summer hair saviors

Honestly, I've been super lazy with my hair this summer...and for good reason. My house was built in the '50's and I'm not sure if central AC even existed yet, but I can assure you it definitely does not exist in my house. Every spring my husband and I (ok, mostly Kent does this) drags the AC's out of the attic and installs them into the windows. It makes our house look super glamorous.

Unfortunately the window in our bathroom is too small for an AC so after a shower the extra humidity makes a beeline for my hair and frizzes it out. And you can imagine on a hot day (in an already hot bathroom) the sweat on my forehead as I use my blow dryer or flat iron. Ugh! I needed to find a solution, and fast! Thankfully, a few brands felt my pain (or saw my frizz) and came to my rescue.

1. Bumble and Bumble Don't Blow It is a miracle for my hair because I don't have to use any heat styling at all and it takes away the frizz and adds a ton of shine to my hair. It doesn't do a lot for volume though...otherwise I'm pretty obsessed with this product.

2. Living Proof Humidity Shield is like an insurance agency for your blow out (or lack of one- see above). The superfine mist doesn't weigh down your hair, it just blocks and takes away frizzy humid hair. Oh, it's also got a built-in UV protector too so your color won't fade with the sun. I literally keep a mini size of this spray in my purse because it can be used all day long, and it should.

3. Blonde Bobby Pins (obviously I use the blonde since that's my hair color) just disappear in my hair and hold up that cute braided hairstyle that's in the inspiration photo. Thankfully bobby pin companies now make a pin for practically every hair color.

4. Batiste Dry Shampoo is a UK favorite for good reason- it wonderfully absorbs oil but leaves the hair soft and touchable. Batiste also makes a lot of scent options so your hair can smell delicious all the time.

5. Hair Ties are a no-brainer when I just need to throw my hair up in a messy top-knot. Some days just aren't worth the trouble. Ya know what I mean?


What are some of your favorite hair styles for the summer? What products do you use to get the look?

Beauty Fixation: August

I don't know anyone who doesn't want shinier, healthier hair, and since I've been using the Living Proof Satin Hair Serum I feel that I'm on my way to great hair. First of all, it's a silicone and oil free formula which is amazing because it feels silky, almost like an oil, but it isn't. The good thing about it being silicone and oil free is it won't clog your hair follicles and weigh down your hair, causing buildup (silicone is particularly known for doing this, that's why so many people need to "decongest" their hair with clarifying shampoos and such. Bad news!). 

Since my hair is fine, I only need a drop (and I mean a drop) when my hair is dry, right before I flat iron or curl it. It also helps with frizz, acts as a heat protectant, and of course, adds mega shine. There's lots of ways to use it though. I know someone with super thick, course hair who uses 10+ pumps in wet hair, blow drys it, flat irons it and then puts a little more in when it's dry, for extra shine and frizz fighting. Her hair looks glossy, voluminous and healthy. On days when I don't wash my hair and use dry shampoo, I rub a small drop in my hands and smooth over my hair (dry shampoo can make my hair look a little matte). 

It's great that you can customize the usage of this product based on your hair and personal needs. Have you ever used any Living Proof products before? Any shine serums you're crazy about?

p.s. Living Proof doesn't know me, I'm just a passionate user of their products. 

sunscreen for hair

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Did you ever use Sun-in? When I was a teenager I was obsessed with this (I've never met a blonde who didn't want to be blonder). My mom wouldn't let me dye my hair until I was older, so I looked for alternatives to lighten my hair (even though it came out uneven and fried my hair).

Now that I dye my hair (with real dye, not sun-in) I want that color to last as long as possible. Unfortunately, if you're not a bleach blonde, you probably won't enjoy the fact that the sun is bleaching out that expensive dye job.

If you don't want your expensive dye job to literally fade in the sun than you should consider a styling product that has a UV filter included to protect that color, keep your hair shiny and frizz free!

top row, left to right: Alterna Bamboo // Rene Furterer // Paul Mitchell // Living Proof
bottom row, left to right: Phyto // L'oreal // Bumble and Bumble // Aveda

I have personally used a few of these products, and they usually have more than one benefit- they're either a heat protectant or will help with shine and frizz. All bonuses in my book! Also, the sprays make it easy to spritz on your hair, and shouldn't weigh it down.

Have you ever used a spray that has a UV protectant in it? Did you feel like it helped protect your hair color?

hair braidin'

Sometimes you just want your hair off your face, and sometimes it's so humid that your frizzy hair needs taming in a desperate way. Braids are where it's at. Sure you could look like Heidi if you wanted, but copying a prepubescent girl's hairstyle is not your only option. Here are a few looks that are perfect for warmer days and have an air of sophistication about them.

1. If you have thicker hair, I love the idea of creating a braid "headband":

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2. This look is very '40's glamour. Perfect for the office to a night on the town!

BB and CC creams for the hair?!?!

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It was only a matter of time. The letter creams are taking over every beauty product from moisturizers to primers to foundation and now to hair and body creams. I talked about the difference between BB and CC creams for the face, but here I'm focusing on hair products that are becoming more and more prevalent on the beauty shelves. Here's why they're worth trying:

Pantene Ultimate 10 BB Creme, Alterna Caviar CC Cream, Keratin Perfect 3-in-1 Multi-Action Beauty Balm and Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 styling treatment are meant to help with hydration, shine, frizz, repair damage, add body and heat protection. Apply these in damp, towel dried hair and then apply a small amount after hair is dry for added shine. For thin, fine hair use these products sparingly as to not weigh down the hair. 

I've personally tried a couple of these brands and have been impressed with the results. Because my hair is thin and fine I've been really happy with the Living Proof one since it's for frizz and volume. Have you tried any of these BB/CC creams for your hair yet? If so, what have you had success with?

Dry Shampoo

When I first discovered dry shampoo a few years ago I thought it was amazing. I told my mom and sisters about it (thinking I was sharing new, trendy info) and my mom just turns to me and says, “oh I used to do that all the time, in high school, with baby powder sprinkled in my hair. It kept my hair style for days”. So much for being on the cusp of something new.

We’ve come a long way since baby powder. The aerosol cans of dry shampoo are my favorite because they distribute finely and evenly. Also, I only recommend the translucent ones. I don’t care what hair color you are, no one wants white in their hair. No one.

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Here's how I use them and why: