Haircare & Cruelty Free Products I Use

Becoming plant based/ vegetarian isn't just about changing what you put in to your body, for me it's also about what you put on your body too.
I don't eat animals and feel their worth so why would I buy from a company that still tests products on animals (which is completely unnecessary in this day and age in my honest opinion).
So i got researching great cruelty free and Vegan products.

Now if you've read this far and you're thinking, well I'm not vegetarian/vegan so why would this bother me?

These products are for everyone. The fact that they have sparred those cute fluffy bunnies or other such animals, then surely that can only be a great thing, right?
Plus I am doing a lot of research to make these products easy to find and tried and tested by yours truly.. instead of a guinea pig testing, you have me doing all the leg work for you.

So.. HAIRCARE.. I will be completely honest with you, my hair is like my crowning glory. I love my hair, and as much as I've struggled with it over the years for it's bi-polar crazy ways (seriously, frizzy, greasy, a bit straight a bit wavy, there's often no way of knowing what it wants to do), I have finally found a groove that we can both metaphorically dance to.

Starting point for me is cleansing & conditioning

Superdrug has really proven to be a fantastic source for Vegan/Cruelty free products as ALL their own range is cruelty free. So not only are you getting an absolute bargain as the prices are miniscule, but they are morally pleasing items too.
I wash my hair 2-3 times a week, depending on what I'm doing, basically if i can string it out between washes, I always will. Once washed my hair reverts to a frizzy crazy mess, so i need that as little as possible in my life.
The Superdrug Caring Coconut & Almond Shampoo & Conditioner is a very gentle shampoo, very natural and smells wonderful (love me some coconut scents).
Because it is more of a natural product it does feel very different on the hair; first off, it takes a lot to get a good lather, I will often have to add a bit more, or dip my head in under the water to encourage some foam-age. Once rinsed, my hair feels super tangly, but the conditioner works well to counteract that.
As shampoo & conditioner go they are fine. I am nearly through these bottles so i shall be looking at trying Faith in Nature, which I've heard good reviews about.

Next up brushing detangling

Now to me, and possibly the majority of the female population The Tangle Teaser is the best thing since sliced bread. Cutting through knotty tangled hair like a knife to butter, this thing has saved many a crying small child from the agonizing hair brushing ritual. 

My sister has 2 gorgeous little girls. They were both blessed with beautiful but crazy curly hair. The Tangle Teaser is the only thing that tamed those heads of crazy curls without inducing tears. 

Marvel at its wonder..

 Now my hair is shorter I don't have to worry too much about knotty hair, but this just feels so therapeutic when I brush with the Tangle Teaser. My hair becomes silky soft, it also removes any dead hair and leaves my tresses silky soft and knot free. This one is a fab 'on -the-go' size in a rather dashing gold (snazzy, i know. They also have leopard print, insert heart eyed emoji here!) which is perfect for me and the teen step daughter who has hair down to her bottom, and when we are out the pesky wind is our arch nemesis. (Not any more with the Tangle teaser of course). Bloomin' love this thing, and any household that has a female in it should have one :D

ahem.. excuse the literal no makeup look... this is me genuinely getting ready ;)

On to Styling Products

Took me a while to navigate the Cruelty Free Hair product waters.. but with a bit of perseverance I found my new go-to styling products.
Both the Style Expertise Heat Protecting Spray & Anti Frizz Serum are new to me (Superdrug came to the rescue once again!) and both work just as well as the likes of L'oreal or Toni & Guy which i previously used regularly. The scent is pleasant and not overpowering, the product does what is says and reduces both damage and frizz nicely. Super pelased to have found these are they are now staples in my haircare routine.
A favourite look for me is the simply tousled look.. ie lazy girl hair. A texturizing spray is a must for me. I often let my hair dry naturally, and with a generous spritz of The Lee Bancroft texturizing mist, it leaves me with beachy (read:messy-but-in-nice-way) hair. So simple, so easy, and perfect summer hair. I picked this one up in Tesco and have had it a while, I really like the product and plan to repurchase.

Finally: Stylin'

Two day hair styles are my favourite no brainer.. It's been a while since i've done this no-heat curl style, but with it being warm I thought it was perfect for day 1. Firstly all the clean-just washed and naturally dried hair is scooped up and off the neck. It's wrapped around a stretchy circular head band and left that way for the rest of the day. Get on with your biz, sleep on it, do as you please. It's messy but fun and super easy to do.
Let me know if you'd like a hair tutorial on how to do this. Perhaps I could vlog it (eek)?

Then day 2 hair, once the band is removed and the hair is brushed through with my Tangle Teaser, you are left with fabulous, full bodied waves.
So. Flippin'. Easy.
No heat, no damage to the hair and a lovely outcome.. What's not to like?

So there we have it. My hair care: Products & styling!

Is there anything you use as part of your haircare routine that you would highly recommend?

And would you think about buying cruelty free products in future?

Taking Some Me Time (and my favourite items to do so)

I have a teeny tiny house crammed full of people and a dog, plus all the paraphernalia that goes along with small people, big people and animals, plus i run a business from home.
As you can imagine sometimes you feel like a sardine in a sardine tin, especially at weekends when we all congregate here.
Sometimes I love being surrounded by my nearest and dearest. Sometimes though, I like to take a breather, a little bit of me time so i can have a rest from being cook, cleaner and referee.
In the last 2 homes we've had I have created a nook for myself. I place of calm where i can retreat to and leave everyone get on with their business.

It took me years to realise it was ok to give myself time off, I now know that by giving myself an hour out to myself I am more relaxed and a better mummy for it.
Just gimme some peace and I can mentally re-group and carry on.
I can't tell you how important it is to grab some 'You Time ', sounds cheesy but honestly it has really helped me in a busy family environment.

I thought I'd share with you my 'Me time' necessities and what I like to do.

 To start my nook i bought myself a comfy chair.
It's quite funny as everyone knows this as mummies chair. It is my place of retreat. I used to use my bedroom, but i felt too far removed and sometimes got too relaxed and ended up snoozing the afternoon away (not always a bad thing) .
This chair was picked for its vibrant colour and it feels like a hug when you sit in it, comfy and relaxing. I love it.

Next up is a throw.
Throws are an essential is this household. We all love them and have multiple around the house. We have them on the sofa for movie nights and snuggling up, on our beds and I have mine on my chair in my nook.
I know i wanted to feel snugly. Its not always (ahem..ever) warm here, and my nook is in the corner of our conservatory, which can be chilly. There's something immensely comforting about snuggling under a throw. This one is a super soft bed throw from the Yorkshire Linen collection re-purposed. Its the perfect comforter. (the dog also loves snuggling on it and being my draught excluder)

 One of the most important things for me is a good book. I devour books at a rate of knots. I love to read. I love the escapism it brings and how it can completely enrapture you in the story line. I am currently reading Victoria Hislop The Return, which is immensely enjoyable. I was chatting with some ladies on Instgram about possibly starting a Book Club together.. would you be interested in starting/joining a book club? It would be of the no pressure variety and for fun rather than academic, but could be lovely. (let me know in the comments or IG /Twitter if you're interested, I'd love to discuss it further with you!)

Lastly for me, refreshments.. I love to take this time to sip a cup of coffee, or some fruity tea in my own time, enjoying the taste and savouring a cake or treat (these are the delicious breakfast bars).

Do you have a nook for some 'You Time'? What are your essential chill out items?

Summer Denim Dress (& #Passion4Fashion Link-up)

So, do you remember back in Spring I lived in my beloved Denim Shirt Dress (recap here for you)? It was a well loved item in my capsule, remixed and worn lots of ways, and I do infact still love it, but retired it just for a season( thoroughly looking forward to bringing it back for autumn!). Well when i was curating the Spring Capsule, I knew it needed a summer version: something perhaps sleeveless for the all the heat (pah). It was instant denim dress love take two, when I found this Warehouse version. The only problem is I haven't had any chance to wear it as the weather has been a giant bag of crap if I'm honest. Yesterday I actually took the tags off it and wore it for the first time and I was only slightly cold ;) (Also side-note, another bummer, this dress is over half off now...grrr!)
But yes, I do love it. Seeing as it's still not full arm and shoulder bearing weather..i.e. it's bloody chilly, I decided to layer this Warehouse slim fit Tshirt underneath it, and I really liked the outcome, plus i had faked tanned my legs, so I was wearing a dress regardless. I'm actually glad I did as I'm getting fed up of wearing the same 3 jeans on constant rotation.
Anyway, I am pleased I have finally gotten to wear it, even if I did have to chuck a cardi(which incidentally has also gone on sale. Double grrr) over it for most of the day.

Have you bought anything for Summer that you haven't gotten around to wearing yet?

Get the look...
Dress
T-Shirt
(similar)Espadrilles
Cardigan
Bucket Bag
Bandana 


Also Thank you to every one who came with wonderful words of encouragement on the changes that will be taking place here on RTH. It honestly really touched me how you took to IG/Twitter/ FB to tell me that you are excited for this new journey..
I feel giddy with excitement and happiness lately, like I've been on the gin, but completely sober ;)
THANK YOU from the very bottom of my big ol' heart.

And if you missed the news, you can read all about it here

Until next time..

xxx

An InLinkz Link-up

Rachel The Hat is Changing

I've sat down to write this post so many times, but each time I do I just draw a blank, staring in to the blank screen, knowing what I want to say but just not knowing how to write it.
I've been blogging here for just over 5 years, i started at 26 and I am now 31.
Between the ages of 26 and now I have changed and developed and altered in many different ways (and shapes and sizes!) over the past half decade, and i have no doubt I will continue to alter as the years go on.
I am happier than I've ever been, I am growing as a person and developing empathy and skills in different areas and thinking about things I have never previously considered.

There have been two big changing points for me over the past year:
Firstly, my Capsule Wardrobe.
By carrying out the 'less is more attitude' and productively working towards a slow fashion mindset, rather than fast-fashion which i have been drawn to previously, I have taken a major step back from Fashion. And when i say Fashion i mean the latest trends, styles, must-have pieces, that all adorn the magazines and fashion blogs around the world.
RTH has never been a high fashion blog (as you've probably noticed) but i have dabbled and bought in-to certain trends, then presented them here on the blog for fashion lovers to ooh and ahhh over.
Click bait possibly, but also me trying to be something I'm not.
I will never be a high flying Fashion blogger.
And I am totally ok with that.
At heart I am a jeans and tee girl.
Again, totally ok with that too.
The capsule wardrobe has made me see who I am, what I like and what I want more clearly. Yes its just clothes, but when you've obsessed over them as much as I have over the years, its actually a relief to suddenly not.
My head-space has been freed up to think of other things, which has felt fantastic.

And that leads me nicely on to my other changing point.
Vegetarian/Plant Based/Gluten free lifestyle
I gave up eating meat 9 months ago and have not looked back.
Over the past 2 months I have also given up artificial sweeteners (evil aspartame I'm looking at you!) and switched to soya based dairy alternatives.
It wasn't even a struggle, once i got my head in gear that i had actually been putting all these bad products in to my body and had the realisation that I was doing myself more bad then good, it was easy. It became fun to search out new recipes, try new meals and actually enjoy food.
No calorie counting, no strict diet plan. Just good clean eating.

Lets go back 9 months ago. Giving up meat to begin was a natural stage for me. I knew i no longer wanted to consume poor, defenceless animals, which felt ethically wrong to me being an animal lover (I wouldn't eat my dog, so why eat a beautiful cow?).
Then came giving up Gluten, which was tough but now looking back i can't believe i didn't do it sooner. And then the final stage of leading a full plant based lifestyle.
I have honestly never felt better.

I felt like once I had broken down one pre-conditioned compartment all the others came tumbling down like a domino effect. Things such as, where your clothes comes from, organic, fairtrade, vegan materials, cruelty free products and so on.

Recently I have been researching fairtrade clothing, cruelty free cosmetics and so on, I can't wait to share with you some amazing products.

What I guess I'm trying to say is, things are going to start to look a bit different around here.
I am going to start producing content that I would want to read. It will be varied and (hopefully) interesting. I'm going to start including new food recipes, cruelty free cosmetics and how they fair, ethical fashion choices, hiking, reading and anything else I may be contemplating on that day.

New content is what i need right now. Its how my brain is working and I would love to share it here on this space of the world wide web.

My Passion4Fashion linkups every Friday will stay the same, as even though I love jeans and a tee (she says sat wearing exactly that), but i do still enjoy sharing my capsule snippets with you. And my capsule is something that i still enjoy(even though the summer capsule is proving to be a pain in the butt)

I really hope you'll stick around and maybe even enjoy some of the new subjects. If you like eating food, or finding new cosmetics then hopefully you will like some of the posts I will be presenting.

As always, thank you so much for supporting and reading Rachel The Hat..
Here's to the next 5 years and where it may take us

All my Love

xo