Kid tested, Mother approved. Cybelesays tested, Cybelesays approved.
(From L to R):
JOHN BARRETT Be Healed Styling Masque ($38/5oz @ johnbarrett.com)
AG HAiR COSMETiCS Colour Savour Sulfate-Free Shampoo ($20/8oz @ curlmart.com)
PRAVANA Hydrating Intensive Leave-In Treatment ($12.99/10.1oz @ sleekhair.com)
I’m a little skeptical when a brand does a huge launch because either I am usually very happy or loathe it and there is usually no middle ground. BUMBLE AND BUMBLE’s new Spray de Mode ($15/4oz, $25/10oz @ spraydemode.com) for sure goes under the list of greats. Not since this one have I come across a hair spray that is so workable. It holds, keeps the frizz at bay yet still lets a woman change her mind and comb it out easily. And they didn’t even test this spray on models! They used real people found on myspace. Nice marketing concept.
I swear I'm hair product challenged. Even when I make an effort to use the smallest amount of something, it ends up being too much and then I have greasy spots on my head. When I find a product I like and learn how to use it, in my head, I’m onto the next one to conquer my next hair concern. I feel that since I have this one product down, I assume the best for every hair product I come across. This works for about 1 out of every 50 and remember this is styling products. Shampoos and conditioners I am pretty good at choosing. Some of these hair styling products should be by prescription only, but then again I guess they are since some of them are only sold in solons. I gotta find me a class or something – hair styling 101.
Like when it comes to makeup, the tools you use to style your hair to get the right “application” are just as important as the above products you put it in. So bless their little hearts over at SPORNETTE. They make it so even the hair novice like me can style their hair somewhat presentable. I am really into their collection of Pronto Hair Brushes ($10.99-$12.99/1 ½” to 3” barrels @ folica.com) right now. Here are the features:
What I also like about these brushes is that the bristles are spaced further apart than a boars hairbrush. It is so much easier for me to grab a section of hair and wrap it around the brush whilst drying it. If I can’t seem to always figure out the styling products, at least I can get the tool part down.
After trying Treat Beauty’s Sugar Free Hand Therapy Butter a few weeks ago, it got me to thinking about products that smell great and work and those that smell great and don’t work. In the next two months, we’ll bring you a few that we are just loving. Hair, body, face, it can be in any category. So here are some ones that smell heavenly AND work!
MiSTRAL Extra Rich Bath And Shower Gel in new Wild Blackberry ($16/10.8oz @ mistralsoap.com)
Amplify Volumizing System Thicklift Liquid Volumizer ($15/4.2oz @ matrix.com)
PERLiER Olivarium Super Nurturing Body Cream ($30/6.8oz @ whatshebuys.com)
If you color your hair at home, then this is a must have. So do yourself a favor and have REPELLE Skin Shield Wand on hand next time you dye. Just run this stick along your hairline and around ears and presto, no stains on your skin! $4.99 @ walgreens.com
As soon as I get home in the evening and know I’m in for the night, I immediately put back the hair and put on the PJs. Using a headband and then pulling the rest into a ponytail is not the most comfortable but it does get the hair off my face. Now I am happy to say I’ve found something better and we’re happy to make their Internet introduction. The TASSI ($14.99 @ tassicompany.com) headwrap will become the only way to comfortably get your hair off your face and neck.
There’s only a two beauty conventions I go to every year looking for the latest debuting on the beauty scene and this was one of the most useful ones I came across. Put the stretch terry cloth band over your head, pull hair through, push it up into the front like a headband and then pull the back up to catch the back of your hair. It’s the most comfortable thing to wear on your head! Use it for everything: getting a facial, putting on makeup, while tanning, showering. Basically anywhere you need to get your hair outta the way. Available in 8 fun colors! Big recommendation.
Need to keep every hair in place? Cream or spray, these use different formulas for different holds.
PROFOUND BEAUTY Structure Luxe Cream ($28/4.75oz @ profoundbeauty.com) – This cream is the modernized version of the 60’s/70’s setting creams. Wanna create some waves but afraid that they won’t last long? You could do it with hairspray but the finished look always has that hard crunch effect. This one leaves a more natural look.
L’OREAL Elnett Hairspray ($12/2.5oz, $21/6.7oz @ amazon.com/beauty) - This hairspray has such a cult following and after discovering it a few years ago, I can see why. It brushes out so it allows a woman to change her mind! And thankfully it is not hard to find anymore.
PAUL MiTCHELL Extra-Body Firm Finishing Spray ($12.99/11oz @ paulmitchell.com) – Here’s a hair staple. You need to hold your hair style; I mean really hold your hair style firmly in place. Here’s your answer.
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’re all familiar with dryers that dry your hair faster but what about a product that dries hair faster? Seems hard to believe. Leave it to the professionals at PAUL MiTCHELL to come out with products that not only claims to dry hair faster but calm hair down. Way down. Having relatively short hair on the side and top of my head (no, it’s not a mullet), the blow dryer can really poof it up so before I turn on that button, I have been applying their Super Skinny Serum ($15.95/5.1oz @ paulmitchell.com) from the Smoothing line. It contains silicon that smooths and seals each strand and reduces drying time by 30%. So pair this one with a ceramic dryer and you’re stylin’.
We’ve been so caught up in the Holidays that we’re a little late on our last color pick of the season, Metallics. They are hot and my favorite feature to play up has to be the eyes and my other … you’ll see tomorrow.
The Internet is just not the place to see the powerful effects of metallic and metal colors like gold and silver. You just can’t get the intensity and luster of a color. And do glitter products count under the metallic umbrella? It’s tiny metal-like pieces, right? We could have gone crazy with the glitter products but only a few really qualified for this piece so here are some suggestions to check out in person.
Short? Long? Frizz creeps up on all of us. The Matrix hair company did some research and found that 87% of consumers use heat tools to style their strands. 87%! So make sure you use protection.
The experts at JOHN FRiEDA are only improving their cult Frizz-Ease by introducing a new addition, Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Formula ($9.99/1.69oz @ drugstore.com). If you regularly use a blow dryer or straightening iron, this one should be in your bathroom, as it does double-duty – controls frizz by putting a barrier between your hair and those hot styling products.
Be one step ahead with new MATRiX Vavoom Gold Heat Blow-In Control Protective Serum ($11.90/4.2oz @ matrix.com). Sprays that protect your hair before styling are like makeup primers, they are really becoming a staple in my daily regime that I never knew I really needed. Made for medium to course hair types, this one not only protects against heat but really made my hair soft and shiny.
SPORNETTE makes some of my favorite brushes. Their new collection of Coco Tourmaline Nylon and Boar Bristle brushes do double duty. The nylon tourmaline tips on the boar bristles make for excellent styling while it conditions your hair at the same time. The ceramic barrel speeds up the drying time! They named the collection Coco after the pretty chocolate brown barrel. It comes in 3 sizes: 2” diameter #1500/$13.99, 2-1/4” diameter #1505/$14.99 and 3” diameter #1510/ $15.99 @ metrobeauty.com ~Lisa
SHU UEMURA just came out with the Art of Hair line. And if they do hair care like they do cosmetics, we’ll be in for a treat. The Full Shimmer Illuminating Shampoo ($40/10oz) and Full Shimmer Illuminating Conditioner ($50/8.5oz) are made for color treated strands (that’s me!) and each contains Rose Musk Oil, which is rich in anti-oxidants. These really gave my color a slight kick and didn’t leave my strands dried out. And the touch of rose scent is really soothing.
And I am also recommending their new Iron Design Protective Thermal Spray ($30/5oz) that is sprayed on before blow drying. All @ 866-914-8750
Simple and easy to understand is the motto of the ARROJO hair care line. Each is infused with a pro-vitamin B5 to feed the scalp and hair. The line consists of 12 products – from shampoos to styling products, all your basics are covered. I’m going through a styling phase that seems to hit every fall, so I’m loving the Defrizz Serum ($15/4oz), which is applied to strands before blow drying. My other pick is the Holding Spray ($15/8oz). With fall comes the wind and this non-aerosol spray keeps my style in place. Like another favorite hair spray, this one brushes out easily if you change your mind. All @ arrojoproduct.com
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
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).
Combs are ok at it and brushes never seem to work right unless you are a pro. SPORNETTE Little Wonder #111 ($4 @ spornette.com or 800-323-6449) really aids in the teasing and back-brushing department. The Tourmaline enhanced nylon and pure boar’s bristles are about ¾” wide and the handle is long so you have a lot of control when styling.
