Combating Female Hair Loss

For many women, concealing their hair loss might seem like a full-time job-- from wearing wigs and altering their hairstyles to trying unproven “remedies” and applying temporary hair cosmetics. Recently, we sat down with Dr. Neil Sadick, renowned dermatologist and researcher to discuss Traction Alopecia and a more permanent solution to reverse hair loss– hair restoration surgery.

Member surveys conducted by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) found that the number of female hair restoration surgical patients worldwide increased from 11.4 percent in 2004 to 15.1 percent in 2008. Why are more women undergoing hair restoration surgery? As a Manhattan hair restoration physician and a member of the ISHRS, Dr. Sadick believes the continued growth in women seeking hair restoration surgery over the years can be directly attributed to the fact that women are tired of temporary fixes and appreciate the gradual, permanent results hair transplants offer that are both natural-looking and virtually undetectable.

Since there are many causes of hair loss – from medical conditions, physical stressors and even certain hairstyles – it is essential that women seek proper diagnosis by a qualified hair restoration specialist. Dr. Sadick offers patients the latest advancements in hair restoration surgery and proven medical treatments that can help women permanently restore their thinning hair.

AHS: Traction Alopecia is one of the most prevalent hair loss problems facing African American women what is it and what can we do to stop it?

Dr. Sadick: Traction alopecia occurs from too much tension applied on a regular basis to the hair shaft. Perms, hot irons (curling or straight irons), tight hair braids and mechanical brushing are common causes. The problem can be stopped by decreasing these mechanical stressors.

AHS: Can Hair Restoration Surgery be used in cases of Traction Alopecia?

DS: No.

AHS: How long is the downtime (if any) from a procedure like Hair Restoration Surgery?

DS: There is minimal swelling for 3 days and some mild discomfort the first night. Sutures are left in place in the donor area for 10 days.

AHS: Will my friends, neighbors, or co-workers be able to tell that I've had "something" done?

DS: No, the results with follicular unit hair transplantation are totally non-detectable.

AHS: Even though Hair Restoration Surgery is not an option for traction alopecia, how much would it run to correct that problem with other treatments?

DS: Traction Alopecia diagnosis is covered by most insurance plans. Work up and treatment costs vary from $500 to $1500 depending on treatment course.

Babyliss Portofino 6600 Giveaway

Ladies! It's time for yet another awesome giveaway right here on The Anti Hair Slave... up for grabs this week is a BaByliss Pro Portofino 6600 Nano Titanium Blow Dryer. Remember? The blow dryer I loved so much, with the Italian AC Motor, Ionic & Nano technology, and 6 heat settings? Yup, that's the one!

Enter Here:

UPDATE:: Kimberly you are the winner! You've been emailed :-) congrats

Skinny Hair with Redken

Every year Sleek Straight looks rock the magazine pages and always make it into the "trends" list for the season. This Fall, Redken helps you achieve a high maintanence look with minimal headache! the NEW Redken Real Control Slim Supreme slimming serum, a multi-use lightweight -formula that slims down dense, dry, sensitized hair with lasting all-day humidity resistance for a perfectly streamlined look with luscious shine.

“Silicone-based treatments are effective frizz-reducers because they create a barrier to protect the hair from external moisture,” states Rodney Cutler, Redken Brand Ambassador and owner of Cutler/Redken Salons. “For best results, apply Real Control Slim Supreme slimming serum on damp hair and blow-dry to reduce excessive volume and add sleek smoothness. Then re-apply Real Control Slim Supreme slimming serum on dry hair (as needed) focusing on ends for additional shine and frizz control – this allows for enhanced customization based on the specific needs of women with different types of high-maintenance hair.”

The key ingredients are Cationic Conditioners that deeply nourish and condition, Protein & Ceramides help protect, strengthen, and repair the hair fiber, plus Shea butter helps to smooth everything out and prevent frizz. I love the feel and lightweight texture of this product because it really does help turn my fat hair into smooth skinny hair.

Redken Cut-a-thon

In honor of Redken's 50th Anniversary, Redken will be hosting our signature charity Cut-A-Thon event in New York City on Thursday September 30. A $30 donation will get you a shampoo, cut, blow-out and free product gift bag. $100% of the proceeds from the event will benefit our partner City of Hope, an innovative biomedical research, treatment and educational institution, dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, guided by a compassionate patient-centered philosophy, and supported by a national foundation of humanitarian philanthropy.


Additionally, for every Redken fan (throughout the month of September) that “Likes” Redken on Facebook, Redken will donate $1 to City of Hope (maximum $20,000). So be sure to give Redken the “thumbs up” this month!

REDKEN CUT-A-THON BENEFITTING CITY OF HOPE
When: Thursday Sept 30
Where: The Redken Exchange (565 5th Avenue, between 46th & 47th Street)
Time: 8am-4pm
What: $30 minimum donation = shampoo, haircut, blow-out, free product gift bag

Fall Hair Fixes

During the summer months we can be pretty hard on our hair. Once fall rolls around it's time to get back on track!

1. Pop open an ampoule! Those tiny little packets of deep conditioner are more concentrated than the regular stuff so using one of these can really give you a bang for your buck! Try Pantene Pro-V Medium-Thick Hair Solutions Professional Level Damage Repair Ampoules or Pantene Pro-V Curly Hair Series Professional Level Damage Repair Ampoules both can be found at your local drugstore for just $7.99

2. Trim it on up! Avoided trimming your hair all summer? Well now is the time to take the plunge and snip away the damage you've caused to those ends this summer. Be honest with yourself and really take stock of your hair and determine how much needs to be chopped. Remember by waiting to trim, the damage will only travel further and further up the shaft causing more damage.

3. Darken up! Has the summer sun caused your color to go brassy or look washed out? Rich chocolates, shiny blacks, and amazing auburns are in this fall! Try a natural alternative to harsh dyes and try henna! Have dark brown hair and want a rich brown? Mix 1/2 henna with 1/2 indigo, for a jet black look, use henna first then indigo, or want a full out auburn look? Mix up straight henna. Tip: Always, always, always use body art quality henna for your hair not those commercial types you find at the BSS or Whole Foods.

Beauty Break: Eye Tutorial Kits

There really isn't any more excuses to not apply beautiful eye looks. It seems like all the brands are doing something to help you achieve that perfect eye look and we've selected our favorites.

1. LORAC’s Close Up Eye Tutorial Kit was created by founder/celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw and includes all of her must-haves for creating a sexy cat eye, signature smoky eye or soft natural eye. The kit also includes her professional makeup tips with easy written out directions and complimentry photos you can follow along and learn from the pro herself.

2. Covergirl Smokey Eye Kits were created with the budget divas in mind. Each product is numbered making creating the perfect smokey eye super easy as 1,2,3.

3. Stila Talking Eye Kits are great for those who have to hear it out loud to get it. Stila's kits are probably the most innovative because they actually walk you through the process aloud, like you have a makeup artist over your shoulder guilding you.

Lifestyle Leak: Money Saving Tip

Over the summer I watched as my PSE&G bill just kept creeping up and up, until I decided to do something about it. See, over the winter I'm lucky because heat, cooking gas, and water are all included in my rent but A/C is part of the electricity - meaning I have I have pay for that during the summer months.

In my apartment I had one of those old school thermostats that cannot be programmed, so I ventured out to Home Depot, picked up a programmable thermostat and installed it myself. It was a quick and easy change that costs me about $30.00 (since I didn't need anything too fancy) and since I installed it myself I saved there as well. Since most people have to pay for heat and A/C it would be especially beneficial to make the switch.

Note: If you are renting make sure you save the old thermostat so you can take your programmable one with you when you move.

Cutest Pixie Cuts

Quick name the fiercest, baddest, hottest woman with a pixie cut. I bet you said Halle Berry! She's the first one I think of too, but there are tons of other women who've rocked a pixie and looked fierce while doing it.

Alyssa Milano

Victoria BeckhamEva Pigford
Ciara

Anti-Aging for Your Hair

It is something most women do on a daily basis – fight the aging process. In fact, the number of non-invasive cosmetic procedures in the US has risen by an estimated +69% since the year 2000 and nearly 80% of women over the age of 50 color their hair to cover gray. Capitalizing on 50 years of scientific DNA, women can rest assured their age-defying needs are met with Redken’s NEW age-defying regimen featuring NEW Cover Fusion professional haircolor, Time Reset at-home haircare range, and a Time Reset Salon Service to combat and prevent aging hair.

“Most of us are well-versed on the impact of age on the skin, and less attention is spent on the effects of aging on the hair,” states David Cannell, Redken Research and Development Expert. “Redken research has identified two main categories of aging hair: chronological aging caused by mechanical, environmental and chemical distress – the combined effects of these external factors can leave hair dry, sensitized and/or porous. The second category is hormonal aging which occurs as a result of the physiological changes that women experience as they grow older. This ultimately results in slowed scalp activity and the decline in melanin, the hair’s natural source of protection and defense against age-accelerating aggressors.”

The combined impact of chronological & hormonal aging can leave hair with six visible effects that lead hair to become porous, lifeless, and extremely difficult to manage:

1. Change in Texture

2. Diminished Density

3. Increased Dryness

4. Surface Dullness

5. Fragility / Breakage

6. Gray Hair



“Everyone’s hair ages differently, some of us earlier than others,” explains Cannell. “Below is a general timeline that captures the changes women commonly observe:

- 20s: Hair is at the peak of thickness and strength; Scalp produces ample sebum giving hair healthy shine

- 30s: Damage incurred during your 20’s becomes visible; Slight decline in sebum production can cause hair to lose its natural luster

- 40s: Diameter of hair shaft begins to shrink, resulting in thinner and more fragile strands; Decline in melanin levels can lead to emerging gray hairs

- 50s: Most women are 50% gray by the age of 50, caused by a steep decline in melanin; Follicles continue to shrink leaving hair finer and thinner around hairline and top of scalp

- 60s: Nearly 40% of women will experience some degree of hair loss by age 60, mostly around the crown, leaving hair thin-looking and lackluster.”



Redken’s solution to aging hair is the NEW age-defying regimen that addresses both the immediate needs of aging hair while helping to prevent hair from aging starting in the salon with professional haircolor and backbar service, and continuing the care at-home with age-fighting retail offerings.



Cover Fusion Low Ammonia 100% Coverage Color Cream

Redken’s NEW Cover Fusion Low Ammonia 100% Coverage Color Cream offers 100% gray coverage with natural, modern reflects to clients with over 50% gray hair. Formulated with low ammonia and low odor, Cover Fusion provides a pleasant and comfortable experience for clients. Additionally, Cover Fusion contains ingredients specifically formulated to address the issues gray-haired clients face. With argan oil it helps protects against weakened defenses resulting from melanin loss and with cationic conditioning polymers and rice protein, it provides superior conditioning to dry/dull hair. Available in 24 naturally reflective shades[ii], Cover Fusion addresses 4 of the 6 signs of aging.


Cover Fusion’s Revitalage Colorbond Technology TM provides 100% gray coverage:

· Naturally Reflective Coverage: A combination of high coverage dyes provides intense reflect and perfect coverage for hair that is over 50% gray

· Optimal Defense: With argan oil, which contains antioxidants known to neutralize free radicals

· Superior Conditioning: Cationic conditioning polymers and rice protein help revitalize the hair

Additionally, Cover Fusion’s creamy texture provides easy application with either a bottle or bowl and brush, and 35-minute processing provides faster processing time for more efficient services for colorists and their clients.



Time Reset Salon Service and At-Home Regimen

Redken’s NEW Time Reset helps repair years of damage while combating and preventing five visible signs of aging hair with a targeted home regimen and salon service.

Time Reset uses a combination of age-fighting formulas fortified with the powerful Vital 5 Complex and patented Intra-Cylane® technology to help combat 5 of the 6[iii] signs of aging hair:

Intra-Cylane®: Evens porosity and improves strands resilience
Peptides & Ceramide: Repair and resurface the cuticle
Green Tea: Neutralizes free radicals with antioxidant support
Camellia Oil: Softens, replenishes, and restores shine
Cationic UV Filter: Helps prevent premature aging


The restorative process begins in the salon with a Time Reset Salon Service featuring a professional backbar treatment formulated with 10% Intra-Cylane® that helps even porosity, reinforce internal structure and restore substance to fragile strands.

In a salon study, professionals observed significant benefits[iv]:

· 94% observed an improvement in manageability

· 77% observed enhanced density

· 88% observed an increase in shine or brilliance



Time Reset At-Home Maintenance

The care is continued at home with advanced, age-fighting formulas that renew texture, enhance density, replenish moisture and shine, and help defend hair against free radicals for hair that looks and feels younger and more resilient from root to tip. Time Reset at-home regimen includes Shampoo, Conditioner, Youth Revitalizer replenishing deep treatment and Corrective Defense protective softening lotion.

Beauty Break: Style Eyes Giveaway

Of all the types of makeup available on the market, my favorite type is eye makeup. Of course, eye makeup can also be the trickiest thing to apply, Taylor Chang-Babaian has put together an awesome guide featuring tips and tricks she uses on clients such as Mariah Carey, Paula Abdul, and Julie Chen. Style Eyes gives women of all different ages and ethnicities tips, tricks, and tools they need to create beautiful eyes and brows.

I've had the book for a month now and I keep finding myself going back to it for application tips and eye look inspiration. Now I'm going to share with you guys! Use the contest machine to enter for a chance to win a copy of Style Eyes by Taylor Chang-Babaian.

What does your Hair Say about You

Many people have hair misconceptions when they think about what their style says about themselves, but thanks to Romy Fazeli, beauty expert and creative director of Kymaro Health & Beauty/Spa Essentials, all of us will be in the know. Fazeli shares the secret of what your do’ says about you and how to get the personality look you want.

Short Hair: The Sophisticate
Cropped hair signifies intelligence, openness and honesty -what you see is what you get. Shorter styles tend to make women appear older and sophisticated. To make this look a little edgier, playful and younger use hair paste to whisk the edges of your hair piece by piece.

Shoulder Length: Always A Classic
Medium-length hair portrays a classic, strong and powerful appearance. To make this look a little less intimidating add a few waves your hair. This will balance the serious-look of your cut with a little spark of fun.

Long: Sultry Seductress
If long hair is well kept, it suggests confidence and sensuality, but messy styles may look like you are trying to distract from your flaws. If you want a more innocent look use a straightening iron to flatten the hair leaving you with a simplistic, un-mysterious aura.

Curly vs Straight: Carefree or Polished
Waves give the impression of playfulness, warmth and a carefree nature, while straight hair give a look that’s more polished. You can wear your hair straight or curly to any of these above cuts to create a different “personality.”

Ponytail: The Simpleton
A neat, traditional ponytail is the picture of poise that is ideal when you are looking to impress someone like your boss. A pony tail higher on the head with paired with a decorative clip gives you a more casual, energetic look. Whether a ponytail low or high with straight or curly hair it's an all around good look.

Elnett Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered to win Elnett!

Congrats to No1QuTy, you are the WINNER!

Next giveaway coming soon.....

Bigen Brown for Fall 2010 Hair

In the fall we see nature at its best, vibrantly colored leaves gracefully falling to the ground. As everyday scenery slowly changes, why not change with the season using Bigen’s Permanent Powder Hair Color.

Black always holds its place as fall and winters color of choice, but this year fashion trendsetters are naming brown the season’s "it" color. Perfect for fall, Bigen’s rich shades of chestnut are fashion forward and sure to compliment all skin tones. Remember I used Bigen to dye Gram's hair before? No, okay go back and catch up. Well we both loved how the color actually lasted compared to other brands of dye.

Perfect Bigen Brown Shades for Fall:

Medium Chestnut
Dark Chestnut
Rich Medium Brown

Product Benefits:
Easy to use
Gentle on hair, when compared to competitors
Ammonia-free; no hydrogen peroxide required
Long lasting color with controlled and predictable results
Low price at $4.99

Sponsored Review: Sedu Anti-Frizz Polishing Serum

Sedu has a brand new Anti-Frizz Polishing Serum coming out this Fall and let me tell you it's great! The new polishing serum contains the super popular Argan Oil and actually smells a lot like Moroccanoil. Why do I love it so much, when just about every new hair product these days features Argan Oil? Well Sedu Anti-Frizz Polishing Serum is also a heat protectant and with rollerset season right around the corner that's muy importante. As with all Anti-Frizz type of serums a little bit goes a long way and this is especially helpful since it's a bit pricey at $65.00 for about 7 oz., but it's hard not to over use it because the scent is great, the shine factor is awesome, and it's really had to overload since it's very light on your hair. Want to get your hands on some, visit Folica.com to purchase.

Beauty Break: Miss Pucci

Emilio Pucci is a colorful brand that's sure to turn your frown upside down, with it's colorful swirls and patterns. Now there is a fragrance to match the style of the "Pucci Girl." Colorful, youthful, fresh, and seductive, she has an air of freedom while still maintaining sophistication and beauty. Always naturally chic, she exudes femininity and enegry.

top notes: magnolia and sicilian winter lemon
heart notes: rose, ylang-ylang, orange blossom, and jasmine
base notes: cedar, iris, and white musk

Plus, the bottle is vanity worthly! $74.00 available at Sephora.

Henna Hair Afterthoughts

Now that I've successfully completed my first henna treatment and gotten a relaxer after the whole process I thought I'd share my final thoughts on henna.

Color - You guys know I was scared to death about the final color. Well, henna has a mind of it's own when it comes to color because you really can't predict what the final color will look like with certainty. It's not like going to the drugstore and comparing boxed colors, but now that it's done and my color has set I love it. It made my naturally ashy/sandy/brown a rich brown with auburn hints. My girl friends noticed the color difference immediately, asking if I had dyed my hair, while my boyfriend just said it looked "brighter".

Strength - I have noticed way less shed and broken hairs after I henna'd. Immediately after I didn't really notice too much of a difference, but after a week or so I really picked up on the difference. My hair post henna is definietly stronger and that's just after 1 application so imagine if I continue to use henna.

Hardness - Post henna I have noticed that my hair seems 'harder' than before. My hair used to feel super soft regardless of the state, but now I've noticed that when it's wet it's feels hard to the touch instead of soft like it used to. Once it's all dried and styled it's back to it's usually softness, but when wet? Forget it. To combat the hard feeling I've been deep conditioning overnight like crazy and it's finally getting better. Plus, my strands feel denser. My hair doesn't look any thicker than it did pre-henna but post-henna when I grab my hair in my hands (especially when it's airdrying) it feels denser than before.

Final Verdict: I will be continuing to henna! Even though my stylist is dead set against it. (more on that another day) **the photos are post relaxer - so like 3 weeks after the henna treatment**

Beauty Break: Foundation Fixes

This Fall it's all about the complexion, I mean really when is it not? A flawless face is always in style and if you fall on the lighter side of things LORAC has you covered. This Fall LORAC is introducing a pretty cool complexion compact called, Evening Out. The compact has everything you need to create a flawless look: 2 concealers, oil free powder foundation and brush/sponge applicator. The only downside is that it only comes in three shade variations, so it leaves most of us brown girls out in the cold.

Covergirl, on the other hand, is doing us brown girls right thanks to the Queen Collection. Covergirl Queen Natural Hue Concealers have been specifically designed to help out darker skinned ladies with a full selection of deep, yellow-based concealer shades. With a lipgloss like application tip, it's easy to apply right to those hard to cover dark marks.

While we cover up these things with a little concealer here or there, a naturally flawless face is the most coveted beauty supply. I'm sure you've heard the same tips over and over:

1. make sure to wash your face before bed
2. eat your fruits and veggies and drink your water
3. don't pick it

All of the above tips and tried and true and will work if you are consistant but there are a few new age things you can do to speed up this process. Some of my favorite skin care moves include:

1. exfoliation - exfoliating your skin not only helps your face feel softer and smoother, it actually helps the new fresh skin come to the forefront faster.

2. at home mini-facials - thanks to Mischo Beauty, I've begun to give myself mini-facials and they are amazing.

3. chemical peels - whether you do it yourself at home or visit a derm, chemical peels have drastically improved my skin

Henna - What to have on hand

It's official girls! I've taken the plunge and henna'd my relaxed hair. Before we get into results, let's talk about what I had on hand for the big event.

Gloves - You will need to use gloves, henna will stain your hands and the area around your nails without them.

Plastic Cap - This is to cover your hair after you apply the henna to your hair.

Surgical gown (or a dark tee) - Protect your clothes, pick an old t-shirt (preferably a dark one) and dedicate it to henna.

Disposal hospital chucks (or garbage bags to line the floor) - If you are careful you can skip this but I didn't want to get anything on my floor, and I also put chucks on top of my bathroom sink to protect that as well.

Lots of clips to section the hair - Self explainatory.

Alcohol Prep Pads - To wipe down my hair line, tops of ears, and back of neck after applying the henna and covering my hair.

Mizani Butter Base - An additional measure to try and protect my ears, hairline and neck from getting stained by the henna.

Large roll of gauze wrap - After I applied the henna to my hair I covered my hair with a plastic cape and then wrapped my head up like a mummy with the gauze to catch anything that might leak out of the plastic cap.

Henna can be very messy and stain whatever it touches so I wanted to make sure that everything I used was going to be dedicated to Henna from there on out, like the t-shirt I wore, towel used, and scarf used. Having everything you need ready for you will make your Henna process more enjoyable and less messy.

Lifestyle Leak: Il Corallo Trattoria

One of my favorite types of food has to be Italian dishes, I'm a huge pasta fan. About a year ago, maybe even longer me and my boyfriend spent the day down in SoHo shopping and just having a blast. To make a long story short, we ended up randomly stopping at Il Corallo Trattoria and we've made it a point to make it back there every few months.

In typical NYC dining fashion, the tables are close together and when it's crowded it gets super cramped but I won't let that stop me from eating there because the food is fantastic. The prices make the seafood dishes a real steal, the portions are generous and the quality of the ingredients is not sacrificed. To date, I haven't had any dish that I haven't loved. Just be warned - go with a small party (4 or less) because the layout really doesn't allow for a much larger group.

Here are a few of my favorite dishes:

Taglierini Sorrento - fresh thin black noodles with shrimp, lobster meat, scallops, clams, fresh chopped tomato, parsley, olive oil, white wine and garlic sauce $13.95

Capellini Corallo - angel hair pasta with mussels, scallops, shrimp and crab meat in a light tomato sauce $13.95

and

Fusilli Tiberio - spiral pasta with lamb chunks, artichoke hearts, finocchio and onions in an olive oil and herb sauce. $9.95

Image Credit

Try it for yourself:

Il Corallo Trattoria

176 Prince St, New York NY 10012
(Btwn Thompson & Sullivan St)

(212) 941-7119

Henna Video Series 1-3

I've always been very interested in Henna, but the idea of super red hair is not exactly appealing to me. After lots of research and viewing different before and after photos of black women who use henna I decided to try it myself.

The main place where I found the most information was over at Curly Nikki. After reading and reading and reading, I found out all about the benefits of Henna and the benefits (especially for a relaxed head) are amazing! I ordered 100g of Body Art Quality (BAQ) Punjabi Prime Henna and decided to go for it!

I modified Curly Nikki's recipe using ingredients that I already had on hand.

Light Agave Necter

Lemon Juice

Chamomile Tea

For specifics check out the videos!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Beauty Break: Bobbi Brown Hydrating Skincare

The secret to flawless, beautiful makeup is a flawless beautiful canvas. Healthy skin is essential for every makeup lover out there. “This Enriched Mineral Water-infused line gives your skin exactly what it needs to stay healthy: moisture. The creams have a lightweight texture so they melt right in, keep your skin soft and glowing all day, and make sure that foundation and concealer go on smooth and evenly. And with their clean botanical scent, the products smell as fresh as they feel.” - Bobbi Brown

Fall and winter weather seems to sap all the moisture right out of my skin, but Bobbi Brown's new Hydrating Skincare works in three ways to keep your skin hydrated and healthy:

Hydrates
The ingredients in the Hydrating line are designed to replenish dehydrated skin. Super moisturizing Sodium Hyaluronate and Glycerin, a natural humectant, as well as skin barrier-protecting ingredients are replenished to provide instant, 24 hour and long-term hydration.
Balances
A natural humectant helps maintain water levels deeper in the skin for a healthy, glowing complexion.
Revives
Each product in the line also contains its own unique star ingredients as well as collagen to restore the natural plumpness and youthful feel and condition of skin.

Available products:

Hydrating Face Tonic
Applied immediately after cleansing, this skin-conditioning tonic begins to restore and balance skin, leaving it soft, soothed and perfectly prepared for the treatment products to follow.
Cucumber, Chamomile, Licorice, Aloe Leaf and Lavender soothe and soften skin.
Vitamin B5 softens and conditions so skin is prepared for the next treatment step.
Price: $26

Hydrating Gel Cream
This refreshing water-based emulsion is perfect for oilier and combination skin or days when you only need light hydration. Delivering a burst of moisture, it leaves skin refreshed, healthy and rejuvenated—and perfectly prepared for a seamless makeup application.
Tropical Grass Extract hydrates instantly and increases the skin’s natural ability to hold on to moisture.
Vitamin E provides anti-oxidant protection against environmental damage.
Price: $50

Hydrating Face Cream
This rich formula instantly hydrates and steadily releases moisture, skin conditioners and nutrients throughout the day. Skin is smooth and plumped; makeup stays fresh and glowing.
Ideal for normal to dry skin. Algae Extract moisturizes and conditions skin. Caffeine soothes skin.
Price: $50

Hydrating Eye Cream
This quick-absorbing eye cream delivers naturally-occurring humectants that melt into the skin, leaving the eye area soft, smooth and refreshed for up to 24 hours. A perfect level of emollients imparts a lightweight texture, allowing concealer to glide on evenly.
Aloe Vera and Witch Hazel Extract soothe and comfort. Jojoba Seed, Avocado Oil and Squalane condition and revive continuously.
Price: $45

Hydrating Intense Night Cream
A luxurious, concentrated night cream that boosts skin’s ability to recharge and rehydrate during its nightly repair process, plumping fine lines and improving tone and texture. Skin looks and feels stronger and healthier. White Birch Extract maintains elastin and promotes the natural repair of environmental damage. Shea Butter, Jojoba, Olive and Sweet Almond and Apricot Oils soften and comfort skin while you sleep. A Protein Activator helps promote natural collagen production. Rice Bran Extract and Apple Extract work to even skin tone. Green Tea and Vitamin E provide antioxidant protection.
Price: $58

Contact Form Fixed

The contact form has now been fixed! Just so you guys are aware.

New for Naturals: Essentious

I’d like to introduce you to Essentious, the all natural hair care system by Tymeka Lawrence. The line was originally created by Tymeka for African American hair featuring products that are free of sulfates, silicones, mineral oil, petroleum and parabens. I had the opportunity of trying the shampoo and conditioner, so I'll share my thoughts.

Essentious Exonerate Sulfate Free Shampoo

Product Description: Moisturizing shampoo made from organically-based emulsifiers with a base of Aloe Vera gel for healing and moisturizing. It has a rich lather and a light, refreshing scent. Sulfate Free.

Thoughts: All sulfate shampoos are not made equal and this shampoo proves the point. Usually when I use a sulfate free shampoo, my hair and scalp feel clean but not stripped and it's more like co-washing than actually shampooing and I LOVE that. Instead of that super awesome feeling, I had a feeling of impending doom when I used this shampoo. My hair felt hard, dry, and I was scared to actually get in there and lather it up really well because my hair felt so vulernable and fragile. Needless to say, I immediately reached for the conditioner to rectify the situation.

Essentious Hydrate Conditioning Moisture Treatment

The Deets: Moisture treatment restores moisture lost during chemical treatments and heat styling. Penetrates the hair to provide moisture within the hair shaft.

Thoughts: Thank goodness for this conditioner because without it we would have had an emergency on our hands. This conditioner with it's fruity yet vanilla cake batter scent softened up my hair and smooth out all the tangles the shampoo had caused. My hair no longer felt rough, dry, and hard. Instead, it was soft and sweet smelling.

Overall, I'd skip the shampoo but the conditioner has been spared, I'd use that again in a heartbeat mostly because of the fabulous scent.

Visit Essentious.com for more deets!

Henna Color Expectations

Please note this post was written prior to doing my very first henna!

As I sit here and write this post, I have to say I'm nervous. My Chamomile tea is in the kitchen seeping and once it's completed I will start mixing my Henna for tomorrow's big Henna Experiment! My natural hair color is what I'd call medium brown, there is no way you could mistake my hair for being black. Other's call it a sandy brown, either way I'm ready for a change. I've been googling and youtubing up a storm trying my best to find someone who has/had a similar hair color to mine pre-henna with no luck.


Part of me is worried that I'll end up with Ronald McDonald or a Charli Baltimore red, but I know that is completely illogical because Henna does not lighten the hair it only deposits a red hue. The other part of me is ready to trade in my 'sandy' almost ashy looking sun-kissed brown for a sizzling sultry auburn look.

Check out my NATURAL color for the last time!

Beauty Break: BLISS sale

For the FIRST TIME EVER on any luxury flash sale site, Bliss is partnering with Gilt Groupe for exclusive sales in multiple cities, offering treatments and packages with locations in New York, L.A. and several cities in between! In addition to cult-favorite products, this sale is a MUST for beauty buffs looking to refresh for Fall!

Log onto Gilt.com this Thursday, September 16th at 12PM ET through Saturday, September 19th at NOON ET to find the de-stressing services of Bliss at your beck and call. The renowned spa offers high-tech beauty solutions in a sleek, refined-yet-relaxed environment. With trademark touches like rhythm and blues tunes, a brownie buffet, and the most talented staff on the planet, it's no wonder they’ve gained a gaggle of grooming groupies over the years. Bliss' super-effective bath, body and skincare blends are based on years of tension-nixing, skin-fixing expertise, and will make you look and feel ‘spa’-tacular every day.

Not near one of these locations?:
bliss 49 NYC
bliss 57 NYC
bliss atlanta - midtown
bliss chicago
bliss dallas
bliss hoboken
bliss hollywood
bliss los angeles
bliss products
bliss san francisco
bliss scottsdale
bliss soho NYC
bliss south beach

Don't worry! You can always use Bliss Spa products in the comfort of your own home. Gilt has you covered for that too, because tons of products like the ones featured below will be available!

Fat Girl Three
Recreate Bliss' famous FatGirlSlim body treatment with these spa-at-home essentials! This body-toning trio features all of Bliss' famous ‘Fatgirl’ favorites for 24/7 DIY dimple dashing.
Includes full sizes of:
• 6 oz bliss fatgirlslim, for caffeine-powered daytime firming
• 8 oz bliss fatgirlscrub, for circulation-stimulating skin smoothing
• 6 oz bliss fatgirlsleep, for soothing overnight blub-busting

Zest to thrill
For the ultimate fan of Bliss' Lemon+Sage classic and refreshing scent, this trio is great for scent layering
You'll receive :
-12 oz lemon+sage body scrub. Made to be massaged on pre-shower, its circular scrubbing grains lift away dead cells, leaving your skin smooth, supple and silky.
- 6.7 oz lemon+sage body butter. Marvelously moisturizing, this fresh-citrus scented body butter is so incredibly effective that a single squeeze can make rough and scaly skin 'history'.
- 16 oz lemon+sage soapy suds . This citrus-scented liquid soap whips up a luxe lather that cleans and conditions for supremely soft skin.

Peeling groovy
Like a 1-step liquid microdermabrasion, this gently exfoliating dermatologist-developed formula is a triple threat against aging: it simultaneously perfects skin's texture, lightens dark spots (from sun, breakouts or other complexion-related mishaps) and lessens the look of lines and large pores.
Hot Salt Scrub
This super-softening, spa-strength provides skin smoothing action! The all-over sea salt body scrub is oil-free, super-softening, self-heating and spiked with eucalyptus and rosemary oils. It's the ultimate do-it-yourself spa-strength skin smoother.

Problem Salved Duo
The Problem Salved 20-in-1 wonderbalm is a one-stick wonder for your myriad of beauty mishaps. In a single swipe, Problem Salved can:
• soothe sunburn and windburn
• soothe just-waxed skin
• soothe stressed post-treatment skin
• soothe stinging and itching from insect bites
• moisturize chapped heels, elbows, knees
• moisturize chapped noses
• prevent runner's chafing
• prevent shoe blisters
• nourish cuticles
• tame hair flyaways
• groom eyebrows
• fix make-up mistakes

Get out of Hair
Want to keep visible fuzz and skin irritation at a ‘bare’ minimum between shaving or waxing? Leave it to Bliss' Get Out of Hair!, a targeted 3-in-1 body lotion to minimize hair re-growth, while exfoliating and hydrating the skin.
Massage onto waxed or shaved body areas below the neck after hair removal, and then 1-2x daily.

AND MORE!

Elnett Giveaway

Kourtney Kardashian was spotted a while back picking up some of her favorite hairspray, Elnett. You know how I feel about most hairsprays, but Elnett get's the The Anti Hair Slave seal of approval with it's ultra fine spray and completely brushable formula. Since it's a favorite over here, we're giving a bottle away!

Use the contest machine below to enter & WIN!

Fashion Week Spring 2011 Hair: Pamela Love + Sebastian

Thomas Dunkin and the Sebastian hair team were on hand backstage at Pamela Love Spring ’11 Presentation at Milk Studios styling the models’ textured, unkempt tresses to complement the jewelry designer’s African- and Indian-inspired collection. Reminiscent of Love’s own undone but innately cool downtown style, the final look was very streetwise and edgy, but still feminine.

Pamela Love Inspiration:

This season, I felt a really strong connection to this idea of jewelry as a symbol of protection. I’ve been interested in that since the beginning, but lately I’ve been referencing traditional Indian and African jewelry that are meant to protect the person who’s wearing it. I was also inspired by the astrological lunar cycles and the chemical symbols for earth, wind, water, and fire, as well as lunar cycles, which play a role in the study of alchemy -- the mixing of the alchemical elements.

Step by Step Styling:

For a textured, unkempt look reminiscent of Love’s own undone but innately cool downtown style, Sebastian Professional lead stylist Thomas Dunkin suggests the following steps:

1. Start by applying Sebastian Professional Gel Forte to wet hair for grip and hold.
2. Next, rough dry hair using just your hands and the dryer.
3. From there, twist hair into sections and spray them with Sebastian Professional Re-Shaper for
texture and light hold.
4. Gently draw a flat iron over each section to create a dreaded or piece-y effect.5. Allow the sections to cool, then loosen them with fingers and backcomb select pieces for added
volume and a final look that’s textured and unkempt but still feminine.

Spring 2011 Fashion Week Hair: Cynthia Rowley + Wella

Bok-Hee and the Antonio Prieto Salon styling team were on hand backstage at Cynthia Rowley Spring ’11 Fashion Show creating shiny, sleek and tight, structured updos that incorporated iridescent metallic hair extensions hand-painted by Aura Friedman and the Wella Professionals color team. The bright clips styled into the updo gave the final hair look a modern street style with a hint of polished glam. I love the deep side part and low bun look, it's one of my signature styles and guess what? It's never going out of style!

Hair Look:

The hair style evokes a sense of couture with a tight, structured updo that leaves the neck completely bare. A deep, side-angled part creates a strong asymmetrical look that flatters the face by offsetting any imbalance of the facial structure. A metallic Wella Professionals colored hair extension woven in to the natural haircolor creates dimension, while the striking shade infusion creates a shiny, modern and sleek feel. Although a sophisticated style, the range of brightly colored clips accent the hair to make it a wearable street style.

Haircolor:

Wella Professionals Lead Color Ambassador, Aura Friedman of NYC’s Serge Normant salon, collaborated with Cynthia Rowley to choose the light, iridescent metallic and futuristic haircolor palette that perfectly complements the Spring collection. The marriage of luxury and the modern woman evokes a strong confidence that enhances the overall graphic hair look. Friedman and a team of elite Wella Professionals colorists from across North America custom colored natural hair extensions to achieve shades in a spectrum of shiny metallics and cool, silvery, icy tones for a fresh perspective on blonde. Extension were lightened with Blondor and Extra Cool Blondes and then saturated with colors in the Color Touch and Koleston Perfect Special Blondes portfolio to deliver the incredible tones and intense shine. These striking shades accent the overall look for added edginess to the sophisticated style.

Step-by-Step Styling
1. Section hair into a deep angled side part starting from above the ear in the opposite direction and work through Wella Professionals High Hair Styling Mousse

2. Blow dry the hair completely smooth and section off a ¼ inch of the part to place the colored hair extension (two inches from the root should be the same as the natural hair color) and comb it over

3. Bring into a tight low ponytail and twist around to the opposite side of the head and twist in a figure 8

4. Pin to the head with ends tucked under

5. Adorn with brightly, colored clips

6. Use a combination of Wella Professionals High Hair 45 Seconds Styler hairspray and High Hair Gloss Serum to finish the look and add intense shine

The People who got it done:
Haircolor: Aura Friedman for Wella Professionals
Hair products provided by Wella Professionals Styling
Lead Stylist: Bok-Hee for Antonio Prieto Salon
Wella Professionals Colorist Team: Jennifer Groves, Nikki Anderson, Glenice Beale (PR @ Partners), Vivian Moore (Mitchell’s Salon), Dean Roybal (Planet Salon), Alison Holub (TC Salon), Lee Anne Combs (David Paul Salon), Caroline Beland (Ode Salon)