The Brazilian...no, not that kind!

So I had been thinking about dying my hair (as you've read) and I just was generally bored with it, but the ultimate thought that kept coming back to me was, "I wish I could just wash it and GO!" With this new work schedule that I am getting used to I am tired all the time from waking up early to dry my hair and forget actually going to the gym in the morning because I would never have time to go from a wet head to a dry head before work. Then I heard from a co-worker about the Brazilian Blowout. No harsh chemicals, it takes hardly any time at all, and lasts about 12 weeks. It is basically just a deep conditioning system that leaves your hair totally soft and frizz-free. I was sold. Everyone needs a good deep conditioning now and then, right? The appointment was booked the next day. I went to the salon that was recommended by my office friend. She knew someone who had it done there and I was able to see pictures of her hair before and after. I was amazed at how soft and smooth her hair was!

To really seal the deal for me, I read Nicole Ricci's blog post about how she had gotten it done and LOVED IT. Many other celebs had tried it too and I love their hair. I had to do it.

I got to the salon right on time and was taken to have my hair washed THREE times. They need to make sure that your scalp is totally squeaky clean. Then my stylist meticulously brushed on the conditioning gel through all of my strands, tiny 1/16 of an inch at a time. Then she blow dried my hair as one normally would and finally she flat ironed it to really seal in the product. Finally I was sent home with directions not to wear a ponytail or wash my hair for 24 hours.

I was so nervous to actually wash my hair the next day. The treatment was super expensive (I worked so crazy hard all through college, I deserved to buy myself a grad present, no?) What if the treatment did nothing? I would have wasted all that money!

I shook off my fears and washed my hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner (to make the treatment last longer). I chose Loreal's sulfate free line because I had already been using it for a long time and I love the scent.

Then it was time to wait.

As my hair slowly dried I was totally shocked. Not only was my hair smooth, but it was straight. Like stick straight. My stylist said that might happen with my hair because, while I do have a LOT of it, the texture is very soft and fine. I could not believe that my hair dried perfectly straight right out of the shower. It was soft, smooth, and frizz-free. I'm still waiting for the catch...Ooooh right, the price.

I will keep you all posted on the results over time. This will cut out hours of time throughout the week and I can actually sleep in!

To Dye or not to Dye

I've had the same dark brown hair for my entire life and from time to time I get bored of it and think about dying it, but then I always convince myself not to. There are so many reasons! My hair is so dark would a dye really make a difference? Will it damage my already-dry hair? Will the maintenance be too much? Won't I have to go to the salon ten times more then I already do? Won't all of those salon trips cost a lot? What if the color looks bad and I hate it? What color would I even try to dye my dark hair?

I have questions...do you have answers? For all those hair dyers out there: Help!

Where's the St. Tropez?

Well, unfortunately it's in the mail. Sephora no longer carries the brand (what??) but they do still sell it on the web site. One seriously over priced shipped order later I will be a happy camper, but I won't be able to use the product until tomorrow evening after work so I will have to report back on the matter on Monday morning. The Sephora sales woman even noted how strange it was that the store no longer carried the brand on its shelves and she revealed that St. Tropez is the only brand she will use for her sunless tans. That's a good sign! I don't think this product could be recommended by more people. Tomorrow evening can't come soon enough!

Until then, to keep the suspense alive, watch this amazing tutorial on how to apply the product.

In other news, I thought I would share a little hair trick that I have been using to keep my curls under control in the intense summer humidity. Now I know that this goes against lots of advice from various stylists, but it works for me so here it is:

If I just let my curls air dry out of the shower I usually end up with frizzy squiggles all over my head. However, I find that if, after getting out of the shower with clean/conditioned hair, I apply a pea-sized amount of conditioner to my strands I end up with super soft waves that are bouncy and frizz-free. My reasoning? The conditioner weighs down the hair and therefore keeps some of the wacky volume at bay. This is definitely not something that I would recommend to anyone with greasy/flat/limp/fine hair, but it is my saving grace in the summer. After applying the conditioner I comb through my hair and squeeze out any excess water with an old t-shirt. Then I apply a bit of Moroccan Oil for extra smoothness and let it dry.

Try it out and let me know how it goes!

MoroccanOil Restorative Hair Mask

Source

MoroccanOil Restorative Hair Mask:

New obsession alert!! This mask has the power to change hair. Literally. My super long hair is in dire need of a good cut, but I still have a few days until I am graduated from school and back near my stylist. I got this mask on the recommendation of a few friends and I cannot get enough! It turned my frizzy, semi-fried, split end mess of a head of hair into glossy/silky/shiny strands. It also has the classic MoroccanOil scent which I have described in depth in my MoroccanOil rave post. I love this product!! The only downside is that it is pretty expensive. I got the 8.5 oz tub for 40 dollars, but I am kicking myself because I see here that it is 26 dollars on Amazon! Get it there...that's a great deal!

Loreal Ever Strong Sulfate-Free Hydrating Conditioner

Loreal Ever Strong Sulfate-Free Hydrating Conditioner:

Harsh sulfates can damage and dry out hair so a sulfate-free hair care system by a well-known brand seems like a recipe for success. I have to say that I have been using this conditioner for about two weeks now and I really do think that my hair is softer and less frizzy, however, that is not why I love this product.

I love this product FOR THE SCENT!!! It smells like mint and men. Let me explain. The first scent that really hits you is a strong minty smell that isn't too common in hair products, but really makes me feel awake and refreshed in the shower. The next level of scent is something along the lines of hot guys wearing Old Spice while chopping cedar for a fire. It is a musky, woody smell that is seriously sensuous and although it seems like an unlikely combination for a girly hair-care product, it works! The best part is that the scent actually stays with the hair past the shower door! I hate when I use a product and it smells great in the shower, but my hair smells like absolutely nothing post rinse. This product makes my hair smell fantastic long after I leave the shower and dry my strands.

I can't wait to get the shampoo and try the deep conditioner and overnight treatment! I can tell that I have a long future ahead with this hair care line.

Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo:

Hi, my name is Eden, and I am a hair-washingaholic. I will readily admit to being a hair over-washer. For having such thick, wavy/curly hair I know for a fact that I should not be washing my hair every single day, yet I despise the feeling of greasy un-washed locks. I love the feel and smell of freshly washed hair and can't stand skipping even one day, even though I know it would seriously be beneficial to my hair to let go of this washing obsession. I am also not a fan of dry shampoo. To me, it feels like I am putting more gunky product in my already dirty hair, making it feel more grimy than before.

When I first read about this dry shampoo I was not a believer. So of course I had to try it for myself. The formula is much lighter than other dry shampoos that I have tried and it smells a bit like baby powder and hair spray. I wouldn't say that I am a convert...yet. I will take my hair washing addiction one day at a time and see if I can ween myself over to this dry shampoo a few days a week.

Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo

Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo:

I have used the conditioner version of this shampoo before and it works just fine. Nothing special. But I was almost out of shampoo and needed another bottle so I bought this just because I love the scent. It doesn't really do anything amazing for my hair and the scent does not really linger much past the shower. I think the whole buy-for-smell idea got the better of me. I really should have gone for a sulfate-free shampoo because my hair has felt very dry lately. I used to use one that worked so well but was 20 dollars a bottle. Not on this soon-to-be college grad's budget!

Have you ever bought something just because you love the way that it smells?

Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Shampoo

Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Shampoo:

So I have already raved about the conditioner version of this product and I knew I had to try out the shampoo. Personally, I have been using it with the conditioner so I can't really tell if the shampoo is doing much, but I like it anyway just because I am so hooked on the conditioner. Why not use both, right?

Maybe I should throw a controlled variable into this experiment and use them separately for a week and let you know how that goes. More on this later...

Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Mousse

Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly Mousse:

This drugstore buy seriously works. Period. It works better than my 50 dollar curling creams, better than my department store products, better than anything really. My hair straight out of the shower with nothing done to it can look like a boring wavy mess, but with this mousse my hair actually has fabulous curls that stay through classes, errands, and a trip to the gym. It smells good, it is easy to apply to my wet, freshly combed hair and it lasts a very long time. I love it when great products come with a cheap price tag, don't you?

Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Conditioner

Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Hydrating Conditioner:

It's a hair care given that moisturized hair is sleek, smooth, and shiny while dry/damaged hair is frizzy, puffy, and generally out of control. This John Freida conditioner means business when it comes to moisture. This is the perfect new product for me because as the weather gets warmer my locks tend to frizz out in the humidity so there's no time like the present to start seriously hydrating my hair!

The verdict after using this conditioner for about a week...

DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT HAIR!!! I am almost at a loss for words. My hair is so soft and glossy that it just slips through my fingers. Even when I first step in the shower and am usually confronted with automatic tangle, I now find myself with silky smooth strands. Not only does this conditioner make my hair look good all day and night, but it has changed the texture of my hair in general. It is less frizzy, without tangles, and my normally kooky curls are gentle waves (which I love!!) that fall just right.

I have not found a product that has actually done so much for my hair with so little effort from me. Just condition and go! If I could shake John Freida's hand I would.

Matrix Sleek Look Blow-Down Extreme Creme

Matrix Sleek Look Blow-Down Extreme Creme:

Every once in a while we all make a beauty purchase mistake. This is my most recent offense. I am always searching for the perfect product to blow dry my hair with and I found it in the Living Proof straightening balm, however, being $14 for a tub the size of a golf ball, I would say that I am still in the market for a cheaper product. This was about $15 dollars at Target, but was literally about 10 times the size of my Living Proof favorite so I thought I would give it a try.

FAIL!

Hate is a strong word, but it is a rare hair experience when you feel the need to re-shower after applying a product. I put this in my damp post-shower hair before blow drying and it immediately felt gunky, sticky, knotted, messy, etc. I tried to run a wide tooth comb through my hair to smooth out the mess, but I couldn't get the comb through my normally silky-soft damp locks! I would have gotten right back in the shower to get the goop out, but I was in a rush so I just tried blow drying my hair. I could barely get my round brush through my strands!

The world did not come to an end, but I was not at all thrilled with the results. My straightened hair felt like it had way too much product build-up even though I had only used a dime sized amount of this cream and nothing else. My hair was also not nearly as soft as it normally is after blow drying. I took my semi-stiff and greasy feeling locks out that night and all I could think about was washing my hair. Obviously it did not look as bad to others as I assumed that it looked myself. It was really more of an ew-my-hair-feels-disgusting problem than anything else. Lets just say that I was self-conscious to say the least.

I would never subject my friends to this product so I guess it will go into hair care Siberia at the back of my products cabinet. Oh well. The search continues...

Has anyone else found a straightening/blow dry cream comparable to Living Proof? I fear that there is no such thing. Damn those MIT scientists for coming up with only the best in blow drying technology!

Nexxus Humectress Luxe Ultimate Moisturizing Leave-In Spray

Nexxus Humectress Luxe Ultimate Moisturizing Leave-In Spray:

This leave-in conditioner has been a staple for me in the last week and it's not leaving my post-shower routine any time soon. I heard great things about this product and thought I would give it a try. I used to use the John Frieda Leave-In Conditioning Spray, but I found that I was always one squirt away from gunky hair. This leave-in product takes just a few sprays to make my hair dry insanely soft and feel incredible without any heat styling and I have yet to find my hair drying into a sticky mess. I just spray a bit in my hair after I t-shirt* dry it and then let it air-dry. Bam! Soft, touchable hair that took me about 20 seconds to do. I can't ask a hair product to do much more than that!

*I dry my hair with an extra large cotton t-shirt instead of a towel because the less friction that is rubbed onto hair, the less frizzy it will become. The cotton is much more gentle on my frizz-prone locks. It's a cheaper version to those expensive hair turbans and special drying cloths. Try it out!

Battle of the Hair Serums

Battle of the Hair Serums:

My hair. I think the saying about grass being greener really applies here. I have thick, wavy/curly hair and have always, since birth, wanted stick straight hair. Luckily, my hair is not too picky about its own texture and can be straightened into submission in no time flat.

In my experience, guys think curly hair is cute and straight hair is sexy. So many guy friends have told me that my hair looks "alright" when it's curly, but they prefer the straightened look. Once, sitting in class with my blown out hair, I had a guy sitting next to me actually go on about how he hated curly hair and thought it looked so ugly, not realizing that I had naturally curly hair. I just sat there horrified, expecting the ceiling to open up and dump a bucket of water on me to reveal the natural state of my hair. Regardless, I am always on an eternal search for new hair products to coax my hair into being non-frizzy curls or sleek and straight.

I was forever a Kerastase user. It is expensive, but it works. Period. I like the Curl Definition Cream for keeping my curls glossy without being weighed down and I like the Anti-Frizz Serum for keeping my straight hair frizz-free with a healthy shine. Then one day I ran out of my serum before I could order more (I can rarely find it in stores and mostly order it online) and needed a frizz-free blow out for an event that evening. I ran out to a beauty supply store and asked if they carried Kerastase. I needed a serum! The woman said she didn't carry that brand, but could do me one better. Better? She pulled out a bottle of MoroccanOil. I quickly compared the two first ingredients on this bottle to my old favorite. The same. Check. Except the MorroccanOil contained argan oil which I knew works wonders on hair (and skin), plus this serum smelled amazing. It's like you actually flew to Morocco and went to an exotic spice market. It's one of my favorite scents I have encountered in a hair product. I love that I get compliments on how my hair smells and how soft it feels.

Sorry Kerastase. I may just be a convert.

Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment

Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Treatment:

The new Living Proof brand that I discovered at Sephora has drastically changed my blow-outs. Now when I blow dry my hair straight my strands are so soft and silky you would think I had some fabulous salon deep conditioning treatment. Even my friends have noticed that my hair looks sleeker and feels softer than ever before.

The only problem would be the price tag. This teeny tiny little tub, about the height of my pinky finger, costs about 14 dollars. The larger bottle (which is only just about the length of my palm) is about 24 dollars. The way it transforms my hair during a treacherous blow drying session makes it worth the cost for me, but I use is sparingly. Luckily only a small dab will do the trick!

Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioning Spray

Frizz-Ease Daily Nourishment Leave-In Conditioning Spray:

I have never really used a leave-in conditioner before, but I let my hair grow very long (way longer than I've ever had it before...about halfway down my back) and then chopped off about 4 inches when I became obsessed with making my hair look healthy, not just Rapunzel-like. I had this spray in my large stock of CVS-type hair products that I store in my bathroom. Now it's part of my daily hair care routine. I spray it on right when I get out of the shower and run a wide-tooth comb through my hair. It absorbs completely so it doesn't leave a gunky residue and it makes my hair feel super soft and smooth. Next I need to seek out the perfect hair treatment mask/deep conditioner. Any suggestions?