SUMMER HAIR REHAB

Summer is finally behind us. And our hair needs some much-needed rehab. Exposure to the blazing sun, long dips in salt water and chlorinated water, sweat, and humidity need I say more. The Summer months literally wreak havoc on our hair and even though we might realize it subconsciously, do we do enough, for a hair rehab. While we are prompt enough to change our skin care and makeup products, as the weather changes from hot to cold, we often do not give as much attention to our hair care.

I have dry, frizzy and textured hair, which is colored. And I was heavily traveling in Summer to hotter climes. Needless to say, my hair was in need of  R&R. So we caught up with my hair stylist, Amanda Pogue, of Studio A Salon, Overland Park, Kansas, for my Summer Hair Rehab. Amanda has been taking care of my hair for the last 9 years, and is the best, to say the least. She always starts a consultation with the client, over their vision, and then she advises on what can be done. This consultation is key. Amanda has been providing customized hair care for the last 14 years. She enjoys making people feel beautiful. Her passion for the beauty industry, her love for hair art and her ability at being a great listener, has her clients coming back.

Now let's hear it from Amanda on all things Summer Hair Rehab: 

Hair is usually lacking strength and moisture after months spent in the sun and wind. If a lot of time was spent in the pools, a Clarifying Shampoo is a great first step to remove the chlorine residue.

If you have not lived the pool life, switching to a healing/repair shampoo, like L'anaza Healing Strength Shampoo and Conditioner will help repair the straw-like ends of your hair and make it stronger.

As the hair has undergone a few months of torture with the elements, a deep conditioner used once a week, takes you further along the road of hair rehab. The deep conditioner can be used for 10 minutes, which will help soften and repair the "traumatized hair." L'anza Trauma Treatment is an example of this category of products, has UV protectants and heat protectants built-in so you can also use it daily as a leave-in conditioner. You can find a deep conditioner which suits your hair and your pocket.

Having parched Summer hair not only looks dry, but it can also affect the way in which your hair takes hair color. It is best to do this repair regimen, prior to hair coloring as well as getting a trim ahead of time.

Hoping it will help you to rehab your Summer damaged hair and embrace Fall in a healthier way!

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BOMBSHELL BALAYAGE

Bombshell Balayage ! That's exactly what I felt like calling it, when I saw myself in the mirror, as I excitedly waited in my hair stylist's hair. For someone who is getting their hair colored professionally since they were 16, this had to be one of the best, there has been so far. When I got home, my toddler daughter, could not stop complimenting me, with her twinkling eyes. My evening was made.

I have been through most shades of copper, reds and blondes in all these years. But warmer tones of blonde, are the best compliment to my warm undertone. And as my hair stylist says, they also compliment my fun personality. Aww, thanks a lot !

I started on the Balayage path last Summer. Before that, it was usually always a head full of chunkier to skinnier highlights. As my highlights started growing out, I noticed that I received more compliments . The dark roots contrasting with the lighter ends, was always popular, on me.

This time around, we decided to bring together two Hair Trends - Ombre and Balayage .

Ombre Hair is a trend when the hair color graduates from darker tones, to lightest ends.

Balayage is a French word, which means, to sweep. The color is painted upon. In highlights, the color is placed on selected chunks of hair. In Balayage, the color is placed on certain sections of hair. Its a much more low maintenance color job, than getting regular highlights,as the growth line, is more subtle. I feel , that overall, it gives a much more laid back chic vibe.

Enough of jargon. Lets get to the hair appointment, now shall we. As You know, I get my hair colored, once a year. It can be Summer, it can be Winter, I have to have my Annual Color Appointment with my lovely hair stylist Amanda Pogue of Studio A Salon, KC. 

As you can see , I had remnants of last Summer's Balayage, at the ends of my hair. And as a Brunette, you can only go that much Blonde, in a single appointment. If you want to go Platinum from  being a Brunette, that's the job of a few back to back appointments, which is followed up.

BEFORE 

We did a Balayage Ombre , with L'anza Healing Powder Decolorizer with Olaplex. 

Amanda painted in sections of the hair to create the graduated color. 

And then it got cooking ! 

Hair Color is all about Chemistry. And while my Hair Stylist Amanda, loves Chemistry, I wasnt too good at it, while in school. If you are a Brunette, who has been going Blonde, for long, then your Toners are your best friend. I wanted to go cooler, than last Summer. But since my hair is naturally brunette, I can only go that much Cool, in a single appointment. 

After the Foils had processed, then we rinsed and did a Pearl (Blue-Violet) toner with L'anza Healing Hair Color. We followed it up with Olaplex No. 2. 

We blow dried and ironed the hair. It was styled with L'anza Keratin Healing Oil Treatment and Keratherapy daily Smoothing Cream. 

I love my Hair ! Thank you Amanda Pogue and Studio A Salon , KC, for taking care of my hair and my family's hair, for all these years. 

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NOT YOUR MOTHER'S 'WAY TO GROW LEAVE IN CONDITIONER' - REVIEW

I love a good Leave In Conditioner. My hair is curly, and dry . To top that, I have been coloring it for the last 16 year or so. And with my crazy schedule, I don't often have the time to go for Professional Deep Conditioning Services at the Salon. Products which can help me at home, in my quest, are always welcome. Leave In Conditioners are always that extra step I need , to tame my unruly tresses after a shampoo sesh. My hair gets super tangly, even after the customary conditioning I do with my favorite color protect shampoo. I currently have Balayage on my hair, so my ends are pretty dry. If you want to read about my current hair color, then click Here.

When Influenster sent me their Endless Summer Voxbox, the contents of it looked promising. If you want to know about all the contents of the #ESVoxBox then click Here.

Among the stash of items, was NOT YOUR MOTHER'S WAY TO GROW LEAVE IN CONDITIONER. I shall always gravitate towards Beauty products if its mix of Lifestyle items carefully curated. I decided to use the product for some time, before I  reviewed it.

WHAT THE PRODUCT CLAIMS: 
Detangle, Moisturize and Smoothen Hair while providing the strength to make it grow healthy and shiny. Infused with Procapil, its breakthrough formula helps in making hair grow faster. Its priced at $3.50 for 2oz or $9 for 6 oz.

REVIEW: 
Having curly hair, I have used my share of Leave In conditioners, and have a fair sense of what works and what doesnt. The first thing I liked about the product was it smelled great. I know we are just stepping into Fall, but this product reminded me of crisp Winter mornings, with its Apple and Cinnamon fragrance. Its a subtle fragrance and does not overpower.

As my hair is long I used a few pumps to distribute from the midlengths to the ends of my hair. I would say, start with less, and then work your way in, accordingly. Nothing like ODing on hair products. No one likes the look or feel of crunchy hair.

It was a good Detangler . I tackled the tangles in my freshly shampooed and conditioned hair in less time, than I need with my regular Leave in Conditioner.

The flyways were tamed when I rubbed some product between my palms, to smoothen my crown. Make sure you never apply Leave In Conditioner to your crown as it will make it oily faster. Thats the part which secretes oils and we dont want to spoil freshly washed hair .

Leave In conditioners can sometimes make your hair Greasy There are different formulas which suit different people. My Hair is curly and frizzy but generally fine. This formula was not greasy and did not weigh down my hair. I used it before I blow dried my hair with a Diffuser attachment on my hair Dryer. My hair was soft and manageable and did not dry out.

I had used quite a few products from this brand, but hadn't used the Leave In Conditioner. I must say that I am pretty impressed by it.

Disclaimer : I received these products complimentary from Influenster for Testing Purposes, but the opinions are those of my own. 

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SUMMER HAIR WITH BEAUTYBRANDS

Been blessed with curly and frizzy hair, Summer is a challenging time for me and my Mini Me. I have to keep reminding myself that my hair is not a lion's mane, when humidity raises its ugly head. So when I received an invite from fellow Lifestyle Blogger Megan of Chasing Davies to attend an event she was hosting, I wasted no time.

Beauty Brands 'Battle the Blaze' was all about Summer Beauty. I sipped on some Bubbly, and my Girl munched on her colorful macarons, and we started exploring the aisles and the various stations set up. Melt Proof Make up from Smashbox Cosmetics , Suncare from Supergoop and finally Summer Hair. Not to forget the Annual Liter Sale was also on.

My daughter is blessed with lovely curls, but the heat and humidity get to her at this time of the year. We headed to the Hair Station.A Hair Makeover for my daughter Riona seemd a nice way to spend the morning. Our lovely stylist, from Beauty Brands, was full of ideas. I mentioned to her that I need some help in creating a hair style for her which involved Braids, and which had no heat in it. The only braids, I can do , are the normal ones. So a hands on guide was an awesome idea.  Our stylist decided on Double Dutch Braids, with a Zig Zag Part, which ended in a low pony tail. 

I was in love with how beautifully our stylist had styled Riona's hair. I can surely try and re-create that over the weekends. Hair and make up done, it was time to shop.

As I have colored hair, I have been Sulphate Free for around 6 or 7 years now. I have seen a considerable difference in the quality of my hair. I picked up my favorites for Color Care - Redken Color Extend Shampoo & Conditioner Liter Duo My daughter's daughter is also curly and frizzy like mine. Sulphate free it is for her too. For her I picked out Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner  .

We had a great event for Mamas and Daughters to come and enjoy together.Thank you Chasing Davies and Beauty Brands for all the pampering. 

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GOLDEN HONEY BALAYAGE - NEW HAIR COLOR

I am in love with my New Spring Hair. Golden Honey Balayage to refresh my look for the upcoming warmer months. Not to mention ,it was a treat for my 7th Marriage Anniversary. I have been coloring my hair since I was 16. Over the years I have realised that blondes and honey golds suit me better than reds or pinks. They just gel better with my warm undertone. Usually I get chunkier Blonde highlights as its a good contrast to my natural dark roots. But this time around, I wanted to try something different. My air had some remnants of the old blonde highlights and I was liking the way they looked against the dark regrowth. I wanted lighter ends and darker roots. Almost like a graduated ombre.

Balayage is a French word, which means to 'Color Freehand'. Unlike traditional highlights, where a weave pattern is created by coloring strands, whether fine or chunkier . The hair is then wrapped up in foils . In Balayage, sections of hair are surface painted, like you would paint on canvas. Sections are selceted to color, to create a more natural effect. The best part of Balayage is that it looks great even when its growing out. We decided to create Balayage with two different shades of Honey and Gold, to create more dimension in the hair. My roots were to be my natural dark color, to create the necessary contrast I was looking for.

Its always important to discuss with your hair stylist what you want for your hair. Inspiration pictures are very helpful. But you have to realise that the existing color an condition of your hair will determine how much of your Inspiration can be recreated on your hair. I had been discussing with my hair stylist Amanda Pogue, Owner and Lead Stylist of Studio A Salon, in Overland Park Kansas, by exchanging notes and pictures. She had an idea over what I wanted and I told her to lead me on, based on my inspiration.

BEFORE 

Like a magician, she whipped up her potions. In this case, her colors and lighteners.She used the L'anza Healing Hair Care Hair Lightener. Next came in Olaplex, Bond Mulitiplier no 1, which was mixed in with the color. It helps to reduce breakage with every color service. Its almost like and insurance for your hair. 

Amanda sectioned off my hair, and started free painting sections of hair as part of Balayage.

It was time for the color to process and create its magic.

Then the color was washed off with L'anza Healing Color Care Shampoo  and L'anza Keratin Healing Oil Conditioner, and Blue- Purple Toner was applied to tone down the colors to the desired shade. If you've going blonde , then you are aware of the importance of Purple shampoo. Purple is the exact opposite color to yellow in a color wheel. so in order to prevent blonde hair from gong brassy , its important to use purple shampoo. The Blue-Purple Toner was a step ahead in that genre. Along with the toner came the Olaplex  Bond Perfector no 2 , to seal in the cuticles of the hair.

Toner washed and time to blow dry the hair. Amanda used Keratatherapy Nourishing Styling Foam to my hair before blow drying it.  Getting one's hair blow dried is one of the most luxurious feelings for me.

I am in love with the Kardashian Waves which Amanda had created on me, during my last appointment. If you want to read about it, then click Here. So we recreated the Kardashian waves again. Amanda used Keratin Healing Oil Hairspray before she started curling it.

I love how it all turned out. Its just perfect for Spring Summer. Thank you Amanda for yet another magic touch to my hair.

 If you want to know how I take care of my Color Treated Hair, then click Here. 

Products mentioned: 
Olaplex Bond Multiplier No 1
Olaplex Bond Perfector no 2
L'anza Healing Color Care Shampoo
L'anza Keratin Healing Oil Conditioner
Keratatherapy Nourishing Styling Foam
Keratin Healing Oil Hairspray

Studio A Salon - Amanda Pogue 

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