Lamas Rice Protein Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner

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Great smelling shampoo and conditioner that includes many natural and botanical ingredients. I'd say it's about a step or two up from drugstore brands but it didn't transform my hair or even give it all that much "lift and bounce" as it promised. Not bad but not great.

Mousse!

From Nancy:
Garnier Fructis Style Volume Inject Mousse
VERY GOOD!
I really like using this!
Great packaging-- spout is sturdy, doesn't fall off & need to be held on to dispense.
Needed a new mousse, this may be the one!

Hairspray

From Nancy:
Garnier Fructis Style XXL Volume Hairspray
Tried & liked it.
Holds for a long time.
Not too stiff.

Redken Thickening Lotion 06 Body Builder

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As resident thin haired girl, I have been lucky enough to test the promising thickening and volumizing products. Yet again, Redken has not disappointed. This lotion is not thin nor thick. The smell is light, pleasant. I rubbed it in and took to blow drying. My hair definitely felt thicker and fuller. It's become part of my daily wash and dry.

Redken

Review from Emily:
-Redken Color Protect shampoo and conditioner: Both worked well, shampoo cleaned, conditioner moisturized without adding too much weight.
I like a little heavier conditioner, but would recommend, especially to someone coloring their hair red or another color that fades quickly.

Oscar Blandi

Review from Emily:
-Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo: Works ok, tried it on 3-4 day old hair, but $20 bottle only lasted 3 applications!
Would not recommend.

Garnier Fructis Shampoo & Conditioner

Fortifying
Hope from work (short, bleach-induced platinum hair) gave this a whirl. She said her hair has never felt so soft.
Her daughter (long, frizzy hair) tried it & got smooth, lovely hair.
Nice fruity smell, too!

Rahua Hair Care

I tested the Rahua Shampoo & Conditioner.
I may be in love. The shampoo really cleans, but there's no stripped-hair feeling. The conditioner is thick & creamy & leaves my hair soft! I have thick, yet oily, & often times frizzy hair. Finding products that really work is very rare. Both products have a light anise & nutty scent--kind of anise-liquor next to a bottle of amaretto. I highly recommend it!
As an added bonus, there's even a contest the company is running: the winner will receive a trip for two at Luna Runtun Adventure Spa in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest!
Order & enter the sweepstakes at amazonbeautysecret.com.

Redken Body Full Shampoo and Conditioner

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This shampoo/conditioner combo does exactly what is says. "Gently cleanses and builds volume." My hair feels clean after using both, but it also feels thicker-which is pretty huge for me. So far, I'm loving these REDKEN Body Full products. Again, I'm having to ration them. I don't want to run out.

FULL FRAME 07 PROTECTIVE VOLUMIZING MOUSSE

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FULL FRAME 07 PROTECTIVE VOLUMIZING MOUSSE

This is a nice thick foam. But because of that, blow drying takes a little bit longer. The scent is unpleasant-metallic, odd. Yet, I did notice my hair appeared fuller. It seems too heavy for very fine hair. Definitely worth a try if you have normal to thick hair.

Redken Body Full Carbo-Bodifier

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Love love love this product! It actually looks like I have hair after I use this fun foam. After towel drying, I pump twice and apply. After blow drying and curling, my 2 strands look like 6 or 8 strands. It also seems to give my hair some memory to hold the curls. I like it so much that I ration it. I only use it on the weekends or for special occasions. Ha.

Alterna Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner

Alterna
Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner

Can you believe this shampoo and conditioner is made of caviar extracts and seasilk? Crazy, huh? It has a lovely scent and is thick and creamy. I am not sure what happens to hair when it ages (besides turning gray), but this stuff does wonders. Every time I used the conditioner, someone told me that my hair looked really good. My hair felt smooth, looked über shiny, and was very manageable. Caviar or not, I am all about the Alterna haircare.

emmet cooper HAIRCARE

emmett cooper HAIRCARE
volume wash - shampoo


Smells like delicious green apples right out of the bottle. Thick and rich. My hair feels clean and revitalized. Great for limp and thin hair. It can be used every day, but I prefer to keep it for the weekends! I give it 5 stars.

Redken Workforce 09 Flexible Voluminizing Spray

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According to the Redken website, this is used at Fashion Week and is a best seller. Sorry, I wasn't sold. The smell is very metallic/grandma-very hard to look past. It's a bit sticky and didn't give me the hold that I wanted after I curled my hair. I tried it several times hoping that I would change my mind but I didn't.

EO - Shampoo and Conditioner

EO
Rose & Chamomile
Shampoo and Conditioner
(Dry or Treated Hair)

I have been using the EO Shampoo and Conditioner after working out for the past few weeks. They come in thin, environmentally friendly, travel-easy bottles, that fit great in my toiletry bag. Both the shampoo and conditioner smell like chamomile with a hint of rose. It is a nice, clean smell. The shampoo is not runny or heavy, the conditioner is nice and thick. My hair feels light and smooth after I shower. All of the products made at EO are not tested on animals. They are made of all natural ingredients and essential oils (EO = essential oils). EO is a family owned company that prides itself on putting the planet and people first, not profit. They are a Certified Organic Manufacturer who make a wide array of products from haircare to cleaning products. I can't wait to try out the bubble bath! Check out EO's website to find out more about their all-natural products. http://www.eoproducts.com/Default.aspx

emmet cooper HAIRCARE

emmett cooper HAIRCARE
hydration rinse

This is my first encounter with emmett cooper hair products. I wish I had tried it before. This conditioner not only makes your hair feel smooth, but clean, shiny, and light as well. When you first open the cap, the smell is strong, clean, and infused with herbs. It is nice and thick, but rinses well. I didn't feel as if my hair was waxy or greasy after showering and towel-drying my hair. It definitely makes my curly hair easier to manage and straighten. This is a must-have in your shower. No wonder why so many celebrities us his products!

Shampoo: Redken--Hair Cleansing Cream Shampoo

Redken
Hair Cleansing Cream Shampoo
I love this shampoo!!!
Gets rid of the build-up & goo, leaves hair feeling soft & clean.
Nice, thick formula smells fruity, but not in the childish way.
I use it once a week or two, it even makes my other shampoo/conditioner work better.
I use a good dollop & leave it in till I can feel my scalp being clean. I know that sounds weird, but use this & understand!

Frederic Fekkai - Glossing Creme

Frederic Fekkai
Glossing Creme


For application before and after drying/styling, this is a lovely product! Made with olive oil and other goodies, it has a light scent that won't interfere with any of your other smellies. It leaves hair touchably soft and with the perfect amount of shine. One word of caution: this is not a humid weather/frizz-fighting product. I found out the hard way when my sleek bob poufed out yesterday! But come fall, Fekkai and I will be friends again.

Nick Chavez: Cello-Gloss

Nick Chavez
Cello-Gloss

You probably don't know Nick unless you're an avid QVC watcher/shopper. A few years ago, my mom was hooked on Nick.
I finally tried his Cello-Gloss product, which is supposed to add shine and renew hair color, for those damaged (aka fried) or just looking a little worse for chemical indulgences.
Having recently gotten highlights - the first sign of spring - I thought I'd give them a little help in retaining their luminescent loveliness. Here's how it went:
Take shower, shampoo hair. Pour out shockingly dark product, consistency similar to runny conditioner. Notice a slight yet unpleasant smell. Massage into hair, as directed, creating taupe foam. Place shower cap on. Rinse off, get out of shower, wrap up in towel. Re-read directions and wonder who the hell is going to run their hair dryer for 15 minutes straight. I make it 10 before getting totally fed up and wondering if the motor on my dryer is going to burn out. Meanwhile, little trails of brown water are drippling down my neck and cleavage. Get back in shower, rinse out product and re-shampoo in cold water. Shivering ensues. Get out, don the ever luxe towel turban, get dressed, etc. After the usual 15 minutes in the turban, I blow dry.
Result: The dullest looking hair I've ever had! Cursing ensues. Thank God I hadn't planned on leaving the house!
Conclusion: I hate Nick and his stinkin' product! Later, I dumped the rest of the bottle down the drain and happily placed it in the recycling bin! Ba-bye!

Jonathan Silky Dirt

Jonathan Product
Silky Dirt Shine and Define Creme

I'm not a huge fan of Jonathan. I think he behaves like an ass and isn't as good-looking as he thinks he is. However, Silky Dirt is actually a worth-while product. With Spring, the humidity is creeping up around the Great Lakes, even if the temperatures aren't. So, seeking to get a handle on my hair before total chaos, aka the frizzies, begins. I was surprisingly pleased with Silky Dirt. But heed the directions - a little goes a long way. I have thick hair, naturally wavy and full, in a bob. I used a little less than a pea-sized amount and got smooth, tamed hair - wonderful! Another word of caution: I would categorize this as a defining and smoothing creme, not a shine product. If shine is what you seek above all, you'll need something else. I can't quite describe the scent, but it's okay - not yummy, not offensive.

Good Ol' Head & Shoulders

Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp

Back to my itchy scalp woes... It's driving me crazy. I find myself with a new nightly ritual - 30 minutes of scalp scratching - yuck! I tried fancy, and now I'm trying the "tried and true" - Head & Shoulders from the drug store. So far, so good. Much less itching, much happier girl. I got the 2-in-1, mostly because I was being cheap. My hair is pretty much the same, just a little more body. I'll trade a bit of sleekness for a scratch-free existence. I hate that the parent company is an animal tester though, so we'll see what I can find that works and isn't a torture device for our bunny friends. To be continued...

Palmer's Olive Oil Shampoo & Conditioner

From Eleasha:
Palmer's Olive Oil Formula Replenishing Conditioner
Palmer's Olive Oil Formula Smoothing Shampoo
I love them both. I got them to me at the perfect time because I was looking for a good shampoo. You probably don't know much about my hair type, but it can be tough to find a shampoo to really clean my hair since I have to add oil every other day or so, but with this shampoo my hair felt squeaky clean after just a couple washes. The conditioner leaves it feeling soft and moisturized.

the great Pantene debate

Pantene-- good or evil?
I used to use the daily clarifying shampoo & random conditioner.
It felt like the shampoo was working, and my hair was always very smooth.
4 years ago, I went to get my hair cut, & the stylist could tell I had been using Pantene.
She then proceeded to run the blade of a pair of scissors down a lock of my hair. There was enough freaking wax for a votive! From one lock of hair!
Yet Pantene still gets the Allure's best every year.
I don't get it, am I one of the few who gets candle-head, or am I just the minority who is opposed to it?

Aussie-- Cleanse & Mend Shampoo & Conditioner

Aussie Cleanse & Mend Shampoo & Conditioner
says it will fix oily scalp & dry, frizzy ends.
My hair can get pretty freaking oily (travels from my skin), so I like when the shampoo feels like it really cleans.
My hair is thick & wavy, so I need to condition or it is a big ole snarly mess.
The Cleanse & Mend Shampoo & Conditioner work!
I am down to washing my hair every other day, and it doesn't look like I put a can of pomade on:)
Also, not feeling a ton of build-up- always a plus!

Philip Kingsley -Take Comfort

I started working out this year, and ever since joining the gym, have noticed that the back of my head itches. Repeatedly assured by my mom/resident RN that I do not have cooties, I consulted my hair stylist. She was personally familiar with my little ailment, and said it was due to the sanitizer we use to wipe down the weight machines. The germa-phobe in me is stronger than my hair pride/vanity, so easing up on sanitizer is not gonna happen.
Take Comfort is a 3-piece kit consisting of Flaky and Itchy Scalp Shampoo, Moisture Balancing Conditioner, and Flaky and Itchy Scalp Tonic. I used them all over one weekend. My scalp itched a little less, but my hair was first greasy and limp, and then limp and too soft. I have a stylized bob and hair that has a natural wave, which I fight back with a flat iron. There is such a thing as too soft. The itch was diminished, but this time, hair pride won out. I'm back to good hair and itchy scalp. Thank Goodness - no dandruff.

Philip Kingsley - Straight Hair

Philip Kingsley
Straight Hair

Ok, so this is the second hair straightening product I was able to test. Philip Kingsley is known around the world as the "hair doctor" and is recognized as the leading authority on hair health. After reading more about his products I was definitely interested in testing this product. Again, I tried it last week before work. Straight Hair is gel in a thin pump tube. I had a little bit of trouble getting the gel out of the tube, but soon figured out the trick. The smell is a strong botanical odor. The first time I used it, I think I used a little too much. My hair was straight all right, but kind of limp and flat. I decided to try it again the next morning, and this time I used less. My hair was straight and soft. I have no doubts that it would stay straight in humid conditions, but I fear that summer may never come. My recommendation is that you do not use conditioner in the shower if you are planning to use this product. I felt as if it made my hair way too limp and flat. Without conditioner and with a small amount of Straight Hair, my hair appeared smooth and straight, just like the tube stated. Again, I will wait until summer to retest this product. Check back at a later date!

Redken - Ultra Straight Balm

Redken 5th Avenue NYC
Align 12
Ultra-straight Balm
Medium Control

This is the first of 2 hair straightening products that I recently tried. Redken's Ultra-straight Balm is a thick, creamy balm designed to tame unruly hair. Being that my hair is fairly curly, I was excited to test this product. My first trial was before work last week. It was easy to pump the balm out of its tube. The smell is not too strong and definitely not offensive. It reminded me of being in a salon. I applied it to my damp hair and went on a straightening mission with the hairdryer. It worked great. Not too greasy, not too limp, but fairly straight without the use of a flat iron. Since it has not been hot and humid in MI yet, I am unable to determine how humidity-resistant it really is. I will be sure to try it again once summer arrives.

Help from Redken

Redken has instructional web-videos!
http://www.redken.com/inspire/fashion-week/podcasts-spring-2008/
I watched the three from the Spring/Summer 2008 runway series.
While I think the first style (up-dos redefined) looks a touch slovenly, I now understand how to back-comb (or tease, as we hair-plebes call it).
I recommend the Waves one- there's this tip on how to use hot rollers starting in the middle of your hair that would stop the finger-burns from trying to hold down the ends & twirl. I bet it would even work with curling irons.
I like that the videos are straight-forward & give clear instructions. I almost would consider waking up early to do something with my hair on a daily basis. Almost.

Jonathan Hydrate & Shine

moved from lotions & potions

Monday, March 10, 2008

Jonathan Hydrate & Shine
Oh, Jonathan - really? This is the best you could hair-do? It's such a hair-don't!

You know him from the Bravo show "Blow Out." If you watched (I admit, sometimes there was nothing better on), you saw his struggles (i.e. temper tantrums) trying to get his own product line launched. The one thing I will compliment him on is a wise decision to go to QVC. And as a consumer, here's why I love the Q: 30-day return policy - for stuff you've already tried/used!
I ordered the Hydrate & Shine 5-piece Discovery Kit. I discovered I hate this line!
Each piece in this kit is strongly scented - but not with the same scent, and some of them kinda stink. The ones that don't are reminiscent of coconut. But, by far, my biggest complaint about this line is that it doesn't work - it doesn't make your hair look hydrated, and the only shine it delivers is what you get from not washing your hair - what American girl really wants to look like they haven't bathed in three days?!?! And it totally weighs down your hair - again the greasy, hair stuck to your scalp look that I am NOT going for. Granted, I didn't try the Volumizing option, but I don't need help in that department (unless of course, I've used the Hydrate & Shine products). As for hydration, the first few hours my hair looked more fried at the ends, not less...then the greasies took hold. Definitely not recommending this one. Definitely sending it back to my beloved Q.
Posted by Catherine at 11:03 AM

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray

moved from lotions & potions
Thursday, March 20, 2008

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray
So, you may not understand if you wash your hair every day, but this "dirty hair spray" is awesome. Spray it on, brush it out (I prefer to use a comb) and your hair looks and smells clean! I may be down to washing once a week! I would like to compare different brands, I know Bumble and Bumle make a similar product, but I really liked this.
Posted by Emily at 11:02 AM