Category Archives: hair

verb products

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verb products

one of the best things about blogging is getting introduced to brands that i would never normally stumble upon. when i heard about austin-based verb products and their line of professional-grade, made in the usa hair goodies, i knew i had to give them a try.

it takes a lot to impress me (or any girl) in the hair department so i wasn’t sure what to expect when i got down to business with verb. for the last couple of weeks i’ve been playing with two very different, but equally effective products from the line and i am in full on love mode with both.

volume spray ($14) is the perfect product for those of us with fine hair who want oomph. so many volume products can be drying or can even have the opposite effect and weight hair down. this spray from verb is virtually weightless. a good all-over head mist before blowdrying leaves my hair full of volume, but still soft and flexible. i like the way that it holds  shape so i can flip the ends of my long bob in and they stay that way all day long.

ghost oil ($14) is a daily restorative that naturally smooths frizz. i’m not a fan of putting oil in my hair, but this serum completely vanishes once you run it through wet hair. after blowdrying, you’ll be enjoying a softness and shine that has to be felt to be believed. since using this stuff people have been asking me if i got a brazilian blowout or keratin treatment!  i can still get two days of wear out of one blow dry without my hear getting greasy – so surprising from an oil.

everything in the verb product line is priced at $12 or $14 each making this a very affordable luxury. products are water-based, vitamin-enriched and they all contain a natural UV protectant (perfect for summer!). all formulas are bad stuff-free (no parabens or sulfates) with a barely-there scent. it comes wrapped up in recyclable packaging and is never, ever tested on animals.

davines no. 14 sea salt primer for wizards

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davines-no-14-salt-primer-hair

anyone with hair will tell you that there is no product in the world that rivals the effect of true, fresh from the ocean, salt water. those of us will curls will echo those feelings and probably launch into a long tirade of how many products claim to give the “salt water” effect but fail oh-so-miserably. i know personally, that a good knee-deep, bent-over head flip into the waves leaves my hair with the most perfectly formed spirals that are soft and matte. i mean…it’s just really, really good hair.

curls

davines no. 14 sea salt primer is the closest thing to real salt water that i’ve ever found. it’s essentially a volume spray made with marine salt. it doesn’t weigh my natural waves down in the slightest, in fact, it totally amps them up. i’ve been spraying it all over a wet head for curls that are perfectly lifted, defined, and matte, matte, matte. as someone trying to break up with her blowdryer, this is a major step in the right direction – because soft, non-sticky natural waves make for a very happy lara.

shop davines no. 14 sea salt primer for wizards ($26) >

davines love smoothing shampoo + conditioner

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davines love

i am dedicating the month of april to the art of the shower!
read more april showers themed posts here.

kind of like the way that the right skincare routine provides the perfect foundation for your best-chosen cosmetics, the perfect shampoo and conditioner can make all the difference in your hair. when my hair is cleaned with the good stuff, my styling products perform better, and the finished look is a piece de resistance.

italy-born sustainable beauty company, davines, has been making big waves in salons with a focus on quality products that are crafted with style and spirit, but not only that – they really work.

the newest additions to my routine are davines love smoothing shampoo and conditioner. my entry into the brand, i have been nothing short of thrilled with this pretty pair! the shampoo is gorgeously scented, leaves my hair super soft and just the exact right amount of clean after a good head massage (free of oil, but without drying my scalp). i love a good lather and this stuff foams up nicely, yet it’s a piece of cake to rinse out. the conditioner is thick, almost masque-like and it frees my head of any tangles while giving hair a boost of moisture and smoothness – prepping it perfectly for the blow dryer and flat iron.

i think what’s got me loving this duo so very much is that it’s gentle. i can feel a difference when it’s in my hair and i can absolutely see a difference when my hair is done – leaving it seemingly healthier than when i started. best of all, what normally turns dry and frizzy when fresh out the shower, is moisturized and easy to get a comb through. after a blow dry, hair is left with added shine and some serious volume.

so, let’s recap: this good-for-you shampoo and conditioner adds shine, adds volume, cleans thoroughly, is gentle, lathers well, improves the health of your hair and smells great. i’d say there’s nothing not to love.

shop davines love smoothing shampoo ($19.80) and conditioner ($22.50) >

colorproof clearitup detox shampoo

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colorproof clearitup detox shampoo

i am dedicating the month of april to the art of the shower!
read more april showers themed posts here.

i believe that everyone who uses styling products needs a “sunday” shampoo, a once weekly detox that clears your scalp of product buildup and restores much needed lustre to your locks. one of my favorite tricks is to incorporate a cleanser intended for those with color-treated hair into my washing repertoire. even though my hair is 100% natural (at the moment…some who know me well may remember my platinum blonde college phase), a shampoo for color-treated heads is a great way to take extra loving care of your hair and can even add a little oomph to your natural shade and texture.

colorproof’s clearitup detox shampoo has been a welcome addition to my shower caddy. it’s 100% vegan, letting ingredients like baking soda, vitamin c and vitamin e deeply cleanse hair and scalp of all dulling buildup without stripping color. it leaves my hair lushly clean, not squeaky thanks to a lack of sulfates. since i’ve been using it regularly, my color has definitely increased in vibrancy and my hair is much more shiny. i absolutely love this stuff!

as an added bonus, my stylist recently taught me the most effective way to apply shampoo. (you thought you knew!) after completely soaking your head, pour a small amount into your hands and rub them together to work up a lather. then, pat it on to the top of your head, spreading it evenly. once that’s done, get to giving yourself an excellent (and well-deserved) head massage. make sure to rinse thoroughly and voila – one clean head of hair!

shop colorproof clearitup detox shampoo >

living proof weightless styling spray

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living proof weightless styling spray

i feel compelled to affirm that i test hair brands beyond living proof. it’s just that the lp products always rise above the rest – and who am i to withhold good, quality information from you only for fear of beginning to sound like a broken record?

living proof’s weightless styling spray is yet another winner. it completely stops frizz and blocks humidity without causing buildup or weighing hair down with silicones or oils. a good all-over head spray before drying is enough to smooth out my curls and prep hair for the flat iron. my croc glides through without resistance and i love the added shape and hold that i get from this product. i tested it in yesterday’s rainy weather without any puffiness, kink or curl making an appearance – the smoothness held up far above my expectations. then today, as i was running late and had to skip my shower, i was completely impressed with how clean my hair still looked since yesterday morning’s wash and blow dry. the lightness of the spray gives hair a matte, natural finish and the formula works to actually repel dirt, keeping my hair cleaner longer.

i’m crazy about this stuff and will definitely be working it into my regular product rotation. it’s a great option for girls who have fine-to-medium hair and anyone whose hair texture needs smoothing or straightening, but can’t handle anything heavy.

shop living proof weightless styling spray ($26) >

ojon damage reverse hair serum

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ojon damage reverse instant restorative hair serum

the winter is wreaking havoc on my head, from root to tip. i feel like no matter what i do, my hair looks completely fried and i don’t love it. my hair stylist taught me that the most essential product i can use in my hair is a heat protectant since i blow dry and flat iron every other day (emphasis on the flat iron, i have no talent with a round brush). so, i do that, but it’s just not enough. then on a whim, i picked up a mini bottle of this ojon serum and my tresses are loving the effects. just a drop or two added to my heat protectant of choice and i’m instantly enjoying extra shine and smoothness. it doesn’t leave any residue behind or weigh my fine hair down, yet my flat iron glides through more easily and leaves things just a touch more manageable. the finish is salon-worthy and i’m kicking myself for not adding it to my every-other-daily routine sooner.

do you use a hair oil? how late am i to this party anyway?

shop ojon damage reverse instant restorative hair serum ($15) >

mario badescu hair care

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mario badescu hair products

my hair has been enjoying the benefits of mario badescu’s hair products over the last couple of weeks. i should have known that the master of botanically-based skincare would have another trick up his sleeve! similar to his skin products, mario’s hair line offers multiple options depending on your specific needs, at an exceptional price. i’ve been alternating the simple and mild all-purpose egg shampoo (which doubles as a body wash) with the clean-rinsing chamomile shampoo (great for my oily hair – it doesn’t build up or weigh my hair down) with perfectly lustrous and shiny results. my favorite product by far is the hair rinsing conditioner. it leaves my hair feeling so soft without adding any weight. when you’ve got medium-fine hair without a ton of density like moi, this is a godsend. i also love knowing that i’m using pure and simple ingredients and i can’t get enough of the resulting good hair. let’s just say that these three bottles have quickly become a few of my favorite things!

shop mario badescu hair ($8 – $14) >

FLOW blow dry & beauty bar

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FLOW reception

this here’s a post for all of my northern virginia beauties.

i had the positively delightful experience of a “flow” out at the new FLOW blow dry & beauty bar in reston. not only is the ambiance at flow comfortable, girlie, and whimsical, but the customer service is exceptional. i spent an hour with my sweet stylist katrina, darling receptionist shannon, manager anna, and make up artist extraordinaire mona. the ladies treated me like royalty and trust me when i tell you that they are a fun bunch!

FLOW

upon sitting down in katrina’s chair, she treated me to a brief consultation where we talked about the type of hair i have and what kind of flow’out i wanted. (they have a full menu of 8 styles, each $35 and each more gorgeous than the next!) katrina then explained my cocktail. she washed and conditioned my hair with kevin murphy’s angel wash and angel rinse, followed by an indulgent scalp massage. post-wash, she worked kevin murphy’s body builder (a weightless volumizer) and his young again heat protecting gloss through my hair. then, she pre-dried my roots in the opposite direction than they were going to lay in order to cut drying time. for a finishing touch, she spritzed my mane with moroccanoil gold glimmer shine and gave me some extra oomph and staying power from kevin murphy’s fresh hair, a dry shampoo-type product.

FLOW'out

(look at that flip! that shine!)

flow’s talents go far beyond blowouts and their service list includes braiding, ponies, updo’s, half updo’s, threading, organic makeup application (the salon is fully stocked in tarte cosmetics) and strip lash application. i went for the whole shebang, minus the threading. makeup artist mona gave me the ‘all glammed up’ which included a serious set of strip lashes. i was completely impressed by the whole experience and enjoyed countless compliments on both my makeup and hair at friday’s nomaterra event. i’m so grateful to the entire FLOW team for their efforts in dolling me up and i can’t wait to see them again soon!

Mona & Katrina

call (571) 375 2347 to book an appointment or learn more about FLOW blow dry & beauty bar, 11700 plaza america drive, suite 130, in reston at flowblowdrybar.com.

living proof straight

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living proof straight spray

every living proof product that touches my hair, turns it into gold.

this lightweight spray creates a sleek style that lasts for days, thanks to the absence of oils or silicones and a formula that works to repel dirt. a good 10-second all over the head spray is the perfect prescription for speedily dried, smoothed out hair that’s primed for the flat iron. on top of the way ‘straight’ aids my styling, it also protects my hair from the heat which my stylist tells me is the number one thing i should be looking for in a product.

i will say that for whatever reason, this product quickens blow drying but somehow slows the straightening process. it takes a bit longer to straighten and smooth out my hair to my liking once it’s dry, but the results are better than any other product i’ve tried. the finish has nice hold and shape, not overly shiny but not at all dry. when i’m done, it’s kind of like that’s just what my hair naturally does - my hair looks good, and not as though i tried to make it look good. that’s the beauty of why i love this stuff so much.

if your hair is medium-fine with waves or curls that you’re constantly battling with heat tools, this is a great solution. living proof products can be purchased in small sizes at sephora if you have a fear of commitment (the minis are also great for travel!). you can try living proof’s straight spray for $17 – $29 at sephora.

living proof restore mask treatment

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confession: i am a triple hair offender.

as someone who highlights, blow dries, and uses heat styling tools on a regular basis, my locks are in need of some serious therapy. i’ve long resisted leave-in conditioners and hair masks, mostly because my hair leans on the greasy side and i worry that any mega-conditioners might leave it limp or oily. living proof’s restore mask treatment has completely converted me into a twice-weekly deep conditioner user. recommended by a friend with gorgeous long hair, this product is slightly pricey, but with my hair feeling more straw-like than ever due to the dryer weather, i decided to splurge.

and i am so glad i did.

after using this product once (just apply to clean, wet hair, leave for 5 minutes, then rinse), my hair was so smooth and soft that i didn’t even need my trusty detangler when combing through it. i couldn’t stop touching it throughout the day – so silky!

this is the perfect product for those who use heat on your hair regularly. you can join the deep conditioning club by purchasing living proof’s hair mask here for $42.