Great Lengths Ireland Hair Extensions: My experience.

Great Lengths are a global hair extensions brand favoured by the Hollywood elite and available in salons nationwide. The majority of the models I work with have them done and rave about how they are still glossy and glam even 7 months on. When I style press and portfolio shoots the importance of bouncy natural looking hair with a sheen cannot be overstated, the only hair extensions I have witnessed that fit the bill are Great Lengths. They are internationally renowned and worn by celebrities like Ashley Tisdale, Selena Gomez and the creme de la creme of the Irish modelling circuit. I had my Great Lengths extensions put in this week and I am honestly so in love. They are so natural and glamorous. They are a real confidence boost! Needless to say I am a convert.

This is my before picture:

I used a special Great Lengths deep cleansing treatment the night before that removed any oils and product residue in my hair that would hinder the longevity of the bonds. I got my hair done in the Great Lengths HQ in Dún Laoghaire. Great Lengths Ireland is the distributor, educator, marketing and advertising for Great Lengths 100% Human Hair for the use of professional hair extensions. They use the finest 100% human hair of guaranteed origin and ethicality and are considered globally as the Roll Royce of hair extensions. They are a sought -after luxury brand. With more than twenty years of experience and a product portfolio to rival others, Great Lengths hit the Irish Market in 2011 with David Gold’s sister, Katie-Jane Gold taking the reins. Katie-Jane is the C.E.O of Great Lengths Ireland under Katie-Jane Gold enterprises.“Many a time when I would be in my brother David’s house in Rome he would get a phone call from one of the worlds top celebrities, like Whitney Houston or Lisa Marie Presley’s agent looking for hair extensions immediately! It was very exciting at the time!” Says Katie-Jane.

Upon arrival at the salon I had a clear idea in mind of what I wanted. I craved more volume than anything. I wanted my hair to have body and bounce while looking healthy and well shaped and not too much length. I went for the 30cm length in a variety of blonde tones. I had a colour consultation upon arrival. I am naturally blonde and I have been trying to grow out my hair I haven't dyed it in 3 months but that wasn't a problem. That was taken into account and a variety of bright, honey and golden blondes were used in my application. My extensionist was Liz Reilly. I was in good hands! Liz is a sought after hairdresser that has vast industry experience both in a salon for many years and styling hair for glossy magazine spreads. Liz was brilliant at applying the extensions. While getting my extensions done over the space of a few hours I learned a lot about the Great Lengths brand, the application process and aftercare involved. Check out what the keratin bonds look like - they are very small and applied in a manner that they are totally masked by your own hair. I got three inches off mine in the back upon completion as It was my preference for them to be shorter.

During:

I was already a big fan of the products and had been trying them out for the past few weeks. The brush is fantastic as you can brush gently through the extensions as you would your own hair to keep it detangled and prevent matting. At nighttime you can put your hair in a loose plait also to prevent that too and therefore have a soft wave. What is great for me is that the hair extensions have a natural kink or wave so if you pat your hair dry and let it dry naturally as I did this morning you get this gorgeous loose wave. My friends and family have said that they love how real it looks. They complement your own hair and won't cause breakage. I have had bad experiences with other methods and brands so it is a relief to find that my Great lengths Extensions are in a class of their own. I use a special Great Lengths shampoo and conditioner in order to elongate their life and protect the bonds - this is a must. The extensions last anything from 3-7 months based on how you take care of them.

Here is what the back of my hair looked like after my Great Lengths application by Liz Reilly.

And below is the full look! I am so pleased with the result and I would strongly advise that if you are going to get extensions these are such a gorgeous option. The hair is very good quality and you can style it as you please.

You can click here to check out the other girls in the salon on the day and how their transformations went. In terms of prices it is based on the quantity and length of what you require. You need a consultation to determine the pricing. Prices start at €250 but depend on the length and volume of extensions requested – all salons offer free consultations to determine the amount of hair required. What I have gotten done is worth over the €400 mark. For a special occasion like a birthday or Wedding or even just for you - when it comes to feeling confident it is better to go for high quality and get the best rather than pay a smaller amount and have hair that sheds and damages your root and stunts long term hair growth while sliding out in weeks as opposed to lasting for months like Great Lengths do. It is important to me when blogging to be fully honest, and I don't promote a product or service I receive that I wouldn't personally love and be excited about. I think that with saving up it is undoubtedly the best present you can give yourself. There are Great Lengths salons nationwide to find one nearest to you just use their salon locator by clicking here. If you want to find out about how to train to be a Great Lengths extensionist or where to order their products click here. There is free shipping nationwide in the ROI. If you have any queries, or want to speak to an expert, visit www.greatlengthsireland.com also you can find them on Facebook. I will be doing a follow up blog showing a hair diary of how I style my Great Lengths, whether wavy, poker straight, curly, crimped or in an upstyle.

I am pictured above with the lovely Liz Reilly receiving her certificate

If you are looking to get 'Great Lengths' done I can't recommend Liz Reilly enough. She made me feel like a new woman! She is Dublin based and you can get in touch with her on facebook by clicking here.

Great Lengths training

Also, I am styling the big 'U Magazine' competition very soon. The coveted 'Dream Debutante Makeover' from 'Caris Closet' + 'Great Lengths' that is gracing the pages of popular Irish glossy 'U Magazine'. You can win a "Dream Debutante Makeover" worth over a staggering €2500 with thanks to Great Lengths & Caris Closet. It is truly a match made in heaven. I will be styling the winner! You can click here to find out all the details.

xo L

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Twitter: www.twitter.com/lauramullett

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I am a Fashion Stylist, Radio Reporter and Journalist.

My blog 'Lipstick Gossip' showcases what I get up to. 

'Lipstick Gossip' has behind the scenes snapshots from shoots with Ireland's hottest models and top photographers + news backstage at fashion shows, product and service reviews, events and press previews.

Ladies Day in Galway and all my news!

Hey Galpals! I am officially never using the phrase ‘I’m a busy bee’ ever again! I think it brings bad luck. I went to the Galway Races for Ladies Day. It was great fun, it was a last minute decision and I had always wanted to attend. I wore a red glam Mary Elizabeth headpiece and a flared lace print jumpsuit that I had worn to the Brown Thomas AW13 press preview recently (but a little outfit repeating never hurt anyone!) I was invited by a model I recently worked with on a shoot, the lovely ‘Miss Irish Sun’ Sinead Duffy. She is one of those girls that you feel like you have known for years. She had a press call on the day and looked radiant in a dress from Caris Closet and I picked her up an ornate headpiece from Enniscorthy shoes and accessories haven 'Put a Bow On It'.

We linked up with Holly Keating also, another gorgeous Irish model I have styled for a variety of photoshoots. Holly also wore a dress from Caris Closet - a champagne peplum strapless frock. It is a chic glam little dress. It was a brilliant day, undeterred by torrential rain we mingled at the races and had a ball. It was one of the best girly nights I have had in forever. There was live music, an electric atmosphere and we even won a few euro. As opposed to hitting nightclubs we went on a serious pub crawl it was brilliant. In ‘Eyre Square’ fairly into our celebrating I felt a weird pain in my arm and looked down - I had been stung by a wasp! I have never been stung by a wasp before. One of the girls said about going to hospital and we all started laughing it off and joking. I just ignored it and went on with my night and it was a brilliant one! I needed it.

Sinead, me and Holly

The next morning when I woke up my arm looked a little bit weird and felt numb. Apparently I am allergic to bees! I was in hospital for a few days recovering as the reaction got pretty bad. One person told me that wasps are drunk this time of year because the pollen ferments like alcohol would which makes them aggressive. Well I definitely think they are out to get me! Upon my release from hospital in Dublin I was so relieved to return home to my own bed to chill and recover and guilt trip everyone into making me tea. Unfortunately while sleeping I was awoken by a wasp stinging me just below my eyebrow at 6am in my bed! It scared the life out of me. It was an unprovoked attack! Two stings in one week and I had managed to go 23 years without it happening. I didn’t even swat the thing before it stung. So strange. Unfortunately the reaction in your face is way more annoying than your arm. I looked really off until about three days ago. My eye completely ballooned. Better late than never I have invested in a mosquito net and it now drapes over my bed! Is it just me or are wasps everywhere at the moment? I know because I had a bad experience I am probably just hyper conscious of them now. The thing is the aftermath of the problem was an issue but it didn’t affect my time out in Galway - it takes about 12 hours to develop the reaction. I have used my time out when sick to organise shoots, projects and events. I styled a shoot for international press from my bed! I styled the fab Kelly Donegan for a shoot in London shot by the über talented photographer Gavin Glave.

Gavin Glave and Kelly Donegan

Once the shots land in the press I will write a detailed post featuring all the looks and where you can pick them up. The vibe was provocative street style. It was a mixture of fashion and lingerie looks with bold accessories. Here is a sneak peek of one of the shots...

©Gavinglave

I have a big beauty and fashion event coming up on September 8th with Celebrity Make Up Artist Aimee Connolly so keep it free! My proceeds are being donated to ‘Our Lady’s Hospital'. I will be announcing all the details soon so save the date !

I also passed my time being sick by writing and planning.  I watched ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Orange is the New Black’ episodes. I would highly recommend both of the Netflix original series! They are so addictive. However I am all better now and back to doing my press and portfolio styling and covering events. I have some very cool projects and styling work in the pipeline that I can't announce just yet. But one thing is for sure - I cannot wait for the Galway Races next year! ;)

xo L

Harvey Nichols AW13 Launch

I am a huge fan of Harvey Nichols in Dundrum. I recently styled 'Miss Irish Sun' model Sinead Duffy for a press shoot that featured 'The Sun'. I pulled some gorgeous jackets, tops, dresses and skirts from the store and I literally fell in love. Particularly with the brand 'Finders Keepers'. It available in store and is very youthful and edgy.

Shoot for 'The Sun'  Newspaper.        ©Richie | Photography

The Harvey Nichols AW13 range was officially launched and has now hit HN stores. Harvey Nichols Fashion Director Paula Reed presented the trends for #HNAW13 with striking models Yomiko Chen, L’Or Mayo and Angelica Salomao showcasing statement looks for the season at the flagship store in Dundrum Town Centre. There is something for all tastes. 

Key trends at Harvey Nichols include: ‘Boy, Oh Boy’ classic suiting from Dries Van Noten, Paul Smith and Goat; ‘Palette Cleansers’ in neutral and pastel colour blocking from Tara Jarmon and DKNY; ‘Learning Curve’ in coats from By Malene Birger, Celine and Jill Sander. The skirt silhouette this season is divided between wavy feminine skirts and a dramatic asymmetric split. The ‘Statement Coat’ features the Teddy Coat and Parka Jackets from Herno and Duvetica. Leather Jackets in biker style are a wardrobe staple from Francis Leon, Muubaa, Versace Collection, Pinko and DKNY.  New brands to Harvey Nichols Dublin this season include; Caractère, Red Valentino and outwear label - Herno.

“At Harvey Nichols we pride ourselves on spotting emerging fashion talents before anyone else.  From Alexander McQueen’s unique blend of dark gothic themes and impeccable tailoring to Mary Katrantzou’s signature trompe l’oeil prints – you saw it at Harvey Nichols first.”

- Paula Reed

For all you savvy online shoppers, this year Harvey Nichols introduced a 'Click and Collect' service where customers throughout the UK and Ireland can shop online and have their purchase delivered to their nearest store with no delivery charge. Paula comments; “Harvey Nichols Dublin is a boutique store offering an edit of the brands available in Knightsbridge and online.  This new Click and Collect service enables our Irish customers to enjoy the full range of exclusive labels available at Harvey Nichols and enables us to adapt quickly to demand for a new brand in the Dublin store”. 

You can find Harvey Nichols Dublin on twitter by clicking here 

xo L

Blog Awards Ireland: I got nominated in 6 categories!

I found out today that I have been nominated for the Blog Awards Ireland! 

Thank you to all who voted for me. I was excited to be informed I have been nominated for the following six categories:

1. 'Best Blog of a Journalist'

2. 'Best Designed Blog' 

3. 'Best Beauty/Fashion Blog'

4. 'Best Popculture Blog'

5. 'Best Mobile Compatible Blog' 

6. 'Best Photography Blog'.

My blog has opened so many doors and has been a great asset as I went out into the big bad working world! I have used it as an outlet to showcase my work as a fashion stylist for press working with Ireland's top models, make up artists and photographers, working at fashion shows, covering the red carpet and music festivals as an RTE radio reporter and so much more.

It gives a window into the fashion and media industry in Ireland. Thanks again for all your support and reading 'Lipstick Gossip'. Hitting the big 100,000 reads was an exciting milestone. It means the world to me! I work so hard and strive to make this blog what I always wanted it to be - A fun frivolous fit of fashion.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lipstickgossip

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lauramullett

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lauramullettstylist

xo L

Styling 'U Magazine' competition: Dream Debutante Makeover from 'Caris Closet' + 'Great Lengths' !

I have fabulous news! There is a new competition gracing the pages of popular Irish glossy 'U Magazine'. You can win a "dream debutante makeover" worth over a staggering €2500 with thanks to Great Lengths & Caris Closet. It is truly a match made in heaven.

Check out the details of this exciting competition:

 Great Lengths are a global hair extensions brand favoured by the Hollywood elite and available in salons nationwide. The majority of the models I work with have them done and rave about how they are still glossy and glam even 7 months on. When I style shoots the importance of bouncy natural looking hair with a sheen cannot be overstated, the only hair extensions I have witnessed that fit the bill are Great Lengths. They are internationally renowned and worn by celebrities like Ashley Tisdale, Selena Gomez and the creme de la creme of the Irish modelling circuit. Needless to say I am a convert.

Some 'Great Lengths' loving ladies!

One of the most exciting moments for Irish fashion fiends was when Caris Closet opened its doors to a floodgate of ladies thirsty for the latest catwalk trends. The boutique is a serious hotspot situated in Malahide stocking gowns and accessories rivalling what you would see on the red carpet for the Golden Globes or the Met Ball! It is our own little slice of celebrity. The beautiful attire in Caris Closet comes in a wide variety of sizes encourages every customer to have her very own Cinderella moment.

Caris Closet ball gowns

Therefore the meeting of 'Caris Closet' + 'Great Lengths' is a truly great thing and an opportunity for you, your friend, sister or daughter to have a fairytale Debs to remember. I was very flattered when I was asked initially to be the stylist for this fantastic competition and to be dubbed a 'top stylist' in 'U Magazine' is really wonderful. I wish all the entrants the very best of luck! Make sure to pick up 'U Magazine' to get your entry token as pictured below. The photographer for the Debs package is Ireland's leading fashion photographer Richie Buttle from Richie | Photography & coveted celebrity Make up artist Aimee Connolly of 'Make Up by Aimee'.

'U magazine cutting'

xo L

I am a fashion stylist, radio reporter and journalist.

My blog 'Lipstick Gossip' showcases what I get up to. 

You can follow me on twitter: @lauramullett 

Click HERE to check out my Facebook page 'Lipstick Gossip' that has behind the scenes snapshots from shoots with Ireland's hottest models and top photographers + news backstage at fashion shows, events and press previews. To check out some samples of my styling click here

 My instagram is: LauraMullettStylist

Clothes Encounter: Styling 'Miss Irish Sun' Sinead Duffy for press!

Styling has become a 24-7 job. I am eating, sleeping and breathing fashion. Shopping has turned into a full scale mission. I have become cat like in my reflexes and ruthless in my pursuit of the latest gear for shoots. Well ‘Go big or go home’ and what not. I think this is a ridiculously cool thing when your passion and position fuse together. I think as a stylist it is so important not to project your personal style on to your clients. You have to be objective, good at following a brief yet have an imaginative flair. For me it is like a piece of art coming together. It takes a hard working team a lot of effort to produce a beautiful image. I love the atmosphere on shoots. I have recently worked with gifted Make up artists and hair stylists that have such a love for what they do and also an unwavering vision. And luckily I feel I have made great friends in the industry. I was always obsessed with beauty and fashion. As a quintessential girly girl I feel I would have ended up working at what I am doing subconsciously even if I set out to do the opposite. I think a journalistic background is a great asset though in saying that because the media skillset you acquire is very valuable. It is a confidence thing. You have to have belief in yourself and trust your own instincts implicitly while working in a team environment. 

Part of the job is attending seasonal press events and previews for luxury stores like ‘Brown Thomas’ and ‘Harvey Nichols’ and also high street giants like ‘New Look’, ‘Topshop’, ‘River Island’ and more. This gives me a great hand on trend forecasting and translating catwalk to street style. Micro trends are important especially in terms of styling a magazine spread or a newspaper shoot. It is the fine tuned attention to detail that hooks the target audience in.

My most recent shoot to hit the papers was with 'Miss Irish Sun' Sinead Duffy. Sinead is vivacious, fun to work with and the camera loves her. The team consisted of Julie Caulfield working on hair and make up artistry and the photographs were taken by top Irish photographer Richie Buttle of Richie | Photography

Julie curling Sinead Duffy's hair

I used a lot of glam statement jewellery in gold, white and black which looked gorgeous against the model's pallor. 

One of the main looks that was featured in the spread in 'The Sun' was the shot below of the model in  a cobalt blue high sheen tank available for purchase in 'Harvey Nichols' in Dundrum. It is a very fluid tank and would be gorgeous for layering over a bandeau or sleeveless white eyelet blouse.

©Richie | Photography

©Richie | Photography

We wanted to go for a look that bridged between sensuous and classy. I styled the model in ‘Harvey Nichols’ attire. They have stunning leather jackets and ‘Alexander Wang’ leather pants in stock at the moment. One of my favourite looks from the shoot was the ‘Finders Keepers’ dress that looked truly beautiful on. I also adore the paradise print skirt which has great structure and shape. 

©Richie | Photography

A very fun part of the shoot was when we put the model in red and burgundy feathered Vegas showgirl attire from the fabulous Love Jewels. Sinead looked like a Victorias Secret Angel. The elaborate costumes are handmade and have a serious wow factor about them. 

©Richie | Photography

For the shoot I wanted to have Sinead looking sultry but also quite fashionable. The loose gold chains and rose gold Harvey Nichols jacket teamed with high waist black seamless underwear really showcase the body of the model - but still look feminine and stylish. It looks sexy but in an appealing, glamorous way.

©Richie | Photography

Myself & MUA Julie posing for a selfie behind the scenes!

The shoot was a huge success and everyone was very happy with the result. Below is the press cutting from 'The Sun' of the two page spread: 

A big thanks to Harvey Nichols for supplying the gorgeous attire and thanks to Bershka, Primark and Topshop for the jewellery selection.

Until next time..

xo L

I am a fashion stylist, radio reporter and journalist - my blog 'Lipstick Gossip' showcases what I get up to. 

You can follow me on twitter: @lauramullett 

Check out my Facebook: 'Lipstick Gossip' that has behind the scenes snapshots from shoots with Ireland's hottest models and top photographers + news backstage at fashion shows and style previews: Lipstick Gossip. 

 My instagram is: LauraMullettStylist