Toni & Guy Nourish Reconstruction Mask

   The problem with having processed and straightened hair, is the fact that without love and attention, it becomes dry, brittle and basically 'straw-like'. Personally not a great look.

Conditioner for me is pretty much a no go area, just because my hair is a lot thinner than it used to be, and becomes lank after day 1 of washing...

So i thought about an intensive hair mask.

Queue Toni & Guy hair products.

I love their products, i own quite a lot of them if truth be told. I find they do the job and are reasonably priced.

They only do a couple of intensive conditioners/ masks, so this one was the one i went for.

It is the Toni & Guy Nourish Reconstruction Mask priced at £6.49.

As you would expect, there is a generous amount of the mask in the pot, which is good. You do not need a lot so that is good too. A little goes a long way. 

I left it to work for 5 minutes, i didn't have much time to leave it in longer. But washed out fine, and was very easy to brush through wet and dry. 

All in all a fantastic product!

10/10

Until next time...xx

https://www.boots.com/en/Toni-Guy-Nourish-Reconstruction-Mask-200ml_1234303/

Espresso Layer Cake

So there was a birthday coming up, and i was asked kindly to make a cake.

I had tried and failed in trying to come up with the perfect cake for the occasion.

Anyway, a few years back i made these.... Espresso Cupcakes

Not to blow my own trumpet so to speak, but these we delish!

So, i figured, i had to make these into a layer cake.

Makes a 3 layered cake

You will need.

• 3 10'' cake pan
• Mixer or you can do this by hand- its hard work!
• Scales

Ingredients for both the cake and the buttercream...

Cake

• 300ml milk (whole is better, but semi skimmed will work just as well)
• 30g instant espresso powder
• 160g unsalted butter
• 560g caster sugar
• 480g plain flour
• 2 tbsp baking powder
• 4 large eggs

Buttercream

• 35-40ml milk
• 15g instant espresso powder
• 500g icing sugar
• 240g unsalted butter

Preheat your oven to 180c

Line all 3 pans with greaseproof paper and grease well

Heat the milk in a saucepan with your instant espresso powder and warm through- do not let it boil

Meanwhile add all you dry ingredients into your mixer and mix well until all combined. 

Take the milk off the heat and let to cool down before adding along with your eggs.

Either mix by hand here or on a slow setting until everuthing has come together, before dividing into the pans.

Cook for around 20- 25 mins until brown on the top. 

Leave to cool in their pans, before turning out to cool completely on a wire rack

Repeat the 'espresso milk' process like you did for the sponges

Take either your cake board or stand, and spread a tablespoon of the buttercream evenly between the layers, and use the rest to completely cover your cake

You could leave the sides free of the icing, but its up to you!

Also you could top with shaved chocolate, coffee beans or any other decoration that comes to mind

Here is my finished cake...

Have a great rest of the week!

Ta xx