Mildly interesting

The little Bed & Breakfast I'm staying at for work has again provided a "Mildly interesting" entry.

One of the "leftovers" from previous visitors is this little shampoo tube.

This is the angle I first saw it from:

The first thing I noticed was "Shampoo" and "Den skaldede frisør". Which means "The bald hairdresser".

And I thought "Huh. That's a pretty bold gimmick to go with for a haircare line".

But when I took it down to take a second look, it revealed an extra line on the tube.
"En ny musical af Susanne Bier & Thomas Helmig", which means "A new musical by Susanne Bier & Thomas Helmig".

And it finally clicked that this was a rather clever promotion for the musical based on a movie which was titled Love Is All You Need for the international market, but in Danish was titled The bald hairdresser. Hah.

Today's hair

I used my "new" hair sticks to hold a figure 8 bun. I learned a good lesson though: Danglies needs to, well, dangle. Danglies like this are better in a bun where they don't risk getting caught in the hair all the time. The little swords spent more time being trapped in my hair than actually dangling like they were supposed to.

December 24th

Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates on the 24th! The rest of you will have to wait until tomorrow :)
The Ciaté calendar had a pretty sparkly polish, full size this time.
The Schwarzkopf calendar was a disappointment though: 10 gram of some styling powder. What a sad product to end the calendar on.

Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Soft Dust - Soft Volumizing Powder
Aqua, Glycerin, Silica Silylate, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Silica, Maris Sal, Parfum, Citric Acid, Isoceteth-10, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Sorbitol, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional

I was curious about how much value I got out of this calendar...

Here are the things I will keep and try:

• 3 conditioning masks of 30 ml each
• 4 hair oils of 5 ml each
• One leave in conditioner spray of 50 ml
• One leave in conditioner creme of 30 ml

So in total there are 9 products and a total of 190 ml product that I will definitely try.

Here are the things I will probably, maybe try at some point, or hubby will use:

• 5 shampoos of 50 ml each
• One shampoo of 30 ml
• One sea salt texturising spray of 50 ml
• One colour neutral toning treatment of 60 ml

So in total there are 8 products and a total of 390 ml product that I will probably, maybe try.

Here are things I will definitely try to give away:

• 2 styling powder products of 10 gram each
• 3 styling sprays of 100 ml each
• One styling mousse of 100 ml
• One styling wax of 85 ml

So in total there are 7 products and a total of 485 ml product and 20 gram of powder that I will definitely not try.

This is not really a good ratio!
I'm actually surprised at this. I would think winter/Christmas would be more about treatments and moisture for dry, unhappy winter hair. I mean, lots of styling products would probably fit more with all the parties for New Years? Meh, not impressed with Schwarzkopf for this calendar.

Anyways. Hubby and I are at my parents for Christmas.

Here is Mr Igor taking a much deserved nap on the comfiest couch in the world (It's seriously awesome: It belongs to a set with three chairs that my great grandparents bought in 1945. The wooden frame has carvings of knights and queens and I love the details on them) with a view of a Christmas three we had to take an extra branch off to make room for all the gifts under.

December 23rd

Today is an anniversary of sorts: If I hadn't trimmed at all since I started regrowing my hair, my ends would now be a legal adult. How weird!

I'm not sure how much "age" is in the length I have after all the trims I've done over the years, but it's not 18 years old at the ends.

But still, crazy to think that I started from nothing and now I'm at... knee-ish? I'm honestly not entirely sure how long it is at this point since it's hard to see accurately (And I honestly stopped caring about how long it is exactly)
I really need a good length shot, but that will have to wait for a day where I can be bothered to wash and airdry it completely without restraining it at all.

It's on my to do-list.

Today's Schwarzkopf Christmas calendar holds another tiny little 5 ml bottle of "oil" that would have rattled around the drawer if it wasn't for the shredded paper filling.

Ingredient list for Schwarzkopf Ultime Marula finishing oil
Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol, Alcohol denat (18,79%), Phenyl Trimethicone, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Linalool, Helianthus Anuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Anise Alcohol, CI 40800 (Beta Carotene)

So: Cone, cone, alcohol, cone, oil, fragrance, fragrance, oil, fragrance and pigment (In a colourless product. Uhh...?)

December 22nd

The Schwarzkopf Christmas calendar has another 50 ml shampoo, this time with a slightly sweet, but very neutral scent.

The Rituals calendar had another awesome scented candle.

Schwarzkopf Professional Oil Ultime Marula and Rose Light oil in shampoo ingredient list
Aqua (Water, Eau), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sunflower Seed Oil PEG-8 Esters, Sodium Chloride, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Panthenol, Cocamide MEA, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Parfum (Fragrance), Polyquaternium-10, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Citronellol, Propylene Glycol

Hubby and I have ordered Indian food in, and will spend the day inside with good books. Hubby always have the chicken vindaloo and I have beef achar gosht. Yummy!

December 21st

Another 100 ml styling product today: Schwarzkopf Osis+ Session Label Super Dry Fix strong hold hairspray. I will of course not be using this.

Schwarzkopf Osis+ Session Label Super Dry Fix strong hold hairspray ingredient list
Dimethyl Ether, Alcohol denat., Aqua (Water, Eau), Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Parfum (fragrance), Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Benzyl Alcohol

December 20th

The Schwarzkopf Christmas calendar had something that looked really fancy today.

But.. Can anyone tell me exactly what this is?

As far as I can tell, this product is a tinting, glossing colour product from a tinting, glossing colour product line.
Except that this one is the colourless version.

So it's fancy conditioner?

Schwarzkopf Igora Vibrance Clear 0-00 ingredient list

Aqua, Propylene Glycol, PEG 12 Dimethicone, Sodium Sulfite, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Crosspolymer, Ethanolamine, Potassium Phosphate, PPG-1 PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol ether, Sodium Methylparaben, Xylitylglucoside, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Parfum, Anhydroxylitol, PEG 12 Allyl Ether, Xantham Gum, PEG 12, Etidronic Acid, Xylitol

COSDNA gave it this analysis:

I mean, it pretty much looks like a conditioner, right? It even has niacinamide and panthenol.
And there are no acne and irritants-warnings, and all ingredients are in green or yellow.
So that's good, but I'm still unsure of what this product is.
Can I mix it with a regular conditioner?

Anyone?

Body shop had a nice facial mist. But, aloe vera. Groan.

I'm feeling mildly crappy today, so we're spending the weekend indoors being warm and comfortable. I hope none of us gets sick. That would suck right up to Christmas!

December 19th

Huh. Yesterday I commented on how nice it was that the Schwarzkopf calendar would give the products in the same line close together. Today I got a BC Bonacure Peptide Repair leave in conditioner, which is from the same line where I got a shampoo and a treatment from back on December 9th and 10th.
I mean, I'm obviously happy with getting a leave in conditioner! But why not give this on the 11th so it would go with the rest of the Peptide Repair line?

Schwarzkopf Peptide Repair Rescue Sealed Ends ingredient list
Water, Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol, Behenoyl PG-Trimonium Chloride, Laureth-4, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Amodimethicone/Morpholinomethyl Silsesquioxane Copolymer, Steardimonium Hydroxypropyl, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Panthenol, Methylparaben, Linalool, Citric Acid, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Trideceth-5, Geraniol, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Citronellol

Today's hair is the pinless wrapunder bun.

It's very comfortable and has a really nice structure and silhouette to it.

I think I have found the historical copy of this updo.

Although I can't find the excact name for it, it was featured in Godey's Lady's Book in 1860, so a Victorian hairstyle. The principle looks to be the same of tucking the braids up under themselves, with the only difference is in the historical version being French braid-based.

While trying to find more information on this, I stumbled upon a really cool blog with plenty of historical hair care and historical hairstyles, so I'm sharing the links.

December 18th

Another Mad About Curls product from Schwarzkopf. I like how they come in two's so you can try the same line together if you want.

Schwarzkopf Professional Mad About Curls & Waves: Mad About Waves Seablend Texturizing Spray ingredient list

Aqua (Water, Eau), VP/VA Copolymer, PEG-8, Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Glycerin, Polyimide-1, Sodium Citrate, PEG-32, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, PPG-26-Buteth-26, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene

I will not use this, because I can't see why I would use it at all.

Another adorable blue nail polish today!

I felt like something fun and playful for today's hair, so I made two cinnamon buns.

It was a shame that the buns are so big that they hide the Dutch braid pattern underneath, but it provided a very stable base for them.

I want to whine about the cold and dark again.
Warm coffee in a Christmas themed cup helps for the commute when all you can do is stare out at the cold, sad grayness passing you by.

December 17th

The Schwarzkopf Christmas calendar today had a low foam shampoo, which sounded promising.

Schwarzkopf Professional Mad About Curls & Waves: Mad About Curls Low Foam Cleanser ingredient list
Aqua (Water, Eau), Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Amodimethicone, Citric Acid, Polyimide-1, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sodium Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Methylparaben, Parfum (Fragrance), Panthenol, PEG-12 Allyl Ether, Hexyl Cinnamal, PEG-12, Linalool, Limonene, Cyclomethicone, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Alcohol

This is actually a pretty nice ingredient list!
Except for the two ingredients with acne and irritant-triggers, this is all in yellow and green.
This will be first in line for the next time I need to use a shampoo.

Today's hair is a braided Chinese bun.

For some reason, the second Ketylo felt like it pushed the bun out of stability so I skipped it. But then again, the korian Ketylos are noticeably thicker than the wooden ones, so that could be part of the problem? Also sometimes an updo can just be temperamental to little things like that.

December 16th

Another styling product in the Schwarzkopf calendar.

Schwarzkopf Osis+ Extreme Hold Mousse ingredient list
Water, Vp/VA Copolymer, Butane, Propane, Polyquaternium-11, Polyquaternium-4, Sodium Benzoate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Isobutane, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Fragrance, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Capryl Glycol, Citric Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Panolactone, Citronellol

The Ciaté calendar also disappointed me. I knew beforehand it would hold a nail file, but it's still such a disappointed after all the previous pretty nail polishes. Today's Christmas calendars are just meh.

Today's hair is double Dutch braids.

Depending on they hold up, I hope to get 2-3 days of updos out of it so I can just ignore my hair for a few days.

December 15th

Another tiny little hair "oil" today. Meh.
I don't know if I would be as disappointed with the size of this, if the stupid styling products weren't by far the largest products in this Christmas calendar? I mean: The products I will absolutely not use have been 100 mls, where as this leave in product that I would like to use is a mere 5.
Even with the little cardboard box and the shredded pink paper filler, it just rattles around with a sad little noise in the drawer.

I mean, is it even worth it to produce? The production cost of manufacturing such a tiny, tiny little bottle, the lid, the box, printing everything, assembling and packaging it? Come on, Schwarzkopf, you can do better than this!

Meh. At least the Rituals candle from today's Christmas calendar is awesome and smells wonderful!

Ingredient list for Schwarzkopf Ultime Barbary Fig Finishing Oil
Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene, Benzyl Alchohol, Gernaiol,  Citronellol

Hubby and I are having fresh, awesome halibut steaks for dinner. Yummy!

The long winter has a tendency to drain me of energy, and it leads to a bad spiral where I eat too much easy, processed food, sleep too little, spend too much time at work and too little outside, at the gym or doing things with hubby. We try to make conscious efforts to break the spiral with really good food, date nights and convincing ourselves to go to the gym. But it takes an effort.

December 14th

Today's Schwarzkopf calendar has a Professional BlondMe Keratin Restore Bonding mask which matches the Professional BlondMe Keratin Restore Bonding Shampoo from yesterday.

Ingredient list for Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Keratin Restore Bonding mask
Aqua (water, Eau), Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Myristate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Distearoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dimethicone, Magnesium Citrate, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Panthenol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Palmitate, Parfum (fragrance), Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Mica, Methylparaben, Polyquaternium-37, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Citronellol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Ci 77891 (titanium Dioxide)

I have a massage time today at my awesome massage therapist Kana. It's my favorite relax-time.
Also: You know you're a skin-nut when you bring your own massage oil!