Empties #3

Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl eye liner 
This knocked my previous favourite eye liner Rimmel Eye Definer off it's top spot. Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl liner is creamy and waterproof. It also comes with a pencil sharpener in the lid!  Unfortunately I lost the top to the sharpener and the last couple of inches dried up. This is my favourite black pencil liner and it's reasonably cheap.
Repurchase? Yes 

KVD Vegan Discovery Go Big or Go Home Mascara  (Formally Kat Von Dee Beauty)

I got this in my Christmas beauty calendar and the packaging is different than what's currently on sale. This mascara dried up very very quickly which may be to do with the toothpaste tube like packaging instead of a traditional mascara tube which is the current packaging . The brush is a bristle type brush and like the name the brush is very big! This creates a lot of volume to the lashes and is good  at separating lashes.  It does what it says on the tin lives up to it's claims. It retails for £20 and the mini is £11. I would buy this again, normally I would choose a mini size as I very rarely use up all the mascara in the tube within 3-4 months but I'm slightly concerned that it dried up so quickly.

Repurchase? Yes.

Marks and Spencer Absolute Ultimate Formula 8 hours Sleep Cream
This a great night-time moisturiser it's creamy rather than greasy and does a good job of hydrating the skin. It's paraben free and contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin and anti aging ingredient peptides. It is fairly strongly scented, it a floral, fresh fragrance but it doesn't exacerbate my asthma.  I also haven't broken out despite my sensitive skin.   
Purchase? Yes 

Simple Moisture Cream with SPF30
Simple has unfortunately discontinued this product which I'm heartbroken about. It's a great light but nourishing moisturiser that contains SPF30. SPF30 is the recommended factor to protect skin. Most moisturisers go up to SFP15-20 which isn't enough.

Simple Dual Eye Make Up Remover
I chose this because I like the No 7 dual cleanser where you have oil and cleanser which you shake before use, The oil is good at removing waterproof mascara and eye liner. I found that I got through this quicker than my usual no 7 one but it does remove eye makeup well.

Repurchase? Yes

F.A.B Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum (Sample Not Pictured)
This is very similar to Hylamide's serum but slightly thicker. It has a clear gel texture, without much of a scent which is great as it's less irritating on the skin. It's good and as effective as Hylamide's version and would be worth picking up.
Purchase: Yes 

Murad Hydro-Dynamic Quenching Essence (sample Not pictured)
Essence lotion hails from Korea and is used after toner as an extra hydration step in a skincare routine. Murad's Hydro-Dynamic Quenching Essence contains Mexican Blue Agave leaf extract to improve the skin's ability to attract and retain water. A mixture of watermelon, apple, and lentil also help reduce dryness and flakiness. As well as improving hydration this essence contains glycolic Acid to gently exfoliate  so that your skin is smoothed. 

It is a gel consistency and smell slightly floral. I applied this 3 times on one side of my face. I found that my skin felt softer on the side I applied it or 'silkier' as Murad puts it. I didn't notice it contained glycolic acid until the final use. I have sensitive skin and it felt quite gentle but I'm not sure if the irritation would kick in the longer I used it. Because it has active ingredients of glycolic acid this essence acts more like a serum so that probably explains the high price point of £65. It works but it is expensive at £65.

Purchase? I'm not sure. This is seems gentle on my skin considering it contains glycolic acid but it's too expensive for me on my current budget.

Neutrogena Visibly Renew  Elasti-Boost Hand cream SPF20
A friend gave me a sample of this and I actually really like it. It has a nice fresh scent that's not overpowering. It's quite a thick formula which rubs in well but it does leave your hands tacky but not greasy afterwards. However it's a lightweight moisturiser and I feel that it's not moisturising enough  to use during the current pandemic. They say that your hands give away your age so having an SPF is a good idea to prevent brown spots though a higher SPF 30 would be better.

Purchase? Maybe 

Boots Strawberry Lip Balm
This is my go-to lip balm it's moisturising, doesn't leave a white tint or make your lips tingle  and cheap! The scent isn't too bad either.
Repurchase? Yes. 

Shampoo and conditioners

Philip Kingsley Anti Dandruff Shampoo
This shampoo contains the ani-microbal pirotone olamine to calm the scalp while cleaning your hair. It has a fresh but very subtle scent that smells to my like watermelon and cucumber. 

However I found that I had to wash my oily hair twice and I still had dandruff. 

Repurchase? No. 

Tresseme Moisture Rich Conditioner
This smells really nice and made my hair shiny and sleek.
Repurchase? I'm tempted to pick it up again but I'm trying to find MCI/MI free (preservative than can cause contact dermatitis) conditioners.

OUAI Leave in Conditioner  Travel sized 45ml £10 / 140ml £22
This is the first leave in conditioner I've tried and I love it- it's a lazy girl's dream or for those who live with lots of people and want to cut down your shower time! It contains vitamin E, argan oil and primrose oil to moisturise and condition hair, while hydrolysed protein minimises damage caused by heat styling. The thick consistency doesn't look like it would work with a mister but it does deliver a overall fine mist and feels lightweight on the hair. It offers UV protection as well as heat protection. It's MCI/MI free  (known irritating preservatives)  paraben free and  OUAI do not test on animals. It did make my hair feel soft and silky, but it doesn't detangle hair well. Additionally if  you're looking for rich hydration you'd need to get an intensive conditioner. I think that the sweet scent may be overpowering for some but I love it it's a gorgeous floral scent.
Repurchase? It is more than I'd usually pay and doesn't detangle hair but I might get another travel sized one as the scent is so gorgeous!

Palmers Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner
I bought this because it did not contain MCI and MI preservatives, but it's also free from sulphates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil and gluten. It does contain dimethicone so if you're avoiding silicone this may not be for you. Extra virgin olive oil is known for nourishing properties and promoting hair strength and shine. It also claims to soften tight curls. The soya bean oil and keratin amino acids protects the hair from environmental aggressors and hot styling tools so that hair will look smooth and less frizzy, softer, bouncier and easier to style. It also contains Jamaican Castor oil which has a high lipid content to relieve dry itchy scalps while protecting hair from damage. I did not find that this reduced any frizziness . It did leave my hair feel soft and nourished although not sure if it made any difference it breakage.  It did leave my hair shiny but most hair conditioners do. I have long straight hair so I can't comment on curls. Apart from my hairdryer I don't use any hot styling tools. I also only apply conditioner to the ends and mid-length of my hair due to having an oily scalp so I can't comment on whether it helped my scalp.

I do love the squeeze tube packaging and the fact they have left some of the label transparent so that you can see how much product is left. I recommend using a comb to distribute the product even if it's mid to long length hair (I avoid my scalp as I have oily hair) because otherwise it will leave behind blobs in the bath. It has a mild refreshing scent.
Re-purchase? This was ok. Didn't blow me away but it's alright. The tube did last me a long time I want to try out other conditioners free from MCI and MI.

Soap and Glory Rushower Scent-Sational Dry Shampoo Review

After the disappointment of Aussie Miracle Dry Shampoo (reviewed here) I decided to buy the travel sized 50 ml version this time instead of the full sized can. I love the fact that Soap and Glory named their dry shampoo as an abbreviated pun on rush-hour / rush shower (although maybe I'm just easy to please. My dream job would be to invent lipstick and eye shadow names!)

Soap and Glory emphasise the scent of the product by naming it 'Sent-sational' with a 'friction-activated TOUCH-RELEASE™ technology to give your hair a gorgeous burst (of scent) whenever you run your fingers through it.' The scent is substantial but not overpowering but you may want to make sure your perfume harmonizes with the dry shampoo. The scent is not as strong as the Collab New York dry shampoo which verges on body spray territory. The formula contains mandarin rose and bergamot. I would describe the scent as a typical hair product scent, pleasant but not unusual. To me this smells like a fresh but floral hair mousse, as if you're at a hairdressers with a bouquet of flowers beside you or fresh out of the shower after using a floral shower gel.

The directions tell you to shake the can before using it and hold the can upright 15 cm away from the hair and spray liberally, focusing on the roots. Afterwards massage the roots with finger tips until the grease it gone. If you want to refresh the fragrance then just ruffle your hair during the day. Other dry shampoos recommend holding the can 20 or 30 cm away so 15 cm is easier to hold and doesn't seem to affect the performance of the product. I used Scunci's ceramic Volume brush from Primark alongside the dry shampoo to build volume at the roots and distribute the product. Although any brush with backcombing bristles would work.The mist is fine and it's not sticky either. It doesn't leave white marks on my brunette hair.

It absorbs grease well but the true test is whether it's long wearing. My hair usually gets greasy on day 2 hair and I wash it every other day with Pantene's Classic Care Shampoo. When I use other shampoos I find that I have to wash my hair every day. The first time I used this was on day 4 hair and it made my very lank hair look in acceptable enough condition to leave the house. It did itch a few times in the first 20 minutes afterwards and then it was completely fine. I don't know whether this was because I may have been a bit trigger happy spraying it onto my hair. It lasted about 6 hours before needing a refresh spray. To some people it may seem that 6 hours isn't a product with a great performance record but for me this is the only dry shampoo that has lasted more than an hour on my thick hair and oily roots. The dry shampoo is easy to wash out. I have been using this over a few months mostly once every 7-10 days on hair that's gone without washing day 3-7 day hair. It initially itched once or twice on application but doesn't anymore. It gives volume to lank hair and does absorb some of the grease. It is a lifesaver as it makes my hair look good and clean. However I've used  this on at least 10 occasions and 3 of those occasions it didn't do anything, so the success rate is about 70%. The three times it didn't do much may have had something to do with my technique.

To sum up Soap and Glory's Rushower Scent-Sational Dry Shampoo gets a thumbs up good review but not a glowing review. It's definitely worth checking out especially if you don't have thick hair. I will be buying the bigger sized can and will happily keep using on using this.

Pantene & TRESemme Hair Conditioners For Fine Hair

I've decided to review these products together as I think they would suit those with fine hair or curly hair that often get weighed down by hair conditioners.

I picked up Pantene's In-shower Foam Conditioner in Superdrug when I saw it on sale for 50p and decided to give it a go. The benefit of foam conditioners is that it won't weigh down fine hair like some traditional conditioners can do. There are four in-shower foam conditioners in the range: Smooth and Sleek, Sheer Volume, Colour Protect and Repair and Protect. I bought the Repair and Protect without realising it was specifically for fine and damaged hair. It promises "air-light conditioning without the weight." It is SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) free but it does contain parabens (Methyparaben and Propylparaben.) To use it you apply a palm sized amount and run it through the hair from the roots to the tips. You wait until it's absorbed into the hair and then wash it out. The light foam texture is like egg white whipped meringue or hair mousse and felt as light as air in the palm. It has a floral/marine fresh scent which smells really nice.

I have thick hair so I'm probably not the ideal candidate for this particular Pantene in-Shower Foam Conditioner for fine and damaged hair, but I did come across some very positive reviews by people who had thick hair and loved it. I found this easy to use, you could see the foam disappearing as it absorbed into the hair and there were no problems washing it out. It was great at de-tangling my hair in the shower or when I combed my hair afterwards. My hair was softer but it didn't feel that it was very hydrating or nourished. In fact my hair ended up quite frizzy both when I used a hairdryer or air dried my hair.

When comparing it to Pantene's 'regular' hair conditioner from the Repair and Protect range, I found that there wasn't that much difference between them. Both conditioners de-tangled my hair well and made my hair softer. However the in- shower foam conditioner did make my hair frizzy on top. When I used the foam conditioner I ended up using a lot more than my 'regular' conditioner.  Neither of the hair conditioners felt they were nourishing enough to 'repair and protect' my hair. Pantene's Smooth and Sleek shampoo range seems to work better for me- my hair feels moisturised and doesn't frizz my hair as much when I use it.

I may try the Smooth and Sleek in-Shower Foam Hair Conditioner from the range as it might be better suited to me. If you have dry or over processed hair you will need something else that's much more nourishing. If you have dyed hair go for the Colour Protect. Those with fine hair would benefit most from this Pantene's In-Shower Foam Conditioner, so it's worth checking out if you fall into this group.

TRESemme Beauty-full Volume Expert Pre-Wash Conditioner & Shampoo

The principle behind TRESemme's Beauty-full Volume Expert Pre-Wash Conditioner and Shampoo is co-washing or reverse hair washing. This is where you apply conditioner first followed by shampoo. Tresemme's Beauty-full Volume Expert Pre-Wash Conditioner and Shampoo are supposed to prevent flat, lifeless fine hair that is weighed down by traditional hair conditioners. It's also good for those with curly hair. The Pre-wash conditioner contains 'fleximax volumisers' to give hair 'bounce' and 'fibre polishing actives' that 'binds to the hair cuticle..leaving it smoothed and polished.' This conditioner does contain silicones (Dimethicone and Amodimethicone) as most conditioners do, however according to this pre wash conditioner it shouldn't have all the problems that regular conditioner can have (hair that is weighed down and flat.) It does contain two preservatives MCI and MI that can cause skin problems which isn't the greatest thing to have in the ingredients. Tresemme's Beauty-full volume Expert Pre-wash shampoo also has 'fleximax volumisers' to help 'control static, infusing your hair with volume.' You should apply the conditioner first along the length of the hair. Then leave on for 1 minute and wash thoroughly. Then you apply the shampoo. 

I absolutely love the smell of this shampoo and conditioner, it's perfumed and fresh but not overwhelming. You can smell the scent the day you wash your hair but after that it fades. Initially I used a lot of conditioner because I wondered why it wasn't lathering up- before I realised that it was conditioner so it won't lather-silly me! I found that this shampoo and conditioner doesn't control oil very well. My hair looked greasy the next day (day 2) and on day 3 my hair looked flat which is the opposite of what it claims to do. I'm not sure if co-washing works for me or if it's these products, but I suspect it's co-washing as my hair type is completely different from the one it benefits most. Instead of fine or curly hair I have thick, straight hair where volume or static isn't really a problem but I do get oily roots. Because it didn't work well for me I won't be buying it. However if you have curly or fine hair that doesn't get greasy quickly I still think TRESemme Beauty-full volume shampoo and conditioner are worth trying out.

Let me know about your experiences of Co-Washing. Has it worked for you? 

Get the Look: 5 Spring/Summer 2016 Hair Accessories Trends

1.) Fruit Hair Crowns

While flower accessories are often associated with spring and summer, summer fruits are rarely used, leave it to Dolce and Gabanna to ring the changes. They had models wearing brightly coloured fruit hair crowns. I found two similar designs, one shares the same slimmer shape but one features lemons as well as oranges and is greener in appearance made by Dolce Couture on Etsy (£52.71p) The other is darker in colour because it features cherries, and is made by Elvie Jewelry Dreams on Etsy (£38.76p.) If you're handy with a glue gun then there's also a D.I Y post on Modcloth's blog here. 

Much bigger fruit crowns were also spotted - their influence could be African with women carrying food on their heads or classical Greek depicting women with fruit to symbolise fertility and health. I found a really good match on Etsy by  Jezebel's Fascinations for £23.17. The other is slimmer and features lemons is also from Etsy at Makliha's shop  priced at £93.02.

Left Dolce and Gabanna Centre Etsy Dulce Couture  Right Etsy Elvie Jewelry Dreams 

Left Dolce and Gabbana, Imaxtree,  Centre Right Etsy Jezebel's Fascination, Right Etsy Makliha 



2.Flowers

From the dark and dramatic to more traditional pastel shades, flowers were worn by many models on the catwalk. Marchesa went for big and theatrical with an oversized floral fascinator that wouldn't be out of place at Ascot or The Grand National. A close match by MetamorphDK on Etsy retains the gothic drama although much more wearable is this black rose hair crown by Maha Maha  Creations on Etsy for a bargain at  £7.44.

Flowers were also on the Diana Von Furstenberg catwalks, some were bright and some were in pastel shades. This beautiful floral hair comb by Asos (£8) fits the bill - did I mention how pretty it is?  Also this trio of small pastel flowers from Claire's Accessories (£5) are also very similar.

Left Marchesa Centre MetamorphDK, Etsy, Right Etsy Maha Maha Creations 

Left Diane Von Furstenberg  Centre ASOS  Right Claires Accesories 

 3. Metallic and Diamante Hair Clips

At Marc Jacobs hair clips ranged from diamante ellipses to  a straight bar. Very similar diamante clips can be found at New Look , £3.99 for 4 clips. The nearest diamante bar clip I could find was the one by Scunci at Boots for £6.99.

Over at Rodarte these antique golden-bronze floral clips were worn by all their models. Love Rocks have a 2 pack comb set one of which looks very similar though a little lighter in colour, they can be found on ASOS for £22 (sounds expensive but works out as £11 each.) Another clip I found is handcrafted in leather by Aussie Tropical Design on Etsy and is £13.18.

Left Marc Jacobs, Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Marc Jacobs Centre Left-  Ellipse Clips New Look Centre Right Marc Jacobs Right Scunci Boots 

Left Rodarte Indigital Images.com Centre Love Rocks ASOS  Right Etsy Aussie Tropical Design



4. Head bands and Hair Bands

Hair bands dominated the AW 15-16 shows and continue their popularity in the spring and summer shows. Chanel went for metallic silver hair bands, notably a twisted version, I've found a really similar one on Etsy by Tatishotties (£50.39) as well as a diamente version from Claire's (£10). Moncler Game Rouge had various white floral headbands that looked fresh, clean and summery ,this white chiffon one from Tily's (£5.18) is a close match. Asos has a limited edition soft lace headband for (£10.)



Left Chanel Chanel Centre Etsy,  Tatishotties Right Claire's Accessories (£7)

Left  Moncler Gamme Rouge,Imaxtree  Centre Tilys, Right ASOS

5 Tiaras

New for the S/S 2016 season were tiaras, cause every girl deserves to be treated like a princess- at least for a few hours anyway! At Saint Laurent they were very traditional looking and I've managed to find really close matches to the tiaras on the catwalk and they're all under £13! The one on the left- the mini pearl and crystal heart tiara is by Jon Richard and is currently on sale for £12 at Debenhams.  The diamante Ellipse Tiara in the centre picture is very similar to the one found in Martyn's Store and is £12.  The final tiara on the right is more unusual but New Look do a great copy for £12.99.

All Saint Laurent 

Left Jon Richard Debenhams Centre Martyn' Stiore  Right New Look

Will you be wearing any of these hair accessories trend this summer? 



A 75p Shampoo and Conditioner? Aldi's Provive Vs Pantene Pro-V

As far as shampoos go, I've always been monogamous. For years I've been using Pantene ProV in Classic Clean and using either Pantene or Tresemme conditioner. The reason for this devotion is that it makes my hair shiny which I always get complimented on, but more importantly for me it makes my hair less greasy so I can wash my hair every other day instead of everyday.

However when I spotted Carino Provive Shampoo in the aisles of Aldi I was curious to try it out, especially as it was only 75p! 75p has got to be the cheapest I've ever paid for shampoo! It's obviously branded as a cheaper dupe for Pantene and contains the same ingredient: Panthenol. The packaging is very basic, the white bottle and flip lid are the same as Pantene but I'm not into the yellow and orange circles it reminds me of those painkillers packaging and adverts which makes it look unsophisticated in comparison. There are 3 shampoos in the range, this one for normal and fine hair , one for dry and damaged hair and another for coloured/dyed hair. Carino's Pro Vive Shampoo for coloured hair came top in a test by the Daily Mail.

This shampoo for normal and fine hair, is dermatologically tested and is free of MI (Methylisothiazolinone) and MCI (Methylchloroisothiazolinone) two preservatives that can cause contact dermatitis (skin allergy) making it an affordable alternative to Pantene which contains these preservatives. Since I have sensitive skin and eczema, I'd rather avoid these ingredients whenever possible. Both shampoos have many ingredients in common. According to Aldi (Carino) this shampoo is ''Specially formulated for normal, fine or lifeless hair, to give added volume. The extra mild formula with it's special complex of uplifting ingredients and a hydrating complex including Pro Vitamin B5, B6 and B3 adds volume, whilst gently cleansing hair from root to tip, leaving it shiny and attractive'.

I've been using this for the last 3 and a half months. It has a really nice scent, very fresh and somewhat floral without being overpowering. The consistency of the shampoo is the same thick pearly white like Pantene shampoo. The Provive shampoo lathers well (but not as much as Pantene) and does a good job of washing my hair. However day 2 hair is a bit more greasier than if I use my normal Pantene shampoo. It does a better job than some shampoos I've tried though, and my hair was shiny afterwards and looked good. As my hair is naturally thick  I can't comment on how well it added volume but it didn't leave my hair flat. However with repeated use (from the third wash onwards) I've noticed a lot of dandruff and my hair itches in between washes. I occasionally get dandruff with Pantene but not nearly as much as every wash and my hair never itches between washes. This shampoo would be better for those with normal hair and maybe on rotation with other shampoos. Definitely not for sensitive scalps and those who are dandruff prone.

Looking at the price it's a bargain compared to Pantene. Pantene Pro V Classic Clean Shampoo costs £2.75 for 250ml and £3.25 for 400ml. In contrast Carino Provive Shampoo Volume and Protect is 75p for 300ml - under a third of the price.

Would I repurchase?  No. Although it washed my hair ok, it didn't really control my oily roots and  I felt it was drying my scalp and causing dandruff. It's definitely not a good dupe for the original Pantene shampoo. I would give this 1/5 and wouldn't recommend it.

The Carino Provive Conditioner Volume and Protect is for normal and fine hair and contains Panthenol, pro vitamin B3, B5 and B6. It claims to 'give added volume making it easier to comb, protect hair against stresses caused by hairdryers or brushing...without making it heavy and (with) great body and style to last.' Again the Carino Provive Conditioner has a lot of the same ingredients except that it is  MI (Methylisothiazolinone) and MCI (Methylchloroisothiazolinone) free. It's also dermatology tested. It has a very similar scent to the Carino Provive shampoo but a tad more subtle. It is an opaque pearly white and just as thick and substantial in consistency as Pantene. Unlike the Pantene conditioner the Provive conditioner says to leave the conditioner in for a few minutes before rinsing.

I've been using this for the last 2 months. I have greasy roots and dry ends so I only apply conditioner to the mid length and the ends of my hair. Currently my hair is long as reaches down to my chest and found it just as easy to comb afterwards as Pantene. I almost always hairdryer after washing my hair and my hair did not seem drier that usual or damaged by heat. My hair is normally quite thick with a lot of volume so I didn't notice any difference there. It definitely did not feel heavy after using this conditioner which is due to Cyclopentasiloxane a silicone that it doesn’t leave your hair feeling weighed down afterwards. It didn't feel like it heavily moisturised or softened hair but it doesn't claim to. Pantene's claims are slightly different from Carino Provive Conditioner in that it's claims concentrates on shininess and healthy 'nourished' hair after use. Those who find Pantene makes their hair feel too heavy may want to give this a go.

Pricewise Aldi Carino Provive Conditioner contains 300ml for 75p while Pantene give you 250ml for £3.75 (Sainsbury's.) Although the bottled amount is different Aldi clearly saves you more money.

 Would I repurchase? Yes, especially if I was skint towards the end of the month. It is not strictly a true dupe for Pantene Classic Hair conditioner, in that while it is easier to comb it doesn't moisturise hair as much but also doesn't weigh it down - it's sort of a lighter version of the Pantene original.
This would be good for bargain hunters and students. 4/5.

This post is not sponsored by Aldi or Carino and I was not compensated or given any free samples. I bought and compared these shampoo and conditioners with my own money.

Get The Look: 5 Autumn / Winter 2015-2016 Hair Accessories Trends

At the beginning the Autumn/Winter 2015-2016 season I wrote about the latest makeup trends on the catwalks and today I will do the same for the hair trends on the catwalks as we're still the winter season. For each hair trend I've found similar hair accessories to help you get the look.

1. Head Bands and Alice Bands 

Head bands were a familiar sight on the A/W 15-16 catwalks. From black satin ribbon headbands at Chanel to Richard Chai's low key cotton fabric headbands. Glamorous alice bands were seen at Dolce and Gabbana from pearl to baroque, the preppy Blair Waldolf from Gossip Girl  would be proud.

Left Chanel, Centre Celebrity Black ribbon Ebay. Right Black Satin Headband Claires

Black satin ribbon headbands made a statement at Chanel and were also a big hit with celebrities, the satin ribbon headband that ties at the ends is available on ebay (£3.38 + £10.15 p&p) and Claire's have a similar black wide satin alice band on sale for £5. The cotton headbands featured on the Richard Chai show currently seem more popular and more widely available,  presumably because they're more casual and can be worn for sports and yoga. The ones below are from H and M (two pack for £2.99) and Abco Tech Amazon ( £6.99.)  

Left Richard Chai, Centre H & M Headbands, Right Albo Tech Amazon
  

Another pretty and feminine look from Dolce and Gabbana were pearl headbands.This Love Rocks pearl and gold leaf hairband from ASOS (£25) perfectly encapsulates the look while a cheaper option would be the pearl headband from My Crystal Fashion Amazon. (£3.16.)


Left Dolce & Gabbana, Centre My Crystal Fashion Amazon , Right ASOS.


Over at Versace were black floral crowns/ headbands. The closest match I've found is one by Nasty Gal (£17.42) the other by ASOS called the Fabric Leaf Headband which is currently on sale for £3.50. If these sell out ASOS have a near identical one called Limited edition Laser Leaf headband which is £6.

Left Versace Centre Nasty Gal Right ASOS  



2. Floral Clips

   Continuing with the vintage style floral hair clips were seen at Dolce and Gabbana. Ali Express Love Lifestyle have a near identical hair clip ($6.64). Another option is to pin a flower broach in place with a Kirby grip, I found this broach (which also has a matching necklace) for £14.99 at KCA Vintage Gems. Also similar brooches often appear on ebay which can be pinned into the hair.

Prada went for a more modern feel, silver chunky flower clips were placed around high ponytails. These two from ASOS are incredibly similar, for those on a budget I'd go for the middle one which is actually a hair comb and is £8. While the one on the right is made from Swarovski crystals and faux pearl that was £85 but is now reduced to £35.

Left Dolce and Gabbana Centre KCA vintage Gems Right Ali Express Love Lifestyle

Left Prada, Centre ASOS, Right ASOS

3. Bows

Bows were also popular on the catwalks, at Giles black fabric bows were tied at the end of plaits. I found these two bows which are similar, the middle is by Generic on Amazon (£1.91) and on the right is New Look's brown Suedette hair slide (£2.99.)

 Dolce and Gabbana went for gold and diamanté vintage bow clips on sophisticated updos. This gold tone and rhinestone bow from Eleganti Tessori at Etsy is a similar style (£39.49) while Tegan Accessories have a range of cheaper bow hair slides studded with Swarovski crystals (£19.95) 

Left Giles, Centre from Generic, Amazon, Right New look

Left Eleganti Tesori Etsy Centre Dolce and Gabbana, Right Tegan  Accessories

4. Headwraps and Headscarves

Silk patterned headscarves were seen at Dolce and Gabbana and oversized headwraps with bows were seen at Delpozo, but I have focused on the tulle animal print head wrap seen at Agnes B (See Centre). On left is a chiffon brown animal print head wrap by The Glitz (£3.50) and the right is a head wrap by Johnny Loves Rosie (£5.40.) 

Left The Glitz, Centre Agnes B, Right Johnny Loves Rosie

5. Leather Hair Accessories 

Leather hair accessories are a big trend this autumn/winter. Leather hair ties were seen at Lanvin and ASOS has a limited edition bow tassel for £5 in a similar style. At Carolina Herrera metallic strip of leather Orlando Pita were wrapped around slick ponytails. While not metallic JACIMAC at Etsy has a leather ponytail hair wrap for £20.11. Over at Derek Lam leather barrettes and chopsticks kept hair in place and Barefoot Leather has one for £7.99

Top Row, Derek Lam, Centre Lanvin Right Carolina Herrara
Bottom Row: Left Barefoot Leather, Centre ASOS, Right JACIMAC Etsy



12 Autumn Winter 2015-2016 Hair Style Trends

At the beginning of the A/W 2015-2016 Season I wrote about the makeup trends on the catwalks and as we're still technically in Winter 2016 I thought I'd round up 12 of this season's hair style trends.

1. PONYTAILS

These were seen all over the catwalks and there was a definite trend towards low ponytails. Long, low side ponytails were seen at Dior, loose and messy at Michael Kors and at Sacai they were more experimental, tying the crown back separately revealing a two toned look. At Carolina Herrara ponytails were bound at the nape with metallic leather, at Tanya Taylor a thick leather strap tied hair back giving it an edgy urban look while a leather barrette and chopstick kept hair in place at Derek Lam which looked smart and elegant.

Left Sacai , Centre Michael Kors Imaxtree  Right Dior Imaxtree






Left Derek Lam Imaxtree Centre Carolina Herrara Right Tanya Taylor Imaxtree

But there were a few designers that bucked the low pony trend. Most noticeably Prada who had ponytails on the top of models head with a clip half way down towards the ear. The look resembled the 'Croydon facelift' with hair tied severely at the top of the head. At Stella McCartney ponytails were wet and high just like how swimmers wear their hair and other high ponytails were spotted with a messy texture to the hair.

Centre Stella McCartney Right Prada Imaxtree

2. MODERN FRENCH TWIST
The classic French twist was given a modern makeover. At Chanel French twists were paired with thick headbands and a Chanel branded barrette and chopstick. At Fendi thick headbands were also worn but the twists were left undone and messy at the ends producing a half twist. At Diane Von Furstenberg French twists had a simple shape that had been roughly pinned up. Tom Ford continued the causally unkempt look but his French twists were topped with braided extensions. At Hermes
sections of hair were curled and pinned separately adding texture and detail which remained elegant but casual too. However Oscar De La Renta didn't deviate much from the original sleek French twist.

Left Hermes Imaxtree Centre Diane Von Furstenberg Imaxtree Right Chanel Imaxtree



Left  Fendi, Centre Oscar De La Renta Jason Llyod-Evans, Right Tom Ford Frederick M brown/ Getty Images

 

3. BOHO WAVES                

Loose waves were a trend on the catwalks, most with 70's centre partings. Rodarte and Ralph Lauren were casual and undone but over at Versace the hair had more kinks.



Left Ralph Lauren Imaxtree  Centre Versace Imaxtree Right Rodarte Imaxtree

4. SLICK AND WET

At Chanel with the 'boys vs girls' theme, models playing 'boys' had hair gelled within an inch of their lives and Cushnie et Ochs went for a similar look. While Marc Jacobs and Vera Wang went for the full on wet hair look.

Left Cushnie et Ochs Centre Marc Jacobs Right Chanel

5. THE 60s BOUFFANT 

Backcombing like there's no tomorrow, the bouffant was in vogue, with updos topped off with a statement black headband at Chanel or the half up half down look at Sonia Rykiel with slicked fringes and a teased crown.



Left Sonia Rykiel Centre Chanel Right Sonia Rykiel

6. '70's CENTRE PARTING

 Wavy hair with centre partings were a common sight at Cavalli, Tory Birch, Anthony Vaccarello and Calvin Klein. At Hugo Boss the no-makeup fresh face look was accentuated by hair tied back and with a centre parting. Over at Prabal Gurung and Pucci models wore centre partings with gel slicked hair.

Left Cavalli Imaxtree Centre Hugo Boss Right Tory Birch Imaxtree

 7. DEEP SIDE PARTS

 In contrast to centre partings, deep side parts were also a common sight. They looked great with sleek long straight hair at Rochas and Monique Lhuillier. Giambattista Valli's models wore the side part with a more causal, tousled look.



Left Rochas Centre  Monique Lhuillier Imaxtree Right Giambattista Valli Imaxtree



8.BRAIDS/ PLAITS
From a basic simple English braid at Lavin, the French braid at Giles and braided pigtails at I’m Isola Marras the school girl look was popular. At Herve Leger, braids were inspired by traditional German hair style with braids wrapped around the head.  While at Zero + Maria Cornejo braids had an urban edge to them, braided on the side of the head and close to the scalp and long and unbraided at the back.  At Mara Hoffman braids were long and complex, inspired by the Star Wars films.

Left Giles Centre I’m Isola Marras, Right Lavin

Left Herve Leger Centre Mara Hoffman Tigi Right Zero + Maria Cornejo

9 KNOTS

Knots seem to have replaced the humble bun. Forget neat and tidy it's about the causal 'I've just thrown my hair up without using a brush/comb and it still looks good.'  Marc Jacobs had the can't miss it if  you tried topknot at Marc Jacobs, while at Veronique Leroy and Johnathan Sandler it was about folding the hair  and let the ends hang loose. Hair at Vera Wang and Armani consisted of lots of small twists/knots at the back, Vera Wang's knots were a lot more messy and unkempt than at Armani. Diane Von Furstenberg hair was slicked back and the ends wrapped around each other and at Isabel Marrant hair was quartered with two elastic bands.

Left Marc Jacobs. Jason Llyod-Evans Centre Isabel Marant Imaxtree  Right Veronique Leroy Imaxtree

Left Johnathan Sandler, Centre Vera Wang Getty  Right Diane Von Furstenberg, Jason Llyod-Evans

10. HALF UP AND HALF DOWN HAIRSTYLES

Technically these hairstyles don't involve pinning up as much as half the hair, for lack of a better term this is what I'm calling them. Matthew Williamson tied back about of quarter head of hair, while Valentino took a small strand of hair from each side of the head so that it looks almost like a string across the head and braided the tiniest plait I've ever seen! At Badgley Mischka the front of the hair was teased up but the drama was at the back with silver and black roses above a heavily wrapped ponytail. The result is very gothic and the roses appear to be emerging from a vase (the wrapped part of the ponytail.)

Left Valentino Imaxtree Centre Badgley Mischka Imaxtree Right Matthew Williamson Imaxtree

11. FAUX BOBS 

When you don't want to commit to a permanent chop but fancy something different, faux bobs are the answer. Faux bobs involve long hair being tucked under to make it look shorter. Julien David had faux bobs with a retro '20's wave while Max Mara had a more modern take with loose waves.

Left  Julien David, Centre Julian David, Right Max Mara

 12 BABY HAIRS

Having small strands of hair escaping from a ponytail or updo created a causal windswept look.  Tuffs of baby hairs were left hanging loose around the ears at Giles and Stella McCartney. While at Vera Wang and MSGM hairs from the forehead were swept across the side of the face like a messy fringe. At Givenchy baby hairs from the forehead were curled and slicked down. 



Left Giles Centre MSGM Right Givenchy