Short hair.

I have been writing a lot of university essay & the like as of late so I feel like my creative juices are in full flow which I is probably why I got up this morning & decided to write on short hair of all things. As some of you may or may not know I have had short hair for about 3 years & I highly doubt I will ever return to the land of long, tousled locks - it just isn't me. I feel like myself with short hair & it has allowed me to dabble in colour & cuts - it isn't as limited as you may think.

On Monday I decided to get my longer pixie cut bleached blonde barnet chopped super short & into a medium brown - I love it. I look tanned! I will know doubt get bored & go back to blonde but for now I am happy as a brunette.  I love thi article that I saw another blogger mention:

http://www.paulwhkan.com/pq/shorthair.html

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Getting so much younger.

Just a really simple outfit - as I seem to say everytime - I'm just off reteraunt hunting & to see about the blue screen of death that keeps appearing on my laptop... #pleasebeok

I love this blouse from H&M, it is so versatile & comfortable, it was an absolute bargain too. The bag I got for Christmas but it is one of those things that before my style changed fitted with my old sense of style. Maybe it was a catalyst in the change... Who knows!

Happy Saturday everyone!

Blouse H&M, Necklace, Jeans & Bag - Topshop, Above the knuckle rings - EBay

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Style Crush #10

I think, don't quote me, that Ashley is in these pictures. I think, I find it extremely hard to tell them apart! Nonetheless the Olsen twins have the perfect mix of high fashion, boho & grunge to their style. Ashley, I feel, is the more put together twin with Mary Kate having a touch more 'grunge'. Whatever the opinion,  both styles I can't fault. They grew up in the spotlight & have 100% grown into their own styles in recent year. They own numerous successful fashion brands - they have to be stylish!

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Hair care

Hair care is something that I have really gotten into recently. Having bleached hair for the 2nd time in my life I know from my 1st experience that it requires a lot of care. It gets very dry, takes on a lovely fluffy cloud texture in the morning & feels funny when it gets wet. This said, these are my go to products in order to keep my hair soft & nourished as well as keeping brassy yellow tones at bay and adding some shine. You can see my full hair history here. 

Not all products mentioned are pictured as I am at my Mum & Dad's house, grabbing the most convenient products while packing has resulted in leaving a few in the flat! 

Washing & Conditioning
My 1st journey into Team Blonde saw me use firstly, John Fredia Colour renew shampoo & conditioner before moving onto the Lee Stafford Bleach blondes shampoo & conditioner. The Lee Stafford products I chose to use again this time around until I discovered the Touch of Silver line through blogs. This stuff is not only cheap but an amazing product that really cares for the hair. Currently I am using the Daily Maintenance shampoo, nourishing shampoo & the twice a week brightening shampoo. These three products, particularly the twice a week shampoo keep my colour bright & yellow free without breaking the bank!

To keep add some moisture back to my hair I use the Herbal Essences Hello Hydration shampoo, conditioner & hair mask. All three of these products leave my hair feeling soft & helps to combat the fluffy texture bleached hair can take on sometimes. Generally I use the The touch of silver line shampoo & conditioner one day then the Herbal Essences the next with the twice a week brightening shampoo funnily enough twice a week! I like to do a hair mask at least twice a week leaving it on for as long as possible. This can sometimes be up to an hour depending on time constraints.

Blow drying
My hair needs to be blow dried. It is of a style that if it isn't blow dried bad things happen...

I keep this pretty simple currently switching between two products. The first is the VO5 Miracle Concentrate with Argan oil. This product does wonders when blow drying my hair, it makes it smooth & soft along with taming any fly away. Although my hair is short I like to use a generous amount of this product simple because my hair is so dry it needs it! I was a total div & spilt my bottle losing about a 1/5 of it - not a happy bunny that morning! I will 100% repurchase this stuff when my bottle runs dry. Total miracle product.

The second is the Tresemme Split Remedy Treatment. Something I bought on a whim trying to make up an offer in actual fact it has become a firm favourite hair care product for me. It leaves me hair soft & tamed without weighting it down or making it greasy. I wouldn't chose this over the Miracle Concentrate but it is a lovely product that works really well. I like to think of this as my not doing much but am doing my hair-hair product. If that even makes sense?!

I also use the Toni & Guy Heat defense spray lightly on my fringe prior to straightening.

Styling
This last step is key in getting the style correct with my hair cut but it doesn't really have any products which particularly 'care' for my hair. For volume I like to use a powder/dust, currently it is a Schwarzkopf one that a friend left at my flat & later gifted to me but I loved the VO5 version too. I use this for a little bit of height &texture through the top of my hair. To mess it up a little & to hold the style in place I choose one of three products; Toni & Guy Defining wax for defined texture (silver pot) or the Toni & Guy Funky gum for flexible separation with shine or my one true hair wax love that is oh so expensive but fabulous the Shu Uemura Kengo Feather. If I could chose one product to style my hair with it would be the Kengo Feather but I can't afford it every time I need a new tube although the tubes last for ages. One day I will use this bad boy everyday but for now the Toni & Guy waxes do the job when I don't feel like using my Kengo feather. The defining wax funnily enough gives my hair definition & texture while adding a bit of weight whereas the Funky gum gives a lighter feel to the hair as well as giving the hair some texture & shine.

So that is pretty much my hair routine! Hopefully someone finds it useful?!

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Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' - A classic movie. One of my favourites if you ever ponder the crucial question that is 'What films are in her favourites?' Now you have one of the many!  Growing up my mum introduced me to the world of "old movies" & the romance was born. I always wanted to be Jane Russell as a child gallivanting on a boat or a steam train getting myself into trouble & falling in love without knowing it - who doesn't want this?! Growing up watching the likes of Jane Russell & Marilyn Monroe with their beautiful figures has resulted in - after many teenage years spent longing to be flat chested, hip-less & bottom-less - a deep appreciation for curves & the beauty that they possess. 


The lines & the general put together look of the times is beautiful. It exudes glamour & class, I would love to dress in day time as they do in films of this period. Marilyn in the blue shift dress with gloves & a fur stole is just so perfect!  

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Don't tell me it's over

The quality of these pictures isn't too good as we got our windows cleaned today & the sun is literally beaming through - I didn't even realise they had got so dirty until they were cleaned! So I apologise for the image quality but you can see the outfit well enough, it isn't overly detailed so the images do the job!

Orange is one of my favourite colours, if not my all time favourite, when I saw these wedges last summer I had to have them! They are pretty high & not overly comfortable which I why I hardly ever wear them but the orange hue just worked so well with my navy H&M trousers & striped H&M vest so I couldn't not wear them! I won't lie I have since donned my trusty Wallis sandals as the pain was getting a little too much for me but I put up with the pain for a little, enough time to appreciate their beauty. They are now safely back in my cupboard until their next outing! Probably next summer for about 20 minutes!

Also, I cannot believe it is August already! So crazy!

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I hope someday we'll meet again.

Wearing: New Look top, River Island shorts, H&M belt, Tesco bag, Rings Ebay & Accessorize, Bracelets A mix, Sunglasses Ebay

I was all set to go chill in the park today in the sunshine then as soon as I stepped outside it rained! Typical. Instead of chilling in the sunshine I changed my room about, I love doing this. I do it so much! My style is changing a little bit recently, it is getting a little more relaxed & I am kind of loving it. I am also loving my new little above the knuckle rings from Ebay, they add a nice little touch of interest.

I am on a major major spending ban as I realised today I am skinter than a skint thing! Not good. I get paid a week on Friday so I am pretty much spending the week going to the gym, reading & on the interweb - basically no nights out or shopping. Boo hoo! 

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Style Crush #8

I could have added hundreds more pictures for this lovely lady. Kelly Osbourne has become such a big Style crush of mine recently, she has a beautiful mix of classic and modern but is always glamorous. Her hair & make up keeps simpler pieces more edgy & she loves detail in an outfit. Love, love love. Also, Fashion Police is amazing television, got to love a bit of Joan!

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Look at the stars

My mums birthday is coming up, a week on Thursday to be exact, so I have been out getting bits together for her present - so far I have some MAC bits & some earrings - while out shopping I inadvertently picked up some bits for myself... oops! Two were sale finds & one was free so it wasn't that bad really. The knitted vest was a Topshop sale find for £7, I think it will be really versatile & easy to wear, the white striped top is from New Look which is another easy to wear piece. I've really gotten into earrings again recently so when I saw these babies in the Miss Selfridge sale for £2, £2(!) I had to get them, the shape of them is just so different & interesting. When I was getting my MAC bits for my mum I back to MAC'd for Creme cup lipstick, I like it but it is a bit of a nothingy colour. I'll use it up anyways! I look a little chavtastic in the last picture in my zipper with my earrings in - I promise I didn't wear it like this! I was just chilling & thought I'd take a wee snap for this post. The zipper is also actually a new purchase from New Look.

I'm actually listening to U2 'The City of Blinding lights' as I type & I absolutely love the line 'Don't look before you laugh, look ugly in a photograph' - to me it just gives the image of if you're having fun & doing your thing why do you have to pose & make sure you look how you want in a photo when you can just have it taken randomly & capture a true moment in time, if you get me?! Happy Sunday lovlies

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And I think to myself

Zara Top & belt . New Look jeans . H&M Earrings . Nails Inc Victoria

"No matter how you feel, get up & get dressed." I love this quote, it always makes you feel better to get washed & dressed even if you are just sitting round the house you still feel better! I hadn't worn these trousers in about a year then I took a notion for them, can't beat a pair of red trousers! Earrings were something I used to wear all the time then just stopped suddenly but I think with my new hair cut they work. Let me know what you think! What a shock to not see me in shorts! Exciting times [Insert ironic tone]. I cannot wait until the Festival starts here in August, the city really comes alive & there is loads to do as currently I am beyond bored! There is literally nothing to do especially with the rubbish weather & my lack of funds ... Have a good Monday!

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Time to see me

I'm going through a bit of a transition period at the moment, I used to be all about the heavy lined eye makeup but I'm actually enjoying just wearing mascara. It means I can bronze & highlight up my cheeks ... every cloud! Oh and lashings of gloss! I'm just having a nice chilled Sunday watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta, drinking green tea & attempting to be creative. I can't draw to save myself  - I wish I could, this wish is so strong that in Primary 1 I ran to my teacher at the front of the class in bits because I couldn't draw hands! - but I enjoy writing little paragraphs or short stories. I could do this for hours, getting lost in being someone else. I also enjoy a magazine cut out montage which is my background in most of my pictures or a little doodle in my notepad of song lyrics or quotes I love. This is the depth of my creativity. Can you be taught how to draw? Even if you can't manage hands? Happy Sunday!

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Neutral

 Wearing: Topshop Shell top . H&M Necklace & jeans . M&S Pumps . River Island Watch . Zara bag

My face is not as orange as it looks in the first picture - I promise - due to the shocking 'summer' weather it is really dull & horrible so some editing had to be done in order to get a decent picture! An orange face is a small sacrifice! I love this necklace, my friends saw it in H&M & thought i had already bought it - that's how me it is so obviously I had to buy it. It makes a nice pop of colour in an outfit, I'm really into black with a simple cream, white, putty coloured top then a pop of colour somewhere at the moment. I just think it's a simple look that is still put together - que rushing to the shops to gorge on cream, white, putty, off grey, grey ... just give me neutral! Anyway I have minimal eye make up on, just liquid on the top and a couple of layers of mascara, I'm not really sure if I like it. Normally I'm a heavy eye kind of girl but this could be a nice change?! Let me know what you think! I orginally had this on with my hairy M&S slippers but changed them for my Fred Perry Tennis pumps that badly need replaced & my H&M oversized zipper. It's just so comfy in the words of Conor Maynard I can't say no! Have a good Friday lovlies x

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Wandering.

 I am wearing: Gap Evening jacket . H&M Tshirt . Levi Shorts via Miss Selfridge . Zara bag & heels . River Island Watch . Accessorize Love ring . 17 Hot Chilli lipstick

I really need to incorporate more trousers into my day to day wardrobe, I always seem to reach for shorts! It used to be shorts or dresses constantly, shorts now hold the baton. Todays short of choice were my dark denim wash Levi shorts with a simple off white v neck from H&M & my black evening jacket which I love but is a touch too big for me now. I am doing nothing special today just going wandering! I love wandering, leaving the house & just going wherever my feet take me. In the city it is fun as you could end up finding something amazing that you didn't even know existed. Edinburgh is such a beautiful city too. After three years here I would say in winter time or on a really bright, sunny day the city is at its most beautiful. One thing I believe about wandering is that you must do it headphone-less. Just listening to the noise of everyday life flying by. I love this. I for one definitely spend too much time with headphones in blocking out the noises of real life, sometimes it is nice to escape but sometimes you need to just listen. I am not sure how I feel about this lip colour with my hair which isn't styled too well today! Let me know what you think. Happy Wednesday & wandering!

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Hair History

I thought I would take a little stroll through the history of my hair! What I want in my hair has changed so much. It's gone from longing for long locks to being super duper short so let's go through this...

 2008. Long dark brown hair with a fringe. This was the time when I curled my hair with a curling tong every single day! I loved this at the time.

 Spring 2009. Bit more blonde & full of volume. I used to do the hairspray, wrap hair round a big round brush & blast with the hairdryer. Again at the time I totally loved this, the volume was amazing.

 Autumn 2009. Dyed darker again. Long & wavy. It looks so so dry here which it probably was. First semester of first year at University it was more than likely to be dry!

 Autumn 2009. Still dark & shorter with a side fringe. Bit of a nothing haircut really...

 Spring 2010. Back to my natural colour & back to the old favourite of a big fringe. I loved this, this was a good time in my life so I guess I like the haircut due to that?!

 Summer 2010. I got the big chop! The Frankie cut came out to play. Best decision I have ever made. Loved this!

 October 2010. Shorter again.

 Summer 2011. This was the red face. I loved packing on a a box dye!

 September 2011. Blonde!

 October 2011. Even blonder! It was pretty much white by this point. Loved loved loved this.

 March 2012. I went a darker blonde & got it cut back really short.

 April 2012. Darker & cut really really short. Loved the cut, hated the colour.

Now. Loving the new cut.

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