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What’s Your Favorite Drugstore Hairspray?

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whats-your-favorite-drugstore-hairspray

Do you remember your prom?

It was ages ago for me, but it seems like yesterday.

Reader Vivian is at that point in her life, and she’s in need of some help with her hair:

…I’ve been digging through your archives for the best drugstore hairspray that won’t make my hair like an honest-to-God bird’s nest, texture and all, but since I’m emailing you now, do you have any immediate suggestions?

Thanks so much! Your blog makes me so excited about prom!

Hi Vivian,

Ah, prom… That’s a good place to be in life. I hope you’re enjoying it. 🙂

Before we get into the hairspray bit, let me first just say that if you haven’t started wearing sunscreen on your neck, then you gotta start TODAY, girl. Trust me, in 10 years you’ll thank me for it.

Now, onto drugstore hairsprays!

I usually use hairsprays to set a final style, and there are two drugstore products I really like.

If I want soft, flexible hold (say, if I’ve curled my hair), I reach for L’Oreal’s Elnett Extra StrongHold UV Hair Spray ($15). It’s an aerosol spray with UV protectors, and I love fine mist. It doesn’t weigh down my hair and holds a hairstyle without flaking. Plus, it never leaves me with stiff or sticky hair.

But if the humidity’s high, or for some reason my hair needs some extra hold, I’ll grab Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Hairspray Ultra Strong ($4).

It controls the frizz, even in the rain (fab for those extra birds-nesty hair days), stays put all day long and costs less than a blended coffee.

MBB readers, let’s give young Viv a hand. What are your favorite drugstore hairsprays, and why do you love ’em?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Heidi Klum: Her Best Hair?

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Last weekend one of my favorite Hollywood couples, Seal and Heidi Klum, renewed their vows in a Malibu ceremony with, I kid you not, a “white trash” wedding theme.

The groom wore cutoff jean shorts and a mullet (LOL!), while the bride sported serious Bo Derek ’80s corn rows, and they took their cues from an Elvis impersonator/chaplain.

Ya gotta love a couple with a good sense of humor. 🙂

Heidi doesn’t wear the braided ‘do often, and she hasn’t been the most adventurous girl when it comes to color, but she will change things up with updos, straight and wavy styles.

Which of Heidi's hairstyles do you like best?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Philosophy Unconditional Love Perfumed Shampoo, Bath and Shower Gel: A Delicious Indulgence

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philosophy unconditional love perfumed shampoo bath and shower gel

You’re sitting at a sidewalk cafe on a sunny afternoon. A waiter brings out a slice of freshly baked blackberry pie along with a piping hot cup of vanilla rooibos tea. You catch a whiff as the scents mingle and feel comforted, relaxed… and yes, a little hungry.

I get this image in my mind whenever I reach for my bottle of Philosophy’s Unconditional Love Perfumed Shampoo, Bath and Shower Gel ($22). 🙂

While I mostly use Philosophy Unconditional Love as a shower gel, it also works as a bubble bath and shampoo. The rich foam is bubblier than a gang of cheerleaders hopped up on Red Bull.
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Redken Color Extend Sparkling Shield and My Color Treated Hair

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redken-color-extend-sun-sparkling-shield

There’s an old saying that goes something like, “When life takes away your internet connection at home, drive around until you find free wireless.”

So I’m writing this from the Tiburon Library parking lot, where I’m sitting inside my car with my laptop and digital camera. 🙂

I’m taking mobile blogging to a whole new level!

But I digress…

You remember how I went to the salon last week to get chocolate highlights and to color my gray roots?

Well, because I don’t want faded highlights the color of hay (“Haaaaaay!”), I’ve been testing some sun-protection hair stuff, including Redken’s Color Extend Sparkling Shield ($11).

It’s a water-resistant, leave-in spray designed to protect color jobs from UV rays and chlorine while enhancing hair shine and shimmer.

First impressions

For just about a week now, I’ve been spraying it on my ponytail before heading outside.

I haven’t been using it for long, but I can say that it didn’t make a great first impression. It feels slick and looks waaaay greasy on my hair, like I haven’t washed it in a week (I have).

I think it may have to do with the amount of silicone it contains. The very first ingredient listed on the bottle (which usually indicates the amount of an ingredient relative to the other ingredients) is cyclopentasiloxane, a compound commonly added to hair products to reduce frizz and enhance shine.

Unfortunately, products with a lot of silicones in them also leave my hair feeling slick and greasy.

I’m not completely against silicones in my hair products, but too much is too much.

Sparkle me

I also wanted to try Color Extend Sparkling Shield because of the sparkles I can see through the bottle. I thought they might make my hair shine, and they do, but it’s a wet-looking shine — not the kind of shine I was hoping for.

On top of the way it makes my hair look and feel, the jasmine, honeysuckle fragrance smells too strong and synthetic to me.

Work much?

In terms of sun protection — the main reason I wanted to try it — I don’t think I’ve been using it long enough to say.

When it comes to color protecting sprays, I think for now I’ll stick with PureOlogy Colour Max ($18) spray. It may not look like much from the packaging, but at least it doesn’t leave a greasy film. That, and I love the light floral scent!

Redken’s Color Extend Sparkling Shield may not have worked for me, but you still might like it if you’re looking for slick, super shiny hair.

Redken Color Extend Sparkling Shield

Price: $11 for a 5-oz spray bottle
Use: Protection for color-treated hair
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: C

You might like Redken Color Extend Sparkling Shield if…

  1. …your hair responds well to silicones,
  2. …you’re a die-hard Redken fan,
  3. …you like hair products with a strong floral scent.

Looks like my laptop battery is about to die, so I’m out of here for now.

I hope you’re having a good day. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Are You Happy with Your Hair?

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Electric Blue Kitty Wig, $50

You know how they say the grass is always greener on the other side? Well, that’s the story of my life when it comes to my hair.

It’s not that I don’t like the hair mutha nature gave me; I just get tired of it after a while and feel like I need a change.

Before my last cut and color, I’d known for months that I wanted to make a change, but I waited too long.

I let my hair get totally unruly, with dry ends, a sprinkling of gray roots and a cut I just wasn’t feeling anymore.

Question: So what am I trying to say?

Answer: Learn from my mistake.

If you’re unhappy with your hair, try to do something about it ASAP, whether you do it yourself at home or visit a salon. You’ll feel like a new woman. 🙂

How do you feel about your hair?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. What are you up to this weekend? Do you think you might go see the new Star Trek flick (hint hint)?

El Hub and I braved the long lines last night because I’m an old school Star Trek and Next Generation Trekkie (remember the Wil Wheaton years?).

The movie’s getting tons of hype, but I think it deserves every bit.

star-trek-cat-eye

I even got my makeup fix because Uhura and the other female characters are wearing O.G. Star Trek ’60s-style makeup with a modern twist — thick black cat eyeliner and false lashes paired with pale cheeks and lips.

So hawt!

Instead of the traditional ’60s frosty makeup, the characters are wearing nude, matte cheeks and lips. It’s a modern spin on a retro look.

How do I get a job on the USS Enterprise? 🙂

Aquis Hair Towel: A Hair Do

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aquis-microfiber-towel

While having dinner with a couple of my BFFs last month, my girl J-Money surprised me with a gift — the Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel ($18).

With the care one reserves for items of great value and importance, she looked me dead in the eyes, placed the package in my hands and said, “You’ll understand its power soon enough.”

The Aquis Hair Towel is made from a special microfiber fabric supposedly able to absorb far more water than a regular cotton towel. Awesome, because my hair retains a lot of water and takes forever to dry.

After two weeks with the Aquis, I think I understand why J-Money treated it with such reverence — the thing really works!

Normally, I wrap my hair up with a towel when I step out of the shower and leave it on for about 15 minutes before taking it off to air dry. The process takes about three hours to thoroughly dry my hair.
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What’s the Best Lesson You Ever Learned about Caring for Your Hair?

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No more heat styling

Mine was learning (the hard way) not to use a blow dryer every day.

At one point I had hair crispier than a bucket of the Colonel’s Kentucky Fried. It was awful!

These days, I air dry and limit blow drying to once a week. Now my hair feels healthier, for sure.

A couple other things that work for me…

  1. I stopped shampooing every day. Now, I’ll shampoo two to three times per week, depending on how often I exercise. The rest of the time I’ll follow #2.
  2. I’ll use a conditioner in place of my regular shampoo a few times per week. My hair feels better when I treat it with kid gloves. I’ll actually wash with the conditioner, rubbing it into my scalp and through my hair the same way I’d use shampoo.

How about you? What’s the best lesson you ever learned about caring for your hair?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Kim Kardashian: Her Best Hair?

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Kim Kardashian (born Kimberly Noel Kardashian on October 21, 1980 in Los Angeles, California), caused quite a stir on the interwebz last week with her new, caramel-colored ‘do.

It was hard to imagine her with something other than her trademark long, dark hair, but it turns out Kimmy didn’t actually take the plunge into J.Lo Land — The blonde hair was actually a wig she’d worn for a photo shoot.

Kim hasn’t been a big risk taker with her hair color, but she’ll switch up her overall look from time to time with bangs and curls.

Which of Kim's hairstyles do you like best?

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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