LUSH hair-- for real!

Did you know that LUSH makes haircare?

Yes, I'm getting to this party a bit late, but I get so involved with the soaps that I don't notice anything else-- like the very pleasant hour I spent with a strange boy in Toronto, just smelling the soaps.

When I got the Godiva shampoo bar, I was thinking chocolate. It's not.

That was the only even mildly disappointing thing about this.

The jasmine scent is delicious, your bathroom & your hair will smell tropical and wonderful. The recommended usage for the bar is to rub it on your head, but I prefer to lather it in my hands and wash my hair that way. I guess it's just the control freak in me. Lathers well and rinses easily. Leaves hair wonderfully clean & soft. I'm hooked!

Add to that-- no plastic bottles, so no waste. Just phenomenal hair.

After getting my hair all nice & clean, a good conditioner is vital.

I like a leave-in-- less shower time, easier to comb, fights frizz.

However, many leave-ins leave my hair either dry or oily. Dry hair is no good, I am not a fan of the straw-head look. Oily is even worse-- can make my neck break out (ewwww).

LUSH's R&B is the perfect middle ground, just like baby bear's porridge! My hair is so happy, and combing is so much easier. I would have named it Magic Smoothing Cream, cause that's what it is. And it smells lovely. Economical, too, as a little bit goes a long way. I just dip the tip of a finger into the pot and use that.

Just as well I didn't catch on to the Haircare at the LUSH store in Toronto, as I'm sure hauling a trailer full of product across the border wouldn't have been practical. Now, the power of Internet shopping can enable everyone to have great LUSH hair!

Redken goes natural

Redken has launched a new collection-- Nature’s Rescue. The products are paraben-free, sulfate-free and silicone-free haircare essentials, with plant and marine extracts, that remove impurities and buildup while helping nourish hair.

I am loving the Refreshing Detox Shampoo, Refining Sea Polish, and Cooling Deep Conditioner!

The shampoo really cleans without over-cleaning. Great de-junker.

The Polish is the coolest thing-- exfoliation for your scalp! Not too rough, but a super-scrub. Better scalp=better hair!

And the conditioner is very nice, cooling on your melon, feels light, but leaves hair soft and well-conditioned.

A+ for Redken!

Oscar Hair for real life

Last night’s Oscar styles were full of simplicity and retro elegance, including the hair! From ponytails worn by Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon to topknots and buns worn by Hailee Steinfeld, Melissa Leo and Sandra Bullock to the 70's waves worn by Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Marissa Tomei, Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman and Mandy Moore. Pureology PureArtists, Ruth Roche, Dawn Stemick, Darren Pena, Brenda McGann, Christopher Devaney and Sandra Joseph give step-by-steps on how to achieve these hot hairstyle trends from last night’s Oscars:

Trend #1: Polished Pony – as seen on Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman

Step 1: Spray Pureology ColourStylist FortifyingHeatSpray to entire head, along with a blend of ColourStylist AntiSplitBlowDry and NourishingNectar before drying in a directional pattern of the ponytail shape with a flat paddle brush.

Step 2: When hair is dry, create a high ponytail on the crown of the head using a small paddle brush and/or combs to ensure a perfectly smooth perimeter. After securing pony with an elastic, apply a pea-sized amount of ColourStylist SilkBodifier to a fine-toothed Comb and smooth in any flyaways around the hairline.

Step 3: Take a 1″ section of hair from the ponytail and spray ColourStylist StrengtheningControl hairspray down the length and smooth with fingers before wrapping around base of pony to hide the elastic.

Step 4: To create the waves Reese had, take a 1" hot curling iron and wrap hair around it and drop.

Step 5: Smooth length of ponytail with ColourStylist CuticlePolisher

Trend #2: Waves of Glory as seen on Amy Adams, Natalie Portman, Mandy Moore, Anne Hathaway

Step 1: Spray Pureology ColourStylist FortifyingHeatSpray throughout hair and layer SilkBodifier and NourishingNectar in as well. Blowdry completely.

Step 2: Twist varying sized sections no larger than 1″ and wrap down the length of a curling iron. For added strength spray each section with ColourStylist StrengtheningControl zero dulling hairspray prior to wrapping. Secure each curl with a single prong clip to cool.

Step 3: Drop clips and work a tiny, pea-sized amount of ColourStylist CuticlePolisher through hands prior to breaking up curls with fingertips.

Step 4: Finish with a light mist of ColourStylist StrengtheningControl zero dulling hairspray.

Trend #3: Top Knot as seen on Hailee Steinfeld, Sandra Bullock and Melissa Leo

Step 1: Prep hair with Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Condition

Step 2: Work ColourStylist Nourishing Nectar sculpting gel through damp hair

Step 3: Blow hair dry smooth with a large paddle brush

Step 4: Take a dime-size amount of ColourStylist CuticlePolisher and run through hair from mid-shaft to ends

Step 5: Draw hair into a high ponytail, take a small egg-size ColourStylist SilkBodifier voluminizing mousse and run over ponytail

Step 6: Separate pony into two sections and twist sections over each other

Secure end of pony with elastic

Step 7: Wrap pony around base and secure with a bobby pin. Finish look with ColourStylist Strengthing Contol zero dulling hairspray