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Beauty Buys: Sedu Beach Beauty Sea Salt Spray and Anti-Frizz Treatment

Date: November 9, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 0

The beach days of 2011 may have finally come to a close, despite the fact that it’s been unseasonably warm in NYC the last couple of days, but that is no reason to give up your fabulous beach hair!

A few years ago, I had a great sea salt spray I loved that smelled like coconuts and worked wonderfully that suddenly disappeared from the shelves of my local CVS while the brand was redesigning the packaging. Lucky for me, Sedu Beach Beauty Sea Salt Spray found its way into my life this summer, and is just as good, if not better, than my previous favorite, and smells exactly like it! Sedu took its inspiration from the sea and the beach to create the spray that helps build volume and create random, undone texture to your hair. With light conditioning oils your hair will have that “fresh from the beach” look.

Sedu Beach Beauty Sea Salt Spray $9.99 at Folica

The next product I’m thankful has found its way into my life is the Sedu Anti-Frizz Polishing Treatment with Moroccan Argan Oil! For years I’ve been freely endorsing Moroccan Oil to anyone who asks what I use on my long, dry locks–but no more! Sedu Anti-Frizz Polishing Treatment with Moroccan Argan Oil has now become my number one hair product, helping cut down on frizz without weighing down my hair (and did I mention it smells amazing?). Just a few drops covers most of my hair (which, I have A LOT of–just ask anyone who’s met me) and keeps it frizz-free, shiny, and is going to be great for combating extra dryness all winter!

Sedu Anti-Frizz Polishing Treatment with Moroccan Argan Oil 1oz $16; 3.4oz $37 at Folica

Looking for something to stuff my stocking with this Christmas? I’m running low on both (hint: MOM!) and could use a refill

What are you favorite products to keep your summer hair in shape through the fall and winter?

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Concierge Hair: a profile of Vanessa Mitchell

Date: November 4, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 1

A few weeks back, I was contacted by freelance hair stylist Vanessa Mitchell, and as I often am, was offered a blowout or a haircut of my choosing…but there was a catch: Vanessa would come to do my hair where ever I wanted: my office, my apartment, a hotel…anywhere in NYC.

I’m such a skeptic about NYC haircuts: my first ended with me in tears, my second ended in a fight with the stylist because she was trying to convince me she needed to cut more hair off unless I wanted to pay $400 for a Brazilian Keratin treatment. I’m not an idiot, which she apparently thought I was…then the salon owner found out I was a blogger and asked me to write something nice. For the sake of not wanting to write anything mean or nice about my experience (which I paid for, by the way), I’ve left them off of this blog. My third, the hair was too short and my highlights were yellow. Anyways– I’ve traveled home to Massachusetts for all my other haircuts in my time living in NYC since I trust the stylists that have worked on my hair for the last fifteen years.

If you’re like me and watch too much TV, I immediately thought of the concierge doctors on Royal Pains, but I had never heard of a “concierge” hairdresser (although it doesn’t surprise me that they exist here in NYC). Even though I have the world’s most hectic schedule in the universe, Vanessa was able to squeeze me in at 8am on a Saturday before I had family coming to visit from out of town. She came right to my apartment and cut my hair in the convenience of my living room, while we watched E!’s Fashion Police. Perfect? I think so.

Not only was it comfortable and convenient to be in my own apartment for the haircut, but Vanessa did an amazing job! She found a problem that I was having on one side with my layers that had been bugging me for months and relayered it to fall more nicely, as well as dry much more quickly. I’m hoping I can afford her haircuts in the future, because I’d let her cut my hair again in a heartbeat! (Also, against me asking her to stop multiple times because I wanted to do it myself, she vacuumed up my living room floor when she was finished. Is that great service, or what?)

That's Vanessa!

So now you’re wondering, who is this mystery “concierge” hairdresser, right? Vanessa was born in New Zealand and started working as an assistant in a salon when she was just 13 because she knew she wanted to be a stylist! At 19, she had built up enough experience to achieve the level of senior stylist and decided it was time to further her career by moving to Sydney, Australia. It was in Sydney that she built up an impressive celebrity clientele including Brooke Shields, Tea Leoni, Heather Mills McCartney and Hayden Panettiere. After nine great years in Sydney, Vanessa decided to come halfway across the world to NYC, where she’s been working in fashion (styling hair, of course) and as a freelance “concierge” stylist. In addition to working on a ton of celebrities, Vanessa has collaborated with fashion designers such as BCBG, Carolina Herrera, and Zac Posen and done hair for Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, Bravo’s Top Chef and more! Here entire portfolio is available here.

Pretty amazing, no?

So now you want to know how you can get Vanessa on your doorstep to cut, style, or color your hair, right? It’s pretty easy, since Vanessa does it all–women’s haircuts, men’s haircuts, kids’ haircuts, updos, color, highlights, brides and more! You can send her an email at Vanessa.Mitchell@mac.com or call her at (917) 385-6205…and make sure you tell her Erika from Shoes, Shirts & Other Sh!t sent you!

Disclaimer: Even though this service was provided to me at no charge, I was under no obligation to write a review of it.

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Hair-Raising

Date: May 24, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 0

As you all know, my hair has been a work-in-progress since I badly damaged it back in February. Part of my “work” was trying not to heat-style it, and also not highlighting it, something that pained me, since I love my hair lighter. The last few times I went to get my hair done, I only got it colored, so that the roots were less obvious and cut, to try to cut out the crazy damage I’ve done.

Mid-last month, I found out that all of my stylists who knew my hair’s history had moved on to new salons, and even though one of them was still local in MA, I was going to be working on Saturdays and wouldn’t be able to get home to see her….which left me stranded, with my less-than-stellar salon selections here in the city.

So far, with the exception of my blogger visits to Maria Bonita (which I’ve loved), I’ve left every other hair salon in the city in tears, but Maria Bonita is hard for me to get to all the way downtown and I’ve never had a haircut there. After consulting with people I’ve been working with when I’m repping for Colette Malouf at Bendel’s, they all advised me that $120 haircut and blowout at Frederic Fekkai on the 4th floor of the store was the way to go. I was beginning to worry that my choices in the city for a haircut and blowout under $80 were bleak.

Last week, Lifebooker was offering a deal at a salon just minutes from my apartment (literally, I had to walk down the street) with a 5-star Lifebooker rating. I scooped up the deal at Davida Salon–which included partial highlights, a deep-conditioning treatment, a haircut and blowout–for get this: $69. I know…I thought it was a joke too; it’s less than what I pay in Massachusetts, forget NYC.

I was a bit skeptical when I walked into the salon this morning…I won’t lie to you. I had visions of my newly highlighted hair breaking off and my hair becoming a gigantic poof that I would have to cut into a Michelle Williams-esque pixie, that would look terrible with my bone structure..and going home to visit my family and friends to see the shock and awe on their faces next week. I could almost imagine my tears…or my hair being chopped horribly like the first time I got my haircut in the city last year by a stylist in Chelsea who incessantly bragged about himself the entire time.

Anyways, my stylist, Irina, who I was nervous wasn’t listening to me when I told her I liked my highlights really light and really ashy, but that she also had to be careful because my hair was damaged, apparently was listening. She also advised me to tact on a few extra highlights, rather than just the partial, so it would blend into my hair better since I had about 5 inches of roots/color going. I was upset at first because it was going to cost me more money, but when she told me it’d only be $30 more, I obliged. She applied the highlights and I sizzled underneath a dryer and waited. As I flipped through June’s Cosmo I could hardly focus on the articles, since I was so concerned that my hair was slowly disintegrating in between the foils.

After rinsing and shampooing, her assistant worked a toner through my hair, which she described as “not very ashy, but I think you’ll like it…if not, I’ll put on a new toner for you”. Okay…so now we’re not listening to me…hmmm. At this point, my hair could’ve fallen out and I wouldn’t have even known it…there was no mirror near the sinks, which made me nervous. The assistant set me up with Morrocan Oil Deep Conditioner, put me in a cap and set me under a dryer for nearly twenty minutes…at least if my hair was fried, this would help a little. I was rinsed again and brought the chair for my haircut…

When I finally saw myself in the mirror……

I still had hair. All of it…and it looked nice, the color was pretty and the highlights were even and I definitely needed the extra ones, or else I might’ve looked like a skunk when I pulled my hair back. Good thinking, Irina! Most of my tension dropped, but now for the haircut…the part that always scares me and can’t really be fixed the same day if it gets messed up…the part that always forces me to cry…

Let's try to ignore the fact that the only makeup I have on is mascara and focus on the fabulousness of my new hair!

Irina blew out the front before cutting my hair to make sure I liked the color–she was right; the highlights were less ashy, and looked like the sun had lightened it: perfect for summer! (Highlights like this always make me look tanner too…bonus!) Now I explained my cut….”1/4″ trim, bring up the layers and texturize it to make it lighter and thinner.” She nodded and went to work. The first cut she showed me was a 1/4 of an inch, but in the end, she cut about an inch. It hurt me to see my hair slightly shorter, but it was definitely necessary, since my ends are still super dry. Not as painful as I thought, though.

My test is always the blowout: if a stylist can’t blow dry my hair better than I can do it myself, then there’s no point in going back, I was a little skeptical about my puffy-looking, dry ends, but Irina smoothed them all out and told me “you look great, you should go out tonight!” (I am…to the Glee finale party, I told her, after my mini-concert with the ensemble I sing with at school.) She was excited. We exchanged some beauty tips about deep conditioning my hair and how I can DIY the heating portion at home without a dryer and about how she loved my mascara and needed to know what kind it was.

I paid and left happy! Davida did a great job and I think I may have finally found an NYC salon with reasonable prices that actually does an excellent job. I’ll be going back again soon!

Check out their website to learn more.

Davida Hair Design is located at 1711 2nd Avenue (between 88th and 89th). They’re open M-F 10am-8pm, Saturday 10-7pm and Sunday 11-6pm.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated or offered any free treatments to write this post. Even after disclosing that I was a beauty blogger, the salon staff did not ask me to write about my experience and I chose to write it solely on the basis that I’m a pleased customer!

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Meet & Greet: NuMe Professional Hair Styling Tools & Products

Date: May 6, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 0

NuMe may be new to the US, but they’ve been successful in Europe for awhile now! It’s no secret that products made and distributed in Europe are way better quality than anything you can buy here and NuMe’s products are no exception.

As the first company to pioneer 100% solid ceramic plates, NuMe’s inception began to support stylists and their needs. NuMe’s styling tools are actually engineered and manufactured based on stylists’ recommendations of what they wanted or needed to achieve the results they wanted for their clients. And if you’re worried about the quality, NuMe offers a 5 year on most of their straighteners with the option of extended lifetime warranty. NuMe’s wide range of products, from traditional flat irons, to travel versions, to fashionable options, different sized clipless curling irons, and ionic blow driers, make it easy for everyone to find what they’re looking for.

I had the opportunity to test out the fabulous 19mm curling wand, Intense Renewal Mask, Thermal Defense and Leave-in Conditioner, all of which I could rave about…except for when I burned my hand on the wand which gets really hot really fast…proof that I should read instructions: the wand comes with a glove to wear to prevent you from burning yourself. I’m a genius.

Anyways, I had never used a clipless curling wand before, so this was a super new experience for me. I sprayed on the Thermal Defense, which unlike many others I’ve used, wasn’t greasy and didn’t weigh my hair down and decided to go for me first clipless curling experience. The result: fabulous 1920′s-esque waves, ala Reese Witherspoon’s latest character Marlena in Water for Elephants. The next day, I created loose waves on my tired and frizzy hair…the wand eliminated the frizz I had developed throughout the day and gave me those “it doesn’t look like I tried to hard to make my hair look like this” perfect waves.

Then I tried out the Intense Renewal hair masque. I liked that the masque was thick and heavy because it felt like it was actually going to do something and it seemed to have: my hair was smoother and shinier all day.

The next day I went for the Leave-in Conditioner. I was a little apprehensive because my hair gets oily very easily and I almost never use leave-ins since my hair somehow always ends up looking like I just took a shower. Good news: while the product definitely weighed my hair down a little bit, it didn’t grease it up one bit! It definitely helped with the frizz factor and added shine.

So, moral of the story: I’m likin’ NuMe. I think you will like NuMe too if you give them a chance! They have a wide range of products and styling tools available on their website, as well as professional styling tips, how-to videos and so much more!

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Drugstore Deals: Zotos Diamond Shine Products

Date: April 6, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 0

As you may or may not know, I’ve had quite the trials and tribulations with my hair the past few months after using a very nasty product you should not ever use. I found a miracle product in this a few weeks after I killed my hair, but almost 3 months later, my hair was just not the same until the last couple weeks…

When I was in Massachusetts visiting my parents a few weekends ago, I wandered into my local Sally Beauty Supply store to get my usual tub of L’oreal Professional deep conditioner. As I grabbed the conditioner off the shelf, some bright blue bottles called “Diamond Shine” caught my eye. Even though my hair was in much better shape, it was still lacking its old luster and shine. I first read the Diamond Shine Rinse-Out Glaze bottle, while promised my lackluster locks 2x the shine they deserved. I was so convinced by the glaze that I grabbed the gigantic bottles of moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that went along with it. (I do firmly believe that using an entire product line together works better than when you separate them).

The products were everything I needed: They promised shine, moisture, strength, they were formulated with UV protectants, and they were color-safe, so they’re weren’t going to wreck my recent dye-job. Plus, the bottles are practically Tiffany blue and they have diamonds all over them (not real ones obviously)…but I was hooked into buying them.

So far, the glaze is definitely my favorite product and I use it every day, following the conditioner. The one day I didn’t use it, my hair was still shiny, but as much as when I use the glaze. It’s also worth noting (and I just found out when I visited Zotos’s website) that the glaze was a 2010 CEW Award Insider’s Choice Beauty Finalist. The product contains actual diamond micro-particles plus keratin and panthenol. These highly reflective ingredients help create a mirror-like surface on the hair, providing substantial and long-lasting super high gloss shine.

Clearly my purchase was the best $25 I ever spent (I bought salon-sized bottles) because I’m now addicted to this line and it’s super affordable! My hair isn’t dry anymore and looks just as shiny and smooth as it did before I damaged it.

I’m so obsessed, that I want to get the hairspray, gloss drops, and the mousse from the line…but since we don’t have Sally Beauty in NYC (what’s up with that, by the way?), I’m going to have to either order it online or wait until the next time I head to MA to buy it.

The full line, which also includes volumizing shampoo and conditioner (which since the moisturizing worked so well, I’m willing to bet also works, but my hair is very voluminous allllllll on its own, so I have tried) as well as color-protecting shampoo and conditioner, the mousse, gloss drops, and hairspray, is available here. The glaze is a mere $7.29, which happens to only cost slightly more than my morning latte here in NYC (and is even less expensive if you have a Sally card) and the regular-sized bottles all cost under $10.

The products are also available on many other salon-supply websites, as well as one in the UK for my international readers looking to get their hands on these products!

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Kicking off the Week

Date: February 10, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 0

Channeling some old Hollywood Glamour (I hope) at the Shopbop Booth Style Blogger Contest at IFB

Yes, it is Thursday, in fact, it’s almost Friday now, but really my week has just begun.

With the kickoff of New York Fashion Week today, you can expect all the great coverage from the runways and backstage in the days to come. I hope.

Last season I got so bogged down because I was always tired, so I’m going to try to make the effort to write up everything within 24 hours or less of seeing the shows/being backstage–no matter how tired I am.

Today, I’m on a little bit of blogger overload after my seconding blogging conference of the week, the IFB conference. I met so many great people (and a few amazing bloggers that will most likely be added to my blogroll soon!) It was a lot of great information, as the Lucky FABB conference was…but it was a lot. I need a few days to process everything and then I’m going to post some of the best tips that I learned, and ways that I’m going to try to be a better blogger for both me and for you.

Additionally, I wanted to share the news that my Limited-Edition Spring 2011 Collection Ferragamo W bag will be arriving from Italy sometime mid-March. I’m so incredibly excited! I wanted to thank everyone again for all of your support helping me win the bag—you’re the best!

A picture I twitpic-ed backstage at Vena Cava f/w 2011

Today, I hit my first two backstages–quick, but fun–Vena Cava and Wayne. Though the looks were completely opposite, Vena Cava inspired by Christy Turlington mashed with 90′s grunge, and Wayne inspired by the Victorian-era, I was equally obsessed with both makeup and hair looks (and I spied the CND nails at Wayne too…totally gorgeous). I’m looking forward to posting full coverage on both The Makeup Girl as well as here, for the beauty and the fashion aspects of the shows.

I also thought it’d be fun to share that I got my first-ever fashion week wound, as my heel became caught in a sidewalk pot-hole and I fell to the ground, scraping my knee. Thankfully I had a few friends to help me up, but it hurts like hell and was totally embarrassing!

Phewwww. Okay, that’s my quick runway report for Thursday, but expect much, much more tomorrow after I get some sleep!

xoxo, Erika

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Drugstore Deals: Phyto Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm

Date: February 6, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 2

I’m not sure if this is the best “deal” I’ve necessarily ever featured before, but as far as I’m considered, it’s the best deal I’ve ever gotten (and really, is well-worth the few extra bucks).

My great friends at Phyto surprised me with some goodies when I got back to the NYC office. I’m a huge fan of Phyto, in that their products actually do what they say they do and are free of Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petrochemicals and Phthalates. Pretty great, right?

So anyways, you may have read about my hair disaster last week, and if you haven’t, I highly recommend you do before you have the same awful experience. Up until this point, I’ve tried every deep conditioner and hydrating product that normally does the trick for me, but nothing has been helping, until I cracked open my Phyto goodies.

After washing and conditioning my hair, just a quarter-sized drop of Phyto Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm covers all of my hair (which is moderately thick and past my shoulders). I’ve been trying to avoid heat-styling, for fear of worsening my already horribly damaged hair, so even though this balm is made for blowouts, I’ve been letting my hair air-dry.

To my great surprise, (I say this because literally, nothing has worked so far, so even though I have great faith in Phyto, I wasn’t even sure this was going to work) my hair is extremely relaxed, has no frizz and feels soft and manageable. Unbelievable. Thank heavens for Phyto…it was as if you’d known when I got back to NYC that I’d need your help.

The product claims that hair becomes more relaxed with cumulative usage, and I wouldn’t disagree…I’ve been using it for about 4 days and have used a little less of the product each day, to achieve the same effect. Some of the active ingredients include plant mucilage to moisturize, ferula, horseradish, and sage to smooth and straighten the hair fiber and chamomile to soften.

The Phyto Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm comes in three sizes, $12 for 1.6 fl oz., $26 for 3.3 fl oz., and $32 for 5 fl oz. It’s available at many CVS Pharmacy stores, drugstore.com, and Sephora stores.

Disclaimer: Although this product was provided to me at no cost, I was under no obligation to write this review, and representatives for Phyto were at no point aware that I was looking for a product to correct my damaged hair.

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Best & Worst: Fashion at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

Date: February 1, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 0

The SAG Awards had a much better crop of fashion than the Golden Globes, as far as I’m concerned. See my picks for best, worst and who wore what!

Best:

Lea Michele arriving at 17th Annual SAG Awards

A far cry from her over-decorated, too-much-to-handle bubblegum-pink mess at the Golden Globes, Lea Michele wore Oscar de la Renta again to the SAG awards. She looked glam and glowing, and belts were a clear trend on the SAG red carpet, something to be aware of this spring!

Eva Longoria headed to the cocktail reception during the 17th Annual SAG Awards

Eva Longoria lightened up (she wore black to the Golden Globes, and looked stunning then as well) in an off-white plunging neckline dress by Georges Hobeika to present with

The very unglamous seams on Longoria's flesh-colored mesh!

Lea Michele’s Glee co-star Cory Monteith. Another trend to be aware of: plunging necklines…and apparently off-white! Longoria’s one faux-pas was posing with her hands on her hips (see left) where you could spot the strange seams on the flesh-covered mesh keeping her dress on.

Mila Kunis arriving at the 17th Annual SAG Awards

Mila Kunis must’ve gotten a tip-off from her stylist that Angelina Jolie wasn’t wearing red to the SAG awards (she didn’t even show up) and she made an excellent choice by wearing it. Her stunning Alexander McQueen dress was also belted and had a glamorous but bohemian tie-dye effect.

Kim Kardashian arriving at the 17th Annual SAG awards

First and foremost–since when is Kim Kardashian a member of SAG? Is she an actress now? Ahhh, so Keeping Up With The Kardashians is scripted. Gotcha. Anyways, as much as I can’t stand her faux-actor persona (hello, did you see her crying over her nakie W photoshoot on KUWTK the other night? Such fake crocodile tears! She loves being naked.) I love Kimmie K and her Marchesa dress was absolutely stunning.

Hilary Swank arriving at the 17th Annual SAG Awards

Stunning once again was Hilary Swank, who somehow always seems to impress me. She always looks classy, fresh and gorgeous and the SAG awards were no exception. Swank donned a one-shoulder, champagne-colored Versace gown with embellishment and gorgeous draping. Her whole look was super glamorous, as usual. Find out how to recreate Swank’s gorgeous SAG hair here!

Angie Harmon arriving at the 17th Annual SAG Awards

My favorite, favorite, favorite dress of the night goes to the stunning Angie Harmon! Here stunning Monique Lhuillier gown takes the cake and she had an insanely gorgeous glow to match. Find out how to achieve the Harmon’s glow here!

Worst:

Natalie Portman arriving...wrinkled...to the 17th Annual SAG Awards

I hate to do this to the poor, preggo, SAG award-winner Natalie Portman for a second time, but her award show maternity-look flopped once again. I’m more than disappointed with someone who is usually one of my favorite fashion stars, even though this Azzaro dress had a leg up on the Viktor & Rolf pink satin sheet with over-sized Valentine’s Day brooch that she wore to the Golden Globes. Poor girl didn’t even get to red carpet without getting all wrinkled in this number…and I can’t imagine this dress was comfortable. Please Nat, I beg of you…have this baby soon, because it’s ruining your fashion sense!

Christina Hendricks arriving at the 17th Annual SAG Awards

Oh, Christina Hendricks…where do I begin? Usually one of my favorites, Hendricks disappointed me with her overly “goth” look in this L’Wren Scott glittery, lacy mess. Hendricks did sport the low neckline trend, so I’ll give her that much (except for that she’s always showing off her girls, so it doesn’t actually count) but the whole look made her appear ghostly, and her heavy makeup was too much for this dark mess of a dress.

Cara Buono arriving at the 17th Annual SAG Awards

It wasn’t the night for the ladies of Mad Men. Cara’s dress would’ve been fine by me if the intricate pleating had continued, but it looks like J.Mendel gave up at the hips. The ugly rosette-style fashion-vomit ruined this perfectly fine dress, because the bottom of the dress is just fine too.

Melissa Leo arriving at the 17th Annual SAG awards

There is nothing even remotely nice that I can say about Melissa Leo’s unfortunate dress choice. She looked more like an Oscar than a

Melissa Leo fist-pumping..err..something... her SAG award in the press room

SAG-award winner in this extremely unflattering, and cheap-looking Randi Rahm dress. Not your best choice, Melissa…and next time you win an award…try to avoid the Hulk/Jersey Shore fist-pumping action in the press room with your award…even less flattering.

Winona Ryder arriving at the 17th Annual SAG awards

Winona Ryder wore a wedding dress to the SAG awards. Well, I mean, what else is there to say about this Alberta Ferretti frock? I’d wear it to my wedding, sans the ugly black bag she strangely decided to carry…she looks like she just left her guy at the alter. Poor dude.

Jane Lynch arriving at the 17th Annual SAG Awards

Jane Lynch: I seriously love you as Sue Sylvester on Glee and I love your hilarious commercial on TV for…I think DirectTV, I don’t really know… and I loved your Golden Globes speech…but why are you dressed like Cinderella going to the prom in 1975? Can you help me out on this one? I’m so confused. A signature Sue Sylvester-style tracksuit would’ve been better than this disaster, not to mention someone seriously needed to take a steamer to the bottom of that thing…

January Jones arriving at the 17th Annual SAG Awards

Let’s round out the worst dressed picks with another sad, sad choice by part of January Jones. The girl’s freaking gorgeous and she just keeps disappointing me. The Versace shredded mess at the Golden Globes, now this Carolina Herrera tablecloth for the SAG awards, not to mention the insane cowlick happening in her hair. January please…a better choice for the Oscars.

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Best Not-to-Buy: Garnier Fructis Blow-Dry Perfector

Date: February 1, 2011 • By Erika • Comments 6

Put away your wallet. If you thought for $10-15 (depending on where you live/tax/what store you buy it from) that you could have perfectly lovely, manageable, smooth and frizz-free hair for 7 shampoos, as Garnier claims you can… you and they are wrong. Nope…not just wrong: delusional. (I can say that, because I used it)

It’s not often that I write a product review about something I don’t like, so this might be the first time you see something like this on here, but to be completely honest: I am pissed off. Why? Because my hair is basically ruined. Usually, I would contact the brand rep that provided me with their product, and tell them why I didn’t like and am not writing about it on my website, which provides positive reviews to its readers…..but I bought this one all on my own, based on reviews from supposedly “unbiased” magazines. Clearly none of the employees at the top beauty magazines took this product home and tried it.

So here I go: Where do I start?
Okay, it cost me exactly $10.79 at Target to ruin my perfectly fine hair. My hair did not technically need a product like this, but I thought: “hey, it’s winter, who doesn’t want their hair less frizzy for a few days?”

I should’ve stopped when I read all the warnings on the box, “do not use if your hair is damaged” (well, it didn’t used to be until after I used this product), “do not use after coloring your hair for 14 days” (I waited 15 days), don’t do this and don’t do that, or that, or the next thing.

Fine. So I put the serum on my head. My second warning: I should’ve immediately rinsed it out after the putrid smell that it emitted, but the product warned, “this product will have an unpleasant odor”. Okay, so I kept it on my hair. What’s an unpleasant chemically smell going to do?

Shame on you, you fooled me once Garnier. You fooled me twice, shame on me…the third time I was fooled..I don’t know who to blame…but I should’ve ended this process while combing it through my hair (as directed) and clumps of my hair were falling out of my head, but I figured, “it’s a chemical, just like when I get my hair dyed/highlighted, some of my hair falls out.”

So I left it on for all 20 minutes that the box said were necessary, while my entire house began to stink like the serum. (Which smells as bad as a perm, FYI)

After 20 minutes, I hopped in the shower and rinsed it as directed. I touched my hair and it felt surprisingly super-smooth. Whoo-hoo!

I jumped out of the shower, excited to blow-dry my newly-smooth-for-7-washes hair. I put the heat-activated smoothing product (the second step) and start blow-drying with my round brush like I normally would….
And then…the frizz, the split ends, damaged-looking disgustingness. What in the hell just happened? This isn’t my first experience ruining my hair however (occupational hazard of being a beauty junkie) so I managed to not cry. But four days later, with several deep-conditioning treatments, sleeping with half a bottle of Biosilk (Biosilk usually solves every problem I’ve ever had) on my head and using the new Nexxus Pro-Mend products to attempt to fix the frizz, nothing appears to be working. (And I don’t think it’s the Biosilk or the Nexxus Pro-Mend).

I’m also super-psyched that when I go to get my hair re-highlighted in a few weeks, my stylist is going to scream at me, and probably refuse to touch my hair. It’s still breaking off every time I brush/touch/wash/add product to it. Just freaking fabulous.
Way to go, Garnier.

Moral of the story: Save your money, save yourself a literal headache and get a keratin treatment or a Brazilian Blowout.
Think I’m the only person who experienced this problem? Think again.

Makeup Alley readers also say the product damaged their hair!

Crissa of Craving Chocolate & Lazy Days had the same experience as I did!

Falsie-Love isn’t a fan either, but it sounds like I may need some Pantene!

STAY AWAY FROM GARNIER FRUCTIS BLOW-DRY PERFECTOR!

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