Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hair. Show all posts

For the Men Fridays: Axe Hair Hot Tweeters Promotion




Know a guy who has hot hair? Then he needs to head on over to http://www.hottweeters.com/axehair/ and submit his photo to win a haircut ($50 gift card) and an array of AXE hair products.



And ladies, they need you to judge the entries! I know all of you have opinions on boys' hair, so get on over there and make a few judgement calls!

And look for an AXE hair product review right here soon!

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Website to Launch Soon: Sign Up to Win!

Not only is Shu Uemura launching their Art of Hair website, they are also giving away a year's worth of professional products just for signing up to be notified when the site goes live!

To enter, just fill out your complete profile, and that's it. A winner will be drawn on July 6, and will be notified via email.

Good luck!

Product Review: Jonathan Product Spray Dirt

I have just about everything in the Jonathan Product Dirt line, and have been a huge fan since the original Dirt paste came out in the jar. It works really well on my thick, coarse hair, especially in terms of adding texture, which is always what I'm looking for in a finishing product.

So, when I saw this hanging out at my local Bath and Body Works, I decided to grab it, although the price tag gave me a bit of spitty mouth. At $29 for a little over four ounces, it better be fantastic. But I say that every time I buy a Dirt product.

It doesn't disappoint. It gives great texture, and it's extremely easy to use. Here are a few tips from the styling sheet:

  • Shake it well. It's thick, so it doesn't come out like a liquid. It's more pasty.
  • Work through Hair. Just like the paste, you'll need to work with it a bit - you can't just spray and expect it to make your hair look exactly the way you want.
  • Use only a few sprays. You don't need to use a lot, like you would a hairspray. And at $29, you don't want to waste it.
And here are the celebrity styling secrets from Jonathan:

  • For Light Control: Spray Dirt can finish your piecey style with light control. To finish your style, spray 2-3 times at arm's length and work through dry hair. To tame flyaways, one simple spray will do the trick.
  • For Added Texture and Definition: Cup hand and spray 2-3 times into palm creating a lightweight foam. Emulsify and work through damp or dry hair, separating and lifting layers for that second day look.
  • For Volume on Longer Hair: For an extra boost of volume, flip hair over and spray onto dry hair. Tousle, then flip hair back for soft body and bounce.
Get yours at JonathanProduct.com.

Beauty Bubbles: 15 Date Night Hairstyles

TotalBeauty.com
15 Date-Night Hairstyles

Copy the romantic looks seen on the cast of "He's Just Not That Into You"


Break out the little black dress and dust off the stilettos -- you've got a date! All you need now is the perfect hairstyle to complete your ensemble. Get inspired by these date-worthy looks from the cast of "He's Just Not That Into You" (and a few other celebrities we love) and get tips on recreating the styles at home. Any of these will definitely have your guy so into you -- and if he isn't, well ... that's his problem.

See the looks

Product Review: BioSilk Silk Therapy

I've been messing around with BioSilk Silk Therapy for awhile now, and I think it's a pretty decent product.

It is described as being a lightweight replenishing treatment for hair and skin. I've never used it on my skin, so I can't speak for that, but I think it does a good job adding shine and helping to tame frizz.

I wouldn't use this as a front line defense against frizz, however, especially if you fight with it on a daily basis like I do. But when it comes to adding shine after a serious session with a flat iron, it does the trick.

BioSilk Silk Therapy, $14.95, Folica.com.

Total Beauty: Make Your Hair Look 10 Years Younger

TotalBeauty.com
Make Your Hair Look 10 Years Younger

Get advice on nursing drab, graying hair back to health


We get this question a lot, so here's our answer, backed by a celebrity hairstylist.

View answer

Beauty Bytes: 10 Quick Hairstyles

TotalBeauty.com content:

19 Quick Hairstyles for Your Haircut

Got 10 minutes to spare? That's all you need to copy one of these red carpet-worthy updos


So you've finally got a haircut you love, but now what do you do with it? Here's a solution: Try one of these fun looks created by stylist Rick Farber from The Argyle Salon in Hollywood, Calif. No matter what your hair length or type we have a style -- or five -- for you. Now you have no excuse for wearing your hair the same way day after day.

See hairstyles

Total Beauty Bytes: Kim Kardashian Hairstyle Photos


Kim Kardashian Hairstyle Photos

The "Dancing With The Stars" contestant shows how to rock long hairstyles and sexy updos


We can't get enough of her on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and now we get to see even more of Kim Kardashian on the upcoming season of "Dancing With The Stars." Why do we like her so much? It could be her antics or her crazy family but really, it's the hair. Whether it's long -- or really long -- she always looks glamorous. Check out the many hairstyles of Kim Kardashian and maybe you'll want to inject a little Hollywood glitz into your look.

See Kim

The Most Interesting Mousse I've Ever Tried


Doesn't it look exactly like whipped cream? The extra creamy kind that you spritz out of a can? Sebastian Whipped Creme is one of the thickest mousse products that I have ever used on my hair. And it's not too thick - you don't get a greasy coat of anything when you apply it, just soft conditioning and a light hold that seems to last all day.

I tend to use it on days that I know I'm going to let my hair dry curly (what my husband refers to as "friendly" hair, meaning that my usual straight hair is mean? I have no idea - I don't even try and understand him most of the time). I don't need to put anything else in there, just a dollop of this and my hair is soft, manageable, and not frizzy at all. If you don't need a lot of control in your hair when you're drying it straight or giving yourself a blowout with a round brush, then Sebastian Whipped Creme would be perfect for you. If you are the type to set your hair in rollers because you have infinite patience and an intense desire for gorgeous hair, then you will also love Sebastian Whipped Creme. Try it - I promise it will work better than the current setting lotion you're using. I am obviously a fan.

Sebastian Whipped Creme retails for about $19. Visit Sebastion online to find a salon near you.

There is No Reason For Sticky, Gross Hairspray: L'Oreal Studio Line Perfect Fix Ultra Fine Finishing Hair Spray

I'm sure I'm not the only one who remembers the days of Aqua-Net in the white and pink can. In order to get those mall bangs and side wings as poofy as possible, copious amounts of the stuff were used. Not only was it really unappealing, it was hard to wash out.

Since those days, I haven't been a huge fan of aerosol hair sprays, or any hair spray for that matter. But recently as I was trying to get my too-short hair to stay in a particularly difficult updo I reached for Loreal Studio Line Perfect Fix Ultra Fine Finishing Hair Spray and ended up being pleasantly surprised. It has excellent hold and it's not sticky or stuff. I found that it did a great job holing my updo in place and it didn't flake or otherwise get gross throughout the day.

So if you're needing an occasional spray, I can recommend Loreal Studio Line Perfect Fix Ultra Fine Finishing Hair Spray in good faith. You can find it at most major retailers for about $4.99.

Taming the Wild Beast: L'Oreal Paris Studio Smoothness Smoothing Cream

Don't you love summer humidity? I know my coarse, curly hair does. It loves the fact that nothing I do really gets it under control, until I break out the flat iron. One weapon in my arsenal is Loreal Studio Line Smoothness Hair Smoothing Cream.

One of the reasons I love this product is that it can be used two different ways: in damp hair prior to styling, and again in dry hair to tame frizzies.

I smooth this in after washing, making sure to distribute it evenly throughout my hair. Then, after styling (which should really say, "then, after flat ironing every last curl out of my rebellious hair") I add just a tiny bit to increase shine and keep frizz from forming later.

I've been using this faithfully for almost two weeks, and I'm very pleased at the result. It adds some nice shine to my otherwise rather dull hair, and I'm impressed with the frizz control. Looks like L'Oreal continues to surprise me with their product offerings these days!

You can find Loreal Studio Line Smoothness Hair Smoothing Cream in most mass retailers, and you can expect to pay about $8.99.

Ouidad Botanical Boost

Ouidad Botanical Boost

Ouidad Botanical Boost is an amazing spray conditioner that can be used two ways. I used it both as a leave in conditioner after washing my hair and then again as a refresher spray. I love the concept of a refresher spray, and this fits the bill very nicely, as it doesn't dry out your hair and adds vitamins and aloe vera to calm frizzies.

Ouidad has an entire system to care for and style curls, and if you have curly hair, it's worth checking out their site. Basically, the recommend getting a cut that suits your curly hair and then washing and conditioning them with products for curly hair. Using duck clips, you can style your hair to maximize curls - but they don't really recommend blow drying your curls unless you use a diffuser sparingly.

I have extremely curly hair but I don't style it curly these days. I'm forever flat ironing and blowing it out. However, I like the idea of having the option to style it curly should I wish to do so. I may have to stop in to the salon the next time I'm in NYC!

And here is a sampling of even more Ouidad products:


Product Review: American Cream Conditioner by Lush


Yes, I know. I have written about my love for all things Lush before, haven't I? I can't help it. Their products are almost completely across the board fantastic, and they are certainly socially conscious, making sure to use eco-friendly ingredients, keep their products mostly vegetarian, and use free trade practices almost exclusively. I have not run into many items from Lush that I wouldn't purchase again, and I love to feature such a fantastic company.

American Cream Conditioner by LUSHis described as a sweet honey milkshake for the hair. Like all Lush products, it smells heavenly, and you'll find yourself catching a whiff of it every now and again, which is a good thing. Praised for it's softening abilities, it claims to help even frizzy hair calm itself.

If I was a person who wanted to use only natural products, American Cream Conditioner would be my conditioner of choice. I'd buy it by the gallon and use it every day. However, because my hair is so frizzy and wild, I prefer modern silicones in my hair products - as many as I can get. Because American Cream Conditioner is silicone free, I don't find it works quite as well as my other conditioners, although I can appreciate that it is due to it's mostly natural formulation. So for the type of product it is, it's excellent.

And, just for fun, here are a few of my favorite Lush products. Have you tried Lush? What do you think?

Summer Loves: Infrashine Flat Iron


As I think I've mentioned here before (about a million times and then some) my hair has to be beat into submission. One day when curly hair comes back into vogue, I will be absolutely thrilled, but until then I have to rely on fabulous hair styling tools to make my hair behave the way I want it to. But a quick recap before I talk about the infrashine flat iron: My hair is dark brown, almost black with bright red highlights; it's coarse, curly, and cut shoulder length. It's super thick, requires thinning, and has never been straight a day in it's life. In fact, due to hormonal changes during pregnancy (I'm guessing - or the curly headed gods singled me out) it got even curlier after I had my first child. These aren't the gorgeous beach tossed waves or ringlet curls we're talking about. No, no - these are frizzy, out of control wild kinky waves/curls that just you just can't leave alone.

Clearly, I need powerful tools to get the job done. Because you know I want the soft, shiny, straight hair that I see in all the magazines. No curls for me, thank you. But it is a challenge to get my hair to be both straight and shiny - shine is hard to come by on curly headed girls.

I should also state that I have tried dozens of flat irons, from drugstore brands all the way on up. My position is that you should invest in a good flat iron as soon as possible. Wasting your time on cheaper versions only end up costing you more and frustrating you in the end.

Whew. Okay. Moving on! Here is the product description:


Previously known as UNIL, the 1" ceramic Infrashine flat iron is one of our top sellers and favorite picks, offering maximum styling options and superior hair conditioning. With rapid infrared ray heating from ceramic heaters and ceramic coated paddles to protect hair color and condition follicles, this iron also features adjustable thermostat control for different hair textures, even chemically treated, fine or damaged hair. Very lightweight and flexible for easy styling (just over .5 lbs!). See more shine and less damage with the Infrashine Flat Iron.
Let me just say that this sucker gets hot! And that's a good thing! The temperature is controllable and can go anywhere from 140 to 400 degrees. I did not test this out on anything other than full on hot: 400 degrees. It worked perfectly.

I managed to flat iron my entire head quickly, in less than 20 minutes, which for me is nothing short of amazing. This flat iron boasts an extra long cord, as well as excellent grip between the paddles to keep hair in place without losing sections as you iron. It's sturdy, made extremely well, and kept my breakage to a minimum. Does it add shine? I don't know. I didn't really notice anything extra, but I was too busy being amazed at how flat I was managing to get my unruly hair. I always add a shine booster after I flat iron anyway, so I can say that it certainly didn't hurt my shine factor. If anything, it made my hair so smooth that it gave the appearance of increased shine, and that is always a good thing.

And just between you and me? I reach for this flat iron just as often as I reach for my Chi. In fact, maybe more. It's that good. You can find this amazing flat iron at Misikko Beauty, and if you head over there now, you'll find that it's actually on sale for $104.99. An excellent price for a fantastic iron.

Summer Lovin: CHI Flat Iron

So, my CHI Pink Dazzle Limited Edition showed up recently, and I have to say, I'm totally loving it! I'm not sure what makes CHI different from my Tigi Bed Head flat iron that I got from Target, but there is a significant difference. I have a suspicion that it gets much hotter and the plates stay together better, thereby keeping my curly, coarse hair under control. This flat iron produces consistent results, and even came with a cute little travel case! This is a good thing, because I can't imagine being without it. So, what they say is true - invest in a good flat iron if your hair is thick like mine - you won't regret it in the long run. I've gone through four flat irons and spent far more money on them than I would if I would have just gotten a decent one in the first place. Consider me converted!

Review: Frizz Control and Shine Products

Just some mini-reviews for you on one of the hair products that I can't live without: frizz control and shine.

TIGI Catwalk Camera Ready Shine Spray: This is a great product to use if you have fine hair and don't need a lot of shine and frizz control. I used it as a quick touch up and was very happy with the results. Spray lightly - one or two sprays will do just fine, and run your fingers through your hair. Gives medium frizz control and a decent quick shine.

Paul Mitchell Gloss Drops: I use this product every day after styling my hair. It is an excellent finisher - adds just enough shine and keeps my (very) frizzy hair under control. One pump into your palm is all you need - emulsify it and run it through your hair. You probably won't need a touch up for several hours, if at all.

TIGI Bed Head Shine Junkie: I've been using this one since it came in a pot. Now it's in a nice dispenser can that reminds me of Cheez Whiz. It has a nice shimmer in it and definitely adds a nice shine. I didn't find it to be an excellent frizz control, however. But it pays off when it comes to shine.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Extra Strength Formula Hair Serum: A true classic, one of the first anti-frizz products that I ever tried. My thick, curly hair requires some sort of frizz taming, and a quarter sized amount worked into my hair right after the shower does a very good job of keeping the obvious frizz under control. I've heard that it takes a few applications for this to work well, although I'm not sure that it was the same for me. Either way, someone with frizz issues might want to give this one a try.

NARS Cosmetics Spring 2010

Total Beauty

About Me

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Meredith Edwards-Cornwall is the founder of online lifestyle websites RetrodivasBeauty.com and RetrodivasCloset.com. She is also known as @retrodiva on Twitter. She specializes in drinking large amounts of espresso, shopping, and enjoying social media. In all of her free time she writes for StyleBakeryMom.com twice a week, and does various other freelance gigs involving writing, designing, and generally being awesome. While she believes that success is indeed a job in New York, she currently resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband, two children, and two cats and has hung on to her day job.

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