New Finds!

So, it has been a while since I have posted anything.  I'm not a true blogger who can blog every day!  I really made this blog to talk about new products I have found and hair, so I hadn't had any new discoveries until now! :)

Introducing my favorite new find.......

Redken All Soft Argan-6 Oil

I know I went on about Moroccan Oil but let me just say, I'm over it!  I had been using that product for over two years and felt as if it had nothing more to give my hair.  Then I discovered this little bottle sitting on the shelve at the salon.  I immediately started using it on my clients and loved it.  I started reading a little about the Argan 6 and realized it was not "coming out" until October 1st! Well no wonder I hadn't heard of this before! The oil supplies the hair with softness, nourishment, and protection to intensely nourish dry, brittle hair. This one luxurious oil has six amazing uses for achieving silky softness: before you shampoo to moisturize, before you blow-dry to protect, after you blow-dry to smooth, on dry hair to enhance shine, added to treatments to soften or overnight to recondition.  Argan-6 Oil penetrates the deepest layer of the hair, the cortex, to replenish lipids for intense softness.  To use: apply to the mid lengths and ends of the hair, damp or dry and can be reapplied to dry hair as needed.  It has made a difference in my hair just in the past week that I have been using it on myself.  I have used it on many very fine haired clients and it did great, no greasiness at all!  

Redken's Site has many different ways to use the oil and how it exactly works! See for yourself the difference it will make in your hair!

Next....

Aquage Uplifting Foam

This is a product I found on another hairdressers blog.  She said she loved it and had been using it for years so I decided to give it a try.  I'm glad I did because it truly does give you lift.  I spray it in the crown area and my bangs and I have instant body after blow drying with a round brush.      

Essie

Chinchilly Polish

Ignore my awful looking hairdresser hands!  This color I bought last year for fall and loved it all year around!  It was the first color I went to when painting my nails after this summer.

Essie

Fifth Avenue Polish

This was my recent purchase to add to my collection.  I had seen it in two magazines for fall this year already.  When I tried it on at the store I loved it. It's a wonderful shade of red and great for fall and winter!

MAC 

Capricious Lipstick

I went into MAC to turn in my empty bottles and receive my free lip stick.  My friend was working at the time and helped me pick out a new fall color.  I really love MAC lipsticks because they stay put and are really moisturizing.  This has been my go to color for the past week I have had it!

Sharpie Pens  

Yes I know this is not make up or hair but I am obsessed with these  Sharpie pens! They are amazing and I can't stop writing with them!  I highly recommend you get yourself a few and try out all the products I listed!

Wedding Day Survival Kit

Wedding Day Survival Kit

DIY or Buy

Since it is wedding season I figured this would be a good post for some brides or bridesmaids!  I have been to several weddings and while we were all getting ready we needed something last minute.  Also I have been doing hair for a few weddings where the bride is way prepared and has everything with her but the kitchen sink!

I found this picture with a few good ideas.....

Also you can purchase a survival kit from Mojuba.

They even have a Grooms survival kit

Those run about $165.00 each!!  I thought that price was a little crazy and that you could make one your self for a little cheaper.

Some ideas for your kit would be:

1. Sewing kit with needles, thread, buttons, and safety pins
2. Double sided tape
3. Scissors
4. Stick-on instant hemming tape
5. Clear nail polish (for runs)
6. White chalk (for masking stains)
7. Breath mints
8. Bandages, all sizes
9. Blister protection
10. Antacid
11. Pain reliever
12. Blotting papers
13. Cotton swabs
14. Tweezers
15. Nail file
16. Lip balm
17. Tissues
18. Hand lotion, body lotion
19. Bobby pins
20. Comb
21. Lipstick
22. Powder
23. Small mirror
24. Nail polish in the shade you're wearing
25. Hairspray
26. Curling iron
27. Straws (for girls to drink and get no spills)
28. Deodorant
29. Tampons
30. Lent sheets
31. Krazy glue
32. Static guard
33. Shout wipes
34. Mints


These are just a few I can think of.  Email me if you can think of any or if you needed something on your wedding day that you didn't have!! SLBHAIR3323@HOTMAIL.COM

Buns, Knots, and Chignon's

Buns, Knots and Chignon's

It's all the rage right now!  The old school dancer bun is making a come back.  Sleek or messy are in all the fashion magazines and on the runways this fall.  I personally like wearing my hair in a cute little knot when I don't have time to dry my hair all the way!  The steps to creating a Chignon:

Things you will need:

Hair pins, Headband, or sticks

Clear elastics

Round brush, brush, comb

Hair spray, hair mousse

Anti frizz serum

Old toothbrush

1. Begin with damp hair, apply a quarter amount of mousse and either blow dry hair or let air dry for a more messy look.  For a more sleek look try blow drying with a round brush.

2. Once dry brush your hair back into a low ponytail.  For messy look just gather with your fingers into a low ponytail. I like to secure the ponytail with a clear elastic.  Then get a firm grip around the base of the ponytail and use your other hand to twist the tail into a tight spiral.

3. Hold the base of the ponytail with one hand, then lift the tail straight up with the other. Begin to coil it clockwise around the base. When you've made half of a circle, release the hand holding the base and use it to hold the forming bun as you continue to coil the tail of the chignon.

4. Complete one rotation, keep twisting if you have longer hair, then tuck the end of the tail under the chignon. If your hair is long enough, you might be able to push the tail through the bun and make a knot.

5. Secure the chignon using a few hair pins or a hair sticks. Push one pin through at any outside edge, collecting a small amount of the bun as you make the insertion. Secure the opposite side with a second pin. If you're using a hair stick, push the tip up through a corner of the chignon. Rotate the stick 180 degrees and push it gently through the base of the bun.

6.  Then take a old toothbrush and put a little anti frizz serum on the bristles and smooth out your fly aways.  

Sounds a little complicated but once you start playing around with it you will find your own little technique!

Here are some beautiful examples of sleek buns:

and a few messy: 

Others added a little braid or twist:

Jessica Simpsons Hairdo brand even has a clip in chignon:

The cheaters way to a perfect bun:

These great little doughnuts can be found at most retailers that sell hair products.  You simply make a ponytail.  Slide the doughnut on the ponytail and then start wrapping the hair around it until the doughnut is completely covered.  Then pin the hair in place and tada! Perfect bun!

You can add a little spice to your bun or chignon by pulling it to the side of your head or parting your hair on a deep side part.  Have fun with this style and remember it doesn't always have to be perfect!!  

My Sephora Addiction...

If you love anything beauty and especially love playing in make up then I'm sure you all have been to ....

Although if you haven't, you honestly are missing out!  They now even have smaller Sephora stores in JcPennys!  It's my addiction and I normally can't leave the store without a few new things.  So in my recent trip to Sephora I picked up some new things and got back ups for things I was running out of.  Here's what I got...

Another Clinique Bottom Lash mascara, I absolutely love this stuff!!

These are two new purchases.  Nars lipstick!!! OMG I had never tried anything Nars before but the girl helping me had it on and I loved it.  She took me over and we started playing with the different colors.  I like it because it's almost glossy and you can make it lighter or darker by applying more!! It stays on very well also.  Then is my new foundation brush.  It is Sephora's Professional line, airbrush precision foundation brush.  The girl told me to try this and I would fall in love with how flawless my makeup would look.  She of course was right!  I use it everyday now!

First square is my new under eye concealer brush.  It's also from Sephoras Professional line, airbrush concealer brush.  She recommended I use this brush with the under eye concealer I got to help blend it better and get in the small creases   Second box is one of Sephoras lip glosses.  They have a few fun colors that put a little color on your lips and alot of shine!

Bottom left box is a Urban Decay eye shadow.  This is about my 5th eye shadow that they make and I love them all.  They are so pigmented and stay on your eyes all day without creasing or losing their color after a few hours.  The new color I got was called "X"!  Then the last thing I got in the bottom right square was a back up of my favorite foundation.  Make Up Forever's Mat Velvet Foundation.  Love, love, love this foundation and it truly makes your skin flawless.  I like to wear this defiantly on special occasions.

Top left box is Peter Thomas Roth's powder sunscreen.  I bought this before I went to Destin and it was perfect for the beach.  Normally this product is $30 but they had it in the bins by the register for $12!  Now I keep it in my purse for sunscreen touch ups through out the day.  Top right is the under eye concealer the fabulous girl that was helping me introduced me to.  It's Hourglass hidden corrective concealer.  She tried it on me in the store and I looked so much more awake afterwards. It was a must buy purchase and I am so happy I did!  Bottom left is a replacement head for my Clarsonic.  The deep pore cleansing brush head that's great for black heads and deep pores.  Bottom right is Sephora brand lip stick.  I really like their lipsticks and feel like they stay on well and have a good variety of colors.

I'm sure alot of you have gotten lost in Sephora many times and spent way to much money before.  What all have you  bought at Sephora recently that you love?!?!?

Calling All Blondes...Listen up!

Listen up!!

I have come across yet again an amazing product!! Only this time it's specifically for blondes!  I was so excited when I read about this new product that Pureology was making for only blondes.  There just isn't much out there to help us blondes keep our hair looking healthy.  FINALLY there is!!!

Introducing....

Perfect 4 Platinum

Strengthen and Beautify your Blonde

I can't tell you enough how much I absolutely LOVE these products!!  I have been using them for probably about a week and can already tell my hair is softer, shiner and stronger.  These products are great for highlighted and fragile blondes.  Blondes face a lot of challenges with our hair like brittleness, dryness, loss of shine, and tangles.  Blonde hair can become darn right unmanageable at some points.  The Perfect 4 Platinum line is designed to help with that.

• It strengthens with Keravis to fill in gaps on the hair strand
• Conditions with chamomile to soften hairs texture
• Clarifies with lemon extract for increased brightness
• Nourishes with coriander extract to magnify shine

and of course like all Pureology products have the exclusive anti fade complex to promise longer lasting hair color guaranteed!

    

The Perfect 4 Platinum system has four products:   

Perfect4Platinum Shampoo- ZeroSulfate formula cleanses and softens, while enhancing brightness and shine.

Perfect4Platinum Hair Condition- Intense daily conditioner moisturizes and detangles, while enhancing brightness and shine.

Perfect4Platinum Miracle Filler- Miracles do happen! Daily leave-in treatment fills in gaps in hair's cuticle, leaving high-lifted or highlighted hair with an intense dose of strength.

Perfect4Platinum Reconstruct Repair- Concentrated treatment penetrates deep into hair's cuticle to strengthen, soften and rescue high-lifted hair with and intense dose of strength.

* Hair recovers up to 78% of the strength lost during chemical lightening

The shampoo is a violet color to help kick the brassiness and smells amazing.  Then once I rinse out the conditioner my hair feels like silk.  I have only used to Reconstruct Repair mask once but it was like a energy drink for my hair!  I have been using the Miracle  filler every day though and I truly can tell a difference when i blow dry my hair.  It feels healthier, softer and much shiner then it has ever been.  So if you have hair like this.....

Then you need Perfect 4 Platinum!  Just another amazing luxury product from

Now onto how to protect your blonde from the summer damage.  Blondes have the most problem in the summer from chlorine.  I'm sure if you have been blonde most your life then you have come across the ol green cast we get sometimes from chlorine.  The main thing I have always been told was to get my hair wet inside with tap water before going swimming.  The tap water fills in the gaps in your hair shaft with tap water instead of the chlorine.  There are a few products that also help with getting the chlorine out or helping to not get it in.  

12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment

 As healthy hair is composed of 95% protein and 3% moisture and trace elements, and 2% natural lipids, maintaining this balance is essential to preventing and repairing damage. Peroxide, ammonia, thioglycolates and other chemicals, chlorinated and salt water, UV exposure, flat ironing, and blow-drying all can strip hair's natural lipids, leaving hair brittle, weak, and unmanageable. 12 BENEFITS' composition of natural hair lipids and UV absorbers in an ultra pure base of steam-distilled water reverses the stress of salon chemical, thermal styling and environmental exposure. 

This formula, when applied after shampooing and conditioning works to:

1. Seal hair color

2. Smooth frizz 

3. Repair damage

4. Prevent split ends 

5. Moisturize dry hair

6. Strengthen fragile hair

7. Prevent flat iron damage

8. Prevent chlorine, wind, and sun damage

9. Add shine, softness and a silky finish

10. Protect hair from blow-drying

11. Improve detangling and manageability

12. Keep hair youthful 

Designed to be used daily, misting 2-3 times on the mid shaft to ends( where natural hair lipids are shampooed away before these essential hair moisturizers typically extend) will dramatically reverse the "Aged & Damaged" look and feel of the hair. 

You will notice that your hair color will hold truer and longer and highlights will be less fragile. 12 BENEFITS INSTANT HEALTHY HAIR TREATMENT is recommended to all people with hair color or people regularly stressing their hair with daily blow drying and flat ironing.

Info for 12 Benefits 

Redken Color Extend Sun

New Color Extend Sun protects highlights, safeguards color and replenishes sun-stressed strands. Redken’s exclusive Interbond Conditioning System and advanced Hydra-Shield Complex with Soplexyl™, a patented UV filter, provide powerful protection while restoring lost moisture and luminous shine. 

Color Extend Sun is a perfect complement to Color Extend. It is the ideal regimen when spending time at the beach and by the pool or for clients who spend a lot of time outdoors. Color Extend Sun is also great for daily use during the summertime or year-round for those who live in warm climates.

Color Extend Sun After-Sun Shampoo- Gently cleanses and removes minerals, chlorine and salt deposits while helping to repair sun-damaged hair.

Color Extend Sun After-Sun Mask- After-Sun Mask instantly detangles and revitalizes sundamaged hair with intense moisture replenishment and repair.

Color Extend Sun Solar Screen SPF 12- As I talked about in my last post.

Info for Color Extend Sun

Most clarifying shampoos used once a week help to remove buildup without damaging your color.  Here is a link I found of a few shampoos that are good for removing chlorine build up and residue from Ulta.    

5 Summer Product Must Haves

5 Summer Product Must Haves

I'm FINALLY back!  I now have a new computer and couldn't wait to start blogging about all these amazing products that I love for summer!  

1. Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm

This lip balm makes your lips feel amazing!  It has SPF 20 in it.  So while your at the beach or pool your protecting your lips and getting a touch of color as well!

2. Dove Clinical Protection

This is my must have deodorant for the summer time.  There are a ton of clinical strength deodorants out there but I have only tried this particular one. I love all the Dove deodorants, especially the original clean scent.  I have gotten a prescription for a clinical strength deodorant before and believe Dove is way better.  The prescription one made my under arms itch and sting all night long.  I started using the Dove last year and was addicted.  Of course when I bought it I didn't read the directions on the box because I thought how hard is it to put deodorant on.  Well actually it is hard!  I went to the dermatologist for a check up and told her I had been using the clinical strength but hadn't noticed a huge difference.  So she asked "Are you putting it on at night before bed?"  Of course I said no, why would I put my deodorant on before bed?!?!  Well clearly if you read the directions it tells you to do just that.  My dermatologist explained that your underarm pores open up during the night, so when you have the clinical strength deodorant on it seeps into your pores and in the morning your pores close back up with the deodorant in them.  Crazy I know!  It totally works wonders!  Even if you shower in the am you still don't put any more deodorant on, only at night time.  It's amazing for when you wear summer dresses or black clothing because no big white marks of deodorant to rub off!  I recommend this deodorant to anyone and make sure you use it the right way!  As my dad always says, directions are there for a reasons!

3. Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer

  

Before we went to the lake to camp I was looking for a moisturizer with a tint and SPF in it.  I finally stumbled upon this Aveeno one.  It has a SPF 30 in it and a few different shades of tint to choose from.  I had used Aveeno lotions before and really liked them and this one is just the same.  Very moisturizing and a great tint to it. It doesn't smell like sunscreen either.  It was great for when I went to the lake and beach for SPF coverage and little bit of color on my face as well while it still moisturized!

4. Redken Color Extend Sun

I have used this product for a few years and gotten a few others addicted as well.  It has a SPF 12 in it, which is great to protect your scalp from getting sun burn.  It also protects your color from the harsh sun rays and replenishes your hair.  The smell is amazing and goes on light.  I use it to spray all over my hair and then around my hair line really well where I tend to burn the easiest from sweating.  It's great for little kids to spray on a few times while out in the sun to protect their little heads if not wearing a hat.  

5. Sexy Hair AeroTan

Last but not least my favorite new product for this summer!  AeroTan by Big Sexy Hair.  This spray is amazing!!  It is a instant temporary tanning spray.  Its in a aerosol spray can and sprays out a instant tan color on your skin.  You blend it in with your hands and it comes right off in the shower with soap and water.  I can't believe I just found this product this year!  I used it while I was at the beach to blend my tan lines and to add a little extra color to my legs since they hardly ever get any color on them.  This works great for me as well when I'm getting my laser hair removal done since you can't have any color before hand.  I just sprayed this on one night for a wedding and looked like I had a beautiful tan and then the next day for my laser appointment took a shower and it all washed right down the drain!  

Where these products are sold....

1, 2, and 3 are sold at mostly any store that sells beauty products.  Target, Kroger, Meijer, Walmart, Walgreens.

4 can be bought at most any Redken retailer salon or you can go to their website http://www.redken.com/products/haircare/color-extend-sun and click the where to buy button.  Also check out the other three products from the Color Extend Sun line.  The shampoo and conditioner are amazing to remove any mineral or salt deposits in your hair that leave it feeling hard after being in the sun or at the beach.  

5 is a little tricky.  I found this product at the beauty supply house where only professionals can buy products.  I'm assuming any salon retailer that sells Big Sexy Hair products would have AeroTan especially for the summer months.  I did find it on Amazon as well.  I am going to be selling this product available for my clients as of next week!  Let me know if anyone finds AeroTan anywhere else!

So get going and run out and buy all these amazing summer products and remember to always wear sunscreen everyday even on your hair!!