Review | Weleda Nourishing Hair Oil

This is a sure winner for everyone. With the weather being as temperamental as it is, like your skin, your hair takes a pretty hard hit too with the change in elements. Weleda Nourishing Hair Oil hydrates and repairs hair and calms the scalp leaving you with luscious locks.

Key Ingredients: 

  • Organic Rosemary Leaf Extract to help strengthen dry and damaged hair
  • Organic Burdock Root Extract to help revitalize and nourish hair and scalp

Key benefits:

  • Repair dry hair
  • Treatment for split ends
  • Boosts shine
  • Calms scalp
  • Free from SLS, parabens, preservatives and artificial essences.

Directions of use:

Apply a few drops into the palm of your hands and massage into the ends of hair, leave it in. For a more intense treatment apply a capful into the hair and scalp, cover with a shower cap and leave on for at least 40 minutes then shampoo off.

Price Factor: 5/5   ($19.90 for 50ml)

Considering the few drops that you use for regular daily condition this is a bargain.

My thoughts:

I’m an advocate for hair oils. I’ve used coconut oil , argan oil, Loreal’s Mythical Oil. With my constant hair colour changes from blonde to dark and all things in between, I have to really take care of my hair. After testing out Weleda’s Nourishing Hair Oil, I reckon it provides the perfect balance of hydration, repair and shine. There have been times when I’ve used various hair oils and either that it’s too light or too oily. This is just right.

Michelle

 

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Weleda Nourishing Hair Oil

Weleda Nourishing Hair Oil

Beauty | Popping

I have been a wee bit quiet lately, I have been busy behind the scenes shooting weddings, getting amongst some awesome hair competitions which we are in the finals of (photos will be posted a little later).

Anyway, that’s all done and dusted for now.

I was given this popping bright lipstick recently. I love this gorgeous fushia pink. It has officially been my go to colour for a since I have had lighter hair. I am absolutely loving the pinks this summer, I have been wearing scarlet for a while over winter but I think it’s time to flick over to something a bit more daring and fun.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Karen Murrell lipsticks I have a full review of them here. In a nut shell, her lipsticks are all natural, great for the lips, nourishing and highly pigmented. I am hooked on to her lipsticks now and have hardly touched any others since.

Here’s a little look I did last week after going into see Brad at French Revolver Studio to get my new chocolate caramel colour which I adore.

Michelle

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Karen Murrell Fushia Shock

Featuring: Karen Murrell Fushia Shock Lipstick

Seasonal Hair

Have just had a change in hairstyle again. I swear every time I come out of the salon I have a new cut. Seems like it’s a vicious cycle this relationship I have with short hair. I can never   grow my hair pass shoulder length probably because I lack persistence and determination to grow my hair past that annoying stage. For the time being (again), I am loving short hair.

This is probably the shortest cut I’ve had, it is a short pixie cut and to me it seems very Agyness Deyn inspired. I was absolutely in love with Agyness Deyn’s hair when she had it short a few years back. Though seemingly androgynous at first sight, it definitely grows on you and the styling opportunities are endless. And on the plus side, my hair grows at top speed so having it this short means it I can actually have a 6 week interval between hair cuts.

A common question amongst my friends is do I miss having long hair, and the answer is yes of course and I have tried clip in hair extensions, wigs and growing my hair out. After having shorter hair for nearly 6 years I am glad I plucked up the courage to get a huge chop 6 years ago. I trusted in my hairdresser at the time and we did it. Looking back now, long hair was easy and it was ordinary because I felt like I had the same long straight hair as every other Asian girl.

For those of you wanting a change from long hair,  get a mid length bob for a start, they’re easy to grow out if it doesn’t work out. Getting a change in bangs is another way of changing up a hairstyle, especially with the change in season at the moment go for a blunt fringe.  A major tip is to find a hairdresser that knows how to cut your hair and stick with them.  Trust their opinion on the cut and colour – they know what they are doing.

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Michelle

New pixe cut - thanks to Brad @ French Revolver Studio

New pixe cut – thanks to Brad @ French Revolver Studio

Editorial | French Revolver Studio & Review | Gilt Purchases

This is the final photo for the shoot I did for the French Revolver Studio a while back. It’s being used for the Industry – NZ’s Premiere Hair Event. I am really happy with how it turned out and the styling, make up and of course the hair.

On another note, one of my online shopping parcels arrived today and within a week from the states! Love love. I bought a Rebecca Minkoff wallet off Gilt. Gilt is now my new go to place for all sorts. They do a range of women’s/men’s wear as well as homeware such as candles, lights and even furniture.

Their sales are updated daily, there are often luxury brand sales which you must keep an eye out for because the deals are just awesome! There are great sales for work clothes , shoes, gowns for events. And to top that off they include all DUTY and GST (which I interpret as meaning we don’t need to pay any customs tax when it gets here even if it’s over the incy wincy threshold of $150 in NZ for US goods). Their prices are definitely a lot lower than what you would expect in retail here, for example you can get Marc Jacobs sunglasses for about 100-150 NZD and they retail for about 400-500 here. Surely the difference in price can’t be justified by shipping?

It is a members only website – so if you are keen for a membership here’s a personal invite from me to you.

Shipping usually depends on how heavy your goods are I think. I believe it’s very reasonable considering how much you would save on the item. For 1 item it’s usually about $25 NZD, but if you are lucky you can catch their free shipping deals. Goods are shipped within a week which is great (even during this busy season)!

I am waiting for another parcel to come this week, fingers crossed I get it before Christmas.

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French Revolver Salon
Rebecca Minkoff Rebecca Minkoff Rebecca Minkoff

Editorial | Come out to play

I’ve been doing a few shoots this week as I have had half the week off. Have been trying to get more practice to step up my game a bit. I have been so lazy the past year in doing shoots, it often takes a lot of planning and time to gather everyone who wants to be involved. But what I’ve realised is that spontaneous shoots also work out well too.

More shoots to come this week! Shooting one and being in another, how exciting! Busy week here we come!

Michelle

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Photography: Michelle Chan
Makeup/Hair: Hairball Alley
Styling: Rilee Nepia-Owens
Model: Samantha Amelia

Wrap Up of the Week

The highlights of my week was definitely the NZ fashion weekend where I got to walk in the KMS seminar. It was pretty much my first official time doing a runway job so it was pretty exciting.

I have also got a new hair cut which has started to grow on me. This bowl cut or rounded bob is probably the most edgy bob or hair cut for that matter I have had. I had no idea what I was going to be in for all that I knew was that it would be a page boy cut and would be easy to grow out afterwards.

Had an 8am start with colouring it was pretty quick as my hair just had to be filled and a few foils were put in. Leading hairdresser Clive Alright did the cut and styled the hair. The cut itself took about 2 hours as it is rather technical with the lines, shape and all.

The show was fabulous, a great crowd, awesome entrance on to the runway on the scooter with Clive.

Scored myself a large bundle of products which I will review later on down the track, this will keep me super busy!

More pictures to come!

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Photos from http://nzfashionfiles.com.


KMS products to be reviewed

Review: Kerastase Fusio-Dose Treatment

The Kerastase Fusio-Dose is an innovative in salon treatment. Don’t judge the book by its cover, the fusio-dose is literally resembles a shot containing an intense concentrate of goodies for your hair.

The problem with previous treatments was that they used a one-size-fits-all model where there’s a treatment for coloured hair, dry hair, oily hair etc.. But what if you have a combination of hair conditions? I highly doubt many people would fork out for multiple hair treatments in the salon.

The beauty of the Fusio-Dose is that you can combine different hair treatments in ONE. The initial dose of goodness is in the concentrate – so this comes in the bottle. There is:

  • Concentre Substantif – purple – volume & density. To increase thickness of hair.
  • Concentre Vita-Ciment – green – reinforcement to replenish protein. For strength and repair.
  • Concentre Oleo-Fusion – orange – renourishment for dry hair. Creating a smooth and sleek finish.
  • Concentre Pixelist – pink – colour protection. To enhance colour brilliance.

Then there are 4 booster caps which when connected to the concentrate it releases an intense dose of goodness.

  • Ionium – orange – nutrition. The ionium molecules will penetrate the hair to create improve smoothness of each hair filament.
  • Ceramid – green -strength. To restore damage.
  • Polyphenols- pink – colour radiance. For long lasting colour protection. This booster has anti-oxidants to prevent fading of hair colour.
  • Omega 3 & 6 – purple – replenishment. To restore elasticity of the hair.

In my experience, my hair stylist used the Concentre Pixelist & Polyphenol booster in my hair just before the photoshoot to enhance the radiance and brilliance of the colour. I was absolutely amazed by the results of the treatment. As I had the top section of my hair coloured to a deep purple colour, anyone who has tried to colour their hair purple would know how easiy it washes out to a red. I was already reluctant to wash my hair everyday in between the week of the hair show and photoshoot as I knew the colour would be compromised. Once my hair stylist used the Fusio-Dose on my hair before the photoshoot, the colour reverted back to the deep purple that it was the day she dyed it.

I went through about 10 odd Fusio-Dose treatments in the 2 weeks I was doing the competition. My hair stylist definitely looked after my hair well before and after the competition which I am super grateful for.

The actual treatment:

Basically the hair dresser would combine the concentrate with the booster and spray this mixture thoroughly in the hair. Following this is a long head massage to allow the ingredients to seep into the hair (so divine). Then it is rinsed out. The whole process only takes about 10-20 minutes, so it’s not long at all.

Cost:

Now this part I can’t be 100% sure of. I know nothing is free of charge. Though I am not 100% definite of the price, I am sure they are fairly reasonable (perhaps around the 25-40 dollar mark per treatment). However, in saying that, if you pop on to the kerastase website (www.kerastase.co.nz) you can sign up for a free complimentary Fusio-Dose when you go into a kerastase salon. I think I first saw this in Mindfood magazine,  there may also be a voucher in Mindfood magazine as well (not too sure). This can be redeemed until late August.

In a nut shell, these mini treatments are amazing, I feel the difference in my hair. Although I use salon shampoo, conditioner and treatments, this is gets your hair to a different level. I would definitely pay for one when I’m in the salon for a cut or colour.

Michelle

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Top Beauty Buys : Hair Care

Just bought some brand new hair products from Beauty Bay and they just arrived in the post. Have decided to go for the Wella SP Colour Save range + the repair mask this time.

Since I have had done multiple trips into the hair salon these past 2 weeks, my hair has been super well conditioned as the hair stylist use numerous treatment shots in my hair – namely the Fusio-Dose. These are mini treatment shots in a bottle which the hair stylist uses after the shampooing stage. I have many praises for these treatments which I will reveal shortly.

I also purchased a leave in product which has thermo-protection and replenishes proteins that are removed from the hair from bleaching, everyday wear and tear – Kerastase Ciment Thermique.

I’ll detailing the shampoo, conditioner, mask, treatments etc.. very soon.

Michelle

Hair transformation | Part 3 | The Hair Show

The hair show for the Auckland regional hair competition was held last Sunday. It was an early start, had to be at the salon to prep at 9.30, drive over to the venue at 2 then show at 4. The day was filled with a lot of waiting, I suppose that is just the norm for any fashion or hair shoots or shows.

I have been doing hair modeling work for the past 3 years but this was my first live show. The competition was divided into many categories. I am so fortunate that I wasn’t entered into the directional cut or colour category. I was so shocked to see the number of girls with shaved heads with random patches of hair in the most random places (this one particular cut, which in my honest opinion resembled a sea anemone perched on top of a shaved head…) , girls with different sorts of colour hair – mint green, fluoro yellow, fluoro blue etc.. I suppose I don’t know how to appreciate these out there hairstyles as yet, but they sure are very technical styles. I feel sorry for the models that need to get their head shaven after the competition.

Although my hairdresser didn’t win for the category I was entered in, she won first place in the hair up category which is super cool.

There is a reason that I keep doing hair modeling work year after year. Let me let you know the perks of being a hair model. 

  • Free cut , colour to start with – yes you can argue that you could end up with a crazy as cut or colour but hair grows back eventually and hairdressers are not brick walls, they will listen to your opinion and if you’re not happy to get it cut or coloured in a certain way they will take that into consideration.
  • Free maintenance – as with a lot of photographic work, the judging part may take a few months so during that period of time, it’s likely that the salon will have to maintain your hair to make sure it looks healthy and to keep up the colour and shape. As for live work the process is much quicker so there is little to no maintenance time.
  • Free treatments, products – with all the chemicals and heat they put in your hair, they are bound to give you compensation for it and generally it’s in the form of in salon treatments, shampoo, conditioner etc..
  • Free cuts, colour and treatment after the competition – as with a lot of hair work, there is little pay (monetary pay) involved and obviously a lot of your time will have been invested in sitting in the salon or at shows. So usually salons will provide you with some sort of hair care after the competition. For example they may look after your hair until it goes back to how it was before the competition – ie: trims, colouring it back etc.. Last year the salon I did a hair comp for, they gave me free maintenance for the entire year (including cut, colour, treatment, product). We all know hair care is a very expensive. On average a cut would be 100 dollars, having short hair means going to the salon every month and a half – 2 months (max), plus colour is an extra 200 so you do the math.
  • You can add the photos and experience to your portfolio. 

The biggest reason why hair jobs are great is because how often would you be put into a position where you can change your hair completely? More often than not, we like to stick with what we think looks best or safe. It’s good to be safe but better to be daring. The best thing about it is that it can always be a temporary hair change. And always remember hair grows back!

This is all from my experience, it may not be true for others but the hair salons I’ve worked with in the past 3 years have been awesome. So if you asked me if I’d do another hair comp next year, the answer is definitely yes , in fact I already have one lined up 🙂

Here are some shots I took after the competition. Will be entering the photographic competition so will be doing a shoot for that this week.

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