theproductpro BLOG
I just got word that THIS very blog has been featured on Bangstyle! Bangstyle, House of Hair Inspiration, is a very cool Pinterest-meets-shopping, saving, and informative articles app and website "for the hair obsessed". Thanks, Bangstyle!
Check out the article on Bangstyle Here
And Check out the original post (on Wordpress) here And until next time, stay fabulous, my friends!
Check out Look Good Feel Better at www.LookGoodFeelBetter.org. It's FREE to cancer patients through the American Cancer Society!
I'm obsessed with my hair color this week. Ob-sessed. Why? My colorist, Tracy, used Olaplex in addition to her professionally concocted, genius hair color formula, then gave me a professional Olaplex treatment at the salon to top it off.
As someone with (mostly self-colored) self-proclaimed "fire hazard hair", I've been waiting for the release of Olaplex ever since rumors of its existence were leaked.
Olaplex is a game-changer for anyone who lifts their hair color, but especially blondes and those who highlight/balayge. It's not a conditioner or a protein treatment- it's a "bond multiplier". Tracy explained it to me with a helpful analogy: it's like taking an old, dried up, crumbly rubber band and restoring it to a new, springy, strong (hydrated?) rubber band.
Why? Because when you color your hair, formula must break down the bonds that hold your natural color, usually resulting in some type of damage. Olaplex claims to permanently restore some of those bonds, and I'm drinking the kool-aid so far... I've not had this much lift and this much shine in as long as I can remember, and my hair feels great. This is a game changer, people. Call your stylist asap, you'll thank me later!
Until next time, stay fabulous my friends!
Check it out here: http://www.olaplex.com/pages/consumer
If you're in the Chicago (ish) area and want to give my colorist a try, find Tracy here: http://www.lineasalon.com
And while you're surfing the web, be sure check out this well-known stylist who is using it to create some crazy-artistic, amazing color.
Click for Guy Tang on Instagram Here
My hair has suffered through a lot throughout the years... Health and nutrition issues, stress, changing colors, bleaching, medications, breakage... The list goes on! While I'm entirely more of a skin care expert than a hair expert, I do have some experience on the topic. This ranges from working as an shampoo girl, assistant and salon receptionist for many years to managing a larger corporate spa. Add to that list the transforming, repairing, and disguising of issues with my own hair (years later ) with everything from cranial prosthesis to extensions, weaves and falls. (It doesn't hurt to have fabulously talented and smarty-pants professional stylist friends to give advice, either!)
Anyway, here are just a few key things that I have found helpful over the years for thinning and breaking hair. Because if you've ever gone through this, you know that you're ALWAYS seeking new info, desperate to find something to helpful during a really tough time.
Best for Delicate Hair, Loss, and Breakage
The theory here is that the boar bristles will help to distribute your own oils from your scalp to the ends, while simultaneously stimulating the scalp. Mine is new, so far it's going pretty well! Caution: these guys are expensive. I found mine on Amazon, but these can be found at Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom as well.
Consisting of an exfoliating shampoo, a light/medium consistency conditioner, and a daily scalp spray, this line is most helpful for prevention of breakage*. Aveda insists that the spray is necessary to do every day ("12 sprays a day keep the loss away") But I must admit, I am not great at completing that stop as regularly as I should. Nonetheless, I still feel that this line has been helping considerably. * Side note: You may be thinking, "Great, but my issue is hair loss, not breakage". I thought the same thing. But when you are suffering from hair loss, do not under estimate the importance of keeping the hair you have! http://www.aveda.com/products/8655/Hair-Care/Hair-Concern/thinning-solutions/index.tmpl
Best for Damaged and Dry hair
Found at Nordstrom, Sephora, and Ulta, these products are one of the reasons that I still HAVE hair over the years of bleach and abuse. My favorite by far is the Phyto 7 Day Cream. Not as heavy as an oil this can be used easily on dry hair without making it look heavy or greasy. I've also liked the treatment serum, packaged in ampules and used twice a week on the scalp. http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/phyto-7-daily-hydrating-cream/2832082
These fantastic products are sort of expensive, but I worth every penny. Using proteins to repair damage, this line consists of a Reconstructive Shampoo and conditioner, a daily repair leave in conditioner, and an intensive treatment mask. I've been using this product family for a few years since they launched, and would highly recommend them. http://www.aveda.com/products/5232/Collections/Damage-RemedyTM/index.tmpl
I'll post additional hair products soon... In the meantime, stay fabulous my friends!
I've been meaning to post about a great American Cancer Society Program I volunteer for called "Look Good, Feel Better" for a long time. Anyone who is undergoing treatment, about to undergo treatment, or has recently completed cancer treatment can sign up through the American Cancer Society for free. During the class (which we call workshops), licensed Beauty professionals teach and demonstrate treatment-specific skin care, makeup, head-wrap/scarf-tying, and wig styling and care techniques. Basically, everything you might want to know about if you want to feel better about how you look when you could possibly be losing your hair, your skin might be changing, and you could really use some pro's in your corner.
Through the Personal Care Products Council Foundation, huge cosmetic companies donate makeup and skincare for participants to use and take home. Clarins, Bobbi Brown, Dior, Avon, Lancome, OPI, and MAC are just a handful of these companies. Yesterday, my demonstration model even received a Dior SHOW mascara and an awesome Chanel lipstick in her kit. Props to these companies!!
If you are a beauty professional, please consider taking your talents beyond work! You know how good you can make your clientele feel on an everyday-basis, now just imagine how you can help someone who might really need your help, but hasn't met you yet. 
Every time, the participants leave the workshop with smiles on their faces, and you know that you might have helped give them the tools to feel beautiful and happy during a rough time. Please consider applying and training for this great program!
Chicagoland Aesthetic Advisor, Elizabeth Weiler, LE specializes in consulting and practice management services including:
Aesthetic Staff Training, Aesthetic Practice Management, & New Aesthetic Practice Launch services
E@med-e-spa.com, Chicago, IL, USA