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.

Stress can creep up on you when you least expect it…a deadline you forgot about, a bill you rather not have received, a social situation you wish you could cancel, or even a crowded elevator that makes it hard to breathe.

Luckily, the makers of Calmspace understand these stressors and that’s why they’ve created a lavender infused, essential oil fragrance for those times when your anxiety levels start to peak.

Calmspace is a patent-pending, proprietary therapeutic formula of 100% natural fragrance extracts that help you manage your anxiety levels and even claustrophobic situations (yes, even your commute home on that packed bus).  Calmspace not only offers you a natural ‘chill pill’, but it’s also housed in cute packaging that easily passes for a soothing fragrance…just pop it in your purse and it’s there anytime you need it.

I had the chance to try out Calmspace for myself and I really loved the soothing fragrance.  While I don’t suffer from claustrophobic situations (well, the mall, sometimes), I do tend to stress out about things and I’m not one to hit the pillow and fall directly in a blissful slumber.  I found Calmspace to be, well, calming, and soothing, and I found myself using it before bedtime to help relax me.

To find out more about Calmspace and to see if it might work for you, head over to their site, at www.calm-space.com!

To keep even more connected with Calmspace, check on their Facebook and Twitter pages!

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