AW17 Hair Trends with Viviscal

I've raved about Viviscal a lot in the past. Like, A LOT. I credit it for my naturally fine and thin hair suddenly being labelled as thicc by hairdressers as of a couple years ago. Shortly after this blog became a fashion and beauty blog, Viviscal was one of the first beauty brands I started working with. I began a round of their supplements and (now discontinued) serum and my hair was changed forever.

Viviscal quickly became my favourite haircare brand and I work with them frequently. Recently, I came away from an event with more supplements and they went into my samples pile for later perusal. When a good friend told me that she was having trouble with her hair due to stress caused by a very bad work situation, I immediately offered the supplements to her and she, too, came to swear by the brand. And, so, when I was told I could bring a plus one to their latest event, I instantly asked Kim along. It was a fashion showcase of hairstyles taken from AW17 runway shows and one of the best organised and most elegant events that I've been to in a while. 

We arrived at the beautiful event space upstairs in the Cliff Town House, which was flooded with late evening light streaming through the big Georgian windows and grabbed some very pretty pink gin concoctions. Arriving with someone was a nice change for me as I don't mind flying solo at events (I often do or only pop in and out to fit them into my schedule) but can sometimes spend the whole thing watching the door and waiting for someone I know to arrive, while I stand in a corner, stuffing my face. This time I had a partner in stuffing my face!

Then came the actual show, done by the team at Brown Sugar and lead by their founder, Mark O'Keeffe. It featured looks from the AW17 shows of the likes of Chanel, Balmain, Paul & Joe, Jeremy Scott, Versace, Balenciaga and Prada. All of the looks themselves were actually fairly simplistic. However, the health and shine of the hair, however, were more important and the key to their success. There could be no better brand to present them, therefore, than Viviscal.

One of my personal favourites was the Regal Pony, as had been showcased at JW Anderson and Alexander McQueen. A long, sleek and exceptionally equestrian pony that must be neatly slicked back, the Viviscal Densifying Elixir proves to be an essential in its construction as it is perfect for taming fly-aways and smoothing the hair. Another look that caught my eye was a loose mid-length waves hairstyle, that reflected what was seen at Balenciaga, Prada and Céline, among others. Pretty but casual, it is a look that is all about an easy-breezy appeal that is anything but easy achieve for me but probably not so hard for others - heated tools and I don't hang out very often so I'm not very good with them. But, if you have been using or are going to use heat on your hair, Viviscal supplements and products are really useful for maintaining the strength and health of it. Natural hairstyles dominated runways and the best way to have naturally beautiful hair, is to take care of it. 

I often like products but I rarely swear by them, however, I readily swear by Viviscal. It really, really works and while trends come and go, healthy hair is always stylish. Check out the pictures below for AW17 hairstyle inspiration but check out Viviscal's range of products for better hair x

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12 Days of Giftmas - Viviscal ¦ Giveaway

On the third day of Giftmas my true love gave to me, voluminous hair that's plain to see...

This time around, the post is going to be short and sweet. I'm just discussing one product - though I utterly believe in the brand behind it as well. I have naturally fine and thin hair and I swear by Viviscal. I used their hair growth serum and shampoo and conditioner for around a year and  completely attribute the fact that hairdressers now don't classify my hair as thin to the use of their products. However, my hair remains somewhat fine, is naturally dead straight and has a tendency to have volume where I don't want it and none where I do...Le sigh. What I need is texture, volume and life.

Which is where today's 12 Days of Giftmas idea comes from. I know that there are many others with the same struggles as me when it comes to hair and I've found the solution (or one of them, anyway): Viviscal's new launch, their Volumising Hair Fibres (€20.00).

"But what, pray tell, might this 12 Days of Giftmas be?" you're probably asking.

If you didn't read yesterday's post about TanOrganic, let me explain it again!

The 12 Days of Giftmas is a project that occurred to me last week. An idea that I ambitiously decided to go through with very last minute - I must be a lunatic. It's a sort of advent calendar for me and my readers, a way of saying thank you for reading and rewarding you in a small way. For the first 12 days of December, I will be writing a post every day on a shop, brand or item that would make good gifts. This is instead of the long gift ideas posts I've done in the past and offers a more in-depth look at some amazing companies and things. To complement each post, I've also teamed up with these fantastic brands and will be giving something away each day! So, the 12 Days of Giftmas will give you some gift ideas and the potential to win something for a loved one (or yourself!).

When I first heard about this Viviscal launch a few weeks ago, I was intrigued. I then kind of forgot about it until I got the sample but once I tried it, I was hooked. The only problem was that it made me have the best hair day in ages, in a week of naturally good hair days. Why is this a problem? I'd just decided to change my hair and, as it happens every time I make such a decision, hair that looked in desperate need of a trim and change a couple weeks ago suddenly looks good, making me question everything.

Stupid first-world problems aside, it genuinely did make me have a fantastic hair day - even through horrendous rain.

The fibres are like a powder which comes in a little container that you shake over your head as if dusting a cake with icing sugar. You do so until it covers up sparseness, or just makes your hair look thicker, and then pat in gently.After thirty seconds, you'll notice a visible difference and a little hairspray will help lock it in for longer.

Considering that yesterday's post was about getting your best tan ever ahead of the party season (or giving it to someone else), today's is about party-ready hair, hair for those conscious of volume or sparseness or just giving a hair/beauty addict some new beauty technology to play around with.

If you want to win some Viviscal Hair Fibres to play with or give away, just enter my competition!

1. Sadly, I can only keep my giveaways open to Ireland this time around. I apologise to those who might disappointed but I have to keep the generous brands that I'm working with in mind!
2. The prize is one Viviscal Hair Fibres in Light Brown.
3. All you need to do is comment below here or on Facebook with who you'd give it to - or if you want it for yourself! However, you must be following me on at least one platform (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google Friend Connect, Bloglovin', Tumblr), let me know which one in the comment if it's not obvious!
4. Competition closes a week from now on the 10th of December 2015 at midnight Irish time.
5. Winners will be chosen at random.
6. I will then comment below the winner's comment and ask you to email my official blog email address.

And that's it! Good luck and see you again tomorrow for the next brand and giveaway!

(Thanks to Viviscal for working with me!)

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WhatSalon App

I heard about WhatSalon maybe a couple of months ago when I first got a press release about the app. Thinking it seemed like a good idea and something you guys might be interested in, I decided to try it out. However, the stars obviously weren't aligned that day and my appointment fell through. After that, I forgot about it for a while.

Then, last week, I got another email from the company, this time personally inviting me to try it out. Still intrigued, I jumped at the chance.

WhatSalon is basically an appointment booking app which finds affiliated salons near you and lets you quickly and easily book an appointment for the time and day that best suits you. You also attach your card to the app, paying a small amount of the total ahead of time to reserve your place, meaning that you only have to pay the remainder on the day.

I was told to pick a salon and book a blow dry, also being given €10 credit on my account to cover the booking fee. After a little deliberation I chose the Whetstone Aveda Concept Salon on Parliament Street as it is on my way home and I love both natural and Aveda products. It took probably three minutes to book and the app also allowed me to set a reminder which messaged me the day and also an hour before my appointment. The whole process is just so quick and well thought-out and the app is well-designed and very easy to use - however, I did film a quick walk-through on how to use it above, to help illustrate this post.

The Whetstone was also amazing. Upon arrival I got handed a stack of magazines, a damn good cup of tea and an adorable chocolate cupcake - as they said, you kind of "need one with a cup of tea". I was then introduced to Ronan, who was taking care of me for the day (thanks!). Not only did we have great chats but I was given more magazines and a really decent glass of Prosecco. The end result was also great - perfect for a Friday night of going out with my best besto. It's definitely the place to go before an event to treat yourself and your hair and just the right amount of decadent to make you feel pampered without being embarrassingly fawned over.

The whole experience of both the app and salon was great and I'd recommend it for all the tech-savvy beauty-lovers based in Dublin, or visiting the city. And, wonderfully, I've got a little something to help you give it a go yourself. If you input the unique code WIDEEYED5 into your "wallet" on the app, upon signing up, you'll get €5 credit to use when booking your first appointment!

Hope you guys like it too!

(I was approached by WhatSalon to review their app and the expenses incurred were covered by the company. However, I have not been paid for this review and all opinions are my own.)

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Viviscal

My hair is pretty important to me. It sounds silly but it kind of represents being an adult and making my own decisions in life because, as a child, my hair was kept shorter for practicality. It's also never been thick enough to grow out before. 

And now it's the longest it's ever been. That I could get it to this length and keep it healthy is due to Viviscal. I've been using the serum for almost six months and I've taken the supplements and added a little of the shampoo and conditioner in with my regular shampoo and conditioner for three.

The difference in my hair is obvious. It's still somewhat fine but it's thicker, stronger and healthier. Hairdressers compliment its health and comment on it being lovely - this is a unique experience for me, let me tell you. Growing up, hairdressers quietly cut my hair without comment and marvelled at length about how thick and luxurious my sister's was. 

I've previously posted on now having the hair I always wanted and the various ways I maintain it and products I use but this post is exclusively about the use of Viviscal. Other than argan oil, it's the only thing I use regularly to keep my hair healthy. So, I can attribute most of the good condition of my hair to it.

The serum and shampoo and conditioner were fine to use, just became part of my regular routines. But the supplements were less fun. Again, it wasn't a big deal but they had an unpleasant taste to them. I'm also bad at remembering to take pills but the other products could just be left out in the shower or with my skincare so they wouldn't be forgotten. Small complaints for an overall fantastic result.

I can also report that I haven't noticed excess growth of body hair which some reviewers have written about as a side-effect of using Viviscal. This is especially apparent to me, as I even tried to apply the serum to my brows to encourage growth in my patchy areas (charming)...but no such luck.

The serum costs €29.95 and is available online and in pharmacies around the country and the starter kit with serum, supplements and shampoo and conditioner for one month costs €89.80 and is currently on offer on their site for €59.95. The tubes of serum are said to last one month but I've found last much longer. This is probably different from person to person. 

My final statement on the matter? Viviscal has worked for me and, hey, might work for you too.

Interested?

How I got my Dream Hair.

So, the last year or so has been pretty key to my skin, body and haircare education. And, as a result of all this new knowledge, all three are looking better than ever. Not being vain here, it's just that I can visibly see the results of taking care of myself. And it was about time that I started really. My skin can be a bit crazy and temperamental at times because hormones tend to wreck all my good work once a month. Goddammit. Hair and body, however, are much more dependable. My skin below the neck is consistently pretty hydrated and perfectly clear. And my hair is doing good things almost every single day at the moment. I genuinely think I've had about two bad hair days in over six months.

It's the hair I've wanted my entire life.

When I was little, my Mam kept mine and my sister's hair at bob length to keep it manageable so I've been growing it out since I was trusted to care for it myself. That means I've been willing it longer for over a decade now. During my teens I had whims where I cut it short, added different kinds of layers, shaved a section, dyed it etc. This interrupted the growth and what I really wanted - damn distractions. And my hair is naturally slow-growing and quite thin. Around three years ago, I stopped cutting it bar trims to keep it healthy and began growing out my layers. Now, it's the longest by far that it's ever been, all one length, thicker and less dead-straight. All the things I've always wanted. And while I salivate over pictures of lobs, I know I'm happiest with what I have now.

It's my Dream Hair. But how did I get here?

First of all, I've grown up enough to distinguish between whim and what I really want. It's good to have fun with your look but you can't put hair back a week later. I'm dedicated to growing out my hair just a wee bit more and then maintaining that. I'm at waist-length right now.

Secondly, I realised that less is more. My hair is pretty healthy as I don't style it or use a lot of products and I let it air-dry almost every time. But I used to over-wash. I'm super-paranoid about being smelly and staying clean so I shower every day without fail but I no longer wash my hair that often. Every two to three days is enough and some will say even this is too much but it's as much as I'm willing to go to. I also brush my hair less often. Brushing can break up your hair and also spreads the oils meant to rest on top of your head through the entirety. Now I only brush my hair after washing to get all the tangles out and that's it.

When I wash my hair, I use less product and only condition every second wash. I also stopped conditioning the roots and only work the product into the ends of my hair. The shampoo and conditioner I use are both by Argan Oil and I also run a little Oil Arganic from Tan Organic through my hair before brushing it out. These products are all highly affordable with the Argan Oil available in all good pharmacies from €1.50 and the Oil Arganic is €24.99 and lasts for ages.

Twice a month I use hair masks or treatments. My current favourite is Garnier's Ultimate Blends The Glow Replenisher. It's great for making your hair shiny and only needs to be left in for one minute before rinsing.

And to improve my rate of hair growth and its thickness, I've been using the Viviscal Hair and Scalp Serum. After almost a month of use, I can say I've genuinely noticed that my hair is fuller. It's applied as a couple of drops to the scalp and worked in morning and night to dry or wet hair.

Day to day, I do basically nothing with my hair. I wear it down most days and keep a band on my wrist to tie it back when it gets in my way. A quick running of my hands through it is enough to right it. I now have the hair I want and its also unbelievably low-maintenance. Win. Win.

So, are you happy with your hair? Any secret tips?

Wide-Eyed and Bargain: Tangle Attack.

I have extremely knotty hair. It's been better since I started using Argan Oil in it but sometimes it's a real bitch to brush through. My friend used to brush it out for me with her Tangle Teezer when it was really bad and I always liked the product, I just think it remains over-priced.

The "Tangle Attack" (which is available in Ireland in the €2 Shop and, sadly, nowhere else as far as I'm aware) costs just €1.50 and is just as good as the Tangle Teezer, at around a tenth of the price. The design is slightly different and looks less like a dog brush. It also comes with a little travel cover with a mirror inside. The mirror is kind of pointless and too small to be very useful but the case is nice for throwing it in a bag without getting dirty. 

Overall, it's crazy-good value for money. So, if you were looking to invest in a Tangle Teezer, save yourself a few quid. 

I give it 4/5 Colettes. 

(How d'y'all like my new ranking system?)

Wide-Eyed and DIY: Miu Miu S/S 2014 Campaign Side-ponytail.

How cute, right?

And how easy to accomplish. As in, if I can do it ANYONE can. I'm gonna break it down into some steps with photos to help - YAYYY!

PS I'm not wearing makeup - soz - but not really.

1. Create a dramatic side-part or exaggerate existing side-part, like so.

Before

After

2. Make a ponytail on the side of your head and keep drawing it to the side and upwards until high on the head. I find this is easier than just trying to make a high side-pony right away and keeps the hair neat. 

3. Wrap a strand of hair around to hide the elastic of your hair-tie. Secure this and the desired position with pins.

4. Curl the ponytail in large sections to create big, bouncy curls. 

5. You can add hairspray for hold but I didn't and it lasted just fine! Yay to less chemicals!

So there you have it. And really, if I can do it, it HAS to be super-easy.

Winona Forever.

I'm having such a Winona moment.

It began (all over again) on New Year's Eve. Daniel and I were stressed trying to make plans so we ultimately decided to be alone and make cocktails and watch movies. The movie was Heathers and the only agreement on it that we had was that Winona is and was a babe.

And then I, of course, started googling her streetstyle. Hooooo, boy. That's the clincher. Per-fection.

Winona is the epitome of ease, cool and boyishness. And her varying hair is always so ON. Very very. Things I love and aspire to. These are, perhaps, some of the most blogged pictures ever but what can you do?

Not streetstyle but it's just so pretty. That hair!

Hair Envy - Haruka Nanami

Haruka Nanami of the anime Uta no Prince-sama is unbelievably kawaii and has both a killer sense of style and hair. This post will bask in the perfectness of her hair and my desire to have it - to chop or not to chop? - but I'm definitely gonna focus on some her bestest outfits another time.

Observe the hairfection.

(Image from fanpop)

Angel Olsen - Perfect hair, makeup and music.

I went to see Angel Olsen play the other day and was astounded by how much better she is live. Recordings just don't do her voice or presence justice. Aside from her amazing performance, can I talk about the perfect bangs/fringe + flawless skin + cateye combo? Well...actually I have little to say aside from that: perfection. 

Enjoy my photos and these tracks.

Mugshot.

Just some random pictures of when Kate did my hair for a reception. I accidentally deleted the best one which showed how intricate it was at the back. Fecksake.