You ask- I deliver.
In this post I’m going to attempt to give you all the information you could possibly ‘need’ about how I style my hair and the products I use. But like I said in part 1, if you have any other questions, feel free to ask and I’ll be more than happy to answer.
Also, as a quick disclaimer; I’m not saying you must go out and buy all of these tools and products to be able to achieve ‘my look’ (that sounds so conceited ew). There are plenty of cheaper alternatives out there- these are just the items that work best for me.
You can also click on each product for more details or to purchase.
Haircare
As for my products, I use quite a mixture of high and low end items. I’ve tried a crap load of different serums and oils and I’ve loved so many, but the ones I’m including today have been tried and tested for quite some time- they’re the products I would never be without.
It’s also important to note that when it comes to my hair and the products I use, I am VERY fussy. If the product isn’t ‘perfect’, I will not use it. So if I’m going to the extent of sharing this information with the world, you know they have my seal of approval.
There are a few that I won’t be including in this post, simply because I don’t have them at the moment. For example, Moroccanoil Light is my favourite serum of all time, but the bottle smashed a little while ago and I haven’t bought a new one yet.
I wash my hair every 2-3 days which is just the right amount for me. My hair isn’t that oily so I can usually get away with two days but if I’m just at home or feeling extremely lazy I can go three. Depends on the social circumstance really!
I’m also not including specific shampoo and conditioner as I’m always rotating and trying new ones so stating which ones I use regularly would be pointless. But some of my favourites include:
- Fudge Smooth Shot Shampoo and Conditioner ($19.95 AUD each)
- Tresemme Platinum Strength Shampoo and Conditioner ($10.99 AUD each)
- Toni & Guy Cleanse Shampoo and Nourish Conditioner for Dry Hair ($15.99 AUD each)
- Lee Stafford My Big Fat Healthy Hair Shampoo and Conditioner ($11.99 AUD each)
- Deep Conditioner: Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque ($32.00 AUD)
I no longer use this for obvious reasons, but the Fudge Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo ($19.99 AUD) is also a must have for all blondes, as it’s the best I’ve used for getting rid of brassy tones.
As for my routine, I basically shampoo it, rinse that out and then condition it. Once I get out of the shower I will lightly towel dry it, then either run my fingers or a tangle teezer through it to get most of the knots out before putting it up in a Turbie Twist which is basically the best invention since sliced bread.
I’ll then take it out, apply some sort of leave in product, then brush it out and let it air dry if I can. The only time I’ll blow dry it is if it’s night time and still wet or if I’m in a hurry.
For reference, I have fine textured hair, but it’s long and there’s a lot of it. It’s also pretty straight but if I let it air dry there’s some wave to it.
Styling Products
Before getting into the hair tools, I figured I should get the products out of the way, as if you don’t take care of your hair- no matter what any company says- the tools won’t do anything.
Much to the dismay of my family, I have A LOT of styling products. Drawers upon drawers of them. It was really hard to narrow this down, but these are the ones I reach for most often. Obviously for special occasions or specific hairstyles, I’ll use others- but these are used daily, if not weekly.
The first three are used for when I have straight hair, smooth ‘perfect’ curls braids.
Tresemme Keratin Smooth 7 Day Smooth System Heat Activated Treatment ($10.99 AUD)
I found this product through a tutorial that Zoe Sugg did with All Things Hair Uk. Even though the video was sponsored and the opinions presented were biased, I was intrigued and wanted to give it a go.
The product as a whole is very weird and I’ve never used anything like it. You are instructed to apply 8-10 pumps to wet hair and blow dry it in, then use a straightener to activate it, passing over each section 3-5 times. It has the consistency of a watery leave in conditioner and doesn’t feel nice on your hair before it’s straightened. When you pass the straightener over the section the first time, it feels almost wet again. The second and third time, the section goes super crispy and stiff. But after that it becomes completely smooth, silky and perfectly straight.
I DEFINITELY do not use it every time I straighten my hair, as it’s probably packed with silicones and it does take a good hour to use due to the amount of hair I have, but it works really well for when I want that perfect ‘Kendall Jenner’ hair- and it lasts through a few washes so that’s great too.
Juuce Straight Control Heat Shield ($27.95 AUD for 230mL)
Let’s all be honest here- nobody uses heat protectant. It’s that one step that people either can’t be bothered to do, or consistently forget. Of course, I am one of those people.
But once a week when I actually do remember to use it, this one is my favourite. It has a great even mist and is incredibly lightweight, whilst providing hold for curls which was surprising as it’s marketed for straight hair.
I was given this for Christmas in a set from the brand about two years ago and it’s still half full so a little does go a long way (or maybe I just don’t use it often enough). It’s pretty expensive for what it is though so if you don’t want to stretch the budget that far, I also love the range of Tresemme ones as well.
Tigi S Factor Smoothing Lusterizer Defrizzer & Tamer ($33.00+ USD)
Once again, I heard about this product from good old Zoe Sugg and immediately went out and bought it despite the slightly ridiculous price point.
I have sang the praise for this product on multiple occasions so I will try not to waffle on too much, but it’s definitely my number one, most essential hair product of all time. It is super hydrating, smoothing, defrizzing and everything you could possibly want in a styling product. But perhaps the favourite part among it’s cult like following, are the millions of micro glitters embedded in the cream. They’re undetectable on the hair, but give you the most amazing, long lasting sheen.
I always recommend this for anyone with damaged hair as the product will slowly repair it, but the shine will camouflage it at the same time. It also smells like strawberries and cream so… what more could you want?
Now, we move to the fun stuff. The products for texture, body, volume and of course those amazing Lou Teasdale braids and waves. The hair of dreams.
Fudge Hot Hed Style Whip ($19.99 AUD)
I’ve never been a big fan of mousse, simply because I don’t have the hair texture for it. But this is different to any mousse I’ve tried.
It’s much creamier in texture- almost like thin whipped cream- so it isn’t as sticky and doesn’t make it crunchy when it dries. It’s quite hydrating, but it’s also able to create LOADS of weightless volume that doesn’t deflate.
I use it for one specific hairstyle (which you can see below). It gives my hair a massive amount of hold so I can do these BIG curly looks which actually stay in place. I get LOADS of questions about this look, so this is how I do it.
I basically put a bit less than a tennis ball sized amount of the mousse in DAMP hair, and blow dry it upside down, and flipped to each side. I then flip my whole head sideways, and starting from the bottom (now we’re here), I curl small sections away from my face, starting at the root. The higher up I go, the lower down I start the curl. Once I get to the part, I put my head back up straight and curl the rest in the opposite direction (away from my face). Once it’s all curled, I let it cool down completely before flipping my head upside down and shaking it all over the place for a good while. Then I’ll flip it back over and bring the whole lot to one side and that’s about it.
It feels like I’m exposing some heavy secrets right now.
Toni & Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray ($15.99 AUD)
I had a very love hate relationship with sea salt spray until I tried this one. I always found it was really heavy and just turned my hair into a knotty mess.
This is super lightweight and WONDERFULLY doesn’t weight my hair down which I really appreciate. It also does a great job of roughing up the curls and making them look beachy and undone, without wetting the hair and making the curls fall out which is really what sold me on it.
I mostly use this when I do my ‘mermaid’ curls, Lou Teasdale Dino Braids, or to spruce up second day hair. Basically any time I want to roughen it up and give it some grit and texture.
Fudge Skyscraper Hairspray ($11.99 for 450g)
Like mousse, I’m usually not the biggest fan of hairspray. I HATE the feeling of crispy hair and like to be able to run my fingers through it. I also don’t feel like I need it, as my hair will hold curls and waves on it’s own.
Even though I don’t use it very often, this is the only hairspray I will use. It’s lightweight and flexible and won’t turn your hair into a packet of Smith’s original crinkle cut chips.
It’s also great for boosting volume and texture which is mainly what I use it for, whilst locking updos and intricate styles into place.
And the smell… damn son. I would literally wear it as perfume if I could.
Batiste Dry Shampoo ($12.95 for 200g)
I don’t even know why I’m bothering to include this as I feel like everyone and their dog uses it already.
But this is for those days when you can’t be bothered to wash your hair- plain and simple. It soaks up the oil, as well as giving texture and boosting volume.
Of course, I’ve tried many a scent, and my favourites are the floral and flirty blush, coconut and exotic tropical, and the Ella Henderson sweet and seductive scent.
Hair Tools
This is where it all gets a bit interesting.
I have tried and collected so many hot tools over the years that I can’t keep track of them, but these are the ones that get used most frequently.
First and foremost, buy yourself a Tangle Teezer. Yes they’re expensive and aren’t unlike something you might detangle your dog’s hair with, BUT, they’re an essential part of life. I’ve been using them for about five years now and I vow- right here, right now- to never stop using them.
I’ve literally gotten so used to them that using any other brush physically hurts. That sounds absolutely ludicrous to the vast majority of people, I’m sure- but any people who have jumped on board the Tangle Teezer train will know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s really something you have to feel to believe.
I always buy my hair elastics from Big W or Woolworths. They’re pretty spectacular if you ask me.
But when it comes to bobby pins, I’m much more of a snob. I used to get them from Woolworths as well, but once I experienced the joy of Hi Lift bobby pins I can’t go back. They’re available in store at places like Price attack and Hairhouse Warehouse and cost about $12-15 for a tub of 100 or so. They’re honestly great and last forever, and because they’re expensive I’m much more inclined to not leave them all over the house where my sister can steal them. I’ve had the same tub for two years and it’s still going strong.
Now to the fun stuff- hot tools.
Pure Straight Styling Kit
Unfortunately I couldn’t find a link to this anywhere online and I have no idea what the price is as I got it as a Christmas gift. I do know it came from my local salon though so I have a feeling it’s only available through independent retailers so sorry about that.
A straightener is pretty much the one styling tool that I would suggest that you buy first if you’re in the market for one. Simply because it can be used for multiple purposes, and its a good starting point in my opinion.
To be perfectly honest with you, it you get what you pay for (generally speaking). If you pay $20 for a straightener at Kmart, it may work but it won’t be as durable or good for your hair in the long run. I’ve used GHD’s in the past and they’re amazing, but I also don’t think it’s that necessary to spend over $200 on one either. It all depends on your budget and what you deem as necessary.
I’ve used a few from VS Sassoon, Remington, GHD and a few other brands and to be frank, they all do the same thing. The price tag is more about longevity, quality and when it comes down to it, a fancy label. If you have the money for it, I’d suggest looking for a middle ground product. It’ll last you longer than a cheap alternative but it also won’t break the bank.
But if you can somehow get your hands on this one, it’s BRILLIANT and I highly recommend it.
Remington Keratin Therapy 1″ Curling Wand ($39.95 AUD)
This is hands down my most used hair tool and it’s still in perfect condition- even after 5 years.
For everyone that constantly asked me what I used to achieve my everyday curls- this is it.
Clipless curling wands are definitely my favourite, simply because you can achieve so many different looks with them depending on the technique you use.
I think I paid about $28 ish back in the day for it which I was stoked about. It has a ceramic barrel which is what you should aim for when looking for a good curling wand as they retain heat the most evenly, meaning your curls will sit nicely and will last a super long time. I NEVER use hairspray after I curl my hair with this- I just don’t need it.
This particular wand is no longer available in stores, but it is sold on amazon and various other online retailers. The only thing is, I would make sure it’s dual voltage or you’re given the correct plug for your country, or you won’t be able to use it.
Remington does have some great new alternatives though.
Don’t mind the lack of makeup in the last selfie, but these are just three of the COUNTLESS different looks I create with this one tool.
Briefly, here are three of the techniques:
LEFT: This is my ‘everyday’ look that I did at school that I was asked about nearly every day so brace yourselves: you’re about to find out how.
On day one when my hair is freshly washed, I apply a bit of the smoothing lusterizer through the ends and brush it through. I then simply grab random sections with no rhyme or reason and wrap them around the barrel- ALWAYS wrapping away from my face. I hold for about 5 seconds before letting it go. Once my whole head is done, I leave them to completely cool, before I tip my head upside down and run my fingers through my roots- NEVER THE ENDS. Then I’ll shake my head all over the place, flip it back and part it. That’s pretty much it!
The picture you see above is on day two. Here, I pretty much re-curl andy sections that have fallen out and spritz the Toni & Guy Sea Salt Spray all over my head, then scrunch with my hands. Et Voila!
CENTRE: I give 100% credit to this look to my hair IDOL- Lou Teasdale. She wore this look to Johanna and Dan’s wedding and I just about fell off my chair when I saw it- literal hair goals. I mostly wear this style for special occasions as it’s right up my street, but it does take quite a while to do.
Click here to find out how I do it.
RIGHT: This is the middle stage for when I do curls like these:
To get my “perfect” curls that I often wear to events, I follow the method outlined in LEFT, but I use a different technique for wrapping the hair- known as the ribbon wrap. This basically means the hair remains flat all the way around the barrel like a ribbon- genius, I know.
For this, I actually section my hair with sectioning clips (I get the ones from price attack because they’re epic), and take defined sections. For the bottom half of my head, I curl all the way to the root to add volume, but on the top half, I start the curls from about ear level so that the top of my head is smooth. Once the curls are done, I look like I’ve walked straight off the set of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but I use the same ‘shaking’ technique to create the look you see above. I mostly don’t use hairspray either but occasionally I will.
Rusk Miracurl ($179.00 AUD)
This is probably the most terrifyingly futuristic beauty product I’ve ever used and I love every second of it.
If you are not very good at curling your hair, this is the tool for you, as it literally does all the work. If you click the link above, you can see a short video on how this contraption works (and for a good fright), but it basically sucks up your hair, wraps it inside the ball on the end, and after a few beeps, it tells you to let you and out spits the perfect curl.
It has three heat settings, as well as three time settings which indicate how long to leave the hair in the device for. But the thing that really sets it apart from other devices of it’s kind, is that it has a directional switch, so you can control whether it curls to the right, left, or use the ‘A’ switch, which alternates the direction each time for mermaid looking curls.
As I have quite long hair, the curls that this creates for me are quite mermaid like as it twists the hair before it hits the barrel. This means they aren’t as bouncy like the ones I create with the wand, they’re longer and more organic looking. This is how I create my ‘mermaid waves’ as you can see on the left below.
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Like the vintage waves you saw above, I don’t do this very because it takes a VERY long time. It’s mostly for special occasions. But what I really love it for is creating curls and texture for updos, as the curls have much more grit and substance when I use this.
Vs Sassoon Wave Envy ($49.95 AUD)
I got this when I was in year 9 when these things were all the rage. It was also at the height of my awkward phase so you can probably imagine what I looked like.
This, and all other triple barrel wavers on the market give you that 90s, Lizzie McGuire wave. Or as aptly named by my friends- Grain Waves hair.
It has three heat settings and an on off switch and is super simple to use, so bonus points there. However, with the amount of hair I have, it can take HOURS to do.
To be perfectly honest, I don’t use it that often anymore, but when I do, it’s usually when I want to amp up a simplistic outfit or to add texture for an updo. Most people can get the same look by braiding their hair while its wet, but for whatever reason that just doesn’t work on me, so this is a great alternative.
So there we have it! You now know all my secrets!
Here are a couple of quick FAQs just in case your burning question was not answered above:
Do you use any special hair treatments?
The closest thing to a hair treatment I use is the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask as it’s super smoothing and delivers deep hydration. I also use the Tresseme heat activated treatment when I feel like I need it or if I know I’m going to be busy.
I’ve never had any kind of salon treatment done to my hair and I don’t feel I need to since the mask does me so well.
How to I get my curls to sit like yours do/how do I get my fringe to swoop like yours?
It’s honestly very simple once you get the technique down. The mistake a lot of people make is curling their hair from root to tip which is why it doesn’t sit properly. When you go to wrap the hair around, make sure you’re starting from the middle of your hair rather than the root, as this is how I get it so sit nicely.
As for the swoop, it’s as simple as making sure you’re curling in the right direction. When wrapping the hair, make sure you’re wrapping outward and away from the face, rather than towards it. If you follow the rest of the instructions above, the swoop will just sit like that with no effort.
What is your favourite hair care brand?
Fudge/Fudge Urban. I have never used a product from them that I haven’t liked and their styling products work the best for what I’m trying to achieve.
I also really like Toni & Guy as they’re slightly cheaper and are always super hydrating.
What are your favourite hair brands for those on a budget?
Definitely Tresemme as a whole. They have great shampoos and conditioners and most of their styling products are pretty good.
Why do you always switch shampoo and conditioner?
I do this because my hair tends to get used to certain products really quickly. So if I use the same one for two long it stops working. If I switch each time I buy one, they continue to work properly- that’s just me.
Where do you buy your products?
For shampoo and conditioner I usually go to Big W or Woolworths just because they’re convenient and cheaper a lot of the time.
For everything else I usually go to Priceline as they have a super extensive range, stock heaps of brands and almost always have some type of sale on.
I’ve also purchased products from Price Attack, Hairhouse Warehouse and from FeelUnique online.
Would you ever cut your hair short?
I would never rule it out and have been toying with the idea recently, but I think my long hair has become a part of who I am so I don’t see myself changing it any time soon.
And for now, that will be all! If you have any other questions or want personal product recommendations, message me on social media (always linked above) or email me at altvogue@outlook.com.
