DIY Hair Dye L'oreal Excellence Fashion in 10.11 Crystal Ash | i made a video!

The mood to experiment on different hair dye is back! I feel like trying lighter hair shades now that I'm working from home and wouldn't need to worry about people noticing if it didn't turn out well on me LOL. This time I'm bought the L'oreal Excellence Fashion in 10.11 Crystal Ash after multiple contemplation and checking out reviews online. 

This retails at RM39.34 per box in Aeon Wellness, I got mine at RM29.49 after discount so both at RM59. Somehow ended up with so many L'oreal product samples including the ColoRista 1-Day Color Sprays and free green tea cups. You can get yours on ShopeeMY.

I'll just get straight up to the results. Here's my hair before _ black roots already long grown while the bottom is still in reddish mahogany brown. The after (on right) doesn't appear much difference. IRL you can tell its now in orange hue instead of red while the black roots now appear dark, orange-y brown. The after pic down really do much justice, probably due to lighting (it was moody when I took the pic).

The next morning, taken outdoor. Same clothes because I no longer change my clothes daily unless 1) they smell, 2) it's hotter & I feel yucky or 3) I have worn them for my workouts or after running errands outdoors.

Result-wise, somehow the color appears the most obvious on my scalp (see vid). This I think is probably due to the heat from my skin? I wonder if I should have left it a bit longer and put more consideration on the lengths of my hair instead of just the roots I'd have better results. Same goes to grays, I still spot them. But then, I've been told many times by stylist that my hair don't absorb color well, so could be the stubborn hair! A note on this: perhaps wear a hair cap while waiting for the color to develop.

Still, I think this is one really easy to use dye! Sure, it took effort to massage it into your hair but the cream glides easily with the help of the applicator brush and doesn't hardens up like some hair dye. Besides, it doesn't have overly pungent chemical smell. It does get messy, I have dye all over my arms and legs by the end of the process. Is it even? I'd say the coverage is close to what you'd get with bubble hair dyes which is great! Also, my hair don't feel dry after application and smoother with the conditioner. I've only used 1/3 of the bottle in a wash.

I kinda expected it to show up more (too high expectation wtf) because a it does on other bloggers or Youtubers. Its my stubborn, hard-to-dye hair really. This kinda bugs me because it means I probably won't get results I want from other hair dyes. I did find some DIY hair bleach in platinum blonde and am considering (most likely) to do that before I do dye my hair in another ash-y color which I already bought.

If you're interested to check out the whole process and results on video, I have made a simple recording.

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Here's the update after a week from coloring my hair with L'oreal Excellence Fashion. The color on my hair is still intact and so is my root still obviously lighter *laughs* I still have remaining 1 and a quarter bottle of conditioner which works amazing at keeping my hair moisturized and soft. I think L'oreal got their formula right!

Update #2: So I kept wondering why the roots turned up lighter and yes, it is because of the heat from the scalp. Someone on YouTube commented that I oughta start from the roots. And I keep wondering, how come, this hasn't happen before?! And then it dawn to me that this is my first time in the longest while to be going for light colors! Make sense now. Just me rambling my thoughts out. Okthanksbye.

Update #3: Photos taken after 15 days from dyeing my hair. By then, the lighter part on the scalp has darkened.

get fitter this MCO 2.0 & introducing (possibly) the best exercise mat ever!

As we are all bracing for MCO 2.0, this is the chance to set new resolutions to be fitter especially if you haven't done so since the last MCO or new year. No more excuses or procrastination, peeps!

Sharing some of the workouts videos I'm following the past weeks which I super like!

 

Favorite stretching workout so far!

I had thought the Pamela Reif's workouts are the toughest until I tried this workout by GrowingAnanas and couldn't complete it and even felt super dizzy at the end laughdieme. Though I do feel super muscular the next day lolol Attempt this at your own risk! Just early this week, I tried her legs workout which is made up of combination of some basic moves that totally ramp up the intensity!

Other than the above workouts without equipment, I am trying some workouts that incorporates resistant bands because I just got several from CottonOn Body. Kinda like how they increase the intensity for workouts such a squats, lunges, crab walk, fire hydrants and the likes. The variety also make working out from home less boring.

Since I've started doing cardio/HIIT/Tabata at end of March/April of last year, I have lost several inches on my waist, butt and arms but most importantly, felt much stronger!

Previously I jogged but that didn't seem to improve my stamina nor did much to reduce some stubborn fat. Hopefully with a better mat and consistent workout for the year I'd get to lose a few more inches. Weight-wise, it's a bit funny because I'm still the same weight. I'm told that meant I've gotten leaner and built some muscles  ᕦ(* •̀ ᗜ •́ * )ᕤ “ Hopefully the same for you who does the workout consistently!

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Aside from the above, I wanna flex my new mat in this post hahaha 

Tadaaaa °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

This Forest Fitness mat is a new one I bought with my own money (therefore NOT a sponsored post) at the start of the year and I'm already loving it! As you have probably hear me mentioned, my first workout mat fell apart just 2 months into using but which I didn't part until last month because I didn't know what are the other alternatives that could last. Thinking back, I was quite noob and chose a yoga mat thinking it is the only option for home cardio. BTW I do very little yoga, mostly stretches that incorporate yoga moves (Pamela Reif's vid above) while most of the time its cardio or HIIT. 

Found out later what I need is a pilates mat! Of course, the other option is gym flooring mat but I'd prefer something I can roll up and put aside. With this new mat, I kinda have high hopes for the new mat for the price I'm paying and seeing how the material seems much durable. It is described as a mat "made with heavy duty and premium grade natural rubber built for extreme durability and long term usage".

I think Forest Fitness is a local brand which is only available on Shopee.MY. For that, I went to search on Amazon for yoga mat that has almost similar-looking material and surface with my: here, here (black and navy blue) and here. A lot with this kinda surface are black, I'm not sure why. Of course if you want something prettier, you can go for Lululemon's which apparently offers amazing mats as well.

Close up!

Pros of this Forest Fitness mat include:

1) amazing grip at the bottom and top surfaces which prevents slipping. I think this is important because it reduces unnecessary friction so you can focus your energy and getting the most of your workout!

2) doesn't sink so very stable when holding poses such as deep lunge

3) absorbs impact better than foam ones so lesser noise when jumping around. I also noticed I bruised less on my knees _it was a frequent thing with my old mat. Besides that, my elbows don't hurt or get scrapped when I do moves like planks or the likes!

4) surprisingly, sweat evaporates off easily and do not leave sweat stains. I was worried it doesn't look like it'll absorb as well as foam one initially. It is also super easy to clean

5) doesn't have too strong rubber smell 

The only cons I can think if now is that its only in one color, it is quite heavy (hovering about 2.6kg on my kitchen scale) if you're looking for something to bring around and definitely to the pricier end. The latter, I wont mind if I don't need to change it anytime soon! So far it hasn't disappoint. Will remember to keep y'all posted on the mat condition after I have used it for a few more months. If you already own this mat or bought it from my recommendation, please do share your experience in the comment!