Why on Earth did it take me so long to tell you guys about these wonderful products? I’ve been using Peter Lamas shampoos and conditioners for a while now and keeping the secret all to myself. Shame on me!

Peter Lamas hair products are cruelty free and vegan. The company, started by celebrity hair stylist, Peter Lamas, was one of the first to be paraben and SLS-free. Peter uses natural ingredients, but unlike a lot of natural hair products, these products actually work. Let me rephrase that – they work better than MOST other salon-quality hair products I’ve tried. I am a total convert.

The Chinese Herbs Stimulating Shampoo and Stimulating Conditioner are my favorites. They are formulated to prevent premature baldness, stimulate hair growth, remove buildup that can slow hair growth, inhibit DHT build up and help with scalp itchiness or dandruff. They give you a slight tingly, peppermint-y feeling which I love. The shampoo removes dirt and product build up without stripping your hair. The conditioner makes your hair feel clean, soft and healthy – without weighing it down or making it “puffy.”

I also really like the Naturals Rice Protein Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner. This line is perfect for my fine, but prone to frizz hair. The rice protein, B-5, goldenseal, carrot seed, chamomile, nettles, yucca and other ingredients strengthen and protect the hair shaft without weighing your hair down.

I definitely want to try more Peter Lamas products – I am hooked! You can get some sweet deals on some of the Peter Lamas hair products at iHerb.com (my go-to site for natural beauty goodies and supplements – they have crazy amazing prices). Or you can buy online from PeterLamas.com. Also, check out my girl, Kelly from Gouldylox’s review of Chinese Herbs shampoo and conditioner.

I can’t recommend this brand enough – definitely a cruelty free favorite!

Jen

This weekend, I went “Streeking!”  Feel free to gasp in horror.

….No, seriously, I apologize, because I can’t imagine how many times this company has seen that phrase or the like associated with its products, but how can you not take advantage of such an opportunity?  With a name like “Streekers” and a tagline of “Get ready for a wild weekend with no commitment!” good times and good puns are simply begging to be utilized.

Streekers temporary hair color differentiates itself from the competition due to its ease and cleanliness of application. My hair’s been nearly every color of the rainbow—both temporary and semi/demi-permanent—and I’ve encountered some nightmares in wand form. Remember back in the mid-‘90s, when there were temporary hair colors on those mascara wands with which you were supposed to swipe crazy stripes of red into your hair for a wild and crazy time out on the town (or, if you were my age, the middle-school dance)? Those made my hair stiffer than Mary’s.

Even the semi/demi-permanent ones with hues I love are a hot mess to apply. I’ve had fuchsia hands for a few days due to leaky gloves. I’ve had the most success thus far when I use a tint brush, but those can certainly be unwieldy. Before you know it, your one-inch purple streak on your swoopy bangs has morphed into a half-head treatment, you know?

Streekers, though, solves this problem quite well. The formula itself is a watery liquid and comes in a container akin to a lip-gloss or liquid eyeliner tube complete with a sponge-tipped applicator. All one needs to do is unscrew the lid, swipe on a little flair, let the colored hair dry, and then brush and style as usual! Instructions say that the hair color can be used over mousse, gel, or wax and followed by hair spray. Yet another upside is that Streekers does not test on animals and does not use any animal-based ingredients. Furthermore, there are no harsh chemicals, and no ammonia nor peroxide—so unlike that drugstore boxed-blonde dye, no need for intense ventilation. The product does smell like hair spray, but it’s tolerable.

The only major downside is that the hair color can stain fabric and other porous materials, and it can migrate as a result of perspiration. Keep it easy on the dance floor when Streeking, ladies. Also, the FAQs do state that “Streekers will wash out of dry or porous hair in 2-3 washings,” so plan ahead if you want to go Streeking on Saturday night and meet the in-laws for brunch the following morning. The FAQs do suggest, though, if one wants to protect against staining, “one can apply styling wax under Streekers on the areas to be colored.”

I sampled the red, green, and purple, and I was quite pleased with the results. After the colors dried, my hair was a little stiff, but it wasn’t hard to brush through, and then after that I was indeed able to style my hair as normal. Do use a decent amount of color, though, to make sure you have the vividness you desire. I used a great deal on the first color but not so much on the last, and it did make quite a difference in the end result. For the colors for which I did use the appropriate amount, the colors turned out super bright on my blonde hair—despite the fact that my blonde hair has been dyed numerous, numerous times. I’ve had had problems with other demi/semi-permanent dyes taking before, but this seemed to stick just fine.

Also, they aren’t kidding about the perspiration/water migration thing—as soon as water hit my hair, the color quickly came running out. I didn’t use shampoo in my initial washout, and after running my hair under the tap for just a few minutes, a faint stain of the color remained but the bulk of the dye was gone. The next morning, though, after a full shampooing…voila! Wild weekend and then back to normal: unobtrusively slouched in the cube on Monday.

Streekers are available in Red, Green, Ultra Violet, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Blue, and Purple, and can be purchased directly from www.streekers.com.

Morgan

So for the next several weeks, to encourage faster, better growth, I will be trying Chinese Herbs Stimulating Shampoo and Conditioner from Peter Lamas. This shampoo and conditioner is designed to make thinning hair grow; making it healthy along the way. While my hair isn’t thinning, several people have told me that these kind of shampoos will help hair grow thicker, healthier and maybe a little faster, providing you can find one that actually works. I also have some Chinese Herbs Revitalizing Mist, which is a leave-in treatment that promotes healthy hair growth. I can certainly use any extra help I can get, especially since my hair is put through the ringer with the constant coloring and heat styling.

Peter Lamas products are vegan (no animal testing, no animal ingredients), paraben-free, sulphate free, with the majority incorporating plant-based, organic and certified organic ingredients. I have only used this system once, and maybe it’s the change in ‘poo, but my hair feels glorious. I think I was actually singing to my husband (while dancing around our bedroom) about how amazing my hair felt after I blew it out.

A little insider birdy told me that celebs like Kiefer Sutherland ditched their prescriptions for thinning hair in favor of Chinese Herbs from Peter Lamas. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes! In the meantime, if you have any ideas on how to make the growing out phase less painful (or faster), please tell me in the comments!

As the name suggests, SEED is created using detoxifying grape seed oils. In addition to the seriously yummy scent, the benefits of the grape seed are endless. Powerful antioxidants help naturally condition skin, and the body lotions feature added shea butter and green tea extracts for mega moisturizing.

All the products in the SEED line are paraben-free, and don’t feature any phthalates or preservatives. Better yet, they contain no animal products, nor are they tested on animals. The result is pure, unadulterated skincare that doesn’t just coat the skin in artificial additives. It actually promotes healthy skin that feels, looks and smells awesome. And with products starting at just $4.49, you won’t have to break the bank either. If you’re looking for a skincare line that’s as great for your budget as it is for your body and soul, SEED is your perfect match.

My personal favourite is the body lotion, which has become a permanent fixture on my bedside table. The fragrance is strong but not overly pungent, and it’s not heavy or greasy. I also love the shampoo & conditioner bars. They’re rich in conditioning essential fatty acids, and the small size and shape makes them ideal for traveling.  For an added bonus, the packaging is made from recyclable and biodegradable materials.

My skin and hair looks and feels healthy after use. The warm fruity fragrance combined with the deep, rejuvenating conditioning properties makes this a great choice for upcoming spring!

To learn more about SEED and purchase your own 100% natural products, visit SeedPowerBodyCare.com.

Guest Post by: Jemima, a fashion and beauty writer based in Toronto, with a particular penchant for organic and natural products. Her work has been published on Sympatico.ca, Style Republic Magazine, Plaid Magazine and 29Secrets.com among others. To check out some more of Jemima’s work, visit her at www.jemimacodrington.com, or follow her on Twitter!

The ammonia- and peroxide-free semi-permanent color temporarily stains the hair without causing damage. But that’s not all, it’s also just been nominated for a Peta2 Libby Award for Best Cruelty-Free Hair Product and was endorsed by Peta as one of the best cruelty-free hair colors you can use.

Not sure if you can pull off bright colors? You’d be surprised. Vibrant hair color isn’t only for the emo/punk crowd. In fact, it can even look professional (with a taste of rocker, of course). Just look at Jeannie Mai, the cute host of the Style Network’s How Do I Look? The blue streaks mixed in with her dark brown hair add some fun without going over the top.

For those of you who want to attempt these bright colors, I do have a few tips and tricks:

1. Unless your hair is blonde, white, or light red, these colors are not going to show up and you will need to bleach your hair first.

2. This stuff stains everything. So, wear an old t-shirt, have plenty of old towels on hand, and wear gloves. Apply a barrier cream around your hairline (like petroleum jelly) to prevent the dye from staining your skin. Do not drip on counters or floors. But if you do (because you probably will), wipe immediately with a wet rag, and then whip out a scrubber brush to remove the stain.

3. I’ve read some people saying the longer you leave it on, the more permanent it will become. This is not true. Follow the instructions. The color usually only lasts 3 weeks at best. If you want it to last longer, then wash your hair less often. However, please remember that this color, though temporary, never fades completely out. It will always leave a slight hue of whatever color you used, which will eventually have to grow out or will need to be colored over.

Good luck and Happy Coloring!