Tips for going from Brunette to Blonde

My tips for going from Brunette to Blonde

I have recently gone from Brunette to Blonde,a long and lengthy process I can tell you! So going from my own experience I thought I would share some tips on the whole process.

Before you go blonde I suggest you think long and hard about it and about the condition of your hair.
If you are 110% sure you want to go blonde then awesome,if you are not sure take a week or a month to really consider it because you are going to be putting your hair through alot. Its alot easier to go from light to dark but going from dark to light isnt so easy. Also you dont want to spend alot of time and money and damage your hair to think a month later "I want to be brunette again" and all that time and money has been wasted.

Now, think of the current condition of your hair. If your hair is in really bad condition I reccommend waiting because going blonde is hard enough on your hair as it is,bleaching damaged hair is asking for trouble in my opinion. I suggest working on getting your hair in a good condition first,maybe speak to a hairdresser for advice on doing so.

A few other things you need to consider is,if your hair does start to snap,are you willing to go shorter length wise if need be. I had to as my hair was fried after the first 2 bleaches,of course this is all dependant on how your hair reacts. Each person is different

 My hair was not too bad but was not in tip top condition. I had 4 full heads of foils over a 2 month period I think,possibly a bit longer and lost alot of hair due to it snapping off,this is quite common.

You should also be wary that if your hair is previously coloured or you colour your hair alot it may take alot longer to go blonde than if your hair is 100% its pure and natural colour. If you have regrowth coming through you also risk different shades of blonde.

OK,so you have decided going blonde is something you want, you are happy with the condition of your hair you need to consider how your going to go about doing it.
You have a few options
1) Use at home bleaching products and do it yourself(or get a friend to help you)
2) Go to a hairdresser for a full head bleach
3)Go to a hairdresser and get foils

My personal view is if you have previously coloured hair,go to a hairdresser. I have tried going blonde in the past,from black to blonde and my black was growing out. I thought 4 bleaches over 3 days was a good idea, this was the result(1 month after bleaching)

Not only did I end up with that,I ended up with open,weeping sores on my scalp that took a MONTH to heal! No hairdresser would touch my hair because of my scalp,even if my scalp wasn't so bad they probably would have told me to wait.

If your hair is light brown you may be able to get away with doing it at home but any darker you do risk yellow/orange tones.

The benefits of going to a hairdresser is they know hair! Its what they do best,they can also to an extent control the strength of the bleach which with at home bleach you have no clue of the strength. At home bleaching is cheaper but going to a hairdresser will help ensure you get the best result.
If you have a friend who is a hairdresser talk to them and see if they can help you out. Also some Polytechs have "client" days where students,under the supervision of their tutor,will do haircuts,colours etc for a reduced rate. If this is something you would consider do a ring around.

If you are quite dark I do reccommend going for a full head of foils each time,your blonde will be multi tonal but it also lessens the damage to your hair and protects the scalp. Please do remember if you are quite dark this will be a long and drawn out process.

Ok so you have decided to go ahead,you know how your going about it but before you do ANYTHING I am going to suggest something I would have done(hindsight and all)
Buy a multi use, deep conditioning hair mask(masque) for damaged hair and a purple blonde toner. This way once you have been bleached you have these products on hand. The deep conditioning mask is essential because you need to help re hydrate and start restoring your hair because it will be quite dry and damaged even after one bleach. A purple toner is used to help reduce yellow and gold tones in your hair after it has been bleached and can be used to help stop your hair from going brassy even once you have achieved the blonde you desire.

Now remember once you go blonde some hair WILL fall out/break off,this is NORMAL but you do need to be prepared for it to happen

I hope these tips have helped if you have been thinking of going blonde.

This is my hair now after a few gruelling months of going blonde

Till next time stay Simply Stunningly Gorgeous xx

Product line review: Australis Paparazzi Pefect HD line!

Australis Paparazzi Perfect HD - Fear the flash no more!

Put a stop to bad photos and look flawless in any light with the Australis Paparazzi Perfect HD line.

As a long time user of Australis makeup (10 or so years)  I love when they come out with new products, so this time was no exception. 

 Being a close follower of their facebook fan page I was well aware something was in the works before Paparazzi Perfect was released.  When it was released I was so excited and was expecting a new big display at my local Radius Pharmacy and was promptly disgusted when these products were just simply shoved in willy nilly with the rest of their products. Not to bother I still had to try them!

First off I have to mention the packaging,I am in love love LOVE! The compacts for the eyeshadows and blush are sleek and shiny black but still have a funky look with their trademark hot pink,shiny labelling. Even my husband who(I’ll admit was a little tipsy at the time!) picked up my eyeshadow palette and another one of my palettes(I think it was an E.l.f one which is just matte black with no stand out labelling) and said    “Now if I was a woman,I would look at this (holidng up Australis)over this(holding up e.l.f compact). It looks nice and stands out”. The compacts of the blush and eyeshadow also have large and very useable mirrors which is always a bonus!

 The foundation bottle while simple looks very elegant and again I will say sleek. The tinted moisturiser just comes in a squeeze tube but looks nice all the same. Anyway enough of my ramblings, I am proud as punch to present my review of  these fantastic new products!

Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Foundation

 

What is it The intelligent mix of High Definition balancing pigments with their amazing light reflecting properties creates flawless even skin perfection under any light. Combined with White Sapphire soft focus pigments, skin tone appears smooth, and imperfections are corrected. Vitamin E and calendula oil assist to moisturise and soothe the skin.

Why we love it Fear the camera flash no more! A flawless, smooth complexion is achieved in any light. It provides a medium to heavy coverage with a subtly dewy finish. 
(Above is from the Australis Wesbite) 

To be honest, I was not expecting to like this foundation. The claims seemed too good to be true. Also its only medium coverage, now for me I usually love my full coverage foundations so light to medium usually isn’t my bag

I have to say I’m ashamed of myself because this foundation is AMAZING! Since I started using it I haven’t touched my other foundations, not my Revlon, not my Maybelline not even my Australis Stay Put foundation which is my usual go to foundation!

This covered all my flaws and it truly does blur my imperfections. I even managed to go without concealer and just used a little extra foundation around the areas I need that little bit extra.

I found this foundation easily blend able (and love using my Australis Foundation brush to apply it), its ultra light on the skin and I don’t look like I’m wearing foundation when I put it on! It’s like my skin, only better, it survives a good 8-10 hours and while I don’t get snapped by the paps on a regular basis , I have noticed a more flawless look in photos! I have to say I have found my perfect foundation!

There are 5 shades Nude, Natural Beige, Natural Fawn, Natural Tan and Golden Tan. I have Natural Beige and find it has quite pink undertone but as I have not swatched any other colours I’m unsure if this is a trend throughout the foundation line. It retails for $24.00 and for the quality of the foundation you are really getting a great deal!

Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Tinted moisturiser

What is it Light reflecting properties, combined with White Sapphire and Pearl Powder creates a sheer complexion that corrects imperfections. Formulation contains Vitamin E and calendula oil to moisturise and soothe the skin, while White Sapphire soft focus pigments blur out imperfections and provide a subtle glow. A lightweight formula, allowing the skin to breath comfortably. 

Why we love it An ultra moisturising formula that evens out complexion while at the same time provides a lightweight tinted coverage. Fear the camera flash no more! A flawless, smooth complexion is achieved in any light. 
(Above is from the Australis Wesbite) 

I am not a fan of tinted moisturisers, I’ve always found them gimmicky and they only seem to work for people with good skin. I do not like going out without some form of coverage whether it be a full face of foundation or mineral powder.

It came in a cute squeeze tube, I don’t know why but I have a thing about squeeze tubes!

I found this gave me a little bit of coverage but I looked like I wearing nothing at all but my skin looked good!  My pores were a little more hidden, I had a hint of colour and the redness and broken capillaries in my skin were less noticeable. I have started using this on the days that I cannot be bothered applying makeup but do feel I need some colour added to my skin and my imperfections reduced without a full face of foundation. It comes in two shades Light-Medium and Medium-Dark and retails for $18.90

Paparazzi Perfect HD Eyeshadow

What is it Silky pearlescent 5 pan eyeshadows that create endless combinations and effects. Eyeshadows are formulated with light reflecting photocromatic pigments and enriched with Jojoba and Grape seed oil for smooth and hydrated lids for that just applied glow.

Why we love it A smooth silky formula that glides easily onto the eyelids with intense colour payoff. Shades are highly pigmented with a soft pearlescent finish.
(Above is from the Australis Wesbite) 

When it comes to eye shadow I am very fussy because my eyes naturally stand out, so if a product looks awful on my eyes, people notice!

I have the palette “Totally Busted”

These eye shadows rock! They are 5 pan palettes with some intensely pigmented shades. Also the styling of the palette unique.

There are 4 different palettes and I think no matter what your eye colour there is a palette that will help bring out your eye colour.

The shades from left to right are

-A-Lister Sister

Pearlescent shades of bright orange, light gold, deep plum, brown and charcoal

-Frock & Roll

Pearlescent shades of coral pink, medium grey, cool grey, charcoal, deep red

-Snap Attack

Pearlescent shades of charcoal, light cream, light orange, light beige and light brown

-Totally Busted

Pearlescent shades of dark grey, light grey, pink, deep purple and light peach

They claim to be pearlescent; I think they are quite shimmery without being OTT. You don’t need to use a hell of a lot of product and they are easily blendable.  The only downside is if you try to apply too much you get quite a bit of fall out which is hard to remove if you have already applied concealer and foundation. They have very little creasing(I love using these in conjunction with Australis Eyeshadow Primer),and they last ALL DAY. I give 2 thumbs up for long wearing, pretty eyes!

These awesome palettes retail for only $19.90

Paparazzi Perfect HD Blush

What is it Perfectly blended multi-coloured blush that allows for customised shades to suit any complexion. Formulated with light reflecting and balancing photochromatic pigments that assist to create instant camera ready photos. Pigment is high in Mica content providing intense colour payoff. The blush is enriched with Jojoba and Grape seed oil to lock in skin moisture and soothe the skin.

Why we love it A smooth feel with intense colour payoff that provides an instant glow that highlights and contours cheeks. The marbled effect allows shades to be customised to suit individual complexion. 
(Above is from the Australis Wesbite)

I love blush so to see a complimentary blush in this range was awesome. I have the shade Flash It

These blushes are funky to look at, they claim to look marbled, to me they look like someone took the product in a liquid form, splashed a couple of colours together and it dried into a blush, which I love!

I was a little disappointed with how intensely shimmery my blush was, while I expect blushes to be a bit shimmery, this was insanely so. While it isn’t a bad thing, I do prefer more matte blushes. In saying so I do like this blush.

Like the eyeshadows, this blush is highly pigmented ,long wearing and a little goes along way. It gives my cheeks a nice colour and healthy glow. I also use a smaller brush and swirl it in the beige and use it as a highlight on my cheekbones as it’s the perfect colour.

There are 4 blush options(left to right)

- Poser

Blend of cream, medium brown and dark brown

-Shoot to thrill

Blend of bright pink, light pink and coral pink

-Screen Siren

Blend of light brown, peach and a light plum

-Flash it

Blend of beige, pink and brown

As you can see the colours are gorgeous! This retails for only $18.90

Overall Opinion

Australis have outdone themselves with this line! They have created a fabulous line with claims their products live up to! All the products in the Paparazzi Perfect HD line are high quality while still very affordable. I give this line a Simply Stunningly Gorgeous rating of 9 and a half out of 10!

Here is my full Australis Face using some Paparazzi perfect products!

Products used:Australis Primer,Paparazzi Perfect HD foundation(as foundation and concealer), Australis eyeshadow primer, Paparazzi Perfect eyeshadow palette in totally busted,Paparazzi Perfect Blush in Flash it, Australis intensifeye liquid eyeliner in black shimmer, Australis Lash TLC in black curling and Australis colour inject mineral lipstick in flamenco finished with Australis finishing spritz

The following are some products I think are very complimentary to the Paparazzi Perfect HD line

Make-Up finishing spritz

I love,love,love this spritz! I apply this after my make up. It helps your look last longer and if you use mid way through the day it revives your make up,keeping it looking fresh and less tired

RRP $21.00

Lash TLC

My all time favourite mascara. Comes in two forms, Blackest Black and Black Curling. Please read my previous review for more info http://simplystunninglygorgeous.blogspot.com/2011/04/product-review-australis-lash-tlc.html

RRP $18.00

Eyeshadow Primer

This colourless eyeshadow primer provides the perfect base for eyeshadows and helps prevent creasing. I use this all the time and is my new favourite eyeshadow primer

RRP $16.50

Please note: All opinions expressed on this blog are mine and mine alone. I am not paid by any company to review products.

Product Review: Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Eye concealer

Covergirl and Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer

I have changed my review style so it is a bit more user friendly.

I have split this review up so if you want to read certain parts just scroll down and read(The sections are in bold) , you can read the full review or to get the general gist jump to the bottom and just read “In a Nutshell” which is my opinion without all the other stuff!

Covergirl and Olay teamed up together and came up with a Simply Ageless Range. There are five products in this range. The  Simply Ageless foundation, the Simply Ageless sculpting blush, the Simply Ageless Serum primer, the Simply Ageless Corrector and the Simply Ageless Eye concealer.

4 of the products (I’m not sure about the primer)  contain Olay Regenerist Serum(you can see a white, moisturiser -like swirl throughout the products, bar the primer)

 I have not previously used any of these products, but now I have tried their concealer

I got the Covergirl and Olay Ageless eye concealer for 2 reasons

1)I desperately want a concealer that doesn’t crease under my eyes and figured an eye concealer is specifically for the eye area so would probably be better than others

2)I have used Olay on and off for years and find them to be trusted company

Claims:Ok, so the card it comes on says,

“The makeup that simply won’t age you. Introducing Simply Ageless.

This creamy formula covers imperfections, conceals under-eye circles and visibly brightens skin. Like all Simply Ageless makeup, it’s made with advanced Olay Regenerist Serum, and it stays suspended over fine lines and wrinkles,for younger, firmer -looking skin”

So far it claims to contain what I need and sounds promising! Coverage for under eye circles, brightens skin and doesn’t settle into fine lines.

Now, this concealer has some good points and some bad, I will go over those in a moment but first I’ll talk about packaging and presentation and the shade range

Packaging and Presentation: It comes in a small, hard plastic, clear on the top, purple on the bottom, 9 gram (.3oz)pot (circular with screw top lid). It is quite odd because the screw top part where it opens is on the bottom which for presentations sake I don’t like but it doesn’t affect the product or the use of as you just simply turn it around. Like most Simply Ageless products you can see the serum(I assume that’s what it is) swirled throughout

Shade Range: This comes in 4 shades: Very light, Light, Light Medium and Medium/Dark(please see the not so good points if you want my opinion on the shades)

Now time to share what I liked
 

The good stuff

-It blends flawlessly into the skin

-Brightens the under eye area

-For the first 2-4 hours fine lines are almost non-visible

-It contains Olay Regenerist Serum so is helping fight lines as well as conceal

What I didn't like

The not so good

-If you use a powder on top to set the concealer, it will instantly exaggerate fine lines and appear cakey on top of foundation(I tried this with Australis Pressed Powder, Revlon Colorstay Powder, Natio Loose Powder and Doll FACE mineral powder foundation)

- I am quite pale and have the shade Light Medium and I still found it was a tad too light so have a feeling the shades tend to be paler than average or it is possible the white swirl lightens the concealer

And what I really didn't like

The bad stuff

-2-4 hours after applying it settles into fine lines, although it can be reversed by lightly wiping the area and applying more but who wants to apply concealer every couple of hours!

-4 hours after applying my imperfections were no longer concealed and possibly exaggerated

-8 hours after applying my lines were very noticeable and you could tell the product had settled in, started to fade but not in the fine lines

The cost in New Zealand dollars: $22 approx(this may vary)

In a nutshell

For a couple of hours this is a good concealer. I hate that I cannot set it with powder because it does instantly exaggerate the fine lines. I love the coverage in the first couple of hours and love how it doesn’t show my fine lines,it also brightens my under eye area. Although with all my praise it is dashed by the fact that after a couple of hours it settles into my fine lines unless I lightly wipe the area and re-apply. The benefits don’t last long and the negatives far outweigh the initial positive reaction.

It was $22,will I continue using it? Yes but only if I am only needing to be flawless for a few hours or I have the time and can be bothered with re application. Would I repurchase? Simply put, no.

So that is my review on The Simply Ageless Eye concealer, please do remember that this is my experience and my opinion, it may work for others but this does NOT work well for me!

Till next time stay Simply Stunningly Gorgeous!

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