Conair X John Frieda

Conair just launched John Frieda Styling Tools! John Frieda hair care experts inspired these transformational styling tools and this first ever collection is designed to unveil your most beautiful hair yet.

This is great news for my college girls and divas on a budget because all the tools are under $50.00.  The John Frieda® styling tools offer the perfect marriage of cutting-edge technology, sleek, modern design, and safe, long-lasting results. Each innovative styler features exclusive ionic frizz-fighting technology and true ceramic heat with LCD temperature control and auto-shut off. Made with scratch resistant ceramic titanium plates and barrels, John Frieda’s top of the line tools are the ultimate in professional heat styling.

Keep on reading to see what's available:

Freshen Up with Pure & Petal

Do you ever feel like your hair could use a little freshen up in terms of scent?  Pure & Petal has the solution! Pure & Petal hair fragrances are light and delicate and are designed to stay close to your hair, so your hair smells clean and fresh like you’ve just stepped out of the shower, but you can still wear your regular perfume.

Since the fragrances are alcohol free they don't dry out your hair like a regular body perfume would if you spritzed that in your hair.  The Pure & Petal scents are wonderful, my favorites are the Sublime Citrus and Heavenly Clean.  I brought my sample bottle to the Doobie Shop and spritzed in right onto my hair while it was in the rollers just before going under the dryer and once again after it dry.  My hair held onto the scent surprisingly well.  I recently went to a cookout and had the 'pleasure' of being in the direct line of smoke from the grill, but once I got home I gave my hair a few spritzes of the Heavenly Clean and it got rid of the BBQ scent.

Want to try it?  Visit Pure&Petal.com for your own bottle!

Shine Spray for Fine Hair

I've been a little bit bad with the roller sets this summer.  I really thought I would be able to avoid them much more than I have been, but it seems like every time I turn around there's an event or something that I want to have my hair down and sleek for. **shrugs**

On the plus side, I've found a new product for people with fine hair.  It's a shine spray!  Whenever I get a roller set I always skip the final douse of sheen spray at the end because it always ends up weighing my otherwise bouncy blowout down.  So recently, I got a roller set done early in the AM and I was going out that night.  I wanted to add some shine to my hair but I was a little bit hesitant because I still wanted the super swing and bounce.  I picked up Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shine Spray and I was pleasantly surprised.  This is my favorite shine spray by far!  It is super duper light, provides amazing shine, and even smells great!  It's like a shine perfume spray for your hair.  I love it!

HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer

Using a blowdryer, it's one of those things that I never really look forward to.  For me, blowdrying takes a long time and that's never the last step, unless I just plan on bunning and then why blow dry?  So there's always an additional step after blowdrying whether it be using a flat iron or a curling iron.  So when I choose a blow dryer to use it has to get my hair as ready for the next step so there are a few things I look for in a blow dryer:

1. Must be lightweight
2. Have adjustable heat settings and a cool air button
3. Long Swivel cord
4. Ion Technology 

So when I was invited to try the HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer from Misikko.com, I knew it just might be a good one because it has all four of the things I look for plus more.  So far, I've used this dryer on myself, my mom, and Gram.  Worked like a charm on all three of us, quickly too.  Our hair was dry in no time and didn't smell  like blow dryer, it even had a little bit of a shine to it thanks to the Pure Tourmaline Crystals.  This blow dryer even has Silver Nanotechnology for antibacterial Protection, not that I think you really need antibacterial protection if it's just a family blowdryer but stylists?  Take note.

This blowdryer is available (on sale, I might add) at Misikko, an online hair tool paradise!  They have blowdryers, flat irons, curling irons, and beauty & hair care items.  Shipping is super quick and the customer service is always on point.  Now the retail price of the HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer is $314.99 but at Misikko you can get it for $194.99, still a splurge but totally worth it.  

InGlam MP3 Flat Iron

I love to read and hear about innovative beauty products, don't you?  Well, that's why when I saw this new Flat Iron that play music I just knew I had to share!

Rock out to your favorite tunes as you straighten, curl, flip, and wave your hair with the ONYX Ceramic Digital 1" Hairstyling Iron with built in MP3 player by InGlam.

Holding up to 500 songs for a customizable playlist, this music centric iron not only brings hairstyling to life but features advanced ONYX Ceramic Technology for superior salon results. Effortlessly smooth strands and create a brilliant shine with the tool's Ceramic Floating and Beveled Plates which produce Negative Ions and Far Infra Red, sealing in vital moisture and repelling humidity for a static and frizz free style. Plus, the ONYX Ceramic Digital 1" Flat Iron reaches up to 420°F due to an advanced MCH Heating System which provides instant heat up with immediate heat recovery for a tool that finally remains at the constant temperature of your choice.

Where to find it: $149.98 via Ulta.com, Ulta Stores, JCPenney Salons and Regis Salons

Rainbow Ombre: Would you rock it?

Now we've chatted about Black women rocking the Ombre Hair Color Trend, but now Lauren Conrad of The Beauty Department has taken Ombre a step further adding in rainbow colors.

Senior Colorist at Cutler 57th Street Salon Dallas Walsh commented, “This new rainbow trend is an extension of the ombre looks we’ve been seeing since winter. We’ve had a lot of requests to add shots of color and tipping. Feather extensions were the big craze as we transitioned into summer but now that everyone’s wearing those a fresh way to make your hair pop is to add rainbow tips. The rainbow ombre is a fun, vibrant way to add a pop to your style and will look great on all hair colors.”

Not ready to take the plunge? Walsh adds, “Have fun with your hair! If you want to try the look out without fully committing, try hair extensions.”

I'm not so sure this look would look great on everyone, I mean how well does Rainbow Ombre translate into Corporate America?  It sure does look fun though!

Darken Up with Bigen

Ditch your lightened up look for a nice rich shade of chocolate.  Jennifer Aniston recently displayed her darker side for an upcoming movie role, but I think this look gives her an air of mystery.  Using Bigen Semi Permanent or Bigen Permanent Hair color anyone can easily achieve their own 'air of mystery', as well as rich healthy looking color.  

Bigen Semi Permanent color is ammonia and peroxide free which makes them more gentle on all types of hair.  In fact, the Semi Permanent is so gentle you can use it on the same day that you apply a relaxer since it's full of oils and other conditioning ingredients.  To get a color similar to Jennifer Aniston's shade I would suggest trying the Bigen Semi Permanent in Medium Warm Brown.  I recently gave my mom a new color using Bigen Medium Cherry Brown, it thoroughly covered her grey hair and gave her, her own air of mystery with a cherry on top glow.  While, applying the color we both were pleasantly surprised at how great Bigen smells.  Once we rinsed it out, we were even more surprised that her hair felt softer than ever.

Want to learn more about Bigen?  Visit their Facebook Fan Page and their Twitter!

Favorite Ingredients for Natural Hair

Naturalistas recently told Design Essentials Salon System that ingredients are the key to natural hair care. The results are part of an online survey in which 200 African American and Hispanic women, ages 18-64, responded to questions designed to assess their attitudes and behaviors toward wearing natural hair.

Overall, the top ingredients most desired in hair products were:

• Olive oil
• Vitamins
• Coconut oil
• Jojoba oil
• Moisturizers
• Natural oils
• Shea butter

What do you think?  Is your favorite listed?

Arganics Relaxer Review

So I finally used the Arganics Double Conditioning and Moisturizing No Lye Relaxer, and guess what? I'm kicking myself for waiting so long because this is the best relaxer I've used ever. Okay, I'll give you a few seconds to let that sink in.  ARGANICS DOUBLE CONDITIONING AND MOISTURIZING RELAXER IS THE BEST RELAXER I'VE EVER USED!


Product Description: This specially formulated relaxer system provides DOUBLE conditioning and moisturizing with Extra Virgin Olive Oil enriched with Argan Oil, for oil replenishment and added moisture.

• Delivers conditioning straightening.
• Infuses moisture and oil while reducing hair breakage.
• Enhanced with a Chelating Rinse to give your hair added protection and a revived luster.
• Chelating Rinse removes excess, damaging mineral deposits that coat your hair and scalp, leaving a chalky coating.

AHS:  So this relaxer is just like any other box relaxer, it has the base with the activator that you mix together, gloves, mixing stick, and instructions.  It also has the shampoo and conditioning treatment, but what's also included that usually isn't included with box relaxers is protective gel and a chelating rinse.  I took this relaxer to my doobie shop and had them put it in for me and the girl who did my relaxer was very impressed with this relaxer kit.  Here is why I'm loving this relaxer kit, my nape area is straight!  STRAIGHT straight straight.  This is my problem area and it never gets straight like that, so I'm impressed.  Afterwards, my hair felt soft and silky but not overly straight everywhere else.  I definitely plan on using this relaxer again.  I have yet to see this relaxer in stores, but you can purchase online here.  

So How Was It?

Hey Ladies!  I've been a bit MIA, but that's life!  Just wanted to check in and see how everyone's holiday weekend was.  I spent my weekend in the water, at BBQ's, and had a party.  Starting tomorrow we will have some brand new content for you, so stick around!