Hair powders

Regarding a previous post on hair volume, someone asked me to develop more on hair powders — which are the best, what's the consistency like and how well do they work.

Well, I've chosen three of my favourites to compare. First of all, I should really address the major concern when it comes to these products — do they really disappear on the hair? Yes, they do! Even though the consistency may change between them and some require a bit more work to massage it in, they do vanish quite easily.
They're fairly easy to apply, as well. Just dust a bit of powder directly on the roots and massage it in. Voilà!

Let's start with label.m Resurrection Style Dust. In terms of texture it's the least sticky from the bunch. The actual consistency reminds me of fine table salt and has to be worked in a bit more carefully. It provides body and consistency too, not just volume. I'd recommend this particular product to normal/coarse hair types, since it has to be worked in a bit more.
Second in line is L'Oréal Professionnel tecni.art Super Dust, a very fine powder — reminds me of powdered sugar, actually. It's very sticky, so it creates loads of texture even in fine, slippery hair. The best quality of this product is the foolproof application. If it's your first time trying something like this or, if you don't get on too well with styling products, this is for you! Also provides an unbelievable matte texture.
To finish up, let me introduce you to the very hyped up — for good reason — Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Dust It. This is a great all rounder. If you're a professional, add this in your kit. It'll work great on all hair types, it's very buildable and allows you to control the amount of volume and texture you put in. It's very fine, not as fine as Super Dust, but still... Plus, offers a lot of body and feels like there's more hair "naturally".
So, pick the right one for you and start rocking that big messy hair!

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Hair colour | Grey hair

Even though I make an arduous effort to hide it, I'm going to reveal it here: I'm going grey. And no, it's not a recent event. In fact, my first grey hair made an appearance when I was eleven. Soon after, the rest of the crew followed. At the moment, besides those scattered strands, I have a full-on Stacy London-esque grey section of hair, on the front.

I thought that having blunt bangs would help to prolong the interval between colourings, and it did at first, but as the grey section expanded it's territory, it managed to conquer the top hairs in my fringe, becoming perfectly visible.
Having dry hair and being sensitive to dyes — and yes, I do use products like INOA — the four-week period between camouflage jobs was short enough for my capillary health, so I was determined to find temporary solutions to continue to mask my secret until the next root touch-up.

I found quite a number of solutions for this issue: sprays, powders, creams... Some perform better than others, but I didn't find the perfect formula just yet.
When it comes to sprays/coloured dry shampoos and powders, they're not ideal unless you benefit from the matte effect they provide. In my case, they make my hair look dull and the coverage is way too sheer for my dark brunette mane.

The creamy formulas that come in a tube form and usually carry a spooly or a doe foot applicator, provide a better finish compared to powders. The one I'm using at the moment is L'Action Cosmetique Bye Bye Grey Hair in Dark Brown. Apply it directly to grey roots and wait a few minutes to dry. I like to brush it carefully afterwards, so it looks more natural (less crispy). FYI, it only lasts until your next shower and not 3 to 10 days, as stated in the label. The coverage is medium to full, depending on the shade.

I'm hoping to find a better formula in the the near future — I'll keep you posted.
Until then, will continue to use this cover-up during the last couple of weeks that precede the next colouring.

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Empties #4 | Hair care edition

Another empties edition, this time featuring solely hair care products.
Starting with the most basic — washing — let me introduce a scalp saviour that I discovered last summer: Redken Scalp Relief Soothing Balance Shampoo. The Scalp Relief range offers different solutions for specific scalp concerns, like excess oil production, dandruff or sensitivity. The latter was a condition I had to deal with ASAP.
Often during summer months, my skin (including scalp) becomes more sensitive. So, I carefully choose delicate formulas to wash and condition, avoiding strong fragrances. This gentle shampoo cleanses effectively, while soothing and relaxing the scalp. The creamy blend of eucalyptus and liquorice extracts has a soft and relaxing scent.

I haven't used TIGI S-Factor Smoothing Conditioner for a while, and forgot how great it was. The texture is incredibly creamy and thick. In fact, it is so thick that if you have the regular 250ml pumpless bottle, you know how hard it is to push the product out near the end.
What I really appreciate in the S-Factor range, compared to Bed Head, is the use of more grown-up and delicate fragrances. They're not subtle by any means, just more refined. In this case, it's supposed to have an asian pear and papaya aroma, but it reminds me of strawberry sweets, for some reason. The result is instantly conditioned and smoothed down locks, with increased shine levels. It's very effective in calming frizzy hair, like mine, and helps to reduce fly-aways. The formula with avocado and jojoba oils nourishes hair and provides manageability.

Again from TIGI S-Factor, I used up these Health Factor Extreme Moisture Therapy 10ml bottles. I believe this product is discontinued now, but I managed to find it here and here. It was a gift with purchase with another S-Factor item, so I didn't know what to expect.
Haven't used it long enough to notice long term benefits, though I did notice that it helped increasing hydration levels, making it a good primer for other conditioning products.
The quantity applied depends on the texture, density and length of hair. I used half a bootle at a time, on towel-dried hair, and combed it through. This leave-in spray treatment repairs and nourishes damaged hair, while improving it's elasticity and protecting hair from future damage.

Obviously, I finished another bottle of hair oil. I believe this was the second bottle of L'Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil I've used up. A lightweight formula that absorbs quickly and it's suited for all hair types, making it ideal to use on dry hair.
I apply a few pumps starting from the ends — where I want the most product — and work it through the lengths as well. This formula with avocado and grape seed oils provides a shiny and softer result, adding a healthy look. Depending on your hair type and density, you can apply a few pumps before and after blow-drying and whenever your locks are feeling a bit lackluster.

Finally, a product that you can't neglect, especially if you're addicted to heat styling. If you are, welcome to the club. We have tea on Thursdays.
Last December, when I purchased my first ghd straighteners, I thought I'd give ghd Heat Protect Spray a go. And I'm really glad I did.
The packaging is sleek and beautiful — I can't hide the fact that I do fall for packaging — and it sprays such a fine, light mist that feels like you have absolutely nothing on your hair. Doesn't weigh down or leave any sort of residue or build-up. Perfect. Smells really good, too. Not a strong, lingering scent, which is ideal in my eyes, since at that stage in my routine I already applied a cocktail of different products with distinct fragrances.
This spray protects against the heat from dryers, curling wands and straighteners and can be used in damp or dry hair. Do comb it through afterwards, to distribute the product evenly. I miss having this spray, but I really need to finish two other thermal protectors before repurchasing this. I'm really trying to resist...

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Hair routine | Straight & sleek

If you know me, you'll know that I only wear my hair straight or with loose curls/waves. But if it's winter, than it's probably pin straight.
Now, my hair is not straight and sleek naturally, in fact I have large curls, a lot of volume and a lot of hair. But it's really frizzy in texture and, having a dry scalp, I also have dry hair. So, yeah... it takes a few hours to tame this unruly head of hair. Here's how I do it.

If my scalp is extra dry or sensitive, I start by applying a few drops of the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Essential Drops Relaxing Blend directly on my scalp, with the help of the pipette embedded in the lid (there's a purifying one for normal to oily scalps, as well). I gently massage it with my fingers, distributing the oil evenly, and let it process for at least 10 minutes.
After that time, I wash my hair with Kérastase Nutritive Bain Oléo-Relax Smoothing Shampoo or Redken Scalp Relief Soothing Balance Shampoo, depending on what needs more TLC that day – the hair or the scalp.
For moisture and nourishment, I apply a mask like Goldwell DualSenses Rich Repair 60 Sec Treatment – when I'm a hurry, usually on week days – or Redken All Soft Heavy Cream – when I'm more relaxed, specially since this one takes longer to process (from 5 to 15 minutes), but it's one of my all time faves. I always comb it through, with a wide tooth comb, before rinsing – makes detangling easier afterwards.
After absorbing the excess moisture with a towel, I spray TIGI Catwalk Sleek Mystique Fast Fixx Style Prep to help with the detangling process. Although, the Tangle Teezer has made my life easier – I'd always cry when I was little, during the long sessions of unknotting my hair...
Anyway, after that, it's time to add some nourishment into the hair, with a few pumps of oil. Right now, I'm back on the Redken All Soft Argan-6 Oil, since it's a bit more heavy duty than the others I have laying around. Ideal for this dry, cold weather.
I then spritz some ghd Style Heat Protectant Spray and wrap the hair on one of those super-absorbing turbans (otherwise, I would end up with a soaked top). During this time, I lay out my outfit for the next day or do a mini facial. *Watching videos on YouTube with face mask on*
Now, the boring part, drying the hair. I always hated this part, because it takes so long and, did I mention it's so boring? Anyway, the process is faster and more efficient now that I have a new hairdryer – the air flow is so strong, it actually breaks down the curls into waves. Pretty cool. But I still look like a frizzy lioness after. To turn that into sleek and silky, my weapons of choice are the ghd IV Styler and a rat tail comb.
To finish, I apply a few pumps of the L'Oréal Professionnel tecni.art Hairmix Sublime Shine, from the ends going upwards, to provide some extra shine and reduce static. And... done. Phew!

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