hair therapy: Brazilian Blowout Acai Anti-Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner

for my thick hair, it's always a welcome experience to try anything new in the world of anti-frizz and moisturizing hair products. my latest endeavour has come courtesy of the Brazilian Blowout brand and it's fabulous!

to begin with, no, i didn't have the actual Brazilian Blowout treatment done to my hair. i was sent, and have been using, their Acai Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner...

the Shampoo is a sulfate-free formula that cleanses hair, adds moisture and leaves tresses resistant to humidity {and yes, safe to use on color-treated hair}. the Acai Conditioner is highly moisturizing, smooths hair and leaves it protected from uva and uvb rays.

after using these two products just once i noticed my hair was definitely smoother before and after styling. upon using it a few more times, i can understand why users are crazy in love with these, recommending them highly on multiple review websites. i love the way it leaves my hair so soft and smooth, shiny and smelling beautiful, thanks to its yummy citrus-infused scent. :)

other products in the line {that i also look forward to trying} include Acai Smoothing Serum, Acai Deep Conditioning Masque, Acai Restorative Sculpt & Define Polish, Acai Spray Shine, Acai Instant Volume Thermal Roof Life and Acai Protective Straightening Balm.

visit brazilianblowout.com for more info.

 

products featured sent to me for reveiw consideration; pics taken by me :)

hair therapy: 3 products i love to keep hair gorgeous

during this time of year, the cold, dry weather can really do a number on hair. like all of you, i have my go-to products that i rely to make it look its best, but like any beauty junkie lover, i'm always on the hunt for new products to give my tresses refreshment and keep it looking gorgeous. these have been living up to their promises...


Bumble and bumble Straight Blow Dry. i purchased this a couple of months ago and am so happy i did. described for use by those who have curly, thick, course, unmanageable hair, not only does this silky-textured balm act to cut down on dry time {how? i have no idea, but it works, so that's what really counts, right??}, but it protects hair from heat and fight against pesky fizz. the result is gorgeous hair you can brave the weather in.



as a fan of the John Frieda Frizz Ease range of products, i was beyond thrilled to be given the opportunity to try the new Full Repair line ~ have you tried it yet? ~ and am especially loving the Perfect Ends Deep Infusion. use this inca oil-infused serum on damp hair {a little goes a long way, and to be honest, i sometimes apply it to my dry hair before touch-ups with my flat iron} before styling; you'll be left with a healthy-looking, silky-soft finish that will have you hooked after using just once!


i first discovered One 'n Only over the summer during a trip to Sally Beauty supply. the packets of Argan Oil Moisture Repair Conditioner were on sale for less than a dollar, so i thought, why not give it try? needless to say, i was back in the store buying a full-size bottle the following week. the sulfate/phosphate/paraben-free formula is highly moisturizing, but doesn't weigh hair down {a complete must in my beauty book} and is also safe for color-treated hair.


do tell! what products, new or old-faves, keep your hair looking fab during this season?

John Frieda product sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

hair therapy: WEN Fall Ginger Pumpkin Cleansing Conditioner

just in time for the fall season, Chaz Dean introduces, for a limited time, his WEN cleansing conditioner in a fabulous, Ginger Pumpkin scent*.

and yes, it smells just as good as it sounds...

this being my first experience with WEN, i'm certainly thankful it was with this scent {looking forward to trying Pomegranate and Fig varieties}! i j'adore fall and all the gorgeous spices associated with it...

when it comes to hair products, i have tried many deep conditioners, often loving them when my hair was left feeling light and not weighed down. of course, i always used a shampoo beforehand. WEN not only left my hair feeling healthy, shiny and soft, but surprisingly full of body, bounce, and it was clean - without the use of any shampoo!

it's a bit of a different experience using WEN, but i have to say i enjoyed it. since it doesn't lather, you'll be happy to know it won't strip hair or scalp of moisture, and it keeps color-treated hair vibrant; after applying {directions call for a certain number of pumps depending on length and thickness of hair}, let it sit in for a few minutes. you can {as i did} wash and exfoliate you skin, shave, and when time is up, all that's left is to rinse it out.

WEN can also be used as a leave-in conditioner {who doesn't love a multi-tasker?}, so a few times i applied a small pump into my tresses before bed or right after styling {and if you didn't already know, i only wash my hair 1-2x a week since it is so thick}. me and my hair are in love...

have you tried WEN? if so let me know what you think. if not, i highly recommend treating yourself to a bottle! visit chazdean.com for more info and to order.

*product featured sent to me for the purpose of review; pics are my own

hair therapy: Davines Defining Wonder Wax

a couple of weeks ago, i had the pleasure of having a glam session at my local Macy's MAC Me Over Event, and while i loved having my makeup done {it's always so fun to dish with the artist about the new goodies, not to mention old favorites!}, it was the fact that my hair also got a little love that was the cherry on top. the product used, Davines Defining Wonder Wax, blew me out of the water.

this beyond-fabulous defining cream is infused with a special silicone that gives hair definition and hold, without weighing it down. i was taken in by it's luscious cake batter aroma, but even more pleased by the way it left my hair-- looking so shiny and feeling soft, all with a managable hold.

if you have the opportunity, absolutely try this Wonder Wax-- it's for all hair types and textures, and can be used on wet or dry styles-- love it!

visit davines.com for more info and where to buy. :)

hair therapy: Pantene Relaxed & Natural Dry to Moisturized Shampoo and Conditioner

when it comes to shampoo and conditioner, i am definitely the type to go for the most hydrating and moisturizing. i use products for dry or color-treated hair, mostly concerned with ingredients rather than using products that are specified for women of color.

if i'm being honest, i haven't had the best experiences with products for woc when used alone. my hair isn't coarse enough to handle the oils, and they have only left my tresses oily and weighed down. i found this to be frustrating the first time this happened to me because i had to go back and rewash my hair. since then, i have found that i can benefit from the heavier products-- they do give my hair a boost in condition-- but always plan for rewash.

this, however, has not been the case with Pantene Relaxed & Natural Dry to Moisturized shampoo and conditioner. i don't know how they do it, but Pantene has it down when it comes to moisturizing hair! i love their "regular" dry to moisturized line and have used those products many times over.

this new-to-me duo is like a step up in the dry to moisturized range. and no rewashing necessary- yay! i love that i can let my hair air dry and it's left with minimal frizz {tip: if your curly hair is frizzy, it needs moisture!}, and when i style, my hair is soft, shiny and full. fabulous work, Pantene!

i would recommend this to any woman with unruly or coarse tresses. don't let the Relaxed & Natural label deflect you. try them. you can find them at a drugstore near you.

drugstore beauty: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray

i love shine sprays over the type of serums that have to be poured into my hand. this fabulous one, Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray from Garnier Fructis, has become my must-have, not only because it give s my hair serious luster, but because it also nourishes my tresses with 3 highly moisturizing oils-- avocado, shea and olive.

this dual formula is activated after being shaken and can then be sprayed on anytime your hair needs some pampering (wet or dry). it leaves it looking (and feeling) silky soft and has a yummy smell.



this is my second bottle, and as you can see, i am almost out! time to head to Target...

visit garnier.com for more info.

xo
pics taken by me :)

hair therapy: InStyler Rotating Hot Iron Hair Straightener

you may have seen the InStyler Rotating Hot Iron Hair Straightener on tv or in a local store. i know the first time i saw it on an infomercial (about a year ago), i thought it looked like a good product that could work well on my hair.

when it comes to doing my own hair, i have styling down to 45 minutes (that's from just-washed, towel-dried to finished). this, of course, has taken me years to master. when given the opportunity to try the InStyler on my hair, i was excited to try something new.

it definitely took some getting used to.

in terms of using it, i found the rotating barrel/brush easy enough to catch on to. it was the amount of time it took with each section of hair that left me feeling impatient. with this tool, it's important to keep a proper amount of tension between hair and the barrel, while also rolling it through hair at a slow pace.

sorry InStyler, but i didn't have time for this. after 30 minutes, i wasn't even halfway through my enough-hair-for-ten-people amount of hair, and i had things to do. after three more attempts on three different days (i really wanted this to work for me, beauties, i did), i have come to one conclusion...



the InStyler is best for those who have less hair and/or more time. or maybe i've been doing my hair with my flat iron for so long (using it to straighten or curl) that i haven't given it enough time. i will say that i do like using it for little touch-ups.

while this is my personal experience, my blogger pal Amber had a different one. she loves it (as i know many people do). to find out why, read her review here!

be sure to visit getinstyler.com for more info.

xo
product featured sent to me for review consideration.

hair therapy: Avon Advance Techniques Frizz Control Lotus Shield

frizz is pesky (to say the least) and can easily put any gal in a bad mood. it's a dilemma that can occur anytime of year, but thankfully, there are products to help. the newest comes from an unexpected brand, Avon, and it works really well!



as the "big things come in small packages" saying goes, Advance Techniques Frizz Control Lotus Shield comes in a small bottle (2 ounces), but the formula inside it gives fabulous results. apply the silky creme on damp hair, let hair air dry or style as usual and tresses are protected from yucky frizz. the best part: it continues to work for 3 days, so applying everyday isn't necessary!

not only did i use this on my own hair, but i also used it on my daughter's. as you can see, she has naturally gorgeous soft curls...


my daughter's hair, natural, air-dried after applying Avon's Lotus Shield (and playing most of the day).

i have to say, i am very happy with this product (it's a great compliment to my favorite No Frizz shampoo and conditioner). so much so that i ordered more so we won't be without it when it runs out.

contact your local Avon rep or visit avon.com to learn more and to order.

xo
product featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

hair therapy: Pantene Curly Hair Series Light Conditioning Detangler

if you have curly hair, you know it's not hard for it to become a tangled mess. conditioning is the most important factor in taking care of your hair not only to ensure great-looking curls, but also to give them manageability. moisture also makes combing through hair easier and prevents breakage. Pantene's new Light Conditioning Detangler, part of their Curly Hair Series, gives curly hair the weightless conditioning it needs so you can have the curls you love.

as with all Pantene products, i am in love with the smell. the product itself conditions nicely. it makes combing (whether with a wide tooth comb or just your fingers) easy and helps hair look great. i've used it on my own hair as well as on my daughter's, and we both agree this is a really good product for curly hair. p.s.-- it even works to refresh curls during the day! :)

find Pantene Curly Hair Series Light Conditioning Detangler at a drugstore or mass retailer near you and visit pantene.com for more info about the Curly Hair Series.

xo
product featured sent to me by the brand's pr for review consideration; pic taken by me :)

Hair Therapy: BE Beverly Hills Inspired Shine & Repair Serum with Argan Oil

BE Beverly Hills recently launched their flagship product, Inspired Shine & Repair Serum, the first in a line of luxury haircare products with argan oil. since i'm always game to try a new hair product that promises to keep or improve my hair's look, i was thrilled when the company offered to send me a bottle to try.

once it arrived, i was excited to try it right away. i was happy to discover that the Inspired serum wasn't greasy at all and left my hair looking very shiny. this was thanks to the star ingredient, organic argan oil, which is high in vitamin E, omega-6 fatty acids and has antioxidant effects on the hair. this includes fighting aging (yes, hair ages too), reducing frizz and keeping fly-aways at bay, all while increasing shine and vibrancy (hello, multi-tasker!). other all-natural ingredients are in this serum (including avocado and jojoba oils) to help renew, rehydrate, repair and protect hair.

i have to stress that this serum goes beyond just adding added shine to hair. it also lightly conditions and protects hair from the damaging effects of heat styling. i love that i can run this through my tresses any time of day, wet or dry, and i'm left with hair that looks and feels great. plus, the light scent of lavender is fabulous-- soothing and invigorating at the same time.

visit bebeverlyhills.com for more information.

xo
a full size product sample was sent to me for review consideration.

Hair Therapy: Pantene Pro-V Straighten & Smooth Creme

Pantene's new Medium Thick Straighten & Smooth Creme was sent to me from Harper's Bazaar Magazine via a program they offerr to subscribers (this was the first time i was chosen for it!). since being introduced to part of this range of products (shampoo, conditioner, and hairspray included), that offer different hair types different benefits, i have fallen even more in love with the brand.

the Medium-Thick Straighten & Smooth Creme is fabulous because it can be used on hair that is wet or dry. it offers extra conditioning, frizz control, shine and when hair is dry, calms fly-aways.

have you seen the new Pro-V Hair Solutions line? if not, you need to get yourself to your local drugstore and check out these products! you'll be happy you did.


xo
pic taken by me :)

Hair Therapy: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment

let me tell you straight out of the gate that i would pay more than the $5 and change i spent on Garnier's new Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment if i had to.
seriously. that's how much i love it.

this has become my absolute favorite drugstore deep conditioner, and for good reason-- it works so well! with a combination of shea butter and olive and avocado oils (along with other ingredients, of course), Triple Nutrition is deeply moisturizing and leaves my hair feeling so incredibly soft.

my typical routine with this is to wash and condition with Living Proof's No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner, then apply Triple Nutrition, leaving it in for 3-5 minutes. the result is amazing. if you need or are looking for a deep conditioning treatment, you need to get this.

like now.

find Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment at drug and mass retailers and online at drugstore.com

xo
pic taken my me :)

Hair Therapy: Living Proof No Frizz Restyling Spray

when Living Proof's people contacted me about their new Restyling Spray, i didn't hesitate to say yes (!!) when they asked if i wanted to try it out-- i'm already a huge fan of their line. with benefits including detangling, conditioning and blocking humidity, i had high hopes for this new product.

and it didn't let me down!

you see, i like to exercise and work up a sweat most days of the week. this means i have to re-do my hair on those days. since i don't wash my hair everyday, i typically add a bit of leave-in conditioner, blow dry the wet parts and go over any areas that need to be redone with my flat iron. now that Restyling Spray is in my life, i just spray it through my hair and style as usual. my hair is left feeling soft and looking like i just washed it.

Restyling Spray is fabulous if you're looking for a product that will refresh your hair without having to go through the whole process of rewashing it. it's oil and silicone-free and has Living Proof's fabulous scent. find it exclusively on qvc.com.


xo
a full-sized product sample was sent to me by the brand for review.

hair therapy: Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Shampoo and Conditioner

i don't know one woman in her right mind that doesn't want shiny, healthy-looking hair. even those i know who could care less about fashion or makeup want to have gorgeous, shiny hair. Pantene's Ice Shine Shampoo and Conditioner promise to leave hair looking super shiny and looking healthy.

i was given the opportunity to try them-- so what do i think?

first with the shampoo. it claims to leave dull, tired hair conditioned and shiny. my hair is typically shiny, but i found that it really got rid of any build-up i had. seriously. on the down side, this meant i couldn't have stopped at just using the shampoo because it is clarifying (it dissolves all build-up on the hair left by other products). after using it my hair was left feeling the opposite of moisturized and really squeaky clean. since it's been some time since i've used a clarifying shampoo, i figured my hair would be ok.

the conditioner was my favorite of the two (surprise, surprise, lol!). it's a light formula, but it left my hair feeling fabulous-- boy, was i thankful for this! it smells wonderful, as all Pantene products do in my opinion, and once my hair was styled i couldn't have been happier-- my hair was clean, clean, clean and even shinier!



if you're looking to give your hair a little boost in the shine department, i recommend you give these these products a try. if you only use the shampoo, be sure to use the conditioner (or your favorite conditioner). it isn't moisturizing in the least. according to Pantene, it's ok to use everyday, but unless your hair is on the oily side, i wouldn't recommend it. the conditioner would be great to use anytime. i think i'll be using these once a month to give my on-the-dry-side tresses a good cleaning (and shine boost) from all the products i test out. :)

find Pantene Pro-V Ice Shine Shampoo and Conditioner at a drugstore near you. visit pantene.com for more info.

xo
products featured sent to me by the brand's PR for review consideration.

hair therapy: Ji Baek's Must-Have Hair Mask

in my opinion, Rescue Beauty makes the most amazing nail polishes. though i only own three polishes (pricey little gems, they are), i still have found the formula to be incredible. Ji Baek, the fabulous mind behind the brand and owner of the Rescue Beauty Lounges in nyc, was featured in the february issue of Real Simple magazine talking about her favorite way to get her hair soft and shiny.

according to the interview (a small paragraph, but very informative all the same), Ji uses Hamandi Shea Mask twice a week. after wetting her hair, she applies a handful of the rich conditioner to her hair, then wraps it up in a plastic bag to let it deeply penetrate her hair. after 20 minutes, she rinses it out.

this is something i need to try asap!!

btw, when she wants a fool-proof, lower-cost way to moisturize lack-luster hair, she uses "good, old-fashioned mayonnaise".

xo

hair therapy: Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil

in the cold, dry months of the year (we've had many more this year in so cal!), hair needs extra moisture. i give my hair weekly deep conditioning treatments, and love leave-in conditioners. when i was informed about Shu Uemura's latest Art of Hair product, Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil*, i jumped at the opportunity to try it.

sold out worldwide (yes, it's that popular!), Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil has become my absolute must have. when a product wows me from first use, it becomes a staple.

so what makes it so great??

first of all, it smells great (i noticed this of course as i rubbed it between my hands before applying it to my hair). this "liquid gold" serum glides through my hair and leaves it shiny and silky soft. i like to rub in whatever's left on my hands and it never leaves my hands feeling greasy.

also, Essence Absolue is a multi-tasker! it can be used in so many ways; as a pre-shampoo treatment, as a leave-in, as a UV protectant, for protection during color application and an uber-shiny finishing aid.

i have been applying a pump to my ends at night before bed and about 5 pumps before i wash my hair (once a week)-- it loves this stuff and i'm loving the results from using it. the price tag is definitely on the luxe end of the haircare spectrum, but since i know i'll miss this when it runs out, i have already signed up to be informed when it becomes available for purchase again.

visit shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com for more info.

xo
*a full size product sample was sent to me by a representive of the Shu Uemura brand for the purpose of review

At-Home Hair Tips from Hair Rules Founder, Anthony Dickey

if only we all had the time and budget to indulge in the luxury and relaxation that going to a spa offers. spending four figures on a full day of beauty treatments may not be realistic for most of us, but sometimes, a few truly pampering at home tricks can be even better. after all… the service is practically free and you don't have to go anywhere!

"there are many wonderful essential oils for the scalp that we use for so many purposes from adding luster and shine, to fortifying the scalp and hair, to offering astringent or anti-bacterial properties," says Dickey, celebrity hair stylist & founder of Hair Rules. "that's why we offer several special essential oil "ting" treatments at the salon for the hair and scalp."

here are a few of Dickey's favorite essential oils for at home hair and scalp spa treatments:

almond oil is a wonderful moisturizer and scalp soother. not only does it contain protein and important minerals, but it acts like you own sebum, encouraging moisture retention.

eucalyptus oil has significant antiseptic and anti-bacterial qualities. its active germicidal agents prevent infection, and it leaves your scalp feeling cool, tingly and soothed.

comfrey is a powerful healing herb. it can aid in destroying bacteria and healing cuts and abrasions, and also contains a natural hormone called allantoin which is known for its cell-restorative properties and may also serve as a natural retardant for hair loss.


have you tried any of these treatments? i haven't yet. any of these oils would be great to use and will be an especially sweet treat considering we're in the middle of the hectic holiday season!

xo