BellaSugar

Reader Review of the Day: Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo

BellaSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 09:00:11 -0700

Reader Nycbeauty9349 has been one reviewing machine! Her latest post focuses on color-enhancing shampoo, a great product to use to freshen up both natural and color-treated locks. What did she have to say about Clairol's Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo ($8.80)? Find out below:

This is my favorite toning shampoo. Every hair color - dyed, highlighted, or natural - fades and gets brassy from time-to-time. This is the only at-home product I've ever used (gloss, color-focused shampoo, etc.) that I've seen an actual result with. I usually lather up twice and let the second round sit for a few minutes while I tend to my other shower-related duties. When I dry my hair afterwards, it looks like I've gotten it freshly touched up at the salon. It's been my life saver as both a redhead and a blonde.

Do you have something you need to get off your chest? It's Product Review therapy time. Tell us what you do and don't like about beauty items you've tried, from hairspray to tweezers to blow-dryers, and perhaps you'll be featured on this daily post.

Guess Who?

BellaSugar — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:00:19 -0800

Before she hit it big in the late '90s, do you remember which actress appeared in this 1996 ad for Clairol Natural Instincts?

New Hair Color Aims For a Perfect 10

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:00:35 -0800

Clairol has just launched Perfect 10, a new line of at-home hair coloring. "Big deal," you might be thinking. "It's all the same stuff, more or less." Oh, but it's not!

Unlike its predecessors, Perfect 10 dyes hair quickly-so quickly, in fact, that the color is done in just 10 minutes. And while you might imagine this process would be harsh on hair, it's actually much less damaging than other dyes. Its pH is lower, so it strips less of the hair's lipid coating; additionally, the gentler formula makes hair less likely to break. (Check out some explanatory photos here.)

Priced at $13.99, it's available in 14 shades. In addition, it has a cool application brush that looks like it could be fun to use. Check out the gallery of available colors here, and let me know if any of you try it. If it's actually able to deliver faster, rich color without damaging hair, this might be something huge.

View 14 Photos ›

Doing Drugstore: Clairol Natural Instincts Shine Happy

BellaSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:00:57 -0700

YumSugar and I went to Walgreens during our lunch break last week, and we did what we do best: Yum went to the snack aisle to see what was new, and I headed to the cosmetics aisle. (Typical.) Excited by this review at Shake Your Beauty, I looked for the Herbal Essences shine treatment. I didn't see it, so I picked up Clairol Natural Instincts Shine Happy ($9.89) instead. It's a clear glossing treatment that's supposed to leave your hair uber-shiny without changing the color. Now, not to brag, but because I haven't colored my hair in years, it's healthy and shiny on its own. But of course, I imagined I would have hair-commercial shine if I used this stuff, so into the basket it went.

Like a good girl, I thoroughly read the instructions before getting started. The application process is a lot like that of home hair color: You put on gloves, mix up the chemicals, and apply it to your hair. Ten minutes later, you wash it out. So that's what I did. Afterward, I was lounging on my bed, when Mama Bella (who was visiting) said, "I think it changed the color of your hair." To find out what happened, read more

Truthfully, I thought the color looked different because my hair was still wet. But the next morning, when my hair was dry, it was slightly lighter. This discovery did not please me. Swears were uttered.

Additionally, my normally soft hair felt a little rough-not like straw, but not as soft as it used to be. My hair was shiny, but not moreso than before (but again, my hair is already pretty glossy). So now my hair is shiny, but it's also rougher and lighter-and I definitely did not want lighter hair. You can see the before-and-after photos below. To be fair, the lighting is better in the "before" picture, and the fluorescent lighting is harsher in the "after" pic. Regardless, you can definitely tell that the color is different-even though the box promises that Shine Happy won't affect the color. I am not a happy Bella!

Have any of you tried this treatment? I'm curious to know if I'm the only one who isn't thrilled, or if maybe it worked wonders for some of you.

Ask Bella: Will Dyeing My Hair Change the Texture?

BellaSugar — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:01:50 -0800

Recently, a reader wrote in asking for advice on coloring her hair:

I'm considering dying my hair. I've always wanted to do it, and I'm starting to get a few gray hairs - even though I'm only 23. But my hair is very soft and silky and I'm worried dying it will change the texture. Am I right to be worried? I have brown hair and would like to go a more reddish-brown color.

Hair dye works by using peroxide or ammonia to open up the hair's cuticle to either lift and/or deposit color. Essentially, it alters the hair's structure, which can cause a noticeable change in texture. But that doesn't mean you have to go around looking as if you've got a bad case of the frizzies. Find out my solution when you read more.

5 Tips For Getting Kristen Stewart's New Moon Shine

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:07 -0800

At the New Moon cast tour event this weekend, Kristen Stewart showed off a newly sleek version of her short haircut. It was dazzling in its shininess without looking gelled or greasy. Glossy hair like that doesn't just happen on its own, so I though I'd hunt up some tips to help all of us get similarly healthy, reflective tresses. I put together five of the best, so to find out how to get Kristen's shine, just read more.

Hair Color How-Tos: Keeping Browns Beautiful

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:00:42 -0700

All this week I'm giving tips on how to keep hair color looking full of life. I've got you covered already, redheads, and brunettes, you're up next. Whether you're a light toffee shade or a bold espresso, brunettes have lots of options. Besides the obvious color-keeping strategies of using a color-safe shampoo like Matrix Biolage Color Care Shampoo ($17) and Matrix Biolage Color Care Conditioner ($16), wash the hair less often, and rinse with cooler water to help lock in the color molecules. For more advice on caring for brown tones, read more.

Color enhancers: To enrich brown tones on natural or colored hair, try a color enhancing shampoo and conditioner such as Pantene Pro-V Brunette Expressions Intense Hydrating Shampoo ($6) and Pantene Pro-V Brunette Expressions Intense Hydrating Conditioner ($6).
Add glaze: For a shiny lift between colorings, try a color glaze such as John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Luminous Color Glaze in Chestnut to Espresso ($10).
Brassless: If you aren't feeling the lovely brassy shades that sometimes occur as brown starts to fade, remedy it with a blue conditioner, which helps counteract unwanted warm/reddish tones. Try Aveda Blue Malva Conditioner ($17). You could also try a special temporary, non-ammonia color that lasts through 28 shampoos, formulated to ward off brassiness: Clairol Natural Instincts Brass Free Brunettes Non-Permanent Color in Light Brown 6C ($9.50) Clairol Natural Instincts Brass Free Brunettes Non-Permanent Color in Medium Brown 5C ($9.50).
DIY: Make about four to eight cups of strong black coffee, and let cool. Shampoo hair like normal, wringing out excess water. Rinse coffee through hair, let sit about 15-20 minutes, and rinse out.
Add more natural: Here's a trick I like to use to prevent fading. Whatever hair color I use, I always blend in a little natural brown base to give my brown extra holding power. If using L'Oreal Color Gems Haircolor Gold Copper Brown ($6) for instance, do a 50/50 blend with L'Oreal Color Gems Haircolor Light Natural Brown ($6) added in to soften the golden copper.

Source

How-To: Revive Your Hair Color For Spring

BellaSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:00:12 -0700

Spring-clean your hair by getting rid of dulling residue and boring, flat color. It's easy to brighten up your Winter color with a color-enhancing shampoo and conditioner, or even something as basic as this John Frieda Clear Shine Luminous Color Glaze will add life to your lackluster locks. These drugstore brands are low-cost ways to create a high impact. Check out my product suggestions below.

Blondes: Take away yellow undertones by mixing in bright, pale pieces to your crown. I suggest using L'Oreal Frost & Design Pull Through Cap Highlight Kit in Champagne.
Light Brunettes: Glazing your dark locks with ash blond is a great pick me-up for mousy brown hair. Try Clairol Natural Instincts Non-Permanent Haircolor in Medium Ash Blonde.
Redheads: Red locks crave richness. Amp up your fading hair with L'Oreal Preference Fade Defying Color & Shine System in Intense Red.
Deep Brunettes: Super-dark hair needs to look shiny and even without looking greasy. Boost your base color with Revlon Colorist Expert Color and Glaze System in Dark Brown.

Who Couldn't Use Some Pazazz? (Uh, Me.)

BellaSugar — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:00:42 -0700

One of the best (or worst?) parts of the internet is its ability to archive just about anything. For instance, take this Clairol ad. I remember seeing it, thinking the hairstyles were amazing, and begging my mother to buy the tinted mousse that would make me as cool as the women in the commercial. She refused, proving that sometimes mothers really do know best. Have a look - did any of you use this stuff?

Best of Bella, 1/18

BellaSugar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 08:00:11 -0800

Lindsay Lohan shows us that, no, celebs don't step out of bed looking perfect.
Top Model is back (already?!) and we have some suggestions of our own for Tyra's makeover team.
Find out how to maximize the longevity of that fabulous salon blowout.
Lush gives us one more lucky way to maximize our chances of getting a backrub.
Check out this fun gallery of vintage beauty ads.
It's official: Natural-looking, groomed, dark brows are in. Our girl Fab lets us in on her secret weapon for getting the look.
Check out these subtly beautiful spring nailpolish shades from Zoya.
The lovely Sarah Jessica Parker defends herself against those morons over at Maxim.
Those smarty-pants chemists over at Kiehl's never fail to deliver, and their latest line of antioxidant-packed, anti-aging skincare is no exception.
Calvin Klein finally unveils its highly anticipated beauty line, and it's... ok.

Oh, Courtney! Miss Love gets a new haircut.
Clairol reveals a new kind of haircolor. Will it really be a perfect 10?