Clairol wins a Health Beauty Award

Clairol Professional liquicolor permanente is the Winner of “Best Haircolor” in the 2011 Health Beauty Awards by Health Magazine!

The first-ever haircolor to win a ‘Health Beauty Award’, a panel of experts rated Clairol Professional liquicolor permanente superior in product innovation, healthy ingredients and results. Beating out over thirty other entrants, liquicolor permanente, the reinvented Miss Clairol, delivered on all counts with its SOY4PLEX technology that delivers up to 84% more deep conditioning than the leading professional cream color and results boasting the four signs of healthy-looking color: reflective shine, multi-dimensional shades, long-lasting results and deep conditioning.

Creme of Natures New Scent

CON (creme of nature) continues to be one of the most loved hair care products out there. Now they have added a new fragrance to the shampoos and conditioners, which they say 9/10 testers preferred. The new scents are light and fresh and have floral and citrus notes, but my nose says they just smell "fresh".

"It was definitely time to marry the benefits of our Creme of Nature Certified Organic Ingredient formulas with the experience of a fresh, intoxicating natural fragrance to enhance the consumer experience," said Shawn Tollerson, VP of Marketing, Colomer USA Multicultural. "Both consumers and salon professionals agree that this new fragrance takes the shampoo and conditioning experience to an enjoyable new level."

Want to try it for yourself? Get a free sample, here.

Can Ceramides Help You?

The online hair care realm has been buzzing about Ceramides and how they are transforming damaged broken hair into healthy hair. I've been MIA a little bit, especially on the forums so I really didn't get sucked into all the hype, but the more I read about new products coming out the more I see Ceramides on the labels. It seems like the mainstream hair care industry is just now catching up with the Dominican products, since just about all the Dominican hair care products I own contain Ceramides.

Dominican Products with Ceramides:

Miss KEY 10 En 1 Super Conditioner (my favorite)

Silicon MIX Intensive Hair Deep Treatment

Salerm Wheat Germ Conditioning Treatment

Silicon Mix Proteina de Perla Leave-In

Silicon Mix Leave-in

Boe Crece Pelo Leave-In

Halka Baba de Caracol Hair Loss Treatment

Halka La Plancha Conditioner

Halka La Plancha Deep Heat Protector Leave-In
Nacidit Leave-In Conditioner

Salerm Energy Hair Regenerator Ampules

Alright, so what exactly are Ceramides? To be scientific, a ceramide is a group of lipid molecules. Hair needs this group of lipids (ceramides) to help hold together the cuticle of the hair. In healthy hair, ceramides hold together the cuticle of each individual strand of hair, to take that a step further, researchers at L'Oreal Hair-Science found that damaged hair lacks the ceramides. So without ceramides each individual strand of hair has gaps in the cuticle, rough (lifted up) cuticles and holes that make the hair vulnerable to damage and breakage.

On a Beauty Note:

Ceramides are not just beneficial for hair care, they also play a key role in keeping your skin healthy and moisturized. If you are suffering from eczema it's because your skin is lacking the ceramides you need, supplement with a ceramide containing lotion.

Willow Smith Made Me Do It

To all the mothers out there and to all the soon to be mothers, would you allow your daughter to rock this hairstyle complete with multicolor weave to her 5th grade class? Well apparently, a mother in Edenton did just that, claiming that her daughter was inspired by Willow Smith. The end result? The young girl was kicked out of her class because her hair was "distracting" to the other students and placed in a class with the "bad" kids.

I think someone forgot to remind that mom that Willow Smith is a celebrity and those hairstyles were for photo shoots, music video shoots, and celebrity appearances... not for school.

Source

Weigh in - What do you think?

Tourmaline + Hair

Look at your flat irons, curling irons, and other high quality heat tools - chances are they have tourmaline in the plates. Well, what exactly does that mean and how does it benefit my hair are common questions.

Tourmaline is a crystal silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is classified as a semi-precious stone and the gem comes in a wide variety of colors. The most common species of tourmaline is schorl. (as per wikipedia) The word tourmaline has two etymologies, both from the Sinhalese word turamali, meaning "stone attracting ash" (a reference to its pyroelectric properties) or according to other sources "mixed gemstones".

Once tis crystal silicate mineral is ground down and added to the plates of your heat tools it has the ability to do some pretty cool things to your hair. For one, it emits negative ions and negative ions help smooth the cuticle of the hair. The smoother the cuticle the shinier the hair appears, a rough cuticle will give hair a dull look. But the biggest plus for us, is that a smoothed out cuticle actually helps retain moisture! One of our biggest problems solved by a heat tool? Sort of, but don't get it twisted the over use of heat will damage your hair no matter what's ground up and inbedded into those tools.

Creme of Nature featuring Argan Oil

So I really hope all you ladies follow me on Twitter! I'm @antihairslave just in case you didn't already know. Anyway, if you do then you would already know that Creme of Nature is launching a brand new collection available this Wednesday featuring Argan Oil.

The New Creme of Nature Argan Oil Collection features:

Replenishing Sheen Spray

Intensive Conditioning Treatment

Foaming Wrap Lotion

Gloss & Shine Mist

Gloss & Shine Polisher

Hesh Aritha Powder Recall

So I just went to use a box of Aritha Powder that I've had for a while now in my closet. I wanted to see what powders I should mix it with so I googled it and found that Aritha Powder had been recalled in Canada.

Recall Info: This recall involves Hesh Aritha Powder, sold in 100g yellow and orange boxes. The recalled product can be identified by UPC 8901701104108. All lots are affected by this recall. Hazard Identified The recalled powder shampoo contains high numbers of microbial growth, including Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia hermannii, Pantoea species, Enterobacter cloacae, and mold. The species, Enterobacter cloacae, is a coliform. Coliforms are abundant in the feces of warm-blooded animals, and are an indicator of a product manufactured under poor sanitary conditions when found in personal care products. Their presence suggests that other pathogens (disease causing organisms) of fecal origin may also be present. Since this product is a powder, the pathogens can be introduced into the body by inhalation or can enter open wounds.

The recall says approximately 1,300 units of the products were sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and the Greater Toronto Area. Well guess what ladies, I purchased this powder in NEW JERSEY so the recall extends further. Check your powders!

Source

Pantene Breakfast

Yesterday I attended a breakfast hosted by Pantene to discuss how the launch of their revamped product line can benefit for African American women as well as other races.  On board to help educate us regarding the new ingredients and how they interact with hair was Pantene Scientist Dr. Jeni Thomas and to help us understand how these products can be used to style all different hair types Pantene brought along Celebrity Stylist Tippi Shorter.   

Stay tuned for more information regarding the new products!

Miss Jessie's in Manhattan

The new Miss Jessie's is located in the heart of SoHo!  You can find everything from you curly needs at 441 Broadway, NYC.  For an appointment call (718)852-2600

Carol's Daughter Expands Hair Milk Line

If you love Carol's Daughter Hair Milk, you'll be elated with this news!  Carol's Daughter is expanding on the cult-favorite Hair Milk, they've created Hair Milk Curl Perfecting Shampoo, Conditioner, and Hair Milk Lite.  Each product is housed in small back in the day style milk jugs complete with super cute cow print.  I'm a sucker for anything with cow print and I'm head over heels for this packaging! 

Here are the deets on the new products:

Hair Milk CURL PERFECTING Shampoo - A nourishing shampoo for the type of hair that needs it most…curls. Cuts frizz, gently removes dirt, and product build-up. Made with essential oils and vitamin A to help condition the scalp and lock in moisture. Gives curls what they need for that desired healthy, bouncy look. $16


Hair Milk CURL PERFECTING Conditioner - Indulgent, penetrating, moisture treatment restores while supporting healthy-looking natural curls. Made with essential oils plus Pro-vitamin B5 and Biotin to help replenish and strengthen hair with the natural nutrients it’s thirsting for, leaving your curls under control …which is where they belong. $19


Hair Milk Lite The Curl Booster - A curl boosting, weightless lotion that tames frizz while defining your curls. Adapted from our famous original formula for those curlies that need less weight. Lite is made with essential oil of Lemon and Vitamin C for an extra bouncy, moisturizing hold. $9-$20


Hair Milk The Original Curl Definer - The 13-year old formula that started it all, this quenching, fast-absorbing lotion defines, tames and restores luster to natural curls while conditioning. Made with essential oil of Lemongrass, Vitamin C, and Sweet Almond Oil for bouncy, soft, completely manageable curls. $9-$20