Heatless Bouncy Curls?! Curls in a flash for NYE

So it's New Years Eve, and you've got to your friends house to get ready for the big night ahead. So far, so good. Pour yourself a glass of champagne and operation beautify begins... but you panic. You've forgot your curlers, straighteners, tongs!! In the excitement and last minute rush I have done this so thought I'd post this tutorial to show you how to create bouncy curls with no heated hair tools.

 

So firstly, these are the things you'll need.  Hairbrush, dry shampoo (I used Batiste), hairspray (Insette shown, but whatever you prefer), hair grips (although I prefer the silver crocodile hair clips you can buy from most hair shops) and a spray bottle filled with water.

 

 

 

 

So, keep sipping the champagne, spray your hair with dry shampoo if needed (I like it to add texture to my hair as my hair is so shiny and slips), then brush your hair and secure in a high pony tail.

 

 

 

 

The next step is to spritz your pony tail with the water. If you hair is super porous (like mine), you may have to repeat this step once you get about half way. You'll be able to gauge, but you want all of the pony tail to be pretty damp.

 

 

Then, in small sections, coil you hair around 2 fingers. Gently slip you fingers out of the coil of hair.

 

 

 

 

 

And secure in place with 2 hair grips (in opposite directions, for maximum security.) My hair has a mind of its own so I always double grip. The silver crocodile clips do hold my hair better, but wanted to show you hairgrips as most of your girlfriends will have those lying round!

 

 

 

 

If you love a varied size of curls like myself, then just alternate thinner and thicker sections of hair. This look was with strands from apx 1 inch wide to apx 2 inches wide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep pinning until all of your pony tail is pinned up. You need to leave in for quite a while so the hair will be dry once you unpin it all. Once all is pinned up, spray with hair spray. I find the most effective way is to spray from beneath upwards so you're spritzing the curls gently, not drowning them and making them heavier. This now allows you to 

1) Drink more champagne

2) Apply your make up and pick your outfit with your hair out of your face

 

 The longer you leave the curls, the curlier your hair will be. However, if you're pushed for time you can give them a helpful hand by drying with a hairdryer.

 

 

 

This is the final look, once the hair has been unpinned and also sprayed again for hairspray to hold them for the big night ahead. You can leave them in the ponytail or you can untie it and let your hair loose for a different style! I hope this helps a few of your girls, as I know the struggle can be real to look your best when the clock strikes midnight.

 

All images above are by Kirstie Mackin Photography.

 

 

Necklace is from Aphrodite Jewels

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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City Rush & Aveda Hair Stylin'

Last Thursday was the night I attended the Newcastle Business Awards. Now, in true Original Redhead style, of course I was running round like a crazy person attempting to look glam! And when Aveda Blow Bar in Fenwick, Newcastle invited me in for a complimentary treatment last minute I thought my fairy godmother must have been looking down on me!

 

So, after finishing a long day at work, I rushed to Fenwick (same night as the Newcastle Light Switch On) featuring X Factor's Abi Garrido & Samantha Lavery. If you have somehow not heard these girls, seriously listen. As you can imagine, the city was buzzing and busy. So I get to Fenwick, with 45 minutes to spare, remove my make up, cleanse, tone, moisturise, prime and then start my make up again. This time with a much more fierce twist than my usual daytime look.

 

 

Thinking it would be nice & quiet and calm was a mistake on my part, with the toilets being on the children's floor and many families attending the lights being turned on every squeal and blast of the hand drier has me feeling hyper sensitive. Think it's the most rushed I've ever felt as I knew I had an appointment. BUT somehow in super timing, I managed my skin, lashes, brows, contour & highlight and then had to rush down stairs. Lashes and a red lip could be applied as I'm running out to my taxi!

 

When I located Aveda (they are pretty new to Fenwick!) I was greeted by the lovely Anna. She took my coat and many bags and made me feel so relaxed. I was talked through all the treatments they provide including blowdries, hair styling, head & shoulder massages and a full range of products. So I explained to Anna my event situation and we agreed on a hair style. To be honest I was expecting a simple blow dry so this completely outdid my expectations from the off.

 

 

My hair was combed & prepped with the Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion to create weightless texture as a base to begin my styling. I might add, I have super shiny and least textured hair ever so this product is great for all you girls who struggle to hold a style.Then my hair was curled in sections with a Diva Professional cone shaped curling wand - loved the curl shapes created with this! Wider and bouncier at the root with the curl decreasing towards the ends of the hair.

 

 

 

 

Anna worked her magic and started pinning! I wanted a nice up do for this evening event and the curls really looked lovely pinned up. We discussed a few details of how I'd prefer my fringe to sit and I liked it sweeping one side of my head so we worked on that and then added some gorgeous whispy curls which gently grazed my face. Spritzed with hair spray for extra hold this hair style wasn't budging an inch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The finished look I think you can all agree was a perfect hair-up for an evening event and this Aveda service really does help take the pressure off if you have an event/party coming up in the festive season. And on a time scale, I proved that it really is a valuable service! I made Anna aware of my short time scare and she really performed under pressure!!

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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Spritzin: JKB ARGENT Millionaire Hair Mist

Everyone knows me as the girl with the ginger locks. I can be spotted in crowds with my gingery flame mane. So in these harsh, winter months (especially being a model) I really do have to keep my hair in good condition. So when JKB Argent sent me their sparkly new Millionaire Hair Mist I was itching to put it to the test - with plenty of hair at the ready!

 

On opening the parcel (blogger mail is always exciting), the first thing I noticed was the attention to detail in the packaging. The beautiful gold against the sodailte blue box is gorgeous. A weighty glass bottle topped off with a gold lid was nestled inside. I love when packaging is really thought out, surely you'd think its the product and what it can achieve is what matters. But I really do think that beautiful packaging shows that a brand has really thought about everything from shelf appeal to customer service to product development if they have took the time and care to get their branding right.  

 

 

So looking at the bottle, the product inside the bottle looks milky but when spritzing this, it has a gorgeous mist consistency which wraps around your hair and nourishes it. So what does the Millionaire Hair Mist do? The mist helps to give you a glossy mane, weather you're in a rush or just styling it. I have used this just after straightening and curling meanwhile also just spraying through my hair and brushing just to give a healthy sheen and both work well. This retails at £35.00 via their website, and considering the natural ingredients, packaging and the actual product itself seems reasonable (not to mention this has lasted me a good while and I have pretty long hair!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Millionaire Mist doesn't have a potent fragrance (like with many hair products which can be strongly scented and smell of chemicals) and also has organic aloe vera and blackcurrant extract. This mist also boasts to be paraben and sulphate free too. The ingredients have been carefully sourced and blended to create this product. As if the packaging and the product results didn't make me love this enough, the organic touch really does appeal to me. Natural scents and natural, organic products make me think of us thousands of years ago kinda like avatars using the rainforests as our free for all fresh beauty salons, with berries,charcoal and fruits.

 

 

 

I'm really excited to see what JKB Argent come up with next as this is their first ever product out on the market. Impressive, huh?

 

 

 

Until next time

The Original Redhead

 

X

 

Irresistible Hair Styling

A little while back I was sent the Diamond Flat Iron from New York based company, Irresistible Me to review. Now as a girl who grew up with a brother... beauty & hair styling are things I've had to learn... However more and more I've been enjoying new hair styles and trying them myself. So when Irresistible Me approached me, I thought this a great opportunity to try a different brand straightener (curling/flat iron for my international readers.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Considering this was coming from America, this arrived super quickly (which for anyone who knows me... is impressive.) I love a delivery day! The hair straightener arrived well packaged and clearly addressed and the gorgeous black packaging was undamaged. If you're buying this as a gift for someone, the black box (complete with metallic silver logo) it arrives in is so beautiful. Pop it in a gift bag and hey presto! - the perfect gift for beauty lovers.

 

On opening the box... there is a lovely little key explaining all of the functions which the Diamond Flat Iron is capable of 16 different features!

 

 

 

 

When your nails match your hair straightener unintentionally and unplanned. Actual life goals!  

 

My favourite feature is the temperature control. In the past most hair tools have only had 1 heat... giving you 1 level of result. With this function it allows you to choose the temperature and, its as easy as pressing a button. The little arrows determine the temperature and go up to 203 degrees which is great for styling! They're positioned on the inside of the product which when holding it makes it very easy to control the temperature....

 

 

 

 

The light up LED display on the back on them tells you when the hair straighteners are ready for use.... This avoids doing the swipe over with your hand to check they're heating up. It lights green when its ready which saves your burning your hand and you know for sure.

 

 

 

Another fave feature of mine is the cool tips which keep your fingers nice and unscathed. We've all been there - been the victim of a hair styling related burn in the attempt to create a stylish hair look. You can really tell the difference with this and they are so much cooler than previous straighteners I have had in the past. The ceramic plates really clamp your hair and manage to create the straightest of hair or curliest curls.

 

 

 

 

As this is an international product, this does have a 2 prong plug. But not to panic! This is easily solved with a universal plug which can be purchased online or in most home stores for about £2 so no breaking the bank! It does have dual voltage so no worrying about blowing a plug at home. They really have thought about everything!

 

 

 

 

If any of you are in the market for a new pair of hair straighteners then I would totally recommend the Diamond Flat Iron. It does retail at $149 (apx £112.60), however I think that price is totally justified when you consider all of the functions/features, speedy delivery and pretty packaging. (You'll receive 20% off when you sign up too!) That's not it... they don't just sell hair styling products... Irresistible Me have a huge range of hair extensions, wigs & accessories so take a browse at what they have to offer.

 

 

Keep checking my Instagram & Twitter for updates on the styles I have been creating with this beauty!

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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Camel Coats & Fine Jewellery

On NYE I headed out to get some fashion shots. I have been really excited to get some fashion posts and "what i'm wearing" posts up on here and hope to continue doing so.

I suffer from the cold a lot so I'm always on the lookout for warm but practical pieces for my wardrobe!

 

 

 First let me tell you how in love I am with these images! It would not have been possible without  photographer Richie Schaapkens, make up artist Colleen Carrah & fellow blogger/hair stylist Zoe Heseltine (Zotonixe.)

So if you're looking for something this style but you're on a bidget you'll be pleased to know this was very low cost from highstreet stores.

The coat is a current Primark buy and for a gorgeous sand shade and it is wool, I didn't think £25 was bad for a nice cut and shape.

My boots are very old New Look and paid £5 for them in a January sale a good while back! (super comfy and get lots of compliments on them)

This scarf is soo cosy and can be worn a few different ways - which I love. It also gives a nice contrast against this colour coat. Also a Primark buy from last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving on, my shirt is a lovely utility style shirt is a gorgeous powder blue shade. Layered under the sand coat it makes me think a lot about Ralph Lauren's classic colour palette. Again, Primark and cost me £10 and worn it so much already!

 

My necklace is a gorgeous design from Achica which I treated myself too. I may do an independent post on this so keep a look out. It is just a simple gold circle pendent but I really do love geometric shapes and feel this fine piece of jewellery really finishes my look off.

 

My skinny fit jeans are from H&M and they are a great fit for my shape. Being petite I do find it difficult to get a well fitting jean with a short length on the leg. However, I find these very good, with lasting colour, shape and at a good price I can't argue! (I have them in black, navy and khaki!)

 

 Can we all just to take a minute to appreciate the amazing work of Colleen & Zoe and Richie for capturing it! Please check out their work with the links at the end of this post - they seriously are cool cats!

 

 

 

 

Hope you like this outfit and feel inspired, let me know if you have any wintery staple buys which you just have to have in the comments.

 

 A huge thanks to the amazing team, without them this post would not have came to life how I imagined it. Follow their work via the links below:

 

Photographer: Riche Schaapkens // Rich Schaapkens Photography  

Make Up Artist: Colleen Carrah // Colleen Carrah Make Up Artist & Beauty 

Hair Stylist: Zoe Heseltine // Zotonixe // Shear Madness Hair Design

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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Making the most of every day...

So, I plan to be doing a lot more fashion posts on this blog although I'm not restricting myself purely to just fashion. So recently I organised a shoot with Rich Schaapkens (who is very talented.) The shoot was for a little Outfit Of The Day post so I could share more with you guys what my style is, where I like to shop and some of my staple winter items. And not to waste any more time I managed to squeeze this shoot in on New Years Eve day!

 

I am also a freelance model as well as blogger so I do have a wonderful network of creative which helped me out on this shoot. Hair is be fellow blogger & hairstylist Zotonixe // Shear Madness Hair Design. Make up was thanks to the lovely Colleen Carrah Make Up Artist & Beauty and photography, as earlier mentioned was Rich Schaapkens Photography. I am too excited and really want to share the final images but until then here is a little look at what we got up to....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

X

 

Accidental Photoshoots

So for some years I have been aware of the work of photographer, Karl Shaw. We met a few month back now at a photo shoot which I was assisting on. Karl happened to find out that I am a model and wouldn't let me leave until he had got some snaps of my face. And... you know what... I'm so glad he did.

 

So in between assisting on said photos shoot I was having my photo took in between the other model changing. We got some stunning head shots/portraits and I have another shoot booked in with him this month!

 

The studio we shot in is called Ghost Studio, based in Darlington available for hire & studio nights with booked models. To anyone reading this interested in booking, I highly recommend with a tonne of space/props/backdrops and options. Anyway, enough of me chattering on. Here's the images I have been desperate to share on here...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep your eyes peeled as I planning a shoot with Karl this month!

 

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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THE TREND FASHION - City Backdrops and Summer Days

If you have been following my blog you will know I modelled for a fashion label call THE TREND FASHION. If you want to see the behind the scenes shots or read my about my experience you can do so HERE. It truly was a pleasure to work with this team & hope to model for them again soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The brand have a range of cool and funky pieces (as you can see) so go have a browse! And the good think about online shopping? You can do it in your pajamas!

 

Check out their website over at: http://www.thetrendfashion.co.uk/ 

 

 

Clothing: THE TREND FASHION

Make Up Artist: Make-up by Jo (Jo Leversuch)

Hair Stylist: Whiskered (James Reid)

Photographer: Jade Photography (Jade Turnbull) /Nicola Wright/ Dan Prince Photography

Dan Prince

Other Model featured on the website: Emma Davies

Until next time...

 

The Original Redhead

 

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