PopSugar

A Drugstore Version of Dirt

FabSugar — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:49:00 -0700

I've already waxed poetic about the magical, sweet-smelling hair styling paste that is Dirt by Jonathan Product. As Jonathan (from the reality show Blowout) explains on the label: “There’s something amazing about the way hair looks and behaves the day after - washing, that is." Seeing as how I'm obsessed with Dirt, I couldn't help but notice a suspiciously similar product while browsing the aisles the other day at Walgreens. Called FX Special Effects Texture Dirt Texturizing Paste, this styling paste proclaims: "Texture Dirt has been created to easily give you the amazing way your hair looks and behaves the day after washing."

Sound familiar? Since the FX brand has obviously been paying attention to Dirt's copy-writing, I bought a jar to see if it had replicated the styling effect, too. Plus, the Texture Dirt, available here costs just $5.99, versus $26 for the Jonathan product. However, after trying the FX brand, I think I'm going to stay loyal to Jonathan. The drugstore stuff wasn't terrible for a budget buy, but it had a more glue-like texture that made it hard to disperse though my hair. Although it gave my hair similar piece-y results, it didn't leave my locks looking or feeling nearly as smooth and silky as the Dirt by Jonathan does. I guess you get what you pay for.

Product Review: Frederic Fekkai Summer Hair Wash and Wear

BellaSugar — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:45:15 -0700

After getting very excited while writing about Frederic Fekkai Summer Hair Wash & Wear ($20), I had to hop online and get myself a bottle. It sounded like the ideal hair refresher for summer: I could wash my hair every other day, then spray this stuff on to keep my locks from getting oily, dull, or smelly.

I was a bit dubious about this product's promise: It claims to use "cleansing magnets" to freshen your hair and soak up grease. (What's a cleansing magnet, anyway?) While I was happy with some aspects of this product, it really didn't live up to its big promises, so read more

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

I have tried several powder-like dry shampoos, and while they're good at absorbing oil on your bangs and around you face, they don't really make your hair look "fresher."

The Summer Hair Wash & Wear, on the other hand, was great for freshening the free-hanging locks away from my face that often look limp the day after washing. Spraying this stuff gave my hair a renewed bounce and shine and a subtle beachy scent.

However, the Fekkai spray did not make the hair around my face look less greasy. In fact, I found that if I played around with it too much after spraying, my hair actually looked oilier. So basically, the "cleansing magnets" don't really do anything.

Really, this product could be great or disappointing, depending on what kind of "hair refreshing" you need. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but I can see it coming in handy for other people. If you like it, tell me what you think.

New Product Alert: More Summer Hair Goodness from Frederic Fekkai

BellaSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:00:00 -0700

A couple weeks ago, I got all excited about this hair refresher, Frédéric Fekkai Summer Hair Wash and Wear. Now, the hairstyling mastermind has unleashed two more products from his Summer Hair collection, which launched last year in a burst of sunny orange packaging.

The newest products are Summer Hair Zero-Humidity Frizz Control and Summer Hair Quick-Quench Rehydrating Gelée ($20 each). Both are intended to create a sexy, undone look while offering protection from sun, seawater, and chlorine.

The products are also rich in antioxidants to help extend the color life of your hair, and they have a scrumptious coconut-citrus scent to them that's perfect for a hot beach day. For more details on this duo, read more

Zero-Humidity Frizz Control is a lightweight, alcohol-free spray that helps to flatten and seal your hair cuticles to prevent frizz.

Quick-Quench Rehydrating Gelée is a hydrating product in the form of a cream/gel hybrid that helps repair dry hair. It is made with aloe vera to help smooth hair and add shine.

New Product Alert: Caviar Anti-Aging Hair Masque

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:00:37 -0800

With the season changing at warp speed, hair is at serious risk of moisture loss. This can lead to dull strands and brittle split ends. Now is a good time to start giving yourself a hair treatment anywhere from once to twice a week, depending on the condition of your hair. If you are looking for a new product to try, Alterna has just come out with a Caviar Anti-Aging Hair Masque ($40).

This color-safe treatment is made with seasilk, a patented group of marine botanicals. Together, they promise to prevent breakage and combat dryness by delivering moisture to your hair and scalp. I've used it once already, but I want to give it one more whirl before sharing my review. So stay tuned, because I'll have plenty to say about it soon!

Product Review: Lush Happy Hippy Hair and Body Gel

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 15:52:15 -0700

I get a lot of questions and comments from readers who love Lush, the British bath and body brand that incorporates fresh fruits and natural ingredients into its handmade products. I run hot and cold on Lush - I like the concept, but some of its soaps are just too fragrant.

However, I recently tried some Lush Happy Hippy Hair and Body Gel, and it will be a very handy addition to my beauty arsenal. The Happy Hippy bottle calls this a "hair and body" gel, which intrigued me, so read more

I thought: If I can find a soap that works as a shampoo too, that's one less bottle to pack on vacation. And Happy Hippy really does do double duty. The gel works into an incredibly thick lather that fills your shower with an invigorating grapefruit scent that's neither too overpowering nor too girly. Using it didn't feel like bathing in shampoo, and my hair got just a clean as it normally would with a proper hair product.

I wouldn't say the Happy Hippy totally wowed me, but it's a wonderfully scented and very serviceable product. The gel is available in a 3.3-ounce bottle ($8.50), an 8.4-ounce bottle ($15.95), and a 16.9-ounce bottle ($24.95).

New Product Alert: Just For Redheads Hair Extensions

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:00:08 -0700

Just when you thought that Just For Redheads was only a makeup company, it launches a line of Hair So Fair Hair Extensions. Redheads constantly write in complaining that there aren't enough products on the market for them, but now there are lengths, styles and colors suited just for them.

The six available colors are blonde, champagne, strawberry blonde, copper, red, and auburn and there are five different styles: the Diva Look (22" clip-on extension, $98), Medium Hair (14” clip-on extension, $79), the Hair Comb ($89), the Hair Headband ($79), and the Hair Scrunchie ($19).

All of the extensions are made from 100% synthetic Keraflex fiber and are made to look natural while amplifying volume. Designer Sonia DeMaria collaborated with JFR owner Paula Pennypacker to create something soft and silky that give you instant thickness and variety. To see the line and to watch videos on how to use the extensions, click here. Take it away, Red!

New Product Alert: Get Beach Head with Fudge Hair Shaper Light

BellaSugarUK — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:00:00 -0700

Street-style brand Fudge, are best known for their bed-head-creating styling products. This summer, their best-selling Fudge Hair Shaper – which has been on the market for a whopping sixteen years – has two new variations for us to fall for.

Traditionally, the Fudge Hair Shaper has been beloved by both girls and guys, for that beach head, messy, just got out of bed look. It delivers lots of texture and hold, so is ideal for creating sculptured hair looks, such as the quiff or Agyness Deyn-alike short, spiky styles.

The sticky, multi-purpose styling tool, now comes in a mint scent, for a just-washed, fresh feel – as well as the new Fudge Hair Shaper Light, (£5.95).

This gives a much lighter hold than the original Shaper. It's ideal if you have with longer hair, that doesn't need the super-hold of the original product – or if your short hair is very fine. It smells sickly sweet, like a berry smoothie.

The mini tubes, just 50ml, make them ideal for traveling as well – so your beach hair will feel right at home!

Product of the Day: Bull Semen Hair Treatment

GiggleSugar — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 03:00:00 -0800

"It doesn't smell" is hardly a ringing endorsement for a product, but I guess you gotta emphasize one of the few positives of hair care made with bull semen. And that's just what Hari's, a fancy London beauty salon says about its Aberdeen Organic Hair treatment made of protein-rich bull semen and plant extracts. In addition to not smelling, it can give your hair the ultimate shine. As long as the randy bulls provide their, uh, stuff, says salon owner Hari Salem, the well-coiffed of London will have shiny, lustrous hair that doesn't smell! What more could you ask for, really? (And the Geek Girls come through again!)

Charles Worthington Results Balancing Act Dry Shampoo

BellaSugarUK — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:00:00 -0700

I've had a bottle of Charles Worthington Results Balancing Act Dry Shampoo (£4.55) in my closet for some time now, but didn't try it out until last week. Boy am I bummed out that I waited so long - this product is nothing short of a savior in a bottle!

I'll start by telling you how awesome it smells. The scent is a clean, crisp, fresh and not overly flowery to mask your dirty hair smell (yes, I know that's gross, but it's true). Instead it actually seems like it's dry cleaning your hair and taking the odor away entirely. Also, it has a light and consistent mist that doesn't concentrate in just one area. I believe this is the reason why, (unlike some other dry shampoos) it won't leave your hair wet when you first spray it on, rather it simply and instantly absorbs any grease.

Lastly, what makes it stand out is that if you hair is fine (like mine) after going a day or two without washing, it tends to get limp. This helps give it texture and even a little bit of volume.

I won't tell you that this is some kind of miracle product, because it's not. It's just a really good dry shampoo that I'm excited to recommend. The effects won't last for 48 or even for 24 hours. In fact, depending on how oily your hair is, I'd give it about five to six hours max, which is enough to get you through an afternoon at work, or an event in the evening. After that ladies, I'm afraid you're going to have to bathe!

Do you have a favourite dry shampoo? If so, share it with me and the rest of the world in a comment below.

John Frieda's Quick Tip on Creating Instant Volume

BellaSugar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:00:31 -0800

Famous hairstylist John Frieda says that most people fall into one of two groups: those who are lacking volume and those who are looking to tame their frizz. I've got you covered on the latter, and as for the former, here's a quick tip from the legendary stylist on reviving limp locks.

If you have no time to wash and style your hair, you can pump up the look with three basic ingredients: a round brush, a blow dryer, and a volumizing product, like Luxurious Volume Lavish Lift Root Booster ($6) or Oscar Blandi Volumizing Spray ($18). First, hold the hair straight up on dry hair and spray the roots. Next, take a small section from right behind the fringe, wrap it around the round brush, and blow-dry, concentrating on lifting the roots for volume. Finish off by grabbing subsequent sections of hair back toward the crown, and there you go. It's instant volume without too much effort.