I’ve been blessed with two daughters, both with very curly hair.  If you have curly hair, or have to take care of it, we may share a mutual enemy : tangles! 

We spend at least an hour a sitting going through their hair, trying to tame those tangles sure takes a lot of time.  Even when braided their hair gets tangled and it’s become such a chore that when they see the combs come out they run and hide.  Recently I picked up some Organic Coconut Oil by Spectrum and I’m very pleased with the results. 

It’s unrefined, easy to use and makes the comb glide through their hair.  The down side?  the smell is very unpleasant.  I will fix that with some essential oils in the near future but for now it’s enough to keep the tangles to a minimum.  I’ve also noticed their hair is definately softer than usual so I can deal with the negative.  Besides, the smell is nothing a shampoo can’t cure.

http://steepingbeauty.com

I’ve been through the ombre hair look several times in my life, NO ONE thought it was fashionable.  In fact it seemed quite trashy as if you couldn’t afford to get your hair done.  Here are some pics of Drew Barrymore and one of Ashley Simpson at the end (the only two stars I knew by name!)

For some reason it looks really good on them, had this happenned last summer I wouldn’t even have had to cut my hair down! that makes me really mad when style is untimely.

What a sweet little dog Drew has!

Ashley Simpson in longer but exactly the same hair colors I was in last summer!

http://steepingbeauty.com

Even though I haven’t dyed my hair in quite a while I still use Pureology quite often, I LOVE that they are zero sulfate products and that they are 100% vegan!  If you dye your hair you likely already know about their AntifadeComplex® that helps you keep your color looking fresh and new.

http://steepingbeauty.com

The 9th Disney Princess, Princess Tiana is making her debut in “The Princess and the Frog” and all the girls in our house cann’t wait to see the movie.  This is one Disney initiative I really want to support!  December 11th please come quick!

Princess Tiana joins fellow princesses Snow White, Pocahontas, Aurora, Arielle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Belle and Mulan.  The beauty connection is that Disney and Carol’s Daughter have teamed up to launch a hair and bath line to welcome Princess Tiana.   The line is currently available on www.CarolsDaughter.com and includes everything girls need.

• The Beauty Within Shampoo $10
• Inner Shine Conditioner $10
• Dream Big Hair Detangler $10
• Sharing Means Caring Bubble Bath $8

The Princess Tiana Beauty Collection are sold individually and in a set.  Don’t delay getting these limited edition items for a little someone in your life.

http://steepingbeauty.com

I’ve been dying my hair at home since I was an early teen with permanent haircolor and without parental permission.  24ish years has seen the good, the bad and the ugly.  My hair is very fine so I did it for the extra volume and lift which worked out well for most of the time.

The first step is one that cannot be dictated by any company – taste.  I always like to have a somewhat believable shade but if you’re looking for a dramatic change that is completely foreign to your race really consider and perhaps reconsider.   This is especially true when you’re going from dark to light hair as the chemicals are harsher and may fry out your hair no matter what they say.

Speaking of fried hair that brings me to the point that no one will mention… hair condition.  I found I had my best results when I was active, eating well, drinking lots of water and taking vitamins.  Once again, be sure the shade you select is on the box you are purchasing and that your hair is in top condition to be colored.  I am quite sure that my bad results are due to my horrible diet and 7 years of breastfeeding and pregnancy which has depleted me on every front.  (more on this later)

Other tips mentioned at the meeting… don’t wash your hair before dying, the natural oils on your hair protect it!  When you lather the product, those suds are washing your hair so it will be clean at the end of the process.

An answer to the age old question… why don’t they sell the conditioner that comes in the kit seperately?  The experts at L’Oreal have responded…  the conditioner only works when used with the dye so it wouldn’t be effective. 

Application is best done at home by a friend as it is really hard to get the color on yourself!  Not impossible, but hard.  Be sure to have enough product on hand, if you have long hair you may need two product kits to cover thoroughly.

On every box of L’Oreal dye (and possibly other great brands) there is a toll free number to call and get information and advice.  One day I will call in incognito and ask some questions, I’ll report back on the experience. 

Haircoloring has good and bad points.  The cons are the possible damage to your hair, color shade surprises and my biggest deal breaker at this point — upkeep.  Permanent color will need root touchups every few weeks or months depending on your tolerance for such things.

Haircolor pros may include, a nice change of color, texture and shine and achieving a style that compliments your personality or completes your look.  Red heads are “fiery” and blondes have more fun, what do they say about brunettes by the way??

I don’t expect to color my hair until gray hair sets in which will hopefully be in a VERY long time.  I suspect haircolor is an impulse buy for many women, but I would like to see more info and products that would help BEFORE you dye your hair at home.

http://steepingbeauty.com

As you may already know, I cut off my color treated hair in August with the goal of growing long healthy hair as soon as possible.  When I received this product as part of Total Beauty’s Sneak Peek I took it as a sign that I should protect my hair against future sun damage and used it on my non-color treated hair.  Please note that it specifically says on the bottle: “Exclusively for color treated hair”.

If you do have color treated hair you probably already know how the sun can change the color of your hair.   Hair color takes time and money so it’s a great idea to extend the life of your investment with products formulated to do just that! 

My experience with the product was very good.  The scent is very pleasant to me as I love Rosemary and Mint.  The spray function is adequate and it doesn’t weigh down my fine hair.  I’ve used UV Protect two ways.  First it started off in the car, I would spray it on when I was off somewhere with the kids.  Then it moved into the house next to the sunblock.  It’s a great product to have for outdoor days which we hopefully will have a few more of!

It’s suggested to use L’Oreal’s UV Protect Spray with EverPure Shampoos and Conditioners.  Find out what the lovely ladies at Total Beauty thought.

http://steepingbeauty.com

Angelina Jolie, once again, simple and elegant at the Hollywood premiere of the new movie ‘Inglourious Basterds’ August 10, 2009.  Celebrity hairdresser, David Babaii kept it natural and most importantly to me, obtainable!  That is if I still had my hair, I just chopped it off and look a lot like Rizzo ewww lolz.  But for those of you girls who still have hair, here’s how he did it:

First, David applied Hair Polish to her entire mane followed by spraying Volcanic Ash Root Amplifier to the root area for lift and volume.

Next, he parted  hair into 3 sections (This is David’s “key” signature tip). Beginning at the nape area, he used the David Babaii for WildAid Blow Dryer with the nozzle attachment for direct styling. To achieve her look, David blow dried her hair using a large round brush to smooth tresses straight and shiny.

When done drying the entire head, he took large sections and wrapped hair around the same round brush. With the blow dryer and nozzle in hand, blow an additional blast of hot air for 10 seconds and then hit the cool button for a  burst of cool air: this sets the shape. Carefully release the section from the brush and continue until you have completed the whole head.

To finish, spray Mise en Plis Light Styling Spray.

David Babaii for WildAid products can be purchased at your local Rite Aid or online at: www.db4wildaid.com ,  Ulta, Drugstore.com & Amazon.com

http://steepingbeauty.com

To celebrate the launch of AVEENO®’s first hair care collection – NOURISH+ – the beauty care brand will staging salon takeovers in three cities! 

Consider yourself very lucky if you’ll be in Boston, Minneapolis and/or Seattle on May 27, 2009.  (The and/or is only there for an attempt at humor – once your hair is done the first time you’ll surely never ever want to mess with such a good thing.)

Next Wednesday -  May 27th from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (5:00 pm in Boston). 

During the takeovers, AVEENO® NOURISH+ will offer free wash and blow-outs to over 100 women in each city on a first come, first serve basis throughout the day!

• tips on how women can rewrite their hair’s past at home
• distribute samples of the product
• a free pedi-cab ride home in each city

Can’t make the date? 

Log on onto www.hairwithlife.com to register for a free sample of the products ASAP.

http://steepingbeauty.com

No more tears or struggles to keep them in the chair.  I wish I had video of boy2001 getting haircuts for the first five years of his life.  He would squirm and fight, I literally had to pin him down every time. Cozy’s Cuts for Kids is the place to be! the decor and atmosphere is all kid all the time, this place really gets kids!

My little darlings have been testing their wonderful line of hair care, So Cozy!  it’s been keeping their hair, soft and shiny.  So Cozy covers every aspect of children’s hair care!  Products include:

• Shampoos
• Conditioners & Detanglers
• Styling

They also have sweet little makeup kits and exlusive nail colors by Essie!  And prepare for those lice notices with BOO!  products that have pure tea tree oil which repels lice and ticks naturally!  At least once a year we get notices from school that someone has lice, and I won’t even mention the upcoming tick season.

I just can’t say enough good things about Cozy products!  Check out Cozy Friedman’s blog for her television appearances!

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More beauty from the Marchesa show (my personal favorite).  I loved the fresh skin and makeup by NARS as well as the loose, flowing hair styles with some helpful John Frieda products. Simple and casual yet elegant just like the characters out of a fairytale.  The products used retail for less than $7 each and are easily available at local retailers.  Looking for the same look? here are some tips from the experts…

To get the look, lead stylist and John Frieda Collection Creative Consultant Harry Josh equipped models with John Frieda® Root Awakening™ Shampoo, Conditioner and Detangling Spray prior to the show, helping achieve the strength and nourishment the style demands. 
 

To recreate the healthy hair seen on the runway, blow out hair and create a severe part where hair lies best. “Using a curling iron slanted horizontally, manually wrap hair around the iron to create the appearance of natural waves and avoid an overly styled look,” Josh recommends. “Brush hair through to loosen curls, then slick down the side and secure with a bobby pin.” Aim the bobby pin at a 45 degree angle from the outer corner of the eye for chic hold.

http://steepingbeauty.com