Glossybox vs. Boudoir Prive

http://www.glossybox.co.uk/ - £10 per month (+p&p) to receive 5 luxury product miniatures from high-end brands in each box.
Some of the brands involved: Batiste, Illamasqua, Lalique, Ciate, Murad, OPI, Xen-Tan, KMS, Weleda, Daniel Sandler, All for Eve.
Products in my box:
HD Brows (Eye&Brow Palette) - £19.95
L'Oréal Professionnel (Mythic Oil) - £14.95
Mary Greenwell (Plum Eau de Parfum) - £60 (for 50ml)
NUXE HuileProdigieuse - £37.50 (for 100ml)
StriVectin (SD Eye Concentrate) - £49 (30ml)

Check out my review of the August GlossyBox here. 

http://www.boudoirprive.co.uk/ - £10 per month (free p&p) to receive 5/6 deluxe size samples in each box.
Some of the brands involved: Agent Provocateur, Cargo, Jane Iredale, Bloom Teas, Mai Couture, Tropic, Etat Libre D'Orange, Colber MD.
Products in my box:
Zoya nail varnish - £3.80
Agent Provacateur perfume
Cargo eyeliner
Tropic scrub
Macadamia Oil
Colbert MD moisturiser

Both of the boxes were sent to me for review. This is not a sponsored video and all opinions are, as always, my own.

Have you tried either of these services? Which is your favourite? Let me know your thoughts my lovelies! xxx

Shielo Hair

Anyone who has long hair will know that despite their best efforts in minimising damage long hair will be prone to dryness. Although I wouldn't say that mine is overly dry, the ends can feel a little brittle if they are not slathered in condioner, oils and serums. I was therefore excited to try a new shampoo and conditioner from Shielo designed to hydrate hair, without weighing it down or leaving it feeling artificially greasy through silicone build up.

The hydrate shampoo and conditioner are sulphate free and contain UV protectants and antioxidants from white tea to enhance colour protection. They are also infused with shea butter to add a protective moisture barrier to seal the hair shaft and hibiscus and vanilla cactus to help soothe the scalp.

The shampoo foams fairly well without leaving the hair overly squeeky clean, while the rich conditioner feels very luxurious on the hair. Both products smell absolutely amazing -  a warm, slightly sweet vanilla scent, which is good enough to eat! Used in conjunction they left my hair feeling soft and smooth, which made styling easier as there was less frizz than usual to contend with. However, I did find that I had to be careful not to use too much conditioner, especially if I wanted to retain the volume in my hair. As these products are deeply hydrating they can make your hair fall a little flat. I would recommend this range to those with long hair prone to dryness, or those with over processed, colour treated hair as it works hard to put much needed moisture and supleness back into your weary strands.

The Shielo Hydrate shampoo retails at $15.74, while the conditioner is $22.49 and both can be found on the Shielo website here.

Have you tried any products from the Shielo range? Do you suffer from dry hair? What products do you use to reverse damage by heat styling and colouring you hair? xxx

Current Haircare Favourites

I have been trying a number of new hair styling products recently and wanted to share some of my favourites with you!

Products mentioned:

• Liz Earle shampoo and conditioner (£8)
• Bumbe and Bumble Mending Conditioner  (£23.50)
• V05 Treat Me Right Intensive Conditioning Treatment (£4.28) 
• Pureology Super Smooth Smoothing Elixir (£14.85) 
• Aveda Smooth Infusion (£18.50) 
• John Frieda 3 Day Straight (£6.99)
• Aussie Take the Heat Cream (£4.69) 
• Osmo Blow Dry Potion (£4) 
• KMS California Quick Blow Dry (£9.50) 
• Tigi Bed Head Spoil Me Defrizzer (£8) 
• Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Rock 'N' Roll Extreme Hairspray (£8.56) 

I hope you enjoy the video and please do let me know your favourite hair products in the comments below! Thank you for watching my lovelies. :) xxx

OOTD: Happy Birthday Mama!

This weekend my beautiful Mama turned 50! To celebrate we took a trip to the glorious Berkshire countryside for an amazing Sunday lunch.

I chose to wear this aqua dress from Reiss (that some of you may have previously noticed in my video for Babyliss here). I love Grecian inspired dresses! The vibrant colour coupled with the elegant pleating details makes this dress modern, yet classic and a great investment piece! I paired it with some chunky aqua and tan wedges from Dorothy Perkins - currently on sale for £30 here. Though I love these shoes (high yet incredibly comfy) these were not my first choice to go with this dress, but the ones I would normally wear are notoriously difficult to hop about in, not at all countryside friendly.

To style my hair I used the KMS California FreeShape Hot Flex Spray (£15.95) that not only maintains your style and protects against heat damage, but also helps you restyle your hair without adding any extra product. I heat styled with the Babyliss Waving Wand - curling from the root to create movement all the way through the hair.

I hope you all had a good weekend my lovelies! xxx

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft

A few weeks ago I was treated to a lunch presentation about the new Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft range targeted at Dry/ Damaged/ Frizzy hair. I must confess that I haven't used Herbal Essences since my early teens so I was interested to learn more about the brand and how they go about developing their products.

Herbal Essences are very much focused on providing the ultimate 'shower experience' as well as how well the products work. At the presentation we were shown a number of studies focusing on the unconscious influence of smells and colour, something I had never previously considered! Apparently a touch of red makes you look more attractive, smelling a citrus scent makes people underestimate others' ages and a slight lemon scent makes you more likely to clean. I'm definitely busting out the lemon air freshener next time the bf looks like he is at a loose end ;).

So what about the scent in the new Smooth and Soft range? I can confirm that, as with the majority of HE products, these smell delicious! The blend of lemon, juicy pear and mandarin create a fruity, yet fresh fragrance that works well with the tropical themed packaging.

Since I have long, wavy hair that is blow dried and dyed all too often anything targeted at dry/ damaged or frizzy hair always piques my interest. I like products that add moisture and tame frizz without weighing my hair down so I can get big, bouncy, healthy curls. With extracts of mandarin peel and pearl powder this range promises to do just that.

The shampoo foams well and leaves hair feeling clean without stripping moisture. The conditioner is a little thinner than I would have liked, but it rinses well without leaving residue. However, I did find that my hair was still a little frizzy after using it and perhaps not as moisturised as I had hoped. To combat this I have been using the Seriously Smooth Mask every other wash to deep condition my hair. Not only does it smell amazing (the scent lasts well on the hair too), but it also works hard to tame frizz. I always know when my hair is getting dry when I get those little 'wings' at the side of my head... (though maybe that's just me?) and with this my hair remains sleek, even through humid tube rides and Summer showers.

Overall the shampoo and conditioner are... OK. I have enjoyed using them, but probably won't repurchase. However, I love the smoothing intensive mask, which I think is comparable to other high-end masks and treatments I have tried. At just £4.07 it makes a great luxury treat at a budget price! It's also on sale at Superdrug for £1.95 here.

Have you tried the new Herbal Essence Smooth & Soft range? xxx

Volume in minutes feat. Babyliss Root Boost

My most requested hair tutorial is for big, voluminous hair and Kim Kardashian is always top of the list!

Her hair is always super glossy and bouncy and retains its volume despite the long length. Of course she does have some help from extensions, but (perhaps from watching too many episodes of Keeping Up) I have noticed that her hair is also very smooth and not at all tangled.

If you don't have an army of hairdressers to pump up the volume in your hair, even after the perfect blow dry you may find that your hair falls flat quickly. Normally I would recommend a little teasing to keep the height, but if you hate not being able to run your fingers through your hair then this may just be the product for you!

The Babyliss Root Boost is a fun little crimper that creates texture at the root to help your sky high volume last without the tangles of backcombing. All you have to do is crimp the roots a few inches below your parting, which takes just minutes, then shake the crimps out a little for instant va-va-voom hair...

You can see the results in the tutorial below! :)

If you have fine hair that falls flat quickly, I would recommend using a little hairspray on the roots before crimping for added hold. I normally skip this step and find that the volume still lasts for 2/3 days. All I need to do is shake the crimps a little to pump it up!

Have you tried the Root Boost or any similar mini crimping tools? What are your secrets to volume that lasts? xxx

Lauren Conrad Waves with BaByliss Waving Wand

A few weeks ago I was invited to film a hair tutorial video with Babyliss to recreate Lauren Conrad's beautiful signature waves with the expert help of hairdresser to the stars Beverly C. As you all know I am a huge fan of the original conical wand, so I was excited to see how the waving wand would compare. I was happy to learn that it is just as easy to use, and creates beautiful, deep crested waves in minutes that are absolutely ideal for the summer.


Lauren Conrad is famous for her trademark style, always looking effortlessly, but perfectly polished. We had so many inspirational looks to chose from, but decided on an easy loose braid and relaxed waves that could work on any hair type or length. The side braid is especially great for those who are growing out a fringe!

I was really happy with the finished look as it's so quick to do and holds really well throughout the day. If you want to see more videos in the 'Get The Look' series please do check out the BaByliss facebook page here, and if you could 'like' my video it would mean a lot to me too :).

I really hope you enjoy the tutorial and get the chance to try it out! xxx

New from Batiste...

This Summer Batiste is doing something new... new packaging, new products and a larger size can!

I'm a huge fan of Batiste and use it every couple of days to stretch my style that little bit further in between washes. Since my hair is long I try to wash it every 3 days to keep it healthy and dry shampoo is indispensable for adding that little bit of extra volume on the third day ;). My favourite is the 'hint of colour' medium & brunette, which also works well at hiding roots!

Since I go through product pretty quickly I was excited to see that Batiste have now launched a 400ml can - twice the size, with about 20 applications, but less than twice the price (£2.99 for 200ml and £4.99 for 400ml)!

Batiste has also welcomed a new recruit to their existing range - XXL volume. This version of Batiste helps to add texture and lift to limp hair, while refreshing it and banishing oily roots. Great for use on the go, and much better for your hair than incessant backcombing, I can't wait to give it a try!

What are your favourite products from the Batiste range? Have you tried the new XXL volume? xxx

Just a trim please...

It has been far too long since I had my hair cut and last week I decided that it was about time to tame the beast. Without hesitation I called up a few salons and booked the first one that had a Friday evening vacancy, which happened to be RUSH on Earl's Court road. To say I was a little apprehensive would definitely be an understatement as my previous experience at RUSH over a year ago was not a pleasant one (too many inches lost and mullet like layers gained). I made sure the appointment was with a different stylist and tried to keep an open mind...

Please excuse the fuzzy photo above, but I thought it would be worthy of documenting the curly mess that was my hair ;).

My lovey stylist Tye was very understanding of what I wanted - 'just a trim', some shapely layers and a little side fringe to add volume. She was absolutely brilliant at made me feel at ease, assuring me she wasn't going to get snip snip happy behind my back, which happens all too often... I'm sure those of you who have long hair can sympathise lol.

As I have mountains of hair it's often tempting to thin it out and make it choppy, but as my hair is naturally curly this quickly turns into quite the frizzy disaster when left to air dry, especially in the Summer. Luckily Tye knew how to cut curly hair and blended everything together with an expert hand.

The finished result was perfect and I'm very pleased with it. I know that RUSH have quite an aggressive marketing scheme on Groupon, their own website, plus a 20% student discount. My friends' experiences have been somewhat hit and miss so I can't vouch for the chain, but I can honestly recommend the lovely Tye if you are ever in the Earl's Court area.

Let me know what you think of the new do ;). xxx

Requests please!

This post is brought to you by a very dodgy Italian wi-fi connection that I have managed to secure by hanging off the hotel balcony, so it must be speedy for my fear of losing my laptop to the mountain winds.

Soon I will be taking part in a 'Get the Look' type project in conjunction with Babyliss where I will be able to create a hairstyle with the aid of a professional to guide me through the steps! I'm really excited about this opportunity as it gives me the chance to really learn how to do all those styles I always wanted to, but never knew how. So with this in mind, which hairstyles would you most like to see me create?

Please leave comments below, or if you have a specific request (and a photo for inspiration or reference) do e-mail me with your ideas at filthygorgeousmakeup@gmail.com. The most popular style will be featured :)!

So far my twitteristas have picked out bouffants and easy up-dos as their favourites. What are yours? xxx

Beautiful Up-Dos in Minutes with Andrew Collinge

Andrew Collinge is a hairdressing icon with an international reputation, renowned for his ability to dress long hair. Being lucky enough to have met him in person last year I can also add that he is a truly warm and friendly man! So I was excited to hear that Andrew has recently launched the Two Minute Up-Do app, sharing his tips and tricks for beautiful styles for longer hair.

The Two Minute Up-Do app, which is free to download now, introduces four easy to follow step by step videos each lasting two minutes. The videos showcase beautiful Andrew Collinge up-dos from twisted chignons to stylish pleats, all of which are secured in place with just one pin. I am keen to learn the art of the chignon as my hair is long and layered, so it often ends up looking messy. Andrew's styles are always so beautifully polished, I need to practice!

The Two Minute Up-Do app is available free for download now from the Apple App Store. To download the free app simply go the App Store and search for 'Andrew Collinge'. You can then order the videos individually, or altogether, from within the application. Each video will cost £1.19 and all proceeds of the app will go directly to the Design For Life campaign in association with SelfUnlimted.

For more information and a sneak peek of the styles featured just click here. 

Will you be purchasing this app? I'm always keen to learn new styles, so why not do so while supporting a great charity? xxx

Superhero Hair - Live Color XXL Cool Scarlet

Feeling more than a little lacklustre last week I decided to freshen up my hair colour. While browsing through the isles it hit me that I had tried all too many dyes and often had the same result. This time I wanted something more bold and striking so I chose Live Color XXL in the shade Cool Scarlet.

Perhaps the girl in the promo image swayed me, but I just think this colour is absolutely gorgeous. Honestly, if I could get away with Rihanna red in the office I would go for it, but I have to stay sensible. Of course I knew my hair would never match the shade above, and I made sure it wouldn't be too bright by only keeping it on for 20 minutes (versus the 30 mins recommended time).

So here it is - my super hero hair! 

It's pretty red isn't it! I used two boxes of dye, and still managed to miss a few areas, so I have to warn you that this isn't the easiest dye to work with, and it is very drying. However, I love the colour!

It's 'just' dark enough to sit on the right side of wearable, but still very full and vibrant. I know it won't stay like this for long since every time I wash it the colour runs atrociously and makes the water a rather frightening shade of dark pink.

So for now I will just have to make the most of being a red head! Look out Miss Amy Childs ;) hahaha.

Are you tempted to join the red brigade? Have you ever tried Live Color XXL? xxx

WEN by Chaz Dean

Recently I have been testing out a plethora of different hair products as I am always keen to review and recommend the best products out there for you my lovely readers. However, I think this time I may have over done it a little. Even though my hair is well overdue a good cut and colour I have noticed it looking overly dry and flat, and when I saw the first few flakes of dandruff I knew it was time to stop and take a break. Frankly, it could be down to stress too as everything is very hectic at the moment with work and exams, so sleep isn't on the agenda. Even though I would recommend switching up your shampoo and conditioner every once in a while to prevent product build up I do find that if I change too often my sensitive scalp gets a little 'confused'.

So when I was offered to try the wen cleansing conditioner I jumped at the chance. I had already reviewed and proclaimed my love for the sweet almond mint conditioner on my YouTube channel back in 2009, so I was excited to see if the new cucumber aloe would work as well.


After just a few washes I have to say I am back in love with this product! It has the most refreshing, cooling sensation on the scalp and I am happy to say those little pesky flakes have been banished. As you can see the video above is pretty comprehensive, especially as I have managed to ramble on for 10 minutes, so I just wanted to give you a quick update today.

My hair feels so much stronger and healthier since I have started using it again, and while feeling smooth and clean it has also regained some of its bounce. I still stand by my earlier beliefs that it does take longer in the shower to use and requires a little more effort, especially if you have long hair, but personally I think it's totally worth it. Healthy hair and a healthy scalp with no nasties :).

You can find more information on wen here as well as a step by step guide on how to use the cleansing conditioner.

Have you tried any wen products? I know they sometimes pop up on QVC! Let me know what you think and if you are tempted to give it a try ;). xxx

Messy Up-Do

If you have curly hair you will understand my fear of the rain. I rarely wear my hair up, but yesterday I was too tired to style it and couldn't face the frizz in the pouring rain. I therefore decided to pin it out of the way in a messy up-do, inspired by missglamorazzi (her version of a side bun can be found here).

To create the bun I tied my hair into a side ponytail and looped it over so the hair was cinched in the middle with the hair tie. I then pinned random sections to the base of the ponytail to create a full, textured bun. If you have very straight hair you may want to curl it beforehand, but as my hair is naturally wavy it was easy to mould. I finished the bun off with a hair accessory to hide a few of the pins and add a little extra interest. This feather broach was a gift from my friend, and I think it makes just as good a hair accessory!

As my hair is layered I decided to leave the front section out, as it would invariably fall out anyway. I split this into two pieces, twisted them in opposite directions, then twisted them around each other. I then pinned the end around the bun to secure the twist.

This such a great little up-do for when you are in a rush as it takes just minutes! Since my hair is heavy, and I have a lot of it, I did use quite a few bobby pins to secure the bun, but it stayed perfectly in tact for the whole day. Let me know what you think my lovelies! xxx

I Whip My Hair Back and Forth

Hairspray isn't the most exciting of topics, but it is the one product that unites us ladies. Whether you are a low maintenance girl (which I doubt as you are reading this lol) who is hiding a can of Elnett in the back of her bathroom cupboard for 'special occasions', or one of my friends who carries an industrial size Tre Semme in her handbag (you know who you are) we all need a little bit of hairspray every now and again.

Having tried a gazillion different hairsprays I have stumbled on one that fits my needs perfectly. It holds hair really well without being crunchy or sticky, doesn't smell awful and make me feel slightly faint if I over do it, is affordable (£1.99 for 175ml) and pink! I have noticed that it keeps frizz at bay efficiently when straightening and works hard to maintain my style throughout a long night. In fact after curling my hair for a night of 'whipping my hair back and forth' (I mean dancing, I don't know what you were thinking!) the curls were still pretty much in tact the next morning, which is more than could be said for the rest of me lol ;).

Phil Smith's Xtravagant hairspray promises to be long lasting, give a brilliant shine and a firm, but natural hold and it delivers. Now if only we could all find a man who will do the same!

Have you tried the Xtravagant hairspray or any other products from the Phil Smith range? xxx

Aveda Smooth Infusion - The Products

As my final installment in the Aveda Smooth Infusion series I wanted to review the products that make up the range and share with your my experiences in testing these out over the last four weeks.

Before I get into too much detail let me give you my overall impression. The Aveda Smooth Infusion range sets out to protect hair from humidity and banish frizz. On my wavy/ curly frizz prone hair I noticed a marked difference while using these products. Firstly, my hair was much smoother and had less texture and curl when left to dry naturally. Personally I prefer a little volume, and though I wouldn't say that these products weighed my hair down, they definitely made it more sleek. When used in conjunction with heat styling I noticed that (despite my best efforts) my hair didn't frizz as much as it normally would, however if I left my hair to air dry there were still quite a few flyaways to be found. Therefore, I think these products would be best suited to someone with frizz-prone hair who wants their sleek look to last a few hours longer, without having to worry about humidity. If you are someone who religiously straightens their hair this would be the perfect range as it will reduce the time needed for styling, protect from heat damage and ensure your style lasts!

The Shampoo contains an exclusive plant infusion—a blend derived from organic aloe, maize and guar bea to create a smooth new hair surface. Not only does this shampoo smell fantastic (herbal yet fresh) it gives a really lovely soft lather that feels moisturising and in no way strips the hair. As with most Aveda products this is great for use on a sensitive scalp, or dry, colour treated hair as it cleanses effectively while being gentle.

The Conditioner has a slightly stronger, more spicy smell than the shampoo, which is in-keeping with the range. Its rich texture makes it easy to use as both an everyday and a leave in conditioner. I tend to overdo it with conditioners, so the narrow nozzle made it easier to control the amount I was getting as you really don't need very much.

The Style-Prep Smoother contains hydrolized wheat protein to protect against surface damage from heat styling and organic tapioca to defend against humidity for up to 12 hours. I use 3-5 pumps of this (as I have quite a lot of hair) and spread it throughout the ponytail section of my hair. The formulation of this is very smooth, and not at all sticky, so it spreads easily and evenly throughout the hair. Since I am pretty lazy when it comes to hair, especially as I mostly wash it just before bed, I like the fact that this is a multi-functional product that tames, battles frizz and protects against heat styling damage.

The Glossing Straightener, as all other products in this range, smells lovely - a fresh yet spicy citrus-floral blend with rose oil and certified organic bergamot, palmarosa and Australian sandalwood. It contains natural cellulose to deliver long-lasting hold and maintain a straight style all day. However, as I rarely straighten my hair I have had less use of this product. The few times that I have straightened my hair with a flat iron I have noticed that my hair looked a little more shiny, though I can't be sure if this is due to the straightener, or the whole combination! I have however tried this on the ends of dry hair for a little 'pick me up' and it works well at defining sections, or applied sparingly throughout to reduce frizz.

I hope this review is helpful to some of my wild hair beauties - I will definitely be using these products in future when I am going for a straight style. Usually when I straighten my hair I leave it for 3 days before washing and it has always been a stretch. However, the Smooth Infusion range has really helped my style last longer, and anything that saves time on two work mornings deserves praise from me! If you missed my 'results' post with before and after photos you can check it out here.

Let me know your thoughts on any of these products... I have been impressed by Aveda and am keen to try their range for curly hair next!


*This post was sponsored by Aveda as part of a month long challenge to see how the products perform*

OOTD - Tassels

While browsing through my wardrobe on Saturday night I stumbled upon one of my favourite little LBDs. This dress always reminds me of the scene where Carey goes on her first date with her Russian 'luva' (Mikhail Borishnokov).

Tassels, fringing, whatever you may call it, they make the perfect dancing partner!

For makeup, I stuck to a basic smokey eye using MAC bronze and espresso eyeshadows, with a natural lip gloss from Beaute.

Being short on time I left my hair natural, but added volume by blasting it with a hairdryer with my head upside down and tying it up in a bun while it cooled (leaving time for makeup). If you have naturally wavy hair this is a great trick to add some movement and bounce!

Do you have a secret love of tassels? xxx

Aveda Smooth Infusion - The Results

Some of you may have already read my earlier post (find it here)- introducing the Aveda Smooth Infusion Challenge.

Throughout this month I have been putting the Aveda's Smooth Infusion range to the test, seeing if it can really deliver on its promises - protect my hair from heat styling damage, keep my hair free from frizz for 12 hours and defend against humidity. Rain, tube, dance class, clubbing - you name it, I have done it in the name of good hair ;).
 
Shall we take a look at the results? First up, a walk in the wind and rain, followed by a tube ride. Aaah my favourite!

Since my hair was blow dried with some volume and movement at the ends you can definitely see it has dropped and lost some of its curl. However, it has remained smooth and frizz free.No flyaways here!

A few days later I straightened my hair and set out for another long day at work. Although my hair is  wavy and textured it is pretty quick to straighten and smooth, however the curls usually start to make themselves known in the evening, especially if there is moisture in the air.

 After a hot, packed tube ride and a walk in the drizzle by lunchtime my hair was still looking sleek.

 In the evening I set out for another walk in the rain and tube ride (anyone sensing a pattern here?), followed by dinner and a few cocktails. Please excuse my pyjama and glasses clad snaps ;).

As you can see over 12 hours later my hair is still straight, however a few flyaways are starting to emerge. Since my hair is layered quite often the shorter pieces tend to frizz, especially around the front and at the crown. The next morning my hair was still straight, and all it needed was a little serum to smooth the ends and a few of the flyaways. 

Let me know what you think of the results and do keep an eye out for my last post in this series, where I will be reviewing the Smooth Infusion range in more detail!


*This post was sponsored by Aveda as part of a month long challenge to see how the products perform*

Fringe Benefits

These days we have so much choice when it comes to hair (and other things) that it's often very difficult to commit to one style. I will confess that I have always been quite conservative with both my cut and my colour, apart from a brief summer stint as a blonde ;). However, I have flirted with a fringe more times than I can recall. It seems that half my life has been spent awkwardly sweeping annoying strands from my forehead as I try to grow one out, and then finally getting bored and going for the chop once again. Wouldn't it be nice to have the option to radically change your style without expensive trips to the hairdressers and anguish over whether or not it will suit you? Well, now you can, with a clip-in fringe!

As you can see my hair is long and layered, with the front sections just below the cheek bone. To attach the fringe I took hair from the centre of my crown to my temples in a triangle shape, then twisted and secured it to the side using a bobby pin. I then clipped in the fringe and blended the sides with a comb.

 

This American Dream Vanessa fringe was sent to me for review in the colour - 33 rich copper. On the website it is described as a full, thick fringe with longer sides. At first I tried to create a more natural side fringe by clipping the it a little lower, closer to my hairline. I then secured it nearer to the crown to create a longer length, classic choppy fringe.

I was surprised by how good the colour match was, as I always find it difficult to chose the right shade on a website. The longer pieces on the side create instant layers that frame your face, help to blend the fringe in and look more natural. The Vanessa fringe is made of human hair, however I would say it doesn't blend in perfectly due to the hair being very smooth and shiny against my natural hair, which is more textured and a little thicker. This was particularly noticeable in bright light as the fringe looked much more glossy than the rest of my hair. However, this could easily be fixed by straightening the hair to make it look smoother and more shiny, or adding a little serum.

For more information you can visit the American Dream Extensions website here. Prices range from £7.26 to £20.37 for 100% human hair fringes in six styles.

Have you ever tried a clip-in fringe? Let me know what you think!