L'Oreal Professional Mythic Oil

Earlier this year, during what has been a ridiculously long and brutal winter in the Northeast, we slipped away for a weekend down south to visit our mother.  One afternoon, while sitting at the kitchen table with Mom, she remarked that our hair looked dry.

"It is!" we moaned before going on to complain about the harsh toll winter takes on both our skin and our hair.  Pink Mixer Mom nodded knowingly.  "Remind me tomorrow morning after you take a shower to show you something for your hair.  I think you'll like it."

L'Oreal Professional Mythic Oil, very appropriately named we must admit, was the magic (mythical!) potion produced for a test run thanks to Pink Mixer Mom the following day.  We ran the tiniest dab of it through our hair, then applied another dab focusing on the very ends of our locks - certainly the driest bits of our hair - and the first spot split ends always appear.

This product is a dream for our winter worn and brittle hair.  It likely won't work as well in the summer, but that's the season of pony tails anyhow.  These months the tiniest dab works wonders - we can't get over how much healthier our hair feels now that we are using the product on a regular basis.  Because of course, after the test run at Mom's house, we had to buy our own bottle. 

Guess this proves yet again that moms really do know everything.

Rating: 5 out of 5!

Prices: vary depending; about $20

Living Proof Prime Style Extender Cream

Countless beauty magazines, blogs, and articles related to all things hair, will often offer the same advice: "Don't wash your hair every day!"  In theory, we believed this advice to be true.  In practice however, we eschewed the suggestion, citing our fine hair and its tendency to look greasy and oily within 24 hours of an ignored shampoo.  

We kept shampooing.  Daily.  

At least right up until we discovered Living Proof's Prime Style Extender Cream, that is.  Granted, the product sounded to good to be true when we read about it in Sephora.  A cream that will repel dirt and oil?  With promises to keep hair cleaner for longer, thus extended the life of a hair style?  We were doubtful, but willing to give it a shot for $12 and the 2 ounce sample.  

We have absolutely no idea about any of the scientific formulas behind it or how it works exactly, but that's no matter.  Because amazingly, shockingly, it does work.  While we still get our hair wet each and every day before styling the - breaking news!- phenomenon of skipping a day (or maybe, if we're really crazy, two!) in between hair washings now actually applies to us as well.  

Only a smidge of this cream is needed; we've managed to make the 2 ounce trial size last for months, and we apply it to our roots on the day when we have actually shampooed our hair.  Amazingly enough our hair does feel cleaner and less oily the following day..and thanks to the fact that the product is sulfate and silicone free, we don't even feel guilty for using this wonder, how-do-they-do-it, product every other day.

A life changer, indeed.

Average price:

$12 for 2oz. $20 for 5oz.  

Rating 5 out of 5!

 

 

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment

We know.  From the minute we heard Jennifer Aniston was a co-owner of the hair product line Living Proof we were skeptics too.  Found only at makeup/beauty supply stores like Sephora and Ulta, we found we were never really compelled to seek out the line of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products.  Last month, however, while in Sephora stocking up on another unrelated product, curiosity finally got the best of us and we decided to pick up a bottle of the Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment. 

$26 is a bit more than we'll usually allow ourselves to splurge on a trial product, but given the promise of a perfect. hair. day. we couldn't really resist. 

Turns out?  Within a handful of weeks, we've become mildly obsessed with this PhD product - and maybe even the entire Living Proof hair line.

One of the things we like the most about the 5-in-1 styling treatment is exactly that -- we get five hair related promises (volumizing, smoothing, conditioning, strengthening, and polishing) in one easy step.  You apply a tiny dime sized amount of the product to damp hair and then style as usual.  From the first morning we used said product we noticed an immediate difference in our fine hair, as it was easier to style, manage, and tame. Initially, we wondered if we were experiencing the placebo effect given our love for all new things beauty product related, but even weeks after that first use, our hair seems shiner, healthier, and just in a better place style-wise whenever we use it.  Color us converted.

An extra five bonus points are awarded for the fact that the PhD formula is sulfate, paraben, and phthalate free.  (Though we did take away one point for the container/bottle design.  The look of it is sleek and sexy, no question, but it can be hard to manage just how much product comes out of the bottle.  Given that one only needs the tiniest amount each morning AND the fact that the styling cream isn't exactly cheap, this seems like it could have been better designed.)  (Don't worry.  We'll tell Jennifer this, should we ever rub elbows.)

Perfect hair days elude all of us at one point or another, let's be honest.  Looks like Living Proof has finally managed to find a way to make them a bit more attainable, thank heavens.  Dare we aim for 365 perfect hair days a year?

Average Price: $26/4 oz.

Rating: 5 out of 5!         

Hair Tie? Bracelet? Both!

If you're a woman of a certain age, you can most likely remember a trend that hit in the early to mid '90's; that of wearing a colorful hair scrunchie on your wrist like a bracelet.  We fully participated in this trend (of course we did) and have clear memories of making sure we included a matching scrunchie when planning our outfits.

Blame it on a middle school flashback, but ever since that trend died off, we've been loathe to wear a hair tie - even a basic black rubber band - around our wrist.  That is up until recently when we discovered a new trend, one that has hair ties once again doubling as bracelets.  (Minus the lumpy, ginormous size of a scrunchie.  Hallelujah.)  You can find these dual-action hair ties/bracelets in a variety of places, including your local beauty supply or drug store.  By bracelet they're cute, light weight, and easy to forget you're even wearing them.  By hair, they do their job of a ponytail or messy bun holder with ease.  Although if you're looking for a tight, sleek ponytail we recommend the old-school hair bands as these ties tend to provide a slightly looser hold.  We have to admit, during these dog days of summer, it sure has been nice to have an easy go-to right on our wrist when we're desperate to get our hair up off our neck and out of our faces. 

These ties come in all sorts of colors, though we happen to like the variety that Mane Message provides above some others we've seen recently.  Though let's be honest.  It's probably because she offers a tie dye option.  And that thrills the middle schooler lurking just under our poised adult selves.  Like, totally.

Average Price: varies by purchase

Rating: 4 out of 5  

Aveda Confixor Liquid Gel

We think that one of the nicest things about visiting friends - besides getting to see that friend of course - is the opportunity to sample new beauty products.  Never one to tire of the ubiquitous scent that follows any and all Aveda products, we were thrilled to discover a bottle of the Confixor Liquid Gel in our friend's bathroom one morning while drying our hair a few months ago.  There it was - that unique, earthy, clean scent that we obsess over, ripe for the sampling.  

As we ran a drop or two of the stuff over our hair, smoothing away fly-aways, we found ourselves falling instantly in love.  This gel is clean, light weight, and the tiniest dab will do wonders - on damp or dry hair.  Since all visits with friends must eventually come to an end, we were eventually forced to seek out and purchase our very own bottle of the stuff.  Happily, we remain just as in love as we were with our first dose, and continue to be amazed over how well the stuff works.  

Confixor gel creates just the right amount of definition and hold on our fine hair, yet never feels greasy or heavy on the locks.  While it isn't the cheapest stuff on the market, a single bottle will last you forever since a dime sized amount is all you'll need as you style and set.  Aveda tells us this product is designed to condition and fortify your locks as well, which is something The Pink Mixer always appreciates, as it means more bang for your buck.  Of course, you'll want to breathe deep too.  We can't help it.  Aveda products just have that sort of affect on us.

Average Price: $17.00/bottle

Rating: 5 out of 5!

Platypus File -- Art+Craft+Design

About a month ago, we were wandering around a downtown outdoor market in Tallahassee, Florida one humid Saturday afternoon. Tucked in between the photography stands and farmer's market tables was a hidden gem of a boutique, Platypus File.

Filled with eccentric, charming, and whimsical pieces the woman behind Platypus File seems to have created something for just about everyone. Between the earrings, hairclips, rings, and adorable bird pillows we had trouble picking out just one item to take home. Luckily, her prices were reasonable enough that we didn't have to settle. In the end, we left with two one of a kind cocktail rings, as well as a quaint pair of delicate earrings.

Along with her etsy shop, Platypus File's line can be found at indivudual shops up and down the Eastern Seaboard. Check out her website and shop listings for where to find her. And, as always, happy colorful, adorable shopping!

Average price: depends on item(s)

Rating: 5 out of 5!

Dud of the Month: Organix Tea tree Mint Shampoo

We want to love Organix's Hydrating Tea tree Mint Shampoo. We do. It's all natural, organic, and sulfate free. It comes in an aesthetically pleasing bottle, it smells delightful. It's supposed to provide hydrating oils that nourish, moisture, and strengthen hair.

Really, we want to make it work. This shampoo's resume is so impressive and it sounds like pairing it with our fine, long hair would be a match made in heaven. Alas, like any relationship if there's no spark, there's no spark...even if it all works perfectly on paper.

Instead of moisturizing and hydrating, this shampoo leaves our hair feeling dried out and nappy and we're often reaching for more conditioner post hair-wash to compensate. Even though we've given it several chances, (dates) we tend to be left feeling disappointed after each and every use.

Which leaves us no choice but to head back out into the wild world of our local drugstore's shampoo isles. Good thing there's plenty of men bottles in the sea.

Average Price: $5/bottle
Rating: 2 out of 5

Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine

It's no secret that The Pink Mixer adores many Bumble and Bumble hair products. Our newest fan favorite is Brilliantine.

It can be a little difficult to describe what Brilliantine does, exactly. Even Bumble & Bumble admits it can be hard to define. We've found you don't have to do much with it beyond rub it into your (damp or dry) hair and you'll get a little bit of polish, a little bit of sheen, and a certain bed-head, tousled, sexy look without much effort at all.

Which, actually means that Brilliantine somehow does it all, without promising much of anything.

Under promise, over deliver.
Smart.

Average Price: $21/2 oz.
Rating: 3 out of 5.

John Frieda: Root Awakening

I’ve long been aware that as the seasons change and winter descends upon New England; my facial beauty routine gets a change-up. Thanks to winter winds and chilly temps drying out my skin, I need thicker moisturizers, gentle, creamy facial cleansers and lots of heavy-duty lip balm.

Beyond acknowledging the fact that I need to blow dry my hair daily as the temperatures fall (lest I walk around with icicles dripping from my head) I’d never given much thought to changing my hair routine with the seasons until recently. In the past month or so I noticed my (very fine) hair had grown dry and brittle. In a word, it just felt tired. I tried the deep conditioning treatments, among other things, but it wasn’t until I gave John Frieda’s Root Awakening line a shot that I truly noticed a difference in my locks.

My hair feels healthier and much less dry after using his product – I like the Nourishing Moisture Shampoo for Dry Hair – though I’m not entirely sure I could use it every day without my hair becoming too moisturized and subsequently, limp. I’ve found that alternating between the Root Awakening shampoo and my old summer time standby, Bed Head shampoo, works wonders. Suddenly I have a much happier head of hair, thank goodness.

This means I can get back to more important things. Like watching the mercury in the thermometer drop and reaching for another sweater to stay warm.

Average Price: $6.99/bottle

Rating: 4 out of 5!

Beauty Fix

The Pink Mixer was recently given the opportunity to check out BeautyFix.com. The concept behind this site is simple. Once you've signed up and filled out a profile - your skin type, hair style, etc. - you're able to "shop" (with just the simple click of a mouse! Behold the power of the internet!) and pick out beauty items to be delivered right to your door.

Here's what I liked: Well, it's shopping for beauty products! What product junkie doesn't enjoy that? It's fun to peruse the "shelves" of products and decide what items you might like to try.

Here's what I didn't like: The majority of the products stocked at the site are brands with which I was unfamiliar. While I'm all for finding new lotions and potions (clearly) there's something that makes me a tiny bit wary about selecting creams and makeup and products without having the chance to pick them up and decide in person if they're right for me. Call me old-fashioned but I enjoy a tangible product when I shop.

The flip side, is when I did receive my box o' hand-selected goodies from Beautyfix, I was pleasantly surprised by all of its contents. The colors and shades of make-up I selected were true to what the website showed and I've been nothing but pleased with the products I've been using thus far.

But here's the best part of my review. For once you DON'T just have to take The Pink Mixers word for it! You can, ahem, get your OWN fix...and try BeautyFix.com yourself and if you can enter the code: BFIX1 you'll receive $30 off the $49.99 price and get free shipping! (And really, who isn't a sucker for free shipping these days?)

Average Price: $49.99 (Before discount)
Rating: 3 out of 5

Rusk Being Wild Hair Paste

Most of the time, I like my hair.

Lest it be having a temper tantrum, it will usually lay flat and straight when I blow it dry and brush it out.

The fine print on that statement? Humidity. Rain.

Then all bets are off.

On those days, you can toss any idea about straight, flat, or in control hair out of the window. (And then, you'd best shut the window otherwise the rain will get in.)

After years of fighting with my locks on the damp days I finally decided to embrace the curl, which is where Rusk's Being Wild Hair Paste comes in. When run through damp hair, this styling creme yields instant texture and - believe it or not - curl instead of frizz. The paste is thick and sticky to go on, but once dry your hair won't feel stiff or gross to the touch. My waves and curls usually last all day thanks to the creme's flexible hold, which is more than I can say for my patience when schlepping through puddles in my rain gear.

Average Price: $9.99
Rating: 4 out of 5

Bumble and Bumbler Color Support

From time to time, we dye our hair. Because we’re enough to not have to cover gray hairs, our hair dyeing schedule tends to run not on sheer maintenance but on boredom. The middle of a cold, gray winter? We spice things up now and again with a color kick to our locks.

When we do lean toward a dye job, we usually go the cheap route and pull a do it yourself job. So we couldn’t figure out how our hairstylist was always able to add just a touch of warm brunette color to our hair every time we went in for a trim without actually coloring our hair - until just a few weeks ago. Bumble and Bumble Color Support Shampoos and Conditioners. That’s where the magic’s at.

No matter your blonde, brunette, or red head color, there’s a set for you. The shampoo and conditioner work hand in hand to give your shade a boost. Here’s the fine print: The shampoo must be used with conditioner because it lacks moisturizers that coat hair and hinder color absorption. For the same reason, one shouldn’t use another type of shampoo before using Color Support Conditioner, as it may leave a barrier that will render color-enhancing properties ineffective.

So kick your color up a notch – without the commitment of a dye job.

Average Price: $22

Rating: 3 out of 5

Aquis Hair Towel

We don’t care how girly-girl you are or how much you enjoy primping yourself for a day at the office or a big night out on the town. Spending a long time drying your hair is never fun. May we present to you, then, the Aquis Hair Towel.

This little wonder towel does everything the website promises it will. It’s uber absorbent, compact, dries quickly, and is pretty much a gem anyway you slice it. An extra added bonus for those of you pinching your pennies? You can almost always find these towels at the discount stores such a TJ Maxx or Marshalls.

So go forth and dry fast. Then let the real fun begin.

Average Price: $12.00-$15.00
Rating: 5 out of 5!

J Beverly Hills Masque

And we're back, here at reviewing central, chez Pink Mixer! Sorry for the extended delay but our reviewing elves got a little tied up watching all those movies we discussed during the month of all things Oscar.

Now though, the Academy Awards are behind us and March has arrived in New England like a lion - bringing 10 inches of snow with his roar.

So what's a girl to do when her hair has had it up to here with dry, wintry, static inducing conditions? We suggest hopping the next flight to somewhere exotic like Cape Town. However, if that's not an option, we also think your hair might be happy to learn about J Beverly Hills Masque. Think of the masque as a conditioner that gives 160% of itself. The hair and scalp intensive treatment is formulated with all natural herbs, including aloe vera, rose geranium, and mint extracts. It smells divine and works like a champ on tired, stressed hair. A dab will certainly do you as this is a product where a little bit goes a long way.

We, however, like the stuff so much we've taken to using it as a quasi-shaving gel for our legs too. Who doesn't like more bang for their buck, especially as we gear up for one more round with old man winter, eh?

Average Price: $7.00/4oz.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Framesi's B.Y. Slush Gloss

Throughout my twenty some years spent styling my hair, I’ve found some really great products, some really lousy ones, and some that work ‘just right.’ Lately, I’ve been having a little crush on Framesi’s “B.Y” Slush Gloss. It’s a clear sort of product – not quite lotion, not quite gel, not quite oil – that I rub through my hair either while it’s still damp before I blow dry (results: extra soft, smooth, easy to style hair) or at the very end of the drying process (this time: added shine and smoothed fly-aways.)

A dab of the stuff will definitely serve you just fine, as too much rubbed through your hair makes you look like a Kurt Cobain wanna-be living in 1994. The other upside to dolling this gloss out in small quantities? The sticker price won’t shock and awe once you realize you can hold on to one bottle for at least two years.

Average Price: $17.50/1.8 oz.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Clairol Natural Instincts

Sometimes, when I’m feeling restless or itching for a change, I dye my hair. I know! Wild and crazy nights at Casa de Pink Mixer!

Tease all you want, but a new shade on my mane usually placates my desire to move across the country or hitchhike to Australia or join the circus for at least three months or so, which means I usually only end up dying my hair an average of two or three times a year.

While I don’t consider myself the most knowledgeable woman on the planet when it comes to hair dye, I will say, I’ve never been anything but pleased when I’ve used Clairol’s Natural Instincts.

Personally, I opt for color #28 Nutmeg (Dark Brown). It instantly takes away any summer brassiness my naturally light brown hair gets without looking too Goth-like. It’s a super easy to use formula and doesn’t reek of chemicals. The math is pretty simple too: $8.50 from the drugstore? Or $60 at a hair salon?

Average price: $8.50
Rating: 4 out of 5

Hot Tools Professional Travel HairDryer

For several years I did the boyfriend shuffle. You know the boyfriend shuffle, yes? It’s when the two of you are serious enough that you spend a lot of time at each other’s respective apartments but you’re not quite at the move-in together stage yet. Because of this you end up having to haul, schlep, or shuffle - if you will - clothes, shoes, and toiletries back and forth, back and forth between apartments. This is a pain. Especially if you live in a city that is cold for many months out of the year and requires the use of a hairdryer daily, lest you catch pneumonia.

It took me about a year and a half of doing the shuffle; complete with my bulky, large, cumbersome hairdryer, before it dawned on me to a) ask for a drawer in his bedroom to keep some of my stuff there permanently and b) invest in a travel hairdryer.

While this particular boyfriend and I have since parted ways, I have to say my travel hairdryer was an absolute gem of a purchase. For years I’d been wary that travel hairdryers would be flimsy versions of their “normal sized self” with not enough heating power or settings. (Case in point. Have you ever used those hairdryers hotels mount in the wall for you? Horrendous.) I have been pleased as punch with the Hot Tools Professional Hair Dryer though, so much so that it has become a permanent fixture in the toiletries bag I always have ready for trips. The dryer folds in half making it easy (read: small) to pack. It doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as some larger dryers but it does have a low and high setting as well as a cool shot button. It’s an ion dryer too boot which is supposedly a good preventative for fly-aways and split ends. The best part though? It really does dry your hair quickly, thus making the daily shuffle - boyfriend or not -just a little less daunting.

Average Price: $29.50 (on Amazon)
Rating: 4 out of 5

Aveda Pure Abundance - Volumizing Clay Conditioner

Pink Mixer personal beauty rule #317: if you have to cut costs somewhere, spend more money on hair conditioner rather than shampoo. Shampoo is important, obviously. But conditioner is the last thing applied in the shower to that head of hair you have and in my experience has more of a say in good or bad hair days than one might think. Plus, think about how fast you can go through a bottle of shampoo versus how long (I average about a bottle every 11 months) your bottle of conditioner lasts. See?

For a very long time the Pink Mixer did not appreciate nor enjoy the smell of Aveda products. Blame it on youth but I used to think their products were too earthy and hippy-dippy for my taste, until one day a couple of years ago, when I wandered into an Aveda store with thirty minutes to kill. Maybe my sniffer had grown up but suddenly I could not get enough of their trademark herbal scent. So clean! So earthy! So fresh! Must own!

I left the store with a trial sized bottle of their Pure Abundance Volumizing Clay Conditioner and haven’t even looked at another conditioner since. Now, granted, I know we all have different hair types so maybe this specific conditioner won’t work it’s magic on your locks the way it does mine (behold the beauty – ha, pun – of a non-committal trial size purchase) but it you’re looking for volume? And a deliciously natural scent? I’d suggest you give this bottle a chance. And if you use other Aveda products you can’t live without, the Pink Mixer would love to know. As you’ve probably gathered, we’re a bit nuts about that scent around here…

Average price: $14.00/6.7 ounces
Rating: 3 out of 5

Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo

Aah, Sundays.

A day of rest, lazy mornings, brunch, hot coffee, large newspapers, and long, hot showers spent rinsing away all product residue…

I’ve touted Bumble and Bumble products before and the more of their stuff I use the bigger a fan I become. While they don’t recommend it for those with color treated hair, their Sunday Shampoo is sort of weekly detox for your hair. It’s created for product junkies (aka, me) who load their hair up with gels, creams, and potions throughout the week or for the infrequent hair washers among us. Yes, it’s a tad pricey but you’re only using a dollop once a week so even their smallest bottle will last you forevah. The shampoo is super sudsy, smells great, and really works. My hair feels extra clean after a use and post shower I suddenly feel ready to conquer whatever comes my way on Monday morning – whether it’s hair related or not.

Average Price: 8oz./$18
Rating: 5 out of 5!

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE HAIR TONIC

My stylist uses this on my hair every time I get it cut. I sampled the 2 oz. bottle first because I was hesitant to drop almost $20 on a single hair product. Turns out the bigger bottle is worth it as I used the 2 ounces up in about a week and craved more instantly. I spray this on my hair after I’m out of the shower when it’s still damp and use it again after I’ve blown it dry to keep fly-aways to a minimum.

I love the clean, herbal, eucalyptus scent. I have long, fine, hair but don’t find I need very much product at all – just enough to cover my roots – so the product lasts longer than one would normally think. One of my favorite things about this tonic is that it’s light enough to blend in quickly and it doesn’t feel like I have any product at all in my hair.

Average price $18/18 oz.

Rating: 4 out of 5!