Review: Schwarzkopf Live Color XXL - FOAM

This has to be the longest review in the works I have ever done! I originally used one of these on my hair waay back in November 2011 and then I went off dyeing my hair with permanent dyes until April 2013 when I used up the other pot. As the base colour of my hair was vastly different the same colour dye turned out totally different each time.

So this is the pots the product comes in:

And this is the contents spilt out:

Basically you add the powder and the liquid in to the pot the product came in, shake it (with the lid on) for 20 shakes and it turns in to foam:

  

I found that the product turning in to foam does actually help spread the product throughout the hair. I usually use 2 boxes of dye for my hair however with the foam I used just the one, this was when my hair was around BSL (bra strap length). The second time I used this I was only dyeing the top half of my hair and I used the whole pot just on that section, although my hair is now a lot longer, past waist length.

As usual I managed to dye my face, forehead, etc. However I actually found the foam very difficult to control and it was very easy to dye everything in sight with the foam compared to usual cremé dye. That said I am clumsy so there was always going to be a level of messing up.

The first time I dyed my hair with this dye my hair was black and so the colour was more of a black with a hint of auburn, which was odd seeing as the dye was supposed to be violet.

Second time I dyed my hair with it, it was over light brown and if left my hair a deep brown reddy colour. Again nothing violet or even slightly purple. There is a little purple streak peeking out, but that is because I dyed the bottom half of my hair purple, the top layer is what I dyed using this dye.

So overall it was easier to spread throughout your hair than the cremé dyes you can get, however this did make the whole experience more messy. It didn't drip though which was one of the claims. I couldn't leave the house for two days because the dye had stained my forehead! It smelt fruity but mixed with ammonia but not something you would need to open a window for while using.

Would I use it again? I doubt it, purely because of the amount of mess it made. If I were to cut my hair I may give it another go but for the mean time I will be sticking to my directions violet for the under layer of my hair and the traditional XXL live colour dyes.

Swatch: Collection 2000 - Electric Dreams 56

Colour: Teal Blue
Finish: Cream
How Much: 8ml

Tri-Colour Nail Challenge: Blue, Red and Silver #2

This is the third month of a nail challenge which I am participating in, you are set three colours and you select three polishes to represent each colour. Four days, four different manicures using said polishes. Want to join in, then click here. I ended up doing this for my second challenge:

I did some freehanded ruffian nails, I do recommend using guides though check my old tutorial here.

These are the three polishes which are to be used for these challenges. Expect to see three more for this month. Barry M's retro Blue (2), Leighton Denny's Be My Berry and finally Primark's Glo Baby Glo!

 

Review: Pedi-Sox

A couple of months ago I posted a pedicure I did whereby I was complaining that my feet were so cold that I ended up smudging my nails by putting socks on too early. So when I was given the chance to review some Pedi-Sox I jumped at the chance, because I can't be the only one with the problem.

  

California Summer [Lite] | Original Professional | Mary-Jane

So what are 'Pedi -Sox'? "Pedi-Sox® are unique one-of-a-kind toeless pedicure sock.

Designed to provide solutions to pedicure dilemmas, Pedi-Sox® luxuriate & prolong the pleasure of the pedicure experience - year-round" - Pedi-Sox

Claimed Benefits:

• Feet Stay Comfy & Cozy...those tile floors can be so cold in the winter

• Sox Aid Moisturizer Absorption ...for softer smoother feet

• Feet Stay Clean ...freshly pedicured feet are magnets to dust  & small hair clippings

• Toenails Dry Flawless ...just what every girl wants

• Repair Heels...Pedi-Sox® are essential to repair dry cracked skin

• Lock-In Benefits....of healing serums, creams and treatments

• Callus Elimination...Pedi-Sox® help soften & fade calluses

• Now you can do Pedicures Year Round... even in the coldest winter months

• Simply..... skin will look and feel healthier

• Fun & Fashionable ...all this & more!

Do they live up to the claims? 

I was send a couple of different pairs of Pedi-Sox, and have tried them all out so I can fully review them. 

My feet were warm while I was doing my pedicure and once I had finished I could allow my polish to dry without my feet getting cold, which was a real problem of mine. My pedicure got to dry and look good without any sock marks denting or smudging my nails. Wearing these does encourage me to paint my toenails even when it is cold, which is quite a lot of the time living in Northern England. I was suffering from numb toes whilst painting them in December, which is not good!

Applying a foot lotion and then wearing these really did help the lotion sink in to the skin and made my feet lovely and soft, so they do help in conjunction with a foot lotion. I used Soap & Glory Heel Genius. Of course wearing the Pedi-Sox did help my feet to not get bits of fluff on to them from the floor, and the claim is right your feet do seem to be a magnet for fluff if you apply a lotion and don't put on socks.

Time Period Challenge: Industrial Revolution

So for the industrial revolution I have attempted to do a spinning jenny of sorts with the cogs and the wool on the forefinger. As for the rest, I've tried to do a factory with all of its smoke and smog coming from the chimneys.

Base Polish: ELF - Smoky Brown


 

Tri-Colour Nail Challenge: Blue, Red and Silver #1

This is the third month of a nail challenge which I am participating in, you are set three colours and you select three polishes to represent each colour. Four days, four different manicures using said polishes. Want to join in, then click here. I ended up doing this for the first challenge:

These are the three polishes which are to be used for these challenges. Expect to see three more for this month. Barry M's retro Blue (2), Leighton Denny's Be My Berry which is the perfect christmas red and finally Primark's Glo Baby Glo! Which I'm not really a fan of to be fair, bit streaky.