So I got stuck in a lift yesterday...

I'm back.

A lot has changed, a lot has happened, and here's a catch up;

Hair: I went super blonde, went super green, went super short (well, compared to what it was)
Face: Still there
Job: About 6 months in with Toni & Guy, excelling at training, keeping up and well on route to be starting my cuts as soon as I can get some scissors
Love Life: Going strong for about 8 months with my boyfriend, feels more like 8 years but in the best way possible
General Life: Got stuck in a tiny lift with 2 solicitors, 2 17 year olds and a 16 year old having a panic attack yesterday for thirty something minutes and had to be freed by firepeople. Is that what we call them now? I'm assuming if we can't say gingerbread men then we can't say firemen.

I think that's the basics.

I've been thinking about the blog for a hot minute now, I know I want to make it more hair focused but still keep that beauty element there for other light skinned asian babes who get told that the only foundation choices for the new NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation is either to go super yellow (I'm talking Simpsons) or to go a half a shade lighter. True story, by the way.

I may throw in a photo post next time as a little catch up visual deal about things that have happened since...January? Jesus, I've been awful at this.

I see them blog views though, I love that people are still checking in.

I will be back soon, let me have a think about objectives, visuals, SEOs and other flash buzz words and get back to ya.

One Hot Minute Later…

So…been a while, huh?

Don’t think I just abandoned the blog, I’ve drafted up a few posts to do with eyeliner, salt sprays and a couple of other things but, in all honesty, I just didn’t feel like they were up to my personal standard and something you couldn’t easily find on the internet or something I could go into as much depth as I wanted to.

Life has been pretty busy for me the last few months, a lot’s been happening and I don’t see signs of that slowing down any time soon.

Here’s a quick round up:

• -          I have a cute boyfriend now, he’s pretty cool
• -          My internship ended
• -          Unemployed 4eva </3
• -          Potential employment opportunity this week that I’m super excited about
• -          House junk
• -          Emotions stemming from house junk
• -          Emotions from this time of year in general
• -          Getting drunk on New Years Eve and buying Taylor Swift’s album and listening to it non-stop, mainly in the shower

It probably doesn’t make a lot of sense to a lot of you.

My main point is that I’m trying to post more to this blog but I set high standards for myself, my writing and my ideas. I started this whole thing because I couldn’t find many bloggers I related to in terms of what I did, my budgets, skin type, body type, all that junk and in turn, their shining recommendations did not work 100% for me.

I lied, my main point is actually that I’m trying to build this up more because I enjoy it and I’ve made a few purchases lately that I will be featuring soon.

I hope you all had a great holiday season and your 2015 is going swell.

See you soon, kids.

Shuks

Ferguson

Today has been one of my lowest, in recent history.

The simple reason for this is the outcome of Darren Wilson not being indicted for the murder of an 18 year old boy three months ago.

If you’ve been following the Ferguson protests, as I have since they began, maybe today has been heart-wrenching and scary for you too. I feel helpless but I know I will be in a clearer mindset for writing about this.

I’m still finding it difficult to properly articulate my thoughts on the matter as my brain is a jumble of things, rushing too quickly for me to really get out and comprehend. This is the second time I have felt just completely and absolutely heartbroken over something, except this time it’s much more important than a boy who decided he didn’t want to like me.

If there was any proof needed that racism is still as prevalent and everyday as it was when lynching and segregation was seen as the norm, it’s Ferguson.

Black lives matter.

Look up that hashtag on all your social media, and look at how many results come up for a statement that shouldn’t have to be said out loud, but instead just happily accepted.

I’m so lucky I have people in my life, of all backgrounds and cultures and ethnicities, that either understand or make the effort to understand racism in this day and age. I actually have a drafted post for the blog that I wrote on my experiences with racism so far. I wrote it as a long stream of consciousness (as this post is also) and haven’t looked at it since, but I’m not sure after today’s events if it will come to light any day soon.

My saving grace on the matter is that it feels like something will happen. Change is on the brink. The peaceful protests and marching in Ferguson continues going on even though they are often met by the brute force of the Ferguson PD and even the National Guard. That does not stop them. The social media support and revelations are strong and the outcry is worldwide. I am crossing every damn finger and those of the people around me for change.

I will stand strong with Ferguson and I hope you will too.

Do not let them forget Ferguson.

Hallo-pologies!

Hello!

Also, sorry!

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen that I was planning on doing a live blog of pumpkin carving ideas on Halloween. Well, as is known to happen to me, I dreamed big and had no clue how to execute it.

Luckily for you, I did do two pumpkins and took a bunch of awful webcam photos along the way.

(I'm also wearing my new Rocky Horror Picture Show x MAC lipstick in Oblivion in these photos and, quick review: it's awesome)

So please enjoy the terrifying ride that is...
Shuks Carves Pumpkins On Her Own For The First Time In Her Life And Lives To Tell The Tale.

This slideshow will be presented without comments and with a fitting song, so make sure your sound is on!




Halloween by Slidely Slideshow

Quickies 2

Phew, another slightly-longer-than-planned wait again!

I’m adjusting to the full-time working week again, after a couple of months of sleeping in late and going to bed  when every channel turns to Teleshopping. Although I love teleshopping, so it was probably a little later than that.

But yes, I’m now working doing social media for a couple of fashion brands just off Shoreditch High Street in in ye merry olde London towne.

(I’m also writing this first thing in the morning after downing a large hazelnut coffee so forgive me if I seem out of sorts)

I have a Halloween themed post planned, it's just time and execution and supplies now, which are all taking a little longer than expected. So, I thought I’d let you in to a little update after the recent Quickies post!

The rosewater is making me feel like a pregnant woman, I’m glowing so damn much. I’m a luminous angel people, jump on the bandwagon and love yourself. I find that because the toner I use in the evening has glycerin in it, it somehow makes my night cream more effective. Magic guys, that's what it is.

I bought a couple of salt sprays but they didn’t give me that beachy wave I wanted, I don’t think my harshly bleached hair that’s down to my lower back, and therefore weighed down more, accommodates for the synthetic experience. Any excuse to get to a real beach somewhere scalding hot, right?

Taking the tube twice on the daily is messing with my skin, which I should have remembered after living this life at the end of last year. I’m upping my moisturising game and I’ve been recommended Clinique’s Super City Block by a relative but it’s approximately £20 for a relatively small tube. Which obviously means “let’s wait until I’m feeling spendy again, give or take a couple of days” in my world. For now, I’m just using my NARs Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser more as I feel it genuinely makes a difference for the better when I use it on tube days compared to when I use nothing at all and much better than if I use my MAC foundation. I’m speculating it both creates a barrier against the evil tube sucky crap air (scientific term) and uses an SPF, seawater and a bunch of other loving ingredients to make sure my skin feels extra special. Like when you come home and all your packages have arrived so quick at the same time. It’s like a package to the face.

Sorry mum.

In lieu of photos, I was going to post the Shake it Off video (Taylor Swift, not Manchester Orchestra) because it’s LIKE I’VE GOT THIS MUSIC IN MY MIND SAYING IT’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT.

Ahem.

But instead I found this Jaden Smith track the other day, it’s only a minute long and I’m really digging it. For fans of Childish Gambino,  I reckon. Give it a chance, anyhow.

I never know how to sign these off. 

My Current Hair Routine!

It’s been a while! Between keeping on top of doctors appointments, applying to jobs and then getting a job, the blog accidentally took a little break but I’m back!

I thought this week I’d tell all about my hair routine.

Now, I have my own issues with my hair; mainly that it’s been consistently falling out on a daily basis for the last 3 years or so and is now half the thickness it once had, but hopefully I’m on the right track to redemption now! Despite this, I’ve never given up on having whatever I’ve wanted, and that usually involves bleach.

  

My hair takes very well to bleach, despite it being a very dark brown, almost black, natural colour and so currently about half, just over, of my hair is white blonde, mostly done by myself as salons are not comfortable with going that colour with naturally dark hair most of the time (otherwise charging a bomb) in case they get blamed for ruining the hair. My hair is not ruined and a big part of that is the products and routine I use. Because god knows I do not advocate copying me and bleaching your hair 3 times in 2 weeks, I’m just young, sprung, and full of blind ambition.

So with this top half of grease compelling hair and bottom half of slightly drier blinding blonde, how do I keep it happy? Let’s start from the basics.

I use Redken’s Clear Moisture shampoo and conditioner, except for once a week when I use my favourite toning shampoo, Shimmer Lights Blonde and Silver Shampoo. The deep purple toning shampoo really helps me to get all those brassy tones right out of my hair in less than 5 minutes without having to go to a salon and fork out a tonne for the same effect. Bonus points for it giving me volume and texture that I love. 

The Redken duo are just magical for me. They are the first higher end shampoo and conditioner I have bought, after a lot of online research, and even just the shampoo leaves my hair feeling a very conditioned and manageable.

After washing, I spray in It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin while it’s still fairly wet, as I find when I do it on my hair when it’s dryer, it leaves a waxy layer of sorts. It also detangles which is great for people who don’t listen to the multiple outlets telling you not to brush your hair when it’s wet. Not me of course, gosh.

Usually, that’s where I leave it to air dry (I only blow dry with a round brush if I’m really in a rush) but if I feel I need some more love, I use the GOT2B Oil-licious Tame & Shine Styling Oil, which is quick absorbing and truly doesn’t leave your hair looking greasy. It also smells amazing and I usually have this little bottle in my bag for on the go moisture as it's full of Argan oil.

I don’t go much for hair masks anymore, instead favouring oils as I can sleep in them without having to slap a shower cap on or wonder why it’s drying stiff on my head. Coconut oil is good but I find Almond wonderful too.

As for styling, I don’t tend to do too much lately but if I want to really give my hair some oomph, I pick up my Babyliss 2289U Glamour Waves Curling Tong, my Vidal Sassoon Infra Radiance 2000W Hair Dryer (both are on sale at those links right now!), a round brush and my bottle of Kerastase Styling Lift Vertige. (I'd try and snap a picture but a lot of my bits are in boxes still!) It’s a gel that you rub onto your roots before blow-drying and keeps your volume all day, despite not drying stiff or crunchy at all! I love this stuff and highly recommend it. My bottle was given to me as a gift but I know the brand sells in many salons now if you’re interested. I curl my hair into loose curls and give it a spritz of hairspray and I’m set for my fancy ways on a fancy day!

Or maybe I’m just all done up for a blog post.

Either way, I'm happy and I hope you are too!

Penny for your thoughts? Feminism Edition

Feel free to play my little empowering playlist as you read!

It was taught to me early on in life by my peers that ‘feminism’ was a rarely used word that people would spit out to describe bra-burning lesbian extremists, infamous for hating men and all that they stood for.

It’s fair to say the term has evolved into something a lot different these days.

My first real experience with the term was in my first year of college in my sociology class, where it was simply described as being the term for anybody who believed in equal rights for women. I instantly wondered why something so simple was being shopped around as a term for a negative stereotype. Surely everyone was a feminist, by that definition?

Fast forward a few more years, and suddenly feminism has feet.

Tumblr is full of women praising other women for their actions, telling stories of strong women of the past and defying stereotypes. Flicking through the music channels, the rising numbers of women in the mainstream are singing about how they are proud of themselves, their bodies and their achievements. Women are working together to be heard and the world is finally responding and joining in.

Of course, this isn’t a unanimous movement, there are still women who tear down others for the way they look, who agree to do things that make them feel small because it’s the norm and who feel as though it’s pointless to speak out against these things. But there are women who gladly speak out and educate.

For god’s sake, Beyoncé stood in front of a ‘Feminism’ banner at the VMAs! Nicki Minaj is shaking her butt all over the internet and telling us, exactly how her male counterparts do, about how much she enjoys having sex! Even newcomer Mehgan Trainor is spreading the good word that you should be happy with your body!

Feminism is important to me because it allows me to feel empowered for, essentially, doing whatever the hell I want. But then that leads to thinking, why should I feel empowered for going about my own free will with my body, my hair, my life? I have always firmly believed and preached in doing what makes you happy. Unless that involves hurting or putting down another person.

I often question if I am a good feminist and representative of the female race for some of my actions. For example, I love Kanye West and Childish Gambino’s music, but it often puts down women and reduces them to objects they barely think about. Is my enjoyment of this music sabotaging what I think about women?

My thoughts on feminism are very muddled, but I’m ok with that. I am confident enough in myself as a human and as a woman to say that I am a feminist.