Finally, two hours after I started uploading it, it’s finally up! Hurry up watching it before Youtube decides to block it again, they seem to enjoy doing that with my videoes you see. Anyone know of any good triks to keep the videoes from being blocked (besides having no music, or cc music)?
Remember to change the quality to 1080p HD :D
I hope you enjoyed the video, and that you’re having a lovely Thursday evening! :D
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I’m so excited about this contest!! One of you lucky ladies can now win a full 7-Piece Set + Quad Clip or 150 I-Tip Single Strand Extensions and a Micro Ring Kit – PLUS Free Fast FedEx shipping!!!
How amazing is that?? It makes me so happy because you readers are amazing, and the hair is fabulous, and the weather today is so sunny and bright and life is so good and I’ll stop ramble away like a crazy person and tell you more about this contest instead!!! :D
How to enter the contest:
Winner will be announced next week!
Good luck everyone!!! :D
CONTEST ENDED
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Many of you have been curious about my extensions recently, and as I know how frustrating it can be to find good quality hair extensions in the jungle of options out there I thought I’d share my secrets with you. Fortunately for you, I have tried and failed a few times for all of us so that you don’t have to :) Now I know what to look for, and yet better, I know where you can get the best hair!!
About Locks&Bonds
1. What makes Locks&Bonds better than other brands?
In the past I’ve bought hair from lots of different brands who all claimed that they had “Remy quality hair”, which I fell for because it was quite cheap and seemed like a good deal (Rapunzel, Sara’s, American Dream Extensions etc). It was very disappointing when I washed the hair and it became all tangled and dry and I just had to throw it away after only once or twice of wear.
So, where do I get my hair from now and how is it different?
I have now curled, brushed, washed, straightened and partied (read champagne showers) with my hair from Locks&Bonds a number of times, and it’s still in the exact same soft state as when I got it!! This means I’ve finally found real Remy hair.
2. What does Remy hair really mean?
Remy Hair means that the hair is cut from the donor in one heavy ponytail, with the cuticle facing in the same direction. Inexpensive extensions are made from hair collected facing in all directions from many different donors (even from hairbrushes) so that the cuticle has to be removed in damaging acid baths, then covered in silicone so that the hair seems smooth.
However, after the first few washings, the remaining cuticles will rise as the silicone is washed off and hopeless dry tangling sets in because the cuticles act like little fish hooks hooking with the cuticles facing the opposite direction. Unfortunately brands lie about having Remy hair all the time, which is why it’s extremely difficult to find hair that actually is real Remy hair.
3. What kind of Remy hair does L&B use?
Not only do you have to worry about getting real Remy hair, but getting the right thickness of the hair is also key. Normally hair extensions are 0,5 grams per strand, but Locks&Bonds’ hair is 0,8 grams meaning it’s thicker along the whole strand which is what will give your hair that full and realistic look. I’m sure you’ve seen someone wear extensions where the ends of the hair is so thin that you can practically count the strands of hair, not pretty. With the hair from L&B you get fuller and more volumous hair, and it’s up tp you how long you want it. You have got to love that!
What kind of hair extensions do they offer?
1. Clip ins
I use clip ins which is convenient for me as I like to sleep without anything in the way, and still have long and beautiful hair in the day or just when I feel like it. L&B offer two different packs of clip ins, I chose the full set one with an additional quad clip (180g). In the past I’ve found that I’ve needed two packs to get it as fullness I desire, but with L&B I foind that one pack is actually enough for me. The hair is 56cm long, which is a little bit longer than mine, but it blends in perfectly once it’s curled. I have the colour #60/613/16 which is blonde with both highlights and lowlights (perfect for natural blondes).
I wash the hair in the sink with babyshampoo followed by treatments like this, this and this.
2. Micro rings
Micro rings is a permanent solution meaning once it’s in you don’t have to worry about it. It becomes your hair. You have more freedom when it comes to finding the right colour as you can mix and match with four different colours. This is a better option if you want long hair all the time, but be aware that they may damage your hair slightly more than clip ins. There are however several types of micro rings so that you can chose the ones that is right for your hair which in turn will decrease the damage on your hair if treated properly. YouTube has lots of videoes on how to attach them, I know many girls who do it themselves but you can also go to a hairdresser if you don’t want to be bothered with it.
The three different micro rings:
Screw Micro Rings:
Silicone Micro Rings:
Copper Micro Tubes:
Just so you know, I bought my hair for my own money and I wouldn’t recommend anything I didn’t truly believe in. It’s my honest and sincere opinion as always.
Go to Locks&Bonds to get your fabulous hair!!
I hope you found that helpful, please don’t hesitate to leave questions if there is anything else you have questions about. I would be happy to help :D
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The package contains 5 ampoules of 10ml essential oils of sage, rosemary, juniper berries and lemon, castor oil derivative.
After having seen such surprisingly great results from the Philip Kingsley Elastisizer I was really eager to try more pre-shampoo treatments as they seem to do more for my hair than the post-shampoo treatments. A pre-shampoo treatment means it’s applied to the hair before you shampoo so that the hair really soakes it all up before it’s soaked in shampoo residue. Smart and very effective!
When I opened the package and got my curious little fingers on the ampoules I felt like I was in a labratory and was dealing with some serious clinical secret stuff. I must say I’m totally loving the ampoules as they keep the product fresh in the glass container all untill it is applied to the hair.
The ampoules comes with a little spray bottle which you’re supposed to fill the oil into so that it’s easier to distribute the oil evenly in the hair. To get the oil into the bottle you break the ends and place it on top of the spray bottle. Super easy and very clever!
To apply the oil you divide your hair into smaller sections and spray one sestion at a time focusing on the ends while massaging it in. It’s really important to focus it on the ends as this is some serious moisturising stuff which you don’t want too close to the roots as that might weigh your hair down.
Because it’s so sticky it won’t drip anywhere once applied, but you don’t want this on the floor or on your clothes so I advice you to spray in the shower. After you’ve massaged the oil into the hair you leave it in for 15 – 30 minutes. I normally put my hair up and jump into a robe while it’s in. Naturally this is the perfect time to apply that face mask you’ve been wanting to find time for as well. And while that’s on it’s a great time to pluck your eye brows and file your nails too :)
The oil does not smell nice, it smells organic if you know what I mean… But I’m ok with that because the scent doesn’t stay in the hair after it’s washed out and it means that the treatment doesn’t contain any perfume or other unnecessary ingredients. Don’t be afraid to really shampoo your hair after, I actually highly recommend it because the moisture will stay in the hair anyway but you want the sticky residue to go away. There is no need for any post-shampoo treatments as this is moisture enough, so save your conditioner and hair mask for the next hair wash :)
When hair is dry it’s first of all left with this amazingly beautiful shine. Secondly you will notice a huge difference to the ends, especially if you are suffering from dry and brittle ends.
So, which one do I love the most of the Philip Kingsley Elastisizer and this?
Difficult question as I think they are both great in two different ways. The Philip Kingsley treatment is not as intense as this one which means I use it more frequently to maintain the moisture in the hair while it still keeps my hair light and volumious. This treatment I save for when my hair is so dry that nothing else seems to work, because this really gives a shot of new life and moisture to the hair which means I don’t have to cut it as often :D I must say that it’s a must have if you’ve got chemically damaged hair and you think the only way out is to cut off your hair, I promise.. you’ll be surprised!
You can get it here.
Norwegians: Husk at FeelUnique tilbakebetaler toll/moms. Alt du trenger å gjøre er å ta et bilde av kvitteringen fra postkontoret og sende det på mail til FeelUnique sammen med ordrenummer og navn, så setter de inn pengene på kontoen du betalte med et par dager senere. Veldig fort gjort, og masse penger å spare! Jeg har vært i kontakt med et par andre nettbutikker angåend dette, og det kan se ut til at det er muligheter for at flere vil tilby det samme flotte systemet for nordmenn. Jeg holder dere oppdatert ;)
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Remember my big hair treatment haul from LookFantastic? Well, this treatment was one of the treatments I ordered and the first one I decided to try. The treatment was originally created by Philip Kingsley specifically for Audrey Hepburn, who wanted a super-moisturising treatment that would repair her hair and keep it in great condition throughout the frequent colouring and styling done to her hair on movie sets. It quickly became her favorite and was then produced for us mortals as well.
The first time I used this mask I didn’ like it all as it left my hair feeling creamy and heavy after drying as if I had applied a moisturiser to my hair. It was so bad that I decided to go back in the shower and rinse the hair under water yet again. Still my hair was left feeling creamy and heavy, it was the strangest thing. As this was something I have never experienced before I decided to take a look at the container. There it was, the instructions. “Before shampooing, dampen your hair and apply Elasticizer in sections.” Oopsie, so I tried it once again following the instructions making sure I really washed out everything with the shampoo, and this time I got a much better result…
Consistency:
It resembles much more a moisturiser rather than a hair mask because of its silky mousse consistency. I guess that it’s because of the concistency the treatment is applied before shampooing, to protect the hair follicle against the somewhat harsh treatment it gets exposed to. I know most girls (me included) are very concerned about the smell of hair products, this doesn’t smell of anything in particular, quite clean if anything.
How I like to use it:
The first sign of improvement you will notice is how easy it is to comb through the hair as opposed to before. I think this is because the hair is kept protected from the shampooing process which normally causes lots of tangles. When hair is dry it feels really soft, hydrated and bouncey packed with lots of beautiful shine that we all love so much. In general it’s really good if you have dry and frizzy ends, but if your hair is really damaged from chemical treatments and you’re struggeling with tangled, porous and dry hair I’d really recommend this as this will make an extreme difference for you!!
You can really see how the ends where I’ve applied the treatment look much more shiny than the rest :)
Each time I’ve used it my hair feels more and more healthy. I have always ignored the pre shampoo treatments in the past thinking it’s a waste to apply something that will just be stripped out of the hair with the shampoo minutes after anyway. I’ve been so wrong, she said whilst slapping her self on the wrist. This is by far the best mask I’ve ever tried, it amazes me how big the difference on the hair is even though it is applied before the shampoo. I still can’t really manage to wrap my head around how that really works, but as long as it works I’m happy.
All in all: 10/10
You can get it anywhere they sell Philip Kingsley, or order it online at LookFantastic like I did if you also enjoy getting packages in the mail box :D They offer free worldwide shipping!! I got my package less than a week after ordering, and according to their website delivery is 1-2 days in UK, 5-7 days in Europe and 5-10 days in US.
Norwegians: Lookfantastic sender av en eller annen grunn ikke dette produktet til Norge, men det gjør FeelUnique som også har fri frakt OG refunderer det du eventuelt må betale i toll/moms :D
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I mentioned to you the other day how my hair has grown faster than ever and I gave all credits to the fact that I have switched hair products from Kerastase to natural and safe ingredients brands like Alexander Sprekenhus and Moroccan Oil.
The reason to why I bring this up once more is that I completely forgot to mention a product I’ve been using which might be a big part of my results. This is the John Masters Organics Deep Scalp Follicle Tretment & Volumizer For Thinning Hair. I got this because I was looking for a plain volumizing product that didn’t contain any harmful ingredients and didn’t leave much thought to the part where it claims “A leave in solution that helps to promote healthy growth by improving the condition of your scalp.” as I have never before seen any true results from fast growth products like that. So when I picked up this product this morning it suddenly hit me that this little bottle probably have done more than I thought it had…
Could it really be that this together with organic shampoo and conditioner promotes hair growth? Yes, I’m impressed! The best part is that it’s really inexpensive, a little goes a long way and it´s super easy to use. After I’ve washed my hair I apply Alexander Sprekenhus One Day Straightener (heat protectant) to the hair and follow up with spraying John Masters Organics into my roots and gently massage it in. When your hair has dried you can’t feel it at all which is a big plus for me (and the boyfriend) as I hate having sticky hair that I can’t slide my fingers through.
Review: 10/10
I bought mine at LookFantastic for £21.
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“Beneficial for both hair and skin, John Masters Organics 100% Argan Oil helps to retain moisture, improve elasticity and soften hair and skin, while also adding instant sparkle and shine. It’s excellent for taming frizzy hair and mending split ends, and when applied to skin it helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and blemishes.”
When we were at the pharmacy the other day I came across 100% pure Argan oil. After having seen such amazing results from the Aleksander Sprekenhus products, in which Argan Oil is their secret magical ingredient, I thought 100% pure Argan Oil must be even better! I applied some to my hair and on my face before going to bed and I woke up with completely tangle free hair and with beautiful glowing and hydrated skin. Amazing! Whether it can replace my products from Aleksander Sprekenhus I’m not so sure as the hair gets quite oily when compared to the serums from Aleksander Sprekenhus, but as a deep nurishing mask treatment or before shampooing it is amazing.
I must say I’m quite surprised about the results on my skin as well as oil feels like a no-no on the skin after having suffered from acne for so many years. After having read a couple of reviews about the oil I see people are actually using it to get rid off their adult acne (see this thread) so don’t hesitate to try argan oil if you are suffering from acne. Argan oil is completely non-comodogenic and rejuvenates the skin at the same time as it gives you the hydration your skin really needs.
Key ingredients:
Argan oil naturally contains the following compounds:
- Tocepherols, including vitamin E – help to neutralise free radicals on the skin and scalp.
- Omega 6 – help to prevent hair breakage.
- Saponins – naturally soften the hair and skin.
Properties:
- Rejuvenates the skin and hair.
- Rich in anti-oxidants.
- Easily absorbed into the skin.
- Protects against free radical damage.
Usage:
- For dry skin.
- For ultra hydration.
- For softening the hair and skin.
- reat for reducing appearance of scars and wrinkles.
After a quick search on google I found a lot of people have had the same surprisingly great results with the oil, see this thread.
I bought mine in the pharmacy, but after a quick search I found a 100% pure argan oil from John Masters Organic at LookFantastic for only £32.50! :)
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Alexander Sprekenhus does it again! After I had such amazing results with the SLS-free and Paraben-free moisturising shampoo and conditioner I realised that this brand is something I wouldn’t want to pass me by so I got a serum for fine hair called Hair Styling Elixir. Every summer my hair gets dry, tangled and frizzy from the sun and salt water which is why I always end up having to chop off so much hair at the end of the season. This summer however the lovely hairdresser Gemma at Nicky Clarck barely touched the ends as my hair was in such a good condition!
Not only does the serum make hair shiny, moistend and managable, it also protects it from heat and makes the hair dry quicker! Although I’ve been using it ever since I got it a couple of months ago I’m not even half way through the bottle of 30 ml, it seems to last forever!
Ingredients:
Cyclopentasiloxane + Dimethicone = A safe conditioning combination of silicones that doesn’t cause build ups or hurt the hair in any way like other silicones may do.
Phenyl Trimethicone = A very popular high gloss silicone with heat resistance that improves the texture of hair that has been damaged by chemical treatment.
Argania Spinosa = Argan Oil which is a luxurious oil with moisturizing, softening and silkening effects that also boosts shine and corrects frizz while not feeling greasy or oily on the hair.
Kernel Oil= High in the antioxidant beta-carotene and saturated fatty acids. Leaves hair feeling thick and conditioned.
Cannabis Sativa = Very rich in fatty acids which moisturizes the hair.
Phthalate-Free Fragrance = Free of phtahalate which are hormone-mimicking chemicals that interfere with normal hormone production.
Strengthening, conditioning and protecting while letting the hair dry faster – all without SLS, Parabens and Petroleum! You need this!
Price: 299 NOK, get it at alexandersprekenhus.com
All in all: 10/10
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I’ve always been a sucker for big hair product brands like Kérastase, Joico and Redken but recently I’ve become more focused on what I put in my hair with all the debate about SLS and parabens. Finding products that make my hair feel strong, healthy and shiny at the same time as containing no damaging ingredients is difficult though.
Click to read what SLS are and why SLS-free shampoos and conditioners are better
Shampoos are among the most frequently reported products to the FDA. Reports include eye irritation, scalp irritation, tangled hair and split and fuzzy hair. The main cause of these problems is SLS. Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants and used because they are cheap. When these chemicals are absorbed into the body from skin application, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is to mimic the activity of the hormone Oestrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved.
Click to read what parabens are and why they should be avoided as well
Just like SLS parabens also mimic the hormone estrogen which may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved.
After reading about these chemicals it makes some sense to try to stay away from them as much as possible and so my hunt for the right products began. I found Alexander Sprekenhus’ products while sipping on a glass of rosé in my home town in Norway. A friend of a friend of mine came over to our table and raved about a hair oil that only contained natural ingredients like Argan Oil and that it knocked out big sellers like Kérastase and Shu Uemura. She said it was so pure that it could even be used on the skin, and the bottle went around the table. My first thought was that it smelled AMAZING and candy like! Skeptical and suspicious like most beauty bloggers I asked her about the ingredients, but it was impossible to get any sense out of the conversation other than that it only contained safe ingredients (possibly due to the amount of wine we had both consumed). She had a sample of a shampoo and conditioner in her hand bag and gave it to me to try out.
I tried the shampoo and conditioner the day before I left Norway and I was in love!!! The smell, the shine, the feel of the hair… but still I didn’t know what it really contained so I dived into the world of chemistry to find out what ingredients the products contained and what they actually do for the hair, which was a lot easier than I first thought as both the shampoo and conditioner contains the exact same ingredients only in different amounts.
Click here to see the list of ingredients and explanations:
About the ingredients in other words: Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner from the Norwegian brand Alexander Sprekenhus contains no sulfates, phosphates or parabens, but cleanse in a natural way which preserves the hair’s natural balance! The big star of the formulation is the luxorious Argan Oil which is derived from the Argan tree Argania Spinosa, indigenous to Morocco. Argan oil absorbes four times as fast through hair as through skin and nails and has a variety of nourishing properties for the hair. The oil softens and moisturises while correcting frizz and providing incredible volume and shine without making the hair feel greasy or oily. The oil is also rich in Vit A, Vit E, Vit F and also works as a uv protectant. Worth mentioning is also the fact that none of the ingredients comes from animals nor have been tested on animals! What do I think? The consistency of the shampoo is a little bit different than normal as it doesn’t foam up as much as shampoos usually do, which actually is a good thing according to specialists because it’s the big foam that is created by adding the dangerous chemicals. This foam is smaller and feels like a silky blend of oil and foam, simply wonderful! The smell is amazing and I’ve caught my self drifting away while twirling soft locks in between my fingers and sniffing them untill I get embarrassed and realise what I am doing. It smells like candy with elements of caramel and vanilla at the same time but it is not the fake sweet smell that you normally find in beauty products. It’s an exciting and different candy smell! I simply love it!! The shampoo and conditioner contain the exact same list of ingredients but in different amounts which makes the shampoo a clear liquidy consistency while the conditioner is a thicker cream-like consistency. I’ve had so many people asking me what I’ve done to my hair since I started using these products, both on the blog and out and about. My hair feels less tangly and frizzy and the ends of my hair feel much more moist than any conditioning treatments have managed to achieve before. This was highly needed for my hair after the terrible treatment I got at the hair dresser in Norway where she performed not one but two decolourizations in addition to colouring and bleaching afterwards (she called this process treatening and conditioning so don´t make the same mistake as I did and visit Blend hair dresser in Sandefjord if you love your hair). I thought that it would take years to build up my hair again but it is unbelievable what these products have already done for my hair! I can’t wait to try out the oils that I’ve heard so many great things about, can it really get better than this? If you want a shampoo without sls and parabens whilst still achieving: … Then these just might be as right for you as they are for me :) The prices are really good as well! All in all: 10/10 Go to Alexander Sprekenhus to get your products!! { 10 comments }
In the picture on the top you can see how the hair has gone through heat treatments to get curls and how the shine and vitality is completely gone from the hair. In the two pictures below you can see how the hair has regained shine, vitality and moisture to the damaged ends. This is after only one wash with the hydrating shampoo and conditioner from Alexander Sprekenhus without adding any products to the hair afterwards. Isn’t it just amazing?
