Singapore Beauty Guide » Hair

Do you need more volume in your hair?

Sylvia — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:25:11 +0000

KMS Californa recently sent me some of their latest products of their Addvolume Range to try. As a girl with naturally thin hair (that could do with a bit more volume) I was keen to give it a go.

Who is KMS California?

KMS California provides a range of professional high-performing hair care and hair styling products. They combine the latest technology in hair care with native natural ingredients. KMS California products are only available at selected hair salons.

The KMS California AddVolume range

All the products I tried are from the AddVolume range, which as the name suggests, aims to add volume to your hair..

AddVolume shampoo and Gel Conditionar

Both the shampoo and conditioner have a fresh, but quite unusual, scent of eucaplyptus and cinnamon and are easy to apply. Both can be used as a regular shampoo and conditioner, and it actually does what it says, which is to add volume to hair. I was quite surprised that my hair seemed a lot thicker, but also a little coarser after washing it with KMS California.

AddVolume Body Build Detangler

This product took a bit more practise to get the application right. It actually helps to watch this video where a self application is demonstrated. The body build detangler is a leave-in conditioner that aims to give the hair up to 40% more volume and invisable styling support. I’m not sure if it succeeds doing that in my case, but I admit that my styling techniques could do with some improvement to achieve that look.

The whole range

Although I only tried 3 products there is also the Blow Dry Lotion, Root and Body Lift and Styling foam in the AddVolume range.

Where to buy it

For more information on product availability and stockists, you can call the KMS California Customer Service hotline at 68351551.

Conclusion

I thought that the products stayed true to the promise of adding volume to the hair. I have certainly not come accross products before that were able to produce the same results. The hair does become a bit coarser though, so that is a trade off for the extra volume. If you want to go for a style with more body and volume you should definitly give this product range a try.

Organix soft & silk hair serum

Sylvia — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 05:24:29 +0000

I received this silk serum together with the bod anti aging eye serum, hand cream and facial exfoliant. Since I’m always struggling with frizzy hair (when my keratin treatment has worn off) I was keen to try this product as well.

About Organix

Organix is a line of hair products that contain active organic ingredients. They are sultane and parabane free.

What is Vanilla Silk hair serum

The hair serum is used to nourish, moisturize and strenghten your hair resulting in silky, smooth and shiny hair. It contains Tahitian vanilla been oils which are blended with exotic silk animo proteins, which is aimed at creating a silky smooth finish.

Ingredients

Cyclomethicone
Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane
C12-15 alkyl benzoate
Silk animo complex
Vanilla bean oil
Shea butter
Tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E)
Fragrance

Use and application

You put a small of amount of product in the palm of your hand. Then rub your hands together and apply evenly to surface of damp (towel dry) hair.

My review

The serum has a strong vanilla smell that I had to get used to. It does a good job of making the hair shinier and less frizzy. However, since the product contains Cyclomethicone, which is a type of silicones, I’m not sure about the long term benefits of using this product. I’ve read some mixed reports about the use of silicone in hair products and the long term (negative) effects on hair. Opinions on this topic vary so that would need to be the topic of a separate article.

Most seem to agree though that when using products with silicone, it is best to also use a clarifying shampoo at least once a week to clear the hair.

Conclusion

This is a good product to use if your hair needs a bit of extra care and shine. I personally did not love the vanilla scent but if you like the smell of vanilla then you will love this product. Be aware that this serum uses silicones and that you may need to clarify your hair on a frequent basis. I will discuss the pros and cons of silicones used in hair products in a future article.

Want to try it too?

Singapore Beauty Guide readers will receive a 10% discount if you spend a minimum of $50 on Bod and Organix products at i-lovemylife.com. In addition you will receive a FREE Herbacin Hand Cream 20ml Tube (full size worth $3.5) + FREE home delivery worth $7. If you purchase above $80, there will be an additional $10 cash credit rebate on top of the 10% and free items. (Note: Cash credits will be rebated back to customers for their next purchase w/o min purchase). On top of that, all new signs-ups will receive a welcome gift of $5 cash credit. When ordering please make sure you enter the promo code SBG_Special during check out. Promotion is valid till 30 November 2010.

[starreview tpl=16]

How to straighten your hair

Sylvia — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:33:49 +0000

Frizzy hair is one of the beauty issues here in Singapore due to the humid and hot weather. And believe it or not I only really found out about how to straighten my hair and get the frizz out at quite an advanced age. So if anyone is like me I thought it would be nice to show how it’s none. (not me in the video by the way!). Of course if you want a more hazzle free and long-term solution to frizz free hair you should try the keratin anti-frizz hair treatment.

Anti-frizz treatments for your hair

Sylvia — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:07:01 +0000

Is your hair dry or dull or is the Singapore weather constantly causing frizz. Then try out these treatments to get the frizz out of your hair and give your hair some extra care and gloss. If you are in need for a more permanent anti-frizz treatment then read about the brazilian blowout anti-frizz keratin treatment and find out where you can have it done in Singapore.

Schwarzkopf Osis+ Design Mix Smooth Smoothing CreamThe Smoothing Cream from the Schwarzkopf Essensity range is a ‘green’ product with organic oils that make your hair smooth and shiny, but not oily.
The John Frieda Frizz-Ease Creme Serum Overnight Repair Formula runs its magic while you sleep. It is meant to give more shine to dry and damaged hair. Don’t worry it will not spoil your cushion!
L’oreal Professionnel Nature Serie – Oiliss Masque ( For Dry Unruly Hair )
is meant for dry and unruly hair. It feeds your hair with avocado extracts and makes it smooth, supple and shiny. There is also a shampoo available.
With Salon Glaze Clear Shine Rinse from Frederic Fekkai, little pearl proteins and grapes extract provide shine to your hair.
Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide Protective Smoother ( For Very Dry/ Unruly Hair ) 150ml/5ozis a leave-on serum from Redken that controls frizzy and unruly hair and gives it a lot of shine.
Finally there is Joico Re:nu Age Defy Regimen STYLING & FINISHING SPRAY that prevents damage to your hair and gives it a nice shine, without making it heavy.

My current favorite is Salon Glaze Clear Shine Rinse from Frederic Fekkai. What’s yours?

Brazilian blowout anti-frizz straightening treatment

Sylvia — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:03:00 +0000

The brazilian blowout anti-frizz straightening treatment is getting increasingly popular in Singapore. So let’s find out what it is exactly and where you can get this treatment in Singapore.

What is a brazilian blowout anti-frizz straightening treatment?

Many of us here in Singapore struggle with frizzy hair that is unmanageable. As we all know blowdrying and ironing our hair on a regular basis does a lot of damage to the hair. To the rescue comes this new hair treatment. It is basically a new form of hair straightening treatment that turns curly and frizzy hair into lovely tresses that will look shiny, straight and smooth.

What is the procedure

The procedure is quite simple: First your hair is washed with mild schampoo after which keratin is applied to the hair cuticles. After that the formula is sealed into the hair with a blow dryer or flat iron. You then have to leave the product in your hair for as long as possible but at least 3 days.

After the treatment it is best to maintain the benefits for as long as possible with a special shampoo and conditioner. The longivity of the procedure depends on your hair but my personal experience is that the frizz stays on for about 3-4 months, depending on how much you wash your hair.

Advantages

The main advantage is that no harsh chemicals are used so the treatment is not so damaging to the hair as some of the other available treatments
You will get straight, smooth and healthy looking hair in a short amount of time
As opposed to the Japanese Straightening Perm the brazilian blowout does not need to kill any hair and instead of growing out, the Brazilian method ensures that the hair fades out and this encourages fresh growth of hair.
Feel like a star! It is claimed that celebrities like Halle Berry, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Ritchie are all using it.

Disadvantages

The main downside to this treatment is that you may need to wait, after the treatment has been completed, for up to seventy two hours before you can wash your hair again and the smell is not that pleasant! So be sure not to do this treatment before an important event or party.
It is not cheap. Expect to pay well over $200 (depending on the length of your hair)

Duration and after care

The Brazilian blowout anti-frizz hair straightening treatment takes about two and a half hours to complete. It is recommended that you use aftercare shampoo and conditioner products at home to prolong the effect of the treatment.

Where to get the Brazilian Blowout anti-frizz or keratin treatment + Promotion with huge discount!

I’m currently having my straightening treatments done at Style by Louis. I have recently photographed and filmed my treatment with them. Have a look at my article on brazilian blowwout / kerastraight keratin straightening treatment. They are offering a Huge discount off their treatment now for readers of SingaporeBeautyGuide and 40PlusStyle. You will receive $200 off your first treatment with them. (Total price is $400 or $450 depending on length of your hair, so discounted price will be $200 /$250). To get your voucher please go to the article on brazilian blowwout / kerastraight keratin straightening treatment at 40PlusStyle.com and follow instructions there. Other salons offering the treatment in Singapore include Le Papillion and Visage hair salon and spa.

Buy original Brazilian Blowout Products

I have not yet seen any salon offering the original Brazilian Blowout products. However, you can order them online.

More anti-frizz products

Check out this article on anti-frizz treatments for smoother, straighter and shinier hair.

Send us your feedback!

Try it out and let us know what you think.

How to keep your hair in good shape

Sylvia — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:26:57 +0000

We all desire beautiful, healthy hair. However, hairdryers, ironing, colouring and increasing pollution can take its toll on the quality of our hair. Here in Singapore the humid climate can make the hair frizz, which is certainly not a desirable look.

What can we do to keep our hair in top shape?

1. First of all start with healthy hair. If you have damaged hair then, if possible, cut it. There really is no way to repair badly damaged hair. Even if you want to have long hair, it will be easier to achieve this by first cutting your hair and then growing your healthy hair. Short healthy hair will look better than long damaged hair and does not need to be trimmed so often. Healthy hair will grow faster and the overall result will be faster growing, healthy hair.

2. Make sure to trim your hair often. Damage to your hair will move up from the ends and the only way to prevent this is to cut it on a regular basis. Use sharp scissors that are designed for cutting hair and make sure to snip any splits off the ends of individual hairs.

3. Find a hair salon with a good reputation. If you want to grow your hair or have long hair, make sure to find a long hair specialist and communicate clearly on how (much) you want your hair to be trimmed.

4. You knew it was coming, and this could be tough, but try to avoid any blow drying, curling irons, hot rollers, and especially no flat irons or crimpers! If you absolutely must blow dry, then try to dry your hair naturally as long as possible and just use the blow dryer to finish it off. If you have to use rollers, then use flocked or BABYLISS Professional 30 Roller Set with Ceramic and Ionic Technology (Model:BABHS40)" target="_blank">ceramic rollers that are safer for your hair (instead of spiked plastic rollers). It also helps to add a protective hair product to your hair.

5. Try not use any hard chemicals on your hair and avoid perms and peroxide. But of course as many of us over 40 get grey we cannot always stick to this rule. So when colouring, use non peroxide colour or 100% natural henna (not advised for very dry hair though). Low peroxide hair colour is a lot less damaging but if you using these products over and over again it will start to have negative effects on your hair.

6. Always choose a good shampoo and conditioner especially designed for the condition of your hair. If you have coloured it, using a line that adds a bit of colour to it will make it last much longer. If you are succeeding in holding the colour in your hair longer, you will need to have it coloured less often, which will benefit your hair.

7. Avoid chlorine and saltwater or make sure to shampoo your hair shortly after the exposure. If you are blond and you expose yourself too much to chlorine, this may actually lead to a greenish hue coming over your hair. Using specially formulated shampoos may help prevent this. If you are a frequent swimmer it would be good to wear a bathing cap. This would also allow you to apply some deep conditioner on your hair while wearing it.

8. Protect your hair from the sun. If you spend a lot of time in the sun you may want to protect your hair with a product that provides uv protection for your hair. Of course you could also cover your hair with a nice scarf or hat!

9. Be careful with the hair accessories that you use. Metal barrettes and rubber bands are not advisable as they will tear your hair. Avoid anything with sharp edges, plastic combs with rough seams, or hair claws wirh metal hinges, Velcro or springs attachers. You want to avoid anything that causes hair to come off or fall out.

10. Don’t put any stress on your hair. Avoid braids, very tight coils, hair extensions, dreads

11. Avoid extreme diets and be sure not to eliminate all fat from your diet. If you are on a diet it is recommended that you take a good multivitamin to make sure that your hair (and body) gets all the nutrients it needs.

12. Comb your hair before champooing, to remove knots and remove loose hairs with a good boar bristle brush. Try not to pile your hair on top of your head while shampooing and instead apply shampoo to roots and work your way down. Dont’ forget then ends of your hair!

13. Every now and then don’t wash your hair and let it get dirty and greasy and let this natural conditioning do its magic.

14. The colder your rinsing water, the better. It will make your hair shinier hair that is easier to comb. It also helps against breakage.

15. Every now and then you can use a leave-in-conditioner. This can be good to nurture extremely coarse or curly hair.

16. Try out different hair products and stick to those of which you see results. Different hair product ingredients work for different people so you need to find out what’s best for you. More products have come on the market with natural ingredients, so you may want to give those a try.

17. If you can, clariify your hair when needed with a mixture of cider vinegar and water or use a clarifying shampoo to remove build-up of product in your hair.

18. A deep condition treatment once a month is a must. Even if your hair is in good shape a deep conditioning can keep it that way. If your hair is in a bad condition and is dry or damaged a deep condition would be recommended every week.