May Favorites!

Hello everyone! It's the end of May, so here are my favorite products for this month! I've picked favorites in different categories: Shampoo, Conditioner, Deep Conditioner/Treatment, Smoothing/Shine, Volume, Straightening, Texture, and Hairspray (I have so many I figured I'd give hairspray its own category lol). So here are my May Favorites.

Shampoo: L'Oréal White Violet - Perfect for pale blondes!

Conditioner: Redken Real Control - For those who need intense moisturizing.

Treatment: Redken Extreme CAT - A must-have protein treatment to strengthen your hair!

Smoothing/Shine: S-Factor Smoothing Lusterizer - For beautifully soft and shiny hair, this is a staple!

Volume: Redken Blown Away 09 - The best for big hair lovers!

Straightening: FX Flat Iron Spray - For super straight, silky hair.

Texture: TIGI Bed Head Hair Stick - A very versatile product, great for giving funky texture.

Hairspray: Bed Head Masterpiece - Controls hair without feeling gunky, & gives massive shine.

So those are definitely my favorite products this month! I've reviewed some of these products, and included the link, but if you have a question about something I haven't reviewed please comment and ask and I'll be more than happy to answer! Happy June everyone, take care of your hair! ♥ ♥ ♥

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Redken Blown Away 09 Review

Hey guys! Today I'm reviewing a recent purchase, and new favorite of mine: Redken Blown Away 09 Protective Blow Dry Gel. I know the word gel might raise some flags, but it's actually really light on your hair, and creates incredible volume! It also has a very clean, sort of citrus-like scent--I like it. It lives up to its name, because I was Blown Away when I used it, and saw the results it gave! Bye-bye root lifters, this is now my go-to volumizing product.

In case you're unfamiliar with Redken styling products, the number indicates the amount of hold and control that product will give you. The numbers go like this: 01-05 is light/mild, 06-15 is medium, and 16-26 is maximum. Blown Away is 09, which means it holds, but it is not heavy.

The main ingredients are: Water, VP/Acrylates/Lauryl Methacrylate Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, and PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil. Jeez, could that second ingredient pick a name please? LOL. Basically it's what gives the product the gel consistency, as well as providing control and body to the hair. Our favorite humectant, Propylene Glycol is included as well, to keep the moisture in your hair. Triethanolamine (or TEA) is an emulsifier, typically used to increase viscosity in a product and adjust the pH. PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil is an emollient that has some conditioning properties as well.

As with any volumizing product, a little goes a long way. This is a very useful product for creating volume, body, and thickness--but used incorrectly could end up showing unsatisfactory results. Like always, the directions on the tube are quite vague. "Style: Appy desired amount to wet hair and blow-dry." -_- I don't think that's very helpful, so here's what I do:

• Apply a small amount of Blown Away into your palms. It may take you a few times to get the amount just right for your hair, but I suggest starting with a quarter sized dollop and going from there.
• Focusing on the roots, apply Blown Away to clean damp hair. If you want, you can comb it through.
• Rough dry your hair before actually styling it. A rough dry means just blow-drying your hair until it is 80% dry.
• I suggest using a round brush for maximum volume. A vent or styler brush will work too.
• Be sure to use your cool shot button! It really does serve a purpose, LOL. Hot air creates a style, and cool air sets it, so be sure and cool shot each section of hair you blow-dry.

I think I might do a post on all about blow-drying soon. Good idea? Well, we'll see. 

Redken Blown Away 09 comes in a 5 oz. / 150 ml tube, and retails for about $15. Personally, I think it's worth every cent! Be sure to check out my May Favorites coming later today, and take care of your hair everyone!! ;-)

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FX Special Effects Flat Iron Spray Review

Hello everyone! Sorry it's been so long since my last post! I'll try to not let it happen again. ;-) I also wanna wish one of my favorite youtube gurus, Elle (allthatglitters21) a happy birthday! She turned 21 on monday. ♥

Anywhooo, today I'm reviewing an excellent drugstore find, FX Special Effects Flat Iron Spray. This spray says it "Works to smooth dry damaged hair by sealing and protecting the hair from harmful thermal styling. Smooths and conditions, while providing a heat memory thermal protective shield to your hair for flat iron or curling iron." I gotta say, I LOVE this stuff! It's my one of my favorite flat iron sprays. It really smooths and straightens even the coarsest hair. I've even used it on very damaged hair, and the result was beautifully straight, shiny, healthy looking hair. I definitely recommend giving this spray a try.

Its ingredients include Water, PVP/VA Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, PVP, Carbomer, and Panthenol. PVP/VA Copolymer is a complex hair fixative, which gives great flexibility to hair, and is a very common ingredient in hairspray. Go check your product labels and see how many have it, you might be surprised. Propylene Glycol is nothing new, and PVP or Polyvinylpyrrolidone is another ingredient that gives hold and repels moisture, similar to PVP/VA Copolymer. Carbomer stabilizes, and thickens a product; It will also promote shelf life. And Panthenol as I explained in my Halo post, is Vitamin B5--which is very good at conditioning and filling in damage on the hair shaft.

I feel like this may be a bit too heavy for fine hair, but other than that, I think most every hair type can use this spray. The directions say: "Dry hair completely. Shake Flat Iron Spray well in order to mix ingredients thoroughly. Spray evenly on section by section evenly throughout and smooth the hair with straightening irons." When I use it, I spray it on dry hair. I spray it on every section before I flat iron it, focusing more on the midshaft and ends, where more of the damage is. Have you used this product before? Comment and tell me how you use it, and what you think of it. =)

FX Special Effects Flat Iron Spray comes in a 6 fl oz or 177 ml bottle, and can be found in most drugstores for around $6-$8.

Take care of your hair, and be sure to comment! ♥

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Redken Blonde Glam Collection

Hello everyone! Just wanted to update you guys on the new and (hopefully) improved Redken Blonde Glam Collection, which includes both professional and retail products! Here's what's included in the collection:

• Blonde Glam Shampoo & Conditioner: Great for gently cleansing hair, bringing out highlights, and adding shine.

• Blonde Glam Dream Whip Protective Softening Mousse: This mousse brightens blonde hair, adds body, softens, protects from heat, and adds shine.

• Blonde Glam Color Enhancers: Available in two shades, Perfect Platinum (for icy cool blondes) and Rich Vanilla (for warm golden blondes). They condition hair and deposit color-enhancing pigments to keep your blonde hair looking fresh. These have replaced Pure Pearl and Fresh Gold, which were my favorite color-depositing conditioners, so hopefully the new formulas are just as good or better! As soon as I get my hands on some I'll do a review!

• Redken Shades EQ Conditioning Color Gloss: Two gorgeous, brand new Violet shades have also been released. 08V Iridescent Quartz and 07V Crushed Amethyst. I've seen the swatches of these shades and they are so pretty! I can't wait to use them.

• Redken Color Fusion: The new Fusion shades are 12Av, 9Av, and 7Av. There are also new Double Fusion Blondes and Double Fusion Browns in Titanium for the coolest light blonde, or super metallic brown.

• Blonde Icing: Redken's Blonde Icing is now new and improved! This cream lightener quickly lifts seven levels while diminishing brassy, warm undertones. Available in Power Lift and Ammonia-Free.

I'm so excited for this collection! Expect reviews for a lot of these products very soon. I hear the Color Enhancers won't come out until June, so I guess I'll have to wait, but I'll look around anyways. But if you're a blonde I highly suggest trying the shampoo and conditioner, they really do make blonde hair sparkle, and they smell great! Go to a Redken salon and ask them to use it on you if you're unsure. Anyways, be on the lookout for reviews, because I'm sure I'll be reviewing everything in this collection pretty soon. Take care of your hair everyone! =)

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Bed Head After-Party Review

Hello, hello! Review Time! This review of Bed Head Afterparty has been requested by a lovely blogger named Recessionista! Check out her blog, Nouveau Cheap, it really rocks! Especially for beauty lovers on a budget!

I had actually been avoiding writing a review on this, because pretty much everyone else has... but whatever! It's for her, she rocks, and I know at least she will read it LOL!

Bed Head After-Party is a "Smoothing Cream for Silky, Shiny, Healthy Looking Hair!" It comes with a warning: YOU MUST HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR TO USE OUR PRODUCTS. Agreed! Haha, that always makes me laugh. This product claims it is "The perfect party favor. After-Party hair creme for silky, smooth, shiny, healthy looking hair. Control the funky fly-aways and silk-ify your hair." Silk-ify... I think I'll start saying that now, haha. But I do agree with their claims, After-Party will leave your hair smooth, shiny, and silky. It's light enough to be used by most hair types, and smells absolutely divine.

The ingredients include Water, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, and Propylene Glycol. Dimethicone is a popular silicone, and is also one of the heavier ones. However, since this product is water-based, and one of Bed Head's most popular products, I don't belive this will prove to be a problem for most people; you'll just have to try it out for yourself. I'm noticing that Cyclopentasiloxane is becoming quite popular in hair products, and for good reason. It's an emollient that is starting to be used more and more, because it makes the hair less susceptible to breakage, and easier to comb through. If you can find a product that uses Cyclopentasiloxane as its main ingredient, I'd give it a shot. A lot of my favorite products have it as the main ingredient, second to water of course. Dimethiconol is another silicone derivative, and is somewhat lighter than Dimethicone. And of course you should all by now know that Propylene Glycol is an emulsifier.

The only problem I have with this product is the obvious one. I won't go into detail, but I'm pretty sure we all know what it looks like. I think it's funny, and I love the hot pink, but I know that some people don't buy this simply because of the packaging. It's disappointing too, because this really is a great, versatile product. My solution? Change the bubble cap to a cube. What do you think?

Also, I've heard from quite a number of people that this product has a hidden side-effect: it will get rid of the smell of smoke from your hair. I'm not sure what ingredient makes that happen, but a lot of people swear it works. I don't smoke, so I don't know if it does, but I'll try it on some of my smoker friends and let you guys know what happens.

The directions say: "Smooth on dry hair and party on!" I think that's kind of vague... kind of really vague so I'll tell you how I use it! I've used it on wet and dry hair, and I've found that it works both ways equally well. 

• For wet hair: Shampoo, condition, and towel-dry the excess moisture out of your hair. Pump a small amount in your hand (usually I use about the size of a chocolate chip, but longer/thicker hair may need a bit more so experiment), and run it through the middle of your hair down to the ends, especially making sure to coat your ends thouroughly. Blow-dry, style, look flawless! ;-) 

• For dry hair: Apply a pea-sized amount in your hand, emulsify it between your palms, and run it through the middle of your hair, taking the time to smooth out your ends. Kind of like using your two hands as a flat-iron, know what I mean? And use whatever is left on your hands for any fly-aways on top of your head. It's important to not put too much on top of your head because there is the potential that your hair will look too shiny-almost greasy looking.

Bed Head After-Party comes in a 100 ml or 3.4 oz bottle, and retails for anywhere from $15-$18. This often comes in a duo with Headrush or Superstar Blow-Dry Lotion, usually for like one or two dollars more, which is a steal! So keep your eyes open for those! Take care of your hair everyone! XOXO

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Cosmetic Chemistry Tidbits #1

Hello! How are all you beautiful people doing?! I'm doing great, especially after watching Lady GaGa ROCKING THE EFF OUT on DWTS.  =) She's amazing, I've decided.

Anywho, I thought I'd share some knowledge with you all! There are some terms I've used in my past entries, some that I've explained, but I didn't go too in-depth and I don't think everyone knows what they mean so I'll tell you! This is just #1 in a series, instead of throwing a whole bunch of special terms and long words at you, I thought splitting it up would be easier. I'd rather tell you about less stuff, but with more information on the things I do tell you about. Make sense? I think so. But if there's a word or ingredient or anything I haven't blogged about yet and you'd like to know what it is, please feel free to ask me! ♥

I wasn't quite sure about what to write about first, so I'll just start with terms that seem to be very popular right now:

• Sulfates: In the beauty industry, sulfates are used to strip the debris from your hair and are found in most shampoos, although they are in almost every personal hygiene product. To my knowledge, the most commonly used sulfate is Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate; it's main function is to make foam. Some companies will tell you that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is the one used in every shampoo (except theirs of course), and it's so harsh on your hair, it will take out all your color, and make it dry and fall out. These claims are absolutely FALSE. SLS is almost never the main detergent in shampoos, and hasn't been for years because it IS quite strong, and there are milder and gentler alternatives that are used today. Another popular trend I'm noticing is Sulfate-Free products. This is because the same companies that are telling you that SLS is in every shampoo, are also saying that sulfates wil completely strip your haircolor, and only by using their Sulfate-Free products will keep your color in longer. This is incorrect, it is not shampoo that strips color, and it is not the sulfates that strip your color. It is a combination of WATER and the FRICTION from shampooing your hair that strips color. Just soaking your freshly colored hair in water will cause about 30% of it to come out. Then the friction you create while shampooing your hair makes more color come out. So just because your not using sulfates, doesn't necessarily mean your color will last longer, but hey use what works for you. =)

• Surfactant: Surfactants or "surface active agents," are what clean your hair. A surfactant molecule is made of two parts: a hyrdophilic head, and a lipophilic tail. When you shampoo your hair, the hydrophilic head attracts water, and the lipophilic tail attracts oil. Together, they create a process that actually lifts the dirt and debris off of your hair, so they can be rinsed off with water. The surfactants you will see most often are Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate.

• Humectant: A humectant is an ingredient used in many moisturizing products that will actually draw in moisture from the air. It sounds crazy I know, but they actually do work. Common humectants are glycerin, sorbitol, urea, and lactic acid. Look and see how many are in your products!

• Emollient: An emollient is a type of moisturizer that helps to lock the moisture in your hair or skin. It prevents the moisture from leaving, so your skin or hair will feel soft and healthy as long as it's on. It is commonly found in conditioners and lotions due to these properties. Some common emollients are aloe vera, lanolin, collagen, almond, coconut oil, shea butter, and mineral oil.

• Emulsifier: An emulsifier is mostly used to thicken a product. Emulsifiers can also bind moisture to humectants and emollients to create a smooth, creamy texture. You remember how in grade school you were taught that water and oil dont mix? Well that's not so true now is it! You just need an emulsifier! LOL. There are two basic types of emulsions: Oil-in-Water which will have a thinner consistency, like lotion, and Water-in-Oil which has a thicker consistency, like hair masks and body butter. Common emulsifiers include Beeswax, Cetaryl Alcohol, PEG-20 Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, and Lecithin.

I think I'll stop at five, especially with my rant on sulfates LOL. There are plenty more Cosmetic Chemisty Tidbits on the way, so keep reading to find out more. Take care of your hair, and if you like this blog, please follow it and tell your friends! Love you all! =D

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SO MANY PRODUCTS (and this isn't even all of them)

Hey guys! Just thought I'd share a few pictures I took of some of my hair products. This seems like a lot (especially for a guy), but I left a LOT of stuff out. I left out all my shampoos, conditioners, hair treatments and masks, tools, brushes, colors, lighteners, stuff I left at school, and accessories. I have pictures of mannequin heads too, but they're kind of old, and I've gotten more since then, so when I take new ones I'll put them all up. SOOO if you see something you'd like me to review, let me know! Take care of your hair everyone! ♥ = ]

Smoothing & Shine

Products from left to right: S-Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray, S-Factor Dream Drops, S-Factor Smoothing Lusterizer, Bed Head Dumb Blonde Smoothing Stuff, Bed Head Shine Junkie, Bed Head Headrush x2, Bed Head Afterparty, Halo High Gloss Rinse, Proclaim Glossing Polish, Ion Brilliance Shine Spray, Garnier Fructis Brilliantine Shine Glistening Drops, John Frieda Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Creme, Straight Sexy Hair Smooth & Seal Aerated Anti-Frizz Spray.

Texture

Products from left to right: JA John Amico Stick-Em-Up, Curly Sexy Hair Curl Power Spray Foam, Garnier Fructis Volume Inject Mousse, Sebastian Xtah Twisted Taffy, TRESemmé Tres Extra Hold Mousse, Bed Head Hook-up Mousse Wax, Bed Head Cocky Thickening Paste, Bed Head A Hair Stick for Cool People.

Hairspray & Root Lift

Products from left to right: Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray, Beyond The Zone Power Lift Volumizing Booster, Big Sexy Hair Root Pump, Straight Sexy Hair Smooth & Seal Aerated Anti-Frizz Spray, S-Factor Vivacious Hairspray, Bed Head Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray, Catwalk Biggie Root Boost, Catwalk Root Boost, White Sands Stuck Up Mega Hold Hairspray x2.

Straightening

Products from left to right: FX Special Effects Flat Iron Spray, S-Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray, John Frieda Straight Answer, Sleek Look by Matrix Smoothing System Water-Free Spray, Beyond The Zone Turn Up The Heat Flat Iron Protection.

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L'Oréal White Violet Shampoo/Conditioner Review

Hey guys! Today I'm reviewing L'Oréal Professionnel Colorist Collection White Violet Shampoo and Conditioner. In case you were wondering, these are the same shampoo and conditioner that Artec had, but Artec is no longer being made and has been repackaged under L'Oréal's Colorist Collection. Same stuff, different bottle.

The shampoo is really nice! It's very pigmented and tones out the yellow quite nicely. I highly recommend it to my fellow pale blondies. It also smells nice, kinda like bananas. Some people say they smell coconut too, but I don't know, LOL. I'm so bad at identifying scents.

The shampoo contains Water, Lauryl Glucoside, PPG-10 Cetyl Ether, Cocomide MIPA, and Coco-Betaine, so no sulfates for all you who are anti-sulfate! Lauryl Glucoside is the main surfactant, and it's made from glucose and lauryl alcohol so it'll be pretty gentle on your hair, which is good for us blondes! PPG-10 Cetyl Ether is an emollient and a conditioning agent kind of similar to Cetyl Alcohol. Cocomide MIPA thickens shampoo and creates foam to make the lather we all expect shampoo to have. Coco-Betaine is actualy Cocamidopropyl Betaine, which is a surfactant that comes from coconut oil! Maybe this is what everyone is smelling? Haha, but it's actually very effective in shampoos and body washes that require a nice lather. Looking further on the ingredient list, I see more ingredients that are derived from coconuts... interesting. It's also worth mentioning that the shampoo itself is a very bright purple! I love that it has so much pigment. I'll definitely be re-purchasing this!! =D

Honestly, I'm very disappointed with the conditioner. I just feel like it has no effect, like it's just plain conditioner with a violet tint. I expected it to tone yellow more than the shampoo, like my all time favorite violet conditioner, Redken Pure Pearl does. However, it does smell nice and conditions your hair a little bit better than Pure Pearl in my opinion. Still, I'd rather have the better toning effect that Pure Pearl gives instead of something more conditioning like White Violet. You can always use a leave-in, like my previously reviewed Catwalk Fast-Fixx afterwards. =)

It contains Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetyl Alcohol, and C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate. Really it's just your basic color-safe conditioner. Oh, and I know the word Alcohol might scare some of you, but it's way different than like, rubbing alcohol or something similar. The alcohols used in cosmetics provide very good moisture for your hair and skin, so don't be afraid! I'd tell you guys to stay away if it honestly posed any sort of threat to you, so no worries. =) I think I'm gonna use up this bottle and just stick to Pure Pearl from now on. Do you agree? Disagree? Comment and let's talk about it. =)


Now, for those of you who have never used violet, or any color-depositing shampoo/conditioner, you should know that they are not meant to be used every day, no matter what brand you have. I recommend using them once a week as a refresher in-between salon visits, or every other shampoo to maintain color and brightness (for those who need it most, like blondes and redheads). If you are blonde and try and use this as your main shampoo, your hair will become dull and might have a grey/violet tint, and we don't want that so be careful!


L'Oréal's White Violet Shampoo and Conditioner is available in salons and online, anywhere from $15-$20 each depending on where you go. Both the shampoo and conditioner come in 8 oz bottles.

So yeah, hopefully this helped some of you, and I'll talk to you all soon! Take care of your hair! ♥ ...read more ⇒

Stylist Myth: Your hair won't grow unless you cut it.

Hello everyone! Ahhh I'm in such a good mood tonight. Earlier I colored my teacher's hair, and it turned out fabulous! I used Redken Shades EQ 2 parts 6R, 1 part 3RV, and a splash of 7T for those who want to know. Her base was about a level 5 medium brown (virgin), and the result was a very cool wine color. I'll definitely be using that color again! The only reason I used 3RV was because we were out of Violet Kicker, so I'll have to try it and see if I like it better the the Kicker or with 3RV. I'll keep you guys posted.

Anyways, tonight I'll be discussing a very annoying and downright outrageous myth that stylists everywhere tell their clients: "Your hair won't grow unless you get it cut regularly." Honestly? So you're saying that hair grows until your next scheduled haircut, but if you don't get your ends cut off, your hair will simply stop growing. OUT-RAGE-OUS. What about nails? If you don't get regular manicures will your nails stop growing? And your skin won't regenerate unless you get regular spa treatments, right? I mean hair, skin, and nails are made of nearly the same components, so that should be correct, yes? WRONG. Your hair continues to grow REGARDLESS of whether or not you choose to get a haircut. Whether your hair will look nice or not is a different story.

The main reason why your hair "doesn't grow" is breakage. The people who complain the most about hair not growing have chemically treated hair, whether it's been colored, lightened, highlighted, permed, or relaxed, and on top of that they often use heat styling tools. You'll notice that people who do not (or very rarely) have chemically treated hair can either have it cut more often, or go without a haircut longer because their hair is much healthier than someone with chemically treated hair, and therefore does not need to be in the salon all the time.

Also, another thing about this myth that confuses me is, if you color your hair and you have outgrowth, how can you say or even think that your hair is not growing? I can't believe so many people believe this, when it's just downright silly. BE PATIENT. Try putting down your flat-iron/curling iron/blowdryer and give your hair some time to relax. The bottom line is: Your hair never stops growing.

Agree? Disagree? Comment and let's talk about it. I'm always open to hear other people's thoughts and views. Until next time, take care of your hair everyone! =D

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TIGI Catwalk Fast-Fixx Review

Happy Mother's Day everyone! Today I'm reviewing TIGI Catwalk Fast-Fixx, a lightweight leave-in conditioner. I bought this in a 2-for-1 with Catwalk's Root Boost in "Biggie" sizes about a month ago (I tried to get a picture of the duo but I couldn't find one, sorry.), and I've been loving it ever since. Fast-Fixx is my go-to detangler because it's very light, conditions without weighing down hair, and smells quite delicious. The scent is actually very similar to Bed Head After Party. The label says Fast-Fixx is "A quick solution for unruly morning hair or changing your style from day to evening. Conditions, shines, and detangles between shampoos. Or use as a leave-in conditioner to control tangles and frizz after shampooing." Honestly, I don't think I've ever read the label before LOL! I've always used it as a leave-in, I never even thought to use it as a re-styler. I'll post an update after I've used it this way. So yeah, as a leave-in/detangler, it's really nice, and works on many different hair types so I highly recommend giving this a shot.

The first five ingredients are: Water, Amodimethicone, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Glycerin, and Polyquaternium-37. Amodimethicone is a silicone/amino compound, which conditions and adds shine to hair. I couldn't really find any helpful info on Distearyldimonium Chloride, but Left Brain from thebeautybrains.com says

"Distearyldimonium Chloride is a positively charged surfactant. It is typically used as a hair conditioning ingredient but it should have some moisturizing effect on the skin. Essentially, the positive charge interacts with negatively charged proteins on your skin, so the ingredient doesn't completely rinse off. This provides a nice feel to your skin's surface. It is typically produced synthetically but can also be made from animal by-products. (For PR reasons, producing it from animal parts is not really done in the cosmetic industry anymore.) It has a fine safety profile although some people may find it irritating to their skin."

Thanks Lefty! Moving on, Glycerin is a very commonly used humectant, and is used to lock in moisture to your hair and skin. Polyquaternium-37 is an emulsifier; it keeps all the ingredients together so they don't separate in the bottle.

The rest of the ingredients are mostly light conditioning agents and filler ingredients like Wild Cherry Bark Extract and Hops Extract. They also include Keratin Amino Acids, but at such a low dose I doubt it provides any benefit other than sounding nice. The consistency of this product is similar to watered down milk (it even kind of looks like it too), and while this is a very light product, it may be a little too light for thicker/coarser hair types, so if that's the kind of hair you have you might want to go to a salon that uses Catwalk products and have them try it out on you before you purchase it. If you do buy it, or already own it, I suggest using Fast-Fixx after shampooing and lightly conditioning your hair. Then dry your hair until it is damp and spray Fast-Fixx about 6 inches away from your hair, making sure you get underneath your hair as well, then comb it all through using a wide-tooth comb.

Catwalk Fast-Fixx is available in a 200 ml or 8 oz size, and usually retails for about $13-$15. I've never seen the Biggie size for sale on it's own, it's usually in a duo with a Biggie Root Boost or another product so keep your eyes open for those. Hopefully my review helped you guys, and if you do decide to try Fast-Fixx or already use it or have used it, let me know how it worked for you! I'll talk to you all soon and take care of your hair! =D ...read more ⇒

Bed Head Hair Stick Review

Hello all! Before I start my review, I want to express my deepest sympathies for Guy Mascolo, the co-founder of TIGI. He was a fabulous hairdresser and a wonderful person, and he'll be missed greatly. RIP Guy Mascolo 1944-2009.

So, being the huge TIGI freak that I am, I thought I'd review one of their oldest and best products: TIGI Bed Head A Hair Stick for Cool People. This stick is always in my arsenal of products, I can use it on everyone! It's good for creating texture, separation, taming down fly-aways, and spiking shorter hair. It even has a universal scent, kind of earthy, almost like ginger, so it's not just for guys or girls, but I think everyone should have this versatile product!

What makes this funky stick work? Let me tell you. The first five ingredients are: Castor Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Beeswax, and Rhus Succedanea Fruit Wax. Castor Seed Oil is a highly emollient vegetable oil obtained from the beans of Castor plant that is used to bind waxes and fragrance together. Hydrogenated Castor Oil is use to regulate viscosity, provide consistency, and moisturize. Beeswax comes from the honeycomb of virgin bees. The bees then process the honey, form the nectar, and then they convert it into wax. Ten pounds of honey produces one pound of wax. It's used in cosmetics as an emulsifier and thickener. Rhus Succedanea Wax, or Japan wax is a tough, sticky substance often used in hair products and cosmetics. Even though there's a lot of heavy stuff in this, it's surprisingly light on your hair. Weird right?

For short hair, I recommend rubbing some on your hands first, and rub it all through your hair to give it that Bed Head look, or focus on the ends for that piecey separated look. For long hair, lightly rub your fingers on it and gently run them through your hair for some shine and to help tame frizzies.

The Bed Head Hair Stick is 2.7 oz. or 75g and retails for around $16-$18. I often see it included in those 2-for-1 packs that Bed Head offers sometimes, so keep your eye out for those. So that wraps up this review everyone and be sure to spread my blog around for other people to read! Take care of your hair! =D ...read more ⇒

Sebastian Cellophanes Review

Hello everyone! It's review time again! =) Today I'm reviewing Sebastian Cellophanes, the color I used is Pearl Blonde. Btw, does anyone spell blonde without the E? To me it doesn't look right... Anyways, Cellophanes are deposit-only, ammonia and peroxide free colors. There are 3 lines to choose from: Blonde, Red, and Brown, with 3 shades in each line, as well as a Clear shade. I bought the Pearl Blonde because I knew I'd be trying out on myself, and my other blonde pals.

The label says: "Cellophanes professional service is a translucent color revitalizer with a protein enriched formula infused with non-oxidative FDA cosmetic dyes and UV-light inhibitors to provide reflective brilliance and gorgeous color. CELLOPHANES PEARL BLONDE is Ammonia-Free and Peroxide-Free, for beautiful color, luxurious gloss, and the look of healthy hair. Level 8-12. For Professional Use Only." I have to say that I do agree with all their claims. I used Cellophanes on a friend of mine who has level 9 hair with level 10 highlights whose hair had gotten pretty brassy, and Cellophanes did an excellent job of getting rid of the brass and left her hair beautifully blonde and extremely shiny! I highly recommend the Pearl Blonde as a platinum toner or as a refresher for pale blondes.

Be warned though, if you are someone who can't use something with an unattractive scent, you might want to stay away from this. It's not the worst smell in the world... It reminds me of how that Elastic Bubblastic Plastic stuff smells. It's a little strong, but the results are worth it!

Sebastian Cellophanes is a professional product, although I've seen it online for around $35 (for 10 oz.) if you really want to have it at home. Any salon that uses Sebastian or Wella should have the service available for you. I highly recommend going between touch-ups to maintain your color's vibrancy and keep your hair looking healthy and shiny! Take care of your hair everyone! <3 ...read more ⇒

Halo High Gloss Rinse Review!

Hey guys! Today I'll be reviewing Halo High Gloss Rinse, a product that is an absolute must-have for anyone with color treated hair! The product label says "This weekly high gloss rinse intensifies color while maximizing shine." I seriously need to get this in a liter size otherwise I'll constantly be buying tubes of it, LOL! Whether you're a professional stylist or not, I honestly think everyone should have this product. Not only does it give your hair amazing shine, it really does amplify your hair color, whether it's natural or not.

The first 5 ingredients are Water, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Panthenol, and Quaternium-80. Interestingly enough, the next ingredient is Papaya Extract, which is usually used as a mild exfoliant. Whether or not it serves a purpose in Halo or is just filler is beyond me. It's high up enough on the ingredient list that it could be useful, but I'm not sure how...I'll check into it further. Now, I explained Propylene Glycol in my last post, and they add water so it's not too heavy. Hydroxyethylcellulose (say that 5 times fast) comes from plant fibers, and is used as a thickening agent, mostly to make a product have sort of a gel consistency, which Halo does. Panthenol is Vitamin B5 and is very moisturizing. It'll fill in any damage on your hair shaft, and make it feel fuller and much healthier. Quaternium-80 is another silicone compound and aids in smoothing and conditioning your hair. Overall it's a very light formula so I don't think anyone should have a problem with this making your hair greasy or heavy.

The only bad thing I have to say about it is that I wish there was a middle size between the 4 oz. and the liter. Maybe like, a 10 oz. tube or something. I'm probably going to get the liter anyways, because I'm sure I'll be using it with most, if not all, my color clients. Also, not a big deal but they should consider putting more detailed instructions on the label, because consumers buying it for the first time might not use it correctly and get a false impression of it.

Here's how I use it:
1) Shampoo hair and rinse. If you feel you need to, lightly condition also, & rinse.
2) Gently towel dry hair until it's about 75% dry.
3) Apply Halo liberally through the hair, and use a wide-tooth comb to ensure even coverage.
4) Put hair in a processing cap and process with heat for 20 minutes, then let hair cool down.
4a) An alternative if you're doing this at home is to apply Halo before you go to bed, and rinse it out in the morning. Your body heat will take the place of the heat from the dryer. I think it's easier pointing a blow dryer at your head for 20 minutes LOL!
5) Rinse hair with tepid/warm water, do not shampoo again.
6) Blow dry, style, and look fabulous!

Halo High Gloss Rinse is available in a 4 oz. tube and a 1 liter bottle. The 4 oz. retails for about $15-$20 and the liter I've seen as low as $34 and as high as $50, so you might wanna shop around for that. Well that wraps up this review, so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me in a comment or email aaaand I hope this review helped you! Take care of your hair!! <3 ...read more ⇒

S-Factor Smoothing Lusterizer Review

Hello everyone! Today I'll be reviewing one of my new favorite products, TIGI S-Factor Smoothing Lusterizer. The label says it's "a scientific blend of ingredients that silkifies • softens • fights humidity. Use in wet or dry hair. Satisfaction guaranteed!" And I have to absolutely agree with all the claims they make. I've used this on plenty of people, and I use this product in my hair all the time and after I do my hair just feels SO much better. Definitely smoother and more lusterized.. if that's a word. Also, it smells absolutely delicious, like mixed berries.

The main ingredients (the first 5) are Water, Cyclomethicone, Propylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, and Polyacrylamide. Cyclomethicone is made from silicone and is used for detangling, conditioning, and adding shine, but can be too heavy for some people's hair. Propylene Glycol is one of the most widely used ingredients in cosmetics. It works as a humectant to add moisture to your hair or skin. Dimethiconol is another silicone derivative similar to Cyclomethicone and Polyacrylamide is a thickening agent, and is what gives the product it's thick, yet creamy consistency.

My hair is platinum blonde on top and dark on the sides, so I just use a pea sized amount in my hand, rub it together, or emulsify it in my hands, and run it through my hair when it's about 75% dry, then blow it dry. Now, anyone who lightens their hair as much as I do will tell you that they need a lot of product to make it feel smooth and soft, and this stuff works the best for me! =D

However, there are a couple con's. First of all, S-Factor products are very expensive, which will probably be the biggest problem for people, but to me it's like, a little goes such a long way and it works so well for me that it's worth the high price. Now, another little problem I have is that there is a lot of Mica and Titanium Dioxide in it, which gives the product it's glittery appearance, and whenever I use it there is alwayyys glitter left on my hands so I have to wash them... but those two things are really my only problems with it.

So yeah, if you can get past the price I HIGHLY suggest picking this product up if you want very smooth, soft, and shiny hair. Hopefully my review helped you decide if this product is worth buying (I think it is!). S-Factor Smoothing Lusterizer retails for about $24-$26 and you get 200 mL / 6.76 fl. oz.

Have a great day everyone and take care of your hair! <3 ...read more ⇒

HAUL!

Hey guys! So I thought I'd share my latest hair product purchases with you all, and the reviews are coming very soon because I cannot wait to try all my new stuff! =D So yeah, I went to CosmoProf and the first thing I got was the new Vero K-Pak Creme Lightener that just came out so I'm super excited to try it. I've also been meaning to try L'oreal's White Violet color depositing shampoo and conditioner so I got those too.

I also got some TIGI products of course. ;-) I got two TIGI Radiant Gloss colors: 0/07 Perfect Oyster (a very light smoky ash color) and 5/6 Indian Red (a gorgeous reddish/copper/brown color that I'll be highlighting my moms hair with). I also picked up Bed Head Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray, Bed Head Cocky Thickening Paste, and S-Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray to add to my collection of TIGI products, LOL! The last things I got were Sebastian Cellophanes in Pearl Blonde (Review for this coming very soon!) and Halo High Gloss Rinse which I've been dying to try! =D Expect a review for that soon as well. So that's all from Cosmoprof.

Oh and I did stop at Sally Beauty Supply because my grandma wanted a curling iron that had a smaller handle than most of the ones you usually see and CosmoProf didn't have any she liked so I suggested Sally's. It was a good thing I went too, because my Sally's card had expired and I needed to renew it! While I was there, I picked up Shiny Silver Ultra Color Enhancing Conditioner which I heard works the best out of all the violet shampoo/conditioners out there, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I'll probably be reviewing it the next time I touch-up my outgrowth or on some of my fellow platinum blonde enthusiasts, so look for it in a week or two. Aaaand that is all for now, tomorrow... or later today rather =P I'll be posting a review on S-Factor Smoothing Lusterizer, which is like my new must have product! Soooo yeah, take care of your hair everyone! =D

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First post! =D

YAY! I'm SO excited to start sharing my knowledge with you all out there! Hopefully I'll gain some subscribers pretty soon and then the fun will really begin! =) Now, let me inform you on what you'll be seeing in this blog.

You will see:

+Product Reviews: I'll be reviewing assortment of hair products, including but not limited to hair color, hair lighteners, styling products, and hair tools/accessories. I will try to be as fair as I can, and I will always tell it like it is. I'll tell you what the product claims to do, what's actually in the product, and what it actually does. However, even if a product is not very good I will always try to find something nice to say about it.

+The science of Beauty: What all those difficult words you see on products really mean, and the effects they have on your hair. Do you have a question about a certain ingredient or even a specific product that you'd like to have more information about? Please ask me and I will try and find out everything I can that will help you! =)

+Debunking Stylist Myths: There's nothing that irritates me more than when a stylist uses false claims and intimidation to get you to buy (or not buy) certain products. Don't ever let yourself be talked into doing or buying something you don't want to, just because that's what your stylist says you "need."

+Hauls: Whenever I go shopping for new products, I'll let you guys know what products I get, where I got them, when I plan to review them, and pictures! Just letting you all know now, I'm a HUGE TIGI junkie so a lot of the products I buy will probably be by them (P.S. I can't wait to try their new Love Peace & The Planet line!).

+My life: Not that my life is so interesting that I feel the need to inform the world, but I'll keep you up to date if anything of importance happens.

Soooo yeah! Be on the lookout for my first haul and product review! Take care everyone!! =D ...read more ⇒