Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner

There's nothing that beats a salon shampoo, eh? Somehow it makes your hair glisten like it never has before, and you know that there's no way you can get that same effect at home. Every time that I've gone to a salon and had this happen to me, it's been because they use Pureology Shampoo and Conditioner, and so that's what I'm using right now also.
I've been using the shampoo and conditioner for a couple of weeks now, and I've completely run out of the conditioner so I know I can give a real report. After using the system, my hair is hydrated and really shiny. I even got a comment on how shiny it is which was nice. I found the conditioner to be thick and it really didn't leave any kind of residue in my hair - I guess that's why it was so shiny! I also noticed that when I used the shampoo none of my hair colour washed out, so if you regularly dye your hair, this would be a good choice.

You can get Pureology products at a new online boutique that sells only salon haircare products: check out Exclusive Beauty Boutique. They're based in Ottawa.

Get Your Hair Done at Chiggy's Touch

A couple of weeks ago, I went to Chiggy's Touch at Davenport and Avenue here in Toronto. Chiggy's Touch is a hair salon that specializes in curly hair and I had the owner, Patience, style my hair for an event that I was going to attend later that night.

Patience used Pureology shampoo and conditioner in my hair and then followed up with glossing serum that left my hair so soft and super shiny.

What I loved about Chiggy's Touch is that she told me how to take care of my hair and worked with what I had in mind. She also stocked products that were specifically for curly hair which meant that I had an appropriate product selection to choose from as I was making my way out of the store.

Visit Chiggy's Touch to get your hair done for the holidays - there's an amazing promotion going on right now where you can get a colour, treatment, and styling for $99. Visit Chiggy's Touch to find out more.

Matrix Shade Memory

So I've tried the Matrix Shade Memory system. Matrix is a line of products sold only in salons and their Shade Memory line is a new one designed to help you take care of your hair after adding colour to it. I tried the Brunette line for warm tones.

The shampoo and conditioner are so nice - I liked them a lot. They're enriched with real Shea butter so they really do moisturize your hair and leave it soft and shiny. Both the products are very thick and creamy which is a good thing. The shampoo makes a nice rich lather and the conditioner is thick enough to stay in your hair for a few minutes before you wash it out. Of course, both smell very nice as well - sort of creamy and fresh. Note that neither product has any colour in it so you could also use them if you wanted to use products that were very conditioning.

I also tried the Shade Memory Colour Enhancing foam conditioner. To be quite honest, I didn't notice much of a difference in my colour but my hair is very dark. I have a feeling that if your hair was light and you were dying it a brown colour, this would really help the colour from fading since it does have some pigment in it. The foam is thick and rich but the conditioner isn't overly heavy so it might add just the right amount of conditioning to hair that doesn't need anything too heavy.

Overall, I liked the Matrix system. I loved the richness of the shampoo and conditioner so try them for yourself!

Canadian Beauty News: February 23, 2007

Changes

It seems that Holt Renfrew is increasing its beauty department - which is a good thing for those of us who can't always make it down to a Sephora. The only problem is that each product line doesn't necessarily have its own beauty counter. Instead, product booths have been set up in the aisles between the big names so you'll have to browse and look for what you're after.

Walk around and you'll see the whole Fusion Beauty collection - including their lip plumpers and airbrush gun. I also spotted the GoSmile teeth whitening system as well as the whole T3 collection of hairdryers and straightening tools stacked on a table.

I love the new expansion. Yes, some of the brands are those that Sephora already carries, but it's nice to know that there's more than one place that you can get them. Also, it seems that the expanding line of products is just a hint of what's to come.

New Products

Ever since I tried the Glossing Cream, I've been a huge fan of Frederic Fekkai products. They do what they say they'll do and you know that if they're good enough for Fekkai's slew of celebrity clients, then they'll work for you too. So, I was thrilled when I spotted his Winter Hair Lift-Define-Shine Styling Compact. Glossing Balm on one side and Wax on the other, this cute compact goes with you so that you can smooth on products to revive your hairstyle after stuffing it under a winter hat. What a nifty idea!

Also, I finally had a chance to try out Smashbox's new blush, O-Glow, since it's finally in stores. I was so skeptical before trying this blush but it is truly amazing! When you squeeze some out of the bottle and put it on your finger, what comes out is a clear silicone gel. Rub it into your cheeks and it instantly develops into a bright pink hue that blends into your foundation and skin tone seamlessly. Because it's a silicon base, the application is super-smooth and you're left with soft, polished looking skin. Apparently, the technology (yes, it really is technology) works with your own body heat to activate. The result is a clean pink blush that makes you look as if you've just stepped out of the winter winds. I love this blush - it's truly one of a kind, and it seems that I'm not the only one who likes it so much. It's already almost sold out, so if you don't have it already, pick it up or order it in before it's gone.

Finally, if you've been a fan of Body Shop's White Musk collection, know that they have now expanded the line to include bubble baths, body creams, and a scrub. The scrub, called White Musk Sensual Scrub Body Polish, is the star of the new line - it is rich and creamy. If you're in the market for a new body polish, this might be the one to try!