Friday, April 30, 2021
Friday, October 23, 2020
Hello!
Welcome to the second-last post in my mini wedding series! All that's left is my roundup of the wedding itself (and likely some mention of things that didn't warrant their own post).
My wedding hair was something, like almost everything else, I'd planned for years. I had pins amongst pins of inspiration pictures and watched way too many videos on how to do your own wedding hair. It would be simple: Curl my hair like I always do for special events, and have one of my bridesmaids help me do a twist with a small section from the front of hair so my face could be better seen. Other than that, I'd just need help making sure my celestial hair pins from an Amazon shop named CINRA weren't lopsided.
My hair during the ceremony and the beautiful celestial pins! |
The front looks a bit messy, but not too bad! |
A twist would've made putting the pins in much easier. |
In my previous post all about my wedding makeup I mentioned that I had less than an hour and a half to do my hair and makeup for the wedding. This made me forget a few steps and while the makeup turned out great, I have regrets with the hair. Below is the type of effortless smooth wave I wanted.
Instead, I completely forgot to brush through the curls once they were set to separate them and my hair ended up being very piecy. I didn't realize this until two days after the wedding when we got a sneak peak at the wedding pictures. Thankfully my bridesmaids helped me re-curl a few pieces right before the ceremony started (we'd done photos before the actual wedding) so I found that the hair looked a lot better for the actual ceremony.
My hair on the way to the park for photos. Clearly rushed. |
Re-Curling my hair 15 minutes before the Ceremony. |
Gabi pinning everything in place. |
Other than doing the Moroccan Keratin Most Effective Brazilian Keratin Hair Treatment at home a week before the wedding, and washing and straightening my the night before, the only other product I used was the Pantene Pro-V Anti-Humidity hair spray (strongest hold), which doesn't appear to exist anymore. It would've worked way better had I brushed through my curls. No wonder why they kept falling out quickly—they were being weighed down by giant ringlets.
The good news is that my hair didn't look bad. I'm also very grateful that my hair is my biggest regret for the wedding. Considering we got married during a global pandemic (that suddenly got worse in Ontario once school started up a few days after our wedding) my hair not looking exactly how I'd imagined it to is a very small first-world problem.
After getting all of the pictures back, I'm actually ok with how the hair turned out! Obviously I still wish I'd done a better job with it and spent more time making sure I did every step, but in the end it looks decent and I didn't have any extensions in. Plus, everyone at the wedding knows I'm capable and the pictures are for us to enjoy. Even in this series, most pictures are extremely cropped and a lot of them are cellphone photos.
Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed this series and look forward to the final instalment, an overview of the wedding day and how we managed to make our covid wedding happen!
See you soon!
Saturday, January 25, 2020
This shampoo and conditioner duo is great for anyone with dry and/or damaged hair. It's sulfate, dye, mineral oil and paraben free (even though I've learned that parabens aren't actually bad through this video) so it's pretty gentle, but the shampoo does a great job nourishing your hair while washing the grease away. I personally have very dry ends, but I only wash my hair once a week, which means it gets pretty greasy by the next wash. It's not so greasy that anyone could tell it's been a week, but it's probably what someone who normally washes their hair every day would look like if they skipped two days.
Unfortunately, while this makes my hair feel super healthy on the first few days, it does get oilier faster—even if I don't use the conditioner at all. I'm used to it getting greasy after five days, but with this I notice it after three. This won't be an issue for 90% of people I know since they wash their hair several times per week.
My partner washes his hair every other day and this has been amazing for his dry scalp so he will continue using the shampoo (he doesn't condition). I can see myself using this when I really need some nourishing (especially after a lot of hair styling or chemical treatments), but on a day to day this isn't for someone like me. Anyone who needs nourishment all over their hair and not just the ends would love this! The conditioner is also great for dry and/or damaged hair, but if you've been following me for a while you'll know that I'm one of the rare few that go through conditioner slower than shampoo. Like three times slower.
Overall this is a great product, but wasn't a perfect fit for me, which is ok! I'm going to write a post in the near future where I list my favourite hair products and explain why I love them and when/how I use them.
I hope you enjoyed this super quick review!
Saturday, March 09, 2019
Defy Damage Protective Shampoo - SRP $24.95 for 300 ml
This shampoo is free of sulfates, which is very important for me since I have naturally curly hair that I am trying to improve the appearance of as I grow out the chemically straightened parts. Even though the shampoo is very high quality, it still does lather up, which I personally like because I find it easier to spread around and use less product. The smell is all right, but that isn't very important for me. This leaves my hair feeling very clean, which I love because I only wash my hair once a week on a normal week, but I did wash it twice the week I went on Vacation to Cuba since I was exposed to so much sun and salt water. This did very well at cleaning my hair and all of the sand that was stuck in it. The price seems on par with my other favourite shampoos and it is very good considering I can use less of it.Defy Damage Protective Conditioner - SRP $25.15 for 250 ml
I like that this comes with less product because I do use much less conditioner than shampoo on my hair (Yes I know, it's strange). I don't like that it's priced higher when you get less product, but I can understand since this conditioner does claim to do a bit more. On top of all of the regular claims, this conditioner is an amazing detangler. After the first few nights in Cuba of swimming around and my hair becoming a rats nest, I used this in y hair to detangle my hair before rinsing it out. Because I was wearing my hair natural and curly the whole trip, I also didn't only add it to my ends and was very pleasantly surprised at how my hair remained looking shiny and feeling super soft and healthy, but never greasy, even with all of the heat and sweating.Defy Damage Protective Mask - SRP $27. 65 for 150 ml
I've only used this particular product twice (once the very first time, and once last weekend) and I can certainly say that I noticed a difference in my hair after the first time. My hair always acts funny the very first time I try a new product, especially after using the same line for a long time. I was surprised after leaving this mask in for a few minutes before rinsing it out that my hair didn't feel like there was a bunch of product left in it and didn't make it become oily before the usual amount of time (about five days after washing). I did notice a small reduction in split ends, but although it claims to protect from heat styling, I refuse to not use an additional heat protectant just to be extra safe.Defy Damage Protective Shield - SRP $27.65 for 150 ml
This is probably my favourite product from the line because I could actually use it while on Vacation and see if it was truly working or not. This claims to protect against UV damage as well as pollution. You can also use this on it's own between washes, so I brought enough for my week away in Cuba and put it to the test. I definitely noticed that my hair wasn't becoming dry in the heat or after swimming if I simply rinsed the salt water out and added some of this to my hair. My hair also wasn't becoming dull like it normally would after several days of being in the sun all day long. The smell is a bit gross (it smells fruity, which most people like, but I hate), but it works so I love it.Here are a few pics of my hair on vacation so you can see how good it looked dry, what my natural hair looks like when fully wet, as well as after I arrived back from vacation and washed my hair (third day hair). You can see how healthy my hair looks considering everything it was going through, and how it was barely frizzy even though I had no products or tools for heat styling during this time.
While these products will be available in Canada as of this month (March 2019), please check out the Joico Canada website to find out when they are released, and where to find them.
Thank you again to Joico Canada's PR team for sending this line over for my to try out and review! As usual, all opinions are my own.
I have a few new exciting things to write about so I'll see you soon!
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Below is what my hair looked like after washing it (I used theAnti Residue Shampoo from the kit) when about half dry. As you can see, it's pretty wavy and already starting to become a mess. The last picture shows you the type of ringlets I get on my less damaged hair.
As you can see, it was already a bit straighter just from that. The next step was to straighten every single hair I could get my hands on. This took a very long time because the hair felt like there was a ton of product in it. While this product does not contain formaldehyde, this really burnt my eyes. I recommend some sort of eye protection because it was very hard to get through, even with my windows open and washroom fan on.
After finally finishing to straighten my hair and allowing my eyes to recover a bit, this was the result. It appeared very greasy, but that's ok because the next step was to wash it all out and use the Intensive Repair Mask.
Thankfully washing my hair out didn't hurt my eyes. I did stand under warm water for a long time before attempting to open them, but I had no issues. My hair felt insanely soft and silky while washing and using the repair mask. I've been exclusively using my Chorus Supernatural shampoo for other washes since doing the treatment since it does the job while being very gentle. I've washed it three times since (I wash my hair once a week) and so far no issues.
The next step was to dry my hair 100% (no temperature mentioned) so that's what I did, and I put it on high heat to make things quicker. I was very surprised at how much smoother my hair was after doing this. Yes, it's still wavy on top and requires me to straighten it every time, but it's a million times easier. I suspect that if you have regular wavy hair, or straight, but frizzy, that this would work perfectly without any straightening required.
Here's my hair after straightening! I didn't realize that I didn't do a great job straightening it here (I was also very impatient and tired after spending hours doing the treatment on myself), but this was very quick. From the time I started drying my hair to the time I was done straightening it, it had only been 20 minutes. Before the treatment this would take me about an hour and a half.
Now that I have washed my hair three times since doing the treatment, I feel comfortable giving this review. While it still takes a bit of time for me, this is 100% worth it and I will gladly purchase this product on my own when my hair is back to normal. My hair isn't as straight as it was the first time, which means it is wearing off rather quickly on me, but since I wash my hair once a week, I suspect it'll take two to three months to be completely back to normal. While that doesn't sound like a lot, this saves me a lot of time and trouble, so it makes the price worth it for me. The price on Amazon is currently $55 (USD), but that may go on sale so I will keep an eye out.
After six months to a year my hair will be completely natural again so I will be able to wear it curly when I want to, or straighten it. There is a lot of information on the product, where to purchase and before and after pictures on the Nutree Professional website, so please check them out for more information!
I will definitely be filming a follow up video in a month or two to update everyone on how well this has lasted, and to answer any questions people may have, or express concerns, but for this review with what I've seen so far I am super happy with the results, and recommend trying it out! Also, check out my 100% natural virgin hair before I ever had any treatments or colour ever done.
See you soon!
Monday, February 12, 2018
The Simple & Natural Men's Shampoo on its own retails for $34 CAD (in the minimalistic pouch), and for $20 CAD in the reusable glass bottle (which can hold up to 100 ml... travel friendly!). This shampoo contains essential oils, which makes this smell amazing! Both Steven and I have used this and we both enjoy it!
Steven found that you need to use more product than regular drugstore shampoos for it to lather well, but understands that this is because of the natural ingredients and lack of harmful chemicals that many shampoo's contain. I, on the other hand, have been exclusively using natural shampoos for a few years now, so for me I'm used to low lather, but in my opinion this lathered quite well and I didn't have to use as much as some of my favourites.
We both felt that our scalps felt really nice and tingly after using this, likely because of the essential oils. This also contains high levels of vitamin C and antioxidants, and 100% of the ingredients are local, with 70% of them being natural. This left our hair feeling just as clean as our other shampoos and it did not get greasier any quicker. Steven washes his hair every few days and has been using this exclusively since we received it almost two weeks ago. So far he really likes it and will continue using it since it doesn't irritate his sensitive scalp—if anything it seems to soothe it. I've gone back to my regular routine, though I did enjoy it!
Sunday, December 10, 2017
- Hypoallergenic!
- It's not fabric, so nothing gross will grow on them
- Reusable
- They'll return to normal size after a little while
- After a long time of use, you can put them in hot water or blow hot air on them and they'll shrink back to normal!
- One year warranty
- GummiBand gives you a one year warranty so if your bands break, you're covered!
- Gentle
- Your hair won't snap
- These won't leave big dents and ruin your hairstyle
- Easy to take off (surprisingly)
- Born in Canada
- Gives Back
GIVEAWAY
Sunday, July 09, 2017
Here's a link to the Saryna KEY website: https://www.sarynakey.com/
SarynaKEY products I tested:
Damage Repair Shampoo
Damage Repair Mask
Damage Repair Oil
Prouduct claims:
"Leaves hair soft, healthy, and shiny!"
Thoughts?
Pictures
How to Purchase
If you're interested in purchasing any SarynaKEY products, here's a link to their distributor page so you can contact your local one!
The Damage Repair Shampoo is $59 CAD (1L)
The one I showed in the video is the smaller size and is $32 CAD. I thought my size was this price, but it's the bigger one, so definitely worth it for that amount of product!The Damage Repair Mask (500 mL) is $55 CAD.
The Damage Repair Oil (110mL) is also $55 CAD!
The products are available at several different retailers, so the prices may vary, but these prices (minus the 1L shampoo) were shared with me directly by SarynaKEY!I hope this review was helpful! If you have damaged hair, I think this is the right line for you! Thank you again to SarynaKEY for sending me these products to review free of charge!
See you next time!
Friday, June 09, 2017
I received one box of Priorin (60 capsules), which is enough for one full month. The instructions say to take the pills every day for 3–6 months for noticeable results, but I feel like I did notice a change in my hair. I do ask you to keep in mind that my hair grows extremely quickly (I think it's part of being Brazilian). Priorin contains biotin, millet extract, L-cystine (amino acid) and calcium pantothenate. According to the information provided, the combination of these ingredients are clinically proven to have shown improved hair growth/re-growth. I know for sure from experience that biotin is great for your hair and nails so I had no doubt this would at least work a bit!
It took about three weeks, but I noticed that my roots were growing in quicker than usual. I didn't take a ruler to my hair or anything like that, but I'd say that my hair grew about 50% faster? My hair usually grows about two finger widths a month (my index and middle finger), but this past month it has grown three! Of course the hair is very short and I won't tell for a while how it's truly doing, but so far so good! The hair feels soft and shiny, but technically it is virgin hair.
If you're desperately wanting to grow your hair out faster I definitely recommend these! They are a bit on the pricey side (A bit under $30 CAD for a month supply), but the other hair vitamins I've researched are about the same if not more. I did find this coupon on Priorin's website for $5.00 off a purchase so definitely download it if you do end up buying it! Also check out the Checkout 51 app! Last week there was $4.00 cash-back (that is still on as I post this) if you bought a box. That would basically mean nine bucks off if I had purchased one.
While I really liked these, I won't be repurchasing solely because my entertainment budget is very limited and I can't justify spending 1/3 of it every month on these. I do have a few months worth of biotin pills left over so I will definitely be using those until I can afford these or find them even more discounted! I do think these work better than the biotin pills alone, but at least this way I can somewhat continue to grow my hair a bit quicker and stronger :)
I hope this review was somewhat helpful! A huge thanks to Veritas Communications for giving me the opportunity to try out this product!
See you next time!
*A month's supply of Priorin was sent to me in exchange for a review, but all opinions are 100% my own!
Wednesday, December 07, 2016
History
My hair is naturally SUPER curly. Like full on doll ringlets curly. Most would think that it's super rough in texture, but they're soft ringlets (that used to be golden, but as I got older it turned brown.) I no longer have that hair since I get Japanese Permanent Straightening done every year (which will turn into twice a year once I graduate and pay off my student loans). That surprisingly doesn't absolutely destroy my hair, but last year I went blonde. I started out with highlights and the second time around I was 100% platinum because my hair apparently turns white when bleached. The bleach ruined my hair so even though I'm back to brunette, it's not going to be healthy again for a few years.Because of the state of my hair I'm super picky when it comes to shampoo and conditioner. I haven't used drugstore shampoos or conditioners in years. I'd always go for salon brands as they're a lot safer. When Chorus sent me their press release I was (and still am) super impressed! Their products are super safe with no harmful chemicals. They were also awarded the CertClean Safety Designation. Here's a chart that really shows how safe their products are
Impressive, right? Next up is my review. This was not love at first sight, but when I fell, I fell hard.
Review: Gentle Shampoo and Conditioner
The first time I used this I followed the direction on the back of both products. The morning before I wash my hair (usually in the afternoon) I load it up with coconut oil to help make it a bit healthier. I washed my hair once with the shampoo and followed the other directions on massaging the product in for a certain amount of time, and using the conditioner all over before rinsing. The back does say that you can repeat the shampoo, but I've never done this before so I just did my usual thing. This didn't work for me at all and I thought that it was just the product. My hair got greasy super quickly, but I know that sometimes it takes a little while for hair to get used to a new product.The next week, since I wash my hair once a week, was a completely different experience! This time I washed my hair twice and applied the conditioner everywhere below ear level. This worked PERFECTLY for me! My hair did not get visibly oily until Friday, the day before I wash my hair (that's basically an entire week). The funny thing is that after straightening my hair it did feel oily, but that feeling was gone the next day and lasted until the Friday.
I dye my hair dark brown every month with box dye to keep it dark. With my last shampoo *cough Kevin Murphy cough* most of it would wash out by the third week. The Chorus Supernatural shampoo is super colour safe! My hair is still pretty dark and at this rate I feel like it'll last for at least two months. It's not as dark as when I dyed it, but that's because the first week after I dyed it I still hadn't received the Chorus shampoo and conditioner, so I was using my other shampoo.
Needless to say I'm really impressed with these! They are really gentle on your hair so it won't ruin it if you wash your hair several times a week (like most people do). My hair feels super soft and healthy (after straightening it) considering all of the damage that I've caused to it. If you have non-damaged hair this will make your hair extremely soft! I'm going to stick to washing once a week while I grow my hair out to reach mermaid status, but perhaps once I'm there I'll up it to twice a week.
Now for availability and prices.
The Chorus Supernatural "Gentle" Shampoo retails for $15.00 CAD. Much cheaper than my old shampoo and other high-end brands.
The Chorus Supernatural "Gentle" Conditioner retails for $19.90 CAD. Still much cheaper, and I run out of shampoo way quicker than conditioner. Weird, right? I probably use two shampoo bottles for every conditioner bottle, so when I run out I'll be buying it that way!
Overall I'm extremely impressed and will definitely be purchasing when I run out :) You can't beat that price, and in my experience with high end hair care, this is even better for what I'm looking for! Here's a picture of me from a few days ago. This was taken on Monday night, so a day and a half after washing my hair. I'm always on Snapchat and Instagram so you can see my hair there too. Snap is amysousa and Insta is beautybyamysousa (linked on the side--->) I'll also eventually (like several months from now) do a hair care routine so you'll see everything that I do to my hair from prep to styling to maintenance. But if you watch my videos in general you can see what my hair looks like there as well :) (Hint my next one was filmed with fourth day hair)
If you're interested in buying these products, check out Chorus' website down below! They are based out of British Columbia, but they do ship worldwide! They also sell their products in stores (in British Columbia) so you can check out their "store locater" page on their website. In general Chorus has been super friendly, which makes me love them even more! I'm a big fan of good customer support so this was a huge win for me! Here are the links to their website and social media profiles! And no, none of these links are affiliate links!
http://www.chorussupernatural.com/
https://www.facebook.com/chorussupernatural/
https://twitter.com/ChorusNatural
https://www.instagram.com/chorussupernatural/