Luscious Locks| Lee Stafford Hair Growth| Review

A few months ago I was the victim of a scissor happy hair dresser, this resulted in having hair that was much shorter than the couple of inches trim I had asked for. Not enjoying my new short bob I decided that this was the time to invest in Lee Stafford Hair Growth products. My best friend used these products before her graduation and enjoyed them, and after seeing many other bloggers both rave and slate this product, I decided to give it a go myself and form my own opinion.

Lee Stafford claim that this product range contains a pro-Growth complex formula for strength within. This protein based complex will fertilize your follicles, and create a healthy environment on your scalp helping your hair grow faster and reach its maximum potential length.

I purchased the shampoo and conditioner from Boots, each cost £6.99, but they are often on three for two, so you can make a saving. For me £6.99 is quite pricey for a shampoo so I did have high hopes for this product.

I have used this product for for around 2 months now, so feel I have tried it enough to give a fair and true opinion.

Firstly this product made my hair amazingly soft and shiny, it is possibly the shiniest it has ever been. I also noticed that when using this product my hair became a lot stronger. I am a girl who seems to loose my entire head of hair while showering, I literally malt everywhere; my family and boyfriend hate it. However I noticed when using this product my hair did not malt as much as previously.

More importantly, did it make my hair grow? Well judging by the picture above of my awful roots I would say it does make it grow quicker. Obviously the only accurate way of measuring this would be to measure my hair growth rate both with and without this product then compare the results; however I am not that scientific so will just give you my opinion. My roots in the picture above are around 2/3 inches and based on own hair, this is a pretty good hair growth rate. Even after only a month of usage I was much happier with the length of my hair, as it was nearing the length it was prior to it being cut.

Overall I am very happy with this shampoo, I am one of those on the side of the fence that says this product does make your hair grow. But above all that it has left my hair in a beautiful condition; strong, soft, sleek and shiny.

Have you ever tried this product before? Are you sceptical as I was prior to using it? What is you favourite shampoo and conditioner for soft shiny hair?

A New Month, A New Hair Colour

I think I’m a girl obsessed; I seem to change my hair colour before I even use up the 6 weeks of conditioner that comes in the packet. I realised the other day that my hair was looking a bit bland, a bit lacklustre in colour, it may just be the lighting in the library, where I am currently living, but I decided I needed to dye it immediately. So off to Asda I went, and picked the colour that took my fancy, which this time was a reddy/ plum colour… a bit more brave that my usual choice, but seems it was reduced to £4 I decided it was a must.

I have never tried Schwarzkopf  before, I was very surprised and anxious when I was applying the colour, because as you can see from the pictures, the colour in the bottle was carrot orange, and it went onto my hair in an orange colour.

Thankfully the result is not a carrot orange colour, but quite a reddy brown. It is more red than I normally go, but I still like it. I have found that it has taken about 4 or 5 washes to rinse the colour out in it entirety, so I would warn any of you who  have white towels or pillows to ensure you wash out all the dye, so as to not ruin your upholstery

I am wondering if there are others out there who impulse buy their hair colour? What influences your choice of hair colour? For me it is a combination of my mood, and what is on offer. I am not loyal to brands in anyway.

L'oreal Paris Sublime Mouse Hair Dye Review

Best picture I can find of my naturalish hair colour (on the left)

With the moose on 

Straight after dying it- really nice red highlights

Hair styled (Me on the left)

The Good

• Application is very very easy, just massage the moose onto your hair, mix it all in, be as messy as you want (or don't want). you don't have the normal nozzle that you have to drag through your hair.
• Rinsing out the hair dye was quick. I don't have thick hair but it does normally take a while to wash out all the hair dye. This one literally washed straight out, took a lot less time than other traditional hair dyes.
• The smell was not too overwhelming in my opinion.
• The real life match was similar to what the pack suggested the results would be.

The Bad

• After washing and rinsing my hair with the conditioner in the pack, my hair was not as shiny as other hair dyes have left it afterwards.

Overall- 4/5 I love this hair dye more than others because of the ease of application. The only downside is I doesn't leave my hair as shiny as I would like, but I would buy it again.

Have you tried this product before? Which hair dye do you use? 

18 Days To look Fabulous| Tone Up Quickly

It is 18 days till the big night, New Years Eve! This means we all have 18 days to look and feel amazing for the big event (whatever your plans are.) Most people spend the occasion catching up with those we have not seen for a while, so what better occasion to turn up and make jaws drop. It is obviously very hard to maintain our weight throughout the holidays, never mind lose weight. However it is doable, especially during the week between Christmas and New Year, as the majority of parties and get togethers happen before Christmas day. 

So what I'm suggesting is that we do not punish ourselves with relentless calorie counting, but instead make healthier choices. Here are my top tips;

• Do you need an extra glass of wine after the 3 you've already had? Try swapping a large glass of wine (185cal)  for a vodka lime and Soda (76 cal), this will save you around 110 calories.

• Always have a healthy breakfast. You can at least start the day right. Have a healthy filling and nutritional breakfast, for example a smoothie, for your vitamins, then scrambled or poached egg on wholemeal toast. The protein will ensure you stay full untill lunchtime, and if you are hungover the eggs enzymes are good for your hangover (if you can stomach it.)

• Have a health lunch as well! If two out of 3 meals are healthy, it will make a difference. Plus if you have eaten well for most of the day, you will less likely want to ruin your good work, by indulging too much for dinner. Have some soup, hummus with carrot/ celery/ pitta bread, or warm Chicken and pasta salad (in a tomato sauce, not creamy!!)

• Have a 30 minute brisk walk 5 days out of 7. Try going for a walk after your dinner, this will help your digestion also, so you will feel less bloated. Wrap up nice and warm and take the family or dog with you. If you don't fancy walking at night, then try walking to work, or get off your bus or tram a stop early and walking the rest. It may only be 10 minutes extra, but it will help boost your metabolism meaning you will burn more calories when you are sat at your desk all day.

• Do some strength exercises, even if you are new to it. Did you know that for every pound of extra muscle you gain, you burn an extra 150 calories a day! Plus it will help your posture, and the dreaded cellulite! So if you plan on wearing a short dress you need to be doing some lunges! 
• All I am asking you to do is 50  bicycle crunches in the morning when you wake up, and 50 before you go to bed. Bicycle crunches work the whole abs area, so will help trim your waist quicker. 
• Plus 50 squats while you brush your teeth in the morning and again in the evening. It is better than just standing there, plus squats are a great calorie burner, but make a great difference to the toning of your legs and ass... We'll all be looking like Beyonce in no time.

Now I am absolutely certain that everyone of you reading this will be able to do these small but significant things every day over the next 18 days. It really will make a difference your body, your skin, your hair, and it will ensure you look fabulous on the biggest night of the year.

Lets go for it! Let me know what your plans are for the New Year?

X factor Final- Who wins the fashion war

I am currently writing this post as I watch the X factor final. As always the female judges have been pitted against each other in a style war. This year has been different due to the arrival of the two new judges Kelly and Tulisa as they both have styles that are different to each other, but also to the previous judges (Danni and Cheryl)

So lets see how the judges faired each week, and who wins the style war in my eyes

Week 1- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfits- I do not like the print on Kelly's dress, but love the cut, and I love Tulisa'a dress, however the whole ensemble is a bit bland, it could of done with a pop of colour from shoes or accessories.

Sundays outfits- I adore Kelly's dress, Tulisa's is a nice design, but it looks a bit cheap.

Week 2- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfits-  I'm not very keen on either dress, Tulisa looks a bit messy, and Kelly's is a nice dress, but a bit to tame and demure for Saturday night tv.

Sunday's outfits- Wow! Both are very booby! Both a gorgeous dresses in their own right. Tulisa's is fun, and very much suits her, and Kelly's is very glamorous. I'm going to base my decision on what I would wear personally, so Kelly wins.

Week 3- Tulisa Wins

Saturday's outfits- Kelly looks like a dominatrix, and Tulisa does also, but a little less so. Kelly is wearing too many accessories for my liking.

Sunday's outfits- I love both dresses, even is Tulisa's make her look like giant Quality Street chocolate, but it is very on trend with the sequins and jewel colours, and I love the colour blocking with her shoes.

Week 4- Tulisa Wins

Dear oh dear, not a good week. Alexandra Burke stepped in for Kelly for the week, and did not impress.

Saturday's outfits- Tulisa was clearly dressing up for Halloween, a shocking outfit, not X factor worthy. Alexandra's dress is OK, but not flattering for her figure at all, the whole outfit makes her look short and barrel like.

Sunday's outfits- again I'm not keen on either. But I love the cut of Tulisa's very flattering and ladylike for her.

Week 5- Kelly Wins

Saturday's outfits- Tulisa's headband is awful, it looks like the one's I used to wear when I was 6. She looks uncomfortable in her dress, maybe a little too short for her. Kelly's dress is gorgeous, but looks a bit bridesmaidy for Saturday night TV.

Sunday's outfits- Tulisa's dress is very pretty, I dislike the shoes though. Kelly's dress is gorgeous, very similar to the dress from Saturday in terms of cut and fabric, but it is a little sexier.

Week 6- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfits- I love Tulisa''s dress, she actually looks more high fashion than high street which she looks many nights. Good on Kelly for mixing it up with the suit.

Sundays outfits- Tulisa looks like she is wrapped in tinfoil, oh dear. Kelly's dress is simplistic but yet detailed, I am in love with it.

Week 7- Tulisa Wins

Saturday's- Tulisa's dress is nice, a bit safe I think, but it works for her. Kelly's dress is very summery, and sexy. I love the detail on the top of the dress, and mixing the beading there with the glittery shoes.

Sunday's- Kelly looks like a Quality Dress chocolate. It does not look good in anyway. Tulisa's dress is beautiful, again jewel tones are very in at the moment.

Week 8- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfit-  Tulisa is obviously in fancy dress as a bumble bee, the dress is also very frumpy. Kelly's dress does not impress me much, it looks a little cheap, but the colour blocking is good.

Sunday's outfit- Tulisa's outfit looks cheap, and it was revealed by a sharp eyed viewer that when she had her back turned to the camera her dress was see-through, not good! Kelly's dress is simple yet stunning and I love the added colour from the shoes.

Week 9- Kelly Wins

Saturdays outfit- I love Tulisa's dress, its very different to others she had worn. Kelly's is cute, but I'm not mad about it, the whole ensemble is a bit bland.

Sunday's outfits- Tulisa's dress is cute, but I'm not loving the bracelets she is wearing. Kelly's dress is everything I love about the glitter trend going on at the moment.

Overall, Kelly wins, but I'm pretty disappointed with the fashion this year. At no moment, did my jaw drop when they entered the stage. My heart has not fallen for a single outfit.

In my honest opinion, these two have nothing on Danni and Cheryl. I much prefer their style to Kelly and Tulisa (and I don''t even particularly like Cheryl)

What do you guys think? Do you have a favourite outfit? Or am I totally wrong in my choices?