Custom Order - Golden Flexi Jade Rose

Hello Lovelies!

There have not been many posts about hair jewellery lately, I know. Actually I am on a very tight student budget at the moment so I have not gotten many new pieces. One of my only pieces for a very long time was a golden Flexi in Mega. Flexis in Mega don't come in many styles and especially not in golden colours since they are not very popular. I prefer copper and gold although I do have a celtic knot flexi in pure silver and the tree of life flexi that comes in silver as well. So long story short - you can mix and match different pearls and centrepieces as you want and just write an e-mail to their custom service on www.flexi8.com. They are very helpful and friendly and you just need to pay a little custom fee for your wishes. I love the colour green so I choose the jade hearts with tigereye stones which is another favourite stone of mine with the little golden rose in the center. I think it turned out very pretty and I have been wearing my mega flexis a lot simply because they are pretty and very durable. Sometimes you need to pay custom fees, but only above a certain amount that i did stay under. They ship from the US and I have never waited more than 2 weeks  luckily. 

Do you like the Flexi hairstyles or do you prefer chop sticks? 

I would love to hear about your custom orders as well!

Flechtwerk: Multibraids

Multibraids - Fishtail Braid - Accent 3x3 braid 

Hello Lovelies,

Today's post is about simple or not so simple multi braids. I love to combine different braiding techniques - my favourite at the moment are fishtail braids. I think it it looks always romantic, sweet with a little boho vibe. If you want you can fluff up your fishtail braid to add more volume. In today's hair do I just incorporated one accent braid into two regular three strand braids at the nape of my neck that I then combines to a three strand braid. Sounds fancy but is very easy :o) 

How to:

• Braid a fishtail braid beginning at your forehead
• Braid two regular english braids at the nape of your neck
• Combine all three into one braid

I am excited about the other Flechtwerk-Girl's Ideas, check out Heike, Nessa,  Bobby , Wuscheline and Lenja :) And because I had the nicest sunset yesterday - ducks in a pond for you as well. For more braiding inspiration you can check out my pinterest hair board if you like.

Sunset Pond with ducks

Hairlength in July

Hello Lovelies!

Time for a monthly hair length update :) This time a little different - a front picture for a change. I am beyond classic length now with 109 cm! I know, it's crazy how fast they grew. Lately like always it was very stressful for a while and I did not had much time to fuss about my hair. I just kept to my routine and put my hair into a simple three strand braid and suddenly they became so long. I do think it looks very nice when I wear my hair loose around my face - but I am actually a pretty short person with just 1,63. So my hair length does weight me down a little. In a braid it's fine though. Not sure where to go from here. What do you think leave it or cut it a little bit? I was pretty happy at hip length I have to say. Henna grew out just about arm pit length! Yay! The sun turned my hair redder than it is like always. But I still love my natural hair colour. And to celebrate my reached length I just ordered hair jewellery I wanted forever now. It all started a few years ago on Etsy. I was looking for Rose's Titanic butterfly comb after reading about it on the LHC. Heike was then ordering one from Etsy but never had it shipped, another pretty long hair friend Schmunselhase got hers luckily but until lately I had given up. Thanks to Heike - she just got her comb and so I started to look again for the comb and found it finally :o) I hope it will ship quickly as well. I am so excited <3 .

Care: Review Yves Rocher I love my Planet Radiance Shampoo

Review - Yves Rocher I love my planet Shampoo

Yves Rocher's shampoo  (5Euros/300ml) is ecolabeled, biodegradable and has minimal ingredients for shiny and really clean hair. This shampoo will deep clean your hair and not weight it down. It foams and cleans very well and leaves your hair full of volume. I have been using this shampoo for a month now and use it very diluted. It leaves my scalp happy and non-itchy. It says for all hair types and I can really agree!

Incis

Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate,Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Salicylic acid, Citrus (Medica Limonum Juice),Tocopherol

It is really plain if you look at the incis. Washing power comes from sodium laureth sulcate and betaine, it contains glycerine for more manageability and that's about it already. There is no oil of aloe vera in it. It will be a good shampoo for fine hair as well although I was surprised that my hair was not dried out too much as well.

Fragrance

It smells like lemons. I think this is a great shampoo during summer because you really feel refreshed after the shower.

The good price, simple ingredients and lovely fragrance get a 8/10! It might be not enough moisture if used over a long time but until now it has worked very well for me. It works well as a clarifying shampoo - something you need to use to get all that sheabutter out of your hair or your coconut oil hair mask. It has a minimum of care incis and I would use it about once every 2-3 weeks ( I wash my hair on a weekly basis).
 Yves Rocher claims that for every sold shampoo they will plant a tree, Yves Rocher has an own environmental organisation, more infos can be found here. They did plant 35 million trees already if you look at their website ticker. I think it is good that Yves Rocher has a nature bound philosophy!

Did you use any Yves Rocher prodcuts lately? What do you think about their philosophy and incis? I find that they sometimes contradict a little if you look closely at some of their product ranges.

Hello Curly Sue

Hello Lovelies!

Someone asked me about my natural hair structure and type of curls. I don't think I have a detailed post about my curls so here we go :) Actually my typ of curls and hair structure are the nr one reason why my hair is so long. My hair is extremely thick, coarse and curly and when you combine this hair structure with a modern layered hairstyle without straightening your hair - you will look like your own grandma or just let's say it a little cuter like a little frizz ball with hair halo around my head. The shorter my hair is the curlier it gets - the longer the easier to manage because my thick curls will turn into waves and the weight of my hair will eventually listen to gravity and just go down. My hair is at classic length now and I don't have any layers - the ends still curl just like that. 

I have to say I am now very happy about my hair type because if I want I can just comb my hair when it is slightly wet and I will have straight to wavy hair. If I want curls I will just put massive amounts of aloe vera gel and coconut oil into it and my hair will stay curly. Curly hair is really in need of moisture!

Maintain happy curls
The reason my hair curls at the end of 109 cm is because my hair is very healthy and the ends aways have hair oil in. On the picture I have used my favourite hair serum from ilikegreen. But any good hair oil will work if you have curly hair. And my hair oil secret is very simple : I oil the ends of my hair while they are still soaking wet after the shower. They will dry much slower but lock in all the moisture that they need.

If you want to read more about curly hair care you can visit Lorraine Massey's Curly Girl website.

Do you have any trick on how to keep your locks hydrated?

Care: Review Alterra Feuchtigkeits Shampoo Aloe Vera Granatapfel

Review - Alterra Feuchtigkeitsspülung Granatapfel Aloe Vera

Hello Lovelies! 

Today's review will be about one of my all-time favourite low budget hair care series, the Alterra Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner with Pomegranate and Aloe Vera (200 ml/2 Euro). I have used multiple bottles of this series over time and I usually have a bottle of conditioner at home as a prewash conditioner. Both products work great on all hair types - Lenja has a review in german on her blog and her fine blonde hair loves the conditioner as much as my coarse thick and dry hair! I think one of the reasons is Aloe Vera - it adds moisture to all hair types without weighting hair down. You can buy them online or at the german drugstore Rossmann.

Recipe for deep moisture treatment - Snowy's Moisture Treatment

This conditioner works miracles if you add 

• two tablespoons of honey to

•  4 tablespoons of conditioner and 

• two tablespoons of pure Aloe Vera Juice! 

If everything fails and your hair is really bitchy and unmanageable this recipe is my holy grail! 

Back to our Incis!

Conditioner 

Aqua, Alcohol*, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol,Myristyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja (Oil)*, Punica Granatum (Seed Oil)*, Ricinus Communis(Seed Oil)*, Punica Granatum (Fruit Extract)*,Aloe Barbadensis (Leaf Juice)*, Acacia Farnesiana (Flower Extract)*, Lauroyl Sarcosine, Sodium Lactate,Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carthamus Tinctorius(Seed Oil)*, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus(Seed Oil), Ascorbyl Palmitate, Parfum**,Linalool**, Limonene**, Geraniol**,Citronellol**, Citral** * ingredients from certified organic agriculture ** from natural essential oils

Shampoo

Aqua, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Coco Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin,Lauroyl Sarcosine, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*,Acacia Farnesiana Flower Extract*,Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Alcohol*,Parfum**, Linalool**, Limonene**,Geraniol**, Citronellol**, Citral** * ingredients from certified organic agriculture ** from natural essential oils

The conditioner contains stearamidopropyl dimethylamine - it is a softener that was also used in huge amounts on the very popular Sante Brilliant Care Conditioner before they changed the formula. Next there is lots of soja oil, pomegranate seed oil, castor oil (yay!) and aloe vera juice.

The shampoo cleanses with mild coco glucosides, contains betaine and glycerin for manageability and again Aloe Vera. There is no protein in either shampoo or conditioner. 

Fragrance:

Sweet fresh and fruity. It can be a little annoying with the sweetness over time but nothing that would keep you from using it.

Both products get a 10/10 for a great combination of price, ingredients and moisture booster effect!

Did you use this series or any more products of the alterra line? I have only used the pomegranate series but I am curious to try out different shampoos :) 

Empties: June

Hello Lovelies! 

It is already June and finally we all can enjoy a real summer without too much rain and lots of sunshine! I can't believe how many products I have used up this month, I hope I will have some products for July because all my skin and hair care products just finished at the same time :o) . Here we go. I know it's a lot :) I just might be a little obsessed with beauty products. Oh my :p

Empties June - Avene Mousse Nettoyante, La Roche-Posay Micellar Solution, Lavera Lavender Shower Gel, Khadi Amla Hair Oil, Giovanni 2chic Avocado Conditioner, Alterra Feuchtigkeitsshampoo, Yves Rocher Natuerelle, Nivea Make-Up Remover Wipes

Giovanni 2chic Avocado & Olive Oil Ultra-Moist Conditioner (325ml/12 Euro) I really liked this conditioner. I will have a review up on this one as well. It contains avocado and olive oils as well as aloe vera juice which is always great. The consistency was very thick but I still needed a lot of conditioner. On a care level I would say it is in the medium range, it would be a good conditioner for fine to normal hair that needs a little body against fly-aways. Repurchase? Yes.

Alterra - Feuchtigkeits-Shampoo Granatapfel & Aloe Vera(200ml/2 Euro) The Alterra Moisture Pomegrate and Aloe Vera series is a really good line that works well for multiple hair types from very coarse and dry like my hair to fine and straight hair like my friend Lenja's. I have used up multiple bottles of both conditioner and shampoo and they always work well. It has a sweet fresh smell that can be a little annoying over time but has the best combination of drugstore friendly price - ingredients and effect in my opinion. A great series for newbies regarding organic hair care. Repurchase? Yes.

La Roche-Posay Hydreane BB Cream in light (40ml/15Euro) Like I said in my previous empties post I do like la roche-posay which is a french pharmacy brand because their products all work on my hypo-allergenic skin. The brand is not organic and the incis are not the best but until I find a reasonable proved organic brand I do think I will stick with it. The baby cream has a SPF of 20, gives you a slight lovely glow and is great on dry skin. Fragrance free and no itchiness or redness and no break-outs. Repurchase? Yes.

Khadi Herbal Hair Oil Amla (210ml/14Euro) I simply love Khadi Oils. I think they are among the best quality oils that you can use for your body and hair and I loved every single drop of this oil. I also used it on my scalp, normally I only use my hair oils on lengths and ends, but this one contains Amla exctract and was also beneficial against hair loss. Full review here. My next oil is the rose oil and I am excited to start using that one :) . Repurchase? Definitely! 

Yves Rocher- Naturelle Perfume (75ml /20Euro) I even finished my perfume this month ^^ . I am a big fan of fresh flowery fragrances and I love D&G light blue perfume. Yves Rochers is a very good dupe and for a fraction of the price. It smells like cedar trees, lemon and jasmine. My new perfume was a gift from my mum and is very different from what I would normally use and buy but I love the smell - it was such a surprise! My new perfume is Chanel Allure Sensuelle which contains jasmine, rose, iris, candied fruits and vetiver with vanilla and patchouli as a base note. I always use only one perfume at a time. Repurchase? Maybe once I was light blue back. 

Avene - mattierender Reinigungsschaum (150ml/15Euro) I think this one is Europe exclusive? No allergic reaction, it did a good job getting make-up of and has a very nice system with a little pump that automatically foams the cleanser. It did dry my skin out though. Repurchase? No, I need something that is better for my extremely dry skin.

La-Roche Posay - physiological micellar solution (200ml/15Euro) Micellar Solutions are basically cleansing waters that can clean your skin, remove make up and be a toner at the same time. I love the idea of this product and this cleanser was amazing in removing eye-make up and purifying the skin. It did not burn a little bit and had a good effect on my skin as well. I really loved this product! Similar ones are the Bioderma water and nano solution from Avene. Repurchase? Yes.

Lavera - Organic Lavender Showergel (150 ml/4Euro) It is a lovely shower gel that lathers up well, foams nicely and leaves the skin hydrated and fresh. I love lavender so the smell here was definitely a plus. Repurchase? Yes.

Nivea - Make-Up Remover Singles for sensitive Skin. (4Euro) These were terrible. They burned while using them, dried out fast and had too much perfume. I used them later as little wet towels for my hands. I wish there would be good product as face wipes because I love the idea! I have tried Alterra's and Alverdes's but they gave me itchiness - I guess because of the fragrance. Has anyone a good recommendation? Repurchase? No.

Do you know any of the products I have used up? How was your experience? Am I the only one who finishes everything at the same time ^^ ?

Flechtwerk - Leave In Recipes for long hair

Hello Lovelies! 

I hope you are all enjoying the sunlight and having a wonderful Summer. I have been swimming for the last couple of days and really enjoyed the amazing weather :) I have to apologize, I am having trouble with my Laptop so this post is coming to you through my Blogger App and I can't link my recipes yet and not load all the pics I want. Bear with me I will fix that problem soon. 

Back to our topic! 

I am a big fan of Leave In's! I really always and forever have some kind of hair oil or hair cream in my ends and lengths. It protects your ends from split ends and nourishes between washes. My hair is naturally extremely dry and I do benefit a lot from Leave In Treatments ! Here my braid with a happy cat on the beach, the picture is just a phone pic but it is just too cute. Don't know why some people don't like cats! Currently there is lots of Alverde Hair Oil in my braid :D I know it does take some effort to use a leave in on a daily basis - but don't let me come over here - you do want super long and healthy hair right? So be good and just do it. 

Alverde Hair Oil

Since I am really big on leave in's there are lots of recipes already on my blog!

 Recipes:

• Sheabutter Hair Balm - my favourite during Winter time ❄️
• Rosewater-leave in , lovely scent and refreshens curls!
• Coc-aloe (50%aloe vera juice & coconut oil) extra moisture! Great for hairstyling and my go to in the morning - Post should be coming soon as well.
• Hair oil ( I do love my Serum the most I have to say. I do admit that it is very expensive so why don't you check out - Argan Oil as well ? My hair just soaks it right up! Then pure coconut or infused oil and almond oil) 

Long red hair & ginger cat :)

Leave In Routine 

I wash my hair every 5-7 days and add a Leave In twice a day! Every morning I usually use some coc-aloe after I comb my hair and then braid or bun it. Every night as Part of my nighttime routine I use a heavier hair oil on dry hair, I use a small tablespoon and start at my ends working up to my shoulders. Then I braid my hair and by the next morning - voila ! Oil is soaked up and my hair is nourished and shiny! By the end of the week at wash day my hair is pretty full of Leave in! That's why I use plain high quality organic oil - you don't want Patene Chemicals or Silicone based hair oil build up for a week in your hair! 

When it does not work for you..

What can I do if I do look like a little grease ball after a Leave In?

• First of all you might be doing what we all did once we discovered hair care and the magic of oils! Quantity is not always everything you might be over doing it. My hair is coarse up to my tighs and curly so I do use a tablespoon of hair oil but for normal haired gals a few drops are enough! It is about doing it regularly - not over doing it. Then happened to me too we all ended up as a little grease ball from time to time. Just braid it and no one will see your oil party.
• You might not find the right oil yet. Not every hair likes coconut oil. Some girls hair react with crunchiness! You need to try a few different oils. Look at my article about the top 5 best hair oils for some inspiration! Link is here. 
• Your hair might want a different consistency. Try Aloe Vera Gel, Pure Sheabutter or Cocoabutter. 

I hope my little tips helped you a little, See the girls post under these links, I am so excited because our hair types could not have been more different! Our next topic will be multi braids! Yay! I wear braids 90% of the time so I am really glad to mix things up a little.

wuscheline

Heike

Nessa

Bobby

Lenja

Empties : May

Hello Lovelies,

I have always liked Empties reviews about used up products and their final verdict. A friend just told me latey that there is not too much beauty content on my blog - so why not change it a little and start a new category. I will incorporate all beauty products not just hair products because I tend to use a product for a long time. I think you will never get a better review than one of a finished product. Please let me know if you would like to read more of these monthly posts :). 

Bionike Proxera Body Emulsion for very dry skin. (20 Euro/200ml) Fragrance free, parabene free, nickel free. I did like the body lotion because it did not give me any allergic reaction like red dots and itchiness. My skin is extremely dry and this body lotion really hydrates all your skin layers without feeling sticky. It is one of the most moisturising lotions I have used so far. It does take a little time to soak in though. It is a little pricy and finishes quickly. It had no fragrance but a slight metallic smell that did bother me though. Repurchase? Maybe.

Balea Ultra Sensitive Intensive cream for very dry skin. (5Euro/50ml) This product is as well formulated for very dry allergic skin. It is very oily and does not moisturise well. Unlike most of my beauty products I was very glad when I used up the tiny tube. It is fragrance free and very neutral. After application of the product my skin felt as if there was a film on top - I have to say I did not like the product at all. I noticed more blemishes as well. Repurchase? Definitely no. 

Yves Rocher Jardins du Monde, California Almond (3Euro/100ml) This showergel has a creamy formula and lathers up very well. It did not cause any allergic reaction and has a very slight fresh smell with a little hint of marzipan. It did not dry out my skin and was very mild. Repurchase? Yes, i already got the Organic Aloe Vera Version ! :)

White Camellia Shampoo (15Euro/11oz) Review here. I simply love the white Camelia Series. The shampoo is very rich so I like to use it when my hair feels especially dry - on the beach or during winter time. I have now switched to a lighter shampoo but I love to have a bottle around whenever I need lots of moisture in my hair. Repurchase? Yes.

GBP Conditioner (15Euro/11oz) Review here. I am still in love with the GBP Series. It is heaven for dry ends and an itchy scalp and the herbal scent is great during summer. The only downside of the series is that it is so rich in protein that you need to alternate every few washes otherwise you will have an protein overload which results in dry ends and straw-like hair. Repurchase? Yes, I think this is my 3rd bottle.

Do you have any recommendations for a good face cream for dry itchy allergy-prone skin? As you can see I am still on the hunt :( .

Flechtwerk: 4-strand Ribbon Braids

Hello Lovelies! 

Today's post is about incorporating romantic ribbons into your hair! Long before Regency Up-Do's as seen in Jane Austen movies, Ribbons habe been used as hair jewellery. They will not damage your hair and can be worn in a lot of different styles. I absolutely love to use them because I tend to wear my hair 90% of the time in a braid and even a 4, 5 strand braid can get boring if you wear it all the time. Ribbons can add a pop of a lovely colour as well as an interesting effect. The most popular braid is the 4-strand braid that you will see me wearing as well. I have lots of ribbons, in blue, emerald green, peach, lavender and gold. You will need to use twice the length of your hair and I do use them doubled as well. Learn here how to braid a 4 strand braid. Have a look at the girl's posts,  Heike, Nessa, Bobby, Wuscheline, Lenja. 

I could not get the entire me on the picture because my braid ends now near my lower hips :D . Once you have learned how to braid with 4 strands it is easy! Place the ribbon on the 2nd or 3rd place, it will replace your 4th strand. I separated my strands, you can not see it too clearly because my hair is too thick so I numbered the strands for you. Once you start to braid it will change place as 2/3 and you will see the ribbon throughout the middle of your braid. And that's it - looks fancy but is easy! 

Do you like to wear Ribbons? Which way is your favourite? Headband, braid or bow?

Toxic Thursday : Parabenes & Health Risks

Hello Lovelies!

Parabens have long been in the discussion of toxicity and being carcinogen.  A good topic for toxic thursday! A few beauty companies have picked up on that and are actually marketing their products as paraben-free. All natural and organic companies are not allowed to use parabens and their derivates. But first of all,

What are parabenes and why are they used?

Parabens are parahydroxybenzoates or esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid and a widely used preservative in cosmetics. They do prevent bacterial, microorganism and fungi growth very effectively in cosmetics and food and are very cost efficient and cheap. 

However, there are some controversial aspects.

• Parabens mimicry estrogene, a female hormone and have thus been in the discussion of enhancing breat cancer. There is no direct link but amounts of parabens have been found in breast cancer biopsies. 
• Estrogene-like molecules have also been linked to an early start of puberty in teenage girls . 

• Allergic reactions. Just like many cosmetic agents parabens have also been linked to allergic reactions. Cases of contact dermatitis and Rosacea have been reported.

• Sun damage. Contact with UV light might damage DNA and cause cell ageing.

Good to know!

• Propyl and butylparaben is banned in Denmark in children's products. 

• Do not use parabens if you are pregnant, in your sunscreen or on any products for your kids. 

• There are alternatives! Products can be made safe with botanical alcoholic extracts most commonly found in organic cosmetics.  

Safe Companies, Paraben-free:

• Yves Rocher! Most of their product lines are free of parabens as well as silicone free. Please check the Incis nevertheless. I am currently testing their hair care line, so stay tuned for products reviews the upcoming weeks :) And I do like their products a lot so far. Their deodorants are also aluminium free. 

• All organic companies! Yiha! My favourite is Aubrey Organics as you all know ^^ ! Also safe, John Masters, Melvita, Weleda, Lavera, Alverde, Alterra, Sante.

• Some of Garnier Ultra Beauty Conditioners.

What do you think about parabens? I am not completely parabene free now but slowly switching my products because I do think that I don't want parabens near my lymphatic system (thus parable free deo!) Do you know more companies that are paraben free? Leave some Info in the comments!

Sources:

Read more on Campaign for Safe Cosmetics & Wikipedia.

• Gray, J (2008). State of the Evidence: The Connection between Breast Cancer and the Environment. San Francisco, CA: The Breast Cancer Fund. 
• Daubre PD, Aljarrah A, Miller WR, Coldham NG, Sauer MJ, Pope GS (2004). Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours. Journal of Applied Toxicology 24:5-13. 
• Rastogi SC, Schouten A, Dekruijf N, Weijland JW (1995). Contents of methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and benzylparaben in cosmetic products. Contact Dermatits 32: 28-30. 
• Ye X, Bishop AM, Reidy JA, Needham LL, Calafat AM (2006). Parabens as urinary biomarkers of exposure in humans. Environmental Health Perspectives114: 1843-1846.
• Calafat, A. M., Ye, X., Wong, L.-Y., Bishop, A. M., & Needham, L. L. (2010). Urinary concentrations of four parabens in the U.S. Population: NHANES 2005-2006. Environ Health Persp, 118(5), 679–685.
• Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Meeting (2012). Parabens. http://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/paraben_build.pdf