Hair Repair Challenge: Products

My quest to renew, refresh, and lengthen my locks has introduced me to a slew of new products!  To get me started on my hair repair challenge, Patrick gave me these four products to get my hair repaired, with strict instructions that this was a lifestyle change, not just a product quick fix.

Redken Extreme Cat- To reconstruct and recondition.  Patrick says, use this in the shower or when you shampoo and condition. Leave on 5 mins then rinse.

Redken Extreme Anti Snap- Provides heat protection, reduces friction from brushes and helps precent breakage and split ends.  Use as a leave in.  It smells like delicious candy.

Redken Extreme Iron Repair- Helps reinforce and restructure distressed, dull hair.  Patrick says, use it as leave in when you are using hot tools.  It's fruit scent makes up from its weird looking texture.

Pureology Essential Repair Restorative Hair Masque- For immersing distressed hair in a rich masque.  This giant jar is full of creamy, rich looking nano technology.  Patrick says to use it instead of Shampoo and Conditioner for 3 weeks.  Use a quarter size amount just like you would a shampoo: apply, massage well then let it sit for at least 5-8 mins. When rinsing, leave about 15% of it in the hair. Style as usual. 

I'm happy to report it's day four and I haven't broken any of the rules yet.  Need a refresher?  Here are the rules:

• No wet updos
• No bobbi pins or bad for you hair bands (more on the later quest in an upcoming blog post)
• No shampoo/conditioner
• Minimal heat styling

I know I'll never have Kate Middleton hair, but a girl can dream, right?
(Maybe if I saw Patrick every week...?)
~Kirsten

Tune in soon for day by day instructions!

Holiday Hair Product Essentials

As we all know, December is usually host to a couple of celebrations that require you to look fabulous for all those facebook photos...holiday soirees, charity galas, office parties, dinners with friends, not to mention New Year's Eve!  Not sure what to do with your hair?  Don't frett!  I've gathered up all the essentials for stocking your cabinet.  If you're prepared with great products, deciding how to do your hair will be a snap!  And now is the time to make sure your cabinet is stocked!  You don't want to wait until two hours before you head out the door to realize you're out of hairspray.

Here's what products you'll need: assuming you already have a great shampoo and conditioner, you'll want a dry shampoo for days when you don't feel like getting wet.  We like Big Sexy Hair's Volumizing Dry Shampoo.  If you need more oomph for day after dirty hair, tap a few sprinkles of Powder Play on your part line and massage into your scalp for an instant lift.  Going curly?  Don't forget the Soy Renewal Beach Spray (this product is a favorite of mine!  It's also a great travel buddy as it works well in any climate).  For styles that need some texture and hold, or if you have short hair, you'll need Short Sexy Hair's Rocked Out, it's a great product that's build-able, mixable, and not sticky!  Pureology's Anti-Split Blow Dry is a great product (that replaced their Nano Glaze) to have in your arsenal too.  And last but not least, you'll need a hair spray.  For a down-do hairstyle try Pureology's Strengthening Control Zero Dulling Hairspray which has a nice build-able quality, but if you need hard hold for an updo Patrick likes the Big Sexy Hair Line.  My pick?  Patrick will kill me, but for extreme updos a little Aqua Net never hurt.  

Here are some little extras to have on hand.  A killer blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron is a must of course, but hair accessories are a good idea to keep around too.  Grab a sparkly hair clip, pin in flower, and don't forget the bobbi pins!  Check out my post on Holiday Hair Add Ins for ideas.  I love having Goody's full size and mini color collection pins by the hundreds on my counter too.

Need more info on the products above?  Call Patrick at the Styling Studio or leave a note with a question on his facebook page.

~Kirsten

He Tried/She Tried: Pureology Fortifying Heat Spray

He Tried: Patrick
Pureology Fortifying Heat Spray Protective Primer

Kirsten let me know she was going to be doing a show and wanted a recommendation for a product to use to protect her hair from the intense curling that would be done. I wanted her to try this spray because I knew it was light weight enough to use on a daily basis and not build up. Plus, it would protect her color at the same time. This is one of my "go to" products on color treated tresses.

She Tried: Kirsten
Patrick gave me a bundle of products to check out and take with me on my last show trip (read about the details here).  In the bundle was a bottle of Pureology Fortifying Heat Spray Protective Primer.  I admit, at first I was skeptical about adding another product to my hair before blow drying or styling.  I'm not the best with blow outs and I didn't want to end up greasy or with limp strands, but my fears proved to be unfounded!  The Pureology Heat Spray was great!  It was light and pleasant smelling, and I didn't even know if was there.  When I spritzed it on my strands before curling it didn't gunk up my curling iron or leave my hair crunchy.  I would definitely recommend this product for anyone who uses a lot of heat.  Like I said, I didn't even know it was on my hair, which for a protecting spray, is the greatest compliment of all!

~Kirsten and Patrick

Have you tried this product?  Leave a comment or post on our facebook page and let us know what you think!

Product Cocktails: How to mix and match your hair styling products

Good hair products can work in perfect harmony together, and in fact, are often created to layer with one or more from the same line.  Mixing products at first can be scary, but you shouldn't worry!  Patrick says: "You can play around with the use each day to find what works best for you. You have a base of products that will last a long time. Don't be afraid to try new uses for each product." 

Here are seven common products and how to use them with each other for the best effects:

Moroccan oil shampoo and deep conditioner

Maintain use when cleansing and conditioning hair

Sexy Hair Root pump plus spray mousse

Use this product when styling, spray on to the base of hair near the scalp. You can air dry with this or add heat with a blow dryer by breeze drying or styling with your brush. You can also let it airdry and then use your new curling iron as your heat addition after hair has dried. This spray mousse is designed to be placed at the root of the hair at the scalp. 

Pureology Texture Twist

Texture twist can be cocktailed with the Moroccan oil to add volume to the root when touching up in extreme humidity. It is designed as a finisher to add texture. This product can be cocktailed with any of the listed products.

Rusk Wired

This can be used as a refresher alone to maintain control of the hair with out a lot of weight added to the hair when dry styling. A little goes a long way!  This is a great product to add control when dry styling to give texture and movement. You can cocktail this with Moroccan Oil for a lighter weight air dry as well.

Big Sexy Hair What a Tease

This productis designed to have backcomb in a bottle. A little goes a long way.  Spray at the base of hair where ever you feel you need extra volume. This will be used once you have airdried, blow dried or curled hair, prior to using any finishing spray. This product is not meant to be used on a daily basis, it's more of a twice a week addition. You will use this prodcut when first styling, after you cleanse and condition and then again a day or two later to refresh the hair.

Big Sexy Hair Powder Play

You can couple this with what a tease for extreme volume by placing it on the base where volume is needed, remember to rub this into the hair at the sclap so it activates the product. Then spray the what a tease over it. Once what a tease has been sprayed you can then seperate hair in four different directions to get the backcombing effect. 

Moroccan Oil Hairspray

This is a finishing spray that can be used daily for hold and pliability of styling when finishing the hair. This product can be layered over all your products for extra control.

Short Sexy Hair Play Dirty 

This product can be used as a layering product when you want an edgy finish with a lot of peiceyness and movement. You can use this product up to 3 times a week. This is a product that you don't need much of. A little goes a long way and works well in humid weather when using the weatherproof as a protectant.

Big Sexy Hair Weather proof

This is your absolute last product to use after styling the hair or retouching the hair. This product will last for a couple of days at a time. When in extreme heat and humidity you can use this everyother day as your last product to place a protective shield over the hair.

Want seven days of hair ideas with these products?  Check back Thursday!

~Kirsten & Patrick

Pureology Sale: Select Packaging 50% off!

Your favorite Pureology products have a new look, which is good news for you! Not only will the new packaging be beautiful it is designed for easy use. All of the former Pureology packaging in stock at the Styling Studio are 50% off! Shop your favorites to help us make room for the new product packaging, you get the same great product for half the price. The fine print? Only available while supplies last. This exclusive offer cannot be combined with any other offers discounts or specials and are inclusive of Pureology former packaging only.


Stop by the Styling Studio today and stock up!
1518 South Wabash

He Tried/She Tried: Pureology Silk Bodifier

He Tried - Patrick
Pureology's Silk Bodifier Volumizing Mousse is one my favorite mousses to use. Especially on color treated hair. I asked Kirsten to try out this particular mousse because I knew that it would work great for her texture and protect her colour treatment.

One of my pet peeves about mousse is the one dimensional styling aspect many mousses give. You put it on the hair, and boom, you have one choice. A hard crunchy finish with out the ability to style or blow dry. Pureology's Silk Bodifier Volumizing Mousse does the opposite. It will give the hair volume with a medium hold, shine, and most importantly, protect your colour treated tresses. I explained to Kirsten that it has many diverse styling options. With the diversity of this mousse a person can explore a multitude of different looks.
-Patrick

She Tried - Kirsten
I've become addicted to mousse.  Ever since reading about the return of mousse in a few magazines, I've been using it and loving it, so when Patrick handed me a bottle of Pureology's Mousse, I was happy to try it.  There's not much to say about this product other than I love it!  It's silky, soft, and completely non-sticky (which is a BIG selling point for me, I hate being sticky).  It smells great and applies to hair without creating a sticky or crunchy feeling.  Bonus points, the product brushes right out without any tangles.   I definitely recommend this product for creating body for almost any hair style!  It's especially nice with updos!
-Kirsten

Have you tried it?  Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

He Tried/She Tried: Pureology Strengthening Control Hairspray

Looking for a new hair spray?  Check out  Pureology Color Stylist Strengthening Control Zero Dulling Hairspray.  See what Kirsten and Patrick think:

Patrick 
Simply put, this is an amazing product that I wanted to share with Kirsten. I explained to Kirsten that she could use this as a finishing spray to control frizz and humidity when she is done styling and that it would also help protect her color. It is a build-able hair spray that allows the user to control how much hold they receive during the finishing process of styling. Pureology products were designed with the color treated person in mind - they're specifically formulated so that the styling products won't harm color. They are gentle on the hair and won't expose the cuticle, which is what affects color treated tresses and creates dulling of the hair color. This is one of my favourite finishing sprays and a must have.
Cheers,
Patrick

Kirsten
Another product Patrick gave me a bottle to try was Pureology's Strengthening Control Hairspray.  There's color treated hair friendly hairspray, who knew?  So I swapped out my Tresseme 24 Hour Hairspray for the Pureology and I liked it.  It's a flexible hold, which was new to me.  I'm usually an Aqua Net style, lacquer up and pin it down kind of girl, but the Pureology was a nice change.

The flexible hold formula is perfect for summer.  It's light weight and perfectly easy to brush out when you're finished.  Plus, you can apply it day after day to dirty hair and it never gets that crunchy, built up feeling.  And the smell - perfect.  It reminds me of being in a salon and that wonderful "I just got my hair blown out" feeling.  I definitely recommend this hairspray if you're looking for a light, flexible hold.

What kind of hairspray do you use?
~Kirsten

He Tried/She Tried: Pureology Nourishing Nectar

This week, Kirsten and Patrick give their take on  the Pureology Color Stylist Nourishing Nectar Sculpting Gel.  Read on to see the stylist and client perspectives of this Pureology product:


Patrick Tries
I love Pureology products for color treated hair. These products can also be used on non-color treated hair. They are gentle and safe and don't disturb your fabulous tresses after you have had your color done. When I asked Kirsten to take some sample products to use and see how she liked them, I should have explained to her that this line has a very distinct scent. In looking back, I would have liked to take more time to introduce her to the line, however, I also wanted a very raw and organic review. (Which Kirsten lives up to and gives an honest assessment below). 

The Color Stylist Nourishing Nectar is a product that you may use on it's own to prep your hair for a blow out. You can also utilize this product as a cocktail with other Pureology Color Stylist products to add shape control and maximum volume, but sometimes hairdressers like to think out of the box.  For this product I like the way it air drys on the hair and love the feeling you get as a result of allowing the hair to dry naturally. Yes it does have a "funny color," as Kirsten mentioned: but don't worry, these are pearlescent beads designed to give the hair shine as should have explained that further to Kirsten so she wasn't confused.  Read on for her review.
Cheers,
Patrick

Kirsten Tries
Apparently, when you color your hair, they make special color treated products to go with it.  I'd known you needed to use shampoo for color treated hair, but I had no idea they made gel?!  So Patrick handed me his bottle of Nourishing Nectar Gel and asked me to try it and see what I thought.

The pros?
~ It's a great gel, it holds well and can take care of my face framing frizzies with only a small drop.
~The packaging is attractive.  If you've read my I Tried It: Baby Lips post, you know I'm a sucker for pretty packaging.
~ There's brushability.  There's no nasty snarling of your hair when it comes time to brush it out.

The Cons?
~ The Pureology website says you have to use it and then blow dry, and I don't blow dry often, so it makes me feel like I'm not using it to its fullest potential.
~ I'm not a fan of the smell.  It's probably because I'm used to more flower-y sweet or no smell gels, but there's just something off about the smell of this one.  It's not bad, just unusual.  That said, you don't smell it once it's in your hair.
~ It has a yellow paired with and metallic pink pearl look.  It's just an odd color.  Is it going bad?  Should it be that color?  I have no idea.

Overall, it was a fine product and I used it several times.   Would I purchase a bottle of it, probably not.
~Kirsten

Check out our other He Tried/She Tried Posts
Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray