Curls Curls Curls

So last week, I made the trip to my hair dressers and decided that I was going to cut my hair (well duh). For as long as I can remember my hair has been super long. Something in me recently has been more than bored with it, and quite frankly, I wanted something a bit different. Now I know what you're probably thinking.. Amber love, your hair is still long.. Yes, you're right. But for me, this is the shortest it has been a long time. You never seem to realise how much your hair needed a tidy up after you've done it, and this is exactly how I have felt. Last summer, my hair was crazy long, and I wish I had it chopped off sooner. My favourite way to have my hair is in curls. I know that not everyone has the time or realistically, the patience, to spend their mornings tediously curling their hair, but I am going to share some of my tips for achieving curly hair. 

Find a tool that works for you - I love to use a curling wand if I am curling all of my hair. Don't forget to use a heat defence glove if you use a wand - your hair can become super hot. Not only that, but your hands will be close to the wand and burns aren't fun. If I am after a few curls throughout my hair, I'll use a straightener. It's all about finding out what works best for you. 

Alternate the way you wrap your hair around the wand - Doing this will add texture, and volume to your hair. Curl the pieces of hair nearest your face, away from your face. This will help frame your face.

Hairspray - Your best friend when it comes to ensuring all your efforts stay in place. The Silvikrin one is a favourite of mine - it holds the curl and doesn't feel crunchy. You can always brush out the curls once you have locked them in place with the hairspray. This will soften the curl, and give you less of a hairspray crunch. 

Sectioning your hair - Using sectioning clips will make your life much easier to make sure that each piece of hair has been curled. It also helps keep previously curled pieces of hair out of the way. I find that when I don't section my hair I spend much longer trying to curl. Even if it's tying your hair up, sectioning it off will save you sooo much time. 

Let me know if you'd like to see more posts on hair - I really enjoyed putting this one together!

What's your favourite hairstyle?

Amber X

Revision Revision Revision

If you're like me and currently studying at university, you may also have the joy of January exams. Woo. Exams are never fun, and always involve a lack of sleep, far too much stressing and numerous piles of notes. Exams have never really been a strong point of mine - I much prefer spending more time into researching and writing a piece of coursework, or an essay. But, over the years, I have definitely found the best ways to get information to stick in my head. We all learn differently, and I feel that once you have found a way of revising that works for you, nothing is going to stop you! There are various ways in which I like to revise, and these are some of them.

Mind maps - Writing ideas down on a page and linking one point to the next is always something I find useful when trying to make sense of theories or aspects of a topic. It makes it extra clear which point fit in where, and how you can back it up using evidence or include key words etc. Also, there is nothing more aesthetically pleasing than a beautiful mind map, especially as it makes revision so much easier.

Colours - I have to use colour when writing notes or creating mind maps. Whether it be to make something stand out on the page, to start a new topic, or even to colour code which pieces of information belong together, colour makes everything much brighter and bolder. Highlighters are some of my favourite stationary pieces and it's for the same reason - important pieces of information can be drawn straight to your attention.

Memrise - Memrise was something that I was recommended I use at A level, and have been using ever since. It's really easy to use, and essentially, you create your own testing game. You can use it to memorise key terms and their meanings, or anything really. It tests you in numerous ways, and even tells you when things need reviewing so they stay in your mind. It does take a while to type out all of the content you want to learn, but I don't think I would be able to remember content as well if I didn't use memrise!

Flashcards - Another revision option could be making flashcards. Very similar to the way that Memrise works, but only on paper. Testing yourself with flashcards is a great way to remember specific details and they're always handy to have as you can take them anywhere! Got a long bus journey or car journey? You can just sit and read through your flashcards.

Having someone test you - Once I have thoroughly read through and made notes on a topic, I love to have someone to ask me questions that I have to answer without notes. Not only does talking to another person aid your learning, but it can also be beneficial for the person that is asking the questions - they may not know as much information as you do, or vice versa.

How do you like to revise?

Amber X