An update and my new 'do...

My poor blog has taken a backseat lately for several reasons, but I am trying to make a conscious effort to set a little time aside to focus on blogg-y things, for my own sanity if nothing else! This is the first 10 minutes in weeks I have had the time to sit down with a cup of tea, the laptop, iPad, Filofax and Etta James. It's a very welcome change from the constant stress of the past few weeks.

If you have been following my DIY hair disaster posts, you will remember that the last time I blogged my hair was ORANGE. Not ginger, not strawberry blonde but full on, patchy orange...no thanks to Decolour Stripper.
I bit the bullet and booked into a wonderful salon in Birchgrove, Cardiff that comes highly recommended. The salon - Blush - is one of the best experiences I have had in a salon and I am truly, eternally grateful for their expert colour technician, Ruby and how she saved my hair and gave me gorgeously glossy, beautifully coloured and chopped hair.
I will be writing up a full review, dedicated to Blush hair salon but for now, let me introduce you to the new 'do...

Ruby & I agreed on a level 6 natural ash colourant, semi permanent (I do believe it is called Moroccan sand) Blush use Redken colours which I was pleased with, I am familar with the brand and love their haircare. My natural hair colour (blonde) is a natural ashy tone, so this matches my eyebrows perfectly. The ash also neutralises the hideous orange tones.
I also asked Ruby tentatively for a very subtle TRIM. Usually this results in a hairdressers cutting about 6 inches off my hair but Ruby was an excellent listener and agreed that just a little trim would be best in order for my hair to be rid of split ends, look healthier and feel fuller. Even better, Ruby suggested that I should have NO layers. I nearly fell off my chair in amazement. 
Every salon I have ever visited insist on layers in my naturally curly, fine hair to 'give volume' which actually translates as me looking as though they have styled a mushroom on my head. Modesty Brown will know what I mean...!

So here it is, nothing drastic or extreme but for the first time in my life, exactly what I wanted. Straight out of the salon iPhone shots...

This was the first salon visit I haven't had to come home and wash/style my hair myself to get the desired look and the very first time a stylist has truly listened to me and used their knowledge and expertise to create the desired outcome. The result was so much better than I could have ever imagined.
A huge improvement in colour and condition post Decolour Stripper nightmare. I certainly will never ever touch products like those again. It's salon all the way! At least if nothing else, you have expertise and follow up care in a salon, unlike these off the shelf product brands which ignore your requests for information and help.

My plan over the next few months is seriously improve the condition of my hair and then on the base colour I have, start adding in some very subtle and fine blonde highlights and eventually, when my hair is long enough a very subtle blonde ombre I think.
But for now, it's all about condition...my star haircare products post coming up soon!

Now, to catch up on weeks worth of blog posts. What have I missed?!