My 2017 Favourites

I've written about my favourite outfits of 2017, and shared some of my highs and lows, but I just can't resist doing one last 2017 blog, sharing some of my general favourites from the year. These range from apps, to beauty products and more, just things I have to share that I might not necessarily have blogged about during the year.

First up, the app I just couldn't stop playing, PokemonGo!

I've played this app every single day since it's release in 2016, and got even more into it as 2017 progressed. The introduction of the raid system brought a whole new social side to the game we hadn't had before, we saw the introduction of gen 2, and the first waves of gen 3, meaning a whole loads of new Pokemon to catch. My personal favourite new aspect of the game is the very new weather system. It means increased spawns, and totally different spawns depending on the weather system. That there are now weather specific spawns is so exciting and definitely encourages me to go out no matter the weather!

I tried my first Lady V London Lyra style dress, and ended my year with three of them. Absolutely obsessed! I always thought a wrap over style dress was something more suited to those with a larger bust and wouldn't look great on me, but I LOVE the Lyra. I've got one short sleeve and two long, and my only gripe is that the long sleeves are nowhere long enough for me at 5ft 11. I just push the sleeves back and wear them anyway because I love them so much. I'm desperately hoping they release more spooky/alternative style designs like the one I'm wearing!

One of the biggest changes I made this year, and absolutely a favourite, was to start the Curly Girl Method. I started back in March and cannot believe the difference to my hair! I plan on doing a full update blog post soon talking about all the products I use and my exact routine because I think I've got it pretty nail on now. I never thought I had curls like I do, but I've even been asked when I started getting my hair permed!

My favourite beauty product of 2017 was an easy choice, Colourpop Super Shock Shadows. I have hooded lids and no eyeshadow has ever stayed on my lids like these do. I apply them with my fingers, and once on, they don't move. They never crease or build up in the folds in my lids, and even my Nanna loves these, I've ended up doing bulk orders for her and all her friends! If you struggle with eyeshadow I really recommend you give these a go, they are cruelty free too.

I finally found a cruelty free mascara that I truly love! The Elf 3 in 1 mascara. The brush is amazing, it has a normal section for applying the normal coverage, and then a larger ball section on the end that really helps you get all those small lashes and really get some length on the corners of your eyes. I've really struggled to find a good cruelty free mascara, my previous fave was discontinued so I was thrilled to find this.

What were your favourite finds in 2017?

Much love, 

Kitty xxxx

The Curly Girl Method : 6 Months On

I've been following the Curly Girl Method for 6 months now, so I thought it was time for a hair update! I wrote about when I started it here and 2 months in here, and now I've finally got a pretty set routine and feel like my hair is done transitioning it was time to share again. This weekend I had probably the best hair day I've ever had. Also, I totally bleached and coloured my hair because I missed my fun hair!

So, an update on my routine! I co-wash using either Tesco Pro Vitamin B 5 Care & Protect conditioner, or Tesco Pro Vitamin B5 Volume & Shine conditioner. I use these both for my actual co-wash, and as a leave in conditioner as well. They cost about 90p a bottle, and I get through a bottle in about 3 washes. I wash my hair twice a week at the absolute most. Some people spend a fortune on products but so far I'm finding these cheap ones work really well for me! For my product, I find that gel works really well. When my hair is soaking wet I absolutely pile on Tesco Everyday Value Styling Gel. This gel is 30p. Really. 30p. And it's amazing. I've used more expensive gel, but this is my fave! I use a lot to really get coverage and to get a good 'cast', when your hair goes stiff from product.

I tend to wash my hair at night, so I then plop over night in a net, I use these from Salons Direct. I plop how you would with a tshirt, but using the net instead. I then pop a couple of grips behind each ear to keep the net in place because I am a very wiggly sleeper! In the morning my hair isn't 100% dry, but when I take the net off my hair will stay put in what we call 'snakes'. I knew my hair was going to be great when my hair looked like this. Good snakes generally means good curls. I then diffused my hair till it was 100% dry on the cool setting. I never touch my hair till it is 100% dry, this is important! It means less frizz. This then leaves my hair with a cast.

This is a good cast. The wilder the cast, it seems the better the curls. I 'scrunch out the crunch' (SOTC for short) using jojoba oil. I rub some into the palms of my hands and start at the back of my head, scrunching the oil into my hair to break the hard cast. My hair looks ridiculous in the cast, but once it's all scrunched out, this is the end result.

 This is the hair I've always dreamed of. And it's on my head. It's my hair. I have beautiful big ringlets, volume, bounce and shine, my hair is what I always wished it could be. And it's so easy. Magic!

There are a few different options for protecting your hair at night, I'm a wiggler so I tend to use a combination of methods. I sleep on a satin pillow to avoid frizz, this definitely helps me a lot because I know whatever I cover my hair in will usually be lost by the time I wake up, so this minimises the damage. I sleep in a 'buff'. which is an elasticated tube of material. I make sure my hair is totally inside it and that it's pulled down over my forehead so I keep as much volume as possible without crushing my curls. This video shows you how I do this brilliantly. You can also sleep in a 'pineapple', which involves piling all your hair on top of your head and securing it. Rather than using a normal hair elastic, I use a generic version of the invisibobble, or a scrunchie will work too.

My hair isn't very thick, so pineappling doesn't tend to work for me which is why I prefer a buff. Here is my hair right out of a buff with no refresh or work done to it after a night's sleep on the left, and with a little oil to smooth it out on the right.

 

Once you get to grips with the curly girl method, it becomes second nature and every day can be a good hair day. Here's a little before and after to remind you of what a 'good' day was before co-washing. PS. My amazing tiger paws necklace* is by the awesome Sugar & Vice.

 

If you have any questions about my routine do feel free to ask away!

Much love,

Kitty xxxx

Goodbye iPhone : My Facial Injury

*denotes an item gifted to me, in no way does this impact upon my opinions which are entirely my own.

A Curly Girl Update

I'm now a month into the Curly Girl Method and I thought I'd share a little update with you! You can read my first blog post about it here if you want more info on the method itself and what I do. The short version, I've ditched conditioner and now only using 'curly girl' approved conditioners to wash and style my hair.

So here is the before....

One wash on the left, and two washes in on the right.

And here I am one month in! I'm genuinely amazed at the curls that have appeared. Disclaimer, I have cut about 6 inches off my hair because it was in dire need of it, but just look at it! Particularly at the front there are so many more ringlets. It's so cool! Particularly in my fringe area it's so ringlety now. 

I can now easily go 4-5 days between washes if I want to and my hair doesn't really get greasy. It used to be greasy by day 2 and I was a total dry shampoo fiend so this makes me very happy. I've gotten so many compliments about my hair and I'm so pleased with the way it's changed.

I think I'll probably do another update in 6 months or so to see how it's getting on! I'm very tempted to get my ombre re-done as with the chop it's mostly grown out and I do really like it.

Much love,

Kitty xxx

Photoshop and Bloggers : Thanks for Nothing OOTD