UK Fashion

As someone with naturally curly hair, I gave up getting my hair cut in England. All the wanted to do was straighten it. And if they did, it would curl right back up with the humidity. Waste of time and money.

I have no choice but to get my hair cut in England.

My hair has just the slightest wave, but they don't know how to cut it.

They do this thing where they cut the bottom ends of the hair into little triangles, instead of just cutting it straight across.

It might look cute on someone with perfectly straight hair, but it looks hideous on someone who has the slightest wave or curl.

When my hair dries, the ragged ends that they've cut curl up unevenly and it looks like someone tried to chop my hair off with an axe and then electrocute me.

The styles look better eventually after they've grown out a bit.

I'm just convinced nobody knows how to cut or style curly hair.  Whether it's here or back in the states, everyone always wants to blow dry it or give me bangs/fringe.

They don't believe me when I say that they shouldn't blow dry it because they'll not do it properly and turn it into a puff ball.  They also don't believe me that bangs and curl just don't work.  They'll be straight for about 2 minutes before they start doing something crazy and then I'm stuck dealing with pinning them back until they grow out.

I sometimes wear my hair straight, but only in the winter when it's less damp and that was when I was in NJ.  Certainly doesn't get any less damp here! 

What are everyone's favourite charity shops, just out of curiosity. They're my favourite haunts. In our town, the Oxfam and Hope House are my personal faves. All the rest in our town just seem to jumbled with rubbish or have an odd smell. The YMCA one is almost pitch black inside. Although, I did find a really nice cross body handbag at the ARC yesterday for £1.95, and DH thought it was dead posh looking. I suppose it varies from community to community, like everything else, though.

I have a new theory when it comes to having someone here in the UK cut your hair...you need to find someone who is familiar with the texture of hair that comes with wavy/curly hair.  So some Americans, jewish, perhaps south American, Spanish?  This last time, I went with afro-brit (is that term one should use?) thinking she has curly hair and is used to texture... wrong!  I can't wait till Aug when I head back for a wedding and can get my hair cut properly!

I haven't even thought about my hair yet!  I'm in fear. I'm in the curly/wavy bunch, too. I guess I'll just grow it out and see what happens. Maybe I'll learn to trim my own bangs. Oh heck.

I've actually had two great haircuts here (the first one was only okay, but I ended up with different people for the 2nd and 3rd and they were awesome).  I go to a place that "specializes" in long hair, though, and they seem to deal with my randomly wavy thick hair pretty well.
I did a lot of asking around to find it though!

Jennie,

are you in Manchester because I am willing to travel to find someone who can handle wavy, thick hair?  I am just up north in Preston.  


btw, I have actually thought of asking this one random girl who has similar hair and a nice cut but I thought my forward American way might scare her. 

What are everyone's favourite charity shops, just out of curiosity. They're my favourite haunts. In our town, the Oxfam and Hope House are my personal faves. All the rest in our town just seem to jumbled with rubbish or have an odd smell. The YMCA one is almost pitch black inside. Although, I did find a really nice cross body handbag at the ARC yesterday for £1.95, and DH thought it was dead posh looking. I suppose it varies from community to community, like everything else, though.

I used to cruise them all -- it was my hobby! Find something I liked and take it home for a good wash/mend. If it didn't work out, I could just re-donate it. Oxfam does tend to be a little pricier but I would start there and work along the street from charity shop to charity shop. Miss that.

I'm sure a lot of people already know this, but, I'm happy. Tesco has clothes! They have a Cherokee line(which looks-online-similar to/same as the Target one), and also clothes in sizes 18-28. Sainsbury's also has a clothing line, but, I didn't really bother looking at it much because it all looked too similar to the high street clothing lines.

btw, I have actually thought of asking this one random girl who has similar hair and a nice cut but I thought my forward American way might scare her. 

My Aunt, who owns a salon in the US, says this is exactly what you should do.  Find someone with a style you like and ask them where they got it done.  I've not taken her advice yet, but I am getting desperate and am planning to jump on the next person with good hair walking down the street

I used to cruise them all -- it was my hobby! Find something I liked and take it home for a good wash/mend. If it didn't work out, I could just re-donate it. Oxfam does tend to be a little pricier but I would start there and work along the street from charity shop to charity shop. Miss that.

Love, love, LOVE the charity shops! (love a bargain) 

Oxfam was a bit pricey, but they tended to have slightly more fashionable items. I remember just after I first moved there was a big deal about them auctioning off Kiera Knightley's dress that she had worn to the Oscars or some other awards show. Remember, Oxfam does online auctions too.

There was also a British Red Cross shop near us in Reading. A bit of a treasure hunt there, but worthwhile. I particularly liked them for picking up sweaters cheaply for winter since I didn't have many. I scored a great Laura Ashley top as well as some nice, warm M&S sweaters!

Don't forget about eBay! I got a ton of stuff there. You have to know your sizes in the different lines though. Per Una (from M&S) was one of my faves. Principles was nice, but they run small! The thing is, you can pick up items for £1 and shipping is usually really reasonable. And if you find someone who's having a clear out you can get multiple items with shipping combined. Score! 

Jennie,

are you in Manchester because I am willing to travel to find someone who can handle wavy, thick hair?  I am just up north in Preston.  


btw, I have actually thought of asking this one random girl who has similar hair and a nice cut but I thought my forward American way might scare her. 

I am in Manchester! I go to Nino Milano's in Fallowfield. It's on the web (the phone number and etc). I've had my hair cut by Haifa who was AWESOME but is now on maternity leave, and then some random younger guy.  Both cuts were great.  I think everyone there is pretty good, and they allow walk ins.

I once found a pair of linen trousers (I think it was Next) in one of the charity shops in Camden Town and they actually fit. Then not long after noticed my daughter's friend was wearing the same ones (in a different colour) so I felt really stylish!

Love, love, LOVE the charity shops! (love a bargain) 

Oxfam was a bit pricey, but they tended to have slightly more fashionable items. I remember just after I first moved there was a big deal about them auctioning off Kiera Knightley's dress that she had worn to the Oscars or some other awards show. Remember, Oxfam does online auctions too.

There was also a British Red Cross shop near us in Reading. A bit of a treasure hunt there, but worthwhile. I particularly liked them for picking up sweaters cheaply for winter since I didn't have many. I scored a great Laura Ashley top as well as some nice, warm M&S sweaters!

Don't forget about eBay! I got a ton of stuff there. You have to know your sizes in the different lines though. Per Una (from M&S) was one of my faves. Principles was nice, but they run small! The thing is, you can pick up items for £1 and shipping is usually really reasonable. And if you find someone who's having a clear out you can get multiple items with shipping combined. Score! 

Thanks for the tips! Had no idea Oxfam did the online thing.