Guess who's KeraStraight's number 4 blogger and reviewer of 2015?! Eeeeeeeek.

As all of you know who are readers of my blog, I am a HUGE fan of the brand KeraStraight and their amazing hair straightening product. I've raved about it twice before and wrote far too lengthy posts all about my experiences and frequently asked Q&A's (it's just that good I seriously ramble on). So it's lovely to see that they have awarded me with the #4 position out of their 2015 'Incredible KeraStraight Reviews'. As a fairly new newbie to the blogging industry, it's such a great feeling to have some recognition and an online feature by such a huge beauty brand.

It's been almost 4 months since I mark the day Kerastraight was brought into my life. And what a life changing 4 months they have been so far. If you have naturally wavy, curly or un-manageable hair, or even if you're simply considering getting Kerastraight - then this post is just for you.

I originally did a blog post back in December (that you can see here) giving my views on a recent treatment I'd had done to my hair - Kerastraight. Claiming to transform, manage and make your hair frizz free, I can honestly say 4 months down the line that it does exactly what it says on the tin. Never have I been so impressed by a hair product, and trust me, it takes a lot to impress me when it comes to my hair.

The above photo is my hair in it's new, natural state. To achieve this look, all I do is simply wash my hair and dry it with the hairdryer whilst brushing it simultaneously with a large paddle brush. THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I DO. Can you believe it?! Because I couldn't. I was honestly amazed the first time I did this after the treatment and almost 4 months on, it's still drying in the exact same way. I also apply my TRESemmé heat defence styling spray onto damp hair before taking to the hairdryer to make sure it's protected from the heat. Although I wanted to get Kerastraight to manage my hair overall, I mainly wanted to get it to fight the humidity and many days of sun during my trip around Asia. On holiday a drop of humidity usually makes my hair spring up, but with Kerastraight I couldn't believe the difference. No frizz, no puffing up and no humiliation - it really is a lifesaver.





Does It Damage Your Hair? - The answer is very simply here, no. My hair has never felt or looked healthier. The product has even added that extra little bit of shine which had disappeared in the months leading up to getting it. I've been in the sun for the last 3 months whilst travelling around Asia, and even the sun there doesn't seem to have effected it. It feels, looks and is silky smooth.

Would I Get It Again? - 100% yes. Having dealt with my hair as it was for the last 22 years, I feel like I have finally found the product that I have been looking for and that has changed everything. All I ask myself now is why didn't I get it sooner?!

How Long Does It Last? - On the official Kerastraight website it says around 4 months. However, when I had mine done in my local salon I was told 6-8 months, and 4 months down the line it doesn't seem to be slowing down. Basically the product grows out along with your hair. So if you hair grows quick, then I guess the product will last that little bit shorter. However my hair grows painfully slow so I'm probably going to get to the 8 month mark before booking myself in for a new appointment. Although it is fairly expensive, it really is worth every penny.

I used to have curly, frizzy and basically hands down unmanageable hair. I'd dread having to wash it each time in the shower because I knew I had to dry, straighten and then style it for at least 45 minutes afterwards. And don't even get me started on what I'd look like if I let it dry naturally. So making the decision to get Kerastraight was pretty much the best decision I've ever made.

At home I have a draw full of make up. Brands, styles, sizes, colours - you name it, I've got it. But a few days ago it suddenly hit me that sadly the whole drawer can't come with me in my backpack.

No matter how much I'd love to try and squeeze those extra products down the sides of my clothes and into every corner of my trainers, for a 3 month 'walking around in the sweltering hot weather' holiday it's just not worth it. On a day-to-day basis I don't actually wear that much make up anymore. I've come to realise that more often than not, less is more. And even though I have handfuls of different brands of foundation, foundation itself is something that's only actually seen on my face if I'm going somewhere nice or for a night out. Concealer pretty much just does the trick so it's made my make up packing a nice and easy one.



So, what am I actually taking with me? Like I've mentioned in my previous post, I'm quite a girly girl. But although I am this girly girl, I'm also very aware that all of this will probably go out of the window about 2 weeks into my trip - "you really won't care what you look like" everyone keeps telling me and I probably won't. But it's still nice to try and make yourself look a little bit acceptable isn't it? Especially these days, just as long as we've done our eyebrows in the morning we feel like we can conquer anything. It just gives you a little bit more confidence as well doesn't it. Even though it looks like I'm taking quite a lot it really isn't much at all and fits very comfortably into my toiletry bag. I've also tried to purchase/pack quite a few cheap high street brands compared to the more high end brands just incase I loose any - that way I won't be too hung up about it incase they go missing.

Face: Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer x2 £4.19 (the best concealer around fyi), Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder £23.50, Collection Contour Kit £3.99, Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit £10, Benefit Browzings £24.50, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush £5.99, Bronzer Brush.

Eyes: Maybelline Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow £4.99, Rimmel Eyeshadow Quad £4.90, Benefit They're Real Mascara £18.50, Bourjois Volume Mascara £7.99, Maybelline Master Drama Khol Liner 5.99.

Lips & Other: Carmex Lip Balm £1.99, Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick £26, L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick £6.99, Eyeliner Sharpner £1.99, Maybelline Nail Base Coat £2.30, Sally Hansen Nail Polish £6.99.

I've got to admit, I was a little bit hesitant about whether or not to put the 'before & after' photo up simply because not many people have seen my hair in it's natural 'just been dried and completely blasted with the hairdryer' state - yep, I'm usually GHD's #1 fan.. But I really wanted to show off just how amazing this treatment is and the effect it's had on my hair. And yes, that second photo really is hairdryer only with no styling, simply just brushed with a paddle brush alongside the hairdryer. I know, I couldn't believe it either!

I heard about Kerastraight around 2 years ago now but never really thought about going ahead with it or researching it until very recently. But let me tell you, it's one of the best things I've ever had done. Before I explain what it is, I just want to emphasise that it really does not damage your hair. Although it's essentially a straightening product, it manages to create the softest locks without an ounce of split ends or damage. In fact, my hair has never felt (or looked) healthier! The treatment involves a few different stages, with a couple of washes after each one to allow to the product to really sink into your hair. Amongst the couple of washes there's also a few blow dry's, a handful of straightening irons and a lot of brushes, but the 3-4 hours (depending on the thickness/length of your hair) of sitting in the salon seat is well worth it.

It usually takes me a lot of patience to properly dry my hair after washing it, which is why I mainly just tend to blast it then take to the straighteners to make it look acceptable - or failing that, a bun seems to have become my most recent go to. But after having the Kerastaight it literally takes me 10 minutes to style my hair and that's it, I'm good to go. Not only that, but I don't even have to put any additional products on it or straighten any fly-aways, it really is incredible.

The main reason behind my decision to get this treatment is because of my soon-to-be travels around South East Asia. As I'll be visiting a part of the world where even a drop of humidity turns my hair into an afro, I thought it was the perfect excuse to give Kerastraight a try.

My hair is something I dread having to deal with on a daily basis let alone a 3 month backpacking trip, and so I can't begin tell you just how excited I am to be able to have manageable hair for once. The frizz is gone, the curls are gone, and the endless minutes holding onto a hairdryer with an aching arm has gone. For us girls with curly hair, that really is a life changer!

I got mine done at The David Thomas salon at Wrightington Country Club, but I'll pop a link below to the official Kerastraight website if you fancy having a look at where your local salon is. It is quite a pricey treatment - mine cost me around the £200 mark - however I really cannot recommend it enough. It lasts about 6-8 months, and so I really do think it is worth the money. The only downside is that I can feel this becoming a teeeeny addiction which is not going to be great for my bank balance.. Ahhhh.

Anyway, if you want to check it all out in detail here's the link: http://www.kerastraight.com