Five Products Every Girl Needs For Glossy Hair

Bad hair days are rubbish, we ALL get them, right? Some days, my hair looks just kinda limp and lacklustre and there just ain’t no way to make it look pretty. And, when my hair looks sad, I feel sad, which makes it all the more rubbish! But, I think, from years of playing around with what works best, I’ve now worked out exactly which products I need to keep my hair in oh-so-lovely condition, hurrah! Whether your hair is naturally dry or a bit on the greasy side, you’ll be able to find brands of all these products that are just right for you, so, everyone can have a fab hair day, every single day! Ready to pamper your locks? Here’s are the five products I think we all need in our bathrooms…..

Shampoo. Whatever your hair type, you’ll need to keep it clean, obvs. If you have oily hair, like mine, you’ll only need to wash it a couple of times a week. For dryer hair, you might wanna up this to every other day. It’s great to figure out how many washes your hair needs, as too few or too many times a week could be damaging it.

Leave-in conditioner. Now, don’t confuse leave-in conditioner with the stuff you use to condition your hair in the bath. All hair types need the former while only some are suited to wet conditioning. Just like with shampoo, some hair types will need this applied more than others through the week. Everyone will benefit from applying it at least once a week, though, I adore doing it!

Heat protectant spray. This is a biggie, possibly the most important hair product you’ll ever own! I would say, don’t ever attempt to straighten or curl your hair without spraying some heat protectant. Otherwise, your hair will dry out and get split ends, waaaah, sad face. Even if you are only blow-drying for a few minutes, you still need to spritz some of this wonder spray on your head to keep your hair looking lush!

Dry Shampoo. One of the best things about dry shampoos is that they often come in compact bottles, so you can pop it in your handbag and take it with you when you’re out and about. I’ve recently and finally become a big fan of this stuff! You can always put an end to any unwanted greasy roots wherever you may be! Don’t forget that dry shampoo isn’t a replacement for the regular stuff you use in the shower though, otherwise your hair sure won’t be looking it’s best! For maximum results, use it to help your freshly shampooed hair go longer in between washes, and, as a fab root booster for a 60’s kinda look. As it’s dry, you can spray it on your hair without worrying about messing up your dress!

Boar bristle brush. If you don’t like styling your hair with gels, waxes or sprays, then you need a boar bristle brush. These handy little wonders help you create great styles without any products. Not sure which style to go for? Try this diy rose bun hair tutorial, super cute, and pretty easy! Not only do these handy tools cut the need for styling products, but they also reduce and frizz and static, and, they also improve the texture of your locks, sah-weeet! There’s only one limitation with the boar bristle brush – you can’t use it on wet hair. To detangle hair straight out of the shower, use a comb to prevent any damage.

There you go! – now you can say goodbye to bad hair days for good, yaaaay!

 

The Wisdom of WRDSMTH

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Now, I am an official lover of words. I talk lots of words, write lots of words and think lots of words. I’m a kinda wordy girl. I am also a known lover of street art and probably my most favourite street art is when it uses words. Phrases, sayings, messages; I love them, I seek them out deliberately. I adore how cities and towns can have words physically written on them, tattooed onto walls and buildings. How brilliant it is when an artist has felt so compelled to say something that they write it big, spray it large, shout it out for others to read, there’s a gorgeous passion and sincerity there. Like little modern love letters publicly proclaimed, there’s an intimacy with the artist and the reader each time it’s read. Words on a wall can provide a smile, a pick-me-up or a quiet confirmation to you in a crowded and uncommunicative city. So, when I started seeing the work of LA based street artist and writer WRDSMTH pop up in places I just fell loopy in love with his work. And, I mean, he uses an old typewriter font too – which I OBVS love as this font has been my business branding waaay before it was cool  for the last 10 years – so, when you add up all the parts of this guys work…it totals something that seriously gives me heart eyes. Born in Ohio, WRDSMTH gave up his day job to move to LA and make his dreams real, to become a Writer, and he did it, he writes. He is a scriptwriter and a published Author. He took up his moniker and began putting words on the street to get him away from his computer screen whilst still using his passion with words. He’s pretty much anonymous as are so many street artists, and his signature style uses a screen print of an old typewriter and then words on a page wheat-pasted onto the wall. He leaves his mark in cities he visits and although most of his work is in LA, he has words in Philadelphia, Paris, Vegas, San Francisco and London.  His words are beautiful. Inspiring, positive, reassuring, gentle, and sincere. I adore everything he does. W3YES

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The Best Day Dates For Couples

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I’m a pretty big believer in continuing to date after you and your partner get together. Not much is nicer than dressing up and heading out for a date. You can flirt, talk, and enjoy each other’s company, while spending that often lost quality time together. While most of us choose to date at night – dinner and drinks is the most typical date night for couples, but I kinda like to switch it up a little. When you think about it, day dates are a way better option, as they give you longer together, as well as a wider choice of things to do. (You could even turn your day date into a road trip for two…. James and I LOVE mini road trips to the sea!) Of course, a teeny dilemma that comes with organising a day date is what to wear. It can get you in a pickle choosing an outfit for dinner and drinks, let alone a day date. However, don’t panic, I’ve got you covered! Along with all the best day date ideas, I’ve got some trusty tips for how to dress for them, coz, as every girl knows, looking good is an essential part of dating.

Hop in the car and explore a new city – If you love visiting new places, jump in the car, choose a random place and go and explore it. Aim for somewhere that you’ve never been before or spent much time in so that you can explore together. Ideally, opt for somewhere that’s no further than a couple of hours away, else you’ll spend most of your time driving! Once you arrive, spend your day wandering around together. There’s something beautifully romantic about exploring a new place while hand in hand with your partner. Look in the shops, visit sites of interest, go for lunch. To get an idea of all the best places to eat, have a look on TripAdvisor. That’s the only downside to exploring a new location; you don’t know where serves the best food but a little research will find you that best vegetarian place pretty swiftly! As for your day date fashion, for a casual day out exploring a new area, there are plenty of options. I would suggest dressing nicely but casually, in an outfit that’s warm and comfortable. A pair of skinnies, a jumper, scarf, coat, and stylish pair of ankle boots would be my perfection. Dress smartly but also comfortably, and don’t make the mistake of wearing heels. (As every gal knows, heels and lots of walking really don’t mix – hello, blisters.)

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Get adventurous with a day at a theme park – If you’re in need of a little adventure, how about heading to one of your favourite theme parks? We all need a little bit of fun in our lives, and spending the day at a theme park is the perfect way to make your date day a little more fun. I shall one day get James to take me to Hello Kitty World! Is there a theme park near you – then head there. Or, if you fancy going a little further afield, have a look online for the UK’s best theme parks. Thorpe Park, Alton Towers and Blackpool Pleasure Beach are three of the best theme parks in the country. So if you live close enough to one of these, opt to go there. If you have a look online, you may even be able to get your hands on some discounted tickets, more money left over for arcade fun…whoop! Of course, the question that is most probably on your mind is what should you wear for a theme park date? Well, unless you want to show the world your underwear, don’t wear a dress. Dresses or skirts and roller-coasters really don’t mix. Jeans and a nice top are a safe bet – leave the scarf at home though and stick to trainers or boots, instead of ballet pumps. (Shoes that come off easily are not advisable when going on a theme park rides, for obvious reasons!)

Book into a spa for a day of relaxation – If life has been a little stressful recently, the perfect day date is, of course, a trip to a spa….mmmmm! Book yourself and your partner in for a tranquil day of pampering and spend time relaxing together. Get massages, unwind in the sauna, and sip drinks in the hot tub. Surely, there’s no better day date than that? Don’t let the cost of heading to a spa put you off, if you have a look online, you can find some incredible deals. Look on Voucher Cloud and Wowcher, and you should be able to find some great discounts. You might even find a gem of a deal that includes a fancy lunch or afternoon tea, so it’s worth keeping your peepers open. As for what to wear, a smart-casual outfit, like a day dress and cardigan is ideal, especially if you’re having a fancy lunch afterwards. Just make sure not to forget your swimwear, so that you can relax in the hot tub!

These are just a few simple ideas to get you started on your day date planning; there are so many other ways that you can spend the day together, heaps of endless options, HAVE FUN!  

 

Scream Queen Dream

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So, Scream Queens on E4, isn’t really aimed at me, surely I’m out way of their target age range, but, have you SEEN it? Oooof! I watched the first episode thinking it would just be a cute bit of easy breezy telly on a winters night, and, by gosh, waaah, I was hooked, it’s a dream to watch, it’s like candy floss for the eyes; a swanky pastel fash fest! Now, I ain’t seen styling as superb as this since Sex and The city, and that’s sayin’ somethin! It totally blows me away every episode, such saccharine sweet goodness in every look. It’s kitsch, it’s tongue in cheek, it’s hilariously written and it’s so overly styled it’s like watching a preened My Little Pony winning a show jump; SUBLIME. The set too, is impeccable, I gasp when I watch it. I adore trash TV like this, great escapism from my sofa with my kitty on my lap and hearts in my eyeballs. The look of this show is utterly faultless. I have one MAJOR bone to pick with it though, it massively mocks the issues of girls and eating disorders, which is ridiculously irresponsible, seriously NOT GOOD. The characters are seen eating cotton wool balls for lunch and appear sat at a dinner table eating thin air with knives and forks, frequent references are also made to dieting and making yourself sick. It’s more than crazy that they include this in a show which has an enormous young following. I mean, I totally get that this show is satirical, it parodies the genre, the style and the intelligence of shallow college girls, but the eating disorder thing, that’s satire gone crazy. Maybe girls these days respond more to the fear of ridicule than anything else so the writers feel the inclusion of stuff like this is a good way to educate girls on eating and body issues, I can’t figure it out. But the rest of the show is just SO damn good I can only hope they have a good intention behind their reason to mock eating issues. I’m stumped. But, still, pretty show, very, very pretty.

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Gifts To Make You Go OOOOOH!

What could be better than giving somebody a gift that really makes them go ‘Oooooh’?

A gift that’s surprising, beautiful, useful, unique…yep, ALL of that! I’ve fallen for a couple of gifts that’ll make THE most amazing Christmas presents – and presents in general – for those people that you love! (it’s really a list of what I want!)

A Charging Bag/Wallet Ever considered what it would be like to be able to charge your phone wherever you go, without needing a power outlet? This is a DREAM for me as my phone battery is ALWAYS dying, and with a charging bag or wallet, my dream kinda came true! They’re designed with aesthetics in mind too as they look super stylish, plus, they’re practical too, ACE!

Microwaveable Slippers It’s freezing cold at this time of year. Lots of people tend to get cold feet, I DO! You can combat this problem with a cute pair of microwaveable slippers, ta-dah, so cute! All slippers in general are one of my most favourite unique and unusual gift ideas!

A PILL Water Bottle I recently discovered the PILL water bottle! It is such a brilliant design and I’m a girl who ALWAYS uses a hottie bottie in the Winter! These are really easy to fill up and will keep anybody toasty during this Brrrrr season! It’s another great gift for people who are always complaining that they’re cold…. I am one of those people!

Bluetooth Speaker A bluetooth speaker is a great gift for the music lovers in your life! They can take this gift with them wherever they like, and stream music through their phones on the go. But what about an unusual bluetooth speaker? These speakers can look really fun and are great for people who like funky and unusual gifts! You can find bluetooth speakers that are funky shapes, and I even speakers that look like owls! Whoop!

A Home Cheese Making Kit This one’s for my boyfriend James, THE biggest cheese fiend out there! Rather than buy a cliche cheese board, or an unattractive block of cheese (like you’d actually do that?!), you can buy them a home cheese making kit! This gives them an insight into how cheese is made, and means they’ll enjoy their cheese EVEN more!

A Hamper If you’re stuck for a gift ideas, make your own hamper! Fill it with things you know they like, and a few things you think they might like. All you need to do is buy an cute hamper, fill it with all the gifts you’ve chosen, and wrap it up so it looks super pretty. There’s even companies who specialise in making hampers for you. Research the best ones before choosing as there’s heaps to choose from!

Coming up with the best gifts for Christmas and other occasions is always a whole lot of fun. I like to think of gifts I think a person could use, rather than something they’ve said that they want, otherwise it’s all too obvious right? It also shows I’m thoughtful, and it’s way better than a voucher. What sort of gifts would you add to the list? How do you come up with Christmas present ideas? Let me know in the comments below! Happy Shopping!