Review: VS SASSOON Wave Magic

It’s been quite a while since I have been impressed with a styling wand, (albeit without trying them all), so I was pleasantly surprised when the VS Sassoon Wave Magic ($62.95) blew my little cotton socks off.

I had previously tried VS Sassoon’s Curl Magic, without much success to be honest… I got the concept, really I did, and it seemed fab, but the end result didn’t live up to the claims. I didn’t quite get the conical shape either, half my curls were fat, with tiny ringlet-ed ends. I think this wand would suit ladies with finer hair than mine, maybe.

Anyways, I digress; the Wave Magic was fabbo, and I loved the results.

View for yourself here:

Please note: This is without any styling products, not even a spritz of spray! And, it stayed like this, although slightly dropped, for a good three days, still without product. Do these italics tell you I’m impressed?!

Even with my Chewbacca thickness of hair, it didn’t take as long as I expected to do my whole head. What I like about it is that it doesn’t have to be perfect or even, the end result being what I like to call ‘Carefree-Carrie-Curls’; you know, that messy, sexy, imperfect head of mismatched curls that Carrie B like to tousle and shake so often. SO often. Does anyone else want to throw the remote at the TV after watching an episode where she runs her hand through her hair more than Samantha says sex? We get it, you think it’s sexy and alluring, Carrie, but try having to watch it!

The Wave Magic was donated by the lovely Ponikuta to my Beauty Sale (more on that to come) and when it was left over from the first sale (again, I’ll explain more soon!) I promptly bought it for myself to try! Luckily there’s no return policy with this sale, cos’ Imma keeping this one!

 

Have you used many styling tools from the VS Sassoon range?

Which is your favourite?

 

 

 

Rash Decisions End In Tears – Normally.

A fancy night out is always a great excuse to trial new prods, right? Well yes, and no.

Usually, the pre-event rush to get ready raises stress levels and drains blood away from where it’s needed most (the brain, more specifically the “getting ready cortex” nestled somewhere between the somatosensory cortex and the parietal lobe. Just call me a regular doctor.) and rash decisions are made. Decisions like, “Oh, why don’t I just try this new way of curling, that I’ve never done before, that I probably just made up,  maybe with this old can of mousse I’ve never used! No, that’s not rusting at the bottom! It’s just…brown metal!”

Those kind of decisions, coupled with an hour that mysteriously vanished and you have yourself a disaster, or in my case, multiple disasters. Sometimes, I just don’t learn! (On one hand, it’s allowed me to empathise with men and their extremely questionable choices when their blood rushes out of their brain…south, on the other, I usually just wonder where my blood goes and sulk about another silly choice that didn’t live up to the glamzon, Victoria’s Secret hair I envisaged 30 minutes before my taxi arrived. Is it really too much to ask for?)

So, last week, when I was looking at the clock and thought, “Sugar! Fruitcake! Where did that time go? I need to get ready for the Tiffany & Co. Recognition Dinner!” my mind raced to a new beauty product that had just arrived – Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion. Should I risk it? There’d be no time for a shower if all went wrong and I looked like a clag stick rolled in glitter… Oh! And I’ll also need something for my hair… (Cue rustling around my beauty drawers) These sachet samples of Tigi Catwalk Your Highness will do! Perfect! Some volume will do me good, it’s raining. The sensible part of my brain, its blood supplies rapidly draining, was shouting ‘Don’t do it! Do you ever learn?!’ before it too switched off. Oh, the dizzying high of making unsupported bad decisions about your appearence in front of Very Important People (and National Managers.)

Prtty Peaushun's funky packaging...

BUT (yes there’s a but with this event!) – finally, it all worked out, and I have these fantastic beauty products to thank! Prtty Peaushun is amazing; it gives subtle glow and shimmer to your limbs, without making you look like a disco ball, and contains active ingredients to help firm your skin and cover imperfections. LOVE! Probably the most amazing thing about it? It comes off your hands. That doesn’t seem like a huge thing, but to anyone else who has experienced the frustration of putting on a shimmery moisturiser only to find that their palms are now permanently glitter-fied will be just as excited as me. It washes easilly off your hands, yet I didn’t find a speck of it on my dress. Winning! (Couldn’t resist a Sheen-ism.)

I used the Tigi Catwalk Your Highness shampoo, conditioner, then blowdried with the Thickening Gel Cream. After only a few seconds under the heat, I could tell this stuff was working. I got worried I was creating a monster – my already thick hair coupled with this powerful stuff? How ridiculous! But my idea was to pile it up in a bun, blast with the heat, cool and then tousle out – finally, Vicky S hair! Alright, so once again VS status was sadly not achieved, but woah did I have volume. Never before seen volume. Ladies who like their handbags big but their hair bigger, get on this range!

Some evidence of my Woah Nelly volume, which is big for me as I’m not usually a ‘big’ hair kinda girl… Those smudging roots do look dark in these photos, luckily I’m getting my hair done today! Yippee! I had a couple of comments on my lippy from Twitter, in case you too are wondering, it’s this one.

I must not get too smug over this once-off success… one can have big hair, but not a big head – I’m sure next time it’ll be back to the same old circa 2002 cans of mystery…

So, do you make the same rash decisions when primping and priming? I’d love to hear of your disasters! Yep, make me feel better about some of my previous shockers, let’s just say thank goodness for the top knot!

PS. Held at Carousel in Albert Park, the Tiffany & Co. dinner was stunning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wella SP Has The Answer To Your Hair’s MCD

MCD? Multiple Condition Disorder! Unlike their bodies who they’re attached to who may suffer from the more commonly known Multiple Personality Disorder, hair strands can have a lot going on. They’re coloured, yet frizzy in areas, limp in others and could definitely do with a dose of shine.

So what does that mean for you, when you’re standing in the supermarket aisles or your hairdresser is standing there asking you what you’re after in your take-home haircare range? Well, for anyone like me who has trouble with decisions, (like that time the perplexing choice between a spinach and ricotta roll or a sausage roll for lunch brought on a panic attack. Yep, embarrassing true story!) it means a whole lot of pondering on what means more to you, smooth strands or high volume?

Thanks to Wella SP’s new take-home products designed to complement their in-salon treatments, MCD may become a thing of the past. How refreshing, a whole new world of flexibility and choice with your haircare regime!

I received three of the new Wella SP products to trial, and I have been super impressed with all of them. My hair has been loving its new routine of Shine Define shampoo ($32) followed by Colour Save conditioner ($32) – (Although I think with the state of my colour there’s no saving it now! Eek I need a hairdresser appointment badly!)

The Wella SP Volumize Mask ($34) definitely took out top honours for its amazing work on my mum’s extra fine and sometimes in need of a big lift hair. I passed the mask over to her, as my bouffant thick locks didn’t need volume as much as hers do! I saw her one morning and was so surprised about her bouncing big locks, and she told me it was the Wella SP mask, and get this – with no blowdrying, just letting it air dry.

Get outta town, Ma! I really did not believe it.

Do you feel the same way as me when standing in the supermarket aisles?

Don’t you just love the idea of a mix and match haircare regime, depending on your needs at the time?

Isn’t that story about the sausage roll ridiculous?! I know!

Review: Wondercap

If there’s something I like doing more than face masks, it’s definitely hair masks. I’m always after super smooth, just-gotta-touch-it hair. There’s nothing better.

So naturally my ears (and frizzy fly-aways!) pricked up when I received an email about a wonder accessory; the Wondercap. Am I interested to try? Heck yes!

The Wondercap is a gel-filled shower cap with a thick elastic band at the bottom to make sure it holds tight. After zapping it in the microwave for a few minutes, I popped it over my washed, shower-capped and mask-applied hair for 10 minutes…and more. Included in the WonderCap pack is their hair moisture mask Guardian Angel (and the plastic shower cap). It’s great for a basic hair mask but I love the results of the Wondercap even more when used with my favourite masks. That’s the beauty of Wondercap; depending on your hair needs at the time, you can switch masks, yet get more out of them by teaming with the Wondercap’s intensive and insulating heat, which helps the mask ingredients penetrate further into the hair shaft.  It’s like a much better, longer lasting version of the hot towel on your head at the hairdresser’s basin.

The warm and gooey feeling is so relaxing, it’s the perfect time to slap on a face mask too, lie down and enjoy. I was really surprised by how long the WonderCap holds its heat, so you have a lot of relaxing time, maybe grab a mag or a book too!

I caved in to Dad's repeated and chuckling requests for a photo.

For $39.95 - you could be this lady. BYO bubble bath...

The result? Extra silky hair! Can’t wait to keep trying this out with all my different hair masks!

Hair Crush.

Oh, Olivia Palermo. While you may be known for your snitchy-bitchiness and constant name dropping to buffer your seemingly poor efforts in your amazing job, I love you for your style. I couldn’t give a rats if you hate WhitWhit and lunch with Marc Jacobs like, totally daily.

What I do care about is this amazing show of hair WIN. I love it, like most of the stuff she wears, styles, or does with her hair.

It we weren’t just about to head into what I hope is a scorching summer, I’d be racing off to the hairdresser faster than you (or Olivia) can say “I’m besties with Zac Posen.” Lucky for Liv, a freezing NY Winter is rapidly approaching so this darker shade suits the occassion wonderfully. She’s gone shorter, and exchanged her usually blonder locks for a glossy chesnut brunette with what appears to be lighter flicks of balayge at her perfectly curled ends. Sigh. Adore.

Please give me your hair. And glowing skin. And wardrobe. Ta.

I found this picture (and others if you’d like to see the rest of her super cute outfit and pink heels!) on a fashion blog called The Vogue Diaries, so there’s my picture source.

If I’m still keen for a short look come next Winter, I’m definitely trying this out. While I’m normally scared a dark brown will wash me out (it has done in the past), Liv has re-inspired me.

Now just to fly to New York and find her colourist…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How To: Le Top-Knot

A few very lovely fellow bloggers/Twitter-ers were nice enough to comment (and request this how-to) on my ‘do that I wore to the Maxted Thomas Blogger Event in Sydney this past weekend. And these were positive comments people, which came as a surprise for me because I’ll be honest – after 2 months overseas my hair is WAY overdue for highlights and I was a little embarrassed to be turning up at a beauty event sporting unkempt locks! At Brad Ngata’s salon no less!

But this is why the top-knot is SUCH a gem of a hairstyle. It’s easy, quick, versatile (can look either polished chic or messy-cool) and hides a few hair sins! It’s been around for a while but it’s a fantastic skill to have in your back pocket when nothing else is working for you.

So, I’ll give you the how-to for the exact style of top-knot I wore to the event, which in my mind was more of a polished top knot that had volume in the bun, without the rest of my hair being too slicked back and stiff – if like me you’re aiming to disguise some nasty regrowth then you’ll need as much volume in the roots as possible, as well as lashings of dry shampoo!

1. Apply some body building mousse to damp hair and blow dry. I used Pantene Pro-V Style Body Builder Mousse. Ah don’t you just lurve the smell of Pantene styling products?!

2. Once dry, I applied dry shampoo to lighten up the roots of my hair, add some extra volume and give it some texture so it held up better. My current favourite dry shampoo is the Lee Stafford Poker Straight Dry Shampoo. Great scent, cheap, super effective and I love the hot pink can.

3. I used my fingers to brush the hair up into a high ponytail, smoothing out any bubbles as I went. My hair is quite thick and heavy, so I used two hair ties to secure.

4. Have some bobby pins on hand for this stage. I took my chunky pony and started to twist it as I wrapped it around the base of the pony tail, sliding bobby pins in on an angle so that once finished, they can’t be seen. It’s important to twist the hair before you start to twirl it around so that the hair turns under itself; less likely to stick out everywhere in the bun.

5. Once I was all pinned and done, I pulled out a few ‘wispy bits’ at the sides to make the look a bit more casual, and then sprayed with Pantene Pro-V Style Always Smooth Hair Spray which did a fantastic job of keeping my hair looking fresh from 5.30am until my arrival home at 11pm! Barely a hair of out place, without being stiff – I was impressed!

So there you go girls, sound easy enough? Of course, for an even easier top knot, skip the mousse and pins, take hair up to a pony, twist around and secure with a few hair ties!

But beware… the top knot can lull you into a hair rut, as chronicled here.

Review: Pantene Pro-V Night Miracle

Image courtesy of Primped.com.au

I’m a conditioner junkie. I use far too much of it in the shower to detangle my often unruly locks, slop on hair masks like the tub is never ending, and enjoy a good leave in spray.

When I realised this bottle of Pantene Pro-V was some form of conditioner, I was stoked. Then I read, ‘Night Miracle Creme Serum’. Pfft, said my skeptical side, what a marketing ploy – as if you need a serum especially for night time! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t also worried about it leaving my hair lank and greasy. And how do I apply it? Wet or dry hair? Pantene, you left me in the dark with the instructions, bud! Oh, the fear of the unknown!

So I winged it, applying to clean dry hair before bed, and awoke to silky hair sans tangles! Joy! My hair is shoulder-length and quite thick, and as claimed, there was no residue. Not even on my sheets. The liquid-gel formula seems to disappear when you apply it to your strands.

I’m not sure how much active ‘repairing’ this serum gets up to, if it all, (mostly due to the * sign after the word repair – actually meaning “smoothens roughened surface”, but I suppose repair is the same thing…) but for only $9.99, it definitely does make your hair silky smooth and more manageable, and has a firm place on my dresser table, aka top prodz in my lyfe aka TPIML.

I received this product as part of the PRIMEPD VIP club, to read other member’s reviews, click here.

SNF: Pin Curls

SNF? Saturday Night Files! Things such as hair/makeup techniques, things I do or get done before an event of some sort on the weekend. Yay!

Saturday night was one of my best girlfriend’s 21st’s, and the theme was black and white semi-formal. Having picked out a dress months in advance, the only thing left to decide was a theme for my hair and makeup!

Having just had my hair trimmed a bit shorter I decided I was feelin’ a short, crazy-bouncy curled ‘do, coupled with an illuminated base, nude gloss and slightly darkened eyes. Nothing too OTT as the dress (strapless, bit short) didn’t really need any competition from up top.

Now, normally when I decide to try something new, it ends in tears. And most of the time literally. For some reason before an event that I am planning on looking semi-decent for, I reach for that new product, the one I haven’t tried yet. Or test out this ‘new’ way of doing something that I read about … where did I read about that again?

Note I said normally. I am happy to report that this time, it turned out at least 85% like my expectations. Winner!

To achieve my bouncy full head of curls, I tried something I had read about in a few different mags/websites; pin curls! Due to my thick, heavy hair, regular ghd curls and a shot of hairspray usually drop fairly quickly and they end up more like waves starting from about ear level. Pin curls was going to change that, apparently.

Tools I used:

-ghd styler
-Garnier Fructus Curl Define Mousse
-RPR Hairspray
-367 bobby pins
-Paul Mitchell Heat Defense Spray

My first dilemma, and consequent risk that I took, was that it was Saturday afternoon, and I had no time to wash my hair. Plus, I wanted to keep the smooth roots from when I had blow dried it a couple of days earlier.

The ol’ hair-in-the-bathroom-sink trick worked a treat. I wet my hair, applied to mousse to the lower lengths and blow-dried roughly. (Mousse and I don’t always get along … it’s rare I use it as I find it sometimes makes my hair… words are failing me and all I can come up with is yuck. Where’s my 4pm coffee?)

Sectioning my hair into what seemed to be a million areas, (thanks, thickness) I got to curling, lightly misting some heat protection spray as I went. I did the ghd curls tighter than usual, sprayed with hairspray and then wound the curl up and pinned to my head.

Pinning them up was quite handy, as it removes the normal frustration of trying to find straight hair in amongst the curls you’ve already created.

Half a head done!

I’m sure if you had thinner hair this would be a breeze to do, but I got my rhythm going and it wasn’t too long before I was all pinned up. Heat spray, ghd curl, hairspray, pin – repeat!

All pinned up feeling very 1950's Beyonce in 'Why Don't You Love Me?'

I left the pin curls to cool and set for an hour or two, did my makeup, and gave another spritz of hairspray and then let them out, which was like shaking Slinkys around they were that bouncy! Not wanting too much of a 90’s perfect ringlets look, I finger combed them out, messed up some sections and gave a final once over with the hairspray can and set out to party. (For a relative cheapy, I love that hairspray. My hair never went crunchy even after all that spraying and was definitely touchable!)

And the final result: tada!

Me, enjoying the party and green daquiris. The latter may or may not have been enjoyed a little too much...

What do you think?
Too ringlet-y?
Have you tried pin-curls?
Green daquiris? Tutti-frutti.

Don’t Claim It If You Won’t Follow Through.

I had a hairdresser’s appointment on Friday. They are lovely things aren’t they? A few hours of magazine-reading chill out time, where you leave not only with your regrowth covered up, but an extra bounce in your step, and hopefully hair!

So it really is quite annoying when the little things don’t go right. And I’m not talking about hair disasters – ooh no, they can go in a whole other book – but just the little things salons claim to do, their point of difference – that they then don’t follow through on.

My salon, for example, offers a complimentary hot drink (tea, coffee etc) and the option to purchase a glass of bubbles or a soft drink. Lovely.

They also claim (in their seasonal magazine and in posters at each chair) that you will receive a neck and shoulder massage before your stylist begins. Beautiful.

They also claim that if your stylist doesn’t show you how to replicate your look at home, then your service is free. Yes, free.

(Side note: I am confused by this – does it mean if she doesn’t actually step-by-step say “Now blow dry it like this with product A, followed by a curler with product B” If so, refund me thousands as this has never happened. I’m definitely asking for an explanation next time.)

When I arrived at my appointment on Friday, I didn’t receive said neck & shoulder massage. And it’s not the first time. They hand those babies out sporadically, so much so that I don’t know whether to expect one or not. But as I sat there waiting (very gratefully) for my cappuccino, I glanced around and saw an older lady receiving what looked to be a very relaxing neck and shoulder massage. Hmph. None for me. Should I have piped up and asked kindly whether I would be receiving one? Yes, probably, but my tongue seems to turn into glue at times like this and a fear of appearing impolite takes over.

It’s a very stressful battle in my head, one that goes a little something like this:

‘Saaaay something, you fool! They can’t just go around wildly making claims, getting your hopes up and then not delivering! You’re paying a premium here! ‘

‘Ooo oh no, my neck isn’t really that sore, and it only goes for a minute so there’s no point really. Just shoosh, bossy brain.’

Et cetera, et cetera.

While I may sound a little petulant and spoiled, it really annoys me when salons make such claims and then don’t deliver them to customers.

Do they think that as a regular customer I no longer need the fancy frills and extras? In my opinion, as a long term customer, I should get just as much or more attention than a new one as a reward for repeat business. With all the choices and special offers available these days, consumer loyalty is a fading thing – reward us!

Is it that being a younger customer, they think I am less discerning of the standard of services out there? I’m not sure, but I hope not, as it’s definitely not the case.

I may be overreacting, and I’m sure some would say it’s a product of my own doing, by not saying anything. But should I have to? That’s the question I’m asking. Basically – don’t claim these things if you won’t consistently follow through.

VS Sassoon Goddess Ionic Conditioning Steam Straightener

Like many girls out there, I’ve always been a ghd aficionado. Poor VS Sassoon Goddess Ionic Conditioning Steam Straightner! She must feel like the little sister of the straightener family, always being compared to the ‘popular, smart and pretty but ALSO sporty’ ghd big sis. But hey, she started it. I quote their ad: ‘75% more effective straightening than ghd’.

To be honest, not sure if I agree with that. It did straighten my hair, but I think a lot more effort goes into it than when using a ghd:
Sort out your heat setting, (although that is a handy function if you only have super thin and don’t need all 230 degrees to burn the shiz out of your hair) fill up the little water reservoir, turn steam function on – and THEN get started. For the time poor, this may not be the best option. I also found the VS Goddess a little clunky and large for my liking, and of course it isn’t going to double up as a curler.

I didn’t feel like it ‘conditioned’ my hair either, so was fairly indifferent to the claims of shine and condition from the steam. I lent it to a brunette, curly haired friend who, while she didn’t use the steam, found it to be an effective straightener on her hair, with long lasting results.

While this isn’t the holy grail of straighteners, it will do the job, and for $100 dollars less than a ghd, will suit those who straighten their hair regularly.

I received this straightener as part of the PRIMPED VIP Club – read other members reviews here.