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Category Archives: Hair Game

Baby’s First Haircut

23 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Au Naturale, Austin, Texas, Hair Game, Motherhood

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baby boy, baby's first haircut, first haircut, kids haircuts, Knox, milestones, Sharkey's Austin, Sharkey's Cuts for Kids, Sharkey's Northwest Hills, the first year

Baby Knox turned one earlier this month and it was high-time to get his very first haircut! I’ve blogged before about how great Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids – Northwest Hills is with kids, so we went back there for lil’ man’s first trim. Here is his “Before” shot:Knox Haircut 1

–His hair looks so shaggy, teehee! (Was I in denial about how bad a cut was needed here?) It’s hard to realize when the babies actually need a haircut, when it’s their first time ever, right? Next step was to put on his cape & assess how much I wanted to cut off…Knox Haircut 3

The stylist combed through his hair and made her suggestions but always checked with me first…which is a huge relief knowing no major changes will be done without mama’s approval!Knox Haircut 4

His sides were the biggest issue — he was born with hair that came down over his ears! I can’t believe his long it had gotten…note the little toy they gave him to hold & chew as a distraction. 🙂
Knox Haircut 7

They were cleaned up first and WOW what a difference! It was crazy to see it all trimmed up. This is the point in the process where I realized he’s beginning to not look so baby-like anymore! Here’s what it looked like mid-way through:Knox haircut 11

Tackling the back was next and that was the hardest part. –He was squirming like active baby boys do. Plus, he’s just too young to follow a “stay still” direction from me. The stylist suggested I hold him at this stage and it worked pretty well.Knox Haircut 12

Between the bright Cars-themed chair, the little shark toy, and his sweet & knowledgable stylist, he came out A-OK and looking a little older (sniff, sniff) than when we came in. Another milestone in the books — yay for baby’s first haircut! Thank you, Sharkey’s!Knox Haircut 10

Feel Refreshed in the New Year

26 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Au Naturale, Austin, Texas, Beauty, Fitness, Hair Game, health & wellness, Product Reviews, Shopping

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bath bombs, CBD, CBD Living, Elemis, Facials, Ideal Image, Kamedis, New Year, new year's resolutions

I do love the fresh start that a new year brings. Besides the mental & emotional refocus, I (like so many) set a resolution that targets my physical self. My motivation? We have the opportunity to go to Hawaii not once, but twice this summer. I want to feel fab in my bathing suit and feel as healthy as ever on the beach. My New Year’s mantra? Three words: Peace, Happiness, Energy. Here are some products helping me get there:

Hi-tech facials: I’m a big fan of facials because they are so relaxing & peaceful AND you come out glowing & hydrated! It’s like a two-for-one: you get the chance to unwind while your skin is being cared for and treated. In Austin, Ideal Image‘s new Parmer location offers professional-grade facials using customized Elemis skincare products. I recently tried one out and the tools they used were so hi-tech! Really, I felt like their technology is at the forefront of the latest & greatest offerings within the ‘beauty’ category. Everything from ultrasonic devices, LED light therapy, and crazy-unique masks were utilized to help what I wanted to address with my skin. Here is a pic of me with one of the interesting masks on…the ingredients for it had to be mixed right before use and turned into a sort-of semi-solid foam on my face…wild! These facials and Elemis products are only available at the new location, 6301 W. Parmer Lane Unit #507, Austin, TX 78729.facial

CDB products: I’ve been intrigued by the uses & benefits to CBD oil for several months now and am excited to see more & more products including it! I’ve tried some sublingual drops but am really eager to try out these bath bombs by CBD Living. They contain 60 mg of nano-CBD, are vegan-friendly and use only natural fragrances for that post-workout soak. For sore muscles & body aches, the Freeze roll-on includes 120 mg of full-spectrum nano-CBD, as well as cooling menthol and tea tree oil for immediate soothing and extended pain relief. cbd living

Scalp Soothers: This time of year, my scalp can get itchy…actually, not just my scalp but my skin all over gets itchy. I think it’s a combination of winter dryness and our tap water where we live. Apparently the water here has one of the highest levels of Chloramine in it. For some, that can cause itchy skin after a shower. This line of products has helped. After two decades of research and development and eight years of success overseas – Kamedis (pronounced KaMEDis) has brought back its clinically proven, dermatologist-endorsed botanical skin care products to the U.S.dandruff therapy shampoo

What is your New Year’s Resolution? Any products or mantras helping you reach your goals? Please share!

Family Photos at McKinney Falls

14 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Au Naturale, Austin, Texas, Baby Girl A, Dapper Dad, Fashion, Hair Game, Married Life, Motherhood

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family photos, Golden Hour, McKinney Falls, photography

Wanted to share some highlights from our recent family photo shoot… Ryan and I still look at each other in amazement that we have two kids! Alexandra turned 4 earlier this month and Knox turns 1 in just a couple weeks. bnp-01

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We shot with Brittany Nicole Photography at McKinney Falls State Park in Austin, TX. Think you to Dry Society styling lounge for the amazing blowout!

 

Grand Opening Party for Sharkey’s Austin

14 Sunday Oct 2018

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in ATX Events, Austin, Texas, Baby Girl A, Beauty, Hair Game, Motherhood

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birthday party ideas, face painting, Grand Opening, haircut, kids hair salons, kids haircuts, Northwest Hills, Sharkey's Austin, Sharkey's Cuts for Kids, toddler hairstyles

Sharkey's Intro.jpgToday my daughter & I were invited to attend the Grand Opening celebration for the Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids new location in Northwest Hills – Austin. They had raffle drawings for free haircuts for a year & a free glamour birthday party package, balloons, face-painting, food & drinks and more. Here’s a shot of my little one getting her “rainbow princess” face paint and in the background you can see the pretty fairytale frocks the girls get to play dress-up in at birthday parties.Sharkey's face paintingIf all that rainbow-bling weren’t enough to send my tot into heartsparkle over-drive, they also paint their nails. Of course she chose purple glitter polish. Oh, AND it was done while she sat in a Frozen-themed Jeep. –She couldn’t stop smiling! 🙂  Sharkey's nail paintingWe also squeezed in my daughter’s second-ever haircut in the middle of all the fun. There are no corners cut when providing these kids’ their haircuts — they do a nice wash in the shampoo bowl, wet cut, blow-dry, a dry-cut for touch-ups, and then the stylist even put a tiny little braid in her hair afterward.AA haircutSee, the Sharkey’s name carries a lot of weight because they are so good with kids, and especially special-needs kids, too. They do lots of little things that the kids love, like playing on-demand their choice of favorite Netflix show at each cutting station! And for the older boys, there’s Xbox too.Sharkey's TVIn the past, many families in my neighborhood would travel all the way to Cedar Park to visit our area’s only other Sharkey’s for their kids’ haircuts. In fact, my daughter’s very first haircut (which was right around her 3rd birthday) was at that location. We were thrilled to hear there was a brand new one opening up much closer to us at the intersection of 360 & 2222. Sharkey’s salons already hold a special place in my heart, but this new spot exceeded my expectations. The facility is clean & bright, the staff was talented & positive, the owner was kind & thoughtful and the new location is perfect for us!Sharkey's last pic

New Year’s Beauty Refresh

28 Sunday Jan 2018

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Au Naturale, Beauty, Hair Game, health & wellness, Life[style], Pregnancy, Product Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

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Apple Cider Vinegar, dental care, Doctor Plotka's, Essential Rinse, Face Masks, Mouth Watchers, Quenching Mineral Mask, Scalp Toner, toothbrushes, Vichy

New year, new leaf. Taking a minute this month to clean out my medicine cabinet and refresh my regular routines. This is the perfect time to replace or clean brushes (makeup, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, etc.), exfoliate that dead wintery skin with a mask & new hydrating products, and revive hair with a good healthy cleanse. Here are some new products I’m trying as part of my New Year’s beauty routine refresh:

Face Masks:  Get radiant, younger-looking skin from Vichy’s Mineral Face Masks born from earth, water and rock. Whether used alone or for multi-masking, these face masks are empowered by natural minerals such as Bentonite Clay to leave your skin feeling fresh and purified. VichyRight now, I especially love the Quenching Mineral Mask by Vichy (pictured on the left). A deeply hydrating mineralizing face mask, it contains Vitamin B3 to soothe and replenish the skin with 24-HR hydration. It immediately hydrates, soothes and strengthens skin with 10% concentration of Vichy Thermal Mineralizing Water (which is rich in 15 minerals that help skin resist everyday aggressors for strong, healthy skin.)

New Toothbrush:  After my last teeth cleaning when I was tenderly informed of a condition called Pregnancy Gingivitis (hint hint?), I know it’s time to get back on track and make dental care a top priority. Doctor Plotka’s is the leading toothbrush for better health because it contains antimicrobial bristles infused with silver! I first heard about the health benefits of silver from my interview with designer Rebecca Minkoff and have been intrigued by its uses ever since. Not only are the bristles antimicrobial, but they mimic flossing and are long-lasting. Time to toss out our current brushes and try these for fresh & healthy teeth in the new year.Doctor Plotka's

Toner for your Scalp:  Although a day on the slopes, a walk in the rare peek of sunshine, or basking in the low-humidity air can make for perfect winter days, they also make a dry mess out of your hair & scalp. That’s why I’m trying out something I’ve never used before: a purifying scalp and hair toner. –Have you heard about girls who “wash” their hair in Apple Cider Vinegar? Well, Essential Rinse is a new product along those lines…but the formula smells great and has that lower pH, which will clarify and purify the hair instantly. Apparently it’s very easy to use: after cleansing with shampoo, massage the product into wet hair & scalp, distributing evenly with your fingers before rinsing thoroughly with water.Essential Rinse

 

Life[style]: Nov. ’17 — Effortless Beauty: products that do all the work for you

18 Saturday Nov 2017

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Au Naturale, Beauty, Hair Game, health & wellness, Life[style], Product Reviews, Shopping

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blowout, CORREXIKO, drybar, Effortless Beauty, professional blowdry, silk pillowcase, Skin Supplement, The Domain Northside, The Hollywood Silk Solution, vitamins & supplements

Who else finds themselves dazzled by advancements in beauty products out there?! I’m constantly tempted by all the new tech, formulas, and combos the industry comes up with, i.e. super-sticky black masks that promise to pull out your deepest blackheads, the at-home micro needling devices, and those soft vertical rollers producing beach waves while you sleep. The results seem incredible! But let’s be honest, although these treatments can be done at home -which is a huge plus- they still take TIME to apply and perform. Sometimes I’ll spend double or triple the amount of energy that it would take a professional to produce the same, if not usually better, results. –Ain’t nobody got time for that! That’s why this month, I’m sharing some new beauty products & services that are completely effortless. Yep, their fantastic results take absolutely no energy on your part to receive. All the beauty payoff / none of the effort.

A Professional Blowout: Austin got its own Drybar location (at The Domain Northside) and earlier this week, I finally paid them a visit. Drybar is based on the simple concept of focusing on one thing and being the best at it: Blowouts. I adore their classy atmosphere, consistent styling results, and professional hospitality. They sent over a gift card for a complimentary blowout and it was the perfect mid-week pick-me-up for this pregnant mama! I typically don’t treat myself to a professional blow dry unless I’ve got a special event coming up, but this was a lesson in not needing an excuse to make yourself feel fabulous. I felt like a new woman walking out of the salon! Drybar

A Silk Pillowcase: Get a variety of beauty benefits simply by laying down…it doesn’t get any easier! Made with the highest grade of long fiber mulberry silk on the top and high grade cotton on the other side, the Hollywood Silk Solution is designed to reduce bedhead, decrease tugging on delicate facial skin and extend your blowout. Now, you can truly get your beauty sleep this year. Machine washable, too! Available in Pink, Caramel and White ($45)Silk Pillowcase

Your Daily Dose of Beauty: Just add water! This box of once-daily beauty sachets nourish skin from the inside so it can heal & repair itself and ultimately achieve a softer, younger look. CORREXIKO’s Skin Supplement lessens the results of cell aging over time; meaning daily protection for the face, neck & body from signs of aging in the years the come.Beauty VitaminsA single packet of these nutritional supplements contains 5 capsules specially formulated to target distinct skincare concerns. What can you expect? The maker claims users will start to see skin firmness, texture, glow and a lessening of fine lines and wrinkles within 12-18 weeks of consistent daily use, though benefits may be seen earlier, and increased energy may be noticed from Day 3 onwards. The formula includes 60 active clinically proven ingredients, such as:

  • Astaxanthin to neutralize free-radical oxidative stress
  • Lycopene for UV protection
  • Collagen precursors to support the strength of the dermal matrix (including elastin and collagen fibers)
  • Hyaluronic acid to maintain extracellular hydration
  • Resveratrol to help the body’s fight against inflammatory action
  • Additional Potent Probiotics to help your body absorb nutrients effectively
  • Natural Energy + Mood boosters to help awaken your body and mind
  • Essential Nutrients, Enzymes, Amino Acids, Minerals and Superfoods to stimulate skin renewal

($95)

Event Recap: Dry Society Styling Lounge debuts blow-dry studio near The Domain

24 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in ATX Events, Beauty, Hair Game

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Austin Events, Austin salons, Beauty Blogger, blow dry bar, blow-outs, Dry Society Styling Lounge, Grand Opening, parties, Shop Local, small business spotlight, The Domain

Dry Society Styling Lounge is North Austin’s newest blow dry studio specializing in blowouts, braids and fabulous up-dos.  My guest Alicia were ‘blown away’ at their lavish debut party the night of October 15th.  We had the pleasure of meeting Dry Society’s experienced team of stylists, owners, and their Creative Director, Rick Klepach.best-dry-societyConveniently located adjacent to The Domain, guests enjoyed sounds by DJ A/C, an open Veuve Clicquot champagne bar and light hor d’ oeuvres.dry-society-2 Whether you’re headed to a special event, a night on the town or simply need a pick-me-up, Dry Society has you covered.  Located adjacent to The Domain, Dry Society offers a variety of beautiful styles that suit every taste.  The stylists at North Austin’s premier blow dry bar focus on one thing and doing it well:  no cuts, no color, just couture style and beautiful blowouts that last and last.  dry-society-3Dry Society is open seven days a week, Monday-Wednesday 9am to 6pm, Thursday-Saturday 9am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm, or by appointment. For more information, please call Dry Society Styling Lounge at 512-906-0759.

Embracing my natural hair texture

22 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Au Naturale, Beauty, Hair Game, Product Reviews, Shopping

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Air-drying, Blow-dry bars, Brazilian Blowout, chemical-free, Dessange Paris, Invisibobble, Japanese Thermal Straigntening, Keratin Smoothing Treatment, Natural hair texture, Plopping, Unlash Dry Cleanser

The natural hair texture movement has been around for a couple years now but lately it feels like the chemical-free (and even heat-free!) trend is growing stronger than ever.  In fact, yesterday I caught celebrity hair stylist Ken Paves on a TV show saying he now no longer blow dries his clients…saying it’s all about lots of texture these days.  Yep — although chemical relaxers equal sleek straight hair, it looks as though the tide is shifting toward a less invasive approach to hair care.

Music to my ears!  Over the years, I’ve tried all types of salon procedures to tame this mane:

  • Japanese Thermal Straightening:  stick-straight & permanent results but it absolutely fried my strands.
  • Brazilian Blowout:  my favorite but unfortunately –in my experience– you have to go with a modified version of the original one that has still SOME formaldehyde in it for the procedure to be worth your money. The ones that are formaldehyde-free are widely marketed (and safer, presumably) but in my opinion, are just not as effective.Brazilian Blow Out Results
  • Keratin Smoothing Treatments:  chemicals involved aren’t as scary but results just aren’t as successful & long lasting.
  • Blow-outs:  who doesn’t love to be pampered with a professional blow-out?!  I love visiting blow-dry bars like blo or drybar and walking out with sleek, voluminous, bouncy hair.  BUT $40 a pop can really add up over time and results only last until your next wash.professional blow-out results

So, after years of chemically straightening my hair, I’m exploring how manage my locks with air drying, new products, and styling techniques.  There are a few reasons I’m going this route:  I’m still breastfeeding my baby and am scared of harsh chemicals seeping into my scalp, I have less time to heat-style in the mornings (due to said baby), and because I like to be a part of a movement:  embracing the natural texture of your hair is a huge beauty trend right now.

I’ve found that air-drying my hair in braids or buns overnight really helps set a more tame tone for the next day.  Also, “plopping” is a thing…have you heard of it???  I’ve done it overnight three times now and my technique is improving with each try!  There are YouTube videos online that can take ya step-by-step better than I can, but here’s the result:  My Natural Hair Texture

These are the new products I’m trying out to help enhance and maintain a more natural, textured look:

DESSANGE PARIS Purifying Clay Balancing Shampoo:  A symbol of French luxury and arbiter of the covetable ‘French Girl’ style, hair care brand DESSANGE Paris is the creator of some of most recognizable hair styles in history including the iconic “Coiffé-Décoiffé” – Brigitte Bardot’s signature tousled undone look.  This shampoo manages to moisturize ends while balancing a healthy scalp with natural green clay.  A pro-vitamin b5 enhanced formula helps to minimize oily roots and produce soft, perfectly balanced hair. dessange shampoo purifying green clay collection

Unwash Dry Cleanser:  Part of the success to this process is not washing your hair everyday…my curls tend to look better on the second day, actually.  When I don’t want to get my head wet, I can refresh & revive my style on the fly with this next-gen dry shampoo.  This superior, lightweight performance formula leaves no residue on tresses and features natural Volcanic Ash to absorb excess oil for second-day fresh hair perfection. Vitamin E and Panthenol provide conditioning and strengthening while plant extracts nurture hair for beautiful bounce, body and healthy shine.products for natural hair texture: next-gem dry shampoo

Invisibobble:  Another tool for keeping a naturally curly texture in tact for a few days in between washes are hair accessories that don’t leave indentions!  Invisibobble is the only traceless hair ring that does not kink or crease hair. The magic trick lies in its peculiar telephone cord shape.  Wrapped around the hair, the invisibobble® places uneven pressure around the ponytail, allowing it to be held strongly without being too tight.  This gives individual hairs more space within the ponytail and leads to a traceless result.embracing natural hair texture with hair ties that don't leave indentions

 

 

(Hair) Model for a Day

31 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Everyday Joie, Hair Game

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Austin Beauty Guide, beauty, blow out, Bumble and bumble, bumble and bumble products, Hair Model, L7 Salon, Model for a Day, round brush blow dry set, style, thick hair

A couple weeks ago I saw an article on Austin Beauty Guide that national hair product company Bumble and bumble would be flying instructors from NYC to hold workshops here in Austin at a local salon.  They were holding an open-call for hair “models” — those selected would receive a free consultation, professional blow-out, and two full-sized Bumble and bumble products to take home.  I’m always down for a free blow-out (and most anything free, for that matter), so I applied & was accepted!  Admittedly, in the days leading up to the event, my husband and I had some fun playing around with the new “hair model” title I’d earned, sarcastically mentioning my upcoming “modeling gig” and sharing a giggle.  It was quite cheeky to think I could add anything with “model” in the title to my bio.  😉

The event was on Monday at L7 Salon and it was a unique experience I’d LOVE to do again.  “Round brush blow-day set” was the official name of the class, I think, and introduced a twist on your typical blow-out by combining the use of a round brush to blow-dry sections of hair with the stay-all-week curls achieved in a classic wash-n-set.  The result was fabulous, but I’ll let the before & afters speak for themselves:

BEFORE:Image

–As I’ve previously shared here on this blog, I have a thick mane that I mostly end up taming down into a bun or braid for everyday.  Washed the night before, this is my no-product, unstyled hair, as seen just after being taken out of the loose side braid I walked in with.

Participating the event as a whole was something fun & different to do…  It was cool to observe the teaching process:  the instructor reminding the stylists of what they previously learned in the slide show, the group collectively prescribing which products would work best on this girl’s hair vs. that girl’s hair, etc.  My stylist –a super fun chick who drove in for the workshop from San Antiono– began by picking my potion:  gentle shampoo, super rich conditioner, a foundation of Bumble and bumble’s tonic lotion and styled with thickening hairspray just on the sections at the very top of my head.  Once the individual sections were blow-dried, they rolled my hair to cool and set.  However, no rollers were used:Image

Once the pin curls were shot with a blast of cool air from the blow dryer, it was time to take ’em out.  In my opinion, the genius of this blow-out process is that once the curls were all taken down, the stylist only had to use a few swipes of a natural bristle brush to obtain the look we were going for:Image

I adored the big loose curls — a very Victoria’s Secret look, if I do say so myself.  After finishing with a little “does it all” styling stray, here’s the AFTER shot:Image

Fabulous, right?  It was a super-fun morning and I walked outta there feeling gorgeous.  Top top it off, it was all FREE.  Plus, since I referred two models for the other workshop later that day, I got extra products in my goodie bag.  Look at all this loot!Image

I can’t wait to try them all!  Anyone who knows me is well aware that I’m all about spreading the word about great opportunities.  SO…the Model Coordinator I work with is actually looking for candidates at upcoming classes, with the first available appointment in Austin on March 4th at 11:45 a.m. or 2:45 p.m.  If you’re not free then, no worries, because they will have about a class a month — it’s worth reaching out, even simply to get in her rolodex, trust me!  They also do workshops in Houston, too.  She told me that ideal hair is between shoulder blade to mid-back (think bra clasp length) and not too thick/not too thin (basically hair that can easily be styled into a straight or wavy style).  If YOU are interested in being a hair model for an upcoming Bumble and bumble workshop, here’s how:  email Roxy at  AustinModels@BeCreativeHouse.com with a picture of your natural hair and be sure to mention moi.  Mentioning my name is important because a.) it helps them spread the word out to new models by working off our referrals and b.) you get rewarded with free product for each friend you refer, what what!!!

Summer Travel Tresses

01 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Beauty, Hair Game, Travel

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beauty, ceramic flat iron, style, travel, vacation

Le sigh…let me just take a moment to shake my head in feigned remorse…I’ve had such sad beauty blunders while traveling and well, in life (let’s be honest).  However, I feel like with each trip abroad, I’m getting better at managing my stubborn locks while on-the-go.  Thus, I was inspired to write this post.  Not because you’d look at me & be all like, “She’s got great hair!”  –Um, no.  This is me, sharing part of my travel survival guide.  Because my hair is stuck back in the hunter-gatherer era, my modern self has had to figure out how to tame it by today’s standards, straightening it into submission.  With ultra-thick locks and a very very strong wave to boot, styling my hair has always been an uphill battle.  BUT, styling said hair while traveling?  –On another level.  The usual routine I’ve adopted lately of air drying overnight coupled with a one-two punch with the flat & curling irons is almost impossible to carry out abroad.  BTW, I realize this sounds kinda high-maintenance, but seriously, my wild hair texture requires a bit of a process.  I cannot roll out of bed & go, rocking that cute-if-done-right bed-head look, no way; my hair must be pinned or plaited in some fashion to be presentable in public.

With the plethora of products & picks vying for a piece of precious space in the carry-on, I’ve decided that bulky tools like ionic blow-dryers and large-round barrel brushes don’t have a place in mine.  Neither do hot rollers — yes, I’ve actually packed a set of these into a carry-on before…total misuse of space.  Even more woesome, I fried my old Chi from the inside-out at the Sofitel in Munich.  I was using a plug adapter, but novice international traveler I was, didn’t realize the whole difference-in-electric-voltage factor.  –What??  I just thought the little plug adapter would take care of all that.  Apparently, you need a dual-voltage flat iron in addition to your plug adapter.  Furthermore, I’m reading on the travel chat boards that even dual-voltage flat-irons just dont get as hot when plugged in overseas (something about them taking a lot of voltage –more voltage than 220, really– and not preforming optimally).  At any rate, charring that Chi was regrettable and I kinda took a moment in Germany for my dearly departed first ceramic flat iron, in thankfulness for her 5 years of dutiful service.  😉

So, during the hustle & bustle of exploring a new city, there’s no space, no time, no flat iron, no proper usual hair products…what to do, what to do?  I suppose I could scour the web to order travel-size versions of my fave styling oils, sprays, and smoothing serums, but what typically occurs is a quick run to CVS about 2 days (or hours) before leaving.  Take the elements encountered in travel territory –not just heat & humidity– but jaunts on & off public trans, lack of usual beauty touch-up tools in the downsized travel purse (probably a cute cross-body!), traversing anywhere from climate-controlled museums to sun-soaked botanical gardens; take all this and pair it with the aforementioned lack of space, time, & heat styling tools…and products really come into play.  Pretty please, TSA, why can’t you make an exception for Bed Head’s Biggie Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray?  Now, your corner store pharmacy isn’t really known as a place to find salon-quality products (and travel-sized versions, at that) but I’ve found a couple subsitituions that do it for me.  Easy-to-nab at your local CVS, here are a couple examples currently in my utilitarian-chic ‘quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag’:  Organix Hydrating Macadamia Oil, dry styling oil (not exactly the gloriousness of Moroccan Oil, but it does the trick) and TRESemme’ Fresh Start Dry Shampoo (seems to get the job done just as well as my Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo by TIGI).  I also try to bring along a small jar of a hydrating hair mask because now that my hair’s longer, I will run out of a travel-size conditioner in like two days.  Plus, the conditioner in those little hotel room bottles always sucks.  There’s likely no time to luxuriate in a bubble bath while the hair mask is on, but I’ve had results from just lightly applying it to my ends at night and sleeping in a low bun.

Speaking of buns, I’ve come to rely on a series of buns and braids to keep my mane in check — especially during summer vacations when the humidity wreaks a relentless assault on our hair.  Usually you will find me sporting milkmaid braids, a messy side braid, or my favorite:  the top knot.  Goody spin pins work amazingly well to create a pretty proportioned bun while not forfeiting the function of actually holding it in place.  Pinterest is a rich source of ideas on this subject.  One of my favorite time-wasters is searching pinboards for inventive travel hairstyles.  Check out my New Beauty Ideas board…literally every time I log-on, Pinterest is a treasure trove of hairstyle inspiration!  Also, an arsenal of headbands, bobbi pins, and hair elastics come in handy while taking virtually no luggage space.  I especially adore headbands like this from Anthro…lots of style for little effort.

The milkmaid braid makes a debut in Goa, India.  Right on the Arabian Sea, I can feel the heat & humidity just looking at this picture.  Beautiful place, no question, but almost as hot as it gets.

If all else fails, just treat yourself to a salon blow-out.  You deserve it, darn it.  –At least that’s what I tell myself!  You’re on vacation, after all.  Think of how many pictures you’ll be taking, posting, and putting in albums to look at for years to come.  Oh, and have you been to one of these new blow-dry bars where all they do is blow-outs?  Blo in Austin is simply a treat.  And with the dry shampoo I’ve packed, I can extend the blown-out look for a couple days longer.  After all, our hair is our “crown” and we should let it shine!

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