Look Great Between Haircuts with Bango!

Denise, my wonderful hairdresser, has always said that I can come in and she'll trim my bangs for free.

But she is one helluva busy lady and I don't like to bother her for such a little thing, so I've been trimming them myself for years. Badly. Really badly. I mean, it looks like an 8-year-old went at them.

So when I discovered Bango, I knew it was something that would come in awfully handy every 4-6 weeks!

What's truly amazing is that I can achieve a number of different looks, all with this all-in-one hair-cutting tool. I can rock a Blunt Bang, Textured Bang or Side Bang. I can also cut a Friend or Child's Bangs cut my fella's Short Hair and Bangs and even trim my Top Layers and Split Ends.

I get a professional looking trim in just a few seconds, without having to spend time at the salon. I love the convenience of it and it's so easy to use:

- Just clip your hair back with the 2 black clips provided, leaving your bangs out in front.
- Use the comb in your Bango Kit to comb out your bangs.
- Then slide the pink Bango clip to where you want to trim, follow along the serrated edge (straight across for blunt bangs, and angled against the pointed edge for textured ones) and snip away!

You'll never have silly-looking bangs in between haircuts again with Bango at your side.

Buy Bango now.

Stop Brushing & Blow Drying And Get Gorgeous, Volumous Hair with Conair's Spin Air Brush

As you know, I have crazy hair. I can't just wash and go. I would seriously scare people.

So I have two options:

1. Leave me hair wet and slick it back in a ponytail to mimic sleek styling (there's still the matter of my bangs which I usually blow dry anyway)

2. Blow dry my hair from root to tip. Which takes a lot of strength and time. And a brush and a blow drier and products. And well, you get the point...

If only I'd had the Infinity Pro by Conair Spin Air Brush all this time.

See, it styles as it dries, so you no longer  have to dry it and then style it as you've been doing for decades. It instantly saves you a whack of time in the morning before work (go ahead and sleep another 20 minutes!) and gives you more style and volume than you could ever achieve on your own.

It's perfect for this hot weather because it pumps out way less heat than my hair dryer (2 rotation speeds and 3 heat settings.). And because it releases up to 100 times more concentrated ions than ions created from natural sources, it reduces frizz and adds shine - saving you the time and money you usually spend applying additional products to get those effects. In other words, you get smoother hair, faster.

The ceramic technology dries your hair without further damaging it and the tangle-free antistatic bristles keeps it soft and manageable. 

But the best, most fun part, is of course the multi-directional brush that rotates in both directions, giving you voluminous, shiny hair. It is so quick - a thousand times faster than my former dryer. You simply wrap a section of your hair around the brush and let it do all the work (no more fiddling with your brush while trying to blow dry!).

Watch Conair’s Spin Air Brush instructional videos to see just how easy it truly is. 

I get Hollywood/Red Carpet sexy waves and rich volume each and every time. Sure you can use it without the spin function. But when it's this easy, fun and quick to do, why wouldn't you?

The Spin Air Brush is now available across Canada wherever Conair products are sold.

Urban Therapy's Twisted Sista Gives You the Curls You Wish You'd Been Born With!

You wouldn't know it to look at me, but I've got curly hair.

You couldn't possibly know though, because I blow dry my hair straight every day or else I brush and pull it back in a sleek ponytail, giving it the effect of pin straightness.

I don't do this because I don't like curly hair. I just don't like my curly hair. It's wavy and ringlet-y in all different areas of my head, so instead of having the enviable waves of Martha Plimpton on Raising Hope or the luscious bouncy curls of gorgeous Kerry Washington, I just have the "crazy hair" where it looks like I went to bed with wet hair and made my way through a wind storm.

So I am always extremely skeptical when it comes to curl enhancing products, because truthfully, my hair needs a whole team of people to calm it down and the chances of just one product or line handling it seems slight at best.

Then along comes Twisted Sista and completely changes everything.

These products rework my hair like I've got my own stylist on retainer. Oh, and they're insanely cheap. You'll be kicking yourself for how much you've been paying for product up until now.

I start with the De-Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner that hydrates my dry locks and keeps every strand sleek and close to my hair, unlike it's usual go-big-or-go-home manner. My hair looks and feels better, shinier, stronger and so much more under control without feeling heavy or greasy.

For the humid and rainy days that we're known to have here, I am blessed to have my Different Strokes Serum in hand. It zaps away any frizz while healing my split ends. It is like valium for my hair.

For those days that I want sleek, straight locks, Twisted Sista's Blow Drying Crème is all I need.  It not only saves me drying time, but it saves me from having to straighten my hair. Just a dollop of this will do ya. It works overtime by simultaneously adding volume, moisture and shine.

If you want your Bernadette Peters curls to emerge, use Curl Activator and 30-Second Curl Spray. Not only do they smell good (fresh 'n fruity) but they feel good. No crunchiness or hard helmet head here.

I am no longer ashamed of my curls. In fact, now I have beautiful curls.

Shop the entire Twisted Sista Collection and rock a different style every day. And rock your curls. Because now you can!

Check Out the Divine New Makeup Line from Beauty Without Cruelty

Beauty Without Cruelty has been offering "ethical, cruelty-free products that are made with natural, organic and safe ingredients" for over 40 years.

Their new makeup line - BWC Colour - includes mineral eyeshadows, natural eye pencils and pressed powders that are fragrance free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

If you suffer from dry lips like I do, you'll be swooning over BWC's Natural Infusion Lipsticks. It glides over your lips giving you great colour (I tried Cappuccino) while simultaneously delivering a wallop of hydration, thanks to jojoba seed and castor see oils, and vitamin E. 

And to keep you looking polished, but never too made up, the Ultimate Natural Mascara (pictured above) is perfect.The Black is dark, but not too inky. The power of natural ingredients such as  Japanese fruit, rice, carnauba and acacia waxes, rice bran oil and bamboo stem powder, gives you beautifully long lashes without any gloopy bits or hard points. Your lashes stay soft and nourished, but they look picture perfect.

You'll never want to go back to chemically-laden drugstore cosmetics after using BWC.

Be sure to check out their entire makeup line as well as the rest of their products such as hair care, skin care and body care too. I have been using their Daily Benefits Aromatherapy Shampoo and it's got the most beautiful scent. It also managed to get rid of months of product build up and add a bunch of shine to my formerly matte head.

Protect And Repair Your Hair from Sun Damage with Kérastase Soleil!

You've probably got into the habit of applying sunscreen to your face and exposed limbs before leaving the house, but what about your hair? It's dry enough without having the sun fry it any further!

Wearing a hat to protect your hair from the sun's damaging rays isn't always an option, so what else can you do?

Kérastase Soleil for sun-exposed hair is a new range of haircare products that protects, repairs and enhances your hair to vibrant and healthy new heights.

So if you plan on being outside at all this summer or in the water (are you really prepared to let your already delicate hair be penetrated by UV rays, salt and cholorine without any protection?), you're going to want to be using these powerful tools:

- Bain Après Soleil 

It only takes a small amount (just a quarter-size dollop that you massage in), but boy are the results massive! Your hair is gently cleansed and repaired, your colour is maintained and your hair will be detangled, soft and oh-so lush.

- Lait Richesse

In just a few minutes, this luxe conditioner gives your hair new life and transforms it into Hollywood hair. It will be strong and rejuvenated like never before (thank you provitamin B5 and ceramide). And you were just going to leave the house into the scorching sun with just your regular shampoo and conditioner. Sheesh. What were you thinking?

- Aqua Seal

This little wonder "seals the hair with a waterproof veil to protect against harmful UV rays and water aggressors" using a silicone derivative. I mean, who knew this kind of technology was even possible? Your hair becomes instantly more supple, smoother and shinier.

What I love about Aqua Seal is that you apply it on dry hair and leave on - no rinsing. That means it protects your hair forever and always when you have it on. If only life came with an Aqua Seal for everything!

And in case that's not enough to blow you away, all of these products win my award for best fresh-smelling haircare E-V-E-R! Oh my, it's just such a pleasure to use these, that you'll be tempted to wash your hair twice a day!

Shop the entire Kérastase Soleil Collection and have the summer  - and hair - of your life!

Shop the Trends with Bizou Jewelry & Fashion Accessories

Every season it seems things have changed - baggy pants are now cigarette thin, blousy tops have turned boxy and where colour blocking and solids were hot, now it's all about prints.

How is a girl supposed to keep up, not only closet-wise, but money-wise?

I have found the perfect solution - Bizou!

Shop affordable, trendy jewelry and fashion accessories without having to spend hours scouring the mall. Choose perfect mix-and-match items to add a "hot off the runway" look to your wardrobe. And the best part? It won't cost you a fortune and there are styles and trends to suit everyone.

Take the leopard print for example. It's smokin' hot right now, but sometimes it can be too much. That's why you want to add just a hint of it. The Leopard Bow Headband is pretty and feminine with just a little edge to it. Yeah, that's perfect! Or what about this Watch with Printed Leopard Dial?

The white strap will look great against your tanned arm, the diamond-like jewels will catch the light while you sip drinks on the patio and the leopard-print face will remind you that you still have your wild side!

And let's be honest - you have a closet full of plain black shoes, don't you? Sister, I think it's high time you spiced it up a little. I adore these Floral Print Ballet Flats (pictured above). And they are so soft - even the sides and edges - so you won't have to spend the summer hobbling around with blisters and bandages like with most flats! And the delicate little print will sass up your skinny jeans, micro minis and maxi dresses in an instant.

These are just a few examples of all that Bizou has to offer, so shop the entire collection and get a wardrobe worthy of the catwalk without having to break the bank.

Get Glam in an Instant with Angelo David Salon Hair Care

Just because you don't live in NYC doesn't mean you can't  have the customized, stylized look that you'd get in person at the Angelo David Salon.

Thankfully, Angelo David, hair specialist to the stars  - Caridee English (America’s Next Top Model), Elsa Benitez (model) , Irina Shayk (Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model) and 3 of the Real Housewives of New York City - has created an exclusive collection of hair care and styling products that is "specifically formulated to keep hair healthy, shiny and manageable."

I am completely addicted to Long & Strong Detangler. It's actually a leave-in conditioner and heat protector as well as a detangler.  My fine white blond hair that starts out as a wet hot mess suddenly becomes smooth and sleek and I can actually get a brush through it, despite the knots and tangles that seemed to be a permanent fixture of my bleached, coloured, ravaged locks.  And there is more to it, too - It strengthens your hair, protects it from the sun, styling tools and colour fading, increases flexibility and elasticity, adds shine and uses natural ingredients, aloe, green tea and horsetail extract. See why I can't live without it?

And to keep my hair soft and manageable, I go to Angelo David's Vital Complex Leave-In Conditioner. It also adds body and shine. It's not very often that you see a leave-in conditioner that's a fine spray - it's great because your hair is protected without feeling weighed down.

I've never used anything like Zero Frizz Control before. It's incredibly fast-drying hair cream that gives me that smooth, sleek look that usually takes a lot of tools and product to accomplish. And my hair dries 2 or 3 times faster when I use this - perfect for those hot summer days where you can't bear to be under the heat of a dryer or straightener for long!

To keep tangles at bay, you got to try Angelo's Medium- and Large-Sized Combs. They not only look good, but feel good too.

And for the ultimate luxury, Angelo David Hand-Crafted Natural Boar’s Hair Bristle Hairbrushes (pictured above) are specially designed to keep your hair tangle-free. There's a mix of long nylon bristles and natural boar bristles so you can control your hair and smooth it all in one motion. It feels fantastic on your scalp and hair and in the hand, you'll become one of those girls you read about that brushes her hair 100 times before bed!

Shop Angelo David Salon Hair Care and fix that mess on top of your head for once. If it works on this head o' mine, it'll work on yours!

Schwarzkopf SEAH Hairspa Blossom Intense Keeps Your Colour Longer

I have been colouring my hair for decades. So you can imagine what a dry hot mess it is.

And because it is platinum blond, it is near to impossible to ever get it looking shiny.

But thanks to Schwarzkopf SEAH Hairspa Blossom Instense, I've finally got glossy locks.

See, as soon as you colour your hair, it needs a treatment that immediately locks in your colour and adds shine.

SEAH Blossom Intense is an  in-salon, post-colour gel-cream that was "especially developed to secure and reveal the true radiance of freshly coloured hair." The way it works is that it envelops each strand and seals in the colour pigments. This intense treatment works quickly on your hair - you'll feel a difference right away - but it lasts and lasts.

Your hair will look and feel softer and smoother and your hair will be shinier than you've ever experienced. 

And your colour will last longer, thanks to this little miracle worker and a bunch of great ingredients such as amaranth oil and Japanese Cherry (Japan's national flower). BTW - this treatment smells so incredible, you'll want to use it simply for its wonderful aroma!

Use SEAH Blossom Intense after every in-salon colour service. Simply apply the entire tube over your hair, making sure you've got each strand covered. Leave it on for just 3-5 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Ta-dah! Shiny, manageable, beautifully brilliant hair is now yours.

If you colour your hair, protect it with Schwarzkopf SEAH Hairspa Blossom Instense.

Keep Every Hair in Place With Sweaty Bands

I don't work out like I used to (4 times a week at a fitness club). Instead, now I walk an hour a day (if not more), mop our floors, lug home big bags of groceries in which to feed my cooking habit and generally work myself to the bone each and every week just trying to keep up with life.

So when I came across Sweaty Bands, I thought of a bunch of instances where they would come in handy:

- cleaning my house

- running errands

- washing my face before bed

- putting on a face mask

- going out for a walk (if you run or walk the dog, these would be perfect) 

See, they are designed to keep you looking good, even while you sweat, so you can live your life, stylishly, while you run around just trying to keep up with all you have to do.

I like that Sweaty Bands are handmade, comfortable to wear (a velvety backing keeps it feeling soft and from falling out of place) and you can choose different styles, patterns and even widths!

I love the boldness of Scroll Down Your Playlist.  Mine is similar, but has a navy background with pink x's and white pattern.  And because it's so wide and colourful, it really stands out.  

And Argyles Are For Crumpin' Skinny is a nice preppy classic. Mine is shades of blue with white, which works in every season.

Whether you're lifting weights at the gym or picking up your dry cleaning, you want to look snappy and pulled together. Sweaty Bands can help you do that, all without ever sliding out of place.

Because frankly, don't you have enough to do?

Shop the entire Sweaty Bands Collection now.

Get Smooth, Shiny Hair With Creative Professional's Hand-Crafted Combs

Sometimes it's the simplest things that much such a difference.

If you use a comb, you probably use it every day. Now try to imagine not being able to comb your hair. So it's as important as your cuppa coffee and your phone, but I bet you wouldn't have thought of it that way until now.

That's why you shouldn't be using just any ol' comb. You should have the very best.

As in Creative Professional's Handmade Tortoise Comb.

This unbelievable find is "sawcut from a single sheet of high quality Italian produced cellulose (cotton) acetate and its teeth gently rounded."  So no, no tortoises were harmed to make this gorgeous tool, and it won't snag or catch your hair like most combs. 

Creative Professional Combs are made to protect your hair. Cellulose acetate is a non-petroleum based plastic that you usually see used for glasses frames. And it turns out that this material is a natural non-irritant to skin and resists static, so why would you use anything?

It is durable, not to mention damn beautiful.

Why should people who use brushes get all of the beautiful hair tools?

Shop Creative Professional's Handmade Combs now.

Nourish Your Damaged Hair with Paraben-Free Alcove Hair Products

This weather is brutal on my hair. 

Add that to the fact that I just coloured it Rihanna red and that depsite using an ammonia- and peroxide-free colour, it didn't completely take. So then I had to use a even harsher one. And it didn't completely take either, so now I just stripped everything - twice - and then added on an ashy blonde to try and get it back to normal.

Ugh.

You can just imagine the state of my hair. It's dry and straw like to begin with. Now after all this, it's the texture of wood chips.

That's why I'm thankful for Alcove from Oligo Professional.

This new customized nourishing hair care line includes 3 sets of products to target your problem areas, all without using harmful ingredients such as sulphates, salt and parabens.

Using Microcapsules Technology, Alcove protects, hydrates, repairs, nourishes, shines, conditions and offer maximum UV filter protection to your dried out, dull locks.

Alcove Repair Shampoo and Repair Conditioner work on my hair, infusing it with vitamin-rich flaxseed extract and avocado oil. It keeps my colour longer and keeps it soft and shiny, despite my mistreatment of it with all the colouring, stripping, blow drying, etc.

Not only are the results incredible, but you can feel your hair change right after you apply it, so your hair is already softening right in the shower. And these products smell good, not only in the bottle, but long after you've shampooed and conditioned.

Thanks to Alcove, my hair doesn't look like I've taken a weedwhacker to it anymore.

Locate a salon near you.

Want Fantastic Hair for the New Year? All You Need is KEVIN.MURPHY

Or at least, his simply stunning products.

Working with celebrities such as Rose Byrne, Vanessa Hudgens and Heidi Klum and leading fashion photographers such as Patrick Demarchelier, Kevin Murphy has taken his extreme talents and created a line of hair care products that will completely change not only the way your hair looks and feels, but how you think about your hair.

I have always had uncontrollable, kinda wavy, kinda curly hair that doesn't respond to much of anything. But KEVIN.MURPHY hair products transforms my hair each and every time to luscious locks that shine and bounce, that are sleek and smooth. And my hair smells so freakin' good that I can feel people leaning close on the subway and sniffing around me at the grocery store.  I don't know how he makes such rich products without them being heavy and weighing down my hair. 

The NEW FORMULAS of LUXURY.WASH and LUXURY.RINSE give my coarse coloured hair a complete makeover, as it rebalances my hydro lipids and other scientific stuff that repairs all that chemical damage I've done over the years. How they manage to be all that and sulphate and paraben free and "made from renewable and sustainable resources whenever possible, using pure essential oils, plant extracts and natural antioxidants" is beyond me.

It's not often that a product that calls itself "luxury" actually is. However, these absolutely deserve the title. And then some. I mean, even the bottles are gorgeous!

And to get you styled right for the party of the year, you've got to check out these amazing styling products:

- Powder.Puff is one of those revolutionary products that once you try it, you can't live without it. I've never been a fan of dry shampoo or other dry products UNTIL NOW. This volumizing powder takes your hair from the every day to sexy Brigitte Bardot heights. You know that sexy tousled look that you're always trying to create "naturally" with braids, curlers or your fingers? Just a few shakes of this wonder dust and you'll have that beachy hair (which Kevin invented, by the way) that you've always wanted.
 

- Ooh, if you've got short, choppy locks, Night.Rider is for you. It's sexy (as is the packaging) and gives you a chance to work the look you want.

And if you're traveling or want something cute to take to the gym or on an overnight visit, you've got to get the KEVIN.MURPHY JET.PAK (pictured above). Mine has travel sized Hydrate-Me.Wash, Hydrate-Me.Rinse, Anti.Gravity, Session.Spray and Fresh.Hair, all in a long sleek black mesh case. It doesn't get much sleeker/sexier than that.

Find a salon near you and get yourself some KEVIN.MURPHY if you know what's going for you.

Get Clean Naturally with Pattern Body Washes

Are you trying to incorporate more natural products into your life in the new year?

You should start with Pattern Body Washes.

They leave out all the bad stuff:

- parabens

- artificial fragrances, colours and dyes

- SLS/SLES

- not tested on animals

And instead, Pattern packs each bottle with gentle cleansers. What's surprising is the thick lather that is generated - often when natural ingredients are used, there isn't much foam or lather, so you don't get that satisfying feel. And also how moisturized you'll feel. There's no dryness here, only soft, smooth, clean skin.

Another way Pattern is distinguishing itself is that you can use this body wash all over - body, face and hair. I bet you can't do that with that bottle from the drugstore...

But perhaps it will be the luscious scents that memorize you the most. Fragrances, essential oils and plant extracts mix and mingle to exhilarate and energize you during your morning shower.

I tried Sage,  which is fresh and slightly foresty, thanks to essential oils of sage, star anise, grapefruit and cotton flower and Vitamin E. I love the moisture-locking feel that comes with the accompanying Sage Body Lotion too. It lasts all day long, even in these wicked cold temperatures and there's no slick, greasy feeling either.

Nutmeg is fantastic and my favourite of the two scents. This one's actually made to combat dry skin using herbal extracts and essential oils of nutmeg, amber, cardamom and Vitamin E. I find it completely intoxicating, probably because it doesn't give off a baked cookie smell, instead lifts you with a spicy, vigourous blend that completely wakes  and shakes you up.

Try them all or shop specific scents.

Isn't it time you had the shower of your life every day?

Want Straight Hair? It's So Easy With Rowenta's Professional Titanium Ceramic Flat Iron!

Not long ago, I wrote about Rowenta's incredible hair dryer.

And now I'm completely smitten with Rowenta's Professional Titanium Ceramic Flat Iron!

I wish you could see the flat iron I was using before this one - oh, it was so heavy and clunky and it used to take me over half an hour to straighten my hair.

With Rowenta's Pro? Six minutes!!

I used it for the night of the bake-off and the pictures just don't do it justice. I've never had straighter hair in my life! People couldn't believe it was my own hair. That's how incredibly transformed your hair will be using Rowenta's Pro. 

p.s. It comes with a sleek canvas traveling case, so you can have it with you whether you're on vacation or traveling for work. Woo woo!

There are 3 heat settings (360 - 410 - 450 degrees F), so you can adjust it depending on your needs.  And the "professional anodized coating" makes it resistant to abrasion, so that your hair doesn't look or feel fried after use. In fact, using my old one, I could always feel how my hair has broken off and completely dried out. After using Rowenta's, my hair is always soft and smooth and that's without using any protective products either!

You are guaranteed to get uniform and consistent heat (read: perfect, smooth results), thanks to the amazing ceramic heating element. That means, that you can flawless hair each and every time! Floating plates automatically adjust to your hair, so if you're like me, where your hair has different styles and textures (mine is crazy curly and then other parts are only wavy), you will get even result sfrom root to tip.

All in a matter of seconds.

And the Rowenta Professional Titanium Ceramic Flat Iron is so versatile that you can curl and flip your hair, in addition to straightening it. Good to keep in mind for all of those upcoming holiday parties...

Get the Rowenta Professional Titanium Ceramic Flat Iron and finally get the straight hair you've always wanted!

Change Your Hair Colour, Change Your LIFE With Umberto Beverly Hills U Colour!

I have been colouring my hair at home (out of a box) for over two decades, so I guess you could call me an expert at it.

Here's how it's gone so far:

- It stinks. You know the box colours are filled with harsh chemicals because you can smell them the entire time.

- My scalps burns each and every time I apply the colour. And for years, I've had a kind of permanent dry spot behind my right ear from all of the scorching of chemicals.

- When I am in the shower rinsing out the colour, my hair is the texture of hay. It stays that way for at least a week and it forever feels damaged.

I didn't know it could be any other way.

And then I tried Umberto Beverly Hills U Colour available at Target, Ulta stores and Ulta.com.

It is unlike ANY AT-HOME COLOUR I'VE EVER TRIED (and yes, I've tried 'em all).

- First of all, there is no smell except for a slight floral scent. Not a hint of ammonia smell. Just pure pleasantness.

- Secondly, I didn't experience any burning on my scalp. Not a one! What a difference. I wasn't cringing at all during the 25 minute processing time.

- There is no mixing of developer, no powders to get everywhere. With U Colour, it's all in one packet - colour, developer and equalizer. You just open the Sachet Packet System, smoosh it and apply it. It's honestly that easy!

- You get 2 packets, a pair of nice thick latex gloves (instead of those cheap, thin plastic ones that you get with the drugstore brands and that never stay on for more than a second), a mini detail brush and instructions. If you have long hair, you'll need both packets, but since I'm rockin' a super short cut, I get 2 colours out of the one box! What a deal!

- My hair became silky soft as soon as the product went on and was rinsed off and shampooed out. My hair has NEVER BEEN SOFTER - and I just coloured my hair!  #@!*!  That's because, as it says on the back of the box: "Unlike other brands with pre- or post-conditioning treatments that only coat the hair, U Colour opens the hairshaft during processing, allowing the Equalizer to penetrate the hair to lock in lasting colour, shine and conditioning, all in one easy step."

- As I stepped out of the shower, my wet hair looked so dark. Hmmm, there's no way this is going to work, I thought. It just can't be this great. I dried my locks and indeed, they are the colour indicated on the box - Pearl Blonde 11.8 (pictured above).

Hallelujah! 

I have found my hair colour for LIFE! And it's cheaper than what I've been paying for those crappy other boxes. It's actually affordable to colour my hair.

This is revolutionary folks.

Change your hair colour, change your life with Umberto Beverly Hills U Colour.

Revolution in Cut Works With Your Specific Haircut!

I love my hairdresser Denise.

She is warm and giving and very talented. She gives me a fantastic cut each and every time, all for a ridiculously affordable price.

So when I see her, I usually tell her what I'm thinking of and then I let her take the reigns and do what she does best. A few times I've asked for the same cut because I love it so much (the angled Victoria Beckham went for a few seasons there), but usually I say, "What do you think?"

Last week, I went in knowing I needed something done with my nest o' hair. 

Denise chopped off my almost shoulder length locks into a very structured Louise Brooks style. Ooh, it's fun!

So when I saw Revolution in Cut by Ric Pipino, I just about fell over - product for not just your hair, but your cut?

#@!*%!

It works with your specific hair type and cut.

I absolutely love the shampoo and conditioner, which clean and protect and smell in-cred-i-ble! They keep my platinum locks from dulling over time and it is so soft. My fella can finally run his hands through my hair without his fingers getting snagged in tangles or having it feel like he's caressing a bale of hay!

Ric says that the Prime My Cut products "are the key to training your hair to hold its shape. These six pre-styling products are basically an extension of the hairdresser’s scissors, helping to support and maintain the performance of the haircut in between salon appointments. The Primers have a proprietary formula with specific levels of hold, volume, texture and shine to improve the condition of the hair, in turn extending the life of the cut."

So, as you can imagine, my unruly, clumpy, completely schizophrenic hair is completely styled and behaved, thanks to Ric's help!  Just select which cut you have - Crop, Layered Bob, Bob, Short Layer, Long Layer and Blunt - and pick the appropriate product.

I can't believe my hair can be like this.

I can't believe it IS like this.

My hair is sleek and straight and well, beautiful.

Thanks to Ric Pipino's Revolution in Cut and Denise, that is.

Discover IT&LY Hairfashion's Fantastic Purity Design Hair Care

Sometimes you get to try a product that changes everything.

That's how I feel after using IT&LY Hairfashion's Purity Design Hair Care.

Their Purity Design Shampoo & Conditioner transforms my hair from a tangled mess to streamlined locks.  

In just one wash. 

I go from looking like Edward Scissorhands to Charlize Theron.

And that's all before styling and applying product. Oh, and they smell incredible, so don't be surprised if you find yourself lingering in the shower for longer than usual.

And speaking of amazing scents, I swoon each and every time I apply Pure Water Drops.  It is like perfume for your hair!  This finishing product infuses your hair with deep hydration and immense shine, all the while, protecting your (now) beautiful locks from sun's damaging UV rays. It adds immediate gloss and shine to your hair, while smoothing it into place and will even help to detangle it, if you apply it when wet.

There are gels and glazes too. Whatever you need to make your hair look so much better than it is, Purity Design has got it!

Find out where to get IT&LY Hairfashion's Purity Design Hair Care Products near you and have the hair you've always wanted!

Get Hollywood Hair with Rowenta's Amazing Infini Pro Auto Sensor Dryer

I'm embarrassed to tell you this, but we've known one another for awhile now and you won't tell anyone, right?

For the past 2 decades, I have been using hair dryers that were designed in the 70s. They have huge brush attachments that stick out and the air that it produces is so hot that it heats my earrings to such a temperature, that you burn yourself if you touch them.

You can imagine how healthy it is then, for my chemically-processed hair and thin, pink scalp.

I used it because I have crazy hair, and the brush attachment allowed me to control it - at least a little bit.

But they've stopped making them and after this many years and all that damage to my hair, I knew I'd have to get something new.

I comparison shopped for a long, long time and found the cream of the crop - the Rowenta Infini Pro Auto Sensor Dryer.

Just the look and feel of it alone says what professional quality it is. 

It feels so good in the hand and is sleek enough to manage, no matter what style you are creating.

Because my old dryer ran so burning hot, I was thilled to have my hair dry more quickly with warm air! On average, the Infiniti Pro delivers 35% more airflow, resulting in faster drying time (It was also nice not to feel my scalp burning anymore).

And thanks to the ceramic coating, it produces infrared heat, which does not overdry or damage hair (using 1875W of power). And its advanced Ionic system prevents static and frizz, which means my hair looks and feels so much better - healthy, smooth shiny. And that's just with the drying alone!

You can change up your style by simply attaching the diffuser (it evenly distributes heat and allows you to create waves and curls - with no frizzing! - in mere minutes) or the ultra thin concentrator that gives you the straight, sleek hair that you crave.

It's no wonder its the tool of choice for pros.

My hair has never looked or felt better. It gives me red carpet, award-show hair when really, without the dryer, it's more dim-the-lights kind of hair.

What more proof do you need?

Get one now.

Indulge In Soft Skin and Fabulous Scents With THANN

One of the best luxuries I think, is to have soft, supple skin that smells good.

And one of the most sumptuous lines has got to be THANN.

This all-natural hair, skin and body care line for men and women uses extracts of rice bran oil, "deriving from the Oryza Sativa, which has been a unique staple of Thai subsistence for over five millennia" as its core ingredients. It is rich in Vitamin E which heals and soothes your skin. THANN is also the first brand to feature shiso extract as a key ingredient in skincare. 

You're going to love the intoxicating scents - Oriental Essence, Mediterranean Floral, Sea Foam, Aromatic Wood, Shiso and Rice.

I start my morning off enveloping myself in Aromatic Wood Shower Gel. It moisturizes as it cleanses and the orange woodsy scent (thanks to orange, tangerine and nutmeg oil) is a stimulating way to start the day.

If you like to ease a little more gently into the day, then perhaps the Mediterranean Floral Shower Oil is for you. Normally, I don't like oils, but this one is fabulous! Drenching your skin in vitamins (A & E) and oils (almond, olive, rosemary and lavender), you'll be so soft and smooth, you'll feel like you've just been to the spa. And the fragrance of fresh lavender is so soothing, you can't help but be relaxed. Isn't that how you want to start your day?

And to keep that soft skin throughout the day, apply rich, thick Shiso Body Butter. It's SPF15 and ooh, it goes to work quickly on my dry, rough skin. And I can feel it working throughout the day, so never do I feel dry and itchy. Shiso is not only a moisturizer, but an antioxidant and anti-histamine, so it protects your skin from harmful pollutants as well.

The scent is so lovely - cocoa butter, licorice and shiso extracts combine to form a warm fragrance that is completely captivating. I dare you not to keep inhaling all day!

I keep Sea Foam Hand Cream with Organic Shea Butter at my desk because nothing dries out your hands like handling paper all day. My hands stay soft all day, even after washing. Organic shea butter, organic jojoba oil, rice bran oil and algae extract work to keep them smooth  - and not at all greasy - no matter what I'm doing. Just feel your hands before and after application. The difference is remarkable!

And to keep the house smelling good, I'm loving the LIMITED EDITION Nymphanea Organic Candle. In fact, I think the more accurate term would be addicted. The fragrance is warm, yet clean. Like freshly washed sheets, dried on the line and then infused with water lilies.  My goodness does it smell good.  Using only pure fragrances and organic shea butter wax (no petroleum wax or chemicals here), the candle burns for 28 hours in a gorgeous black glass. What a sexy gift to give someone.

It's easy to see why I love THANN. And these are just a few of the products they offer.

Go get yourself some and indulge in feeling and smelling incredible!

p.s. All products are dermatologically tested (suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types) and 100% paraben-free.

Lindo SwirliDo Hair Ties Give You The Perfect Ponytail

I got together with my Mom this week and we had to keep stopping because her elastic kept slipping off her ponytail.

I know the feeling.

Even though she and I have very different hair, we both battle with our elastics all the time.

So when I came across Lindo SwirliDo Hair Ties, I was so relieved.

Finally - a solution to our slip-sliding, hair-catching, bump-leaving elastic problems.

These short telephone cord-like, jelly hair ties allow you to put your hair up with ease and won't tug at your hair, won't leave that telltale ponytail bump (so you can take your hair down as many times as you want without having to rewash your hair to change styles) and won't give you a headache like elastics.

They come 8 to a pack in a range of colours (I got Neutral  Brown) so use 'em for the office, gym - wherever and whenever you want to hair your hair up in complete comfort.

Ahh, that's better!