He Tried/She Tried - Big SexyHair Volumizing Dry Shampoo

Welcome to the newest He Tried/She Tried!  Last time we tried the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray, now we're tackling dry shampoo.  Read on for Patrick's take and Kirsten's take on this Sexy Hair product.

He Tried: 

I recommended Kirsten use Sexy Hair’s Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo because she does not like to shampoo on a daily basis, which is totally fine.  Even people with curly hair don’t need to shampoo on a daily basis - I have curly hair clients that don’t shampoo at all. They simply use conditioner in place of shampoo and say they love the result on their hair. (Stay tuned for another post about products by Sexy Hair that offer an alternative solution for curly hair clients who like to shampoo and condition).

Sexy Hair’s Volumizing Dry Shampoo has the ability to absorb dirt, excess oil and product buildup. Knowing Kirsten’s hair and her regimen, I thought this product would make a fabulous addition to Kirsten’s daily routine of caring for her hair. I also mentioned that I use this often to prep the hair for Up-Do’s. It is quick, easy and efficient. It leaves the hair feeling clean and adds volume to the hair.

The instructions that I gave Kirsten to use the product were very simple. I told her to hold the can 6 to 8 inches away from her hair and spray directly onto the scalp area, focus the product where she tends to be oily and that would keep the oil at bay between shampoos. Since this product won't build up on the hair so it can be used daily.  Here's what Sexy Hair has to say...

BIG VOLUMIZING DRY SHAMPOO
What it is:
Use on dry hair to absorb dirt, excess oil and product build-up. Creates volume, provides UV protection and helps maintain color by lengthening time between washes.

How to use:
Shake can well then hold 6-8 inches away from head. Spray lightly onto scalp, focusing on roots. Leave on for two minutes and brush out excess product.


She Tried
Patrick handed me a sample size bottle of Big Sexy Hair's dry shampoo and told me to give it a try and let him know what I thought.  I'm not a big proponent of dry shampoo as I usually wear my hair up everyday and if I do wear my hair down, I usually shampoo it before hand.  But I decided to give it a try - and I'll admit - I actually liked it.

I made sure to follow the instructions on the back of the bottle, which is very important.  Shake, spray on roots, and let sit for two minutes.  Letting it sit before brushing is VERY important.  Don't try this and brush your hair before letting the product soak in - You'll feel silly with hair sections every which way and all stiff, but trust me, it's worth it.  After the two minutes I brushed my hair lightly and I was moderately impressed with the results.  At the crown, the hair was lifted and had much more volume than it did before.  The back section of my hair that is always my problem spot was still a little oily, but this bottle of dry shampoo worked exponentially better than the Treseme bottle I had used a few times that was stashed in my cabinet.

My only disappointment was that it didn't smell nearly as nice as the beach spray I had tried before.  I can't say I'll be a dry shampoo convert, I still prefer to wear my hair down after washing, but I would definitely use this product again.

Have you tried the Sexy Hair dry shampoo?  Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

~Patrick & Kirsten

The Return of Mousse: All About Using Mousse

Photo from Bean's Beauty Blog

A recent article about mousse in June 2012 Allure magazine caught my eye, Whip it Good.  It made me wonder: How much do we really think about mousse?  And do we use it as much as we should?  According to hairstylist Adir Abergel, whom they interviewed for the piece, no.  He claims many women shy away from mousse because of its crunchy reputation, but he reassures us "mousse has evolved.  It's no longer as sticky and drying as it was in the era of hair-metal bands."  Another hair stylist called it a "miracle product."

SexyHair has two mousse products Patrick likes: Root Pump Volumizing Spray Mousse and  Root Pump Plus Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse.  Both have a medium hold and can be used on dry or damp hair.  Allure gave 7 tips for mastering mousse, here are some of my favorite pieces of advice for using mousse:

• Shake the Can - A lot.  "You want it as fluffy as possible, so it's easier to distribute and won't weigh down your hair," says hairstylist Chris McMillian.  Fluffy is key, if you don't shake the can the mousse will come out a thick mess.
• Think Big - If you have fine hair like me, mousse should be your new BFF.  You could use it almost everyday.  Working some into your roots and letting it dry naturally before brushing out can give you the illusion of volume.  Medium length hair? A gold ball sized amount can add bounce and boost to your average pony tail.
• Blow it Out - Adding some mousse into your hair before blow drying can give you extra lift.  Many stylists have their clients flip their heads upside down after applying mousse and then dry their hair with a diffuser.  This is the technique Patrick used on my last visit when we tried the new Soy Renewal Beach Spray.

How much mousse should you use?  Most women don't apply enough - a palmful of mousse can look excessive, but don't forget mousse is mostly air.  It's not like a gel, so you'll need more than you think.  A golf ball sized amount is usually a good guide for short hair while if you have long hair, opt for two lemon sized mounds.

Challenge yourself to add mousse into your hair routine (It's a great base to layer other products on top of), I think you'll be pleased with the results.

Mousse - it's not just for 1980 anymore.

~Kirsten

Beauty Travel Tips

It's here!  Summer travel season!  So what better time to discuss traveling with your beauty products.  It's tough to look beautiful on the go, but fortunately there are a lot of great tips and cool products to keep you looking put together on the go.

No matter where you're traveling, storage is key.  You want to make sure all your prized makeup possessions arrive at your destination in one piece.  A hard sided train case is the best way for your makeup and brushes to travel.  This keeps all your makeup from getting crushed or your precious brushes from getting smashed.  Insider tip: look for one that will fit your travel sized hairspray can when it's standing up, it will give you much more storage space.

To fill your train case, look for compact essentials.  Visit the travel section of your local Target for pint sized goodies or check out a travel store for refillable bottles to store your salon favorites in.  Companies like Mary Kay offer chic cases to fill with your favorite eye shadows, blush, and lipgloss all in one click shut case.  If your carrying case doesn't have a special spot for makeup brushes, look for brushes that come in a travel case as well, or you can also look for retractable brushes or purchase brush guards to protect your bristles.  You don't want to risk ruining your brushes with spilled liquid or a snapped handle.

The most important tip of all?  Hydrate!  If you're on a plane especially, make sure you drink lots of water.  The first step to a pretty face is a hydrated one.  Make sure to pack your travel sized hand cream too.  Founder of Soap & Glory Marcia Kilgore gives these last minute tips to try in an interview with Allure Magazine.  "Before we land, I brush my hair until its shiny; bedhead makes you look exhausted.  I apply some concealer under my eyes, touch up my blush and lipstick, and get out of that horribly lit bathroom as fast as possible.   Then I wear sunglasses - instant camouflage."

What are your favorite travel products?

~Kirsten

Photos from EcoTools, Advice Sisters,  Mary Kay, Krasey Beauty

I Tried It - SatinLips Lip Mask

Confession time - I bite my lips on occasion, so sometimes they get a little chapped and peel-y.  So during a recent makeup chat with a friend that sells Mary Kay, it was suggested that I try the Mary Kay SatinLips Lip Mask.  Why not?  For only $9.50, I purchased this cute little tube and started my lip mask morning regimen.  After I moisturize my face, I slide on some of the Satin lips, do my makeup and then wipe it off.  Easy.

It has a beachy feel, with it's little granules feeling like sand, but it's pleasant smelling and smooth to apply.  Sometimes absorbs into my lips almost all the way if I leave it on too long, but when I wipe it off, my lips instantly feel smoother.  After using it for about a week, my lips were noticeably smoother and not as chapped or peeling as they used to be.  I follow it up with their Timewise Age-Fighting Lip Primer before applying lipstick, but this product doesn't seem to do as much as I expected.

Verdict: The lip mask, I love!  I will continue to buy this great little tube.   It's an easy to use, pleasant to use product that helped solve a major beauty problem I was having.

~Kirsten

Do you use a lip mask or lip scrub?  What are your favorite brands?

He Tried/She Tried - Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray

Welcome to our first He Tried/She Tried blog! We're bringing you the male/female, stylist/client view and review on different hair products. It's a dual blog post with both sides of the story. Our first product? Healthy Sexy Hair's Soy Renewal Beach Spray.


He Tried-Patrick's Take
Introducting: Sexy Hair's "Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray". A wonderful addition to your collection of products for wavy and curly hair. (Professional secret, It is not just for curly or wavy hair, Stay tuned for a blog post on how to use this after curling the hair with a big barrell curling iron.) For Kirsten's appointment, I wanted to try something different out on her hair. Normally I blow it out smooth, but because spring was in the air, I decided to try out Healthy Sexy Hair's Soy Renewal Beach Spray and diffuse it to giver her natural wavy texture a boost and a naturally undone texture.

Kirsten has a wavy pattern to her hair and I knew this product had enough hold in it to do the trick. When I styled her hair, I sprayed the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray from root to ends and diffused it with a low setting and medium heat. I was careful not to overwork the hair. Curl can be very tempermental when overworked and this product was a great choice to produce the results I wanted: undone texture and a feel likened to a day at the beach.

I explained to Kirsten how to use the product at home and let her know that she could renew her style each day without the need to shampoo. I let her know that she could spray the product into her hair and add a little water the next day to revamp her curls. (Stay tuned for a later blog post about how to extend the longevity of your style without the need to shampoo everyday). Read below to get the full detail of her week with the product.

What is Soy Renewal Beach Spray?  Here's a direct quote from Sexy Hair:

SOY RENEWAL BEACH SPRAY creates undone texture that looks and feels like you’ve spent a day by the sea. Helps nourish, protect and heal hair damage with the power of Argan oil. Cures winter blues by giving your hair the look and feel of a day at the beach.
How to use:  Spray on damp hair and let dry naturally or blow-dry with a diffuser for all over texture. Use on dry hair for detailing or to add volume to the roots without having to wet hair.

She Tried - Kirsten's Take
When I went to see Patrick for a trim and some hair tlc, he told me he wanted to do something different with my hair, wavy curls.  Fun!  He showed me some of his favorite products from the Sexy Hair line and gave me a homework assignment: try out the new Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray.  Patrick gave me a mini bottle to take home and play with.  Here's my weekend journey with the Beach Spray...

Day 1: Friday - My hair always looks fabulous when I leave Patrick's salon, but today I had a little extra bounce in my step.  I left the salon with super fun and bouncy, loose curls.  What impressed me the most?  How product free my hair felt!  I could run my fingers through my hair and not feel any snarls or stickiness.  It was great.  I looked pretty fabulous if I don't say so myself.  The product even smells a little beach-y.  I like

Day 2: Saturday - I had just pinned my hair up with a single bobbi pin the night before, so when I left it down in the morning it still had some curl.  I reapplied the Beach Spray, shook out my hair, added a touch of water to scrunch the top and it instantly gave my roots back texture.  I may have over applied the product though. Day two of using the beach spray didn't have the touch-ability my hair had yesterday.  That product free feel was gone.  It still looked great for the morning and into the afternoon, after a couple hours though, my hair started to loose the curl.  So it seems that using a curl agent in my hair is a must.  Left: artsy instagram photo I snapped of myself.

Day 3: Sunday - I rinsed my hair this morning as it had gotten a little frizzy and sad, let it air dry, and then applied more of that awesome beach spray.  Touch-ability, still there.  Even after my hair dried (I didn't wash it) my hair still felt silky smooth.  I let my hair air dry a bit and then added the spray, it still gave good texture, but I had to add a little curl cream that I had in my stash and scrunch like crazy to get my hair to curl a little, a diffuser would have helped.  I pinned up the front and wandered off to the Art Institute.  Left: my hair on Sunday cropped out of a fun photo a friend snapped.




My verdict?  A definite do over.  I love this product.  It smells pretty, adds instant texture, and works wonderfully with other products.  Patrick - you can't have your sample back, I'm stealing it.  It will be perfect for adding some texture to my early summer getaway at Lake Michigan.

Have you tried this product?  What did you think?  Leave a comment and let us know!

- Patrick & Kirsten

I Tried It - Dream Bouncy Blush

We're back!  Thanks for bearing with us during our small hiatus.  Patrick was off in California learning all about a new product line: Sexy Hair.  Check back Thursday to see a great post on one of their products.  Today, it's all about the blush.

I'll be the first to admit it - I'm a sucker for pretty packaging and new products.  So when the commercials for Maybelline's Dream Bouncy Blush came on, I couldn't wait to run out of my current blush so I could try it.  So armed with my 5% off day, a $1 off coupon, and a little old blush left, I headed to Target to grab some.

I opted for #40 Pink Plum: a moderately bright pink.  The package claims, "Feels lightweight like a powder, yet melts into skin like a cream."  For the most part I agree.  It is in fact bouncy, reminded me of when you poke a just baked cupcake.  Don't be scared of the "like a cream" part, it's not really.  I use Ben Nye cream blush on stage and this has no where near the thick texture and color saturation that does.

Wearing tips: You definitely have to apply with a brush - when applied with my finger, the color was too delicate and just disappeared into my finger.   I found the most success when I applied it with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush after applying my mousse foundation with the same brush.  It's crazy light, which is perfect for summer and does feel like a powder on, but I found I had to dip into the color several times to achieve the look I wanted.  I do like the subtle flush it gives: I've found I really like the staying power it gives when applied over foundation and then topped with a powder blush.  That seems to give a nice dimension and long lasting look.

Verdict - worth a try for a new summer blush.  Plus it's super cute and doesn't take up any space in your makeup bag.

~Kirsten

What do you think?  Have you tried bouncy blush?  What's your favorite blush?