A month ago, I thought I didn’t care…but, these last few weeks I have gotten sucked into the William and Kate wedding hype and I cannot stop watching all those Wills & Kate wedding shows.  Yes, yes, my DVR is officially scheduled to record the huge event on Friday morning at 2:00 am Pacific Standard Time.  I’ve already reassured my husband that he is not required to attend the viewing.

So, me, and millions of other obsessed people like me, are now pining over what she might wear, what hair style she’ll don, and will her makeup look natural or glam…I. Can. Hardly. Waaaaaaaaaaaait!

With all my new education on Kate (thank you TLC) I’m pretty sure she’ll go for a modern wedding dress design, absent of a 25′ train, simple and classic makeup like she always wears…but, where I’m stuck is her hair.  I really have no clue how she’ll wear her hair…up, down, half up?

So whether you really, really care or if you’re pretending not to care, please vote below to pick how you think Kate Middleton, future Queen of England, should wear her hair on her big day!
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*BTW, it was nearly impossible finding an updo pic of Kate, so turn that pony into a bun or something when you’re imagining her walking down the aisle!

Over the last two years I have been growing out my normally shorter locks into a beautiful long mane…

…well, not really.  In my alternate universe, I have thick, shiny, split-end free hair that grows at a rapid pace.  In reality, I have fine, easily damaged hair that has grown at a snail’s pace.  Since it has taken me so long to grow my hair, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to see what works and what doesn’t.  In the beginning, I was naive, buying damaging products with short-term results.  But, I have since become more wise in the art of growing out finicky hair.

Close to seven inches later, I have gone from washing my hair every other day (which used to be a stretch for this one time every day washer) to washing my hair only twice a week (sounds gross, but the longer your hair the less you should wash it…hello, dry shampoo).  I’ve graduated from Pantene to sulfate-free shampoos, and the hardest thing for me was to forgo coloring my hair bright blonde.  While I love platinum blonde, it recked too much havoc on my fragile locks.  I have since embraced a more natural looking blonde that I can maintain by only coloring twice a year.  I’m still bad at getting regular hair cuts, but I am upping the anty in a few weeks by getting a hair cut…only waiting three months instead of six (I know, I know!).

*A little over two years ago, platinum and shoulder length.  Last September, long hair…and now, even longer.

But, let me get to it.  This post is turning into more of a hair journal and what I really want to talk about is Aveda’s Damage Remedy line.  I’ve tried every product in the line and I’ve been using most products since December and I’ve seen a big change in my hair.  If you don’t already know, Aveda is known for their gentle, plant-based products and sulfate-free shampoos.  All of their products are scented with natural oils that have a bit of an earthy scent (don’t think patchouli, think ahhh-spa).  The Damage Remedy line is supposed to help mend and prevent damage.  Here’s the scoop:

Damage Remedy Shampoo:  I actually got a sample of the shampoo to try when I bought another product from the Damage Remedy line.  Being a sulfate-free shampoo, you don’t get the usual bubbles (but, bubbles are formed from sodium lauryl sulfate, which can be harsh on your hair), but it smelled wonderful and left my hair feeling clean.  While I liked the shampoo, I couldn’t justify spending $24 for 8.5 fl. oz. when I could get another shampoo that was sulfate-free and cheaper.  I honestly feel that you get the most out of conditioners and hair treatments, not shampoo, so I actually bought Aveda’s Color Conserve shampoo instead for $15 and I love it.

Damage Remedy Conditioner:  I looooove this conditioner.  I love it so much in fact that I am not even half-way done with it and I already have another one waiting for me under my sink when it does run out.  When using this conditioner for the first time, I was surprised how light it felt.  Since the line was tailored for damaged hair, I really thought the conditioner would be really thick and heavy and might weigh my fine hair down, but it doesn’t in the least bit.  The conditioner smells amazing, you don’t need a ton, plus it really seems to penetrate my hair and soften it. While it is pricey at, $24 for 6.7 fl. oz,  I actually think it conditions just as well, if not better, than the Damage Remedy Intensive Treatment (aka deep conditioner). 

Damage Remedy Intensive Treatment:  While I really like this deep conditioner, I’m not 100% sold on it.  For a deep conditioning treatment, it feels really light, almost exactly like the regular conditioner from the Damage Remedy line.  I do notice a little more conditioning, but not much, and at $29 for only 4.2 fl. oz., it’s waaaaaaay pricey.  As I’m writing this, I’m actually convincing myself not to re-purchase it.  While I like the results, I feel like I could get similar results with a much less expensive product.  At almost $7 an ounce, this product might be a little too rich for my blood.

Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair:  This was actually the first product I used from the line and this will for sure be a re-purchase for me.  This leave-in treatment helps to detangle, repair hair (up to 26%), and protects from heat styling and future damage.  The longer my hair gets, the more it tangles.  This really helps to detangle and smooth my hair and prep it before I blow-dry.  Once again, smells great, and a little goes a long way.  This whole line is pricey, and this product is no exception at $24 for 3.4 fl. oz.  But, I can get my mid-back hair totally covered from root to ends with less than a quarter-sized dollop.

While the Damage Remedy line is pricey (the whole line, with the sizes I mentioned, will set you back $101), I do feel like most of the products are worth the price.  I’ve seen less split ends, my hair seems healthier, and my regrowth (which is noticeable, since I don’t cut my hair often) seems much shinier then it did before I was using this line.  I think with anything, time will tell.  I’ve been using this since late December and so far, so good.  I think with any hair care system, you can pick and choose what works and edit the products you don’t need.  My goal length is three inches away and I can tell you this, I’m leaving it in the hands of Aveda’s Damage Remedy Line.

Since my days in junior high (15 years ago now…ouch) I have been a slave to Neutrogena’s Anti-Residue shampoo…odds are if you search this blog, you’ll find a review.  Once every week, I’d lather up with it to rinse away any product build-up or toxins that might have polleted my strands, then massage a huge glob of deep conditioner and I’d blow dry my hair, feeling pretty good about myself and how manageable my hair was that day. 

But, lately I’ve thought a lot more about the products I use on my hair and my skin.  For the last several months I’ve only used sulfate-free shampoos and since doing so, I’ve noticed a real change in the health of my hair…which got me thinking about my beloved anti-residue shampoo.  I’ll admit, I’ve always thought the smell was a little funky; my husband compared it to a house hold cleaner smell.  I just shrugged it off, thinking that it was doing the job (if it’s not broke…you know the rest).  But, when I went in the see my hair stylist this last time, she mentioned that my hair was unusually tangled and asked what I was using different.  I had to think about that one, because I really wasn’t using any different products since my last visit.  The only thing I could think of was that I used my ant-residue shampoo a few days before coming in (and I hadn’t washed my hair since coming in for my appointment).  As soon as I told her the brand and the shampoo, I got a big worried glance from her and she informed me that my anti-residue shampoo was probably the culprit to my tangled hair.  I then got a lecture about harsh chemicals, more damage than good, yadda yadda yadda.  As her lecture progressed all I could think about was how was I going to find a similar product in the same price range as Neutrogena’s anti-residue shampoo (I got the sales pitch for Pureology’s clarifying shampoo), and could I really break up with a product that I had been faithful to for 15 years?

While it was touch and go for awhile (I almost bought Pureology’s pricey version…I also decided to call it quits with Neutrogena, even though it still lives in my shower), I did luck out during the Sephora Friends and Family discount.  Since I had 20% off to play around with, I spent almost a whole two hours really scooping out the site…that’s when I found a sulfate-free/paraben free/petroleum free/mineral oil free/free of artificial coloring purifying shampoo, by Carol’s Daughter, a brand I have used and loved in the past.  Better yet, it was a Rosemary Mint purifying shampoo and it was only $12.50 for 12 oz…not too shabby at all. 

Since I had been on my Neutrogena anti-residue shampoo break, I used the Carol’s Daughter Rosemary Mint Purifying shampoo the very next day.  As soon as I squeezed the product out of the bottle, I was immediately uplifted by the scent.  Once on my head, I got this great tingling sensation and I was also very surprised with how well the shampoo lathered for being sulfate-free.  But, as I started to rinse the product out, my hair felt really dry.  I immediately started trying to remember what Sephora’s return policy was on used products, then I breathed a sigh of relief once I remembered they have an excellent return policy, even if the item is used (ah, the joys of being a worry wart).  I then added my deep-conditioner, let it seep in for about 10 minutes, and then started to rinse…and that’s when all my worries melted away.  My hair felt soft, manageable, there were not tangles, and all while sopping wet.  Once out of the shower, my damp hair combed through beautifully with not want snag or tangle.  At that moment, I had successful gotten over my break-up.

Not only had I gotten over my break-up, but I had gained a healthier product for my hair…and it didn’t even come close to breaking the bank.  To find out why I kicked Neutrogena Anti-Residue shampoo to the curb, or to find out which products you need to kick to the curb, check out skindeep.com, a fantastic cosmetic safety database.  Just enter in the product in the search bar and find out which products are safe and which ones are hazardous.  Love this site, both interesting and a bit scary.

I’ve been super lucky lately to have some amazing giveaways for my lovely readers, so I’m happy to announce that today starts my newest giveaway…

…the brand new Conair Infiniti Pro hair dryer! 

The Conair Infiniti Pro 1875 watt dryer, is a salon-performance dryer, without the hefty price tag (retails around $39.99).  The Infiniti Pro is ergonomically designed for comfort and has a powerful, yet quiet AC motor, for fast drying time (good for you and your hair!).  The dryer also includes ionic technology to help reduce frizz and enhance shine, and ceramic technology to safely dry and promote healthy hair growth.  It also include a removable filter to prevent lint buildup, which extends the life of your dryer.  The Conair Infiniti Pro is comparable to the T3 Featherweight, Chi Pro GF1505, and FHI Pro 1800…without the price.

The people over at Conair were generous enough to let me try out the dryer firsthand, before I started my giveaway, and I have to say this is one of the best dryers I have used in a long time.  The dryer is lightweight, dries my hair fast, and has various speed/heat settings to control my style, as well as a cold shot button, which is an essential for me, as it locks in my style and cools my hair.  I also love the punchy orange color; it’s actually a fun pick me up to my morning routine.

One lucky reader will win one Conair Infiniti Pro dryer, as well as two attachment features.  Contest is open to U.S. residents only, and will end on September 3rd, at midnight EST.  To find out more about this lovely dryer, please visit the Conair website.  Good luck to everyone who enters!!

(If you have trouble seeing the form, click here to enter!)

Hold on tight ladies, because young Hollywood is going short…pixie short.

Stars such as Hayden Panettiere, Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, The Kids Are Alright), Carey Mulligan, and the latest to take the plunge, Emma Watson have all traded their long locks for cropped dos.  The thing I love about this lineup is how completely different each girl’s style is…it just shows anyone can sport this look, you just have to have the balls to do it.

Before you go running to book your hair appointment so you can channel your inner Mia Farrow, make sure this cut is for you.  One good tip is to decide if you like the way you look with your hair pulled off your face.  If you don’t, don’t cut your hair!  Another word of advice is to be honest about your features and face shape.  Personally, I have always thought my ears stick out a bit, so this is a look I would never go for.  You have to make sure that you can live with this style, because it won’t be going anywhere fast once you cut it.  If you can’t wait one more day, and you need to cut your hair, start off slow.  If your hair is really long, try a bob first.  If you already have shorter hair, maybe start with longer front pieces like Ginnifer Goodwin did in the photo below.  Just know, this style is a commitment!

Now, I want to know what you think of the pixie trend.  Please vote in the poll below, and feel free to state your opinion in the comment section below!

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…or gingers, for my UK readers (xo).

Supposedly blondes have more fun, but redheads definitely spice it up! 

Here are some of my top picks for the best Hollywood redheads…who is your favorite?

Click here to see if you should switch your locks to crimson!

Amy Adams:  This romantic comedy queen was born blonde, but going red made her a star!

Christina Hendricks:  If your mad for Mad Men, then you have noticed a lot more than just Christina’s fiery locks…

Debra Messing:  Red has always worked on Debra and her alter ego, Grace.

Isla Fisher:  Funny, smart, beautiful, AND amazing hair?  Jealous.

Julianne Moore:  Love her.  Love her hair.  Period.

Don’t see your favorite?  Add your picks to the comment section!

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Whether au naturale or out of a bottle, these celebrities know how to pull off blonde. 

Here are my top 5 Hollywood blondes…who is your favorite?

Are you meant to be a blonde bombshell?  Click here to find out!

Ali Larter:  Heros star and ultimate blonde.

Jennifer Aniston:  This medium blonde is famous for more than just her great hair.

Kate Hudson:  Like mother, like daughter…funny girls make great blondes.

Reese Witherspoon:  Hollywood’s ‘It Girl’…and it blonde? 

Sienna Miller:  Rockin’ blonde from across the pond.

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So, here’s the deal.  I’ve been trying to grow out my hair for what seems like three years now.  But, for whatever reason my hair seems to be growing at a snails pace.  Because of this I have managed to acquire a ton of hair products over the years and most of them haven’t been very successful in the long run. 

When I started seeing overnight treatments pop up on shelves, I thought they might be promising, but wasn’t enthralled enough to take the plunge…until a few weeks ago when I was in the death trap, otherwise known as Target.  Target is one of those places I can’t possibly leave without buying something and you never know what I’ll walk out with.  For my last visit it just happened to be some stationary and a bottle of L’Oreal’s new EverStrong Overnight Repair Treatment. 

Like I said, I’ve seen several overnight creams before, but the thing that grabbed my attention was the fact that this treatment just happened to be apart of L’Oreal’s new sulfate-free line.  I’m all about finding solutions to my hair woes, and right now I’m treading clear of sulfates (FYI-sulfates help make shampoos and soaps foamy, but they also strip oils that your head/hair and body need).  This treatment claims that it penetrates the hair fiber making it stronger just after one use.  Sounded good to me, especially with all the split ends that seem to haunt my hair.  It also promised not to leave your pillow a greasy mess and that the product absorbs quickly into the hair. 

The day I brought it home I was super excited to try it out.  Before bed I used the suggested amount of product (1-2 pumps) and started dispersing it through my hair.  This was not the easiest task.  The product was very heavy and hard to smooth over all of my hair, I was left with pieces of hair that had a lot of product and other pieces that had zero product.  The product did absorb pretty quickly and it smelled really good, but I wasn’t exactly impressed.  Over the next week I used the treatment almost every night, playing around with how I applied it.  Now, I just pull my hair in a pony tail and rub it through the ends (where I feel I need help the most).

It’s been about two weeks now since I started using the overnight treatment and honestly I haven’t seen any real results.  My hair isn’t necessarily stronger, and it’s for sure not longer.  While I probably won’t give this particular product another chance, I will say that it won’t hold me back from buying the shampoo and conditioner from the EverStrong line.  I guess I will just have to keep searching for that perfect product…which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

If you’re like me, you probably love The Body Shop.  Not only do they have amazing products, but they are also made with Community Trade ingredients.  What’s not to love?  Well, here’s one more thing for you…

…back by popular demand, The Body Shop has decided to re-launch your favorite products from the 80′s!  Yep, Dewberry and Fuzzy Peach are back.  How could it get any better?  Well, now the Originals Collection includes Community Trade ingredients such as honey from Zambia, aloe vera from Guatemala and shea butter from Ghana, just to name a few.

I was super excited to hear about the new launch and even more excited when I found out The Body Shop was sending me the entire collection to try out!  My shower’s capacity has officially been reached.  While I’m not usually one to share, I have decided to send one lucky reader a product from the collection.  Make sure you check back this week to see what’s up for grabs and to enter to win!

I cannot wait to try out all the products to review, but if you’re itching to try the products out yourself, check out the entire collection here.  You can take your pick from Banana shampoo, Green Apple bath and shower gel, Carrot moisture cream, and many, many more…and right now the collection is priced at 3 for $20, so there is no reason not to stock up.

The 80′s are officially back…but only for a limited time.

…on a beer budget.

Just because the economy is a little lackluster these days, doesn’t mean you want to be.  But, let’s face it, times are tough and sometimes it’s hard to justify or stomach that $50 eye cream.  So, I have compiled a splurge vs. steal list for all you bargainistas out there in search for comparable beauty products that won’t compromise your beauty routine.

The Splurge:  Benetint-the cult classic rose tinted lip and cheek stain.

The Steal:  Sonia Kashuk Lip and Cheek tint- same tint, same results…but for $20 cheaper.  You be the judge.

The Splurge:  Wen Haircare-  This cleansing conditioner is a favorite of celebrities and housewives alike…but a 30-day supply will set you back $30.

The Steal:  Hair One-  At $10 a bottle and an overwhelming amount of positive reviews from people who have tried both Wen and Hair One, the question is why would you opt for the splurge?

The Splurge:  DiorShow Mascara-  Ah, another cult favorite…and a favorite of mine for several years.  But, now with so many amazing drugstore formulas I can’t believe I coughed up $24 every other month for a tube of mascara.

The Steal:  Covergirl LashBlast Mascara-  I’ve been using the Luxe version of this mascara (Luxe has shimmer) for several months and I have not once missed my DiorShow.  This mascara lengthens and volumizes…only difference is it’s at a fraction of the cost.

The Splurge:  Bliss Fatgirlslim-  I love Bliss products and fatgirlslim is one to love.  It does what it promises, which is smoothing the appearance of dimpled areas, but it does so at a cost…of $29 for a 6 oz tub!

The Steal:  Soap & Glory Slimwear-  You’ll get the same amazing results, but for half the cost and some  extra change.  Know what I really love?  The fact that Soap & Glory was created by Marcia Kilgore, the founder of Bliss.  How’s that for a comparable?

Substituting a splurge for a steal doesn’t have to be painful.  Think of all the money you’re going to save for that new handbag…um, I mean for that savings account you’re going to start!