How to become Popular on Instagram | Gaining Likes and Followers

Instagram is an amazing platform to share your passions and hobbies - from photography to makeup to cooking! It allows you to reach a wide audience and using it in the right way can help get your name known and build a following of people with similar interests. What's more, it can help you build upon your own knowledge by sharing and interacting with others in the same domain.

I have always had a love for photography and, when I developed my Instagram account, I found myself striving to take my photography to the next level and getting my name out there for this hobby! I have found 3 tips and tricks that, although my account is still small, is helping me grow day by day and also allowing me to get the most out of my Instagram experience.

| Hashtags |

Hashtags are a great way to lead people to your account, as they search for similar interests and themes. The hashtags you choose will depend on the concept behind your Instagram feed, for example, if you are promoting a makeup-themed feed, you will use hashtags to relate to the brands, products and look you are creating. There are lots of 'set' and 'known' hashtags for certain areas of Instagram, that will allow a lot of people and popular pages to see your content. These can be found by searching Google or even searching popular, similar Instagram accounts for the tags that they are using, as well as popular pages, that have their own hashtags. My boyfriend, Luke, who is an avid, photography Instagrammer, found a selection of photography hashtags through these methods which we post with our pictures, that never fail to bring in a range of people to like, follow and comment on our pictures. The hashtags we use are: #streetdreamsmag #instamagazine_#thecreatorclass #jointheclass#hypebeast #illgrammers#hsdailyfeature #shoot2kill#createandexplore #artofvisuals#killeverygram #featuremeinstagood#hstakeover #urbanexploration#peoplescreatives #exploretocreate#archdaily #agameoftones#highsnobiety #hboutthere #mkexplore#visualsoflife #ontheroofs#inspirationcultmag #moodygrams#mg5k #mood #streettogether#fatalframes #illgrammers@oneshotkillaz @streettogether@moodygrams @heatercentral@createcommune @fatal.frames@illgrammers. 

In all honesty, I still don't understand some of these! But, many derive from popular accounts and link to certain types and styles of photography, and so, reach a variety of people across the platform. These also include tagging popular 'feature' pages that could see your pictures re-posted to massive followings of thousands! Do your research to see which hashtags relate to and will add to the pictures you post.

| Spread some Love | 

Instagram is a community and, to make the most of your account and gain popularity, you defintely need to take advantage of this! This means exploring the other similar accounts that you can find either through the comments of popular pages or the 'discover people' page (press the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of your screen and then the icon of a person with a '+' next to it in the top, right corner!). From here, click through the various accounts that pop up on your screen. When you visit a page, 'like' a section of favourite pictures and maybe even leave a happy comment (something like: love this picture or great feed, rather than asking for a follow!). If you are a big fan of the account, give them a follow, too. This will make a positive impression of not only your account but the person behind it and therefore encourage people to follow you back or like your pictures in return. If you focus on similar accounts, this will prove even more beneficial as people are more likely to engage with feeds that give off the same vibes as theirs! And, at the end of the day, even if people don't return any likes or follows, you've still taken the time to brighten their day and that's just as rewarding! 

| Stay Active | 

Maintaining your account is probably the most important part of attracting and keeping an audience. This means posting and interacting with other photos regularly - if possible, everyday! This means your following won't forget about or get bored of your account, with new content always available to view. The best way to attract new followers, also, is for accounts to see a variety and large amount of content to persuade them to follow! The best way to keep on top of this is to regularly take pictures and keep on top of the pictures you want to post. I often go on adventures to take lots of pictures, so I have some in the bank for later days. Also, finding a regular time to post will get you into the habit of posting and will also allow your following to see your name and pictures appear on a recurring basis - so hopefully it will stick in their minds! Have fun with this and play around with different times; I have varied from morning to afternoon and have now landed upon around 9pm (UK time). Instagram is all about having fun and pursuing something you love! If it is something you really enjoy, it won't be difficult to stay active and interact regularly and, from this, your account can do nothing but grow! 

So these are my best tips that I have found very beneficial to growing my Instagram account. As I said, Instagram is a community, so have fun with it and explore and try lots of styles. The more you use and enjoy having it, the more your Instagram will grow and develop, and hopefully these tips will help you find the people who will appreciate and love your content as much as you! 

Follow me on Instagram: @beccabeee 

Follow Luke: @_lukeadcock

~ Becca ~ 

TOP 4: Tips to Rescue Frizzy Hair

For too long, my natural waves have faced a battle against frizz. I completely fell out of love with my hair and for years, reached for the straighteners everyday without fail to banish the flyaways and smooth out my lack of love. Over time, this ruined my hair -  it was dry, frizzier than ever and thin. It looked horrible and I knew I needed to make a change. I started to take better care of my hair and, I still find it unbelievable that I actually choose to wear it naturally over straightening now. I have embraced the way my hair works and have transformed the way it looks, to the point where the frizz is barely noticeable beyond the sleekness I have created. If you're facing a similar war against your hair, hopefully these tips will help you transform not only your locks but your relationship with them too!

ONE | Condition, Condition, Condition 

My hairdresser told me time and time again the importance of conditioning and, of course I never skipped this step, but I never gave it the attention it deserved. I have found leaving on my condition for much longer than normal has made my hair so much more sleek and luscious. Conditioner is designed to really heal and nourish your hair, so the longer you indulge in the treatment, the better the  outcome! I keep my conditioner on for about 10 minutes while I faff about in the shower with washing my body and shaving my legs, sometimes even turning the shower off and sitting out while the conditioner works its magic. I have found this to really benefit my hair,, leaving it slick and smooth, especially in the long term, so stick it out and your hair will thank you! The conditioner I use is the Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner.

TWO | Give it a Treat 

I started using treatments on my hair about a year ago and have seen it develop and develop to reach the amazing condition I find it in now. I really neglected my hair and have seen how just adding this simple, pampering step into my haircare routine to really turn that hate into love. Treatments seek to stride one pace further than conditioners and nourish deeply to repair and rescue your hair. Just like with facials, hair treatments come in a variety of forms, from masks to deep conditioners, each with different properties to save different problems. Frizz normally lies with dry and broken hair and so, you should look for a treatment to target these problems. Oil based formulas seek to nourish dry hair, without leaving it greasy - these can be particularly helpful for brittle hair too, that feels almost crispy to touch! Look for ingredients such as coconut oil that will hydrate your hair and tone down the wispy, dry fly-aways. What's more, keratin is also an ingredient to smooth out hair and banish frizz. Treatments with this as a base will act a therapy to leave your hair silky with each use. The first treatment I tried was the Tresemme Keratin Smooth Deep Treatment Mask that showed me how vital this step of haircare is to rescue your hair routine and leave you the locks you dream of. I am currently using the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner, that not only smells lush but has calmed and repaired my hair. I try to use this maybe once a fortnight or if I notice my hair is being particularly difficult and I always notice how soft, sleek and frizz-free the outcome is. When using treatments, try not to use them too regularly as this can let your hair get used to the ingredients and it will no longer work it's magic!

THREE | Ditch the Heat

The most important step for allowing your hair to heal and, in the long term, look and feel better is to use as little heat as possible. I used to blow-dry my hair after every wash and straighten it everyday! This left it dry, thin and brittle, even my hairdresser told me I needed to desperately cut back and learn to love my hair without styling it so intensely. I began to cut back on straightening and wearing it in ponytails or buns in order to avoid this styling. While I was working, I found this particularly helpful as I had to tie my hair up and it allowed me to experiment with different styles, including plaits and other braids. Today, I have embraced the way my hair falls naturally, as it has had a chance to heal, and don't even blow-dry it anymore! I maybe straighten it once or twice a month, and only really if I'm on a night out. This has not only made it less dry and so, less frizzy, but has also made me love the way it looks naturally and encouraged me to opt for natural hair over heat-styling. 

FOUR | Style it Right

My last tip is to find styling products suited for frizz-prone hair to give it that final boost to reach it's sleek potential. This starts with a heat protection product, incase you are styling it using heat, so that your hair locks in moisture and doesn't become damaged. These come in a variety of forms, from sprays to creams, all of which will over time, protect your hair and leave your finish smooth. What's more, oils and serums designed for dry and frizzy hair will contain ingredients to target the problems that leave your hair frizzy. These formulas are much more concentrated than conditioners so a little often goes a long way, as well as being specifically formulated to work with hair as it drys, so the outcome is smooth and shiny. Focusing these products through the lengths of your hair can help repair and moisturise split ends and avoid oily roots. I have been using the Dove Quench Absolute Supreme Creme Serum, specially designed for dry and curly hair, that not only keeps my hair hydrated but shapes my waves to look sleek rather than frizz out and look untamed. When searching the market for your styling products, keep an eye out for products formulated for your hair style (for example, if it is wavy/curly or if it is straight) and to help banish frizz, those that hydrate and rescue dry hair, which is what often leads to the cause of flyaways! There are plenty to choose from at a variety of prices, so do your research and see how adding this step into your haircare routine can transform the outcome of your style.  

That's all my tips, and from personal experience, how to look after and rescue how that just won't be tamed. It's hard to change habits straight away so try implementing these ideas slowly into your regime to see the difference it can make. Frizz-less hair is as simple as paying attention to the steps you are taking in your haircare - learn to love your hair and you will be surprised how you ever used to treat it like you did! 

| Products Mentioned | 

Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner 

~ Conditioner Link ~

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Deep Treatment Mask 

~ Mask Link ~

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner

~ Conditioner Link ~ 

Dove Quench Absolute Supreme Creme Serum

~ Serum Link ~ 

~ Becca ~ 

P.s: 'Top 4' is a new series I will starting here on Beccaful, to share 4 tips/products/ideas for a range of beauty, makeup and lifestyle concepts! Hope you have enjoyed reading the first instalment and the layout etc. Thanks for reading! 

Outfit and Face of the Night | Summer Ball 2016

| Outfit |

Red Bardot Dress from Boohoo.com

~ Dress Link ~ 

Silver Glittery Shoes from Next 

~ SIMILAR Link (1) ~
~ SIMILAR Link (2)  ~ 

Jasmine Mirage Body Mist from Hollister 

~ Body Mist Link ~ 

I saw this beautiful, bardot dress in red, online and knew I had to have it for our University's Summer Ball, to stand out in a classic and elegant way. I sent the link to my boyfriend, Luke, and he surprised me by buying it for me for Valentine's Day! That, however, meant months to build up my excitement to wear it on the evening, but I couldn't have been happier with the look I waited to create. I teamed this gorgeous skater styler dress with sparkling shoes and accessories to create a bright and timeless look for any theme. 

| Make-up |

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Fair 

~ Concealer Link ~ 

Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Peach Glow

~ Powder Link ~

Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Chance from The Nick of Time, Ready 2.0 duo 

~ Eyeshadow Link ~ 

Sleek Contour Kit in Light (as contour, highlight and through crease)

~ Contour Link ~ 

Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette in Hot Smoked (4th shadow from the left)

~ Palette Link ~ 

Makeup Revolution Redemption Palette in Day to Night (2nd shadow from the left)

~ Palette Link ~  

Soap and Glory Supercat Eyeliner Pen in Carbon Black  

~ Liner Link ~ 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in Very Black 

~ Mascara Link ~

Makeup Revolution Blush Palette from Ultra Blush and Highlight Gift Set (2nd from the right, top and bottom shades mixed) 

~ SIMILAR Link ~

Rimmel London Provocalips Lip Colour in Kiss Me You Fool 

~ Lipstick Link ~ 

To match my outfit, I chose a simple and classic look, channeling simple eyes, fluttery lashes and a bright, red lip to match the dress. I blended two different brown shades through the crease before applying a light dazzle of gold across the lid to add a touch of glamour. With sleek liner on the top lash line and lots of coats of lengthening mascara, the look was pretty and sweet, playing a great accompaniment to the shocking lips that pulled together the neutral colours across my skin. The lip colour lasted all night, through the sipping of cocktails, sweating in the colourful lights of the dance floor and kisses here and there - I would definitely recommend this product for all night wear!

| Hair |

Tresemme Moisture Rich Shampoo 

~ Shampoo Link ~ 

Tresemme Moisture Rich Conditioner 

~ Conditioner Link ~ 

Dove Quench Absolute Supreme Creme Serum 

~ Serum Link ~ 

Wella Shockwaves Ultra Strong Power Hold Hairspray 

~ Hairspray Link ~ 

For my hair, I left it nice and natural, embracing my waves. I styled it with a serum for a sleek and smooth finish to fit my look and a touch of hairspray to keep it in place all night long! 

I had the most amazing time, dancing and laughing with friends, as well as embracing a new, bold look (especially lipstick-wise). I can't wait until I can dress up again and style this beautiful dress in different styles for fun occasions to come! 

~ Becca ~

Having a Moment | Instagram

I had previously dabbled in Instagram; posting selfies, the occasional food picture and sometimes supporting my blog, while above all, stalking all the celebrities, whose pictures were much more artistic than my own. In all honesty, Instagram didn't grab me as something I couldn't live without. It wasn't until I got to University that I found a new love for the social media and pursued it as a hobby I never thought I would have.

I have always loved photography, pictures of sunsets, sky and beautiful scenery filling my camera roll. And, of course, I'd always thought of sharing these, I just never knew the right way to do it. A month or two into my University life, influenced from a few of my friends' love for the app, I downloaded it, as @beccabeee, and posted my first picture - one of a firework I had taken at a display a day or two prior. I was proud of that picture and, with editing knowledge, the reception was great. My friends all began to follow my account and like the pictures I was posting, my artistic eye and love for pictures finally coming to life. 

From here, I wanted to create a theme, posting three pictures with similar editing (like 'black and white' or a certain tone). I thought this would give a cool effect to my feed and, although I was eager to uphold this, I was still finding out what sort of Instagram-er I wanted to be and what content I wanted to be posting. I tried a variety of things, even a selfie and pictures of everyday life. I knew, though, that although this might suit some, this wasn't where I wanted my Instagram to head. I wanted to have a space to feel like a photographer and show content you wouldn't see everywhere. 

At the start of 2016, my boyfriend Luke, a keen Instagram fan himself, told me he wanted to take his account in a much more artistic direction. He, too, was unsure of what this meant exactly, but we both took steps to pursue the opportunities Instagram can give, and develop this into a hobby we would learn to love. 

Luke showed me the ways of hashtags. Of course, I'd heard of these before, but hadn't known of the great influence they could hold over your work. We found a selection of photography hashtags that we could attach to our pictures to help reach people we didn't know and share our pictures with a wider audience. The first time I tried this, I was blown away at the feedback I received - 55 likes in a single day for a newbie isn't bad. My likes shot up, my notifications flooding with names I didn't know, rather than the friends I normally saw. Comments, too, from new people gave me a confidence to follow this through and begin transforming my photos. 

We began adventuring, seeking out photo opportunities and the found a desire to capture the mundane in an artistic light - sharing things Instagram might never have seen before. I was enjoying Instagram in a way I didn't think I could and I loved it. I loved the way it grew my confidence and the way it let me unleash an artistic passion I'd never had the opportunity to. 

I'm so proud of the content I have produced, my current success (just breaking 200 followers and with several pictures over the 100 like mark) and how I have progressed since that first firework picture. I'm learning how to edit better, capture with more ingenuity and have fun. 

I'm also so proud of Luke and the progress he has made. He's found true love with photography and it's so exciting to watch him throw himself into a hobby and love it so much. The dedication he has is inspirational and I can't wait to see where this will take him. If you want to have a look at his feed, be sure to follow his account @_lukeadcock. Also, if you're looking for tips and tricks to drive your Instagram in a similar direction, he has set up a blog to help everyone find love in photography - https://underscorelukeadcock.wordpress.com. 

I'm sure this post won't be the last of my updates regarding my Instagram journey. Hopefully I'll get round to sharing my tips with you. For now, I'm proud and excited to see where this will take me, so be sure to follow me @beccabeee to join me on the journey. 

~ Becca ~

First Year of University | A Reflection

After working for an entire year for my gap year, my place at University hanging in the distance, I was desperate for the days to fly by so I could begin my University life. I became bored of the mundane, working life that consumed my everyday, and longed after the pictures that flooded Facebook of my friends having the time of their lives as freshers. When September finally rolled around, I was spiralled into my first year of University, arguable the most amazing time of my life so far.

First things first, I was blessed with an amazing flat. We have shared some incredible times in our kitchen, dancing to music and laughing until we couldn't breathe in the small corridor that became my home. There were times when we struggled of course - 8 people confined amongst a communal kitchen and little corridor were bound to disagree at some point. But, I was lucky to have found friendships and overcome the problems that this new life flung at me. It was weird to adjust to living with new people of course, walking into a life I'd be sharing with strangers was terrifying. I'm a chatty, love-making-friends kind of person and I thought to myself, this is the first year of your life, don't go into it half-heartedly. I don't regret the choices I've made and the way I approached this new life; if I had walked into it timidly, afraid of making the wrong decisions, I can guarantee that I wouldn't have enjoyed this year as much as I have. In terms of catering, I was scared to fall into the 'pasta and noodles' diet everyone jokes about. It took some adjusting to (I was still used to thinking, well I wonder what time dinner will be, when really I was the one to be cooking!). I got into a shopping routine, planned my meals and wasn't scared to be adventurous and it all turned out great. Some meals, of course, weren't quite up to scratch and other times takeaway was far too tempting, but, I have found some amazing recipes to share with friends and flatmates and easy meals to whip up in a rush.

The work is definitely a step-up from A-Levels and College, and as much as I knew this would be the case, I'm still not sure I was entirely prepared. At first, it was hard to get to grips with, I hadn't written essays in over a year so, it took some time to warm up. Something I have learnt over my first year, not just from my experience but from those of my friends and fellow classmates is, if you love your course, your course will love you. I love what I'm studying and, even if something wasn't exactly my favourite module, I tried to engage nonetheless for the enjoyment I get from what I do. If you find yourself not enjoying what you're doing, then you aren't going to throw all your effort into it and therefore, the results won't show. Having seen friends dropping out for not engaging with their course, I can see how lucky I am to have found a course that suits me and makes me excited to pursue. I was, also, surprised at the deadlines and the way assessments take place. This might just be the university I attend, but the time between having enough information and seminar support to complete the assessment and the deadline is so short, something I was, luckily, able to adapt to. I have also found a great structure for essays and working routine that has eased me into each assessments and made them a lot less stressful than the beginning of the year.

When they say you make friends for life at University, they aren't lying! Living with, working with and seeing these people everyday encourages you to embrace each friendship you make and you share the most amazing, heartbreaking and unbelievable times amongst people from all over the country, some you thought you might never click with in the first place. University is not a place for prejudice, walking into the friendships and relationships I made with an open mind made my life so much easier and the bonds so much stronger. At the same time, I'm glad I've embraced new things I never thought I'd try. From alternative music night outs (definitely not my taste) to midnight adventures walking around the city, I found my spontaneous side, something I had forgotten in the mundane life of my gap year. If you can't do it now, when can you? University life has shown me to never take anything for granted and seize every opportunity that comes across my path.

So, I'm glad the life I imagined from University lived up to what I experienced since September. There were times where I laughed and of course, times where I cried, even times where I considered, is this the right path for me? I've learnt so much about myself and the person I want to be and I can't wait for the rest of my years here, amongst a group of friends I know I can never be without. So, well done Uni, you did well.

~ Becca ~

Happy 2016!

I can't believe it's that time again - a brand, new year! It's such a cliche to say the time has 'flown by' but, from knowing that this would be the year to start my University adventure, to now, having finished the first three incredible months, I can't believe how much I have accomplished in 2015.

I'll keep this short and sweet, but this year has been one I won't forget. I've grown so much as person, travelling further and further from my comfort zone the more days that rolled by. I've taken on some huge responsibilities such as: a full-time job, learning and achieving new positions at work, travelling up and down the country and even abroad on holiday, as well as concluding the year by moving away for the first time to University. But, I can't say this year has been easy; I've struggled with frustrating and heart-breaking moments, like I'm sure we all have, but I don't regret a single point in the year. I have strived to let these bumps in the road shape me, mould me and make me the best I can be. As I have learnt before, life has a way of working itself out and untangling the messes we make. I've learnt to stop overthinking, stop overestimating and start believing. I've chosen to believe in the life I want to lead - believe in the things I choose and I want. I've become active in my opinions, stronger in my confidence and happier in my body, and I couldn't thank all the experiences from 2015 enough for that.

I've ended the year on a high, surrounded by a supportive wall of family and friends that fill me with so much joy. So here's to you, the people who have been my shoulders to cry on, my 2am laughter cures and my favourite minutes of the day. I'm so grateful to have created so many amazing memories in 2015 and I'm hoping 2016 won't see the end of these!

Hope you all have a happy and healthy 2016!

~ Becca ~

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Long time, no speak. I know, where on earth have I been? Well, since my last post in August, my account has many half-written posts and has had very little attention from me. The primary reason for this is the whirlwind adventure that is University!

On the 13th of September, I ventured off to begin my University life, moving into halls on campus and beginning the degree to kickstart the whole of my life. It was very overwhelming to begin with and, having had a very difficult time in my personal life in the week approaching leaving, I was petrified to leave home and tackle this new life. I was very lucky to have found a handful of people both from my flat and on my course on Facebook prior to leaving, settling my nerves, and I knew they would greet me with open arms as I arrived on that first day. In first meeting these wonderful people, I couldn't quite believe how lucky I really had been.

I share a flat for my first year, with seven other students, each doing a range of different courses and, although I am yet to actually converse with one girl, the others couldn't be more amazing. I live with some of the loveliest, kindest and fun people I have ever met and our constant antics and adventures have really sparked a light across the whole first few months. Living with people who share my sense of humour and passion for excitement has really livened the whole experience. I know I am constantly surrounded by a group of people who would support and help me in a heartbeat. I couldn't praise them all enough for making me feel so welcome and loved in a place that was, I'm sure, pretty scary for us all. And, with plans to move in with two of these amazing people next year, I know we will all remain friends for life, even if we aren't just walls apart. 

I've also made some of the best friends in my courses (as I'm doing a combined degree), who are all so amazing and have made the last few months so enjoyable. A few of the people I was speaking with on Facebook before actually attending University have become some of the best friends I could ask for. From girly nights painting our nails with one girl on my course, Sarah, who has become such a close friend, to spending lazy days with our favourites songs on repeat with my best friend, Luke - creating the most incredible memories without even trying just goes to show how wonderful each person I have in my life right now is. I am very grateful that they are all looking out for me and making me laugh until my stomach hurts. 

So, yes, I have definitely been slacking when it comes to this blog. But, these last few months have been some of the best of my life so far and I would't have changed a second. Now, I am dedicated to reviving Beccaful and pursuing my passion for writing once again. 

So here's to the new people in my life, and my fresh start. 

I'm ready to restart this journey and hope you'll accompany me along the way.

~ Becca ~