I’m so in love with this hair oil – I can’t even tell you. In general, I’m more a fan of the oil misting sprays than straight up oil, but Bassu Gold by Surface Hair has changed me forever.

Reasons why you need to go out and buy this product right now:

1. First of all, it smells SO good – it’s like a wonderful perfume for your hair. My boyfriend always comments on how good my hair smells when I’m using it.

2. It’s 100% vegan and cruelty-free!

3. It’s made with argan oil, babassu seed oil, aloe vera, flax seed oil, coconut oil, linseed, Vitamins A, C & E, and carrot extract.

4. It’s surprisingly light and doesn’t weigh my hair down at all. And, I have have fine, wavy hair. It takes away frizz and makes my hair soft and shiny – Kim Kardashian style (okay I don’t have quite that much hair, but you know what I mean).

5. You can use it wet or dry. Or put on a double-dose for an overnight treatment.

6. Helps protect color and plays well with blowdryers, flat irons and other heating tools.

This is, without a doubt, a cruelty free favorite!

Jessica Simpson's big blonde curls!

I admit it. I’m a sucker for hair products. I have very long and quite thick blonde hair so that makes me a great candidate for every new commercials promising everything from thicker, to smoother, to softer, to shinier hair. And I fall for them, every one of them.  While I’m not proud of this, it does have its benefits. I know which hair products work and which don’t because I’ve tried A LOT of them. Here are my favorite cruelty free hair products:

1. Alberto VO5 Conditioning Hairdressing – I know, surprising right?  When you hear “VO5” you think old school, 90’s style, but this product does wonders for split ends, fly-a-ways and shine.  Apply to ends of dry, styled hair. One tube will last for ages as you only need a tiny amount.  You can find this product for $4.00 or less in stores or online.
   
2. Big Sexy Hair Root Pump Volumizing Spray Mousse – While most of the time I wear my hair straight, once in a while I like to wear it wavy. This product is the best I have tried for creating and holding a wavy or curly hair style.  I love that you can spray the mousse directly into your hair instead of into your hands. This product’s retail price is a bit high at $18, but I suggest you search your local Marshalls. I find it there for $12. It’s worth the higher price for sure.
3. John Frieda’s Sheer Blonde Dream Cream – Most blondes know too well how easy it is for your hair to become “straw-like” due to over-processing (blow drying, curling and highlighting). When applied to dry hair, this product does wonders for turning that straw feeling into silk. It doesn’t weigh your hair down so I use it daily, especially when I’ve spent a lot of time in the sun and my hair is overdue for a deep conditioning.  This product won’t break the bank, retailing at only $5.50.
   
4. Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner by Chaz Dean – A 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner normally does not work for me. It just doesn’t condition enough. Wen, however, is a different story. This is my all time favorite shampoo as it leaves my hair shiny, frizz-free and conditioned, yet does not weigh it down at all.  A few pumps can even be used as a leave in conditioner when needed.  A thirty day supply (mine lasts much longer than 30 days) comes with a styling crème, intensive hair repair mask and texture balm and costs $29.95. If you have “finicky” hair, it’s well worth the investment.

Bonus Hair Tips!

• Leave a hair pick in the shower and use it to comb through your hair while you have conditioner in it. It makes brushing your hair after the shower much easier on your hair.
• No matter how much you love a shampoo or conditioner, switch it out for something else every few days. Your hair gets “used” to one type of product’s action and after a while, it may not work as well.

Guest blog post: Karen Lawes is owner of CostOwl.com, a site dedicated to providing estimated pricing information on a variety of consumer and business products.

Photo Credit: Photo by Paul Fenton-KPA ZUMA KPA

I have always wanted what I call “Latina hair” – that thick, beautiful, wavy head of hair that you see on a lot of beautiful Latina women (Sofia Vergara and JLo come to mind). My hair is wavy, but not as thick, and when it gets longer than a few inches past my shoulders, I have to cut it because it just looks unkempt and gross. I thought extensions would be fun, but they are super expensive, time consuming to put in, and I’ve heard they can damage your hair. When Effortless Extensions offered to send me a sample of their extensions that can be washed, blow dried, flat ironed and curled, I thought I’d give it a try.

I had my girl, Sharon, ham it up and model these Effortless Extensions for me even though the color didn’t exactly match her hair. Her hair color and texture worked better than mine with this particular sample. I think if the color was right, these could actually be pretty cool. They come in synthetic (as shown) and human hair. (The human hair extensions are quite pricey, but they probably look a lot more natural.) Either way, these are cruelty-free!

The extensions come in a wide range of colors and with various levels of curl. The hair is attached to a thin, clear loop that you place on the crown of your head. You just pull the top layers of your hair over the loop and the hair stays on (kind of like a headband). I don’t think I would feel comfortable wearing this all the time, but it could definitely be fun for a night out on the town!

Jen

Green Tea and Neem “For itchy, flaky scalp”

I use hair products (mousse and hair spray) maybe once or twice a week, and I don’t even use a hair dryer daily, but simply living in the city is rough on my hair. Leaving my apartment and interacting with the world means I daily accumulate particles from the Angeleno air [of the type, Latinate scientific name: Iprobablyshouldnot-us Bebreathingthisin-us] that can build up and cause my hair to be not quite as lustrous as it possibly could be. Using a clarifying shampoo on an occasional basis can help; however, sometimes I feel these shampoos are too harsh on my hair. They leave my hair a little too squeaky clean.

Ecco Bella offers a holistic, cruelty-free and vegan Green Tea and Neem shampoo that, though it’s advertised as for an “itchy, flaky scalp,” basically performs the same clarifying duties without making my hair feel quite as stripped. We’re all familiar with the health benefits and antioxidant qualities of green tea, but neem was a new one for me. Neem, aka “the village pharmacy,”* is a tree native to the Indian subcontinent, and its oil is commonly used as a base for many cosmetic products, in the treatment of skin conditions (it’s antibacterial and antifungal), et cetera…even as a contraceptive (!).**

I tried the shampoo on an occasional basis—using it once a week or once every other week instead of my regular shampoo. I did still use a conditioner after the shampoo, but my hair felt cleaner after its use without being brittle. The shampoo smells a bit on the medicinal side—it reminds me of mentholatum—and while I prefer my beauty products to smell clean/fresh (think tea tree oil), citrusy, or not at all – and lightly so – Jen M. found the scent invigorating.

Ecco Bella offers Green Tea and Neem and Vanilla shampoos and conditioners, an intensive hair therapy treatment, cosmetics, fragrances, room mists [previously reviewed on My Beauty Bunny], and lotions.  Products can be purchased online at www.eccobella.com.

Morgan

*Ecco Bella shampoo packaging

** http://www.organicindia.com/neem.php, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadirachta_indica

Friends don’t let friends use shampoo.

Wen Cleansing Conditioners

No need to be alarmed by the caption above, ladies and gents!

Don’t worry, I haven’t entirely lost my mind (yet). I still bathe and wash my hair on a regular basis–I’ve just been using a different type of cleanser.  Perhaps you’ve even heard of it: if so, say Wen!  If not, let me fill you in…

I’m sure it’s no secret how much I love coloring my hair, and because I spend a pretty penny on having it done by a talented pro (thanks, Frank–you always do such a fantastic job), naturally I want the shade to last.  It’s also a well-known fact that regular shampoos and conditioners–even “color-treated” formulas–often contain harsh surfactants. These tend to strip processed hair of its color, or make it appear dull or faded. I was definitely intrigued by WEN’s cleansing conditioners; when I learned they were sulfate-free, I quickly volunteered my services as a tester.

The first one I sampled was the Sweet Almond Mint.  This is the brand’s universal cleanser: a perfect balance of nourishing herbs and natural ingredients, including water, aloe vera gel, chamomile and cherry bark extracts–all of which smell great when mixed together! Suitable for all hair types and textures, if you’re new to WEN, you’d probably want to try this one first.

I also got to try the Tea Tree formula. Created especially for sensitive, dry or flaky scalps, the anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties of tea tree oil help unclog congested hair follicles (and here I thought I only had to worry about clogged pores on my face!) and nurture healthy growth. After all, when we permit our hair’s own natural oils to function as a built-in moisturizer, we help alleviate daily wear-and-tear damage. Perhaps it’s no wonder, then, how well my complexion responds to cleansers and toners which also feature this miraculous little ingredient?!

Each formula consists of a viscous, creamy texture–similar to other conditioners–but just so you’re aware: there are no detergents or “lathering agents”.  Don’t expect these otherwise hard-working cleansers to foam or produce any bubbles.  Fear not, dear readers; this is exactly what’s supposed to happen (or not); I’ll let the FAQs elaborate further.

In case you were wondering: these cleansers did seem to care for, and complement, my token dye-job! I must say, my own long–and sometimes high-maintenance–locks have never taken so well to the wide-tooth comb! Usually I encounter at least one unruly knot after the standard rinse-lather-repeat routine; however, after using both cleansing conditioners, I was able to run my comb painlessly through my entire head. Take that, Tenacious-Ks!

Want more good news about these formulas?  They’re cruelty-free, of course! For additional information about the brand, or to learn which WEN formula suits your own hair’s needs best, visit chazdean.com. (The 3 Labs pictured below are the renowned creator-stylist’s beloved companions.)

Spencer-Hunter-Ella

Jen#2

Press samples provided for review; opinions expressed are the author’s own.

Product image and details courtesy of chazdean.com, and many thanks to cosmeticsinfo.org for the ingredient definitions.