Styling Products -Aveda - Phomollient
xt73 6/24/2007 3:06:00 PM
Some control without stickiness. Love the pump/foaminess, but it is hard to take on trips unless you find a trial size dispenser with the same pump. (I used up a small bottle of facial cleanser that had the same pump and used the bottle to put Phomollient in. It works, but the pump gets a little sticky.) It smells great. Doesn't give a lot of control, but some body for my roots. Good for everyday use, as I feel confident that it doesn't damage my hair and it isn't stiff.
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Shampoo -Aveda - Scalp Benefits shampoo
xt73 6/24/2007 3:02:00 PM
Smells great. ?Possibly does something for my scalp...but it definitely does not prevent my scalp from getting oily. I use this maybe once weekly as instructed. It is nice to use right after working out, when I feel icky because it smells so clean and fresh. Haven't really noticed that much change in the health of my hair/scalp; and since it's expensive you might buy it for the smell but not much else.
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Styling Products -Aveda - Be Curly Curl Enhancer
xt73 6/24/2007 2:59:00 PM
For reference: I have fine, slightly wavy hair. (Strange b/c I'm asian...but it's true. Wave usually more noticable if I let it air dry, but doesn't usually stay for long.) This stuff is great. My stylist showed me how to use it: i.e. twirl 1 inch sections away from your face, then scrunch them up from the bottoms while diffusing or blow drying on low air setting (you can also let it air dry). When hair is dry, shake out the sections. It works really well, especially when you add a bit of anti-frizz/texturizing product to the ends. Perfect for summer if you don't want to blowdry b/c it's too hot out....sometimes I just twirl the sections and get in the car on the way to work. (Okay, I look like a rastafarian freak with lame dreadlocks....but who cares what the people on the freeway think. My hair looks great when I arrive at work.) I'm going to wear my hair this way all summer long, since it saves time and I've gotten compliments from everyone. P.S. Works best if you have some long layers.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Rene Furterer - Naturia Dry Shampoo
xt73 6/24/2007 2:52:00 PM
It does get rid of oil/grease if you don't want to wash your hair daily, but doesn't give as much volume as Bumble&Bumble's old hair powder does. (You can't get the old version of hair powder now, and their new version sucks....see my review.) But this does smell good and doesn't get colored dust on your hands if you run them through your hair. Will try Pssst next, since it is cheaper. I'm also going to try Hair Fix. For reference: My hair is fine, very oily (usually wash it daily), very slightly wavy.
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Hair -Bumble & Bumble - Hair Powder
xt73 6/24/2007 2:48:00 PM
So sad that they changed the formulation. I was a HUGE fan of the loose hair powder (their old formulation.) It made my hair thicker and absorbed oil like crazy at my roots. The application was tricky, so I thought the new spray version would be perfect. It isn't. I don't know if it is now coated with some additive that makes it spray better, but it doesn't do anything for my hair. It is more likely to get on my hands if I touch my hair, and my hair isn't any thicker. I used to use hair powder to give my roots some oomph at the end of the day (when it gets really oily) if I didn't have time to wash it. This version is such a letdown.
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Shampoo -Bumble & Bumble - Thickening Shampoo
xt73 6/24/2007 2:44:00 PM
Doesn't thicken my hair....actually my hair seemed limp faster. (It gets oily really fast; since it is fine, this is a major problem.) If you have fine, oily hair try Biolage balancing shampoo instead. It doesn't thicken, but it keeps the oil away -- hence springier hair that seems thicker.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Cosmedicine - Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion
xt73 6/24/2007 1:25:00 PM
Disappointing....I got excited reading the Sephora hype. But it really didn't mattify for very long. Initially it seemed to work, but my mid-morning my skin was shiny again. Lately I've been using Dr. Brandt's Pores No More, which goes on softer but doesn't contain sunscreen. It definitely makes my skin look better, and seems to control the shine better than MediMatte.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Exact
xt73 11/29/2006 11:03:00 PM
The brush works great -- no clumps as advertised. Too bad it still rubs off on my lower eyelids and gives me raccoon eyes. (Even the waterproof formula). If only someone could couple the brush with a better mascara!
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Styling Products -Bumble & Bumble - Brilliantine
xt73 11/29/2006 11:00:00 PM
Gives that "second day" hair look even if you just washed your hair. It isn't sticky or heavy, and one tube will last forever. (Just don't use too much, or your hair will look greasy.) It helps take away the look of frizzy split ends, or static-y hair when the weather is dry.
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Styling Products -Bumble & Bumble - Sumo Tech
xt73 11/29/2006 10:57:00 PM
Great for definition. Is a little stiff/thick at first. It works better if you have slightly damp hands. Dab on ends of hair for curl definition or for styling bangs that you are trying to grow out.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Phyto - Phytovolume Actif Volumizing Spray
xt73 11/29/2006 10:49:00 PM
Considering all the hype, this stuff doesn't work too well. I like the spray bottle, so you can direct the product right at your roots. But despite multiple years of InStyle "Best Buy" ratings, I think there are better products out there. I have fine hair, which has a very slight wave to it (slight enough that my hair essentially becomes straight unless dried with a diffuser, curl-enhancing product, and a ton of scrunching). It is oily at the roots and dry on the ends (after highlighting). This stuff smells like chemicals, and doesn't give my roots any volume at all. If your hair is like mine (fine, flat, oily scalp), try Pureology RootLift. It definitely works, and doesn't weigh hair down. Phytovolume is mostly media hype.
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Shampoo -Matrix - Biolage - normalizing shampoo
xt73 11/29/2006 10:40:00 PM
This is my fall-back shampoo. Every time I get fickle and try other "volumizing" shampoos, I wind up going back to this one. I have fine straight hair, and (very) oily scalp. This is one of the few shampoos that helps control the oil. I usually have to wash my hair every day, and by the end of a 24 hour period I am already a bit oily. This definitely helps prevent my hair from getting limp quickly. Smells great -- kind of green and fresh. If you have oily, fine, flat hair, this stuff works much better than Biolage's alleged volumizing shampoo.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Garnier - FRUCTIS Sleek and Shine - Leave-in Conditioning Cream
xt73 11/29/2006 10:36:00 PM
A real dissapointment. I love the Sleek and Shine serum, but this stuff does not work. It has the same fruity Garnier Fructis scent, but almost a little too strong. It is sticky, and feels waxy after hair dries. Didn't make my hair shiny; in fact, maybe a bit duller. I have fine straight hair, so it might work better on someone with coarser/curly hair (especially if you want a little definition.) If you are looking for "sleek and shine", go for the serum. It's much better.
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Treatments -Garnier - Fructis Sleek and Shine Fortifying Deep Conditioner 3 Minute Masque
xt73 11/29/2006 10:33:00 PM
It smells good and conditions well. It would be better in a different package. The jar is a pain to close after you just scooped out a handful of goop. Doesn't leave a waxy residue and ends feel thicker after using it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Garnier - Fructis Sleek and Shine Weightless Anti-Frizz Serum
xt73 11/29/2006 10:29:00 PM
I love this stuff. It's cheaper than other silicone formulas (i.e. John Frieda Frizzease, etc.), it smells good, and it is light enough that it doesn't leave a greasy residue on your hands. The pump is really convenient, although you will have to transfer it to another container if you need to take it with you for traveling. This does make my hair sleek and helps hide damage/frizzy split ends. It also detangles really well when your hair is wet. If you want more definition, then you might want to go for a thicker formulation. This is less on the styling end and a little more on the treatment end -- it also conditions. My colorist always marvels that my hair is very soft and healthy despite the highlights.
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