The Best Shine Enhancing Products

Posted on September 16, 2009 · Filed Under products and tools · 6 Comments

I simply can’t narrow this category down to one product. The more, the merrier, eh? (I’m focusing on shine-enhancing finishing products, as in the last step of your styling process.)

glossing-cream-05811596604

If you’ve read Hair Thursday for awhile, you probably know that Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream is one of my very faves. I think I’ve mentioned this cream eleventy billion times on this website. Well, here goes eleventy billion and one. I LOVE THIS STUFF. Smells great, lasts forever, and makes my hair super soft and supple.

redme

Redken Mineral Elixir Smoothing Oil is a newcomer on the market that I’ve been using for the past week. Described as “a glistening shine spray that provides very light conditioning and control with intense frizz-fighting power,” it is quickly becoming a staple. I’m a huge fan of the aerosol spray because you can lightly mist all over your hair and then brush/finger through for ultra shiny tresses. (As with any shine enhancer, use a light hand or else you run the risk of looking like you haven’t seen a shower since ‘92.)

mooil

In my humble opinion, as a finishing product, Moroccan Oil doesn’t beat FF Glossing Cream. However, using it as a treatment (applying to damp hair) does wonders for shine and conditioning, and it definitely wins for best sultry scent. It smells like, well, what I would imagine a Moroccan night to smell like. (Okay, I really don’t know what that means.)

cutler

Last, but certainly not least, Cutler Definition Creme for Texture and Shine rocks the casbah. It smells clean and fresh, smooths flyaways and gives me beautiful shine without any greasy residue. Holla!

How to Acheive a Smooth and Straight Look

Posted on August 25, 2009 · Filed Under products and tools, tutorials · 490 Comments

I have fallen in love with a hair dryer and must shout it from the rooftops.

dryer

The Sedu 4000i. This powerful bad boy is the king of smooth. Take a look for yourself!

sedu

OMG. Please don’t dwell on that first photo as it was VERY EARLY in the morning. (The things I will do to spread the word about hair products, I swear.)

Armed with a round brush, your favorite heat protectant and the Sedu, you can whip that crazy hair into shape in minutes!

Start by combing your hair with a wide-toothed comb. (Mine is from Sephora.)

Add you favorite smoothing/heat protectant. On this particular day, I used Redken Satinwear Ultimate Blow Dry Lotion.

(Others I like are Kerastase Chroma Riche Leave-In Treatment, Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion, Matrix Sleek Look Sealing Serum, Sedu Moisturizing Heat Protecting Boost and my absolute very favorite on the entire planet, Kerastase Nectar Thermique. Which is an entire post in itself. Seriously, it is worth EVERY PENNY.)

Work the product through your hair.

Oh, wait. For those of you with sideswept bangs, go ahead and knock those out by drying them in the OPPOSITE direction of how you want them to lay. Seems counterintuitive, but it works! See?

bangs

Okay. Separate your hair into sections.

Start drying away!

blowdry

Remember to keep the dryer nozzle pointed downwards towards the hair shaft as you pull your round brush slowly through the length of the hair.

Keep drying all of the sections until your face is dripping with sweat and you feel like dying.

When dry, add a dab of shine-enhancing product. (Favorites are Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream and Moroccan Oil. Be careful with the Moroccan Oil, as you might want to take a swig after smelling the heavenly scent.)

Work the product through the mid-length of your hair to the ends. Touch up with a flat iron if necessary, and voilá!

end

Smooth and straight, baby.

Are you ready for the best part? I’m giving away not one, but FIVE Sedu 4000i hair dryers courtesy of Folica.com. Say it out loud right now, FOLICA DOT COM IS THE BOMB. (No, they really are. They have EVERYTHING you could possibly need for your hair and more.)

Leave a comment on this post before Friday, August 28th at 6 p.m. PST and I’ll randomly choose 5 winners to receive a Sedu 4000 hair dryer!

In addition to the giveaway, Folica is offering 10% off and free shipping on all orders of $75 or more (excluding Chi Appliances) from now until September 4, 2009. Just use the code THURSDAY at checkout!

HairThursdayFolica_160x160_

GIVEAWAY/COMMENTS IS ARE NOW CLOSED.

3.16 – Beachy Waves

Posted on June 11, 2009 · Filed Under brunette, long · 7 Comments

Meet Alicia.

Alicia is about this close to being the next inductee into The Fishing Club, but I do have a few small suggestions for her royal beautifulness. (Although, really. She could shave her head and still look gorgeous.)

Alicia’s hair:

Naturally medium-dark brown that lightens considerably in the sun
Dry, wavy and thick
Preferred long hair in the past, but open to a shorter cut after her wedding next year
Usual daily styling includes using curling cream and Fekkai glossing cream
Not very comfortable using styling tools
Lives in a hot and dry environment

When Alicia mentioned that her hair lightened easily in the sun, I instantly knew the addition of warm, golden highlights would be perfect for this summer. Nothing too drastic, lord knows I hate a striped look, but something that would complement her complexion and beautiful eyes.

Something to the tune of this.

I also think the addition of bangs (similar to the above photo) would draw attention to Alicia’s blue eyes. That coupled with long layers and highlights would be the perfect summer look!

(Tip: For texturized beachy waves, try Frederic Fekkai Limited Edition Marine Summer Hair + Aquanutrients Beach Waves or Redken Layer Lift 07.)

I’ve got a question for you. Do you have a favorite drugstore hair product for creating a beachy look? Do tell!