Let them eat French rolls!

I managed to put my twists into a French Roll. 

I used a straight hair tutorial for inspiration - obviously, I didn't fold my hair around like she does at the start, since my hair isn't that long, but I used the same principle of rolling and pinning.
So I grabbed my hair as if to put it in a ponytail, but then folded the ends under the hair, like I was going to bun it.
But I wasn't - not in the mood for buns, you see. I wanted a roll.
So I rolled the bottom part of my hair, since the top part sprang out of my hand, and then pinned it in place.
I continued rolling whilst moving my way up my hair - so I went from my nape to my crown, where I ran out of hair. I used 3 bobby pins in total.
If you'd prefer to use a video tutorial where the woman has texture hair, there's a pretty good one here (skip to 2:00 for the start of the tutorial).

And then I pulled my (loose) bangs/fringe back into a pompadour/hump/backwards quiff.

I was obviously moving faster the speed of light...well, except for my forehead. 

I then realised that one of my Christmas presents....would allow me to be Queen.

 

Wave to the front...

Wave to the left...

I was feeling very deluxe - with a Marie Antoinette kind of splendour. So she inspired the title.*

Where was I going, that I got all dressed up like that?

Nowhere. I was procrastinating on an essay.

I even managed to get my Queenie wave sorted.

*Yes, I know that Marie Antoinette didn't actually coin the phrase, since it was in use since before she was born. But she's the person who it's most attributed to. 

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Egg Hair Glaze Treatment

I did this treatment with my twists still in.

That's how I roll (figgy style).

If you're not a fan of egg, of your hair doesn't need that much protein, replace it with 50g of coconut cream (that doesn't have bits in it...something I made a mistake with a while back O_O). 
If you're using Blue Dragon brand, I think the UHT is the one without bits, but the Creamed Coconut definitely has bits. You can find it cheaper in 'ethnic' or Asian food based shops.


Ask me how I know.

My scalp was on fire from trying out a shampoo that wasn't so great for my hair, so first I did a scalp scrub, then a medium-strength protein treatment. It consisted of:

Egg - contains protein to strengthen the hair
Coconut Oil - To nourish the hair
Olive Oil - For kicks - and nourishment/sealing in of moisture into the hair shaft
You can also add any essential oils, if you like, though that will negate the emergency Omelette measure.

- 1 egg
- Half a tablespoon of coconut oil
- Half a teaspoon of olive oil.

• Beat the ingredients together in a bowl (for those in colder climates, you may want to gently melt the coconut oil on a radiator or something - if you heat it at too high a heat, you may end up cooking the egg and denaturing the protein you need. If you do end up doing that: Emergency Omelette time!)
• Apply to hair, especially focusing on the ends and the length of the hair, where they'll be more porous due to natural wear and tear over time.
• The time you leave it on depends on your hair's tolerance to protein.
  If it's just for maintenance and you have high porosity, five minutes should be more than enough.
  If you have low porosity hair, you may want to leave it on for a bit long (about 10 - 15 minutes).
  Since my hair has been neglected *guilty look*, is low porosity and seems to adore protein, I left it on for half an hour.
• Rinse out with cool/tepid/lukewarm water - anything hotter may cook the egg in your hair. When all you have is a non removable shower head, this bit is definitely the hardest but it's bearable.
• Moisturise your hair, seal and then go ^_^

Obviously, this is not one to touch if your hair isn't a fan of protein, because a lot of people can find that the protein in the egg is too much for their hair.

It was my first time putting egg on my hair, and it seemed to me that every time someone on a forum mentioned putting egg on their hair, the words 'crunchy' 'crispy' and 'stiff' came shortly after.

Like they're talking about Chinese food or something. Egg rolls anyone?

Anyhoo, I was preparing myself for crunchy hair.

But my hair's a lot happier now. I think it was over moisturised, because it felt really lank and yuk.

This is a very drippy conditioner though, so be warned:

It run down my neck, and then dried into this shiny glazing, hence the name.

If your hair is trying to recover from quite a bit of damage, or you're preparing to affect it somehow (colouring, flat ironing etc) this might be a good one to try out.

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Glee Recap: Season 2, Episode 1

So, the season starts after the summer of the drama of Season 1 - Thus, Quinn is no longer pregnant, having given birth, Finn and Rachel's love is stinking up the place fragrances the air and the Glee club (New Directions) came third in the regional competitions, losing to their main competitors Vocal Adrenaline....
In these episode, there's fighting, distractions of the bosomy kind,  and a flagrant abuse of dog poop.
Enter at your own peril - for here be spoilers..

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Small(ish) twists

I put these in a week ago, and they took me just under four hours to do.

Then again, this time also included me trying to do the 'Single Ladies' dance numerous times.

So yes. I think I'll leave these in for a couple of weeks because, you know, I have work to do and don't have time to do my hair and stuff.

Also, I really want to whip my hair a la Willow Smith.

I say this. But watch me take it out in a couple of weeks and then lament I have no time to do anything to my hair.

Plus, I want to try new stuff with my twists and prove to myself that it is a versatile hairstyle, as well as keeping my hands out of my hair.

Yesterday, I wore them in a small fold under bun at the back (completely pulled my hair  through the first time but only half way through the second time).

Say a prayer for my edges, y'all.

I put my (untwisted - I get so bored very easily!) fringe/bangs into three fat twists and then bantu knotted them overnight.

Then I took them out in the morning and pinned them to the side, leaving a little crazy curlage loose at the bottom. They look a lot less ropey in person.

For some reason, I don't like the look all over my head, but bantus and my bangs/fringe really make me happy ^.^
I took the pin out after church.

Ignore the scarf. I was feeling like I was in a Cote d'Azur film or something. The wind very nearly made it so.

I also think this is the last time I'm going to be doing a 'protective style' like this. My hair is just too fine for me to be mucking about in it this often and this harshly. 

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Cappin' Lazy Twists - and why I'm kind of a blonde

I was planning for this to be a week long protective style, but I got bored of it when I washed my hair.

It's basically fat twists, wrapped in my satin scarf, under a hat.

You see where boredom may have it's chance to undo my most noblest of efforts?

You can also see how much my colour has faded.

I wanted to go to the place I'd had my original colour done, so I phoned the salon today to make sure someone was in, because it's a bank holiday and a 45 minute walk.

Person on the phone: Hello?

Me: Oh thank goodness! You're open!

Person on the phone: No, we're not open.

Me: Huh? Then why - what? Are you joking?

Person on the phone: No. I'm serious *chuckles* We're definitely not open.

O.o

I wasn't going to risk walking in the freezing cold for nearly an hour just for them not to be open. So I guess I'm going back to uni with no colour in. I'm thinking a D.I.Y is imminent, and in this case, I'm not bothered about using natural products like Herbatint which wash out in 2 seconds flat.
Purple isn't the most natural hair colour anyway.

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My hair ^.^

I forgot that I was supposed to do quarterly updates of my hair to check length, because I keep getting irked by the ends and snipping them off.

You'd think that being both scissor happy and (mildly) length obsessed wouldn't be possible. Ah well.

Omo - I'm not quite Armpit Length, but I've had a lot of breakage *shrugs* Plus, I'm still experimenting with a lot of stuff *rubs hands gleefully*. We'll see where I am by the end of April.

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Resolution Revolution!

Since it's the start of a new year, people are looking forward to things they hope to achieve this year, or in the future.
It's an exciting time!

I always make goals and set targets almost everyday, because otherwise I wouldn't get anything done.

Sometimes, I still don't get anything done. But you know. I made the effort of writing what I could've done down. Surely that counts for something?

So, this is all the aspirations I posted at the beginning of the academic year as well as some more stuff that I've added. At the very least, I am now accountable to you lovely readers.
The goals with (in progress) next to it are all things I'm working towards - For example, I can't truly say I've quit Theatre Group until the end of the year comes and I haven't been involved in anything they've done.

1. Have an awesome stall at Fresher's Fair!    DONE!

2. Get a high 2:1 (above 65%) or a 1st in my degree (in progress)

3.  Quit Theatre Group! (in progress)

4. Finish my dissertation (in progress)

5.  Get onto a PGCE (in progress)

6. Cut cake making down to once a month    DONE!

7. Get my bento making game up to scratch! (in progress)

8. Be able to have a gentle conversation in Mandarin and/or Japanese (in progress)

9. Help my college team get 3rd or 2nd place in the league (in progress)

10.  Stop getting sucked into the ridiculous drama of a certain friend group(s). (in progress)

11.  Focus on the Belly dancing society properly (in progress - it's going well!)

12.  Stop ignoring my commitments. Or, stop signing up to so many (sssh, pretend we don't see the irony!) (in progress)

13.  Hit Bra Strap length with the hair (in progress)

14.  Learn to use the family camera (because my camera phone is pants)! (in progress)

 15. Run a 5k....? Okay, maybe that's reaching a little bit (meh, still thinking about it)

16. (New!) Stop being a chicken and get someone to teach me how to swim properly 

17. (New!) And skate. Preferably roller, since I don't like the cold.

18. (New!) Do more with the blog - post at least once a week. Maybe do some give aways or something.

19. (New!) If the J.E.T programme doesn't happen, go to France for the summer.

20. (New!) Get creative with my crafting and try and finish at least one project a month

21. (New!) Master the art of flat twisting

I love deciding on things I'm going to do and then working towards it - it gets me all excited and gives me something to work towards. 

What's everyone else bringing in for this year?

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