Monday 21 January 2013

Don't forget about your natural nails


With nail art, gels and acrylics being all the rage right now, we might forget about the beauty of our natural nails.

I thought I’d take a break from the colour and just wear a clear polish but I took of a layer of nail polish off last week and noticed how much the constant reapplication of nail varnish had stained my nails.

Did I need to give my nails a breather from all the lacquer?

Researching opinion online I read that nails are made of keratin so, they don't require oxygen and do not need to ‘breathe’ the way your skin does. 

Expert nail technicians at Jessica Nails dispelled the myth further saying: “Nails actually don't need to breathe, it's a myth! Keeping them polished actually helps to protect them.” 

Furthermore luxury nail artist Sophy Robson added nails, “don't need to breathe they are dead tissue. But if you leave the same polish on for too long they will stain and dry out.”  

So there was no need for my panic it seems all I need to do is regularly change nails polish after a while to avoid discolouration and dehydration and give them a lil’ tlc.

Knowing that I’m looking after my nails in the right way now I can continue doing what I set out to do and that was to ditch the colour and go for clear natural nails.



nail care



Nails Inc beauty product / Forever 21 , £3.02 / John Lewis / Clear nail polish, £5.03 / The Body Shop body shop, £7.54

Bianca x

Friday 18 January 2013

Trying out deep conditioning treatments for afro hair


In between hairdressing appointments I’ve been treating my hair to deep conditions to maintain moisture and stop it from drying out.

As there are various deep conditioning treatments on the market I thought it would be good to try a few and to see which gives the best nourishment and shine.

My hair curly and straight

My hair texture is natural I can wear it curly or straight at its best it’s silky and soft but from time to time it gets frizzy, dry and needs some love. That’s where the treatments come in handy.

I got all my treatmeant packets at my local hair and beauty shop Shaba Hair & Cosmetics for 99p each.

 

Olive Oil Replenishing Pak

How it works – After shampooing apply a generous amount to hair and comb through apply to sections of hair to make sure it’s distributed. Place a plastic cap over the hair and sit under a warm dryer for 10-15 minutes or leave on the hair for 45 minutes to 1 hour without heat.

What I thought - I tried the Olive Oil treatment two different ways with and without heat. I found results were better when sitting under a warm dryer for 30 minutes, my hair was softer after setting and not so frizzy when using heat.

This is a thick and creamy lotion that blends into the hair easily there is a generous amount inside one sachet which is perfect if you have thick and long hair. The sweet citrus scent is slightly overpowering it’s one your either will like or not but once it’s on the hair it smells pleasant.

This was first deep conditioning treatment I used and after a fair amount of time applying it I felt my hair become too used to it.

I think if your hair really dry and damaged, this deep conditioner is ideal for use for several weeks to start with. It will replenish your hair and bring back moisture but after then I’d switch to something else.

Rating 3/5.

Crème of Nature Argan Oil

I decided to try out Crème of Nature’s deep conditioning treatment after hearing all about the hype of argan oil.

How it works – After shampooing apply a generous amount to hair and comb through from root to ends apply to sections of hair to make sure it’s distributed. Place a plastic cap over the hair and sit under a warm dryer for 10-15 minutes or leave on the hair for 30 minutes to 1 hour without heat.

This treatment is infused with certified organic argan oil from Morocco. The presence of vitamin E in makes it a great agent for hair treatment. I am guilty of using too much heat on my hair and over styling so I felt hopeful that the vitamin E in the argan oil would restore and repair my hair.

What I thought - The conditioner can be applied very easily the lotion is light and sweet smelling. I used this treatment with and without heat and found better results sitting under a warm dryer for 20 minutes. Once my hair had been rinsed I found my hair to be soft and frizz free which would be great if I wanted to air dry my hair to keep it curly.

After setting I found my hair to be soft at the roots but frizzy at the ends, I think this could be as this product acts like a protein treatment and benefits the scalp and roots more than the hair.

Rating 3/5

Dr. Miracle’s Feel It Formula Tingling Intensive

How it works – After shampooing apply a generous amount to hair and comb through from root to ends apply to sections of hair to make sure it’s distributed. Place a plastic cap over the hair and sit under a warm dryer for 10-15 minutes or leave on the hair for 30 minutes to 1 hour without heat.

What I thought – The formula is like a breath of fresh air for your hair the tingling sensation on the scalp is enjoyable. It also contains good oils like avocado and almond, along with vitamins A and E to improve hair health. Once I worked the lotion into my hair, I put a plastic cap on for 30 minutes without heat.

After using this packet a couple of times I noticed how my hair was soft and shiny after setting and it felt smoother compared with the results using the Olive Oil treatment.

I think this would be too for fine hair as it produces an oily texture after application but it would be ideal for very dry and heat damaged hair.

Rating 4/5

Soft n’ Free Milk & Protein Olive Oil

How it works – After shampooing, use the entire peacket to condition hair and scalp. Comb through with a large toothed comb. Cover hair with a plastic cap and sit under a warm dryer for 10 to 15 minutes, or keep hair covered for 30 to 45 minutes without heat. Rinse well and towel dry.

On a regular trip to my local hair shop the Soft n’ Free conditioning treatment packet caught my eye. This was something I hadn’t tried before and I hadn’t used Soft n’ Free products since I was in primary school but I thought I’d give it a go.

What I thought – I was impressed with the light and creamy texture of the lotion. This was easily applied to my hair and didn’t feel too heavy in consistency.

I placed a plastic cap on for 30 minutes without heat and after rinsing set my hair as usual with the hair dryer then straightners. I really like how this treatment left my hair feeling bouncy, smooth and fresh. I didn’t feel dry the next day or frizzy in texture, this was by far my favourite treatment to use I even went back to the store and bought four more packets!

Rating 5/5


What conditioning hair treatments are you using?


Bianca x

Sunday 13 January 2013

Trending SS13: Holographic details

Silver metallics and holographic tones were spotted on the catwalks of Alexander Wang, Jonathan Saunders and Burberry for SS13.

Images: Style.com

I have noticed a couple of new season items on the high street channeling this trend.

On the catwalk clothing was the focus for the silver highlights but while it looks cool I don't think that can transcend well for everyday wear.
Holographic accessories

I think the best way to tap into the metallic/holographic trend is through accessories including shoes, bags, belts and even nails.


If I had to pick I'd go for nails and a clutch. I'm thinking of trying out the Topshop Nails shades In Plume and Eclipse.


 What SS13 are you most looking forward to?

Bianca x