Pull My Hair

Yesterday I was having a prettay good hair day. So, I got inspired to write. As you know from my previous posts, I'm a girly girl when it comes to beauty supplies. I love them. Can't live without them. But I've learned to live without the expensive salon brands, and I have a new found love for less-expensive drugstore brands like Tresemme (I don't care what they say "used by professionals". No. My hairdresser does not use this and she is a damn professional. By 'professionals' they mean, 'for those who love good hair products but can't afford to buy the fancy stuff'. Yup, that's it.) Picking up from my previous post, Gynecologists and Hairdressers, about shampoo and conditioner, today I'll be walking you through the longest  journey of my ' getting ready routine.' That is, doing my hair. Hopefully you'll learn something.

If you're an actual dedicated, faithful reader to this blog, you already know what comes before doing my hair. If you don't, your slackin'. It goes shower, face, lotion....HAIR!

Step One: De-Tangle That Mess
I am all about doing everything I can to preserve my hair. I go to a professional to highlight/dye it. I want to keep my hair strong. Mostly because I love my long hair (although its so tempting to cut it!!), and the only way it will continue to grow is if I keep it healthy. After I've walked around like Erykah Badu for a bit, the first thing I do is spray Garnier Fructis Daily Care Silky Secret Leave-In for Normal Hair (ha, normal, yea right.) before I comb my hair.
What it says it does: Conditions & detangles for silky softness, root to tip. Its proven to strengthen your hair, make it shinier, and make it 'touchably soft'

What it ACTUALLY does: It detangles for sure! Thank goodness because there is nothing like starting your day by hitting some nasty ass knot and having to yank out a chunk of your hair (otherwise you'd be starting a new hair style, its called 'comb-in-hair') Silky and Shiny? mm, not so much. Touchably Soft? Oh yes. Please touch it. Tip: Every girl can relate here; unless I'm asking you to touch my hair, do not touch it. Which pretty much means unless you are my boyfriend or my hairdresser..do..not..touch.

Step Two: Pump Up The Volume
I'm cursed/blessed with naturally stick straight hair. This is great because I don't have to spend hours with the straightener frying my hair. I just blow dry it..and it lays there....with no volume. I don't want to look like a slick head, so I use mousse (if you have naturally flat, straight, or oily hair...don't use a gel. It just progresses your problems.) Currently I'm using Tresemme 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse.

What it says it does: plumps hair giving it ultimate body and bounce that will last through the day.
What it ACTUALLY Does: This bad boy WORKS...for about 12 hrs. Honestly, it really does work though. Gives me just the right amount of volume. Think 'I just got dirty in bed' look, not '80's throwback' look. I do happen to notice though, that after awhile, my hair almost gets immune to products. That is why I NEVER use the same product twice in a row. As soon as I'm done with this one, I'll go try out another brand. When I first start using a product, my hair is noticeably more va-voom.

Step Three: Protection!
I see so many women walking around with fried, frizzy, damaged hair (and you wonder why it doesn't grow...) Now I can't sit over here and tell you I have no split ends, no frizzies, no damage...but I can tell you have less because I protect my hair when using hot tools. You say you don't use a straightener? That's fine. Do you use a curling iron? I bet 90% of you use a hair dryer...thats a hot tool! I spray on Tresemee Thermal Creations Heat Tamer before I use any hot tool. Before I blow dry. Spray. Before I straighten my pesky bangs. Spray.
What it says it does: Protects against heat and friction to keep your hair shiny and incredibly soft.
What it ACTUALLY does: I can't say that it is a 100% reliable, but my hair is soft, and not as damaged as those ladies who don't use protection.

Step Four: HOLD
Obviously I blow dry my hair..and straighten my bangs..and then hairspray. Some days I use it. Some days I don't. If my bangs have a mind of their own, they need to be punished. I use Aussie Aussome Volume Hairspray.
What it says it does: locks your volumized look into place.
What it ACTUALLY does: see above.

Protect you hair ladies! Make it strong. Less hair in your brushes and in the drain (cause that's nastayyy.)

Gynecologists and Hairdressers

I hope I'm not wrong to assume that hygiene is a top priority for you. Yes, we all have our 'I don't feel like showering days', but other than the 'you and your sweatpants have a hot date with the couch' days, we generally like to be clean. Right? Right.

Spoiled Alert!
When I was living back home, the only shampoo and conditioner I would use was something from the salon. I was taught that drugstore brands were not good for your hair (which, there are some which are not, eh-hem, Pantene). Having this thought in my head, I continued to want to buy these products when I was in college because, come on, what girl would want her hair to look bad?! I was also spoiled with body washes. The fact that I had a connection with a Bath and Body Works manager did not help. The thought of using a body wash other than BBW? EW!

...and then I started living on my own. The money that I was normally using to buy my expensive shower products was now going towards food for not only myself, but my boyfriend to eat. As I said earlier, I pay for the groceries...and I don't think he would appreciate if I spent all my money on salon products. I had to give them up, and this was hard. But I did it! I'm using drugstore brands. I'm picky, but I found some products that I actually love.

Shampoo & Conditioner
I used to use: Redken Blonde Glam, Big Sexy Hair
Why?: Because every since I can remember I've been going to salons to get my hair done. I'm not talking about Hair Clips. I'm talking about boutique salons where you pay $150 to $200 for a haircut/color. I learned expensive hair = must use expensive products.

Now, I use: Tresemme Color Protection, Herbal Essence Color Me Happy

Why?: Because I need something to protect that $150 haircut/color. That is one thing I'm not willing to sacrifice on (I just don't get it done as often). Here is how I see it: There are two people in life that when you find a good one, you stick with them; your gynecologist and your hairdresser. 

Body Wash/Soap
I used to use: Bath and Body Works Body Wash
Why?: I had the hook-up. and they smell soooooo gooood. I would get a new scent each season...

Now, I use: Hotel Soap (no joke)
Why?: (Props to my father, who started this one) Its free. My dad travels a lot and literally has a stock pile, so we were given some. So, it may not smell like Warm Vanilla Sugar, but it does the job its supposed to do. Sometimes really nice hotels even give out Aveda soaps (now those smell good!)
Secret: When I have a coupon, sometimes I still treat myself to a BBW Body Wash :)

Other money saving tricks: 

• buy men's razors. I swear they do a better job, last longer, and are cheaper (because men don't care if their razor is purple one week, and pink the next, or that it's scented. Yes, I said scented. I once bought razors that were 'tropical' scented. If you're seriously smelling your razor, please find help.)
• If you live with your man, use his shaving cream. Believe it or not, it works on a woman just the same. Hmm..who would have thought?! Afraid of smelling like a man? By aloe infused Barbasol. Smells fresh, its cheap, and it prevents razor burn! YES!
• Go shop at Ulta!! This was my happy place when I wanted to buy new shampoo and other hair products...and it still is!! Although Ulta has all these higher priced salon products, they still sell Herbal Essences, etc. I could get it at Jewel, but it is about the same price (sometimes less) and honestly carrying an Ulta bag makes me happier than a ugly brown Jewel bag. You also get rewards ($$ off) for your purchases if you  have a Ulta Club Card. 

If you haven't noticed yet, I'm kind of a girly-girl when it comes to beauty products/hair care, so this won't be the last of my budget-beauty product suggestions.