IYAAJAY // MENS STYLE BLOG

As I did feature my latest toiletries bag for my holiday on my last post here I thought id share with you guys what I plan on packing inside it when I head away this year. I know some of these products are subject to change but also some are missing but Ill share what Im planning to do with them etc.

LORÉAL SPRAY CONDITIONER

This little beauty has saved me for the past couple of years of going away with dyed hair. I always make sure to pack this for added protection from fading and additional damage from UV rays which usually affects tones of hair colour. I first discovered this when I had my bolder red hair around 2 years ago and Ive sworn by it ever since. As my hairs a lot blonder now and with the addition of the undercut, I love to use this product all over when I put my hair up as it protects my longer hair on top, and also adds an additional barrier to my scalp on the more exposed part. You can pick it up relatively cheaply at Boots but this'll save you especially if you have a bolder colour and don't want to have to deal with extreme fading and colour correction on your return home.

Ah I do love a good haul, especially when its new skincare and haircare, so I thought Id share with you what I picked up recently and where you can get them too!

Topman Navy Patterned Trim Trilby

Okay, so technically this isn't haircare, but more of a hair accessory (who am I kidding?!) and I can't quite believe the deal I got on it. This 'trilby' (to me, its more like a porkpie hat) was originally £20 but I managed to pick it up for £6 in the current sale! I love the more dressy approach it gives to an outfit and also the fact it adds a slight pop of colour without being too bold (see my Instagram for how I styled it). This'll be a perfect transitional accessory as it can be seamlessly put with any outfit and it'll look stylish. Unfortunately, this is unavailable online but check your local store in the sale section just incase.

Aussie Mega Watt Shower Gel

I get a little sceptical when brands associated with one product bring out a new range linked to another sector and was quite intrigued to see what Aussie had to offer. Aussie is ubiquitous with haircare (I love their 3 minute miracle conditioner for the summer) and decided to check out their new range of body washes. I decided to go for the smaller bottle of Mega Watt, a body wash infused with Australian Ginseng for an energising start to your day and I decided to put it to the test. The body wash comes in the form of an oil which not only cleans but moisturises too, leaving your skin smelling and feeling incredible! I will definitely be buying this again in the full size.

Boots Thin Hairbands (unavailable online)

Bleach London Swamp Spritz Texturising Spray

Bleach London Split Fix Serum

Bleach Silver Conditioner

This is where the fun really begins for me when it comes to visiting Boots. I always seem to go a little OTT when it comes to haircare and Im a creature of habit when it comes to going for the same brands. When my beloved Toni and Guy salt spray finally ran out, I thought it was a good excuse to finally pick up some items on the 3 for 2 deal on Bleach London. Firstly, I picked up their Swamp Spritz, a double nozzled salt spray which actually adds an amazing amount of texture without being too cloggy and limp (salt spray has a tendency of making hair appear dull and lifeless) so I can't wait to really put it to the test. I next picked up the Split Fix Serum, which I trialled this morning and I'm already obsessed with. Used in wet hair it calms down frizz caused by heat styling, and when used in dry hair, creates amazing shine and stops fly aways, always a bonus when styling your hair and making sure its super slick. Although the smell is a little strong, the product sinks in amazingly and really works without leaving hair greasy looking. Finally I picked up the legendary Silver Conditioner, which I really plan on embracing in the next few weeks after something I have planned for next week (Ill give you a hint, think incredibly beachy and 4 hours) so this'll really help combat brassy tones in Blonde hair and hopefully prolong fading.

Ill do a follow up on more of these products once I've finally given them a proper trial and see if they really live up to the hype they claim to have!

Until next time guys,

Jay

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PREVIOUS POST

I haven't been to Boots in a long time and felt it was finally time to bite the bullet and pick up a couple of products I've been either needing to restock or pick up and try so I thought Id do something different and give my first impressions as well as a mini review of each product.

First up is the Toni & Guy Casual Rough Texturiser which I had huge hopes for but kind of feel a little let down by. I swear by their salt spray for texture and thought this product would almost be a stronger version or even a more hairspray type formula but its a really odd product. Its got a really powerful spray like a hairspray and its incredibly fine but leaves the hair feeling clogged (Yes I know texturises are suppose to make your hair feel like day 2 hair but not clogged) and using it as a base for other products also fails too as it doesn't have enough of a gritty texture to lock product in. However, I do prefer this packaging to the salt spray packaging and I think during the summer this will be perfect for more untidy, simple hair. If you like this sort of product, Id stick with the salt spray as its more versatile for my needs and works out a little cheaper too then this product which retails at a pretty high price of £7.19.

As I was running low on my beloved Redken hairspray, I decided to give the Toni & Guy Creative Extreme Hold Hairspray a go as Ive heard good things about this product and its also been compared to my favourite so I thought I'd compare the two. At £7.49 its not the cheapest high street hairspray (but works out a lot cheaper then my Redken one) but I think the Redken one has kind of spoilt me. When I first used it, it held my hair perfectly but then after about 10 minutes, once it had fully dried, this hairspray left my hair literally lumped together in shiny, greasy looking lumps which then lasted about 5 minutes and with one gust of wind got ruined, which for a 'Extreme Hold Hairspray' is incredibly disappointing. The worst part of all for me is that nozzle is so fine that sometimes after you've shaken it which it instructs to do before every use, it gloops together and you end up with way too much product and its a nightmare to get out. Definitely a disappointment for me!

Finally, I cracked and decided to buy the Clinique For Men Face Wash and I honestly couldn't be more happier with this purchase. Granted, the £16.00 price tag is mad for a face wash but oh god its good. The simple 'lather and then rinse well' instructions make it seem like there must be some catch but this thick, foaming gel covers the skin like a face mask and leaves skin grease free and super soft which I couldn't quite believe. I haven't had any reactions to it at all either which is super rare for skin products as although my skin is oily/combination, its also really sensitive and this hasn't made me react at all. I would highly recommend this to guys who want a simple but effective face wash but want to see instant results.

Have you discovered any new products worth sharing? Let me know!

Until next time guys,

Jay

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Ive joined forces with Dan from TREND to bring you the A/W14's biggest trends for guys (Don't worry girls, head over to Dans blog to check out the womens biggest trends too!)

Lets get started shall we?

Well the big event I have been waiting months for was last weekend and I thought Id share with you guys the final process of getting ready for it. The event in question was my Cousins wedding which was an incredible day in the most stunning of locations and luckily the weather was great too.

So lets begin shall we?

KG by Kurt Geiger Dawson Chelsea Boots

So I went to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth and happened to be passing the Kurt Geiger outlet, which is like torture for me as i'm not one who can turn down a good pair of shoes, especially in a sale. Whilst browsing, I spotted these bad boys, retailing usually at £110 but reduced to £65, were exactly what i've been looking for for ages as they're smart enough for going out, but also edgy enough to chuck on during the daytime.

Jack Wills Flannel Shirt

This shirt, from their A/W 2012 collection, was one of my favourites when I originally saw it whilst in their Regent St store but I couldn't really justify the money, even when their quality is really high £59.50 is rather pricey but I snapped it up for £29.00 which was practically half price!

Jack Wills Flecked Burgundy Hoodie

similar found here (Jack Wills Hoodie)

So its not a secret that I have a love for burgundy and when I saw this, reduced from £59.50 to £39 which is a really good deal as the quality and fit of these hoodies are amazing and they're super warm to boot.

Homiés Sweater

Speaks for itself really! I fell in love with this jumper when Ive seen loads of people styling this with day to day looks and thought id pick one up (its not a genuine one, I know I don't usually like fakes but this is 99% accurate) and its a perfect 90s oversized style piece that'll fit perfectly into my wardrobe, teamed with shirts and jeans, or with my Zara trousers.

AND......

IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE,

I finally had enough with my long hair, although I loved it, it was just driving me mad (having to scrape my fringe out the way all the time, the crazy amount of time to dry it etc) I sourced a image I loved and decided that thats what i'm going for. I was initially scared about going this different but after a hour of getting it done, I loved the end result! Its so much easier to maintain as it dries so much quicker plus also makes my latest red hair shade pop.