Redken Color Rebel Hair Makeup in Purple Riot - Pictures & Review

When it comes to teen rebellion there's no denying I've gotten away very lightly with the two Gorgebags. With them reaching 18 & 19 this year, I'm touching all the wood that it remains exactly that way. When Aaron announced this month though that he's always wanted purple hair, I faltered. Cue Redken sending out a hair makeup missive that very day and me acceding that him being a Color Rebel in his college years is really not that rebellious at all. 

Redken's Color Rebels come in 5 high fashion shades for an almost instant change in hair (and attitude). The ideal taster for purple locks for the lad before he full on committed to the bright side. Formulation is seriously fluid in its application with a sponge tip applicator and free flowing colour - much like a fancy shoe polish - for your bonce. 

Once applied, the colour is sealed into the hair using heat (just your hairdryer) and can be styled to suit your taste. Once dried in, the smudge proof, transfer proof colour will last up to two washes (spaced out for longevity). 

No fear of unwanted permanence though as, if you're not entirely happy with the results you can instantly remove the colour with oil based shampoos. 

So what thought our boy of Redken's Color Rebel Purple Riot? 

'I'm very impressed, though I didn't care much for the sponge applicator. It wouldn't stay attached to the bottle so made applying messier than it needed to be. I loved how quickly the colour showed up though, all in all my hair was done in 15 minutes. 

While the bottle says to style as you wish, my hair was very stiff with the makeup so I didn't really have a choice in style, just as well I was going for a peak. The purple was much more pronounced than I expected for a temporary makeup and lasted a full five days, without fading or flaking but I did notice some purple smudging on my pillow. 

Overall I'd definitely recommend Color Rebel for those wanting to test a hair colour before taking the plunge or for one off parties or festivals. It's a great price for students on a budget too.'

And there we have it, there may have been some hiccups but Aaron is absolutely a fan, so much so that he did take the plunge and went permanently purple that very week (see below). Well as permanently as you can do anything at 19. I'll definitely be giving the hot pink a bash for highlights come summertime having seen his results. 

Taking the Plum Plunge using Shwarzkopf XXL Live (€6.99) (thanks to his Mamma!!)

You'll find the five Redken Color Rebel shades HERE for €23.05 a pop. Would you be tempted? 

Ojon Dry Rcovery Hair Care - Review

Premium hair care brand Ojon has been soaring high on my radar for over twelve months now. While I don't buy into seriously expensive shampoo as a rule, when something pretty special lands on my desk for review, my grúaig and I hotfoot it to the shower to put it through its paces. 

There's not many among us that haven't mistreated our manes with dyes, bleaches, GHDs, and most recently tongs and heated curlers as we see the return of the curl bounce across every main stream media outlet and in new launch branding. Ojon is the manna to the abused tresses that will salvage damage from the above and more. 

Ojon Dry Recovery is a coconut based cleanser. Pure Ojon oil works to repair dry and frazzled locks while Blue Agave Nectar, Macadamia Oil, Jojoba Oil and Babassu Oil complex helps to nourish the hair shaft and restore hydration to the hair as a whole. All of these ingredients combine to give a light floral scent. 

While I've been loving this duo as a weekly treat, they truly came into their own this weekend. Having been dolled up, trussed up and backcombed to to my back teeth for the Irish Film and Television Awards, there was no way I was tackling my Simba mane at 10am in The Hilton before a ropey journey home. It was a quick shower cap laden shower and dry shampoo to the rescue (and plenty of it). 

It was only once safely home I could tackle the emerging bird's nest atop my crown. I grabbed these two, having enjoyed how silky they made my hair before and hopped into the shower. 

We'll be clear that to achieve my look on Saturday night, there was half a tin of Charles Worthington Texture & Bounce AND a good portion of an Elnett tin too, with a squirt of dry shampoo for good measure before we hit the red carpet. Ojon Dry Recovery washed the lot away in minutes. 

Thick enough to feel like a treatment but compliant enough to wash right out, last night Ojon saved my time and my hair and my poor Tangle Teezer. I had feared it'd be a 40 minute workout, it was as painless as regular wash and I haven't stopped running my fingers through my hair all day. Even having been caught in the rain twice, I still took a second take in the mirror at the shine Ojon has left. 

At €20 a bottle Ojon Dry Recovery is not cheap but if you're struggling with damaged, lackluster locks you can't ask for a nicer treatment than this. As a lover of dry shampoo on the regular, this duo will be put through its paces at least once a week until it's time to replace them, which I will without hesitation. 

Tell me, what's your shampoo of choice right now? 

L’Oreal Paris launch Elvive Fibrology: Great News for Fine Haired Fillies Everywhere!

I am ALL about the big hair, L'Oreal's #TXT Supersizing spray before Christmas was a godsend to my limp locks and it has to be said that this L’Oreal Paris Elvive Fibrology is about as hair raising, literally, as we can get. Best bit? We're talking years of research, new technology and new patents, all at budget prices. 

The Filloxane molecule is the sciencey bit we need to pay attention to here, which harnesses “Sol-Gel” chemistry (apparently). Fine and limp hair can get lasting thickness instead of just volume, as it intertwines with your hair strand’s own protein and keratin inside the shafts, doubling their size and creating volume and bounce JLaw a la American Hustle would be proud to shake at a Mafioso. 

We've all learned to invest in a hair care line that promises us close proximity to the moon with our bouffant but the interesting part about Fibrology is their claim at lasting thickness. The Filloxane is designed to continue to thicken the hair wash after wash and even claims that once you discontinue use that your results will last for up to ten washes with normal shampoo. That has to be a good thing, right? 

Intrigued by these claims and having spotted Hayley AKA London Beauty Queen  send out the shout out to #bbloggers to keep eyes peeled for this stuff, I was chuffed to see it on special in Dunnes Stores (that's two coups in a week, Dunnes, you sly dogs) and promptly picked some up. Fancy a look at what just one wash has done? 

Day after wash with zero other products used

It looks pretty good, doesn't it? Yes, this was only my first wash and my first impression but so far I'm impressed and while you can get the entire range here in Boots for full price, I'd be remiss not to tell you to check out Dunnes for an 'even better than half price' deal. What's to lose, right? 

I'll keep you updated on how I get on over the next couple of weeks using Fibrology but I'd love to hear if you've given a go aswell? 

The José Eber 25mm Curling Wand: Before and After Pics with Video Demo

While trying VERY hard to resist the lure of the Babyliss Perfect Curl as demoed by the hilarious LovelyGirlyBits sisters here  I've been on the search for a cheaper alternative that could turn me into a Curly Sue without emptying my pócas. Cue chance encounter with the José Eber 25mm curling wand this weekend. 

You'll only find José in Arnott's and BTs

The very lovely Lilian, José Ebers shop assistant offered to demonstrate how quickly this curling wand could turn my naturally straight grúaig into a curly wonder (she said 10 minutes max) and the blogger in me leapt at the chance. (Yisser welcome) 

Ehm excuse the spaced out state, ja? 

The Official Low Down on the 25mm Curling Iron:

Ceramic heating elements designed for quick heat recovery without sudden increase of heat

Hair is heated softly and evenly from inside out, safe curling in a fraction of the time

Ceramic technology produces negative ions to seal the cuticles and repel humidity

Provides raw infrared rays for superior protection to hair, reducing frizz and making hair soft, shinny and healthier

Teflon coated, wipe clean aluminium barrel eliminates residue build-up

Teflon also provides a protective barrier between the hair and heated iron, giving more damage control

Hair glides easily over Teflon surface, reducing friction and tangling

I think I was most impressed with how quickly the hair was curled without any product - no muss, no fuss. Lilian gave me the chance to try a couple of curls myself and as a novice (wearing the heat resistant glove), they still only took me 5 seconds each!

Don't believe me? Check out this snippet of Lilian working her magic and featuring MY EYE! 

And the finished result? 

The final result! 

I was absolutely chuffed with the results, my hair had more bounce, more volume and seemed brighter without using any product or holding spray to finish. 

The curls lasted right the way through the evening and I still had a bouncy wave well into the next day AFTER a night on the tiles. 

Trés impressive. 

The José Eber 25mm curling iron retails for €160 but is regularly on special for the price of €100 WITH complimentary gifts. 

Appointments can be made to have your hair done in store before purchase for €25 and can be booked through Arnott's directly on 01 805 0400. 

Are you a fan of the curly look? 

Brown Sugar are Chopping for Charity - Come Join the Fun - This Sunday May 19th!

It's not often that I'm compelled to share a press release 'just because' but the fact that the super stylish salon Brown Sugar are continuing on in their charity supporting ways with this Sunday's event is too worthy not to share.

They open their doors this Sunday 19th May, in aid of the Down Syndrome Dublin and The Mater Foundation Spinal Injuries Unit. Last year’s event managed to raise a much needed €20,000 in aid of St. Francis Hospice, Raheny, which was a huge achievement for all concerned including the beautifully coiffed customers.

“We were so overwhelmed with the generosity shown last year, and all the brands that were so happy to show support,” says Brown Sugar MD Mark O’Keeffe of last year’s event. This year’s event will again see the salon opening on a Sunday, and their talented staff will volunteer their time, with every cent being donated to the nominated charities.

The event will take place in the South William Street, and Blackrock salons between 12-6pm, so why not book a guilt free appointment as a good deed or as a thoughtful gift for a loved one, or simply pop along to support these worthwhile charities.

For more information or to book your appointment log onto www.brownsugar.ie. 

You Down With OPP? (Other People’s Products That Is)

There’s one clear perk of staying with friends and relations (of the female variety) and that’s the inevitable rummage through their product stash. I say of the female variety as there’s only so much excitement I can muster for a shower in my brother’s Lynx Chocolate, the Sis on the other hand…

Each time we stay in a hotel, we have a little ritual where we use each other’s stuff. Sometimes it means I get to revisit goodies that I’ve donated to her cause and since lamented but more often than not I get to try out what she’s buying and loving. Our stay in The Morgan a couple of weeks back was no different.

Three newbies that I’d the pleasure of trying out this time were:  

Timotei  Vivid Colour Shampoo & Conditioner

Not since the school yard gonks calling me Timotei ( I had hair to my knees)(from my head) have I tried the old chestnut that is Timotei. I was more than pleasantly surprised with their Vivid Colour shampoo though. Light and easily foamed, it didn't strip my hair or feel too drying. The conditioner I could take or leave as it felt a little heavy for my grúaig requirements. Both smell divine though, I'd be tempted to purchase the shampoo with a different version of conditioner.  

Boots No 7 BB Cream

Boots No 7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream is easily one of my favourite OPP discoveries. Creamy soft and super flattering, it's an almost full coverage BB that lasted the entire day, while still allowing my skin to breathe. I was a woman on a mission to pick this up and had Clarins not have sent me their BB offering the very next day (More on that later) this would have been mine by the weekend. It still will be!

Molton Brown Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod

I could sum up Molton Brown's Paradisiac Pink Pepperpod in one word and that'd be 'Wowsers'. Containing pink pepper, African ginger and patchouli it's as manly man a woman's scent as you'll get. I didn't readily admit it but the only reason I had three showers during our day and a half stay was these beauties. I'm a huge fan of Molton Brown as it stands but hadn't the  chance to check out this version. It's luxury in a bottle and has shot to the top of my 'Do WANT' list. 

So g’wan, admit it – are you guilty of moisturising your entire body in your mother’s Crème de la Mer hand cream when staying over? How about shaving your pins with your brother in law’s favourite Mach 3 when drafted in to babysit for the night? Or are you just happy to have a little scout through and spritz of everything on offer? I won't tell, honest...

How To Top Knot for Under a Tenner for Short/Thin Hair

Every Blogger worth her Michael Kors, Rose Gold salt knows that the top knot it way to go when it comes to grúaig. But what if you're not blessed with either lustrous hair to cover your donut/rolled sock? 

How about if you're on your second day of Batiste and looking for something to get you out the door in a jiffy without looking like the Wreck of the Hesperus because you haven't had time to wash, rinse, repeat, AGAIN.  Well I may have stumbled across a cheap as chips solution that even the most cack handed of us can rustle up in minutes. Thank you Penney's! (Primark) 

Meet everything you'll need, a small (or large if you prefer) hair donut and a 4 pack of hair extensions from Penney's. €9.50. Seriously. Want to see how simple it is? 

1. After combing through your section of hair, begin to wrap it through the donut. 







2. Use the clips on the hair extensions to give you leverage as you continue to wrap the hair tightly. Always mindful to fan out the strands to cover the entire donut surface. 




3. Et voila! We have one completely covered donut i.e hair saviour. (If needed you can place a bobby pin or two underneath to back up the hair extension clips. 

And that really is that. These donuts and hair extensions are available in 3 colours at present blonde/black/auburn. While the choice isn't extensive the colour of the hair is surprisingly flattering with several tones throughout so you might just find your perfect match.

Now, unsurprisingly enough, it's damn near impossible to take a selfie with no tripod and a big ass camera so I've tried my best to give you the gist of how your messy top knot will look dans crown:

I've also reused the covered donut as a bun, which is a lot more office friendly when you're running late for IRL werk: 

So tell me, is this something you'll be giving a go for your grúaig? Truly, if I can do this to save my skin on the regular, then you can too. 

Have you any other handy tips or tricks when it comes to hair care? I'd love to hear 'em! 

*Header Pic Credit