Hair

I finally started getting ready for my trip, and the first thing I packed was Fekkai Summer Hair Zero-Humidity Frizz Control ($22), a hair treatment spray designed to combat frizz and to protect hair from sun damage. It’s humid in Hawaii, which does a number on wavy hair like mine. I’d have a bird’s nest in no time without my Fekkai. The company says the product seals the hair cuticle. That’s marketing fancy talk, but I do know that on previous trips to the tropics, after I’ve spritzed it on damp, washed hair and brushed it through with a wide toothed comb, my hair has stayed smooth and frizz-free.

Zero-Frizz isn’t just a hair smoothing spray. It smells great (like coconut and citrus) and even contains a UV protectant Fekkai calls Solarshield, designed to prevent sun damage and lightening. And no alcohol here, which is a big plus, as hair products containing alcohol tend to be drying.
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I was up until three last night/this morning reading my new book, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and, because I stayed up so late, I woke up late. After writing my first post, I was left with barely 15 minutes to get ready for work.

Not good.

Making matters worse, my hair was extra greasy and gross (sexy, I know) this morning. With very little time to get ready, I had to make a difficult decision — either I could wash my hair, or skip washing and use the time to apply minimal makeup instead.

I chose to go with the minimal makeup, but my questionable decision didn’t subject the general population to stinky Karen hair. Nope! I used one of my favorite secret short cuts for time strapped mornings: dry shampoo.

It’s an absorbent spray-on powder you apply to your roots to cut down on oil and grease. It can’t replace a cleansing hair wash, but it helps in a pinch.

The product I’m using goes by the name of Ojon Hair’s Rub-Out Dry Cleanser ($24), and I like it a lot.

One big issue I’ve had with dry shampoos in the past is that quite a few brands smell really terrible, but not Rub-Out. It smells like a mix of citrus and baby powder. The product does a great job cutting down on the shine and relieves any scalp itchiness. I wouldn’t say it cleans hair, but it certainly makes it look better.
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I don’t straighten my hair very often, but what Remington said about their new Shine Therapy Straightener really got my attention. According to Remington, the straightener’s ceramic plates are porous and infused with a blend of conditioners and avocado oil. With the heat cranked up, the plates evenly emit their conditioning blend during styling to protect and moisturize hair. Neat, yah?

The idea is simple. A flat iron straightener needs heat to work correctly, and heat can damage hair, so the conditioners infused into the plates help to protect the hair while it’s vulnerable to damage. When the iron heats up (it only takes a minute), heat triggers the conditioners to rise to the surface of the ceramic plates. Supposedly, the plates contain enough conditioners to last through four years of use.

Shine Therapy transformed my wavy hair into stick straight locks in less then five minutes. This thing heats up fast! I only had to run the iron down a section of hair once or twice to do the job, not five or six times like my prehistoric 1999 flat iron. I used the Remington Wednesday, and it left my hair shiny and soft. That night I got several compliments from El Hub and my dance buds on my new ‘do.

I would give Remington an A+ for effort if it weren’t for one thing: this bad boy is really hard to switch on and off. The on/off button is depressed into the side of the handle and so small that the only way I can push it is with the tip of a fingernail. It’s annoying and inconvenient, and I can already see myself struggling with it when I’m late for work. Sure, you could just unplug it between use, but there’s a button there for a reason, and it’s not like I have big, clumsy sausage fingers or anything. My paws are tiny, nimble and strong from years of piano lessons, but dangit if that tiny button didn’t drive me crazy![Continue reading…]

I’ve always been jealous of girls with wash and wear hair. When they toss their mane and it glistens from across the room, boys turn their heads, the clouds part, angels sing, blah blah blah. I am so not that girl. When left to its own devices, my hair resembles a dry, frizzy, unfortunate bale of hay.

Not that kind of Bale!

I have wavy, colored hair that dries out easily, so my hair takes a turn into hay-esque territory if I don’t keep it moisturized. One big thing I do to keep my hair from drying out is to let it air dry, but when the temperature drops I can’t stand wet hair. That means I have no choice but to use a blow dryer when I’m in a hurry.

Using a blow dryer frequently in winter also means I have to use several products to keep my hair from drying out. Here’s a step-by-step guide to 10 products I rely on to keep my hair moisturized and protected when the temperature drops.

Everything I put on my hair in winter must help retain and replenish as much moisture as possible. To kick start the moisturization process, once a week I use Phytonectar, a pre-shampoo oil treatment ($30.00 for a 1.7 fl oz bottle with pump) that hydrates ultra dry hair.

Phytonectar is a rich treatment made from egg yolk oil. If you’ve got a sensitive nose, then you might be turned off by the herbal, slightly eggy scent. I kinda like it, though. My hair is really thick, so I work in two pumps thoroughly from mid-shaft to the ends. I then put my hair up in a bun, secure it with a claw clip and just hang out for a while to let the oil penetrate. While I’m waiting I’ll putter around the house or watch TV to give the product time to soak in and do its thing.

After half an hour, I’ll jump in the shower, wet my hair and work the Phytonectar into a light lather. Then, I’ll finish by washing with a moisturizing shampoo, my favorite being Bumble & Bumble’s Gentle Shampoo ($21.00 for a 8 oz bottle). It smells like honeysuckle, lathers up nicely and always rinses clean. The extra pre-shampoo step with Phytonectar makes a huge difference in keeping my hair soft and moisturized.

Even though I lurves my Bumble & Bumble Gentle Shampoo, I can only use it once a week because if I shampoo too often my hair dries out. To avoid this, I do a conditioner “wash” with a silicone-free drugstore conditioner. My favorite is VO5 Vanilla Mint Tea Clarifying Conditioner (about $2.00 for a 15 fl oz bottle) because it’s super cheap and smells like mint tea! I put a generous amount into my palms, vigorously massaging it into my scalp and hair from roots to ends. I’ve been doing conditioner washes for about a year now and they really help to moisturize my hair.

After rinsing out the VO5, I squeeze out the excess water from my hair and coat it with a moisturizing conditioner like Philip B. Deep-Conditioning Creme Rinse ($26.00 for a 6 oz tube). This silicon-free, shea butter conditioner moisturizes well without weighing down my hair. Its spicy scent reminds me of fresh baked pumpkin bread, and it rinses clean, leaving my hair feeling soft and smelling yummy.

When the weather gets cold my scalp goes nuts. One thing I do to keep the flakes at bay is mix granulated brown sugar into my shampoo or conditioner. When you massage the grains of sugar into your scalp, the friction removes the flakes. It’s a cheap and natural exfoliant. Put a few tablespoons into a plastic bowl you set on a counter outside your shower, but don’t forget: mix it into your shampoo or conditioner immediately before washing. Wait too long and the sugar grains will dissolve.

Not only a scalp exfoliant and baking ingredient, but also one of my favorite movies ever

When the flakes are really persistent and I need something stronger, I’ll wash with Head & Shoulders Sensitive Care Shampoo ($7.00 for a 23 fl oz bottle). It’s cheap, and I find it the least drying of all the dandruff shampoos.

Speaking of drying, try not to overdo the hair dryer. Might I suggest the miraculous T3. I know I go on and on about this thing, but seriously, it changed my life. Yes, it’s very expensive ($300), but it’s also the best dryer on the market today. It’ll dry your hair faster than Britney downs a bag of Cheetoes!

Before I blow dry, I apply a protective layer of leave-in conditioner and gel. Right now I’m loving on Phyto 7 ($26.00 for 1.7 fl oz tube), a moisturizing leave-in conditioner made from plant extracts. It’s creamy, has a non-greasy texture and doesn’t leave my hair feeling sticky or heavy. I work a small amount throughout my hair, concentrating on the ends.

Next up: a few dollops of Philip B. Drop Dead Hair Straightening Baume ($22.00 6.5 oz tube). Although this gel is first a hair straightener, I like it for both curly and straight hair looks in winter because of its amazing staying power in humidity. My hair stays stick straight no matter what – rain, mist or fog. It’s also silicone-free, woo hoo!

The last product I rely on during the winter months is Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo ($23.00 for a 3.2 oz aerosol spray can).

I was really turned off by dry (waterless) shampoos after the disastrous Salon Grafix incident a few months ago, but Naturia has completely changed my tune. It freshens my scalp and gives my greasy roots a lift, extending the life of my blowout by at least two days. It also has a nice floral scent and doesn’t turn my roots white, either.

I’ve always wished for low maintenance hair, but, unfortunately, nature didn’t deal me those cards. The extra work to keep my hair happy is worth it to me because hair is that one accessory you wear every day. And, hey, when all else fails, there’s always hats!

I’m a little under the weather today (*achoo!*), so I’m going to spend the day chilling out. I hope your Saturday has been fun so far!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen