13 ways my childhood gave me unrealistic hair goals

If you were anything like me when I was younger, your hair is a BIG ol' deal. Like, I'm talking social life and death on the school playground here people.

And there were so many people on my TV screen, in my favourite films and in my toy box, that made me think I 100% had a handle on my hair. But now as a full-fledged adult (ish), I can whole heartedly say each and every one of them betrayed me in giving me regrettable goals and unrealistic achievements to do with my hair. HOW COULD YOU GUYS I LOOKED UP TO YOU.

1.) Snip snip!

Parent Trap made me think I could cut my own hair perfectly. Fast forward to me accepting a dare to cut off my fringe at Scouts camp and having to live with with teeny tiny hairs sprouting out for months to come. Just take your photo of Lindsey Lohan to the hairdressers instead kids.

2.)  Perfect pigtails

Because of my fave member of my fave girl group, I felt it was acceptable, neigh, my duty! To wear pigtails on top of my head, as high and swishy as possible. Even when some boys in my class said they looked like pineapples (meanies), I stuck with my guns and kept my head and pigtails high.

3.) Headband headaches

Oh Lizzie. Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie. Way before the sassy and glitzy headgear of Blair Waldorf a la Gossip Girl, there was you. And only you could get a young girl to try on headband after headband on her larger than average sized - at an awkwardly forward position may I add. And as if enabling many headband-related headaches wasn't enough...

4.) Mad, hot, mess

...you also made me think that if I crimped parts of my hair and clipped sections up randomly, that would make me really 'edgy' and feel all punk. Oh dear. Take a seat lil' Amy - we need to have a word.

5.) Badass eh?

Of course, inevitably there will be a time where crimped hair alone just won't do. And during your devoted obsession with The O.C (which let's face it, has never really ended), you laid eyes on the oh-so-cool rock chick that was Alex, and saw her purple streak and knew you just had to have it too. That is, until you rocked up into school with it and your teacher told you to get rid of it. ASAP. Thank god it was just a glue in extension eh?

6.) Summer in bloom

It wasn't just Alex though - deep down my alliance was with Summer. So much so that I once ever took a screenshot of her from an episode, and printed the picture out so I could take it to the hairdressers with me. Yep. That actually happened. So it's no surprise that once upon a time I stuck the biggest and poffiest flowers in my crisped-curled hair, just like Summer did.

7.) Double trouble

Clipping a layer of your hair underneath all the rest of it to create some sort of faux fringe was completely my jam back in the day. Happy to report that is in the past, along with these bad boys...

8.) Flutterby butterfly

Of course every little girl wants a butterfly in her hair, right? But as if one metal-winged creature clamped onto your head wasn't enough, Sabrina the Teenage Witch convinced me that in this case, it was the more the merrier. Sadly, it just means a lot of your hair being tangled.

9.) Beach babes

MK & A continued to influence my hair choices well into my teens, when while binging on So Little Time, I was frazzle my hair with a Carmen Girls Angel Curlz wand and twist said locks while drenched in sea salt spray, just so I could get similar effortless beach waves like theirs. Sadly, I did not live on a beach, and it was by no means effortless.

10.) Side to side

Ah, Lindsey Lohan. When I bought her solo album (yeah, I'm just as confused as you are) and thought that sweeping all your hair from one side, to the other to completely cover your forehead like a combover was a top idea. Young Amy, stop trying to make a fake fringe happen. It's not gonna happen. You go and get one snipped in anyway you know.

11.) Long locks

Let's not forget the animated gals of my youth too. The scouts of the Sailor Moon gang made me wish and urge my hair to grow as long as possible so I could have a pony tail that's as swish-worthy as this. Said long lengths were quite hard to achieve when you have a dad that insists of giving you a bowl cut in the bathroom every few weeks.

12.) Barbie Babe

If my dad didn't cut my hair, I'm sure I would've convinced myself that I could cut my own after asking for this Cut 'N' Style Barbie doll for a present, time and time again. If only you could actually switch your hairstyle up this often, that easily. Sigh.

13.) Disney damsels

We can't talk about 2D gals without mentioning those Disney princesses. But trying to wash my hair like Meg while stood up in the bath tub, and tying up as many Princess Jasmine-esque bubbles in my pony tail as possible just resulted in a lot of tangled locks.

Until next time,

A.x

Week by Numbers: Grey, ghoulish and girls galore

Yep. I've done it again - i've done that thing where life gets hella busy and plans get in the way and this blog type thingamabob takes a back seat (not that anyone's keeping a watchful eye on it)

But enough with apologies and excuses, let's just into this shall we? 

7 favourites...

1.) FLIPPING HECK IT'S NOVEMBER HERE'S OCTOBER HOW IS 2015 NEARLY OVER?!

My October consisted of singing drunkingly into my phone, autumnal walks and plenty of bleach.

2.) Hopefully this too busy and constantly tired thing I've been doing of late will ease up a bit as there's been some changes to my career and job and there's going to be a bit more wriggle room and freedom in my life. All a bit vague but I don't deal with confrontation well so let's just leave it as this, for now anyway.

3.) I may be apologised a bit already, but you know what I'm not sorry for? Liking Sorry and playing and dancing to it on repeat. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE BANGER PEOPLE.

4.) So after 3 trips to the hairdressers and sitting there with bleach on my hair, I've finally achieved my dream hair goals thanks to my hair angel Shannon and the babes at Bleach Salon. My mum can't quite understand why I've gotten a grey balayage when she's spent the past decade of her life getting rid of her grey but MY GOD I LOVE IT. Also, any dark hair babes who want to bleach their hair - Olaplex is an absolute godsend and somehow makes your hair not feel like straw. All. Prayers. Answered.

5.) And what better time for grey hair than the spooky season that is Halloween. And once again, like I have done the past few years, I've sacrificed my vision all in the name for creepy contacts. But c'mon, how else are you supposed to look like a Cub Scout who had a horrific time at camp? (Aka, I found my Cub Scout uniform at home and ta-da, costume done). Also, when you go on an impromptu 2nd Halloween night out and need to find a last-minute costume, having long hair and a long black skirt can do wonders - Hiya Morticia Addams!

6.) 2 of my friends from home are moving over to Australia and it's exciting and sad all at once But what better send-off than a night out back in my hometown with an inflatable kangaroo? Look on the bright side? This is surely a clear-cut sign that I need to go to Oz now, right?

7.) Speaking of childhood friends, I actually went to my 5-year reunion at school yesterday. It was bizzare to be back in the building that I was once was learning algebra and Shakespeare in, but so unbelievably lovely to see all my old teachers and spend some time catching up with close friends and friends from the past.

3 tweets...

"What I've realised about life after uni is that I live as a baller for a week after payday, and then am skint for the rest of the month..."

"It's that time of the year again when I wonder why on earth adults don't have half term"

"Packed a pair of hair crimpers to take back to London because that's the kinda gal I am "

1 outfit...

dress:Topshop, boots:ASOS

Hi. The 70s called and their want their cords and Brigette Bardot boots back please. 

Week by Numbers: culture vulture & pop princess

IT'S OCTOBER HOW ON EARTH DID THAT HAPPEN. While I freak out over how quick time's going, the weeks have just completely bypassed me and before I knew it, it's not a week by numbers anymore, it's just recently by numbers. So without further ado...

7 favourites...

1.) This was my September. It's filled with family reunions, odd exhibitions and confusing feelings about relationships and dating.

2.) Two of my friends from school came down to visit me in London, and they're the first ones to do so, so it was really nice to kinda bring my old home to my new home. Both being rugby fans, we went to the pub to watch England play - and sadly ultimately lose - against Australia. Despite feeling a bit confused at what on earth was going on watching my first ever rugby match, the night completely spiralled out of control from a couple of pints at the pub to tequila shots and dancing to Depeche Mode. And my god, was it glorious.

3.) How did a weekly tv programme about baking become such a vital part of my week? With me and my flatmate making something every week in the theme with the show, the final was worthy of a four-tiered, pinata filled, ombre cake. It lasted a whole week in our flat. It was a monster. I know it's just a show about cakes but it's so not - it unites the whole nation together is such a ridiculous and stereotypically British way and produces wonderful quotes from wonderful people like this:

4.) The words 'Britney Vs. Beyonce night out' is like music to my ears. So when a night out consisted of exactly that, I immediately got my best Britney gear out and was more excited than a kid at Christmas. I was doing body rolls and arm pops in the club like nobody's business - THE CORRS WAS EVEN PLAYED. It felt like a school disco and it was brilliant. 

5.) Recently I made my way to The Strand to see the Louis Vuitton Series 3 exhibition, and it interesting to say the least. Forget your standard views of what you thought exhibitions were like - this had mirrored rooms with flashing lights, catwalks shown in a room full of screens and a live workshop or artisans constructing LV products. Oh, and I think i've got the LV Parisian posing down haven't I?

6.) My mum and dad have been away in Hong Kong for 5 weeks, and even thought I've gone that long without seeing them before, with them not having internet access there, I forget how easy we have it now when it comes to communication. Needless to say I missed them like mad and FaceTimed them as soon as they got home.

7.) I'm on a bit of a hair journey at the moment. Apart from a few regrettable blonde highlights and my on-off fringe that I got cut because of Zooey Deschanel, I've not really been that experimental with my hair. It's pretty much just been long and the same since I was 15, so, I'm having a bit of fun now - and I'm dead excited, like.

3 tweets...

"My flatmate gives stellar love advice: "tell him it's waiting his texts and YOUR time" she says while slipping her shades on. SASS "

"Just woke up to be told I'm 'more of a girl than @JessicaMPlatt will ever be' & shown a video of me drunk singing by @joannaolivia92"

"Am loving the combo of legs out, long autumn coat and sunglasses on right now. This British autumn weather man "

1 outfit... 

top:ASOS, skirt:Girls on Film, shoes:Topshop

So a Britney vs. Beyonce night out is worthy of a Britney-poptastic outfit right? That's why the metallic leather mini skirt was whipped out along with the fluffy heels. Add a sassy side-swept style into the mix and you're set for your school disco girl.

 Oh, and some glitter on your face is always a must.

Stay happy!
Until next time...
A.x