don't do these things someone (or someoneS) will question me.. almost give me a hard time about it and while that may not always be desirable it's sometimes good to have that angel on your shoulder guiding you towards to right path. In this case it's a tweet in my pocket but it's the same principle. 

So they are my resolutions. I've been realistic, I'm not setting unachievable goals but they are challenging for me and I will have to work to keep them. Each has it's own reward which I'd very much like to reap so I'm asking you to please remind me of them when you see me slipping.

What will you change for the better in 2012?

Miss BB

My 2012 Wish List

My wish list for the coming year is not long but it's compiled of items I am desperate to get my hands on. The Moroccan oil is a last minute amendment as I recently purchased the 25ml and will certainly be needing the larger size. The 25ml was on my wish list you see but I just couldn't hold it in any longer. Another thing to mention would have to be the Clarisonic which I am likely to receive next week but that's still technically 2012 and I have waited a whole YEAR to get it so it' still going on the list. The Naked 2 does not hit the UK until January 1st where I will be banging down the door at dawn to get mine so again.. it will be an early check off for that one too but I consider it an absolute MUST-HAVE! The Babyliss Big Hair has seen some major blogger buzz over the past few months and since I'm trying to lay off my straighteners I am loving anything that can leave me looking "done" while avoiding them and the reviews I've seen of this are amazing. Lastly, I'm not sure a haircut can really go on a wish list but I consider any trip to the salon a luxury. I've coloured my own hair for years and haven't had a professional cut in at least 3.. maybe 4 so it it kind of a big deal. I hate to pay for someone to cut my hair when I really don't want it doing but come January "Project Hair" takes effect and the dead ends must finally come off *sob*

 I am on a self imposed spending ban (all but for the Naked 2 which I am allowing myself as an early birthday treat) from now until our trip to Vegas in March. I have the wedding to pay for in January and then all my spare cash will go towards our spending money. It's going to be tough but I'll appreciate it when I'm throwing dollars around our hotel room and cleaning out Sephora (these are the mental images I've chosen to get me through this difficult time)

Watch out for my second annual Budget Beauty Awards post coming very soon where I round up the years most used and favourite products. I've switched a lot of my hair and skin care in the past month so many of my beloved staples have taken a back seat in my regime but they still have their place in my heart and I'm sure I will find my way back to them.. I always do!

What's on your 2012 wish list?

Miss BB