Shine with Suave Moroccan Oil Infusion

If you are a reader of my blog, you definitely know my hair is a bit frizzy and unruly. Sometimes I feel like it looks like Hoda Kotb's before hair:

 
She has been a big supporter of Moroccanoil®. I have always wanted to try it but it was out of my beauty budget! Womp womp!

I was so happy to hear that Suave created a line of products infused with Argan oil that would be in my budget. When I received the sample package to review, I predicted shiny lustrous hair ahead! I gave the shampoo and conditioner a try and after a week my hair was a little shinier and soft, but the product that stuck out the most and that I would recommend is by far the styling oil. Just a little goes a long way and gives you the most touchable hair and smells so good. I am a fan of musky, sandalwood type smells and this oil certainly has that beautiful aroma. The most important thing to remember when using this oil (learned from trial and error, lots of error):

-Apply only to dry hair. I found when I applied it damp my hair felt more weighed down
-A little goes a long way, use sparingly. 1-2 pumps is best. Start with one, and if you need greater shine, add another.
-Only apply to the ends

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Check out one of my looks inspired by Nicole Richie's red carpet vintage and Suave Professionals® Stylist, Jenny Cho, created Nicole’s red carpet look:

·         Wash hair with NEW Suave Professionals® Moroccan Infusion Shine Shampoo and Conditioner, and then blow dry hair using a large paddle brush.

·         Part hair on the side and begin curling with a one-inch barrel curling iron. Be sure to hold the curling barrel horizontal to the head.

·         After curling each section, use bobby pins to hold in place.

·         Blast hair all over with a hot dryer for 1-2 minutes to help set the curls.

·         Remove the bobby pins, lightly brush the hair to soften curls and finish with Suave Professionals® Touchable Finish Super Hold Hairspray.

·         Place 1-2 drops of the NEW Suave Professionals® Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil in palms and rub hands together. Avoiding the roots, gently run hands over the surface of the hair to add a radiant shine.

·         Drop the Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil in your clutch for touchups on the go.

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Because simple foam rollers do not work for me, I used my hot curlers by Remington to set the curl. Here is my before and after. Love the old Hollywood feel of this look and my hubby loves that the curls are touchable.

Stay tuned to Suave's Shine Suite on Facebook and see Suave in action during NBC's, "Fashion Star."

Get inspired with the latest tips and tricks from beauty insiders utilizing the latest Suave products and enter for your chance to win $100,000! Now, that is something to shine about!


Check out Nicole Richie on Suave's Shine Suite:

Nail trends you shouldn't be afraid to try!

I have been obsessed with fun nail art. Playing with nail design and color are such great ways to update a look, try a new trend or boost your mood, all for just pennies! Below I am highlighting two nail trends that you shouldn't be afraid to try.

The easiest nail art trend that doesn't require a new polish, a complementary color or pattern on a single nail:

I used a free sample of Jamberry nail decals for this but you can choose any fun color or even adding a glitter top coat to one or two nails.

The second nail trend that took some debating over was the stiletto nail. People have very mixed feelings about them and I understand why. Especially with little ones, it can be a bit difficult to have very pointy nails. That being said I went for a more "oval" look, less claw-like. This look appeals to me because it is pretty retro. You can determine how pointy you want to go. They were fun but certainly not practical for mommyhood.

Either way you do it, at home, in the salon or half and half-- do it! Pretty polish can make any lady on any budget feel pampered and on trend.

Xo,
Rachel

Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy Challenge

I was asked to participate in a seven day challenge to improve the health and look of my hair using Clear Scalp and Hair therapy shampoo, conditioner and weekly deep conditioning treatment, I was more than happy to oblige, but was super skeptical if seven days would be enough to see a difference.

Before I head into this review, let me introduce you to my lion's mane. My hair is thick, thick, thick and coarse, coarse, coarse. I have been growing it out for almost two years with hairspiration like Lilly Ghalichi--beautiful--but it has been a challenge growing out such thick hair. It is often tangled, frizzy and just unmanageable  My expectations for the trial weren't super high as it takes a lot to tame my hair. Added to that skepticism is that in all my product reviewing I have yet to truly find a product that improves the quality of my hair, over time. Most things are good temporarily. While I didn't expect it to give me flat ironed hair straight from the bottle, I was certainly hoping for more manageable tresses. Manageable for me consists of: less tangles, less breakage and less time styling.

{I used only the shampoo, conditioner and deep conditioner, while styling my hair I withheld from using any product, on occasion I would blow dry or flat iron.}

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Day 1:
After my first use my hair definitely feels moisturized, but not too heavy on my roots, which is one major problem I have. I have so much hair that my roots get oily quick even if my ends or shafts seem dry. It smells fantastic and feels fabulous so far. I still have breakage but I'm giving it 6 more days!

Day 2:
It feels so clean and light, a feeling I usually don't get unless I'm getting a trim or having my stylist take out some bulk. It is very moisturized, but still not oily and few tangles. I don't know how it does that but, it does!

Day 3:
I got to flaunt my hair in San Diego today and it felt fabulous! My hubby even noted today that it was super shiny and clean feeling.

Day 4:
I cannot believe how it is actually improving the texture and manageability of my hair. It seems to take less time to blow dry and I am not spending any time brushing out knots and tangles. It seems much stronger and shiny today after the deep conditioning treatment. In the shower I expected the deep conditioner to feel like a super thick mask, it felt pretty light and I was concerned I had enough on, but I did and it feels great.

Day 5:
Definitely less breakage and still feeling so so clean, no wonder it is called Clear!

Day 6:
I'm feeling a transformation for sure. I am really trying hard to figure out the negative about this system, but I really can't. I've had several compliments from girlfriends about the shine.

Day 7:
My hair feels better than it really ever has! I think that my hair hasn't been this healthy and strong since maybe high school, ten years! After ten years of bleaching, bleaching, color, sun, etc, my hair feels amazing. It also helps that I also haven't put any peroxide or lighteners in my hair for over two years. The ombré that I did April of last year has all been cut off. It is a very good feeling to have 100% natural, healthy, Clear hair!
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The specifics on the goods:

I used the Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Damage and Color repair. It contains Nutrium 10(tm), a vitamin complex of B5, C and E, sunflower, almond soybean and coconut oils and aloe vera. Yay. No wonder my hair feels so good from the inside out. For $4.99 a bottle it is such a great bang for your buck because it worked!

In conclusion, I am so happy that I was able to be a part of this challenge and strongly urge you to join in! Valentines Day is just seven days away, you, too, are a week away from beautiful touchable locks! Try it! If you are not satisfied Clear is offering a money back guarantee.

I know that I am going to continue to purchase this product as long as they make it. I was beginning to get discouraged about growing my hair out, but if it can be this beautiful and strong with just a shampoo and conditioner, I'll grow my hair out until I'm Rapunzel!

{You can't have a bad day if you have a good hair day.}

Check it out:

Facebook.com/clearhaircare
Twitter.com/clearhair

xox,

Rachel