Bring on the Rain...Well...Moisture

As promised, I wanted to impart a little bit of knowledge regarding placing moisture back into the hair.  Too often, we let the environment get the better of our locks, causing  dry and brittle hair. This is even MORE true in the summer months. With outdoor games, time spent by the pool, and days at the beach, there is always something beating our hair up. Well no more! Lets combat this problem to the best of our abilities!

The most typical summer hair woe is chlorine damage. While chlorinated pools are great for relaxing and cooling off on hot summer days, short of putting a swim cap (ew) on, there isn't much people think of. This summer, when you are packing your cooler for the water park, or even just chilling by your own pool, bring on the leave in conditioning spray.  Ever since I was 15, I have been loading on the leave in before hopping in the pool. Back then, I used to use Pantene's leave in from the classic line, but judging by their website, this doesn't seem to exist anymore. Sadness! Upon a bit more digging, I did discover the Aqua Light Weightless Conditioning Shake.

I ran to the store and checked the ingredients, and this will definitely do the trick. Spray it liberally on your hair before going into the pool the first time and it'll provide an excellent coating to help keep your hair silky and smooth. This also works for the ocean by providing a first line of defense against the harsh ocean water. By leaving it in the cooler, it also doubles as a quick cool off when you are in that hot summer heat. A great and inexpensive little trick for everyone that needs it.

But as to anything, the first line of defense begins at home. If you have a great set of foundation products to help lock in that moisture, you will have healthier hair to start with.

Enter the Mac Daddy of all moisturizing shampoos and conditioners...Paul Mitchell Tea Tree - Lavender Mint. I have been using this stuff since it debuted while I was in hair school. I am a sworn believer. Not that I haven't strayed, oh no, believe you me I have. I always get the bug to try new things, but nothing ever makes my hair as silky and manageable as this stuff does. Boasting the lowest pH of any Paul Mitchell cleansing product, this can help to saturate your hair in some serious moisture.

When the shampoo and conditioner seem to need a little help, I like to add a light leave in using my newer favorite hair treatment...Earthly Body's Marrakesh X spray:

Made from Argan Oil, this stuff is great before you blow dry as a detangling spray, and I use it as a light leave in when I need to, even if I am not flat ironing. Argan oil comes from the argan tree (d'uh :) ) of Morocco. Its very nourishing and I love doubling it as a detangler. Since using it, I have found my hair shinier and I definitely noticed that even after harsher treatments (lightening...), it springs back to life quicker.

Let me know if you have any moisture secrets! To keep with my apparent hair theme this week, I will be doing a little write up on a special product that was brought to my attention last week (surprises!!).

Have a wonderful day, my lovelies!!

Give More Protein! ...or Maybe Not

Everywhere you look lately, there is more and more hype about keratin treatments. The concept is simple enough, keratin treatments make your hair healthy. So it stands to reason that more keratin would increase the health of the hair. Like so many things in life, too much is just as bad as not enough. Most people err on the side of treatment when their hair is dry, but truth be told, an overabundance of protein can actually be the cause of brittle hair. With the glut of keratin treatments, its hard to know which is best.

Paul Mitchell's Awapuhi Ginger keratin treatment has a BIG claim, "30 years in the making", but does it live up to the hype? This is generally a salon treatment, but having a license I took it for a test drive at home a couple of times. You wash the hair, then towel blot and add the treatment from the ampule. The solution sits on the hair a few minutes then add a keratin conditioning treatment, followed by a 10 minute trip under the dryer. Rinse the hair then blow dry. I noticed smoother, sleeker hair and dried quicker, but the effects wore off after a couple weeks. I know its pricey in the salon, but if you have the dough and your hair is a lil haggard, I would splurge on it.

All I have to say is...woah. This is a SERIOUS amount of time. This is not a "well, I have some time this morning, let me try this" treatment. You wash and condition the hair as normal then use the smoothing creme. There is a TON of creme and it tells you to use it all. I have super short hair and that was just not plausible. You have to let it sit for at least 20 minutes but up to 45 minutes. I let mine sit for about a half an hour because I have curly hair...but not super curly. The worst part of the first step is how awful it smells. Having worked with perm solution, I can tell you...its pretty spot on. Rinse your hair, then towel blot your hair. Next is the Cuticle Seal Cream. You saturate the hair then use the included comb to have your hair lay flat. This is the part of the process that encourages your hair to lay flat, so be vigilant with this. Rinse your hair and towel blot your hair AGAIN! Last is the leave in conditioner. From there all you have to do "style your hair in a smooth straight style" using a brush. I dried my hair as usual, then finished with the flat iron. My hair was smooth and very well conditioned. As a side note, you don't want to use if your hair is permed or hilighted (rules it out for me from here on). 

Both treatments are great, but I preferred the result from Suave. Normally I am SUPER skeptical about OTC (over the counter) products. Still, provided you don't have a highly damaged hair or scalp, it should be great for you. This IS a CHEMICAL straightener. Suave doesn't call it such, but all ingredients point to that. There isn't anything natural about this, but it is the same as a chemical relaxing treatment. The instructions even tell you not to wash for 48 hours. The commercial can be super deceptive.

But what do you do if protein isn't what your hair needs? MOISTURE! More on THAT later this week!

Have a good day, my lovelies, and Happy Memorial Day. Thank you to all of those men and women who have fought for us.

Take it Off...Take it ALL off

Life has many big challenges: choosing a good college, meeting the right person, figuring out how to style your hair, and learning how to remove all of your freaking eye make up. This has been a battle through the ages, resulting in many a raccoon-faces woman. It seems that no matter how much you wipe and wipe, there is always more residue there. Personally, I have tried countless make up removal products and have been gloriously displeased...I either end up with oily eyelids with cakey mascara, or I go through a dozen cotton balls and see no end to the make up on my eyes. Is there no middle ground?!

Thankfully, I was at the grocery store (Publix for all you Southerners!), and stumbled up a new little gem from Neutrogena. Now, partly because I am infinitely curious and partly because I like to try stuff before most people, I picked it up and brought it home.  I have been using it for about 3 weeks and I love the results...

For too long I have been trying to tame liquid removers only to end up unhappy. With this, its really easy to control how much product you are using. I just place a small, pea sized amount on a cotton ball and gently rub it on my eyes, wiping lightly. Generally, when using 2 sides of a cotton balls, I use only one per eye. It doesn't take much and I have found that my eyelids are not greasy, just well hydrated.

Because of the brand, you can find this just about anywhere that sells Neutrogena. If you haven't seen the friendly blue tube, definitely ask your local retailer about to try and carry some. It retails for $6.99 and is in a 3oz. bottle (which i particularly love because it is airplane-travel friendly).

As per usual, my lovelies, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I am itching to try ANY new products you may have seen around.

Have a wonderful day and stay beautiful!

A Needle Pulling Thread...Without the Needle

I have always been on the lookout for the latest trends, especially ones that make my life easier. Threading is one of my favorite beauty regimens, and has been for some time. A few years ago, when I was living in California, I went to a bridal show. As per usual, there were all kinds of vendors available, but one in particular piqued my interest, it was called Thread and Sugar. I sat and watched as these ladies reshaped peoples eyebrows with just a long piece of cotton thread. It was amazing, with just a few moments, these women that once had unruly eyebrows were now blessed with perfectly arched and shaped creations. I had to try it. I sat down in the chair and waited to see what this new experience was going to be like.

For everyone that hasn't heard of this, Threading is a style of epilation (like waxing, sugaring, and tweezing) that comes from Eastern cultures. It is done by taking 100% cotton thread and holding the end in ones mouth, twisting it (making it look like a cat's cradle) then using the twists to remove unwanted hair. It has been gaining popularity in recent years, with different salons offering it as an add on service and even locations that do threading exclusively. The saddest thing happened when I moved to Nashville, I couldn't find a location to get my eyebrows threaded

Threading had to be one of the most interesting experiences that I have ever had. Some people say that threading really hurts, but I didn't find that. In fact, I found that it hurt me less than waxing. It was quick and precise, two things most people look for when it comes to facial epilation. I am blessed with relatively nice eyebrows. They have a decent arch and only some of the hairs curl. I don't get a unibrow, but still, they lack the precise edge most want in their eyebrows..

Sadly, when I moved to Nashville, no one had so much as heard of threading. I would ask local salons and different suppliers, but the response was always the same: a blank stare, followed by a smile and a subject change. It wasn't until two weeks before my wedding when one of my friends that works at the Opry Mills Mall mentioned a threading place in the mall, that I finally got to have my eyebrows done again. It had been almost a year, and I had resorted to tweezing and waxing, never getting the desired result. Six days before the wedding, I ventured to the newly renovated and now reopened mall to get my face fixed.

To my surprise, the place at Opry Mills was the same place I had been to in Florida: Brow Art 23. Its a relatively simple looking location, light blue paint, three threading stations and several women ready to take care of whatever you needed done. Threading used to only be done for special occations, like when a woman was getting married. Now it is done as woman, and men, want and need.

I walked in, full of smiles and asked for her to "fix this mess" (as I pointed to my eyebrows). She had me sit down as she got to work. Less than 10 minutes later, I was paying and walking out of the door, looking like a brand new woman.

(For the record, both pictures were taken within 20 minutes of one another...just in different lighting)

All said and done, after tip, the trip cost me about $15, well worth it if you ask me! If you have a local place, I suggest giving it a go. They do all sorts of services, not just eyebrows...upper lip, chin, side burns, and hair line (the most interesting to me). Prices vary based on location, but typically eyebrows run from $10-15.

As per usual, please feel free to ask questions or leave input. I would love to hear any stories if you, or someone you know has a threading experience. Until next time, my lovelies! 

Time Heals All Things...Except Split Ends

Hello my lovelies! In the last several months, I have been noticing a trend on the rise, there is constant chatter that there are now miracle "cures" for split ends. Now, I want perfect shiny hair as much as the next girl, but I have to go down to my roots and be skeptical (not that I always was, but with a clear head, I am able to see the bigger picture a little better). Maybe its my schooling, but the last I checked, there was no miracle "cure" for split ends.  So I had to investigate.

Not too long ago, lets say just over a year for arguments sake, I had really superbly messed up hair. I was a victim of hair genocide...and there were no survivors. As a sidebar, for those that are interested, I had shoulder length hair that I had dyed black for nearly a year. I was just trying to get some of the deepness out, so I went to a girl for a consultation to discuss lifting out some of the dye. She and I sat and talked and came up with a plan...lightener and a medium volume developer to bring me up a level [shade] or two. Bueno. But alas, this is not the way this tale went down. No ma'am. Our little free spirited hair stylist decided on lightener, a super high volume developer, and heat. Now, if you don't know hair, this combination, mixed with semi-fine hair can equal disaster...which it did. My hair was melted and breaking off close to the scalp. I was miserable. Fast forward to two years later and I was willing to try anything. I had been through at least 18 stylists, none of which were willing to cut my hair off. So everyday was a styling nightmare. I would spend well over an hour taming my miserably over processed hair. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the grocery store and see:

To anyone in a cosmetology crisis, this is like a bottle of water to some poor sap wandering around the Sahara. All of my good sense and training went right out the window...I was desperate. I bought the bottles and shuffled home with great haste, just thrilled at the prospect of semi-manageable hair. It didn't even take me 10 minutes once I walked in the door to read those bottles and take a shower. As far as I knew, the Nexxus that was among the Pantene and Herbal Essences was just an offshoot, less potent, but just as awesome as the Nexxus my mom used to purchase from the salon in the mid-nineties. I missed the memo about Unilever buying my little gem up in 2005. Oh well, live and learn...but I digress. The bottle made enough sense, wash and rinse with this product for 3 days and you will see improvement in your split ends. I missed a very vital word as I read the label time and again..."bind". No where does this product claim to "repair" split ends. I did my time with this shampoo, washing and conditioning my hair daily until the bottles were near empty. My ends were still fluffy little freaks of nature.  

I knew better, and I was only disappointed that I didn't listen to the advice I was given: the only way to fix a split end is to cut it off.

The alarming part is how many different companies are beginning to make claims of mending, binding, or repairing split ends. The sad part is, all of these words are true. These shampoos, conditioners, serums, cremes, and sprays do everything that they say that are going to, which is nothing that most people expect them to do. You can't fix a split end anymore than you can fix a sheet of paper with tape. You can cover it up, make it look better, but it won't ever be whole again...it will always have a tear in it. Hair is like nylons. Odd comparison, I know, but come with me on this journey. When you get a run in your hose, you try and stop it. You'll place a little bit of clear polish on it and pray that it doesn't inch its way up the legs. A patch job may get you through the day without error, but like it or not, you know that when you get home, those hose are toast. With hair, the analogy is similar, except your not throwing away all of the hair, just the damaged bits. Without a trim, the split runs the risk of worsening. Every blow dry, every pass of the flat iron, every twirl of the curling iron, each dance with hair color all stand to make a small problem worse.

Since my little tango with Nexxus Pro Mend, I have had many people (in my chair and generally in my life) as me about these split end miracle products, and the answer is always the same: Its great as a preventative measure, but you can't fix this problem over the counter. There are always better shampoos and conditioners out there that aren't drug store brands, hell, there are even some drug store brands that will work just fine in a pinch. My advice to you if you have unruly, damaged hair, seek professional help. In other words, your friendly neighborhood stylist can hook you up with locks that are healthy and bouncier than you can even imagine. Like anything in like, there is no "quick fix' for split ends, but with a good cut and the right products for your hair type, you can have killer look at a pretty reasonable price.

As always, if you have questions, drop me a comment. If you need suggestions for hair care, you can always let me know and I will be glad to help.

Until next time my lovelies, have a beautiful day!

Manicures Made Easier

Happy Tuesday my lovelies! I hope your week is going well.  Today, I was thinking about doing a little bit of information on some nail products. If you're anything like me, you may be seriously into nail care. I have a small nail polish habit, I'll admit it...but nothing that needs 12 steps. Lately I have been into magnetic nail polish. These polishes give a really cool 3D effect. Magnetic nail polish used to only be available across the pond, and to get it over here would cost an exorbitant fee. Now, many different companies are making this nail polish available to us here in the good ol' USA!

Out of the ones that I have tried, I prefer Finger Paints. This is the nail polish brand by Sally Beauty Supply. Usually they are on special, and I personally like the color choices better. the only problem is that there is only 1 choice for magnetic pattern. This is easy enough to solve, though. At Sally's they also sell China Glaze Magnetix. In this line, there is a small hand held magnet available that has three different designs on it.

Creating magnetic nail polish designs is easy enough all by yourself. First apply your clear base coat, then follow with one coat of the magnetic polish of your choice. Allow this to dry completely. Next, begin applying your second coat of magnetic polish. As you finish each nail, take the magnet design of your choice and hover it over the nail for 15-20 seconds. When you remove the magnet, your 3D nail art is complete. Once finished, follow with your favorite quick dry clear coat and voila! Kick ass unique manicure all on your own!

When it comes to finishing an at home manicure, the hardest part is waiting. Getting those nails to dry can be hell. I have bumped, rippled and cause "sheet marks" on so many paint jobs, that I can barely stand it. I have found a way to make this so much easier! China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat followed by OPI Drip Dry

Fast Forward is a super glossy top coat. I love that it comes close to the appearance of a gel coat. I find it stays shinier, longer than other brands. My favorite benefit is actually the smell. This stuff smells nothing like regular nail polish. My sister has always said it smells like gummy bears. I just like that it doesn't smell like crappy nail polish and paint thinners.

Drip Dry is something I carry with my every time I go to get a fill. A couple of drops on each nail after your top coat is applied and you'll be dry before you know it. Its not fool proof, but it does up your chances on having a pretty, long lasting, smudgeless manicure. This stuff is made with jojoba and vitamin E and makes your cuticles happier on top of drying polishes.

Everything here, minus the OPI Drip Dry, can be bought at Sally's. Finger Paints Magnetic Effects polishes retail for $6.99 and come in 4 colors, China Glaze Magnetix Magnet goes for $3.29, and China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat is $5.99. All prices of polishes are lower if you have a Beauty Club Card. OPI is a little trickier...if you are a license cosmetologist, aesthetician, or nail tech, then you can find OPI products at CosmoProf, otherwise you'll have to check your local retailers.

Thats it for today, my lovlies! Let me know if there is something you want me to try or if you have any questions about today's products, I am always available for answers!! Until next time, have a great week.

Modern F...riction

Hello my lovelies! I know I just posted last night, but I decided to give you another taste of some cool stuffage.

I have problems with rough elbows. I lean on my desk at home, I lean on my desk at work, and I lean at the kitchen table...the basic idea is that I put my elbows through hell. A couple years ago, when I was living in Fresno, California, I walked into Origins. It was close to my house and I was bored to tears. I was perusing the shelves when a sweet sales lady came up to me as asked if I had anything I wanted to try. I politely declined and she then asked if there were any issues with my skin that I may want looked at. Now I am a sucker for skin care, and I know I have issues all over. The most pressing one THAT day was the killer elephant elbows that I was rocking. She presented me with a product called Modern Friction.

Origins website ( http://origins.com ) says this about Modern Friction:
"Nature's protocol for age-smoothing exfoliation.
Corn Cob Extract plus body-brightening Scutellaria rapidly help reduce visible evidence of sun exposure, ashiness, crepey skin and uneven patches. Roughness-removing Rice Starch helps resurface to restore radiance. Purple Rice from China helps diffuse environmental damage-doers before they can create discolorations. Shea Butter smoothes away sandpapery skin. And Amazonian Cupuacu Butter works to restore suppleness. Glowing results are apparent after just one treatment. Bodies reveal decreased appearance of crepiness and freckling. Skin feels so sleek and satiny the years seem to slip away. One more perk: the aromas of Bergamot and Lemon."


Pretty fancy, no? Let me give you the skinny on this stuff.  The directions are simple: ` 1 - Apply this creamy, body-rejuvenating buffing paste liberally to dry skin. Focus on age-prone zones: arms, chest, hands, thighs, shoulders and shins. 2 - Wait a minutes, then massage gently in circular motions. 3 - Hit the shower, massage and rinse.


Its true, this is one creamy product, but its very grainy. The bits of corn cob are responsible for that, and that's great because it helps remove the dead, aging skin. It feels bizarre as you are massaging this on the skin the first time.  There is lots of drag and the corn pieces sort of tickle and sort of scrape.  When you hop in the shower, get only a little water on your skin at first, it causes the cream to foam up. You get some great movement out of it then, and can really start to feel improvement right away. 


Be careful as you rinse this off, though, the corn causes quite a mess. You'll find bits in the shower for days, and it can get stuck under your nails.


What I have learned from this product is that you really don't want to use it more than once a week, It can be harsh on your skin and cause chaffing and rashes. Also, don't ever use is on your face. There are far better facial exfoliators than this one, and Modern Friction is not made for the face anyway.


You can buy it in an Origins store, or on their website. It retails for $36 for the 7oz bottle and if you want o try the facial friendly version, that retails for $37.50 for 4.2oz.


Until next time, my lovelies! Happy Mother's Day!!!

Well...d'uh...and Serum!!!

This started as the simplest of ideas. No, I take that back...this started as the desire to have something to write about, but no clue what to write about. It hit me tonight while I was in the shower...I was thinking about the shampoo and conditioner that I use and that it would be great if I could get more people to  know that it worked as well as it did, when it hit me...why don't I write what I know? Beauty products! As I stood there washing, rinsing and repeating, I was astounded, albeit disappointed, that I hadn't thought of it before. I walked into our room where I saw my husband sitting and playing a game on the computer when I explained to him that I had wanted to start a blog, but for the longest time didn't know about what. He looked at me, as though he was considering the thought, when I looked up at him from my desk (which is directly in front of his...no really, they are touching front to front) and said, "The answer is right in front of you". He smiled and said "Beauty products". The answer should have been obvious to the both of us, being that I have so many different products, from so many different manufacturers all over my desk, in my bathroom, and even along my dresser top. I get great joy in trying different things and seeing if they do all they claim. Sometimes I am thrilled, sometimes just pleasantly surprised, others I am aghast at the blatant wrongness of a given product. This blog is going to be a way to help save all of you grown up girls the trouble that I go through every time I try something new. Have something you have heard of and wonder if I have tried it? Leave me a message and I will see what I can do! I'm always willing to try new things, and will give each new product a reasonable amount of time to do what it claims.

So lets get down to brass tacks...my favorite beauty product. The one that if I had to take only one bottle of product with me somewhere, it would most likely be this one. My saving grace...

I have wavy hair that is sadly very short right now. The length alone makes it impossible to style. I only wash my hair every other day if I can help it (makes it MUCH easier), generally running a quick flat iron over it to smooth it out. This would be much more work if I hadn't started using Super Skinny by Paul Mitchell. (As a disclaimer, I am a licensed cosmetologist and I went to school at Paul Mitchell the School in Orlando, FL. This in no way means that I ONLY use Paul Mitchell, in fact, I only use three Paul Mitchell products consistently. I just felt that I ought to say this out the gate, to avoid any future confusion. Onward!)

There are two type of Super Skinny, serum and relaxing balm, I use the serum and find that it works best for me. One pump to the palm of your hand, rub it between your hands, then work through your hair from tips to root. The key to this is following with heat styling. The bottle doesn't say as much, but it was something that I picked up from years of using the product. One of my favorite benefits from Super Skinny is that it improves dry time. When my hair is longer, I find that I reduce my average blow dry by at least 7 minutes. This is major. It also improves "slip" causing the hair to move more like what you would see in a Pantene ProV commercial. (See?! It IS achievable...just not with Pantene. Aaaaaaanyway...) Another great side benefit is using a drop on two in the palm of your hand and smoothing it over styled hair. This reduces fly aways and gives incredible shine.

This product comes in three different sizes,  8.5oz, 5.1oz and .85oz (perfect for purses and for fixing fly aways on the go). I typically purchase the largest, as I can get several months from one bottle. The bottle in the picture was purchased towards the end of December and I siphoned some off to give to a friend some when I first bought the bottle. You can get it at many national retailers, including Ulta as well as any Paul Mitchell Focus and Signature salon. 

As an aside, never purchase any professional hair, make up, or skin care product from any where but a licensed salon (Ulta has a salon inside, so they can technically get away with selling both higher end professional products as well as drug store brands). I know we hear this a lot, but I cannot stress it enough. Any products found in grocery stores, drug stores, or larger retailers have been diverted. Its a major problem for the makers of these products. I know it SEEMS like you are getting an incredible deal, but diverted product are usually expired, tampered with (watered down or cut in some way), or sometimes they have even "fallen off of the back of a truck". It sucks for the companies that work at producing higher end products and it can cause harm to your health, skin, or hair. 

/rant

On that note, thats all for this post. Feel free to ask anything in the comments, I will answer the best that I can! Next time, I will tackle something different, and I will TRY to post twice a week, but I can't make any promises!

Until next time my lovelies! Stay beautiful.