Well, I gotta say, y’all rock.  Seriously.

After I posted my desperate plea for suggestions on how to fix my daughter’s over-chlorinated hair, y’all came out in force with dozens of great suggestions.  Because I live in the sticks, I don’t have access to some of the more specialty products that were recommended (like this, this and this).  So, I figured I’d start with whatever I could find readily available at the local drugstore.

Here’s what I did:

First, I took my daughter for a haircut.  I didn’t strip the chlorine out yet, I just had the hairdresser cut off a good two inches to clean up the ends.

After her haircut, I went and got a bottle of UltraSwim Shampoo ($4.99).  It was the last bottle on the shelf, which I always consider a good non-scientific review.  I mean, if people are buying it, that’s a good sign, right?  I also picked up a good moisturizing conditioner.  In this case, I went with Nexxus Humectress, per another commenter’s suggestion.    I bought a travel-sized bottle for $4.  (By the way, per Cita’s recent post, you can still get a free sample of Nexxus Humectress here.)

That evening I shampooed my daughter’s hair twice with the UltraSwim and then applied the Nexxus conditioner, being sure to leave it on for the full three minutes.  Because I was doing this review (and because it was time for my daughter to go to bed), I did blow dry her hair.  However, if I had had more time, I would have let her hair air dry.  Many of you suggested skipping the hair dryer, as it only dries the hair out more.  That makes total sense.  I don’t know why that didn’t occur to me. 

I didn’t take a “before” picture of my daughter’s hair because I wasn’t sure the condition of her hair would really show well in a photograph.  Her hair looked dull, but the problem was more how her hair felt.  Now I wish I had taken a “before” photograph because the “after” was striking:  Take a look:

Her hair felt so much better.  I couldn’t stop touching it.  Even my husband was impressed.

I’m going to be honest, it wasn’t a 100 percent fix.  But, I’d say the UltraSwim took care of about 85-90% of the build-up.  Part of the problem is that I think I let her hair get too out of control before I did anything.  Had I started the UltraSwim/Humectress protocol from June 1st on, I never would have run into the problems I did.

A few commenters recommended a salon Malibu treatment to remove all of the build-up, and it’s something I’m considering once the swim season comes to a close.

The other tip that will definitely become a habit next summer is to wet my daughter’s hair and apply a small amount of conditioner prior to her getting in the pool.  The conditioner prevents the chlorine from penetrating the hair cuticle, which causes the damage in the first place.  I can then put her swim cap on top, and the heat generated from swimming actually works as a heat conditioning treatment that can help repair her hair as she swims.  Pretty cool.

So a big thanks to all of  you who took the time to comment.  Your suggestions were ever so helpful.  And for any of you that might be struggling with the same issue of over-chlorinated hair, be sure and check out the comments on the original post.  There’s a wealth of information in there that, quite literally, can transform your tresses.

I like the idea of wearing a headband. They can be really cute and trendy and an easy way to dress up a hairdo. (Or glam up an otherwise, you know, bad hair day.)

I mean, how gorgeous are these?!

Target also has some really darling ones, several currently in their jewelry department. (Like this and this.)

Problem is, my head isn’t shaped so perfectly round and they end up just looking silly on me, especially the wider ones. Sits up too tall, or something.

When shopping recently, however, I spotted this little number:

The top pattern:

It’s a completely flexible, soft plastic headband that only looks like a hard plastic traditional one. It’s extremely comfortable to wear and stays in place, from Goody.

And it conforms to whatever shape your head is. My problem solved!

What it looks like on:

Do you ever wear headbands? What’s your favorite kind?

Originally posted September 24, 2009.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared that I save money on haircare with the Suave Professionals line. Another way I save is by requesting free samples whenever possible.

In this case, you can get a free Nexxus Shampoo (retails for $8.99), Conditioner (retails for $13.99), and Deep Conditioner (retails for around $14.99) for free.

Nexxus claims that you can transform your hair in a single wash. Free samples are usually just about one wash, so you’ll really be able to test that claim.

Supplies are limited, so order yours today! (Your samples won’t arrive for another 4-6 weeks, though.)

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Walmart, Walmart.com, Nexxus. Just love free samples!

A few weeks ago, at Target, I found the craziest-looking hair product:  the Goody Spin Pin.

What is it?

Basically, the two spin pins take the job of a dozen bobby pins in securing a bun.  Because of the spiraled shape, they grab onto all kinds of layers of hair and help hold the bun in place without using a bunch of bobby pins.

Here’s how it works.

First, gather up your hair into a loose ponytail. 

Begin twisting the hair into a bun.

Begin twisting the hair into a bun.  Smooth all the little flyaways into the bun.

Take the first pin (there are 2 per package and you need both) and “screw it in” at the top of the bun.  I thought this would be weird but the pin just glides right in.

(Yes, I know I’ve got an annoying little rat-tail of hair in the front but it just doesn’t reach the bun.  I needed ONE bobby pin.)

Take the second pin and screw it in from the bottom of the bun.  The directions said to “be careful not to interlock the pins”… but mine did and it wasn’t a disaster or anything.  I think they obviously work better if they’re holding onto hair, not each other.

And that’s it!

This particular how-to was done on a day when I was running late and I barely put any effort into my hair at all… and that bun lasted all day!

Of course, with hair as fine as mine is I inevitably had some stragglers popping free by the end of the day, but with a tiny dusting of hair spray that could have been prevented.

The pins are about $5.99 at most major retailers and comes in blonde and brunette.

What do you think of the Spin Pin?

When you live in Georgia, summer vacation is spent at the swimming pool.  Honestly, it’s just too darn hot to do anything else.

When you live in Georgia and have a daughter on swim team, you tend to spend even more time at the swimming pool.  Swim practice is three days a week, plus swim meets.

That’s a lot of swimming.

And, don’t get me wrong, all that swimming is well and good.

But all that chlorinated water is really doing a number on my daughter’s hair.

We shampoo and condition her hair every evening after she swims in the pool.  Her hair always feels soft and smooth when I rinse it in the shower.

But the problem arises after I blow it dry.

Her hair ends up feeling kind of “coated.”  As if there’s a bunch of product on it, only there isn’t.  For lack of a better description, it almost feels sticky — and a little dry.  It tangles like crazy, and detangling spray doesn’t offer much help.  I’ve used a few different shampoos.  I’ve conditioned till the cows come home.  None of it seems to help.

I searched online for “what to do with chlorine damaged hair” and came up with nothing.  Just a few random shampoo suggestions.

So, I’m throwing it out to y’all.   Anyone else ever run into this issue?  Any suggestions on what I can do to get  my daughter’s hair back to normal?   Is there a specific shampoo?  A fantastic conditioner?  Do we need to do a hot oil treatment?

I’m open to suggestions and if I find something that works, I’ll be sure to come back here and share it with y’all.

Pinkie promise.

So don’t be shy.  Please, if you’ve got any ideas, comment away.

I’m all ears…

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, when I joined the BzzAgent site I was invited to participate in my first BzzCampaign with got2b. Within a few days, I received my first product to try: got2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Lustre Lotion. I finally tried it out, and wanted to share my thoughts with you, dear reader.

Photo from drugstore.com - I'm not an affiliate there, I just like the site a lot.

From the BzzCampaign invitation: Lusciously decadent göt2b smooth operator smoothing lustre lotion shapes, smoothes, controls fly-aways and gives your hair an amazing weightless lustre that’s touchably soft. And now it’s reformulated with an indulgent cashmere infusion, it’s softer and smoother than ever.

And the got2b website describes the product as such: Don’t cheat your hair – give it the royal treatment with got2b smooth operator smoothing lustre lotion. This decadent lotion shapes, imparts an amazing weightless lustre and softness. Protects against damage from heat styling and contains a UV protectant.

With phrases like “controls fly-aways” (without product, my hair can be kinda fuzzy), “touchably soft” (who likes crunchy hair?), “cashmere infusion” (umm…) and “protects against damage from heat styling,” I was excited to try this out. I’d seen got2b products at the store, but hadn’t really looked at them very closely. Let’s be real: I’m in my mid-30s. I’m not exactly got2b’s target audience.

What I liked about it: It really does tame fly-aways; I have fine, mostly straight, chin-length hair and used a spot no bigger than a quarter. When I dried my hair on high heat, my hair was probably as smooth as it’s ever been. And my hair was definitely not crunchy, so bonus points there!

What I didn’t like: I disagree that the softness was “weightless.” The lotion just felt kind of thick on my hair, and it actually took a really long time for my hair to dry after putting it in. Maybe I’m just not used to this type of product (I usually use mousses, spray gels, and other volumizing-types), but I felt like it kind of held me down a little too much. I tried using less of the product, but it felt the same regardless of how much (or how little) I used.

Overall: I definitely don’t think this is a bad product; I just don’t think it’s the right one for me (especially given that I’m usually looking for volume). I’m guessing if you have thick hair that’s on the frizzy side, though, that this would work great. Or, if you want a really smooth look – definitely give this a try. It’s definitely a good product with quality ingredients, and I think I’ll still use it every now and then – but in general, this one was a miss for me.

got2b’s products can be found at drugstores nationwide, or you can also buy them at drugstore.com where it looks like they’re on sale right now! Bonus!

Full disclosure: I am a BzzAgent and received samples, coupons and a free bottle of got2b smooth operator in exchange for sharing my opinion about and samples of the product. The opinions expressed are my own. You have been warned.

I grew up in a family that only ever bought Pantene Pro-V or Herbal Essences shampoos. But when I got to college I realized I had no money and needed to tighten my belt. Then I graduated from college and realized I needed to tighten my belt even more… because I still had no money but now I had college student loans to pay.

Enter Suave shampoos and conditioners.

The price speaks for itself. Suave’s Daily Clarifying conditioner costs $1.99 for 22.5 ounces. That’s $0.09 / ounce!

But the quality wasn’t great. My hair needs weightless moisturizers that will keep frizz at bay and ensure shine without looking oily. It’s a lot to ask, and though the Nexess Humectress Ultimate Moisturizing conditioner might do the drink, my budget just does not allow for a conditioner that costs over $1 / ounce. Alas.

A few months ago, I saw a neat Suave Professionals commercial on TV. Salon stylists were given unidentified shampoos and conditioners to use on their clients. They raved about the quality of the products and were then surprised to find out they’d been using Suave Professionals. Suave?! Really?!

If you’re interested, you can watch this and their other commercials at Suave.com/video.

Granted they’re likely actors paid to look surprised. But the commercial really caught my attention and when my conditioner ran out, I bought a 14.5 ounce bottle of Suave Humectant conditioner for $2.29 or $0.16 / ounce.

Though it’s a little more expensive than the regular Suave conditioners, it’s still significantly less than Herbal Essences’ Hello Hydration at $0.32 / ounce or Pantene Pro-V’s Daily Moisture Renewal at $0.40 / ounce.

And it works.

Suave Professional’s Humectant conditioner moisturizes my hair, keeps it frizz-free and manageable, and makes it look full and shiny without looking oily.

Summer usually means lots of heat, lots of humidity and — if you’re prone to frizzy hair like I am — lots of bad hair days.

My hair is fine, with a slight wave to it.  There’s not enough wave to make it look decent, but just enough bend that you want to straighten it out.  So, I usually do.  But sometimes, even after I blow dry it straight, the ends look dry.  Add in a little humidity and I can officially give up my quest for a sleek, straight style.

So, I’ve been on the hunt for a product that would keep my hair smooth and straight, but not make it look weighed down and greasy.  A lot of the smoothing pastes and balms out there make my hair feel coated with product — almost sticky.  And, because it’s hard to control how much of these pastes and balms you use, you can easily end up using too much.  More often than not, the result is “Fried Chicken Hair” (translation: hair that looks so greasy, you could fry a chicken in it).

But, I have finally found the answer to my hair prayers:

I received a free sample of Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream about a month ago from Walmart.  Honestly, I wasn’t really expecting much.   “Sheer styling cream with pure olive oil that helps eliminate frizz and adds moisture and shine to all hair types.”

Yeah.  Like I hadn’t heard that before.

But, I figured it was worth a shot.  Following the package directions, I applied a “pea size” dollop to my damp hair.

The first thing I noticed was how “lightweight” the cream is.  It’s smooth (not “pasty”) and when you rub it between your hands it feels like a super-light oil.  It feels virtually weightless when you apply it to your hair.

After I blew my hair dry, I stopped to assess the results.  And frankly, I was a bit shocked.  There was a marked difference in the feel, texture and appearance of my hair.  It was softer, slightly shinier and the ends looked smooth and moisturized.    It’s the only glossing product I’ve ever used that didn’t weigh my hair down — in fact, it didn’t look like my hair had any product in it at all.  My hair looked so healthy.  And I was in love.

My sister just got a free sample of the glossing cream from her local Kroger.  Her hair is 180 degrees opposite of mine.  It’s thick and coarse.  She flat irons it daily.  She applied the glossing cream to damp hair and blew it dry.  She noticed an immediate difference as well.  She says her hair “laid better.”  The ends were moisturized and she didn’t have to spend as much time flat ironing.  She went out to buy a tube the next day.

The cream also works great on dry hair to calm fly-aways and frizz.  The only caution is to watch the amount you use.  My hair is shoulder length and I use just under a pea-sized amount.  I also make sure to keep the product away from my roots — applying it mid-shaft to the ends.   The fact that this cream is packaged in a tube (as opposed to a jar or pump) makes it easier to control the amount you apply.

The one drawback is price.  At around $20 for 4 ounces, this product doesn’t run cheap.  But, the sample I received was 0.3 ounces.  I managed to squeeze about 14 applications out of it.  So really, one tube is going to last you quite a while because a little goes a very long way.

And seriously.  For a guaranteed good hair day?  It’s money well spent.

Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream can be found a most mass market retailers including Target, Walmart, Sephora, Bath & Body Works, and drugstore.com.

I’m a busy mom of 4. I wear my hair in a ponytail A LOT. And I do have thickish hair, but ever since my haircut, my ponytail has been looking a little sad.

A few months ago, Trina blogged about her fabulous (and cheap!) backcomber find so of course I picked one up at my local Sally’s — for less than $2.

And I discovered that it also does wonders on making my ponytail look fuller. I just flip it up and brush sections of it down (starting at the bottom of my ponytail) using the backcomb, and then sort of swipe at any fly-aways when I’m done.

I would show you before and after photos except I’m not currently in ANY state of photogeni-a. (Yes I just made that word up.)

Did I mention I’m a busy mom of four?

I used to coupon a lot, taking advantage of drugstore sales and using coupons to get them either really cheap or sometimes free.  In that time I racked up alot of products I wouldn’t normally buy or risk spending money on {in case they flopped}.  I have a bathroom closet full of body wash, soap, deoderant and hair products.

Last year we had our daughter’s hair cut from past her shoulders into a bob like mine.  As it grew out some it started to get unruly in the mornings.  I would wash and carefully blow dry at night and she would wake up with hair that looked like something out of a scary movie.

On a whim I headed to my “supply closet” to see what I could use to calm her mess of hair down.  I found the Garnier Fructis Glistening Drops.

Garnier Fructis Glistening Drops

I figured the smoothing agent in the product would help keep the hair cuticles smoothed down and less likely to tangle up and crimp in odd directions.

So that night after doing our usual wash and dry I applied the glistening drops to her hair, smoothing it over the surface and underneath for good measure.

The next morning, instead of a mess of hair it actually still looked nice.  Not as nice as it does after I first blow dry it because the fullness was gone, but nice enough not to have to re-wet and dry it due to all the crazy hair sections sticking out in different directions.

When Rayna saw her hair in the mirror she exclaimed, “Momma that stuff DID work!”

I’ve started using it on days my hair looks a little dry or needs some shine and I really like it.  I also like the fact that it doesn’t weigh my hair down.

Just a note about hair types.  My daughter and I both have fine hair with no curl or wave to it.   So although this product works beautifully on our hair, it may not be heavy duty enough for someone with a lot of texture or has hair that tends to be really frizzy.  But I do recommend this for medium to fine hair.

Me and my daughter Rayna