Tag: hair

Living Proof No Frizz

I admit… it was the fact that Jennifer Aniston became spokesperson and part owner of Living Proof that I finially bit the bullet and tried their products. I am such a sucker for celebrity endorsements. But this wasn’t just an endorsement. Jennifer has purchased a partnership in the company and will be taking an active role as product creator.

I picked up the Living proof® ‘No Frizz Discovery’ Set from Nordstrom to get a sense of the products. They also have “restore” and “full” product lines, but frizz seems to be my main enemy. So I set out to experience the solution discovered by scientists at MIT. The anti-frizz solution is oil and silicone-free. I am fairly anti-silicone these days – I just don’t like the slick feel it gives. The solution promised to block humidity, fighting frizz at the source. Sign me up.

Just after the shampoo and conditioner, my hair felt silkier and smoother. This remained the case for a couple shampoos after I ran out of my samples. The shampoo is sulfate-free with a hefty lather. The conditioner was creamy and rich but not greasy. The scent of the shampoo and conditioner is slightly chemical – fairly faint but just don’t expect anything fruity or perfumed. My clean hair was easier to comb through and looked more resilant and shiny. But at the same time, my hair wasn’t weighed down by those nasty silicones.

Living proof No Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner

I tried both the sample of No Frizz Straight Styling Cream and the full size No-Frizz Weightless Styling Spray I purchased. Overall, I like the spray slightly better.  It also repels dirt to keep hair cleaner and frizz-free longer. Both products smooth equally – it just depends on preference in styling product weight. Note, the cream did win Allure magazine’s Beauty Breakthrough and Best of Beauty awards three years in a row. The No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner is great for that extra oomfph of hydration in these winter months – but it did leave my hair a little greasy. Perhaps this is perfect for a Saturday night staying in.

Living proof® 'No Frizz' Weightless Styling Spray

I also got a free sample of Living Proof Prime Style Extender on Facebook. Perhaps I eeked out a couple extra hours of a blow out, but I was due for a wash anyway. Maybe those who can go three or four days without a wash could benefit from this product more. I’ve heard rave reviews, but if you are an every-other-day girl like me, save for the shampoo, conditioner and spray.

The line is also available at Sephora, where Prime Style Extender is an exclusive.

 

Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray

A little something to brighten your day: I have found the absolute best smelling, best performing dry shampoo right on your drugstore shelf. Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray is my new favorite thing. I pulled it out of the dusty rear of my hair drawer last Friday to revive an amazing Dry Bar blow out. I knew I might be pushing it, but I just had to eek out another day. Imagine my delight when Suave not only refreshed and voluminized my do, but also smelled amazing. I met some friends for festivities and people (read cute boys) kept telling me how great I smelled! Now, you can’t beat that.

PSA: I’m having trouble finding this online. It is here at Target for $2.54. I am concerned they are discontinuing it, so stock up if you find it.

Viviscal Report #3

 

I just finished up my second month of my three month trial of Viviscal. Just to let you know how dedicated I am, I have resisted cutting my hair so we can get a true and accurate measurement. Looking forward to evening up the ends and adding some layers now that I have this great length!

Average hair growth is about 6 inches per year or 1/2 inch per month. During the first month, my hair grew an amazing 1.5 inches. This month, I have logged another inch! My hair now is a little under 15 inches. Compared to 14 inches on August 30th and 12.5 inches on July 30th). Amazing.

My lashes and brows are fuller and longer. My hair seems healthier despite and increase in heat styling lately. And my scalp health is even improved.

I’ll check back in after month at the end of the trial for a final length tally! For more details on Viviscal, check out my first post here and second post here.

Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep at Richard Chai Love NYFW Spring 2013

I have a slight infatuation with the perfect ponytail. The object of my affection is the slicked ponies seen at Richard Chai Love Spring 2013 runway show last month. I am always trying to achieve a sleek, parted pony that looks a little playful and a lot polished.

Usually, my hair frizzes and I relent into a top knot. But after discovering Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep, my pony has hope. It gave my fine hair just enough volume and grit to achieve style. And it stayed put all day long. It also works as a refresher on day old hair. In true Aveda fashion, it smells fabulous.

The sporty collection was a great match for the athletic hair style. But Kevin Ryan, Aveda Stylist, adds that Richard “plays with proportion – nothing is exactly as you’d have imagined it. We’re slicking the hair back into a low ponytail with asymmetrical partings on top of the head. At first glance it looks like a regular pony, but look again and you notice something’s a little off.” And I am always game for an artistic interpretation of a classic.

Here’s a how-to from Kevin that helped me tremendously.

  1. Prep damp hair from roots to ends with Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep; blowdry straight with a Mason Pearson brush.
  2. Flat iron hair, working from nape to crown.
  3. Create a square section of the head by parting hair along the parietal ridge. Secure on top of head with an elastic. (I just do a deep side part instead)
  4. Smooth out bottom section with a fine-toothed comb and mist with Aveda Air Control Hair Spray to control flyaways.
  5. Secure bottom section into a low pony at the base of the head; flat iron loose ends to completely smooth out the pony. Hold in place with Air Control Hair Spray.
  6. Release the top section of hair and flat iron to remove any kinks. Brush toward the right ear, making a clean parting on the left.
  7. Emulsify a dime-sized dollop of Flax Seed Aloe Gel and smooth it over the top of the hair for shine and hold.
  8. Starting at the point where the left parting meets the forehead, make another part diagonal across the head, creating two asymmetrical sections on top of the head.
  9. Pull each section back and secure into the pony at the nape, maintaing clearly defined partings.
  10. Flatten flyaways with a fine- toothed comb or soft brush and Air Control Hair Spray.
  11. Finish with a generous coating of Brilliant Spray-On Shine for a gloss.

Photography by Imaxtree, Style.com and Aveda Corp.

Viviscal Report #2

Average hair growth is about 6 inches per year or 1/2 inch per month. When I measured my strands for this second Viviscal update, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had to remeasure and remeasure. Until, I finally realized: yes, my hair did grow an inch and a half. 1.5 inches. In a month. When I (repeatedly) measured at the cowlick, my hair is 14 inches long (compared to 12.5 inches on July 30th).

This drug-free formula sped up my hair growth approximately three-fold. I assume some parts of the year, hair grows faster. But even adjusting for seasonality, this is impressive results.

My hair is slightly more oily, a somewhat expected side effect. There is a component of fish oil in the supplements. But this is something I am happy to exchange for fuller, healthier locks. Actually, the change in moisture actually tamed frizz – that and my new favorite hair oil.

I’ve also heard that users find their body hair grows faster. I cannot attest to this as I am a huge fan of laser hair removal. But I could swear my lashes and brows are fuller and longer.

I’ll check back in after month two of my trial! For more details on Viviscal, check out my first post here.

Shu Uemura Volume Maker Invisible Texturizing Powder

I’ve got a mess of fine long hair. This means two things: it takes forever to style and I am lacking in volume. So when I find a product that acts as a voluminizer AND dry shampoo, I pounce. Shu Uemura Volume Maker Invisible Texturizing Powder works great to “fluff” a blowout in its second or third day. It can make a pony just a little more posh with some volume at the crown. And it can lift lifeless hair.

This powder is absolutely invisible on my dark brown hair. I love the pen-like packaging (a breeze to throw in your purse). And it is fragrance-free. Seperate the strands where you want volume. Then use a very small amount of product – essentially one click – and brush on the roots of the hair. Massage with your fingers to distribute and voila! I found this tutorial super helpful when learning how to use the Volume Maker.

Shu Uemura Volume Maker Invisible Texturizing Powder is available at Shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com.