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The countdown to Spring is officially on! I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to lighter evenings, warmer days and seeing lots of flowers bloom. I've started to switch out my home decor and if like me, you're someone who loves the resurgence of the "cottagecore" trend each year, I've got just the post you need if you're looking for some new pieces to add your space.
I recently picked up this Dunelm Green Gingham Duvet Set which is perfect for my Spring bedroom set up. It's a great way to brighten up the bedroom especially when paired with pink and yellow cushions. It looks more expensive than it was (£36 for a double!) and they have a yellow version which I'm very tempted to treat myself too.
Talking of the colour green, I've been rather obsessed with adding green tones throughout my home after purchasing a velvet green sofa for the living room. First I bought this Frilled Gingham Cushion to match, but then I decided that the gallery wall in my living room needed an overhaul too. I picked out this William Morris Inspired Print which pulls all the green hues together perfectly.
I love the idea of "dopamine decor" and buying pieces for the home that brings you joy on a daily basis. I spotted this Rattan Shelfing Unit and although I believe it's meant for a child's bedroom, I just love the flower detail and think it would make a great addition to one of my walls - stacked with books and prints of course!
Here are some of my top cottage core picks for the next season:
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It feels like I've been on my haircare journey for many years now, but it's mainly the last 18 months that I've really stepped up and overhauled my routine. Not only have I aimed to grow my hair longer, but I also vowed to make it healthier in the process. I've found a haircare routine that works for me and I now take better care of my hair when styling, trying to minimise heat and prolong hair styles. If you'd like to know the process I've been going through, then please read on.
DYSON AIRWRAP
The Dyson Airwrap was on my wishlist for some time and back in October 2022, I decided after much thought and research that I was going to treat myself for my birthday. I tried it out in several places before committing and immediately loved the way it styled my hair. Previously I was air drying my hair, but after some scalp issues and finding that it was causing more hair breakage than anything else, I decided I wanted to try out using a hair dryer to solve these issues. Then the hair curler that I had been using broke, which was convenient timing, so this is how I justified making an investment in my Dyson Airwrap - but was it worth it?
Whilst I've tried out every attachment that comes with the Dyson Airwrap, I've definitely got my favourites. The 30mm and 40mm long barrel attachments are ones I use every time, the latter being my most used when I want a big bouncy blow out look. The round volumising brush was the one attachment I didn't think I'd get any use out of as I had the long barrels, but after some experimenting I really enjoyed using this when I wanted a more relaxed curl look and for when I'm in more of a rush.
After being someone who used extreme heat on my hair for years, it's been strange being able to touch the barrel when curling my hair. Whilst it's definitely on the hotter side, the temperature can be changed on three settings depending on your preference. For me, this is what I think has caused such a change in the health of my hair over the last 18 months. With regular trims, my hair has only grown a couple of inches, but my hair now is a similar thickness throughout rather than it thinning at the ends.
Longevity of the curl was definitely something I was concerned about as I had heard that they can fall out, but this is an issue I have never hard. I sometimes use rollers to add even more volume at the root and if I want the curls to stay looking perfect for the following day. This means that I am no longer using heat on my hair on daily basis which has resulted in my hair feeling and looking much healthier, but without having to give up my usual and preferred hair style.
HAIR CARE PRODUCTS
I've gone through many bottles of different Redken shampoo and conditioners over the last 18 months and have established my favourites. The Redken Acidic Bonding Duo was a great starter when I wanted to get my damaged, lacklustre hair looking and feeling healthy again. I will definitely circle back around to using this duo again soon as I think it'd be interesting to see how this pairing will help my hair again now that's it's much healthier than when I started.
I recently started using the Redken Extreme Length Shampoo and Conditioner Duo and immediately was impressed by how clean, soft and smooth it made my hair feel. As someone who shreds a lot of hair every time I wash it, I have noticed the biggest change since using this pairing. I use it alongside a leave in conditioner in the same haircare line and I honestly think this is what has kick started my hair growth again.
As a lover of multi-use products that promise to protect your hair from heat as well as smooth, add shine and detangle, these type of products usually came with a higher price tag, which I realised was stopping me from using more of the product and thus meaning my hair wasn't always protected from heat damage as well as I would of liked. I set out on a mission to find the best, but reasonably priced heat protectant and I have done just that. The Schwarzkopf Keratin Heat Protect Spray is by far the best I've tried and as it's under £5, I never feel bad dousing my hair in it before using heat. It never leaves my hair feeling crispy and once I style my hair, I've never once experienced any excess grease residue or heaviness from using it - 10/10 would recommend.
HAIR OILS
During my haircare journey, I researched a lot about hair oils and the best one's to use and after thoroughly trying them out, I can tell you my thoughts. Rosemary oil was top of the recommended oils and I knew I had to try it out myself. I wasn't expecting much and although I haven't grown inches of hair yet, I noticed after a few months use that the hair around my face was a lot thicker and I was getting growth in areas where it was usually rather thin.
Of course when using rosemary oil, you also need to use a carrier oil. Caster oil was recommend to me, but I found it did more harm than good to my delicate hair as it felt too thick (even when mixed with other oils) and was hard to get out of my hair. I then tried out jojoba oil and got much better results. I love that I could use it when oiling my hair, but also as a way to smooth my ends day-to-day. I've now settled with using argan oil again, which is an old favourite and I love how it makes my hair feel soft.
After reading up about Scalp Massagers being beneficial for hair growth, I decided to take the plunge and order one. Whilst, I don't believe one product is a miracle worker, when this is used in conjunction with my shampoo routine I feel like my scalp feels cleaner and when use it with my hair oiling routine, I found that it helps to get the oil massaged deeper into my scalp.
Have you tried the Dyson Airwrap? What haircare products would you recommend for hair growth?
