Skip a shampoo without worrying thanks to the Between Washes styling collection from TRESemmé which was designed specifically to refresh and restyle hair on the days you don’t (or can't be bothered to) wash your hair, because clean hair isn’t the only way to style - with everything you need to step outside of your comfort zone on non-wash days!
Available in the collection:
TRESemmé Between Washes Smooth Renew Anti-Frizz Cream - 142ml - $5.76 - a leave-in styling cream with a lightweight finish ideal for fine or thin hair that boosts shine and leaves hair manageable without weighing it down. Apply a little for an instant smoothing solution or apply more to help reshape style with a blow dryer - to leave hair fresh looking and smelling clean.
TRESemmé Between Washes Style Refresh All-In-1 Spray - 200ml - $5.76 - a lightweight, multi-tasking spray best for normal to thick hair that gives a boost of hydration to dry tresses, tames fly-aways, primes hair for styling and helps protect hair when using heat tools. A light use of spray helps reset texture and root direction while heavier use of spray, paired with a blow dryer can help create an entirely new style TRESemmé Between Washes Curl Revive Styling Foam - 147ml - $5.76 - with a lightweight, cloud-like foam meant for curly hair that polishes and reshapes curls while it provides frizz control and touchable definition without weighing hair down - no water necessary - just apply to dry hair, scrunch, release and go - and as an added bonus, the fresh scent leaves hair smelling clean and fresh!
TRESemmé Between Washes Volumizing Dry Shampoo - 121g - $5.76 - with a volumizing formula that's great for fine or thin hair. The weightless spray is infused with mineral clay and citrus to remove excess oil to boost volume revitalize unwashed hair without leaving a residue, just a fresh scent, beautiful texture and voluminous tresses.
Available at drug, grocery and mass retailers across Canada.
The Twisted Collection from Sebastian Professional taps into the hidden depths of underwater plants to infuse curls with Flexi Alg Complex - a break-through technology that gives curls the same elasticity and ability to resist environmental forces as underwater plants. With a unique blend of carrageenan extract, red seaweed, elastic polymer and glycerin form an elastic coating around each individual hair strand to result in 70% more elastic flexibility, bounciness, moisture, anti-frizz and definition for up to 48 hours.
With a full range of six products designed to protect hair's natural elasticity, both in natural and hot tool styled curls:
Twisted Elastic CleanserShampoo - 250ml - $17.49 - gently washes in moisture, injecting each hair strand with elasticity for easier styling.
Twisted Elastic Detangler Conditioner - 250ml - $18.95 - locks in moisture and boosts elasticity for easier styling and touchable, flexible curls all day long.
Twisted Elastic Mask - 150ml - $22.95 - nourishes and strengthens the hair fiber as it helps fight frizz, add moisture and shield against humidity.
Twisted Curl Magnifier Styling Cream - 145ml - $22.95 - polishes and defines curls without extra weight, stiffness or crunchiness while helping fight daily frizz and dryness for touchable, natural-looking definition and bounce.
Twisted Curl Lifter Styling Foam - 200ml - $19.95 - boosts hair elasticity and controls frizz with no stickiness or crunchiness for curls that bounce with renewed energy.
Twisted Curl Reviver Styling Spray - 100ml - $24.95 - an instant on-the-spot lift that makes curls bounce into place, renews manageability and controls frizz for weightless definition.
There are lots of ways to combine the products - for natural and hassle-free waves, apply Twisted Curl Magnifier Cream on wet hair and spray the Twisted Curl Reviver Spray - then let hair dry naturally to obtain beautiful waves.
Available now at participating hair salons and specialty boutiques across Canada.
Redken No Blow Dry NBD Cream - 150ml - $23.99 - offers effortless texture and a no-product feel that features Air-Tex technology with flexible polymers for control with movement and quick-dry polymers for faster drying time.
In three formulas:
Airy Cream for Fine Hair - provides a quick air-dry with effortless texture and body.
Just Right Cream for Medium Hair - provides a quick air-dry with effortless control and movement.
Bossy Cream for Coarse Hair - provides a quick air-dry with effortless manageability and frizz control.
Whether you're tight on time, taking a break from heat tools, or want an effortless it-girl look, getting an amazing air-dry is no big deal.
There's also lots of different ways to use the cream: apply to damp hair, create a loose braid and let hair air-dry, undo the braid and shake out hair for loose beach waves or my favorite trick right now to create a soft bend by the face - apply the cream to damp hair, clip it behind the ears and let it air-dry, unclip and gently tousle - magic!
Available at select salons across Canada - visit www.redken.ca to find one need you.
Sebastian Professional Sublimate Invisible Finishing Creme - 100ml - $23.99 - with an invisible formula that offers definition, frizz control, heat and UV protection and tames fly aways with a cashmere-smooth shine for the supreme finishing touch to all hair styles. Contains a flexible, silicon oil-free polymer that forms a smooth film around the hair fiber for more anti-frizz but is so lightweight, it allows you to apply it over and over throughout the day.
It's recommended you apply it to the mid-lengths and ends on wet or dry hair - you only need a tiny amount - and definitely avoid the roots, especially if you are fine haired!
Jack Black Bump Fix Razor Bump & Ingrown Hair Solution - 177ml - $29 - reduces razor bumps and ingrown hairs and helps prevent new ones from forming thanks to a revolutionary dual action, alpha-beta hydroxy acid complex that exfoliates the top layer of the skin while penetrating deep into the cell to free skin-trapped hairs and prevent new ingrown hairs from forming. It also contains soothing and calming ingredients like certified organic chamomile extract, certified organic green tea extract, aloe leaf and hyaluronic acid to leave skin feeling hydrated and refreshed while eliminating unsightly ingrown hairs.
You'll want to steal it because it works amazingly well on legs, armpits and anyplace else you shave or wax - and I don't have to tell you, ingrown hairs hurt!
got2b Phenomenal Thickening Styling Cream - 120g - $7.99 - adds texture and body without leaving hair crunchy; and Molding Paste - 99g - $7.99 - with a light formula that adds a naturally full look.
You'll want to steal it if you like a styling product that is matte, love the crisp, clean scent and are looking to achieve a neat, classic look without a lot of fuss!
Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.
Mereadesso Face + Neck Cleanser - 120ml - $45 - a non-foaming, all-in-one face wash that works as a cleanser, mask, scrub, toner and even shaving cream and rinses away residue-free. With a globally sourced ingredient blend that includes botanical extracts and vitamins and comes with a specially designed cleansing cloth - to be used with cleanser every time - in a handy reusable plastic pouch.
You'll want to steal it because it's effective as a deep cleanser but gentle enough for use around the eye area so it makes a great a makeup remover that will even conquer waterproof mascara.
Schwarzkopf Professional Osis+ introduces Soft Glam - a styling range developed specifically to create glamorous, effortless and touchable hair that isn't too perfect.
The range includes four innovative products that cover the most important styling needs: volume, smoothness, hold and shine:
Soft Glam Prime Prep Spray - 200ml - $21 - detangles and provides a non-static foundation with body and shine - helps to protect from brushing, blow-dry heat and UV-light.
Soft Glam Plumping Shine Mousse - 200ml - $21 - with a light volume that gives the hair body, grip and beautiful shine without weighing down or making the hair feel unnatural as well as providing UV protection.
Soft Glam Strong Glossy Holdspray - 200ml - $21 - a strong hold spray that provides plenty of shine leaving hair soft and velvety.
Soft Glam Smooth Polish Elixir - 75ml - $21 - melts into the hands to form a velvety, lightweight serum that gives the hair weightless shine and a touchable, frizz-free, smooth finish.
Great for all modern undone styles - tousled waves, casual buns and messy braids thanks to the formula enriched with rock crystal - feather-light minerals that provide high-octane shine to the hair while providing grip and flexible hold.
Available now at Schwarzkopf Professional Salons across Canada.
Nioxin Hair System Kit - $59.95 - uses advanced technologies
to deliver thicker, fuller, denser-looking hair by caring for the scalp with 6 sets which
include a Cleanser - cleanses to provide thicker-looking hair while it
helps remove follicle-clogging sebum, fatty acids and environmental
residues from the scalp skin and hair; Scalp Revitaliser - a lightweight
conditioner that helps provide hair resilience and control moisture
balance; and Scalp Treatment - contains antioxidants and botanicals that
help to provide a refreshed scalp environment.
With a different kit suitable for every hair type:
System 1
is specially designed for normal to thin-looking, fine, natural hair.
It amplifies hair texture while protecting against breakage, refreshing
the scalp and delivering a healthy shine.
System 2 is specially designed for noticeably thinning, fine,
natural hair. It delivers denser-looking hair and a healthy shine while
protecting the scalp and strengthening against damage.
System 3 is specially designed for normal to thin-looking, fine,
chemically treated hair. It amplifies hair texture while refreshing the
scalp and providing moisture balance to coloured hair.
System 4 is specially designed for noticeably thinning, fine,
chemically-treated hair. It delivers denser-looking hair while
protecting the scalp and providing moisture balance to coloured hair.
System 5 is specially designed for normal to thin-looking, medium
to coarse, natural or chemically-treated hair. It delivers smoothing
control to hair while refreshing the scalp and restoring moisture
balance.
System 6 is specially designed for noticeably thinning, medium to
coarse, natural or chemically-treated hair. It delivers smoothing
control to hair while protecting the scalp and restoring moisture
balance.
I tested out System 3 - I wasn't sure that I was going to notice any difference at all - I have fine hair but a lot of it so didn't really think the system was going to be of any benefit to me - wrong! After 30 days my hair looks fuller and thicker and just more substantial! The other thing I've noticed is that even though the weather has been getting colder, my scalp doesn't feel tight and dry the way it normally would - so all around I am pretty stoked with the system - I can see how this would be really great if your hair was actually thinning!
Before starting the system, consider getting your scalp a good cleaning with Nioxin Scalp Renew Demabrasion Treatment which helps restore a healthy look to your scalp and hair by accelerating scalp skin surface regeneration through exfoliation and removing build-up around follicle sites - I think these before and after shots of my own scalp demonstrate that my shampoo is not getting my scalp as clean as I would have thought it was!
The benefit to having a clean scalp of course is that healthy, deeply rooted hair comes from a scalp that is clean and free from debris. Build-up of sebum or product blocks hair follicles and can prevent new hair coming through the skin and maturing. In time, the lack of new growth will make hair look increasingly thin.
Nioxin also introduces 3D Styling - a line of styling products for fuller, thicker-looking hair - with a self-explanatory package design and two technologies that makes it easy to choose the styler tailored to meet individual needs of hair thinning - from creating thicker, fuller-looking styles to maintaining flexibility:
Pro-Thick technology for fuller, thicker looks - with a complex of thickening polymers that deposit forming bonds between the strands creating space that gives a thickening appearance with products for thickness and hold that are water-soluable including: Thickening Spray - 150ml - $16.48, Thickening Gel - 150ml - $16.48 and Bodifying Foam - 192g - $18.32 along with the NioSpray Strong Hold - 300g - $18.98 - to boost the diameter of each hair strand.
LightPlex technology for lightweight effects on thinning hair - with polymers and conditioning agents that provide lightweight balanced styling without feeling stiff with products for light, flexible effects including: Rejuvenating Elixir - 150ml - $16.48, Definition Creme - 150ml - $16.48 and Therm Activ Protector - 150ml - $16.48 - along with the Regular Hold NioSpray - 300g - $18.98 - for fuller-looking hair with a lightweight finish.
Feel free to fix and match products from the 2 lines for optimal use - I am loving the Bodifying Foam for lift and volume when I air dry and the Therm Activ Protector to protect against flat iron damage when I'm going with a straight and sleek look.
The Hair System Kit, styling products and Scalp Renew treatment are available at salons across Canada - check out www.nioxin.com to find one near you.
Am I lazy? Why yes, I am! So anytime I can get my hands on a product that will do everything in one go, I'm there - so you can just imagine how much I love:
got2b All-Star Perfecting Cream - 103ml - $7.99 - with 10 benefits to whip your hair into shape in one quick, easy step including: shape; smoothness; calmer hair; anti-frizz; suppleness; shine; volume; flawless style; shimmer; and fullness.
With an optimized blend of panthenol and positively charged conditioners to rebuild the hair structure; a combination of emollient, anti-static and film-forming polymers to envelop the hair and protect it from environmental damage and an added boost of nourishing marula oil for defense against breakage and incredible shine.
Just work it into towel-dried hair and style to perfection!
Available now at retailers across Canada including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws, PharmaPlus, Rexall, London Drus and Jean Coutu.
got2b wants you to experience a salon quality blowout at home with 3 Mind-Blowing products that aim to leave your hair soft, shiny and frizz-free - use them together as a 3 step system or on their own to achieve your desired look:
Mind-Blowing Xpress Dry Styling Spray - 177ml - $7.99 - works with damp hair to expedite the drying process while protecting the hair from heat and keeping it from tangling while blow drying for hair that is left shiny, sleek and smooth to the touch.
Mind-Blowing Fast Dry Hairspray - 340g - $7.99 - with Ionic+ Power and Micro-Diffuser technology for fast drying time and flexible hold so you can run your fingers through your hair to achieve the perfect blowout.
Available at retailers across Canada including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws, PharmaPlus, Rexall, London Drugs and Jean Coutu.
Calvin Klein Reveal Men - 50ml EDT - $72, 100ml EDT - $92, 200ml After Shave Balm - $65, 200ml Hair & Body Wash - $35, 75g Deodorant Stick - $28 - a seductive fragrance with top notes of crystalized ginger, lentisque essence and pear brandy; heart notes of raw salt signature, agave nectar and kiwano; and base notes of Haiti vetiver, vintage vanilla bean and golden amber.
Available now at Hudson’s Bay, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Sears and other drug stores,
Vichy Homme Idealizer Multi-Action Moisturizer in formulas for: Frequent Shaver - 50ml - $25 - a comfortable gel cream enriched with glycerin to leave the skin soft and soothed from the burning, pulling and irritation that shaving can cause; and 3-Day Beard And + - 50ml - $29 - a light fluid that won't leave any residue in the beard but still leaves skin comforted with aquabioryl to hydrate and waxes that coat and moisturize the beard. Both formulas also intensely hydrate, minimize signs of fatigue and reduces signs of aging.
Available now at drugstores across Canada.
Proraso Sandalwood ShavingSoap - 150ml - $9, Cream - 150ml - $9, Foam - 300ml - $10 - with the richest, most hydrating, most effective formulas designed especially for tough, thick beards. Contains: shea butter - for its highly moisturizing and softening properties that protects the skin from dryness in addition to healing nicks
and scrapes; sandalwood - for its anti-itching and moisturizing properties that soothe the skin despite repeated scraping; cocoa butter - rich in antioxidants, vitamin E and polyphenols, provides healing, softening, repairing and
anti-inflammatory properties.
Available at pharmacies and health food stores across Canada.
Jack Black Double Duty Shampoo + Conditioner - 473ml - $36 - with a lightweight formula that offers creamy, sulfate-free lather that gently cleanses to remove oil and product buildup
while conditioning, detangling, and soothing dry and dandruff-prone
scalp and rising clean away so it won't leave build-up. Contains soy protein - to help moisturize and hydrate hair for improved luster and
healthy appearance; coconut oil - to leave hair shiny and soft, and is a natural anti-fungal to aid
in minimizing dandruff with properties to soothe irritated and itchy scalps; and pro-vitamin B5 - to add thickness, body, and shine.
Available in May at Sephora and Holt Renfrew stores across Canada (except for Quebec).
got2b Phenomenal Thickening Styling Cream - 170g - $7.99 - with a lightweight formula that increases hair's thickness by 10% for fuller looking hair while keeping it looking neat and groomed; and Molding Paste - 99g - $7.99 - a shaping pomade that provides thickness, hold and style.
Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws, PharmaPlus, Rexall, London Drugs, Jean Coutu and other retailers across Canada.
L'Oréal Professionnel Wild Stylers by Techni.Art Depolish Destructuring Paste - 100ml - $23.50 - a malleable paste that is the perfect go-to product for achieving a rough, raw effect with an ultra-matte finish, that lets you work and
re-work until the perfectly “imperfect” hairstyle is achieved.
Available at L'Oréal Professionnel salons across Canada - find one near you at www.lorealprofessionnel.ca.
Structure Conform Hard Clay - 100ml - $21.49 - provides texture and separation the way you want with a natural matte finish that looks and feels clean and provides a medium hold.
Kérastase K Baume Double Je - 75ml - $36 - a hybrid balm that offers two textures, a paste and a cream to achieve either a well-defined look or a ‘’soft-focus’’
look, on either short hair or mid-length hair, that structures and
texturizes the hair for long-lasting hold.
Available now at Kérastase salons across Canada and online at kerastase.ca.
Schwarzkopf got2b Glued Spiking Wax - 57g - $7.99 - a lightweight wax polymer formula that offers unburdening moldability with screaming hold that keeps hair up without hardening, a glued like fiber adhesion and great bonding for a matte, static effect with ultimate, pliable hold.
Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws, PharmaPlus and Jean Coutu.
LaCoupe Orgnx Brazilian Keratin Collection fights
humidity and eliminates frizz making it easy to enjoy healthy and shiny hair during these hot and
humid summer months - and saves you time and money not having to visit the salon to have your hair chemically relaxed!
The line consists of
six amazing sulfate-free products all enriched with certified organic botanicals, keratin
proteins, avocado oil, cocoa butter and moringa extract:
Brazilian Shampoo & Conditioner - 300ml - $9.99 - sulphate and paraben free and enriched with a naturally derived complex of hydrolyzed keratin proteins, moringa seed oil, cocoa butter, cocoa nut oil and avocado oil - safe for coloured hair and perfect for everyday care of your smoothing results.
Brazilian Miracle Masque - 150ml - $9.99 - a weekly intensive hair treatment enriched with a naturally derived complex of hydrolyzed keratin proteins, moringa seed oil, cocoa butter, cocoa nut oil and avocado oil - designed for maintenance of your Brazilian straight style.
Brazilian Keratin 14 Day Smoothing Treatment - 150ml - $12.99 - an easy to use, 2-steop straightening kit for long lasting smoothing and straightening - step 1 washes away residue from oils, dirt and impurities; step 2 contains keratin proteins that deeply penetrate to seal the cuticle as it reduces frizz and curl for smoother, shinier hair.
Brazilian Keratin Flat Iron Spray - 200ml - $9.99 - works with the strengthening keratin complex to restore shine and manageability, sealing the cuticle to lock out frizz and humidity
Brazilian Keratin Blowout Styling Cream - 100ml - $9.99 - uses a heat protective hair complex that provides humidity resistance, restores softness, shine and smoothes frizz.
You'll be happy to know that not only will the products help your hair be smooth and frizz free, but also with the purchase of any Orgnx product, LaCoupe donates a portion of the proceeds to help Trees For The Future plant moringa trees in Africa - so you can look good and feel good!
Available now at Shoppers Drug Mart, Jean Coutu and London Drugs.
Senscience is celebrating 20 years of luxurious hair products by relaunching the line with new packaging and new and revamped products!
They have maintained the revolutionary technology that repairs, nourishes, moisturizes and strengthens hair from the inside out as well as the invigorating fragrance that we know and love and have made things easier to find by separating the line into 3 colour categories: platinum pear for shampoos and conditioners, metallic lilac for styling and burgundy for treatments.
I have been a long time fan of the True Hue Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair and recently discovered an amazing addition to that routine: Senscience True Hue Color Protecting Treatment Beads - 27ml - $30.49 - infused with a special blend of silicone, vitamins A & E and silk protein to help protect and repair hair's inner structure and seal in hair colour to help prevent fading while sunscreens help protect hair from sun damage - to leave colour treated hair fresh, vibrant and shiny. This is an especially great find if you have a hard to maintain shade like mine (red) that tends to fade extra-fast without some extra help!
Also notable is Senscience Renew Advanced Shine Serum - 50ml - $19.19 - a lightweight treatment with a special blend of argan oil and hydrolyzed coix seed that restores manageability and softness, repairs split ends, provides natural shine and protects stressed and aged hair while improving the elasticity, smoothness and flexibility of the hair and preventing future damage - leaving hair silky, luminous and strong!
And new to the line is Senscience Perfect Smooth Blow Dry Hair Balm - 150ml - $14.19 - protects hair from environmental stressors, heat styling and breakage caused by daily styling - it softens, nourishes, smooths and moisturizes hair to leave it more manageable and reduce breakage without leaving it feeling sticky or weighed down.
Available exclusively at professional salons across Canada. To find one near you go to www.senscience.com.
Kevin Murphy Rough Rider Strong Hold Matte Clay - 100g - $22 - helps maintain the scalp's health with a clay that also offers volume and hold to create sculpted looks with a moulded, fuller, matte finish.
With a formula that can be used on wet or dry hair, it combines a mixture of wax with diatomaceous earth, made of 89% silica which stimulates hair growth and soya bean extracts that provide nourishment and strength - perfect for creating looks that have hold yet with moisture. Along with golden bamboo to provide extra strength to the hair and is rich in vitamins that can have a thickening effect on the hair.
Kevin Murphy Super.Goo - 100g - $22 - a firm hold, water soluble, rubbery textured setting and molding gel that gives hair a chunky, separated look - with strong hold that is flexible and a rubber finish that gives it some bounce and allows hair to be slicked back as well as be molded into shapes - the rubber-like texture also gives it the ability to last throughout the entire day without going droppy or losing the style or shape of your look. Contains extracts of green tea, bamboo and nettle.
Structure Conform Hard Clay - 100ml - $21.49 - breaks down in hands quickly and easily to deliver amazing texture and separation with a natural matte finish anda clean looking and feeling medium hold. Ideal for those looking for volume and texture and works best on short to medium hair lengths and can be layered for extra control.
Garnier Fructis Style Power Putty Fiber Spikes - 86g - $6.99 - offers a bounce-back, spikey look with all day extra strong hold. Enriched with taurine and citrus complex for 24-hour hold.
Available at drugstores and mass retailers across Canada.
Fine hair comes with it's own challenges and limitations. Mostly pertaining to the products that you can't really use. I've been a long time user of Frizz-Ease but realize that it's really not the best product for my hair - it's too heavy and too much of it just ends up weighing my hair down which I compensate for by not using very much - which means I'm really not getting the full benefits of the product!
Thankfully, John Frieda decided to show us fine haired, Frizz-Ease loving girls some love and have come up with a Frizz-Ease of our very own!
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Sheer Solution - 60ml - $14.99 - made especially for those of us with fine to medium frizzy hair, it's a silky and lightweight solution that delivers the same benefits as the original serums without weighing the hair down - a dual-phase product of smoothing lotion and lightweight serum offers both frizz control and nourishment and is safe for both colour and chemically treated hair.
To use just shake to combine the two solutions until mixed, apply 10 drops into your palm, rub hands together and work through towel dried/damp hair before styling.
You even begin to image how thrilled I am to finally have a Frizz-Ease I can call my own! It's so light and perfect for my hair and now I don't have to worry about putting on too much of the regular stuff and having my hair look like a greaseball as a result! Summer humidity, I'm ready for you baby!
John Frieda Full Repair Style Revival Heat-Activated Styling Spray - 120ml - $14.99 - repairs the look and feel of styling damage while protecting hair against future damage with heat protection ingredients that also add fullness, body and lift to any style. Contains Inca Inchi Oil to protect as well as to mend damage to dry, broken strands.
To use, spray on wet or towel dried hair before heat styling.
While this product is meant for any type of hair, it really is perfect for fine hair. As anyone who also has it knows, fine hair is especially susceptible to heat damage and can use all the protecting it can get from it. And any product that helps add body and fullness at the same time is welcome in my book!
Knowing how much I love reality television, it's hardly surprising that they are dictating my product life now too! I discovered Chaz Dean through Jeff Lewis on Flipping Out and like all good celebrity hairdressers, of course Chaz has a line of hair care products! It was inspired by all the years of seeing the damage caused by ordinary shampoos on his client's hair so he wanted to come up with something different and better. He's taken out the sulfates and instead his products contain chamomile extract, rosemary extract, natural cherry bark and sweet almond oil which cleanse your hair without stripping the natural oils that it needs to stay shiny, healthy and full of body.
Wen Cleansing Conditioner Healthy Hair System - 30 day supply - $32.99, 90 day supply - $89.90 (+ s&h) contains: Wen Cleansing Conditioner - 340g - cleanses hair thoroughly with astringent and antibacterial properties and without harsh ingredients. Wen Styling Creme - 56.5g - use instead of gel for a medium hold with a glossy finish that is good for any style and hair type. Designed to help promote moisture, shine and body all in one formula. Benefits also include split end repair, texture improvement and frizz control. Wen Re Moist Intensive Hair Repair Mask - 56.5g - designed for use before and after any chemical treatment or when hair has been stressed to add moisture, body, shine and restore your hair and strengthen damaged strands. Wen Texture Balm - 10g - a finishing touch for creating looks with definition, separation and texture as well as providing hold and shape for long or short hairstyles. Wen Wide Tooth Shower Comb - designed to be used in the shower to evenly distribute the Cleansing Conditioner through your hair.
I'll tell you what right off the bat made the whole experience weird for me - the cleansing conditioner doesn't lather. This is totally on purpose on their part as the product is free of all detergents usually found in your shampoo, but there is something in my psyche that really believes that lather = cleaning, so that did take a bit of getting used to. The cleansing process itself is quite a production: First you soak your hair thoroughly before applying the product; then you divide your hair into 4 sections and apply anywhere from 3 - 8 pumps of the product per section depending on the length and thickness of the hair - it felt like I used a lot of product per shower!; then you massage it into your hair and just leave if for the rest of your shower; and finally you massage it through and rinse it out.
Despite the strangeness to me of the product, I freely admit that it made my hair incredibly soft and being quite fine, if I don't do anything with it, it looks pretty flat but this also added some nice volume even when I just let it air dry. But my favourite thing about it has to be the smell - sweet almond mint! Mint can be tricky, if you don't add something to it you end up with something that smells like toothpaste but if you add too much to it you lose the mintyness - this mint is perfect!
So the Cleaning Conditioner turned out to be a good product but my favourite in the system has to be the Re Moist Intensive Hair Repair Mask. I have been using it instead of that wimpy little conditioner they give you with your hair dye kits and after dying it my hair feels so smooth and looks so shiny that you would never guess that I had just had my head doused in damaging chemicals!
If you think this all sounds the least bit interesting, go ahead and give the line a try - normally I would only recommend you spend your money if you think it sounds amazing but in this case they offer a 60 day guarantee. If you don't love it to pieces within 60 days, return the bottles (even if they're empty) and they will refund your purchase price (less s+h) - you can't beat that for a guarantee!
And be sure to come back here and let us know your results - or if you've already tried or are using the system, we'd love to hear from you too! And if you know why Chaz won't let Jeff design his New York salon, I'd really like to hear about that!
I'm back! You may or may not have realized that I have been away on vacation for the past week! I had all my posts scheduled but you probably cried when I didn't answer your comments so please know, I wasn't ignoring you, I just wasn't here! Anyhow, I spent a lovely relaxing week in Nova Scotia lounging on a deck right by the ocean but of course I wasn't taking a vacation from trying new products! Traveling is a great excuse to use the billion samples that I own but it was also great for testing a few products that are on my shelves:
Vasanti Eye Wonder - 20ml - $42 - contains six active ingredients to combat fine lines, puffiness and dark circles - it's meant to be used day and night for 36 days and then once a day to maintain results. Since I normally use separate eye creams for day and night a vacation coming up seemed like a perfect time to start using this so I would be able to pack less. I have been using it for about a month now and I really like how light it is but at the same time still very moisturizing - I can't speak to dark circles as mine are minimal at the worst of times - but as far as puffiness and fine lines go, it is doing a good job for me. Funnily enough, this is the only skin care product in the whole Vasanti Cosmetics line and it's a winner! You can pick it up at selected Shoppers Drug Marts, Rexalls Amazon.com or at www.vasanticosmetics.com
La Coupe Voluptress - 150ml - $7.99 - I thought this would be a great packing choice as it promised me hold, smoothness and body all together in one bottle. It's a cream gel formula which is very light and not at all sticky. It's meant to be used in wet hair before blow drying or rollering but can also be used in dry hair for protection and shine. I used it both ways and you definitely need the dryer to get the volume but on dry hair it did do a nice job of smoothing down the frizzies and adding some shine. I got really amazing lift with this when I blow dried upside down, which I normally do for the root lift, but adding La Coupe gave it much better staying power!
Skindinävia No More Shine Makeup Finish - 1oz - $12.50, 2oz - $19, 4oz - $29, 6oz - $39 - each ounce = about a month supply - helps control shine and absorb excess oil, helps reduce appearance of makeup smudging or creasing, helps reduce makeup slippage into pores, lines, wrinkles, or scars, surface cooling technology holds temperature to avoid melting or sliding - I have been a longtime fan of their 10 Years Younger Makeup Finish, which sets makeup and gives my skin a kind of dewy look so I was very excited to try this one and thought my vacation was the perfect testing ground. The one thing that was different about this mist was that it is meant to be used underneath your makeup - like a primer - rather than over it as I was used to. This is why you should read the directions on things! So the first day I couldn't understand why it wasn't doing all the things that it had promised me - once I figured out the correct way to use it, it really did an admirable job of preventing hot weather foundation slippage
They have lots of other different formulations for Bridal, Dance etc. and Urban Decay has even got Skindinävia making their makeup finishes as well now. You can go to http://www.skindinavia.com to check it all out.
The ghd IV styler 1" - $280 ($240 US) -There are so many styler brands
out there these days, and the good ones sure aren't cheap, that I don't
know how anyone ever makes a decision about which one to buy! I know
how I make decisions, I surf the web, read other people's reviews and
then hope my results will be as good as theirs! So I hope this is
helpful to anyone looking to score themselves a new styler. I must
admit, I was already predisposed to like this one as this is the brand
that my hairdresser (the good one, not the most recent one that
butchered my hair) used and my hair always looked amazing when she was
done with it!
So here's what I really like about this one:
- It's designed
to curl as well as straighten your hair, I don't curl my hair but I
sometimes like to add a flip to the bottom and this works perfectly for
that.
- It has a technology in
it that can decide how porous your hair is and from that decides how
much heat your hair needs and thusapplies
as well as maintains the optimum level of heat
while styling, which is very important for fine hair like mine as it is
so easy to fry your hair with one of these!
- It also has a swivel cord which
keeps the cord from getting all tangled - genius!
- I found it heated up quick and
maintained a constant temperature which made the straightening process
so much quicker!
- The aluminum plates have a ceramic coating which helps close
the hair cuticle and create shine.
It also has some
important safety and functionality features that most people don't
think about much when buying a styler, but really should:
- It has a sleep mode that will
automatically shut it off if not used for 30 minutes.
- The outer casting is made from
Rynite, a fire retardant material ensures the outer casting does not
get too hot when styling hair or handling the styler.
- A built-in micro-processor is
embedded into one blade; this monitors and regulates the temperature on
the blade five times a second. If the temperature exceeds its maximum
regulated temperature the thermal fuse will trip, resulting in the iron
switching off. This is a safety feature to prevent the iron from
overheating.
-
It has a universal voltage feature which operates from110v to 230v by
sensing the incoming voltage making it great for travelers.
Of course even with the
best styler, you still need the right technique to get good results and
here is what ghd recommends for getting different looks with their
styler:
Achieve
straight, sleek locks
1.After using ghd thermal protector
before heat-styling, take your original styling iron and place a fine
section
of dry hair between the plates. Ensure that the iron is as close to the
root as
possible before closing the plates and gently move towards the tip of
the
section in one simple gliding motion.
2.Repeat the process with each section of
hair, gliding once from roots to ends.
Achieve
stunning curls
1.After lightly
misting your hair with ghd thermal protector, section the hair and
lightly mist
with ghd creation spray.
2.Place the ghd
styling iron vertically 1 inch away from the root. Gently close the iron
with
minimum tension.
3.Turn the iron
clockwise by 90 degrees. Continue to turn the iron by another 90
degrees.
4.For an intense
curl, pull the iron very slowly away from the head in a continuous
smooth
movement.
5.An s-shaped
vertical curl is created. To complete the style repeat through all
sections.
6.Finally,
separate and dress the curls with your hands.
Achieve
seductive soft movement
1.After lightly
misting your hair with ghd thermal protector, section the hair, and
lightly
mist with ghd creation spray to add shine and hold when styling.
2.Place the ghd
styling iron vertically 1 inch away from the root. Gently close the iron
with
minimum tension.
3.Turn the iron
clockwise by 90 degrees.
4.For a soft curl,
pull the iron quickly through the hair away from the head in a
continuous
smooth movement.
5.An s-shaped
vertical curl is created. To complete the style repeat through all
sections.
6.Finally,
separate
and dress the curls with your hands creating soft and loose waves.
I would definitely recommend that
you use a thermal protector spray before using any heated hair
appliance especially if you have normal to fine hair. I also tried the
ghd thermal protector and it worked well, smelled nice and didn't leave
my hair sticky.
What's really fun is their
quarterly promotions which has the styler in a fun colour or pattern
with a case and a couple of styling products. This quarter it's called
"Precious" and it really is!
It has a black and silver baroque
design and it's $255 for the set. Check out the ghd website here for this and their other
stylers. I noticed the other day that Sephora is also carrying ghd, so no excuses now!
I am not so much a hair person. Let me rephrase that, I wish I were a hair person but really, I just suck at styling my own hair. I'm convinced this is what hairdressers are for, so that once every couple of months my hair will look really awesome for a day. It's for this reason that I tend to keep my fine straight hair in a very simple choppy chin length bob. It's hard to mess up a bob. Sadly, in some sort of random drive by hair cutting incident, my hairdresser took leave of her senses during my last cut and chopped waaaaaay too much hair off. She gave me some sort of demented pixie cut which I'm sure would be adorable if I were one of those pixie type women but alas, I'm not so I was forced to try and turn my hair into something resembling a funky grown up person hairdo.
Enter L'Oréal Professionnel play ball body jam - thickening and fixing gelatine - 100ml - $21.90 - first off, this is the coolest looking gel - well really it looks like thick, lemon lime jello, and smells like it too! It's very easy to use, I just take a small amount, rub it between my hands and run it through my towel dried hair. Depending on how much volume I want I either blow dry it or let it air dry. The body jam still adds some volume when I air dry and super volume when I blow dry. Just to test out how much power this stuff had, I blow dried my hair with my head upside down one day. I wanted my layers to really stick out all over the place - just to see how long they would stay like that before falling - I have really straight hair that does not like to hold a curl or do anything interesting. Impressively, my porcupine look stayed all day.
So, if you are looking for a styling product to add body and hold then you should take a look at play ball body jam. You can find it wherever L'Oréal Professionel products are sold and you can go here to find the location closest to you.
Lisamarie - the happiest day of my life was the day Sephora opened it's first store in Canada (thankfully in Toronto), second happiest day was before this when Sephora finally started shipping to Canada, third I guess would be my wedding day (but don't tell my husband where he ranks please!)
*** Christelle - I enjoy shoe shopping and drinking martinis...preferably at the same time!
