Detox

It finally happened.

I bought the Drybar Detox dry shampoo.

And it was EVERYTHING I hoped it would be. You guys, Drybar rocks. Their products are amazing. The smell is unbeatable. I am stretching my washes further than I ever have.

I should probably consider changing the name of this blog to "We mostly talk about dry shampoo." That would be a little lengthy... and not entirely true... but I realize my obsession with finding the perfect one has gotten out of control in the past year.

But now... I can't honestly say that I think we've landed. For me anyways. I know smell is a personal thing and what I may see as amazing...someone else may see as mediocre. So there's that. But speaking for quality, this product is NOT lacking.

 

Here is the breakdown:

 

Pros

Extreme volume

Absorbs oil

Smells amazing

Smell lasts throughout day/night

 

Cons

$20-23 depending on where  you purchase

...that's it.

 

 

I have mentioned before that I feel like $20 and up seems to be a lot to spend on a product that you are using practically every day (and that may only last about a month), but I have to retract that statement for THIS product. It is worth every penny of not having to wash, blow dry and style my hair everyday. And THE SMELL. Yes please.

 

I have no idea why I waited so long. Don't make the same mistake I do.... get out there and buy this miracle spray, stat!

 

 

 

 

How To (not) Wash Your Hair

Happy Friday everyone!
In an effort to help everyone have an effortless weekend ahead, I'm going to share my most recent method of (not) washing my hair.

For those of you with short, styled 'dos, I totally understand the need to wash and style your hair daily. But for the folks out there like me, who have a mass of long hair, it is not only extremely inconvenient, but also damaging, to wash your hair daily.

Now, that's not to say that sometimes I don't wash my hair a few days in a row. Sometimes a combination of workout schedules and life events just do not allow for it! And that's just that. But on the days when I can wake up and refresh my hair- without taking the time to wash and dry- you bet I am on board.

I have posted several times about my quest to find the perfect dry shampoo. And, in case you are wondering, I still would highly recommend Batiste Dry Shampoo ($12), or for a lower price option, TreSemme Dry Shampoo ($4) works exceptionally well.

But, apparently I am never satisfied, because here is what happened. For a couple months now, every time I have visited my Beauty First location, they have been out of Batiste. So for awhile I was using the TreSemme Dry shampoo. And it serves its purpose. But I can't help but notice how it makes my  hair a little stiff and heavy- and just generally unmanageable. If I am not going to wash my hair, then I don't want it to look weighed down with product by the end of the day, either.

In an effort to save a little money, and not have to leave my apartment, I brushed in a little cornstarch to my roots with an old kabuki brush.

This is not a completely new concept to me, but last time I did it I was unimpressed with the result. So last week I found an article that talked about using cornstarch. Apparently I missed a key step-  the best way to apply is:

1) Sprinkle or brush cornstarch into roots (roots only!)

2) Let the cornstarch absorb any excess oil for a few minutes (previously missed this step!)

3) Massage into hair

4)Brush through hair until cornstarch is not visible.

And... ta da! My hair looks newly washed and there is no heavy residue. The only downside I can come up with is that you aren't getting a fresh, clean smell. However, I have no problem with a few sprays of body spray in the hair to take care of that problem. So, there.... not a problem anymore!

I would highly recommend this process as opposed to purchasing a dry shampoo. It can get expensive when you are buying a new bottle constantly. And cornstarch is typically less than a dollar. And it lasts forever.

For my brunette readers, doing half cornstarch, half cocoa powder will take care of that annoying white residue (and smells yummy!). I have heard that for red locks, cinnamon blends nicely as well.

Side note: I know a lot of people use baby powder, which is essentially the same concept. I, too, have used this method over the years. For me, the baby powder creates a ton of static that I cannot handle. I have no idea why,  but it's just not a great option for me!

Have a great weekend...not washing your hair!

Favorites (june) Edition

Oh no... a month has gone by and I've neglected this little corner of my world.

So much has been going on and it's been hard to keep up with normal life, however, I'm finally settling down and excited to share a few (random) things I am currently loving. 

1. Wet brush

Looks like a normal brush, right? Wrong. Look for that little "the Wet brush" logo. 

So when I went to Lark for my Blowout, the stylist used a Wet brush to comb my hair out post wash. If you have long hair, I feel like it's Hair 101 to know that combing it out with a brush is often a disaster. Maybe I am speaking for myself, but it creates more tangles and much more time. For that reason, when I saw her coming at me with a brush, I assumed disaster. Imagine my surprise when she effortlessly detangled my hair with this magical "Wet brush" device. I bought one shortly after and am still (confused) and amazed at how well it works. I have almost completely ditched my hair pick at this point. I don't know what their secret is.. it looks like a normal brush...but I'm telling you. I see these everywhere... I got mine at Beauty First. I've also seen them at Sally and they are on Amazon for a few dollars cheaper. Try it!

2. Batiste

I know I have already mentioned Batiste dry shampoo (and yes, it is still my current favorite) but last week I ventured out of my comfort zone and bought the "blonde" edition. As you can see, they have several shades to accommodate different hair colors. I am LOVING the blonde type, even more so than the original. It smells really good and it's nice to not worry about any white powder traces in your hair. 

I snapped this at Beauty First so you can see the options

3. Banhwich Cafe

AHHH. Sometimes it seems like if I am not talking about products, I am talking about food. And maybe it seems that way because it is that way. Guys, you have to go here. HAVE TO. If you haven't already. It is a north Lincoln spot that opened a few years ago. I went a couple times at random, and then quickly became addicted. Then I kind of forgot about it, then I went back and became re addicted to the point that I can hardly drive by without going there. This isn't a great review for the overall cafe because I always get the same thing... this delightfully spicy and full of flavor chicken sandwich. And bubble tea. Ohhh bubble tea. So much going on while drinking that stuff. It's just overwhelmingly great. My standard Banhwich meal featured below. And now my mouth is watering. 

Strawberry Bubble Tea 

4. Concerts

Easily one of my favorite parts about Summer is  the massive increase in outdoor concerts. It's overwhelming to the point that I have a concert listed nearly every weekend until September. Whether I will actually attend all of these is somewhat up in the air.. but I want to. The combination of country music and a Summer night is so hard to beat. 

David Nail 

Zac Brown Band 

Alright, thus ends just (a few) of my current favorites. We'll chat again soon!

Love, 

Dry Shampoo Wars

So, it turns out I have become obsessed with experimenting with dry shampoo. I have posted before about various dry shampoo products before... including non salon Suave products, Tigi Dirty Secret, straight up baking soda... I've been around the dry shampoo block a few times.

I have been using the Suave brand pretty religiously for over 6 months now because A) it smells so good and B) it works fairly good as well. But... I'm just over it. For whatever reason. I didn't feel like I was getting the results I needed and while I love how it smells, that's not a good enough reason anymore.

Enter my new experiments...

Last week I purchased it's a 10 Dry Shampoo and Conditioner in One. The sales rep recommended it as her favorite dry shampoo, and I take product recommendations seriously.

Honestly, I didn't read anything about the product. She said it smelled good (selling point) and worked wonders for her. 

So..here's my take. The first day, my hair seemed super shiny, but already a little greasy. I admit, it smelled great though! However that is not the job of a dry shampoo. Day two... we had a situation on our hands. And not a good one. Why did it look like I dipped my head in cooking oil?! Emergency hair wash. It's a 10 fail. 

So...here's the deal. I neglected to read that there is keratin in this product. Keratin, while a wonderful product, does not work for me. It makes my hair greasy and static-y...AND my naturally wavy hair wont hold a curl to save it's life when under the influence of keratin. 

So...if you have SUPER dry hair...this might be for you. I simply cannot do it and will never buy this product again. It's also a little bit pricey (I paid close to $22) and the combination of these qualities just did not work out for me. Sorry it's a 10... I LOVE your other products, but unfortunately this is not one of them. 

I hate to be negative. Okay, time to bring in the good stuff. 

Oh...my. Sometimes all it takes is a product that does WHAT IT SAYS it does to get me excited. I'm so lame sometimes and I'll be the first to call myself out. Ladies (and gentleman..maybe?) this needs to be your next dry shampoo purchase. Trust me!

I am on day 3 (and that means of no washing for those of you who aren't following) and here are a few of my results...

1. Non greasy hair

2. Clean, fresh & light scented

3. Extra volume (yes please!)

4. Added texture

Best of all...I paid $12 for this. That is almost half of the other product. Kind of... math isn't my strong point. BUT..I noticed this was listed at $8 for a lot of online retailers. Even better!! 

I am ecstatic about this stuff. Easily my favorite dry shampoo...ever. 

Don't judge me, but I might even push the limits and see what Day 4 brings. Wish me luck! 

*For those of you who are curious, YES... I still shower. It's called a shower cap, people. I didn't abandon basic hygiene. 

Do yourself a favor and get out there and get a bottle of Batiste! Also... they make it in color specifics. I haven't tried it yet but that might be next. I love it!

Stay tuned for a recap of the best blow out I have had (thus far!) and more exciting reviews! 

Happy Thursday!

XOXO, 

Happy Heart

I am writing this post through tired eyes... but I am smiling.
This weekend I decided to go visit an old friend in Iowa. It seemed a little ridiculous that we hadn't seen each other in SIX YEARS, and given that she is only about 4 hours away, I decided it was time.

To put this in to perspective, we met at church camp as Jr. High girls. We kept in touch with LETTERS for years. Yes, folks, LETTERS. The letters transitioned to emails, and, eventually we kept in touch through Facebook. Anyways, Emily holds a special place in my heart as she is so wonderful and dear to me.

There is something extremely comforting and wonderful about spending time with an old friend. We laughed, shopped, ate, discussed make up tips and tricks, shopped some more, LAUGHED some more, (ate some more), and just had a fantastic time.

Luckily, Emily shares my love for products and make up so we spent a lot of time "being girls."

I am so thankful for this weekend and that I was able to spend time with this wonderful person!

*UPDATE*
Emily let me borrow her SUAVE dry shampoo, and so it is necessary that I make an update to the Dry Shampoo post. Ok... this stuff is $2.50. And AMAZING. It smells SO good. I couldn't get enough. I typically don't promote drugstore  brands for haircare, but I can't tell a difference between this and a salon Dry Shampoo. I hate to say it, but this may be even better than the cornstarch alternative. We of course RAN to Target so I could purchase my own bottle.

I HIGHLY suggest this. 

Stay tuned for some of my other makeup discoveries from this weekend...

Dirty Hair? Dry Shampoo!

Hey ya'll!
I spent most of last week/weekend in sunny Phoenix visiting my aunt...and it was fabulous. Seriously wonderful. Had a great time, met lots of people, and took relaxing to a new level. In fact,  I may have been slightly depressed to return to Nebraska...especially since I took a 30 degree cut in temperature. So VERY thankful for the time I got to spend with my aunt! I can't wait to get back there again....

So, in the week since I've been back, it seems like I have been trying to play catch up. And when you are playing catch up, the first thing that goes out the door is washing your hair (ok, maybe thats just me.) Um... gross. I know, but seriously. This brings me to one of my favorite inventions ever. DRY SHAMPOO.

This is typically my go-to for dry shampoo. It's TIGI-Rockaholic "Dirty Secret".  For those of you who are completely oblivious to this amazing invention, dry shampoo is typically used for Day 2 and 3 hair that you haven't washed. It absorbs oil, and leaves hair looking refreshed. It also smells great!

I typically spray the product in my bangs and roots area, let it sit for a minute or so, and then comb through and shake it out. And..tada.. fresh hair! No wash. So, my problem with this stuff? It is like $20 a bottle. Which is fine and dandy, but I could blow through a bottle in a week or two. Um, I don't have time or money to be replacing this stuff that often.

After doing some research, I heard that CORNSTARCH is often used for absorbing oil in both hair and skin. So, basically, I just went for it. I poured a little cornstarch in a bowl, grabbed my kabuki brush and swirled it around, and just started dabbing it in the "typical" areas of concern. Anyways, this works like a dream. Seriously, I highly doubt I will buy another bottle of dry shampoo EVER when I can buy a box of cornstarch for like 79 cents.

Now, I did a little experiment, and went 3 days without washing my hair. I used the cornstarch to refresh my hair after I bathed, and it went very well. I didn't try to curl my hair or anything during this time period, I simply wore it down and straight (and on day 3 I went for the sock bun!)  So, if you have any major styling you want to do, you may need to wash your hair.

Next time you need a quick pick me up, but don't have time for a wash, check your pantry. Cornstarch is a fantastic sub for dry shampoo. Yay!