Category: hair

Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 BB Creme

Frankly, I thought naming a hair product a BB Cream was embarrassing, cheesy and gimmicky. But then it worked on me. I snuck around to the hair aisle on Tuesday and tucked that puppy right into my basket. I do admit to giving it the stink eye on my bathroom counter. But I have to admit now, this stuff is gooooood.

The cream/gel hybrid went on my damp hair with a focus on the bottom half of my strands. As a note, my hair is just ever so slightly due for a cut (it has been months) so ends are a touch dry and my hair is a little dull from product (read a lot dull). My hair immediately felt soothed and nourished. After a rough dry, I started in with a round brush. As the strands left the brush, I immediately noticed a shine and bounce. I was deeply concerned this would weight down my fine hair. But it actually volumized.

The formula has that classic Pantene smell that I melt for – cue high school flashback. It also works to improve strength, shine, smoothness, moisture, frizz, and fly-aways. It also provides that crucial heat protection.

Bottom line: don’t judge a book by its cover (or silly name).

If found my bottle at Walgreens, but it is also available here online.

Amazing At-Home Blowout From Eva NYC

It is with my pleasure to introduce you to Eva NYC hair. I am a smitten kitten over this affordable and edgy brand out of New York. After test driving some of their collection, I am happy to report, across the board, I am so impressed with the tools and products. So much so that I just can’t quit using the hairdryer and volumizer for my weekend and everyday blow out with these guys:

Eva NYC Up All Night Volumizing Spray was suggested to me when I lamented flat locks on twitter. While I have finally perfected the round brush blowout, my hair can end up on the flat side. The formula is rice derived to add texture and lift. Plus a bonus: it acts as a heat protectant and can revitilaize day old hair. Plus it smells fabulous.

Eva NYC Almighty Pro-Lite Ionic Dryer was never going to be a replacement for this guy…. I thought. But after I gave this affordable dryer a shot, I was immediately sold on its featherweight design. I get great heat from the high setting and it also offers two speeds (I’m always on hottest and fastest – go figure!). There is a cool-blast feature to set your style.

Some other favorites:

With my new found love of product, a shampoo that goes after build up is even more important. Eva NYC Clean it Up Shampoo leaves my hair clean, but still bouncy and soft. Like the conditioner below, this shampoo smells like a very subtle baby powder with a hint of vanilla.

Eva NYC Soften Up Conditioner came recommended from my fellow blogger (and friend) of OpinionNothing.com (check out this beauty site stat if you haven’t already). Who doesn’t want touchably soft hair? This conditioner helps me get there with Argan Oil and Kereavis Protein just like the Clean It Up Shampoo. Argan Oil feeds hair with vitamins and nutrients, while Kereavis Protein gives hair renewed vitality and strength.

Eva NYC 100 Percent Ceramic Straightener was one tool I was reluctant to try. I’ve shied away from flat irons, thinking they make my hair even more flat. Wrong. Used at the ends of my hair, or in an upward direction, this flat iron make my hair insanely shiny and sleek.

Cruelty-free

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

amika’s new Touchable Hairspray!

In the past, it wasn’t hard for me to rattle off my favorite hairspray – it was this one. Touchable, drugstore and lightweight, albeit not great smelling. Well, that changed when I got to be one of the first bloggers to preview amika’s new Touchable Hairspray!

What I’ve learned about my fine hair is that it requires texture and frizz-control. But the way I wear it, I don’t need a ton of hold. So I am looking for something that is touchable but with enough power to encourage a curl or wave. Or perhaps smooth a sleek pony. This hairspray does it all.

First, it smells subtly fabulous. The dry mist doesn’t weigh down hair. But it keeps that nasty humidity out. Amika’s signature Obliphica Oil hydrates hair while taming it at the same time. The nozzle sprays evenly so you don’t get concentrated crusty spots. And the packaging is so darn cheerful.

Available for purchase now at shop.loveamika.com.

Drybar Lauches Hair Care Line

Have you heard of Drybar? If not, where in the world have you been? Drybar was started by Alli Webb, after being frustrated with the high price of blowouts at traditional salons. Drybar locations offer only blowouts – no cuts, no color and prices start at $35. Right now, Drybar has 24 locations in New York, LA, San Francisco, Dallas, Scottsdale, San Diego, Atlanta and DC. I confess to having visited more than a handful of them. It is probably a good thing I don’t have a store in my home town because I would literally be there every single week (not kidding one single bit).

But now I can have a little bit of Drybar at home. During my visit to Drybar Dallas last week, I got to experience their brand new product line, exclusively sold at Sephora and Drybar locations. Just like the crafted experience at Drybar (think champagne and chick flicks in girly decor), Alli’s product line was thoughtfully developed and named.

The line was developed in collaboration with Drybar board member and investor Janet Gurwitch, who is also the founder and former CEO of Laura Mercier Cosmetics. “Alli’s clear vision and passion to create a line of products and tools for the perfect blowout has been impressive to watch,” says Gurwitch. “She has identified a real niche in the market and the performance of these products is truly like nothing I’ve ever experienced in hairstyling products.”

The initial product lineup:

Happy Hour Shampoo – Blowout Shampoo: leaves hair free of product buildup, prepped and lightweight for styling
Happy Hour Conditioner – Weightless Conditioner: ultra-light but still smooths and softens
Hot Toddy – Heat Protector & Frizz Fighter: conditions hair while leaving in shiny and bouncy, not flat
Southern Belle – Volumizing Mousse: adds volume without being stiff
Cream Soda – Smoothing Cream: no stiffness associated with this cream, great for thicker hair
The Chaser – Shine Pomade: increases texture for those illustrious beach waves
100 Proof – Smoothing Oil: adds shine but is weightless, even on my fine hair
Money Maker – Flexible Hold Hairspray: brushable and controls frizz, just like my beloved Elnett
Detox – Dry Shampoo: I wasn’t able to try this one, but I hear rave reviews (currently sold out at Sephora.com)

The initial tool lineup:

Buttercup – Blow Dryer: How cute is this pop of yellow?
The 3-Day Bender – Curling Iron: This iron with a rotating barrel gets the wave right every time – this one is high on my wish list.
Smooth Operator – Flatiron: made with silicon and heats to 450 degrees
Lemon Drop – Wet Brush: see Wet Brush review here, I need not say more
Full and Half Pint – Round Brushes: ceramic barrel heats up from the blow dryer, for big, loose curls and shorter drying time
Hold Me – Hair Clips: these guys make portioning hair during a blowout a sinch without damaging hair
The Morning After – Shower Cap: Kinda kicking myself for not picking up one of these while I was there, because my blowout lasted four days!

Drybar products are cruelty-free.Shop the Drybar products here:

Anastasia Beverly Hills ‘Hypercolor’ Brow & Hair Powder

I’ve been eying the bold streaks on the runways the past couple of seasons. I was particularly swooning over Peter Som’s multicolored neon accents (above) in his Spring 2013 show last month. The problem: my hair is dark dark brown. I just figured nothing would show up on my strands and resigned myself to boring single tone hair.

Well, I was wrong. And I’m okay with that. Because I’ve been playing with Anastasia Beverly Hills Hypercolor Brow and Hair Powder and am happy to report it looks just as vibrant on my dark locks! Below, I am wearing Electric Blue, Ultra Violet and In The Pink. I was so thrilled that the pigment-rich oxides were robust enough for dark hair.

The formula is designed for both hair and eyebrows. You can use a brush, but I prefered holding a small peice of hair inbetween my finger and the pot and sliding the strands you want to color in between. Then, flip sides. Silicone makes the powder ultra smooth and soft so it slides on but also stays in place. I haven’t tried it yet, but word is this can also be used as eyeliner. How fun is that?

While these swatches above were on my regular styled hair, it is recommended you set with hair spray or brow gel. The color will rinse out in one to two washes. Available at Nordstrom and Ulta.

The Wet Brush

I’ve always heard combs are best for wet hair, especially my fine, long locks prone to breakage. Literally, since high school, I’ve been vigilant about combing, not brushing post-shower. Once again, the industry I love – beauty – is shaking up my routine with their latest and greatest.

I’ve heard rumblings about the Wet Brush. And I’ve spotted it on visits to the Dry bar where I loved the way it glided through my hair. After hearing it wouldn’t damage and was actually good for my strands, I had to make one mine. Now, with the purple shade in my hot little hands, I’m firmly on the bandwagon. This isn’t just any brush – the fine bristles efficiently and gently move through my wet strands, detangling and prepping hair with ease.

The Wet Brush can be used on dry hair as well and feels insanely good. This brush will reign supreme in my book for dry hair styling, but the Wet Brush’s bristles massage and stimulate the scalp. This promotes blood flow to the cuticle and stimulates hair growth. Put this on your drugstore shopping list or pick one up at Folica.com, drugstore.com and Sally Beauty Supply.