SOFT SCRUB

In middle school I began using a certain apricot facial exfoliator (I think it’s become a rite of passage) and with it my love of scrubs began. Now I seem to have a scrub for everything: for my face Arcona Cranberry Gommage, for body Fleur de France lavender salt scrub and Korres Watermelon Body Scrub without salt for self tanner prep (FYI, salt strips skin and leads to streaking). Recently I learned about scalp scrubs. I had no idea. The Sugar and Fig Scalp Massage Scrub from Bain de Terre and Korres Green Silt & Coralina Oligoelements Hair & Scalp Scrub were getting great reviews. They sounded fabulous in theory but wouldn’t they be an oily mess? Wouldn’t they leave my hair gritty? I picked up a box of the Bain de Terre and decided to find out for myself.

The summer heat combined with time spent in the pool has not been kind to my scalp. I was so eager to try it I decided to ignore the rather ridiculous pink line on my scalp where I got a little sunburned the day before (from now on, the California Baby SPF stick is for my hairline too). Opening one of the applicator tubes (each box contains four) I was a bit worried that the oils in the sugar scrub would be a disaster and I would be washing it out for days. Instead it was fabulous.

After wetting hair, you apply it to the scalp in sections like hair dye. The sugar scrub is self-heating and the texture fine and nonabrasive. The fig scent was light and sweet and I could see the oils absorbing into my scalp and roots. Prepared to shampoo more than once to get the product out, I couldn’t believe that with one shampoo all oiliness and sugar was gone. My hair looked shinier and my scalp clean. I only wish the tubes were a bit smaller. I have just below shoulder length hair and I used just half a tube. You can either use the rest as body scrub, which some do, or put the tube in a Ziploc bag to keep it from drying out.

Safe for color treated hair, Bain de Terre uses pesticide free botanicals in their entire line and the sugar scrub is ideal for all hair types from oily to dry. Check out their whole line of hair therapies here. xo a.

How To Get Socialite Hair

We recently received the following hair question from Jenna, a devout beauty banter reader:

"I am always so so jealous of all these socialites' thick healthy shiny hair! A lot of the LA implants to the NY scene have more scruffy laid back hair...but the ny girls, it seems they all have some secret vitamin I don't know about! Any clue what they're up to? I know you've spent PLENTY of time in NY so I thought you might know their secret. (for ex: Zani Gugelmann, Byrdie Bell, Lauren Bush, Amanda Hearst whom I adore...)"

Well, Jenna, you're in luck! We tracked down two of our favorite NYC hair mavens and asked them to dish on their hair secrets. Here's what they had to say:

Zani Gugelmann (jewelry designer)- "The funny thing is that I'm convinced my hair is falling out!!! So that's why I just started taking all these pills. I use the 2 products below to strengthen and nourish the hair.
-Natures Bounty: "Hair, Skin and Nails" ... The active ingredient is Biotin.
-Natures Bounty: Omega-3 fish oil capsules (odorless.)"


Byrdie Bell (model, actress and documentarian)- "After over processing my hair and watching it all fall out just a week before my high school graduation I have become obsessed with keeping it long. For color I am supremely thankful to Reyad at Frederic Fekkai as well as Fabrice for the occasional trim. I use Frederic Fekkai Technician Shampoo and Conditioner For Dry, Damaged, Color-Treated Hair. Sometimes, I use his Protein Rx Reparative Treatment Mask."


I also asked my go-to stylist, Jen Atkin of the Andy Lecompte Salon for her professional tips: "To get thick luscious hair like the girls in NYC, take the PHYTOPHANERE hair pills to make your hair thick and healthy. For shine, take Fish Oil pills from the Vitamin Store."

What are YOUR tips for healthy hair?

Must-Have Products For Every Hair Type

My favorite hair-stylist, Jen Atkin of the Andy Lecompte Salon, dishes on the best products for every hair type. This is a MUST READ!!!

Here are Jen's suggestions:

Frizzy: I suggest using Davines LOVE Shampoo and Conditioner. It's a treatment made specifically for frizzy and undisciplined hair. The conditioner nourishes and moisturizes hair giving it exceptional smoothness and leaving hair soft and shiny. Use a dab of the conditioner outside of the shower as a moisture cream to keep hair looking really shiny. The Borage oil in the line is great for fighting frizz. Also try to never cut your hair with a razor if it tends to get frizzy. Your ends can end up looking "shocked".

Curly: Rene Furterer Control Emulsion shields the hair from humidity as it smoothes and softens hair, maintaining the curl while preventing frizz. Also Joico's K-Pak Intense Hydrator once a week is great for keeping in moisture that curly hair thrives on. I always suggest letting your curls naturally dry to get the best look.

Color Treated: Because cheap shampoos can strip hair of color, I believe you should protect your investment?' At more than $200 for highlights, we should all be recessionista and try to be frugal. Because artificial pigments are more delicate than natural pigments, they will have to be protected from oxidation with products containing UV sunscreens. I suggest Phytocitrus Vital Restructuring Shampoo (pictured). It closes up the hair scales using citrus fruit, sweet almonds, and shea butter. Also try not to wash your hair too much. Every other day is plenty.

Straight DRY: I love Joico's Daily Care Daily Moisturizer for Dry Hair. It helps to re-hydrated and demonstrates more luster, manageability and softness and prevents breakage. Keeping the heat from your hair as often as possible helps dry hair the most, also taking hair pills to promote growth, and getting regular trims will help.

Straight NORMAL: Leanor Greyl Shampoo Au Miel For Normal Hair. Its a gentle shampoo that you can use frequently. It lends volume and shine while imparting the delicate scent of honey and roses! Love Love Love the way this smells and doesn't create any buildup.

Straight OILY: I use Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo to help fight Oily hair. It's formulated to restore fullness and sheen by removing build-up and is perfect for product junkies who need to do a deep cleaning (like moi). I use it as a detox to get rid of buildup and residue.
**for clients that have OILY scalp, DRY ends i suggest Leanor Greyl BAIN TS.

Straight FINE: Definitely Joico's Body Lux Thickening Shampoo for Fine and Limp hair. If you don't have a lot of hair or you just have fine hair...i suggest this stuff. It makes you feel like you have extensions in. My clients that have used it say that their hair looks thicker and fuller which makes a huge difference in how you feel.
**Also try PHYTOVOLUME Actif Maximizing Volume spray to get great height at your roots. It's a must have for styling.

Straight THICK: This is where the Recessionistas will get excited....I love Mane N'Tail haircare line (pictured). You can get it at most neighborhood drug stores and the price is around $5. Because Horses have hair 3 times thicker than people hair, they have formulated the perfect product for your mane. It's also great for shine!

Chemically Relaxed: A lot of clients are opting for the Brazilian Blowout vs. the Relaxer. Joico's K-PAK Intense Hydrator is a must. It helps to keep that shine that hair often loses when being straightened out.
**Rarely, if ever, use a blow dryer to dry your hair. Instead, to prevent damage, air dry the hair, separating it with your fingers as it dries. Another tip is friction on a pillowcase can break off relaxed hair. Use only silk or satin pillowcases.

Thanks, Jen! You're a genius!

The Dirty (and Clean) on Dry Shampoos

I have an oily scalp - blame it on genetics, my skin is oily too (at least I won't be getting wrinkles anytime soon) - thus, I'm forced to wash my hair every day or every other. And as any great colorist or stylist will tell you, the worst thing you can do to your hair (besides jumping into a vat of chlorine - or using a flat iron or curling iron every single day) is shampoo it on a daily basis. Why? Because your hair needs to nurture its natural oils and because shampooing leads to stripping the hair (especially bad for us "faux colored" folks).

So, what's a girl to do when her hair is secreting enough oil to fill the tank of an SUV (yes, I'm obviously exaggerating!)... DRY SHAMPOO!

Dry Shampoo is the most genius product since the invention of hand lotion!
What dry shampoo does: Cleans hair without the use of water, absorbs excess oils, makes the hair smell puuurty, adds volume!

Who should use it: Everyone can use dry shampoo!
While it's great for people with oily scalps, it's also great for people who:
a) don't feel like getting their head all wet and lathered
b) don't have time, say, after the gym before returning to the office
c) don't want to wash their hair in between weekly or bi-weekly salon styling/ blowout visits (but hair is looking and smelling a bit dirty)
d) want to add volume to their roots (like for a special event, night out on the town, date with that certain someone).

I literally live for my dry shampoo - and I stock up big time! Those bottles go quickly in the house of Sarah Howard... but since my love affair with dry shampoo, I don't have to wash my hair as much, giving it time to breathe and helping my color to last longer. Not to mention, everyone knows that day-old hair looks a thousand times better!

**Beauty Banter Tip** If you run out of your dry shampoo - or don't feel like shelling out the cash for a bottle, you can always use BABY POWDER! All you do is pour baby powder onto the palm of your hands, pat them together to ensure that excess powder doesn't pollute your mane, and rub your hands into the roots and scalp (motion as if you were lathering your head with shampoo!). Yes, this even works on darker-colored hair - but make sure that you don't use too much or you'll end up looking like you're going grey. AND, be sure to rub the powder into the scalp fully and completely, allowing it to effectively soak up excess oils (thus you won't be left with specks of white that could be misinterpreted as dandruff!). An added bonus: your hair will smell like the bum of a baby - clean, refreshed and free of oil and ciggies (if you smoke - which you shouldn't! But sadly, I do)! It's a win-win.

Tons of companies are jumping on the dry shampoo wagon - while some are in spray cans, others come in pour-out nozzles. And even others come colored - made specifically for blondes, brunettes and redheads!

Check back tomorrow for Beauty Banter's Dry Shampoo Picks and Pans!

How To Maintain Hair Color... Tips From A Pro

George Papanikolas of the Andy Lecompte Salon, and our new favorite baliage colorist (that's George on the left!), dishes **exclusively** for Beauty Banter on how to keep colored hair lasting longer (so that you're not spending so much time (and money) in the salon)!

Here are George's tips, tricks and product suggestions:

- WAIT 2 DAYS to wash your hair so that the color can set in.

- Use shampoo specific for color-treated hair. George's Pick: Joico's re:nu Age Defying Shampoo and Conditioner. "I love this shampoo because it gently cleanses the hair, while restoring softness
and manageability. Strengthens hair, leaving it significantly more resistant to breakage. Prolongs the longevity and vibrancy of color-treated hair," says George.
Remember, the more you wash your hair, the quicker it oxidizes (turns orange, red and brassy... NASTY!) So, try using a dry shampoo in between washes to clean hair without the harsh effects of a real shampoo, absorb excess oil and add volume (check back tomorrow for Dry Shampoo tips and benefits!).

- Avoid volumizing shampoos and conditioners as they tend to strip the color because of the ingredients that allow them to give you added volume (they are meant to be more clarifying, thus they are a very heavy, deep clean).

- Keep color hair healthy by using weekly treatments. " I recommend Joico's K-Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor. It leaves the hair shiny, strong and in a healthy, manageable state. The results are immediate. There is a difference in strength, texture and appearance," explains George. "I follow this with Joico's K-Pak Intense Hydrator which replenishes moisture and lipids to overly dry, damaged hair, rendering it manageable, soft, shiny and hydrated."



- People who get a single process (straight up hair color) can use color depositing shampoos (the ones that add color - a NO NO for highlighted hair!). Use every other time you shampoo or dilute it with your normal everyday shampoo because too much of it can turn ends purple.

- If you must be in the sun, wear a hat!!! And try to stay out of the pool. If you are an avid swimmer, you may need a colored gloss in between a full head of color to freshen it up and give hair that nice shine and lustre.

- If you're receiving a single process (full color - no highlights), you should return to the salon every 4 to 6 weeks (or when your roots have grown a half-an-inch).
For highlights and baliage, maintenance it's every 10 to 12 weeks.

- And, lastly, just as a FYI - red color fades the fastest, blonde stays the longest (although you'll need to touch-up roots more often, especially if you have naturally dark hair and roots).

Thanks to George for all of his fabulous, A-list hair-care secrets!!!

Hair Therapy: Part II

While Jen (Atkin) - the most fab cutter in all of the land - was working her magic on my mane, she offered up her healthy summer hair beauty advice....

And now I'm sharing it with all of you!

It's actually quite simple and is only 2 words: Davines Love.

What is Davines Love, you ask? Well, it's a conditioner that smooths and repairs dried-out ocean hair. Jen says that "it's like aderal for your hair." It literally wakes up harsh and frizzy hair bringing back it's natural sheen and lustre. And it's awesome for naturally wavy and curly hair as well.

The conditioner boasts a very special ingredient... Borage Oil - an all-natural moisturizer that coats the hair and is a great alternative to silicone. It leaves the hair silky with that healthy, radiant look.

Jen swears by this product and she even gave me a jug to try at home (sharing the beauty secrets..). And I've gotta say... it's pretty amazing! It's definitely thick and potent so a little goes a long way. But it really did make my hair feel like strands of silk... and the shine... WOW, this stuff made my hair shine like a ten karat diamond!

Jen's professional tip: Davines Love can double as a smoothing serum too! Here's how: Work a tiny dollop into towel-dried hair, scrunch it up, and let it air dry for that beachy, bed head look (sans the frizz!).

Jen also suggests using Leonor Greyl's Shampoo for long hair (Greyl products have long been a favorite of hair professionals) in conjunction with the Davines Love conditioner. It gives you that salon look and feel every day of the week!!!

Davines Love Conditioner Retails for: $22.99 (a massive jug!)

**Jen Atkin works at the Chris McMillan Salon in Beverly Hills.**

Hair Therapy: Part I

Fabulous A-list hair cutter, Jen Atkin, of the Chris McMillan Salon, bestowed the great honor of chopping (trimming) my luscious locks.... I graduated from grad school yesterday (insert claps here) and was in major need of a little snip-snip for the big day. Not much, just some reshaping so that my hair didn't appear so "heavy" (split and dead ends weigh down otherwise healthy hair) and my natural curls would spring back to life. The trick is all in the layering! You don't need to actually take off length, you just need to cut into the hair and layer, layer, layer! This also provides natural volume and body (and God knows we're all dying for more vavoom!).

As for my bangs, well, they've been a bit of a nightmare. I'm convinced that the front of my hair is thinning (as this is the ONLY party of my hair that I actually blow dry. If I didn't it would be SO puffy and frizzy). So, we've decided to let the bangs grow out and just trim them ever so slightly so that they fall just about at my lips, framing my face.

So, here's my Summer CUT (still long... I don't think I'll ever go short!):



You like????

What's YOUR summer do???