At first glance the INFINITI PRO by CONAIR Steam Therapy Hair Steamer looks like it’s firmly Team Curly. Steam therapy? Diffuser attachment? Curl reactivation? None of this is speaking directly to my pin-straight, fine-but-plentiful, goes-limp-if-you-look-at-it-wrong hair.
But curiosity got the better of me. Before passing it along to someone with actual curls, I figured… why not see if it could do anything at all for my tragically straight strands?
Dear Reader, I'm here to tell you - it did.
My hair looks its best on wash day and steadily declines into limp territory by day two or three. I refuse to overwash, which means dry shampoo and I are in a very committed (but not always fulfilling) relationship. So on a no-wash day, I skipped the aerosol cloud and gave my hair a full steam session instead - and wow! Instant perk-up! I got back some volume and that elusive “just washed” look without the dull, powdery aftermath that dry shampoo loves to leave behind - consider me impressed!
I also tried pairing the steamer with a hair mask to see if that whole “better absorption” promise would prove itself. Jury’s still mildly out - my hair always feels great after a mask - but the logic checks out, so I’m happy to keep very diligently steaming my head before masking. For science, of course.
And for balance, I also recruited a friend with very curly hair (you know, the actual target market). She loved it. Her one pro tip: if you’ve got longer hair, definitely use the diffuser - and give yourself a little time to get the hang of the technique. Once she did, though? She would not shut up about how defined, bouncy and full her curls looked!
Did I let her keep it?
Absolutely not!
This steamer has earned its place in my routine - curls or no curls - because if loving a curl steamer is wrong, I don't want to be right!
Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca for $179.99, online at conaircanada.ca for $129.99, or online at amazon.ca for $109.99 - and if you buy it right now it's a Black Friday deal for $76 - I don't know how long that price will last though!
Stop everything and grab your pink convertible, because Barbie X Quo Beauty have teamed up - and the result is a beautiful pink love-child!
Introducing their new 23-piece collection - and it’s not just makeup, it’s a lifestyle! They've got hair accessories shinier than Ken’s six-pack, hot tools that could power the Dreamhouse, lashes that say “I don’t do subtle”, nails (real and fabulously fake - because plastic is always fantastic) and storage so chic even Skipper would stop borrowing your stuff.
This collab is basically like living inside Barbie’s dream closet - minus the rent.
Colour cosmetics? Check. Glam accessories and storage options? Double check. Enough pink to make your ex cry? Triple check. Because let’s be real: Barbie doesn’t just wear confidence, she invented it. And now you can too - one fabulous Quo Beauty x Barbie makeover at a time. Life in plastic? Still fantastic!
And even though I do hate to pick favourites here are few things from the collection that I especially love...
Barbie X Quo Beauty Blush in Pink Passion - $14 - enriched with emollients and Vitamin E, the soft pressed powder leaves a radiant, youthful glow on any doll.Vegan and Cruelty Free.
Barbie X Quo Beauty Powder Puff - $9 - if this fluffy fluffy puff doesn't just scream Barbie's dressing table at you, I can't help you... perfect for applying loose powders and bronzers!
Barbie X Quo Beauty Peptide Lip Tint - in two new shades: Iced Mocha and Watermelon - $13 - enriched with peptides and emollients and a sheer wash of colour and
glossy shine to keep lips soft and moisturized - and the tube is decorated with an adorable Barbie charm.
Barbie X Quo Beauty Compact Dryer and Scrunchie Set - $18 - the folding handle and compact size makes it perfect to take on your next travel adventure - includes a bonus Barbie scrunchie.
These and much more available now exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart, Pharmaprix and select Loblaw-owned
Real Canadian Superstores in Ontario and Western Canada as well as online at beauty.shoppersdrugmart.ca.
I've been looking at hair dryers lately, not only for myself, but also as a gift for a good friend. While I have been considering treating us both to a Dyson, the price just seems crazy-pants to me so I have been checking out other options and believe I have found the winner:
InfinitiPro by Conair DigitalAire Hair Dryer - $249.99 - with accelerated drying with 1,875 watts in a digital motor that spins up to 90,000 RPMs for up to 5x more speed and 75% more air pressure. It also offers honeycomb ceramic technology that helps prevent hotspots to minimize heat damage and an internal ionic generator which diffuses conditioning ions to eliminate frizz. With the added bonus of 3 heat and 3 speed setting for customized styling of every hair type and texture plus a locking cold shot button to set your style in place. Also included are a couple of attachments: a concentrator for sleek, straight styles and a diffuser for volume, waves and curls.
One of my big concerns was the weight, but it's a lot of power without the heft, weighing in at just 1.2lbs - that's 30% lighter compared to other AC motor dryers! And of course it looks all sleek and sexy and is a lovely shade of ice-blue - looks great, works great - I'm sold!
Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada and online at amazon.ca.
Looking for an easy way to add some extra bounce and maybe even curl to your hair? Check out:
Conair Xtreme Instant Heat - $45.99 - with ceramic infused technology for better heat transfer and longer lasting curls from 12 flocked rollers in two different sizes: 8 x 1 1/2" and 4 x 1 3/4" to smooth, curl and add volume and 12 jumbo flexible wire clips for a secure hold without crimp marks.
Those of you who like instant gratification will really appreciate how fast they heat up - only 85 seconds!
I have fine shoulder length hair that refuses to hold a curl so my hopes for this was smoothness and body... and it didn't disappoint! I get the best results by letting them cool completely in my hair before removing - so about 8 minutes and finger combing after, no brushing.
I also make sure to use a product before and after that protects my hair from the heat and add extra shine - my pick: Joico Heat Hero Glossing Thermal Protector - 145g - $24.99 - infused with nourishing hydration for strong, super-shiny, well-defended hair thanks to heat deflecting polymers
that provide light style retention and help to protect hair from damaging thermal tools and moringa seed oil
- a rich source of antioxidants, vitamins A & E and silica - all fundamental to creating healthy, strong, damage-resistant hair while helping to boost shine and softness.
Available at mass retailers across Canada and online at amazon.ca.
The world's best hair-detangling technology is now available in a hot air brush:
The Knot Dr. for Conair All-in-One Smoothing Dryer Brush - $79.99 - straightens and smooths dry hair or dries and styles wet hair - all in one easy step. The paddle brush features silicone cushioning under 136 flexalite bristles - which is just the right number, spaced just the right way - with epoxy tips that gently massage scalp for painless detangling.
With 900 watts of advanced ionic conditioning that includes a powerful, high-voltage ion generator that flattens and seals the hair cuticle, leaving hair silky smooth and frizz free. It has
3 heat settings, making it great for all hair types and lengths, as well as a cool shot setting to lock in style and a 6' professional swivel cord that makes it easy to use without getting all tangled up!
Available at stores across Canada and online at amazon.ca.
Conair Triple Barrel Waver - $49.99 - with a triple barrel that creates continuous, uniform deep waves, while the double ceramic technology delivers even heat for fast styling and long-lasting results. It's great for every hair type thanks to the 30 heat settings
along with turbo heat that gives a 27°F burst of heat for difficult-to-style spots.
I have covid to thank for actually having enough hair to try something like this out. I have fine hair but a lot of it and in the past have found hair tools complicated that end up being useless because my hair just does not want to hold a curl. Curls may be a no but waves are a big yes - not only was it so easy to use, but the waves it adds are gorgeous and just last and last! I use the waver and then spray in a little salt spray to give it a bit of texture and I look just like a mermaid (well a mermaid with clothes)!
Available at mass retailers and Trade Secrets stores across Canada and online at amazon.ca.
Get a sun-kissed look sans sun:
Indeed Nanobronze Bronzing Drops - 30ml - $24.95 - instantly bronzes, blurs, and hydrates skin with a tinted serum that combats dullness and provides an immediate and long-lasting bronzy glow that conceals imperfections and enhances natural beauty. The formula contains pea extracts - with proven tan enhancement effects; giant kelp extract - to protect skin against harmful daily stressors; cacao (cocoa) seed extract - to boost skin’s defenses against blue light; and hyaluronic acid - to hydrate skin for a full, plump, and glowing complexion.
Suitable for all skin types and complexions, they can be blended with your serum or moisturizer for a light glow or used alone to intensify the colour - use it on your face, chest, legs or wherever you want/need some liquid sunshine!
Available at Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and online at indeedlabs.com.
Get a daily dose of energy (and glow) for your eyelids:
Essence Daily Dose Of Energy Eyeshadow Palette - $8.99 - a warm toned eyeshadow palette with a paraben, fragrance, alcohol and oil free formula featuring 9 shades and finishes ranging from matte to metallic that are highly pigmented and perfect for creating a multitude of looks while the compact size makes the palette perfect to take anywhere for travel or touch-ups. It also has that crazy red shade that everyone seems to be wearing so if you've been thinking about experimenting, here's your chance!
These days we really need to put the power of salon styling in our own hands - which is now made easy with:
Conair InfinitPro Frizz Free Hot Air Brush - $49.99 - with a ceramic coated, 1½-inch thermal barrel that ensures even heat for exceptional performance, while ionic technology eliminates frizz, resulting in smooth, shiny, healthy-looking hair. Equipped with 2 heat settings to dry hair quickly yet gently as you style, it features a mix of nylon and ball-tipped bristles for optimal comfort and control, plus a cool setting to lock in your style.
The nice thing about present circumstances is not having to run out the door in the morning so I have the time to let my hair mostly air dry - then I use the Hot Air Brush to give it a smooth finish and lots of shine! And I don't even have my usual complaint about hair appliances that the cord ends up being a mess making it hard to use - the cord on this one is great - 6' long and it swivels so I never find myself tangled up in it!
Part of a whole Conair InfinitPro Frizz Free Collection which also includes a Pro Dryer, Flat Iron and Curling Iron!
Available at drug and mass retailers across Canada.
Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, the only way to curl your hair on the go was with curling irons that ran on butane cells - they might still exist, but running around with toxic gas in your purse seems like a questionable idea - especially when a much better alternative now exists:
Conair Unbound Cordless Auto Curler - $129.99 - add curls or waves anytime, anywhere with a ceramic curl chamber that reduces frizz and adds shine, resulting in beautiful, silky hair that looks like you just stepped out of a salon.
It's very easy to use: choose your heat (up to 400 degrees fahrenheit) and select your curl direction - left, right or mixed - they insert 1 inch sections of hair into the curl chamber, press and hold the button to begin curling - wait for the beep and release the perfect curl - easy peasy!
The compact size and cordless design makes it perfect for travel and on-the-go styling - and no gas to blow you up - it charges with a USB cable with a full charge earning you 60 minutes of use.
As someone whose hair won't hold a curl for more then a couple of hours, it's a real game changer being able to sneak off to the bathroom to perk my wilting curls back up in no time or effort at all!
If you like to change up your curls but don't fancy owning several different curling irons the T3 Convertible Collection is a great space-saving way to do it!
Start with a T3 Convertible Base - $130 - enhanced with intelligent Digital T3 SinglePass technology to ensure even, consistent heat and fast healthy styling, that works in just one pass. An internal microchip controls temperature fluctuation ensuring even, optimal heat with five adjustable heat settings (260 to 410°F / 127 to 210°C) that provide the optimum heat level for any hair type.
Then customize your own styling tool kit by adding individual T3 styling barrels:
Defined Curls 1" Clip Barrel - $110 - creates shiny, long-lasting, defined curls.
Polished Curls 1.25" Clip Barrel - $110 - lets you achieve perfectly polished curls, waves, or volume.
What I found most notable is how easily and smoothly the barrels switch out - I had a similarly concepted product back in the day that was a curling iron, flat iron, crimping iron that I was forever fighting with to get in and out of the base - the T3 has a camera lens-inspired locking mechanism that makes changing barrels fast and secure - the ease of which really impresses me!
Available at Murale, Sephora and Hudson's Bay stores across Canada and online at T3Micro.com - where you'll also find lots of gift sets perfect for holiday giving!
Kiss InstaWave Automatic Curler - $69.96 - a fully automatic curler that instantly creates beautiful, natural long-lasting curls with the touch of a button. Offers ceramic ionic technology for healthy, shiny styling results, two heat settings - low/high and a max temperature of 420 degrees F along with an auto shutoff after 90 minutes. What makes it really nifty is the Curl Dial which allows you to curl to the left or right for versatility and is designed to ensure tangle-free operation.
Available at Walmart stores across Canada.
Not having long enough hair to curl, there's not much I can tell or show you on my head so here's the official tutorial so you can see it in action:
BaBylissPro MiraCurl - $288.99 - a professional grade curl machine which creates the most luxurious curls with ease by gently sucking the hair a la vacuum style into a nano titanium chamber which beeps when ready for the most perfect curl. Allows total control over styling time, temperature and curl direction allowing for luxurious flowing waves, soft swirls or defined curls. And rather then taking an hour to curl a full head of hair now it will only take 15-20 minutes for luscious locks.
But honesty this is the kind of thing you need to see for yourself:
Available throughout Canada mid-September at professional beauty dealers and salons across Canada.
This is the kind of thing that makes me wish I had long hair...
which is why I've been contemplating hair extensions and have been getting quite the eduction from Paul's Hair World in the UK- I never realized that there was such a variety of extensions and how easy it would be to buy the wrong ones! From what I gather the best ones to get are: Remy/Remi Hair Extensions - come from hair that has been collected by a hair donor. The cuticles are not stripped and remain aligned in one direction. Most human hair sold in the hair extensions industry undergoes a cuticle-stripping process called an acid-bath. Then, a silicone is placed over the cuticles to give the hair a faux shine and smooth appearance. This silicone wears off when the hair is washed, therefore, the cuticles are disturbed and return back to their unruly state, causing the hair to mat and tangle easily. Remy couture hair does not mat or tangle because all the cuticles are aligned and intact without the use of silicone. Brazilian Hair Extensions - come from 100% natural remi hair that has not been coloured and this is why the colours available are very limited and shades do vary between packets. It can be coloured to suit your own hair colour but must be done by a hairdresser. They're not the cheapest hair extensions of course but this is the kind of thing where you get what you pay for - check it out at: www.pauls-hair-world.co.uk
When you look at cute little hair appliances like these do you automatically think of how great for travel they are? I won't argue, these compact little beauties are perfect for throwing in a suitcase and saving a ton of space! But I have to say, I think GS is missing out on a huge untapped market by suggesting them for travel - specifically booty calls! How many times have you spent the night at a guys place only to take a shower in the morning and realize that the boy does not possess a hairdryer, never mind a curling or flat iron?! It's bad enough having to do the walk of shame wearing yesterday's clothes, never mind limp, unstyled hair! I'm not saying you should lug around all 3 in your purse but you could certainly have your first choice in there if you're feeling lucky...
Or say you have a boyfriend who won't let you keep any stuff at his place, or at the very most, allows you a little drawer in the bathroom - no way are you fitting a full sized dryer in there and seriously, you must be sick of lugging yours back and forth to his place - mini hair appliances, problem solved!
And he'll be happy to know they come in black and bright pink, men love bright pink stuff in their bathrooms!
GS Mini Performance Dryer - $49.95 - offers hot and powerful air flow with tourmaline and ceramic infused heater, two speed/heat integrated switch, dual voltage switch for worldwide travel, removable filter for easy clean up, folding handle creates compact size which is great for traveling and includes concentrator nozzle.
GS Mini Performance Curl - $39.95 - with dual voltage for worldwide use, a genuine tourmaline infused 1" ceramic barrel to create volume, bounce and full sized curls, max 400°F for professional results an swivel cord.
GS Mini Performance Flat - $39.95 - offers genuine tourmaline gems that generate negative ion and infrared heat to guarantee smoother and silkier hair, easy to grip comfortable handles, dual voltage for worldwide use, max 400°F for professional results, swivel cord and floating plates which help to eliminate unnecessary pressure that can pull and snag the hair
A little update on the Trade Secrets Give + Take Appliance Trade-In Event - Trade Secret themselves have donated 2,000 brand new Matrix mini-flat irons (worth $40 each retail) to local women's shelters in support of the event. It's nice to see a company practice what they preach!
The event,which started August 14th and runs to October 1st, is doing well and looking to partner with additional women's shelters in Canada - so if you know of one that could benefit from a donation, let Trade Secrets know! 12,000 gently used hair appliances have been collected over the past 3 years and the goal this year alone is to collect 6,000!
I brought in 2 hair dryers and a flat iron a couple of weeks ago, it's the kind of thing that sits in the back of your cupboard and you never quite know what to do with because they aren't something you think to throw out when you upgrade. So take a look it your bathroom and see if you can't help them out!
You can bring in your used hair appliances to your local Trade Secrets until October 1st.
We sure do like a good cause here at Beauty Crazed (funny for a couple of mean girls, I know) and when I heard about this one, I couldn't not pass it on! Trade Secrets is having their 4th Annual "Give + Take" Appliance Trade-In Event to benefit local women's shelters across Canada - such as Rosalie Hall - a young parent centre and Yellow Brick House - for women and children fleeing domestic violence. How does it work? All you have to do is bring in your gently used hair styling appliance to any Trade Secrets store location and they will make sure that it gets put to good use in a local women's shelter. As a thank you you can then receive 50% off a purchase of a new GS Professional Flat Iron or Blow Dryer.
There is nothing like good hair to give you a new outlook on life so check your bathroom cupboards between now and October 1st and give your unused appliances (and some deserving women) a new purpose in life!
Like seemingly every beauty blogger in the blogosphere, we received a Hanaflat iron, ($189) as part of a
big media blitz campaign. Now if you read the reviews, everybody is
raving about it...but I won't. My first impression was that this flat iron looked
cheaply made and the "Made in Korea" label didn't exactly fill me with
confidence (Made in Germany = better, Made in Taiwan = good, Made in Korea..= not so good).
That being said, the iron is hot enough to
straighten the thickest hair. So in terms of straightening action it's a good
iron. It's 100% ceramic etc... so what's the problem? This iron gets very hot due to a lack of
protection and the use of cheap plastic. And guess what? After using it for less than one
month... It broke. Considering how many good flat irons there are out there... you'll want
to pass on this one.
The ghd IV styler 1" - $280 ($240 US) -There are so many styler brands
out there these days, and the good ones sure aren't cheap, that I don't
know how anyone ever makes a decision about which one to buy! I know
how I make decisions, I surf the web, read other people's reviews and
then hope my results will be as good as theirs! So I hope this is
helpful to anyone looking to score themselves a new styler. I must
admit, I was already predisposed to like this one as this is the brand
that my hairdresser (the good one, not the most recent one that
butchered my hair) used and my hair always looked amazing when she was
done with it!
So here's what I really like about this one:
- It's designed
to curl as well as straighten your hair, I don't curl my hair but I
sometimes like to add a flip to the bottom and this works perfectly for
that.
- It has a technology in
it that can decide how porous your hair is and from that decides how
much heat your hair needs and thusapplies
as well as maintains the optimum level of heat
while styling, which is very important for fine hair like mine as it is
so easy to fry your hair with one of these!
- It also has a swivel cord which
keeps the cord from getting all tangled - genius!
- I found it heated up quick and
maintained a constant temperature which made the straightening process
so much quicker!
- The aluminum plates have a ceramic coating which helps close
the hair cuticle and create shine.
It also has some
important safety and functionality features that most people don't
think about much when buying a styler, but really should:
- It has a sleep mode that will
automatically shut it off if not used for 30 minutes.
- The outer casting is made from
Rynite, a fire retardant material ensures the outer casting does not
get too hot when styling hair or handling the styler.
- A built-in micro-processor is
embedded into one blade; this monitors and regulates the temperature on
the blade five times a second. If the temperature exceeds its maximum
regulated temperature the thermal fuse will trip, resulting in the iron
switching off. This is a safety feature to prevent the iron from
overheating.
-
It has a universal voltage feature which operates from110v to 230v by
sensing the incoming voltage making it great for travelers.
Of course even with the
best styler, you still need the right technique to get good results and
here is what ghd recommends for getting different looks with their
styler:
Achieve
straight, sleek locks
1.After using ghd thermal protector
before heat-styling, take your original styling iron and place a fine
section
of dry hair between the plates. Ensure that the iron is as close to the
root as
possible before closing the plates and gently move towards the tip of
the
section in one simple gliding motion.
2.Repeat the process with each section of
hair, gliding once from roots to ends.
Achieve
stunning curls
1.After lightly
misting your hair with ghd thermal protector, section the hair and
lightly mist
with ghd creation spray.
2.Place the ghd
styling iron vertically 1 inch away from the root. Gently close the iron
with
minimum tension.
3.Turn the iron
clockwise by 90 degrees. Continue to turn the iron by another 90
degrees.
4.For an intense
curl, pull the iron very slowly away from the head in a continuous
smooth
movement.
5.An s-shaped
vertical curl is created. To complete the style repeat through all
sections.
6.Finally,
separate and dress the curls with your hands.
Achieve
seductive soft movement
1.After lightly
misting your hair with ghd thermal protector, section the hair, and
lightly
mist with ghd creation spray to add shine and hold when styling.
2.Place the ghd
styling iron vertically 1 inch away from the root. Gently close the iron
with
minimum tension.
3.Turn the iron
clockwise by 90 degrees.
4.For a soft curl,
pull the iron quickly through the hair away from the head in a
continuous
smooth movement.
5.An s-shaped
vertical curl is created. To complete the style repeat through all
sections.
6.Finally,
separate
and dress the curls with your hands creating soft and loose waves.
I would definitely recommend that
you use a thermal protector spray before using any heated hair
appliance especially if you have normal to fine hair. I also tried the
ghd thermal protector and it worked well, smelled nice and didn't leave
my hair sticky.
What's really fun is their
quarterly promotions which has the styler in a fun colour or pattern
with a case and a couple of styling products. This quarter it's called
"Precious" and it really is!
It has a black and silver baroque
design and it's $255 for the set. Check out the ghd website here for this and their other
stylers. I noticed the other day that Sephora is also carrying ghd, so no excuses now!
Lisamarie - the happiest day of my life was the day Sephora opened it's first store in Canada (thankfully in Toronto), second happiest day was before this when Sephora finally started shipping to Canada, third I guess would be my wedding day (but don't tell my husband where he ranks please!)
*** Christelle - I enjoy shoe shopping and drinking martinis...preferably at the same time!
