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A Pamper Session with Panasonic

I love a good pamper session, even more so when it involves a trip to a salon. My hair is so fine and awkward that I never quite know what to do with it. I’m always keen to learn new ways to style it, so any products that might help me in my eternal struggle for the perfect do are alright by me. Enter Panasonic and their new range of beauty products.
Last week I was invited along with Sabina & Julie to a press day with Panasonic at The Drawing Room salon just behind Liverpool St station. We were there to find out all about the new Panasonic beauty products range. I was intrigued as Panasonic are a brand I know and trust, and used almost everyday whilst I was living in Japan. I had never put Panasonic and beauty products together in my head, but when I thought about it, it made sense. When I arrived I was greeted with warm smiles from the Panasonic team, before being whisked away for my pampering. The Drawing Room salon is inside a beautiful Georgian house with original features, making it an incredibly relaxing and decadent location for a makeover. I was offered a drink and immediately seated in one of their luxurious chairs whilst my stylist prepped my hair. This is where I admit that I have a dark sordid secret when it comes to salons…I adore having a head massage whilst my hair is washed. Ok, so admittedly it’s not very sordid, or dark, but I think it’s a secret pleasure for most of us. After my glorious head massage and wash, I was sent back upstairs to have my hair styled. Oskar decided to do bouncy waves in my hair, which meant a quick dry with Panasonic’s Nanoe Hair Dryer followed by some twisting and twirling of Panasonic’s new straighteners. Et voila! My hair was complete.  

I was incredibly impressed by Panasonic’s new beauty range, especially the hair dryer. I usually let my hair dry naturally to avoid heat damage and wiry/dry hair. However the Nanoe dryer dried my hair super quick and left it feeling soft and smooth. Credit also goes to the straighteners. Have you ever put your straighteners on, come back and felt like they’d been dropped into the fires of hell? Well the Panasonic hair straighteners don’t do this as they keep a constant temperature, which is also better for your hair. Both products worked wonderfully on my annoying hair, and left it voluptuous and healthy looking. I’ve been using the same well-known brand of straighteners, and a lack of hair dryer, for years. However both these products have left me wondering whether I should be brave and make a change in my haircare routine.

You can buy Panasonic’s beauty range from Boots.
The Nanoe hair dryer is currently on sale with £40 off, whilst the straighteners will be available to buy soon.

bloomzy /

OOTD: Stripey & Chic

(Dress: China Doll Boutique, Necklace: Tatty Devine, Watch: Marc Jacobs, Bracelet: Rêves D’Hiver)
Finally, after waiting for so long, the warm weather is here!!
I celebrate by stopping by China Doll Boutique’s (now named Sugar & Style) Box Park pop-up.
Nhuc is always lovely & chatty, and after browsing her new items (some from Paris!) I tried a few on.
Although I loved some of the new printed trousers I decided that a light Summer dress would be best.
This one just screamed Parisian-chic to me, and I loved the simplicity of it – more to accessorise with!
The cut is super flattering, which surprised me as I have some rather prominent boobs and bum going on.
I think this may be my go-to Summer casual dress, especially as it suits my new hairstyle so well.
Unfortunately the dress isn’t available on the online store, but you can find it in the Box Park store!
bloomzy /

New Hair!!

Say hello to the new me!
Yes, after 6 months of avoiding the hairdresser, I finally had my hair cut.
For a while I had wanted to grow my hair out, after looking at an old photo. Thanks for that nostalgia.
Well after doing that for a while I remembered how thin my hair looked long and fancied short hair again.
So yesterday I made my way to Bleach in Dalston – the same salon that put the lovely red in my hair (thanks Scarlett!).
If you follow hair trends then you should have have most probably heard of Bleach. Their main salon is based in Dalston (just down the road from me – lucky!) and they also have one in Topshop Oxford Circus. They’re known their colouring (see their amazing LookBook here) but they’re also not too bad with a pair of scissors. Being in Bleach is like watching artists at work. The hair creations that go on in that salon are amazing. I always end up wanting a new hair colour each time I go as I see other fancy people walking out with theirs. When I went yesterday, this lovely lady was having her hair dyed blue and it was gorgeous! Anyway, back to my hair. Forgotten what it looked like before? It was a slightly longer version of this.
I wanted a long bob, to make my hair look a bit thicker and so I could have fun styling it.
I usually go into a salon with an idea of what I want but know it won’t usually happen.
Well this time the wonderful Loren cut & styled my hair for me, and she did an amazing job.
My apologies for the poor quality photos but I was feeling a bit blergh after getting back, so I used my iPhone.
Anyway, here’s a derpy gif of my new hair to amuse you into forgetting how bad the photos really are.
Emma the Puffa Fish says “you can visit the Bleach website here“
bloomzy /

Review: Colour Restore for Redheads

Colour Restore Deep Red, for Redheads*

Colour restore for redheads uses concentrated red pigment infusions to keep colour.
Most of you will know how difficult red hair is to maintain, so this is a great product to have.
I recently became a redhead again, and even though my colour has maintained well I wanted a pick up.
So I was very thankful to receive this and try it out, and let me just say, I was very pleased with the results.
Colour restore can be used as a wash-in shampoo type product to keep your colour fresh, or for something a bit more vivid, you can leave it in for up to 25 mins. I needed to refresh my hair colour so I choose to leave it in for 25 minutes, on my first use.
Before and after

Pros:
+ 3 different ways to use
+ Vivid colour and great shine
+ Left my hair feeling conditioned
Cons:
– Stains skin easily, but can be removed
Notes:
This is such an amazing product for redheads who want to keep their colour.
It’s also a great money saver for those like me who have their hair dyed at a salon.
The only downside was that it did stain, but it was removed with water and another wash.
It was easy to use, and as only a tiny bit is needed the bottle can be used more than once.
It lasts for 12 months, so I plan to make the most of it and use it as often as needed.
For those who might be worried about using it often, it doesn’t contain any peroxide, harsh chemicals or ammonia.
There are also blonde, shine treatments, colour removers and strippers in the range.
You can view and purchase the whole range here.
bloomzy /

My 'Everyday Hair' Routine

ghd Style & Protect Gift Set*
Before Christmas I was gifted with this lovely ghd Style & Protect Gift Set.
I was then asked to create a post where I incorporated the products into my routine.
Luckily all the products are items that I would use in my everyday look.
What I use:

1. ghd Paddle Brush*
2. ghd Straight & Smooth Spray – Normal/Fine Hair – £12.95*
3. ghd Final Shine Spray – £9.95*
4. ghd Hair Clips (included in the set)* 
5. ghd Hair Straighteners – £99
6. Hair Dryer
Step One:
I give my hair a spritz with the straight and smooth spray, and work it through my hair.
This helps to straighten & smooth my hair, whilst protecting it from the heat from my dryer & straighteners.
You can also use the spray in between washes to help protect against heat.
Look at that post-shower fresh face!
Step Two:
Grabbing the paddle brush I gently detangle my hair (if needed).
Then using my hair dryer and the brush together I blow dry my hair straight.
This is always a challenge as one side usually comes out straighter than the other.
Step Three:
After drying my hair, I use the clips to separate parts of my hair, ready for straightening.
My hair isn’t particularly thick, but I do have layers so this makes it easier.
I then grab my go-to ghds and start straightening! 
Sometimes I curl the ends under, depending on the look I want.
Step Four:
If I feel like it, I take the ghd Final Shine spray and pop a little on my hair.
It isn’t too heavy and it helps to add a little extra shine, whist keeping away bits of frizz.
Instead of spraying this directly onto my hair (you can!) I spray into my hands and work through my hair.
Step Five:
After a little styling with the brush, I’m done!!
My ‘everyday hair’ routine may not consist of much but it works for me.
I love ghd as a brand and these products make my routine so much easier.
It was so much fun creating this hair tutorial!
I’m currently growing my hair out (again!) so look out for more in the future.
You can purchase all of the products shown at the ghd website – check out hairstyles by ghd for inspiration.