Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness

The True Trio

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As you all are well aware, yours truly is a hair product junkie. I adore trying new products, learning about their ingredients, their properties and most importantly, if they deliver on their promises. I am not a licensed hair stylist. What I am is a women with over 15 years of hair care experience. I have been to color and cut classes, sat down with chemists and creators of lines to discuss their products, toured their warehouses and even spoke with presidents and decision makers of many suppliers. I have worked the floor of trade shows and been a manager of a Salon/retail shop and been a rep. on the road. That being said, I usually focus on Salon Professional products. Until today. Yours truly has come across a line that is on par with Salon Professional hair care lines. It’s been a while since a product blew my mind and left me asking perfect strangers to “touch my hair!”. Let me introduce you to Arbonne True Hair.

Arbonne True Hair

This trio is, in a word, AMAZING! Arbonne True Hair is;

  • vegan
  • cruelty free
  • gluten free
  • silicone free
  • paraben free
  • sulfate free
  • color safe
  • derived from natural & sustainably sourced ingredients

Now I know, when you read the above list, I can hear the sighs and see the eye rolls. Many of you have been led down the natural hair care path to end up with dull, lifeless hair. Not today my friends, not today. Arbonne True Hair leaves your hair soft, shiny, frizz free and bouncy. Yes, I said bouncy. I couldn’t believe the natural volume of my hair after using this fab trio. I love big hair. I love lots of volume hence my adoration for mousse and root lifts. I only used these three products, Arbonne True Hair Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave in Treatment and this was the result…

Here’s the lowdown on Arbonne True Hair. A three step process. Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave in Treatment. Created for all hair types, from fine to thick, straight to curly. It is color safe. Since it is paraben and sulfate free, it is safe to use on extensions as well. All the products contain;

  • Pea Protein – delivers moisture and prevents breakage
  • Sustainably sourced Baobob – increases hair strength and repairs hair, root to tip
  • Ashwagandha Root – contains antioxidant properties, reduces the effects of environmental stresses such as dryness and humidity.

Arbonne True Hair delivers a natural shine and leaves your hair as soft as it was when you were a preschooler.

True Hair Shampoo – Sulfate free = low lather = not a lot of suds. (want more suds, add more water to produce more lather). This shampoo effectively removes product build up, could be used as a clarifying shampoo. Rinses out with ease.

True Hair Conditioner – Lightweight, almost weightless (yet rich enough for the thickest of tresses), rinses out with ease and detangles like nobody’s business. Apply after rinsing out shampoo, leave in 1-3 minutes, then rinse.

True Hair Leave in Treatment – this little gem is a wonder! A cream leave in that is applied to towel dried hair, starting at the ends and working your way up. You can blow dry, or air dry your hair, which ever you prefer. This Leave In is humidity resistant = no frizz. It works as a thermal protectant, adds shine and prevents breakage and split ends. It is a lightweight formula that is non greasy. True Hair Leave in also contains something a little extra. Coconut and Avocado oils deliver essential hydration to nourish your hair.

You can find this fab trio online at http://www.arbonne.com , select your country and VOILA!. You can also get it through any of the fine Arbonne consultants in your area. The price may seem a little much, but it’s not. It is on par with all Salon Professional products of this caliber.

If you are looking for a more natural hair care regime, look no further. Arbonne True Hair delivers on it’s promises.

Beauty, Hair Care

Design Me another Monday Motivator

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Happy Monday Beauties! Yes, Monday is here yet again. For many this week is jammed packed with the final days of school, graduations, last minute daycare and summer day camp preparations, trying to convince your toddler that winter boots can’t be worn to the beach and that getting the blue cup instead of the red one is not the end of the world, threatening to change the wifi password if someone doesn’t take out the trash, all the while, trying to drink your coffee while it’s still hot and getting your hair under control. I may not be able to help you with all of the above, but I can be your personal Glinda the Good Witch when it comes to your hair. Let me introduce you to a couple of gems. Meet Design.Me Hair Puff Me and Puff Me Light.

I was introduced to Design.Me Hair a little over a year ago. My Venus Beauty Supplies Rep. Patricia, a true gem, told me of a new product that she thought was right up my alley. It may be 2018, yours truly still adores big hair. The more volume, the better! …I was a child of the ’80’s, what can I say? I had tried many volumizing powders by other brands. They were good, but I never got the results I had hoped for. I found them messy to work with since most came in a shaker form, much like a salt shaker. It was difficult to get the product exactly where I wanted it. Then came along Design.Me Hair Puff Me. The beauties at Design.Me Hair designed their volumizing powder in a pump spray format so you have the control to apply the powder exactly where you want it. Puff Me and Puff Me Light are cruelty free, vegan, sulphate free, paraben free and gluten free. Here’s the low down for you;

Puff Me (Pink Bottle) – Apply to dry hair, focusing at the roots. Spray 2-4 inches from your hair (5-10 cm for our metric friends). You can spray and style, or for more texture with your volume, spray and rub it in a little.

  • offers INSTANT volume
  • odor free
  • mess free (no white powder/residue along your hair line or on your shoulders)
  • formulated for normal to thick hair (perfect for thick ethnic hair)
  • adds the perfect texture for braids and updo’s

Puff Me Light (White Bottle) – This gem is a lightweight formulation of the original Puff Me. A more workable, playable version if you will. Apply to dry hair, once again focusing at the roots. Spray 2-4 inches from your hair (5-10 cm for our metric friends). You can spray and style or like with Puff Me, for more texture with your volume, spray and rub it in a little.

  • offers INSTANT volume
  • odor free
  • mess free
  • formulated for fine to normal hair 
  • helps add texture to updo’s and braids…helps them to look fuller.

Puff Me and Puff Me Light are a great addition to your hair styling regime. From pixie cuts to top knots, Design.Me hair has got your back, on Monday and everyday.

 

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat

…a FAB Monday Motivator

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Here we are, it is once again Monday. On my part of the globe, the sun is shining and the humidex is on the rise, and we all are well aware that humidity and hair, they just don’t mix. With the summer temperatures on the rise and humidity in the air, our hair can tend to look stringy, fuzzy, dry or all three. …not the best news for our selfie generation. Well Beauties, do I have some motivation for you on this finest of Mondays. Let me introduce you to Design Me FAB ME, a leave in spray that can mend 18 of your hair woes. Yes, you read that correctly, 18 benefits in one bottle!

This little green bottle is quite honestly a magic potion for your hair. I have fine hair, lots of it, but fine. Many leave in sprays leave my hair greasy,lifeless and weighed down. Design Me FAB ME does not. After using this spray, my hair was soft, silky with volume to boot!

Now, back to these 18 benefits I told you of. Design Me FAB ME offers;

  • protection against color fading – perfect for vibrant colors
  • smooths split ends
  • gives your hair a silky feel
  • helps to prevent damage
  • offers thermal protection against the heat of your blow dryer
  • revitalizes your hair’s natural protective layer
  • offers protection against environmental damage
  • detangles
  • helps hair become more manageable
  • reduces blow drying time
  • helps reduce static
  • offers frizz control
  • offers porosity control
  • adds shine
  • offers light conditioning
  • hydrates your hair
  • strengthens your hair
  • enhances volume

This gem is created for all hair types. For best results, apply to damp, freshly washed hair. Spray throughout, comb through, then blow dry and style. I have applied to damp hair and let my hair air dry. The major difference was blow drying added more volume. As with all Design Me hair products, this gem is cruelty free (no harm to the bunnies), vegan, sulphate free, paraben free, gluten free and the scent is pure heaven.

Design Me hair FAB ME can motivate you to have a FAB! Monday, or any day that ends in “y”.

Beauty, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat, Women

Changing lives with every good hair day

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Imagine each time you used your flat iron, you could be changing another woman’s life and the life of her children. The simple act of doing your hair for a day at the office, the soccer field or a night on the town could give another woman an income, food on the table, independence. Well Beauties, there is no need to imagine such a scenario. Thanks to AG Hair Care, making sure you have a good hair day enables another woman to have such things.

Let me introduce to you to AG Firewall, a thermal protecting (flat iron) spray. AG Firewall is one of the members of the AG Smooth line. This gem provides;

  • high shine
  • a smooth protective barrier between your hair and your flat iron
  • smooths, protects and prevents breakage
  • controls flyaways
  • controls unruly hair

AG Firewall is infused with Argon oil – sustainably sourced, fair trade organic Moroccan Argon oil, which is rich in Vitamin E and antioxidants which keep hair smooth, soft and protected. AG Firewall is cruelty free (no testing on the bunnies), Paba free, Paraben free and Gluten free. It is an aerosol spray that contains NO CFC’s = friendly to our ozone.  It is meant to be used on dry hair only, right before you use your flat iron. For best results it is best to section out your hair. The smell is heavenly, it leaves a soft, workable hold to your hair, it does not flake and is not sticky. Created for all hair types.

So, how are you changing a woman’s life by having great hair you ask? Using any of the AG Smooth line hair products helps women in the poorest regions of Morocco. The Argon oil used in their products is sourced using sustainable and organic farming methods and is produced by local women of the Berber tribe. In turn, this give the women employment and an income which equals independence. It enables these women to support their families and provide education for their children.

Imagine looking at your reflection in the mirror with the thought that because of you, another woman can have pride in her reflection too. Now that is a thing of beauty.

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Women

Design Me a Monday Motivator

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Good Morning Beauties! it’s Monday and you all know what that means! Gather ’round for That Girl in the Red Coat’s latest Monday Motivator! Grab your coffee, if you have little ones, tell your kids whoever stays quiet the longest wins a prize and get ready to meet a FAB! product that will make this Monday a little less mundane.

Have you ever gone to spray your hair with hairspray and realized it was either too much hold for your soft curls or not enough hold for your sleek updo, which in turn resulted in you having a meltdown with your toddler on the bathroom floor? Well Ladies, toddlers will still freak out over the kleenex being thrown out or having to wear clothes, this is one thing I have no remedy for. What I do have a remedy for is your hairspray woes! Let me introduce you to Design Me Hair Hold Me Three Ways!

The gems at Design Me Hair have created a hairspray that has an adjustable nozzle that achieves adjustable hold! You can get back up on your chair, it’s real! Trust me. I was a little wary, I found it hard to believe it would work. I was proven wrong. It is, in a word, amazing. First of all, it smells heavenly. Second, no matter which hold factor you select, no flakes! None. This hairspray is cruelty free, paraben free, sulfate free, gluten free and vegan. Every hold factor offers long lasting hold, adds shine and UV protection.

Here’s the low down on the hold factors;

LIGHT = perfect for taming flyaways and for keeping your loose beach waves intact without creating stiffness to your waves

MEDIUM = can be used as a pre-curl setting spray. Also lovely to use to keep sleek, flat styles intact. I love it for along my part where my little hairs like to pop up. Also keeps my shaved sided down in between my hair appointments.

HIGH = your updo’s new bff. Lovely for braids, tight curls and for styles that need their volume high all day.

To use – always apply to dry hair. Select your desired hold factor. Give the can a good shake upside down (just as you do with canned whipped cream), then spray. I suggest holding the can at least 10 -12 inches from your hair. (30 cm or length of a ruler for my metric friends).

No more meltdowns over hairspray. A good hair day on a Monday and everyday. What more motivation to you need?

Beauty, Business, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Women

Pumping up the Volume

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First and foremost, thank you all for your reaction to my “…what a pleasant surprise” tale of Arbonne. Due to the attention yours truly has been given more products to try and review, so keep your eyes peeled for more reviews of Arbonne – not only hair care but skin care and more. Now, on to today’s tale.

For those familiar with my tales, you know how I love big hair. Yep. You can take this girl out of the 80’s but you can’t take the 80’s out of this girl. My hair appears to be thick, it is not. It is baby fine, I happen to have lots of it. Since it is baby fine, many volumizing products end up weighing down my tresses and in turn, weigh down my mood. We all know the difference between a good hair day and a bad hair day … our poor husbands, children and coworkers can attest to this…you know it. I know it. Lets except it and move on. I have been experimenting with and using a mousse for the past few weeks and I gotta say, I am a fan. Let me introduce you to Arbonne Pure Vibrance Texturizing Mousse.

This gem is a non aerosol mousse, so it does not foam up like whipped cream in your hand. Don’t fret, it still offers the same volume that your favorite aerosol mousse delivers. It is created for all hair types and can be applied to damp or dry hair, depending on the desired style. Applied to damp hair, it adds volume and lift wherever it is applied – Arbonne recommends 2-4 pumps. I personally found 6 -8 pumps worked best for the best volume. ( 2-4 pumps applied to hair, after worked through the hair, add 2- 4 more pumps, then blow dry) *pump the product into your hand, not directly on your hair. On dry hair, 2 – 4 pumps will suffice and will give you a more tousled, beachy wave.

Thanks to Arbonne’s botanical blend of Hawaiian White Ginger Root extract, Sage Leaf extract, Artichoke Leaf extract and White tea extract, your hair is hydrated, breakage is prevented, your investment in your color is protected and your color is maintained and to top it all off, your hair has a natural shine and sheen. Another plus – your hair is protected from sun damage.

Arbonne Pure Vibrance Texturizing Mousse is certified Gluten Free. It is also Vegan with no artificial colors added and is free of sulfates and parabens. It is also cruelty free = no bunnies were harmed in the creation of this FAB! mousse.

Great hair day. Heights of volume. Happy hopping bunnies. What more could you ask for?

Beauty, Business, Hair Care, health and wellness, lifestyle, That girl in the red coat, Women

…what a pleasant surprise

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As you all are aware, yours truly is a hair care product guru. Self professed, but a guru none the less. For over 15 years the only products that I have allowed to touch my tresses were Salon Professional products, as those familiar with my blog know all to well. Over the years many a product have been given to me to try and I have always politely declined the offerings. Until last week. A friend of mine has started a new journey for herself and needed some insight into the products she was now attaching to her name, so I said “Give ’em to me. Let me try them and I will give you the straight goods.”. I was fully prepared to be disappointed and worried about the mess my hair would be in after using this product line. I was worried about the itch that would come after using a product containing so many natural properties – this gal has a sensitive scalp. As I began to wash my hair I was trying to think of how I would tell my friend the products were no good, until I felt the lather and felt how easily the shampoo rinsed out of my hair without leaving it in a tangled, matted mess. The treatment mask was even more of a surprise. …and don’t even get me started on the serum. The best part?!? No itch! So what are these products of which I speak? Well beauties, hold on to your hats…the products are Arbonne.

 

These babies are sulfate free, paraben free, free of artificial colors, vegan and certified gluten free. Created for all hair types from thick to thin, Arbonne Pure Vibrance line fortifies dull, chemically treated hair, restores lustre, cleanses the hair without drying out the hair, and helps to retain color vibrancy and longevity.

Lustre Fortifying Shampoo – offers a gentle lather that rinses out of the hair with ease. It contains, among other ingredients;

  • Rice extract = promotes strength, reduces breakage
  • Artichoke extract = conditioning agent, maintains shine and color and the integrity of the hair
  • White Tea extract = protection against environmental stressors (U.V. etc…).

Hair Revitalizing Masque – glides through the hair with ease. A treatment to be used 1 – 2 times a week. Leaves the hair feeling like you have just left the salon. No greasy residue or lifeless hair.

ColorLast Hair Serum – a gem of a serum. I have use countless serums in my day and this baby surpassed my expectations. Having fine hair, most serums leave my hair greasy, weighed down and lifeless – but not this one! My hair felt soft and the volume was still intact. Created for all hair types, can be applied to damp or dry hair (I prefer on dry hair). Some of the stars of this serum are;

  • Linseed extract = color preserving
  • Argan = removes brittleness and restores shine
  • Abyssinian Oil = absorbs quickly and enhances moisture to promote shine

***This gem is Humidity Resistant (helps to seal the hair cuticle) = NO FRIZZ!

So, there you have it Beauties. That Girl in the Red Coat has something to admit. I have used a non-Salon product line on my hair and my tresses and I lived to tell about it. Arbonne…what a pleasant surprise.

 

 

Beauty, Business, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat

Monday Motivator – Onesta Smooth + Shine

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It’s Monday…again. Many of us have a hard time to get up and go on Monday mornings. It seems that our get up and go just got up and went. I began the Monday Motivator series to help your Monday mornings a little brighter, to give you something to look forward to. Even though it may be Monday and your child decided to play hide and seek with your car keys and doesn’t know where they are “‘cuz they’re good hiders” and you spilled the entire bag of freshly ground coffee beans all over the kitchen floor…at least you will have a good hair day.

This Monday’s Motivator is from Onesta. Meet Onesta’s Smooth + Shine, a thermal straightening creme.

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This gem of a product offers a silky, frizz free finish. It is light enough not to weigh down the finest of strands yet potent enough to smooth the most unruly tresses. It is humidity resistant (locks your cuticle shut – perfect for humid weather. Closed cuticle = no frizz). With it’s blend of certified organic ingredients such as Milk Thistle, Green Tea and Rhatany Root, Onesta Smooth + Shine adds luster and helps to protect hair color and vitality. For those who are looking for a more natural professional hair care line, Onesta is for you! Their products meet EU Compliance and are paraben free, sulfate free, gluten free, cruelty free, vegan, free of dyes, DEA/TEA, Phthalates, Sodium Chloride and Propylene Glycol.

Remember, this is a thermal styling creme, so it must be used with a blow dryer for the best smoothing results. To use; distribute through towel dried hair. Blow dry while guiding your hair straight with your brush. Follow with a flat iron if so desired.

How much to use;

For fine hair – dispense the size of a pea and emulsify in your hands, then apply to hair

For medium hair – dispense the size of a dime and emulsify in your hands, then apply to hair

For thick hair – dispense a nickel size amount and emulsify in your hands, then apply to hair.

* A great feature of this creme – you can scrunch, diffuse or air dry  Smooth + Shine for a more natural look on wavy hair. Smooth + Shine can be applied to dry hair to help tame frizz.

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Uncategorized

Probiotic hair care…who knew?!

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A few weeks ago I heard one of my favorite phrases, “Sara, I have a new product. Give this a try and let me know what you think.”.  The product was the new Probiotic Color Care line by Onesta. If you are dealing with dry, damaged tresses and prefer to use  natural, environmentally friendly hair care products – this line is for you!

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Onesta is a lovely hair care line that has the best interest of you, your hair and the environment in mind. Onesta products contain natural fragrances, blended of plant extracts and botanical oils. Onesta products meet EU Compliance, are vegan, cruelty free and free of parabens and sulfates. For more information about Onesta here is a link to my tale Honestly Onesta;

https://thatgirlintheredcoat.com/2014/04/22/honestly-onesta/

Onesta’s Proboitic Color Care Line has three products – Shampoo, Conditoner and a leave in Probiotic Treatment.

Probiotic Color Care Shampoo – contains color enhancing extracts of certified organic Chai & Fennel. *Fennel is known to help hair’s color to look more vibrant and keeps the color looking fresh. The exclusive formula of Lactobacillus Probiotics helps to promote a healthy scalp and the combination of quinoa and vegetable proteins protects, defends and strengthens damaged hair.

Probiotic Color Care Conditioner – Contains anti color fade extracts of certified organic Amla and Shea butter. The conditioner also contains the exclusive Lactobacillus Probiotic formula.

Probiotic Protein Treatment – a liquid leave in spray treatment that detangles and strengthens hair. *when applied to hair before a color application the Probiotic Protein Treatment helps to protect the hair and evens out the hair’s porosity for optimal color results.

First and foremost, I was pleasantly surprised by the Onesta’s Probiotic Color Care line. The shampoo is sulfate free yet had a nice lather – most sulfate free shampoo’s have little to no lather so many times we end up using too much. The conditioner slid through my hair with ease and left my hair feeling silky soft even though it was still wet. The leave in treatment…let me tell you – it smells wonderful, my tangles were worked out with ease and my hair felt soft and manageable. As you all know I am a bottled blonde – the Probiotic Color Care products did not leave my blonde brassy. I also have a blue streak and my color wasn’t diminished. My color, blonde and blue alike, actually seemed brighter and more vibrant. I used the Probiotic Color Care line for a few days before my latest color appointment and I have found my color to be a little brighter than usual…and we all know, when a woman is having a good hair day, everyone has a good day.

 

 

 

Beauty, Hair Care, health and wellness, That girl in the red coat, Uncategorized, Women

Honestly Onesta

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In honour of Earth Day, today’s tale is to introduce you to a Professional hair care line that wants your hair and our planet to be beautiful.

Onesta is a Professional hair care line that is;

– Color safe

– Paraben free, Sulfate free and Gluten free.

– It is free of dyes, DEA, Phthalates, Sodium Chloride, Propylene Glycol.

– Onesta is cruelty free (they love bunnies),  PETA approved, Vegan and EU compliant. *EU Compliant = meets the strict regulations on ingredients used in personal care products. Over 1300 ingredients have been banned as additives to personal care products in Europe.

– Onesta is a true Green Brand. Their bottles are made from PCR (post consumer resin). Recycled content is used in all merchandising, product displays, boxes and packaging. Onesta maintains a low carbon footprint as it is 100% offset by wind power and are proud to be a part of the Sustainable Manufacturing Movement. Onesta is also Rainforest Alliance certified.

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Onesta offers a Hydrating shampoo and conditioner, a Volumizing shampoo and conditioner, leave in conditioners, treatments and an array of styling products for all hair types that offer natural sunscreens and color protection. The following are Onesta products that have been a hit at our shop and in our Salon;

Nourishing Moisture Masque – provides extra conditioning without weighing down hair –  strong enough for coarse hair yet light enough for fine hair. It repairs damage to the cortex, seals the cuticle and helps to stabilize porosity levels. *and adds shine

Quench Leave In – a lightweight spray that detangles, smooths and controls frizz. It offers protection against sun damage

Smooth & Shine – a styling cream that is strong enough for coarse hair and lightweight for fine hair. It is humidity resistant, controls your frizz all the while adding luster to your lovely locks.

Create Firm Finish – a hairspray that offers long lasting hold that is never stiff or sticky. It provides volume and flexibility, is humidity resistant and offer thermal protection.

One more thing that is awesome – on the back of each Onesta product, you will find instruction on how to use the product and how much of the product to use, depending on your hair type. Yep! They thought of everything. Each time you use the products you will know how much to use and will be able to achieve the look or style you like. Onesta is a Professional hair care line that cares about their customers and the environment. No wonder Onesta means Honesty.