The great Henna debate...

Slight delay to the redheadedness this week, as thesis writing takes a priority, and I may have got waylaid by Lush's seductive 'natural' essence at the w/e. The mantra: Chemicals = bad, Mother nature = good.

As a chemicals beauty junky these can, nay do make you feel good. I refer to the more 'aesthetic' effect of cosmetics, as opposed to the Ms SuperMoss recreational varitey.

And so begins the great debate. Is it a good idea to Henna hair, or continue with a chemical 'tweak' here and there?

My mundane mousey 'natural' locks means I'm used to Ms Nature having a little push (shove) in the right direction. The greats of Audrey and Marilyn were far from a plain jane, and knew a thing or two about dabbling with the right chemicals to tweak what mother nature gave them into something simply breathtaking. That and they both had fabulous tailors.

So to Henna or not? Are there advantages to be had? Well the most obvious is the NOT putting yet more chemicals of the pph variety onto your skin/scalp strikes me as a good idea... Buuuut, i've read some heard tale some horror (bright organge) stories. AND you can't go near a chemically based hair treatment for some months should all go wrong. Which begs the question who would one call for a hair rescue? Only one thing for it then, I'd have to be scalped if the worst scenario occured.
There are some truly AMAZING results.Though i'm not entirely won over, where observations of 'bad smell', which lingers for at least two days, general kitchen mess (although getting messy does hold play appeal), and the more obvious head mess sat with what looks like poo glop on your scalp. Is all this worth it? Where's my salon style pampering. What if someone comes to the door and i'm in mid Poo hair mask stage?

Well only one way to tell. Must do that strand test.Personal vanity dictates that I have (another) colouring appointment intended for this Thursday, 18th September. So there is time to do my Henna test and embrace my aux natural side, or twist Mother Nature's influence for a bit longer and stay 'safe' with salon perfection. ho hum decisions, decisions.

Hmm, I'm starting to sound like a perfected pixalated princess.

For now, I am the 'lab rat'. Between thesis chapters, the lab conditions are right for tried and tested hair colouring. As my social life is under house arrest at the moment no-one need see the 'results' for weeks. Then it's Halloween, so i could just get away with it.

Why so pouty?

So it's cold outside and rainy in the city this week. This makes for the daily dalliance to shops and all things pretty, well more of a chore than a pleasure. The perfect time for a little face-packing indulgence, deep conditioning mask and cuticle inspection as one watches Marilyn Monroe's 1953 treat 'how to marry a millionaire'.

This could also explain how I managed to fall across Herve Bernard, and his very sexy French-accented 'Beauty Tips' on YouTube. Stuck for inspiration for 01.43secs? I strongly recommend to observe Beauty Tips On Red Lips with Herve Bernard. Absolutely hilarious.

Now I'm not what you would call 'aux fait' with how to apply lipstick, I have less pout and more clout than models. But Herve proves his worth by his reckless abandonment of more boring and caked make-up, and a strange selection of model. As one commentator posted 'night of the living dead? Is that model alive?' Good question, she does manage a few blinks and breaths, but we have to appreciate a lot of hard work has gone into that perfect pout.

Combined with Channel4's Super Botox Me , which saw Kate Spicer's over-immersive journey into the extreme side of the cosmetic and beauty industry, travels to the States for chemical peels and fat sucked from butt to pout, I'm thinking Herve is onto something. Beauty is only skin deep after all. Application is everything.

I've just started to use (and lose) with relish a lip plumping lip gloss, which has me gurning like a fool if only because you're so aware of your lips. Lips, LIPS. LIPS. It's the strange tingly feeling it's gone to my head. Fabulous for those bare face days, and pretty moments. Just don't cycle home with it on. Every midgy suddenly becomes your kissing partner. Mmmm.

So do they work? Well strangely, yes. Lips do look fuller and pouty. Not quite Angelina Jolie, but hey an impressive, albeit temporary new beauty toy to play with.

Apparently the Queen of Pouts, Kiera Knightly, loves Mac Plush Glass in Cushy White. I suppose part of the appeal is that poutier lips make for better acting.

My personal favourite, is a recent discovery from Boots, is Soap and Glories Sexy Mother Pucker. Yes you read right. Pouty lips, and fun to use. Go girl, who needs fair weather!

Ode to red

You're new here, so am I.

The direction of this blog is 'up for grabs', but where its headed is with dalliance into the finer things in life, and an utterly shameless indulgent expression of the loves, life and glamour of one self-confessed 'must have pretty things' geek chic.

I'm intending this as a perky peak into what's cute, gorgeous and must have now. Which i've probably gone out and bought, loved a lot, worn a little and later thought 'eeep how much, but so worth it!' Hmmm, my bank manager may come down hard.

For now closest to my heart, nay head, is the turn to Autumnal fashion. My absolute favourite time of the year. Where the beautious turning of the seasons, is echoed by the soft expectant thud of weighty Vogue and Elle tombs. I should point out that I am a mere six weeks from completion of my doctorate thesis. But one should always find time to dabble on the prettier side of life. Especially when this need not involve other weighty tombs of strong theoretical texts and long hours in the library. Or in my case 'poking about' on Facebook, writing the guide to Proper Facebook Etiquette, and exploring the Seriously Social side of the information age. (This must mean this blog is counted as 'research'?)...

So first post, first fashion obsession. I'm going red. Redhead. For the first time. High-maintenance has never known 'geek chic' before, so I'm hoping to shake things up. It might even inspire some thesis writing. And when I say red. I mean va-va-Jessica Rabbit-voom.

Image from renowned Australian Phortography Ted Szukalski.com.au

See what I mean. Show-stopping, heart-stopping, awe-inspiring RED. Oh this picture isn't me. But the red will be. And that counts.

I am aware this means going a little higher maintenance than I'm used to. Oh don't get me wrong I LOVE my bathroom products (there's practically a shrine to UK Lush stuff, American based Bumble and Bumble and Le Francais Phyto products), but red is going to require a little strategic thinking. Which is when I came across the following helpful hints,

How to be the best redhead

1. Wash your hair as infrequently as possible. Rinse with only tepid water (never hot, oh the shame!), or dust your roots with a dry shampoo. Personally I hate dry shampoo. I don't care how many Vogue beauty editors claim otherwise. This seems to render my locks dry and nasty. Not to mention flakey. Oh and did I mention smelly. Yuk. Time to spray? Time enough to have a shower.

2. Avoid harsh shampoos. These are Death to redheads, accelerating the fading process by weeks. Eeek more expenditure on posh (Lush? Are they colour safe) products.

3. Ask your colorist for a 'to-go' kit, a small vial of their hair color to apply two weeks after their salon visit. This keeps the color looking bright and fiery all month long. Well that sounds fabulous, but what am I paying my colourist for? And do I trust myself not to dye head, forehead and ears my latest shade of rogue?... I may have found a way round this little tip, with the fore-purchase (that's products you don't need now, but will in the future) of Bumble and Bumble Colour Support red hair shampoo and conditioner. The temptation to wash my muted locks in this now is inescapable, and then I remind myself of the price tag (£16 per bottle). But they look pretty on my bathroom shelf!

4. Cover up. Red hair color oxidizes faster than any other, throw a hat or scarf over your strands. Oh for goodness sake, then what was the point of going red? I'm guessing we're not in much danger of 'over sun' exposure in the UK anyway. Although new red locks would look suitably glamorous with a chic Gucci scarf. Now there's a thought.

5. Don’t be tempted by eggplant tones. Purplish-reds don’t look natural and are rarely flattering, choose a color that can be described as 'coppery', 'auburn', or 'strawberry'. Hmm or in my case be RED, red, or dead.

And there follows, 'Makeup tips for redheads':
# Avoid dark, smoky eyes. They compete with your attention-grabbing tresses. Are you kidding? Smoky Audrey Hepburn eyes are THE Autumnal/into Winter look. Hmm I'm going to have to work on this.
# Do think pink. Pink lip color and blush look gorgeous on redheads. Oh this is easy. I have pink specs too.
# Don’t match your brows and hair; it looks bizarre. Well quite. I would imagine, the same goes for hair to brows, it's not like shoes and handbag after all.

I'm going to have to wrap this post up, not least as the latest issue of Elle with Alexa Chung as a 'fashion guru' is calling at me for a critique. Seriously Chung, as a 'guru'?!... I'll get back to you on this. Plus I've just realised I've made that classic (new) social faux pas, of Friending someone on Facebook you find attractive, when you have a 'bad' Profile picture attached to your message. This will simply not do. And must be changed immediately. Oh if only I were redhead now. This would never have happened.

I leave you with this date for your diary, Thursday 11th September, Midday is RED day. Then my locks will be luscious glorious rogue. Until such time I must content myself with mildly brunette and whether there's Proper Facebook Etiquette for the 'my' ex I'm missing on Facebook, or someone elses...