Category: ‘Hair Care’

What: The Instyler Rotating Iron

Why: I fight with my hair.  It’s curly, and I want it straight – but not too straight, because then I have an identity crisis.  Enter the Instyler, a noisy but gently efficient heat device that smooths my mop without taking out all the shape.

The noise I mention comes from the barrel, which slowly rotates automatically when you begin running the iron through your hair.  What really impressed me was the fact that while doing this, the barrel and the attached high-quality bristle brush didn’t catch on my easily snagged hair.  A zero-breakage styling session for me is a rare occurence, so getting through even my initial inexpert attempts with the Instyler, sans snarled hairs, was quite notable.

I also appreciated the device’s versatility – it could be placed close to the roots to create volume, used just on the ends to give tresses a little flip and shape, or employed for all-over straightening or light curling.  That’s a lot of bang for your buck in one small appliance.

Get Yours: QVC

Whether or not you heat style your hair, fix parched tresses with dry hair repair.  And then move on to a luxurious bath with the best bath products, and treat yourself all over with paraben-free beauty.

What: Fenugreek Seeds

Why: The high-protein seeds of the fenugreek plant have been used in traditional medicine for everything from diabetes control to hair-loss prevention, but it was just recently that I learned the seeds can be used topically, and mashed into yogurt to create an exfoliating paste for skin or a masque to encourage hair to a) grow quickly and b) grow in curly.

We love a good beauty cure-all, but we haven’t always got the time to get out the mortar and pestle.  When it’s an all-in-one item in a reliable bottle that’s needed, Davines SU Replenish Hair & Body After Sun Wash ($24) is an amazing, apricot-oil-filled, moisture-rich wash for both your hair and skin.

Now just don’t expect it to cure bronchitis (another use for fabled fenugreek.)

For other – more convential -beauty solutions, check out our guides on lip balms, self-tanners, and acne treatments.

I started fretting about my dull, dry hair a while ago, and this week I more or less fixed the problem with a fancy glaze from Sharon Dorram Color, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.  A glaze is a quicker and less extreme treatment than a dye job; it boosts your natural hair color and lays down a layer of shine (which can be clear or lightly colored) on top of the hair shaft.  And in theory, the glossy look should last until my hair grows out, but just like with dyed hair, it needs to be treated right.  So in the interest of protecting my newly shiny locks with the best-stocked arsenal of products, I got a few recommendations from the salon.

1. To begin, get clean with a color-protecting shampoo. I like Nexxus Dualiste Color Protection Intense Hydration Shampoo ($15) because, in addition to saving the glaze, it helps keep my super-dry hair moisturized.

2. To keep the glaze intact and give the hair itself plenty of nutrients, skip normal conditioner for a full-on masque.  Kérastase’s Masque Chroma Riche ($50) contains UV filters and vitamin E, which will guard your color treatment from the sun.

3. Once you head out, give your hair the equivalent of a layer of sunscreen with Pureology Antifade Complex Styling Lotion ($18) which contains a full range of UVA/UVB protectors, so even a full day at the beach won’t do damage.

4. Lastly, if a New York salon visit just isn’t in your schedule, you can intensify your natural hair color and get shiny by taking a gander at an at-home glaze.  We’d recommend Frederic Fekkai Salon Glaze Clear Shine Rinse ($28) which does a good job of boosting color and adding some gloss to your strands.

Even if you don’t need to protect treated hair from the sun, make sure you’re up on all the best that summer beauty has to offer.

Sometimes you just want to save some time. Sometimes you’re trying to avoid drying your overstressed locks. Sometimes you just don’t feel like it.

Whatever the reason, not washing your hair gets a lot more difficult in the summer with the humidity and muggy weather. But it’s still possible, especially if you take advantage of the 3 products below:

1. Baroness von Luxe Shower Cap ($15)

Okay, this may seem pricey for a piece of plastic that goes on your head, but a good shower cap is crucial for keeping your hair looking good between washes. By keeping the moisture and wetness out from your shower, you’ll make sure those locks don’t start looking stringy.

2. Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo ($11)

Way better than baby powder, this doesn’t clump and blends well into all shades of hair. Also check out our other recommendations for shampooing sans water.

3. Goody StayPut Headbands ($4)

A good gym headband like Goody’s StayPut headbands  actually do what their name says—they stay put, which means sweat stays away too.  They lay flat on your head and are thick enough to tame flyaways without creating a permanent kink in your hair. These headbands are also cute enough to wear post-workout.

As a last resort, pick up a hat from our Summer Hats Guide and wear it over your locks all summer long.

Britney’s sure had her fair share of hairstyles (and no-hair styles). This weekend, she debuted her new back-to-brunette look during a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Brit made a name for herself as a blonde pop tart, so what do you think about her new, darker ‘do? Maybe it signals her settling down. She was shopping for inexpensive housewares with her supposed beau, after all.

Ready to make a switch yourself? Get Britney’s darker hue with Clairol Perfect 10 in Light Chocolate Brown ($14).

And keep your new style frizz-free with our product picks for summer.

Spending time in the sun can certainly do some good things for your hair. Natural highlights, all-over brightening, and beachy waves are all great—and free. But fried strands, split ends, and humidity-fueled frizz are unfortunately part of that package, too.

Luckily, there are summertime hair crime fighters in every price range, so you can take care of your locks without sacrificing your sun worshipping.

1. Avon Advanced Techniques Mirror Shine Spray ($9)

Avon’s Advanced Techniques Mirror Shine Spray is a beach bag must. Just a spritz of the weightless spray on wet hair helps it dry shiny and smooth.

2. MOP Glisten Shine Drops ($12.50)

Give life to lackluster locks by smoothing on a couple drops of MOP Glisten Shine Drops before blow drying. You wouldn’t think ingredients with names like “oat straw” and “horsetail” would give hair a glittery sheen, but they do.

3. ghd Protect & Style Set ($35)

When it’s hot outside, blowing hair dry is just about the last thing you want to do. Make your hard work last by prepping hair with ghd’s Protect & Style Set, a triple threat designed to combat damage from heat from dryers, irons and the sun.