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When it comes to flat irons, I only use and standby the best quality products, and I have to say I am a huge fan of the Chi G2! I wanted to put together some tips on how to find a decent flat iron so enjoy!
 
1 | Storage
I like my hair tools to come with protection and storage.  The Chi G2 comes with it's own thermal mat so that you not only can keep the Chi clean but you don't have to worry about damaging any surfaces in your home. 

2 | Size
It's important to choose a size that works best for your hair.  For me, 1 inch is the perfect size because it's big enough to get the job done but small enough to get around the back of my head with ease.  

3 | Hair Protection
I love that Chi offers products to protect your hair from the 425 degree capabilities of the G2 before heat styling (Iron Guard) and their Shine Infusion which really helps my hair shine and eliminates frizz! 

4 | Easy to use Buttons
The Chi is so simple and easy to use.  I love the digital gauge and the easy to adjust heat settings.  Buttons are so much easier for me than dealing with little switches all the time.

5| Something that doesn't destroy your hair
The Chi G2 uses a ceramic heater with advanced technology so that it's better for your hair than metal and it heats up quickly... 40 seconds to be exact. 

 

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7 Keys to Great Hair from Chroma

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Can you imagine a word where we never had to worry about hair styling, washing, and products? Well, in reality, that's not gonna happen.  If you want lustrous locks, you need to properly prep them and that means using quality products.  

Chroma Studio Hair Care products are great for every type of hair and they are formulated in a salon by a stylist!   Any girl that's concerned about the maintenance of healthy, shiny, hair will love Chroma Studio products.  They address the needs of dehydrated, brittle hair and come with UV protection, sulfate and paraben free formulas, and they reduce frizz while adding volume.   So here are 7 keys to great hair!

1. Protect Hair With  Aqua Shampoo
Chroma Aqua Shampoo is color safe and free of parabens.   It won't strip or dry out your hair and it restores moisture so that each time you shampoo you are adding to the health and life of your hair.  It also has UV protection which is imperative to make your color last a long time between salon visits.  The consistency of this shampoo is great and a little goes a long way when working it into a lather.

2. Control Frizz and Infuse Volume with Aqua Conditioner

Aqua Conditioner will give you body and volume while still controlling frizz.  Again, there are no parabens or sulfates.  Remember that your hair is technically dead on the ends so any TLC you can give it is VERY beneficial.  I not only love the smell of this conditioner but I also love how it left my hair silky and shiny after my shower.

3. Protect Before Your Dry

Most of us use a hairdryer to dry our hair after the shower.  This means we are damaging it after we just tried to restore it's health.  ALWAYS use a heat protectant when thermal styling.  You'll gain root lift and volume from Volume Heat Protection and I assure you it won't leave a sticky residue behind. 

4. Sculpt Your Strands the Right Way

With Sculpt, you get a soft hold with definition and control and no crusty stiff strands. It smells great and a little goes a long way.

5. Sculpt and Tone Together

With Sculpt and Tone you get a styling cream AND a toner which eliminates brassiness caused by oxidation.  I love how this helps my highlights look like I just got them done!

6. Let It Shine

Shine is an olive oil based spray that not only gives you shiny hair with just a few quick sprays, but it also detangles!  It's my must have product.

7. Get Yourself Under Control

Control 3 Way Hairspray helps give you a soft, medium, or strong hold depending on the adjustment of the nozzle. You get to choose! It works great all day long for me and I'm pretty rough on my hair styles!

What are your tips and tricks for healthy hair?

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6 Reasons to Color at Home + Tips from Carol

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Recently, I gave you some tips on how I make my hair color last, but let's back track a bit and be more frugal by taking a look at coloring your hair at home. 

eSalon has custom formulated hair color that comes with personalized applicaiton instructions (step by step) and on-demand colorists in case you have any questions during the process.  This isn't your usual at-home hair color, instead it's salon quality with high quality ingredients and your kit even comes with a brush, 2 pairs of gloves, stain guard, stain remover, and shampoo and conditioning packets.  See? Just like in a salon!  

My friend and coworker Carol got the chance to try this for herself so without further ado, here she is!

What led me to try eSalon?

I was looking for a way to cut back on expenses, and saw a post on Facebook about eSalon. After some research, it looked like worth a try. I swore I would never color my own hair - I don't have the patience for details. But I checked out YouTube videos and other reviews and felt at ease with taking the risk. This option works for me because I need overall coverage now that I am in my 40s and I am not into highlights.

Here were the advantages:

1. Convenient - I can color my hair whenever I need to and not wait for my next hair appointment.

2. Reasonable - Each treatment is about 2/3 less than what my hair salon cost.

3. Easy - They provide easy-to-follow instructions. But I do have short hair, so that was a plus for easy.

4. Customer Service - My initial order was based on my initial assessment. I chose a custom color but their color specialist emailed me that they had found a better match. I had actually picked a darker shade, so I can't imagine how dark my hair would have turned out.

5. Texture - My hair is soft again. I did not even need to use a flat iron to control wisps.

6. Maintenance - You can purchase a semi-weekly hair treatment to add temporary color as the permanent color grows out.

You can see how rich and vibrant the color came out in the photo above!

Tips:

[]If you have children or pets, plan your time around when you can be totally not bothered. I couldn't imagine getting interrupted white wearing latex gloves and handling the hair color.

[]Do it in a room with proper ventilation - so don't think you can close the bathroom door to keep your children or pets out.

[]Plan to spend an hour between the three step (roots, overall hair, rinse).

I'll keep Ellen posted on my satisfaction through my next treatment, but I am already off to an awesome start!



Thank you Carol for this lovely write up.  I hope it helps all of my readers!  Carol can be found on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/carol_injury.

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Gorgeous Hair with LuxeLock Extensions + A Giveaway

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Everyone that knows me in real life knows that I LOVE hair extensions.  Ever since I discovered clip-in extensions 5 years ago I have been recommending them to everyone.  I recently discovered LuxeLocks Hair and got the chance to review (and giveaway a set!) a set of my own.

LuxeLocks Hair extension sets are heavier than the average set.  Each weft has much more hair and they offer 3 different weights.  Their lightest set weighs 120 grams while the average set from other brands can weigh just 70 grams. A heavier set gives you much more volume! 

LuxeLocks Hair extensions also last longer than your average set... in fact they can last at least 5 months without tangling or excessive shedding if they are worn every day!

The 100% human hair comes in different colors so you can blend it with your original hair color. And they have a great tapered design so they look natural when you wear them and you don't have to take them to a salon to get cut.

I was very impressed with how much help I received from LuxeLocks when I needed to select the type I wanted.  It's definitely worth the money to ensure that you get a color and fullness that go with the texture of my natural hair. 

Oh, and length..there are 2 different lengths - 16 inch and 20 inch(I chose 20 inch)  and they even have a few centimeters extra which is amazing since hot and cold styling eventually causes breakage and your ends may need a trim.  

Every order gets free shipping, no minimum requirements! And they come in this awesome little canister which helps you store them and bring them along to the gym or to a friend's house!   

I look at hair extensions as a serious investment and I can tell you straight up - the more of an investment you make, the more you will get back.

I really love how soft these are and they feel like my real hair.  When I asked people to see if they could tell the difference by looking and then touching, they couldn't!  

These were also very easy to put in my hair. Of course it takes a little longer the first few times but once you get comfortable with where and how to part your hair to get the extensions in, you can do it in a flash. 

I am SO happy with my LuxeLock Extensions and now I'm excited to announce that you can win your own set of either Perfectly Plush or A Touch of Luxe Extensions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How I Became Addicted to Hair Ties

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It's very rare to see me without hair ties on my wrist because I always end up needing them at the most random moments.  But honestly, they look kind of icky on my wrist so when I found out about Bel Fiore I was stoked!

Here's the thing about them that got me hooked...they come in tons of different colors and designs! Not only are Bel Fiore Hair Ties gentle on your hair because they don't pull it out but when you wear them on your wrist they look adorable!   You can wear Bel Fiore with any hair type.  Their hair ties are sealed at the end to give extra durability and smoothness. 

I love all of the adorable designs! They do such a great job of holding my hair in place without leaving an ugly dent or pulling any of it out!    And I love layering them on my wrist!

This is one of those items that you definitely need to stock  up on ladies!

Becoming Bolder + A Giveaway

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One of the most obnoxious things about long hair is that it dries out easily so you can't wash it all the time.  And when you can't wash it all the time you want to keep it off your face so it doesn't get greasy.  And if it gets greasy you want to hold it back off your face during your workout.... OY VEY!

Well, now I've become bolder with my exercise and my haircare routines thanks to Bolder Bands!

Bolder Bands come in all different colors and patterns.  There's so many to choose from and you can even coordinate them with your outfit! The best thing is that these are versatile. You can wear them for different reasons.

1. To keep your hair out of your face when exercising.
Not only will you look cute but you'll feel better while working out.

2. To hide unwashed hair.
I go a day or 2 between washings so this is great for covering up my greasy bangs!

3. As an everyday hair accessory.
Not only are they adorable but you are guaranteed to find a match for your favorite outfits!

These elastic headbands are easily washable when they get dirty.




So I have a coupon code for my readers! It's:
askaway10off
and it's valid from 6/15-7/15!

AND
One lucky winner will get the chevron Bolder Band!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Fantasy Hair...Literally!

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Everyone knows I love long hair so it's no surprise that I enjoy wearing hair extensions.  Not only can extensions make your hair look longer but it also appears thicker and fuller.

The only problem with hair extensions is that most people assume the only way to get them is to pay big money to have them painfully put in at a salon.  This can damage your hair with certain methods they may use and it can be a lot of upkeep.  Personally, I like to be able to brush my hair and scrub my scalp without having to worry about extensions so that's why the only thing that works for me are clip-in hair extensions. 

My Fantasy Hair is a luxury brand of hair extensions that clip in your hair and come in many different colors.   Their hair is premium quality 100% Remy Hair with the best prices anywhere and with the selection of lengths, you can find the extensions that fit your style best.  Each clip has a non-slip silicone coating so it stays hidden and secures the extensions to your hair comfortably. 

I received a standard deluxe set of 170 gram hair extensions in Chestnut.  They are 18" long and go great with my natural hair color since I have a warm tone to my brown hair.
These are great and so easy to put in.  They come with 10 pieces total: 9 double-wefted pieces and 1 triple weft which is great for adding volume to the back!   The clips went in so easily and were comfortable all day long even when I laid down with them.  I love how silky and smooth they were and even though it was a windy day when I first wore them, they didn't get knotted or tangled.  No one had any idea I was wearing extensions! 

It was easy to figure out how to put them in my head, but I didn't use all 10 just yet.  I used 6 so that it looked more natural for the hair style I was going with. 

I did 2 3- clip wefts starting from the nape of my neck, then used the large triple weft.  For the sides of my hair and since I part my hair to the side, I used a 2 clip weft on each side and then on the fuller side I added in a single clip weft!  It looked and felt so great and I couldn't stop touching my hair!  

Believe in the Benefits of b-leve

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I am always careful with the products I use on my hair and skin especially with all the crazy chemicals and harmful ingredients that so many products contain.  b-leve has changed that by offering a line of beauty products made from all natural ingredients.  I got to check out some of their products so I'll explain everything below.  

b-leve Body Lotions
b-leve Body Lotions give your skin the moisture it craves without making you greasy and uncomfortable.  That's because each lotion utilizes Goji Berry extracts to fortify your skin with anti-oxidant hydration and of course also using the brand's signature Oleofirm Technology.  This is derived from tiny microspheres that release moisture during application and even as the day goes on.  There are three different fragrances. I received b-passionate which is a light floral scent that is very pleasing to the nose! Price - $5.99.

b-leve Body Wash
b-leve Body Washes give you an invigorating refreshing experience.  The ingredients include Goji Berry extracts to moisturize as well as the Oleofirm Technology.  They come in different fragrances that don't irritate the skin and are paraben and formaldehyde-free.  I received b-passionate again, and it was such a refreshing floral scent. I love how silky smooth this left my skin.   Price - $5.99.

b-leve b-luminous Facial Cleanser
b-luminous facial cleanser removes dirt and make-up but doesn't dry out your skin.  Instead, natural grape extract revitalizes skin cells damaged by UV-induced stresses.  It's creamy and surfactant-free and is also hypoallergenic.  It was super gentle on my face and really did remove makeup and dirt off my face. I can tell it didn't dry out my skin because I didn't get any breakouts which I normally do just from my skin being too dry. Price - $6.99.

b-leve Shampoo and Conditioner
This stuff was fantastic! Instead of coating your hair and weighing it down, it actually lets it's ingredients get absorbed into your hair strands so it can be more effective. I received the b-voluptuous shampoo and conditioner   which did a great job of giving me thicker fuller hair.  Price - $5.99 each.

I am truly satisfied with the results of b-leve products on my skin and hair and I will continue using them in the future!

Enjoy the many Benefits of Argan Oil

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Argan Oil is all the rave these days and for good reason. It has so many benefits for your hair and skin! It's a great moisturizer and antioxidant and it's great for anti-aging. If you have dry skin, Argan oil can help soften it with vitamin E and essential fatty acids. If you have wrinkles, it reduces the appearance of them. And if you have skin imperfections, regularly using Argan Oil can heal acne blemishes and prevent new breakouts! Argan Oil is one of nature's most beautiful and natural health wonders.


Arganio is a company that brings you affordable and effective Argan Oil products so you can have soft, beautiful, radiant skin and also help give back to the men and women they partner with in Morocco. Plus they offer free US and Canada shipping!!!

I received Argan Oil and Argan Oil Lotion from Arganio. The lotion absorbs very fast and has a pleasant odor. It gives the skin a radiant glow and really helps out with the cold dry winter air. My skin felt beautiful especially my hands and face after I applied Arganio Lotion. And a little goes a long way which is always important to me to get the most out of my products.


The pure Argan Oil came with a glass dropper. The dark glass it comes in helps protect the oil from light which preserves it's beneficial properties. I enjoy using it to smooth my hair and all the frizzies and flyaways after I dry and flat iron it. It just takes a teenie bit that I rub in my hands and smooth over it to give a gorgeous shine. And at night I use it on my face with just one drop. It doesn't clog my pores, give me breakouts, or make a greasy residue!

My Healthy Hair Routine with NAAT Garlic Magic

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So before you scrunch your nose at the word garlic in the post title, let me explain.... garlic is actually very beneficial when it comes to health and beauty. Garlic cleanses impurities and can control excessive oiliness and prevent hair loss. Winter time is always rough on my scalp and hair. It gets dry, itchy, and my hair takes forever to grow.


The beauty of the NAAT Garlic Magic system from nuNAAT is that it works its magic at the roots and gives you a fresh clean scent, shiny hair, and a happy head! It restores hair to a strong healthy and natural state using garlic extract but not leaving behind a garlic scent. I promise you it doesn't.... I used it and that's ONLY because there was no garlic smell!





NAAT Garlic Magic is suitable for all hair types even people with slow growing or fragile hair. The NAAT Garlic Magic Collection Includes Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling Leave-In, and Intense Hydration Hair Mask.

The first thing I noticed about the Garlic Magic Shampoo and Conditioner were the nice rich lather and texture of both. It was easy to work them through my hair, and they weren't too thick or too watery.
Here's a photo of my dull hair before I started using the NAAT Garlic Magic System.
And here's my hair afterwards. It's healthy and shiny!