Review – Parlor Moisturizing & Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner

In my October Birchbox, was a pair of Jeff  Chastain Parlor products; Parlor Moisturizing & Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner.

I’ve received Parlor products in Birchbox in the past, and I’m usually a fan.  Most recently, I had a sea salt spray from the line, and loved it.

This shampoo and conditioner are rather expensive.  Be prepared to pay $22.00 USD for 8 Fl oz of product.  You can buy it through Birchbox. Here is what they say about it:

BIRCHBOX BREAKDOWN

This gently cleansing shampoo from NYC stylist Jeff Chastain is a triple-threat of fortification, hydration, and repair. Infused with the brand’s signature scent of ripe peach, fresh cut grass, and white woods, it’s sulfate-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, and color-safe.

My thoughts

So, just a shampoo.  It was nice.  It smelled nice.  It lathered nice.  It was…well…nice.  But it did exactly what it was supposed to do – clean my hair.  And it did that.  It didn’t wow me with anything.

Same goes for the conditioner.

One thing to note – it was gentle on my color treated hair.

However, I didn’t find it to be any more or less moisturizing than any other high end shampoo.

Would I buy it?

Not for $22.  Sorry, Parlor!

Have you tried the Parlor Moisturizing & Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner?  Do you like it?

Thanks for reading!

~Anna

Review – Celeb Luxury Gemlites hair care system

Celeb Luxury Gemlites hair care system is a salon brand of hair products.  You can buy this in salons and through authorized retailers.

What they claim:

NEW COLORWASH^® WITH PATENT-PENDING, ADVANCED COLORPOSIT™ TECHNOLOGY
NOW REAL, RICH COLOR + HI-LATHER CLEANSE + HI-CONDITION RESULTS

Maintain brightness and bring out red tones and reflective facets in all bright and deep reds and brown hair

WHAT IT DOES

• Instantly adds rich color while cleansing with hi-conditioning
• Maintains, corrects, and boosts color brilliance
• Continuous use after fresh color, adds color and stops visible washout and fade between
  color services
• Alternate with shinewash^® to manage color vibrancy
• Complete gem lites^® system restores hair to healthy, natural feel
• Superior sulfate-free, paraben-free, ammonia-free, peroxide-free, PPD-free
• No animal testing, 100% vegan

COLORWASH IMPROVES HAIR WITH EVERY APPLICATION

• Blend of nourishing panthenol and phytantriol improves moisturization and texture of hair
• Locks in intense moisture, hydrating hair even in low humidity to help prevent breakage

What it is –

It’s a system of a color deposing shampoo, an in-between shampoo and a conditioner.

Does it deposit color?

Yes

My overall impression of this product

I like it.  Biggest benefit is that I don’t have to play chemist in my bathroom to make my own color depositing product.  It works, it’s just a bit of work.  Here is my recipe for that in case you are looking for it.

The conditioner isn’t super moisturizing.  So if you have very dry hair, I’m not sure if this will be enough.  Also, because you are already leaving your shampoo on your head for a while, you are probably spending less time conditioning, like I am.  However, it doesn’t weight my hair down, it doesn’t make it frizzy.

What I really do like, is that the color shampoo makes my hair seem like it has highlights and depth.  Like my hair glitters in certain light.

How do you maintain your hair color?

Thanks for reading!

~Anna

Review! Beauty Protector Protect & Shampoo!!!

The Beauty Protector Protect & Shampoo was in the February Birchbox.

This is available only through Birchbox as it is a Birchbox exclusive for now. You can get it here for $21.95.

Okay, I never go gaga over a shampoo, but I sort of did over this.  No, not this Gaga.

Here is what Birchbox says about Beauty Protector Protect & Shampoo:

“It’s powered by pearl powder, which is rich in conchiolin, an ingredient that acts like the hair protein keratin. This fortifying ingredient teams up with other nutrients that guard against and heal the effects of heat styling (think frizz and destroyed ends). The result is glossy, bouncy strands that, yes, also smell amazing.”

My thoughts:

This smells SO FREAKING GOOD.  That was my first thought.  It’s sweet and cute and fresh.  I can’t even describe it.  All I know it that it made shower time happy.

My hair really liked this.  This is another shampoo that rinsed really clean. Super squeaky clean.  I don’t know why, but I like that!

My hair felt shinier after use.

Would I by this for $20?  Yeah, I think I would. 

I am still working through my monster size bottle of shampoo, so it may be a good while before I purchase something. Also, I go through conditioner a lot quicker than I do shampoo.  Weird.

Have you tried this shampoo?  What did you think?

~Anna

Review – Arbonne FC5 Nourishing Daily Shampoo and Conditioner!

Kassi went to an Arbonne party in December and she came home with a lot of samples.  A couple of those samples landed in my amazing AnnaBox Christmas gift she gave me.  Shampoo and Conditioner from Arbonne included!

This is  review of the products, not Arbonne the company itself.  We are aware there have been some differences of opinion in regards to their transparency practices.

If you are interested, you can Google the company and you can draw your own conclusions.

Now on to the review!

What is it?

This is a simple and gentle daily shampoo and conditioner.

It is safe for color treated hair!

My thoughts –

This shampoo rinsed really clean.  My hair squeaked…no joke.

Both the shampoo and conditioner had a really pleasant light scent.

After washing with Arbonne shampoo and following with the conditioner, my hair looked really bouncy and voluminous.  I liked those results.

Ultimately, I don’t think this was moisturizing enough for my hair since it tends to be on the drier side.

I liked these two products, but after considering I don’t think I like them enough to bull a full size of either.

Have you used Arbonne hair or skin care products?

~Anna

New Fave – Garnier Fructis Haircare Volume Extend Instant Bodifier Dry Shampoo for Fine or Flat Hair

I heard about this on a YouTube video and wanted to try it for myself.

This smells so good!  Important for us non-blonds, this blends with your hair really well.  Even on reds.

Also, it’s only $5.99

Go get you some!

~Anna

What’s your favorite dry shampoo?  Do  you use dry shampoo?

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Birchbox – NOV 2013

Here is what I got in my Birch Box.  I am most excited to try the Shampoo and Conditioner and the nail polish.  I tried the perfume and I really like it but I feel like it’s best for summer because it’s very light.

I am also pumped to put this giant chocolate bar into my face.  shhhh.

October Empties 2 – I use a lot of stuff!

Just so I can be like everyone else in the beauty blogging world, I’m going to do an Empties post monthly.  Here are the things I used up in October.

I had to Google to check if Benefit even still makes Maybe Baby perfume…and they do!  It used to be one of my absolute favorites.  So light and floral.  I finally finished this bottle I’ve had for ages, and I’m thinking I want to repurchase.

Ponds – meh…Some people are crazy in love with this.  I couldn’t use it as a  cleanser, and yes I tried the hot wet towel trick.  I would sometimes use it as eye make up remover.  But I don’t think I will repurchase this for the third time. I still have one pot of it at my parents’ house that I use.

Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Spot is so good on the blackheads on my nose. It does dry me out after a few uses, so I won’t repurchase for the Winter.  We’ll see how my skin behaves come Spring.

Maybelline Mastershape was not a win for me.   The color was Auburn, but it was super light, and I couldn’t get it to blend with my black eye brows.

They’re Real by Benefit is one of my favorites right now.  I have a second trial size, and will probably buy a full size in time.

Matrix Vavoom is amazing.  One of my favorite hairsprays.

Bio Silk smells so great, and I like both the shampoo and conditioner.  I frequently repurchase both.

Got2B 4ever Stylestay is great for updos or for spraying your hair while wearing it back.  It is a stiff hold.

I’m finally retiring my Sephora Perfectionist Sponge. We reviewed a lot of sponges here and here.  This is still one of my favorites.

Bath and Body Words body lotion in Pink Chiffon.  It smells like flowers and candy to me.  I kept this in my purse, and B&BW makes such great lotions.  These always get repurchased.

So that’s it for October!

What were some of your favorites or non fave items?

~Anna

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DIY Leave-in Conditioner / Hair Perfume!

I have said it before and I will say it again – I love LUSH.  One of my absolute favorite items they have is American Cream.  It’s a hair conditioner that smells amazing- fresh strawberries and vanilla!

 

The problem is, it doesn’t really detangle my long hair very well and it’s expensive, so it’s not really great as a stand alone conditioner.    [THIS is my go-to conditioner.]

While driving yesterday I have this brilliant idea, like ya do, to make an American Cream Leave-in Conditioner!   Super budget friendly!  Its pretty much a perfume for my hair that also nourishes.  Gosh, I’m smart.

Here is what you need:

• Any conditioner you enjoy the smell of
• Water
• mini spray bottle

HOW TO:

1. Add conditioner about 1/3 of the way
2. Fill with water
3. Shake
4. Enjoy

I’m in love with this guys – I keep walking around smelling my hair.  It’s weird!

-k

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My new favorite Shampoo and Conditioner – ColorProof

A stylist associate of mine recommended this brand to me when I was on my last hair care quest.

Meet ColorProof!

All Products are:

• Sulfate-free | Salt-free
• Gluten-free | Paraben-free
• Phthalate-free | PABA-free
• Carcinogen-free | MEA & DEA-free
• Biodegradable formulas
• Recyclable packaging wherever possible
• 100% vegan
• Never tested on animals
• Keratin-free

I opted for the Moisture line because my hair tends to tangle and dry out due to color treatments.  I find that the smell is not overwhelming what so ever – the Shampoo has a faint vanilla style scent and the conditioner has a hint of tingly mint.  The shampoo makes my hair feel very clean but didn’t strip out my color.  The conditioner is AMAZNG!!!!  It made my hair so easy to comb, which is unheard of.  I even had my boyfriend try it [he has a facebook page devoted to his hair that some friends made] and he loved it too!

ColorProof has 4 different distinct formulas based on hair type:

SuperPlump – Designed for color-treated hair in need of body and fullness

CrazySmooth – to create remarkably smooth, extremely shiny hair with absolutely zero frizz.

 

TruCurl – curl-perfecting, frizz-defying, shine-boosting results while deeply quenching thirsty curls.

WHERE TO BUY

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DIY Color Depositing Conditioner AKA how to keep your hair bright red

I have tried every color depositing product on the market since the 1990’s.  Some of the best and faves have been discontinued.  WHY ARTec????

A few years ago, I decided to become an amateur chemist and start making my own. My bathroom has the battle stains to prove this.

I started off with using regular hair color, but then I discovered Pravana and my life changed.

Pravana is a deposit only color, so no developer is needed!  It coats hair beautifully 🙂  This is a salon brand, so you will need to order it online or through your stylist.  It is available on Amazon and Image Beauty.

You can customize this if you are coloring your hair something other than red.

Here is my magic recipe:

Ingredients:

1) Empty shampoo or conditioner bottle

(I prefer to use a 11 oz bottle so that I don’t have a lot of it made)

2) Your favorite conditioner

(right now I am using DermOrganic shampoo and conditioner.  They are sulfate free)

3) Pravana Vivids Red hair color

4)Tressa Extremers in Fushia

(only use this if my hair needs to look brighter)

Step 1) Mix it up!  Using my 11 oz bottle, fill it with 2/3 conditioner and 1/3 Pravana.  I get about 3 to 4 batches of color conditioner from each Pravana tube.

If I use Tressa, I give it a gentle squeeze.  I don’t need pink hair at age 37.

Step 2) Use as your conditioner in the shower.  You can leave it on for a while for more intense color.  THIS STAINS.  If you want to avoid staining your nails in particular, wear gloves.

Step 3) Enjoy your amazing hair

You’re welcome 😉

~Anna

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