Saturday 27 April 2013

Cloud Nine Hair Straightener

Image Source: flourishedandsunkissed.com 

This isn't a review as much as it is me just showing my appreciation for something I consider to be one of the Wonders of the World. In this very superficial world we live in, straight hair is considered the "best" hair, and if you don't have the proper tools you're kind of screwed.

I was first introduced to the world of hair straightening when my parents bought me a ghd hair straightener in high school. I was never hair conscious before this, and used to rock my curly hair with confidence, but after I tried it out, I just never really went back. Thing is, when you're using it for as many years as I have, your hair is bound to get dry and damaged because of the constant heat you're applying to it. A ghd has one heat setting at 180 degrees, and if you think about it, it's like you're putting your head in the oven everyday - that's quite a scary thought and it makes you realise how much damage you're doing to your hair.

Image Source: naturallycurly.com 

My boyfriend got me a Cloud Nine Iron a few days ago and I was over the moon. I've heard so many wonderful things about it and read some helpful reviews. It's designed to be flexible, in the sense that you can adjust the heat setting and style your hair at lower temperatures which means less damage to your hair! (Yaaaay for my hair!)

I have previously had my hair done with a Cloud Nine and I noticed that it didn't leave that distinctive 'burnt' smell on my hair that my ghd did, it also glided through my hair and gave my hair a glossy shine at only 150 degrees which is very impressive because I have really thick hair. I don't specifically like my hair dead straight, I like it to have some body whether it's at the root or tips, and the Cloud Nine gave me the freedom to do just that that.

Even though the Cloud Nine doesn't damage your hair as much, that doesn't mean you shouldn't protect your hair with a Heat Protection Spray, as it provides an invisible barrier against everyday heat damage. I use Pantene Normal-Thick Hair Solutions: Heat Protection & Shine Spray, which protects my hair against heat styling damage and also gives my hair softness and shine. Here's to many years of better hair days!



Thursday 28 February 2013

Give your furry feline a bath :)


Recently I tried giving my kitty a wash, an yeah, it was a rather traumatic experience for both my cat and I. It wasn't the first time I've attempted to do so, but the outcome is always the same. I always end up completely soaked, and my cat never ends up being washed well.


I realised that if I got my cat interacting with water from a young age, she’d less likely freak out when she gets the odd shower. So naturally, I went online and found a few things to do to set the mood and help me make the bathing experience more pleasant:
  1. Make sure your cat is mellow and relaxed. A play session with her will do the trick.
  2. Brush her to remove any loose hair. Also place some cotton in her ears to keep the water out.
  3. Put a rubber bath mat in the sink where you’ll be bathing your cat so she doesn't slip. Fill with a little lukewarm water.
  4. Use a hand- held spray, hose or pitcher to thoroughly get her wet. If you don’t have a spray hose, a plastic pitcher works great.
  5. Make sure the hose is not powered too strong, and be careful not to spray directly in her ears, eyes and nose.

To wash: Gently massage with a solution of one part cat shampoo to five parts water, working from head to tail. Again, be weary of your cats eyes, nose and ears to prevent her from getting upset. Give her a gentle towel dry when you are done and guide her to a cosy spot in the sun.

With a happy ending like that, maybe the next bath won’t be so bad!
After the bath, be sure to praise your little beauty with lots of affection, and her favourite treat too ;)