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Hair: Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo

September 12, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Yesterday, I used a lot of straightening emulsifier in my hair to combat the humidity. A LOT of emulsifier. And by mid-day, my hair looked gunky because of the amount of product, not the sleek waves I had in the morning.

So it was time to pull out my new go-to product, Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo. The world was a happy, frizz-free place again.

Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo

I’ve loved dry shampoo for quite some time now: it is great if you want to go an extra day or two before washing again, a lifesaver if you need to mitigate product overuse like I did yesterday, and it is the best texturizer even on freshly washed hair. Still, most that I have tried have had a downside. Some leave a shadow of white dust on hair; most leave hair dull, and some make hair feel dirtier than before you used them. None of these are problems with Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo.

One of the reasons for this dry shampoo’s superiority is the amazing ingredients it contains. The first ingredient listed in arrowroot, which is a thickener, and is typically featured in high-end dry shampoos for its’ ability to soak up oil and freshen the hair. It also contains antioxidants like Vitamin B, and Vitamin A. Vitamin A is interesting here, as the Vitamin A derivative, retinol, has been shown in studies to promote hair growth. So (and this is me saying this, not the company), ostensibly if you are using this dry shampoo on your scalp to soak up oil, you could have the added benefit of promoting hair growth when used on the scalp. Plus, it is gluten-free!

The next ingredient is kaolin clay. You are probably familiar with kaolin clay from luxurious mud masks. But in dry shampoo, it is used to remove sebum and oil and keep it from forming. So, not only do you immediately refresh your hair with Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo, but you get an extra day or two beyond when you use it because of the kaolin clay.

The third ingredient is rice powder. Rice Powder is found in a lot of good dry shampoos, but Pure Glam mills the Rice Powder to an exceptionally smooth and fine consistency, so you get the benefits without the usual tell-tale white dust in your hair. Nice!

Look at how finely milled Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo is!

The fourth ingredient is baking soda, which is an excellent way to freshen up hair. And I love the name of the essential oil that the dry shampoo contains: Organic Cymbopogon Martini. While it sounds like quite a drink, it is a scented essential oil with light rose and geranium hints, and it also has antibacterial properties. One of my big issues with a lot of dry shampoos is the overpowering scent, but this is light and refreshing, not perfumey or chemical scented. Just light and lovely.

So with all these great ingredients, how does this dry shampoo fair?

I love it. As I said earlier, yesterday I had a bit of a product mishap, and then the issue was compounded by extendedly being outside in the heat and humidity. It only took a small amount blended into my roots for my hair to feel clean and smooth again. The ability to control how much you sprinkle on an area is one of the things I find superior about Pure Glam. A lot of dry shampoos that come in an aerosol can are unpredictable when it comes to how much will be deposited in an area. Not a problem with this dry shampoo! It also gave my hair incredible, luxurious volume.

I worked it through the length of my hair in sections and brushed it out, and my hair had a great bounce, which is rare to get when using a dry shampoo. What impressed me as well is that my hair was incredibly shiny after using it: my blonde and red highlights shimmered in the sun, and the bulk of my brown hair had an incredible luster. A few strangers commented on it, which impressed me!

I also love how my scalp felt in using it. It gives a cool, refreshing feeling when it is being massaged into the scalp and roots of the hair. You know that saying “My hair hurts”? That was how I was feeling, and a nice massage with Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo made my scalp feel light again!

I am truly impressed with this dry shampoo. It has an impressive, all natural ingredient list, smells great, cleans fantastically, and makes hair so shiny!

Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo

Find this amazing Dry Shampoo at Organic Beauty Now.

Style Chicks readers can get 20% off with coupon code SC20!

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I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

HSI PROFESSIONAL Thermal Protector 450 with Argan Oil

September 12, 2016 · Leave a Comment

HSI Professional Thermal Protector 450 is intended for use when using hot styling tools such as flat irons, curling irons, hot smoothing brushes and hairdryers. Hot styling tools can create beautiful, long-lasting hairstyles but they can wreck havoc with your hair. To date, I hadn’t found a thermal protector that I felt left my hair softer and was not too sticky, and was good for my hair. I was excited to try HSI Professional Thermal Protector because it contains several good-for-hair ingredients and is sulfate-free.

HSI PROFESSIONAL Thermal Protector 450 with Argan Oil

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT HSI PROFESSIONAL THERMAL PROTECTOR 450?

HSI Professional Thermal Protector contains Argan Oil, which is associated with increased hair growth when used on the scalp and roots of the hair. It is also a conditioning agent for the body of the hair itself and provides a protective layer on the fragile, delicate ends of hair. While nothing can repair a split-end, Argan Oil can smooth the end and remove some of the brittleness. Paired with the Argan Oil is an infusion of Vitamins including a,b,c and d.

Vitamin A is useful to promote scalp health and aids in the absorption of the Argan Oil. Vitamin B applied to hair can result in increased thickness, strength, and makes hair more pliable. Vitamin C is a useful anti-oxidant, which on hair helps hair detox from environmental pollutants and serves to protect the hair. The topical application of Vitamin D is necessary for hair to prevent UV damage which can cause oxidation and fading, and in the case of colored hair, it can result in brassiness. Topical Vitamin D has also been found to decrease hair loss in lab studies.
USE: FEATURES OF HSI PROFESSIONAL THERMAL PROTECTOR 450

CONSISTENCY: The spray is very light, not sticky or oily. Thicker than water but not as thick as an oil or hairspray. When dry I could not feel the product in my hair; it was easy to brush and to run my fingers through it. As a test of this, I sprayed some on my hands, let it dry, it did not leave a sticky or flaky residue.

APPLICATION: I tried it on both wet and dry hair, not too much is needed to saturate hair enough for styling purposes. It does not excessively extend drying time, there was a slight “sizzle” when I used my hot brush and hot iron, the sizzle was the moisture, not my hair.

SCENT: There is a very light scent of Argan Oil; it dissipates quickly when sprayed onto the hair, and I could not detect any scent after the hot styling tools were used and my hair was dry again.

THE TEST: MOM’S HAIR
Mom’s hair has always been thick, curly, and wiry. She has tried all sorts of straightening products which can’t seem to keep the hair straight, and most thermal protectants don’t last the afternoon before her hair starts to curl again. Today, with the extra humidity, it was especially frizzy, and she just let it dry naturally with no styling product.

A few spritzes of the HSI Treatment before a quick brush through with a hot brush and her hair was left smooth and feeling very soft in under three minutes. In under five minutes, all of her hair was done and could be styled in a smooth flip-up or flip-under lob style. The style stayed in for two days!! A smooth and soft look with no frizz. Smooth, soft, no sticky feel and easy to run her fingers or brush through her hair. Her hair was left shiny, not dull from the product. She is also thrilled that a thermal protectant not only helps her tame her mane but protects and nourishes it. She plans on switching from her current thermal protectant to HSI Professional Thermal Protector.
CONCLUSION: HSI Professional Thermal Protector 450 is a leave-in styling treatment that not only protects hair from potentially damaging heat styling tools such as irons, curlers, and dryers but it encourages hair growth. HSI Professional Thermal Protective leaves hair feeling soft, shiny, smooth and thick. Impressively, it does with without the use of Sulfate based ingredients. The holding power of a hair styling agent without feeling sticky or gooey, I love being able to run my finger through my hair easily and to have hair that shines instead of having a dull residue from the protective agents.

HSI PROFESSIONAL Thermal Protector 450 with Argan Oil

Find HSI Professional Thermal Protector at HSI Professional.

Hair: HydraCap Conditioning Caps

August 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Here at StyleChicks, we love long, flowing hair. Courtney’s hair is long past her waist, and mine (Lyn) is almost to my waist. My hair is porous, colored, and I use hot styling tools, so it takes a great deal of deep conditioning to keep my hair in good shape.

CONDITIONING LONG HAIR WITH TRADITIONAL CONDITIONING CAPS
One of the best ways to deep condition hair is using a conditioning cap with a hot oil treatment or a liquid consistency conditioning treatment. This keeps the wet conditioner from seeping down onto the forehead and neck, as well as allows the heat from your head to maximize the treatment factor of the conditioner. Most look like cheap one-time use shower caps like you might get with your complimentary toiletries in a hotel. The problem with these conditioning caps is they can’t accommodate very long, thick, full, curly or unruly hair. Sometimes we end up using multiple caps together to completely cover the hair, and this still leaves gaps that let the heat escape, and at times, they still get messy and soggy because conditioning product can leak out.

HYDRACAP CONDITIONING CAPS

HydraCap Conditioning Caps

When we heard about Hydracap hair conditioning caps, we were excited to try them. The premise is it is a larger plastic cap but not with an elastic band. After securing on your head with your hair tucked in, you heat the cap with your blowdryer, and it sort of shrink-wraps onto your head and completely ensconces your hair in about a minute. This cap is much more secure than a traditional conditioning cap. The heat from the blowdryer stays within the cap to maximize the conditioning treatment, and the hot air from the hair dryer creates moist, hydrating heat within the cap.

HOW TO USE HYDRACAP
First I apply my hair conditioner, either oil or a creamy conditioner. For oils, I like Jojoba, Safflower, Grapeseed, or a combination. When my hair is really dry or damaged, I apply an oil, leave it on for an hour or so, and then apply a cream conditioner. I also like using HydraCap when I apply Coconut Oil as a conditioning treatment, as the contained heat helps completely melt the Coconut Oil without allowing it to get runny.

Another way I use the Hydracaps is for creamy conditioning masques such as the Kerastase Hair Treatments and Oribe Hair Masques, which when combined with heat, are so extraordinarily effective to make hair soft and shiny.

When I use the cap after applying the Coconut Oil, I leave it on my hair for about an hour, and for hot oils and hair conditioning masques, generally about 30 minutes. Both the oils and the conditioners stay put in the cap and saturate better with the moist heat of the cap.

HydraCap Conditioning Caps

It helps if you have a friend assist you the first time, but you can do this by yourself with a little practice. To apply the HydraCap, wrap your hair around your head so it will fit under the cap and place the cap over your head. The cap will be too large, so wrap and tuck it around your head, shape it close to the head as you aim your hairdryer at the cap. To hold longer hair, I scoop it up from the back of the cap and pull the front of the cap up, grasping the excess and wrapping it around as it starts to take shape until the cap is securely fit to my head. Start blow-drying on the bottom of the cap, gathering extra as you go and wrapping it, and move towards the top of your head until it is secured. Wait about 20 minutes, and remove the cap. Wash hair as usual.

Size of Hydracap vs regular elastic conditioning cap

RESULTS: There was no dripping conditioner, and my hair stayed warm for the 20 minutes, keeping my conditioner warm enough to deeply condition my hair and make it especially soft and hydrated. I could sit and watch TV or walk around the house without worrying about dripping conditioner or oil. It is also a nice treat to have conditioning hair up in a secure cap while taking a bath.

What I also prefer about the HydraCap to plug-in conditioning caps is the HydraCap is lightweight on the head, and I am not tethered to sitting in one place while conditioning my hair. Plug-in caps also generally only produce dry heat, which is less effective and can even break down conditioners.

CONCLUSION: Since we got the HydraCaps, it is much easier to schedule time each week to deep condition my hair, because I don’t have to stay put worrying about hair conditioner dripping all over the place, and it only takes 20 minutes or less since the cap retains the heat. If you are using Coconut Oil to condition your hair, using the HydraCap helps the Coconut Oil completely melt and stay put on the hair while conditioning. The caps come in a pack of six and are a worthwhile low-cost investment, especially if you are conditioning your hair before or after coloring or other chemical treatments. If you are conditioning your hair regularly in preparation for a special event, such as a wedding or a big hair color transformation, using HydraCaps weekly maximizes for hydrating and conditioning efforts.

Find the HydraCap at Treasured Locks.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh1JNJw6Q28[/embedyt]

Hair: Curlfriends Tame Smoothing Serum

August 15, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Curlfriends Tame Smoothing Serum

Back in the 1990s, it was easy to get defined curls. But it took a LOT of product.

These days my hair has mellowed from the corkscrew curls of my youth to a loose curl with some waves. So it takes some products to restore my hair to its previous bouncy, tight curls. My hair has also changed consistency as well. It used to be as silky as could be, but now it needs a little smoothing.

I had previously tried the Curlfriends line, and was quite impressed, but I hadn’t tried Curlfriends Tame Smoothing Serum until now.

I first tested the serum on a day that it was boiling and humid, and as the day progressed, there were torrential downpours. I had set my hair in curlers just to try to tame them a bit, but my hair started to get frizzy as soon as I took out the last roller. I applied the serum and was pleasantly surprised to see that my hair not only smoothed down but was incredibly shiny and bouncy. It stayed that way all through the downpours that afternoon, all without hairspray.

A tip on how to use it: you don’t need much of the serum. My hair is nearly waist length, and I used less than a dime-sized amount. Run the serum between your hands to warm it slightly, and then slowly start picking your curls up from the ends and working your way up. I used the remainder to smooth off the crown and add some shiny volume. Going slowly is the key: if you go too fast, you will just end up tugging at your curls and end up with needless frizz.

I’m a big fan of the ingredients in this serum as well: Wheat Protein and Aloe Vera to add volume and plump the shaft of your hair, and Rosemary, which has some backing for its ability to fight hair loss. I’m also a fan of what it doesn’t have – no alcohol to dry out your hair!

I love the smell – somewhere between a light bubble gum and candy flavor, but not adolescent scented. It’s just a nice, fun scent that fades in about an hour. I am typically pretty hard lined about hair products being scent-free, but I really like the scent of this product.

Find it at Amazon.

I received this product in exchange for testing and review purposes.

How to Use Hair Cutting Shears by Marks Gouger

August 9, 2016 · Leave a Comment

I like to keep my hair in optimal condition, and I’m a firm believer in regular trims to keep hair looking healthy. Since my hair grows very fast (I’m not complaining), going to the salon for trims would be quite costly, so I learned to trim my hair myself. The one absolute necessity for at-home hair trims: a fantastic, top of the line set of cutting shears.

Marks Gouger just launched an amazing set of hair tools, and I was eager to try their cutting shears since my previous set had been getting less precise. I am thrilled with this new set.

Hair Cutting Shears by Marks Gouger

The shears come packaged in a lovely case. The case keeps the shears from getting damaged. I like that there are multiple points to keep the shears from moving in the case: a snap to keep them in place, as well as a well-crafted sleeve for the pointed edge. It also comes with a soft cloth to clean the sheers after each use.

Hair Cutting Shears by Marks Gouger Case

The Japanese Stainless Alloy is a strong and sturdy material that makes the shears feel substantial but lightweight. The shears are easy to maneuver. The handles are comfortable even when I’m trimming at odd angles, which makes the task a lot easier and faster.

Hair Cutting Shears by Marks Gouger

I am very enthused about the adjustable tension hinge. The problem with my last pair of shears was that the hinge came loose and made precision cuts difficult. With the ability to adjust the tension, I’m comfortable that I won’t have any goofs due to the shears being unstable.

One of my favorite uses for these shears is trimming off split ends all the way up the hair shaft. Splits don’t just happen at the absolute end of your hair, they occur all the way up. The way I take care of that is by taking very small sections, twisting the length of the section tightly, and then trimming off the splits and frays that occur all the way up. This technique does indeed take a lot of time if you have a lot of hair like I do, but hair looks so much better if you take the time to do it! The cut is quick and precise. If you have a blunt cut or blunt bangs that you trim yourself, these are the perfect shears!

Here is a video of how I trim splits:

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbPzv9RsknA[/embedyt]

Find them at Amazon.com.

I received this product in exchange for testing and review purposes.