All Hail Davines · Part I

Davines OI Shampoo ($12-26) and Conditioner ($14-32)

Like skincare, haircare is something that is incredibly important to me. I was born with the curliest of ringlet curls — ones that are naturally dry, prone to breakage, and now color treated. I went a bit lighter. My bad. I had been using the same few products for a good year now (Moroccan Oil, Alterna, etc) and really felt the need to use something different.

Into the Gloss published this little baby not too far back and I was immediately intrigued. No I don't have the same hair concerns as the author but when someone claims that a sulfate-free haircare line basically changed their life, I listen. I did quite a bit of research on the line, waited to make sure it all felt right and made the purchase.

So yep. That happened.

Davines OI shampoo and conditioner are a complete godsend. They've changed my hair for the better and I can't say enough good things. You don't need to use much shampoo at all and it never feels like it's drying your hair out. If anything my hair feels more moisturized after shampooing which is kind of a weird sensation. The conditioner is incredibly thick and I usually use it in one of two ways:

1. I use a very small amount and condition normally (aka apply mid-shaft to ends and let sit for 2-3 minutes)
2. I grab a scoopful with my hand, apply, and let sit on my hair for a good 10 minutes before rinsing

The first way is great for an every day condition, especially on dry, damaged hair. It doesn't seem to weigh down my hair and the shine/texture I'm left with after styling is beautiful. The latter is amazing for a super rich deep condition which is something I find I need once a week or so. I love that one product can also be multi-use!

Obviously I'm way too excited about shampoo and conditioner but when you have hair that never seems to want to be tamed, you can't help but rejoice over lack of frizz and smooth smooth hair.

P.S. This line is sulfate and paraben free.

What are your favorite Davines products?!

Carol's Daughter Monoi Oil Sacred Strengthening Serum

Carol's Daughter Monoi Oil Sacred Strengthening Serum / $30

Sometimes there are products that you really don't like at first (and I mean really). Then you use them, and you use them some more, and you start to notice a difference. In fact it's a great difference and you end up enjoying the product you previously didn't really like... and the rest is history.

There are a few different ways you can go about using this stuff and all of them are A++++ would do again. More times than not, I apply a pump to my palms, rub 'em good and either smooth through my just-blowdried straight hair, or kind of scrunch/kind of smooth into freshly curled hair. This gives me a ton of shine plus the added bonus of a little nourishment thanks all of the yummy oils in there. It most definitely helps to reduce any type of frizz and fly-aways and be sure that any product that can help in those departments is a lover in my book.

For naturally curly hair, however, I'll apply to towel dried hair and my locks air dry. What happens when I do this? Frizz free, shiny shiny, bouncy, lightweight curls. This is one of the only products that actually makes me want to leave my hair in it's natural (lioness) state. Go figure.

It can definitely make you a little greasy if you use too much but what oil/serum doesn't do that? Once you get the hang of it though, it's such an awesome product for all of the reasons I said above (how many times can I say "frizz" in a blog post?). A little goes a long way with this serum meaning that pretty glass bottle will last you a very very long time.

Have you tried this before? What are your favorite Carol's Daughter products?

My (short) time with WEN

A little less than a month ago I purchased a WEN starter kit and talked about how I was excited to see if there were any changes in my hair (link to that post). Spoiler alert: there were. It wasn't much different to what I expected, but I'll talk about the things I liked/disliked/and found now.

Surprisingly the Sweet Almond Mint Replenishing Treatment Mist and Re Moist Intensive Hair Treatment were the things I enjoyed most. I mentioned the first in my favorites and will be repurchasing STAT seeing as I've already run out. It helps keep frizz away and adds just the right amount of moisture to my hair when it's feeling a bit dry. I love spraying this all over before blowdrying for just an added touch of help, I guess you could say. The latter was something I didn't really have high hopes for. That said, it's the kind of treatment you notice right when you wash it out — your hair feels silkier and smoother almost instantly. It also feels more hydrated which is always nice if you have naturally drier hair. I'm not positive if I'll repurchase as I still have lots of LUSH hair masks left to use but it's definitely something I'll be keeping on my radar.

Now onto the big one — the cleansing conditioner itself. I really loved using this. The way it makes your hair feel as you're massaging it in is incredibly nice buuuut of course it had to have it's downfall(s).

Firstly, about a week ago it stopped pumping out (because I basically used it all) so I had to take the pump out and dump it into my palms to get the last remnants out. It's not surprising considering how much (and how often) I used this; 7+ pumps almost every day. It's much less excessive than the 10-15 the instructions tell you to use, but it still seemed like so much product. Hydration wise I sometimes felt like it wasn't conditioned enough which seems funny since it's a cleaning conditioner.  Did I mention I was using this basically every day? This is coming from a curly haired girl who likes to keep washes to every 2-3 days. My hair seemed to get oily way faster which was not what I was used to at all. I don't actually have time to meticulously wash my hair daily and plus I hate styling it that much. Maybe this is due to lack of crap in the ingredients which is great and a bummer all at the same time.

But the good? My hair felt different. When I blow-dried it, it had some great body and volume. It was basically weightless. But what's great volume if you're going to end up oily faster? Not to mention how fast I went through a bottle.

When I went back to using my normal hair-washing products, I could definitely tell that Pureology was a bit more harsh. It wasn't anything awful but it did feel weird having even the teensiest bit of lather. My hair is once again back to its normal state and I can once again go back to not washing every day. The shampoo I use, I love. The conditioner is fantastic and smells like a dream. Plus, it's hydrating AND lightweight. I should also mention that both of these last me months not just a month.

Conclusion? If you don't mind washing your hair daily and spending quite a bit on the WEN cleansing conditioner, you should totally try it. As much as I liked it, I just can't see myself washing my hair that much. I'm definitely repurchasing the mist and I'll update again if I purchase the treatment. Maybe one day I'll go back and try some of the other WEN cleansing conditioners. For now? I'm sticking with my old faithfuls: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo + TIGI Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Conditioner.

What do you guys think?

WEN by Chaz Dean

WEN Healthy Hair Kit / $39.50

When it comes to my hair, I try to be relatively gentle. Having naturally curly and dry hair means being even more prone to damage. It also means I have to be careful with what I use and how often I use it. I've been watching Anna Lee & Jesse's videos for quite some time now and Anna swears by Wen (she also works at the Chaz Dean studio in LA). Soooo I figured I'd give it a go.

What intrigued me about this stuff (other than the fact that Anna's hair always looks flawless) is it's lack of sulfates and other not-so-great things that might be present in everyday shampoo/conditioners. It's got alcohol in it which isn't great but also not the worst, as well as a ton of plant/fruit oils and extracts. I currently use Pureology and a Honey & Oat conditioner but I sometimes feel like my hair is a bit weighed down. The cleansing conditioner smells incredible and the mint in it makes your scalp tingle (awesome). You just pump, apply, massage, let sit, and rinse. Pretty easy. In the kit, I also got the Replenishing Treatment Mist and the Re Moist Intensive Hair Treatment. I love getting kits because it means I can try out everything vs just buying all full size from the get go and possibly not even like it!

Day one of this stuff and I'm pretty excited to see if there are any long term effects of using it. My hair already feels a bit lighter; a bit like that fresh salon-styled feeling. It'd be pretty badass if this could replace normal shampoo and conditioner for me. We'll see!

Have you guys tried Wen before?

This is going to be more of an ongoing "feature". I'll write a post updating how things are going with this each week, maybe every other week. 

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray / $39

Sometimes I get excited about a product I haven't tried yet, and a lot of those times I'll splurge and regret. This is not one of those times. Oh, but how can you justify $39 for a bottle of dry shampoo/texture spray? Well when it's 8.5oz (300ml) and works like a dream, how can you not?

I love Batiste, don't get me wrong, but this is on a whole 'nother level. How so? Well firstly when used as a dry shampoo, it doesn't come out white. I don't have to worry and be a little too meticulous while styling my hair on day two or three. If I'm not in the mood to wash my hair, what makes you think I want to spend 5 extra minutes ridding my crown of white powder residue? This spray soaks up the oils like no other and leaves your hair feeling really clean. I mean really. Also can I just mention the smell? Powdery, fruity, maybe a hint of vanilla (or something along those lines); it's heavenly and even Richard was like "your hair smells so good"!

As a texturizer, it also scores pretty high up there. Need volume? Spray. Need added texture without the use of an extra oil or pomade type product? Spray. What I like most is the use I've gotten out of this so far. I can spray at the roots and get a load of added body, or I can spray all over and ruffle for a light-weight bed head look. This is the perfect alternative to Brilliantine if you're not in the mood to get you're hands dirty, so to speak. Have I mentioned the smell yet? Yeah? I can't get over it.

For the price I think this stuff is worth it. I'm interested to see how long this will last me considering it is still kind of spendy — that said, so far I've barely used any to achieve the look(s) I want so I'm guessing this will be around for quite a while.

As far as dry shampoo goes, this is my holy grail. I should also mention they make a little mini can for your purse or if you'd like to test it out (yes you should test it!!!!). What do you guys think of this stuff? Have you used it before?

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment / $19.50

When it comes to hair masks and treatments, I usually stick to LUSH. I know they're good quality and I know how well my lions mane reacts to them. That said, I'm always up for trying new stuff, especially if it means my hair looks and feels a bit healthier afterwards. 

This Ojon treatment isn't something that will transform your hair from brittle to perfection — but what it will do is soften, smooth, and help rid frizz. It's also supposed to help strengthen and repair. Does it though? I'm not so sure. That said, after using this I notice my hair is a lot less frizzy and that is a huuuge plus in my book, especially when I wear it all curly and natural. It's one of those things that I really enjoy using and while I do like the results, this isn't a product I couldn't live without. 

My two favorite things about this stuff? The smell and the application. I'm not exactly how to explain the smell. It's like a weird-ashy-caramel-I-don't-even-know kind of smell, but I'm into it. To apply/use this stuff, you scoop some of the treatment out with a spoon, rub it between your hands and ta-da! you've got a beautiful oily mess between your palms. Slather it in, comb through, and sit for 20+ minutes. I usually leave it on for an hour or so just because I feel like it. Wash out, style, and enjoy your silky locks. That's it.

What do you guys think of Ojon products? What's your favorite hair treatment or mask?

LUSH Jasmin And Henna Fluff-Eaze

Jasmin And Henna Fluff-Eaze · $22.95

Can you tell I've been loving LUSH lately? It seems as though I've fallen back into my old ways of using LUSH products constantly. To be fair, it seems they have something for (almost) anything, so how could I not? 

Jasmin And Henna Fluff-Ease is a hair-mask hair-moisturizer all around badass product. This is my third(!!!!) pot of it and you can bet your bottom I'll be repurchasing when I run out once again. I use this probably twice or three times a month depending how I'm feeling — leaving it on for way longer than the suggested 20 minutes. I've slept with it in, blogged with it in, you catch my drift. It softens and calms my frizz, leaving me with super smooth jasmine smelling hair. When I say it leaves my hair smelling like jasmine, it's no joke. Even after a few washes I can still smell it, so if you're not a fan, be wary! 

This little pot is packed with things like jojoba oil, olive oil, almond oil, coconut butter — lots of things to help tame and moisturize. Also, it gives you a pretty good amount of shine; not a huge amount but still noticeable. I use this most when I'm feeling like a need a little boost, a little refresh, a little help. It's especially good if you use a lot of heat and feel like you're getting a bit drier than normal. It'll just sink in and settle and the moment you wash this stuff out you can feel a difference — crazy lions mane to sleek and supple in 20+ minutes. I can see myself repurchasing and repurchasing until they decide to discontinue... which will hopefully be never! 

What do you guys think of Jasmin And Henna Fluff-Eaze? What are some of your favorite hair masks/treatments? 

Pro-tip: I do not use a whole pot on my head. I mostly focus on the mid-shaft/ends and can get a pretty good coating with 1/4 of the pot. 

P.S. This does have red henna, so if you're blonde/bleached: be wary. I never noticed a difference when I had highlights, but still.

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap · $24.41

So this is kind of an unexpected post — I was originally going to review a product that's been a favorite of mine for over a year now: Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide. Then I discovered it's been discontinuted. I'm a little sad and I'll be cherishing every droplet I have in my last bottle, but hey, atleast I've still got my beloved Anti-Snap!

Redken is a brand I tend to lean towards when it comes to haircare. Everything I've tried from them over the years I've loved and though some stuff can be a bit spendy, I don't mind. Why? Well I have one huge, dry, damaged, curly afro. Yes, that's my natural hair and the reason why I spend a lot of time, effort, and money on haircare. 

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap is a leave-in treatment (kind of like a leave in conditioner) that you apply to towel dried hair before styling. What does it do? It protects from heat, helps untangle, lessens friction from brushing, and strengthens the hair while repairing the cuticles. It uses proteins and amino acids like Ceramide (a waxy lipid) to hold the cuticle together, preventing breakage and split ends. It also has proven itself to be a bit of a help in the styling department. 

I generously apply this all over my hair and brush through, focusing mid-shaft to ends and not forgetting my bangs! I usually follow up with a heat spray and blow-dry/straighten as usual. In the month or so I've been using this I've already seen a pretty big difference when it comes to the texture of my hair, namely my ends. Because I have naturally curly hair, my hair is prone to being extremely dry all the time. That means if not taken care of properly can get quite brittle — this stuff has made my ends extremely soft and helps with any tangles I have. Have I noticed any difference with breakage? Not yet.  It's too soon to tell really but I plan on using this religiously for the next few months and hopefully I can grow my curly locks a little bit longer. While I may not be Rapunzel status anytime soon, I wouldn't mind an extra inch or two!

Have you guys ever used this? What are your thoughts? What are some other Redken products you love?

Biolage Exquisite Oil

Biolage Exquisite Oil · $14.50

I received a sample of this back in August's Glossybox and I literally clung to the last few drops in hopes it would never run out (but of course it did).  I accidentally came upon it while in a beauty supply store and knew right away I'd be walking out with a bottle. I regret nothing.

Biolage Exquisite Oil is a shine serum and a defrizzer/replenishing treatment all in one. I apply after straightening my hair and can immediately see a difference. The flyaways disappear and my hair becomes super shiny — not to mention it smells amazing. It basically smells like every other Matrix/Biolage product which overall just smells sweet, slightly citrusy(?), and just relaxing as if you've just walked out of the salon. 

It's made with a moringa oil blend which is good for relaxation and replenishing, as well as macadamia and argan oil (also blends) which we all know are great. You can apparently also use this as an overnight treatment, before shampooing or during conditioning. I have yet to do any of those, but I shall report back. I'm really loving using this stuff and can't really picture not having it as part of my hair styling routine. What do you think of the Exquisite Oil line? Is it something you're interested in?

Batiste Wild Dry Shampoo

Batiste Wild Dry Shampoo  $9.99

Quick review!

I went off dry shampoo for a while, but I'm back in the game (especially since I'm on vacation at the moment). I've recently run out of Brit and am not to keen on the smell of Blush anymore, so when I saw this adorable can in the beauty supply store I just had to go in and try it out. 

Wild is all around a great dry shampoo. The packaging is adorable(!!!!!) and the smell is just really really lovely. I'd definitely say that this is tied with Brit for my favorite Batiste scent — it's quite sweet and a bit vanilla-y, perfect for fall and winter to me. Are you guys into dry shampoo? What are your favorite Batiste scents?

Bumble and bumble Straight Blow Dry

Bumble and bumble Straight Blow Dry · $28

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I have extremely curly hair. Actually, as I write this, my mane is in an extremely huge topknot cuz god knows I just can't be bothered to mess with it. I'm already planning to do a post dedicated to my frizz-filled locks and how I clean, nourish, and style — but until then I'll let you in on a few kew products I use to get the straight look. 

Bumble and bumble's Straight Blow Dry is a heat activated balm that helps tame fly-aways and frizz. At first I was a bit skeptical on how well this would work and how it would make my hair feel. Thicker balms and lotions tend to give my hair a greasy, weighed down feeling; this definitely doesn't do that. Instead it leaves my hair feeling extremely soft and smooth, while adding a bit of shine. It's definitely one of my all time favorite products for helping achieve my everyday straight hair style. With this stuff, a little goes a long way.

After sectioning my hair off to blowdry I apply this mid-shaft to ends and brush through. Using a round (boar bristle) brush I then blowdry depending on how I want my hair to look — higher heat + more concentrated = sleek and straight, or lower heat + lots of brush twirling for a more tousled look. I then follow up by straightening where needed. The end result is totally polished look. I use this most when I know I'll be more prone to frizz: when it's humidy/muggy/raining/etc. It really does an amazing job of helping to keep my hair under control!

What do you guys think of the Bb Straight line? Do you recommend any products for us ladies with curly hair?

Kerastase Specifique Densitive GL

Kérastase Specifique Densitive GL · $40

So this is a little different than my normal product posts buuuuut sometimes different is good. 

I purchased this little bottle on a whim (but also with a recommendation) after getting a haircut last week. When my hair is in its natural state aka curly and big enough to double as a lions mane, I have no issue with volume and body at all. When I straighten my hair which is most of the time, my hair tends to lay flat and not really do much of anything. When I went in for my cut and style, I told the stylist what products I use, told her what I was looking to achieve when styling my hair, and she recommended this. 

Kérastase Specifique Densitive GL is a thickening spray which is supposed to soothe the scalp and stimulate micro-circulation while also adding texture and volume to thin/lifeless hair. You spray it on — roots to ends — and blow-dry for the finished effect. What you're left with is natural looking volume and body. I normally spray this roots to mid-shaft (leaving out my ends) and massage into my scalp before blow-drying. I feel as though my ends don't really need it/there isn't really a purpose for spraying them because I want most of my body at the top and middle! You can also spray this on dry hair and blow-dry for a nice and even more voluminous effect. Overall I'm really happy with this so far and it's definitely helped me use less product in the long run while doing my hair. I really want to check out the Kérastase Résistance shampoo and conditioner which is supposed to be amazing for weakened and fine hair. 

Have you tried any Kérastase products? Which are your favorites?

Batiste Brit Dry Shampoo

Batiste Brit Dry Shampoo · $7.99

After trying Batiste's Blush I ran out to Ulta to grab a bottle of this stuff. Union Jacks are all over the place right now — probably because the Olympics were held in London and all but honestly, who isn't a sucker for them? Pssst, I am.

The packaging of this dry shampoo is just so cute I can't get over it, not to mention the smell; this is probably my favorite Batiste scent. The bottle calls it "a truly British fragrance" and while that sounds a bit odd, it kind of is. It's sweet but musky and just smells really enjoyable. Having a great dry shampoo is great for days where you can't be bothered to wash, dry, straighten and style your hair — aka perfect while on vacation somewhere warm. So if you're looking for an amazing dry shampoo but want something with a nice subtle scent (vs Blush which is soooooo sweet) this is definitely the one you should go for!

What are your vacation musts? How do you feel about dry shampoos for vacations?

Joico K-PAK Revitaluxe Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment

Joico K-PAK Revialuxe Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment Mini · $5.99

I'm always in the market for deep conditioners, hot oil treatments and basically anything else to help bring my dry hair back to life. I saw this little mini in CVS yesterday and couldn't really say no to it. 

I've used Joico products for quite a while; their K-PAK line a few years ago and now their Moisture Recovery line which I really really love. Their products smell amazing and always seem to get the job done, plus they're not too pricey and totally worth it anyways.

I used this this morning in the shower and got instant results. My dry ends felt ridiculously soft and moisturized right as I rinsed the stuff out. Still a bit skeptical, I got to drying/styling my hair (which is basically when I can tell if something has made any effect on my hair at all). I blow-dried as usual and was super impressed with how shiny and hydrated my hair felt. Even after straightening and curling my hair was way shinier and felt a lot less brittle than normal. I've got to say, even after only one use I'm really excited about using this stuff again and definitely see myself purchasing the full size once I run out. 

What do you guys think of Joico? Have you used any products by them? What are your favs?

Bumble & bumble Surf Spray

Bumble and bumble Surf Spray · $24

So this wasn't a product that I bought, it was a product Richard bought to style his hair — but what the hell, I figured I'd try it too.

I've always been into having my hair verrrrrrrry straight since it's naturally ridiculously curly, but as of late I like a bit of wave and volume. Today I thought I'd give this a go and it turned out pretty nice. I put it in after straightening my hair, and this was the effect that I got! I did straighten some pieces that were really out of place but this was the overall effect.

I used this with Bumble and bumble's Styling Lotion for a little hold and texture. I have to say, I'm starting to love the tousled beach look especially since it's been glorious outside. Now all I need is a tan!

What do you just think of surf sprays? Have you tried this one?

Finding the perfect flat iron (Part II): KeratinPerfect PerfectLight Deluxe

KeratinPerfect PerfectLight Deluxe · $175 @ Sephora 

After my not so great experience with the GHD my search for a new straightener continued and lead me to this glorious tool. I admit I had been looking into Keratin straighteners since my stylist used a Keratin Complex iron on my hair in which lead to awesome results — you can only buy them online which isn't a total drawback, but I just wanted something that would be easy to return if I didn't like it. Luckily when I returned my GHD at Sephora, I found this little guy.

Once again, I came home and was (seriously) impatient to try out what I had just bought. All I can say is oh my god this thing is wondrous. It's easy to hold, heats up fast, and overall gets the job done without burning my hair. The end result was soft, manageable locks and it literally made me look like I had just walked out of the salon. The buttons and digital display make it really easy to use, it's light, and the plates are titanium which seem to help in making my hair shinier. The PerfectLight goes up to a whopping 450º which makes it one of the hottest irons on the market today (it's lowest temp is 280º and I use it around 350-380º). While they say you should use this with the KeratinPerfect product line you definitely don't need to, and I don't; it still works perfectly and yields incredible results all on its own.

I would definitely recommend this to everyone and anyone — especially those with coarse, thick, or curly hair. I imagine it will work really great for straight haired ladies as well.

Goodbye 9 year old CHI, it was nice knowing you <3.

Finding the perfect flat iron (Part I): GHD Purple Peacock

 GHD Gold Series Purple Peacock · $225 @ Sephora 

I've had my CHI Turbo for since 2003 — it still works perfectly but I'm afraid that it'll die on me any day now and I won't have a backup. My hair is sooo thick and curly and sometimes wearing it natural just isn't an option.

While at Sephora I spotted this little beauty which happened to be the last one and really wanted to give it a try. I've heard nothing but good reviews so I figured why not (also Sephora's return policy is amazing).

I was immediately impressed with how fast it heated up; it took less than a minute!  Once I started to straighten I noticed that my hair was definitely very straight but also very dry (and not soft at all!). After doing a semi-big section + my bangs I just had to stop — my ends felt like straw and I didn't want to do any more damage than I already had. I was honestly soooo upset because I had read so many amazing reviews but this iron was just not working with my hair AT ALL. I do think main reason was that I didn't have control over the temperature and with hair like mine, I've got to have that control.

I wasn't about to risk the health of my hair for this gorgeous straightener, so I took it back to Sephora today and exchanged it for a few other things (I mean, this is only part 1) ;)

All in all, while the GHDs seem to get great reviews I'm not sure they're the right tool me and my hair temperamental hair type. However, this does seem like a tool that would be great for straight/wavy haired girls who don't really need the all the extra settings. What do you guys think of GHDs?