March 12, 2010
Posted by Reader
Reviewed by Dana
I’ve been coloring my hair since I was in 6th grade. I got a little brave this past year and tried a few new stylists and salons. What I have now is over processed hair that’s in need of love. Introduce Jonathan IB Revitalizer.
When the box from TIA arrived I was so excited to use it I sprayed it in my dry hair at the roots, dividing my hair into sections with my hand. I also sprayed some at my ends. I let the product do it’s magic for 20 minutes before washing it out. After allowing my hair to air dry that first time I noticed my ends seemed a little “crisper”. At the start of this trial my fine hair was past my shoulders. The following morning I styled my hair for work and it just laid better, wasn’t frizzy and had a good amount of shine. Read more...
December 11, 2009
Posted by marta
HerCut caught my eye at Sephora the other day for two reasons: the packaging was modern, clean and cute (OK, so I’m superficial); and it promised a new approach to hair care – products for your hair style rather than your hair type. When I started to think about this, it struck me that HerCut’s approach is pretty radical. Generally, when you buy a you buy a styling product it is aimed at, say, curly hair or at an effect, like imparting shine. Hercut is saying, so you’ve had your hair bobbed, or you have a shag cut, and our styling products will make that cut work. I had to take a closer look.
My shoulder length, wavy hair loosely approximates a shag cut, so I went for HerCut The Shag Catalyst ($28). The first thing that jumped out at me was the long list of things that I won’t find in HerCut: parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, triclosan. We were off to a good start. Read more...
November 28, 2009
Posted by Sarah
As a curly-haired girl, I have spent many years hearing about the transformational properties of Ouidad’s hair products, so I jumped at the chance to review her Curl Essentials Travel Kit. Ouidad’s promise with this set of products is that these products will “cleanse, condition, fight frizz and revive curls so your hair always looks great!”
I began my trial of Ouidad’s set with the Clear and Gentle Essential Daily Shampoo, a low-lathering formula with an unexpected baby powder scent. The shampoo left my hair feeling a bit dry, which I thought could be fixed by the kit’s conditioner.
I had high hopes for the Ouidad Balancing Rinse, a conditioner containing glycerin, a humectant found in many curl products that draws moisture into the hair. I left the piña colada-scented conditioner on my hair for the recommended three minutes, expecting to find my curls defined and silky. While the product left my hair feeling soft, it did not feel thoroughly conditioned, and even after an application of the Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel and a trial of Ouidad’s “Rake & Shake” technique, my curls refused to curl. When my hair dried, it looked frizzy and shapeless. Read more...
November 11, 2009
Posted by marta
However you choose to fight nature – to make limp hair curly or your waves stick straight – you’ll find yourself depending on, even getting addicted to, a curling or flat iron. Styling tools can get very hot – up to 180 degrees – and (especially for those who need their daily fix) can be damaging to the hair. The key is to choose the right kind of heated styling device and a good thermal protection product that isn’t just coconut oil and silicone.
The technology behind hair irons and hairdryers has improved significantly over the years. Choose one that uses tourmaline, a silicate mineral. This is a natural source of negative ions and electricity. The negative ions counterbalance the positive ions that come with frizz. One of things that they do is break down water molecules so that some of them are small enough to enter the hair shaft and your locks retain moisture. Favorites are the Sedu Revolution Hair Dryer and the Solia Tourmaline Flat Iron. Meanwhile, good hair protection potions double up as all-day frizz fighters. We have found a selection to suit every budget, purists who eshew chemicals and those who just want a good job well done. Read more...
October 14, 2009
Posted by marta
I tend to assume that most canisters of hair spray are portable toxic waste. There are a few exceptions, such as Alterna’s TEN, and now I can add Sally Hershberger’s Supreme Lift ($12.50) to my short but very elite list. Ms Hershberger’s is particularly impressive – far from being toxic, it actually has a natural toxin remover in it.
Moringa is one of the most extraordinary botanicals going. In India the seeds are used to detoxify polluted wells. Studies since the 1970s have shown that it can rid a well of 90% of impurities. So you can be sure Supreme Lift hairspray will stand between you and New York cab fumes. These trees are so nutritious – in fact, nutritious plant discovered to date – with over 90 nutritional compounds including 46 antioxidants and 36 anti-inflammatories that we if planted enough of them world hunger would be on the run. Come to think of it, its almost a waste in hairspray (for more moringa, check out Burt’s Bees shampoo and conditioner). Read more...
