Where do I even start? These last 2 months have been an absolute whirlwind of extremely high points and some quite low points, I think that's what you get when you are going through a transition point in your life and even though everything can be going great, sometimes there are can be a random moment when you realise how big the step you have taken is, and it can be a hell of a reality check.
After speaking to a couple of my friends who have been and are still going through the same experience, I thought I would share my experience of finishing university, graduating and entering the big bad world.
Finishing University
After this, I was floating about in a limbo period where I didn't know where I was going to be living, although I had my heart set on moving to Manchester to work in the field I had studied, Marketing and Public Relations. but even when I got a job, with a couple of months to wait before I started and my savings rapidly depleting, I felt like I couldn't enjoy the moment and wanted to just get started with the rest of my life.
I was so shocked and proud of myself when I received my results and found out that I had achieved a first class degree classification. I still feel like every all nighter, every time I refused to be sociable because I had deadlines and every time I turned down a shift at work to do my dissertation was worth it now, because at the end of the day money and nights out come and go all the time - and an achievement like this can stay with me forever.
Working full time
At the end of May, I had secured my dream job located in the trendy Northern Quarter in the heart of Manchester, at an award winning PR Agency. The location and the office are perfect, and I get to work with great clients including a huge beauty brand. I work with a small group of experienced and ambitious women and that's a great way to kickstart any career. On a side note, the office walls are pink and that totally sold me!
Fast forward to nearly two months at work and I still love it, every weekend I think how lucky I am to have a job in the field that I studied in. However I've realised that it's important to remember that you don't get jobs through luck, I did work hard to get the right work experience for a job like this. I spent money I didn't have to travel from Birmingham to Manchester for interviews for roles that I didn't get, and took more than the recommended time out of studying to go to assessment centres and prepare my answers for interviews and researching companies. This meant I was stressed and tired and didn't have much time for myself, my relationship or to work.
There is a huge jump from the relaxed schedule at university to working full time. Luckily I had already worked full time for a year in a placement role as part of my degree, so some habits I picked up quite easily. One thing I would recommend is focusing on one thing at a time. I focused on settling in first. I turned down invites to go back home because I knew I needed to make this feel like home sooner rather than later.
If your job is 9-5 don't turn up on your first day at 9am, thats just not how it works in a professional environment and expect to stay after 5pm to get what you need to do done, if thats how your office operates. At the end of the day, you're no longer in your part time job where you can literally clock out and run (sprint in my case) out as soon as your shift ends, you're forging a name for yourself in your industry.
Just because you might be starting a job at entry level doesn't mean that you aren't important. for all you know you might have beaten hundreds to get that role, and being in a skilled profession is a great accomplishment, so don't doubt yourself!
Moving to a new city
Even though I haven't moved particularly far, it's about 80 miles and a 1.5 hr drive between Derby and Manchester, it is still a big adjustment as it's not like you can just pop round to your grandma's for a cup of tea and cake anymore, everything takes planning and giving people notice, which is one of the hardest adjustments I've had to make. Although I didn't live at home for university, Birmingham never felt like home as I was just there to study, but now I'm in Manchester for the foreseeable future and have to start making roots.
It's very expensive to move, no matter whether you are staying in the same city or moving. You need a deposit which is often the same amount as your first month's rent, plus first month's rent upfront.
You may also need to pay an application fee if you are moving through an estate agent which for me was around £60, but it can be much more if you are moving somewhere like London.
If you are coming straight out of education its very difficult to make this type of money fast, so consider whether you want to delay applying for jobs elsewhere until you can afford to move!
I lived with my boyfriend for a month, basically the first month until I got paid, as there was just no way I could afford to move before I had my first pay.
I will probably do another blog post on moving and finding a place to live as it is quite a lengthy subject!
Another thing I wanted to talk about was making friends in a new city. This isn't student days where you can be friends for life with someone just because you sat next to each other on the first day.
It is really hard to meet people in your twenties and this is what I am currently trying to do. I am 23 in two weeks and it feels like I am starting all over again! People already have their friendship groups and routines and working full time, you generally don't want to go out EVERY night. I have bills to pay now babes!
At the moment I'm looking for sport groups to join, social groups and just the old fashioned connecting with old friends that also live in Manchester. You will be surprised to know that a lot of people are in the same boat as you and I have just come to face up to the fact that it's not something to be embarrassed about! If you don't ask you don't get so from now on I am just going to put myself out there. Try apps like Meetup and Citysocialiser to find people with similar interests to yours and pay attention to free taster sessions for events and groups.
Overall, finishing university and starting a new chapter is something not to take lightly, even though thousands of people do it every year. Everyone takes a different path.
Where do I even start? These last 2 months have been an absolute whirlwind of extremely high points and some quite low points, I think that's what you get when you are going through a transition point in your life and even though everything can be going great, sometimes there are can be a random moment when you realise how big the step you have taken is, and it can be a hell of a reality check.
After speaking to a couple of my friends who have been and are still going through the same experience, I thought I would share my experience of finishing university, graduating and entering the big bad world.
Finishing University
After this, I was floating about in a limbo period where I didn't know where I was going to be living, although I had my heart set on moving to Manchester to work in the field I had studied, Marketing and Public Relations. but even when I got a job, with a couple of months to wait before I started and my savings rapidly depleting, I felt like I couldn't enjoy the moment and wanted to just get started with the rest of my life.
I was so shocked and proud of myself when I received my results and found out that I had achieved a first class degree classification. I still feel like every all nighter, every time I refused to be sociable because I had deadlines and every time I turned down a shift at work to do my dissertation was worth it now, because at the end of the day money and nights out come and go all the time - and an achievement like this can stay with me forever.
Working full time
At the end of May, I had secured my dream job located in the trendy Northern Quarter in the heart of Manchester, at an award winning PR Agency. The location and the office are perfect, and I get to work with great clients including a huge beauty brand. I work with a small group of experienced and ambitious women and that's a great way to kickstart any career. On a side note, the office walls are pink and that totally sold me!
Fast forward to nearly two months at work and I still love it, every weekend I think how lucky I am to have a job in the field that I studied in. However I've realised that it's important to remember that you don't get jobs through luck, I did work hard to get the right work experience for a job like this. I spent money I didn't have to travel from Birmingham to Manchester for interviews for roles that I didn't get, and took more than the recommended time out of studying to go to assessment centres and prepare my answers for interviews and researching companies. This meant I was stressed and tired and didn't have much time for myself, my relationship or to work.
There is a huge jump from the relaxed schedule at university to working full time. Luckily I had already worked full time for a year in a placement role as part of my degree, so some habits I picked up quite easily. One thing I would recommend is focusing on one thing at a time. I focused on settling in first. I turned down invites to go back home because I knew I needed to make this feel like home sooner rather than later.
If your job is 9-5 don't turn up on your first day at 9am, thats just not how it works in a professional environment and expect to stay after 5pm to get what you need to do done, if thats how your office operates. At the end of the day, you're no longer in your part time job where you can literally clock out and run (sprint in my case) out as soon as your shift ends, you're forging a name for yourself in your industry.
Just because you might be starting a job at entry level doesn't mean that you aren't important. for all you know you might have beaten hundreds to get that role, and being in a skilled profession is a great accomplishment, so don't doubt yourself!
Moving to a new city
Even though I haven't moved particularly far, it's about 80 miles and a 1.5 hr drive between Derby and Manchester, it is still a big adjustment as it's not like you can just pop round to your grandma's for a cup of tea and cake anymore, everything takes planning and giving people notice, which is one of the hardest adjustments I've had to make. Although I didn't live at home for university, Birmingham never felt like home as I was just there to study, but now I'm in Manchester for the foreseeable future and have to start making roots.
It's very expensive to move, no matter whether you are staying in the same city or moving. You need a deposit which is often the same amount as your first month's rent, plus first month's rent upfront.
You may also need to pay an application fee if you are moving through an estate agent which for me was around £60, but it can be much more if you are moving somewhere like London.
If you are coming straight out of education its very difficult to make this type of money fast, so consider whether you want to delay applying for jobs elsewhere until you can afford to move!
I lived with my boyfriend for a month, basically the first month until I got paid, as there was just no way I could afford to move before I had my first pay.
I will probably do another blog post on moving and finding a place to live as it is quite a lengthy subject!
Another thing I wanted to talk about was making friends in a new city. This isn't student days where you can be friends for life with someone just because you sat next to each other on the first day.
It is really hard to meet people in your twenties and this is what I am currently trying to do. I am 23 in two weeks and it feels like I am starting all over again! People already have their friendship groups and routines and working full time, you generally don't want to go out EVERY night. I have bills to pay now babes!
At the moment I'm looking for sport groups to join, social groups and just the old fashioned connecting with old friends that also live in Manchester. You will be surprised to know that a lot of people are in the same boat as you and I have just come to face up to the fact that it's not something to be embarrassed about! If you don't ask you don't get so from now on I am just going to put myself out there. Try apps like Meetup and Citysocialiser to find people with similar interests to yours and pay attention to free taster sessions for events and groups.
Overall, finishing university and starting a new chapter is something not to take lightly, even though thousands of people do it every year. Everyone takes a different path.
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons of Golden Syrup
Mini Marshmallows
125g of Unsalted Butter
300g of Milk Chocolate/White Chocolate
4 Digestive Biscuits
I am no baker, I love eating cakes but quite frankly I can never get it quite right myself. For a quick sweet treat that is easy and fun to make without even needing to turn the oven on , I would definitely recommend whipping up a homemade Rocky Road!
All of these ingredients I got from Tesco and altogether I spent around £9 (face palm). Next time I make this I will probably get cooking chocolate and you could even get a cheap non branded chocolate, however this rocky road tasted really creamy and went down a treat! Most people add nuts or raisins to their Rocky Road but I left those out.
First of all I preheated the pan on a low heat as I was scared to burn it! You will be surprised how easily it melts. I put all of the butter in and melted that down, then added all of the chocolate. When all of that was melted I took out half of the chocolate and put it in a mug and put that aside.
I then added 3 Tablespoons of Golden Syrup. Next up, I put the biscuits into a bag, a clean plastic bag will do just fine if you don't have any freezer bags, then I just bashed that around until there was a mixture of crumbs and bigger chunks of biscuits.
I then added the biscuits to the mix. Next I added a large handful of mini marshmallows. If you can't find mini ones, Im pretty sure you could cut up some bigger ones and sprinkle them in, as they all get melted anyway!
I then mixed it all, but don't let it go to mushy as you still want some biscuit pieces. I then turned off the heat and put it all into a medium size pyrex dish.
I then poured the rest of the chocolate that was in the mug on top.
To finish, I put it in the fridge for 2 hours.
The best thing about this recipe is that you can choose whichever chocolate you like and add as many or as few marshmallows and biscuits as you like.
PS. Be careful when cutting it up as it is very tough after setting.
If you have any suggestions of desserts that don't require baking please do let me know!
Enjoy :)
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons of Golden Syrup
Mini Marshmallows
125g of Unsalted Butter
300g of Milk Chocolate/White Chocolate
4 Digestive Biscuits
I am no baker, I love eating cakes but quite frankly I can never get it quite right myself. For a quick sweet treat that is easy and fun to make without even needing to turn the oven on , I would definitely recommend whipping up a homemade Rocky Road!
All of these ingredients I got from Tesco and altogether I spent around £9 (face palm). Next time I make this I will probably get cooking chocolate and you could even get a cheap non branded chocolate, however this rocky road tasted really creamy and went down a treat! Most people add nuts or raisins to their Rocky Road but I left those out.
First of all I preheated the pan on a low heat as I was scared to burn it! You will be surprised how easily it melts. I put all of the butter in and melted that down, then added all of the chocolate. When all of that was melted I took out half of the chocolate and put it in a mug and put that aside.
I then added 3 Tablespoons of Golden Syrup. Next up, I put the biscuits into a bag, a clean plastic bag will do just fine if you don't have any freezer bags, then I just bashed that around until there was a mixture of crumbs and bigger chunks of biscuits.
I then added the biscuits to the mix. Next I added a large handful of mini marshmallows. If you can't find mini ones, Im pretty sure you could cut up some bigger ones and sprinkle them in, as they all get melted anyway!
I then mixed it all, but don't let it go to mushy as you still want some biscuit pieces. I then turned off the heat and put it all into a medium size pyrex dish.
I then poured the rest of the chocolate that was in the mug on top.
To finish, I put it in the fridge for 2 hours.
The best thing about this recipe is that you can choose whichever chocolate you like and add as many or as few marshmallows and biscuits as you like.
PS. Be careful when cutting it up as it is very tough after setting.
If you have any suggestions of desserts that don't require baking please do let me know!
Enjoy :)
The Preparation
This is probably the most important part of the process if you want to make your big bouncy afro smooth and sleek. I find that my hair straightens the best when it is just washed so use something very clarifying! When I intend to straighten my hair after washing, I use the KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo as it makes my hair feel really moisturised and I have noticed that it reduces frizz. I then used the Shea Moisture Deep Conditioner. I comb out my hair in the shower and twist it into sections so that it is easier to manage later on.
I don't usually towel dry my hair but when I'm planning to straighten it anyway I speed up the process by towel drying it. When it is still damp I spray it with the Argan Oil Heat Defence Leave in Spray and then apply this amazing Vatika Coconut Hair Oil to lock in the moisture.
The Tools
Nicky Clarke Hairdryer
I use this to dry and stretch each section and separate it into small sections before straightening, sounds time consuming and yes it is but if you want it really straight and sleek it's best to do it properly first time round.
This Hairdryer is great because you can make it cool, warm, hot, I am pretty sure most hairdryers do that but its great for natural hair as you don't always want it on the hot setting. It isn't too heavy either, and if you have a lot of hair that's exactly what you need.
Wooden Comb
I prefer to use a wooden comb these days, I find that it doesn't snag and doesn't hurt my head as much as a plastic one.
Thin Comb
This is KEY to getting hair looking layered and bouncy. I straighten my hair in tiny sections, split off from the already quite small sections and always make sure to curl it round and the ends. To me, dead straight ends on natural hair makes it look a bit lifeless.
Lee Stafford Hair Straighteners
Before Straightening I apply the Creme of Nature Smooth and Shine Polisher and I love it. It smells amazing and is really light weight.
I straighten it on quite a hot setting, I do this because I don't want to keep going over the same spot of hair over and over again.
Freshly Washed and Damp
Blow-dried
After Straightening, I spray it with hairspray if it is for a night out, I used the Tresemme Firm Hold spray and my style stayed in tact until the next day! I then wrap the top with a silk scarf. Before I go out I then fluff it out again with my fingers to make it full!
The Finished Look
The Preparation
This is probably the most important part of the process if you want to make your big bouncy afro smooth and sleek. I find that my hair straightens the best when it is just washed so use something very clarifying! When I intend to straighten my hair after washing, I use the KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo as it makes my hair feel really moisturised and I have noticed that it reduces frizz. I then used the Shea Moisture Deep Conditioner. I comb out my hair in the shower and twist it into sections so that it is easier to manage later on.
I don't usually towel dry my hair but when I'm planning to straighten it anyway I speed up the process by towel drying it. When it is still damp I spray it with the Argan Oil Heat Defence Leave in Spray and then apply this amazing Vatika Coconut Hair Oil to lock in the moisture.
The Tools
Nicky Clarke Hairdryer
I use this to dry and stretch each section and separate it into small sections before straightening, sounds time consuming and yes it is but if you want it really straight and sleek it's best to do it properly first time round.
This Hairdryer is great because you can make it cool, warm, hot, I am pretty sure most hairdryers do that but its great for natural hair as you don't always want it on the hot setting. It isn't too heavy either, and if you have a lot of hair that's exactly what you need.
Wooden Comb
I prefer to use a wooden comb these days, I find that it doesn't snag and doesn't hurt my head as much as a plastic one.
Thin Comb
This is KEY to getting hair looking layered and bouncy. I straighten my hair in tiny sections, split off from the already quite small sections and always make sure to curl it round and the ends. To me, dead straight ends on natural hair makes it look a bit lifeless.
Lee Stafford Hair Straighteners
Before Straightening I apply the Creme of Nature Smooth and Shine Polisher and I love it. It smells amazing and is really light weight.
I straighten it on quite a hot setting, I do this because I don't want to keep going over the same spot of hair over and over again.
Freshly Washed and Damp
Blow-dried
After Straightening, I spray it with hairspray if it is for a night out, I used the Tresemme Firm Hold spray and my style stayed in tact until the next day! I then wrap the top with a silk scarf. Before I go out I then fluff it out again with my fingers to make it full!
The Finished Look
I'm a complete product junkie and I have always been in to makeup, but recently all my hoarding has been focused on hair products. So I thought it was time to start revamping my makeup collection slowly and surely. I say surely, but I got all of this over 2 days!
Below are my first impressions of the products and at the bottom I have included links, where I can find them of the products online. I got everything in River Island, Boots and Selfridges.
1. Lashes by Samantha - These lashes are so fluttery and natural looking for any occasion. I stumbled upon these in River Island and really liked that they didn't have a thick black strip like others do.
2. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Shade Spice - This foundation is so amazing! I mix mine with Loreal True Match Foundation to give it more of a dewy brown colour and I have had so many compliments since I have been wearing it. It was a great experience purchasing it also. I got mine from there kiosk in the Trafford Centre and had my colour matched.
3. Nyx Matte Finish Spray - This really does work considering how cheap it is! I have a really oily T zone and wanted to have a matte finish so I gave this a go with the finishing powder and it holds for hours. Working as a waitress it even holds during my shifts!
4. Nyx Liquid Suede - This is the best nude lipgloss I have used in a long time, if ever. It is notoriously difficult to find a nice matte lip gloss when you have darker skin so I took a chance on this and I love it. It goes on 'liquid' and dries matte. Separate review coming soon...
5. Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner - I don't really believe in spending a lot on a liquid eyeliner. This is because every time I have spent a little extra on one it seems to dry out, or get lost! So I am sticking to collection eyeliners. Once sprayed with the finishing powder it stays on all day and is super sleek and black, you wouldn't guess it was less than a fiver.
6. Nyx Liquid Illuminator - This product is such an easy way to get a bit of a shimmery highlight. It comes out as a liquid and you only need a tiny drop. The golden tint is perfect for darker skin tones.
7. Nyx HD Finishing Powder - I was going to invest in the Laura Mercier setting powder, but at £29 I thought I would look for a cheaper alternative first. I tried this out and so far I love it, it is translucent and you only need a small amount to keep your makeup in place without that grey ashy look. It stops me from getting oily but doesn't mask my makeup.
8. Maybelline Lash Sensation - This isn't a new product for me but it is a staple for my every day makeup, I love it. It makes my eyelashes thick and elongated instantly and it is really affordable.
Lashes by Samantha - £5
Ester Double Wear Foundation - Shade Spice - Around £30
Nyx Setting Spray - £7
Nyx Liquid Suede - Matte Lipgloss - Sandstorm £6.50
Collection - Fast Stroke Eyeliner (Boots - Approx £2)
Nyx Liquid Illuminator - £7
Nyx HD Finishing Powder - £7
Maybelline Lash Sensational - £7.99
I'm a complete product junkie and I have always been in to makeup, but recently all my hoarding has been focused on hair products. So I thought it was time to start revamping my makeup collection slowly and surely. I say surely, but I got all of this over 2 days!
Below are my first impressions of the products and at the bottom I have included links, where I can find them of the products online. I got everything in River Island, Boots and Selfridges.
1. Lashes by Samantha - These lashes are so fluttery and natural looking for any occasion. I stumbled upon these in River Island and really liked that they didn't have a thick black strip like others do.
2. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Shade Spice - This foundation is so amazing! I mix mine with Loreal True Match Foundation to give it more of a dewy brown colour and I have had so many compliments since I have been wearing it. It was a great experience purchasing it also. I got mine from there kiosk in the Trafford Centre and had my colour matched.
3. Nyx Matte Finish Spray - This really does work considering how cheap it is! I have a really oily T zone and wanted to have a matte finish so I gave this a go with the finishing powder and it holds for hours. Working as a waitress it even holds during my shifts!
4. Nyx Liquid Suede - This is the best nude lipgloss I have used in a long time, if ever. It is notoriously difficult to find a nice matte lip gloss when you have darker skin so I took a chance on this and I love it. It goes on 'liquid' and dries matte. Separate review coming soon...
5. Collection Fast Stroke Eyeliner - I don't really believe in spending a lot on a liquid eyeliner. This is because every time I have spent a little extra on one it seems to dry out, or get lost! So I am sticking to collection eyeliners. Once sprayed with the finishing powder it stays on all day and is super sleek and black, you wouldn't guess it was less than a fiver.
6. Nyx Liquid Illuminator - This product is such an easy way to get a bit of a shimmery highlight. It comes out as a liquid and you only need a tiny drop. The golden tint is perfect for darker skin tones.
7. Nyx HD Finishing Powder - I was going to invest in the Laura Mercier setting powder, but at £29 I thought I would look for a cheaper alternative first. I tried this out and so far I love it, it is translucent and you only need a small amount to keep your makeup in place without that grey ashy look. It stops me from getting oily but doesn't mask my makeup.
8. Maybelline Lash Sensation - This isn't a new product for me but it is a staple for my every day makeup, I love it. It makes my eyelashes thick and elongated instantly and it is really affordable.
Lashes by Samantha - £5
Ester Double Wear Foundation - Shade Spice - Around £30
Nyx Setting Spray - £7
Nyx Liquid Suede - Matte Lipgloss - Sandstorm £6.50
Collection - Fast Stroke Eyeliner (Boots - Approx £2)
Nyx Liquid Illuminator - £7
Nyx HD Finishing Powder - £7
Maybelline Lash Sensational - £7.99
I straightened my hair properly for the first in months last week, and I was a little bit worried about it not reverting, especially as I have been working so hard to get a good routine going! Luckily it bounced back (literally) bigger and better than ever so I thought I would blog about what I used to make the transition as smooth as possible.
STEP ONE
So first of all, before i washed my hair I made sure it was fully combed out, free from any grips, because they tend to get lost in there, and I sprayed it with some water to get the process going.
STEP TWO
I then washed it with my ALL TIME FAVOURITE shampoo, the Aphogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair. I think this shampoo is around £5.99 but it lasts quite a long time and is great at clarifying my hair, defining curls and reducing frizz.
You can see my wash routine here. However I am probably going to update it again soon!
STEP THREE
I then made sure that was rinsed out and then, if I am honest I then shampoo'd it AGAIN with Keracare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo. I find that this one adds a lot more moisture and adds a bit of 'juiciness'.
STEP FOUR
Then whilst it was damp, I separated it into four sections using clips and used the Shea Moisture Strength & Restore Treatment Masque throughout the sections from root to end. I then wrapped my hair in a plastic bag and then used the hairdryer on a warm setting over the top for about 20 minutes. This is to restore my hair after all the heat I used last week, I was a little sceptical about buying it as that little tub was £12.99 but all the reviews convinced me! I definitely think it is a good product, my hair is much curlier and springy and the shrinkage was more than usual!
STEP FIVE
I then washed this out and blotted the water out with a t-shirt. Then I applied a mixture of argon oil and coconut oil to the damp hair all over. I would usually added castor oil but I didn't have it with me this time. I then split my hair into four sections and made sure it was moisturised. I used the Keracare Hair Milk, Daily Hair Sustainer after that to lock the moisture in.
STEP SIX
I then got my Creme of Nature Argon Oil Twirling Custard and did a medium sized twist out. I slept on this in a pineapple style wrapped in a silk scarf.
THE NEXT DAY....
The next day may hair looked a bit flat, I still haven't mastered the twist out, so whilst I was in the shower I flashed some water on my hair to add some life back in and that worked a treat. I then got out the shower and shook it thoroughly and used the blowdryer on a cool setting to make sure it was fully dry.
THE DAY AFTER THAT....
I applied more oil each day and slept with it in a pineapple wrapped in a scarf. I took this picture 2 days after washing and as soon as I woke up so nothing is on my hair at this stage.
Disclaimer - I am not a professional and I am still learning, everyone's hair is different so things that work for me might not work for you and vice/versa. :)
I straightened my hair properly for the first in months last week, and I was a little bit worried about it not reverting, especially as I have been working so hard to get a good routine going! Luckily it bounced back (literally) bigger and better than ever so I thought I would blog about what I used to make the transition as smooth as possible.
STEP ONE
So first of all, before i washed my hair I made sure it was fully combed out, free from any grips, because they tend to get lost in there, and I sprayed it with some water to get the process going.
STEP TWO
I then washed it with my ALL TIME FAVOURITE shampoo, the Aphogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair. I think this shampoo is around £5.99 but it lasts quite a long time and is great at clarifying my hair, defining curls and reducing frizz.
You can see my wash routine here. However I am probably going to update it again soon!
STEP THREE
I then made sure that was rinsed out and then, if I am honest I then shampoo'd it AGAIN with Keracare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo. I find that this one adds a lot more moisture and adds a bit of 'juiciness'.
STEP FOUR
Then whilst it was damp, I separated it into four sections using clips and used the Shea Moisture Strength & Restore Treatment Masque throughout the sections from root to end. I then wrapped my hair in a plastic bag and then used the hairdryer on a warm setting over the top for about 20 minutes. This is to restore my hair after all the heat I used last week, I was a little sceptical about buying it as that little tub was £12.99 but all the reviews convinced me! I definitely think it is a good product, my hair is much curlier and springy and the shrinkage was more than usual!
STEP FIVE
I then washed this out and blotted the water out with a t-shirt. Then I applied a mixture of argon oil and coconut oil to the damp hair all over. I would usually added castor oil but I didn't have it with me this time. I then split my hair into four sections and made sure it was moisturised. I used the Keracare Hair Milk, Daily Hair Sustainer after that to lock the moisture in.
STEP SIX
I then got my Creme of Nature Argon Oil Twirling Custard and did a medium sized twist out. I slept on this in a pineapple style wrapped in a silk scarf.
THE NEXT DAY....
The next day may hair looked a bit flat, I still haven't mastered the twist out, so whilst I was in the shower I flashed some water on my hair to add some life back in and that worked a treat. I then got out the shower and shook it thoroughly and used the blowdryer on a cool setting to make sure it was fully dry.
THE DAY AFTER THAT....
I applied more oil each day and slept with it in a pineapple wrapped in a scarf. I took this picture 2 days after washing and as soon as I woke up so nothing is on my hair at this stage.
Disclaimer - I am not a professional and I am still learning, everyone's hair is different so things that work for me might not work for you and vice/versa. :)
In my world, the colour of my nails is a pretty good indication of my mood. So I was in a pretty good mood when I bought this! I picked it up in Boots.
Spring is on its way and its time to step away from dull neutral colours, and opt for something bright. This shade is Tangerine Tent and it is part of the Rita Ora collection for Rimmel.
Spring is on its way and its time to step away from dull neutral colours, and opt for something bright. This shade is Tangerine Tent and it is part of the Rita Ora collection for Rimmel.
I wear a lot of neutral clothes , khaki, grey, black, so my nails are a way for me to bring some brightness into an outfit.
I would definitely recommend this nail varnish, its affordable, super pigmented ; it is bright with just one stroke, and its a great pick-me-up if you are tied to your desk all day doing assignments or work!
In my world, the colour of my nails is a pretty good indication of my mood. So I was in a pretty good mood when I bought this! I picked it up in Boots.
Spring is on its way and its time to step away from dull neutral colours, and opt for something bright. This shade is Tangerine Tent and it is part of the Rita Ora collection for Rimmel.
Spring is on its way and its time to step away from dull neutral colours, and opt for something bright. This shade is Tangerine Tent and it is part of the Rita Ora collection for Rimmel.
I wear a lot of neutral clothes , khaki, grey, black, so my nails are a way for me to bring some brightness into an outfit.
I would definitely recommend this nail varnish, its affordable, super pigmented ; it is bright with just one stroke, and its a great pick-me-up if you are tied to your desk all day doing assignments or work!
As you can probably tell, I couldn't think of a short title for this post! I have been styling my hair without heat for about 6 weeks now and I cannot believe the progress it has made, and I thought it would also be a good idea to start documenting it.
Both pictures were taking straight after washing. The white residue you can see is my leave in conditioner, I use the Cantu Shea Butter Leave in which is so easy and quick to use. I have also been trying the Aphogee Pro Vitamin conditioner, I thought I would prefer it because it is in a spray bottle, but I totally prefer the creamy texture of the Cantu one.
As you can see in the top picture my hair is quite limp and is practically straight on the ends due to heat damage. I never thought I would be able to do a wash and go style like below without doing a huge chop, but with time and patience I have learnt that your hair will love you if you love it back! I
The main thing that I think has brought the body, fullness and curl back into my hair is of course cutting down on using heat. Secondly, I have been washing it about twice a week with non sulphate shampoo and using products that emphasise having lots of protein in them and stating that they are for damaged hair.
(I am hoping to start making my own protein masks but I haven't got round to it yet)
In-between washes I have been using the LOC method as a way of keeping the moisture in, and spraying it with water constantly because there really is no better way to moisture your hair than H20!
I have stopped using towels to dry my hair as this just causes frizz, and the texture of towels will rub against the curls in your hair. Instead I use an old t-shirt and just wrap it round to stop it dripping. I know it is best to air dry it but my hair takes ages to dry and I hate feeling it drip down my neck. EW!
So, for now I think I have perfected my wash routine. I use the Aphogee Shampoo for damaged hair. Then I put loads of the Cantu Shea Butter Leave in Conditioning repair cream and let it air dry for about 20 minutes, then put a t-shirt on it (whilst I do my makeup). After that, whilst it is still damp i put coconut oil onto my hair by sectioning it and making sure it is mostly on the roots. Sometimes If I have somewhere I need to be I will use my hairdryer on the cool setting to speed it up a bit!
The creamy set product is my new favourite, it sets curls just like eco styler gel but without the stiffness, and like all these products it is available in your local hair shop. I didn't buy any of these things online.
I get quite a few people asking me what I use, so I hope that helps.
If you have any suggestions for products feel free to comment below!
As you can probably tell, I couldn't think of a short title for this post! I have been styling my hair without heat for about 6 weeks now and I cannot believe the progress it has made, and I thought it would also be a good idea to start documenting it.
Both pictures were taking straight after washing. The white residue you can see is my leave in conditioner, I use the Cantu Shea Butter Leave in which is so easy and quick to use. I have also been trying the Aphogee Pro Vitamin conditioner, I thought I would prefer it because it is in a spray bottle, but I totally prefer the creamy texture of the Cantu one.
As you can see in the top picture my hair is quite limp and is practically straight on the ends due to heat damage. I never thought I would be able to do a wash and go style like below without doing a huge chop, but with time and patience I have learnt that your hair will love you if you love it back! I
The main thing that I think has brought the body, fullness and curl back into my hair is of course cutting down on using heat. Secondly, I have been washing it about twice a week with non sulphate shampoo and using products that emphasise having lots of protein in them and stating that they are for damaged hair.
(I am hoping to start making my own protein masks but I haven't got round to it yet)
In-between washes I have been using the LOC method as a way of keeping the moisture in, and spraying it with water constantly because there really is no better way to moisture your hair than H20!
I have stopped using towels to dry my hair as this just causes frizz, and the texture of towels will rub against the curls in your hair. Instead I use an old t-shirt and just wrap it round to stop it dripping. I know it is best to air dry it but my hair takes ages to dry and I hate feeling it drip down my neck. EW!
So, for now I think I have perfected my wash routine. I use the Aphogee Shampoo for damaged hair. Then I put loads of the Cantu Shea Butter Leave in Conditioning repair cream and let it air dry for about 20 minutes, then put a t-shirt on it (whilst I do my makeup). After that, whilst it is still damp i put coconut oil onto my hair by sectioning it and making sure it is mostly on the roots. Sometimes If I have somewhere I need to be I will use my hairdryer on the cool setting to speed it up a bit!
The creamy set product is my new favourite, it sets curls just like eco styler gel but without the stiffness, and like all these products it is available in your local hair shop. I didn't buy any of these things online.
I get quite a few people asking me what I use, so I hope that helps.
If you have any suggestions for products feel free to comment below!
It's that time of the academic year where organisation is everything. I truly believe that sometimes being organised outweighs actually being smart 'clever' so all these notebooks better help me out!
Also, that is just another one of my excuses to have a pretty bookshelf.
Most of these things were gifts but they are definitely things I couldn't live without now
First of all my MacBook Pro is actually my life. Until recently I hadn't been into using an electronic/online calendar but it now I like to use both for practicalities, as it can be quite heavy to carry my laptop AND diary to uni (First World Problems) and because I get a reminder on my phone and on my laptop.
To the right is my week planner, this is great to write down shifts at work or blog posts or your gym schedule! This was a gift from John Lewis, you can find it here.
Next up is my Cath Kidston Pencil Case. All the Cath Kinston stuff you can see here my boyfriend bought me for my birthday, I can't believe he spent that long in there! I guess you could say a pencil case is a bit childish, but a lost memory stick is no laughing matter, so I like carrying around my essentials in this. I also keep lip balm, earphones etc in there. This is the 'Billie Goes to Town' Pencil Case.
My Pen came in a box which makes for a great gift and is so pretty... too nice to use for scribbling notes at uni! I couldn't find the exact one but here is a similar version .
The notebook is great to use as a diary. It is hardback and doesn't have any dividers so not the best for university, but great for blog ideas or just general life notes! Here is a similar one.
I don't quite know how I coped without a wall calendar before this! It's so handy if someone asks you if you are available last minute, and you can just glance at the wall. Also, it's great for me to see when my deadlines are due so I can see how close together they are and cry plan accordingly.
I couldn't find a link to where this was available online as you can imagine (It is February!).
But you could probably get one discounted now which is even better!
Last but not least is my 'Life Book' it says that is for organised mums ha! But it is actually so helpful, there are pages for you to write down your budget, and just about anything you can think of.
So I have a bit of a stationery addiction and it seems like everyone knows it!
What are your favourite ways to stay organised?
It's that time of the academic year where organisation is everything. I truly believe that sometimes being organised outweighs actually being smart 'clever' so all these notebooks better help me out!
Also, that is just another one of my excuses to have a pretty bookshelf.
Most of these things were gifts but they are definitely things I couldn't live without now
First of all my MacBook Pro is actually my life. Until recently I hadn't been into using an electronic/online calendar but it now I like to use both for practicalities, as it can be quite heavy to carry my laptop AND diary to uni (First World Problems) and because I get a reminder on my phone and on my laptop.
To the right is my week planner, this is great to write down shifts at work or blog posts or your gym schedule! This was a gift from John Lewis, you can find it here.
Next up is my Cath Kidston Pencil Case. All the Cath Kinston stuff you can see here my boyfriend bought me for my birthday, I can't believe he spent that long in there! I guess you could say a pencil case is a bit childish, but a lost memory stick is no laughing matter, so I like carrying around my essentials in this. I also keep lip balm, earphones etc in there. This is the 'Billie Goes to Town' Pencil Case.
My Pen came in a box which makes for a great gift and is so pretty... too nice to use for scribbling notes at uni! I couldn't find the exact one but here is a similar version .
The notebook is great to use as a diary. It is hardback and doesn't have any dividers so not the best for university, but great for blog ideas or just general life notes! Here is a similar one.
I don't quite know how I coped without a wall calendar before this! It's so handy if someone asks you if you are available last minute, and you can just glance at the wall. Also, it's great for me to see when my deadlines are due so I can see how close together they are and cry plan accordingly.
I couldn't find a link to where this was available online as you can imagine (It is February!).
But you could probably get one discounted now which is even better!
Last but not least is my 'Life Book' it says that is for organised mums ha! But it is actually so helpful, there are pages for you to write down your budget, and just about anything you can think of.
So I have a bit of a stationery addiction and it seems like everyone knows it!
What are your favourite ways to stay organised?
It is affordable and is widely available on the high street
The packaging is cute and the tub can definitely be re-used
It is very moisturising and has a nice texture. I would say it is better as a moisturiser than a curl definer as it isn't sticky and it prevented my hair from drying out after being in the cold and wind!
My ends did stay curled!
It is affordable and is widely available on the high street
The packaging is cute and the tub can definitely be re-used
It is very moisturising and has a nice texture. I would say it is better as a moisturiser than a curl definer as it isn't sticky and it prevented my hair from drying out after being in the cold and wind!
My ends did stay curled!
It has been 1 month since I embarked on my journey of heat free styling!
The main reason for my decision to cut down on blowdrying/straightening was simply because of boredom. I was bored of wearing it the same everyday and I think that the natural texture of my hair has a lot more versatility. I follow a lot of the natural hair bloggers and pages on Instagram that inspire me and I didn't want to inflict any more permanent heat damage on my hair.
I'm not saying I won't ever blow-dry it or straighten it again, but at least I know what I can do with it now!
So here is a few things I learnt this month!
- Curls will come back! It's all about patience. As you can imagine I had quite a bit of heat damage on the ends (luckily not as much as I thought) so that initially put me off wearing it as an afro, but I just bit the bullet and you will see that straight ends will start to revert.
- It takes a while to learn what works on your hair and what doesn't. Not everything that you see hair bloggers use will work on you so prepare for a few rough looking days when things go wrong!
- It takes WAAAY more time getting ready in the morning now. I thought it would be the other way round!
- You don't need to have a lot of money to achieve different styles. My go to's are Ecostyler Gel and Water!
It has been 1 month since I embarked on my journey of heat free styling!
The main reason for my decision to cut down on blowdrying/straightening was simply because of boredom. I was bored of wearing it the same everyday and I think that the natural texture of my hair has a lot more versatility. I follow a lot of the natural hair bloggers and pages on Instagram that inspire me and I didn't want to inflict any more permanent heat damage on my hair.
I'm not saying I won't ever blow-dry it or straighten it again, but at least I know what I can do with it now!
So here is a few things I learnt this month!
- Curls will come back! It's all about patience. As you can imagine I had quite a bit of heat damage on the ends (luckily not as much as I thought) so that initially put me off wearing it as an afro, but I just bit the bullet and you will see that straight ends will start to revert.
- It takes a while to learn what works on your hair and what doesn't. Not everything that you see hair bloggers use will work on you so prepare for a few rough looking days when things go wrong!
- It takes WAAAY more time getting ready in the morning now. I thought it would be the other way round!
- You don't need to have a lot of money to achieve different styles. My go to's are Ecostyler Gel and Water!
So this is the first tutorial on my blog and I am very excited at how it turned out! I have a lot of improvements to make but we've all got to start somewhere.
L - This stands for liquid. As I said, this is a budget version so I just used water! Water is the ultimate moisturiser so you can't really go wrong! However most other tutorials use a water based leave-in conditioner, If I had it, I would have used the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner.
O - This stands for oil. The oil works as a sealant to keep the moisture locked in. I used Jasmine Oil because it was to hand, but Coconut Oil is a popular alternative.
C- This stands for cream. I used Shea Butter as it is quite heavy, but really a styling cream is supposed to be used for this. Next time I would like to try the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie but I think this worked for now!
I then used Eco-Styler gel and twisted my hair to save myself some time in the morning to define the curls, I then put flexi rods and curlers at the ends because I do have some heat damage on the ends and it ensures that it is curly all the way round. I then wrap my hair with a silk scarf.
I will keep you updated with how this keeps the moisture in my hair, I have read other blog posts that say their hair stayed moisturised for a week, so let's see if that works!
So this is the first tutorial on my blog and I am very excited at how it turned out! I have a lot of improvements to make but we've all got to start somewhere.
L - This stands for liquid. As I said, this is a budget version so I just used water! Water is the ultimate moisturiser so you can't really go wrong! However most other tutorials use a water based leave-in conditioner, If I had it, I would have used the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner.
O - This stands for oil. The oil works as a sealant to keep the moisture locked in. I used Jasmine Oil because it was to hand, but Coconut Oil is a popular alternative.
C- This stands for cream. I used Shea Butter as it is quite heavy, but really a styling cream is supposed to be used for this. Next time I would like to try the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie but I think this worked for now!
I then used Eco-Styler gel and twisted my hair to save myself some time in the morning to define the curls, I then put flexi rods and curlers at the ends because I do have some heat damage on the ends and it ensures that it is curly all the way round. I then wrap my hair with a silk scarf.
I will keep you updated with how this keeps the moisture in my hair, I have read other blog posts that say their hair stayed moisturised for a week, so let's see if that works!
- Its a decent price for a lot of product, I think all of the tubs are 500g which is a good amount.
- The packaging is quite nice and it just does what it says on the tub. You could also reuse the tub for something else.
- The best thing I like about this mask is that my hair felt really moisturised and light after using it.
- The smell makes you feel like you are really doing something for your hair, but it doesn't tingle or feel like it has any harmful chemicals in.
- It completely detangled my hair after washing and made it super wavy.
- Personally I would have preferred the mask if it turned hard like clay because I think it would be easier to wash out and you could easily see if you left any product in your hair.
- The packaging doesn't tell you how much to apply which is annoying, I think this is a bit of marketing because if you use more than you need you are obviously going to run out quicker.
Overall I had a good experience with this mask and I will use it again.
Let me know if you have used this mask before or if you have any suggestions for more products to review! xxx
- Its a decent price for a lot of product, I think all of the tubs are 500g which is a good amount.
- The packaging is quite nice and it just does what it says on the tub. You could also reuse the tub for something else.
- The best thing I like about this mask is that my hair felt really moisturised and light after using it.
- The smell makes you feel like you are really doing something for your hair, but it doesn't tingle or feel like it has any harmful chemicals in.
- It completely detangled my hair after washing and made it super wavy.
- Personally I would have preferred the mask if it turned hard like clay because I think it would be easier to wash out and you could easily see if you left any product in your hair.
- The packaging doesn't tell you how much to apply which is annoying, I think this is a bit of marketing because if you use more than you need you are obviously going to run out quicker.
Overall I had a good experience with this mask and I will use it again.
Let me know if you have used this mask before or if you have any suggestions for more products to review! xxx
I love a good bargain but I don't often skimp on hair and beauty products, I'd rather wait a while and then buy what I really want or just ask for it for my birthday or Christmas. HOWEVER These £1 nail varnishes by MUA, available in Superdrug or online here are so good!
It takes just 2 coats for full thick coverage which is about the same as any normal expensive nail varnish and the brush isn't like those cheap nail varnishes you can get with the thin wispy brush that can end up painted on your nail!
What do you think of this brand?
I love a good bargain but I don't often skimp on hair and beauty products, I'd rather wait a while and then buy what I really want or just ask for it for my birthday or Christmas. HOWEVER These £1 nail varnishes by MUA, available in Superdrug or online here are so good!
It takes just 2 coats for full thick coverage which is about the same as any normal expensive nail varnish and the brush isn't like those cheap nail varnishes you can get with the thin wispy brush that can end up painted on your nail!
What do you think of this brand?
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