WEEKLY MUST-HAVE!

I love finding a great hair serum! The oil can literally change the texture and life of your hair... it's like a trip to the salon without ever leaving your house!

I've long been a fan of Kerastase's Oleo-Relax. It's a brilliant smoothing serum for dry hair. Other serums have come and gone, but Kerastase has remained a permanent staple in my hair care cabinet. One tiny problem: it's a bit pricey - at $43.99 my hair better be shining like a 10 karat diamond! But, I get it, not every wants to spend almost 50 bucks on hair drops!

Well, fellow beauties, I have finally found an alternative that is just as amazing yet a fraction of the price - L'Oreal Serie Expert Liss Extreme Shine Perfecting Serum.


It's ultra light, full of shine, and perfectly suitable at punching up your natural (or fake) curls. Plus, this serum actually makes highlighted hair "pop." I don't know how, but when you apply to your hair, it gives contrast and texture to your highlights. This product is definite salon-quality (so soft, so smooth, so stunning!).

PRICE TAG: $18.10 for 4.25 oz.

A word (or several..) from the company:
"L'Oreal Serie Expert Liss Extreme Shine Perfecting Serum smoothes and soften with a unique combination of Bio-Mimetic Ceramide, Smoothing Agents and Amino Essence Complex."

Beauty Secret: Both Kerastase Oleo-Relax and L'Oreal Liss Perfecting Serum are made by... L'Oreal! So, rest assured, you're getting pretty much the same quality ingredient in both products!

A Beauty Whore's New Year's Resolutions

Resolutions for 2007:

1. I will ALWAYS wash my face prior to falling asleep (regardless of how lazy, tired and/or drunk I may be).
2. I will spend more time moisturizing and less time obsessing over minescule skin flaws.
3. I will take more baths and load the bath with my new favorite bubbly, Booty Parlor Naughty Bubbles Bubble Bath because, after all, I deserve to feel sexy even at bath time. (Plus, the tuberose scented, irridescent bubbles leave my skin smelling and feeling like a sex goddess!)
4. I will exfoliate lips at least once a week with Smashbox's Emulsion Lip Exfoliant because I vow to kiss more in 2007!!! (and smooth lips just feel better!)
5. I will deep condition my hair at least once a week for twenty minutes using the old secret recipe of grocery store olive oil (Cindy Crawford swears by this!)
6. I will try new color combinations on eyes and lips (like the new pink lippy that is Spring's must-have... (I'm liking Vincent Longo's Gel-X Lipsticks Enhanced with Lip Plumping Moisturizers in COAST because it's color, plump and shine all in one!)
7. I will finish my hair care line, LUCID, and finally launch the most fabulous organic hair products since Loreal made Kerastase!!!

Happy New Year to all of my fellow beauty whores... may this year be filled with beautiful skin, hair and make-up!!!

Hair HORROR Stories....

We’ve all been there before…. Frightened and anxious as the swivled chair rotates around and we are faced with our reflection in the massive mirror. The hair dresser utters some inaudible, French (tres jolie!) and we are meant to coo in adoration. But sometimes, as rare as it may be, we are turned around in that chair only to discover that we don’t recognize the HAIR that’s gawking back at us! Welcome to victims of a hair trauma…
Here is a fantastic hair horror story shared by my hair-crazed friend, Jenny Cohen:
More or less in her own words -
"I went to Oscar Blondie to get my hair colored and when they washed the color off I could tell that it lacked a brightness. There was no definitive hair color (i.e. blonde, brunette, auburn, etc.) that I could categorize my new mane. It lacked everything. I looked insipid, ashy and sullen. It literally looked like a beige couch. Not only had my base been lifted to match my skintone exactly and provide no contrast, the highlights were ashy and beige. I told him that this wasn't what I asked for and he said, "well beige is the new blonde." I replied, "you'll be hearing from my lawyer." Meanwhile, crying and hiding my beige disaster, I came home and immediately jumped into the shower. I washed my hair nearly six times to try and strip the color - to the point that the cuticle was inflamed and my hair was puffy and my fingers were pruned. By the third day I actually took draino and poured it on my locks in an attempt to reverse the effects of the colorist. It worked to strip the color, but it also broke the rest of my hair to pieces."

I’m sure that you all are wondering, with a psycho hair freak such as Jenny, what products does she actually trust to put on her beloved tressles.
ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE!!!
Jenny’s favorite hair products:
Kerastase Oleo-Relax Ultimate Controlling Elixer Serum – “This is the only oil product that doesn’t dull my color. It gives more texture to the color on the ends. It creates more of a golden sheen. Only apply on dry hair to the ends. Use less then a dime size,” cautions Jenny.
Kerastase Mini Travel Set #2 Shampoo and Conditioner for thick hair, Masqueintense – available at salon’s that carry the ENTIRE line, only. This is very hard to come by. Jenny says, “Make sure the label reads, ‘Made in Spain’ to ensure that the product is authentic.” “I only use the travel size products after a trip to Miami where my hair, texture and color looked more vibrant and healthy when using the travel set. I believe that the ingredients in the travel sized products is more potent then the larger, mass-produced sizes,” explains Jenny.
Frederic Fekkai Technician Shampoo for Dry, Damaged, Color-Treated Hair – “This is the only shampoo that I will alterante Kerastase with. It actually strips the hair, thus brightening it, because it is such a strong shampoo. With the avocado oil, it’s better for humidity because it weighs the hair down,” says Jenny.
Frederic Fekkai Protein Rx Reparative Conditioner – “I only use the product in the bottle, not in the jar because I don’t like the way the jar looks. I’m not experiemental with products because using a product that contains the wrong ingredients can ruin my hair. I use this conditioner once a month, only in California where the water is softer. It strengthens the hair, prevents breakage and brings the color back to its true state.”
Mason Pearson Child’s Sensitive Hair Brush - “I use this brush when I travel to detangle and distribute oils because it doesn’t contain any nylon brisstles. Nylon’s plastic so it breaks the hair if it’s not first detangled.”
Mason Pearson Junior Hair Brush - “I use this brush after the detangling brush to massage the scalp. And then I get into the shower and I wash my hair.”
EXTRA TIP:
Jenny swears by only washing her hair every three to four days. “Only have a professional blow it out,” she says. “If you do it yourself, you are bound to break the hair. This is one of the times when it’s imperative to ‘not try this at home.’”
P.S. “If you want some lift in your hair, brush it upside down with a round brush and bend the ends,” adds Jenny.
Tell us YOUR hair horror stories!

$$$ MILLION dollar hair $$$

I often quip that I've spent close to a million dollars on my hair. But if you think about it, this isn't such a far-fetched estimate. I do confess that I have pretty fabulous locks, but beauty doesn't come without a price tag. Like every other self-proclaimed hair fanatic, my hair can actually be more high maintenance then me.
Case in point:

1: Sadly, the color is not au natural (shocker!). Thus, I am forced to visit my colorist every four to six weeks for a little color maintenance. Price tag - full head of highlights; $350.00

2: Although I don't often blow dry my hair (I do prefer the au natural in this department), striving for the perfect curl can be rather pricey. So products become a daily routine. FAVORITES: Leonor Greyl Restructuring Shampoo for Permed and Curly Hair; Ojon Conditioning Shine Serum; Kerastase Masquintense for Dry and Fine Hair; John Frieda Beach Blonde Ocean Waves; Bio Ionic Smoothing Paddle Brush. Price tag - about $200.00/ month.

3: Achieving the layered effect helps to maintain those perfect ringlets. But layers cost money. Thus, I need to trim my hair at least once every other month. Price tag - $150.00

Share your high maintenance hair routine!!! Tell us what products work to create your perfect do!