Category: Hair Reviews

Live Clean Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo & Conditioner

Apple-Cider-Clarifying

Nothing warms you up in the winter like Apple Cider, so why not add it to your beauty routine too. If you’ve been following us for a while, you will know that we are huge fans of Live Clean. If I could recommend anything to beauty fans, it would be their hair care products.

Clarifying Shampoo is perfect this time of year. In the New Year everyone wants to detox their body, so why not detox your scalp as well. This Clarifying Shampoo helps to get rid of all of that residue leftover on your hair. It will leave your skin squeaky clean.

Make sure that you follow up with the conditioner though too. Clarifying shampoos in general strip your hair of all of the residue, so it’s important to put some of that moisture back into your hair. Live Clean’s Apple Cider condition is light, so it doesn’t add anything back into your hair that you don’t want.

Sebastian Winter Hair Essentials

With winter finally making an appearance in Toronto our hair has changed with the weather. It’s getting dried out, frizzier (who knew that was possible?) and harder to manage. Luckily we’ve rounded up some help with out Sebastian winter hair essentials.
Sebastian Drench Shampoo

Sebastian Drench Shampoo
Made for dry or frizzy hair, the Drench line adds moisture to hair while giving you body and keeping hair silky. The shampoo is pretty typical of a high end shampoo. It lathers really well and smells fantastic and doesn’t make my hair feel stripped at all. The first time I used it, I actually considered skipping conditioner but I figured that would probably be a bad idea.
Sebastian Drench Conditioner
Sebastian Drench Conditioner
This conditioner is a lot thicker than you’d expect. What comes out of the tube looks pretty normal for a conditioner but when you start spreading it through your hair, it’s actually more of a mask like consistency. Because it’s so thick, it’s hard to get out of the bottle. Luckily I need way less of it than I thought, so I don’t have to work quite as hard. This conditioner has definitely improved the moisture levels in my hair. I haven’t had any significantly bad hair days since I’ve started using it and I’ve noticed a lot less frizz.
Sebastian Potion 9
Sebastian Potion 9
Made of nine botanical extracts, this cream is pretty much the only only styling product you’ll need. It does everything from adding moisture, to eliminating frizz to prepping your hair for blow drying. It also doesn’t get crunchy and when I let my hair air dry (almost always), it feels like there’s nothing in it.

My hair has benefited so much since I’ve started using the combination of Drench and Potion 9. I have less frizz, my hair is silky and holds a style way longer. The downside is my hair feels greasy a little faster, but that’s what dry shampoo is for. If your hair is completely dried out because of winter, you need to give these products a try.

Holiday Most Wanted: Hair Care Gift Sets

Winter is hard on our hair but luckily with the holidays coming up, there are a ton of great hair care sets to get us looking great. These are our picks.
Orofluido Overnight Ritual Pack
Orofluido Overnight Beauty Ritual Pack
This pack contains Orofluido’s Shampoo, Original Elixir and a Hair Turban so you can treat your dried out hair while you sleep. Perfect for those of us who are too lazy to use a hair mask but need to do something with out dried out hair. Or you can consider it multi-tasking, hair treatment + sleep.
Drybar Texas Tease Travel Kit
Drybar TexasTease_1024x1024
If you’re going to be on the road a lot during the holiday season, this is a great kit to throw in your purse or carry-on. You get the Lil’ Lemon Drop brush, a mini Texas Tea volumizing hair spray and a mini Triple Sec 3-In-1 which acts as a dry shampoo, texturizer and gives you volume. Who says you have to have flat hair while you travel?
Kérastase Elixir Holiday Set
Kerastase Elixir Holiday Gift Set3
If you want a little luxury with your hair care, Kérastase’s Elixir line is a great place to start. The Elixir Holiday set includes Bain Elixir Ultime (shampoo), Masque Elixir Ultime (hair mask) and Elixir Crème Fine (oil cream) and you’ll end up with super soft, strengthened, shiny hair.
ColorProof Evolved Color Care Glam Squad
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If frizz is your issue, ColorProof’s Glam Squad comes with CrazySmooth Anti-Frizz shampoo and conditioner plus Wicked Good Weightless Shine Spray. Everything you need for smooth, shiny holiday hair.
SARAHPOTEMPA Beachwaver S1
SARAHPOTEMPA Beachwaver S1
If you’ve ever wanted Victoria’s Secret model beachy waves, this Beachwaver is what they use. All you have to do is push a button and you can customize your waves however you want. Plus if you pick this up at Ulta between Black Friday and Christmas you get a free gift that includes a SARAHPOTEMPA Chevron Bag, Selfie Guide and 2 Darby Clips.

Nioxin 30 Day Challenge + Giveaway

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A lot of us have hair that’s thinning or getting finer as we get older. Luckily Nioxin has been rebuilding hair for almost 30 years and has a number of systems for different needs to help us all get thicker looking, healthier hair. Whether you want to try and grow back hair that seems to be disappearing or just wanted thicker looking hair, Nioxin is a great place to start.

We’re taking the 30 Day Challenge to try and get some fullness back in our hair and we’re giving 5 lucky readers the chance to take on the challenge as well. All we ask is that you take some before and after photos and let us know how it went. So if you’re ready for brand new hair just in time for the new year, this is the challenge for you.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Trio

Parlor By Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Trio
Birchbox Canada has really been upping their game lately and we’re getting a little closer to what the American Birchbox subscribers get. Including the Birchbox exclusive brands like PARLOR by Jeff Chastain. The first PARLOR product I tried was the Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray that was in my June box and I’ve been hooked on the scent of the products ever since.
Parlor By Jeff Chastain Moisturizing & Repairing Shampoo
I’m the kind of person that appreciates when something smells good and will be more inclined to use it on a regular basis. PARLOR’s signature scent of ripe peach, cut grass and white woods might be the most addicting scent I’ve ever smelled in a hair product. Luckily, the products are just as great as they smell.
Parlor By Jeff Chastain Moisturizing & Repairing Conditioner
The Moisturizing Trio consists of the Moisturizing & Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner and the Detangling Leave-In Conditioner. The shampoo lathers really well and gets my hair really clean without stripping it (I usually only lather once) and the conditioner isn’t too thick but makes my hair feel really moisturized. I’ve also noticed a lot less frizz since I’ve been using this trio.
Parlor By Jeff Chastain Detangling Leave-In Conditioner
The Detangling Leave-In Conditioner is one my staple hair products. I used my Birchbox points to get this before the trio was sent to us and I use it constantly. On damp hair, it makes it easier for me to style without worrying about breakage and I’ve been known to use it on dry hair to reduce frizz. Either way it leaves my hair feeling like there’s nothing in it and it smells fantastic. Someone should really suggest a PARLOR hair fragrance spray but this is great in a pinch.

The combination of all three products leaves my hair feeling a lot more hydrated and with the dryness of winter coming up, I’m going to be reaching for these a lot.

PARLOR by Jeff Chastain products are only available through Birchbox and if you’re a subscriber you know that you can use your points. If you haven’t signed up yet, this line might be the incentive you need.

Irresistible Me Royal Remi Clip In Hair Extensions

Over the years I’ve noticed my hair getting a lot finer and while I had hair almost down to my waist when I was younger, it just doesn’t grow that long anymore. I’ve wanted to try hair extensions for a long time so when Irresistible Me offered us a chance to try theirs, I jumped on it.
Before Extensions
Alyssa Before Extensions - Front
The first thing I had to do was decide which type of extensions I wanted (I chose Royal Remi clip ins), which shade I was and the weight and length. My hair is somewhere between a red shade and a blonde and I had a really tough time trying to figure which shade to get. I ended up choosing the Royal Golden Blonde shade was was shocked when the package arrived because it’s basically the exact colour of my hair.
Before Extensions
Alyssa Before Extensions - Back
I also went with 140 grams (8 pieces) and 18 inches for my extensions. I wanted them longer than my own hair but not too long just in case the colour didn’t quite match up.
After Extensions

Alyssa After Extensions - Front
For the photos, I purposely didn’t straighten my hair so you could see the difference between my own hair and the extensions. So basically if they’re straighter, you’re looking at extensions. The quality of the extensions are pretty amazing, they’re really silky and taking it out of the package was a little strange because it felt like I was holding someone else’s ponytail.
After Extensions
Alyssa After Extensions - Back
Using the extensions was a breeze. I put them in while I was sitting on a couch and didn’t have a mirror in front of me. The instructional videos on the Irresistible Me website were extremely helpful but the girl in the video has way more hair than I do to begin with, so there’s probably no way I’d be able to use as many extensions as her.

There’s definitely a learning curve when it comes to using these clip in extensions but they’re so easy and match my hair so well that they’re pretty much the extensions of my dreams. I can’t wait to keep playing with them to see what looks I can come up with.

#ComeTogether With Garnier Color Styler Hair Dye

garnier color styler

Toronto has been Blue Jay crazy this fall with the Jays making to the post-season the first time in 22 years. As a softball player myself, it’s no surprise that I was caught up in the craze. So when the Garnier Color Styler hair dye in Bright Blue arrived at my door it was like a sign. I obviously had to show my pride!

I didn’t do it lightly though. I was mighty nervous. Sure, I had dyed my hair bold colours before, but that was in high school. I was much older and wiser now. So I read the instructions carefully and even watched a few videos to see how other’s had done their hair.

I finally stepped up to the plate and got ready. Garnier’s Color Styler dye is pretty simple. You just shake the bottle, pour the coloured dye on your hair and rub it into the sections that you want dyed. Your hair doesn’t have to be clean, but you shouldn’t have any oil based products in. The instructions say that oils help to remove the dye from your hair.

It’s easy to get on, just make sure that you go into this with a plan. If you are alone, once you start applying this hair dye it’s really hard to start fiddling with your hair or fixing things. This dye is really runny, so you need to work fast or else it will spill all over.

I chose to do one streak in the front of my hair and an ombré effect on my tips. Getting the ombré was a lot easier than I expected! The dye is pretty forgiving and it’s easy to apply more on the ends for a more saturated colour. In total, it probably only took me about 20 minutes from the time I opened the box to be done.

After, the instructions say to let it dry, then brush it out. Let it dry for as long as possible. It’s going to come out on your brush no matter what you do, so give it as much chance as possible. Then be prepared for some tangles.

This Garnier dye does have one serious downfall. It make your hair look extremely dry. Anywhere with the dye in it looked messy, dry and damaged. I know it’s because this is a clay dye that coats the hair, so it’s not your real smooth locks that you are seeing. It just didn’t look nice though. Because it comes out with product, I couldn’t apply any moisturizers or smoothers or even style it very much without it coming out.

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By the time I left the house that night to watch the game my hair looked amazing. It was only a few hours later, when the Blue Jays had me sweating by giving away some runs that I saw another downfall. Don’t use this dye if you are going to be active and hot. The blue had rubbed off on my shoulder and my neck while I was getting pumped for the game. I was all for showing my blue pride, but I didn’t want to look like a Smurf. It was easy to clean off my skin, but I ended up putting my hair in a bun to keep any future blue dye off of my face.

The next day, it mostly washed away in the shower as promised with just a hint of blue in my hair waiting for my next shower.

Overall, I was happy with my Garnier Color Styler hair. The colour looked amazing. It was saturated and so cool. Apparently blue hair really suits me. I just wish it didn’t run so much. If it was a bit stronger, I feel like I would have had a lot of fun with my locks trying different styles. Instead I was worried about blue hands. Either way, I want to give a huge shout out to Garnier for helping me come together to support out Toronto Blue Jays!

Drybar Blonde Ale Collection

It feels like my hair gets blonder on it’s own every summer and thanks to the balayage highlights I just got, my hair is pretty blonde. But every fall my hair gets a little dull and the brightness fades. Enter Drybar’s Blonde Ale collection. This purple shampoo and conditioner are supposed to keep your blonde bright and I got them just in time.
Blonde Ale Brightening Shampoo
Drybar Blonde Ale Brightening Shampoo
This shampoo is PURPLE. I know purple is good for blondes but this is so bright I was wondering what colour my hair would be when I got out of the shower. I’ve never used a shampoo where literally a drop is enough to get a good lather going. My hair doesn’t feel stripped after I wash (probably thanks to the keratin) and the ‘Sensual Woods’ fragrance smells pretty fantastic.
Blonde Ale Brightening Conditioner
Drybar Blonde Ale Brightening Conditioner
I usually expect conditioners to be pretty thick and this one really isn’t. But it gets my hair really moisturized which is so important to someone with any kind of colour in their hair. This purple wasn’t nearly quite as shocking and it has the same scent as the shampoo (Sensual Woods has notes of ginger, mint and sandalwood).
Blonde Ale Brightening Cream
Drybar Blonde Ale Brightening Cream
Blonde Ale Brightening Cream isn’t purple! But it’s a pearly white that really makes my hair silky and soft. It gets rid of the worst of the frizz but on really humid days I have to mix it with other products.

Considering Drybar just focuses on blowouts and styling (they’re finally opening a Canadian location!), I’m really impressed at how great this collection is. Does it make my hair brighter? Ask me in October when we don’t have sun all day.

L’Occitane Citrus Verbena Collection

L'Occitane Citrus Verbena
I adore the scent of citrus in the actual fruit but I always find it doesn’t quite smell the same when it’s in a fragrance, I always find they smell a little off and fake. L’Occitane’s new Citrus Verbena collection is the citrus scent I’ve been waiting for. It smells like lemons and grapefruits were mixed with verbena and just became the most delicious summer scent. There are ten products in the collection, everything from perfume, to hair products to deodorant, so you can literally soak in Citrus Verbena from head to toe. We received two products to try, the Fresh Body Milk and Fresh Shampoo.
Citrus Verbena Fresh Shampoo
L'Occitane Citrus Verbena Fresh Shampoo
The first time I used this shampoo was in the middle of a heatwave and it was just so refreshing and really made my head cool off. I don’t use a ton of shampoo to begin with, maybe an amount the size of a quarter but this one lathers so well I need even less. And while I didn’t have the matching conditioner, it left my hair feeling clean but almost hydrated enough that I was considering not using one at all. It also gave my hair a lot more shine than most products do.
Citrus Verbena Fresh Body Milk
L'Occitane Citrus Verbena Body Milk
I really can’t express how much I love the scent of the Citrus Verbena collection and it’s this body milk that originally sold me on it. The second I opened the bottle I knew I was going to be using this product a lot, regardless of how well it worked. Luckily it’s L’Occitane so the quality more than lived up to my expectations. The milk is extremely light and just melts into your skin without leaving you with that sticky feeling you can get from body milks and it really cools your skin down. My skin was hydrated and smelled amazing for hours after I applied it.

I knew from the first sniff that I was going to be buying other products from the collection.  I already bought two of them and I have a feeling there’s going to be more in my future. I didn’t already have a favourite scent from L’Occitane but I definitely have one now.

6 Beauty Essentials To Bring Camping

If you are heading out to celebrate the wilderness this summer, don’t forget to pack a few essentials to stay fresh and clean. While you don’t need to pack your hair drier, eyeliner or new lip gloss, there are a few beauty essentials that you will need.

Live Clean refreshing facial wipes

Live Clean Refreshing Wipes – You might not have a sink where you are going, but that doesn’t mean you should skip on washing your face. Especially since it’s going to be dirty out there in the great outdoors. Pack Live Clean Refreshing Wipes to clean your face before bed to wipe off any dirt or sweat from playing too hard during the day.

aveeno moisturizer

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion – The sun can really dry out your skin, so bring along this rich moisturizing full of oatmeal to keep your skin hydrated. It’s perfect to keep your skin soft for when you come home and will help if you stay at the beach all day.

dermalogica_protection_50_sport

Dermalogica Protection Sport – This moisturizer does everything you need for a day at the beach. It is water proof, sheer, non-greasy and is SPF 50. It’s your number one product for keeping your skin safe! Don’t forget to reapply though!

Fruit Of The Earth Aloe Vera Gel

Fruit Of The Earth Aloe Vera Gel – If you do happen to stay out in the sun for too long, this is the stuff that you want on your sunburn! It’s cooling on even the worst burns. It is a bit sticky, but that will be nothing compared to your burn. The rest of the year, you can also use it for acne, as a primer, in your hair to stop flyaways and so much more!

sally-hershberger-super-keratin-spray

Sally Hershberger Super Keratin Spray – With all of the elements, days in the sun and time in the water, your hair gets fried being out in the wild. Manage your hair with just one product with this spray. It’s like a leave-in conditioner that gives your deep moisture. It helps with frizz and makes your hair softer. You can spray it on wet or dry hair. Leave your tools at home girls and just bring this!

jack black shampoo conditioner

Jack Black Double Header Shampoo + Conditioner – One for the guys out there, this two-in-one product is great for cleaning your hair without having to pack a lot of products. It’s got coconut oil to help detangle and kelp for thickening. It’s like having a whole arsenal of products.