Hair Inspirations

I really want to do something different with my hair. I am bored, so very bored of my hair these days.

I am not going to cut it unless it is for a trim or more layers because I am wanting to keep the length and grow it out even longer. Right now my hair just about reaches the middle of my back.

I have only ever dyed my hair twice, not including temporary dyes. I loved the temporary dye by ColorPulse in Espresso but I think they discontinued that color because I cannot find it anywhere. I once dyed my entire head of hair in grade 8 in a burgundy shade that came in a box from the drugstore. And then more recently, a few months back, I had used box dye again in a deep, dark brown. Although it said it was permanent, I'm pretty sure it is safe to say that all the color is gone. My hair is its normal medium brown color. I'm not sure what happened there, but it's okay.

Now, all I want are some highlights to add dimension. So when I make a braid or wear my hair wavy you can actually see the styles better. I was thinking fine highlights all throughout the hair in a much lighter brown, almost blond.

I added the photos that have been fueling my desire for a change. Keep in mind that I do not want to go completely  blond, just highlights. These are merely inspirations for either color, cut, or/and style.

All of these photos have been "reblogged" onto my tumblr page. I just add or reblog photos that I like from all over the 'net.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!

♥M

Hair Care: Protect Your Hair Against Heat 2 in 1 Review

In keeping with the "theme" of my previous post, hair care, I will share with you the heat protectants I'm currently using. I try to use heat minimally but I will always use something to protect my strands. Note: I will spray a nourishing de-tangler (like that of John Frieda's), air-dry about 80% of the way, and finish with a blow dry.

What I typically use on wet hair - beacuse it is a silicone serum - is Cherry Bomb, 'your blow drying buddy'. I love its sweet smell of cherries, like candy. I'll use about a quarter-sized dallop - for shorter hair you wouldn't need as much, I have long hair - rub it on both hands, and smooth throughout my damp hair. I'll blow dry it & then curl or straighten. Sometimes I don't add anything else after the blow dry, before I curl/straighten my hair. And then sometimes I may add just a tiny bit more or I'll use the Toni&Guy spray on the ends after its dried. But I try not to ruin the smell of cherries with the Toni&Guy mist. The Cherry Bomb does work great for me, it leaves my hair smooth and shiny.

You can find the Cherry Bomb exclusively in drugstores or beauty boutiques. I searched around the net, in case you were interested, and only found the one place to buy it online. Unfortunately.  But check out your salons and beauty boutiques.

Next up, from the drugstore, is TONI&GUY Protein Protection Mist. This is about $8-$11 (CAD) at the drugstore. I have to say, I'm not a fan of this product's scent. It's kind of gross. It smells like a man's cologne. I don't want my hair smelling like that! I rarely use this because of that one factor, its disgusting fragrance. If you use this, your hair will definitely  reek of the scent long afterwards. But the stuff works. It doesn't leave my hair shiny or smelling as lovely as the Cherry bomb.

My Verdict? Cherry Bomb = YAY. TONI&GUY = NAY.

Other heat protectants that do the job well:

Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow-Dry Lotion

TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray

I hear these are good too:

Retro-Chic Glazz

CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray

Have you tried any of those mentioned above? How do you feel about the product?

What is your favorite one to use?

♥M

Hair Care: John Frieda Root Awakening Health Kick Detangling Spray

I've been using this product by John Frieda for about a good month or more now and I just had to share this with all of you.

This is going to be a product rave for the Root Awakening Health Kick Detangling Spray. I got this one, along with some other John Frieda products (a mousse and curl spray), because they were on sale/promotion at my local drugstore for a little more than 50% off. John Frieda products are pretty good quality but are a little more on the expensive end for a drugstore item.  I've tried other leave in detangling products, including the Sleek & Shine Leave In Conditioning Cream from Garnier Fructis which didn't cut it for my hair. The Root Awakening Spray is about $10 regular price (CAD) and similar products, like the Garnier Fructis, is about $3-4 (CAD). So, I got the spray at a great price but I would absolutely pay full retail value for this (but I'll still look out for the sales and stock up then, because that's just me).

First of all, the texture of my hair is rather course, dry, and dead-looking. It's not curly but it has a bit of a natural wave. And I've only dyed my hair twice in my lifetime. My sister once said to me "I wish I had dead hair so I could do stuff with it, mine's too healthy". Lol, Thanks, Sis! My sister really does have silky smooth hair. And I wanted my hair like that! Funny how we always want what the other one has. I tried all sorts of different things with my hair, but this Root Awakening has truly done it for me.

Claims: Nourishes & protects from roots to ends for healthy-looking hair; with heat protection. With natural Eucalyptus. Health Kick Detangling Spray, with vitamins, nourishes hair from roots to ends from dramatically silkier, more manageable hair.

I notice now  that my hair is actually silky, shiny, and smooth to the touch. Albeit, it's been a month but I see the difference now! My goal with my hair is to grow it as long as I can or down to my bum and to achieve this I am air drying it more often and using as little heat as possible. However, once my hair was air-dried, it was so frizzy and course. Not pretty. So I always carried a frizz cream to smooth it down.  But with this spray, I think as long as I use it regularly, I won't have that problem. So far, so good after a month.

I spray this all over my damp hair, focusing on the ends. Then I rub it in and through my hair with my fingers. And then I let it air dry. If I am going to style with heat, I'll air-dry it 80%. The spray is from the line Root Awakening, which comes with it's matching shampoos and conditioners, but I didn't use those. I just stuck to what I was already using (Yes to Carrots and Herbal Essences). The spray also has a nice scent, but if you're sensitive to fragrances, I might steer clear. Although, It's not overly strong.

My Verdict? It works. Well, it worked wonders for my dry, course, frizzy hair! I'm very pleased with this product. Therefore, after I've finished the bottle, I'll be going back for more. FYI, I still have half a bottle left of product (bottle is 175 ml) and I've been using this for a month on my long thick hair. Not too bad. I would recommend this if you suffer from the same hair type as I do.

If you have already tried this out or you plan to try it out, please let me know what you thought and how it worked for you.

Thanks for reading! And have a good one!

♥M

Weekend Haul

I made a few purchases over the weekend, a few things I've already tested around the house and some - like the OPI nail polishes - I cannot wait to try out!

First, they had a sale on John Frieda hair products and so I picked up three things. I usually air dry my hair, using a few products to enhance the natural wave. Sometimes I'll take the diffuser to it, on a low setting, to give it that extra body. From John Frieda's Frizz-Ease line we have the Take Charge Curl Boosting Mouse and the Dream Curls Curl Perfector. As well as something new from John Friend, the Root Awakening Detangling Spray. I tried all three of these yesterday, just air dried, and it definitely gave me a different wave, more defined. I'm going to continue using these and make sure I really like them.

So word on the street is that berry or bold colored lips will be prominent this fall. I love my pinks and nude colored lipsticks but I wanted to venture out and try something different. I love how the red, berry, and plum shades look on some of the ladies. It's defintely making a statement. I tried Smashbox's doubletake lip color in currant from their Reign collection. It has a lip liner on one end and a creamy lip color on the other end. I absolutely love it! The color is a sexy, vampy, deep red, a burgundy shade. Amazing. It makes for a good classy look. It definitely makes me look more grown up, too! I took some pictures while I had this on my lips, but the lighting and my camera just does not do it justice. I'll get a decent picture, however, and do a more in-depth review later on.

I also got four eye shadows MAC. L-R Shroom, Vex, Plumage, and Sumptuous Olive.

with flash

without flash

I also got Benefit's silk finish lipstick in jing-a-ling.

Also from Benefit, something that I've been wanting to get for a while, is their boxed blushes in CORALista. I don't particularly enjoy blushes with chunky sparkles and this does not appear to have that, thankfully. While swatching a few of Benefit's blushes in the store, the others I found had more of a sparkle to them. Not a fan. CORALista has a nice sheen, very fine glitter, leaving a fresh glow.

And finally some nail polishes! I'm a bit of a nail polish junkie lately, you could say. L-R MAC's cool reserve, OPI's Pink Flamenco, Manicurists of Seville, and Here Today...Aragon Tomorrow. I will more than likely be doing a more in-depth review on any of these colors later on.

That's it, That's all! Until next time,

♥M