Week of Reviews Day 6: Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Fortifying Shampoo

I've been dying to try this new Garnier line but it has always been sold out at my local drugstore. My bottle was literally the last product from the Damage Eraser line left.

The first thing I noticed was that it didn't smell like your typical Garnier product (fruity), it was more of a salon shampoo scent (like Tresemme). The smell didn't bother me, it was just unexpected since it is a Garnier product.
This shampoo dried my hair out. I only use it every other day at most, so I can't imagine how dry it would make my hair if I used it every day. I honestly don't think it did any "damage erasing" either.

I don't recommend this shampoo. There are so many other shampoos that work much better, both from Garnier as well as other brands. I hope to try the rest of the line in the future and hope I like the other products more than I "liked" this.

Week of Reviews Day 3: Garnier Fructis 3 Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment

You know I love me some Garnier. I've loved almost every Garnier product I've tried and was super happy when I got this for free thanks to Garnier's glorious manufacturer's coupons that you can find on the shampoo & conditioner bottles.
Disclaimer: This is more of a first impressions than a review, but who cares?

The first thing I noticed was that it smelled amazing, as do most Garnier products.
Then I noticed that it was a thinner formula (for Garnier) and had little beads in it.

Let's just get to the point; this did not condition my hair! It made my hair really dry and tangly. I ended up putting my normal Garnier conditioner in my hair afterwards because my hair was really dry and tangled.

After I got out of the shower I went to see if other people had this problem. Turns out most people loved this product and swear by it but people have also had nearly identical experiences to mine. Seems to me that this product isn't for everyone. I personally wouldn't recommend it and I will never repurchase it, but hey- if you can get it for free like I did, go ahead and try it. Maybe you'll love it. Maybe.

Week of Reviews Day 2: Garnier Fructis Fall Fight Conditioner VS Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Condtioner

Don't get me wrong, these are both great conditioners, but they are very different. They both smell great and work well, but I think that the Fall Fight would be better for oily hair and the Triple Nutrition would be better for dry hair. I have a huge problem with my hair falling out, which I've talked about before on this blog, so I was really hoping I would love Fall Fight, and I did, but I still love Triple Nutrition more because my ends tend to get really dry and it really moisturizes them. As far as the Triple Nutrition in the green packaging as opposed to the yellow packaging, I do see a difference and I like the one in the yellow packaging much better than the one in the green packaging. 

Products I Use in the Shower

1. Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Shampoo: This shampoo makes my hair soft and shiny; it makes it look healthier! I've seen a huge difference in my hair since I started using this.

   

   $2.96-$6.97 at Walmart

2. Garnier Fructis Length & Strength Shampoo: My favorite shampoo! It makes my hair really soft & detangled. I can tell my hair has gotten a lot stronger since I started using it. 

   

   $3.99 at CVS Pharmacy

3. Garnier Fructis Fall Fight Conditioner: This stuff works! I used to have a problem with my hair falling out, but ever since I started using this conditioner, I haven't had to worry about it that much. It has really helped my hair not fall out so much. It also makes my hair really soft! Best conditioner ever.

   

   $2.96-$4.97 at Walmart

4. L'Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm: I did a review on this last week (I have also done a post all about Garnier Fructis products, go check them out). In short: I LOVE this stuff.

   

   $5.97 at Walmart

5. Up & Up Women's Shave Gel in Strawberry Tangerine: I couldn't find an online picture or price for this, but it is awesome (& it's the generic brand, so it's most likely cheap). It smells good & it works great! It makes my legs feel soft--& I have sensitive skin and Eczema, so that's saying something!
6. Sugar scrub: I make my own sugar scrub. If you haven't tried sugar scrub, google a recipe & try it! Sugar scrub is amazing for hands, feet/legs, underarms, and lips! If you'd like me to do a post on sugar scrubs or share a recipe, let me know :)
7. Equate Daily Freshness Spring Showers Antibacterial Body Wash: Although this is not a very moisturizing body wash, I love it! It makes me feel so clean & helps keep my skin clear. & it smells good, too!

   

   $2.97 at Walmart

8. Cetaphil Daily Cleansing Bar: This is my favorite bar soap. It's very moisturizing and great for sensitive skin!

   

   $3.47 at Walmart

Tips for Straightening Your Hair

1. Lets start with the obvious. Don't use curl enhancing products! I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but people have told me they have a hard time getting their hair to stay straight & then they tell me they use mousse or some other curl enhancing product! Yes, curl enhancing products will make it harder for you to get your hair to go straight. Who knew? ;)
   
   
2. Use a straightening balm. Straightening balms changed my life. It takes a little practice to figure out how to use them without getting your hair tangled, but they really help so much. I apply my leave-in conditioner, then I apply my straightening balm, then I seal it with a smoothing milk. Straightening balm helps shorten dry time and help your hair dry straighter and stay straight longer. My favorite is the Garnier Fructis Straightening Balm.

   

   $3.47 at Walmart

3. Divide your hair into layers, spray heat protectant on each layer, then brush with a paddle brush and straighten immediately before moving to the next layer. This allows you to minimize waves, kinks, curls, etc.  When your hair is damp for a short period of time, brushing it will help make it straighter without it getting wavy again. Heat protectant will obviously protect your hair from heat. My 2 favorite heat protectants are by Garnier Fructis and Tresemme.

   

   Garnier Fructis: $3.47 at Walmart
   Tresemme: $3.99 at Walgreens

4. Use a good flat iron. Stay away from the Remington Wet 2 Straight (for damage purposes) and Conair flat irons (unless you have found one you absolutely love); I have yet to find a Conair flat iron I actually like, which is strange because their blow dryers and curling irons are great. I love Chi flat irons and the Remington Pearl. Take the time to research flat irons before purchasing one.

   

   Chi: $50.00-$120.00 at Target
   Remington: $32.50 at Walgreens

5. Tourmaline, Titanium, and Ceramic are your best friends, Plastic and Aluminum are not! Plastic and Aluminum contribute to the positive ions on your hair. Positive ions will make your hair dry, damaged, and frizzy. Therefore, it would only be common sense to use an element that cancel out the positive ions with negative ions. Those elements are Tourmaline, Titanium, and Ceramic. (I did my research, can you tell?) Purchasing a Tourmaline, Titanium, or Ceramic flat iron would definitely be an investment, as it would minimize damage, dryness, and frizz. 
6. Know your plate size. If your hair is longer than your shoulders, a 2" plate would be best for your hair. If your hair goes to your shoulders or shorter, use a 1" plate. 2" reduce the amount of times you have to run your flat iron over your hair before it is straight, which will result in less damage.
7. Blow your hair dry. I recommend only doing this if you have an extra hard time getting your hair to go straight. If blowing it dry still isn't enough, use a round brush. Blow your hair dry, then touch up with a flat iron. This step is very hard on your hair and will result excessive damage, so only do it if you have to. Remember to use cool air for best results (less frizz, results last longer, etc.). 

Review & First Impressions: L'Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm

I finally purchased this hair mask after hearing so many great things about it on YouTube! At first, I noticed it wasn't as thick as I was expecting it to be. I put it in my hair & it felt like I wasn't even getting any in my hair! I let it sit for about 5-10 minutes & then rinsed it out. My hair didn't feel as soft as it does when I condition it with a normal conditioner, so I was kind of disappointed. I went to bed without putting any products in my hair & when I woke up my hair was incredibly soft and shiny! It has noticeable results, it just took a while for the product to work on my hair.
I do recommend it. I haven't seen a huge difference as far as damage goes, but it has made my hair look so healthy! & it smells good, which is always a nice touch.

$5.97 at Walmart

*This is not a sponsored post.*

Battle of the Flat Irons: CHI Air 1" VS Remington Pearl 2"

I decided I wanted to do a battle of the flat irons! I wanted both of the flat irons to be ceramic, but I wanted them to be from different price ranges.

CHI Air Classic 1": I liked this flat iron, but I didn't love it. Although it got really hot, I had to go over my hair a couple of times to get it to go straight- and my hair usually straightens pretty easily! I noticed it was leaving creases in my hair (and I wasn't even holding it very long), so I turned it down to the lowest temperature setting & it still left creases in my hair. It also made my hair super static-y. It drove me insane! After about 30 minutes, my hair was very straight. I usually straighten my hair one morning and then sleep on it & it will still be straight the next morning, but in the morning my hair was very wavy! I don't think it's worth the $100 I spent on it.

Remington Pearl 2": The first thing I noticed about this flat iron is that it heats up very quickly. It takes it about 30 seconds to completely heat up, no matter how hot you want it to be. It took me about 20 minutes to straighten my hair with this flat iron. It creased a little at first, but after I turned down the temperature it stopped creasing. It made my hair very shiny (as did the CHI) and silky. It straightened well and I only had to fix a few pieces the next morning. I also like that it's 2". I think 2" flat irons are easier and faster to use than 1". This is a great flat iron. I would love to try the 1" version as well. I have had problems with Remington flat irons before, but I loved this one! I think it was worth the $35 I paid for it!

WINNER: REMINGTON PEARL 2"

*This is not a sponsored post.*

Fall Fashion {According to Pinterest} 2013

6 Fall trends according to Pinterest:

1. Boots. The trend last year was riding boots. This year, almost any kind of boot is fair game. Pair with some comfy legwarmers & you're good to go!

   

   Found on Pinterest

   

    These are great boots for Fall! $39.99 at Target!

   
   
2. Scarves. The infinity scarf is making an appearance again this year! I am uber excited.

   

   Found on Pinterest- Pinned from thememphisjewel.com
   

   

   My favorite infinity scarf was $20.00 at Nordstrom. {The Pointelle Infinity Scarf}

   
   
3. Crops. Even if you can't pull off skinny jeans (like myself), crops flatter almost every figure!

   

   Found on Pinterest from hellofashionblog.com

   

   My favorite cropped jeans are $29.99 at American Eagle.

   
   
4. Dark, but natural, lips. Tip for choosing a lip color: blue tones will make your teeth look whiter.

   

   Found on Pinterest, from thestylishprint.com

   

   I love the Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie! $6.48 at Walmart.

5. Braids. People are getting more and more creative when it comes to braids! I've already seen some amazing braids that are perfect for Fall.

   

   Found on Pinterest, from hair-sublime.com

   Here are some links to my favorite braid tutorials from CGH-
1. Double-Twist Bun Updo
2. Lace Braided Bun
3. Cobra Braid Side Ponytail
4. Lace Braid Headband
5. Box Fishtail Braid
6. Collared shirts + sweaters. Perfect for fall!

   

   Found on Pinterest, from simplyme091909.blogspot.com

   

   You can get this sweater at Target for $17.99 & it comes in a variety of colors. Layer with a dress shirt from Old Navy. Click here to go to Old Navy's website.
   
   
   
   *This is not a sponsored post.*

Happy.

This post will probably make you think I'm crazy. I promise I am, but only a little. :)

I am getting my haircut next Monday. This haircut it going to be a special one- it's going to be a fresh start (no, I am not shaving my head!). I am choppin' off my dead ends!

Ever since middle school I have straightened my hair. I only pulled my hair in a pony if I had a soccer game or I was going swimming. I did it out of insecurity; I didn't think I would be pretty unless I actually styled my hair. A few months ago I realized that was completely insane. I realized I could pull my hair into a pony tail and still be the same, beautiful me. 

But did I change anything? No. I continued to straighten my hair every.single.day. My sister would give me a hard time about my patches of broken hair. She told me it looked awful and told me how bad my school pictures were going to look because of it. And I totally cried about it. I wanted to fix it, I really did!

One night I decided I was too tired to straighten my hair (I straighten it at night so I won't have to in the morning), so I braided it. Just 2 simple pig tail braids. That one act of pure laziness led me to an entire Summer without putting heat on my hair.

Tonight I straightened my hair for the first time since May. I looked at my hair- like up close, not just in the mirror. I didn't see 6 inches of split ends and broken hair, but I saw healthy hair- for the first time in years! And it made me so happy! 

I just want to challenge you all to do something that will make you happy. Trust me, it's worth it!

That's all :) Goodnight!

Love, 

Brooke

Wet 2 Straight: Why I Switched

The Remington Wet 2 Straight (2 Inch) was my first flat iron. I loved it! Even though it didn't actually straighten/dry my hair if it was wet, I still loved it. After about 5 years of using it, I went to get my hair cut. My hair was ridiculously damaged, and I thought that was from putting so much heat on it. Without even asking me what flat iron I used, my hairstylist said, "You use the Wet 2 Straight, don't you?" I told her I did & she told me I needed to go get a new flat iron. She suggested a ceramic flat iron. 

She told me that the heat was causing a lot of damage, but the flat iron might have been causing most of the damage. Apparently (and this could be wrong), the "steam vents" can get pieces of your hair stuck in them, so it pulls your hair out. The hairs then get trapped in the vents & basically fry. So not only does it ruin your hair, but it also can possibly be a fire hazard. 

So that's why I don't use the Remington Wet 2 Straight anymore. I'm sure the newer versions of it are much better than the one I have. I currently use the Remington Pearl (2 inch).

Click here for the current model of the Wet 2 Straight 2"

Click here for the Studio Pearl Ceramic 2" (aka the Worlds Greatest Straightener)

& just in case you were wondering, here's the Wet 2 Straight I was advised to stop using:

*This is not a sponsored post.*

Garnier Products

Garnier Fructis is my FAVORITE brand when it comes to haircare. I used to love Tresemme, but I'll safe that story for another post. I've tried a lot of Garnier Fructis hair products, so I wanted to share my favorites with you. I'm also going to throw in a couple Garnier products I wasn't a huge fan of. 

• Sleek & Shine
• SLEEK & SHINE SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER: These were the first Garnier products I ever tried. To be quite honest, I probably love the smell more than the actual products. I probably wouldn't purchase these products over other Garnier products, but it's still a really great line. They definitely make your hair sleek & shiny, so if that's what you're looking for in a shampoo or conditioner, give these a try! Did I mention they smell AMAZING? Retail around $3-$5 & I get mine at Walmart.

• SLEEK & SHINE FRIZZ DEFEAT DEEP TREATMENT: This is supposedly a deep conditioner, but I actually think regular conditioners condition my hair better than this product did. It really dried my hair out & its formulation is actually pretty thin compared to regular Garnier conditioners. I didn't like it! Deep conditioner? More like cheap conditioner. Retails around $5.00 & I got mine at Walmart. I got mine free using the free product coupon you can find on some Garnier shampoo & conditioners.

• SLEEK & SHINE ANTI-FRIZZ SERUM: This is your basic anti-frizz treatment. Nothing too special about it. It works great, but I definitely prefer my Organix Coconut Milk that I mentioned in my previous post. Retails around $5.00 and I got mine at Walmart.
  
• SLEEK & SHINE INTENSELY SMOOTH LEAVE-IN CONDITIONING CREAM: This is one of my favorite Garnier products. It makes my hair feel really soft & it's a great leave-in conditioner! It smells really good too! Retails around $3.00 and I get mine at Walmart.

• SLEEK & SHINE SMOOTHING MILK: This stuff is great too. I mainly use it to prevent frizz and seal in all the other products I use. It works really well! Retails around $3.00 at Walmart.
  
• SLEEK & SHINE BLOW DRY PERFECTOR STRAIGHTENING BALM: This is seriously an amazing product. My hair usually takes about 15-20 minutes to blow dry- even if I let it air dry for a while. My natural hair is a little bit of everything: curly, wavy, and straight. When I use this product, I can easily dry my hair in 10 minutes & it will dry almost completely straight....and I don't use a round brush! The only downside to this products is that it's pretty gel-like, so it might make your hair more tangly and textured. I like it, but it is a little bit harder to use than most styling products. Retails around $3.00 at Walmart.
  
• STYLE FLAT IRON PERFECTOR STRAIGHTENING MIST: This is my holy grail heat protector- I even like it more than the Tresemme Thermal Creations heat protector. Don't be fooled by the name, it does help your hair become straight faster, but it works well when you're curling your hair too. It makes my hair really voluminous, light, and soft. I really like the way my hair feels when I use it & I can tell it protects my hair from heat. Also, a lot of styling products break me out on my forehead and my back...but this product doesn't! Retails around $3.00 at Walmart.
  
• SLEEK & SHINE ANTI-HUMIDITY HAIRSPRAY: I'm not a huge hairspray user, but I don't recommend this hairspray. The nozzle (continuous spray) stopped working on mine just a few days after I purchased it. I bought another one thinking it was just a one time thing, but it happened again. My mom and my sister also bought it & had the same thing happen to them. The hairspray itself is great though. Retails around $3.00 at Walmart.

• Fall Fight
• FALL FIGHT SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER: I bought this line of shampoo & conditioner because my hair falls very badly. I really like the shampoo, but it's not my favorite. I didn't think it did much for my hair. The conditioner, on the other hand, is the best conditioner I've ever used! It makes my hair feel super soft & I can now wash my hair without my hands getting covered in hair! I rarely see hair in my sink or on my bathroom floor, which is amazing; I used to have to vacuum my bathroom floor every day because there was so much hair on it! Retails between $3-$5 at Walmart.
  
• Length & Strength
• LENGTH & STRENGTH SHAMPOO: This is my favorite shampoo! It makes my hair really soft & detangled. I have also seen a difference in the quality of my hair. I can definitely tell my hair has gotten a lot stronger since I started using this shampoo. & it smells really good! Retails around $5.00 and I get mine at Walmart.

• Triple Nutrition
• TRIPLE NUTRITION SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER: I really liked both of these products. I don't know if I would repurchase the conditioner because I like the Fall Fight one so much, but the shampoo is definitely my favorite shampoo to use in the Summer. It's great for days when you're not planning on putting heat on your hair. I think it makes my hair softer and shinier than the Sleek & Shine shampoo & conditioner. I recommend this shampoo & conditioner, especially if you have a dry scalp. Retails around $3-$5 at Walmart.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  That's end :)
  **This is not a sponsored post.**

No Heat Hairstyles

For the past 4 years, I have put heat on my hair nearly every single day. About 2 years ago my bangs had suffered so much breakage that they were about 2 inches long. It was awful! I realized I had to be nicer to my hair, but I was horrible at doing anything else with my hair & I wasn't confident enough to go to school with another hairstyle (pathetic, I know).

That's what got me interested in beauty; finding ways to straighten my hair without breaking it. However, my hair was still being damaged, just not as badly as it was before. This summer I decided I wanted to find other things I could do with my hair. & to be honest, I'm not very good at doing my own hair. I'm pretty good at doing someone else's hair, but I'm just not good at doing my own hair. With that, here are a few of my favorite no heat hairstyles that anyone can do!

1. Pony tail w/ lace braid: Start by lace braiding your bangs (or the front section of your hair if you don't have bangs.) A lace braid is sometimes called the "Lauren Conrad Braid". If you don't know how to lace braid, click here for a tutorial by Rachel from Rachhloves. I usually do my lace braid a bit smaller than Rachel did hers, but do whatever size you want! I take the lace braid down to my ear & then I start braiding the rest of the hair (from the lace braid) normally until I get to the ends. Then I pull the rest of my hair & the braid into a pony tail! Super quick & easy!
2. Beach waves: If you're like me & sea salt just doesn't work with your hair, this is a great way to get wavy hair! Simply start by dividing your {damp} hair into 2 sections. If you have a center part, just carry your part down to your neck & use that to divide your hair into the 2 sections. If you have a side part, divide your hair as close to the center of your head as you can, but make sure the small side of your part has a smaller section of hair than the big side of the part (don't make it too big of a difference though). Then just do simple pig tail braids. I don't french braid mine, but you can if you'd like! Let it dry (I sleep on mine) completely before taking the braids out. I like to spray mine with hairspray when I'm done.
3. Curly hair: Meredith (aka Stilababe09) did a tutorial a while back where she used the Conair Spiral Curlers to get a Taylor Swift-inspired curl. Just follow this tutorial. It's super cute & easy!
4. Curly pony tail: When my hair is about 80-90% dry, I divide my hair into 4 sections (vertically) & wrap each section around a spiral curler. I sleep on it & take it out in the morning. Then I pull my hair back into a pony tail & it makes a really pretty curly pony tail.

These are the Conair Spiral Curlers. They retail for $14.74 at Walmart.com

Tip for super soft pony tails: About 30 minutes before pulling your hair into a pony tail, apply coconut milk to your hair. I've found that letting the coconut milk sit for a while before styling really makes your hair extra smooth and healthy.

This is my favorite coconut milk. It's the Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum. It retails at $5.74 at Walmart. You can also find it at Ulta and Target!

Hope this post was helpful! Let me know if you'd like a tutorial on any of these styles :)
*This is not a sponsored post.*

My Opinion: Conditioner

In beauty guru Tati's latest "Tip Tuesday", she shared some tips on how to get healthy hair. For the most part, I thought it was a great video. There was one thing she said that I did not agree with, and that is totally fine. We are all entitled to our own opinion. I'm not saying I'm right and she's wrong or anything, I'm just saying I didn't agree with it (& I don't have anything against Tati, she's one of my favorite beauty gurus).

She said that you shouldn't condition at your roots. I disagree with this because I like to think of my hair like a tree (oh gosh that sounds so stupid!), with my roots being the....roots. I really want to nourish my roots because the roots are what carry nourishment to the tips of my hair. Does that make sense? 

Obviously if you have really greasy hair naturally, you probably don't need the extra nourishment conditioner would give you, so I think it's fine to not condition your roots if that's the case. The best way to nourish your hair is with the natural oils your scalp produces, so if your scalp is already producing those oil very well, go ahead and skip conditioning your roots!

So that's my opinion on conditioning your hair! Go check out Tati's channel! She's great!