Big Hair

I have ridiculously flat hair which gets dry and knotty, but thankfully I go to the super Cardiff-based hairdressing salon Guy Christian where the staff are pros at helping you get the hair you've always wanted.  It's not just about the cut and the colour (although they are the only hairdressers I've ever been to that manage to highlight my hair right from the roots, without leaving that tell-tale gap) but about the after care and advice that they freely give to you, which is always spot on.

That's why it's exciting that they've just launched a new website selling products sanctioned by their stylists.  The best part about it is that they lend that very same aftercare advice to you whether you're a salon customer or just purchase products from the website as there's an option to email for tips on the products that are right for you, before you buy.

I emailed describing my hair type and what I wanted (to look like Brigitte Bardot, obvs) and they sent me the names of the products I needed and some ideas of how to style my hair using them.

This was the result.

Yes, a seemingly impossible feat, but surprisingly the products have really made a difference without any technical hairdressing know-how on my part.  

Nahht.

I have been incredibly impressed with the products I got though.  The only reason I can't achieve the beautiful, effortless beehive look is because of my idiocy when it comes to hair and make-up.  Luckily, the products have made a difference to my hair style with not much styling effort on my part.  And as a wash-and-go kinda girl this is just the way I like it.

I got the Wella Balance Scalp shampoo as I have scalp psoriasis but don't like using medicated shampoo all the time.  I loved it because it didn't smell strongly but had a fresh, clean scent (unlike my usual shampoo, which has a smell akin to carbolic soap) and it was gentle on my scalp.  It actually soothed it instead of irritating it and it also felt very luxurious as it lathered up thickly and really moisturised my hair.  A negative point is that it's quite a small bottle for the price, but because it lathers so much it's actually lasted a lot longer than I expected it too.

The Wella SP Volumize Leave-in Conditioner was the first product I chose to start off my quest for super-massive hair.  You apply this after towel drying and it acts as a detangler as well since it's a leave-in conditioner.  It made my hair much thicker, from root to tip, without any stickiness.  It gave me a lot of volume on its own, but I also got the Sebastien Thickefy lotion and found that both together gave me the volume I wanted (i.e A LOT of volume!)  It did work on its own though, and would probably suit someone who just wants an extra boost for the daytime.  The only downside to this product is that it comes in mousse form so your hands get a little messy when you use it.

The Sebastian Professional Thickefy Foam was my favourite product out of the three I tried.  I’ve been trying for so long to find a product that will bulk up my fine hair without making it feel heavy and sticky and this is definitely the best I've used (other products I've used include Tigi, Tresemme and L'Oreal products).  It has no strong scent, which I really like as I hate it when hair products smell overpowering – you so often use quite a few in your hair that it gets overbearing when the smells all start clashing together.  It’s also really versatile as you can use it whether you’re hair is wet or dry, although it works better if you apply it when your hair is still damp.  It also works better if you blowdry on a cool setting, giving a dramatic lift to your roots.  I did find that it makes your hair look/ feel considerably thicker even if you let it dry naturally, which is exactly what I wanted!

All the products are discounted and are sent out at once.  I got mine within two days of ordering.  Cardiff is severely lacking in independent hairdressers of the quality you get at Guy Christian, so support local and buy from the website AND get your hair done with them too.  Even if it's just to get your hair washed while sitting on a massage chair.

Simplicity Reigns

I don't spend much time poring over pictures of what the schlebs wear to fashion week.  It's usually the photographs of the ordinary people I watch out for, who are snapped looking extraordinary.  As a rule, celebrities lack the interest in style which is innate within the stylish girls who get photographed for their genius outfit combinations.

Kirsten Dunst is a case in point. She turned up to the Mulberry show on Sunday in the simple camel jumper and jeans combo pictured above, and later on to the Mulberry party in one of the brand's plainer pre-Fall evening dresses.  If you passed an unknown individual wearing either of these unadorned outfits in the street, I doubt you'd look twice, and if Kirsten Dunst were a not a super famous actress she would not have these images of herself broadcast on several style websites since Sunday.

Yet Kirsten with her austere outfits has struck a chord with me.  I think it's because she does look decidedly average - which isn't always a terrible thing.  You hear all about these people who look as if they've 'thrown something together', but the outfits often encompass several layers and styles, and are likely to have been laid out on a bedroom chair the previous evening.  Kirsten's are definitely thrown together - there's nothing more efficient than a jumper with matching bag and shoes, worn with jeans, or a dress with tights and heels.

Lately, I've been indulging in fashion in a dreamlike manner instead of literally wearing the clothes I would like to, throwing on jeans and a top instead of a complicated combination that could have come straight from an Urban Outfitters mannequin.  This is why I personally took note of what Kirsten Dunst was wearing.  Because she looks cool and free, wearing everyday clothes that aren't particularly 'in fashion'. They're not steeped in hyperbole, they aren't histrionic.  They're classic, easy, they're SIMPLE, and they're what I, and most girls, wear on a day-to-day basis while we get on with our hectic lives.

While occasionally daydreaming of wearing Meadham Kirchoff, Celine and Acne, of course.