Here are my TOP 5 Hair Hacks These awesome hair hacks should help you fix any hair problems and get your hair looking better than ever!

Click here to watch my last vlog: https://youtu.be/zX7-ArePjqI

Review | Suti Honour Coconut & Roses Face Cream

I got the Suti Honour Face Cream as a Christmas present by one of my salon clients. I was really excited to try this and it was amazing. One of the best face creams I have ever tried.

Suti uses Meditation, Reiki and Crystals when making their products believing beauty and wellbeing go hand in hand. They also use organic ingredients approved by the soil association. Honour contain 80% organic ingredients.

Suti explains on their website
"When applying this beautiful cream it becomes a time for reflection, a time to be at one with yourself, a time to create a Sacred Space to Honour – Above, Below and Within."

I definitely find this Honour face-cream special and would agree the cream being one with my skin. It's an enjoyment to apply it.

The cream is really light on my skin and don't need very much so it lasts a long time. The smell is very pleasing. The mix of coconut, rose and date is perfect. I find the smell of rose can be overwhelming sometimes, but the coconut and date balance it out well.

My skin feels great after using this cream for a while now. It's soft and still able to breathe. I find that it just works perfectly with my skin. I'm so happy I've found Suti.

Honour face-cream is beautifully packaged in a glass bottle with a pump that makes it easy to get the just right (Lagom as we say in Sweden) amount of cream in my hand.

Price is £58 is not cheap but definitely worth you splashing out that bit more. I'm surprised for how easy I'm talking myself into its worth the money from never spending more than £20 on a face cream before. But it's seriously worth it if you have the money. You can get Suti on their website www.sutiskincare.com. They are also available on Amazon and in Wholefoods.

My FIRST Vlog.

For my first vlog a listed my top 10 hair essentials for everyday use. Hope you enjoy ❤

My Top Ten Hair Essentials ❤
1. O'rights Recoffee - Shampoo & Conditioner
2. Kevin Murphy - Fresh Hair
3. Tangle Teezer
4. O'right Curl Enhancing Cream
5. Hair Tools - Booby Pins
6. Hair Bobble
7. Lotus Pintail Comb
8. Parlux Blowdryer & Lotus Brush
9. MOP C-System Hairspray
10. Giovanni smooth as silk extreme hair treatment
________________________________________­__

Thank you so much for watching! ❤

Spring Hair and Beauty Tips 2015

We are moving into spring as the 21st of March is often called the first day of spring.
We can see flowers popping up everywhere. I love seeing all the blossoms. For me, a sign of spring is that the salon is getting really busy with everyone getting their colour done ready for spring/summer.

Here are some of my latest hair and beauty tips for 2015 and how you can easily spice up your spring look.

Make-up
Winter is all about nude colours so for spring, bring out the lighter colours. Now is the time to rock all that pink.

A brighter lipstick makes all the difference and can lift your mood right away.

Another great way to add some colour are your nails. And don't forget  your toes. It won't be long until the sandals are coming out even though it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

Hair
Spring is the perfect time for ombré. It brightens up your hair just a little, looking more sun kissed and fresh for spring. People tend to go a little lighter with their hair colour for spring.

The winter hats are off so time to play and have fun. Add accessories like scarfs, flowers, bows.. Add some colour.

Put your hair up. Braids are great for spring. I also like loose messy buns and up-dos.

Now all we are waiting for is the sun and heat.

What colours do you like to add for spring?   

Why should I use organic beauty products?

 

Working in an organic salon I get many people coming to me asking about organic products. Many people are still confused about what organic really means and what's the difference between natural and organic. I don't blame them.

I have always tried to use organic beauty products just because I know it's better, but I'd never really learned all the ins and outs of why it's so much better. 

Recently I started to do a lot more research and now trying to make sure everything I buy is organic. 

Talking to many of my clients I know they feel exactly the same but many are confused and find it hard to understand the long ingredient lists for organic beauty products. So I've decided to answer my most asked questions choosing organic beauty products. I hope it helps. 

Why is choosing organic important? 
Many of today’s beauty products are made up of varying mixtures of synthetically produced chemicals. These ingredients can penetrate through your skin and have a harmful effect on your health. Choosing organic is not only better for your health, skin and hair, but also better for the environment as the harmful chemicals wash out to the ecosystem as we wash daily. And make sure when you choose your organic products that the packaging is Recyclable. 

Is organic actually better for me? 
Organic beauty products are overall better for your health as well as the health of your hair and skin. Our skin is the biggest organ in our bodies and it absorbs 70 percent of all the creams, gels and lotions that you apply to it. Different ingredients vary in their ability to penetrate your skin. Many of these contain carcinogens such as parabens, which are used as preservatives and can get absorbed into the bloodstream and disrupt the hormonal system.

Organic shampoos and conditioners can help revive your hair and scalp from years of harsh treatment caused by using regular products.

People who suffer from sensitive skin or conditions like eczema psoriasis Often finds that using organic beauty products work better them as they contain either tiny amounts of synthetic chemicals or no synthetic chemicals at all. 

What’s the difference between natural ingredients and organic? 
There're so many different labels on products these days. To lure conscious consumers in 'Natural ingredients' 'organic' '100% organic' so no wonder people easily get confused. 

•Pure or natural ingredients only need to contain 2% natural ingredients. 

•The other 98% can be anything including chemicals. 

•Many products show on their packaging or websites how many percents are natural. But even there it's hard to tell what is natural or not at times. 

•Products labeled made with organic ingredients should contain a minimum of 70% organic ingredients.

•The rest of the ingredients can include chemicals and preservatives. 

The Soil Association (the UK’s leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming) requires a product labelled Organic to have 95% organic ingredients and bans the use of sodium laurel sulphate and ingredients of a petrochemical origin.

Does a product need to be free from all chemicals to be organic?   
Many people believe that organic means the product has no chemicals. Unlike organic food, there are no legal standards for organic beauty products, which is where the Soil Association is very helpful. Always look for the Soil Association logo on your products to ensure a product is guaranteed organic.

Are organic products more expensive?                                                
Not necessarily. You might find it harder to get a bargain as you can in most supermarkets, but it doesn't mean it has to be very expensive. To be honest, I prefer to pay a bit more to make sure I use a product that's good for me. It also cost more to produce an organic products especially for a small company. 

Where do I find organic products?   
I'm very lucky to live in London so have a wider choice in where to shop my products. But most health food stores have plenty of products to choose from often there's natural pharmacies. A bigger brand like Neal's Yard (Google them) has their own shops. 

Why are not all products organic?
As with many things, it's about making money and not everyone cares about health or environment. Luckily we can see a big increase in organic beauty in recent years. 

I keep hearing about Sodium Laureth Sulphate. Why is it bad for me? 
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a synthetic detergent and surfactant found in many care products like shampoos, soaps and toothpaste. It's an inexpensive and effective foaming agent. It doesn't mean it cleanses it better. 

•SLS can irritate the skin, causing inflammation (dermatitis). It causes dryness and irritations on your skin. 

•If you have itchy and dry scalp, try and use SLS free shampoos as it cleanses your hair without stripping your scalp of its protective oils. 

•SLS is known to be irritating to the skin so it is not surprising that it can cause scalp problems when frequently applied when shampooing.  

What are Parabens?

Parabens are synthetic preservatives used in many beauty products. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals can be absorbed through skin, blood and the digestive system. Look out for products saying paraben free to be safe.

What ingredients should I stay away from? 
Take a look at the ingredient list of your beauty products. Big chance is you have no idea of what most of those ingredients are. 

An easy way to choose a product is the fewer ingredients the better. 

But here are some of the ingredients to stay away from.

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) 
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
• Parabens 
• Synthetic fragrances 
• Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40)
• Diethanolamine (DEA)
• Monoethanolamine (MEA)
• Triethanolamine (TEA) 
• Formaldehyde 
• Phthalates
• Hydrogenated cottonseed oil
• Nonoxynols
• Silica
• Talc
• Carbon black
• Resorcinol

Ingredients on hair and skincare products are always listed in the percentage order of ingredients with the highest percentage first so avoid any products with chemicals high up on the list. 

Does organic mean cruelty-free? 
Not necessarily. As more and more people looking for organic alternatives, big companies who already tests on animals are moving into the market. I prefer to support smaller brands and has bigger ethical standards. Supporting cruelty-free and fair trade. Me personally think it all goes hand in hand. 


If you have any more questions about organic beauty please leave a comment and I’ll try my best to give you an answer. 

Review | Mop C-System firm finish spray

Today I'm doing a review on one of my favourite products that I use all the time. It's MOP (Modern Organic Product) C-system firm finish spray.

Looking for an eco-friendly hairspray? The c-system spray is an aerosol spray and has a zero impact propellant so is eco-friendly. It also has a UV shield for colour protection which is great when I'm out in the sun a lot. C-System Firm Finish Hair Spray is paraben free and gluten free. Unfortunately, it's not sulphate free.

The spray has a great hold and lasts really well, yet I find it is not going horribly sticky like some other hairsprays. My hair is always in place all day/evening when I'm using it. And of course I have it with me whenever I do a wedding hair or fashion shoot.

I love the fact it doesn't smell like a normal hairspray. It smells very citrus. I think it almost smells like Gin and tonic. I have clients who always ask to have this hairspray just because they love the smell.

I've been using MOP finishing spray for 9 years now and I love it. Do you have an old time favourite product you couldn't live without? Tell me about it.

Review | John Masters Organic Conditioner

Photo: John Master Organic

Today I'm reviewing one of my old time favourites. Lavender and avocado intensive conditioner from John Masters Organic.

You can use this as a normal conditioner, but I also like it as a deeper treatment. I just leave it on for few minutes and let it work its magic.

The treatment leaves my hair feeling soft, silky and healthy. It makes my hair easy to comb through and don't forget, it smells amazing.

I love this conditioner because it's not only organic, but free from parabens, sulphates and other nasties and it's vegan.

Packaging is not very exciting, but it has a kind of classic feel to it.
With it being £22 it is a bit on the pricey side. But if you use it as a treatment once a week it will last for ages.

How To.... protect your hair colour from fading quickly

Photo: Pinterest

I often hear from people complaining about their colour fading quickly. I've decided to  write a "How To.." on how you can take extra care of your new colour and avoid as much colour fade as possible. You'll always have some colour fade, but some colours are fade more quickly than others. Redheads Beware!

I've been most colours since I started colour my hair 12 years ago, from black, red, blonde, pink, purple copper so I've learned a few things.

1. Use colour shampoo and conditioner
It's important to use a good shampoo and conditioner that are made to protect and lock in the colour to avoid fade. Even better if you can find a shampoo specific for your colour. Avoid clarifying shampoos.

2. Wash with cool water
Hot water washes out the colour and dries out your hair. Cold water closes the cuticles and keeps the colour in longer and makes your hair shiny. So turn that temperature down.

3. Don't wash your hair every day
The more often you wash your hair the quicker it will fade. Try to leave your hair as long as possible between washes. If you have a lazy day at home. Don't wash it. Just put your hair up in a bun.

4. Avoid sauna or hot yoga
Again heat dries out your hair and makes your hair out. So if you're using the sauna or doing hot yoga add some leave-in conditioner or hair oil before you start. It will soak into your hair and keep it from drying out.
Another great tip for sauna is to wrap a towel (preferably damp with cold water) around your hair.

5. Stay out of sun
How many of you have gone on holiday and come back with your hair bleached from the sun and colour not looking so great anymore? If you're going to be in the sun - wear a hat. It's the best protection from the sun.
Bandanas or scarfs are great as well.
Again leave-in conditioners and oils are great to protect your colour from the sun. If possible try and find products with a built-in sun protection (SPF).

I hope this was helpful and helps you to look after your colour better.
Have you got any other tricks in how to protect your colour?

Today is International Women's Day

Photo: dailymail.com

Here are some women that been an inspiration to me in my life and somehow shaped a little bit of who I am today. So of course I have a lot to thank for from my mum, sister and some amazing friends and teachers. I've been lucky to have a lot of people believing in me and always encouraged me to reach my dreams, who seen the potentials in me even when I couldn't.
But here are some more people who influenced me in my life that you might have heard of.

Flickr: Astrid Lindgren

Astrid Lindgren
Swedish childhood writer. My favourites are Pippi Longstocking and Ronja.

Flickr: Cindy Lauper

Cindy Lauper
You can't resist Girls just want to have fun. The song, the movie, the clothes, the hair, the colours. I wanted to be her.

Sånger om Kvinnor

Sånger om Kvinnor (Songs about women)
An album recorded in the 70s by a group of different female feminist artists. Celebrating women and to encourage women to raise their voices. Doesn't get much better than that.

Claire Danes
"My so-called life" must be one of the best shows ever existed. It helped me through my teens in a way I can't explain.

Photo: David Redfern/Redferns

Joan Jett
"I love rock n roll" and "I give a d*** about my bad reputation". The look. the punk attitude I wanted.

Photo: www.LindaSkugge.se

Linda Skugge
One of my favourite Swedish writers/columnists who's not afraid to say what she thinks.

Photo: Tim Walker

Vivienne Westwood
Looks amazing, does amazing clothes and not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. The punk in fashion.

Photo: Larry Busacca / Getty Images

Malala Yousafzai
She fights for women's rights where it's needed the most. She doesn't stop, even though, many people want her killed.

Gerd Brantenberg
(Egalias döttrar)
Norwegian writer who changed the way I see society and language forever.

Zoe Deschanel
Multitalented and shows you can be beautiful, feminine and feminist at the same time.

Nina Björk
Swedish writer who keeps it real and changed my view of society and media.

Review | O'right Recoffee Shampoo and Conditioner

Rarely have I been this excited about new products. I first heard about O'right at salon international last year and managed to convince my boss to bring them into the salon. They are now one of our best selling product. Today I will be reviewing its RECOFFEE Moisturising Shampoo and RECOFFEE Conditioner.

Who's O'right?
O'right is an organic brand from Taiwan, but they've made it a lifestyle.
O'right puts green concepts into all of their products, from materials and ingredients to designs and operations. O'right devotes themselves to Eco-line, reduces carbon emissions and using certified organic ingredients, soy ink printing and recycled paper and biodegradable bottles to ensure a sustainable good life for our future generations. They also want to give something back so in their bottles is a seed to plant a tree.

What is Recoffee?
Recoffee is one of O'rights latest products in its hair care range. Recoffee is an oil made out of recycled coffee grounds, which is an excellent source of antioxidants.

On the bottle, its states that "the shampoo gently cleanses the hair and locks in moisture to create  shiny hair. " and "The conditioner is mixed with the oil and softening ingredients from plants, to deeply repair and nourish the hair. It creates shiny hair with volume."

Verdict
After been using Recoffee for few weeks now, my hair is really soft and both hair and scalp feels healthy. My scalp doesn't agree to many shampoos so that's amazing. I do find that my hair feels better and softer a day or two after I've washed it than on the same day. But only helps to not wash it as often so fine by me. I will definitely continue using it. I love the packaging and the fact that they have seeds in their bottles to plant is such a great idea. I bought the 400ml bottles and I think it's a good value because most shampoos are normally much smaller so you get a good amount of product for your money. You don't need to use much of the shampoo, but I find myself adding more conditioner sometimes. I love the smell. The coffee smell might not be for everyone, but O'right has a wide range of Shampoos and conditioners to choose between. Being one of the greenest shampoos in the world with no carbon footprint is a huge deal for me so worth the extra few £. They don't test on animals and are free from parabens and sulphates, so all plus there.

Price:
Shampoo & Conditioner 400ml bottle £18.25/each

Latest Hair Colour Trends Spring & Summer 2015

We are slowly moving into spring. London fashion week is over and we are all getting our wardrobes ready. But what about your hair? To complete your look this spring, a colour change might be on the table. It's all about the natural hair at the moment. Below I will have a look at some of the hair colour trends this spring 2015.

Photo: Pinterest

Red/copper 

Red heads have been all over this winter and continue to be one of the biggest shade this spring. From the variety of shades and undertones copper is the most frequently seen colour. Copper is a very attractive and natural colour. I went copper at the end of last year after being blonde for years and I'm loving it. Copper red will be suitable for both fair and medium fair skin tones. To be a redhead you have to be prepared for high maintenance with regular touch ups. At NaturalColourWorks, we have a wide range of reds and coppers in our soya based colour as well as our H2o watercolours.

Photo: Pinterest

Natural blondes

This spring a range of natural blondes are all trending. Using fine highlights will make it looking even more natural. With natural blonde highlights, it's easy to maintain and colour doesn't fade too quickly.

Natural blonde is suitable for all skin tones both cool and warm. You can choose a nice golden blonde or a cooler ash blonde. 

In NaturalColourWorks, we use seaweed lightener for our blonde highlights. It stops the hair from drying out too much as it's a more gentle product than bleach. 

Photo:Pinterest

Shades of brown

Brunettes are also in this spring with beautiful undertones. Dark brown, hot chocolate or bronzed. The shades will be suitable for both fair and tanned skin so you can be sure you'll look amazing. At NaturalColourWorks, we do some amazing brown shades in both our  H2o watercolour and soya based colours. 

Photo: Pinterest

Ombré 

The ombré look is still big this spring. If you just want a bit of colour to look natural and low maintenance then this is for you. You can do sutlal colours or something a bit bolder and brighter. 

What colour are you going to go for? 

Keep your eyes open for my upcoming blog on how to look after your colour.