Ever since I head home for Christmas and got a righteous telling off from my parents for going red-head, I’ve been thinking of going back to my original blonde roots (yes I’m a full grown adult but I also wanted my Christmas presents so you’ll forgive me for not wanting to rock the boat too much). My blonding roots made me look grey against the red and the condition of my hair was pretty abysmal as well, so I decided to head down to Karine Jackson in Covent Garden to sort out my messed up locks and go back blonde. In my previous post you will see that Karine prescribed me a number of products from Organic Colour Systems Aqua Boost range to make sure that my hair was is a better condition to take the dye when the time came to colour it. Well, I used the Aqua boost range for over a week and really noticed a difference, the range is really brilliant for dry, lack-lustre hair.

Having prepped my hair pre-appointment, I head to the salon after work was met by the lovely Karine. I was immediately impressed with the sheer efficiency of the process, without any sacrifice to quality and attention to detail. Karine and her assistant already knew the colours we had gone for in my consultation so they got to work on a full head of highlights straight away. Within about 40 minutes my hair was completely covered in foils having applied the Organic Colour Systems dye (that used an oxidation process rather than ammonia to lighten the hair strands). The best thing about the dye is that it didn’t smell at all – and coming from a seasoned ’highlighterer’ that HATES the smell of ammonia, this was amazing! The foils were then heated gently for 25 mins and I was done. A full on wash, condition, treatment and tone (to make sure my roots weren’t über blonde as they were virgin hair) in the separate washing room downstairs (which was dark and so relaxing I actually fell asleep!) and I was ready for styling.

Karine Jackson - the go-to lady for Organic hair dye

I only wanted a quick trim and that’s exactly what Karine gave me. There was a complete respect that I wanted to retain my length, something which some ‘snip-happy’ (as Karine described them) hairdressers just can’t seem to adhere to and again, I was very impressed. She didn’t seem to chop much off but boy, did my hair look brilliant. The lightened colour retained some of the red, leaving me with a lovely light strawberry blonde and the ends looked clean and healthy. I honestly couldn’t recommend heading down and sorting your colour out with this maestro enough!!

I head in at 5.30pm and, having had a full head of highlights, wash and bowdry, was out by 7.15pm with the perfect head of highlighted hair. Really very impressive and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who’s interested in Organic hair dye or for anyone looking for the perfect look for the impending and dreaded Valentine’s Day.

For more information, please visit www.karinejackson.co.uk

Karine Jackson
24 Litchfield Street
London
WC2H 9NJ

With the super cold, dry weather it’s often the case that our hair takes a bit of a beating, however there a number of treatments out there that can rejuvenate your hair’s condition, making it look lustrous and healthy once more. We’d recommend trying any of these hair oils to give your bounce a boost!

shiny hair

Fushi Really Good Hair Oil

This hair oil is the bomb. Our Deputy Editor recently came across and now uses it weekly to add shine and restore general health. It’s certainly not the most fragrant but you can guarantee if you soak your hair in this, wrap it in a towel overnight and wash it out the next morning, you’ll be left some seriously glossy locks.

£15.95, www.amazon.co.uk

Ojon Dry Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment

Another BATD favourite, this hard butter-like oil not only smells luxurious but it leaves you hair feeling it too. It’s made with pure Ojon™ oil and all you have to do is warm a spoonful up in your hand and spread through the lengths of your hair. It’s brilliant for bring limp, lifeless and faded hair back to life. Our hair hasn’t felt so good after just one treatment, as it has done with this product

£32.50 for 100ml, www.ojon.co.uk

The best hair oils - Fushi, Ojon, Aromatherapy Associates, Morrocan Oil Light and Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Aromatherapy Associates Enrich Hair Oil

Hair oils are hot news but not all of them smell as good as they make your hair look! As you would expect, however, Enrich Hair Oil from Aromatherapy Associates smells divine and certainly works to make even the driest of hair look shiny and feel soft. Made from essential oils with nothing added, this hair oil contains ylang ylang, rosemary, geranium, and murumuru butter made from murumuru seeds which are high in oleic acid which promotes nutrition and moisturises naturally. This is made for use on dry hair and can be left on overnight – though to be honest used during the day it makes hair shiny and smell fabulous. Hair is noticeably softer, more conditioned and shinier after a few days of using it before washing – will become a firm favourite!

£24 for 50ml

www.aromatherapyassociates.com

Moroccan Oil Light

We use the light version of this classic as it is more suited for fine hair. It’s great to use like a serum on towel-dried hair and leaves you with really shiny, nourished hair. The best thing is that it defines and extenuates your ends, minimising the appearance of split ends and that fuzzy effect you can get after a blow-dry. We’re very impressed as we were surprised to see just how much this oil worked on fine hair, making it shiny, not greasy.

£30.45, www.feelunique.com

Organic Virgin Coconut oil

If you don’t have the dollar to afford the more pricy options here, why not try a homemade brew and get yourself some Organic Virgin Coconut oil. We found some at Fushi again and it’s only £5.15. The best thing is you can use it everywhere; in your hair, on your body and even in your food.

Bargain.

www.fushi.co.uk

L’Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim

This arrived in the office yesterday and I’m already a huge fan. It has a long tapered felt tip applicator, making drawing a smooth line super easy.

It’s out in February and is £6.49.

MAC Penultimate Eyeliner in Rapidblack

This liner is also a felt tip but the applicator is much shorter and rigid. It’s great for the outer flick as you can use it for a really precise finish. It’s currently in the new Missy Pggy for MAC line up but is commonly available for £15 at www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Liquid Eyeliner

This eyeliner in Graphite (a super sparkly grey colour) is amazing. It doesn’t budge and uses a foamy applicator, making drawing the line easy. My only negative comment would be that the foam applicator does take up a lot of liquid, meaning that you have to be careful during application that you don’t move you lid and transfer the excess before it dries.

£19, www.esteelauder.co.uk/

YSL Easy Liner For Eyes

… is just that. Easy. I was put on to this by a friend that works over at Vogue so you really can’t get a better recommendation than that – unless it’s from BATD HQ. Again it’s a soft, fine felt tip so glides on and stays all day.

It’s worth the £24 if you’re going to make the feline flick a lifestyle choice.

www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Eylure Artiste 24 Hour Eyeliner

This is one for the staying power. It does slightly stain your lid but it’s worth it if you want a line that lasts.

Plus it’s only £10.16 at www.houseoffraser.co.uk

If you’re someone that struggles with drifting off at night, as the thoughts of the day and plans for tomorrow noisily crash around your head, you need some of this nifty little spray in your life. It’s a simple spray that’s been infused with essential oils of Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Camomile to relax your mind and is the best thing to drift off quietly.

Sounds farfetched? Well I thought so too until I tried it on for size after Katie recommended it to me at the end of last year. You literally spray a few spritzes on your pillow and no matter how active your mind is, you’ll drift off immediately. Promise.

£15 for a good night’s sleep? Go on then.

Buy it at www.thisworks.com

P.s. £1.50 f every one sold goes to the Kids Company charity. Sleep well AND do go.

This January I’m channeling Elizabeth Taylor crossed with Talitha Getty with a little bit of camel thrown in.  (Did you know that camels have 3 eyelids??  That’s a lot of lashes.)

Natalie Wood

My new secret weapon (aside from the legendary Hannah from Love Lash – honestly the best lash extensions I have ever had) is the new Guerlain Mascara (Guerlain G Noir Rechargeable Mascara).

Noir G de Guerlain Mascara

Thick and weighty, it’s formula doesn’t dry too fast meaning that you can move it around your lashes happily for a couple of minutes before it sets.  The design is beautiful although it’s probably better suited to the bathroom shelf as it’s very heavy.  Saying that the built in mirror and shiny black case is enough to convince me to take on the extra weight!

Talitha Getty

Liquify anyone?

Instant Bucolique is a collection including:

Le Prisme Visage in Bucolic Blossoms – a compact powder

Le Prisme Blush in Bucolic Rose and Poppy – a pink or red blush

Le Prisme Yeux Quatuor in Bucolic Blossoms – a fab palette of spring shades, great for the pastel eye look

Rouge Interdit Bucolic Poppy – luminous red lippy

Gloss Interdit Bucolic Poppy – a red gloss

Vernis Please! Bucolic Poppy – a shocking red varnish

We love the look of the red lips and nails selection. The perfect poppy shades for spring!

Available from 16th January 2012. Prices start from £13 for the varnish.

The serum contains the anti-ageing ingredient Rhamnose combined with Vichy Thermal Spa Water and Hyaluronic acid (helps plump) with a ceramide base that increases the ingredients penetration into the skin. Hence it sounds like a great one for anyone looking for a new anti-ageing product and it’s not super expensive either at £29.50 from Boots.com

That’s my mum’s Christmas present sorted!

This is a sponsored post

Harsh winds, sleet, snow and sun on the slopes can all take their toll on your lips, leaving them chapped, dry and dehydrated.

For soft, smooth, silky luscious-looking lips all year-round look no further than the UK’s favourite Cocoa Butter Formula*. All Palmer’s Cocoa Butter lip products are deliciously cocoa scented and have a long lasting moisture protection for the softest kissable lips. New Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick SPF30 offers ultimate sun protection for the slopes. Use it on lips and other dry exposed areas of skin that need protection, like cheeks, nose and ears. There’s also Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Lip Balm with Vitamin E & SPF 15 for everyday use, and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Lip Butter which will deeply condition and leave a glamorous hint of gloss for the essential après ski!

Find out more at www.uk.palmers.com

*IRI Total Bodycare value & units 52 weeks August 2011

Keep your lips soft and protected all winter long and enter this competition to win a Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lip Balm Winter Beauty Bag worth £50, which includes Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick SPF30, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Moisturising Lip Balm with Vitamin E & SPF 15, and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Dark Chocolate and Peppermint Lip Butter.

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Bumble and Bumble red hair powder

I use the hair powder to not only mask the odd greasy day, but it also gives volume, enhances your colour and helps blend in your roots if you’ve got dyed hair and adds that extra bit of grip (which is great if you need an updo after you’ve just washed your hair). You literally spray it on about 10-12cm away, let it dry and then shake it out with your fingers/ brush it out and you’re good to go.

The spray is said to work best on slightly oily hair (say a day old) and does give a more matte effect so add shine spray afterwards if that’s the look your after.

You can currently get it from Windle and Moodie’s online shop for £7, www.windleandmoodie.com, which is pretty amazing as it normally goes for around £28.

The spray also comes in shades from white, blonde, brunettes and black.