A Chanel Love Story

I have always been quite partial to watching a documentary in my time. I love real life stories and delving deep into subjects and personalities. However, I got out of the habit of tuning in and got sucked into regular TV shows and especially reality shows lately. Now don't get me wrong, I still look forward to Made in Chelsea on a Monday night (much to my boyfriend's dismay!) but I have also been putting my Amazon Prime to good use and finding some documentaries to watch again.
Two nights ago I found Coco Before Chanel. Now, I am aware this is a film, but it documents and tells the story of Coco Chanel prior to creating her hugely famous brand.

Firstly, if you love fashion, beauty, period dramas or romance then I urge you to check this film out if you haven't already. It is a French production so it does have English subtitles, but this wasn't an issue to me and you become accustomed very quickly.
As a fashion lover, I have always loved Chanel and the elegance of the brand. My ultimate measure of success will be when I can afford a Chanel bag; the most classic black bag to me.
I am especially a fan of the Boy bag....but I have never known much about Coco herself, or Gabrielle as she was born.

After watching her story, I now feel such a connection to her and her journey. She had a difficult upbringing and was in a convent orphanage from the age of 12 when her mother died and her father sent her there. I won't spoil the story for anyone who may want to watch, but the part that touched me the most was the ending.
Coco fell in love with a man whose nickname was 'Boy' and she was his mistress for many years, in fact he funded her first venture into the world of fashion making hats. He died tragically in a car accident, and it broke Coco. However she used her passion and let it drive her into creating what we know today. The beauty in this tragedy is that her love story is within the brand and they live on through Chanel today. If you haven't realised already, the Boy bag is named after that very man, Boy Capel, and the name is still used today. He helped to shape the identity of the brand, believing in Coco and a lot of her designs are based around him and their relationship.
Boy had given Coco a camellia flower as a gift once, which began her love affair with this flower. Anyone who is familiar with the brand will know that the camellia makes a regular appearance still to this day. It evens adorns the beautifully packaged boxes when you buy something.

To me, this story proves that something incredible can be born out of tragedy and that love can live on forever. I think this a beautiful message and one that I hope to carry with me and inspire me on my next venture. I have exciting plans in the pipeline, in which I want to share mine and my mum's journey and keep her alive through my own brand. Stay tuned for more details, but in the meantime check out Coco Before Chanel and believe in the power of love and what it can help us create.

My Favourite Feel Good Films

You know those days where all you want to do is sit on the sofa and eat chocolate? Perhaps you are feeling hormonal, or just had a rough day at work...we all have them, especially us girls! 

When I am feeling this way I love to watch a great feel good film and just give in to my emotions. I make a hot chocolate, grab a blanket and cosy up in front of the TV with my dogs around me.

I have compiled my Top 7 (random number I know!) feel good films that I always reach for, in the hope that you may get some inspiration and check out one of these classics too when you are in need:

SEX AND THE CITY

What is not to love about these 4 women?! They are super funny, empowering and watching them allows me to feel as though I am in their friendship group and living in New York for an hour and a half....which I really wish I was!

GREASE

This has always been one of my favourite films. It is a complete classic, and no one can feel sad when you are listening to these songs.

LOVE ACTUALLY

I think this is Richard Curtis at his best. A fantastic cast of amazing actors, who you can totally relate to, and you get all the feels from so much love in one film. 

BRIDESMAIDS

This film never fails to make me laugh out loud, with so many perfectly silly moments. I can really relate with Annie's breakdown and think Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy are hi-larious....'Help me I'm poor' LOL

HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS

First things first...I love Kate Hudson, she is beautiful. Secondly, I just love how embarassing and crazy she acts to put Matthew McConaughey off. Lots of laugh out loud moments again.

DEVIL WEARS PRADA

For anyone who loves fashion or works in the industry, this film is brilliant. Meryl Streep is a genius as we already know, but this is also very inspiring and teaches the importance of hard work but also working for something you believe in and being true to yourself.

EAT PRAY LOVE

When I am feeling a little lost, this film really picks me up and teaches that there is always a new path and time to rediscover yourself. The world is a beautiful place to be explored and it's important to appreciate the little things.

Please let me know what your favourite feel good films are too, so that I can add to my list, and hopefully one of these may cheer you up too one day :)

An Amazing Charity...Look Good Feel Better

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, or know me personally, will know how passionately I feel about being charitable. I even wrote a blog post on my thoughts recently which I will link here.
I mentioned at the end that I would talk about some charities that I work with and that is what I would like to do today.

I recently became a volunteer with a wonderful charity called Look Good Feel Better. For those of you who haven't heard of them, they hold workshops throughout the world for women who are currently undergoing cancer treatments. Their mission is to help these women with their confidence, self-esteem and wellbeing through amazing skincare and makeup lessons. During the 2 hour sessions, which are complimentary to attend, they meet new friends who are going through similar treatments, learn tips and techniques in beauty from professional beauty therapists and makeup artists and go home with a wonderful goodie bag of products.
It gives these women who may be struggling with the physical side effects of treatments, such a chemotherapy, the chance to feel pampered and learn how to make themselves look like 'them' again. We all know that when we are happy with our appearance we feel like we can take on the world, and are so much more positive. This is what Look Good Feel Better does for these ladies.
I have experienced first hand that they leave feeling transformed, with a new found strength and confidence to be themselves, which is just wonderful to see.
The charity are always on the look out for new beauticians and makeup artists to sign up to volunteer, as without them the workshops simply cannot run.

As you are aware, I know how living through a cancer diagnosis and treatment with my mum, can affect a person and their family. Any positivity and help is a welcome blessing, and every woman receives the opportunity to attend one these sessions. My mum actually never took up the place, as she was an absolute pro with her skincare and makeup routine already, and also with a makeup artist for a daughter she could ask away at me anytime. However so many ladies jump at the chance and it can be a revolutionary experience for them, as well as a welcome distraction. It gives them the confidence to face the next day, and the next round of treatment, with a smile and not to let it define them.

I was also very excited to see that Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup and Lily Pebbles, are taking place in this years sponsored walk to raise money for LGFB. It will be a lovely event for all the family in Dorking, Surrey, with a beauty goodie bag at the end for everyone who has taken part. It's amazing that they are now Digital Ambassadors for the charity, and being a dedicated viewer and reader of them both myself, I know that they will do a fab job with getting people involved and letting the younger generations know the importance of these great causes. Well done girls!

I will leave a link to the charity website below, but if anyone with any beauty or makeup experience is looking to get involved with any charity work, then I urge you to please get in touch. It is a hugely rewarding experience and the best way to use your skills.

Let me know if you would like any more information and check out all the links below...

Look Good Feel Better
LGFB SWALK
Lily Pebbles
Vivianna Does Makeup

Tips For Creating Volume in Fine Hair

One of the most common things that I get asked as a hairstylist is how to achieve volume in fine hair. As a race, we are never happy with our appearance, and are always trying to seek out the opposite of what we have. With hair in particular, the curly-haired girls want straight sleek hair, and equally the straight-haired ladies just want voluminous curls!
One thing I love about my job is being able to transform people and create characters in my photoshoots. I think it is wonderful nowadays that we have the technology available to allow us to play around and look completely different one day to the next. That's the exciting part; with the right tools and knowledge almost anything is achievable.....until you next wash it anyway!

Here are my top tips for creating volume if you have fine hair:

Use Products....But Just a Little

There are so many products out there that guarantee to give you volume, however it is so important to not overload the hair. If you coat your hair, in the hope that more equates to more volume, then you are doing it wrong. You will weigh your hair down, so the product will end up having the opposite effect. I would recommend a root lift spray, and also perhaps a little mousse through the mid lengths and ends as well.

Dry Your Hair UpSide Down

This may be an obvious one to some of you, but use gravity to your advantage! You want your hair to dry with your roots standing up, so tipping your head upside down will keep those hairs in the right direction whilst they dry.

Do Not Use a Nozzle

A nozzle attachment on the end of a hairdryer is designed to direct heat intensely into one area. This is perfect if you are blowdrying frizzy hair into a straight look, however if you have fine hair, it will smooth your hair cuticle down too much and take away the texture that you need. Take the nozzle off, so that the heat is distributed more evenly and you won't over-heat any areas.

Velcro Rollers

This old school technique really does work, trust me. The velcro version is better than the heated kind for adding volume, rather than a curl. Once your hair is dry, pop a few into your hair around your hairline and on top of your head, working back to the crown. Hold them in place with a section clip, so that they stay tightly in there, and then give them a little spritz with hairspray.
Then, with your hairdryer, just give the rollers a quick blast of heat again each, and then allow them to cool and set for as long as possible.

Backcombing

To add in extra oomph at the roots, then backcombing is a handy thing to know. Again, this technique has been around for years, but done well, it does work. You can even backcomb the roots slightly before putting your rollers in for added hold.
The trick here is to keep the backcombing disguised as much as possible, and not looking like a birds nest! When you have combed away, then lightly brush over the top of the section of hair, so that this looks smooth.

Pin Curling

If you are wanting to use tongs to create curls or waves in fine hair, then a great tip is to pin curl.
It is the process of cooling down in a shape that allows our hair to set that way. So you don't want to spend hours curling little sections of your hair and then letting them hang down whilst they cool. Once you take a section out of the tong, re-curl it towards the root and then pin it there. Again, you can spray them and re-heat, just like with the rollers, and then leave them pinned up for as long as possible. Before you go out, simply release the pins and then shake your hair upside down, softening the curls. It is always good to create tighter curls, if you are wanting them to last all day.

Scrunch Your Hair Up Overnight

If you have been lucky enough to keep the volume or curls all day, then sleeping on them will be a sure way to flatten them straight away. Tip your head upside down and gather all of your hair at the top of your head and loosely tie it there in a messy bun. This will keep your roots upwards and the curls should last within the bun, as they are twisted and not being dragged down.

I hope these tips can be helpful to some of you. Please let me know if you try any or would like advice on a different topic soon...

My Remedy For A Bleached Scalp

Anyone who wasn't lucky enough to be born Scandinavian and keep their super white blonde hair past the age of 5 ( I can dream!), will probably have considered or gone through with a full scalp bleach at some point in their lives. Especially if you are a fan of creating the unicorn/mermaid look, like I am, and colouring your locks a beautiful pastel shade.
I have always been a highlights kinda girl myself. Even whilst working in some top West End salons, where I could have taken the plunge and have experts experiment on my hair free of charge...I was always too scared.
A few months ago when I decided to go full on pink, I realised that my dream shade was just not going to be achievable with merely highlights alone. My hairdresser, who I completely trust, suggested we went for it and in a moment of bravery I said yes.
I must admit that I haven't looked back since. The finished blonde is so much whiter and cleaner, and seeing that I am a mousey blonde naturally, the re-growth isn't too bad either.
One thing that I have found though is that my scalp does get sensitive for a few days after being bleached. This is to be expected, and for me; a beauty addict, it is definitely worth it for the result. Beauty over pain and all that jazz!

Last week when I had my roots touched up and got home, I started to feel the tightness over my scalp and it felt quite dry. Almost like a mild sunburn. I decided to try and concoct my own remedy to soothe it. What I tried really seemed to work for me, so I wanted to share it with you all.

In a bowl I mixed 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and then a few pumps of Propolis Gel from SBC. I then massaged this onto my scalp and left it on overnight, before washing my hair in the morning.

I'm sure you have all heard the amazing benefits of coconut oil by now, but honestly it really is so great for your skin. It's moisturising and gentle and completely natural, which is a huge plus.
If you haven't heard of Propolis Gel yet, then it is also a fantastic nourishing skincare product. It is created by bees and is used as a coating to build their hives. For thousands of years it has been used for its healing properties, so I thought this was a must for my concoction. It is sold by SBC as a water-based gel, so it isn't sticky and easily absorbed into the skin. It is also anti-bacterial, and a natural antibiotic. It is recommended for soothing sensitive, chapped skin and aiding the healing process.

Once applied, it instantly felt cooling and soothing, and the tightness almost disappeared. The next morning after washing, I also noticed a big difference to my scalp. It was much softer and much less sensitive, with almost no dry areas. It also was completely back to normal within 2 days, which I was very happy with.

So if you are a regular hair bleacher, or are considering going for it but worried about the affects, then give this remedy a try and let me know how it works for you.

Signs and Messages From Our Loved Ones

Since my mum was diagnosed and especially since she passed away, the topic of spirituality has been in the forefront of my mind.
I was christened a Catholic, was brought up by Catholic parents, and even went to a Catholic primary school. However, neither my mum nor dad were very strict and as we got older we started to go to church less and less.
I never felt like I was really a religious person. I was taught how to pray when I was younger, but if I ever did then I usually chose to talk to my grandparents who had passed, rather than to God himself.
We all seem to be bred to think that talking about death is a taboo subject. It's extremely sad and frightening to us, as it is the unknown, however it is unfortunately the only certain thing in life.
When you are faced with the possibility of losing someone you love, then suddenly you desperately want to know what happens next. Is there a God? Is there an afterlife?

I have always loved to find pennies on the floor. Ask anyone who knows me well, and I am always squatting down to pick up a shiny new penny that I spot....anywhere it may be! I loved the phrase 'see a penny pick it up, then all day you'll have good luck.'
Who knows where these little sayings originated from, but for me, if I find one then I genuinely feel luckier. My mum knew of my strange habit, and told me that white feathers are also meant to be lucky. They say that they are feathers sent down from an angel in heaven watching over you.
If you haven't cottoned on yet...this is where my blog name originated from...my love of finding pennies and feathers.

It's strange that it now feels more relevant than ever. My mum's family were also Catholic, but they all had a strong sense of spirituality. After my grandfather passed away when I was little, we had lots of little signs and what we believed to be messages from him. My grandma had a plant which would never flower when it was supposed to, however if a family event was nearing or if there was a problem in the family healthwise, then a flower would always suddenly appear out of nowhere.
Also, when my cousin was little and first started school, he very matter-of-factly went home and told my auntie that he had grandad sitting next to him all day.

Now I am very aware that we do not know if these are actual signs or whether they are merely a coincidence. However, if they bring someone who is grieving comfort, then what is the harm?
I'm sure that we all love the idea of having guardian angels and knowing that our loved ones can still protect us and be with us.

Before my mum passed away, she told me that she believes that a great love cannot just disappear. She told me that if there is anything after we pass, and there was a way that we can communicate and leave signs, then she would. I told her that it must be through pennies and feathers.
Now, each time I see a white feather in my path, then I have a better day. A few months ago I even found a beautiful white feather sitting in the hallway of my house. I hadn't left the house that day and I had hoovered and cleaned, so where did it come from? To me, it was my mum telling me that she is still around. Whether it is or not, I feel happier and am able to cope better, so that is all that matters.
I put the feathers that I find into picture frames so that I can keep them and be reminded.

It really is the small things in life that matter, and the strangest things can bring someone hope, courage and happiness.

I would love to hear if anyone has any similar thoughts or stories...let me know xx

How To Create Kylie Jenner's Lips: LipKit Review

A few weeks ago I was sitting on my bathroom floor, taking my makeup off, with my phone by my side, waiting for it to hit midnight. This may seem an unusual thing to share with you, but I was waiting for something pretty important. Well...important if you are interested in beauty and makeup anyway!
Kylie Jenner was re-stocking her Lip Kit's on her website and I was determined to get one. They have been selling out so fast and I have heard really good things, so this was a need situation. I need my lips to look as great as Kylie's...minus the fillers!
I went to bed very happy that night, as I managed to get my hands on a Posie K kit, despite the site crashing many times during my transaction....cue lots of panicking lol!

So fast forward a bit, and here it is. I now have the product in my hands and more importantly on my lips. I have worn it for a few days to test it out, so thought I would share my review with you.

The kit contains a liquid lipstick, as well as a lip liner in a matching shade. I really loved how well the liner applied. It is super soft and glides well, without that scratching feeling over the lips. The pigment is great too.
Then, whilst looking like a true chola girl, I applied the lipstick. The doe foot applicator is again very soft, and I was impressed by how easily it allowed me apply and create a neat shape. The colour pay off is instant and strong. There was no need to do a second coat, and it dried pretty quickly, to create the matte finish.
The only negative I have found is that the lid on my liner doesn't have much suction, so it does keep falling off.
I have mentioned previously that I usually veer away from matte lip products, as even though I adore the look they give, my lips do tend to get dry and cracked, especially in the winter, and so I do need the added moisture.
However, I was very happy to find that this left me feeling very comfortable all day, and wasn't too drying at all.
The colour also lasted really well throughout the day. I applied it at around 10am and only needed to re-apply at about 4-5pm. It even survived through a rather greasy pizza lunch! ( I obviously was allowed to eat this, purely for the test haha).

The Posie K is a lovely rich, berry/plum shade, and I think it will look gorgeous on a lot of skin tones.

So if you are into long-lasting matte lips, then I would definitely recommend picking up some of these. Kylie tends to keep you updated on her snapchat when they are being re-stocked, so keep your eyes out!