Questions... Answers!

I love that you are reading my blog! And I love that you are asking questions :). After my last post, I had a friend ask a few very good questions that I thought deserved a post of their very own! So, here we go... and don't be shy about asking any questions YOU may have... questions are very welcome around here!

1) How many times a week do you wash your hair?
Confession time: I am an everyday washer. I know, I know... I should be shunned as a hair guru! Here's the deal (and obviously this is JUST my opinion/position. I am no professional and don't have any scientific evidence to back up my words.)... everyone's hair is different. While everyday washing may do wonders for some heads, it may do not so wonderful things for others. I have avidly tried multiple times to become an every other day washer, but all it did for me was leave me feeling gross at about 2pm on the second day. My hair is rebellious, it has a mind of its own and doesn't want to be washed every other day! This doesn't mean anything other than my hair is abnormally "moist" on its own. If you are ok with washing every other day and don't notice any difference from day 1 to day 2, GO for it! That's how your hair works and I greatly envy you! However, if you are an everyday washer and are noticing some dryness there are a few things you can do:

-Invest in a good leave in conditioner. However, just as with any other product, don't overdo it or your hair has the potential for greaseball, and we already know that nobody wants that. I like:

Pravana Hydrating Intensive Leave In Treatment, $18 (find it at your salon or you can order it online - I saw it on Amazon) *note: this is a little pricey, but it lasts a good bit of time. I have very long hair and mine lasts me for at least 6 months - it doesn't take more than a few spritzes each use.

-Make sure you are protecting your hair from the heat from all the blowdrying/flattening/curling we love to do to our hair. There are multiple ways to do this (just peruse your local Target shampoo aisle - you'll see what I mean) but I love my trusty Frizz-Ease:

Frizz-Ease Heat Defeat, $5.39 (find it at Target)
Frizz-Ease Thermal Protection Hair Serum, $7.99 (find it at Target)

-See below for some more tips :)

2) Do you have any products you would recommend to get the moisture back into your hair?
A good way to put moisture back into your hair is to do a deep conditioner treatment or hot oil treatment. There are also good shampoo/conditioner combos that help restore moisture. Here are my favorites:

Deep Conditioning Treatment

L'oreal Everstrong Deep Replenishing Mask, $7.74 (find it at Target)
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Hair Mask, $6.04 (find it at Target)*note: the best way to go about a deep conditioning treatment is on a day you don't have much going on: shampoo as normal, apply deep conditioner liberally, let set for several minutes (sometimes I even get out of the shower and let it set on my hair for 15-20 minutes) and then wash. Keep in mind your hair may be a little "moisture rich" after the treatment (ie - look a little greasy)

Hot Oil TreatmentVO5 Hot Oil, $10.68 (find it at WalMart)*note: follow instructions on package - it's pretty easy :)

My favorite Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner (as well as my everyday shamp/cond for the time being)

Dove Therapy Intense Shamp/Cond, $4.99 each (find it at Target)

3)Would you suggest the same brands of color brightening shampoos for brunette hair?
The Drama Clean and Hair Cleansing Cream will do wonders for brunettes as well as blondes. For a warming brunette specific product, I love this (well, I did when I was a brownie!):

John Freida Brilliant Brunette Light Reflecting Shamp/Cond, $4.97 each (find it at WalMart)

I hope my answers have been at least somewhat helpful. Keep the questions coming!

Much love!

Favorites!

I love finding and trying new products. I am always on the lookout for something that has the potential to become a favorite! One of the best ways to do this is by finding out what other beauty lovers love. So, I am feeling a little generous and would love to share a few of my must haves. I'm going to start with my hair product must haves, and share my other beauty secrets later on :).

Because I am always up for trying a new beauty must have, I always, and you can quote me - always - love to find a lovely little morsel at a lovely little PRICE. So, I am not going to talk about a bunch of products that would be great only if you had Paris Hilton's beauty budget. I love finding other blogger's favorites but always get a smack in the face when I scroll down and see that her favorite tube of oh-so-perfect pinky lipstick is $67 cheese-a-roos. I work hard for my money and have no intention whatsoever of using a whole days' pay to buy shampoo and conditioner (as well as the fact that I would not like to be the reason my huzzzband gets deemed clinically insane after watching the $20 dollar bills I just washed my hair with float down the drain). The gist of it is: I just love to try, try, try and don't want to waste my beauty budget on one thing that I may not end up loving.

With that little disclaimer out of the way - here we are, friends! As always, please feel free to let me know of any questions or tidbits of advice you may have.

We all know how those oh-so-fun frizzies can pop up without welcome. I love both of these serums because not only do they help with the frizz, they also help with shine and heat protection. I swear by the 2nd one (Frizz-Ease) and use it everyday. Just be careful to use serums very sparingly, they can easily turn into a grease-ball disaster. Eeeek.
Kenra Platinum Silkening Gloss, $11 (find it at your salon)
John Freida Frizz Ease Hair Serum Extra Strength Formula, $8.99 (find it at your local heaven, I mean Target)


Once a week, I like to get the gunk that builds up in my hair from hairsprays/mousse/whatever else ends up in there with a hair cleansing shampoo. I love the way my hair feels after using a cleanser... just feels, well, clean (surprise!). While I love the Hair Cleansing Cream by Redken, Drama Clean by Herbal Essences does a pretty bang up job as well. Just use in place of your regular shampoo whenever you feel a deep clean is necessary. I like to shampoo twice (leave the first on for a little longer) and then use a smaller amount of conditioner than normal (so I don't put all the weight back in after just taking it out).
Redken Hair Cleansing Cream, $17 (find it at your salon)
Herbal Essences Drama Clean, $3 (find it at Target)

Because I am a blondie (ahem... naturally, of course), I also like to use a blonde brightening shampoo every once in awhile when my golden locks are lacking shine or looking shamefully brassy. Blonde friends: we all know that brassy looks just about as bad on your head as it does on a doorknob. I do the same as the hair cleansing cream: use in place of your regular shampoo as you feel the need. While the Jhirmack tends to leave my hair smelling a little grandma-esque, I absolutely adore the softness and brightness it adds to my hair. Hey, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.
Redken Blonde Glam Shampoo, $11 (find it at your salon)
Jhirmack Silver Brightening Shampoo, $3 (find it at Walgreens or a similar store)



My hair is naturally "wavy." I use wavy in it's broadest form, because really, my hair is more accurately "just enough curl to make you straighten me/a little tempestuous at the sight of moisture" and there really isn't a word that accurately portrays all that (except "annoying"). Needless to say, my hair requires a little shmoozing when I don't feel like spending 45 minutes in front of the mirror with a blowdryer and flat iron sweating all the clean off that mr. shower just gave me. Here is what I have found to work best for my hair:
1. start with a light-but-still-moisturizing shampoo/conditioner (it's best to find one specifically for curls).
I like: Tresemme Flawless Curls Shamp/Cond, $3.84 each (find them at Target)
2. after shower, scrunch hair while head is upside down with a towel (I know, sounds fun)
3. take your hair out of the towel, my most important part: DON'T BRUSH!
4. spray a curl enhancing mist all over, don't be afraid to be wildly generous (don't wait too long for your hair to dry, because then mr. frizz like to make a visit)
I like: Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Spray, $3.34 (find it at Target)
5. scrunch around your head a few times. Then, turn head upside down (again) and use a palmful of mousse to scrunch all over
I like: Garnier Fructis Curl Construct Mousse, $3.34 (find it at Target)
6. voila! Scrunch a few more times haphazardly around your head while your hair is drying.
7. you are finished, gorgeous! Don't let the 6 steps scare you, I promise - it's easy peasy.

I hope that you were able to get through all of my hair ranting and raving. What I hope even more is that you were able to get at least a few new ideas to try! Be on the lookout for my next Favorites Post!

Much love!