Author Archives: natalie

DIY Hair Masks

Posted on by

Since I started using Pinterest (read: became completely obsessed with), I always find myself looking at all the hair and beauty tips, wondering if they actually work. There’s only one way to find out, so here’s my own attempts at trialling the tips, so you don’t have to.

I’m starting out with hair masks, because after  years of bleaching, straightening and blow drying, my hair’s in pretty bad condition. I’m not even going to give you a photo of it. That’s how bad it is.

Anyway, I picked out three of the most promising sounding tips and tried them out..

1. Camomile Tea

Make two cups of camomile tea (use rooibos for red and black for dark hair, crazy colours – I have nothing to suggest, sorry!).  Wait until they’re cool enough not to scald you. Shampoo your hair and then rinse using the tea. Leave for fifteen minutes. Rise and condition as normal.

Difficulty rating – Ridiculously easy

Result – Hair feels softer, doesn’t last after the next wash though (but my hair smells amazing).

2. Banana Milkshake

Mash a banana, mix in one egg yolk and a teaspoon of honey. Apply to hair (over a sink) and leave for 25 minutes (wear a shower cap, this is messy!). Shampoo and condition normally.

Difficulty rating – Its tricky not to make a mess! Make sure you mash the banana completely, or you’ll be picking bits of your hair later.

Result – Didn’t notice any chance in condition really. Hair smells a bit funny.

3. Olive Oil

Mix three tablespoons of olive oil with a tablespoon of honey. Microwave for 45 seconds to one minute. Stir (mine never really blended to be honest). Apply to hair, try to comb it through (if you can) and then leave in a shower cap for an hour. Rinse, shampoo and condition.

Difficulty rating – Quite messy to apply.

Result – Hair feels much, much softer and shiny too. I’ll be doing this again..

RC xx

The Rasmus – Electric Theatre 14/12/12

Posted on by

Last night I went to see Finnish rockers The Rasmus at the Electric Theatre in Camden. I saw the band in their hometown, Helsinki earlier this year while I was travelling round Finland, so was pretty excited to see them back in the UK.

The show started off pretty slowly. There were more than a few problems with the soundsystem, frontman Lauri Ylonen’s vocals disappearing from time to time, and the song choices seem to miss out many of the band’s most well known (or current) material. However, about halfway into the show, ‘Living in a World Without You’ finally wakes up the crowd and the room echoes with voices singing back.

‘In The Shadows’ typically goes down well, as does the band’s new single ‘Mysteria’. “They’re playing all my favourite songs”, gushes the girl beside me, dancing away happily. I’m not so convinced.

It’s hard to compare with their previous performance, a hometown show will always be infinitely better than a night abroad, nearing the end of a five week tour. Its fairly likely that tiredness and a restrictive stage contributed to the slow start, but the crowd still seem happy. (On my way out, I note that the band’s tour DVD has already sold out. Always a good sign).

Anyway, I’ll leave you with their new video.

RC xx

From The Vault – AFI

Posted on by

I’ve loved Califonian “goth punks” AFI for years now (and have been lucky enough to meet the very charming guys too).

This has to be one my favourite songs of theirs, taken from (arguably) their best album ‘Sing The Sorrow’. The video really captures the energy and passion of the band, plus their connection to their devoted fans, the Despair Faction.

What are they up to now?

Vocalist Davey Havok and guitarist Jade Puget have an electro side project, Blaqk Audio, who’ve just released their new album ‘Bright Black Heaven’.

Bassiest Hunter Burgan has a side project, Hunter Revenge and drummer Adam Carson is involved in a new band, The Reckless Kind.

AFI’s most recent release is ‘Crash Love’, which came out in 2009.

Thursday Tip – Thick Eyeliner

Posted on by

I’ve been wearing eyeliner for quite a few years now and I’ve always struggled with applying it as thickly as I’d like. I wear liquid liner during the day, but always want something heavier for nights out. My older sister’s passed on a few tricks to me, so here’s one for you guys.

Being VERY careful, take your pencil eyeliner in one hand (I use Rimmel) and a lighter (yes, I said, be careful!) in the other. Making sure you don’t actually set the pencil on fire, gently melt the tip over the lighter. Apply normally.

Voila! You’ve got the nice sleek look of liquid eyeliner, with the thickness of pencil.

RC xx

20121213-090037.jpg

Wednesday Wish List – Night of the Living Thread

Posted on by

I’ve been looking for some unique Christmas presents this year (its always nice to find something that people can’t get in high street shops). Luckily for me, Rolo Tomassi vocalist Eva Spence has a brilliant online store selling handmade hairbands, cushions and jewellery.

I’m completely in love with this cute little retro mixtape hairband (see below).

Have a look for yourselves at thenightofthelivingthread.com

RC xx

Tune Tuesday

Posted on by

I’m a real sucker for a music video with a storyline, so I loved this new one from Greenday straight away. ‘Stray Heart’ is pop-punk at its best, upbeat with an angsty core. Its from ¡Dos!, part of the band’s ‘Uno, Dos, Tre’ series.

For those of you who are interested, I went to see the Greenday musical, ‘American Idiot’ last weekend – read about it here.

RC x

New Music Monday – Blitz Kids

Posted on by

Today’s instalment of new music comes from Cheshire’s own Blitz Kids, with this catchy bit of stadium influenced rock (think a gritty version of 30 Seconds to Mars)  ‘Never Die’.

The band have made a name for themselves through supporting the likes of We Are The Ocean  and have just released their new mini-album ‘Never Die‘.

www.facebook.com/blitzkidsuk

http://twitter.com/blitzkids

 

RC x

Greenday’s American Idiot

Posted on by

In the early afternoon we stepped into the HMV Hammersmith Apollo. There was an odd sense about the place, crowds of teens swarming over the t-shirt stand, huddles of people sitting on the steps and that familiar gig scent, a mixture of alcohol and sweat. It’s not a gig today though, which becomes increasingly obvious by the lack of crushing on our way into the main theatre. We were here to see Greenday’s musical, American Idiot.

We sat waiting (weirdly, the doors open 1 1/2 hours before the show..), listening to the chatter of the people behind us. Classic moments included (Person A ) ‘I’m so glad this has seats. I hate it when gigs don’t have seats’ . (Person B) ‘Miley Cyrus had seats, didn’t it?’. They then went on to discuss ‘escort’ sites for bored housewives. We exchanged horrified glances.

At last the music starts. I don’t want to give away too much, but the show is definitely something special. The songs are performed with a brilliant energy and the stage set-up is just amazing. The plot though, is a bit unclear as most of the narrative is told through the songs. It means if you miss a key movement onstage, you’re unlikely to realise what’s happened. (It was only after reading the programme on the way home that I actually understood some major plot twists).

I would recommend seeing the show, particularly if you’re a fan of Greenday (you’ll be pleasantly surprised by some of the more classic songs they’ve managed to sneak in). I just wish I’d had a chance to see the show on Broadway when AFI’s Davey Havok was playing St Jimmy..

xx

Hell Is For Heroes, Kentish Town Forum

Posted on by

Last night I went to see the amazing post-hardcore quintet, Hell is for Heroes support Hundred Reasons at the Kentish town Forum.

I’ve been a fan of the band for years and was at one of their (supposedly) final shows, Bush Hall in November 2008. However, they’ve come back for a single UK tour, performing their debut album ‘The Neon Handshake’.

It’s an odd crowd that waits before the stage. We’re some of the youngest there. They are, by far not the most hyped band of the moment, in fact, I can’t remember a time when they graced the front cover of a magazine, or were called ‘the next big thing’. That’s not what’s brought the masses in. It’s the fact that everyone here remembers just how good they are.

You’d never guess they’d been away though, with frontman Justin Schlosberg catapulting himself across the stage and into the arms of his band’s die hard fans, knocking over amps as he went.

The sheer brilliance of the band is undeniable, with so much energy and passion in every note. Its just a shame that more people don’t know about them. (That said, the show is sold out, with an extra date added and members of Muse and Reuben are said to be in the audience).

Thanks for a brilliant night guys. Now please don’t make us wait four more years for another one?

RC x