super growth

This is Laura's weird hair recipe of the week. But as weird and gross as it, it actually works, so just bare with me. All you need is some coconut oil and egg (or two depending on the length of your hair). Yup, eggs. Believe it or not they are great for helping you hair grow really long, they are just a little icky.
All you do is bind the bind and coconut oil together, and apply it to your hair. Then wrap your hair up into a plastic bag or shower cap and leave for 30 minutes, even longer would be great but just as long as you can. Then wash it out, and admire.
The coconut oil is a great moisturizer and helps give your hair that shine and smoothness. The eggs have massive of protein in them. Its protein that helps your hair to grow. Eating lots of things like chicken, beef and eggs helps you hair grow, but when you apply it directly to your scalp it goes straight to the hair follicles which are the things that make your hair grown. I've been using it for a few weeks now, and apply it at least once a week. I am amazed at the results its grown about 2cm in the last 3 weeks, which for me, in the winter is amazing!


Trust me, it may seem weird but it really works!

bb cream

After hearing everyone's raves about the Garnier BB Creams, I felt it was time to invest in one. 

It took me a while to get used to it. It felt really heavy on my skin and a bit greasy. I've got a bit of a thing about foundations and bases feeling almost non-existent on my skin. But I carried on trying it, and realized it really take a tiny amount for it do the job I want it to. 

I put it on the back of my hand (literally a pea size pile goes a long way!) and using my finger I put it all over my face like a moisturizers and rub it in. It really does give such a good coverage and makes it so even. I even wear it by itself occasionally, or with just a little mascara. Its honestly amazing how much a small amount can go. It does tend to go a little greasy and shiny on my face, so I put a little bit of powder over it, but only on places like cheeks and nose. I found it helped to give a pretty even skin tone, and lasted all day. 

Although it took me a while to get used to it, it is so good and I would definitely recommend you invest in one, but be prepared - it takes a little a while to get used to. 

foundation

Every year, after Christmas, I always like to treat myself to something Chanel. I usually go for their georgous nail enamels. But this year, I went for something a bit more expensive than a nail enamel. I went all out and bought myself some powder foundation. The lady in there was so helpful and gave me a full blown tutorial on how to apply it and which colour suited me, and afterwards, I couldn't exactly say I'll just stick to browsing. You dont browse Chanel, and especially when you have it sitting on your face, and you cant even feel it, and it blends it so beautifully and looks so natural. So I bought it, and I wont tell you the price (a little under £40) but it honestly feels so good. Its so wearable and the packging is beautiful. You can literally feel the class and time and effort that has gone into creating it. A firm favourite for when I have the money to spend. But I do love it!

christmas candy nails

 A mini guide to a really simple and really effective look - 

 I am obsessed with this nail art at the moment. It is so simple and so easy to do. I can even do it on my left hand. I think it is really christmassy and you can you candy cane colours too, and it just looks so great I think. 

P.S. This a little apology because I probably won't be blogging much over christmas. I got a job at a high end high street brand and I am loving it! But it does mean I working lots over Christmas, and it getting rather hectic being a full time student, now with 3 jobs and a social life, plus it my birthday in 2 DAYS!!!! :D I am really sorry, but I hope you all have lovely christmases, and I will try my best to update it soon xxx 

morrocan

Buy it here

When my sister came over back in October, she was raving about Moroccan Oil, so my mother decided she would buy something very similar. When it came, she used it once and I used it 20 times over till she banned me and bought me my own. 

As you may know, since the summer I have tried everything on my hair from no poo, to just water and baby shampoo and I couldn't find the right product that cleaned my hair as well as leaving it soft shiny and fly away free. But this one just does it all and everything I could every want from a shampoo.

The shampoo itself is really all I need. It's sulfate free, so it means it doesn't have any of those damaging chemicals which if you know me, I hate. But they clean my hair, and leave it feeling so silky soft. Its the best shampoo I have every bought! Despite the fact you have to order it online and it takes weeks to come, there is not a bad word I can say about the shampoo.

And if it wasn't amazing enough already, there's an intensive conditioner too. This works wonders on my hair, and I can't believe how well it works! The only trouble with the conditioner is it does leave my hair feeling a little heavy if I don't wash it out properly, but besides that, its good! I don't use the conditioner much, about once a month or so, just give my hair a bit more life.

Finally, theres a leave in conditioner, which I use a lot more. This smells so rich and lovely. Its really hard to explain, but it smells like a fruit syrup with a bit of caramel I think.. Anyway this gives a great boost to hair during the day adding volume and containing the odd fly aways. 

twinkle

As the Christmas season approaches, its a time I like to spend going back to myself and chilling (a little) but mostly being a nearly 17-year-old who simply cant wait for it to be christmas again - YAY! While the last year seems to have gone incredibly quickly it feels like ages since the last Christmas, and I had even forgotten what our christmas tree looks like. But now its up and the house is feeling a little more cosy, I feel very happy! 

Its just the house that is feeling a little more festive, its me too, and I like to show this through little things, like my christmas socks, or my festive nail polish. So it's time I shared with you one that will definitely be on my favourites list this month.

I am loving the Maybelline Super Stay 7 Days nail polish. I picked it up from Boots for about £4.99 which I thought was really cheap, in the shade 820 - Winner takes it all. Its a really lovely gold colour and it is so easy to apply, in one simple stoke, with only 2 layers too. It gives a really nice smooth finish and it is so effortless, and drys really quickly too. The gold colour is obviously a more Christmas colour but it such a lovely shade, and it will look great on fingers or toes! 

autumn glam

I've got to admit, I may be a bit too proud of my editing skills when creating this lovely montage of This Autumns Glam. This November, its all about dressing the big knits and fur coats up and being glamorous! Here I have compiled a few ways to do so.

Big chunky earrings maybe a drag on the ear lobes, but they certainly add plenty of glitz and style and can instantly spruce up any plain outfit. As can the big statement necklaces. These big necklaces just complete any outfit and go best with a plain top of any kind, making them look smarter and more polished. 

Next its on to the make-up and we are visiting the classic red lips. Instantly adding colour and confidence, this a look our grandmas certainly knew how to pull off in the 1940's! And the classic cat-eye eyeliner made bolder with a long tailed flick is a great way to show your eyes.

Finally, a great finishing touch to your Autumn glam, has to be a plait. They not only keep your hair looking pretty and neat, but they are also a super way to keep all your hair off your face with these windy days. But rather than doing a simple on, add something to it, by trying a new style of plait like a fish tale or waterfall for a beautiful head this autumn. 

clean

My dad bought me a massive bottle of shower gel that has been going since July...it's now October. Yay!
Unfortunately, you body needs a change in things like shower gels and deodorant, as your body's bacteria gets used to it and it stops working so effectively. This happened with my shower gel. My body eventually got used to it, and it stopped cleaning me, so dare I say, I become dirty. Yuck.
But not the type of dirt like mud that washes off easily, the type is ground into your pours and is very tricky to get out.
This was when I decided to call in the help of a Sugar and Coffee body scrub along with a change of shower gel. One wash later and all the dirt had gone, my skin looked glowing again, and I realized I wasn't as tan as I thought I was....ew.
It was so easy too make to, all I did was combine Coffee Granules, Brown Sugar and Baby Oil in a little pot and rub it in.
Honestly it made such a difference and my skin felt so clean for the first time in ages.]
A bit of further researching made me realize that body scrubs is a very part of our weekly routine. Especially in the colder months, our bodies are always covered up with clothes and whether we realize it or not, we still sweat and this gets trapped in our pours and causes little spots all over our bodies, especially our backs. A quick body scrub will help clear out these pours and leave us feeling very clean and it will also stop our bodies from persperating so much after a while too.

day off

Since starting College in September, it has been a pretty busy couple of few months for me. Firstly the extra work load, then my Nanny became very ill and sadly passed away a few weeks ago. My older sister and her boyfriend, then dropped their travelling, and flew home from Australia. There were then living with us for 2 weeks, which, if you know my sister, was guaranteed to be loud and busy; it was. On top of all that, I was also balancing two jobs and looking for a permanent job. So it has been busy to say the least. Which is why, I am so relieved it is now half term and I can enjoy a day all to myself with no plans and no intentions of putting make-up or clothes on. Bliss.
In order to make the most of my day however, I still like to do a few things so it doesn't feel a total waste of a 24 hours.

Chilling in my leggings, tie-dye tee and woolly cardi.

1. Comfort. How are you supposed to have a relaxed and chilled day if you are still in your super tight jeans and fancy top? Slap on your leggings or running bottoms, oversized tee and a comfy cardigan or hoodie. 
2. Hair Wash. Basically, I don't do it. I just leave my hair alone, no chemicals or dry shampoo, just a brush and a plait. People have conflicting views on whether this is good or bad. I come from the view that less is more and that your hair really needs a day off where you don't wash it, or touch it.
3. No Make-up. My excuse for this one is that my skin needs to breathe. This one is true and non-debatable. If we clog our pours up with make-up everyday, it can't breath and this means it can't circulate air into the pours which would other wise help clear our skin of things like spots and blackheads. 
4. Health Foods. It is shown the foods we eat actually do have an impact on our health. So on my lazy days, I like to eat foods full of fibre and vitamins. Breakfasts like Wetabix and All Bran with strawberries are the best for fibre. Green Tea, Cranberry Juice, and Fresh Lemon Water ( heres how to make it - http://thisislobarker.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/lemon-water.html) are all in big supplies, as they are great foods and drinks for helping retox and refresh your body. Having said this, I love unhealthy foods too like pizza and nuggets, so I like to follow the 80/20 ruler. 80% Healthy : 20% Indulgence
5. Chill. Do things you love doing. Its important that you don't forget who you are and what you love. Whether it be blogging, watching movies or (for the OCD's) cleaning, do it. These days are all about you, and being selfish. 

I love having these days because they feel like a rewarding detox after so much. They also need to be used in moderation. Once a month or so, it the best way to make the most of these days, without over-doing it.

you are what you eat

When I hit college, I indulged. Big time. Lunch time was heaven with pizza and curly fries and vending machines full of sugary sweetness. After a summer of healthy eating and never having any of this at my school before, I loved it. But in a matter of days, my skin became dull with more breakouts of pimples than I have had in a long time! 

I took a step back and examined what I was doing to make my skin like this. My diet was the only change. This had to be the problem.

I did of bit of reading and discovered this.

1. You are what you drink. 

The frizzy drinks aren't doing my teeth or much skin. Drinking these caffeinated drinks dehydrate us which makes our skin a lot more dull and when we are dehydrated our skin cannot return to its natural place and losses it elasticity. This happens naturally as we age, so in other words, we look older. 

The ideal drinks to drink are ones with lots of antioxidants in like green tea which is really beneficial in hydrating and providing our bodies with lots of Vitamin E which has anti-aging properties and is really good and helping to heal skin. 

However drinking too much of certain beverages can have a negative effect. For example, milk is a great source of calcium and vitamin D, but in excess it can cause unwanted pimples. It also contains growth factors and hormones (regardless of organic status) that increases oil production and therefore means blocked pores. Drinks high in sugary content can also cause the skin to block pores and increase oil production which also means increasing acne breakouts. 

2. You are what you eat. 

Easier said than done, but a balanced diet is so important. You need the right mix of carbs, protein, fat, dairy and plenty of fruit and veg to help maintain a healthy inside and outside. Food with Vitamins A, B, C and E are all contained in fruit and veg which help keep the skin elastic and protect it from damage. 

Foods rich in antioxidants like blueberries, strawberries, plums, and pecans are really good at helping to fight off damage to the skin and stop the skin from aging prematurely. 

So basically, all those sugary sweets and drinks may be really tasty, but really have a big impact on your skin and the health of you in generally. Everyday, I try to think 80% good for me , 20% indulgence. This is the right combination to keep you healthy and looking good as well as enjoy the foods you eat. 

autumn skin care

Firstly I need to apologize for not posting much recently, and what I have posted has been very..basic. I had two amazing weeks at Soul Survivor, then I came home and began decorating my room, and now I am trusted back into a new College routine. So things are looking very new and fresh for me at the moment, which is very exciting!

Anyway, a room tour of my newly decorated room will be coming up when I have finished, but until then, it's back to life, and suddenly it's September, and this means Autumn is upon us (nearly). The change in temperature can take its toll on our skin, so it is important we do a few things, just to protect it from the cold weather coming.

1. Scrub it. The days at the park and beach may be enjoyable, but not for our skin. The build up of sun screen can also clog up our pours, leaving our skin look a little dry. So twice a week, exfoliate your skin to help get rid of this build up leaving us with a brighter looking complexion.
2. Cleanse it. During the summer, our skin maybe looking a bit oilier than usual, and during the winter, it becomes a lot dryer, so we will need need a kinder cleanser that doesn't strip our skins of our natural oils, but instead, just gets rid of the dirt.
3. Moisturize it.  With the dryers of the colder seasons, we need to hydrate as much we can, so it is important, we change our moisturizer and pick one that is more suited for heavy duty hydration.
4. Mask it. A great way to have a little facial is to slap on a mask that will add moisture and hydration back into the skin. Great options include clay, aloe vera, essentials oils and vitamins. If you want an extra boost, look out for products with Vitamins A, C, and E in with are not only great for your skins, but have anti oxidants in which will minimize aging and help neutralize the suns damage.

At Home Manicure

After I got my GCSE results and a mega two week camping trip at a festival I fancied treating myself to a little cheeky manicure. But rather than getting it done professionally (which I felt was too much effort), I decided to do it myself and discovered its so easy and takes virtually no time at all with just a few steps!

1.  Firstly you have to remove any nail varnish you may have on there already so give them a quick polish with some nail varnish remover on a cotton pad. 
2. Soak them in a little bath of warm soapy water for a few minutes. This helps to soften the skin around the nails making Step Three easier.
3. With a pair of nail clippers, cut of any corners of lose skin around the nail, this just makes them look neater. Then using a little wooden stick, gently push the cuticles back. The cuticles are the bit of skin at the base of the nail. Don't forget to file them either. For best results, always file from the sides into the center and gently round them off for a clean neat shape.
4. Soak them again in some warm soapy water.
5. Dry them off and rub some nail cream on and around the nail. 
6. Paint them if you want. I love a good classic french manicure. If you can't paint them yourself get a friend to do them for you.
7. LEAVE THEM ALONE. It is important you leave the nail varnish to dry for at least half hour. They may be dry on top but are still not dry underneath. You need to leave them alone to stop them from smudging. As a extra moisture boost, rub a tiny amount of baby oil into your hands. I mean a tiny amount too. Baby Oil is really good for smoothing skin and locking moisture in. 

Guest Blogger: Harmful Beauty

Today we have a very special guest blogger on an important organic topic. Ladies and Gentleman - all the way from the sunny down under of Australia, my older sister, Anna Barker. On her travels throughout Australia she has been discovering and learning and wants to share with you how important is to look after your skin starting with the small things....

Did you know that your skin, just like your heart, your lungs and your kidneys is an organ? It is your bodies biggest organ and it protects us from all kinds of things. But it also absorbs everything that you put on it. You know when you do the washing up without gloves on, your skin absorbs the ingredients that are in the washing up liquid. When you cleaned the floor barefoot with some chemical, your skin absorbed the chemical through the bottom of your feet. These are just a couple of examples of things that we don't mean to be putting on our body. What about the things that we are putting on our bodies on purpose. The shampoo to help with your dandruff, the concealer to cover your spots and the moisturizer for your dry skin? Did you know that some of these products contain chemicals that are used in paints and explosives and these are finding their way into our beauty products. Some of these things can even cause cancer. Even the beauty products that are labeled as being organic or natural only need to contain one ingredient that is organic or natural and they can be labeled as such. I've learnt a lot about the things that I

put in my body and the products that I put on my body in the last few months which has lead me to take much more care in the products that I buy and use on my body. In some cases I've even started making my own beauty products from natural ingredients in order to avoid all the chemicals that go into everyday products like shampoo and conditioner. There are so many ingredients to avoid that it is difficult to pick out a product in a shop if you don't know what you are trying to avoid. Below is a list of ingredients that I try to avoid when buying any kind of product that is going to come into contact with my skin, including make-up. 

Ingredients to avoid:

Fragrance - Here I just mean the fake kind of fragrance, the ones that come from chemicals rather than something natural like tea tree oil or peppermint, if it just says fragrance the likely-hood is its a synthetically produced fragrance from a lab and when it says this, the company doesn't have to legally tell you what has gone into the fragrance 

Dibutyl Phthalate, Dimethyl Phthalate, and Diethyl Phthalate - also known as (DBP, DMP and DEP) - these are found in nail varnish, hair spray and some products that we put on our skin, and cause hormone disruptions.  

Diethanolamine - These cause foaming effects. Arguably these are safe in small doses but when they are in a lot of products that we use daily then the amount we use them can stack up quickly! So avoid anything that says Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, DEA-Cetyl Phosphate, DEA-Oleth-3 Phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Myrjstamide DEA, Oleamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, TEA-Layryl Sulfate and Triethanolamine 

Coal-Tar Colours and Dyes - These are banned as they are a proven carinogenic but some do pass safety tests and are marked FD&C or D&C 

Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde Resin - This is the biggest one for me and it causes cancer. Its used because its a preservative but it is also used in paint and explosives as well as in hospitals to prevent bodies from decomposing. But is is used in nearly all nail varnishes and some of the ingredients in mascara break down to become formaldehyde which is why you should replace your mascara every 3 months. I had a love affair with a certain nail varnish for a few yearsuntil I found out that it was free from formaldehyde but not formaldehyde resin, and that ended that love affair.If you search for nail varnishes that are "5 free" on the internet you can find a list of all the companies whose nail varnish doesn't contain any of these harmful ingredients. My new favourite is Zoya.  

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate - also known as SLS and SLES, these are most commonly found in shampoos are are the things that causes it to foam. These can become carciogenic when combined with other ingredients and can also damage the immune system.Triethanolamnie - also known as TEA, again this has similar effects on the body as Sodium Lauryl Suflate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate! 

Propylene Glycol- This product has moisturizing capabilities but its also in anti-freeze and causes problems with some of your major organs. 

Aluminium - This is used in nearly all deodorants and antiperspirants as it plugs up sweat ducts. But it behaves like estrogen and can cause cancer. You can buy deodorants without aluminium in them just be careful which one you go for as some contain other ingredients from this list. 

Parabens - These often start with methyl-, ethyl, butyl- or propyl and are preservatives but they interfere with hormones.  

So I looked through all of my beauty products and found only a handful of products that didn't contain any of these ingredients, surprisingly two of them were my conditioner and dry shampoo. Apart from make-up, the products that contain these ingredients that concerned me the most were my shampoo and face wash. So I'm starting to use the "No Poo" technique that Lo talks about below as well as using coconut oil as a leave in conditioner or avocado as a hair or face mask. I decided that where possible, using natural products on your body is a much better way to go than using products that it is hard to tell where most of the ingredients are sourced from. The goodguide.com is a great place to go to find out just how harmful the ingredients that are in your products are, and they also tell you the top 3 and bottom 3 most harmful products, so if you need to buy a new mascara for example just go on there type in mascara and pick one from the least harmful list. My problem with this though is that so many products that are on the market these days contain harmful ingredients that it is difficult to know how far to go with this. Women have been putting products on their bodies for years and caking their faces in potentially harmful make-up since the early 1990s when it first entered the market.But it is hard to tell just how much harm these products are doing our bodies and we won't know the effects of these for years to come. My advice is try and avoid these ingredients at all costs and if you are going to buy beauty products, because lets face it, we are never going to stop wearing make-up or using products on our bodies, go for the ones with the smallest ingredients list and where you can, make your own.

Lauren Conrad's book Beauty has been extremely helpful to me while writing this article and an extremely eye opening read for anyone interested in beauty.

If you want to keep up with my sisters adventures in Australia follow her Tumblr: http://tobrightenupmyday.tumblr.com/


Hope you all found this useful and will be checking what you buy from now on. I find it really shocking that there are so many harmful ingredients in all our beauty products, and we apply it so generously without thinking. When my sister told me all this, I cleared all my beauty products, and I am now even making my own Make-up remover wipes. If I cant pronounce a word or know what it does for the product, I have stopped buying it.

Fancy Being a guest blogger? Give me a email this.is.laurab@gmail.com

Oatmeal Face Scrub

What started out as a fashion blog is rapidly turning into a beauty blog. But I just had to share this super simple recipe to glowing, acne free skin. 

All you need is 1 tbsp of Oatmeal (the stuff you make porridge with. If you get it as a flour use it, if not don't worry to much just try and ground it down a little bit, hands are the best way) and teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and pinch of salt mixed together and made into a paste using a bit of water. You want the paste to be thinner rather than thick so it is easier to apply to the skin. 

Apply to your skin and wait for it to harden. Then wash it off with a some warm water and admire the results. It left my skin totally glowing and I loved the results. It's really easy to store, I just used an old sweet jar, or jam jar. Apply once a week a week and love the results! 

It has a really tingly feel to it so if you have sensitive skin use less Bicarbonate of soda and salt.

Oatmeal is a really key ingredient to beautiful natural skin, it helps keep the skin youthful as well as reducing inflammation and healing it which makes it perfect for acne ridden skin. If you have eczema, oats is a key ingredient for healing sore and itchy skin.  

Not only that, but adding a small amount of sugar will make it a great exfoliator for getting rid of dry and dead skin all over your body. 

Banish Blackheads

Blackheads are possibly even more pesky than those swollen red spots. They are so hard to get rid off and are so small yet can't really destroy a perfect complexion.

Before you squeeze them (which is the worst thing you can do for them) there are a few more preventive measures you can take to stop them coming back.

Firstly - facials! If you cant afford a professional salon treatment the is a much easier way to do one yourself using nothing but ice. Wrap a couple of ice cubes in some tissue or a little bag and gently rub over your face just before bed. It is important you don't put the ice directly on your face as it can actually cause the blood vessels to burst.

Exfoliating the skin is the next important step. I always use my homemade recipes of sugar, olive oil and essentials oils. Exfoliating is the best way to rid the skin of the all the dirt trapped under the pours which is what causes those blackhead.

After exfoliating gently wet a brush , like a toothbrush, and lightly rub over the face to totally get rid of the dirt.

Finally cleanse. This will help soften the skin and close the pours to prevent dirt getting trapped in the pours again.

No Poo

Firstly - sorry this will a looong post with lots of talking and explaining, but just hang on and you'll find a gem of a secret in here! ...

And before you think I am totally strange talking about poo, its actually shampoo I am talking about, and 'No Poo' means washing your hair without the shampoo and conditioner. Now you have the right to think I am totally strange washing my hair without the shampoo and conditioner but hear me out. 

Everyone knows I have the weirdest hair ever (thin, but lots of it) and I really struggle to find a decent shampoo that works and gives me the results I want. Most are great the first time I use them, and then the effect wears off and my hair is still just as damaged as before. 

Then I found this post on Pintrest about this person who hasn't used Shampoo and Conditioner in 3 months and she uses homemade substitutes instead and her hair looked amazing! So I thought I would do a bit more further reading on the subject of 'No Poo'. Turns out Shampoo is actually really bad for your hair:

• Shampoo is a detergent which means it cleans, but at the same time as cleaning it also stripes you hair of everything, even the natural oils which help keep your hair soft and strong. 
• From point number one, this makes your scalp overcompensate for the lack of natural oils making it produce too much leaving your hair really greasy in a just a few days. 
• Companies love this because it means you will carry on buying the products just to get rid of the grease. 

So after doing a bit more reading on the topic, I felt I was able to do it myself. Heres how in 2 very simple steps using nothing but Bicarbonate of Soda, Vinegar and Water.

Mix together 1 tbsp of Bicarbonate of Soda with a cup of water. When the soda has totally dissolved pour it into a squeeze top bottle. 

Then mix 2 tbsp of vinegar with another cup of water and pour into a spray top bottle. 

First of all you need to get your hair totally wet with water and then you want to use almost a quarter of the Soda bottle (after a few washes you shouldn't need this much) onto your scalp and massage it in. Soda is great at breaking down any buildup from products like hairspray. Once you have massaged it into the scalp thoroughly, wash it out. 

Then spray the water and vinegar mix heavily on to the end of your hair. And leave in for the rest of the shower or as long as possible before washing out. Vinegar is a great conditioner and will leave your hair smooth.
If you have some detangling spray, like my Aussi Lusicous Long spray, this will help detangle your hair and leave it smelling great. 

But this is just the start. The hardest part of the process is the transitions stage where your hair realizes it can make its own natural oils for the first time, so it goes a bit crazy at first. Some people experience dry, straw-like hair while as others have extra greasy hair the first few times. But you have to bare with the process as this should only last a few weeks at most. Your hair will get used to it, and then your hair will be looking the best it has ever looked. It wont get split ends so easily, it will grow a lot quicker (like 2 and half inches in 2 months!), it will have less frizz and flyaways and you'll only be have to wash it about once or twice a week! 

Sounds amazing right, just as long as you stick with it through the transitions stage you are in it for the long haul and you will be loving your new found super soft locks.

Still not convinced? Questions? Lets go into a bit more detail....

During the transitions period try and hold out from washing your hair for as long as you can, most people start off with 1-3 days but when your hair gets used to it, you should be able to go about 5-6 days! 

You can still use products like hairspray, serum and mouse and in your hair. The soda will be able to break them down when you wash it.

You can still straighten and blow dry it, as usual too, just don't do it in excess other wise you will basically BBQ your natural oils out. 

When you go to the salon and they wash your hair try and ask for a Sulfate-free shampoo, nearly every salon ever should have this and one time of using shampoo wont set you back that far, just make sure in the next day that you wash out with the soda and vinegar.

Finally if you dye your hair do not EVER wash the chemicals out with soda and vinegar. They aren't as strong as regular shampoo and so you should also use regular shampoo other wise you could get a chemical clash on your scalp which will burn and not be good at all. After you have the dying chemicals out though it is fine to go back to soda and vinegar. 

I am on day one of this process and already I can notice the difference - my hair is so much softer and lighter with nearly half the amount of fly-aways! 

Maybe it isn't for everyone, but nearly everyone I have spoken to about this has raved about how much it works and there is much reading out there about how amazing No Poo is! 

If you try it out let me know how is goes for you, I would love to hear all your experiences! 

Day One

Baby Oil

Baby Oil. I am talking from experience when I say how amazing it is and not just for babies as even the everyday woman knows how beneficial it is and I shall be sharing with you just a few ways to use this simple product. 

1. Shaving. For a clean, smooth, pain-free way to shave legs, that even after 2 weeks minimal stubble has appeared, pour a little baby oil on to your hand and then apply to legs, and shave away. Trust me, my legs have never been so smooth, I can't stop stroking them! Baby oil is used to soften skin and this is so great as it not only soothes them but it also cleans them to!

2. Bath Time. For a relaxing and warm bath pour a little into your bath water and enjoy.

3. Soft, soft, soft! As I said it is great for softening the skin, so after a bath, apply a little to places that get really hard like your knees, elbows and feet. 

Ice Cold

Ice has more uses than just being used in your drinks on a hot day. It actually has many beauty benefits too and today I will be sharing with you the best ways to make the most of your ice.

• Angry zits and spots are the worst things ever. But it time to tell that spot to chill! Wrap your ice in a rough towel and hold against the spot for 5-10 minutes. The coldness helps close the pours and minimizes the inflammation of them. 
• Long sleepless night? Soothe and ice cubs around the eyes and this will help reduce puffiness and make you look more awake and alert. 
• Coldness on the face helps to shrink your pours in appearance and size. Run and ice cub over your face in the morning before your apply your foundation, focusing on areas where the pours are larger. It will help your skin to look smoother and cleaner. 
• Mix together some ice and fruits or veg of your choose, like cucumber, mango's, raspberries, or strawberries in the blender. You want to keep the rough texture, and apply to your face like a face scrub. The rough texture will exfoliate the skin, and it will feel refreshing and hydrating on your skin too. 

Mermaid waves

I'm an inch away from being a mermaid.

Mermaid locks are something that people has been aspiring their hair to be for years now. Mermaid locks, to put it nicely is hair your hair falls just below your boobs. Wavy hair tops this looks off beautifully and is often referred to and widely known as beach hair. This is often achieved with salt spray but as you all know salt spray damages and knots the hair and isn't a very good product for fine hair, or if you are growing it out. But there is another way to get the same look and this is a method which I have been using for weeks now and I am raving about to everyone, even my sister who has natural beach waves!

1. After washing your hair, comb it out how you usually would and put a detangling spray in it. I love the Aussie, Luscious Long spray.

2. Twist your hair into a lose bun and pin together with a soft hair grips that won't rip your hair. Leave to dry naturally, or if you are in a rush with a hair dryer.

3. When it is nearly dry, take the bun out and continue to dry either naturally or with the hair dryer again. If you use the hair dryer, dry it from the bottom up to help add volume to it.

I use this method nearly every morning as it is so simple and requires so little but gives great results with the heat and damaged consequences.

Organic Homemade Lip Balms

Aloha!

We are going a bit organic here at Cover B Headquarters!

So everyone knows how much I love Vaseline right, and how I get through a pot nearly every month. Everyone also knows how much I love making stuff too, right? Well, my parents are going to kill when they find out this one. As well as making my own face scrubs, hair masks and face mists, I am know making my own organic lip balms and they are so simple to make - all you need are a few everyday items.

• 3 Tbsp of Olive Oil
• 1 Tbsp of grated beeswax 
• 1 tsp of honey
• 1/4 tsp of Vitamin E oil (3 squeezed out Vitamin E capsuals)
• 7 drops of essential oil (optional)
• 1 tsp of cocoa powder (optional)

Warm the olive oil, beeswax and honey on a very low heat. You want to gently melt them, not boil them. Stir until they are completely melted. Remove form the heat and whisk in the Vitamin E, essential oil and cocoa powder. Transfer to your tin or tube and leave to set for 3 hours at least. If it looks like the oil isn't emulsifying, don't worry, it  will do while setting. 

It is a really simply method, and the good thing about having made it yourself is that you know exactly what has gone into it, and so you can trust that it wont cause more harm to your lips than good.
Vitamin E is a really key ingredient to your lip balm too. It is often used in many skin care products as it softens the skin and it is antioxidant, which means it fights against skin cell damage. Vitamin E is also one of the main ingredient in anti-aging products because of its anti-oxidants.
If you do add the Cocoa Powder to your lip balm, I know it feels weird smearing chocolate brown stuff over your lips, but it actually provides a really soft and gently colour to your lips.