How did it do it? With the power of citrus and chamomile. This innovative formula gently lightens your hair without peroxide or ammonia.

John Frieda Collection: Sheer Blonde has a signature yellow color to the both the conditioner and the shampoo. The shampoo has metallic brighteners to add an amazing sparkle to the hair. Though the color is unique the smell of the product smells like the typical shampoo; clean and soapy.

For me these products did more than just make my hair appear blonder, they improved the condition of my hair. Most days, my hair is very well trained, but there are days where it can be stubborn. On those stubborn days  Sheer Blonde conditioner helped tons. The conditioner helped a little bit more than other conditioners I have used.

I would recommend  Sheer Blonde to any natural blonde who wants to add golden blonde highlights to their hair.

Guest Blogger Natalie Castagnola is just beginning to delve into the world of cruelty-free beauty. She’s an animal lover with a cute beagle puppy and can’t wait to share more of her favorite cruelty-free finds.

In this new economy, it’s time to get creative. If the wallet isn’t agreeing with everyday beauty budgets, scan the kitchen cabinets for ingredients to create fresh, homemade, and even organic beauty solutions.

For brilliant hair:
- To help mend split ends rub olive or coconut oil onto the ends of hair. Leave in for 30 minutes and then shampoo as usual. The oil nourishes hair and adds moisture.

- To add brightness and a shiny gloss to hair, Julia March, owner and specialist at Julia March Skincare, recommends combining 2-3 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar with a cup of water. Use this mixture after shampooing, and be sure to rinse to avoid a lingering vinegar aroma!

- Done with that beer? Put it aside for the shower. After shampooing, rinse wet hair with a tepid beer for added volume and shine.

For a radiant face:

- For problem skin, March suggests letting the face absorb the vapors from a steaming pot of 3 tablespoons of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar combined with a quart of filtered water. Raw apple cider vinegar can also be used as a tonic for oily skin when mixed with distilled water at a 1:1 ratio (not steamed).

- To combat puffy eyes, apply used black teabags to the swollen area.

- If slightly sunburned, apply cucumber slices to the face. Dry skin will draw moisture from the slices, in addition to being nourished by the many vitamins in cucumbers.

- For hydration and a radiant glow, March recommends applying a facial mask of raw honey and plain, full fat yogurt for 15- 20 minutes. The fats in the dairy and honey will moisturize and nourish the skin.

For smooth skin:
- To exfoliate the body effectively and inexpensively, create a DIY body scrub with olive oil and sea salt or sugar. Pay special attention to rough areas like elbows, knees and feet. March notes that a few drops of lavender extract add a nice and soothing scent to this homemade concoction.

- All out of bath foam and in need of a luxurious bath? Adding a quart of full cream milk to bath water will help restore and calm skin’s lipids while milk proteins help maintain skin’s elasticity.

- For hard and white nails, spoil fingers with a lemon bath. Dip nails into one half of a lemon and turn them, squeezing out the juice. Let them soak for a minute.

For white teeth:
- As a cheap alternative to whitening teeth, mix a teaspoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt with a small glass of water until mixture is paste-like. Brush teeth as usual and rinse well. It is proven that baking soda will help lighten stains, but be careful not to use too often. Once every two weeks should be enough, as baking soda can be abrasive and erode tooth enamel.

Credit: www.beautypress.com

Your hair says a lot about you. The summer months have begun and they can bring on quite a change in hair texture.  Here are some quick and easy summer solutions to nurse and style your fabulous hair.

A strong foundation is the most important element in healthy, sexy hair. Keep your ends clean with regular trims.  I recommend 5-7 weeks for shorter styles and 8-10 weeks for longer lengths.  Protect your hair and scalp by using products like:

• Nioxin Scalp Guard SPF 20
• Sebastian Halo Mist with a UV filter (goes on dry for shine)

Moisture is a must these days.  Summer sun can make hair thirsty.   Rinse off that sun and salt while letting your locks quench thirst with moisturizing, color safe shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks like these:

• Sebastian Drench Shampoo and Conditioner

When it comes to styling your hair, try to keep those locks looking natural. Get out your curl creams, serums, and sea salt sprays ‘cause in the summer’s heat wavy and free is the way to be!  Follow these tips to get flirty curls or waves, beautiful braids, and accessorized tresses.

For defined curls, twist locks of any length around two fingers to achieve a curl or around three fingers to achieve a wave. Preserve a neat look by blow-drying the front fringe area back while wrapping it around a round brush.

If using a blow dryer, keep it on low to prevent frizz.  Twist your hair along the front hairline or down from the part and secure it with a bobby pin to give it a flirty vibe. Bobby pins can be your best friend – very useful for tucking away shorter hair.

Braids are big!  Braiding all the hair to one side is sleek and sexy, while braiding a specific area of the hair can be fun too. Secure the ends of all braids using small elastics or bobby pins.

Accessorize your summer!  Place a slim circular headband right over your style for a flowing hip look.  Pair a messy ponytail or chignon that has height in the crown and a pair of great earrings.  Stock up on head scarves.  Fold the scarf at opposite corners, then into a headband shape.  Wrap the scarf around your head and tie it having the bow or knot be placed where it best suits you.  Let’s not forget that a straight or sweeping fringe is the perfect touch for those big and fabulous sunglasses we all have.

Enjoy your summer hair and visit your “Professional Hair Doctor” for more hair recommendations.

Guest blog post by:

Sandi Milone is a Master Stylist at Dieci Lifestyle Spa in Livingston, NJ.  If you are interested in booking an appointment with her please call 973-716-0101.

I’ve been coloring my hair for 16 years and I’ve done lots of damage. I have tried practically every salon and over-the-counter shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair. But natural and organic lines are still new to me. I have to admit, it took me a long time to try them because I didn’t really believe they would be good enough to repair damage.

So, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried Simply Organic Moisture Rich Shampoo and Moisture Rich Conditioner. To get straight to the point, my hair feels great. Despite its damage, after two weeks, it feels strong and soft and smooth.

The shampoo lathers well, even without the sulfates, and rinses easily. The conditioner detangles and smooths without weighing down my fine hair. They don’t leave a film like other natural products I’ve tried and if I didn’t know they were made from all-natural and organic ingredients, I would not have guessed they were any different from the popular salon brands.

Speaking of those ingredients, here’s why they’re so good for my hair. Simply Organic’s entire skin, hair and body care line of products are based on the olive leaf extract. The shampoo also contains organic honey and essential oils. The conditioner contains orange oil, lemon oil, honey, apple pectin, and shea butter, plus it has a pump dispenser, which makes it easy to get it out of the bottle, especially in the shower.

Hamadi Honey Soymilk Hair Wash

OK, so when I’m choosing a new beauty product, I have to admit I’m often influenced by what I see recommended in beauty magazines, as well as celebrity endorsements. That’s why Hamadi Hair Care first caught my attention. But, before I buy, my more practical side takes over and I start my research. This is what I discovered…

Hamadi is an all-natural hair care line developed by hair stylist Jamal Hammadi, creator of glamorous hairstyles for celebrities and supermodels. His line is 100% organic and made with organic essential oils and plant extracts. And they’re sulfate free, paraben free and biodegradable.

The first Hamadi products I decided to try was the Eco-Pack Style Duo, which includes two travel-size products, Honey Soymilk Hair Wash and Shea Leave In. The shampoo works great for fine, thin hair or anyone who wants volume, which describes me perfectly. The leave in is a conditioning styling cream that adds body and shine to fine hair or extra softening for damaged hair.

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If you’ve never used natural hair care before, the first thing you need to know is that they are super-concentrated. That means a little goes a long way. So, a nickel-size amount of shampoo and a dime-size amount of leave in was plenty for me, but I do have short hair.

Also, if you haven’t used sulfate-free products before, you have to remember that these products don’t really lather. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t working. The shampoo cleanses just as good as a chemical-packed shampoo and yet is so much better for you hair. You do need to rinse well, however, to make sure you aren’t leaving any residue in your hair. After using it for a few days, my fine hair feels great. It wasn’t heavy at all. And my hair does seem to be fuller.

Hamadi Shea Leave In

The leave in was great for shine and smoothing down those new hairs and breakage that tend to stick straight up. However, the first time I used it, I applied a little too much and it looked greasy. Just a dab is all you need. If you have long hair, I would recommend using this leave in on your ends and then very lightly smoothing over the top for shine.

Both products are fragrance free, which means the natural ingredients are what you’ll smell. The shampoo contains ylang ylang and guaiac essential oils and smells somewhat woodsy. The leave in contains lemongrass, verbana, ylang ylang, and rosemary essential oils, as well as shea butter, leaving you with a rich, soothing scent.

Are you ready to try Hamadi for yourself? Then, enter our Hamadi Eco-Pack Giveaway and you could win the Hamadi Honey Soy Milk Hair Wash 4oz and Shea Leave In 4 oz (a $40 value).

To enter, just add a comment below and tell us what shampoo and conditioners you are currently using. Make sure to leave an e-mail address, so we can contact you if you win (don’t worry, we won’t use your info for anything else).

For a second entry, follow My Beauty Bunny on Facebook (either our page or through Networked Blogs – see the Networked Blogs widget on the right side of the page to quickly add us. Leave a comment below with your Facebook name after you’ve added us.

You must be a U.S. citizen, age 18 or older to win. Up to two entries per person please. Contest ends midnight (PST), 6/9/09.

Contest is now closed.