No 'Poo Hair Care

My hair and scalp went haywire and this was due to an overabundance of chemical buildup on my scalp from chemical treatments, residues, as well as dirt and sweat. Aside from dry, parchy hair, my scalp was in an embarassing state of flaking and I would see some red, irritated patches. It would also itch and sometimes, I would see rough eczema patches on my left ear and my neck. I planned to color my hair for the Holidays but with my hair in this situation, hair color might make it worse. So just like being supersaturated with the toxicity of social media that we unfollow, my hair had to go on forced detox.

This detox didn't mean that I should stop washing my hair because that would be gross. So what to use to clean my hair? DIY 'poo-free shampoo, meaning a shampoo that's free of sulfates, silicones, and all these chemicals my hair is already quota na with. You can make your own shampoo with a few things. Some of them can even be found in your own kitchen such as apple cider vinegar, olive oil, VCO, water (distilled), baking soda, lemon juice, etc. As natural as it can get with ingredients that are easily pronounced and uncomplicated.

For my DIY chemical-free shampoo, I googled recipes with ingredients that are not hard to find. I found a recipe that uses castile soap. Since castile soap would be too harsh for my colored hair, I found another soap/shampoo base alternative - Coconut Oil soap, which I purchased from Naoe, a local online shop that sells raw materials to make your own DIY home and body care products. Coconut oil soap can both be used as soap/shower gel and shampoo. The ingredients for this soap base are just water, coconut oil, and vegetable glycerin.

Naoe essential oils  for my DIY products, prouldy local

To make my no 'poo shampoo smell better, I use essential oils, which made my hair product (and other things I can make on my own) smell better and more spa-like Even before essential oils became a thing, I've been using them just in my air purifier or burning them in my oil burner (I got one as a wedding favor from a wedding that I did many years ago). It was mostly for aromatherapy really but I didn't know these oils had awesome uses aside from smelling good. Naoe also has essential oils (starting at Php 180) but you can also purchase essential oils from Ilog Maria, which is also the same that they use to make their soaps.

DIY shower gel ingredients

The procedure to make this is simple. All I had to do was combine coconut oil soap base, almond oil (or jojoba oil) for moisture,  lemon EO, rosemary EO, and peppermint EO (peppermint feels so good and soothing on my scalp. Not to mention I smell like a Christmas candy cane after). Topped this with distilled water and gave it a good shake and I'm ready with my shampoo. I sometimes follow up with an ACV rinse (a 1:1 ratio of apple cider vinegar and distilled water) to balance the pH of my scalp. If there's no ACV, a squeeze of lemon or juice from two calamansi would do the trick just fine. I actually prefer the latter because the ACV smell still lingers even though very mildly.

We can purchase bottles to store our DIY care from Beabi, True Value, or The Oil Lifestyle. The Oil Lifestyle also has mini funnels (Php 18 for a pack of 2) if you would want to make small batches of these products. 

going hipster with pastel labels

A little over a week into this and I've noticed that my scalp does not itch even if I didn't wash it in the morning. There's no more eczema on my hairline and ear and the flakes slowly disappeared as the days went on. My hair doesn't have that gross "hasn't been washed" smell or feel. I do not itch after a workout, even a sweaty Corewell session. Also, less hairfall when I brush or blow dry my hair.

a literal I-woke-up-like-this look daily

There's one con to this DIY product though: How my hair feels. It may smell really great and my scalp and ears are so behaved but my hair was in a state of stickiness. I thought I totally murdered my hair at the expense of my scalp but when I googled about it, it was actually a period of my hair detoxing and going through a withdrawal phase from all the chemicals it has been used to -all the silicon coatings, the chemical buildup, and my scalp producing more sebum than it should thinking my hair is so dry. It does go away though.

To make me look less like Professor Snape, I periodically brush my hair to redistribute the oils so they don't get stuck at the roots. This made my hair look smoother and shinier instead of taong grasa waves. Blowdrying in a cool setting also helps it "set" better after a shower. If I still look horrible, I just tie my hair and no one notices my roots.

I didn't have that "detox" period on my skin though as my skin loved the DIY shower gel. It was great for a nighttime bath since I scented it with lavender, ylang ylang, and frankincense. My hair rebelled though when I used it as a shampoo but this is my chemical-dependent hair still undergoing a detox.

The fun part though was making other things from the raw materials. I made my own linen spray when I ran out of linen spray (a mix of witch hazel, lavender, and distilled water) which also served as a dusting spray and since these are so mild ingredients, I used them also to tame my greasy hair.

A DIY spray for home and even hair

I also noticed that my hands do not crack as much with these DIY home care products or do my nails break like crazy from harsh chemicals (I do wear gloves just in case). Since I have pets, I steer clear of EOs that are not good for pets and give a good rinsing on  surfaces and keep my materials away from them. I also make sure that I do not use phototoxic oils on surfaces that would be exposed to sunlight. Caution should always be exercised and if an oil is not safe due to allergies or whatever, it's best to stop using it.

I do would like to continue using DIY skin and home care, even the DIY shampoo. The shampoo though isn't for me to do so forever, but I can use it on the occasion that I would want to go on a detox. I can continue on using my DIY home care, knowing that linen and dusting sprays can cost so much money when I can make something on my own.  I should also remember to make small batches since these, being freshly made in my own kitchen usually do not last longer in storage than commercial products. I can try mixing different blends too, to match my mood. Any blends for me to try out?


Store Directory

Beabi
www.beabi.com.ph; facebook.com/ilovebeabi; instagram.com/ilovebeabi

Ilog Maria
www.ilogmaria.com; 

Naoe
available at Retail lab Glorietta and Ayala at the 30th and The Park, Shangri-La Plaza
www.naoe.ph; facebook.com/naoe.ph; instagram.com/naoe.ph

The Oil Lifestyle
facebook.com/oilifestyle; instagram.com/oilifestyle/

How I Take Care of My (New) Hair

Hello, I'm here.

Has it been a month since I went on a break? I'm currently back and omigod, so much things have been happening! I've been teaching a lot of classes and been busy with a lot of stuff. It is a lot, and even if I come home just looking forward to go to sleep, I go home super happy because I'm doing things that I love doing. So much things has happened and I try to tell friends that, "Yes, I'm alive, please see my Facebook and Instagram for updates."

Anyway, after years of sporting mermaid-length hair, I've decided to take a summery cut and get a haircut a month ago. It's been really hot and humid and sticky hair that takes forever to dry is totally not something I want.

Left: Mermaid hair. Right: New hair

I told my friend Kit that it's a process of detachment. I've forever been attached to long locks since it's low maintenance and I can always tie it in case of a bad hair day. The heat though is telling me otherwise.I thought about it for a week, but decided to just go for it one Friday night after yoga class. I went to the mall, showed the peg, closed my eyes, and stared at the girl in the mirror sporting a lob (long bob).

20 minutes into my new hair

It's still long enough for me to tie it, but it's much lighter on my neck. I still can style this and unlike the pixie cut I did years ago, this one is more low-maintenance and I can wait a few more months before I have to cut it again. It now just takes minutes to style my hair now, which is a good thing. I can just scrunch some salt spray on my hair and run a blow-dryer while twirling my hair until it's 80 percent dry letting my natural texture do its course.

If I do have a bit more time, however, I can curl my hair with a large barrel curling iron for loose waves.

Curls while hugging a kitty 

I like too that it doesn't sit on my face when I arm balance or do forward folds or make me look like I'm from a Japanese horror flick after I do a hairflip.

Even though my hair is much shorter, I should take good care of my hair, Since I also subject my hair to the heat of a blowdryer, it needs the protection and care it needs. My hairstylist friends keep heat-protecting spray or serum in their bags and I apply this to my hair before styling. This creates a barrier so my hair doesn't get fried.

It's important to rest my hair as well from products and heat styling. When I do, I use hair products and hair care that cleans and nourish my hair.

Tresemme Keratin Smooth cleans and cares for my hair. It smells really good too. This one is currently in my gym bag. If the bottles are too big, you can transfer the contents to a smaller container to fit your gym kikay kit. This leaves my hair looking decent even if I don't use my styling tools.

Inasmuch as I love my ponytails, I also give my hair a breather when sleeping and try not to tie my hair super tight that it hurts. Once a week, I apply a deep conditioning treatment to my hair just to replenish and repair it too.

My hair grows fast, so my mermaid hair will be back before you know it. It does feel good once in a while to detach myself from my comfort zone. I may keep this length for a few months and maybe color it lighter for a nice, summery feel even though it's quite rainy.

Do I miss the long hair? No, not really. I do welcome it when it comes back in a few months but as of the moment, I'm enjoying this hair now.

Henri Calayag's On-The-Go tips for Gorgeous Hair

I'm one of those girls who leave the house with wet hair most especially in my always on a rush days. On a day that I actually have time to sit down and have it dried and styled, it looks fine since I'm lucky enough to have very obedient hair. However, the towel-dried, combed, and air-dried hair always looks like a frizzy mess whatever I do.

I chatted with TRESemme's newest hair professional Henri Calayag for tips for ladies who are on-the-go and have no time to actually sit down to blow-dry their hair to perfect salon-style smoothness.

For those who have no time to blow-dry their hair, Henri recommends putting a smoothing serum or leave-on treatment on the hair when it's around 70-80 percent dry (not dripping wet). Just leave hair down and wait for it to dry or if you're taking public transportation and don't want to annoy your fellow commuters with hair, you can pull it back with a clamp or tie it in a bun or braid for more texture when you let it loose. A ponytail isn't recommended because it creates a "dent" in the hair that would be hard to comb out.

Pro-blowdrying skills are actually a skill on its own, and it took years for the most seasoned hairstylists to master the perfect blowout with just using a round brush and a dryer. For us ladies who like to DIY, we know how hard it is to blowdry our own hair, most especially the back part. Sometimes, I end up looking like a cocker spaniel when I bring all my hair to the front.

Here's a pro styling tip that I learned as well: before blow-drying, apply TRESemme Keratin Smooth Heat Activated Treatment (PHP450 for 120 mL) or TRESemme Keratin Smooth Heat Activated Treatment Spray (Php495 for 236 mL) on the hair and comb it through to distribute evenly. This would protect your hair from damage, especially if you use heat tools such as irons and curlers, since the hair would be subject to direct heat. Roughly blow-dry your hair with your blowdryer and a brush until it's 100% dry. For hair with volume and just a bit of curl at the ends, we use a very tita staple - set your hair in Velcro rollers while you do your makeup. If you want your  hair straight, proceed to straighten your hair in sections. The same goes with curling or crimping your hair.

The TRESemme Keratin Smooth Range gives you 48-hour frizz control for beautiful, smooth hair you can have at home. They also have styling products and heat-activated treatment to protect your hair from damage when heat-styling.

Styling your hair also takes a toll in your hair so it's best to take good care of it. TRESemme's Keratin Smooth has keratin-infused formula which controls frizz so you hair looks so much better. Unlike the rebonding procedures of the early 2000s, this actually helps repair and care for your hair rather than breaking the natural chemical bonds of  your hair. A friend even told me that it was the TRESemme Keratin Smooth Range that saved her hair from a horrible hair coloring procedure.

Speaking of repairing damage, Do you know that I also use TRESemme shampoo and conditioner to wash my makeup brushes? Our makeup brushes are actually made up of animal hair. Quick-cleaning brush cleansers contain some form of alcohol, which is needed to disinfect the brushes for hygienic purposes. These also evaporate quickly, so we can use the brush right away for applying makeup. The brush strokes we do in makeup application can also damage your brushes. Notice how the older brushes are more brittle than  the newer ones? When I feel my brushes have been working extra hard, I use TRESemme shampoo and conditioner to wash them. Not only do they feel really soft on the skin, they smell really good too.

TRESemme Keratin Smooth is available in all leading department stores, groceries, and drugstores.

Your Personal 3-Minute Meditation to Happy Hair

My hair's been abused in all senses - blow-dry, style, and even the tugging of my hair from ponytails and scraggly buns (take note, hair when wet) with elastics can cause a lot of damage. Although the hot shower feels so good on my sore muscles after a yoga class, I know my hair, if it could talk would scream and beat me senseless. I think the hair gods heard the plea of my tresses because I got a sample of Pantene's newest product, the 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner as I was heading out. I love getting these goodies giving me this good karmic energy. I tucked it in my bag and drove to the studio.

In yin yoga world, 3 minutes is the approximate time we give our bodies to hold our poses for our connective tissues to open. The three minutes here in Pantene 3-Minute Miracle, we give our hair the TLC it needs from its daily damage and abuse. It's like an extended meditation in the shower to pretty and healthy hair. With 80% more key conditioning ingredients versus regular Pantene conditioner, this product is supposed to improve my hair health and smoothen my hair and repair up to like 3 months worth of hair damage my hair has.

Yes and all it takes is three minutes. This is great when I don't have the time (or funds) to actually sit down for an hour at the hair salon to get a hair treatment. My hair being super duper long and thick kinda costs a lot to get treated. I can get this done at the shower. It's like three minutes of meditation to healthy, happy hair. 

The formula in comparison with other conditioners is a bit thicker, but I'm just glad that it doesn't have that strong, heady smell or chemical-like smell. In fact, it has the same category of signature fresh-fruit clean scent Pantene shampoos and conditioners have. I do, however, have to use more than dime or pea-size amount to get all areas of my hair covered and I give my hair that massage to boost circulation. I leave it for 3 minutes (or a bit more, depending on my feelings) using my phone as a timer and rinse (not hot water, I know my lesson). 

My verdict: My hair is much better to manage to comb with a wide-tooth comb and less tangled when I run my fingers through it when it's dry, I'm giving a yay to the scent for not being too strong or overwhelming. I just have to remember to not use this when i'm styling my hair because since my hair's super slippery and silky, the curls may not hold. I can, however, use this after a photoshoot or event where my hair needs to be heat-styled and sprayed to hold. Without blow-drying my hair, it looks more human hair than barbed wire and since my wavy hair is prone to frizz, this actually minimizes the frizz it naturally has. 

This is already available in the market by the way. An 180-mL bottle costs Php159.00 while if you would be a regular user or have longer and thicker hair, you may want to avail of the 340-mL tube for Php259.00. 

Color Restored via Serie Expert Vitamino Color

I spent my morning today at the L'Oreal Academie in Ortigas to experience Serie Expert, a high performance hair treatment that targets specific hair needs that go deep into the hair's molecular structure. Despite that I left the house at rush hour, around 8:30, the drive to Ortigas was unexpectedly breezy.

We were asked to choose which treatment we were supposed to have. First, was the Vitamino Color, which was for color lock for those who color their hair and want to restore its vibrancy and shine and give our color-treated hair its much needed nourishment.  For super damaged locks, Absolut Repair Lipidum is suggested to instantly reconstruct, detangle, and soften hair, basically making your hair not much of a pain to handle in life. I had my hair colored a month ago and it somehow faded, so I opted for the Vitamino Color. When I made my choice, my hair was washed and then my treatment started,

The first step was the application of Powerdose, a powerful concentrate (not to be taken in to give you superpowers, mind you) treatment to instantly revitalite color-treated hair. The serum was applied using a spray pump attachment, and depending on the length and thickness of hair, you may need a second vial or one might be enough. In my case, I think they only used one. 

The second step involved the application of a color masque. Unlike traditional conditioners which we use at home, this one is thicker, richer, and more intense which nourishes our dry and colored hair bringing it back to life. Just like the Powerdose. this was massaged well into my hair to really get my treatment to work.

The waiting game starts, the products have to be left in my hair for quite some time before rinsing them out. Oh and hello morning coffee!

My hair was blow-dried after into soft curls that feel super lush and smooth instead of dried and fried.  And yay for shine!!!!

My hair is alive. ALIIIIVVEEEE!!!!!

The whole procedure is really fast and took approximately 35 minutes for the whole treatment. Plus points also on the fruity scent of the treatment. Since it was fast, I had time to attend my pole lunch class where my shoulders died and went to pole heaven. My hair was still super smooth and shiny though, even after an hour of class. The curls were more relaxed though, but it was still a big check for touchable smoothness. This treatment may help preserve my color longer, especially if I'm the type that has a wash-and-wear kind of lifestyle. 

Bouncy Hair with Pantene Nature Care

oh yeah, it rhymes. woord! 

I love my hair and its unruliness. Back then, I used to like wrestle with a blowdryer and an iron to weigh my hair to flat straightness when it's effortless to everyone. Ten years later, I've accepted that it's what it is - long, thick, and wavy and effortlessly that way. I love how it easily curls and I don't need to comb it to get that out-of-bed look. Since I love my hair so much, I take good care of it, the low-maintenance way, that is to keep it clean all the time.

I thank Pantene for sending me over some goodies over the weekend from their latest line, Nature Care, which I'm really excited to try (as soon as I finish the big bottle of Pantene that I bought, the one that has a pump dispenser. See? Told you I love the brand). Thank you Pantene, and my brushes thank you too! Just like our skin, there are different types of shampoos created  for different people, since we all have different hair types and needs. For example, if hair is fine and limp and needs a bit of oomph, bring it back to life with Fullness and Life

"Fullness and life is designed for the Filipina who can't get enough of beautiful hair with volume. Even with volume, she still wants hair that is manageable or no 'buhaghag' ."

Big, beautiful hair, how can we go wrong? I love my big hair. I think it looks great when I do headflips and it's a staple in magazine covers and Victoria's Secret runway shows.  This big hair means big hair with awesomeness, and not hair all over the place that looks matted and dry making me reminiscent of the crazy cat lady in The Simpsons (I know, I am a crazy cat lady but my hair doesn't have to say it). Pantene Nature Care Fullness and Life Shampoo cleanses hair while giving it some nourisihing complex. Just like the name "Nature Care", it takes inspiration from mother nature with elements like avocado oil, grapeseed extract, and bamboo. To prevent frizz, especially for curly girls like me,  the conditioner will make it look prettier and more manageable.

For those who want a little tamer side of life, Smoothness and Life will make hair smooth and sleek without looking dry, flat, and dull, as that sometimes happens when I fry my hair too much. It's the hair ad look without looking flat and dull as it nourishes the hair with Cassia complex, aloe vera, calendula, and ginger. Sleek hair doesn't have to look weighed down and heavy.

What's great too about Pantene Nature Care is that they smell really nice and fresh, with that clean scent that lingers in the bathroom post-shower. I like clean scents and even my brushes smell nice and fresh when they're finished cleaning. I actually like Smoothness and Life with my brushes and will probably use that too with them and also my hair. Fullness and Life, if I want those big bombastic headflips or bounce and then drop to superman drop.

SRP for Pantene Nature Care shampoo and conditioner is Php 120 for the 170 mL shampoo and it's also Php 120 for the 165 mL conditioner. For once-a-week deep conditioning, the tub is awesome during rest days when there's no shoot going on or after doing a few laps in the pool.

The Morning I Rescued My Hair

I've had a lagas (i.e. hairfall) problem that's been going on. I've dismissed it though since I know hair naturally sheds on its own, but I've noticed a great deal of hair on the floor, on my (wide-toothed, take note) comb, on the dance studio, and on my hair tie that I've panicked. My regular anti-hairfall shampoo didn't seem to stop the problem though. Avy read my status message on Facebook as I related another lagas woe, when this bunch showed up when I ran my fingers through my hair the moment I woke up.

I know my hair naturally sheds a few strands daily but that amount in the morning and another amount when I shampoo and then comb is red alert. I am not undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therap, mind you. Avy asked me if I got a trim because my hair must be too heavy already. I said I did and the stylist took 2-1/2 inches off my waist-length hair, and he told me that my hair needs to get treated. Avy echoed the same suggestion as he did. Come to think of it, I last had my hair treated (and I mean went to the salon instead of DIY) almost 10 years ago. I guess it's time, which I haven't found yet.

Time somehow found me a while ago, when I had my day free and so I decided to hunt a salon to get my hair treated. The first salon I went to was David's Salon. I heard good reviews about them and they're known for doing hair really fast, and since I was the first customer of the day, it was good to go. At first, I thought a regular hot oil would do. When I told them about my hair fall problem, they suggested that I level up the treatment with Kerastase Concentre Vita-Cimente. When I asked the cost, for the length of my hair, they said it would amount to Php 1,950 since they'll be needing two vials for my really long hair (but it's thin!) I almost chickened out but the thought of carpeting our floor with more of my hair sent me to the shampoo chair to my treatment.

[image from bizrate.com]

The vial looks like the one above, a clear fluid in a bottle but to apply it to washed hair (my hair was washed by a pro prior to vial application), they attach the vial to an applicator spritz- pump like this, so it spritzes the product onto the hair so no product is wasted.

This product was recommended to me since my lagas problem is due to my hair becoming brittle and dry. The stylist even confirmed my hair fall problem when she was combing my hair out with a wide-toothed comb and a big clump of hair was stuck on the comb. Mind you, this is someone who knows how to comb and care for hair the right way. This serum fortifies hair fibers making it strong and resilient to the chemicals and heat styling I do to my hair when I do style my hair, and probably the pool chlorine too.

The two vials of Vita-Ciment was massaged onto my hair from roots to tips (head massages are the most wonderful thing on earth). Then, my hair was clamped and covered in a plastic wrap and I was left with the product on for a good 20 minutes with magazines to read. No heat necessary. Twenty minutes later, the product was rinsed and my hair blow-dried to shampoo-commercial straightness.

Hours after treatment, my hair still looks sleek and straight and not fluffy and funny. It's straight because it was blow-dried straight. It can be blow-dried with a bit of wave but I just said straight.

It was so cool that I can run my fingers through my hair and not have any strands of hair on my hand. My hair feels much smoother and healthier. I even ponytailed my hair and I was surprised that my hair maintained its shape when I took the ponytail out.

Kerastase Concentre Vita-Ciment is available as a treatment in salons. I got mine at David's Salon in Greenbelt. I've also seen reviews online that this treatment can also be done DIY once a month when you purchase the vials. It's my first time to use Kerastase treatment actually, as I've been hearing a lot of good reviews about it. Looks like the reviews are true. I actually thought that super sleek hair can be achieved by professional blowdrying but even if I get to have my hair blowdried by a pro, it still mushrooms up after some time with sweat and humidity. This power-treated hair was tame enough to withstand Food Court smoke, the concrete jungle's humidity, and a tight, tight ponytail. As for the scent, I'm actually nursing a cold now, so my sense of smell is dead as my fallen hair so I can't say anything about the scent. But I'm telling you guys, my hair has never been this pretty and healthy.

I was told to wash my hair the following day and just let my hair as it is, but I don't mind. I was supposed to go home though after but I lingered around the mall a bit and did some errands because it's not everyday that I get to have hair this sleek and pretty. I was also told to rest first from my old shampoo in the meantime and switch to a gentler shampoo or a different shampoo formulated for my hair condition. If you think it's straight because my hair's weighed down, that's not true. My hair feels really light.

My only qualm of course, is the price, but I guess it's a price that I should pay if I want to maintain healthy, long hair. I can do this occasionally when I feel that my hair longs for it. I'm really happy with the result and I'll let you in a few days after on how my hair turned out.

One Shampoo For Him, One Shampoo For Her

Last Wednesday, I found out that even in the hair department the rule of “Men are From Mars and Women Are From Venus still apply.” Not that it’s a sexist thing or anything, it just simply means that although both men and women still experience similar hair problems (i.e. hairfall, breakage, dandruff), they need special formulations in their shampoo. Head and Shoulders, a household name I have known since I was a kid tells us that.

I arrived at Mandarin Hotel for a scrumptious lunch before the event started. When I got there, a little game was in store for us. We had to answer the question, How do you know when you have found the one? My answer was simple, “You’ll just know!” Oh, part of the activity was to pose beside dioramas of either H&S endorsers, Angel Locsin or John Lloyd Cruz:

I chose Angel because she’s a polekitten too like me! Just a trivia, Angel took a 3-month pole dancing bootcamp with the Polecats for her movie where she had to do a pole number. So yay!

My OOTD:

• Dress: Pia Gladys Perey
• Bag: Aldo
• Shoes: SM

She finished her movie where she had to undergo a 3-month pole dance bootcamp with Polecats since she had a pole number there. And lookie! I’m wearing the same shoes as her cardboard version.

Head and Shoulders Shampoo bottles for him and for her. The guys get the black while the ladies get orange. I took a whiff of the shampoo scents and found the guy version has a stronger scent than the ladies. General guy preference perhaps? The event showed though that there’s a whole lot more difference than just scent or color-coded bottles.

Sam YG hosted the event, which of course featured Head and Shoulders endorsers Angel Locsin and John Lloyd Cruz. Raise your hand if you’ve seen their Romeo-and-Juliet-like tandem in Imortal. They make a great team too as endorsers, minus the fangs, prosthetics, and red contact lenses.

Anyway, going back to the products. For guys, since they tend to wear their hair short, there’s a higher chance of it getting oily and later on limp since sebum reaches hair tips faster. So the result? Hair that’s limp, oily, greasy, and yucky coupled with itchy and flaky scalp. Head and Shoulders for him cuts out the grease as it targets dandruff so guys have cleaner hair sans the limp noodle effect. I remember making the mistake of using shampoo for men, thinking shampoo is shampoo. Not that my hair fell off in clumps (thank God that didn't happen) but I felt that it was drier than usual. It's not that the shampoo was no good. It just wasn't for me.

The case for girls and our tendency to wear our hair long (like I do!) calls for extra effort with styling. We have our guns, i.e. our styling tools, blow dryer, brushes, name it. Let’s admit it, bob cut or waist-length, we have high-maintenance hair that’s dependent on at least a comb and clip. Aside from the dandruff-zapping ingredients H&S has, we have extra-conditioning bonus points so we don’t get any much breakage from weak, overprocessed hair. Result? Pretty, healthy, dandruff-free hair and the confidence to go ahead and wear that black dress without the fear of having any chismis flakes.

As I had a picture taken of me with the cardboard Angel Locsin, I was thrilled that I had a picture taken with the real Angel Locsin too. Yay! Me and a celebrity Polekitten!

And a photo-op with Sam YG before I kicked off my heels to wear flats as by this time my feet were killing me like crazy.

So what I learned? The next time I grab my bottle of shampoo in my next grocery trip, I go for the one that's for girls, after all, I need shampoo made just for me. Hopefully, this won't make my hair hay-like since I'll definitely choose shampoo that's got those conditioning products for my overprocessed hair's TLC. Oh, and I'll remember to rinse really really well too.

Hair Care that Cares

As The Body Shop cares for our skin and body with its yummy bath and body lines, home care, skin care, and makeup, the care also extends to our crowning glory that is our tresses. The Rainforest Hair Care comes shampoos and conditioners that care for our hair without any sticky residue while caring for the environiment by not including chemicals that could be harsh to our ecosystem.

Call it Christmas that came early for me or a happy grocery shopping trip, but here are some of what Rainforest Care has for each and everyone of us, depending on our hair condition. Why I chose the sun as the shape to arrange the products? Uhhhmm... nothing I just feel like it.

Oily hair could be yucky and greasy. Although the obvious would be to nix out conditioner or load up on sudsers to decrease the oil, what we really need is shampoo and conditioner (yes, we still need a bit of moisturizer here) that's made for oily hair. Rainforest Balance Shampoo cleans our locks without stripping it of much-needed moisture while Rainforest Balance Conditioner lightly conditions the hair without weighing it down. Instead of harmful colourants and fragrances, natural ingredients like pracaxi oil, Community Trade aloe vera, white nettle, and seaweed are used.

On the other end of the hair woe spectrum, and most of our problems is dry hair. Since we all love to process our hair to blowouts and hair straightening and curling. Just as too much of cooking the hair leaves our hair dry as the Sahara Desert, hair needs extra moisturizing power that would bring it back to its lush state.

Rainforest Moisture is manna for the hair. This is the one I'm currently using and I love the blueberry scent. It's not itchy on the hair and I like how it makes my hair soft and silky. Here's one thing I like about it too. It doesn't interfere much with my hairstyling since even if I shampoo, my hair still holds its shape. It doesn't weigh my hair down so I still have a bit of volume in me.

The tub there is hair butter. Hair butter is like intense conditioner for the hair, the conditioner which you leave on your hair before you rinse it out with warm water. My hair loves this product. A little dollop does the trick and I really don't like to pile on too much of this on the hair because that weighs the hair down. It smells like blueberries too! The pracaxi oil, manketti nut oil and Community Trade honey and sugar are the ingredients behind this product. If you don't want too much, you could dilute the shampoo and conditioner in water as well.

Rainforest Shine (included in the photo) are for the lucky girls and boys who just need a tad of tune up on their already excellent hair condition with an oomph of shine. Keep the luck flowing with this fruity-smelling baby that contains pracaxi oil, caméline seed oil and Community Trade olive oil, sugar, and aloe vera. The thought of having olive oil as an ingredient is just love, since it reminds me of those ancient days when olive oil's so precious to the skin and hair.

If you're the type who loves to experiment with style, trends, and color, I guess you already know that care for coloured hair is much more specialized. To begin with, coloured hair is already processed with chemicals. We need shampoos and conditioners that give the hair its much needed dose of TLC without stripping or interfering with the color. A good coloring job doesn't come in cheap, right?

To preserve a coloring job well done, The Body Shop's Rainforest Radiance cleanses to remove the color residue which causes the hair to look dull and dry in due time after a color job and keeps the color looking vibrant. There's also UV filter to block UV rays, which could fade color. We all know the job of shampoo and conditioner but there's also a third spray bottle of Detangling Spray for combing and brushing ease.

The price range of The Body Shop Rainforest Hair Care products are of course a tad more expensive than those bought over the grocery due to the materials sourced of course. It's not the type that you'd use to clean brushes though and I prefer that it stick to its job of cleaning my hair. A special gift to someone who's OC and concious with hair care, you could give the full-size bottles already, especially if she's a fan of the line already. If you have a friend who would want to try it out, then starter kits in fun sizes plus a detangler comb are also available.

[disclaimer: product provided for review]

Ready.. Set... Start with my very own 14-Day Challenge

For weeks, we've been intrigued by these "mystery shampoo bottles" that we've seen flashing on TV, print, and in several websites. When I saw it on the newspaper one morning, I was intrigued as to what could this new shampoo line would be.

It promises amazing hair transformation in fourteen days and even challenged women to use the shampoo for 14 days and see the results. Hmmmm.....this indeed was intriguing.

Just a few hours ago, I was sitting at a dinner at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel where the brand was finally revealed. Braving traffic, Arpee, Noreen, and I dashed to the venue apologizing for the tardiness due to the rainpour and rush hour causing Metro Manila to be converted to an instant parking lot. We arrived just in time for the program and the mystery brand was revealed to be this one....



Pantene, nonetheless. Aside from launching this new line, the event hosted by Issa Litton also introduced the celebrities who have tried the mystery shampoo given their hair concerns plus their very positive testimonials on the product. Among these celebrities are actresses Carla Abellana, Angel Aquino, Claudine Barretto, and Erich Gonzales to name some. Tapings, shoots, and TV appearances have exposed their hair to harsh lights, chemicals, and frequent heat styling so their frequently processed hair needs special attention at the same time keeping it in top condition.

Being a Pantene user for quite some time now, I could say that it's one of the shampoos I've stuck to once I've been hooked. It's been kind to my hair pampering it after its default state of high entrophy of that messy bun or scraggly ponytail held in place to by an elastic. Aside from manual damage, there's also UV rays, heat damage, and of course, free radicals in the air due to my active lifestyle. A little tweaking in its formula got my interest of course.

The variant above shows the Hair Fall Control line, which takes my attention the most. Not that I have a history of baldness or anything. Really, it's pretty normal for a few hair sheds each day. Sometimes though when I look at the bathroom floor and see the hair strands, it sometimes gets me quite concerned. Actually, I found out that it's not that I'm balding. The hair "fall" referred to is actually due to breaking (this I found out when I checked the end of my hair. It didn't have a bulb). Causes of breaking could be roughness and cuticle damage due to again, my hair being abused. In fact, being quite rough on my hair by pulling out my hair elastic after it's been tortured to a tight bun, brushing hair when wet, and substituting a rubber band instead of a hair elastic to tie my hair are perfect weapons of massive hair breakage. If I should start a habit, I should also be more gentle with my hair. By the way, before I forget, there's also the Total Care line and Glossy Shine.

While on the topic, here's something to get me started to getting the habit of taking better care of my hair. Parked these babies up the bathroom counter.

I just started Day 1 of my own fourteen-day challenge when I got home. Obviously, it's too early to give immediate results. For now, I'm currently raving on the scent, which is one of the things I really love about Pantene. It's not too warm or floral but more of fresh. It's easy to rinse though and right now as my hair dries, it doesn't leave my hair looking frizzy or something that remembers sheep wool. My hair's quite long actually, it lands up to almost my waist so I've got a lot to shampoo. However, a nickel-size amount is just right for my hair and it lathers up quite well and rinses quite easily too, if done properly.

Oh, and did I mention that it's not only me who'll be up to the 14-day challenge?
My brushes would be Pantene users too and would be undertaking the 14-day challenge along with yours truly. Of course, they deserve a bit of TLC as well.

I'll let you in when my 14-day challenge is over. Till then, it's off to bed for us all!