Product Review: Schwarzkopf Gliss 4 in 1 Bond-Building Hair Mask

As I mentioned in my post Bleaching Hair from Dark Brown to Blonde Part 2, I was recently successful in my mission to discover a good bond-building product at a budget price. So let's dive into why the Schwarzkopf Gliss 4 in 1 Bond-Building Hair Mask is quite possibly one of the best hair products I've come across.

Disclosure: The FTC Disclosure Provision is a law that requires influencers to disclose when they are being paid to promote a product or service. So please know that if I'm not making money through affiliate links/sponsored content on the post you're currently reading, it's an oversight on my part and will be corrected soon. Read the full disclosure about all the legal stuff here.

You might also like: A Guide To Different Hair Dye Colours: Tried and Tested

Product details

How to use:

Apply gently on wet hair after washing and leave-in for 2–3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly! Use 2–3 times per week. Leave-in: Apply a small amount into towel-dried or dry hair tips after washing your hair.

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water, Eau), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Distearoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Isopropyl Myristate, Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Hydroxypropylgluconamide, Hydroxypropylammonium Gluconate, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Parfum (Fragrance), Amodimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Lactic Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Sodium Benzoate, Ceteareth-20, Trideceth-10, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol

You might also like: Product Review: L’Oréal Elvive Bond Repair Leave-In Serum

Review

 

This stuff is amazing! Started using it whilst bleaching my hair and it has left my hair so soft. Considering I started using it during a period when I was doing things to my hair that can cause major damage, it actually left my hair feeling in better condition to before I bleached it. 

The tub is 400ml and, as you only need a small amount, it lasts quite a while. Even when I've been using large amounts of it during my bleaching process, both when washing my hair and as a leave-in, the tub has still lasted a couple of months. Excellent value for money. 

If you're looking for a budget friendly bond building hair mask this is it! A real must have! I seriously can't say enough good things about this product. 

Do you know of other budget friendly bond building hair masks I should try? Let me know in the comments.

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Books: First Lines Fridays 10th July 2026

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? 

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page 
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first 
• Finally… reveal the book!

My Pick For This Week

The first lines of the book:

And the book is...

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DCGJ5D5S
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Porter Street Press
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 15, 2024
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 356 pages 
• 
  

Book synopsis for The Art Collector by Susan Bacon

A Warhol protégé, a Manhattan murder and a long-hidden truth

It is February 1987. Seal Larsen is a photographer, denizen of New York’s downtown scene and the subject of one of Andy Warhol’s short films. When she dies in a suspicious fall from the 15th floor of her Manhattan apartment building, her friend and neighbor, Emma Quinn, is determined to find out what happened.

A history professor at Columbia University with connections to the intelligence community, Emma soon realizes how little she really knows about her friend. Exploring Seal’s life, her work, her past, Emma makes her way down to Memphis and to rural Tennessee, putting herself at risk. It’s there, on an isolated 2,000-acre farm, that she begins to grasp the tragedy that defined Seal’s life and the truth about her death.

A sequel to The History Teacher, Susan Bacon's award-winning political mystery, The Art Collector is an intrigue, a puzzle, a plot-twister. It is also an exploration of the value of art and the people who make it and of the culture that fueled Manhattan's art boom in the second half of the twentieth century.

Where to find The Art Collector by Susan Bacon online: 

 

Get the book: The Art Collector Amazon affiliate link

Add to your shelf: The Art Collector on Goodreads

Bleaching Hair from Dark Brown to Blonde Part 3

Ready for another episode in the journey to take my hair from dark brown to blonde? 

It's been a while since my last update in this DIY hair adventure and with good reason. Whilst you might be thinking 'she finally used good sense and decided to give her hair a proper break before jumping in with yet another round of bleach' unfortunately that's not quite the case. My willpower is not that great. I was forced to leave it alone. 

I was in hospital for two weeks due to a bad flare up of multiple chronic conditions all at once. It has not been fun. I am home again now though fortunately and working hard to get myself back to something that can pass as normal life again. 

I used the Gemini app to create an AI version of what I wanted so that I'd have a clearer image in my head whilst bleaching my hair and so that I have an accurate image to take with me to the hairdressers when it comes time to cut it. I obviously still have work to do to reach my goal. I am getting closer though.

As you can see I've come a long way in quite a short space of time. My starting colour was a very dark brown, almost black. I started this DIY hair journey from dark brown to blonde on 1st June. This means that all this change has happened in just over a month (two weeks of which I was in hospital). I shared part 2 of this journey on 10th June. Thinking about it like this I'm amazed at how much I've managed to accomplish. I'm actually not far from my goal colour now and my hair is still in pretty good condition. Once I get the final hair cut done it should get rid of any dry ends I have left.

I do not recommend doing this yourself unless you have a good understanding of your hair. Even more so if you suffer from health problems. Luckily I do know my hair and how far I can push it as I've done this multiple times before. If this is your first time DIY bleaching your hair go slow and use low volume developer to avoid doing any serious damage. 

My next update should hopefully be with the final result.

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10 Ways to Celebrate World Social Media Day

Tuesday 30th June 2026

Social media has become part of everyday life—how we connect, create, learn, share opinions, and build communities across the world. Love it or loathe it, there’s no denying its impact.

World Social Media Day, celebrated on Tuesday 30th June 2026, is the perfect opportunity to reflect on how we use social platforms and to celebrate the positive ways they bring people together. Whether you’re a blogger, content creator, small business owner, or simply enjoy scrolling, here are ten meaningful (and fun) ways to mark the day.

1. Share Your Social Media Journey

Take a moment to look back at how your relationship with social media has evolved. Perhaps you started blogging years ago, joined Instagram during lockdown, or recently discovered TikTok.

Share a post about what social media has given you—connections, creativity, confidence, or even career opportunities. Honest reflections tend to resonate far more than polished perfection.

2. Support Fellow Creators

One of the best things about social media is the sense of community. World Social Media Day is a great excuse to shout out creators you admire.

Share their posts, leave thoughtful comments, recommend their accounts in Stories, or create a dedicated appreciation post. Supporting others helps strengthen the platforms we all rely on.

3. Start a Conversation

Social media doesn’t have to be one-sided. Use the day to spark genuine interaction by asking questions, running polls, or inviting followers to share their thoughts.

Conversation-based content often feels more human and less performative—and that’s something worth celebrating.

If you’re stuck for content ideas, revisiting posts like 365 Blog Post Ideas for Book Bloggers can help spark conversations that feel natural rather than forced.

4. Try a New Platform or Feature

Been curious about Threads, YouTube Shorts, or a new Instagram feature but haven’t taken the plunge? World Social Media Day is the perfect excuse to experiment.

You don’t need to master it overnight—sometimes simply trying something new is enough to reignite creativity.

5. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content

Polished feeds are lovely, but behind-the-scenes moments help remind us that real people exist behind the screens.

Share a glimpse of your workspace, creative process, planning notes, or even the outtakes that didn’t make it to your grid. Authenticity builds connection.

6. Reflect on Your Digital Habits

Celebrating social media also means being mindful of how it affects us. Use the day to reflect on your digital habits.

Are you scrolling with intention? Do certain platforms energise you while others drain you? If you’re considering a healthier balance, The Benefits of Digital Detox and How to Start gives a practical next step without dismissing the value of social platforms altogether.

7. Revisit an Old Favourite Post

Scroll back and reshare a post that still means something to you. It might be the one that started everything, a personal milestone, or a piece of content you’re still proud of.

Adding context about why it mattered then—and why it still does now—adds depth and meaning.

If you’re planning ahead, inspiration lists like 101 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers are ideal for identifying evergreen content worth revisiting and resharing.

8. Educate or Inspire

World Social Media Day is a great opportunity to share something useful. This could be a tip you’ve learned, a lesson from your journey, or advice you wish you’d heard sooner.

Helpful content reinforces social media’s role as a place for learning and inspiration, not just entertainment.

9. Celebrate Global Connections

Social media shrinks distances and connects people across cultures, countries, and time zones.

Highlight friendships, collaborations, or conversations that would never have happened without social platforms. It’s a powerful reminder of the good social media can do.

10. Log Off (Briefly) and Appreciate the Balance

Finally, celebrating social media doesn’t mean being glued to it all day. Sometimes the healthiest celebration is stepping away—if only briefly.

Post something thoughtful, then log off and enjoy the real-world moments social media helps us document and share.

Final Thoughts

World Social Media Day on Tuesday 30th June 2026 isn’t about chasing likes or going viral. It’s about recognising the connections, creativity, and conversations that make these platforms meaningful.

Whether you celebrate loudly or quietly, the most important thing is using social media in a way that feels positive, purposeful, and true to you.

How will you be celebrating World Social Media Day this year?

Understanding Blonde Hair Undertones: How Light Affects Your Shade

As many of you know, I'm currently in the middle of a major hair transformation, taking my hair from dark brown to a light ash blonde. This isn't my first time playing with lighter tones, so I went into the process fully aware of the typical pros and cons that come with choosing this colour.

However, being back in the blonde transition has reminded me of something I had completely forgotten: just how much different lighting effects the tone of the hair.

Some moments it looks quite light and beautiful, whilst later the very same day it can look quite orange still. If you are experiencing this too, I want to reassure you that it is completely normal to look multiple shades of blonde throughout the same day. You aren't losing your mind, and your toner hasn't suddenly washed out. You are just dealing with the complex reality of blonde undertones and light physics.

The Blonde Chameleon: Why It Happens

Why does blonde hair change its personality so drastically depending on the room you walk into? It comes down to pigment density and porosity. When you bleach dark hair, you strip away the heavy dark melanin molecules, exposing the underlying warmth (which ranges from deep orange to pale yellow).

Because blonde hair is highly porous and lacks dense, dark pigment to block out external reflections, it acts like a translucent canvas. It doesn't just reflect light; it actually absorbs and bounces back whatever wavelengths are present in the room around you. (You can read more about the physics of hair pigments and light absorption over at Trademark Salon).

One Day, Multiple Shades

To show you just how easily an environment can manipulate your look, here is how a transitioning blonde shifts from morning to night:

• Indirect Overcast Daylight (The True Level): A cloudy day or indirect outdoor shade provides the most neutral, balanced light. If you want to see what your hair actually looks like right now, look at it here. This light brings out the cool, ash reflections and shows your true progress.
• Direct Golden Hour Sunlight (The Orange Trigger): Late afternoon sun is incredibly rich in warm yellow and orange wavelengths. When this direct light hits hair that is still in the process of being lifted, it instantly exaggerates any underlying warmth, making it look much more orange than it actually is.
• Fluorescent Office Tubes (The Flat Tint): Standard commercial overhead lighting often carries a strong green or cool-blue bias. This can make a beautiful fresh ash blonde look slightly dull, flat, or faintly greyish in the mirror.
• Home Lighting (The Fake Brass): Most domestic bulbs use "warm white" light (around 2700K). This yellowish tint bounces off the raw yellow and orange undertones of transitioning hair, giving you a massive illusion of intense brassiness that disappears the second you step back outside.

Embracing the Blonde Process

Because I am lifting my dark brown hair in careful stages to preserve its health, I am right in the middle of those awkward transitional periods where the hair desperately holds onto stubborn orange and yellow pigments. It can be a bit of a psychological rollercoaster!

Honestly, remembering that lighting plays such a massive role has completely taken away the frustration for me this time around. Now, when I catch a glimpse of an unwanted warm tone in a certain room, I don't panic or reach for an aggressive toner, I just move into a different room and enjoy my hair in a better light! 

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Why does my hair look ash blonde inside but orange outside?

This is down to the type of light hitting your hair. Outdoor sunlight—especially during the afternoon or golden hour—is packed with warm, golden wavelengths that act like a spotlight on any stubborn, underlying warm pigments left over from bleaching. Indoor lighting, particularly if it has a cool or neutral cast, doesn't activate those warm undertones as intensely.

❓ What is the most accurate lighting to check my true blonde shade?

Indirect, natural daylight on an overcast day is the gold standard for checking your true hair colour. Because cloudy skies diffuse the sun's rays evenly without adding heavy yellow or blue tints, it gives you the most honest reflection of your current toner level.

❓ Why does my hair look green or grey in office buildings?

Commercial fluorescent tubes and overhead office lights typically lack a full, balanced colour spectrum and tend to emit a strong green or cool blue bias. When this light hits a cool ash blonde, it strips away the vibrant dimension, making the hair look hollow, flat, or slightly greenish-grey.

❓ Will a purple shampoo fix the way my hair shifts colours in different rooms?

Only partially. Purple shampoo corrects actual brassiness by depositing a temporary cool violet pigment onto the hair strand. While this will help tone down real yellow hues across the board, it won't stop the physics of light absorption. Your hair will still appear slightly warmer under warm household lamps and cooler in daylight!

Over to You!

Have you ever noticed your hair colour playing tricks on you throughout the day? Which room in your house has the most deceptive lighting for your hair shade? Let's chat down in the comments!