Test Driving - the new and improved Clairol Nice 'n Easy!

Hate to colour because of the mess and smell? Then you will love this true breakthrough in home hair colour:

Clairol Nice 'n Easy Permanent Colour - $11.99 - in 50 natural looking shades and a formula that gives you everything you love - healthy, deeply conditioned, natural-looking colour - and takes out what you don’t - the icky, home-colour odour and the straw-like feeling of dried-out strands - by blocking damage and conditioning hair while you colour.

What makes it really great is it contains a breakthrough innovation: ME+ - a revolutionary dye molecule that reduces the risk of an allergic reaction that still gives 100% gray coverage, rich, layered tones and contouring highlights. 

In addition to phenomenal colour results with significantly reduced risk of an allergic reaction, the colour care formula offers an upgraded colour experience, with a no-drip formula that smells like fresh flowers instead of ammonia.

I have to admit, I don't colour as often as I should because of that terrible smell that all hair colours seem to have - the new Nice 'n Easy really had no offensive odour at all - I knew this for sure after I walked into the room where my husband was when I had it on and he didn't start complaining like he usually does when I colour - he had no idea I was colouring and thought I had a mask on my hair! I also have to say, my hair was super soft and shiny afterwards - with no look or feel of damage - we definitely have a winner here!

Available now at drug, grocery and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Crazy for CC - Clairol Nice 'N Easy CC+ Colorseal Conditioner

Clairol Nice 'N Easy CC+ Colorseal Conditioner - 55ml - $5.99 - in 3 shades for blondes, brunettes and redheads - an intense weekly conditioning treatment that offers special care for colour-treated hair by deeply hydrating to restore a healthy look and feel and seal in vibrant colour to protect from fade-out.

An easy weekly way to add softness, shine, and vibrancy and enhance colour - something I especially appreciate for the red colour in my hair  which tends to fade quickly and start looking dull within a couple of weeks of colouring - this gives it the needed pick-me-up to a fresh, newly-coloured look! It's easy to use, just apply as you would your usual conditioner after shampooing, wait 2 minutes and rinse - and unlike some colour boost products, this one won't stain you or your shower!

Available now at drug, grocery and mass retailers across Canada.

- Lisamarie -

Achieve the hot new "rooted" hair look with Clairol and our Contest!

Looking like a celebrity has become even easier then ever thanks to a new carefree hair colour look called "rooted" hair - where the roots are darker than the rest of the hair colour - on purpose - what I call laziness is actually a sought after look in Hollywood!

The "rooted" trend is a progression from the Balayage technique: your hair is freshly coloured yet designed to look grown out, creating that natural, carefree style. This technique can be used on new or slightly grown out highlights, and you don't need to head to the salon to get it, it's super easy to do yourself at home!

Clairol Colour Director, James Corbett was nice enough to share his tips on how to get the look:

Leave out a one-inch section around the hairline to keep existing face-framing highlights or you can use Nice 'n Easy Hairpainting first to create the highlights. Then clip that section out of the way.

Apply your chosen Natural Instincts shade to the first 2-3 inches of your hair from the root, excluding the section you clipped in front. Do not work down the hair shaft.

Process for 10 minutes and rinse. Shampoo the ends only so excess colour doesn't fade from your roots. Condition your whole head, dry and admire your new look!

Dying (get it?) to try the look for yourself - we think you should so we're giving away 6 coupons - each one good for 1 Clairol product - all to one lucky reader! Stock up to get rooted yourself for the next 6 months, share them with 5 of your bestest friends, use them to dye your dog blue - we don't judge! To enter, just tweet us at @Beautycrazedcan along with @ClairolColor with a link to this post - Canadians only and you have until December 8th to enter! Good luck!

- Lisamarie -

Classic or Fearless? Either way, you can't beat a $9 Beauty Box from Flare!

Score this season's hair, makeup and skin essentials chosen by Flare magazine's beauty team

Classic Beauty Box - includes: full sized CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick in Caramel Kiss; CoverGirl Clump Crusher Mascara by LashBlast and Pantene Expert Advanced Keratin Repair Split End Fuser along with deluxe sample sized Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash; Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex along with a coupon for a Clairol Nice n' Easy Hair Colour in a shade of your choice.

Fearless Beauty Box - includes: full sized CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick in Succulent Cherry and  CoverGirl Full Lash Bloom Mascara by LashBlast; as well as deluxe sample sizes of Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash; Olay Fresh Effects Clear Skin Swirled Mattifier; Herbal Essences Wild Naturals Rejuvenating Shampoo & Conditioner along with a coupon for a Vidal Sassoon Salonist Hair Colour to be redeemed for the shade of your choice!

Just $9 each including the shipping and handling so you can't beat it - just don't miss out on it - it's only around while supplies last so snag yours now at flare.com/beautybox.

- Lisamarie -

Perk up your summer look with a Clairol Colour Tapestry hair look by Luis Pacheco!

Looking for something fun and easy you can do with your home hair colour that won't be too complicated and still end up looking amazing...?

Clairol Colour Expert, Luis Pacheco of Hair on the Avenue in Toronto shows us how to get this beautiful beachy and sunkissed look which he recommends as being best for hair that is currently dark blonde, light or medium brown.

You'll want to start by choosing the lightest blonde shade of Clairol Nice 'n Easy that you can find - in a neutral or warm tone (for dark blondes) or neutral tone (for brunettes).

To prep: do all the usual stuff you would do before colouring your hair: read the  instructions, perform allergy test, strand test ect. and prepare your colour.

For Application:

1. Part your hair evenly down the centre (from the top of your forehead to the nape of the neck) into two large sections.

2. Starting from the centre part and moving down toward the ears, further divide each half of the hair into smaller 2 inch sections (this should yield a total of 8 to 10 sections with 4 to 5 on each side)

3. Twist each section into a tight spiral one 9this should yield a total of 8-10 smaller, twisted sections).

4. Using your fingers, apply the prepared colour to the outer layer of each twist, about 2/3 of the way up the length of the hair (or to desired height).

5. Allow the colour to process in the twisted sections and wash out as normal.

If I hadn't just chopped all my hair off I'd be all over this one - it sounds easy enough that even I could do it!

- Lisamarie -

New and Notable at Shoppers Drug Mart - Smashbox, göt2b, Clarins, Clairol and Maybelline!

Smashbox Lash Revival Treatment and Conditioner - $39 -treatment and conditioning duo for  for noticeably longer, thicker, fuller lashes in as little as 8 weeks.  Can also be used to thicken up sparse brows.  It's easy to use, once a day you glide the treatment along upper lash line only, once dry, generously apply conditioner to lashes.

Brow Tech Trio - $30 - a renovation of the classic Brow, now a trio instead of a duo - now containing a filling powder, defining powder and smoothing wax enabling customization to create the perfect shade.  In five shade combinations: taupe/soft brown, blonde, brunette, auburn and dark brown.  Apply the lighter shade of powder to fill in sparse areas and then use the darker shade to define.  Apply wax to groom brows and keep them in place all day.

göt2b Rockin' it line: Rockin' it Dry Shampoo - 122g - $7.99 - effectively removes oil from hair to instantly refresh your style without having to shampoo as well as offering hold and volume; Rockin' it Hairspray 258g - $7.99 - a flexible and weightless hairspray that is neither sticky or hard to achieve strong but flexible hold; and Rockin' it Gel - 175ml - $7.99 - for strong hold that is non-flaky to mold and shape all hair types.

Clarins Extra-Firming Body Lotion - 200ml - a melting lotion that delivers the ideal solution to loss of skin firmness due to changes in weight or pregnancy. The same benefits are also available as a Extra-Firming Body Cream - 200ml - $60 - in rich, comforting cream form.  Both work on density to boost the production of collagen fibres which help the skin to resist pressure and are responsible for skin density and tone.  Contain Centella and Bocoa extracts which boost the production of collagen fibres and Vu Sua which protects collagen and elastic fibres in skin from glycation, a natural process which results in fibres becoming stiff and rigid.  Skin is replenished and firm and body contours are streamlined and toned.

Clairol Natural Instincts Vibrant - $10.99 - the first Natural Instincts permanent hair colour range! Includes the Week 2 Colour Refresher - a treatment now included in every box of Natural Instincts that turns back the clock to give you the look of freshly coloured hair. - in 12 shades, the formula with antioxidants delivers healthy-looking hair colour and great colour results, providing 100% grey coverage for up to eight weeks. 

Maybelline Superstay 24 - $9.99 - this 2 step lip colour has a film forming technology and a solid structure that flexes with lips while being ultra-resistant that delivers 24 hour wear - in 4 colour families and 30 long-lasting shades to choose from.  I must admit that I'm not usually a big fan of long lasting lipsticks because I find them really drying and I end up applying the top coat a billion times a day just to counteract the effect.  This one feels a lot moister going on and doesn't dry and feel stiff like the other ones seemed to.  This one has great staying power, feels great on and it didn't take a brillo pad to get it off - just an oil based remover.  I'll be happy when they get this out of a display and into the regular products - it was impossible to see all the colours as it looked like a pack of rabid animals had ravaged the display!

- Lisamarie -

Nice 'n Easy wants you to Shake It, Foam It, Love It - your hair colour that is!

Hair on the Avenue at 112 Avenue Road in Toronto was the location of an exciting Clairol product launch a few weeks ago.  If you are sick of messy hair colour that drips all over the place you will want to read on:

Introducing Clairol Nice 'n Easy Color Blend Foam - $9.99 - it's the Nice 'n Easy that you know and love but in a different formulation that eliminates the mess - instead of a liquid, this colouring is a mousse!

It's very easy to use, you just mix the two parts together the way you normally would and then shake the hell out of it, add the pump and you're ready to rock and roll.

The interesting thing about the application method is that rather then applying the liquid to your hair and then rubbing it in with your fingers, you actually squeeze the foam into your hand and apply it the way you would a hair mousse. This actually gives you more control because then you know exactly where it is going.  The best part, it really doesn't drip!  I tried it on the weekend and applied it while sitting on the couch in front of the tv with no mirror.  Not a single drop did I get on my velvet (yea, it was kind of a stupid idea in hindsight, this could have turned out bad) couch!  If you do it without a mirror I will caution you to make sure you swipe your finger along your hairline when you are done, I didn't and of course a whole bunch of the foam collected there giving me a nice dye line on my skin.  The other great thing is that there is so much more product volume because it's a mousse.  I still had 2/3 of a bottle left when I was finished.  My hair is fairly short but we were shown at the launch that the foam has 3 times the amount of volume of a normal hair dye - so if you normally have to buy two boxes of colour to cover your hair, you are going to save a lot of money!

The results were great, a nice rich colour which still showed my highlights and my hair felt soft and shiny afterwards.

What I don't like about it - well the smell, but I have yet to try an at-home permanent colour that doesn't stink, hopefully someone will fix that one soon!  And the conditioner - rather then one of the nice big squeeze tubes you usually get that is good for 4-5 uses, you get 2 packets.  1 to use when you colour and 1 to use a week later.

Look for it in your usual haunt come February - it will be available in 18 shades: 2 - Black, 4 - Dark Brown, 4RB - Dark Reddish Brown, 5 - Medium Brown, 5A - Medium Ash Brown, 5G - Medium Golden Brown, 5RB - Medium Reddish Brown, 6 - Light Brown, 6.5G - Lightest Golden Brown, 6A - Light Ash Brown, 6G - Light Golden Brown, 6R - Light Auburn, 7 - Dark Blonde, 8 - Medium Blonde, 8A - Medium Ash Blonde, 8C - Medium Champagne Blonde, 8G - Medium Golden Blonde, 9 - Light Blonde.

- Lisamarie -

Tips to the Perfect At-Home Dye Job from Stylecaster!

The last time Christelle dyed her own hair it turned out something like above - except the poodle can pull off green hair a lot better then Christelle can... learn from her mistakes and let our friends at Stylecaster show you how to achieve perfect home colour!  Marie Robinson, Clairol Colour Director and salon owner takes you through a step-by-step tutorial on how to pick the perfect colour and apply it achieve salon results!

 

http://www.stylecaster.com/news/9061/hair-how-to-the-perfect-at-home-dye-job

- Lisamarie -

Clairol wants to help you warm up your haircolour for summer - personally! Contest!

Warm weather always gets me thinking about changing my hair colour to something lighter!  This year I went from my winter dark auburn to a light copper with blonde highlights and have even been considering going a bit lighter to a strawberry blonde.  If you haven't been thinking about lightening up for summer, it's time to consider it!



Graced by icon Brigitte Bardot and more recently brought to the spotlight by beauties like Gisele and Jennifer Lopez, the natural, sun-kissed look is all the rage.
“In the summertime I always tend to warm up my clients’ colour since it happens naturally with the sun,” says Clairol Consulting Colourist Luis Pacheco. “Work with the elements rather than against them and you’ll look effortlessly beautiful all summer long.”

Here are a few more tips from Luis to help you get the sexy, beachy look that’s perfect for the season:

1.        Stick to natural-looking shades.  The sun will fade and warm up hair colour, so natural, multi-dimensional colours will look best once this starts to happen.

2.        Know what looks natural on you.  If your skin tans nicely, you’re likely a warm tone – go for golden shades.  If you tend to burn more, chances are you’re a cool tone – ashy colours will look best.

3.        Go beachy, easily.  When refreshing your colour, only apply it to the roots allowing the natural fade to come through on your ends.  This creates the sought-after  beachy ‘ombre’ look.

4.        Go caramel.  Lighten brown and black hair by one or two shades and choose a caramel shade that will go with tanned skin like a cherry on a sundae.  Try the new Nice 'n Easy Color-blend Technology Caramel collection.

5.        Blondes beware! Overly bleached hair will not take kindly to sun, saltwater and chlorine.  Bring your lightness down a notch and opt for a gentle hair colour formula like Perfect 10.

6.        Vacation doesn’t mean from your hair colour.  For longer trips and getaways, pack a box of Root Touch-Up and hide pesky roots in 10 minutes flat.

Of course the hardest part of making a colour change is knowing what colour to change to.  Have you ever stood in the hair colour aisle wishing you had an expert by your side telling you exactly what colour you should pick.   Now you can, my boy Luis is here to help you out!  One lucky winner will receive a colour consultation from Luis - who will examine a recent photo of you and give you tips, colour recommendations heck, he'll send you some permanent hair colour and even throw in some CoverGirl makeup to go with your brand new summer colour!


Sound good, want in?  This contest is open to all Canadians with hair.  Just leave us a comment letting us know you want in.  Please leave your e-mail address and you can write it like this - info at beautycrazed dot ca - so the bots don't get you.  Winner will be decided on by the best sob story - so let us know why you need your very own colour consultation!  You have until June 4th to enter - Good Luck!

- Lisamarie -