Nexxus, Kerastase and Shu Uemura: Winter Hair Options to Protect, Reconstruct or Thicken

Toronto taught me that dry hair is a real affliction. Until I lived there, I never gave my hair a second thought. The wonderful temperate climate of Vancouver keep my hair tamed and generally "regular". The near-Siberian temperatures of Toronto had me battling static fly-aways and brittle strands. I never knew I had to care for my hair until I lived a winter in TO and tried this and this to solve my problems. So if you are in that situation, consider these three options to protect, reconstruct or thicken your hair in crisis.

Question: Do you use the same amount of conditioner as shampoo?

A bottle of conditioner and a bottle of shampoo tend to be around the same volume. They also tend to be about the same price. But I never, never use them at the same rate! Does anyone?

Garnier Whole Blend Green Apple and Green Tea

The Garnier Whole Blend Green Apple and Green Tea Shampoo and Conditioner* have got to be one of these most photogenic press packages I've received. The greenness of the bottle mixed with the PR boxes graphics and booklets were so A+. Kudos to the Garnier graphics team on this one. But more importantly, aesthetics aside, this hair set has been nice for my locks too!

Rinse and Repeat, But Backwards (ft Tresemme Beauty-full Volume)

Can doing things in reverse ever be game changing? I can't think of many things were doing them back to front would make much sense but Tresemmé and their latest Beauty-Full Volume line is asking you to give it a try.  I am such a person of routine. I shower in the exact same way every day. I brush my teeth with the same hand, in the same direction every day. I put make-up on in the same order everyday. If it weren't for a few instances of decision making now and then, you can basically copy and paste my Monday-Friday and I wouldn't really notice a difference.

Hair Doppelgängers: Clear Intense Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner*

*Press Sample

Sometimes in life, we happen across the same types of people but in a different forms, maybe a new partner reminds you of a previous relationship, maybe a new friend brings to mind an old acquaintance. No two people are ever true doppelgangers but that can't quite be said of beauty products. Using the Clear's Intense Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner* ($7CDN each, 375ml)  triggered some far off memories of a shampoo long pasted.

Live Clean Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner*

*Press Sample

If scent is a major driver of haircare purchases and Coconut is right up your alley then the Live Clean Coconut Milk Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner* ($7 each, 350ml) may be for you.

Nexxus Caviar Complex Therappe and Humectress*

*Press Sample

Scent is linked to memories and I will forever link some people to the scents they wear.  Aside from nostalgia inductions though, scents aren't so important to me.  Its a plus to have a nice smelling, whatever, and the scent usually gets some initial thumbs-up/thumbs-down reaction, but generally scent isn't a real priority. But let me tell you something, Nexxus Rebalancing Therappe Shampoo and Restoring Humectress Conditioner*...smell. great.

L'Oreal Total Repair Extreme Shampoo and Total Repair 5 Instant Miracle

I'm pretty sure I've been through more shampoo and conditioner types than lovers at this point. I will find the one, damn it!. Have I become the Tay Swift of the hair washing world?! With every new one I reach for, I try and overcompensation for the things the previous lacked. So, while Herb left my strands dry and too squeaky clean, and Lush just wasn't cutting it, I went extreme and took up L'Oreal's Total Repair Extreme Shampoo and Total Repair 5 Instant Miracle to remind me that love washing my hair can be safe and caring again.

Herbal Essences Naked 0% Shine Shampoo and Conditioner*

*Press Sample

Even while I was having my torrid love affair with Fekkai, I knew that all good things come to an end evenually. As the last adulterous hair washing approached, my roving eyes were ready to start exploring new hair possibilities with maybe some of the same perks that I've experienced before (such is the fickle hair lover that I am).

Fekkai Hair Care Brilliant Glossing Kit*

*Press Sample Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Kit

Here's a great idea! Buy jumbo sized shampoo you've never tried because it's on sale and everyone needs shampoo so...YAY SAVINGS! I'm on my second shampoo of woeful regret (A'kin's Rice Amino and Wheat Protein Intense Moisture Shampoo ) and triple pumping isn't using it up fast enough. If you want limp morning-after hair that doesn't feel clean when you wash it, please take it off my hands. I have half a litre of this stuff, half a litre!!

L'Oreal Re-Nutirtion Nourishing Cream Care Royal Jelly

Hair as draw as straw? Can't say I've really experienced that until I came to Toronto.

Review: John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Moisturizing Conditioner

(Unfortunately photos in this post were lost due to The Great Deletion of 2014. Some efforts to re-do photos will be made but not all posts will be redone.)

A couple of years ago I went through a whole process of trying to revamp my hair care routine. I was noticing that my hair was getting super greasy throughout the day and I thought switching up my shampoo/conditioner combo might help. During the process, I found John Frieda's Brilliant Brunette Moisturizing Conditioner and have stuck with it ever since. This stuff has is made of magic. For serious.

Review: Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo, Condition and Hairspray

(Unfortunately photos in this post were lost due to The Great Deletion of 2014. Some efforts to re-do photos will be made but not all posts will be redone.)

When I go on vacation I usually take the opportunity to bring sachets of samples to use. They're portable and sometimes come in the exact amounts you need for the trip. I had blindly grabbed a shampoo/conditioner sachet when I went to Montreal last August not realizing what it was. When I blew my hair dry I was sort of surprised by how voluminous my hair turned out! I looked at the sample and it was the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner.