Umberto Giannini Salt Spray Review

Hey Everyone!

Taking into consideration the endless hype around salt sprays and the straightness and flatness of my hair, its a wonder I didn't purchase one sooner. After a very inspiring (and enabling) #bbloggers chat at the beginning of summer, I went a little crazy (by my standards at least) for hair products. I 'borrowed' (borrowed as in its still in my drawer months later) my mum's big can of mousse and bought myself L'Oreal Elnette Hairspray, a tangle teaser and, this bad boy. Apart from my tangle teaser, I have used Umberto Giannini's Glam Hair Grunge Glamour Tousled Salt Spray (what a mouthful!) by far the most.

Firstly, the packaging is really sleek and elegant as well as sturdy and easy to use. You can't see inside though so I have no idea (except judging by weight and sound) of how much I've used or what the product actually looks like. I'd say the best thing about this is the smell. I think you'll all know how hopeless I am at describing smells but this to me is a really lasting, professional non-sweet, non-fruity hairdressersy smell. See, hopeless. 

I apply around 6 sprays all over my hair from a few inches from the roots and brush through. As for what is does to my hair: I'm not going to lie- there aren't miracles. My flat, straight hair isn't immediately transformed into voliminous beach waves. It does however make my hair a bit grungier (dry in a good way if you will)- still healthy but easier to style. It also holds in place anything I do do with my hair. I really like putting this in freshly washed hair and letting it dry naturally then putting it in a top knot over night as I actually have a bit of volume and wave (woop!). Its also really nice used when blow dried too. The only downside of this product is that it can make the ends a bit straw like so if your hair is already damaged I'd maybe steer clear.

Overall, I really like this product and the fact I'm using it almost every time I wash my hair says a lot. I will definitely repurchase.

Have you tried this? What other salt sprays do you recommend?

Autumn/ Fall Hair Trends & Ideas #AD

Hey Everyone!
It seems like all I talk about recently is hair (here and here!), how mine is boring yada yada and how I am constantly trying to find a hairstyle that is simple, quick and looks good. So, instead of having a good old moan today, I thought I'd turn to the A/W 13 fall hair trend reports for a bit of inspiration and give a few styles a go.
There seems to be a whole lot of low pony tails, intricate plaits and tousled down dos. Embracing your own hair seems to be big, rather than straightening or curling- which suits me perfectly! To try these out all I did was wash and blow dry my hair (I don't use heat on it a lot so this was a special day!). I'm currently using a strawberry Avon shampoo and conditioner combination which smells lovely. I also used Umberto Giannini Salt Spray and my tangle teaser as well as a few bobbles and kirbies. 
Instead of going to town with the teasing brush, mousse, hairspray and tongs, I decided to see what I could do with my naturally straight, pretty flat hair. Obviously my hair is pretty long now (yay) and you might struggle to interpret these yourself if you have shorter hair.  A possible solution to this is hair extensions which give you a bit more to work with and are great for instantly long locks without waiting for it to grow. These are available online at http://www.tedhair.com/ . Just always ensure you give your hair breaks from extensions and use a good conditioner. Shiny hair is a sign of health after all. 
The Down Do

Here we have the simplest of the simple: a straight blow dry side parted style. Although I do like the look of this in general, for me its quite impractical as my hair always goes in my eyes/ covers my face and it does my head in. I have lately been considering getting a side fringe but I'm worried the hairdresser would do it 'choppy' rather than 'sweeping' and blending gradually into my hair. Don't you just love the technical terms of hair?

To solve this 'half the face covered' problem, I popped in a little white rose kirby accessory (which Melanie very kindly sent me!). Admittedly, it is more of a summer accessory, but since I'm still a little peeved at how short summer was, I'm hanging onto every last drop of it! I do think it looks really pretty though and although I haven't specifically spotted the likes of this on the A/W catwalk, I think its a good alternative to the complicated mini buns and side plaits. I wear my hair kirbied when its down on an everyday basis so maybe I should switch it up a little and wear a cute accessory like this.

An alternative hair-down style is this swept look. It seems to be everywhere just now but I haven't quite mastered it. If I were to wear it out it would just flop. I'm mind boggled at how people's hair stays in place like this without falling into a shed (defying gravity anyone?). I think I'd need a whole lot more product and back colmbing to have even a chance. Let me know in the comments if you have any tips/ insider info on how to work this style.

The Fishtail Plait

Next up, a side fishtail braid. I've loved this style ever since it surfaced over a year ago and its popping up again everywhere this season. Its an interesting alternative to the run of the mill plait and is so simple to do once you get the hang of it. All you do it divide your hair into two sections and alternatively take small strands from each side and cross them over to the other. (Google a video tutorial if that makes no sense!). For a messier look, I tugged loose the braid and added the white rose kirby. I also like this style as it really highlights my ombre. 

The Up Do

Ok so admittedly, I didn't see one high ponytail while browsing fall hair trends, but I couldn't not include this as it is pretty much my go-to. Its simple, super quick and again, makes the ends of my hair contrast nicely with the top. I have a similar tutorial on it here (excuse the onesie).

This style incorporates two of the big hair trends of the moment: the bun and the braid (that sounds like a film!). Its super simple to achieve: just plait a high pony normally and twist into a bun. Its a versatile style and if you wanted to make it more relaxed and messy just partly pull bits out.

The Low Ponytail

Search 'fall 2013 hair trends' and pretty much every second result will be a sleek low ponytail with some sort of plait incorporated. I went for a simple plait to one side and tied it all at the nape of my neck. I then pushed the pony through itself to create this more intricate looking style. Whilst I like this for being elegant and something different, I probably wouldn't wear it on an everyday basis. I guess I'm scarred by my middle shed low ponys of my childhood haha.

What is your favourite hair style this season?

Sponsored post

Bed Head Brunette Goddess Review

Hey Everyone!

Remember in my bumper hair related post a few weeks ago I mentioned that when I got back from Africa my mum had (very kindly) bought me the Bed Head shampoo and conditioner minis I'd been lusting after for ages? Well I have used them a good few times now and I thought I'd let you all know how I got on. 

I originally wanted to try these because of my love for the Bed Head Hairspray (used in my How I Curl/ Wave My Hair Tutorial) which was, to date, the best hairspray I've tried and it smelled amazingly of oranges. I was therefore expecting pretty good things from this shampoo and conditioner duo.

The dinky 60ml bottles immediately get the thumbs up packaging wise as they are just so darn cute. I love the shapes of the bottles (they remind me of potions!) and I like that you can see how much product is left.

The shampoo isn't the most concentrated I've tried, and doesn't lather up very well but the conditioner is very rich and a little goes a long way. Definitely the best thing about these though is the smell. In the shower I wasn't sure if I was washing my hair or eating a toffee/ caramel dessert. They smell so delicious! 

After using these products, my hair is slightly more tangly than usual but when it dries it has a nice amount of volume and is very, very soft. 

I won't be buying the full size of these though as I think they're pretty expensive and the only stand out feature is the smell and other than they're its a pretty standard shampoo and conditioner. Aussie is still my favourite but I'm really glad I got to try these and they'll be fab for travelling or using now and again. 

Have you tried any Bed Head products?

Hair: Haul, Mini Reviews, Summer Styles & Chit Chat #AD

Hey Everyone!

I had quite a few random bits and bobs to talk about all under the umbrella of 'hair' so I thought I'd just write one bumper post. 

Haul

Firstly, I have finally caved and bought a Tangle Teezer! It is pretty weird getting used to not having a handle but I love it already. I don't have particularly tuggy hair anyway, but it really does just glide through your hair. One of the main reasons I bought it was because my hair falls out constantly and I have noticed an improvement over the last few days using this. What surprised me was that this is great for backcombing-adding a bit of subtle volume without the frizz. This means tousled hairdoos are a lot easier. Another plus is that its really easy to remove the hairs that get caught in the bristles. 

Also, when I got back from Africa, my mum had got me a few bits and bobs (big treat) including these Bed Head minis. 

Ombre

You may remember a while back I had my hair slightly ombred and I thought I'd give you a quick update. It was pretty subtle at first but since I've been in the sun its really lightened at the bottom. Though because they've been coloured, the ends of my hair have been pretty dry lately.

The Importance of a Trim

To combat these dry ends, I had a trim a few days ago. I really don't acknowledge often enough how important having a trim is. My hair instantly looked healthier and those nasty split ends were stopped in their tracks. I've also found in the past that after a snip my hair grows a lot faster.

Favourite Summer Hairstyle

All year round, I have 3 hairstyles: down, sleek straight ponytail or in a bun. In attempt to change this mundane routine up a little; today I tried a doo I saw on pinterest and I am 100% in love and will definitely be wearing it more. Its a twist on a plain ponytail, with the hair gathered as if you're beginning a plait and then tied at the crown. I was amazed at how much volume it created.

Top Tips for Growing Your Hair

Get the ends cut off every couple of months

Minimise the amount of heat you use on your hair

Brush your hair! It seems obvious, but it will stimulate the production and spreading of natural oils. 

Massaging your scalp for a few minutes each day to increase blood flow.

I've heard that fish oil is good for hair growth- has anyone tried this?

Extensions

And you know what, if you are just too impatient for your hair to grow to your desired length- why not try extensions? Clip in extensions will transform short hair and you'll be able to experiment with many more styles. These extensions by Remy (here) are made of real human hair, so will blend with your own hair perfectly. 

seekhair.co.uk offer a huge range of clip in extensions at affordable prices, so you will be able to achieve luscious locks whatever your hair type.  Just remember- give your hair regular breaks from extensions and you may want to invest in a good conditioner to combat any damage.

This is a bit of a random post (all my posts seem to be a bit odd recently- hope you don't mind). I thought it'd be useful to share what I've learned over the past little while and was interested to see if you shared the same experiences. Also, if you would like to see a post on my current hair care routine, let me know.

Sponsored Post

Hair Products Haul

Hey Everyone!

Instead of letting this become another post consisting of me moaning about how flat, straight and boring my hair is- lets dive straight in and I'll show you what hair products I've bought recently. Its weird because I usually do hauls on YouTube so I'm a bit rusty doing blog post hauls!

I'm not usually one for hair products- but after last weeks bbloggers chat, I had a list the length of my arm of things to try. Be warned- join that conversation at your purses risk!

I think I must of had about half a dozen replies to my 'Which is the best hairspray' query recommending Elnette- I couldn't not get it. It was just over £6 but haircare is currently on buy one get one half price in Boots- so it didn't work out so bad. So far I have only used this once so haven't entirely got to grips with it. Let me know if you'd like to see a full review of any of these.

I've wanted a Salt Spray for a very long time- and the haircare offer meant it was a good time to purchase. Weirdly, I couldn't remember a single Salt Spray recommendation- so I went for one that 'looked' good and was a decent price. This worked out about £3 I think.

Finally, after much umming and arring over buying the Lush dry shampoo (which smells amazing but realistically its probably just Talc + something with a nice scent) I went for the budget option of baby powder. I'm usually use Batiste but I'm not a fan of the smell, and a few bloggers mentioned that they thought  this was just as good. I think it was around 84p so its not a big deal if it isn't great. 

Have you tried any of these products?

How I Curl/ Wave My Hair

Hey Everyone!

A couple of weeks ago I went to see Olly Murs in concert and thought it was the perfect opportunity to get out my Babylis Curling Wand (I got it for Christmas) and give it a whirl. I have completely poker straight hair, which some may consider a blessing, but to me, although I can wear my hair natural without it looking crazy, its so boring! In addition to it being straight- its flat and persistent. It is extremely reluctant to hold a curl or pretty much any other style.

My hair woes aside, I thought I'd tell you about my current hair routine for when I want a hairdoo that's a bit different from my usual. 

First, I give my hair a little bit of a tease with my Primark Back Combing Brush. After spritzing my hair with Lee Stafford's Heat Protectant (which is actually intended for straightening hair, but I thought it'd do the job all the same), I use the highest setting (210 degrees) of the wand and curl about two inch sections of hair away from my face. When I'm finished, I give my hair a bit of a shake and set it all with Bed Head Maxxed Out Hairspray, the only hairspray I've found that holds my hair, and has the bonus of smelling like oranges and not being an aerosol. 

The effect is casual, kind of beachy curls which last a good few hours (probably longer if I wasn't running out of hairspray). The whole process takes about 20 minutes which I think is fair, though I wouldn't do this on a regular basis as it seems like so much more effort than usual.

What's your current 'oomph' hairstyle?

Let's Talk Hair

Hey Everyone!

A while ago I posted about how I wanted long locks à la Kendall Jenner and I thought I'd give you all a little update. So far, my hair has grown a lot. I'm aiming for my hair to be 

about a hand length longer than my chin when its in a high pony. My hair grows pretty quickly so I think that will be around autumn/ winter of this year. 

You may also remember this post before Christmas about my subtle ombre. Well, at the weekend I had that again, so now its like subtle x2 lol. Its still not very noticeable unless you're looking for it, its as if its been lightened by the sun. I was however impressed with how long the original lasted, in fact it seemed to get a bit lighter as time went on. I'm now about 3/4 shades lighter at the bottom than the top, but I don't want to go any further as I think I will enter ginger territory (no offence, that's just my undertones).

I hope this post hasn't been too boring for you, I felt like I've kind of just droned on and on, maybe you were wise and just had a quick look at the picutures- I just hope you weren't too scared by my makeupless face!

What length do you like your hair and why?

I'm posting everyday at 6.00pm this week: let me know in the comments if you would like me to post at set times like this more often :)

My Go To Hairstyle: Voluminous High Ponytail (Ft. My Onesie!)

Hey Everyone!

Of my whole presentation, my hair is the thing I spent least time on, as its probably what I enjoy doing least. I'm forever on the hunt for quick, easy dos that look as if I've put in a bit of effort. Inspired by Zoella's second signature barnet (the first being a messy bun), I have been wearing this a lot lately. I can't even begin to express how easy this is- it takes under a minute. 

1. Sleep with your hair in double looped pony bun. I tend to do this if I haven't washed my hair that night. I do a double looped pony bun (tie as if putting a pony in then only pull half the loop through then twist and half that) because I have naturally straight hair, if you have curly hair already you don't need to do this.

2. This is what my hair looks like after sleeping in the top knot- yours may be different but its about working with your natural hair.

3. I brush my hair through so its not too crazy.

4. Flip over and gather your hair at the top of the back of your head.

5. Tie with a bobble (I use the ones without the metal bits as they break your hair).

6. Use a comb to sleek back flyaways and stop your hair going that 'bitty' way if its not been washed.

7. You might want to slightly tease the base of the pony tail.

8. & 9. The finished result!

This is my go to, roll out of bed and out the door style. It actually takes less time than wearing natural hair down, which is super quick. 

Let me know if you like these kind of tutorials, the messy bun one I done months ago seemed to be quite popular. 

P.S Hope you don't mind the onesie and no makeup- it was a lazy day :P

I'm posting everyday at 6.00pm this week: let me know in the comments if you would like me to post at set times like this more often :)

Very Subtle Ombre

Hey Everyone!

I've had my hair done! Well I say that, but you may not actually notice a whole lot of difference. I used blonde dye on the ends to attempts a kind of ombre/ gradual lightening effect. Honestly I thought it would be more extreme, going quite blonde at the ends, but its turned out a very light brown. However, I am actually quite thankful at how its turned out as its still a change but I won't be looking in the mirror like 'who is that?'. In the future I think I will go further, but for now, I'm quite happy as it looks really natural as if I've been in the sun for a few months. 

Boring Hair Alert

When it comes to hair, most of us adopt a 'grass is greener' attitude- those of us with straight, sleek hair wish for curly, voluminous locks and those with curly, voluminous hair lust after straight, sleek hair. 

For the majority of the time, I get along quite well with my hair. Yes, its flat and yes, it doesn't hold any kind of styling no matter how much hairspray is used, but it doesn't require maintenance and I can roll out of bed, brush it and walk out the door. I wrote a post a good few months ago now about how I wanted hair like Kendall Jenner and although I must admit that my hair had grown alot, I constantly feel like my hair is lacking 'pizazz'. There's just nothing exciting or oomft about it. My name is Julianne and I have boring hair!

So, for the first time ever- I've decided to spice up my hair. I am planning to have it ombred tomorrow! There hopefully won't be a drastic change, just gradual lightening towards the ends of my hair. I am super excited but so nervous and praying that nothing will go wrong and it will be great and I will love it. 

I will of course be posting pictures asap unless its horrific in which case you may not hear from/ see me in several weeks haha :)

What do you do to add 'oomf' to your hair?

OOTD | Barcelona Outfit No.4

Hey Everyone!

It really does look like these outfits are spanning the whole summer- argh! Perhaps I'll just write them all really quick and post 2 a day?

This is another outfit I wore to the beach. This is my number one summer outfit- very fresh and light. The oranges and warm browns are also very appropriate in the sun. The top and shorts (I know, they look like a skirt) are from H&M last year and the cardigan, sunglasses and belt are from Primark (still available). Although it was hot, I sometimes wore a cardigan to the beach for extra sun protection. I also often scraped my hair back into this kind of bun to keep it off my face and neck and to keep me cool (tutorial here). I really like this outfit as it matches so well but its a shame that it only really makes an appearance once a year- on holiday.

Do you like it?

Dashing Hair Diary 1

Hi Everyone!

As you'll know if you read my gabble a lot you'll know that I am in love with the Kardashians! I have only got into it in the past month(ish) and I have already watched 6 seasons of kuwtk, 2 seasons of kktm , 2 seasons of kktny and 1 and about a half of 2 of k&l. To be honest, I literally scare myself sometimes with how overly obsessed I become with things (hence the name JulzObsessions). 

So, to the post, one of the things I love most about those beautiful Kardashian ladies is their hair. Now, no matter if you love them or hate them, you have to admit they all have gorgeous hair. So, I have decided to channel this admiration/stalkerisation (newly invented word of the day yay) and try to grow my hair to aim for long beautiful Kardashian locks! I am particularly in love with Kim, Kendall and Kylie's hair though I realise Kim's is styled by professionals every day so I think Kendall's is a pretty realistic aim.

Right now, I think my hair is medium length. It's actually quite long at the back but I often get confused because  have layers at the front so I think it's shorter than it is.

So I'm going to do a series of posts to record my progress on the way to Kardashian hair. I'm aiming for this time next year for the length to be down to my waist as my hair grows pretty fast.

Do you guys like the Kardashian girls hair? Do you have any tips for mine to grow faster?

The 'Perfect' Messy Bun Tutorial

Hi Everyone!

Hope you're all good! My exams are approaching which means I'm trying to study as much as possible which is why there have been such a lack of posts. I just need to drag myself away from Kardashians and I'm sorted!

Today I'm going to do my first tutorial woo! This is an everyday/ I can't be bothered styling my hair bun. I really like this as its simple but really nice. Also, I seen a lot of the models in ELLE  with messy buns so I think its a really popular style right now.

1. Start with your regular hair. This style pretty much works on any hair. My hair is naturally straight so I just work with that but I think it's better to curl beforehand for added texture. 
2. Backcomb your hair for volume.
3. Backcombed hair. Not overdone.
4. Gather your hair as if you were putting it in a high ponytail.
5. Twist.
6. Continue twisting until the hair twists round on itself.
7. A knot-bun is created. Tie it in place with a bobble.
8. Begin pulling apart the twisted bun. You should find that because it is twisted there are layers below layers so pull them too.
9. Fix any fallen pieces into place with kirbies. 
10. To be extra secure I place four kirbies around the bun.
11 & 12. Finished result :)

So that's it! Hoped you liked my first tutorial, comment below if you would like to see more!

Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Hi everyone!

I've always heard such great things about Aussie products and after browsing their website, I decided that Aussome Volume was for me. I actually used Aussie when I was younger but had completely forgotten what it was like. I have quite fine, poker straight hair which on one hand is good because I don't have to style it but on the other hand I frequently feel it needs a bit of 'oompf'. So, whilst out shopping yesterday, I thought I'd give it a try:

Price: Each bottle is £4.49 but currently Boots have a 3 for 2 offer so I got 2 shampoo bottles and 1 conditioner for £8.98. This is more than I would usually pay for shampoo and conditioner though I think this is pretty affordable for such a good brand.

Consistency: Both products are pretty concentrated so you don't need a lot and the bottles should last a fair amount of time.

Smell: The smell of both products is beyond amazing! They're not fruity or floral, they smell very high end, like those used in hairdressers. I think that even if the shampoo and conditioner made no difference at all to my hair I would buy these again anyway, just for the smell!

Effectiveness: My hair is super soft, smooth and sleek after using these products for the first time. It feels really moisturised and in great condition. There are no tugs/ knots at all. As for volume, there is a bit of an improvement.

Flaws: I haven't found any flaws so far. The only thing I noticed was that the shampoo didn't foam very well but I think that was my own fault as I was rationing the shampoo to try and make it last so next time I'll use a bit more next time.

Rating: Overall, I am impressed with this product. It didn't work miracles though the gorgeous smell and softness of my hair after use means I give these products 8/10!