Beauty Review - Arran Aromatics Lavender and Lemongrass Shampoo

This is another review of a sample I picked up a few months ago while I was staying in a cute little cottage in Scotland. This is the Lavender and Lemongrass Shampoo from Arran Aromatics. 

Arran Aromatics £9

The combination of the two scents sounded great but in reality it smelt more like the old fashion Dove or Palmolive soap my grandma used to have. That fresh but plain soapy smell. It's like neither scent was strong enough to actually smell it and they ended up cancelling each other out. It wasn't really to my taste in all honesty. But it lathered pretty well so I didn't need to use a huge amount of it to cover all my hair with soap suds. 

After washing my hair it was really knotted, more than usual when I don't use a conditioner (I only use it every 3 or 4 washes or it gets greasy). However, after getting all the knots out and drying my hair it was actually really shiny and soft, it was as if I had used my high shine conditioner or an expensive shampoo. I can definitely overlook the not great smell and the knots to get the silky end result I currently have. So overall I would say it is totally worth the price and I wish I had a bigger bottle of it!

Has anyone else tired Arran Aromatics products before?

Anyone else had a surprising result from a shampoo? 

Beauty Review - Aveda Shampure Conditioner

I said a few days ago that May was going to be product review month on the blog and then I realised how many other posts I needed to put out first, so now I am finally starting my product reviews! I really have had loads of beauty products and samples given to me recently so I have plenty of stuff to work with, expect lots of fun and random reviews from hair products to nail varnishes, make up to face creams. Let the fun begin!

 First up is Aveda's Shampure Conditioner. I had a sample of this from the John Lewis Christmas event (yes that long ago!) and I have only just opened it. Now straight off the bat I can tell you that I really didn't like the smell of it. The ingredients say it contains Peppermint, Rosemary and Lavender. I don't mind any of the scents but mixed together they just manage to smell like an oil my mum used to use as a base to her aromatherapy massage oils - Sandalwood! And I really don't like Sandalwood!

But once I could get passed the smell the product is pretty good. I have used it twice now and realised you don't need to use much of it as a little goes a long way. I massaged it into my roots and tips after shampooing with tresemme and then left it on my hair for about 10 mins, this is the same as I do with all my conditioners. Now this is where I had another little issue, it might sound silly but is it possible for hair to be to silky? You know the slick feeling when you first apply conditioner to your hair, well even after rinsing for ages my hair still felt like it had conditioner in it - like it was too slick! But anyway I didn't still have any in my hair and I had managed to wash it all out properly.

I literally didn't have a single tangle in my hair when I came to brush it afterwards and my hair brush glided through it so easily. Even after drying it with a hair dryer the few knots that had formed slipped out with very little effort. Now I must say the finished result is beautiful, my hair is soft and silky and not at all fly away. I tend to suffer with static really bad and often when I have conditioned my hair will get really fly away, but this keeps it weighted just enough that it stays nice and straight. Even after a wash the day after my hair is still looking beautiful and is still soft and shiny. If it wasn't for the smell of it I think it would be perfect. Maybe they can try making it with a nicer scent!

If you like the sound of this Aveda Shampure Conditioner you can buy it directly from their site, online at John Lewis or even on Amazon, prices start at just £5

Event - New Hair and Beauty Panel at Belle Toujours

I shall keep you in suspense for just a little longer on the new hair cut as I want to tell you about the beautiful salon I went to to have my hair cut. I was very lucky to be asked to be part of a beauty panel at the stunning Belle Toujours salon in Pontcanna one evening last week. I was one of 4 Cardiff blogging girls at the event, I was joined by Charli of Charli Dot Dot Dot, Mia of By Mimi and Louise of Lou Lou Muses.

First of all the outside of the salon is quite understate but it is in one of the impressive Cathedral Road buildings. Once you step inside though it is a different matter. The decor is stunning, it has been given such attention to detail, with a beautiful black and white pallet in the main salon, nails room and barber, but a great rich decadent gold and purple style in the spa rooms.

 The spa room has 2 beds so can be used by 2 girls having a bit of a ladies pamper session or a couple wanting a romantic relaxing massage together.

The whole of the interior has such a high end feel to it, but the staff are so lovely and inviting that general public (like me!) don't feel out of place, plus the prices were no higher than my local salons which are no where near as beautiful as this place.

 The beautiful Mia with her freshly facialed (new word there!) face and styled hair

We were then taken to a private room at Jolyons to discuss what we thought about the salon/spa and the treatments we had received. Of course we gave glowing reviews as we were all incredibly pleased with the beautiful salon and the even better treatments we had all received. 

 (How awesome are those chairs!)

 We had a bit of anti-pasti too!

So finally ladies, if you haven't spotted it on Facebook yet, here is the new hair!

 Yep it's lots shorter, but after all the bleaching and dying on my tips I thought it would just be better to cut it all off and start again.

First I had a K-Pak treatment, which I had never heard of before but I swear is the best thing that has happened to my hair in years! It is so light and silky smooth, it is glowing I swear! I then had it cut and styled by the lovely and friendly Lauren one of the stylist at Belle Toujours. I had already told the PR girl Shakira that I wanted a change of look and Lauren made me feel quite comfortable and happy with letting her lop off around 6 inches of it! She did a great job and now it is all sleek and shiny!

I want to say a massive thank you to everyone at Belle Toujours as I had an amazing night and I really love my new look! I really would advise anyone local to Cardiff to try out this salon for any of your beauty treatments, men included as the barbers area as just as impressive. I'm tempted to go back for my nails at some point in the future too!

Outfit made up of:

Dress: Primark

Top: Bianca Nygard

Jeans: Warehouse

Cardigan: Vintage

So what do you think of my new do? Think the shorter hair suits me, be honest?

Has anyone else tried Belle Toujours yet?