I THINK I NEED SOME ME TIME

I'm the first to admit, that when people told me you needed 'me time' as a parent, I rolled my eyes. I didn't quite realise how much having children consumed you, of course - until I had them myself. Suddenly the thirty minutes you once had to do your make-up in a day, is diminished to thirty seconds. Evenings that could be spent washing and blow drying your hair, whilst watching episodes of friends, are no more, for you live in fear of waking your sleeping baby. The time you had to yourself, that you took for granted beforehand is now incredibly precious.


I can count on one hand the amount of times since having children that I've had my hair or nails done, half of the reason being you simply don't get time, and the other half is that when I do have any free time, I'd rather spend it doing much more worthwhile things, like sleep. That being said, I am getting no younger, and there is a few things I want to start doing this year that even if it actually makes me look no better, I'll probably feel better for it. That's the theory anyway. I touched on simple things in my 2018 goals, like beginning a skincare routine I'm going to stick to for longer than a week and so far, so good - I've not been 100% consistent but we're definitely in the 90's, my skin is thankful for it, already sailing through January with barely a breakout. Nail salon visits aren't always cheap, and if I'm completely honest I sometimes find falsies a bit of a pain in the rear and when it comes to nappy changing - quite unhygienic. So to find a best of both worlds, I've stopped biting my nails, in the hope that within six months they'll be the length I want and I can save those extra pennies and any sudocrem under the nail scenarios. The last of my self care bunch, is my hair. Oh my hair. It's a mess, two babies and a whole lot of postpartum hair loss later, it's a huge, huge mess and I know it. Instagram probably hides a multitude of sins but my hair is dry and brittle and it's in need of some tlc. I'm lucky that with the weather being as it is, I can hide as much as possible under a chunky knit hat, but I don't think Summer will be as forgiving if I'm donning a bobble hat then - do you?

Recent research has found that a huge 49% of us haven’t visited the hairdresser in the last 12 months. So I'm definitely not alone in my hair neglect. Although looking after your hair at home is a great way to save time and money, sometimes you do actually need the help and advice of a professional to get your hair back on top form. There are signs that you hair gives you to let you know it needs a little TLC, and the haircare experts at Crown Clinic have put together their guide to knowing when it’s time for a trip to the hairdressers.

Frizzy hair and flyaways
Frizzy hair and fly aways are big signs of split ends and brittle hair. They can be caused by a range of factors, including using incorrect hair care products, the weather and your hormones. A visit to the hairdressers can chop off any dead ends, and get your locks silky smooth once more.

Your usual products don't work any more.
If you use conditioning products, or products to help make your hair bouncy, shiny or curly, they may lose effectiveness over time. If you’re finding that your products aren’t working as well as they used to, a trip to the hairdressers may be in order. Your hairdresser will be able to give your hair a deep cleanse, and advise you on which products you should be using to help boost hair health.

The plait test.
The plait test is a great, simple way to see how healthy your hair is. Simply take a section of your hair and put it into a plait. If your hair is in tip top condition, your plait will be the same width all the way down. If your plait gets thinner towards the end, this means you’re in need of a trim to get rid of dead, split ends. To get your hair back to its healthiest, it’s recommended to cut your hair up to the point where your plait begins to thin.

Greasy roots but dry ends
If you’re getting greasy roots, but your ends still feel dry and frazzled, you’re definitely overdue for a cut. Your hairdresser will be able to trim dry and split ends, and advise you on the best products to use to keep your roots clean and bouncy. You’ll be back to having bouncy, glossy hair in a flash. These signs will let you know when it’s time to visit the hairdresser, and get your hair looking its best again in no time at all.

Judging by their tips, I am way, overdue. The plait test was my favourite, I'd always hated the fact I couldn't wear one as it resembled more of a rats tail at the end - little did I know it was a huge sign of unhealthy hair. I feel a little better knowing I've got my appointment booked and that I'll be sitting uninterrupted, free to scroll social with no Mum guilt, and getting my tresses tamed in the process.

*This is a sponsored post