Project No 'Poo | Hair Care Routine

Hi ladies! It has been around three months now since I started the no 'poo regimen, and I am happy to report that the worst is now behind me - I am not scared anymore to wake up to a greasy mess on my head and I almost don't freak out if I don't have any baking soda on hand. The transition period lasted a bit longer than expected for me (around three months), but it's nothing I could not overcome if I made sure to take proper precautions, and in this post, I want to share with you the products I have been relying on since the start of this journey.

In my first month update post, I mentionned that my preferred way of applying the baking soda and water mixture was my Roots Only Hair Color Applicator Comb, since the comb allow the right amount of mixture to be applied directly to the scalp and roots trough hollow teeth, not touching the rest of the hair. Since it is guaranteed not to leak, it is virtually 100% mess-free!

I have had Raw Gaia Shikakai Hair Wash in my stash for some times now but to be honest, I tried it only once (more than a year ago, probably) and I thought it was just too messy so I totally forgot about it, until last month! Shikakai means "fruit for hair" and is a 100% natural shampoo powder. It is an excellent cleanser, naturally removing the dirt and excess oil accumulated on the scalp, but it does not strip the hair of its natural oils. Moreover, it detangles the hair and works wonders as a natural conditioner. Shikakai also provides new life to hair strands, strengthens hair roots, increases bounciness and silkiness of hair, promotes hair growth and slightly darken hair.

Now that I am used to non-traditional ways of washing my hair, I thought it was time to give this product another try, and I can only be mad at myself for not using it regularly sooner! Of course it is a bit messy, just like washing with baking soda, but once you get used to it, it is really simple and easy to use. You simply create a thick paste by mixing a small amount of Shikakai powder with water, gently massage it into the scalp and hair using your fingertips, wait 2 to 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with water. Each time I use this product, my hair is left super soft and full of volume - what more can I ask for?

Another product I am sorry I did not use regularly sooner is Marc Anthony Salon Expert Sea Kelp Extreme Rescue Mud, which is a weekly deep repair for extra dry, damaged hair. It is formulated with sea kelp to correct, hydrate and strengthen, while the power of antioxidants, protein and silk amino acids promote healthy, rich color. Advanced Color Care Technology prevents hair from dulling.

Now this is not your typical hair mask - since it is made with mud, it feels very runny and it has a rather interesting grey-brown color. It is designed to be used on damp scalp and hair after shampooing and conditioning, one to three times a week. It feels really good to massage into the scalp and I like to leave it on for as long as I can, usually when I take a bath. I swear my hair has never felt this soft or looked this glossy after using this treatment!

After washing my hair with baking soda or with water, of course, I never skip conditioner, but since they are always on rotation in my shower, I chose not to feature a specific one in this post, and to write about two of my favorite leave-in conditioners instead. I have had Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Leave-In Conditioning Cream* in my stash for such a long time (before going cruelty-free!) and in an attempt to use it, I try to use it after each wash on the ends of my hair.

I like to spray Marc Anthony Salon Expert Keratin Miracle Frizz-Smoother Leave-in evenly on my damp hair to ensure easy detangling and super smooth hair - it never fails to leave it incredibly soft, hydrated and manageable. I have been using it every time I wash my hair since I got it, and I can really certify that it is a miracle product! This is really my favorite product of the Salon Expert range.

I try to apply oil on the ends of my hair every night before bed and my current favorite is Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Treatment, which is a daily, lightweight oil for strong, glossy, frizz-free hair. I only need one small drop for my shoulder-length hair, but even though I sometimes use too much product, it never leaves greasy residue! The day after, I wake up to extremely soft, smooth, shiny and tangle-free hair - the first times I used this product, I could barely believe how well it worked!

I hope you enjoyed this post and stay tuned for my next no 'poo update in a month!

*Please note that this product is NOT cruelty-free

Roots Only Hair Color Hair Applicator Comb System ft. Clairol Herbal Essences Color Me Vibrant in 66 Chocolate Velvet Dark Brown

Roots Only applicator tool is not just for touching up your roots with hair color anymore (although it still works great for coloring Roots Only). With our newly designed, durable applicator comb (100% guaranteed not to leak) you can now use the applicator tool for medicated shampoos, conditioning growth oils, hair conditioners, hair color, anti-itch scalp solutions, lice medication and any other hair treatment solution required to get down to the scalp and roots.

Roots Only is a one-of-a-kind hair color applicator tool that claims to make the home hair coloring process a breeze, and I'm happy to confirm that it really does! With this applicator comb, the hair dye is applied directly to the scalp and roots trough hollow teeth, which is perfect for me as I always dye my hair the darkest brown available so there's no need to apply the hair all over my hair again.

Roots Only was invented by Bonnie Steen after she was informed by her hairstylist that she was damaging her hair to the point of it falling out by dying it herself, simply because Bonnie she needed to focus on the new growth at the “roots only.” Of course, Bonnie did not want to shell out $70 a month only to get her roots done, so she asked her husband for help and that's how they came out with Roots Only.

Although Roots Only can also be used to apply medicated shampoos, conditioning growth oils, hair conditioners, anti-itch scalp solutions, lice medication and any other hair treatment solution required to get down to the scalp and roots, for the purpose of this review, I have used it with hair dye (Clairol Herbal Essences Color Me Vibrant in 66 Chocolate Velvet Dark Brown*, which is being discontinued). 

Roots Only is amazingly easy to use - first, mix the hair dye solution (ColorFuse Gel and Developing Crème) in the Roots Only squeezable bottle, then attach the comb applicator tool to bottle. Although Roots Only is virtually mess free, it’s a good idea to place a towel over your shoulders and also, be sure to run a comb through your hair to remove any tangles. Using Roots Only as you would a comb, comb through your hair while squeezing the bottle. Be sure to keep the teeth of the comb in contact with your scalp. Don't worry, the solution stops flowing when you stop squeezing. I told you it was easy, didn't I?

To clean the applicator, simply fill the bottle with warm water and shake and squeeze water through applicator tool until all traces of solution are removed. This took me a while but maybe it's because I used a dark hair dye.

L - R: Before and after

I was absolutely amazed at how fast Roots Only made it to apply the hair dye, and also, at the results!

One thing I find it weird about Clairol Herbal Essences Color Me Vibrant in 66 Chocolate Velvet Dark Brown* is that while my blonde roots have been properly covered in dye, they still appear a bit coppery when the sun catches them. It's not that noticeable but still, it bugs me a bit. Oh well, at least my hair was left super soft, smooth and shiny.

Roots Only works on all hair type, it is re-useable, it saves you money and time while protecting your hair from damage and it is available in single ($9.99), double ($17.99) or triple packs ($21.99). Shipping is FREE on all US orders and only $4.00 for international orders.

*Clairol Herbal Essences Color Me Vibrant is NOT cruelty-free

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mail of the Week (January 30 - February 10)

Instead of showing you what I got in the mail last week, I chose to show you what I brought to Toronto for my VIP week-end courtesy of Ubisoft and Just Dance 3, so here is what I received last week and this week.

LASHEM products I have been given the opportunity to try some samples from this eyecare brand which carries beauty innovations that give you glowing and tantalizing eyes. I have started seeing some reviews on these products on blogs and most were positive so I thought, why not? I was sent the Measurable Difference Lash Gel (I can't say no to products that are claimed to make my short, sparse and invisible lashes grow fuller and thicker!) and the Double Trouble Mascara (volume wand on a side and length wand on the other).

Get Creamy Body products Get Creamed is an all-Canadian, Vancouver-based company and all of their products are made fresh on a regular basis to provide customers with the freshest and highest quality products available. Get Creamed Body products are a truly all-natural alternative to the chemical-laden formulas currently found on most store shelves. I was sent a great selection of some of their products:

• Coconut Cream Pie 100% Natural Whipped Body Cream
• Macha Grapefruit Moisturizing & Detoxifying Spa Body Scrub 
• The Balm Extra Creamy Moisturizing Balm For Dry Skin And Hair

I can already tell you that I am absolutely in love with The Balm after around 5 days of use because it immediately soothes my dry and irritated skin and it calms down any eczema flare-up in an instant! The Whipped Body Cream as a perfect texture, it could be called a butter easily as it's so thick and smooth, and it's rteally moisturizing. I like to use The Balm on extremely dry areas of my body and then apply the body cream on the rest of my body. As for the scrub, the sea salt makes my skin burn ):

Schick Hydro Silk gift basket I was invited to participate in Schick Hydro Silk razor review program, where I can offer free samples of the new razor to my readers for review (stay tuned, more details to come!).  I was sent a Schick Hydro Silk gift basket, including a new Schick Hydro Silk razor (launching February 2012) and many more goodies I was not expecting!

• Upper Canada Soap Lavender & White Tea Diffuser Kit
• purple spa wrap
• purple spa slippers
• pedicure file
• toe separators
• nail brush
• cuticle sticks

Roots Only hair color applicator comb Roots Only is a one-of-a-kind hair color applicator tool that makes the home hair coloring process a breeze. With Roots Only, solution is applied directly to the scalp and roots trough hollow teeth. It's also great for applying medicated shampoos, conditioning growth oils, hair conditioners, lice medication and other hair treatments solutions needed to get down to the scalp and roots. This is perfect for me as I always dye my hair the darkest brown available so there's no need to apply the hair all over my hair again.

February Canadian GLOSSYBOX I know, I might be the only one who is still not convinced of the amazingness of those beauty boxes, but I still think it's great that more of them are coming to Canada, starting with the renowned GLOSSYBOX. No, I'm not showing you what I got just yet =P

Coffee USB warmer I bought this on a whim on eBay after seeing someone rave about it on Twitter - I never knew such a thing existed and as a coffee addict, I knew I needed this! It cost me only $3.72 with free shipping and I received it almost a month later, which usually happens when I purchase something that ships from Hong Kong.

March 2012 issue of Cosmopolitan Is it wrong to have a crush on Selena Gomez? I think she is sooooo gorgeous and her voice, wow! Anyway, I think this will be my last issue because I have chose to not renew my subscription for the only reason that I prefer reading blogs (:

♫ We Found Love - Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris