Hello and New Hair

Hello to all my lovely readers! How is everyone? I'm sorry I've neglected my baby for a while, work has picked up and by the time I'm done with it, the last thing I want to do is sit another hour or so on my laptop. The work has gotten a little lighter so huzzah for that!  I've hope you've all been well and are enjoying this gorgeous weather we have been having. It's about time!

So I've been contemplating about getting my hair done for a while. I get so bored with my hair that I constantly want to try something new. Sadly that costs money and I can't really afford to get my hair done in a new style every other week. I stayed with a dark brown/black color for a while because it was easy to maintain and kinder to my wallet but with summer just around the corner I wanted something fun.

I'm pretty easy going in terms of whatever you want to do with my hair as long as you do the job well. So I was pretty disappointed with the salon I picked previously back in January because I felt the stylist didn't do as great of a job as I thought he could have. I asked for a lob with long layers and I basically got one length. I asked for chocolate brown and he applied a semi-permanent glaze to my hair which made it black. With the price I paid for the job, I felt it wasn't worth it so I searched for another salon in my area.

Waiting for the glaze to settle into my hair

I've been wanting a red ombre for some time. In fact I've tried it before but the red basically washed out after one shampoo. When I met my new hairdresser I told her I just wanted a balayage of some kind, I made no mention of red. As she was applying the bleach to my hair she asked me if I wanted to try something different and go with a plummy/violet red for my ombre, to which I replied yes. The amount of time and care she took with my hair was really great. She applied the red glaze and didn't like the result, so she did it again, it's probably the first time a stylist has ever done that for me. Then she applied a conditioning cocktail to my hair to make it super lush and soft. I'm very impressed with the color and know that even though the red will fade, it will still look nice.

The cut she gave is exactly what I wanted. Lots of layers with some bounce. I know that this is the type of cut that I won't have to worry too much about styling after I wash it, which is great for me, especially in the warmer months.

Photo taken with my iPhone with flash

Overall I was very happy with the way my hair turned out.With the proper care, I won't have to back until around mid-August for a touch-up. If any of my readers live in the Long Branch area, check this salon out and ask for Becky, she'll do wonders to your hair!

Brush Salon

• 129 Brighton Ave
• 732-222-3026
• brushsalonnj.com

New Haircut and Color!

About every few months, I get sick of my hairstyle or color. This has led to many dye jobs, which has led to my horrific dry ends. Last June, I decided to take my already ombre-ed hair and lighten it some more. It came out nice, but being that I did it myself, it was probably a very poor job of what the professional could do. My ends were SO dry and ugly.

So I thought maybe a cut would do the trick. No coloring, just a nice trim. I went a popular Korean salon in Midtown one day I was in the city towards the end of October. While the hairdresser was nice, she didn't mince words. Majority of the time she spoke to me, she was talking about my hair, telling me how damaged and brassy it was. However, after complaining about how horrible my hair was, she decided to RAZOR it. Which is probably the worst thing you can do to dry and damaged hair. My hair ends were snagging against my shirt! I mean what hair does that??

I tried to live with my hair a while longer. During the hurricane power outage, I basically threw it up in a ponytail and forgot about it. Then I decided that if I wanted to have healthy hair again, I needed to chop it off. I went to a new hairdresser, one that's closer to my apartment and spent about four hours in the chair. I have to say I feel pretty happy about the end result. She took off about two inches of hair leaving me with a chic looking lob, inspired by the lovely Olivia Palmero.

Me waiting, this is my before shot

The amount of the foils she put in my head, I felt like Joaquin Phoenix in Signs where he makes the foil hat so aliens couldn't read his thoughts

End Result!

I'll probably go back in a month or so to get the red retouched

With the flash

Hope you are all having a great week! 

Review: HANA Professional Flat Iron 1"

A couple of weeks ago, Brian from Misikko contacted me to do a review on the popular HANA Professional Flat Iron 1". If you have been a reader of my blog for some time you will know that I have been approached before to review another iron and their blow dryer as well. (If you would like to read the reviews, please click here.)

I'm not going to lie, the HANA Titanium Ionic flat iron sent to me previously is considered to me, one of the best hair straighteners I've ever used. I haven't tried the coveted GHD flat irons, but when I received the Titanium Ionic flat iron, I replaced my BedHead straightener after only two uses just because it was that good. So when Brian asked me to review this 1" flat iron, I agreed knowing I would receive a quality product to review for my readers.

After I told Brian I would agree to review the flat iron, I received confirmation emails of the shipment and my package arrived withing days. I was glad to see that their fast shipping had not changed. Later in the day I opened the package to find it riddled with goodies. There was also a thank you note included. I also found out that every package sent out contains goodies as a thank you to their customers.

I took all the plastic out and left the iron out

Now to the iron itself.

Here are the features:

• Advanced Tourmaline Ceramic Plates for Accelerated Ion Generation and Maximum Frizz-Free, Conditioning Shine
• Ceramic is naturally hygienic, protects color & retards fading
• Floating 1" Plates Auto-Adjust To Glide Over Any Hair Texture
• Curved Plate Edges For Versatile Styling - Curl, Flip or Straighten!
• Adjustable Temperature Dial - 5 Settings from 140-450° F for All Hair Types
• Flash Heats in Seconds with Instant Compensation for Heat Loss
• Ergonomic Handle Design with No-Slip Grip
• Smooth Grooves Keep Hair Strands Separate and Snag-Free
• Tangle-Free Salon Quality Cord Swivels 360°; Convenient Hanging Loop
• Energy Efficient at 38 Watts
• Independent On/Off Switch
• Includes Luxe Heat Proof Storage Pouch, Heat Proof Silicone Mat, & Special Edition Tin Case
• Two Year Warranty
• LED indicator light remains steady when iron is heating up and will blink when desired temperature is reached. If the light is off but the switch is set to On, the iron is decreasing temperature to a lower setting.(Text from: Misikko.com)
  
  

On the website the flat iron is priced at $129.98. A pretty hefty price but this is considered a professional, quality hair straightener. There is also a two year warranty for the flat iron which is nice.

The HANA Professional Flat Iron 1" is pretty popular on the blogsphere. If you type it into Google, there are plenty of reviews, most positive, some mixed but what it all boils down to is your hair type. Girls with thicker, coarser hair may not find this hair straightener to be ideal, while girls with fine, thin hair may fall in love with it. With me, this flat iron left my hair silky straight and smooth. My natural hair is pretty straight, but the ends are a bit damaged from coloring.

The iron is pretty light and easy to maneuver. Its rounded edges make it easy to use for curls as well. When I turned it on, the iron heated up very quickly around 30 seconds, which was impressive. After sectioning off my hair, I went to work with the iron. Overall it was fine, but I did notice that if I didn't brush a section of hair before I straightened it, it wouldn't slide down as smoothly and it felt like it was pulling on my hair. Also, for those of you who didn't know, if the temperature of your iron is too hot, it causes that unsightly crimp in your hair. Read your instruction manuals to determine what heat setting is right for you. Mine was between the 302 and 370 marks.

The end results, silky, smooth straight hair. I added some Moroccan Oil to the ends and a heat tamer before I started but that's it. Overall this a high quality iron that is light in your hands and gets the job done. If I want pin-straight hair I'll take my time but if I just want a polish look, this flat iron gets the job done in less than 10 minutes. I would recommend this flat iron to those with thin hair, wavy hair and slightly colored hair. Girlies with very thick coarse hair may not have the same results.

What is your favorite flat iron? Do you like them, hate them or don't care? Happy Monday and I will talk to you all very soon.

***This was sent by the company for review consideration. Please know all my reviews are honest and based on solely my experience with the products. The results may differ for you. I also do not receive any money for my reviews.***

July Favorites!

It's a small group this month, I haven't really been wearing much makeup due to how hot it is! Plus my skin has been acting up lately, (insert sad face) so I'm trying to let it breathe.

Going clockwise

1-Michael Kors perfume: This perfume smells wonderful! It's a floral mix with a bit of musk. It's classy and great for everyday.

2-Versace Versus rollerball: Another floral scent which has been a favorite. I got it as a sample from a Sephora order back in May. I loved it so much that I purchased the rollerball to bring with me everywhere I go. It also has some fruity notes as well. 

3-Fairydrop Scandal Queen Mascara (original formula): I purchased this before the waterproof version came out. I usually tend to stay away from regular formula mascaras since they never hold my curl but while this one doesn't keep my curl entirely, it doesn't make my lashes wilt. Another plus is that it's sooo easy to wash off! Just warm water and the mascara comes off. It doesn't smudge throughout the day either.

4-Inglot Sleeks Lipgloss in 89: I love this neutral pinky gloss. Smells like vanilla and isn't sticky at all. I also adore the packaging. Pigmented enough to go alone or you can layer it over your lipstick as well.

5-Physician's Formula Eye Booster Eyeliner in Ultra Black: Does it really boost my lashes? I haven't noticed but this eyeliner is perfect to create a cat eye and it doesn't budge until you wash it off. Well, it can be wiped away if you cry or have an allergy attack. So it's not fully waterproof but this is the best drugstore eyeliner I've encountered.

6-MAC Prolong Wear Foundation in NC30: Perfect for those sticky days. This foundation is great for those with oily skin. I find I'm not such a greaseball when I use this.

7-MAC Mineralized Blush in Pressed Amber: Great for contour or blush, especially for a lazy girl like me!

I also took the liberty to lighten my ends even further for the ombre effect. I took the pic on my phone but it's considerably lighter. The only thing I hate is how dry the ends feel. Oh well, nothing a conditioning masque or two can't fix right?

I hope all of you are well! Have a great Sunday!

Review: HANA Titanium Ionic Flat Iron

About a month ago, John from Misikko had asked me to review another hair styling product. If you don't recall, Misikko is an online store that sells mostly hair oriented styling tools and products like HANA styling tools and the Biosilk haircare line. The styling tool that John wanted me to review was the HANA Titanium Ionic Flat Iron. After some corresponding emails, I received a large package from Misikko.

The company is very customer service oriented and ships the product out lightning fast. The company was also kind enough to gift me extra goodies that did not come with the flat iron itself. If you have any inquiries or questions, do not hesitate to contact Misikko.

The straightener I received was the HANA 1.5" Titanium Ionic Flat Iron. This flat iron has an on/off switch with adjustable heat. The highest temperature you can set it to is 450 degrees F. Waiting time for this iron beings as fast as 6 seconds which is super quick. The straightener is made with titanium plates that disallow hair snagging and also ensure a sleek finish. The straightener is also pretty wide, the plate size measuring at 1 1/2". Another plus about this styling tool is that it has an 8 foot long swivel cord allowing you more than enough space to style your hair. The edges of the iron are also slightly curved allowing for various styles including curling your hair.

This flat iron was easy to hold and maneuver in my hands. It didn't feel very heavy nor did my arms get tired. Though priced at $174.99 USD, this flat iron does come with a 2 year warranty. I would have to say that even though it's a tad bit expensive, it blows my drugstore flat irons out of the water and competes with other salon brands. 

The Hana Titanium flat iron works well with my hair. When not styled, there is a very slight wave to it as you can see in the pictures. This flat iron left my hair soft, smooth and sleek. I also decided to test this flat iron out when I went up to see my best friend in New Hampshire. She has thick, beautiful curly hair that she often straightens. 

Ironing out her hair didn't take long at all, which is another perk to this tool. Once the hair goes through the iron, it comes out sleek and straight. I hope the comparison of the two allows you to see how efficient and great of a flat iron this is.

If you are looking for a larger plated flat iron that provides salon results, I would definitely look into this flat iron. Though it may seem like a big investment, this will pay for itself in the many uses to come.

***This product was sent to me for review. I do not make any money from reviewing it. These are my honest thoughts and opinions! =)

I Got My Hair Did

After much debate and opinion asking, I decided to change my hair. At first, I thought about chopping it all off, but that would be too extreme and I remembered the agonizing time it took for my hair to grow back. So I axed that idea. Then I thought about doing the whole ombre look. I read a ton of opinions and blogs about it. Comments ranged from, "I love it!" to "You're just lazy."

I have to admit, I am damn lazy and getting your hair done every month or so can get really expensive. I thought the look would be perfect. Also my salon advertised that they did the ombre effect so I wasn't hesitant to get it done there.

Here is what I originally wanted to go for:

I really wanted to get back to my natural hair color. Something I hadn't seen since...oh I dunno 7 years ago when I first decided to dye my hair all different shades and colors. I thought this was subtle but still unique and different. Plus her prettiness helps.

So to show you the different in hair color, I'll post what used to be my hair first:

It was an auburn color, with blonde highlights growing out. If you look closely about an inch of my roots is showing.

Here is me saying "Bye" to my old hair at the salon:

After 2 hours and the wonderful magic of my stylist, this was the outcome (lots of pictures coming haha):

 

We ended up just highlighting the bottom. I think next time I may want it a little lighter. So I'm back to my natural hair color and it's a nice change. I forgot how nice it originally was.

I also put in some feather extensions as well. To add some flair and fun. I love that I will be able to curl and straighten it no problem.

So, let me hear it, do you like it? Love it? Hate it?

Review: HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer

About 3 weeks ago, I received an email from a person named John asking me to do a review for an item from his online store, Misikko. Misikko is an online store that sells mostly hair oriented products and tools like Hair Straighteners and Hair Dryers. The product that John wanted me to review was the HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer. I was rather flattered that he had found my blog and that he wanted me to do a review. After looking through the website and some corresponding emails, John shipped the item for me. It only took 2 days for the hair dryer to come to my house! Of course when I got the box I was a giddy little girl and I opened it right up.

Not only had John sent the HANA hair dryer, he threw in a bunch of extra goodies as well!

I received a carrying case for a flat iron, a full and travel sized version of the HANA Shine Shield Thermal Protectant Serum, a full sized bottle of the HANA Styling Iron Cleaner Spray, potpourri, a Sugar Plum body spray, hand santizers, nail files and a stuffed monkey (Mr. Monk Monk now hangs from my makeup stand.) I also received a lovely handwritten note from John. I had only expected the hair dryer, not all this wonderful extra stuff!

Ok, now on to the hair dryer. My old hair dryer is from ConAir. It's the Infiniti Pro and it claims to be salon quality but I still found that I had a ton of flyaway strands of hair and I also found the concentrator attachment not very concentrated at all. 

The HANA Air hair dryer is pretty light weight and has a 12-inch cord, which is pretty long! The settings on the HANA were definitely more complex than the ConAir hair dryer I have. This dryer has 2 fan speeds, 3 heat settings and a cold shot button as well. The handle of the dryer felt nice in my hands, it wasn't too bulky and I could still select and choose the controls easily with one hand. The black metallic finish is pretty however I hate how it gets finger prints. Finger prints on my products bug me, I have no clue why.

So the next day after I took my shower I towel dried my hair and added a small amount of the HANA hair protectant serum, concentrating mostly on the ends of my hair first and then bringing the rest of the product up the rest of my hair. The scent reminds me of a salon, which I guess is a good thing! 

The average blow drying time for my hair if I do a full blowout can take up to 45 minutes with my ConAir since my hair is pretty long. Right now it currently hits the middle of my back. I attached the included concentrator nozzle to the hair dryer and went to work. What I usually like to do is blast heat all over my hair until it's about 75 to 80 percent dry, then I section off my hair into 4 sections and use my round styling brush to blow the hair out straight. Guess how long it took me? Twenty minutes. That's half of the time! I was amazed at the difference. 

What I also like about this hair dryer is the shine it gives my hair. Every time I use this hair dyer I feel like I just left the salon. 

 

Here is the finished look. My hair looks super shiny and healthy. As much as I love drugstore finds, my ConAir hair dryer will now be collecting dust now that I have the HANA hair dryer!

Pros:
-Sleek modern look
-Cuts drying time in half
-The concentrator nozzle has a thinner opening allowing a more powerful blast of heat to straighten hair
-Long cord for better movement
-2 year warranty
-3 heat settings and 2 fan speeds
-Quiet motor

Cons:
-Expensive! Currently selling for $194.99 on the Misikko website
-Metallic finish allows for visible fingerprints

Overall Thoughts:
I am very impressed with this hair dryer. If you can afford this and wish to have a salon quality blowout every time you dry your hair, invest in this dryer, you will not be disappointed. This salon dryer is quite amazing!

****Please note that this dryer was sent to me for review. Also note that these are my honest opinions and I would never rave or talk about a product unless I felt it was the best quality. My readers deserve my honest and heartfelt opinions ^___^******

How To Quickly Curl Hair

Hey all you beautiful people!

I just wanted to post a video on how I curled my hair from this post. I had received a bunch of compliments  about it so I wanted to show you all just how easy it was to do. I also wanted to thank everyone who sends me lovely comments on how my blog. It makes my heart sing!

If you have any questions please let me know.

Happy Tuesday!

Goody Spin Pins

Lately there has been a Goody commercial featuring a new and innovative product called the "Spin Pin." This one pin is suppose to equal 20 regular bobby pins. When I first saw this commercial, I was skeptical about it. The claim of just screwing the two pins into your hair bun (without a hair tie) and being ready to go seemed to easy, too simple, and frankly too impossible for my straight heavy hair. I'm sure many of you have issues when it comes to pinning up hair. The tutorial or magazine tells you to "add as many bobby pins until secure" which necessitates about thirty pins in your hair. But I succumbed and bought it because my drugstore was having a sale and instead of it being $5.99, I got my two spin pins for $2.99.

The packaging is all fancy. I guess it needs to be spruced up in order to only sell two pins. The pins come in two colors. Brunette and blonde. I would figure that they would have a black color but I have yet to see it in any stores that carry it. I bought the brunette ones and basically ripped the packaging open the moment I got home to try it. Ok, before you girls go ripping the box open like I did, there are three different hair styles displayed in the packaging itself. I ended up ripping mine before realizing that >_<.

Another thing you probably noticed is the price. Are they worth six dollars? Maybe not to many people but I feel if I can clutter my apartment with less and (more flimsy) bobby pins the better. Also it's an investment piece. The quality of the pins are definitely higher quality than your average pin so the lifespan of this pin will eventually pay for it. 

Again, the first that I noticed about these pins is that they are very strong and durable. They aren't like your average bobby pins that can bend and pry open. Then again, these aren't mean to be pried open, you basically screw the pins into your hair. One pin going up the bun and the other going down. The screwing in of the pin causes the hair to intertwine with the pin, causing a tighter hold. I will say I was very surprised that the bun held. Now it wasn't SUPER tight, but it definitely held my hair. So unless I did major jumping around the bun was pretty much put.

I've also used these pins at night and slept with my hair in a bun. I loved the results I achieved. Soft tousled careless waves framed my face and I was quite ^___^.

In closing, I think these are genius products from Goody. Less pins, quick and easy to do, but with the option of being chic as well. If you can or want, give them a try.