.:: CybeleSays ::.

I knew I was onto something when my neighbor came down her stairs as I was walking to my garage for a night out on the town and said, “Wow, I really like your hair!” I hadn’t done anything drastically different other than give my long locks some texture. I guess I have been on the smooth/lazy bandwagon too long and not so much big or piecey, like it was that night. Meow!

Since I just had the Brazilian Keratin Treatment done to my hair again recently, the only thing I can do these days is texturize it, which is fine by me.
So what did I have in my hair? One of the products from SEBASTIAN’s new Texture Collection. Think of them like a car with each one performance driven and these are made for those with long hair, yeah!

It’s made up of three products:

• Microweb Fiber: Elastic Texturizer ($18.95/1.5oz) – inspired by the flexibility, invisibility and invincibility of a spider’s web. Gives hair flexibility and a soft texture.

• Texturizer: Flexible Bodifying Liquigel ($15.95/5.1oz) – a medium hold gel that gives straight hair some pieciness and curly hair definition.

• Matte Putty: Soft-dry Texturizer ($16.95/2.6oz) – provides a matte finish. Use to create a piecy look.

Get them @ sebastianprofessional.com to find a salon near you.

I don’t think the trend of stick straight hair will ever go out of style or if it does, it will only be temporary. Since it’s seen as somewhat luxe or high brow, products and treatments have been created for the average woman to use to achieve it. One permanent one that not only does away frizz but leaves straight strands in its wake is the Brazilian Hair Treatment. I'm due to have it done to my hair in the next month so in the meantime, REDKEN’s Straight products are doing a great job at keeping the frizz at bay and the hair straight.

The four products in this Straight Collection each contain their Straight-Out Complex, which is a strengthening protein of nourishing oils like coconut and olive. I’ve been out of touch with Redken’s styling products so here’s a quick tutorial on how they break it down:

There are five end result collections: Straight, Shine, Volume, Texture and Curl. Two specialty collections, Heat Styling and Hair Sprays and lastly one alternative collection called Urban Experiment.

In each collection, you decide the hold: Mild, Medium, or Maximum.

Since we are just focusing on the Straight Collection, let’s pick some favorites already and again, you can pick the right one for your hair type.

From L to R:

All @ redken.com for salon near you.

A weeks worth of hair …

From L to R clockwise:

AFFINAGE Blu Goo ($22.70/4.9oz @ 877-597-2929) from the Indigo collection – for Friday night, this light holding texturizer was great for hitting the town.

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Here are three that are keeping our strands tameable this month:

1. CHARLES WORTHiNGTON Hair Healer Leave-In Conditioner ($5.99/6.75oz @ drugstore.com) for when I know I’ve stressed my strands out and they need some extra TLC.
2. THERMAFUSE Fixxe Volume Moussse ($13/7.5oz @ thermafuse.com) for I know that big hair is in this fall and I just have to partake in the trend.
3. AUSSiE Opposites Attract Strong Hold + Touchable Feel Spray Gel, Strong Hold ($3.99/6.8oz @ drugstore.com) for when I’m wearing my hair wavy or curlier than usual and want it to stay in past 11am. And no crunch!

Everything’s coming up green these days. Not just the grass but companies that are giving us alternatives to the norm like hair care line EUFORA. This eco-friendly and organically driven line is based on certified organic Aloe Vera Gel, essential oils, botanical ingredients and environmentally friendly propellants and they’ve been doing it exactly the same way way since 1997. And the products? What I’ve tried so far has been great. What I like most is that instead of using water as a base in their hair products they replace it with the Aloe Vera Gel and then add the essential oils, panthenols and keratin proteins. Here are my picks of the moment from L to R:

• Sculpture Styling Glaze ($22.95/10.1oz) – used before blow-drying for control. Absolutely no flaking!
• Pure Cleanse Shampoo ($20.95/10.1oz) – no sulfates and is good at conquering dandruff.
• Pure Polish Finishing Drops ($28.95/4.2oz) – smoothes strands without leaving any greasy residue behind.

And if you are still wary about using an aerosol hairspray, they claim to have the cleanest aerosol hairspray on the market with .001 environmental impact. All @ eufora.net for a salon near you or 800-638-3672.

Big hair, smooth hair, straight hair? What is it that you want?? Here are a few that will give you what you want and now.

SEXY HAIR CONCEPTS Big Sexy Hair So Pumped Volumizing Mist ($14.95/5.1oz @ sexyhair.com) – this time of year, all we ask is that you give big hair a chance. Contains a gel and thickening agent that uniquely locks strands into place while giving a soft finish.

JOHNNY B Fuddy Matte Gel ($11/4oz @ johnnybhaircare.com) – made for men but I’m claiming it for women. Non-greasy water-resistant matte gel.

TiGI S-Factor Silky Smooth Moisture Serum ($20/8.45oz @ tigihaircare.com) – protects against heating tools and smoothes the hairs cuticle. Big recommendation.

We finally caught up with the FREDERIC FEKKAI line and the new Coiff collection. It’s eight multi-tasking stylers. From forming wax to texturizing spray gel, basically everything you need to get your hairs in order. And they claim no build-up!

Coiff Defense UV Protectant ($25/5oz)

Coiff Oceanique - Touseled Wave Spray ($23/5oz)

Bouffant – Lifting & Texturizing Spray Gel ($23/5oz)

Defense – Pre-Style Protectant ($25/5oz)

Perfecteur – Anti-Frizz Silkening Crème ($25/3.4oz)

Controle – Ironless Straightening Balm ($25/3.4oz)

Magnifique – Ultra-Light Finishing Crème ($23/1.7oz)

Nonchalant – Piecing & Forming Wax ($23/1.7oz)
All @ sephora.com

There is truly something out there for everyone’s hair texture. Change your look by changing your styling products and here are a few to get you started.

For those of you that feel comfortable using a gel, TERAX Styling Gel fits the bill. You get a medium hold with special care from Vitamins B & E. $12/5oz @ sephora.com

A good friend of mine can’t seem to let go of the 80’s and her big hair. Deciding to go with it, I asked her to put down the Aqua Net in the pink can and try SUDZZ FX LockUp Firm Hold ($16.98/8oz @ sudzzfx.com). Straight from her mouth – “it holds and helps me style better than the pink stuff.” Need we say more?
To help prevent sun or blow dry damage all year ‘round, a few sprays of BIOLAGE Color Care Shielding Shine Mist before applying the heating tools will prevent heat damage and it adds a nice shine and fresh scent $13.95/4.2oz @ adiscountbeauty.com ~Lisa

We're in the home stretch of summer, all the way to the tips of our strands! THERMAFUSE has created a special kit for those of us who insist on torturing their hair this time of year. Their Summer Essentials trio is all the necessary strand savers: the spray-on ThermaCare Leave-In Conditioner ($18.50/8oz), Esculpt Medium-firm Gel ($16.50/6.8oz) and the frizz-eliminating spray, Shine Polishing Spray ($14/2oz).
And if the damage is already done, check into their Summer After-Care Treatment trio. You can thank us later. All @ thermafuse.com

After watching many shows on the QVC channel on this next line, I finally was able to try it out. The main ingredient in all of OJON’s products is the Honduran Ojan nut, which the locals call a tress transformer. They just came out with these three kits, which make it not only easier to sample more of the line but you're also getting the best bang for your buck. There’s a Fortifying Hair Ritual, Nurturing Hair Ritual, and my pick, the Shine and Protect Hair Ritual Kit ($50 @ sephora.com), made for those of us who color our hair. The set includes a Restorative Hair Treatment (1.35oz), Shine and Protect Shampoo (2oz), Shine and Protect Conditioner (2oz), Shine and Protect Glossing Mist (.85oz), and a Leave-In Glossing Cream (2oz).