Its all about the nails right now.

Its been 8 weeks since I started trialling Vitagel by Gelish and I have to say I am really pleased with the result.  Despite accidentally cutting off one of my thumb nails (curse you onions!) and breaking my other thumb nail, they are growing strong and resilient. 

I usually just have Vitagel recovery which leaves my nails clear and glossy, which I then paint over with a usual nail polish.  However this time we decided to opt for a gelish colour as well as the vitagel.  The colour we chose is called Light Elegant - I need to stick to fairly nude and natural colours for work, but again, I can paint over this with a darker normal polish should I choose to.

Anyway, here is a photo of my nails the day before treatment and then a photo today after 4 treatments (once a fortnight for 8 weeks so far)  I think you'll agree the difference is clear and they look fabulous.  I will also add the link to the facebook page of the lady behind the magic!

BEFORE

AFTER 4 TREATMENTS

Natural Nails & Beauty

Blonde!

Today my hairdresser Holly came round to trim up my neck area, shape the odd bits and bleach my hair out!  I have not bleached my hair since my teens (many moons ago!) so I was a little apprehensive  as to how it would turn out.

The result is lighter than we expected as we thought we'd have to lighten a little each time..... anyway, here is the result.

And I'm very pleased with it!  It looks more even now!

How i'm battling the "inbetween" stage

My hair has reached a truly awful stage, it can only be described as the inbetween stage.  I'm caught in between persevering cos i've come this far and chopping it off cos I am sick of not getting far enough.  Hair accessories have become my friend, simply as it gives my head a focal point aside from how awful my hair currently is!

I am going to add 3 photos this time, so you can see how I am wearing my hair at the moment and how long it has got at the back.  Not sure if my photos have uploaded in the right shape mind you as on my screen the look squished and square.

Tomorrow my hairdresser is coming to trim up the back and hopefully give it a nicer shape.  Also, big decision for me..... I'm going blonder so we are lightening and toning and praying to the hair gods I don't go orange, yellow or anywhere between the two!

Will update with a new hair colour pic soon.

This weeks nail colour was......

..Richmond Terrace by Nails inc.  Its sort of somewhere between a deep maroon plummy and rich chocolate colour.  Its the sort of colour I reserve for use in the darker autumn and winter months and definitely a colour that looks better on shorter nails.

Nails inc are my second favourite brand of nail care.  I think they have a huge range of fun colours with great names, something for everyone from classic shades to up to the minute trends.  Their top coats, Albert Bridge and Kensington High Street, are both fabulous and a must to not only finish your manicure but certainly help to prolong the life of your polish.

I still currently have Vitagel on my nails and am half way through my course now.  Having the Vitagel is a really good base for my polish and I get at the least 5 days wear out of my polish.  Having said that I have currently only used "quality" polishes such as Nails inc and Opi over my Vitagel, so perhaps next week I will try a "High Street" polish and see if I get as much wear.

I had the misfortune of slicing my thumb nail off earlier this week so have filed all my other nails down a little as I hate odd lengths, so I do feel like I have had to take a step back in my natural nail growing journey.

Tomorrow I have my 3rd visit to Naomi at Natural Nails & Beauty, which will be 6 weeks into the recommended 12 week course for Vitagel.

Nails inc Richmond Terrace

Hair Growth update.

This morning I took a picture of my hair and have compared it to one taken just over 6 weeks ago.  You can definitely see some growth, which I am pleased about as it feels no different to me.  In fact it has reached an awful stage where no matter how I try and style it, it kind of looks either stupid or hideous.  Even wearing it back in an alice band or a clip looks silly at the moment so I am for the best part ignoring it.

I need the back trimmed up and some shape cutting into the now heavy top layers, but I have yet to find another hair stylist who I am truly hand on heart happy with.  I had a fabulous stylist, then he left the salon. Gutted.  By a stroke of luck I saw him at the supermarket last week and he promised to call me so he could once again tackle my mop, but alas he hasn't called.  I *may* try a local salon that has received good reviews but it will have to wait til payday.

I by no means begrudge paying a good stylist, its just finding one!  I do begrudge however paying a stylist who I don't feel totally understands me, my hair and what I want from it.  I do not want a hair stylist who after 3 minutes of washing professes to know my hair better than me.  I know exactly how my cows lick and double crown behave thank you!  I also prefer a man to cut and style my hair, the best two haircuts I have ever had in my life were thanks to male stylists, but thats not to say I will only let men style my hair.  I always take the advice of the sylist, they generally know their onions, so I might go in with a few ideas and point out exactly what I like or dislike about a style then the hard work is down to them.  I have always been happy to try new cuts, colours and styles.  It always grows back!

My hair is currently quite dry and I believe one of the factors contributing to this is my lather, rinse, repeat routine.  My hair gets washed daily and I am beginning to think that lathering twice may not be necessary each and every day.  I have also introduced a weekly deep conditioning treatment in the form of Herbal Essences Bee Strong, which as you would guess contains honey.  I cannot seem to find it on their website to post you a link though.  It comes in a yellow/orange toned tub and as you would expect it is of a thick consistency.  I usually leave it on for between 5-10 minutes while I have a shower.  It does leave my hair feeling really soft and conditioned.  It has a lovely sweet honey smell but sadly this does not linger after rinsing out.  All in all though it does what you would expect it to and after using this product I would consider using the Honey shampoo & conditioner from Herbal Essences.

An update on my nails (as the hair isn't doing much!)

It had been a fortnight since I met with Naomi at Natural Nails & Beauty (link in previous post) so it was time to go back and have fresh Vitagel on my nails, as since the original application my nails had grown around about 4mm at least.

In my opinion my nails definitely looked a lot healthier than they had prior to the application of Vitagel.  There are still a few little blemishes left from my acrylics but within a few more weeks they will have grown out.  As my nails were so thin, weak and flexible some had naturally broken so my nails were filed so they are all more of a similar length.  Still short but this is important to get them strong and healthy so they can grow longer.

It took a little longer than normal Gelish to soak off the Vitagel but after applying gentle heat things seemed to speed up.  This time Naomi applied the thinner layer of Vitagel but a more thicker layer to finish.  From the feel on my nails and in using my hands this feels much better than the several thinner layers of last time.  The Vitagel instantly makes my nails look a more healthy colour and in general their appearance is improved.

I hate naked nails - they make me sad :( so I always paint my nails.  I have to have naked/nude nails for work though.  I have today painted my nails with a colour I got this week by Opi.   Its called Pompeii Purple.  To be fair its not really purple at all and if I were naming it I would have called it Marvellous Magenta or Fantabulous Fushia.  But thats neither here nor there the colour is bright, fun and perfect for summer.  I am pasty white but this would look great with a tan.  I have quite a few Opi & Nails Inc products and colours so will perhaps talk about them next time.

I will also post a new update on how my hair growth is going next weekend.  My hair feels very dry at the moment.  Not sure if this is because of the weather, my blowdrying or products I am using but I have introduced a deep conditioner to my hair care regime now.  Again more about that on my next hair post.

Opi Pompeii Purple