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Haircare

Beauty Tools Haircare

Sleek & Smooth Holiday Hair Made Easy with ghd

November 22, 2022

ghd Max Styler review - wide plate flat iron

You girls know how big of a fan I am of the smooth sleek hair look and my favorite styling tools from ghd are on sale for Black Friday! They are offering a discount up to 30% off sitewide now through 12/1 and will have special daily deals throughout the week. I really love their Platinum+ 1 Inch Styler and was recently sent the Max Styler to try. Both are great high quality heat styling tools I think are essential in my hair styling routine.

ghd Max Styler review - wide plate flat iron

I have naturally frizzy thick strands of hair which is hard to tame and the added Florida humidity makes it challenging for my hair to look smooth. I’m all for getting extra help with heat tools and some smoothing/styling products. The ghd flat irons have been game changers.

ghd Max Styler vs Platinum+ Flat Iron

The ghd Max Styler is their wide plate flat iron. The plates are 2 inches wide designed for those with longer or thicker hair for easier styling. The Max Styler has a pre-set temperature of 365 degrees for safer heat styling, dual-zone heat sensors to ensure temperature remains consistent from the roots all the way to the tip, 30 second heat up time, smooth gloss coated plates that glide along hair, rounded edges and an automatic sleep/off mode.

The Max Styler is also versatile for any type of hair styling. You can use it for a smooth sleek look. Since the edges are rounded and smooth you can also curl the ends or curl the hair in loose waves.

Here’s a look at the Max Styler and some before and after shots. Step 1 is to apply their Body Guard Heat Protectant.

ghd Body Guard Heat Protectant

Hair before

ghd wide paddle brush

section hair

sectioned hair for flat ironing

ghd max styler wide plate flat iron

I also love their Body Guard Heat Protectant. It dispenses a super fine even mist on the hair so there’s no clumping. Their Paddle Brush is another recent love and I really like their Detangling Comb to brush out wet hair.

ghd paddle brush and comb

ghd max styler wide flat iron

ghd max styler wide flat iron

ghd max styler wide flat iron

Overall love and highly recommend. Since the Max Styler has wider plates it makes the process of straightening my hair a lot faster. The Max Styler is 25% off for Black Friday and Platinum+ 1 inch styler is 25% off.

You can shop the sale now until 12/1.

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Many thanks to ghd for partnering to sponsor this post.

Haircare Sephora

New Hair Care Tries & Current Loves

August 29, 2022

Hair Care Loves from Sephora

Sharing a roundup of some new hair care tries from Sephora today along with an update on other products I tried earlier this year!

Dae Monsoon Moisture Milk Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner

There are a few new shampoo and conditioner formulas out now. As a fan of the Dae Haircare line I immediately purchased the new Monsoon Moisture Milk Hydrating Shampoo ($26) and Monsoon Moisture Hydrating Conditioner ($26). Both are really nice for adding moisture back into the hair. The Shampoo lathers nicely and has a soft almost meadowfoam like scent to it. The Hydrating Conditioner is like a thick cream, but still has enough fluidity to pump out easily.

I really like both, but if you have normal/oily hair I’d recommend sticking with their Signature Shampoo and Conditioner (both also great and versatile, and they smell like bubblegum, in a good way!)

Olaplex No 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo

I love Olaplex and they recently launched their No 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo ($30) and I really like it. It’s a great clarifying formula to remove product buildup, sweat and dirt that accumulates. You do need to follow up with a conditioner or mask, I use their No 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner when I use this.

Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream

For hair care styling and anti-frizz treatments I have a few staples I wanted to give some love to. I’ve tried so many blow dry heat protectants and the Briogeo Farewell Frizz Blow Dry Perfection Heat Protectant Cream ($26) is one I keep going back to. It is a lightweight cream with the perfect texture for my hair. Doesn’t weigh it down, doesn’t end up being too thick, leaves hair smooth and soft!

dpHUE Color Fresh Leave-In Conditioner Mist

The dpHUE Color Fresh Leave-In Conditioner Mist ($28) continues to be a favorite leave in conditioner spray I use on damp hair.

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo

For dry shampoo I really love the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo ($30). It has their fast-absorbing powders to soak up sweat. I still love the original version but have the advance formula in rotation right now. I brought the mini with me to Key West last month.

Leave in Hair Masks ColorWow, K18, Living Proof

For the weekly mask/treatment there are three I’ve been testing and really like. You don’t need all three. Pick one based on your hair type and needs. I think these are a nice alternative to the rinse out conditioner or rinse out mask because these you can leave in the hair.

The ColorWOW Dream Coat Supernatural Anti-Frizz Treatment ($28) is my favorite because of the formula and spritz style applicator. You can spray and coat your hair evenly and it lasts several shampoos. It acts like a keratin treatment to smooth out the hair.

Another great option is the K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask ($75). This is a leave-in treatment you use on towel dried or damp hair. When I use this I don’t use a rinse out conditioner. A little goes a long way. Leave it in the hair for about 5 minutes to activate before styling. Really works to smooth out hair and restore moisture.

The latest in leave-in treatments is the Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Leave-in Hair Treatment ($45). This is the newest one I’ve tried and I really like this one too. With this formula a little goes a very long way, so I’d say less is more. This is another product you leave in the hair after shampoo/cleansing. Leave it in 10 minutes before blow drying or heat styling. It’s designed to be a hair strengthener that leaves it smooth and shiny.

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Leave-in Hair Treatment

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Leave-in Hair Treatment

Hair Care Loves from Sephora

You can find everything available at Sephora. If you’re not a Beauty Insider yet you can sign up for free here!

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Many thanks to Sephora for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.

Haircare

Smooth Shiny Hair with Kerastase

October 14, 2021

Kerastase Elixir Ultime review

A number of you have asked for more hair styling features and reviews and today I’m excited to share a look at the Kerastase Elixir Ultime Oil Serum ($51 for 3.4 oz/100 ml) available at Sephora. It’s one of my favorite multi-tasking products to add hydration to my ends, reduce frizz and add shine without weighing down my hair.

The Elixir Ultime Oil Serum has a blend of different oils including marula oil (for softness and shine), camelia oil (to keep in moisture) and argan oil (to strengthen and protect). It’s suitable for all hair types and has a beautiful scent with a mix of floral and woody notes.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum review

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum review

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum review

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum review

You can use this on damp hair before you blow dry as it doubles as a heat protectant and leave in conditioner. One pump is enough to coat my entire head evenly from roots to ends on damp hair.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum review

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum review

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum review

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum review

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum at Sephora review

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil Serum review

You can also use this as a finishing product worked into the ends to help with any dry areas or lightly throughout the hair to smooth frizz and add shine. I’ll sometimes pair it with one of their hair primers like the Discipline or Resistance Blow Dry Primer for added heat protection. Shine will last up to 48 hours. It also works to seal split ends. If you’re looking for a good hair oil, I highly recommend checking this one out!

You can also find the Elixir Ultime available in a Travel Size (1.7 oz/50 ml), Shampoo, Conditioner and Mask format. Do you have any Kerastase favorites? Let me know what your favorite line is!

Available at Sephora.

 

 

Sponsored by Kerastase.

Haircare

Hair Care Loves Right Now

September 29, 2021

Hair Care Favorites from Oribe, Sisley, Olaplex, dpHue, Molton Brown

By popular request I have an updated Hair Care Roundup! Today’s roundup is Part 1 focused on shampoos, conditioners, and masks. Part 2 (coming soon) will have my favorites for styling. I have thick hair strands but with age I’ve noticed some thinning. My hair hasn’t been highlighted or bleached for at least a year since I tried to grow out my natural hair color and also get rid of the damaged sections. This year I noticed a lot more white hairs start to pop up and started to do root touch ups. I might go back for some color at some point soon.

For hair care since I have thick naturally frizzy hair I look for smoothing products. I wash my hair either daily or every other day. Here are my favorite brands right now.

Hair Rituel by Sisley

Best of Hair Rituel by Sisley | The Beauty Lookbook

The best of the best that I’ve tried is from Sisley with the Hair Rituel line. There is really nothing quite as good in my experience and 100% worth the splurge. I try to stock up during sales or good gift with purchase options. Saks is having their Friends and Family event with 15% off beauty (on most brands, now through 10/4) and the Sisley-Paris Hair Rituel website often has good bundles and offers.

I love that the line has a very natural soothing scent with each product so it’s not heavily perfumed and won’t interfere with my fragrances. My favorites:

Revitalizing Smoothing Shampoo ($79 for 200 ml) – I have thicker hair strands that is frizz prone and this helps the best to smooth my hair. It has macadamia oil which adds a nice shine. It’s comforting to the scalp and lathers well. (Also available in a Jumbo 500 ml Bottle which I have splurged on before.)

Restructuring Conditioner ($79 for 200 ml) – Another favorite to help hydrate hair, restore shine and works well to smooth and detangle.

Regenerating Mask ($100 for 200 ml) – I use this once a week or alternate with my other hair masks. It has four botanical oils including Shea, Macadamia, Camellia and Hazelnut. Adds shine and feels nice when massaged into the roots.

Nourishing Balm* ($120, apply as needed) – A unique pre-shampoo treatment I apply on ends and leave in for 30 minutes before rinsing out. Works well when ends feel ultra dry or brittle.

Soothing Rebalancing Shampoo with Sage Extract* ($79 for 200 ml) – This is the latest from Sisley for scalp care to be used in conjunction with their new Soothing Rebalancing Cure for a 3 week intensive program to rebalance the scalp. I have a pretty healthy scalp so I use this as a clarifying treatment 1x per week to help rebalance everything. It works to help reset everything for my scalp as needed.

As an intensive program treatment, they recommend using this 3x per week for 3 weeks. After they recommend alternating with your regular shampoo.

Pre-Shampoo Purifying Mask ($100 for 200 ml) – a unique mask that absorbs excess oil, dirt and impurities in a White Clay form. Love that it has a tip applicator so you can squeeze it right into the scalp. Helps to rebalance and clean. One of the few scalp treatments I can use because others don’t rinse easily or are irritating on my sensitive scalp.

Shop My Hair Rituel Favorites:

 

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Oribe

Oribe Gold Lust Favorites | The Beauty Lookbook

Another long-time favorite, I really love Oribe Hair Care and Styling Products. My go-to formulas for cleansing include the Gold Lust Repair Shampoo ($49 for 8.5 oz) and Conditioner ($52 for 6.8 oz). This line is great for shiny healthy hair. I love that both help hydrate and add shine without weighing it down. I also have used and loved the Gold Lust Transformative Masque ($66) but usually end up repurchasing other formulas.

You can find these in travel sizes individually or in the Oribe Obsessed Set ($49). Also available in the Liter sizes which are a much better buy value-wise in the jumbo bottles (I have bought in the larger sizes and think it’s 100% worth it). During the holiday they often have sets or bundles that give you a price break.

Shop my Oribe Favorites:

 

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Olaplex

Olaplex Favorites | The Beauty Lookbook

It was love at first wash with Olaplex. So many recommended it and I found perfect when I had color-treated hair. It is one of the few bonding/strengthening formulas that I’ve tried and truly liked. With color treatment + heat styling I noticed my hair became more sensitive and prone to breakage. Olaplex really helped prevent breakage for me. I still use it on non-color treated hair and love it. I would say this formula is probably my most repurchased in hair care.

If you’ve never tried the line I 100% recommend getting their Healthy Hair Essentials Set ($60, for an $84 value) to try their best sellers at a price break.

I think the No. 3 Hair Perfector really makes a difference as a pre-wash strengthening treatment. The No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner are great for dry or damaged hair.

I tried the No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask and thought it was just ok. A bit small for the price and the pump wasn’t easy to use (kept getting stuck).

I buy mine from Sephora or Nordstrom. Shop My Olaplex Favorites:

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dpHue

dpHue Hair Care Favorites

dpHue is a great line for hair care I feel is unique in the hair care industry. Their Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse ($35 for 8.5 oz, or $57 for 20 oz) is a great cleanser you can use instead of shampoo to clean the hair without stripping it. The Apple Cider Vinegar scent is pretty potent when you have it on the scalp, but once rinsed out I don’t smell it.

They recently launched an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse Lite* ($35 for 8.5 oz) which is better suited for fine hair. I tried this and liked it but since I have thicker hair, I prefer the original.

The Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Masque* ($42 for 9 oz) is a new favorite. I just started using it and think it’s a great medium-nourishing hair mask. I like that it works on the ends but doesn’t feel too heavy. It also doesn’t have the same Apple Cider Vinegar scent the rinse does. The masque is more floral scented. Will 100% repurchase.

Shop my dpHue Favorites:

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Molton Brown

Molton Brown Botanical Hair Care Review

Molton Brown recently launched new Botanical Hair Care Collection* in a few formulas. I tried the new Hydrating Shampoo ($30 for 10 fl oz) and Hydrating Conditioner ($35 for 10 fl oz) and the Repairing Shampoo ($30 for 10 fl oz) and Repairing Conditioner ($35 for 10 fl oz). They also added an Intense Repairing Hair Mask ($40).

I tried each one and was really impressed with the Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner formula. It contains Camomile to soothe and restore hair. Left my hair smooth and cleansed. I also really like the Intense Repairing Mask for added hydration. Highly recommend checking it out! Available at Molton Brown.

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Other Loves

A few other loves I wanted to mention that I’ve loved. The Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Deeply Reparative Hair Mask is the best deep hydration mask I’ve tried. I use this once a week and love it. I am currently out but just repurchased.

Christophe Robin makes some great masks as well (also currently out but on my list to repurchase once I use other products up). The Christophe Regenerating Hair Mask with Prickly Pear Seed Oil is also a phenomenal product to restore shine and moisture. It is on the thick side so I recommend you avoid putting it directly on the scalp because it can be a bit difficult to rinse out. For color-treated hair the Shade Variation Masks were life savers for me. I used the Warm Chestnut one and loved it!

Kerastase is another brand I really love. When I had highlights, I really loved the Blond Absolu Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo, Blond Absolu Hydrating Illuminating Shampoo and Strengthening Conditioner. It was one of the few formulas I LOVED for color-treated hair.

Also really like the Kerastase Resistance lineup as well, just haven’t repurchased in a while but it’s the one formula I keep going back to with Kerastase.

Shop My Favorites:

If you’re looking for a new shampoo or conditioner to try I hope you found this roundup helpful! Since the holiday season is a few months away I already see a lot of mini value sets out. I always try minis before buying the full size.

Let me know what your favorites are right now! Would love to hear about your hair care routine! Stay tuned for styling favorites soon!

Press samples indicated with a *.  All others purchased by me.

Beauty Favorites Haircare

Hair Care Favorites from Sephora

April 8, 2021

Best Hair Care Sephora Sale

The Sephora Spring Savings Event starts on 4/9 for Rouge Members! I’ve put together my list of top recommendations in a 3 part series: Hair, Skin and Makeup. I’m kicking off the first roundup with my top picks for hair care.

The event is available to Rouge Members first for early access online and in store. The dates and savings by tier are listed below. Some exclusions and limits apply. Use code OMGSPRING at checkout to redeem offer:

  • Rouge Members Save 20% off 4/9 to 4/19
  • VIB Members Save 15% off 4/13 to 4/19
  • Insiders Save 10% off 4/15 to 4/19

Here are my favorites for hair care split by category. I’ve tested so much product over the years and I’m one who washes my hair almost daily. I go through a lot of shampoo and conditioners. I neglected masks for a while but started using them again and am so amazed at how good some are. I didn’t realize how dry my hair was!

Best Shampoo and Conditioners

Best Shampoo + Conditioners and Hair Masks

My three go-to brands at Sephora for shampoo and conditioner these days are Olaplex, Oribe and Briogeo. I don’t use a clarifying shampoo or product regularly but I really like the rinse from dpHUE. What I use and repurchase the most frequently:

Best Hair Mask

My go-to mask has been the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair. When I had more noticeable highlights I also really loved the Christophe Robin Shade Variations (available in different tones). It lasts about 3-5 washes. For an at home darkening product I also loved the Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask in Cocoa. This worked really well when I had some brassy highlights that were growing out and I wanted a temporary color at home (also only lasts about 5 washes for me).

For a deeper condition I can’t rave enough about the one from Kiehl’s. It’s one I just recently discovered and I’m 100% obsessed. If I could just pick one, it would be the Kiehl’s for non-color treated hair. For color-treated hair plus tint I really love Christophe Robin.

One from the archives, hair highlights from 2018. Shine is thanks to the Christophe Robin Shade Variation Hair Mask in Warm Chestnut.

Christophe Robin Hair Mask Variations Chestnut

Best Dry Shampoo + Styling Favorites

Best Hair Care Styling Products

For dry shampoo I try to keep this to a minimum because I find it can build up. In Florida with the heat and humidity + sweat if I’m outdoors there is no skipping a wash. I do like some of these to add texture though. Ones I really love:

Best Hair Styling: Hold + Shine

For styling these are products I like to either add hold or shine:

Best Heat Protectants or Primers

If you blow dry or heat treat your hair, here are the best heat protectants I’ve tried:

Misc.

Dyson Airwrap Styler

Andrew bought the Dyson Airwrap Complete Set for me over Christmas and I absolutely love it. I have not yet reviewed it but hope to soon. The Complete Set is usually almost always sold out. They do have some bundles pop up every once in a while like the Airwrap Styler Limited-Edition Gift Set (same as the complete but with an added pouch).

During the holiday I’m that person who is almost impossible to find a present for. I finally found something beauty-related that I wouldn’t buy for myself but still kind wanted. I held off mainly because I already own the Supersonic Hair Dryer.

I have not used the Supersonic since I got the Airwrap in December. I love the versatility of the Airwrap version and attachments are easy to use. Power-wise I feel like the Supersonic is stronger in the airflow and is also easier to use with a traditional round brush. The Airwrap is still very powerful and I find it gentler on my hair.

Dyson Airwrap Styler

I’ve tried all the attachments. Review very soon! I did buy the 1.2 inch Long Barrel Attachment curlers which is best for my hair length. In December the set barrels worked just fine but I have not had a hair cut in a few months and find the longer barrels work better.

 

 

That wraps up my hair care favorites roundup! To recap on the Sephora Spring Savings Event, use code OMGSPRING at checkout to redeem offer for these dates:

  • Rouge Members Save 20% off 4/9 to 4/19
  • VIB Members Save 15% off 4/13 to 4/19
  • Insiders Save 10% off 4/15 to 4/19

I’m hosting another giveaway! 3 different people will be selected to win a $100 eGift card to Sephora. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older. Details:

  • Open Internationally
  • Must be 18 years and older
  • All you have to do to enter is follow the steps in the widget below, complete at least 1 of the entries
  • The more steps you complete, the more entries
  • Giveaway runs 4/8 through 4/11/2021 11:59 PM EST
  • I’ll pick 3 winners on April 12, 2021 and email winners that day (winners will be emailed directly from me, I will not be contacting any other way)
  • Not sponsored or affiliated

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Haircare

Best Hair Care Buys for Dry Hair

March 13, 2019

Best Hair Care for Dry Damaged Hair

Today I’m rounding up some of my best hair care buys for detangling dry color-treated hair. I’ve been through two rounds of highlights treatments since last fall. This second round I’ve noticed my hair has been significantly more dry and prone to breakage which I attribute to the dry weather combined with Florida water. My hair has been a lot more sensitive to heat so I’ve taken a break from curling iron. I can still blow dry on a regular basis with a heat protectant and medium heat setting and love the Harry Josh Ultra Light hair dryer for something gentle and efficient. I’ve still been experiencing a lot of tangles after washing which makes it more prone to breakage. I’ve been testing a lot and finally found some things that have saved my hair. Conditioning treatments are tricky here because they can be near impossible to rinse out and lather in South Florida. These are my favorite recent buys that have helped restore my hair, reduce tangles and frizz while adding moisture and shine.

Olaplex

Olaplex Review for Damaged Weak Hair

I’ve spent the last five months searching for good shampoos and conditioners made specifically for color-treated hair. I tried so many of your recommendations and loves designed specifically for color treated hair, in particular options from Kerastase and Oribe. Unfortunately none of them worked for my hair. The regular formulas are still good, but the color treated formulas don’t lather properly and also leave my hair feeling like straw. I’ve stuck with my regular go-to’s like the Sisley Hair Rituel (sooo good) but wanted to find something more affordable. My curling iron seriously weakened my hair on some parts and there’s nothing I can really do except wait for those areas to grow out. I called my friend who used to work in the hair care industry and asked her help/expertise. She said the best you could buy was Olaplex so I went to Sephora to buy Hair Perfector No. 3, Bond Maintenance Shampoo and Conditioner. The girls who worked at Sephora saw these in my little shopping basket and stopped me to tell me they were so excited I was buying it because it also saved their color treated hair.

I’ve used all three and it’s among the best I’ve tried. The shampoo is one of the few sulfate free formulas that has a decent lather. The three together have bonding and reparative ingredients to help relink broken hair. The Hair Perfector is a product you use as a pre-shampoo and conditioning treatment. It’s not a mask or conditioner, but apply it to damp towel dried hair for at least 10 minutes. Rinse out and follow with the Shampoo and Conditioner. I’ve used this 2 to 3x per week as instructed and it’s helped my hair so much. The shampoo and conditioner both are excellent too –  a little goes a long way and it helps reduce frizz and eliminates tangles. I took a look at the bottles and thought they were remarkably small for the price. I’ve been using all three consistently for a little over a month and still have quite a bit left. I’d say within a month of regular use I’m about 80% finished with the bottles. I’m ordering their new Styling Creme soon and can’t wait to try it.

Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo with Aloe

Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo with Aloe Vera

This Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo is another excellent shampoo for all hair types, but particularly good for dry hair. It’s gentle but has a good lather. I can use it daily and I love that it’s hydrating but doesn’t weigh down my hair. Rinses nicely and leaves hair looking and feeling fresh. I’ve sworn by the Hydrating Leave-In Mist for a long time, I don’t know what took me so long to try the shampoo. Both have a very calming subtle fresh scent that isn’t overpowering or heavy. Scent is a huge deal for me – I can’t use heavily fragranced styling products that have a powdery or floral scent (except for Ouai).

Detangling Sprays

Best Detangling Sprays Christophe Robin, Living Proof and Oribe

One thing I’ve noticed with both color treatments is that my hair is more prone to tangles. It has already more tangle prone with the water here and with highlights plus dry weather this has been emphasized. For me it’s been a serious problem because tangles + weak hair = lots of breakage when I brush or comb. The best sprays I’ve bought to combat the tangles include the Christophe Robin Hydrating Leave-In Mist with Aloe Vera to hydrate and detangle. It is spendy so I’ve tried to find more affordable alternatives (I’m not always successful with this). I bought a mini of the Living Proof Restore Perfecting Spray and it doubles as a conditioner and detangler as well. I love it so much that I 100% need the full size. It has a fresh citrus scent and allows the comb to glide through my hair without any tugging or tangles. My friend swears by the Oribe Run Through Detangling Primer – she says it is the best thing Oribe makes and says she’s literally tried everything in their line. I’ve found Oribe makes really great styling products but their shampoos/conditioners have been mostly misses for me. I bought the mini spray to try thinking I might not love it, especially for the price. It really does live up to the hype and I highly recommend it. It reduces frizz, detangles, and helps reduce flyaways.

Best Detangling Spray Oribe Detangling Primer

Finishing Products

Living Proof Flexible Hairspray and Drybar The Chaser

I’ve tried so many finishing products and creams. I think hair care products are among the most tried beauty category for me. There are a lot of great items for different purposes, I still love oils for this but sometimes a classic cream is better for my ends. Two areas I’ve been concerned about lately include flyaways (from shorter broken strands and humidity issues) and shine on the ends. I could probably do an entire post on my favorite finishing products, but two things stand out as hair saviors for me. I’ve never been a hair spray kind of person because they usually leave hair feeling stiff and crunchy. The Living Proof Flexible Hair Spray has really good hold without the crunchy finish. Many of you have confirmed this is one of your favorites and I also think it’s excellent to hold hair and help tame flyaways. The Chaser Shine Cream from the Drybar is one of my most repurchased hair creams ever. I’ve used this for years and always go back to it for adding shine and brilliance to my ends. Oribe’s is also really good too, but for some reason I find myself reaching for the Drybar one more.

Combs and Hair Brushes

Best Brushes and Combs, Yves Durif, Gisou and Mason Pearson

Finding a good vent brush has been hard for me. I’ve tried so many different ones that work ok, but I’ve never found one I really truly love. I finally splurged on some brushes and combs from Yves Durif. They’ve been on my wishlist for years! I bought the Vented Hair Brush which I highly recommend. I also bought the Petite Brush + Comb Set and love them to pieces. The Vent Brush is the best one I’ve tried. It seems like it might almost be a little flimsy because it’s so lightweight but it’s still very sturdy. I like the brush and comb as well and think it was all money well spent. I ordered mine from Violet Grey. If you’re in New York City you can also find their brushes in person store at the Sisley store or Saks Fifth Avenue.

Yves Durif Comb review

A couple others I wanted to mention are from Gisou and Mason Pearson. The Gisou Texture Comb is one I always get questions about. It’s available only on the Gisou website and comes in a pink pouch. I love it and carry it with me to the beach, in my gym bag and pretty much everywhere. I need to order another one so I can always have one with me. Mason Pearson makes a similar one called the Rake Comb. This is a nice wide-tooth detangling comb for me. These are more gentle on my hair compared to brushes on wet hair and work out tangles better. I use a brush to blow dry once all the tangles are out with a comb. I’ve also owned the Mason Pearson detangler comb for quite some time and like it but don’t love it as much as the others. I would not recommend this type for super thick or curly hair. The teeth are too close together for super thick dense hair. I like that it has a handle for easy grip but the wider ones work better for my hair type.

I hope you enjoyed this roundup! If you have tangle prone hair or dry hair I can’t recommend the detangling sprays enough. I’m hard pressed to pick just one, all three I featured are really good options. I also think Olaplex makes an excellent system. I wish I had discovered it sooner because I love how it strengthens and restores my hair. This list doesn’t cover all of my tries or favorites, just my recent favorite buys. If you want more hair care posts and reviews you can click the Haircare CATEGORY TAG to see more!

I’m going through a few hair masks that I’m testing. Roundup to follow once I’ve tried more on my list to see if I’ve found a better one than the Briogeo or Christophe Robin options (I haven’t yet but I’m still testing out your recommendations).

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Style notes and accessories:

 

If you have color treated or dry hair what are your favorite products?

 

Haircare

Hair Care Hydration, Oils and Treatment Testing Roundup

November 6, 2018

Hair Care Testing Ouai, Gisou, Aquis, IGK | The Beauty Look Book

My hair care routine has changed a little over the past few weeks as I colored my hair for the first time ever with highlights! Some of the hair care items I had been testing and wanted to review had to be re-tested with colored hair as I’ve found it a bit drier in texture and in need of more moisture. The good news is most of my styling staples fortunately have still worked for me! What has changed though is the need for different shampoo, conditioner and more hair masks.

I’ve really loved trying hair oils and my staples still continue to be the ones below:

All of these worked for my normal thick hair, now that it’s colored I feel the Sisley and Moroccanoil work best to add shine. A couple that don’t work quite the same for me include the Shu Uemura Essence Absolue and the Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Oil. They still add softness but now my hair just soaks it up and no shine is added. Brush I currently use is the T3 Dry Vent Brush. I like it enough to keep using it, but I’m still in search for my holy grail.

Best Hair Oils Ouai, Sisley Paris Hair Rituel, Moroccanoil and Oribe Gold Lust | The Beauty Look Book

The Gisou Honey-Infused Hair Oil is one of the best smelling oils I’ve tried. It smells of honey, almond and a hint of coconut. It’s infused with honey from Negin Mirsalehi’s family bee garden. I was sent the Travel Size Oil (50 ml, exclusive to her website) and love it for it’s lightweight finish and soft shine. No greasy look or residue and it makes hair very soft. She just launched the Hair Perfume (100 ml) which has a more floral perfume like scent to it. It has a more powdery scent compared to the oil, I think it’s beautiful but prefer the oil if I had to pick one. I have ordered from her website before (they ship to the US), but you can also find her products at Urban Outfitters and Revolve.

Gisou Honey-Infused Hair Oil and Hair Perfume | The Beauty Look Book

The Rahua Legendary Amazon Oil is something I was really interested in trying out. It’s a plant-based silicone-free hair oil. It’s described as lightweight but I found it to be on the rich side and would recommend it for dry or damaged hair, and particularly if you have thicker strands. A little goes a very long way to coat the hair, I prefer using it on damp hair with just one pump. On my virgin hair pre-coloring it added incredible softness with a soft sheen. On my color-treated hair it adds softness but I find it challenging to find the right amount to use. Too little doesn’t add enough shine and one coat too much results in something that looks too heavy for my hair type. The oil has a very natural smell to it which fades after a few minutes. Based on the texture I tried I do think it would be too thick and heavy for fine hair, but if you’re looking for a silicone-free option this is a nice one to consider for very dry or coarse hair.

Rahua Legendary Amazon Hair Oil Review

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Satin Design is something I discovered and reviewed years ago. It’s a blow dry lotion used to heat protect hair, remove frizz and add softness. I used up a bottle and repurchased but it sat in storage most of last year when we moved around a lot. I rediscovered it recently and my color treated hair LOVES this. It has the right texture, emollient and finish to make my hair soft and remove any signs of dryness. After using and blow drying my hair it is incredibly soft, tangle-free and without any greasy residue. Ends still need a little bit of finishing with a shine product or oil, but overall this is a solid win. It gives hair a soft satiny glow.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Satin Design Milk | The Beauty Look Book

I love IGK for the packaging. Their products are also great too. I hauled two products from Sephora earlier this year. The Thirsty Girl Coconut Milk Leave-In Conditioner got me because of the name coconut. It’s a milk-infused leave-in conditioner that has a spray. The packaging and spray dispenser are excellent – these days I am always amazed when brands don’t package their products with well designed spritzers. I really appreciate that IGK packaging is all on point, not just in the fun design but function as well. As the product name implies it’s a leave-in conditioner. I found that it was very easy to overdo the first few uses. The spritzer is so even and dispenses a fine mist I wasn’t sure I applied enough. It does work like a traditional leave-in conditioner, I think I like it mainly for the scent and novelty of packaging. Performance is good and I have no regrets buying. I’m not sure I would repurchase. If you found it too rich or oily, I think simply sprayed too much on, although I can see how it could be too rich for fine hair.

The IGK Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray also suckered me in with the name “smoothing.” I think their packaging and naming is genius. It gets me every time! This is a heat-protective blow out spray that is supposed to have similar effects of keratin treatments. I have not tried one so I cannot compare, but based on photos I’ve seen after the treatments I do think the IGK Good Behavior spray gives very similar looking results but in the shorter-term (as in it will last a day until you re-wash your hair). As a pre-heat treatment I see similar results with other types of products. I do like that the Good Behavior spray smooths hair, reduces frizz and does make my hair look smooth and fresh all day. As with the Thirsty Girl, I do think Good Behavior is easy to over apply. The IGK applicator spritzers are so good compared to other brands. They spray product very efficiently so you might be used to spraying more product. I’d recommend coating hair lightly and add one spritz at a time as you blow dry in sections if you feel you need more. It gets a thumbs up for me but I do think you can get similar frizz-free soft shine results with other products.

IGK Thirsty Girl and Good Behavior | The Beauty Look Book

This Briogeo Hair-O-Scopes Brightest Stars Bestsellers Kit came at the perfect time for me. It has a full-size Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask which is now my holy grail hair mask. I had to wait 72 hours to wash my hair after color treatment. The first two days I found my hair just wasn’t the same, it needed a lot more moisture. This mask rescued it and I never want to be without it now. Prior to my highlights I had been experiencing a lot of breakage in the hair. I do think using this mask (along with the Aquis hair towels) has reduced breakage drastically. I’m still sampling the other items in the kit but the hair mask makes it 100% worth trying. I’ve already ordered another mask.

Briogeo Hair O Scopes Kit with full size Don't Despair Repair Hair Mask Sephora

Last but not least are the Aquis Hair Towels. I’ve now tried multiple sizes and products in the line. I really liked the Prime Starter Kit before I had my hair colored to strengthen and reduce breakage. Post hair highlights, the leave-in conditioner just doesn’t really perform the same. It works to smooth and detangle, but I’m not seeing a lot of added moisture or shine. I’m going to put the entire kit to more testing before I give a comprehensive review.

For the hair towels I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. With new hair coloring towels are prone to staining, but the dye washed out and didn’t leave any marks on the white ones. I just made sure I threw them in the washer right away.

I thought I’d always be a towel kind of person but their Rapid Dry Turban has a really clever design with a loop on one end and closure on the other. It’s super easy to use and holds hair in place better than wrapping a towel.

For the towels, I prefer the longer lengths for my hair. The first one I tried was the Lisse Luxe Long Hair Towel. I then ordered the regular sizes to try and found the longer ones easier to wrap around the head. Andrew has liked and borrowed all of mine and prefers the Waffle Luxe version. I think both textures work the same for me.

I’ve bought mine from Sephora, but I just noticed this Ouai Ouai x Aquis Set available at Bloomingdale’s at a really good price. With the holiday sets out definitely look around online for different options.

Aquis Hair Turban and Waffle Towel

For those who didn’t see on Instagram stories, my before and after hair color:

Caramel Hair Highlights before and after

After using the same stylist for nearly 10 years in San Diego, making a change was scary when I moved, but one of the best things about South Florida is that the people here are so nice. I found a salon on Yelp and decided to try based on the reviews. They made me feel completely at ease as a new client, I loved them and went back. I decided to have my hair colored for the first time there and loved the results. I was so nervous that I nearly cancelled but my husband and mother in-law came with me and assured me it would all be ok. The day of appointment the salon asked if they could film the process for their social media feed and I said sure. They put together a fun clip if you want to check them out I linked it below. Quick FYI this is all still my natural hair except for the coloring, no extensions. Just highlights – they also curled my hair for fun afterwards.

 

 

I was truly blown away by everyone’s kind words about the new hair. You made me feel so loved with the sweet comments and suggestions about hair care, shampoos and everything else in between. I’ve been testing different shampoos and conditioners which I’ll be reviewing soon, for now I wanted round up the oils and other products I have been testing for hydration and smoothness.

Overall, my favorites are still my favorites. I do love the Gisou Hair Oil for the soft finish, shine and scent. The Aquis Hair towels and Briogeo hair mask are life savers for me. I’m thrilled that I rediscovered the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Satin Design and am amazed it didn’t go bad (it was in storage for months, granted it was an climate controlled one).

What are your favorite hair products for hydration, added shine and smoothing? Let me know what hair type you have in the comments too!

 

Press samples featured include the Sisley Hair Oil, Aquis Hair Turban, Moroccanoil Hair Treatment, Briogeo Hair-O-Scopes Set, Rahua Oil.