Living Proof Full Root Lifting Spray: Get Back to the Lab, And See What's on the Slab

Dixie

Countless ladies with hair on their head, be it curly or straight, want to achieve the perfect balance of healthy, full hair. Some of us may not wish to or even have the time to spend doing our hair, so it remains a wish released into the mirror. Others, like me, try in vain every miracle product they come across in the hopes that it will provide enough volume to avoid sad limp hair, but not so much volume that Kelly LeBrock travels forward in time to hand us a brush and tell us to tone down the mane already. So it was with the Living Proof Full Root Lifting Spray, all I wanted was some volume at my roots.

DevaCare Low-Poo May Ruin All Other Shampoos for You

Tamatha

I unquestionably trust my hair stylist.  I rely on her to pick cuts that work with my hair type (especially since I do zero styling--I don't even own a hair dryer) and to choose hair colors that will be flattering to my coloring.  So if she advises that I try a product, I follow her advice.  She has yet to steer me wrong.

I spend good money on my cut and color.  But not only do I go eight weeks between colorings (and hair cuts, for that matter), my hair color of choice is red.  For those of you who do or have dyed your hair red, you know this means the color fades quickly.  Annoyingly so.  Given the "investment" I put in my hair color and the length of time between colorings, I am definitely not going to risk having the color fade any faster than it already does.  So, from the time I gave up my boxes of henna to have my hair professionally colored, I have relied on Rachel's advice for what I should use to wash and condition it.

Several years ago, the salon where she works started selling a sulfate-free shampoo, DevaCare Low-Poo, and she recommended I try it.  I'd heard of sulfate-free shampoos, and the rationale behind them made sense to me, so I was happy to give the shampoo a whirl.  I've pretty much never looked back.

Birchbox Treats: Ojon Damage Reverse (TM) Restorative Conditioner

Nora

This creamy, light conditioner, Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner, was in my very first Birchbox order, but, like the fool I am, I didn't use it until a month or so after I received it. I was a little put off by the "damage reverse" part of the name. See, I'm an odd combination of proud and lazy. I use very little product, if ever, and I really only blow dry my hair once a month. So my initial reaction to Ojon was "How DARE you insinuate I need your damage reverse technology!", followed by a glove slap across the neck of the bottle. After some time, though, I was able to admit that I've been growing my hair out for the better part of a year, and my ends are gross and prone to dryness. Instead of getting a haircut, I opted to try out this nifty little conditioner.

Terressentials Pure Earth Hair Wash: Thanks, Mike Rowe!

Dixie

As I mentioned in my review of the Terresentials Organic Flower Therapy Detoxifying Facial Cleanser, I first learned of Terressentials on the Animal Barber episode of Dirty Jobs. Mike Rowe visited the Terressentials production plant to learn something very dirty indeed - how to make shampoo from mud. At the time the episode aired, I was just starting my transition from straightened hair to natural hair and dealing with a dermatitis reaction to coconut products (which went away when I became pregnant with my daughter THANK GOD), so I was all over a different kind of shampoo like white on rice.

More like Herbal Mehssences: Herbal Essence's "Body Envy" Shampoo

Figgy

You might remember how much I love my Herbal Essences "Hello, Hydration!" shampoo. My ridiculously fine, oily hair loves the stuff. The smell is amazing and never fails to wake me up in the morning. But...

You might also remember how I have the attention span of a gnat, and how  every now and then I get the urge to try something new, even though the old works perfectly fine. Fixin' what ain't broke, that's me.

So while perusing the shampoo aisle at the Walmart (while my husband grumbled on about how there's five million shampoos for women and like, three for me)  I was drawn to the pretty orange bottle of Herbal Essence's Body Envy shampoo.Well, it wasn't just the bottle. It also smelled really good. I have a theory that Herbal Essences drops in some mythical potions  and shit into their shampoos, because they all smell freakin' amazing.

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Control Shampoo: Shea What?

Dixie

A good hair cleanser is the foundation of a good hair day. The curly-haired gal or guy needs a shampoo that not only gently cleanses the hair of oil, dirt, and hair product but they will need one suited to their hair type. I'm a big fan of the Shea Moisture brand, so when I saw a gift set with the Coconut & Hibiscus products on clearance at Target earlier this year, I snatched it up.

Before going any further, I must stress the importance of knowing your hair type before trying a new hair product. If you don't know off the top of your head what the porosity, texture, elasticity, and density of your hair strands are, go right now to Live Curly Live Free or Naturally Curly, read, and come back. Got it? Hokay.

EverStyle Curl Activating Mousse: More Like NeverStyle

MelBivDevoe

I tend to stick to the John Frieda line of curl products.  They've served me well over the years.  But the last time I went to pick up some curl activating mousse, I strayed from my usual stuff to try L'Oreal's EverStyle version instead.  Why?  For the simplest of reasons: I had a coupon.  And, sure, it sounded good.  It promised to give me full, bouncy curls without frizz and without the nasty stickiness that so many hair products produce.

When, when, WHEN will I learn that cheaper isn't always better?  That sometimes paying for better quality is worth it?

 I guess I'm just slow sometimes.

Curl Up and Dye: L'Oreal's Excellence Creme

Rusty

After a several months long break from dying my hair, I decided to give it a shot again because I had some stuff coming up for which having distinctly two tone hair seemed like a poor choice. (Although that’s sort of “in” now, isn’t it? Well, whatever.) I decided to try a new hair dye this time around and so instead of the Feria dye that I’d been using, I picked up L’Oreal’s Excellence Creme in 8RB.

The first thing I noticed as I was reading through the instructions was that the box included some things I’d never seen before in my years of home hair dying; a comb tip for the dye bottle and a pre-treatment for dry or damaged hair that you were supposed to apply to your hair before you put the dye on. I put the pre-treatment on the ends of my hair, which are prone to dryness and set about mixing up the dye. 

One-Two Punch: Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo and Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask

Vee

I'm constantly on the lookout for products that leave my hair shiny and clean without breaking the bank. My hair was feeling a little dull and oily so I picked up a bottle of Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo. Walgreens had a special on Neutrogena products so I grabbed a jar of the Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask as well since I know deep cleaning products can be drying.

Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy: ...

Pinky McLadybits

Full disclosure: I was selected by Influenster to receive a Summer Voxbox filled with products to review. I will be reviewing them whether I find them awesome or terrible.

You know how easy it is to write or explain your dislike or extreme enjoyment of something? You can wax poetic all day long on the disappointment or sheer giddiness provided by that experience/person/product/etc.?

It is infinitely more difficult to properly review something that is neither amazing nor terrible. Clear Scalp & Hair Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner is just that: hard to describe because of its inherent okayness.

Pure Joy: L'Oreal EverPure Moisture Conditioner

MelBivDevoe

Now that I'm back in the habit of coloring my hair regularly, it's important to me to find products that not only prevent the color from washing out quickly but also restore moisture to my hair.  I love coloring my hair, just like I love straightening it when I want, and in order to continue doing these things I need to make sure my hair is healthy and not a dry, brittle mess. 

So it's no surprise that when I saw L'Oreal's EverPure Moisture Conditioner, I grabbed a bottle.  The packaging proclaims the conditioner is part of the company's sulfate-free color care system.  I knew that sulfates can strip your hair of its natural oils, but apparently they can also strip your hair color, so EverPure seemed like a great choice. 

Splat Washables Hair Color: No Commitment, No Problem

Pinky McLadybits

Pinky Jr. decided that she wanted purple and pink hair. Being 7 years old, I wasn't about to bleach her hair and then apply the colors that she wanted, which took care of a few options. Also, her hair is red like mine, which means it can be difficult to get a big color change to show up.

Or at least, that was the problem when I wanted purple hair. Since I was already at an appointment with my stylist at Ulta, I asked her what she recommended. She told me that there were washable pens, but they didn't carry them. But CVS had Splat Washables haircolor in purple, pink, blue, and dark red. Since they were $6.84 a box and I wasn't sure if they would work, Pinky Jr. had to choose and she went with purple.

Organix Smoothing Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner

Pinky McLadybits

After my latest acquisition of natural hair care products that left my head greasier than a teenager's face after being dipped in a vat of olive oil and french fry drippings, I was on the prowl for something new. Organix is something that other people have praised, but the size of the bottle and the price kept me away.

I am an idiot. Please forgive me, Organix Smoothing Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner! I didn't know! I didn't know!

Mop Basil Mint Clean Shampoo: Clean Like A Grease Trap!

Pinky McLadybits

I was having A Day. I decided to walk around the mall, Target, and then hit up Ulta. While wandering aimlessly around Ulta and reminding myself that I didn't really need that China Glaze collection based on The Hunger games (I actually really need them), I remembered that I needed shampoo and conditioner.

I was set to buy some Organix when I stumbled across one of the clearance bins. You know I'm a sucker for clearance. I snagged a Mop Basil Mint Clean Shampoo and Mop C-System Hydrating Conditioner. They were only $4 and some change each and they boast organic ingredients and don't test on animals. So I bought them.

Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo Spray: Lazy Girl's Best Friend!

Pinky McLadybits

Is there a law that says dry shampoo sprays have to smell like concentrated ass? Is there a reason they all smell like they're seeking out brain cells to terrorize? If I knew anyone that huffed, I would expect them to steal the tiny can of Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo, attempt to huff it, and become immediately catatonic because it smells so very, very bad. 

So there's that. Which is not good.

I scored the tiny, 1.4 ounce can with rewards points from Ulta. As you know, my foray into the inexpensive dry shampoo, Salon Grafix, did not go well. It stunk too and, even worse, didn't work. So I used my reward to get this little can.

So You Want To Be A Redhead

Rusty