Recent Purchases: Fashion, Beauty, and Home

With fall basically here, even if it's still in the 100s, I've been on a little bit of a shopping spree getting some new post bump duds. There's so many great things out right now, I want one of everything! Sometimes, the start of a season can be slow fashion-wise, but I love everything that's out right now and have a hard time not adding it all to my shopping cart.

Spring is my favorite season and sometimes, I look forward to fall just for a change of routine, but it is by far not my favorite season. This year? It can't come soon enough!! For one, I'll have a sweet new baby in my arms and two, the high temps are killing me! I can't wait for 70s weather.

So, like I said, I've been on a bit of a spree and wanted to share with you all the great things I've found, almost all under $50 (the booties are under $100!) that you NEED for fall too!

Product Review: Sapphire 8-in-1 Curling Wand

My signature look has to be curls, I wear them every single day and would die if I didn't have a curling iron. Yep, die. I rarely wear my hair in any other fashion and can curl my hair in just a few minutes. When Irresistible Me reached out to me for a collaboration, I had to try the Sapphire 8-in-1 Curling Wand. So many people swear by wands, but I've never really tried one and to be honest I didn't know if it would really make a difference in my curls. I felt like my hair would curl the same as using a curling iron and jumped at the chance to give it a whirl.

The curling iron comes with 8 different ceramic, tourmaline infused, interchangeable barrels: 13mm, 19mm, 25mm, 32mm, 18/9mm, 25/13mm, 13/25mm and pearl. Each curler features cool tips, heats up quickly (within 20 seconds), and they're all packed in a nice travel bag. I've had a lot of fun playing around with the different wands and have found the 25mm to be my favorites.



A few things I was skeptical of in trading my curling iron for a wand was thinking that without using a clip, my curls wouldn't last as long. Wrong. My curls lasted just as long and the waves looked even beachier the next day. On day three, I curled just a few pieces around my crown and was on my way. I also didn't think there would be much difference between a wand and a regular curling iron, but a wand is longer and without the clip, it gives you more space for maneuvering.

A few tricks I've learned to help make beachy waves and curls, thanks to many of you on my Instagram post, is to:

- Curl hair away from your face (it's flattering on all face shapes)
- For beach waves, leave the last 1-3 inches out from wrapping around the wand, focusing only on the middle section of your hair
- When you're first using the wand, use the glove! It took me a few tries to get the hang of it and didn't want burn myself and now I prefer to not use it.
- Vary the amount of hair you curl at a time (1-3 inch sections)
- Point the tip of the wand down while wrapping sections of hair
- Take the time to curl your hair well the first day and enjoy loose waves the next day

Overall, I LOVE using the curling wand! I haven't traded in my curling iron for it exclusively, but I've been using the wand about 60% of the time now. With a little practice it takes me only a few minutes longer than using a curling iron now. I've really enjoyed the beachy and relaxed waves and my favorite is day 2 of curls. It's just perfect!

What type of curling iron do you use? What tips do you have for perfect curls or waves?

Recent Beauty Purchases

As I was taking pics for this post I had to keep taking more pics because I would forget about stuff I've bought and haven't used yet, but wanted to include in the post. I've bought a thing here, an item there, several things have seemed to just jump into my cart at Target. That happens to you too, right? You go to Target for five, maybe six things, and you leave with a full cart. Then you're unpacking and putting things away and realize that you have two eyeliners, a mascara, mousse (which I did forget to include in this post, it's L'Oreal ), a top, and some home decor. It never fails!

On Sunday, I cleaned out a spare makeup drawer and threw out a few items so I don't feel quite as bad about my totally unnecessary purchases. I really need to toss out so much more. I try a lot of new products and brands it really starts to take up a ton of space. It's not as bad as it used to be when Nordstrom, Ulta, and Sephora were all just around the corner from me. Now Ulta or Sephora is a 20-30 minute drive and the closest Nordstrom is a solid 45 minutes away. For some reason, I don't really buy makeup/hair products online, so my beauty hauls have slowed down. Plus, taking a toddler anywhere that has beauty samples is a nightmare!!! Maybe I should just order online...

Anyways, here's what I've bought the last couple of weeks. Some of them are repeat buys, but a lot of them have been purchases to try something new. I've tried a few of them already and have shared my first impressions about them below.

Meg tried this and liked it, so I bought it. Did I need it right now? Nope. I haven't used it yet, but Meg gives great reviews and tries a ton of stuff and when she mentioned this I snagged it so I wouldn't forget! I always really, really, want to try NYX HD Concealer which is supposedly a dupe for NARS so that will be making it's way into my makeup bag on my next Ulta trip.

I have a lipstick from this collection in Blushing Beige 915 and really like it so I wanted to try the shade darker and about Nude Lust 920. I'm super happy with them both! I don't know if I have a preference of one over the other, they both are creamy and great shades. 920 does have warmer pigmented color to it. I usually top them both off with MAC Boy Bait or Urban Decay Walk of Shame.When in doubt, wear nude I always say!

As you can tell from yesterday's mascara review post, I love mascara and wanted to give this Lash Sensational one a try. The wand's bristles look like they could really help in pushing up your lashes and giving extra length. I don't typically care for short bristles on a wand, but I think that the mix of long on one side and short on the other might me a good mix to really coat your lashes. I've heard good things, will report back.

The NYC Eyeliner is a re-purchase, it's an amazing eyeliner! I never would have tried it, but makeup artist Brittany Layne (Jason Aldean's wife) raves about it so I tried it and fell in love. It's true black that doesn't fade and lasts all day long. I've heard good things about NYX so I picked this one up too.

Typically, I like Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair conditioner, but I've been liking a lot of L'Oreal's hair products lately and thought I'd try this Damage Erasing Balm a whirl. The bottle that one use can repair up to a year of damage? That sounds like a challenge to me!

L'Oreal has some really great hair products and one thing I hate doing is blowdrying my hair. I don't know why, I just style the front and crown and flip my head over for the rest and it takes me all of 7-10 minutes to do the whole thing. Still, I loathe it. Obviously, this Quick Dry Primer Spray needed to make it's way to my bathroom. I've tried it twice and the first time I felt a difference in time, but not so much the second time. I'll keep using it to see if it was just a Jedi trick or if it really works. It smells incredible though.

Another repeat buy for me. I really dig a light leave-in conditioner for my ends. All of the bleach, styling, and heat can be killer and I need a little extra to save my tresses. I don't love this one, but it's light weight and works for now. I swear a few years ago every brand had a leave-in conditioner, but I can't find any now! It seems like they're a thing of the past. Do you use one? What do you like? What should I use instead?

So I've been using a stretched out purple scrunchie around the house and to separate my hair while styling since 1995. 1995!!! It was a Christmas gift from my dad (aka, grandma) and I only know the year because it was the first year my parents had separated. I'll hold onto the scrunchie forever probably, but I really needed some new ones that had some actual stretch. Laugh all you want about it, but these are so soft and don't pull your hair at all. These feel like heaven when your hair is pulled up in them.

My favorite moisturizers are from Image, but I've also been using Aveeno and it had just ran out so I picked this Neutrogena one up to replace it. Veronika recommended it and I really like it so far. I use my Image ones at night and have been using this one in the mornings.

What are some of your favorite beauty products? Have you tried anything new and loved it lately? Hope you're all having a fantastic day, thank you for reading!!

Product Review: The Wet Brush

The Wet Brush // The Squirt Brush

When it comes to brushes, I've used a paddle one since junior high and just recently got a new one in my Christmas stocking this past year (but the old one is still hiding in my drawer!). I like the new one, but the bristles are hard and don't flex much and sometimes if there's a big knot, it rips out a ton of hair no matter how slow or gentle I go. My girlfriend got a Wet Brush for Christmas and loves it, so when they contacted me I replied immediately! I couldn't wait to try it out on my color treated hair.

Ellie's hair is still baby fine and she has the most wicked bed head I have ever seen. I have to douse it in detangler and gently comb her tangles out. Most of the time she goes running away when she sees I have a comb in hand and I usually have to bribe or distract her to put her hair up. Wet Brush was kind enough to send me a surprise child one for her! She was so excited and brushed mine and her daddy's hair with hers.

So Ellie and I have been using our brushes for a few weeks (more like months since I'm behind on posts!) now and we love them! I feel like it gets through our hair like a hot knife through butter. I have some really gnarly snarls at the base of my neck and it takes a bit of work sometimes to brush through them, but it's half the time with The Wet Brush compared to my standard paddle brush.

The rubber covering and handles are shaped in a way to keep the brush in your hands and the bristles are a unique Intelliflex design to gently go through your hair without pulling or tugging it. I'm so happy with this brush! I don't think I could ever go back to a standard brush and plan on buying the paddle one myself. It's a great brush for those with tangles, long hair, or for children and it comes in so many different colors and patterns- it would be a great stocking stuffer too!

What's your hair brush of choice? Have you tried the Wet Brush yet?

Product Review: Fromm Beauty Square Thermal Brushes

1907 by Fromm Square Thermal Brushes

Fromm is a leading marketer of beauty essentials in the professional beauty community, products available only to beauty professional. Now, consumers are able to access the tools of the pros through 1907 by Fromm. The 1907 by Fromm line combines high-quality materials, authentic designs, and master craftsmanship to produce beautiful and contemporary hair products.

This month, the brand introduces the most revolutionary shape in brushes since the square paddle: the 1907 by Fromm Square Thermal Brushes. Available at Ulta stores and Ulta.com (all under $20!), this bronze brush series comes in three different sizes: small, medium and large. The Square Thermal brushes feature an innovative square shape that offers all-in-one blow-dry techniques – simply alter the position of the brush to straighten, create loose waves, or form tight curls. The flexibility of the barrel shape creates an all-inclusive tool, a necessity in the quest for the perfect blow-out.

When these came in the mail I couldn't wait to try them out! I am by no means a pro at giving myself a great blow out, but these inspired me to get to it. Since I'm somewhat lazy when it comes to doing my hair and live off 3rd and 4th day hair, I know that the importance of getting extra days out of your hair starts with a good blow out.

So I put product in my hair, busted out some tunes, and went to town with these brushes. My blow out wasn't perfect (mostly because of my lack of skills and upper body strength) but holy volume Batman! My hair was super sleek too. Usually the front of my hair gets a bit frizzy after blow drying it with a regular or paddle brush due to my cowlicks, but they were so smooth! Plus, it didn't take as much time as I expected it to because the rippled bristles increase contact with hair and cut the drying time down. Also, the bristles are not all prickly and hard like other round brushes I've used.

I am so excited about the brushes and happy I was able to give them a try. If you're a blow out queen or want to start, I would definitely recommend this product! It helps to give my hair extra volume that I wasn't getting before just by blow drying my hair upside down or with a paddle brush. I'm hoping to master the blow out with these brushes!

Thank you Fromm Beauty for sponsoring this post! The brushes were provided to me for consideration, all opinions are my own.

Hair Routine + Products

Since cutting my hair back in March, my hair has been so healthy. Cutting off the inches really gave me a chance to sort of start over with my hair. My routine hasn't changed much since cutting it, but I have noticed that I have been able to keep my ends healthier since the chop. I have another appointment coming up and I've been debating on keeping the length that it has grown or cutting it even shorter than I previously had. I definitely want to add some more layers at the bottom and maybe add some low-lights to make the blonde highlights pop. Or just go blonder overall. Matt and I cleaned out our garage a few weeks ago and came across a bunch of pictures from when we were first together, and I was so blonde! I'm thinking of going back to it. We'll see, I'm sure I'll change my mind several times by my appointment.

I’m still washing my hair 2-3 times a week, just depending on the amount of product buildup (or lack thereof) and whatever it is that we’re doing. I usually wash my hair on Saturdays/Sundays and then again during the week. I've noticed I will sometimes have to wash my hair a third time if I haven’t used any product at all because it gets really flat. In that case, I usually will use Suave Keratin Infusion Color Care Dry Shampoo to build some volume to get an extra day or two of wear.

For shampoo I use Tressemme and have switched off buying the volume one and the moisturizing one. I just ran out of it so I picked up some Nexxus Therappe Shampoo, I haven't tried it yet (as of this post), but I'm looking forward to using a better shampoo to keep my locks healthy. I have also been using the Macadamia Deep Mask and Nelson j  Healing Mask conditioners once a week (switching off with each wash). As for blow-drying, I have only blow-dried my hair once a week and let my hair air dry during the night the other wash. I think this really has been the biggest reason why I have been able to maintain the health of my hair, but have noticed that using my HANA Air Blow Dryer gives me so much more volume and helps me to maintain not washing my hair as often. I’m also using more products when I blow-dry it, so it’s really a combination, but I have noticed I can get an extra day of wear even when using no products at all when drying it.

For products, I use a combination of L'Oreal Boost It Volume Inject Mousse, Redken Guts 10, L'Oreal Boost It Blow Out Heat Spray, and a Herbal Essence Leave-in Conditioner that's no longer available. If I use my Redken Guts then I will skip using mousse, for my hair it’s just too much product and will weigh it down the very next day. Redken Guts is such a great product, I get a ton of volume and my hair really holds when I use it. It’s kind of pricey, but you can use coupons and find good deals online for it, it’s one of the few hair products (along with the Macadamia Deep Mask) I use that’s worth the extra expense.

For styling I'll use the Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray when curling my hair.  When teasing my hair on day 2-4 I'll use L'Oreal Boost It High Lift Creation Spray to create more volume. When I first bought this spray, I wasn't completely sold on it, but it really makes your hair hold a tease all day long! I really enjoy the product and will definitely re-purchase it. On any day I need more volume, and especially on day 3-4 I'll use Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo. It is hands down the BEST dry shampoo I've ever used in my life. If I've let my hair air dry and need more volume/texture I'll use it on clean hair as well. On 2-4 day hair I'll also sometimes use TRESemmé Styling Aid Keratin Smoothing Serum (not pictured) to bring some life back to my hair and lose some frizziness. I don't care as much for this oil as one they discontinued. One pump is just so much product and it's heavier than the previous oil. I think I'm going to have to go back to my tried and true Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum.

As for tools, it’s pretty simple. I use a paddle brush (similar here) to comb through my towel-dried hair and a combination of that and a round brush (similar here) while I blow-dry. If I have the time, I like to use Conair Think Big Velcro Rollers to set my hair and then use either my Corioliss Classic Pro Flat Iron or Conair 1 1/4" Instant Heat Curling Iron to style my hair. To tease my hair, I’ll use either a comb, hair pick, or a teasing brush.

What products do you like to use? What are you must have, holy grail hair items? Please spill!

Beauty Buys + First Thoughts

e.l.f. Essential Smudge Pot - Aint That Sweet? // e.l.f. Studio HD Blush - Headliner // e.l.f. Studio Blush Palette - Light // e.l.f. Studio Baked Blush - Rich Rose // e.l.f. Studio Mineral Powder Brush // Maybelline One By One Mascara // NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium

So I randomly ordered some items from e.l.f recently. I kind of gave up on their products, but seeing some blog reviews (like Meg's!) and using some of my older purchases from them I bought a few more products. I haven't tried any of these out yet, but kind of tested them on my hand when they were delivered. I got the smudge pot to use as kind of a primer like MAC's paint pots, so we'll see how it goes. I keep hearing about the HD Blush so I hope it lives up to the hype. The color is really nice, it's a soft natural looking pink and I'm excited to try it. The Baked Blush is really pretty and I thought it would look nice over some pink or coral blushes for some summer shimmer. I saw the blush palette in my People StyleWatch so I thought I would give it a try. The top left and bottom right colors look like blushes they sell individually and that I own  (Pink Passion  and Pink), but I really like the two top colors so far (in my swipe). 

The Maybelline mascara I got on a whim before trying my beloved Younique (best mascara ever!), and I freaking hate it. I guess it's been discontinued and I totally get why. It does absolutely positively NOTHING for my lashes. I'm just gonna dump it. 

The NYX bronzer is a repeat buy, this is my 5th one I think? I was looking around Ulta to maybe try a different brand, I almost bought Benefit's Hoola, but when I was swiping colors and brand these two were identical? I had to do a few swipes to know which one was which!

Conair Volume and Styling Comb: I really like this comb a lot! It teases really well, almost too well even. It's great for getting a good tease that builds up a pouf- perfect for updos!
L'Oreal Boost It Blow Out Heat Spray: I've been looking for a new heat spray and I figured I'd try this one, I also have the other Boost It products, so I figured they would work well together. The smell of this line is delicious and the spray is nice. It's light weight and doesn't weigh down my hair or builds up product with use. I haven't used it enough to know if it really works, but I've enjoyed it so far.
Suave Keratin Infusion Color Care Dry Shampoo: Holy Grail status! This is so much better than their basic one I've been using (and loving). The smell is great, it adds a ton of texture and volume. I absolutely love this dry shampoo! Get yourself one asap!

MAC Tinted Lipglass- Angel: When I went shopping with my SIL a few weekends ago, I came across this gloss and fell in love with it. I have the lipstick, and I somehow had NO IDEA they also made it in a gloss. Turns out, they made a bunch of their top lipsticks into glosses! How I missed the memo I have no clue. Of course, they were out of it then, but I picked it up the weekend after. It's such a great summer shade and is pretty opaque but with some color in it.
NYX Butter Gloss - Creme Brulee: I keep hearing about this shade and NYX's Butter Glosses so I finally bit the bullet and bought it. I really love the consistency and color. It's gorgeous on its own and I love pairing it with MAC Creme Cup.
Maybelline Vivids- Fuchsia Flash: I bought this one because it's a total dupe for MAC's Candy Yum Yum and I didn't know if I would really love the color so I didn't want to spend the extra $$ for a lipstick shade I may not wear all the time. It's really pretty and a lot of fun to wear. I don't know if I'll be wearing it all the time so I'm happy with this price point and purchase.
Maybelline Baby Lips- Pink: I love the Baby Lips products to wear as a quick chapstick with a wash of color. This pink is great and very natural, the scent is medicated and a bit strong, but doesn't bother me too much.

What beauty products have you purchased lately? Have you tried any of these? What was your experience?

Nelson J Giveaway Winners!

The three winners of the Nelson J ARgan Oil 7 Moisture Healing Mask have been chosen,
check below to see if it's you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Snip, Chop, and a Giveaway!

Welp, I've cut my hair. I've been talking about it for years- seriously, I looked back on my blog posts and it's been a good 3-4 years that I've been talking about doing it. I finally decided to just go for it and I tell ya, the moment I did I felt like my hair had grown to be the length of Rapunzel's. Of course it wasn't though, it has been the same length it had always been and wasn't getting any longer. I gave up the dream of having mermaid hair without extensions and went for it. I really like the change, I'm thinking about going shorter on my next appointment. I was worried about what my husband would think because he prefers long hair, but he loves it! He keeps telling me how much he likes it and how good it looks. I mostly wear it straight but since I'm on vacation this week I hope to try a couple of different styles and really play with it.

Here are some of pictures that inspired my cut. I wanted it to be a nice mid-length (a lob if you will) with a slight angle to the front. It's still long enough to be put in a ponytail and is about the same maintenance that I had before I cut it. It's a great style that I think looks good on anyone.

Remember the Nelson j Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 Moisture Healing Mask I've been using? Read about my review here, I'm giving 3 away!! I'm so excited to share this product with you guys, it's been awesome and has made a huge difference in my hair- it's so much softer and healthier (even before my cut). Just see below on the ways to enter and the winners will be announced next week! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Review: Nelson j Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 Moisture Healing Mask

 

This product was recently sent to me for review and I've been using it for the last two months. It's a newly-launched deep conditioning hair care product by Nelson j Beverly Hills. The key ingredients include argan, citrus and peppermint oils. It contains NO sulfates, parabens, or artificial fragrances. The treatment boosts hydration for dry and damaged hair, which makes it great for cooler, dryer weather. It's available in three scents: coconut, pomegranate and rosemary mint (all natural scents). I couldn't choose a scent because they all sound delicious so they sent me their most popular- coconut.

At first, I wasn't too impressed with the product, it didn't de-tangle my hair at all and I expect conditioners to do that. After I brushed my hair and blow dried it, holy softness! It made my hair feel like that softness that comes after it's freshly cut. At the beginning of December, I cut and colored my hair, the ends were so dead and stringy, but even my stylist noticed how soft my hair was! Winning! The scent is really good and lingers for a few days as well. It retails for $20 and I honestly think it's worth every penny.

I use it every time I wash my hair (2 times a week), applying it from the middle of my hair down to the ends and let it sit while I wash my body and relax. The jar will easily last me months, there's barely a dent at all in it from using it already. Although it's a mask, it's really light weight and doesn't weigh down my hair a bit. My hair overall feels and looks really healthy and soft. For more information about the Nelson j Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 haircare products or Nelson Chan, please visit www.nelsonjhaircare.com or call 877-540-1647.

Curls for Daysssss

So as many of you know, I’m lazy about my hair- side note- I’m not lazy about having it done, I hate roots and get my hair done on the dot every 8-10 weeks. What I mean is that I wash it every 4-5 days (I’ll wash it sooner if I need to) and I'm lazy about curling it all the time. For work I wake up between 430-5am so I want to be able to get ready in the shortest amount of time as possible and staying at home with Ellie, my hair is the last of my concerns, but it's nice to have it somewhat cute when people stop by or I get out of the house. Luckily, my curls last and I can scoot by with simply brushing my hair, teasing for some volume, and maybe curling a few pieces around my face. I get asked a lot about my low-maintenance hair and wanted to share with you my “secrets” of how to get your hair to last longer.

As far as washing goes, my hair is not oily or greasy so I lucked out in the gene pool for that. I do believe you can “train” your hair and Veronika has a great post about her washing routine (which is pretty identical to my own) and tips on getting extra days from each wash. Using dry shampoo can definitely give your hair some life and give you an extra day or two whether you’re still training your hair or if you’re like me and don’t have the need to wash it more often.

TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Protective Spray // Redken Guts 10 Volume Spray Foam // Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray // Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play // TRESemme Smooth Salon Silk No Frizz Serum // Aqua Net Professional Hair Spray // Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-In Split End Protector // Conair Curling Iron (I use 1.25 in) //
HANA Air Premiere (see my review here) // Conair Mega Self Holding Rollers

To get the most of your hair and curls, it really starts with the blow dry and your products. If I let my hair air-dry, I only get about 3-4 days without washing it because it falls too flat to get a good look from day 3 on. When I get out of the shower, I put my hair up in my towel for a few minutes to soak up excess water, after taking out my hair- before brushing it- I use these products in my hair before I start blow-drying it; Tressemme Serum, Herbal Essence Leave-in Conditioner, and Redken Guts 10. Then I brush through my hair and use my fingers to rub in the Guts 10. Then I part my hair and blow dry my bang area to get my cowlick under control, I pin down my bangs (that’s part of training my cowlick) and flip my hair upside down to finish drying. I try and brush my hair up and focus on the roots to get the most volume, then I flip back up right and smooth my hair while still brushing the lion’s mane.

Once I’m done with that, I section off my crown to use Velcro rollers to set my hair. I blast the section with heat, put the roller in, and clip it in place. Velcro rollers makes a huge impact on having bouncy, voluminous hair. The products make it last! Right now I’m using 4 rollers, one on each side and 2 at the crown, then I’ll do my makeup while I wait for my hair to set in the rollers.

Once my makeup is done, I use my Spray & Play hairspray to put a light mist on the hair outside of the rollers (the bottom half that's not in a roller at all) and curl that hair section. Then I take out one roller at a time and mist the hair as well before curling it. Be sure to use a "mist" of spray and not a "raincloud" of it, you also want to be sure the spray isn't wet when you use the curling iron- if you use a mist it won't be wet whatsoever. When all of my hair is curled, I let it set for a minute and then run my fingers through it to loosen up the curls. I’ll finish with styling and teasing my hair and another mist of hairspray using my trusted Aqua Net.

This is day 3 of curls, without any touch-up
I do smooth out my bang area with a curling iron, but do not touch the back

Using the Spray & Play makes such a huge difference in how well the curls stay in my hair. I’ve found that when I use it, I can go 2-3 days without touching up my curls at all, they just loosen each day. On day 4-5 I’ll have to either re-curl all of my hair or just a few pieces around my face and on the top of my crown in the back.

On days 2-5 I’ll use my Tressemme Serum to tame down any frizziness and will use Suave Dry Shampoo to add texture on non-washing days when I’ve let my hair air dry. I'll also use it on day 5 and wear my hair up in a pony or half up/down.

So that's my hair secrets folks. I really think it's a combination of my hair texture and products, but the products- mainly the Redken Guts 10 and the Big Sex Hair Spray & Play- make the most difference. Using everything together for me has made a world of difference in how long my curls last. My hair is great without all the products for so many days, but my curls aren't as springy and my volume isn't as much without the whole shebang. Taking the time to really have a good blow out/curl makes the rest of the week a breeze.

Want to see how I curl my hair? Check out these posts here for a video, here for text/pictures, and here for loose curls. 

What are your hair secrets? What helps your hair look its best?

Product Review: HANA Air Premiere Blow Dryer

 I am so excited to share this review with you guys of the best blow dryer ever- the HANA Air Premiere. Misikko contacted me a few months ago about doing a review of the dryer and having such a great experience with their Corioliss Classic Pro Flat Iron (which I still use!) from this review, I was happy to work with them again.

Here is my impression of the dryer:

-Sleek, gorgeous design: The shiny black finish is so pretty and really gives the dryer a professional look.

-Light weight: I have zero upper body strength, when I blow dry my hair, I need something that's not heavy. It just makes life easier.

-Turbo speed (like an airplane jet): The nozzle is pretty narrow and I was initially concerned with how much power it would have, but it has super strength.

-Plenty of options for heat/power: The dryer I've been using has two options for each feature: hot/cold and high/useless so it's nice to have multiple options available that can be used in a number of ways.

-The cold button is an actual button: I never understood why you had to hold down the cold button while multi-tasking so having the button available to stay cold the whole time is pretty awesome.

-Extra long cord: This is one of my favorite features. Our bathroom is kind of small and can get stuffy quickly from all the steam and heat, so I'm grateful to have a cord that lets me step out and cool down for a minute.

-Quicker drying time: My hair is really fine, but I have a lot of it. Drying my hair is something I dread doing because I'm pretty lazy about it so the turbo power the dryer has is a blessing and gets me out of sleeping with wet hair in just a few minutes.

-More volume: I haven't changed a thing in my routine, no new products or drying techniques, but my hair has so much more volume since changing to the nicer dryer. Plus, the volume lasts longer too which is freaking awesome.

The only con I had using the dryer is getting used to the buttons and options available, which is really no big deal. I love having the different heat and power options, much better than my super basic dryer I've been using.

I've never spent a lot of money on blow dryers, I just buy whatever one I can find for $20 and although this is an expensive one, it's totally worth it. The difference in my hair, the quicker drying time, and the amount of volume I get from using this dryer is worth every penny. Plus, this dryer will definitely out last several cheapie dryers so it's worth the investment. Any of the Misikko products would make great gifts, I have an eye on a new curling iron next! Pick up the HANA Air Premiere Blow Dryer here.

FTC disclaimer:Misikko provided the dryer for an honest review, I was not compensated for this post and the opinions above are completely of my own, based on my own experience.

Product Review: Suave Dry Shampoo

Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray

Where would we be without the invention of dry shampoo? Still using baby powder? I know some people prefer that, but it's never worked that great for me and always shaded my hair too much, regardless of how little I used. I wash my hair every 4 days (sometimes 3) so a dry shampoo is perfect for day 4 (or let's be real, day 5 on some weeks). My hair is "normal", but pretty fine. It doesn't really get oily til that last day, just flat.

You know how in beauty articles they tell you how they used dry shampoo to get texture into models hair? I always thought, psssh, that stuff makes your hair gross. Then I used this product and went "aaaaah" and a lighted halo above the can lit up. Now I get it. You can use this product on clean hair to add some oomph. Not just dirty hair people. Clean, just washed, fresh hair!

I used to use another brand of dry shampoo (my favorite store-brand, TreSSemme) and although it worked to make my gross hair look presentable, I wasn't really happy with it. It just made my hair feel blech when I touched it. This product doesn't make your hair feel heavy with product, which I think is one of it's best features. It's has a nice wide misted spray which makes it easy to use as well.

As for color, I would say it's pretty clear. I notice it especially now with my darker ombre. It doesn't make my hair all grandma status either. Also, the best part of the spray, hands down, is the volume it give my flat hair. OMG. Sound the alarm, it's incredible.

Want a secret? If you know you're gonna need dry snampoo the next day, spray it on your hair the night before so it can soak up any oil by sunrise! Cool huh?

Do you use dry shampoo? What's your spray of choice?

Product Review: TRESemme Salon Silk Serum

TRESemme Salon Silk Serum

Many of you know this by now, but I'm a huge fan of the TRESemme brand for hair care. My hair is normal thickness, but really fine so I prefer products that promote body, and are lightweight. I bought this product a few months ago and have been using it weekly. I bought it with the thought that this might be similar to the Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum, which I've used for years, but the TRESemme is a fifth of the price.

From their site:

How it works:
Helps protect hair before & after drying.
Detangles & conditions all hair types without weighing hair down.

How to use:
Apply evenly to damp hair, concentrating on the lengths & ends.
Comb through with a wide tooth comb to avoid breakage.
Do not rinse out.
Dry & style as usual. Can also be used on dry hair for added softness and shine.

Typically I use 4-5 pumps on my wet hair, whether I blow dry it or let it dry naturally, and focus the product on the nape of my neck down. I also love to use it on dry hair, it's perfect on day 3 (or 4) hair, when my hair is beginning to puff out and frizz. That's really my favorite feature of this serum. Two pumps of this bad boy and I'm back to sleek, shiny hair!

Here's why I'll buy it again and again:
- Lightweight, doesn't leave a film in your hair
- Smells great
- 1 pump isn't a lot of product, I hate products that spit out a ton at once
- Leaves hair really silky and not greasy whatsoever
- Totally identical to the Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum I used forever, my hunch was dead-on (IMHO- in my humble opinion)
- Is the perfect product for dry and unwashed hair

Overall, I couldn't be happier with it. It's such a great price ($3.99) and does exactly what it's supposed to. I really think it would be perfect for all hair types and 100% recommend it to everyone. Another great score TRESemme!

Have you tried skinny serum before? Which product is your favorite?

Fave Bath Products + Monthly Must-Reads: September 2012

Yay! For the first time I'm linking up with 10 other lovely bloggers for our must-reads monthly. I'm super excited to work with these lovely ladies, and be sure to check out their posts at the end of this post! Here is our post topic for today:

Question of the month: What bath products are you currently using? 

I'm pretty simple in the shower, nothing fancy schmancy here. For shampoo, I love Tressemme 24 Hour Body Shampoo, and I use Neutrogena's Clarifying Shampoo (review) once every 1-2 months, Macadamia Deep Repair Masque (review) once a week, and simply Dove White bar soap everyday. These are really the only products I use regularly and have used for a long time, sometimes I'll swap in Dove body wash instead of the bar, but that's really no big deal.

What bath products do you swear by?

 If you want to see my skincare products check out this post.

Question of the month:

• Alison*Elle - Alison's treated herself to a birthday splurge from Chanel.
• Beautygirl24 - Noelle celebrated her birthday in a sparkling gold skirt.
• Ella Pretty -  Ella's dressing for fall - she's loving her chambray shirt & heart scarf.  
• Lilly's Style - Lilly's is enjoying mixing bright colors.
• Lindsay J Everyday - Lindsay's been loving leopard.
• Love, Lipstick & Pearls -  Kristen has been loving jeweled headbands for fall.
• Schnelle Couture - Danielle revealed all of her party details and the gender of her new baby!
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette has jumped into two fall trends in one with bordeaux and printed pants!
• The Currently Obsessed -Mehreen loves her Chanel this Month (and this Chanel "esque" tweed blazer!)