For me, L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray, $15 was one of those cult products I'd heard about for years but never had the chance to use. And not because I didn't try! This coveted spray didn't become available in the US until this year, and now I see what all the hype was about. This stuff is amazing!
My short hair needs hairspray to keep my curls from falling, and Elnett does the job without being stiff or crunchy. I can comb through my hair with no problem, and my curls still stay put!
This is definitely one of the better hairsprays out there, and I'll be keeping it in beauty stash from now on. Right now, Elnett is only available at Target stores and at Target.com, but I hear that it will be available soon in other stores. So keep an eye out!
Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts
Product Love: L'Oreal Elnett Hair Spray
Bargain Beauty: GVP Silk Remedy vs. CHI Silk Infusion
I recently have come to the realization that my beauty spending is way out of control. Like, way out of control. So, I've been pinching pennies where I can, and have made some great beauty discoveries along the way. So, I'll be sharing these with you in a new series called Bargain Beauty!
My first Bargain Beauty discovery was found at Sally Beauty Supply (I have a feeling that I'm going to find a lot of great things there!). My friend and hairstylist Monica swears by CHI Silk Infusion, and with good reason. It protects the hair from heat, and gives great shine.
So imagine my surprise and delight to find a less expensive equally effective alternative! GVP Silk Remedy has the same exact ingredients, and gives me the same glossy hair when flat ironing. And a little goes a long way so I'll have this bottle for a long time! GVP Silk Remedy has become a staple in my hairstyling routine. Try a little dab of this before you flat iron, and you'll love the results!
Want me to help you find a Bargain Beauty steal? Email me at brownbombshellbeauty@gmail.com, and I'll find you a cheaper alternative. You could be featured on the site!
Product Love: Mizani AM/PM Duo
Ok, so Mizani is totally my new favorite hair care brand for daily maintenance products, and I've found two more products to love!
While in Beauty Brands I came across this Mizani moisturizing duo at the awesome price of of $22. I've been curious about the Rose H2O Conditioning Hairdress and H2O Nigh-Time Treatment for the longest, and I figured this package deal was the best way to try them out. 40% off? Sign me up!
Both of these creams are super light and have an slightly whipped texture, which is great because it never leaves my hair feeling weighed down. H2O Intense can be used a couple of times a week, and I always wake up with hair that is softer than the night before. When I need a little shine with my moisture, I use the Rose H2O in the morning before styling.
If you'd like to give these a try, look for the pre-packaged duo at your local Beauty Brands!
Hair Rules Salon NYC Parent & Child Event
It’s a Family Affahair at Hair Rules NY Salon
For parents and children who have battled with a difficult and time consuming hair styling regimen (or worse, one that could lead to a lifetime of negative good hair/ bad hair experiences), Dickey wants to teach parents an easy approach to their children’s hair.
The goal of this unique event is to help children have a more positive experience and to love their curly or kinky hair. Dickey and team will assist parents with hands-on styling and help parents find new ways to style their child’s hair.
Saturday November 7th
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
$50 per child
Light refreshments included
RSVP by November 3rd
Limited space available
Hair Rules NY * 828 Ninth Avenue * 2nd Floor * between 54th & 55th * 212.315.2929
Hair Helper: MoroccanOil Restorative Hair Mask
Hey beauties! I am having the best luck with hair care products lately! First I find the perfect shampoo and conditioner for my hair, and now I've found the perfect treatment product in MoroccanOil Restorative Hair Mask, $33!
I've been going through drama with my hair lately trying to grow out some hair color I had when I was natural. And let me tell you, relaxer and hair color do not mix. At least not on my head! The parts of my hair that are colored have been dry and frizzy because the color is old and kinda stripped, so I've been looking for a deep treatment product to smooth the cuticle and repair any damage. This hair mask did that and then some!
First, this mask us SUPER thick and concentrated. I could barely get my fingers through my hair with the mask on because it's so thick and rich. I left it on for about 10 minutes while I was in the shower and continued with my routine. One of the things I love about this mask it that you don't need any extra heat, so if you're pressed for time you don't have to worry about sitting under a heat cap.
When I rinsed the mask out my hair didn't have much slip, but my hair felt completely smooth and even textured. Since there is protein in this, I decided to put on a little of my Mizani conditioner for about 2 minutes to add a little moisture. After towel drying my hair, I put on a little MoroccanOil Treatment serum and let my hair air dry. My hair turned out smooth, soft and shiny. Truly, I don't know the last time my hair looked this healthy! It's been a couple of days and my shiny, healthy hair is still going strong!
I plan to use this mask once a week until my hair color grows out completely, and I'm sure the results will get even better with time. MoroccanOil has turned out to be like magic for my hair and I'll continue to try more of their products. I'll keep you posted!
Guest Blogger: Monica's Top 5 Hair Tips
By now you all know that I love spilling the beans on my fave beauty tips. I've got the scoop on skincare, makeup, and nails for days. But when I've got a major hair problem (like growing out this tired hair color...), I turn to my good friend and personal hair expert Monica. In all the years that I've known her, she's always had gorge hair, and today Monica will be sharing her top 5 tips to keep your hair healthy this winter. Enjoy!
Monica’s Top Five Hair Tips
People are always asking me how I maintain such a luxurious mane. I don’t have any magic powers, nor do I spend countless hours a day working on my hair. I just have some secrets with products and technique that make for a good hair regimen that’s maintainable and gets results.
With winter approaching, it’s important to pay extra special attention to your hair. If you live in a cold climate, you will definitely want to employ some hair care strategies to ensure your hair doesn’t dry out and fall out.
Here are my top five tips to build strength, and maintain or build the overall health and appearance of your hair.
- 100 strokes, three times per week will help build your hair’s muscles, so to speak. If you’ve ever seen The Brady Bunch: The Movie, Marsha brushed her hair 100 strokes every day. Brushing your hair builds strength just like lifting weights does for the biceps. Brushing not only makes your hair stronger, but over time, will reduce breakage and add natural shine. Ever notice how shiny a horse’s coat is? It’s because they are brushed with a soft bristled brush at least once a week.
How to: Part hair into four quadrants. Start with a soft boar bristled brush and swiftly brush from root to ends about 15-25 times per quadrant. Make sure your brush doesn’t have broken or split bristles. You should replace your brush about every 90 days along with your toothbrush. Brushes with split or missing bristles will cause stress to the hair and extra breakage.
- Always secure your hair with a silk/satin head wrap/bonnet at night to keep the hair from drying out and rubbing against your bed linens. Never use cotton scarves or other synthetic materials on your hair at night; they will only dry the hair and cause breakage. With winter approaching, you will want to make sure your hat/scarf set is not wool, polyester or acrylic. These fibers dry the hair and literally rub it out from the hair line. If you choose to wear a wool coat, make sure you have a silk fibered scarf around the collar. You should also limit wearing turtle neck sweaters made of wool or acrylic.
How to: Make sure you moisturize your hair with a silk fibered lotion before applying your head wrap. Try Chi’s Silk Infusion if you don’t already have a silk moisturizer you like to use. Not a fan of head wraps? Buy silk/satin pillow cases.
- Add a cap full of vodka to your shampoo if your hair lacks luster. If you feel like your hair just doesn’t shine, adding a little of your favorite top shelf vodka to your shampoo will coat the hair and give it a little shine boost.
How to: Pour a cap full of vodka into your shampoo bottle and shake it for about 2 minutes to make sure it mixes well. Use shampoo, followed by conditioner as directed.
- Make sure you are using the right foundation products for your hair type and processes. If you have color or any other chemical process, be sure you are using product for color treated/chemically processed hair. Try to avoid mixing processes. For example, if you have a relaxer, avoid lifting your hair more than three levels. Once you get into lighter shades of blondes, you will stress your hair. Proper setting lotions and moisturizers are imperative to the finishing of your styling. If you have the right foundation, you won’t need to use so many finishing products when you style.
How to: Always wash your hair in warm water and shampoo at least two times. You should consider using a deep conditioner for about 10 minutes once per week and a leave-in conditioner on the other washes in the week. If you feel your hair is dry and lifeless, try some cholesterol (Proclaim makes a cholesterol formula available at Sally Beauty for less than $5). You can also beat a couple eggs, as if you were about to scramble them and use the batter as a conditioner for your hair. Make sure you wash it out in lukewarm water…or else you’ll cook the eggs!
- Always blow dry on medium or low heat. Excessive heat will dry your hair out and strip the moisturizers your shampoo and conditioner have set in the hair shaft. You should also make sure you are using a ceramic blow dryer with a cool shot (Ion makes a fabulous blow dryer for around $60 available at Sally Beauty). If you have medium to course hair, you should consider using a hooded dryer to avoid stripping the hair’s moisture. It will also allow the hair to set straighter with less frizz.
Use of ceramic styling tools is a must. Flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers should be ceramic plated with infrared technology. Ceramic tools prevent your hair from burning while styling (FHI makes a fabulous ceramic flat iron for around $85).
How to: After shampoo and conditioning, start with the blow dryer on low or medium heat and allow the hair to free flow to release most of the water. Hair is weakest when it’s wet, so avoid pulling with styling tools until the hair is at least 80% dry. Once hair is mostly dry, use a round or paddle brush to straighten the hair. Once your hair is completely dry, use the cool shot to seal in moisture before using styling tools.
Want more Monica? Catch her on her open letter blog at ThisMayConcernYou.com.
Mizani Botanifying Shampoo & Moisturefuse Conditioner
Um, where have I been? My dream shampoo and conditioner have been sitting under my nose for years and I never bothered to try them out! What was my problem?!
At the insistence of my friend and personal hair guru Monica (check out her fab open letter blog here), I decided to give Mizani a try after all these years. I mean, I had nothing to lose. My current shampoo and conditioner weren't hitting it, and my dry, color-treated hair was starting to look a mess.
Mizani has quite an extensive line-up, so I went for the Botanifying Conditioning Shampoo, $8.80 and the Moisturefuse Moisturizing Conditioner, $9.99. The Botanifying shampoo got my hair really clean without stripping it of its natural moisture. My hair had lots of slip and actually felt moisturized! I followed up with the Moisturefuse conditioner and was equally impressed. After leaving it on for just a few minutes my hair felt like it had received a deep conditioning treatment. My hair is now shiny, soft and healthy and I couldn't be more pleased! Who knew all this could come from a shampoo and conditioner?
I also love the affordability of these items, plus they're easy to find at your local salon or beauty supply store. Definitely give these a whirl when your hair is craving moisture. You'll thank me for it!
Chris Rock, Oprah and Solange Talk "Good Hair"
In case you missed yesterday's Oprah (like me), here is some footage of Chris Rock, Solange and Oprah talking Black hair. Take a look!
And actress Nia Long hit up Chelsea Lately to talk "Good Hair" as well.
I can't WAIT till this film comes out! "Good Hair" hits theaters October 23rd.
Beauty Review: Moroccanoil
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I've been hearing lots of buzz about Moroccanoil for months now, with friends of mine in the beauty industry raving about what miracle workers the products were. Well, I recently had the opportunity to test out two Moroccanoil products, and now I'll be raving about them too!
First, I tried out the product that's been getting the most buzz: the Moroccanoil Treatment, $34
This serum-like treatment is filled with argan oil, which is known for its moisturizing and healing properties. I applied just a dab to my hair after washing and conditioning, and I could instantly notice a smoothness and glossiness to my hair.
Even better, my hair stayed this way after blow drying it! No frizzies, no dull, dry hair. It was amazing! The treatment serum is super light, and didn't weigh my hair down. This is my new favorite hair product! I'll definitely be using this every time I wash my hair for instantly shiny, glossy hair. I totally see what all the rave reviews are about!
I used the Gold Glimmer Shine Spray, $20 to maintain my shine between washes. I think of it as the liquid spray version of the original treatment serum. After styling, I spritz on a little for lots of glossy shine. The thing that I love about it, is that it's never greasy like some oil sheens can be. Instead, this super-fine mist coats the hair with not just shine, but actual moisture, courtesy of argan oil, wheat germ oil and panthenol (vitamin B5). As you can see from the picture, I've been using this a lot!
I can't say enough good things about these items. I will definitely be trying out their shampoo, conditioner, masks and styling cream next! Though they are kind of pricey, they are worth every penny. If you try these out I guarantee you'll love them!
Beauty Review: Ted Gibson Tame It Lotion
Hey Beauty Babes! Since I gave a rundown of my fave styling products for natural hair last week, I decided to share one of fave styling products for my relaxed beauties!
Ted Gibson, deliverer of sexy, tousled celebrity hair, has a fab line of styling products that are available at Tar-jay (aka Target for those not in the know!). The first thing to mention is that the entire line smells like heaven, and his Tame It Lotion, $23 is no exception!
This sweet Merlot scented concoction makes relaxed or blown-out hair uber-shiny without weighing it down. This super-light lotion is very concentrated so you only need a dime sized amount. Plus, the bottle will last you an eternity. Seriously. I've had mine for well over a year, so you'll definitely get your money's worth!
Have you tried any of Ted Gibson's products? Do tell!
Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Care Review
Lots of people have been awaiting the arrival of Aveeno's new hair care line, and I'm glad to say it was worth the wait!
I tried out the Nourish + Moisturize Shampoo and Conditioner, $7 each, Nourish + Soothe Shampoo, $7, and Nourish + Condition Leave In Conditioner, $7.
I started out with the Nourish+Soothe Shampoo. I was especially looking forward to using this shampoo, as a dry scalp is something I'm always battling. After using this shampoo, my scalp was soothed, and my hair felt super soft. Plus, the delicious lavender scent was an added bonus!
I followed up with the Nourish+Moisturize shampoo. Though this fruity scented shampoo didn't leave my hair quite as soft as the previous shampoo, it did leave it pretty soft. Both shampoos lather up a lot, so only a little is needed, which helps each bottle to last longer.
I finished my shampoo with the Nourish+Moisturize Conditioner. It didn't smell as good as the shampoos, and was rather runny, so I wasn't sure what to expect. When I rinsed it out, I was pleasantly surprised with the results. My hair was super soft and surprisingly shiny! I topped it off with some Nourish+Condition Leave In Conditioner, which added to the softness and defined my curls but, sadly, the softness it provided didn't last.
Aveeno definitely hit the mark when it comes to providing soft, healthy hair! If you're in the market for a new shampoo and conditioner, give these a try!
Soft and Beautiful Dry Wrap Mousse
When I saw Soft and Beautiful StyleProtect Nighttime Dry Wrap Mousse, $7 in Walgreens I (lunged for it and) began to toss it into my basket, until I remembered that I no longer have relaxed hair. Darn the luck, because this dry mousse seems almost too good to be true.
You read right - dry mousse. Just add a dollop of this moisture-rich mousse to your hair before you wrap it at night, and wake up with stronger, more moisturized hair. Its a big hit over at the Anti Hair Slave, and I'd love to know what you think if you've tried it. In the meantime, I'll try to come up with a use for this on my hair, it sounds just to good to pass up!
DIY Beauty! Part II: Make Your Haircut Last Longer
While regular trims are the key to growing your hair long and strong, making regular trips to the salon can put a hurting on your wallet. So what is a budget-conscious beauty to do? Stretch out those hair cuts! The more you do to protect the ends of your hair, the longer you can go between trims.
What to do if the damage is done but you don't have the cash for a trim right now? Citre Shine Shine Miracle Split End Mender, $5 is for you! While nothing but a cut can remedy scraggly ends, this serum can certainly help. Even the labs at the Good Housekeeping Institute found that Citre Shine's split end fixer gives some positive results. Definitely worth the 5 bucks until your stylist can get her hands on your hair.
Heat is a mother on your hair, so protecting it from your flat iron and other appliances is a must to preserve your hair cut on an ongoing basis. One heat protectant I love is Motions Heat Seeker Protector Spray, $4.68. This liquid spray dries fast and doesn't leave a residue on your hair. At under 5 bucks, its a real beauty bargain.
If your not so keen on using a liquid, try FHI Heat Hot Sauce, $14. This silky cream not only protects your hair from heat, but smooths the hair cuticle while imparting serious shine and moisture. The directions say to use on wet hair before blow drying, but I use use it on dry hair too before flat ironing. Its a little pricier, but worth it.
Got any tips to make your style last longer between salon visits? Let us know!
Black Hair in the White House
Ladies, bear with me while I get serious for a moment. I promise to be as brief as possible!
With all of the intense attention focused on First Lady Michelle Obama's fashion and personal style, I recently began to wonder how long it would take before something would be said about her (and her daughters') hair. When fashion commentators take note of a celebrity or public figure, they analyze everything from the dress to the shoes, the handbag to the jewels, and the makeup to the hair. Michelle Obama has been subject to all of this; Criticism of her Election Night Narciso Rodriguez dress. Raves for her Inauguration morning ensemble, including her J. Crew leather gloves. Kudos for her glowing skin and flawless makeup application. But I've noticed that, compared to her fashion coverage, little has been said about Michelle Obama's hair. Is this, perhaps, out of fear of saying the wrong, racially insensitive thing?
Sure, Mrs. O's hair stylist, Johnny Wright, has gotten a healthy dose of press attention, and has even landed a development deal to star in his own reality/makeover show (which I'm very jazzed to see, by the way). But will we ever see him (or any hairstylist for that matter) recreating Michelle's bob on a model during a segment of Entertainment Tonight, a'la Frederick Fekkai during Oscar season? Relaxer, rat tail comb, and all? Somehow I doubt it.
Which begs the question: Is this the way we as Black women want it? I'm sure we've all dealt with a curious Caucasian friend or co-worker who has reached out and touched our hair, or asked more questions about our hair than we would like. After one of these incidents, does it make you wish the person knew more about Black hair, so it wouldn't seem so mysterious and foreign to them, or do you think that they flat out don't need to know? Either way, I think we are on the verge of Black hair "coming out of the closet", and becoming more visible to the mainstream, for better or for worse.
With a Black family so incredibly visible, it would be impossible for the hairstyles of these three ladies to not be a topic of conversation at some point over the next eight years (yes, I said eight). At some point will a clueless newscaster marvel at how Michelle keeps her hair "so straight"? Will some clown on Fox News see little Sasha's afro puffs and ask why her hair is so "unkempt"? What will we do then? Will we sick Jesse and the NAACP on them, or use the moment to educate? Should we use the moment to educate?
It's a shame that something like hair has the potential to create such discomfort and confusion. I'm sure that this is something that Michelle Obama has had to think about, not only when deciding how to wear her own hair, but when having Sasha and Malia's hair styled for events as well. It kind of makes me sick to think that this family has to put such thought into how they wear their hair, because it will have such a tremendous affect on how people see them. They want to assure people that Black folks are, for the most part, just like everyone else, and part of this is demonstrated through their hair. But doesn't this take away their options (and what, after all, is a Black woman's hair without options?) But then, as working Black women, don't we all go through this (albeit, on a much smaller scale)?
OK, I'm off my soap box now! Let me know your thoughts.
Also, check out a great piece by writer Erin Aubrey Kaplan. She's written a very thought provoking piece on this very subject. You can read it here.
And check out this interview with funnyman Chris Rock about his new documentary about Black women and our hair. It was very well received at Sundance, so hopefully we'll see it theaters soon. I can't wait to see it.
On with the beauty!!
Aveeno Hair Care!!
Aveeno will be releasing a line of haircare products! The collection will consist of a Nourish+Moisturize shampoo and conditioner for dry and damaged hair, a Nourish+Revitalize shampoo and conditioner is designed to help protect hair’s moisture balance and repair everyday damage, a Nourish+Volumize shampoo and conditioner a Nourish+Soothe shampoo, which uses lavender and peppermint, and a Nourish+Condition Leave-In Treatment. The line is chock full of wheat germ oil and wheat proteins (hair loves these!) and will retail for $6.49 each.
No word on when the line is supposed to hit shelves, but I am definitely looking forward to trying out the Nourish + Revitalize collection and the lavender peppermint shampoo! How about you?
Source: WWD
Beauty News: Gentler Hair Relaxers
Periodically I'll post links to interesting and informative articles in the news that have to do with beauty products and/or the beauty industry. The first Beauty News post is about an article the Washington Post published Tuesday about "gentler" hair relaxers for Black women. I put gentler in quotes because I don't care how gentle a relaxer claims to be, it has to have some kind of strong/chemical makeup in order for it to break down your curl pattern enough to straighten it!
That being said, I must state that I have found that all relaxers are NOT created equal. In fact, the relaxer I absolutely adore was mentioned in the article. I didn't intend for this post to be a product review :) , but for those of you who like to straighten or texturize your hair, I absolutely swear by Phytospecific Phytorelaxer, which was mentioned in the article.
I love many of the products by Phyto and Phytospecific, but their relaxer is especially unique. It straightens your hair without straightening it within an inch of its life. Instead of that "hair so flat against my head it looks like I'm bald" look, it consistently leaves my hair thick, full and full of body. My hair hasn't been this healthy or grown this fast since I was a little girl. At $60 it does cost a pretty penny, but it is worth every cent. I will gladly give up my Starbucks soy lattes to make room in my budget for this!
Did you read the Washington Post article? Do you have a hair relaxer story or relaxer product you want to tell everyone about? Leave a comment and let us hear it!
Psst...If you want to save some cash on this and other Phtyo and Phytospecific products, sign up for the Phtyo mailing list at Phyto.com. I did and was able to clean up at their friends and family sale last month! I'm talking 40-50% off!
