BellaSugar

Product Review: Phytonectar Pre-Shampoo Oil Treatment

BellaSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:00:56 -0700

Sometimes I feel as though my hair is so parched that all the conditioner in my shower (and trust me, that's a lot) isn't going to do the trick. Unfortunately, most leave-in conditioners just weigh my hair down into an icky matted mess. So when I came across this Phytonectar Pre-Shampoo Oil Treatment ($30) I was excited.

As it turns out, I was excited with good reason. First of all, this stuff smells downright amazing - it's not even a touch perfume-y or sweet. The thick oil produced by the sturdy pump smelled herbal but not medicinal, with a hint of chamomile. Two to three generous drops warmed quickly in the hands, then massaged into hair from tips to scalp, is all you need. I like to put a little extra just on my ends to really soak them in the nourishing solution. If my scalp is feeling at all dry or itchy, a little bit of this massaged directly into it helps hydrate and soothe the skin.

This is meant to be applied 15-20 minutes pre-shower and then rinsed out, but I put it on at night and sleep in it, then rinse it out in the morning. A warning, though: unless your hair is genuinely dry, coarse, or frizzy, or you're having a freak dry spell, I would not recommend this product. The thick oil would weigh your hair down if it wasn't in need of a good quenching. But, if you're like me and sometimes you really need a super dose of hair-quenching moisture, this is just what the doctor ordered.

Let's Get Something Straight, Part I

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:50:33 -0700

These fab hair smoothing products ensure that curly, frizzy or hard to tame hair become more manageable. They also protect your hair and add shine during the heat styling process. The result is straight, soft and smooth hair! Using these products is simple too! Just apply a dime sized amount into the palm of your hand and distribute evenly throughout towel dried hair. You can also add a very small amount to dry hair to smooth away frizz after styling. To see another post about more fabulous hair straightening products, click here.

Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm, $32, is a thick and yummy smelling balm suitable for all hair types - even those with permed hair who are looking for a sleek looking blow out. It is made from ferula, horseradish, sage and garlic extracts - I know what you are thinking, but I swear it smells good! This concoction coats the hair and adds fiber for strengthening purposes.

It isn't oily feeling like a serum and it leaves your hair feeling really shiny, soft and straight! You can buy this 5.9 oz tube for $32 or you can buy a smaller 3.3 oz version which sells for $24.

For two more hair straightening balms, read more

Redken Straight 05 Straightening Balm, $15, is a kink killer! This anti-frizz, humidity and curl product works hard to create great straight locks! It provides a protective shield against heat damage as well as increases shine and elasticity. Enter your zip code in the upper right corner to find a salon nearest you.

Frizz-Ease Wind-Down Relaxing Creme by John Freida, $6, is an oldie but goodie extra strength relaxing creme that helps to calm down curls, cowlicks and frizzies. It contains aloe and vitamin E to strengthen, hydrate and make hair nice and shiny!

Work a small sized amount through your hair beginning from roots to ends and brush through to distribute evenly. I've been using this product for a long time and I love it because it's not greasy!

Smooth Move: Smoothing Shampoos For Straight Hair

BellaSugar — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 09:05:44 -0700

Smoothing shampoos are great for hair that tends to be frizzy and unruly. The idea is to tame raised or shaggy cuticles in the hair. These shampoos have also been created to protect hair from the follow up of heat styling. Hair should look and feel softer, healthier and hydrated. I can't wait to hear what you think of these smoothing shampoos.

Phytobrush Special Smoothing Shampoo For Blow-Drying, $22, is an anti-frizz shampoo that works wonders for those of you who are constantly blowing out your hair. Not only do you want it to last for a few days, but you also want the blow out to be as easy and smooth as possible.

This shampoo is really fab for frizzy hair. It contains thermo-protective agents to help protect it from heat damage and also smooths out your hair cuticle so it's left looking shiny, soft and resilient.

For two more smoothing shampoos, read more

Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo, $20, is a gentle shampoo that can be used daily to help moisturize and smooth out straight or unruly hair. It helps cut out frizz, fly-aways and kinky waves. If used daily, this shampoo actually softens hair by up 60%.

It smells like delicious flowers, citrus fruits and sandalwood and it also helps protect hair from heat styling. This is a brand spankin' new product that will be released in May!

Jonathan Product Shampoo Weightless Smooth No-Frizz Cleansing Crème, $20, cleanses, moisturizes, softens, conditions, and smooths hair. When hair is wet and in its most vulnerable state, the shampoo reaches the damaged cuticle and helps smooth it out. It also protects hair from heat damage, environmental damage and fading, Oh, and it's also 100% vegan!

Wet & Safe! Sunblock Sprays For Your Hair

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:20:33 -0700

After spending countless hours and dollars getting colored, highlighted, glossed and coiffed, spending just a few short hours in the sun can leave your hair looking oxidized and dehydrated. Considering that you would never imagine leaving home without sunscreen on your face, why not do the same to protect your lovely locks?

It's time to take action! Here are some tips as well as two sunscreen sprays to ensure that your hair won't get damaged from the sun. Summer days are intended to be carefree, so let's get the pool party started. After all, it may have been the 80s but Phoebe Cates' infamous poolside scene from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" can encourage us all to be wet & safe! Keep in mind that wet hair is weaker than dry hair. The cuticle is opened and hair is up to three times more delicate when wet so be mindful.

Wet your hair with clean water before swimming so that chlorine and salt don't discolor it and dry it out.
Secure hair in a braid or ponytail so it won't tangle and then spray it with an SPF product for protection.
Rinse again with clean water and reapply sun protection once you get out of the water. If at all possible, protect hair even further with a hat.

For a couple of recommended summer hair sunblock sprays, read more

Fekkai Summer Hair Sun Bandana, $20, is a leave in conditioner as well as a heat activated UV shield for the hair. It is oil free, water resistant and safe for all hair types including color treated hair.

Sun Bandana helps to seal in moisture with its new formulation called Solarshield™. It will also help to keep chlorine and other damaging chemicals from a pool or jacuzzi out of your hair.

Phyto Plage Protective Beach Spray, $20, is an olive oil based UVB sunscreen that offers your hair maximum sun protection. It helps reduce fading as well as increase hydration and shine.

Olive oil also washes out easily so it won't weigh your hair down and leave you with grimy residue. Simply spray on dry or wet hair before and during sun exposure and be sure and reapply after going in the water.

Are Hair and Nail Supplements Bad For Your Skin?

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:20:22 -0700

I feel like it's my duty to tell you guys when there is something I don't love just as much as it is to tell you about something I do love. I have thin hair and I bite my nails, so when I saw these Phytophanere Dietary Supplement for Hair & Nails, $50, I was convinced that this was going to help me out in a big way. Lots of my pregnant girlfriends swear that vitamin supplements have significantly sped up the growth process of their hair and nails and additionally improved their strength. (I'm sure hormones played a part too.)

I began my regimen and started taking these pills for two months. My nails did grow a little faster than usual, but I also began to break out. Little bumpy red zits appeared all over my face!

I decided to call my dermatologist and she told me that I could be having a reaction to these supplements. I immediately stopped taking them and my skin cleared up some. I am not saying they don't work - or that you will break out from them, but this was just my experience.

I thought I'd open this up for discussion. Has anything like this happened to anyone else? Do you care to share any stories where you've reacted strangely to a beauty product? I'd love to know!

Heavenly Soft Hair

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 07:24:33 -0800

If you want to attain heavenly hair that is flowy and soft, for him to run his fingers through, then the PHYTOJOBA Intense Hydrating Mask, $36, is what you are looking for. It is designed to gently and instantly restore elasticity, shine and thickness to dry, damaged or normal hair.

The jojoba plant was selected because the oil that this plant produces is characteristic of the natural oils in your own hair. The mask has a creamy texture and delicious scent heightened by sweet orange. Angelica seeds and roots detangle, protect and revitalize both your hair and scalp.

It even has a special UV filter in it to protect your hair from the damaging rays of the sun.

Apply a quarter sized amount (don't be shy) to wet hair and comb it through. Pay special attention to the ends of your hair and add extra if those aren't completely saturated. Leave it on anywhere from two to five minutes and rinse.

Do You Believe "Green" Beauty Is Safe?

BellaSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 06:00:19 -0700

Even if you think you know what's bad and what's good, how much worse is the bad and how much better is the good? It's all relative, yet it's unclear who has the answers when it comes to natural vs. synthetic goods.

Quite a bit of time, thought, and money goes into the organic beauty industry, but some people claim there's too much emphasis on the "bad synthetic," whereas the "bad natural" substitutes are left out of the discussion. Given as an example in a recent article are the artificial phthalates versus the natural soybean. The first mimics the effects of estrogen, while the latter is a phyto-estrogen, a plant-based substance that mimics the effect of estrogen in the body. Neither sounds very good.

Even with recent reports of "greenwashing" - giving consumers the impression a product is more enviro-friendly than it really is - I'm not ready to throw in the towel and consider natural, organic beauty goodies a total con yet. Are you?

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Mix Up Some Cocktails For Your Hair

BellaSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:00:25 -0800

Who doesn't love cocktails? While boozy concoctions will make you feel a little tipsy, I have some other "cocktail" recipes that will make you feel all fuzzy inside - without the crushing hangover.

These cocktails blend a base hair product with one or more products to add maximum oomph to your style. And since it's pretty difficult to find just one hair product to do it all, why not try a little mixology of your own? Just blend the ingredients and they'll make your hair products work even better. Apply the following mixtures to slightly wet hair, starting from the back of your head working forward. Let's say you have a gel on hand - Korres Lime Styling Gel ($15) will do. Now, find out how to create your own super gel when you read more.

Gel + Mousse = Crunchy Hold: Great for wavy or curly hair for lots of hold. Try Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse ($2.99).
Gel + Shine Serum = High Gloss: For all hair types. This blend provides light hold and shine. If your hair is fine, use product sparingly. Try Phyto Phytolisse Finishing Serum ($30).
Gel + Curl Lotion = Soft Waves or Curl: For a natural, frizz-free look. Try Marc Anthony Curl Defining Lotion ($7.99).
Gel + Straightening Lotion = Straight and Sleek: Provides body and shine with an anti-frizz finish. Works well for most hair types. Try Oscar Blandi Raffinata Straightening Balm ($19).

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Exclusive! Get Madonna's Sticky and Sweet Tour Makeup Look

BellaSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:00:57 -0700

Love her or hate her - and if you're like me, it's "love her" all the way - Madonna remains at the top of her game. And after dozens of distinctive looks throughout the years, she continues to set trends on her Sticky and Sweet tour. The North American leg kicks off this weekend, so as a little preview of what's to come, I've scored the makeup details from her longtime makeup artist, Shu Uemura Artistic Director Gina Brooke.

Before each show starts, Madonna spends about 45 minutes in hair and makeup. Of course, she gets touched up in between the show's four segments. "We actually have less than one and a half minutes to not only dress Madonna into the next costume, but touch up her makeup and hair simultaneously," Brooke says. "It's such an adrenaline rush!"

View 5 Photos ›

For a thorough explanation of how to re-create M's look at home, read more.

Face: As Brooke has said before, preparing the skin is key. She starts with Depsea Moisture Replenishing Eye Mask to hydrate skin and reduce any puffiness. Next, she moisturizes skin with Phyto Black Lift Firming Anti-Wrinkle Cream before applying Face Architect Remodeling Cream foundation. Here’s one of her tricks: Apply the foundation from the arch of your brow down to the middle of the eye, going directly to the middle of the cheekbone. The foundation reflects light, which will brighten the entire eye area.

Eye shadow: “This look has a heavy focus on the eyes,” Brooke says. Begin by applying eye shadow in M Beige 800 above the eyelids. Then, apply eye shadow in ME Black 990 to the outer corners of the eye and the crease; be sure to blend. Next, use a concealer (such as Cover Crayon in 9YR LIGHT) in the inner corner and water line of the eyes to make them appear larger.

Eyeliner: Brooke uses liquid eyeliner at the top and bottom of Madonna’s eyes as well as on the lid. She draws small lines (“Almost like scratches,” she says) to create an optical illusion when blended into the black eye shadow. “Applying liquid liner takes a steady hand, and just like anything else, practice makes perfect,” she explains. “For first-time liquid liner users, I suggest applying the liner beginning at the inner corners of the eye (as close to the lash line as possible) extending the line out to the outer corners of the eye, turning the liner up.”

Eyelashes: Brooke curls lashes with - what else? -Shu Uemura’s famous eyelash curler before applying mascara. After that, she uses two pairs of false eyelashes s217. Cut one set of lashes in the middle section, then glue the base of those trimmed lashes on top of the other set. Affix the lashes as close to your own lash line as possible, and cover the base with liquid liner.

Lips: After spending so much time on the eye makeup, you can breathe easy with this. On-stage, Madonna wears Rouge Unlimited BG 949 lipstick, with Gloss Unlimited in BG 930N.

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Get It Straight: The Rundown on At-Home Straightening

BellaSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:00:03 -0800

Don't we always want what we can't have? Curly-haired girls pine for glossy, swingy straight locks, while those with pin-straight manes long for the body, texture, and versatility of curls.

If you decide to try a straight style, there are three types of treatments you can choose from. The strongest are sodium hydroxide and guanidine hydroxide (aka "no-lye"), which break down the hair cuticle so that it softens and can be relaxed internally. Because both of these can be drying, they are only recommended for thick, coarse hair. A gentler alternative is ammonium thioglycolate (the same super-smelly ingredient used in perms). This is less effective, but it's also less damaging to your hair.

Professional straightening, while costly, is the safest option because of the chemicals involved. If you do decide to go the at-home route, I have a couple product suggestions, so read more.

One option that is getting rave reviews from users is the PhytoSpecific Relaxer 2 ($60). This is a guanidine hydroxide-based straightening kit that uses egg and a "soy complex" to straighten hair gently and effectively, while protecting against damage.

Revlon's Realistic Extra Conditioning Creme Relaxer System ($7) is a more affordable but slightly stronger option. It is sodium hydroxide-based, so it should be used only on the thickest and coarsest of hair.

Something to keep in mind is that relaxed hair needs extra taking care of. That means deep conditioning twice a week, using a leave-in conditioner, and laying off the highlights for at least two months. For those of you craving a change, this is a doable process, as long as you're committed to taking care of the results.

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