Don’t Forget To Enter My InStyler Giveaway!

The InStyler

Time to win, ladies and gents!!! I have TWO InStyler Rotating Irons worth $99.95 each to give away.

I love my InStyler because it straightens and curls my hair quickly and easily. Check out my review at  https://fortyflirtyfabulous.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/make-your-hair-fabulous-with-the-instyler/ to learn more about this fab hair styling tool.

To win, leave a comment letting my know why you would like to try the Instyler.  I will randomly choose a winner on Friday, September 9, 2011. Please, entries only from the United States and Canada.

Good luck, everyone!

InStyler Giveaway!!!

The InStyler

Time to win, ladies and gents!!! I have TWO InStyler Rotating Irons worthe $99.95 each to give away.

I love my Instyler because it straightens and curls my hair quickly and easily. Check out my review at  https://fortyflirtyfabulous.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/make-your-hair-fabulous-with-the-instyler/ to learn more about this fab hair styling tool.

To win, leave a comment letting my know why you would like to try the Instyler.  I will randomly choose a winner on Friday, September 9, 2011. Please, entries only from the United States and Canada.

Good luck, everyone!

Treat Your Dry, Processed Hair To Rusk’s Deep Shine Oil Volume Shampoo and Conditioner

Summer is a hair killer.  Adding to damage from hair color and heat stylers, you get sun exposure, chlorine and/or salt in the hair and the frizz from humidity.  Yuck.

But my hair is looking pretty good now.  Why, you ask?  I am using Rusk Deepshine Oil Volume Shampoo and Conditioner ($15.00 USD Each).  These products contain the following ingredients for healthy hair:

  • Certified-Organic Moroccan Argan Oil — enhances the shine and condition of the hair.  Adds back natural moisture and softness.
  • Natural Algae Extracts — provide moisture, nourishment and deliver vitamins that help replenish hair’s natural balance.
  • Vitamin E — Protects the scalp and minimizes UV damage to the hair, promoting strength and luster.

I think that these products are wonderful for dry, damaged hair.  They really do revive super-dry hair.  My hair has been dry and frizzy and now it is soft and smooth.   The only thing is that this is probably not for people with fine or oily hair as it can weigh it down.  I really don’t see the shampoo and conditioner as volumizing hair care.  I make sure that I apply volumizing styling products after I use these for lift as well as shine.

Available September 2011 at www.stylesource.com.  Enjoy!

New Summer Haircare Products By Pureology, TRESemmé, and ECRU New York!

Summer hair care can be tricky.  Pool water damages hair, the sun can strip the color and humidity makes it frizzy.  It’s important to find a hair care line that fits your summer hair needs.  Here are three product line ideas and some helpful summer tip:

If you have blond hair, try Pureology Perfect4Platinum ($24.00 to $32.00 USD) system for high-lifted and highlighted hair, four levels or more.  It delivers concentrated keravis to replenish and plump the keratin gaps, equalizing porosity. Chamomile extract improves overall suppleness and softness. The lemon extract clarifies and smoothes the cuticle for enhanced shine. Finally, coriander oil creates a mirrored surface to magnify shine.  The signature AntiFadeComplex® delivers free radical damage protection for longer lasting hair colour. The line includes Shampoo, HairCondition, ReconstructRepair Masque and Miracle Filler Lotion.  Visit http://www.pureology.com to learn more and purchase.

Avoid heat-styling as often as possible during the summer months. After washing your hair, wring out any extra moisture with a towel and allow your hair to air dry before blow-drying. Cutting back on your use of hot tools such as a blow dryer and flat iron will help reduce damage. Be sure to use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to treat dry, strawlike hair. Try ECRU New York Luxe Treatment Shampoo ($22.00 USD) and ECRU New York Protective Silk Conditioner ($22.00 USD) to restore moisture and provide superior conditioning leaving hair beautiful and healthy. Visit www.ecrunewyork.com for more product ideas.

Worried that your summer hairstyle will wilt or frizz with the heat and humidity?  Help is on the way!  Start the summer off by giving your hair a fighting chance with the TRESemmé Climate Control Collection ($4.49 each item in the line).  Protect against harmful UV rays and keep your locks looking beautiful with the specially designed formula that creates a barrier between your hair and the weather.  Infused with the Climate Control Complex, the collection contains olive oil, keratin, UV blockers and polymers to leave hair shiny, soft and manageable while protecting against humidity, UV rays, static and wind.  With the TRESemmé Climate Control Collection you can have amazing hair regardless of the weather! TRESemmé can be found at mass market retailers near you!  Items in this line include Shampoo, Conditioner, Mousse and Finishing Spray.  Enjoy!

TIGI Catwalk Curlesque Curl Collection

TIGI Catwalk Curlesque Curl Collection

Are your curls frying in the sun or wilting in the humidity?  Try products that are made especially for curly hair like the new TIGI Catwalk Curlesque Curl Collection.

Enhance natural curls and waves to bring out the very best in your hair. The exclusive Catwalk® Aquacomplex features a fusion of Cucumber Water, Kelp, Algae, Seaweed and Sea Fennel to sooth and moisturize curls and deliver extraordinary hydration while creating perfectly formed curls with movement, separation and shine. Each of the collection’s seven products features a crisp, cool, marine-inspired scent that will leave you feeling refreshed, energized and revitalized. The collection is complete with a Defining Shampoo, Hydrating Conditioner, Leave-In Conditioner, Lightweight and Strong Mousses, Curls Rock Curl Amplifier and a Defining Serum.

What I think:  It’s fantastic that TIGI Catwalk has made a line especially for curly hair.  My hair is more wavy than curly, but I really enjoyed the moisturizing elements of the shampoo and conditioner and the fact that it guarded my hair from the Kansas City humidity.  I didn’t try the styling products, but I’m sure they would provide additional conditioning and protection for curls.

Price: $14.95 – 19.95, available in fine salons nationwide; visit www.tigihaircare.com for more information.

Brighten Your Hair With Clairol Natural Instincts Vibrant

Clairol Natural Instincts Vibrant

Do you know that besides the physical benefits of coloring hair, freshly colored hair can do a lot to a womans self-esteem? Clairol has recently held a survey regarding the emotional benefits of coloring hair. The survey reveals 93% of women who color their hair agree their day instantly improves directly after coloring. Women feel confident and on top of the world with freshly colored hair, but as color starts to fade, their confidence and mood drop. This cycle of emotional ups and downs can be described as a “hair color rollercoaster.”

Now Natural Instincts with new Week 2 Color Refresher has a solution to love. The Week 2 Color Refresher replenishes the tones your hair color loses first and can simply be applied two weeks after coloring to give hair a color boost.

The color boost is included in the traditional Natural Instincts demi-permanent as well as the new permanent Vibrant formula. Now you can get up to 8 weeks of vibrant, healthy-looking hair color from Natural Instincts. New Natural Instincts Vibrant is a 10-minute formula that delivers stunning color with 100% gray coverage.

What I think:  I have used Natural Instincts before and liked it, but because it is semi-permanent, the gray coverage never lasted long.  The vibrant color is permanent and so lasts a very long time. I also love the idea of the color boost.  I applied it after two weeks and my hair appeared brighter and my color looked fresher. Awesome!

Natural Instincts is available at mass market retailers near you. Enjoy!

Join Me in The John Frieda At Home Hair Colour Challenge!

John Frieda Precision Foam Colour

Hi All! I’m looking for five readers who want to join me in trying John Frieda’s hair colour. I will send you a box of hair color in the shade of your choice, and all I need is before and after photos to include on my blog.  Here are the details:

Recently John Frieda® launched their first-ever permanent hair colour –Precision Foam ($12.99 USD). Easy to apply, the non-aerosol foam formula spreads evenly through hair, saturating every strand completely—even the back of the head, roots and hairline. The 20-shade palette collection was developed in conjunction with the John Frieda® Creative Colour Director, and sought-after U.K. colourist, Nicola Clarke, who is responsible for some of the most iconic hair colours in Hollywood. With an array of options for blondes, brunettes and redheads, the collection brings a salon shade spectrum home.No mess, no drips,no stains—just gorgeous hair from every angle. The revolutionary colour even provides 100% grey coverage and vibrant shine with long-lasting results, offering salon precision at home.

HOW TO USE:Squeeze the center of the bottle to dispense foam into a gloved hand and apply directly to hair. Simply massage foam into hair with fingertips to thoroughly cover each strand from root to tip. The foam easily coats even the most hard-to-reach areas, including the back of the head. Let stand for 20 minutes (30 minute for grey coverage) and rinse with lukewarm water until water runs clear. Apply conditioner and leave in for 2-5 minutes before rinsing.

I can only accept readers from the United States and Canada.

Are you interested in trying it? If so, leave a comment or email me at lorena.emerson@gmail.com telling me if you want to color your hair to cover greys or change your color (I want a selection for the review).  Also let me know what shade you would like to try.  If I choose you, I would need you to color your hair within a week of receiving the product and I would like before and after photos that show your transformation that I can use on my blog. I would also like your thoughts on the process.   

Find your perfect (or super fun) shade at:  http://www.johnfrieda.com/en-US/homecolour/shade-selector/ 

So let me know if you wat to join me in this challenge!

TIGI Bed Head Style Shots Epic Volume Shampoo and Conditioner

Big hair is a hot trend this Spring. How to achieve the look? Start with adding volume with TIGI Bed Head Style Shots Epic Volume Shampoo & Conditioner.

For thick, voluptuous hair, start your styling in the shower. With volume boosting shots for gravity-defying root lift and incredible body, use Epic Volume Shampoo ($15.95 USD) and Conditioner ($16.95 USD), a new volume-enhancing product combination that primes your style while you wash. The super-charged, sulfate-free shampoo provides light to moderate cleansing and improves hair’s strength while preventing colour from fading, while the nourishing conditioner provides style memory while using a volume boosting shot to explode your style from root to tip.

I find that this delicious raspberry scented shampoo and conditioner not only volumize, but seem to thicken the hair all the way down to the roots.  As with all TIGI products, this is a luxurious experience and makes hair big, healthy and shiny! Add a little root volume spray and hair will be huge!

Available at www.tigihaircare.com and fine salons nationwide. Enjoy!

Protect Your Hair With JOICO K-PAK Color Therapy

JOICO’s K-PAK Color Therapy collection is a dual-benefit system that strengthens strands while doubling the life of color’s vibrancy.  The newest member of JOICO’s K-PAK “family,” well-known for deep-conditioning and hair reconstruction, K-PAK Color Therapy contains the revolutionary QuadraBond Peptide Complex.  This complex resurfaces and reconstructs hair to ensure that damaged strands maintain color intensity twice as long when compared to ordinary shampoo and conditioner.  At the same time, even the weakest, most fragile or structurally impaired hair feels softer, silkier and more manageable, and looks shinier and healthier.
 
The K-PAK Color Therapy Science
The QuadraBond Peptide Complex features four key elements that work together to help repair the outer surface and inner core of each strand.  As a result, hair is stronger, more “fit” and better able to repel the water that diminishes the intensity and vibrancy of haircolor.  These four elements provide essential protection to hair’s “B-Layer”—the hair’s first line of defense against damage—which is disrupted and compromised by environmental aggressors, styling and chemical services:

Quadramine PEP, the next generation of JOICO’s signature Quadramine conditioning complex, which contains peptides that attach themselves to damaged sites of hair to provide targeted, long-term repair.  Arginine, a consequential amino acid found naturally in the hair, which restores silkiness and shine.  Arginine works to strengthen the hair surface, equipping it to repel water, which in turn minimizes color loss/fading. AUnique Polymer System bonds to torn, lifted cuticles, thereby locking in color molecules and producing significant moisture and shine.
Ultra-hydratingAfrican Manketti Oil moisturizes and replenishes damaged hair, and provides lasting shine, vitality and softness to hair.
 
Thanks to this unique complex, K-PAK Color Therapy is poised to become the first choice for clients in search of a premium professional regimen that will protect and prolong their color “investments” and significantly improve the overall look and condition of their hair.
 
The unique, three-part K-PAK Color Therapy regimen is a complete color preservation and hair repair system:

K-PAK Color Therapy Shampoo ($13.95):  Gently cleanses while enhancing elasticity, strength, color vibrancy and shine.  The rich lather won’t disrupt the surface B-Layer, so color molecules are discouraged from escaping.
K-PAK Color Therapy Conditioner ($15.95):  This daily formula fortifies, reconstructs and strengthens as it protects color integrity.  It calms surface disruptions, and helps smooth, detangle and eliminate frizz.
K-PAK Color Restorative Styling Oil ($19.95):  This weightless formula is equally effective as a treatment and as a styling product.  Rich in an exotic blend of Manketti, Argan and Evening Primrose Oils, itseals and nourishes the hair cuticle, which discourages premature color fading.  As it helps regenerate hair, it also conditions hair for incredible softness and smoothness.  As a styling aid, it reduces styling and drying time and provides vibrant shine without weight or build-up.

What I think:  This is a pretty fantastic system. Using the shampoo and conditioner is a fab experience because they both make hair soft and easy to detangle when wet. I add a little of the styling oil when hair is damp, and once I dry it my hair is soft and sleek. The oil can also be used on dry hair to smooth. I have noticed that while using this my color is lasting and is very rich (my hair is dark).   
 
JOICO K-PAK Color Therapy is suitable for all hair types and is available at professional salons. Enjoy!

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Hair Care Products

My hair is certainly beginning to show its (my) age. It is thinner, dry and living in Kansas City has made it frizzy.  I love the idea of anti-aging hair care, because the needs of our hair change as we get older. Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Line was created to hydrate dry, brittle hair and help combat the signs of aging. Some of the products in the line are innovative and extremely helpful in making any hair look it’s best. My favorites are:

Caviar Anti-Aging 3-Minute Shine Boost ($25.00 USD) — A shine-enhancing hair treatment. Inspired by salon glazing services, this weekly shine treatment acts like a lip gloss for your hair giving it an instant blast of high-definition shine. For those with processed hair, this product instantly recharges faded color between salon visits and gives hair reflective brilliance while sealing the cuticle with a moisturizing layer.

What I think: This does give hair a nice shine, but you do have to use a lot to achieve this. To use, shampoo, condition and squeeze out excess water from you hair, then apply an ample amount of the cream. Leave on for 3-5 minutes and rinse out.  Style as usual and you should get a nice sheen to your hair. 

Alterna Caviar Perfect Blowout Creme ($25.00 USD)  is a hydrating styling creme that provides gentle control. It reduces frizz and minimizes static while providing you with the perfect blow dry experience. Alterna Caviar Perfect Blowout Creme provides a sleek, smooth blowout with radiant shine. It tames frizz to keep hair smooth, shiny and moisturized.
 
What I think: I applied this creme to my hair by rubbing a dollop in my hands to emulsify it, then I applied it through my hair with my fingers. I then did a complete blow out, by sectioning my hair and blow drying using a round brush to smooth the hair. It turned out well. My hair was shiny and smoothed. I used a little shine serum to finish the look off. Very pretty!  

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Overnight Hair Rescue ($35.00 USD) — A deeply penetrating overnight treatment for damaged hair that repairs while you sleep. This powerful treatment repairs and replenishes damaged hair, restores and reinforces hair strength, and prevents future breakage. It absorbs instantly and won’t leave greasy residue on pillows or sheets. The more you use it, the healthier your hair becomes.

What I think: This is a brilliant concept because you can sleep while treating your hair! I like that this is not greasy and doesn’t ruin pillows or sheets! In the morning, rinse it off and style as usual.  Your hair will be soft and healthy-looking!
 
Visit www.alternahaircare.com to learn more and to find a retailer near you. Enjoy!