Colour Freedom Hair Dye

I'm always on the hunt for a fuss-free hair dye that allows me to switch up my colour when I want to. When browsing in Superdrug a while ago, I noticed a new range by Colour Freedom. Colour Freedom provide a selection of approximately 14 non-permanent and 10 permanent hair colours, as well as bleach and pasteliser products.  

I've now used their products a few times and have had an easy and hassle-free experience every time. A lot of dyes I've used before have been very messy and I've ended up with a pink sink, but these dyes are similar to a thick conditioner. They are very easy to apply to towel dried hair with no annoying drips on the bathroom floor. 

The dyes are very conditioning and have left my hair feeling extra soft and shiny with every use, which is a tricky task for most conditioners when it comes to my bleached hair. The shades are easy to adapt to your preference, all you need to do is add in some of their pasteliser or a white conditioner to get a pretty pastel shade, or leave it as it is for a more intense colour.

One of the colours that I tried is called Indigo Night, which developed to this gorgeous purple-blue. It lasted a few weeks, with the colour fading slightly with each wash and eventually fading to a mint green colour (as blue hair dyes do). To get rid of the staining, I used the shade Pink Pizazz as the pink helps to neutralise the green pigment and I was back to blonde once the pink faded out.

                        Indigo Night: Without Flash                                       With Flash

Colour Freedom have definitely become my go-to brand. Here are a couple of other colours I've tried:

                                   Pink Pizazz                                                   Orange Sorbet

Which one is your favourite? I'm currently trying to decide which colour to go next, help me decide please! 

Colour Freedom also have a range of style products under the name of Style Freedom, which I haven't tried yet, but I'm planning to pick some up soon and give them a go. Their products are available at Superdrug and are priced between £6.99-£7.99.

Have you used any of Colour Freedom's other dyes? Or have you found a holy grail blue dye that doesn't stain?

Make Up Brush Cleansing Palette for less than £3!

There is nothing worse than getting to the end of the week and realising it's time to wash your make up brushes. It was taking me an hour and a half every time so I was desperate to find a way to speed up the chore. Browsing online I found this cleansing palette by Real Techniques, but I didn't know if it would work well, so was reluctant to spend £12.99 on it. 

I headed over to eBay and managed to find this almost identical offering from Hong Kong and decided to give it a go. For £2.81, even if it didn't help to speed up the washing process I'd not lost much. I expected to wait a month or two for it to be delivered, as it says in the estimated delivery. However, mine was delivered within 2 weeks. 

Since it arrived, I can't wash my brushes without it. There is a strap around the back of the palette so you can hold it comfortably in the palm of your hand. I use the palette with some baby shampoo and each brush is as clean as when I bought it within 10 seconds and it now takes me about 10 minutes to wash all of my brushes. 

You can buy your own here 

Do you have a Holy Grail brush cleanser or routine? 

Shades London Hair Toner - Lilac Haze

Shades London: Lilac Haze*

I'm a big fan of changing my hair colour constantly as I get bored of it so easily, so when I was asked to try out one of Shade London's products I jumped at the chance. They are a relatively new company, only launching at the start of this year. They offer a range of semi-permanent toners in three easy-to-wear shades: Pink Candy, Lilac Haze and Silver Lining.

After spending two weeks in Dubai with lots of sun and without a silver shampoo (eek!), my hair was quite brassy. As soon as I got home all I wanted to do was tone it!

The Shades London toners are surprisingly very easy to use and mess free - all you have to do is use it as you would a regular conditioner! The instructions recommend to leave it on for 10-15 minutes, but I left it on for an hour to achieve a more toned, long lasting look.

                                 Without Flash                                                            With Flash

As you can see, my hair toned to a very ashy blonde. I think if my hair was white blonde to start off with, then the lilac would have shown up more. However, as I was quite yellow to start off with, all of the lilac pigment was used up toning it to white.

You definitely don't need to use a conditioner afterwards as it left my over-bleached hair extremely soft, shiny and smelling great. You can use one tube for up to five applications (depending on how much hair you have!). 

Shades London toners are available to buy from Savers for £3.99

DIY: Patches iPad Case

I was a bit bored of my plain iPad case and was trying to figure out an easy way to jazz it up a bit. When I was browsing online, I saw a little pink love heart patch that said 'Go Away' and I instantly knew that was to way to go. I think this is the easiest DIY I have ever done, and it's another super cheap one!

All you need to do is choose the patches you want and superglue them straight onto your iPad case! That's literally it.

Here's my finished case:

I already had my iPad case, so I only had to buy the patches - and they only cost £3.96! 

Here are the links to the things I used:

Patches - 99p each!! - They are from a seller based in China, so they took exactly 2 weeks to arrive (this could be different for you!)

Rose Gold iPad Mini 3 Case - £8.99

If you don't have an iPad, why not try it on your laptop case, phone case or purse!

If you try out a super cute patches DIY, send me pics on twitter or instagram! @Melissa_Teague

Gift Guide: Things to buy a dog lover

First things first, who ISN'T a dog lover? Like, really? I can't comprehend it.

Now you're reading this post more than likely for one of the following reasons:

1. You want to buy a present for the dog lover in your life

2. you ARE the dog lover in your life and you want to treat yo'self

Here are 10 super cute, doggy-related gifts:

1. Doodling for Dog People - £10

I absolutely adore everything Gemma Correll does - I even still have one of her pug jumpers from around 2009... I think this book is my favourite thing in this post, and I'm going to order it for myself (sorry, not sorry)

2. Doggy Umbrella - £15

Everybody needs an umbrella, and every dog lover needs a doggy umbrella. You can find this one on the Urban Outfitters website annoyingly listed as a 'Pug Umbrella' when it's CLEARLY a Boston Terrier. I would have forgiven mistaking it for a French Bulldog, but a pug?! Really?!

3. Boo the Pomerian teddy - £12.99  

HOW CUTE? We all love Boo the Pom, but this is Boo in a cuddly bear suit - what more could you want? 

4. Puppy Slippers - £7

These look like the cosiest thing ever. Has anyone else been wearing slippers like this before and caught them out of the corner in your eye and got excited for split second thinking there was a real dog in the room? Even though they're on your own feet? Just me? 

         

5. These cute bits from Sighh Designs:

  Pin Badge - £6.50

A6 Print - £5                                Phone Case - £18

I already have 2/3 of these items and I'm eyeing up the third. Polly from Sighh designs knows exactly what the dog lovers want - and she delivers with super cute designs! Check out her other stuff too, from a huge selection of gorgeous phone and laptop cases to revision plans for students.

6. Dog Selfie Kit - £6.99

If you're lucky enough to actually have a pupper in your life then get this so you can do a mini photo shoot and also shame them with photographic evidence of their misbehaving

7. Dachshund Salt Shakers - £25

If you're looking for a bit more of a 'grown up' present or something more homely, or even just something for a dachshund lover (like me), then this is a great present. I already have a british bulldog set from my brother, but I'm very tempted to get these too..

8. Pug Flask - £14

Everybody loves a pug. Everybody needs a flask. What else needs to be said? 

9. Puppy Piggy Bank - £9

I'm sure many of you have seen the videos of these types of money boxes - you put the coin in the dish and the dog 'eats it' (knocks it into the box below). I promise you, it does not get old. I have a panda bear one and it actually motivates me to save my coins just to watch him sneakily scoop the money away.

10. Pug Pocket Sweater - £20

Cosy, oversized jumpers are perfect for lazy days and they're even better when there's a tiny puppy sticking out of the pocket. Give the gift of comfort as well as the gift of puppies.


I mean, I would be happy with any one of these gifts, but there's only one thing that a dog lover REALLY wants.....A REAL DOG PLS