What I love right now: Hair Products

I always forget to take pictures for a monthly favorites post, maybe cause there is not much change in what I like using from month to month; it only depends on my routine.

Hare are the very few products part of my hair care routine:

Hair

Pantene Restore Beautiful Lengths shampoo

Now that I'm really into growing my hair longer, this shampoo have come in handy.  Mom got it for me at Kmart, at the awesome price of $1.50!  My hair doesn't tangle anymore while I'm washing it.  There is significant improvement, my hair is more shinny and soft.  At the moment this is the only Pantene shampoo that doesn't leave my hair feeling dry and stiff.

Got2b Smooth Operator leave-in conditioner 

I like to apply this leave-in before mousse when I'm not going to blow dry of flat iron my hair.  It keeps hair shinny without being greasy, smells great and helps me getting some curl action.

Mystic Divine Argan & Monoi Oils Nourushing Oil Treatment

This product and the Pantene shampoo are a winner combo for my hair.  I a little bit to the ends before blow drying of flat ironing my hair, then a bit more after I'm done. I love that leaves my hair looking super shinny, but in a natural way.

Exhibit A: untangled, wavy hair during a windy Valentine's Day ;)

Tangled Tales: I want super long hair

For a very long time I've been sporting short or medium length hair cuts.  I have fine hair that breaks easily, so shorter is easier to manage.  To me, one of the most tedious task is to take care of it and long hair is time consuming but I've decided to let it grow.  When I was younger, my hair grew annoyingly fast! now that I want Rapunzel locks, it refuses to cooperate.

Took the decision to let it grow after trimming the ends on July and during the months that followed, at least to me it seemed to grow fast, but in the pictures looks pretty much at the same length month after month. I did notice it got more strong and shinny.  Unfortunately, didn't had anyone to take pictures from the back, the layers there where a little pass half my back.

October

mid November

god hair day for the job interview!

mid December

looking cute for work ;)

Almost 3 weeks ago got another so-needed trim

I'm in the lookout for hair growing products; recommendations are very, very appreciated.

Fine Hair Care Tips

Because my hair is wavy and has volume; its looks thicker; but it have always been fine and have become thinner overtime.

Fine hair is difficult to manage because is prone to breakage.  While dealing with thinning hair, breakage and loosing it; I've found and tried some ways to work with it and take the best care possible.

I'm no expert, but I want to share with you what have worked for me and might work for you ass well.

Detangling: 

• Start doing it from the ends and then work your way out to the roots.

• Detangling hair while is wet is not the best option, but if you have to; I recommend using conditioner to the length of your hair.

• Use a wide tooth comb or a Wet Hair brush.

Styling it: 

When holding your hair in ponytails, is recommended to use fine-hair-friendly elastic bands like blax or bungee bands, or any other band that is covered in soft fabric to avoid pulling your hair while taking it out.

When taking out the elastic bands do it carefully and gently.  breakage from pulling elastic bands in a unruly way can take up to 2-4 inches of hair, causing a line of short hairs [angel hair] to show up.

Wide barretes are other option to hold your hair: they are easy to put on and to take off.

If possible, avoid teasing and backcombing. 

Breakage can also occur when using too much heat.  When using hot tools, try to do it it on the lowest heat possible, avoiding super close or direct contact. Depending on how healthy your hair is, use hot tool no more than 2 times weekly in combination with heat protectant products.

Other Tips:

When washing it, don't put shampoo at your ends because what really needs to be cleaned are the roots.

  

Opt for mild shampoos and conditioners that won't remove volume.

because fine hair tangles easily, avoid piling your hair up while washing it.

Trim your hair regularly to get rid of split ends.

Recomended Products:

• Henna Hair Dye
• Heat Protectants
• Mild Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair Moisturizers with Sunblock
• Shampoo and Conditioners specially designed to fine / thinning hair
• Protein Hair Masks
• Volumizing Mousse and Gels

Final Note:

At times, fine/thin hair can be product of an unhealthy diet, stress or health problems - I've always had thin hair, but t have gotten thinner and start to loose it thanks to hypothyroidism -. In that case, consulting with your physician would be a great add to your hair care routine :D

Review: Conair MiniPro Ceramic Clipless Curler

This review is so over-due that I feel shame; almost a year! But better later than never right? :)

I got the Conair MiniPro Ceramic Clipless Curler almost a year ago on clearance at Icing.  I saw it at Walgreens retailing for $19.99 and it comes in different colors.  When I got it, paid $5 and this was the only one left. 

The kit comes with a zebra print pouch to store the curler and a tree-finger heat resistant glove

The picture in the front of the box is self explanatory, but in the back there are tips on how to use it; depending on how much curl definition you want to achieve.  The curler heats almost instantanely and while the glove seemed so weird and useless at first; after a few burns I accepted its utility and learned to work with it.  I would recommend this curler for people with short/medium lenght hair.  People with longer hair might need to go over the same section of hair twice to curl it entirely if you want to achieve a loose wave.  If you want to to do very closed curls it will be fine regarless of your hair lenght.  Also, because of its compact size I think is perfect for travel.

I'm not good doing hair.  When I first got it, failed miserably trying to achieve the curl I wanted.  Decided to give it another try, and got better results.  I noticed that it was easier to curl second+ day hair, the curl was more defined and it hold better.  Really liked the look of big and medium sections curled leaving the ends straight because it gave my hair a fuller appearance.  Tried to take pics of the back but they came very blurry :(

Boo! No Makeup!

Disclaimer: Product was purchased by me.  This post express my honest opinion based on my experience with the product.

Esika - Alviento styling cream

Hi friends!
Today I come to you with a review on the Alviento hair cream from Esika.  I already reviewed another product from Esika in case you want to check it out. 

Alviento is a styling cream with aloe, macadamia nut and shea butter to comb your hair. Its advertise promises a shinny, hydrated and manageable hair,  In my experience the product works very simple and yet better; it delivers. My hair is very thin, straight at the roots and wavy at the ends. Constant coloring and straighten have left it with a bit of frizz. 
 

The Good:

- According to the directions you can use this cream with either wet or dry hair, but I prefer to use it while its wet and it makes detangling my fine hair a breeze :)

- Even tho I should use them, I rarely apply any heath protectors prior to blow dry or flat iron my hair because it gets insanely oily and I end up with even less volume.  I've use this cream for two months every time I'm going to apply heat to my hair and doesn't leave it greasy.  It adds shine in a natural way - my hair doesn't look like a shiny wig.

- I've used it prior to apply gel or muse and works great.  Because my hair have its own demos, I like gels / muse with strong hold but sometimes hair ends feeling "crunchy".  This cream avoids the crunch effect without interfering with the other product.

- The smell is very nice.  I've tried to compare it to something - fruity or floral - but its something very neutral and gentle.

As to bad things, I have none to say yet.

In between: I could not find this item on the catalogs online, but my mom told me it was around $7, which is a reasonable price.

Today's pearl of wisdom: truth can be juicy contradiction - like Starburst

source

Give some luv to your flat iron!

Hi lovelies!
Today I want to share with you some tips I found here on how to take care of your flat iron.  This article came to me a little bit late, but better later than never.  I've had my Remington Wet2Dry flat iron for about 5 years.  She is my trusty baby, I love her, I really do. But sadly, have to admit that I (and my mom, sister in law, my bf, cousin, aunts) have used and abused her. After almost a month without getting my hair pimped, last week I decided to give it some love.  It was painful to realize that my flat iron...is freaking dying on me! It turned off by itself at least 4 times and takes forever to heat.  What it usually took me 25 min, became an hour. 

If you really love your flat iron, be good to her and follow this tips as you find them true and useful:

1. After using, once is cool; clean the blades. This avoids hairstyle products and natural hair oils build up.  I always did this, even more because I was not the only one who used it.

2. Warning: store it in a heat resistant bag. - I usually let it cool and store with with my blower and hair brushes

3. Another warning: beware of where you put your hot flat iron! they recommend to use a mat for your counter top. Luckily I haven't burn or melt anything :)

4. Do not wrap the cord around the barrel - I always do that, maybe that's why she is dying on me.

5. Lastly, turn it off while not using it - this nor only for safety reasons, but to save energy too :)

If you have other tips on how to take care of you styling tools; share it in the comments. Also, recommendations for a good & affordable flat iron will be well received!