Herra Hair Perfume & Giveaway

Last week I attended my very first event with Bloggers Love in Leicester Square here in London and with me was the very lovely Claire from Pinkchickclaire. At the event we were lucky enough to meet a lot of really lovely people from some fantastic brands, some better known than others and many who have been going for just a few months.

The brand I am mentioning today is Herra whose story you can read about in the main website. Herra produce a product called Herra Protect Hair Perfume which is exactly what it states it is, a perfume for your hair, yes really. Now I am sure we are all massive fans of perfume, have a huge collection and more often than not when spritzing ourselves will spray some in the air and walk through it, thus perfume hits the hair, well I was told not to do that by my hairdresser because it dries your hair out.

Before I got my hands on it, Herra has featured in many publications and magazines including Vogue and it is beginning to get quite a following in the world of celebrities.

Herra say...
'Herra Protect Hair Perfume is an innovative product created by the joint expertise of London's finest hair talents and a leading fragrance expert. A revolutionary product with weightless, protecting and hydrating ingredients accompanied with the Herra epsilon signature fragrance.'

One thing I love about products is their packaging, if it catches my attention, I am more likely to want to know more about it and find out what it is and Herra does just that. packaged inside this sleek black box with gold writing, the bottle itself is just as sleek and stylish and the right size for putting in my handbag.  

I do as much as I can to look after my hair, I get it cut regularly, I shampoo, I condition and I use treatments when my hair is in need of it. One thing about living in London is that washing and conditioning my hair is fine, but wandering around all day amongst smog, pollution and other irritants (such as people smoking) can make my hair smell and make me paranoid and if I am going to an important meeting, I don't want to smell like I have been sat in a smoking shed all day, I want to smell good. So I have been putting Herra to the test and admittedly I did thing it was a bit of a fad and not something I would really use, as good as it sounds, but I will admit I was wrong and have used it a lot more than I thought and everyone in my office have also been spritzed and sprayed and are equally impressed, the boys not so much, but you cant have everything.

Herra has three main components to protect, moisturise and to add fragrance:

• PROTECT - Sunflower extract protects the structure of the hair. It helps provide protection against UV and can prevent colour fade, whilst olive fruit extract is rich in antioxidants that help shield the hair against pollution and free radicals.
• MOISTURISE - Glycerin helps provide ample hydration and seals in moisture, without weighing down the hair.
• FRAGRANCE - The Herra signature fragrance is a blend of the finest key notes creating a fresh modern, uplifting experience that appeals to all.  Ingredients include: Italian bergamot, loquat fruit, midnight orchid, rose, white jasmine, mimosa, heliotrope, lily, vanilla, tonka bean, sandalwood and musk.

For me the scent is something i have to like to use a product and I love the scent of this, I find it quite uplifting and a mixture of being fruity and floral, neither one being more dominant than the other, it simply works and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Herra Protect Hair Perfume is available from Herra Hair Care at £24.99 (50ml) and I have one to give-away thanks to those lovely people at Herra, to enter into the draw all you need to do is complete the form below and a 50ml bottle could be winging its way to you very soon and naturally I would love to know what you think to it should you win:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a UK only giveaway, please ensure you are at 16 years of age or have parental permission because I will need your address to send the prize too.  All entries will be checked before the winner is announced.

Introducing Beautykinguk!

Today I am excitedly introducing my beloved hubby and his blog to you all...

Yep here is and you can find him at www.beautykinguk.co.uk and on twitter @beautykinguk and bloglovin.

Steve will be giving his view on the male side of things and will include everything from hair gel and hair wax to shampoo and moisturising cream.

Please do go and give him some support....  thank you!

My favourite products of 2013 - Part Two!

So, you have already seen my favourite Lip Products which I posted yesterday and you can find for yourself HERE and today I am going to bring to you my favourite Hair and Body products and there are quite a few to go through within the category as it includes shampoo, conditioners, shower gels and so on.

Hair and Body

Inhibitif - I couldn't really do a favourites product and not feature this one could I?  I have absolutely loved discovering this product and even now 8 months on, I am still using it and the results are just as brilliant i.e less leg shaving.  Inhibitif and the people behind the product at Deciem have also been wonderful and they gave me the opportunity to appear on the product packaging, which in itself is simply amazing and I also appeared in The Sun Newspaper too and you can see both below:

When you are next in Boots buying a new Razor or some hair removing cream, look for Inhibitif and there you will find me and my blog on the packaging.

Bubb & Dimples have managed to combine two of my loves into one - Candles and skincare.  I was first introduced to them back in July and reviewed some of their products HERE.  What I love about these candles is not only do they smell absolutely amazing they are all handmade here in the UK and they literally are a spa in a jar.  As you melt the candles they produce a nourishing body oil which is so moisturising they are wonderful.

label.m - Another company that I love.  I have used a lot of products from label.m and am yet to be disappointed in anything I use.  Shown in the photo above there is Protein Spray, Dry Shampoo and the Honey and Oat Shampoo and Conditioner all of which I have reviewed.  What I love about label.m products is that I have thin, fine hair but a lot of it and my job is quite stressful and I suffer with a dry, flaky scalp not to mention greasy roots and generally my hair can be an utter nightmare.  All of the products I have used to date from this brand have left my hair and scalp feeling wonderful and has given my hair a lovely healthy shine.

Amie - Another brand that I have only come across thanks to being a blogger and another brand I love.  Spring Clean Cooling Mask which I reviewed HERE and Morning Dew Moisturiser which you can find a review about HERE are two products I have found myself going back to time and time again.

Snow Fairy - Well no review of 2013 would be complete without a mention of my all time favourite shower gel and a review of which you can find HERE.  I absolutely love the scent and the fact it is pink gets the big thumbs up from me and as soon as Lush announce it is on sale I am in one of the stores to stock up.

Mint Thé Refreshing Bath & Shower Therapy - I was lucky enough to win this bath and shower gel from Bodhi in a giveaway and I absolutely love it.  A review of it you can find HERE. I love the fact it smells simply wonderful, so fresh and relaxing and as soon as I have got into my bath, I instantly feel more at ease and have no trouble sleeping afterwards.

Macademia Hair Masque - It was a toss up between this and label.m intensive mask, but as I have run out of label.m and threw the pot away into my recycling, I have been unable to feature it in the photo but it is fabulous.  This mask from Macademia smells wonderful and it leaves me hair feeling really nourished and shiney.

Moroccanoil Frizz Control - I got this back in September in a Limebox which you can read about HERE and it is a fabulous product.  Perfect for when I have straightened my hair with my GHDs and am in need of a little serum to tame those few unruly hairs which refuse to stay put, one little spritz and my hair looks perfect, or as near to perfect as I can get it to look.

Soap & Glory Sugarcrush Body Scrub - Not a product I have yet reviewed on my blog which I am surprised by because I absolutely love this scrub,  It smells really zesty and is perfect for waking you up in a morning and as it scrub it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

Elemis Fresh Skin - I got this from the July London Meet up in my goody bag and it was my first real introduction to Elemis and one that I have really enjoyed.  I reviewed this product HERE and what I like about it is how kind it is to the skin but effective at removing dead and dry skin cells to leave my skin looking and feeling soft, smooth and moisturised.

Tangle Teezer - I reviewed this product HERE and was lucky enough to be sent it from WIMH back in August and I probably use it everyday without fail.  It is curved to make it easy to hold when you are brushing your hair and it also goes through my hair without pulling any hair out or causing any damage.

So there you have my hair and body favourites of 2013 and you might be wondering about body moisturisers and why one isn't included, well I am yet to find one that I could call a favourite, there are however a few that I like. 

Would any of these products feature in your favourites of 2013?

Inhibitif Hair Free Deodorant

One thing I hate is hairy armpits, I make no apology for that, I absolutely hate them, on girls and ladies I mean, and I will shave mine every day, even if there is the slightest bit of hair on show.

Then once again I am introduced to Inhibitif, a product that is as part of my life as moisturising cream.  If you haven't read my blog before then you won't have seen any of my reviews on Inhibitif before so you can find a series of blog posts here, here, and the final results you can find HERE.  I have also been using the Face Serum which you can find HERE.

Today, I have the deodorant product to introduce to you.  I am really excited about using this and cannot wait to see the results.  As with the Leg and Face Serum you are advised to use it daily under your arms 8 weeks whereupon which hair growth, density and thickness are visibly reduced, that doesn't mean the hair won't grow back, it simply means it will but at a much slower rate.  Before I used Inhibitif on my legs, I would shave them almost every day, especially in the summer months if I yanked to wear a skirt, now I shave them once every 8-9 days unless I am really paranoid, so for me there has been a dramatic difference, all of which you can read about in the above links.

You are advised not to use this product on peeling or irritated skin and to avoid eye and lip contact.

The deodorant comes in with either a mint fragrance which is the one I have and it smells just like the leg serum or there is a fragrance free option.  I have been using this for a week now and the mint fragrance is actually lovely and as a deodorant I find it keeps me dry and fresh all day long.  You can buy this in Boots or via the official website for £8.99

As for a reduction in hair growth, that I will report back on once the 8 weeks are up.

Have you tried this product or anything like it?  Do you use any products from the Inhibitif range?

Ted Baker Last Minute Stocking Fillers for Him and Her

Okay so how many of you still have one or two last minute gifts to get and really do not want to be running around like a headless chicken?  Well look no further, I have some fantastic products that would make amazing stocking fillers for both him and her.

I have featured a few Ted Baker products on my blog in the last month and I am so impressed with them, I had to share them.  You can find Putting on the Glitz HERE gift set here which features an illuminating Highlighter, a bronzing compact, a Kabuki Brush and a Bronzing glow and if that isn't enough, you can find some Ted Baker eyelash curlers and nail buffer HERE.  All of these products arrive in fantastic packaging and can be found in Boots!

Today I have the Ted's Big swig gift set £12* and it features a 200ml hair and body wash, a 150ml body spray and a large water bottle. I really like the packaging within which these products arrive and it has the following description:

"For maximum performance with minimum sweat, the fresh, invigorating top notes of this (be)spoke Body Spray and Hair & Body Wash contrast neatly with this aerodynamically designed water bottle from Ted. After all, whether a grand tourer or a sprint specialist, everyone needs to whet their whistle from time to time! The Ted Baker Ted’s Big Swig gift set includes Hair & Body Wash that work in tandem with your physique to ensure you’re always oiled for choice, along with Body Spray as fresh as a bright yellow jersey...Saddle up!"

Then we have a gift for the girls, well two actually and they come in the form of nail polish duos.  First up we have Cherry Bomb Duo* £8.50. Described as:

"Put a little fizz in your day with Ted's girly and delicious Cherry Bomb, perfect for girls with a seriously cheeky side"

As you can see from the photos, the first shade is deep cherry colour which is absolutely stunning on its own, never mind with the addition of the sparkle called Sugar Rush, which I also adore.  

The second set I have is called Blue Moon Duo* £8.50 and as before there is a nail polish in a beautiful deep blue shade, so deep it is almost black, I absolutely love it and you can see how blue it is once the light catches it.  Add some sparkle called Space Dust and you add a bit more beauty to your nail colour.  Described as:

" The stunning Blue Moon is for girls who like to maintain a little mystery"

Now hopefully this post has given you some ideas for those last final few presents that you need to get to complete your Christmas Shopping.

Do you have any of these Ted Baker products?  Do you want them?

Inhibitif Hair-Free face Serum

So today I am introducing to you, what is essentially the next phase in the amazing Inhibitif line up of hair minimising products - The Inhibitif Hair-Free face Serum.  Back in April, I introduced you to Inhibitif which you can find across a series of blog posts here, here, and the final results you can find HERE.

The face serum works in the same way as the original serum in that you use it twice daily on the shaved/waxed/threaded areas for 8 weeks until hair growth, density and thickness are visibly reduced. Apply every other day to maintain results. You are advised not to use this product on peeling or irritated skin and to avoid eye and lip contact.

Now, I am sure I am not alone in admitting that I have some facial hair, not a lot and certainly nothing that I am ashamed of and nor is it that noticeable but some friends of mine who really suffer just might find this a life changing product.

The graphic below gives a quick outline and insight into how Inhibitif works and what you should notice when using it.

How does it work exactly? Here is a quick explanation:

“INHIBITIF targets the hair follicle directly to slow down the apparent growth rate and density of unwanted hair; as a result, many hairs seem to never grow while using INHIBITIF, and many hairs seem to grow to a lesser degree. This action on hair cycle reduces the apparent amount of hairs and impairs overall hair quality, thus drastically minimising the need for hair removal in weeks”.

Again, as with the original Inhibitif you could start to see results in as little as 2 weeks but it will take 8 weeks for maximum effect.  I began using Inhibitif in April this year, I am still using it and am on my second bottle and I still only need to shave my legs every 4-5 days which is phenomenal and using the product is very much a part of my regime as using moisturising creams and face masks.

This Face Serum comes in a 30ml bottle and it has a pipette application to make using it much easy

Inhibitif Fair Free Face Serum costs £19.99 and is available from Boots and the Inhibitif website.  There is also to be a deodorant from Inhibitif which I cannot wait to get my hands on, until then, watch this space when I report back in a few weeks time on how well this serum works.

Have you tried any of the products from Inhibitif?

Save The Blow Dry!

SAVE THE BLOW DRY! is not just an ordinary shower cap, it is the Moisture eliminating QUEEN of shower caps which comes with a 100% guarantee of protecting your blow dry.

Did you know that on average us girls spend over 2 hours a week blow-drying and styling our locks? I am sure there are many of you out there who has lovely styled hair until you step out of the shower and end up with a frizzy mess. Well this shower cap is said to put an end to that with its secret combination of the gorgeous waterproof design which has an internal layer of super-absorbent micro weave towelling, which zaps humidity and condensation to leave your hair dry and bouncy. If that isn't enough, this shower cap has a dual use, if you are using a hair mask and want to add a little something extra, turn it inside out and then put over your head to allow the treatment to work more effectively.




I love the packaging for this product, it is really eye-catching and brightly coloured with everything you need to know right in front of you ready to read. You can also found out how to use it, what it states it will do and as an added extra there are some important tips for best results which include:

• Brush your hair 
• If you have long hair, gently clip up/clasp hair 
• Push any stray strands up into hat and ensure hair line is covered 
• Happily bathe or shower looking super cute 
• Dry your body and face before removing Save the Blow Dry 
• Shake Save The Blow Dry to remove excess water and hang up to dry 

The hat itself is really pretty, it is covered with lots of pretty pink bows and if you turn it inside out you can see and feel how soft the micro weave towel is.

Being a shower cap, the one thing you want and expect is that it is waterproof and this one most definitely is. Since owning it, I have used it both as a shower cap and as a cover when using a hair treatment and both work as fantastic as the other. My hair can be like a sponge when it is wet, its power to absorb water never ceases to amaze me and when I want to blow-dry my hair, so if I am showering without the need to wash my hair, I end up with damp, frizzy looking rats tails which I end up having to blow dry anyway. Using this shower cap saves me hours of stress about my frizzy locks because it keeps my hair super dry and almost perfectly blow-dried and styled, I say almost because I still feel the need to run the GHD's quickly over my hair so it once again resembles a style I am happy with.







I have also used this shower cap whilst sitting in the bath and when using a treatment on my hair and again it works fantastically. With a treatment, it is nice to be able to wonder around the house doing whatever needs to be done knowing that your scalp and hair are getting an extra treat and I have no doubt whatsoever that I am carrying off the super cute look.

All of my hair fits snuggly inside this shower cap too, though I only have shoulder length hair and once it is on my head it is really comfortable to wear.

So no only does this mask stop my hair from looking like a frizzy mess, it also doubles up as a little extra when using a treatment and it saves me hours of time when it comes to styling my hair, seriously what more could I ask for? I cannot rate this shower cap from SAVE THE BLOW DRY! enough it is fantastic. If you are wanting one for youself then all you need to do is go to the online store where you can get your very own for just £14.95.

On a serious note, SAVE THE BLOW DRY! are partnered with the Khandel charity in India and for every Save the Blow Dry sold through the website, directly funds a fortnight's safe drinking water for a family in the desert region of Khandel, making a basic, but vital difference to people living with constant drought, where temperatures soar to 45 degrees. which which then you will be helping to provide clean, safe drinking water for an entire family from Khandel, a desert region where temperature reach a scorching 45 degrees. 

**UPDATE**

You can also now buy this cap in blue, as shown below:

Inhibitif: The End of being a Shave Slave - on holiday!!

You'll probably know by now that I have been trialling Inhibitif on my blog and not only do I like it... I love it. For those of you who haven't read about it, my Inhibitif series can be found:

• Introduction to Inhibitif
• 2 week Inhibitif Update
• Featured in The Sun newspaper
• 8 week Inhibitif Update

The idea of this product is that you apply Inhibitif evenly on shaved or waxed body areas twice per day for 2 months or until body hair appears nearly invisible. Then reduce application to 3 times per week to maintain results. Then you should see initial results within 2 weeks and then within 2 months hair should appear finer and finer until the hair removal routine becomes easier and less in frequency as the graphic below shows.

So as I was going away for 6 nights and couldn't take my Inhibitif with me and nor could I at the last minute find a bottle to transfer some into that would be okay for hand luggage (that is all I took) then I would have to go without it and see how my legs reacted.  So before I left, I continued using Inhibitif as you do 3 times a week and I found I had to shave my legs once, twice a week at the most (beforehand it was every other day).

So the morning that I left, my legs were shaved and sprayed leaving them all nice, soft, smooth, hair free and moisurised as shown below:

When I came back 6 days later, this is what you can see...

Just a few small stubbly bits of hair had become visible and for the first time I didn't feel I had to rush out and grab a razor whilst on holiday to shave my legs due to paranoia particularly as I wouldn't have got one in my hand luggage.

Have you tried Inhibitif yet? What are your thoughts on it?

GUEST POST - Colour on Friday Gone by Monday.

The dip dye has made a big impact within the world of hair and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. Summer 2013 has seen the trend becoming even bigger news with everyone adding a stroke of colour to their summer dip dye locks. However, colouring ones hair blues, purples and pinks is not always a realistic and practical commitment that many are happy to make to their hair (consider the startled looks around the office on Monday morning as you stroll in with bubblegum pink tips). It was therefore, only a matter of time before a temporary version was created; all hail the hair chalk! Hair chalking has become a hair sensation, allowing you to show off electric blue locks one night and then return to your original colour the next day. It has particularly become a popular purchase for many festival goers, looking to achieve a quirky look for the weekend. Think of all the fun and creative things you can try out on your hair without any of the, possibly not so sensible, commitments.

What to use?

There are a few different options out there to try for temporarily giving yourself a colourful dip dye look. These include the hair chalk, the hair shadow and the comb in hair colour and all with their own pros and cons...

I have tried colouring my tips with the comb in hair colour http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/pink-comb-in-temporary-hair-dye/invt/5763400303222/ and the hair chalk and have experienced quite different results. For me, the hair chalk won hands down compared to the comb in hair colour. Unlike the hair chalk, the comb in colour is a wet gel like consistency that you need to allow time to dry before you can head out. The drying time for me took around half an hour to 45 minutes and I was stuck sitting around in a towel as I feared the wet colour could stain the white dress I planned to wear. Once dried, it did provide a subtle light pink colouring to my tips, i think however this was helped by my already light blonde hair, my darker haired friend did not have such great success! The hair chalking, however, was a much more simple and effective way to add a temporary colourful dip dye look to your hair, no matter the colour of your hair. On that note, I am therefore going to share a few useful tips for trying out hair chalking. Let’s get colouring!

Top Tips for Successfully Chalking Your Hair:

• All you will need is your chosen hair chalk, a water bottle, a towel and protective gloves. Be careful to lay something down when applying the chalk, it can get a little messy!
• If your hair colour is anything other than blonde you will have to wet the area being coloured first. The water will help the colour to attach to your hair. The wetter the hair, the deeper the colour
• If you are blonde however, applying water first will mean the colour will stay on your hair for a longer period of time. If you want coloured tips but for one night only miss out adding water first.
• Choose semi thick strands of hair, twist the hair and chalk in a downward motion. Twisting the hair as you colour will make the chalk release more pigment and will therefore create a stronger colour
• If you have wet the hair first, just add a little extra time to allow the hair to dry, I would recommend letting the water dry naturally.
• Once dry, you can go over the colour with a straightening iron or curling tong to better seal in the colour.

Know the Best Colours for Your Hair:

Redheads – Be aware that certain colours will change when on your hair, for example colouring it yellow may come out more as an orange. Purples and greens are the best colour choices for this hair colour.

Black hair – Those with black hair need to invest in bright vibrant shades, cobalt blues and shocking pinks are an awesome dip dye contrast. Think of Jessie J for inspiration!

Brunettes – Depending on the shade, brunettes can get away with almost any colour. The lighter your hair the more intense the colour.

Blondes - And for the lucky people with blonde hair, the world is your oyster and you can try out just about any colour you so wish. A nice idea is to also try more than one colour on each strand to create a tie-dyed look, start with the lighter colour at the top of the strand going into a darker colour by the tip. Lauren Conrad once mastered this tie-dyed look with hair chalk brilliantly.

 

Considering chalking it up? Check out http://www.haircolorchalk.com/Default.asp and http://hairchalking.net/ for a great colourful range of hair chalks.

There you have my top tips for creating a hair chalk success, i hope you have all been inspired to get creative with your hair! If you want some more chalking inspiration check out our Pinterest http://pinterest.com/appointedd/chalk-it-up/ and facebook page for some colourful looks https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.390308461075103.1073741836.278318852274065&type=1


Bio:

Leah Hutcheon is the founder of appointedd.com, a brand new site where you can book salons and spas online, 24/7. She was recently featured in the BBC documentary, The Entrepreneurs. Appointedd also features salon reviews and has a hair and beauty blog, appointedd.com/blog.

Not just any band... Popband!

My hair comes just past my shoulders and I either wear it up or down, that is as exciting as life gets with me.  If it is down then it is poker straight and if it is up, it is just up because it is doing my head in or for whatever I decide at the time.  All that aside I always have a bobble or scrunchie around my wrist, then if I want to tie my hair up I can, it is like a security blanket, I am never without either and I carry a spare in my bag for those ‘just incase’ moments.

I was sent three Popbands by Molly Mabel to play with and when I opened the rather fantastically coloured jiffy envelope, inside this is what I found:

Just how pretty are these pop bands?  They are so cute a little bit more attractive than the scrunchie which currently holds my hair up and the colours are really lovely, add to that each one of them has a pretty jewel bead which is attached to them, as you can see each jewel is different and they move around the band really easily and naturally if you have more than one Popband, you can mix and match the jewels as much as you want and even have more than one at a time on the band.  These bands are such a simple, yet fabulous idea I wish I had thought of it myself.

The idea actually came from two self-diagnosed shop-aholics, one loves all things shiny and the other wants perfection and gym candy for her hair, something a bit different and sparkly and between them the Popband was born. 

So what are Popbands? Well Popbands they are referred to as being Hair and Wrist Candy and marketed as being soft, stretchy 'no dent' hair bands which are designed to hold hair up tight and still leave it fresh and kink-free when you take it down!  If like me you have worn hair bands for years, you always find you have a natural kink in your hair and one that takes forever to straighten with your GHD’s, however, since wearing these Popbands, I was delighted that I can have my hair up for hours either in a ponytail or just shoved up off my face and there are no kinks in my hair when I take it down - brilliant.

Once in your hair you can’t even feel that they are there and you can sleep with them in and not feel anything digging into your head, once in they are there to stay.  The band itself is a very stretchy piece of elastic with a knot in the end and it can be undone and re-tied to your liking.  As I said, my hair is shoulder length and whilst quite fine, I have a lot of hair, not a problem for these Popbands, they held my hair perfectly.

So just to re-cap:

Popbands won’t:

• dent/kink your hair

• rip your hair

• flirt with your man

Popbands will:

• look and feel great in your hair and on your wrist

• be gentle with your hair and give it a little cuddle

• stay in place and make you wear your hair up more

When it comes to purchasing these Popbands you can buy them individually, as a twin pack or in a multi-pack version and each option has a different price.  The Molly Mabel website has its very own shop which you can find HERE and postage, which is Royal Mail Standard Postage, is free.  So whether you want something plain and subtle, something glittery or something with an animal print, you will find it all in the shop.