Beauty, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat

Monday Motivator – most popular reviews

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Good morning all! Here we are, Monday has arrived. Over the past months I have had many inquiries about many different hair products from flat iron sprays to conditioners. So I thought I would re-post a few of my most popular blogs/reviews to date to help you all along on this fine Monday. When you are having a good hair day, any day, even Monday can be a FABULOUS day! Click on my provided links to find out more!

 

This gem from Schwarzkopf is a god send for all the natural blondes, bottled blondes and silver hair Beauties

A Blonde’s best friend

 

A little breakdown on conditioning treatments

Product 101 – Conditioning Treatments…to heat or not to heat.

 

One of the most vegan, EU compliant hair care lines around!

Honestly Onesta

 

Loved using mousse in the 80’s but aren’t sure about what to use now? Here’s your answer!

Product 101 – Mousse hunting

 

With over 6 years of archived tales and more reviews to come, yours truly has an answer for you. Yes, it’s true, you too can have a great hair day, everyday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beauty, Hair Care, That girl in the red coat

Monday Motivator vs Monday Motivator – Battle of the oils

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Here we are again. Monday has arrived and with it the endless questions…Where are my keys? Who is picking up the kids from day camp? Did someone feed the dog? Why do toddlers like to play hide and seek with my purse? What does hot coffee taste like? For most of us, our Monday morning questions list is endless. The most common question…what product is best for my hair – this question is posed not only on Monday, but everyday. Trust me, this I know. I am asked everyday via text, email or by a comment on my blog. With so many products out there, how are we to know what to use? Today I am hoping to shed a little light on two products for you all. Over the past week I created a “battle of the oils” if you will. Moroccanoil vs SarynaKey.

 

Both of these oils are formulated to hydrate and moisturize the hair and to help repair damage and restore luster and shine to the hair. *side note – Moroccanoil has a “light” formula for fine hair/blondes, this I know. I used the original formula for it was the closest to SarynaKey’s formula and I wanted an equal comparison.

Morocannoil Oil Treatment (original) is infused with antioxidant rich argan oil and shine boosting vitamins. It detangles, speeds up drying time and boosts shine. Can be used on wet or dry hair. Formulated for all hair types, chemically treated or natural and any length. *ingredient list to be found at http://www.moroccanoil.com

SarynaKey Pure African Shea Oil Treatment is infused with shea butter – a natural source of keratin which is used to repair hair, leaving the hair soft, shiny and well moisturized. Vitamins and amino acids penetrate the hair cuticle to help restore porosity from root to tip. Can be used on wet or dry hair. Lightweight, absorbs quickly and formulated for all hair types, chemically treated or natural and any length. *ingredient list to be found at http://www.sarynakey.com

Now, for my results.

I used Moroccanoil Oil Treatment for 3 days. I washed my hair the first day, for the other two, I just wet my hair in the shower before styling and blow drying. The first day I applied a dime size amount throughout my hair when it was damp, blew dry my hair and styled. My hair felt softer and had a little more shine, yet still had some tangles. For the other two days, I applied the same size amount of Moroccanoil to my hair when it was dry, after using my flat iron *it is not a thermal protectant*. My hair continued to feel soft but was becoming weighed down and I found it harder to achieve volume and style and unfortunately my blonde was starting to pick up brassy tones. (…I know, the Moroccanoil light formula was created to stop this. As I stated above, I wanted an equal comparison). All in all, a lovely oil, best suited for medium to thick hair, and darker tones and colors.

I used SarynaKey Pure African Shea Oil Treatment for the next 3 days. I washed my hair with a clarifying shampoo to give myself a blank canvas if you will. As with the Moroccanoil, I washed my hair the first day, then only wet my hair in the shower before styling and blow drying for the remaining two days. The first day I applied a dime size amount throughout my hair when it was damp, blew dry my hair and styled. My hair felt softer, had shine and no tangles at all. For the next two days, as with the Morocannoil, I applied the same amount of SarynaKey to my hair when it was dry… again, after I used my flat iron *this is not a thermal protectant*. My hair continued to feel soft, it was not weighed down, it was easy to achieve my desired volume and style….and no brassy tones. My blonde stayed true. As you know, I am  a “non blonde” blonde. My natural level is between a 2/3, so I pick up brassy tones easier then men and money. All and all, a lovely oil as well. Suited for all hair types, fine to thick, and any color, from light to dark.

I am not here to sway an opinion in any way, shape or form. My sole purpose, as always is to educate and enlighten. Both Morocannoil and SarynKey oils are Salon professional oils that deliver on their promise. The difference I found was this…Moroccanoil has 2 Oil Treatments, one for medium to thick hair & darker tones and one for fine hair & lighter tones. SarynaKey has 1 Oil Treatment, formulated for all hair types and tones. Sometimes, having one less decision in your day can make your day that much easier.

A little tidbit of information for your back pocket as you venture into your week. Wishing you a great hair day this Monday and everyday.

Beauty, Hair Care

Shaking your Monday Motivator

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Here we are Beauties! It’s Monday. It’s July. It’s 9 a.m. in my neck of the woods and it is HOT! Tropical temperatures have decided to set up shop. The humidex and our tresses are on the rise, by the second. Before you wrap your hair up in a top knot and to save you from the scavenger hunt through all your closets trying to find a hat, I have something for you! Picture yourself on a beach and as your cabana boy hands you your margarita, you catch your reflection in your glass. Your hair looks fabulous and you feel like a Hollywood starlet. Ladies, you can feel like this everyday. Let me introduce you to the newest addition to the Shake series by the beauties at Joico….meet Beach Shake!

For all the lovers of Sea Salt Sprays, this gem is for you! Beach Shake allows you to achieve a tousled, sun kissed, just left the seaside style to your hair. Formulated with Coconut and Sunflower Seed Oil plus a touch of bees wax, Beach Shake delivers a nourishing, hydrating shine with out any crutch or stiff strands. *the key is the aerosol…most sea salt sprays/texturizing sprays are in a pump bottle, which can be tricky to apply and control and tends to leave the hair too wet in places. Here are some more perks to Beach Shake;

  • quick drying formula
  • delivers a silky sheen without the “crunch”
  • hydrates the hair
  • delivers a touchable finish
  • you can restyle with ease
  • smells like the tropics
  • can be applied to damp or dry hair
  • formulated for medium to thick hair (any length)
  • Color Safe

For optimum results; use on dry hair. Hold the can about 6 inches from your hair, spray lightly. Lift layers of hair and let the Beach Shake mist fall through each layer. *avoid your roots. Allow to air dry. If you are pressed for time, use a diffuser to speed up your drying time. If used on wet hair, you will achieve a softer look.

It’s Monday. You may live in the downtown core of your city, far from the beach. You may be sitting with your toddler in a plastic blow up pool. Maybe your at the laundromat because your only day off is a statutory holiday. No matter where you are on this fine Monday, thanks to Joico Beach Shake, every time you catch your reflection and each time a breeze passes through your hair, you can feel like you are on vacation.

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, 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

Monday Motivator

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It’s Monday. The sun is shining on my part of the globe. The birds are chirping, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is in the air and my bed head game is stronger than ever this morning. Some mornings I don’t need coffee, just catching my reflection and seeing the state of my hair jolts me awake.

As I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and checking on my notifications, one commonality I found was no one was happy that Monday had arrived. I may not be able to write you a doctor’s note to excuse you from school, nor am I able to mimic your child’s voice calling you at work telling you I am sick and you need to come home. What I can do is offer you a solution to make your Monday a little more enjoyable. Yours truly has decided to bring back the “Monday Motivator” segments. Every Monday I will give you tips and tricks of FAB! products to make every Monday a little less melancholy. As we all know, a good hair day equals a good day, plain and simple. …you know it, I know it.

This Monday Motivator is brought to you by yours truly and Joico! Meet one of my all time FAB! favorites….Joico JoiWhip!

You may remember this gem as IceWhip. …back in the day, before the name change….oh the 80’s early 90’s. This has been a go to of mine for over 20 years, whether I had a perm or a pixie, blonde or brunette. JoiWhip is a lightweight yet potent mousse. A little goes a long way Beauties. Joiwhip is a firm hold mousse (level 7 out of 10 on hold factor scale) but don’t let the “firm hold” scare you. It is not sticky, it will not flake or leave that residue feeling on your hair. Thanks to Kukui Nut and Evening Primrose Oil, essential fatty acids that provide moisture and protection, JoiWhip will not leave your hair looking or feeling dry. Created for all hair types, it truly is fine, limp hair’s bff.

Always give the can a good shake, upside down as you do with whipping cream. Keep the can upside down as you dispense the desired amount *TIP! a little goes a long way!. Apply to damp hair, then blow dry & style. *TIP! for my girls with curls – air dry or use a diffuser depending on desired curl effect and style.

My Monday wish for you…. May your coffee be strong, your Monday be short and your hair be FABULOUS!

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.

 

 

health and wellness, lifestyle, parenting, Parenting past 15, That girl in the red coat

It’s not personal…it’s parenting

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When I found out I was pregnant, I read What to expect when you’re expecting. Once my darling girl was born I sent out my hubby to get me What to expect The First Year. The day after her first birthday I hopped in the car with my girl in tow to Chapters for my coveted edition of What to expect The Toddler Years. Over the years I searched out answers to everything from when to introduce solid foods to how to get my child to poop….they never tell you that your child will hold onto that poop like it’s the hope diamond when it comes to getting on a toilet.

There are an endless number of books, articles and websites catering to parenting and child rearing, yet not one ever delves into the abyss of the one commonality we as parents all have and never talk about…taking it personally. Oh sure, you may be fortunate to find an article that tells you “every parent feels responsible for their child’s happiness or lack there of” or “every parent feels they should have done better”. Feeling responsible or feeling we could have done better is a hell of a lot different than taking it personally.

For those of you with children under the age of 12, I do not mean to frighten you. For those with children over the age of 12, I know you get me. All of a sudden we go from being our child’s fountain of knowledge to the douche wearing a dunce cap in the corner of the classroom. Our sense of humor that used to leave our child in stitches is now stared down with a blank stare and the occasional eye roll to prove sign of life. The begs of wanting to wear our clothes and fancy shoes are now met with mumbles of disgrace at our ensemble choice. Hurt feelings that used to be healed with a hug now are something we possibly couldn’t understand. A favorite treat brought home from the grocery store that was once greeted with squeals of delight and “thank you mommy!” are now met with shrieks of “Mom! You know I am fat! Why are you tempting me?!?!” sigh …kinda tough not to take it personally.

Ladies and gents, I am here to tell you one thing. It is not personal. Oh hell, it feels personal. Trust me, it’s not. Taking it personally not only makes you feel like shit, it feeds anger and resentment that does not need to be fed. Irrational words and behaviour from our kids met with irrational words and behaviour from us is well, irrational. … and stupid and serves no purpose. The only result is slamming doors, tears, people feeling the same way in separate rooms in the same house. Don’t get me wrong, ground rules of respect, kindness and courtesy should be in place and when those lines are crossed they should be pointed out. When your child gives you attitude, they need to be told that they are out of line. After that, you have no control over eye rolls or the silent treatment. It’s not personal…remember, no one likes it pointed out they just acted like an ass.

Your child doesn’t even realize the magnitude of their words or actions or the hurt they have just inflicted. Oh, they may realize after they have been said, they just aren’t at a place they can admit that. Yet. They will get there. Not on the schedule we need or desire, but they will get there. I promise. Being a parent of a 20 year old, I can honestly attest to this. If today’s tale stops one parent from taking it personally, I have done my job.

 

We are here to be the parent, not the friend. it’s not personal, it’s parenting.

 

 

Beauty, communication, health and wellness, parenting, That girl in the red coat, Women, writing

The choice is yours

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A few years ago I received a sign for my office from my girl, with many positive affirmations collaged together. The one that sticks out the most to me is “Happiness is a choice you make everyday”. So very true, so easy to remember yet so easily forgotten.

Over the past weeks I have heard the following from friends, family and the people I see everyday;

  • I’d be happier if he was nicer
  • I’d be happier if I got a raise
  • I’d be happier if my child behaved in public
  • I’d be happier if people kept their opinions to themselves
  • I’d be happier if I got to see my friend’s more
  • I’d be happier if I had more help around the house
  • Etc… etc… etc…

It seems everyone wants to be happier, but doesn’t want to do the work. Trust me. I know. It is easier to put the blame of our woes on someone else’s behaviour. Been there, done that. Try my best not to do that anymore. For no one, anywhere, wants to look in the mirror, take a long hard look at themselves and admit a fault. …but darlin’, ya gotta. There is no magic happiness pill, no happiness potion, no mystery man arriving at your doorstep with your package of happiness waiting to be unwrapped, it’s all up to you. Before you get all upset or weepy, I do know that life throws curveballs, of this I am certain. There will be illnesses, job losses, flat tires, spilled coffee, baby spit up on your shoulder that you missed, but the President of the company did not. There will be bad hair days, bloated days, adult acne days ….by the way…what kind of sick cosmic joke is that? We cannot control what happens to us or around us. We can control how we decide to let it affect us. We can control how long a harsh word gets to live in our head rent free.  Have your head spin around and spew venom because the dishes weren’t done or the garbage emptied, or don’t. The decision is yours.

Happiness can be created anywhere, anytime. It can.

  • Had a hard day at work and still have to go to the grocery store? Buy an extra canned good or two and drop in it the food bank donation bin.
  • Your teenager is making you crazy and you are at your wits end over the useless arguments…go look at their baby pictures, their saved school artwork…remind yourself of the love there.
  • Just a long, stupid day? Get yourself some instant cocoa, grab your favorite mug and top that baby off with some whipped cream. …sprinkles too if it the day really kicked your ass.
  • Make a Jello. My gramma Leah always told me that. This way whenever you look in the fridge, you can be reminded that you made something that day and accomplished something.
  • Make some cookies or muffins and deliver them to a neighbour or friend, for no reason. Just to do it. Trust me, 9 out of 10 times, they are in dire need of a glimpse of happiness and a the touch of kindness.
  • Send a joke to a friend.
  • Share a you tube video with a friend, reminding them of a memory you share.
  • Post a joke on your Facebook wall in the morning…it will make someone’s day.

Doing for others is doing for yourself. Making others feel good will make you feel good. Carrying happiness with you will allow happiness to spread to those you are around. Plain and simple.

bubbles