Hair

The Co-Wash Chronicles: Joico Color Co+Wash Whipped Cleansing Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair, and Kristin Ess Frizz Management Cleansing Conditioner

July 10th, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

joico co wash — Co-washing my mop, one bottle at a time…

…because I’m on a mission to try all the conditioner washes!

DUUUUUDE. I’ve been co-washing since before it went mainstream, since I unraveled its secrets in a now-long-forgotten hair forum in a dusty corner on the Interwebz more than 10 ago.

Finding out about it was one of the best things to ever happen to my hair. Now I do it a few times a week between regular shampoo and conditioner sessions, and my hair’s the healthiest it’s ever been.

Needless to say, I’m a co-wash evangelist, and I love trying new ones and options.

Here are two I tried in June…

Joico Color Co+Wash Whipped Cleansing Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair ($23.99, 8.5 oz.)

Joico has three foaming Co+Washes in their line — one for dry hair, one for curly hair, and this one for color-treated hair, which I like. My hair and scalp feel clean after rinsing it out, and just like with R+Co Analog and Drybar Double Standard, my hair is full and lush and shiny the next day, not heavy.

If this were just a little more moisturizing, it would go from pretty good to totally great. Unfortunately, my ends do feel a little crun-chaaay afterwards if I don’t also use a leave-in conditioner. Also…it kinda smells like Downy fabric softener?

So, depending on your feelings about Downy, that could be a good, or a bad thing (I don’t mind it).

Overall, I like this co-wash enough to finish the bottle, and when I’m done, I want to try the dry hair version.

❤️❤️❤️ 3 1/2 out of 5 hearts. (Side note: why is there no half a heart emoji?)

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ApotheCARE Essentials Vanilla Argan Oil Sweet Almond Shampoo, Conditioner and “The Mender” Hair Oil

June 25th, 2018 by Karen 4 Comments

ApotheCARE Essentials Vanilla Argan Oil Sweet Almond Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry Hair ($12.99 each, a 12-oz. bottle with pump), and The Mender Hair Oil ($10.99 for a 4-oz. bottle)

Got an unruly mop? These three silicone-, paraben- and dye-free hair helpers can…help? If you don’t mind hair that’s sleeker, smoother and dramatically flatter.

Like, dude, where’s my volume?

There’s a shampoo, a conditioner and a hair oil, and they tame big hair stat. I see a difference immediately when I use them together on my wavy hair, which is dyed and healthy for the most part, but I do have to deal with dry ends.

Thing is…the lack of volume.

Depending on how much puff you want in your pouf, flattening can be a good or a bad thing. If you crave the kind of control that tames tresses by weighing your hair down (which I totally get, because sometimes wild hair needs/wants serious taming!), these will do that, but if big hurr is your priority, like it is mine, ’cause #bighairdontcare, I’d say skip ’em.

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Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray Smells A LOT Like Eternity for Men

June 12th, 2018 by Karen 7 Comments

Whenever I hop on the Volaire site (they’re a niche hair line; Kristin Davis is their spokesperson), I feel like I’ll be buying products at 2 in the morning in an insomnia- and infomercial-fueled frenzy because there’s something enticingly late night “As Seen on TV” about it…

This particular styling spray is part of a multi-step system for volume, but you can also use it as a standalone product, which is how I tested it.

Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray ($34, 10.1-oz. bottle)

Smells A LOT like Eternity for Men and, thus, reminds me of making out with sweaty, clumsy dudes in college.

Oh, lord… I was a baby back then. What the heck did I know?!

Volaire Air Magic Texturizing Spray adds texture and lifts everything (roots, mid-shaft, ends, everything!) to give your hair more volume, and it does so without turning your style into an immobile ’80s hair helmet.

“Add instant lift, texture and effortless volume, and extend the life of your hair style with this multi-functional styling spray. Powered by exclusive AIRWEIGHT TECHNOLOGY™, Air Magic Texturizing Spray is part texturizing spray, part sheer hold spray with oil-absorbing properties to refresh, and extend the life of your full body style. Sulfate-Free. Paraben-free. Color-safe. Vegan.”

— volaire.com

Not to say that you can still run your fingers through your mane when you use it, because my strands feel stiff. There’s definitely the sense that this is locking sh*t into place and leaving a layer of “stuff” sitting on my hair, and when I hop into the shower at night, it’s hard to wash out… I gotta shampoo twice.

The volume is there for me, though, and it’s massive. I scrunch the ends every few hours to revive it and make the most of that big-haired glory.

INGREDIENTS
Hydrofluorocarbon 152A, Dimethyl Ether, Alcohol Denat., VP/VA Copolymer, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Flour Lipids, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Gelidiela Acerosa Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Zeolite, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Acrylates Copolymer, PVP, Acetyl Triethyl Citrate, PEG/PPG-17/18 Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Benzophenone-4, Sorbitol, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl Alcohol, Magnesium Carbonate, Citric Acid, Water (Aqua), Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Limonene, Fragrance (Parfum)

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A Teeny, Tiny Target Hair Haul (Kristen Ess)

June 5th, 2018 by Karen 11 Comments

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Also, if you leave Target with only two beauty products, does that count as a haul?

So many philosophical questions!

Purr usual, I went to Target today with a short list. I only needed a tub of spinach (I’m back on a green smoothie kick), but I walked out with all kinds of nonsense, including these two products from Lauren Conrad’s homegirl/hairstylist Kristen Ess.

One’s her Signature Hair Water Spray ($10, 7-oz. bottle), which, to be honest…I’m kinda murky on exactly what it’s supposed to do, but my ends have been dry lately, and I like the idea of having a moisturizing spray on hand to use whenever whenever the mood strikes.

INGREDIENTS
Water, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Algin, Chitosan, Carrageenan, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Sorbitol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-Glucoside, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Xanthan Gum, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance

The other one is her Frizz Management Cleansing Conditioner ($14, 8.45-oz. bottle), which I actually needed (“needed,” she says. HAHA!), because I just finished another bottle of R+Co Analog (which costs twice as much) and was in the mood to try something new.

It’s supposed to be good for curly girls, frizzy hair, humidity control and damage.

K, sounds good. Sign me up!

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Kérastase Reflection Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Mask for Color-Treated Hair

May 21st, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

Unless you’re currently living that Maybach/Balmain/Cartier life, one can’t exactly call Kérastase “budget,” since their shampoos and conditioners are in the mid-$30 range, but if you like their products, or you’ve wanted to try their products, FYI, price cut!

In most cases, they’ve dropped their prices between $2 and $8, which isn’t bad. It makes them a little more accessible.

I’ve been testing a few things I haven’t used before from their Reflection line for color-treated hair — Bain Chromatique Sulfate-Free Shampoo ($30), Fondant Chromatique Conditioner ($34) and Masque Chromatique ($53).

No idea how they compare to their previous pricier versions, because I never used them before, but the company says that the formulas have all remained the same. They just cost a little less.

I started using them this month, and my wavy, dyed hair, which is normally on the drier side, looks noticeably smoother and shinier to me. It also doesn’t feel weighed down. No flakes on my scalp, either, and these don’t strip my color…which is good, considering that they’re designed to not do that.

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REVIEW! MAC Mirage Noir Slow As You Go Eye Shadow and Mother o’ Pearl Pearlmatte Face Powder

May 15th, 2018 by Karen 19 Comments

I went for ’80s today… Don’t know if I quite got there, but it’s all good. 🙂 I still like how this look turned out.

So, plums and purples today. And I found this top that I’ve had forever. It’s by Halogen, and I got it at Nordstrom a zillion years ago.

I wanted my makeup to complement the top, which is something I don’t do very often — coordinate my makeup with my clothes — especially lately. Lately my clothes have basically been an afterthought (although I’m working diligently to change that), but today I thought I’d coordinate. Plus, big hair. I was going for ’80s hair…or a modified version, but I’ll get to that in a sec.

First, the two key ingredients in this look… LOL! Ingredients. 🙂 What, are we making brownies? OK, the two key “elements” are a purple eyeshadow called Slow As You Go, and a plummy golden bronzed cheek/face powder called Mother o’ Pearl.

Both are from the new MAC Mirage Noir summer collection available now.

MAC Slow as You Go Eye Shadow ($17)

You’re gonna dig this if you’re a fan of MAC Trax. Slow as You Go is similar, but I actually think I like it more than Trax because it’s shinier (in a good way) and more richer. Like Trax two point oh. It’s also silky soft and blends like a dream. And — this is important — it doesn’t make my eyes water like so many other purples do.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? Golden purples like Slow as You Go pair very well with MAC Powersurge and MAC Prunella eyeliners. 😉

mac mirage noir mother o pearl slow as you go — Makin’ mah heart flutter!

MAC Mother o’ Pearl Pearlmatte Powder ($34)

This plummy gold has a slightly warm bronze undercurrent. It’s like a combo bronzer, blush and highlighter. Normally I just mix it all together and sweep that on my cheeks and blend.

Technically, it’s a powder, but it feels almost like a cream, and the opalescent finish is pure purr-fection.

It’s like a bronzier MAC Plum Foolery, but not as shiny.

❤️❤️❤️❤️ 4 out of 5 hearts.

Did you know? You can also use Mother o’ Pearl as an eyeshadow. Yup, it’s also approved for lids.

mac mirage noir other o pearl k — CHEEKS!

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OUAI Dry Texture Wheat Protein-Infused Texturizing Foam Creates Instant Undone Texture and Hold

April 3rd, 2018 by Karen 9 Comments

ouai dry texture foam — Say it with me — “WHEY.”

I love that I can walk around nowadays with messy hair that looks like I just woke up, but have it be, like, a legit hairstyle (Dear Beauty Goddesses, please don’t let this trend go away!). Texturizing sprays (or naps on the couch) are the typical way to get this lived-in look, where you’ve got clumps of hair sticking together and tussled waves like you just emerged from a wind tunnel, and there are lots of good ones out there, but now there’s a new way to get the same look by going down a different path, and it’s from OUAI (you’ve probably seen them all over the ‘gram).

Dry Texture Foam is $28 for a decently-sized 5.8-oz. bottle, and it’s for curly, wavy and straight hair types. You shoot a little foam into your palm, then work it through your hair while it’s dry, starting at the tips and working your way up the shaft.

It does everything a texturizing spray does — you know, roughing up the hair, upping volume, keeping the curl pattern — but in some ways, it does them so much better. I really like the “piece-y” effect I get from this foam.

The foam gathers up more strands and clumps them together into chunkier pieces than the sprays I’ve used, which makes my hair more visually interesting, a.k.a. messier. LOL! I also like that it roughs up the strands just a touch, like you took a 10-minute cat nap at your desk at work (hey, no judgement), but not like you got caught in a tornado.

Now, OUAI products generally have strong fragrances, and when I put this in my hair in the morning, I smell it all day long. It’s SUPER strong and gets up in your business like that one Auntie at Filipino parties who’s all, “Why aren’t you married to your boyfriend yet? Why don’t you have kids? Aren’t your parents sad they don’t have grandchildren yet?” It smells exactly like OUAI’s shampoo and conditioner or a Byredo white floral with honeysuckle, jasmine, lily of the valley, and some white musk thrown in there for schmexiness.

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Trader Joe’s Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask Was a Kick-@ss Consolation Prize

March 26th, 2018 by Karen 16 Comments

I got myself this Trader Joe’s Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask as a consolation prize last weekend because I went up and down every single aisle and scanned every shelf, but I couldn’t find my beloved Rose Oil Hand Cream, boo-hoo! So I got this thinking, “Yay! This will tide me over, and whatevs — it’s only $3.99, so it’s not the end of the world if I don’t like it.”

Girlfriend.

This mask is just as good as the fancy-schmancy Oribe one I used a couple months ago at the salon. It’s actually great, and it costs less than a latte!

I’ve used it twice, but I’m already dreading the day I walk into the shower and find it empty…

It’s a deep-conditioning mask for dry and/or damaged hair, but I think anyone looking for serious moisture or frizz control can use it. Overall, my hair is pretty healthy right now, but I can always use extra moisturize, which is why I wanted to try it.

I use it when I shower in the evenings, leaving it on for five minutes (it smells lightly of coconuts), and let my hair air dry overnight. The next morning, my hair looks GOOD, like I’m living in a hair commercial. I can even see light reflecting off the strands! It has lots of bounce and shine, and it isn’t out-of-control frizzy. It doesn’t feel like I’m wearing a heavy hair helmet, either.

It looks so good that I even skip using any additional smoothing or shine styling products.

And did I mention that it’s only $4??

The ingredient list reads like a recipe for a homemade hair mask. There’s shea butter and coconut oil (obvs), along with a whole host of other hydrating helpers, like argan oil and vitamin E, and plant extracts, too, like blackberry, sunflower seed, black current and mulberry, among others.

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