Happy Hair

It seems I’ve been writing about hair a lot lately, probably because with the changing of seasons comes a necessary change in hair care. Plus, I’ve been experimenting with new products a lot lately, and while some have been pleasantly surprising (I’m still loving Aussome Volume 2-in-1 shampoo), it really is hard to find a new hair product that really noticeably makes a difference in your hair.

So this week I must share a story about my mom’s hair. She, like most women, has an ongoing battle with her hair. The hair issues most of us face (frizz, flatness, unruly bits) is exacerbated in her case by the fact that she has very curly hair, hair that appears to become curlier by the day. On the plus side, she can pull of the cool slightly disheveled look with ease. On the negative side, sometimes she simply does not have any control over her mane.

Recently we were talking beauty (she indulges me by letting me tell her about my latest revelations and product picks and I try to help her solve her hair- and makeup-related problems) and she told me that her hair made her feel old. She said it felt dry, and she didn’t know how to fix it.  Now, we have different hair types, and I am no expert on outrageously curly hair, but I was not about to let my lovely mother go around feeling old and unhappy. So, after listing off several of the products I have given her to try over the years, only to be met with a resounding “it doesn’t work,” I remembered the shampoo and conditioner that was sitting in my shower, largely untouched.

I instructed her to try the duo, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration shampoo and conditioner. My sister had passed the bottles to me due to their coconut scent (which I love). I used the stuff a few times but found the conditioner to be too heavy for me, making my hair limp and flat. But it was VERY moisturizing, and I figured it was worth a shot.

Apparently she did too. A few days later we met for lunch. Mid-conversation I stopped, put down my sandwich, and looked at her hair.

“Your hair looks great today,” I told her.

She agreed, and told me she’d used the Hello Hydration a couple of times and that it was really starting to make a difference. I reached out and felt her hair – touchably soft! The duo had really moisturized, and relaxed her curls enough to make her hair look soft and pretty, not old or unruly.

Ah, happy hair.

Second-Day Hair

You know how some girls can just roll out of bed, throw on some clothes, and waltz down the street looking perfectly tousled and incredibly cool?

I think I might know their secret.

About a week ago my sister called to thank me for turning her on to the Aussie Aussome Volume haircare line, which has long been my favorite drugstore pick for bouncy, good-smelling hair. She told me she recently discovered they had a 2-in-1 shampoo, and that she L-O-V-E-D it. I’ve never been much of a 2-in-1 gal (I’m very careful to use shampoo on my roots and conditioner on my ends), but she raved about it so much I decided to give it a try. She said it made her hair look better than ever.

“Especially the second day,” she said.

Interesting. So over the weekend I picked up a bottle. I immediately liked the idea behind the product.

“Work this superstar of simplicity through damp hair. Rinse with warm water and go on with your day.”

Well that sounded easy. I used it in the shower and styled my hair as usual. I have to say, it did nothing all that remarkable. My hair was soft and smelled good, but I didn’t think I looked any better than I normally do. Feeling a little let down, I went about my day and forgot about it.

The next morning, having completely forgotten about my sister’s second-day hair comment, I shuffled sleepily into the bathroom and glanced in the mirror. 

WOAH!

My hair was a little messy, in that sexy bedhead kind of way. It didn’t look the least bit greasy, and was actually still bouncy. I didn’t even reach for a comb. I just strutted out of the bathroom, feeling extra sassy.

Mystery solved.