Hair Archives - Embracing Beauty

Get Your Style Fix with Walgreens

April 2, 2016 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Post sponsored by Lunchbox. Opinions are 100% my own.

For the last five years, my kids have been top priority and my looks have gone to the back burner. I admit that I haven’t done much with my hair or clothing except on special occasions. It just didn’t seem possible to achieve the style I wanted while focusing on being a mom and I always resorted to a pony tail or a braid if I wanted to get really fancy. But what if it was actually pretty simple to get all dolled up and look cute quickly all while staying within your budget? It’s possible! I’m living proof. Whether your style is bouncy curls, smooth straight strands, or you simply need to add some more shine, you can find all the products you need at Walgreens.com/GetYourStyleFix. And make sure to check out the sale we have shared with you below for some April savings on these products!

Here are some directions for a textured look that is really quite simple to achieve! It is perfect for my morning routine as the kids are waking up, and a bonus that I don’t have to have a hot hair tool out as they run around.

Texture:
1. Cleanse & Condition with TRESemmé® Moisture Rich Shampoo and Conditioner.
2. Prep hair for styling by applying Nexxus® Diametress Lavish Body Gel Spray to towel-dried hair.
3. Style hair by making a few loose braids and letting it air dry. Then, remove braids and tousle hair with your hands.
4. Finish the look with Nexxus® Comb Thru Touchable Hold Finishing Mist.
Tip: Revive your look with Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo. (I’m loving this stuff!)

And guess what?! There’s a great sale going on at Walgreens from 4/3/2016 – 4/30/2016. You will get 2,000 points when you buy any THREE (3) of participating TRESemme, Dove, Nexxus or Suave products with card.*

Looking for volume? Walgreens has put together a short video with steps on how to achieve a voluminous look. This is next on my list of styles to try!

*Offer good 4/3/2016 – 4/30/2016. Excludes trial size. Due to state and federal laws, points cannot be earned or redeemed on some items, and points will not be earned in a transaction where store credit or redemption dollars are used. See full terms and details at Walgreens.com/Balance.

Filed Under: Hair Tagged With: Tresemme, Walgreens

Save on Suave at CVS! Plus $50 gift card giveaway!

March 2, 2016 by Ashley 49 Comments

Sponsored post by Lunchbox. All opinions are my own.

Am I the only one who loves a new shampoo? The smell, the luxurious lather, the smooth shiny hair. I love it, love it! Suave Professionals has a new shampoo and conditioner that I am crazy about. They’re both infused with coconut oil. If you’re like me and needed a new shampoo give this a try and stop by CVS soon to save BIG on it!!

How can you save?
If you’re visiting CVS between 2/28 and 3/5/16, stop by the hair care section and get $4 ExtraBucks Rewards when you spend $12 on participating Suave Professional products—and take advantage of a few other offers to help you restore your hair to its full, shiny glory!

Additional offer from 2/28 – 3/5, buy 1, get 1 50% off with card on participating Suave products.

Check your local paper on 2/28 for more additional savings on Suave products at a CVS near you.

What’s new?
Suave is always been a good option to take your hair to the next level! And now Suave is introducing a new line that’s really exciting, especially for those who love coconut oil in their beauty regimens.

Suave Professionals Coconut Oil Infusion products are now at your local CVS. You’ve probably heard people singing the praises of coconut oil for tons of different at-home spa treatments—and that reputation is fully earned because this stuff definitely nourishes. Discover the weightless wonder of perfectly moisturized hair, with a product that is salon proven to repair damage as well as Ojon Damage Reverse…but at a fraction of the price.

Suave Professionals Coconut Oil Infusion Damage Repair Shampoo:
• -Gently cleanses while delivering lightweight moisture.

Suave Professionals Coconut Oil Infusion Damage Repair Conditioner:
• – Moisturizes without weighing hair down for visible damage repair in just three uses.

Suave Professionals Coconut Oil Infusion Damage Repair Shampoo & Conditioner:
• – Visibly repairs damage in just three uses and provides weightless moisture for luscious, healthy-looking hair.
• – Is salon-proven to repair damage as well as Ojon Damage Reverse (*Ojon, Damage Reverse and Rare Blend are registered trademarks of Ojon Corporation)

Grab these new invigorating Suave Professional Coconut Oil products from 2/28/16- 3/5/16 and get $4 ExtraBucks Rewards when you spend $12 on participating Suave Professional products.

How to Win the Giveaway – $50 CVS gift card
Visit CVS.com/YourStyleYourWay to check find out which regimen you would like to try and that best suits you! Then to enter the contest, comment below and tell me what your hair type is (curly, straight, frizzy, dry, etc.).

Filed Under: Hair Tagged With: cvs, Hair, Suave

TRESemme Reverse Wash + CVS Deal

January 26, 2016 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Post sponsored by Lunchbox. Opinions are 100% my own.

While it may be challenging to keep up with all of the trends out there, there’s a brand new one that you’ll definitely want to try called reverse washing by TRESemme. Instead of the standard shampoo then condition, you condition then shampoo. Crazy, right? That way, you’re washing away the weight and giving your hair some enviable va-va-volume.

The new TRESemme Beauty-Full Volume collection is made especially to give you more volume by flipping the cleansing process.

Step 1: Condition first to soften
The TRESemmé Beauty-Full Volume Pre-Wash Conditioner reinforces the hair’s natural protective layer using the Fiber Polishing technology. It protects the hair during ashing to leave it smooth and polished. It’s even safe for color-treated hair!
Step 2: Shampoo to wash away weight
The TRESemmé Beauty-Full Volume Shampoo gently cleanses and removes excess weight from hair leaving an ultra-light conditioning layer on the surface of the hair. Your hair has bounciness and volume, along with static control. This step is also safe for color-treated hair
Step 3: Style to complete the look
All of these are optional steps which help you customize your beauty routine.
– The TRESemmé Beauty-Full Volume Hair Maximizer contains Fleximax Volumizers and Fiber Polishing Actives to provide bounce, frizz control, smoothness and manageability. It’s a revolutionary approach to styling used pre-blow dry to give lift and a touchable finish.
– The TRESemmé Beauty-Full Touchable Bounce Mousse uses Fleximax Volumizers to create root lift and light hold and leaves hair with a touchable bounce.
– The TRESemmé Beauty-Full Flexible Finish Hairspray is an ultra-fine spray that holds the finished style and provides a professional, flexible finish maintaining the hair’s natural movement and softness

This process creates a salon-quality experience at home! My hair is generally limp and stick straight and I was surprised that it actually did give my hair body!

Try it for yourself today by picking up products from TRESemme’s NEW Reverse Wash System, available at CVS, and take advantage of a great offer where you’ll get $5 ExtraBucks Rewards when you spend $15 on participating TRESemme products, WITH CARD.

Get $5 ExtraBucks Rewards at CVS when you spend $15 on participating TRESemme products: *Offer Valid WITH CARD 1/31/16 – 2/6/16. ExtraBucks Rewards offer limit of 1 per household WITH CARD.

Visit CVS.com/YourStyleYourWay for additional hair care inspiration.

Filed Under: Hair Tagged With: cvs, Hair, Tresemme

The Best Ways to Air Dry Hair

July 17, 2014 by Ashley 25 Comments

The experts at Mèche Salon agree that one of the best ways to keep hair healthy and frizz-free is avoiding hot tools. Mèche Salon‘s highly sought-after stylists have given us their best tips for going tool-free and embracing air dried hair.

Oribe

From Guy Riggio:

The Deva Towel works well for getting excess moisture out. For girls with coarse curly hair, I recommend applying Oribe Super Shine Moisturizing Cream because it’s thick and rich. Apply through hair from root to tip focusing on ends. Crunch hair with hands and let dry. For girls with wavy, medium to fine hair, I recommend applying a small amount of Living Proof’s Thinkening Cream. Twist hair into a knot on top of the head (if you have bangs leave them out off the bun). Once dry let down and finger it into place. This look creates a very carefree beach look that is one of my favorites.

From Alessandra Saman:

I advise using Crème for Style by Oribe on towel dried hair. If you have wavy hair, twist product into ends with fingers. Shake hair out the next morning for tousled, sexy bed head. I also like to spray a little Bumble and Bumble Salt Spray and air dry. Next day, flip hair upside down and spray Texture Spray by Oribe for body. If products are too pricy, leave a little daily conditioner in your hair when washing and don’t rinse all the way out.

From Jasmin Robles:

I would recommend while washing hair to use a thick conditioning mask, rinse well after and towel dry hair by gently tapping hair to squeeze water out. A cotton t-shirt is a great way to dry hair without creating frizz. Comb hair with a wide tooth comb and add a bit of leave-in cream, conditioner, or serum. If hair is straight, use less product to no product from midshaft to ends. Put hair up in a bun or loose braid and let dry to create waves. You can also leave hair in its natural part and tuck front pieces behind ears while air drying to create loose, face framing waves.

Some helpful products to use when air-drying are Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, Oribe Super Shine Light Moisturizing Cream, Moroccan Oil and Redken Cooling Deep Conditioner for all hair types.

From Katsumi Kasai:

During the summer it’s better to apply products on damp, towel dry hair than blow drying because humidity will end up ruining your look. Products really depend on your hair type. Corse hair should use oil based products like argon, coconut or tsubaki oil. For frizzy hair, I recommend hair creams and anti-frizz products like shea butter or leave in conditioner. Those with fine hair should use minimum products or sparingly use anti frizz balm or beach spray. Straight hair should use small amount of oil and leave in conditioner to ends. For all hair types, it’s best to keep towel use to a minimum; I suggest patting hair dry rather than wrapping hair up as this creates frizz.

From Jesse Montana:

When air-drying, I recommend using a hydrating conditioner like Inphenom’s Rinse Out Hair Treatment. Oribe’s Moisture and Control shampoo and conditioner are great for prepping unruly or curly hair for air-drying. Using a good amount of cream, oil or both depending on texture is always good for air drying hair too. I love prepping hair with Davine’s Sea Salt Primer at the root. Then for fine to medium hair, use a nickel size amount of cream or oil like Oribe’s Supershine Cream. Medium to coarse should use Oribe’s Supershine Cream mixed with Oribe’s Gold Lust. Wavy/curly hair should make sure to have enough product in hair so you hear it squish to avoid the hair from frizzing out from air drying. For fine hair with no texture, twist small/medium sections into spiral curls with the product prepped and let it air dry to create waves.

Filed Under: Hair

Meet with Walgreens’ Beauty Advisors + Giveaway

July 1, 2014 by Ashley 51 Comments

This post is brought to you by Lunchbox PR, opinions are all my own.

Would you like for your hair color to last longer? Then pull out your calendar and make plans to join Nexxus® for an exclusive Saturdate at Walgreens on July 12th!

Select Walgreens locations will have beauty advisors standing by ready and willing to give out summer hair color tips and $3 coupons (to use on ANY Nexxus® products)! It’s one day only, July 12, 2014 from 10 am – 5 pm.

Nexxus® believes that truly beautiful hair requires a deeper approach and that’s why Nexxus® Color Assure locks in protects color so your hair is vibrant 2x longer. Get brilliant hair all summer long with Nexxus®.

Enter to win a $50 Walgreens Gift Card (to buy Nexxus® and any other beauty products your little heart desires).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end on Monday, July 9th, at 11:59PM EST, and the randomly selected winners will be announced later in the week.

Filed Under: Hair

$3 Coupon for ANY Nexxus Hair Product!

September 19, 2013 by Ashley 1 Comment

Right now, when you visit this link, you can print a $3 coupon for any Nexxus hair product! These coupons are pretty rare so print this now if you think you’ll be buying new hair products soon. Don’t forget to hit the back button to print it twice.

Filed Under: Hair

Restoring Your Skin, Hair, and Nails After Chemotherapy

February 12, 2013 by Ashley 13 Comments

Today I got a note from one of our readers named Wendy. She said,

“I have breast cancer and I just got done with chemo, I was just hoping you could help me with some products that I could use for my skin and nails. Thank you!”

Wendy,

I have a good friend who is now half way through her treatments for breast cancer and it just breaks my heart. It’s a shame that anyone has to go through this. I have to say that seeing her strength, courage, and dependence on the Lord through this time is an encouragement to me. Congratulations on staying strong and finishing chemo!!! We all know that isn’t an easy accomplishment. Thank you for writing and I’ll do my best to answer your question.

God Bless,

Ashley

Chemo can wreck havoc on your skin, hair, and nails but there are a few things you can do to help take care of yourself before, during, or after chemo.

Avoid long, hot showers that dry out your skin.
Drink a lot of water.
Use creams instead of lotions. Apply right after you shower and before bed. Reapply cream each time after you wash your hands.
Massage cream into your nails and nail beds to help promote healthy cuticles and regrowth.
Wear gloves when you wash the dishes or are around other chemicals to avoid an infection.
Use an oily polish remover to avoid drying out your nails even further.
Avoid hand creams with alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acids.
Push back cuticles rather than cutting them.
If you notice an infection around your nails consult with your doctor who could give you a few different prescription options.
For dry brittle nails, use Nailtiques Formula 2 Plus. It goes on like a polish but it’s a nail protein. It helps smooth ridges, stop splitting, strengthens nails and helps them grow. You can use it daily until you get the results you want and then once a week. It’s expensive but I personally swear by this stuff! {I’ve also heard that Nail Envy by OPI works well. It’s even more costly though!}
Because your immune system is likely to be compromised by treatment, try to avoid any injury to the nails or cuticles that might lead to infection. If you must have your nails done professionally you should make your manicurist aware of this.
Ask your doctor first and if allowed try taking a prenatal vitamin. They are known to do wonders for hair and nails.
Eat a well-balanced diet and make sure you’re getting plenty of protein and iron.
If your skin is very dry, use an ammonium lactate cream to help increase moisture retention. These creams are available over-the-counter as well as by prescription.
Some chemotherapy drugs make skin more susceptible to sunburn. Use a sunblock with at least an SPF 30 and choose one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Use gentle fragrance-free soaps and laundry detergent.

Here are some other great beauty resources worth checking out:

www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org
This is a free, national public service program dedicated to teaching women cancer patients beauty techniques to help restore their appearance and self-image during cancer treatment. Trained beauty professionals teach beauty techniques in skin care, make-up, hair care and nail care. There program also includes demonstrations in the use of wigs, hats, turbans and scarf-tying techniques. Look Good Feel Better is sponsored by the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association, The American Cancer Society and the National Cosmetology Association.
www.shopwellwithyou.org
A body image resource for women surviving cancer including suggestions on what to wear and a clothing and accessory directory.

Filed Under: Hair, Nails, Skincare Tagged With: beauty, Cancer, Chemo, Tips

Lilla Rose Hair Jewelry Review

April 30, 2012 by Ashley 2 Comments

I love jewelry. I love hair accessories. I love sparkly things. What can I say, I’m a girly girl! Have you heard of Lilla Rose? I hadn’t either until I was approached to review one of their hair clips. They are like jewelry pieces for your hair.

Lilla Rose’s most popular item is their beautiful Flexi Hair Clip. They also sell hairbands, bobby pins, hair sticks, and O rings.

I love my Flexi-Clip!

You can use the Flexi-Clip to style your hair at least eight different ways. I can’t believe how many different styles and sizes of Flexi Clips are possible that even I can do. Amazing! To help you find which size works well for your hair and your hair style of choice check out this helpful Flexi-Clip video.

Aren’t the details simply beautiful!

Before I had my darling little girl I had a lot of really fine hair, however, since then my hair has thinned quite a bit. I have a medium Flexi clip and it’s perfect for a pony tail and a full twist. Surprisingly it even held in well with the half up hairstyle pictured above. I love how simple it is to use. I’m embarrassingly bad at attempting any up-do besides a ponytail and this was a piece of cake. Seriously. It doesn’t pull my hair or feel like it’s falling out constantly like barrettes do. It’s comfortable to wear and looks elegant. I’m convinced that Lilla Rose products are simply fabulous and I’ll be adding additional Flexi-Clips to my wish list!

Filed Under: Hair Tagged With: Lilla Rose, Live Simply, Review

How to Get Wavy Hair

March 1, 2012 by Ashley 1 Comment

My hair is as straight as a board so I’m always looking for a new way to curl my hair. It may be because it reminds me of summer but lately, I’ve been in love with the wavy look. There are about a million different ways to curl your hair to achieve wavy locks but this five-step process has proven to work the best for me.

1. Use a curling iron that gets really hot.

2. Wrap hair around the curling iron and away from your face. Don’t use the clamp and hold it there for about 15 seconds.

3. Repeat this all over your head using small sections of hair.

4. Spray hair with a shine serum that has a little hold or a light hairspray that adds shine.

5. Scrunch hair to mess it up slightly so your curls look natural and not perfect!

Give it a try and let me know what you think or if you have any wavy hair suggestions please feel free to share them!

Filed Under: Hair, Tips Tagged With: beauty, Hair, Tips

Jonathan Gale’s Interview with Embracing Beauty

February 23, 2012 by Ashley 3 Comments

I am so excited to share with you an interview I had with a TOP hair colorist! Johnathan Gale is a colorist at Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon in LA. He was even voted US Magazine Hair Colorist of the Year! Johnathan Gale is a master of the art of hair coloring. He has had a successful career in both the UK and the US that includes high fashion editorials, high publicity advertising and celebrity clients. Johnathan has worked on advertising for Versace, L’Oreal, Calvin Klein, and Prada. He works with the likes of Charlize Theron, Diane Keaton, Keri Russell, Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt, Meg Ryan and Jennifer Garner. How incredible is it that he took time to have an interview exclusively for you?

1. What is a day in the life of Jonathan Gale like?

I am a morning person. The sun rises, the light shows up and I’m ready for action. I have a lot of well-being intentions I start with when I wake. I sleep really well and like to remind myself to be of service and of deep gratitude for this life.

I love to walk often and hike in Runyon Canyon. I also like to just walk in my neighborhood then go work out at the gym. Stretching is key I have found.

I like to start work early. I am at the salon by 8:30am just as the staff begins laying flowers atop the pool within the Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon. I’m big on breakfast and begin thinking about lunch as soon as I’m done. If I’m en route to the airport or going to be on set or at the salon, I’m always looking for healthy food, juices and treats. I find that if I eat right, I’ll have energy for days.

I work in the salon four days a week. My first appointment might be with Debi Mazar, following by an afternoon with Amber Valetta. By the time Jennifer Love Hewitt or Ellen Pompeo comes in, the salon is really busy. All the actresses know each other, it’s a lot of fun and it almost feels as if I’m on a set.

Because it’s award season, it’s a particularly busy time of year because everyone is making sure they look their best for walking the red carpet.

I also spend a lot of time in communication with directors, making sure the characters these actresses are playing are going to be expressed correctly on screen.

I like to cram a lot into my days right now. I’m learning to play guitar and spending time with a composer, creating some joyful meditation music which is so much fun. I study well-being and am constantly learning how to express, create and play. My clients benefit from my playfulness.

All of this is what makes my days and my career so much fun.

2. How did your career begin in the world of beauty?

My career began at home, from my sister to all the neighbors on the street. From the age of 14, I was captivated by transforming the people around me. My first job in hair was at when I was 18 years old as an apprentice for Daniel Galvin and Jo Hansford in London Mayfair.

3. As one of the top color artists in the business, are there any celebrities whom you would still like to work with that you haven’t as of yet?

Madonna. I have some great ideas for her. I also really enjoy working with artists, so there are plenty people I would love the opportunity to create with.

4. What are some common hair mistakes that women make?

In my opinion, the biggest mistake women make is going too light. They just decide they’re bored with their color, decide to be another color and don’t take into consideration their eyebrow tone, their skin tone, eye color, eye setting, etc.

Instead, I like to make sure they get what they want by still achieving that light “feeling” without doing the standard light all over coloring. I take an artist’s approach. I like exotic features, therefore I like to enhance these modalities. Instead of changing someone, I like to take someone’s authenticity and just “bump it up a bit.”

5. What are your top suggestions for treating damaged hair?

The first thing you must do when treating damage hair is deal with the water you’re washing with. Buy a filter for your shower–your health will benefit also. This will help remove the harsh chemicals from your water and keep your hair in amazing shape.

The other suggestion for treating damaged hair is the realization that is takes a lot of effort. There is a myriad of products out there…get and use whatever you can find. Use them twice a week, be consistent, and your hair will benefit.

6. What do you suggest Embracing Beauty readers do to achieve the perfect frizz-free look everyday?

I love John Frieda’s arsenal of anti-frizz products. I also love Rene Furterer’s Fioravanti leave in detangler.

Filed Under: Hair Tagged With: beauty, Interview, Tips