Redken Releases Natural Line - Nature's Rescue

Redken introduces NEW Nature’s Rescue, a collection of paraben-free, sulfate-free and silicone-free haircare essentials. Inspired by the ocean and enriched with plant and marine extracts, Nature’s Rescue thoroughly cleanses to remove impurities and buildup while helping nourish and refine the hair.

“Redken has always used its advanced technology to target specific hair needs with simple solutions,” states Jenny Corless, Director of Global Marketing for Redken. “With Nature’s Rescue, we are using our technological expertise to answer a market need for more natural haircare products. Nature’s Rescue features the nutrient-rich Sea-Algae Hydracomplex with sea algae, soy protein and aloe vera to protect and moisturize the hair. The star products include the Refining Sea Polish, which gently exfoliates with pumice to remove impurities and refine hair’s surface leaving it smooth and shiny. The Radiant Sea Spray is a lightweight and multifunctional spray that adds texture while time-touch fragrance capsules release bursts of oceanic scent when hair is touched.”

Nature’s Rescue includes four products formulated with water-fresh fragrances, cooling sensations and ocean-inspired textures that provide the perfect balance of moisture:

· Step 1: Detox with Nature’s Rescue Refreshing Detox Shampoo -Sulfate-free cleanser washes away daily stress by helping eliminate impurities, pollution and buildup.

· Step 2: Refine with Nature’s Rescue Refining Sea Polish - Gentle exfoliant enriched with pumice removes impurities and refines hair’s surface leaving it smooth and shiny. Polishes hair surface texture leaving hair silky with reduced frizz from the root to the tip.

· Step 3: Replenish with Nature’s Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner - Ultra moisturizing conditioner helps rebalance hair while cooling and soothing the scalp.

· Step 4: Uplift with Nature’s Rescue Radiant Sea Spray - Lightweight and multifunctional spray adds texture while time-touch fragrance capsules release bursts of oceanic scent when hair is touched.

Bria Murphy for Dark & Lovely

I've been patiently waiting for the Dark & Lovely ads featuring Eddie Murphy's daughter Bria to grow on me and sadly they haven't. While Miss Bria is a beautiful girl, the outfit choice is suspect and her hair doesn't even look nice. Correct me if I'm wrong but it's this supposed to be an ad for a hair care company? At least make the hair look nice and healthy, sure it's shiny but look closer at those ends. Right now I'm giving Dark & Lovely the side eye.

Simple Bride: Tia Mowry

Tia Mowry proves that you can go simple with your hairstyle and still be a stunning bride. A simple side part and low bun completed the look for the bride. Then later she let the bun out for beautiful cascading curls.

Very pretty and classy, I love it!

Source

Willow Smith Made Me Do It

To all the mothers out there and to all the soon to be mothers, would you allow your daughter to rock this hairstyle complete with multicolor weave to her 5th grade class? Well apparently, a mother in Edenton did just that, claiming that her daughter was inspired by Willow Smith. The end result? The young girl was kicked out of her class because her hair was "distracting" to the other students and placed in a class with the "bad" kids.

I think someone forgot to remind that mom that Willow Smith is a celebrity and those hairstyles were for photo shoots, music video shoots, and celebrity appearances... not for school.

Source

Weigh in - What do you think?

Angela Simmons Two-Tone Blonde Hair

When I first saw the Twitpics that Angela Simmons posted showing off her new hair color, I have to admit I didn't like it one bit. It looked super blonde and you really couldn't tell that it wasn't all blonde and that it was instead two toned.

Now that she's been spotted out dressed up, makeup done, and hair done - I LIKE it! It's not like Angela hasn't had light hair before (Angela back in 2007 below)... this is just even lighter.

Lifestyle Leak: Styled by a Celebrity Stylist

Throughout the month of February, GILT is launching the Celebrity Stylist Series!

Each month, Gilt will be giving you secrets and tips from the Stylists to the Stars with curated sales by the tastemakers themselves! Styled looks, speaking to the aesthetic for which each are known, will be on the site with each item available for purchase. This series is sure to inspire....get your wardrobes ready as Gilt provides access to these fashion’s insiders, just for you and ONLY on GILT!

For Gilt's first celebrity-stylist curator, we went with the crème de la crème: Lee Harris. Lee is one of Hollywood's most in-demand stylists, and we've been fascinated by him ever since we saw the amazing old-glamour vibe he helped Drew Barrymore cultivate a few years back. The fabulous curated sale starts yesterday, January 28th at NOON ET

Lee is one of the most in-demand stylists on the Hollywood scene today, working on red carpet looks for a variety of celebrities. The California native first kicked off his career working in the costume departments of shows such as Beverly Hills 90210 before enjoying a three-season stint as the wardrobe buyer for Ally McBeal. Work as a professional costume designer soon followed (Down With Love, American Beauty) and yielded off-camera styling gigs with stars such as Kirsten Dunst, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu. Harris is known for his signature mix of high / low, hard / soft fashion and his ability to pair the work of buzzy emerging designers with vintage and contemporary couture. So who better to tell you how to style your look together!

Personal Invite to Gilt Group is here!

Hair Care for Sensitive Skin

Finesse has just launched Clean + Simple, the first hypoallergenic hair care line available at mass-market retailers, including Wal-Mart and drugstores. The Clean + Simple line contains no sulfates, parabens, dyes or allergens and is 100% gluten-free. No longer do people with sensitive skin need to order expensive products online, just to wash their hair! Finesse Clean + Simple retails for $3.99 and is a hypoallergenic hair care line, dermatologist tested to be non-irritating and free of allergens.

“Until now,” said Randy Sloan, President, Lornamead Inc., “People with sensitive skin or allergies had to settle for expensive specialty or salon products to meet their needs. Now, they have a good, affordable option for the whole family available where they usually shop for shampoo.”

Sounds like a win win! Will you be trying out Finesse Clean + Simple?

Beauty Break: Softest Hands and Feet Ever

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream is the best hand cream ever! After just one use my hands felt soft and moisturized, just one use! As a nurse my hands get so dry and so rough because I'm always washing my hands, but this lotion makes my hands touchable. Just a tiny bit of lotion goes an extremely long way, a 2 oz. tube of lotion contains over 200 applications. I've even been using it on my feet with great results!

Lifestyle Leak: CVS Beauty Club

Drugstore Beauty Divas! Have you checked out the CVS Beauty Club? The Beauty Club, an extension of the popular ExtraCare program, is the first ever loyalty program for the drug, food and mass channels that will provide members with special beauty benefits in-store and online.

CVS Beauty Club membership includes:
- 10% off beauty shopping pass upon enrollment

- $5 in ExtraBucks® rewards with every $50 beauty purchase

- $3 in ExtraBucks® rewards on the member’s birthday as well as special beauty offers throughout the year

Have you joined yet?

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Review

I'm a big fan of Kérastase products, although I'm not a fan of the price tags. Except once you try the products you have to admit that they are worth the cost. The newest product is no exception, Kérastase Elixir Ultime is by the far the best smelling hair serum I've ever used. It's really like a perfume for your hair! Formulated with a combination of four oils (Maize, Argan, Camellia, and Pracaxi Oil) it's surprising that it's so incredibly light even on fine hair. Even when you use it before cleansing, after conditioning but before blow drying, and as an added shine enhancer it STILL won't weight down your hair. In a battle between Shu Uemura Essence Absolue this wins hands down so save yourself the $15.00 and just pick up Kérastase Elixir Ultime.

Weatherproof Your Hair: Tips from Jet Rhys

When the weather is throwing a tantrum, a gorgeous head of hair is no easy feat! No matter what's in the forecast where you live, Jet Rhys shares her tips with you.

Snow & Rain
Whether you live in New York City, Seattle, or Aspen, the temperamental weather from thunderstorms to snowstorms can play havoc with your hair. Keep your beauty routine easy by shampooing and conditioning regularly. Limit the use of styling products like waxes and gels. If the rain or snow dampens your mane, hair will become sticky and flat. Instead, use a leave in conditioner that is cream based not oil based.
*Hot Tip: Keep a little pouch in your purse with a mini brush, hair elastics, and pins. If your hair gets wet, it will look chic if you pull it back.

Chilly & Cold
The crisp winter air in cities like Boston, Chicago, and Denver can get cold and dry. Avoid over shampooing, which can strip natural oils from hair causing it to look flat and limp. Jet recommends skipping a day between shampoos and on the days you don't shampoo, rinse with water then massage your hair and scalp with conditioner.
*Hot Tip: Spray your styling brush with static guard to avoid static from the dry air.

Warm & Sunny
The heat and humidity in cities like Miami and Honolulu translates to sizzling temperatures year-round. Humidity has a tendency to bring out curls and frizz. Don't fight it, work with it says Jet.
*Hot Tip: Apply a light silicone product to freshly shampooed hair. For extra smoothness, dry your hair thoroughly to combat frizz all day.

**Photo from Essence.com

Relaxed Hair Must Haves

If you aren't a long time reader of The Anti Hair Slave then you probably don't know that I have relaxed hair. I've had relaxed hair for some time now, but I do remember the days of sitting in front of the stove while my mother hot combed my natural hair. With that being said, I'm glad I'm relaxed, I love wearing my hair straight so I can't imagine still having to use a hot comb. Yet, relaxed hair is also a challenge to keep healthy. Relaxing your hair is not the "easy" way out, you still have to take special care to keep your hair healthy. For me I turn to my must have products and tools.

1. Miss Keys 10 en 1 Conditioner - This was one of the very first Dominican conditioners I was introduced to during my hair care journey and I still use it to this day, I love it! I've tried Una Bomba (a close second), Silicon Mix, and others but Miss Keys just does wonders for my hair.

2. Henna - Henna has strengthened my hair like no other product. I could do without the red color at first, but now I love it but I really only use it for the strengthening ability.

3. Denman Brush - aka the doobie brush. I use my Denman to wrap my hair, to take it down from a wrap, and to detangle in the shower if I lost my denman I'd be lost. I actually did lose it at one point and I had to get another one because I missed it so much.

4. Coconut Oil - I absolutely love coconut oil for my hair. I use it as a pre-shampoo treatment, as a shine adder, I mix it into my conditioners, and as a moisturizer. It's amazing because it's one of the only oils that actually penetrates the hair shaft helping it from the inside out.

5. JBCO - Jamaican Black Castor Oil is relatively new to me, but it's helping to grow in my problem areas so it's a must have for me.

Perfect the Ballerina Bun

Celebrity Hairstylist Kevin Mancuso, who has worked with A-listers like Natalie Portman, Blake Lively, Anne Hathaway, Naomi Watts and Taylor Swift, offers his tips for achieving the perfect, ballerina bun:

“Natalie’s look in the movie is starkly dramatic, and, while gorgeous on screen, may be too severe in real life.” said Mancuso. “Make the ballerina bun your own by playing with different heights and varying degrees of tightness until you find the look that is most flattering.”

PREP:
· This style works best on second-day hair. The natural oils from your scalp act as a natural smoothing agent and help this sleek style stay in place. So skip the shampoo today.
· Slightly dampen hair and run a dime-size amount of Nexxus Sleek Finish Frizz Taming Silkening Lotion to lock-out frizz and flyaways.

STYLE:
· Brush hair neatly back off your face and secure in a high ponytail right where you want the bun to be.
· Comb through the ponytail to eliminate any frizz and then twist the tail portion into a tight rope and wrap around the ponytail base.
· Tuck ends in and use bobby pins to secure.

FINISH:
· Lightly spray the bun and surrounding hair with a strong hold hairspray like Nexxus Maxximum Super Hold Styling & Finishing Mist.

Avoid Relaxer Burns

Thankfully, I've never gotten a relaxer burn or if I did it was only once and so tiny that I don't even remember. Unfortunately, there are tons of women out there that get relaxer burns every single time they relax. In my eyes that's completely unacceptable. A relaxer should only straighten your new growth not burn your scalp. Remember, a healthy scalp is essential for healthy hair growth, a consistently burned scalp is not a healthy one. There are a different reasons why a relaxer might burn your scalp, use these tips to make relaxer burns a thing of the past.

1. Relax only new growth - this seems like a no brainer to me, but unfortunately some people don't realize that a relaxer never belongs on the scalp. Relaxers should ONLY be applied to the new growth.

2. Scalp Irritation - If your scalp is irritated for any reason, do not relax! This includes but is not limited to scratching and rough combing. If you can't stop scratching your scalp, it's usually because your scalp is dirty or it can be caused by other things so if you have itching, start by washing your hair and try to find out the cause of the problem, until you know and the problem has been corrected do not relax.

3. Self Relaxing - Just because you read the directions included in the relaxer kit and watched someone else applying a relaxer you are not a pro and you should probably leave the relaxing to a professional. One of the most common causes of relaxer burns is leaving the product on too long, if you are doing your own relaxer you need to do it quickly, keep it off your scalp, keep it off you previously relaxed hair, and make sure you completely relax all your new growth. Self relaxing is trickier than it seems and even though I've done it myself with no problems I still prefer to leave that to the pros. If you must do it yourself at least have a someone who can help you, but remember you've been warned.

4. Skipping the base - A majority of drugstore kits contain a base like Vaseline to protect the scalp, the skin around your hairline, and the tops of your ears.... USE it! Don't skip this important step and don't let a professional skip this step either, insist that your scalp be based first.

5. Choose the correct strength - If you have fine hair, do not use a SUPER strength relaxer. In fact, I don't think anyone truly needs a super strength relaxer, it's overkill. Even the most kinkiest hair will be straightened with a regular strength relaxer it just depends on how you smooth it through. Start with the mildest relaxer you can find, and don't be tricked into thinking Children's Relaxers (ie Just for Me) are gentler than adult brands, it's just not true.

Zoe Saldana Makes Waves

Zoe Saldana has traded in her long locks for some super sexy shiny waves that are slightly longer than shoulder length when straight.

The amount of shine is CRAZY! Her hair looks really healthy! Recreate this look with a roller set, if you need more curl add some pin curls in before you shower and do your makeup. Once you remove the pin curls add some sheen spray to amp up the shine level. My favorite sheen spray? Cream of Nature Argan Oil Replenishing Sheen Spray. Not a fan of sheen sprays? Try a serum like Ojon Shine and Protect Glossing Mist.