Tag Archives: shampoo

What Men Want: Beauty Products and Tools Edition

| 24 Responses

I’m writing this post on behalf of Mr. Geeks. He is your typical man when it comes to beauty and grooming: very anti-product and when he finds something that he likes, he sticks to it forever. No exaggeration.

I asked him to write this post himself but he doesn’t know the beauty jargon. If he did post an entry, all we’d get is “This is X. I like it. It works. /grunt” :)

There is one beauty/grooming tool in particular that he constantly raves about: a nail clipper. Specifically, Sally Hansen Clip and Catch Nail Clipper ($4.99 at Well.ca, and drugstores). It solves the first-world problem of getting nail clippings all over the floor and well, everything. A plastic compartment catches clippings until you’re done, then you can dispose of them properly in the sink. Simple but kinda genius, eh? “Why hasn’t anyone else thought of this?” He tells all his friends about it. Haha.

Sally Hansen Clip and Catch Nail Clipper

A black background is manly, don’t you think? I briefly considered using bacon as a backdrop…

I gave him this after he complained of irritated dry skin on an especially cold week: Dot & Lil Repair + Calm After-Shave Serum ($30 online). The serum moisturizes with rice bran and avocado oils, then calms the skin with calendula. This is lightly scented essential oils of tea tree and cedarwood, so it doesn’t smell girly. This oil-based serum soaks into the skin immediately, which he really liked. Boys don’t like anything greasy so this one gets a thumbs up. I noticed that it does moisturize well with only a couple drops for his chin and cheek area. :) I used this to calm my skin post-wax and it is excellent for that, too.

Dot & Lil Repair + Calm After-Shave Serum

I gotta give him props for trying. One day I presented him with a box of products, including Head & Shoulders Deep Clean Shampoo ($5.99 at Well.ca, drugstores and mass market stores). He actually read the instructions, leaving this shampoo for several minutes before rinsing. “I can feel it working,” he tells me. “It feels tingly.” That’s as much of a review one can get out of that guy. :D Anyways, this stuff is supposed to remove 100% of dandruff, buildup and grease. I admit that I’ve borrowed this in the shower as well, because I love the citrus-y, minty scent in the morning.

Head & Shoulders Deep Clean Shampoo

The one cologne he uses is YSL La Nuit De L’Homme Le Parfum. He doesn’t wear it everyday but when he does, it’s “because [he wants] to smell nice.” Ladies, if you haven’t sniffed this one yet, you must. :) It’s a very irresistible scent that’s light enough for the day, but it really is more of an evening cologne. From Fragrantica: top notes are bergamot, anise and pepper; middle notes are lavender, french labdanum and fruity notes; base notes are vetyver, patchouli and vanille.

YSL La Nuit De L'Homme Le Parfum

What’s the man in your life (boyfriend / husband / brother / father) attitude towards beauty and grooming products? Does he love it as much as you, or is he a bit like Mr. Geeks?

Your Ultimate Guide To Beachy Waves, When All You Have Is Limp, Straight Hair

| 22 Responses

It kinda sucks to be that girl with limp, straight hair in the middle of summer, when the rest of them are rocking gorgeous breezy waves.  Yeah, I was that girl.  But I finally found some products that work for my hair texture, and today, I will share them with you! :) I tweeted my amazing big hair yesterday, and it’s finally time for me to spill what I’ve been using.

Here we go!

If You Absolutely Must Wash Your Hair, Do It Right.

Let’s start in the shower, shall we?  Up until recently I have been buying whatever shampoo and conditioner is on sale in the drugstore.  I figured they’re all the same, you know?  How about SLS-free shampoos?  I tried one years ago and it made my hair look so dull.  Yuck!

For a few months now, I have been exclusively using Live Clean Professional Healthy Balance Shampoo and Healthy Balance Conditioner ($8.99 each, at Wal-Mart) and these are the bomb, kids.  The shampoo gently cleans my hair without nasty SLS, phthalates and parabens, while still keeping my hair and scalp in a healthy balanced state.  The conditioner is amazing; I already finished the bottle.  This makes my hair super duper incredibly soft without that heavy silicone-y feeling, because it restores hair’s natural moisture with vitamin complex B5, E and C.  It really works. :)

Outside the Shower, Prepping Your Hair with the Right Product is Key.

Apply a volumizing mousse or foam all over your towel dried hair.  Roughly blow dry your hair, pulling up and away from the roots to get the most lift.  My old standby is Aveda Phomollient™ Styling Foam.  Seriously, I’m on my second bottle of this stuff.  It gives my hair body and texture without crunchiness or stickiness.

The other option — which I read from BEAUTY EDITOR, and is totally groundbreaking — is to use dry shampoo on (dry) clean hair.  I just got the Dove Refresh+Care™ Invigorating Dry Shampoo ($4.99 to $7.99, at drug, grocery, and mass merchandise stores across Canada), and that works nicely, too.  I just spray it all over my hair, and it does the trick.  And my oh my it smells divine!

If Your Hair Is In Between Washes, Freshen Up that Hair.

I’m new to dry shampoos, but man, do I love it now!  I have been using a small can of Batiste Blush Dry Shampoo on dirty hair days.  Spray it on, leave for about 2 minutes (I usually put on mascara), then brush out.  Pick up your jaw from the floor.  Your hair is big, yes? :)  Ahhh-mayyy-zing (Oprah voice).


My new favourite thing: Big hair!!!

You Absolutely Need a Great Beach Spray.

I bought the infamous Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray ($29) recently, but promptly returned it.  It does nothing for my straight hair.  Instead I am using a very affordable and effective alternative: Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray ($11.99).  I spray this on when my hair is about halfway dry, when my hair has that wet wave running through it.  Then I just let it air dry completely!  It has that coconut-y beachy scent that is intoxicating.

I think this works because it’s not as heavy as the Bumble & Bumble, so it doesn’t weigh down the finest, straightest hair.  So great!

I also use it as a setting spray after I use a heat tool.  Speaking of which…

If You Want/Need To Use A Styling Tool, Invest in a Good Flat Iron.

Let’s face it: sometimes the only way for straight hair to really hold a wave or curl is to use a heat tool.  I find flat irons work best for my hair as they get much hotter than curling irons.  I am still madly in love with my GS Professional Dual Pro Iron (review, available at Trade Secrets).  For beachy hair, I use the technique described in this video (scan to 2:30 to watch the tutorial).

[youtube]http://youtu.be/Fnay5MK_bSY[/youtube]

Now, you have all the tools. :)  Hope you try them and that they work for you, too! :)  Do you have straight hair that doesn’t hold a curl?  What products do you use to get fullness and texture in your hair?