Top 5: Hair Products (August)

I have to admit, I'm not always the best at hair, but I've had a few requests to write about the hair products I use...so here are my top 5 at the moment! 

1.  Pantene Colour Preserve Volume Shampoo & Conditioner

I typically wash my hair 3 times a week.  In an effort to save a little money last month (and upon recommendation from my sister and my boss - thanks guys!) I went back to the drugstore-brand Pantene.  When I walked into Wal-Mart (yes I shopped there because it's so much cheaper than Shoppers, don't hate me!) I was so surprised to see how many different selections of Pantene there were.  There's literally a shampoo for EVERY hair type!  I dye my hair often (due to a SERIOUS gray hair problem) and I am always trying to find ways to add volume to my hair, so picked up the combo of Shampoo and Conditioner that sounded right for me: Pantene's Colour Preserve Volume.  For my hair, this stuff works better than salon-bought shampoos and conditioners!  I've been using it for a few weeks now and the black hair dye has stayed deep and intense, my hair is moisturized and healthy, AND I get a nice boost of volume when I blow-dry my hair after washing :)


2.  Schwarzkof Osis+ Dust It Mattifying Powder

I swear by this product.  Seriously.  I probably use it 4-5 times a week and am not quite sure what I'd do without it.  After my hair is dry (either air-dried on an evening or weekend or blow-dried in the mornings) my hair is very soft and silky.  Most people love that...I hate it.  I find it very hard to style and work with silky hair, especially at the roots, so I sprinkle a bit of Dust It around the crown area to add some texture before I back-comb it.  It makes SUCH a difference in holding the style throughout the day.  Now, many of my friends have tried this product and don't actually like it.  Because it's a "mattifying" powder it's got a weird texture that makes your hair the exact opposite of smooth.  I love it - it's perfect for styling.  The best part is you only need a tiny amount to make a big difference - so it's very economical :)


3. Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo


I wrote a review of this product when I first started blogging in 2009...and I'm still using it!  It's what I call "magic in a bottle."  When I first cut my bangs last Fall, I hated that my hair would soak up the natural oils from my forehead and face - it left my bangs stringy and a tad greasy which is never a good look.  I find that sprinkling a little dry shampoo on my bangs after washing (and drying) my hair helps keep them at a normal texture and makes them easier to style later on.  I also use this Dry Shampoo the day after (and two, sometimes three days after) I wash my hair.  I simply sprinkle it on to my roots and rub it in with my fingers and it almost instantly takes care of the oil that is generated over the course of a day (or three).  The one thing to be careful of is this powder is white in colour so you really have to rub it into dark hair in order for it to blend in.  But that's okay, the results are phenomenal.

You might be thinking, how is Dust It different from Dry Shampoo?  

The main difference is that Dust It is used for mattifying and texturizing hair, whereas Dry Shampoo helps to reduce the look and feel of oils, sweat and build-up that naturally generates during the course of a day.  Two very different functions, two very different products! 

4.  Moroccan Oil

If you haven't heard of Moroccan Oil you must be living under a rock.  Just kidding!  (kinda).  This product has been all the rave for the past year or so and it certainly deserves to be.  It's an oil treatment that takes no time to absorb into hair and leaves it shiny, healthy and smooth.  I know, I just said I don't like smooth hair...BUT after a day or two of not washing, the ends of my hair tend to get what I call "ratty" and stringy.  It's also prone to breakage with all the styling and brushing I do, so part of my routine on day two or three of not washing is to brush out my hair and apply a dime-sized amount of Moroccan Oil to the ends to replenish it and keep it healthy-looking.  This product is said to repair damage and breakage, but I use it as more of a preventative measure.  The added bonus is that it smells like a dream.  I highly recommend Moroccan Oil for ANY hair type.  It's light and grease-free and helps keep your hair healthy and smelling good :)




5.  L'Oreal Total Repair Replenishing Mask

After 2 weeks of this routine (wash, dry, Dust It, dry shampoo, style, brush out, Moroccan oil, Dust It, dry shampoo, style, brush out, Moroccan oil, repeat) my hair is usually due for a treatment.  With all the direct heat, added product, and environmental damage I expose it to, my hair is almost guaranteed to become drier, with more breakage and split ends...so I try make an effort once every two weeks to use a deep conditioning repair system.  Right now I'm really enjoying L'Oreal's Total Repair Replenishing Mask.  After shampooing, I let the mask sit in my hair for a few minutes and rinse it out.  Just like that my hair looks and feels softer and stronger. 


I wanted to take some pictures of this stuff (and how to use it) for you guys but silly me left my camera at Stephanie's Beauty Board event on Sunday.  Thankfully she found it but I have to get it from her later this week, so I won't be able to do proper pictures until next week.  SORRY!

I hope you still found this post to be helpful.

Have you used any of the hair products mentioned above?  What are your top five at the moment?

I love to hear from you :)

- Anjali
xoxoxo