My fellow blogger, Victoria, always has great finds. I hate to admit how many times I have blindly and impulsively hit BUY on many of them. But I do willingly admit I always love what she recommends. While Victoria mentioned the LUMA, she hadn’t pulled the trigger but you better bet I did. And I love my new tool that is making my mornings a breeze.
The design feels a little bit more sleek than it appears above and is surprisingly lightweight. It gets hot just like a straight iron, but with exposed ceramic (so take care around kids). I have been sleeping on wet hair and taming the wavy and frizzy bits in the AM. I love the increased volume at roots but with the same sleek strands as a blowout. And it takes only about three minutes. Now, granted I am not a perfectionist but I think their claim of 10 times faster than an iron could be close. Being able to brush under my hair and covering a lot of ground with one pass really speeds things up.
I have been focusing on protecting my hair from heat lately. I don’t use hot tools, but I have learned that even a hair drying can inflict damage. This vitamin spray protects strands up to 450°F. What I love even more is the restored hydration, vibrancy and elasticity. Marine botanicals deliver moisture and smell delish. My hair is left smooth and with a healthy shine. And smells great too.
Free of Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates, Synthetic Color, Paraffins, Gluten, DEA/TEA, Phthalates, Mineral Oil & Petrolatum. Available at Sephora.
Wednesdays are usually reserved for a little life check in and some links around here. But given my birthday celebrations and little blog break last week, I wanted to keep up with sharing some of my favorite products. If you’re like me, I love letting my hair air dry in the summer, so these wet hair care tips are on the forefront of my mind.
First up, skip your regular brush while hair is wet. Pick up a specialty brush like Conair Hook Up Detangling Brush. The soft, flexible bristles help distribute conditioner and knock out tangles. The hook-shaped handle makes it easy for shower storage. And I actually love the way it massages my scalp.
Another wet hair tool that has been in my bathroom for years is the hair towel. I am currently loving the AQUIS Lisse Luxe Hair Towel. For any hair type, this towel helps dry hair while maintaining strong, unbroken strands. I love throwing up my hair and doing the rest of my PM bed prep. And I get enough moisture out of my hair so that I am not sopping wet when I hit the sheets.
I must be on a hair kick especially on the heels of this post. There is something about the feeling of freshly washed and blown out hair that is putting a little spring in my step. Besides these tools, I am also reaching for a new-to-me hair care line, R+Co.
First a little about the line: the brand is a collective of professional artists. Each product is designed to reflect more than one viewpoint. The result is professional products that work to achieve a wide range of looks. While I am dying to try the whole line, I have only played with Gemstone Color Shampoo & Conditioner and Chiffon Styling Mousse.
I recently started having my hair professionally colored. A couple reasons: first, I was going grey. Second, I found someone I finally trust. And third, I wanted a more polished and professional look. But I am still using “training wheels” aka demi-permanent color. And this stuff only lasts 6-8 weeks. So I really treat my hair with kid gloves and that starts with color-safe shampoo and conditioner.
R+Co. Gemstone smells like the tropics. The shampoo has a great lather. And it works no matter what (faux) color your hair is. Just like the shampoo, the conditioner contains yummy ingredients like Hibiscus Extract (softens and protects), Pea Extract (preserves color), Rice Extract (smooths) and Golden Root Extract (protects).
Last but not least… I struggle with volume and hold. Mousse has become my friend. And the Chiffon Styling Mousse is lightweight, provides shine and somehow gives my fine strands some hold. I just apply to the roots of wet hair and style away.
Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program. I consult for Neiman Marcus which is affiliated with the Neiman Marcus Group, but as always, opinions are my own.
In honor of the Neiman Marcus Spring 2015 Beauty Event, I thought I’d tempt you with some goods to stock up on. There isn’t a better time for investing in great beauty products. This month, I have been trying out ghd, a luxury hair care line that stands for nothing less than “Good Hair Day”. This brand has a cult-like status and my hair stylist and friend, Nic, raved about their tools today when I popped in for a little color (going grey is soooo fun). ghd introduced a revolutionary ceramic iron to start off and their reputation continues with brushes, tools and hair care that provide amazing shine.
First up, the Eclipse Hair Styler is new and is able to style faster with less heat (specifically 365°F). The tri-zone technology works on even difficult hair and can actually make hair stronger. My favorite part is that it styles big chunks of hair at one time which not only makes for a quick style but also a more natural look that is kinder to strands.
My personal favorite wave tool is the Soft Curling Iron. My hair doesn’t hold much of a curl, so I like to use this bigger 1.25″ barrel for full waves and bended ends. The cool tip makes it easy to wrap hair around the wand. There is a auto-sleep mode after 30 minutes which also gives me peace of mind.
A final favorite is the Classic Wave-Wand which is an oval shape and clip-less. The shape is tapered between 1 and 1.5″. This wand also has a cool tip and a long cord to allow for nimble styling. If I wasn’t so dependent on the clip, this would be my pick for waves. On day I shall master that wand! In the meantime, I am going old school.
Nic also pointed out that she loves ghd tools because they are safe to use internationally with universal voltage.
Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program. I consult for Neiman Marcus which is affiliated with the Neiman Marcus Group, but as always, opinions are my own.
I am always a little fearful of “smoothing” when it comes to hair products as I often find my fine hair limp and lifeless. But my fine hair also has the lovely quality of being slightly frizzy, so I do like the idea of some control. Agave Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner happened to walk that line for those of you who share my hair type.
I don’t use a ton of product on my longer hair, but I do get some build-up now that I am waiting a good 2-3 days between washes and loving the dry shampoo. This formula washes away debris but without leaving my hair stripped. While I am not militant about it, I do think sulfate-free shampoos are kinder to my hair (and help preserve my new demi-permanent, grey-covering hair color).
Both the shampoo and conditioner are infused with agave plant sugars to also help preserve color. The ingredient helps smooth with emollients. I was able to snag travel size (available at Sephora) and they certainly will be coming along with me on an upcoming trip.
PS – you can also find this brand at birchbox.com.
AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.
