High Street Hair

I got stung by Tony and Guy. Not once, not twice but loads of times and it completely ruined my love of getting my hair done for years. Not only did they peroxide my hair until it died - I know peroxide is bad but any good hair colourist knows you don't do all the hair all of the time - they then cut it all off died it orangey pink and told me that was what I had asked for. The whole thing was awful and psychologically damaging and I spent ages trying to find somewhere non-high street to get my hair done from then on.

I finally found somewhere in Portobello where I loved the way they cut my hair but didn't like the colour... I also didn't like the way I was made to feel when I was there. Not deliberately I'm sure but I did feel like I had walked into a den of cool kids who really didn't want me to be there (except for the lovely Claudio who cut my hair).

So then when I decided to go blonde again I went with a friend to her hair salon in Brick Lane and again got made to feel like I didn't know what I was talking about and didn't get what I paid for at all. If you are naturally dark and you want white blonde hair it is not going to look natural. I am aware of this so telling me that I need some other colour to make it look natural and then sticking orange bits in when I repeatedly say that's not what I want is not really ok.

So I bit the bullet - I tried to go to my sisters colourist in Chiswick but they have just moved to East Sheen. That is too far. I went to Headmasters in Hammersmith. My friend goes to the one in Fulham and her hair always looks great. After a year of hair envy I decided to go for it. I awaited the surly looks and feeling of exclusion, the young girls sniggering and the feeling of embarrassment when asking for a magazine but it never happened. It was one of the most expensive hair treatments I'd had but, to be fair, I had let it get into terrible condition and my roots were about 4 inches long. I actually didn't mind at all.

I was shown to my seat offered a drink bought magazines all by someone who never once made me feel like I didn't have the right to be there. My stylist came and let me know she knew I was there and she'd be with me in a few minutes, she then listened to what I wanted and did it. She told me how I could help my hair without making me feel like I'd been naughty. She offered me a range of products to purchase none of which I felt compelled to buy and re-booked me straight away to ensure I got a ten percent discount on my next treatment. She also advised that I could just get a half head highlights for next time as the roots wouldn't be so bad and that would save me some money.

I'd gone in there with the worlds worst hangover (the sort of hangover where you put make up on and it looks like you've tried to bronze a cadaver) dreading what was about to happen to the extent that I'd even taken a hat with me. I had a blissful experience, the right temperature, non-offensive music (what is it with hair salons and dance?) and someone who listened to what I wanted and didn't feel the need to ignore me. I really recommend Headmasters - I'm still reeling from such a blissful experience xx

Science of Attraction

I got sent this link at the beginning of the week and actually wasn't going to watch it but then... well January's slow isn't it so I thought I'd have a look and actually it's really interesting! Perfect length of time for a bit of mid-afternoon desk distraction! http://www.scienceofattraction.co.uk/ xx

Threading

The wondrous Erica has gone on holiday so yesterday for my festive hair removal I had a different lady torturing me. I asked for my brows to be waxed and she asked if I'd tried threading which is what she recommends. I've only really seen it being done on ladies in shopping centres - seriously who wants to get anything like that done in a public place - so hadn't tried it and have been perfectly happy with the waxing results and threading looks really painful. The new lady said it wasn't painful and she'd try the threading on me and if it hurt she'd stop and she'd wax the rest. I'm British, of course I wasn't going to say if it hurt. It was excruciating. The results were nice and probably more natural but it was painful and it took longer and I had to hold down my eyelid which smudged my make up. Back to waxing for me. I am being wet? xx

Necessary Treats

When I was in Boots buying some moisturiser for my friend who'd just had a baby I accidentally found myself in the lip balm aisle looking for something to keep in my car for those long cold journey's when you can't rummage around in the bottom of your bag. I'm not a huge fan of tinted lip balms as they are always slightly the wrong colour but I thought I'd try out Blistex Tint and Shine. I LOVE IT. Yes I did mean to shout it's that good. The colour is great, it doesn't dry your lips out which I find a lot of tinted balms do and it is just fabulous in every way. I actually long to go on car journeys just so I can use it. In fact I'm going to get some more to keep at my desk so I can have a little spruce up every now and again at work. It also tastes good which is an added bonus.

New Blog

I've set up a new blog. Not that I am deserting this one but I wanted to have one for non-make-up things. So now I've got Blue Sky and Bunting too which is about cooking and books and things like that. You don't have to visit it but I thought I should mention it anyway xx