Tangle Teezer Obsession

Tangle Teezer Compact - Tangle Teezer Original - Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash 

(cheapest I could find was Amazon, all under a tenner)

As a child I had out of control hair, always in a plait and I hated washing my hair. I remember the tears and pain as my mum tried to untangle it. To this day I have no idea why she didn't just cut all my hair off. A few years ago I discovered Tangle Teezer, I thought they would never work on my tresses but how wrong I was! It really does work. They were developed by colourist Shaun Pulfrey and was even turned down by the Dragon's Den in 2007. Now they are a global brand and constantly growing, 

I originally bought the Compact Styler, mainly because it was leopard print. Even the smaller version managed to untangle the dreaded knots in my hair. (Mine has since been dyed slightly red due to my permanently dyed red hair) In the Selfridge's Beauty Box a while ago the Aqua Splash version was included, perfect for the shower. It doesn't slip out of your hand, doesn't have any holes for water to build up going manky and horrible. The hollow middle allows it to be really light weight, no dropping it on your toes in the shower (other people do this, right?)

This past weekend there was a lovely discount code for ASOS so I caved and bought the full size beauty. It is perfect. Especially for only £6 ;) Somehow the lovely soft teeth manage to glide through my hair without hurting too much and untangling knots and snags from wearing my hair in a top knot for far too much of my life.

I just wish the Magic Flower Pot had been around for my child hood years! 

Hair Basket

I have already written about about my thick hair and how I tame it, this is just an extended version of my current favourite hair products (new and old!).

I have got far too comfortable wearing my hair in a massive bun on the top of my hair, it is just so easy. Last week I had a few inches cut off and have vowed to make a bit more effort drying and styling it properly. In fact I did the whole routine this morning only to tie it in a top knot without an hour. Baby steps.

Before drying my hair I tend to use a oil but at the minute I am favouring the Macademia Straightening Balm from The Body Shop as recommended by a friend on twitter. It seems to have vanished from their website so hope this means it hasn't been discontinued. It is heat activated so perfect for use before hair drying. If my hair is extra tangled, as normal, I tend to give a quick spritz of L'Oreal Kids Detangling Spray before running a Tangle Teezer through it. 

I dry my hair with the GHD Air hair drier which deserves its own special post, after all I did spend a ridiculous amount of money on a hair drier. I love using a big round brush to half blow dry bits when I can be bothered.

I use the amazing Cloud Nine Wide Plate Straighteners. After borrowing my friends wide plate straighteners I was hooked, so much quicker for long hair. These were a Christmas present but also a bargain with 25% in the pre-christmas sales! The adjustable heat is wonderful as I really don't need the full 220 degrees C to smooth my already mostly straight hair. Before using them I spritz them with Lee Stafford Flat Iron Protection Mist which gives such good protection against heat, my only problem is the smell which is a bit too chemically for my likening. I prefer the Argan Oil version as it leaves my hair so smooth, except it is double the price. 

One of my longest used products is After Party from TIGI Bed Head. It smells amazing, comes in a wonderful pink bottle and is the perfect finishing smoothing cream. I tend to tip my hair upside down and run this through from the middle to the ends which helps smooth the ends. I like big hair, so if I am going out I tend to add a matte powder such as Toni & Guy's Sculpting Powder, it doesn't feel as tacky in my hair as some do and gives wonderful volume. I do really love the Osis + version which was the first I used but the high street versions are just as good and more readily available.

If just a normal day I tend to spray dry shampoo through the roots, yes even on clean hair, to give it that two day wash feel. Batiste are the ultimate in the dry shampoo world and only ever buy their version. And look, leopard print bottle!

Thick Hair Problems

     

Now first things first, I am not moaning about having thick hair. I inherited thick hair from my dad and have grown to love it. When I was a child I used to go swimming a lot and used to hate the neck ache my wet hair would cause. Booking a cheap child's haircut? Not a chance. My gran had to ring them and warn them to allow twice the time as a normal child. The day my mum learnt to french plait was an awesome, no more heavy ponytail.

I've never had my hair below shoulder length, I have always had a fringe may it be a side one or full fringe. I once had really short layers cut in, when everyone had that awful Toni & Guy mullet but other than that long thick hair. And always dyed! My hair is naturally dark brown but I have probably dyed it since I was 15. It might be grey underneath for all I know! So how do I look after it?

I always just buy a cheap cleansing shampoo, at the minute Tresseme's is £2 in Tesco, removes all the product build up ready to start again. I then use a conditioner for dry or coloured hair. My usual favourite is John Frieda's Full Repair. Happy Hair Days conditioners were on offer in Sainsbury's (seeing a theme here) so am currently using them. They smell AMAZING. Especially the marshmallow and coconut one.

Organix Moroccon Argan Oil & Brazilian Keratin Therapy Anti-Breakage Serum - My hair gets very dry, probably from all the hair dying and excessive use of heat. I alternate between them however the Brazilian Keratin one has an amazing coconut smell thanks to coconut oil. They leave my hair beautifully smooth and manageable. They are also free from many of the nasties you find in most conditioners. 

Managing - Hair donuts are awesome, I really don't enjoy the slicked back tight bun look. I prefer mine to be slightly messy. I am currently getting back into braids, so easy to hide a full thick fringe in this weather. I am trying to stop drying it and then straightening my hair, I love the smooth straight look. I can't go to bed with my hair wet in a bun and wake up with curls as my hair would still be soaking wet. In fact I could spend all day with wet hair if I didn't dry it.

We all wish we had different hair, I know I did when I was in my early teenagers as I had no idea how to manage my hair. Neither did hairdressers, whenever changing hairdresser they would comment that they did not know what to do with long hair. Ah thanks for the vote of confidence guys!

xxx

No headbands in College, okay?

I love Gossip Girl, I really do. The impossible lives, the amazing wardrobes and Blair's headbands. Or hairbands, I am never quite sure. My grandma referred to them as Alice Bands. Dan Humphrey does take it upon himself to tell Blair "No more headbands in College" as shown in this gif.

I am 22 and still wear hair accessories pretty much every day. Be it a bow pinned to the side of a messy up bun or a hairband to cover up two days of unwashed hair. They are fun to wear for work where my hair needs to be tied up. I do not have Blair Waldorf's budget however, I occasionally find my self looking at £400 headbands and then realising that is rent for a month. A girl can dream! I love flowers in my hair for summer and black lace numbers in winter, mostly bought from Primark, Asda and Matalan. My budget does not stretch to even Topshop, maybe a Topshop sale. 

River Island Multi Flower Alice Band

Pieces Lisette Bird Haircomb

ASOS Leopard Print Turban

Red Valentino Pink Bow Hairband

Pearl & Ivy Blue Sequin Garland Head Band

Topshop Blue Rose Spot Print Wire Headband

MissGuided Denim Heart Print Head Scarf 

The first River Island hairband looks ridiculous on the model, but looks would be fun to wear. Of course the Valentino one is never going to be mine but I love simple classic hairbands, makes the days when my hair is full of dry shampoo and sambuca a bit more manageable when shoved in a messy bun. I love the wire hairbands that are all over the highstreet currently, my favourite is actually a big 'black silk'one from Sainsbury's. However in most that I have bought the stitching has come loose and the wire has started to poke out from the end. Not a good look. 

Floral one from Matalan and the lace one from Asda. It was inevitable the wire would come out in the lace hairband as there are holes in it. The Matalan one is just badly made, oh disposable fashion.

Zoey xox