These experts are being honoured at this year’s Contessa Canadian Hairstylist of the Year Awards on November 4th, 2018, in Toronto, Canada. If you’re unfamiliar, the awards are basically like the Oscars of the beauty industry and it’s a pretty big deal to be honoured. Some of the biggest names and most established brands are present such as L’Oréal, Wella, and Moroccanoil. So, if you’re a working hairstylist, make-up-artist, or nail technician who knows their stuff, this is your night. If you’d like to get an idea, here’s a vid from last year capturing the highlights of the evening.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4613″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn”]I am certainly no hair wizard, but I do like to style my hair differently every day and enjoy the process. So when these goodies arrived (pictured in this post are some of them, to see them all check out my unboxing) I started coifing my locks with all varieties of product to see what worked best for me. Of the generous bunch I’ve nailed down my favourites and I’m breaking down just why they made it to the top of my list.As I see it, truly good hair products should do most of the work or you. It shouldn’t take an especially skilled hand (but if you have one all the better). I found that I really noticed a difference with this selection and will continue to use them as part of my regular hair care routine because now that I’ve seen what they can do, I’m not sure I can go back to life without them. If you can fake it like you’re a beauty master with the help of some magic in a bottle, why not?
These four beauties (and one bonus duo, as I couldn’t resist telling you about them) have helped me to make every day a good hair day, and here’s how.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1540835588958{margin-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1541267884349{margin-top: -30px !important;}”] 1) L’Oreal Professionnel Volume Inflator
Gimmie all the volume. All of it. Cus naturally, I have none.
I have the typical super fine blonde hair. The kind that tends to fall flat and lifeless upon my head and is perfectly happy to succumb to the forces of gravity. I do all the right things, blow dry upside down, use round brushes, yadda yadda, but it’s still very challenging to get my locks to lift.
Some powders and sprays I’ve used in the past feel gunky, almost like I’m mostly volumizing by adding in a bunch of stuff and not really inflating my hair. I really liked this product because I didn’t need much of it, I found a little went a long way to boost my curls and the bangs I like to part at the front to frame my face. Lift a section of hair by the root, spray, and it doesn’t flop back down when finished. Best of all, it didn’t look like I had done anything elaborate when styling and it left no residue. My mane certainly looked better, but it didn’t feel different as this product left no powdery deposit behind. Win-win.
Find L’Oreal Professionnel Volume Inflator on Amazon
2) JOICO BLONDE LIFE BRIGHTENING VEIL 
This one is all for all of my fellow blondies out there. Whether you’re a natural blonde (like me) or not, this leave-in spray is perfect for your mane for a few reasons.
Previously I haven’t been a huge fan of spraying any kind of protectant or shine booster into my hair as with my fine locks it doesn’t take much to weigh them down. It becomes so difficult to achieve any kind of volume or style when this happens. So, I’ve enjoyed using this product as it really does make your hair look rich and golden without making it feel heavy. It’s stocked full of exotic oils too so it’s not just coating your follicles, it’s nourishing them as well, which is great if you wield that straightener or curling iron on the daily like me.
As someone who used to dye her hair (I had my terrible high school phase where I thought red was a good idea, let’s not go there), I know that chemically processed hair can easily become coarse and lose its silky texture. This spray makes hair feel so soft! So whether you’re a natural blonde or not, I’d recommend this light little spray. A spritz or two through your ends after you’ve washed is all you need, so a little bottle goes a long way. Salon style for less than $20, I’m in.
Find Joico Blonde Life Brightening Veil spray on Amazon
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3) SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL OSIS SESSION LABEL SUPER DRY FIX
This stuff is serious hairspray, but it’s also not something that produces helmet hair. I’ve tested out this product on both days where I’m wearing my hair down in loose curls and when it’s styled up in a casual chignon. I love it because it provides fantastic hold in either scenario. If you’re like me (and I would venture to guess most women) you try to get your hair to do what it doesn’t always want to (we curl our straight hair, and vice versa). This hairspray can do it all, and it will help you beat the odds.
I’ve used hairspray of some variety on a daily basis for years, it’s absolutely necessary in my arsenal. I found that the OSiS+ spray goes a long way, especially when I used it to lock in my curls. A spritz or two is all I needed in short little bursts. When I wore my hair up, I just gave it one pass with this magical mist and it stayed put all day, even when I headed to my pilates class over the lunch hour. I’m a fan, it provided all the hold and with none of the resulting stickiness and it never looked like I used a lot because I didn’t need to.
Find Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS Session Label Super Dry Fix Hairspray on Amazon
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4) OLIGO PROFESSIONNEL BLACKLIGHT BLUE SHAMPOO
They’re not lying. This stuff really is blue, like really blue, which is already cool to open in the shower.
This shampoo truly is masterful, as it is suitable for all lightened hair. Whether you have naturally light hair like me, or you’ve chemically highlighted your hair this product makes your mane look just a bit brighter. Most notably, it does it all with no sulfates, salt, or paraben while being chock full of 11 amino acids, argan oil, and only vegan ingredients. Highly impressive.
This past week I was at work and headed into the washroom when I took a double take. I stopped and thought to myself woah, that’s some shiny bright hair you’ve got going on there! I felt like I had just visited the salon after just a few uses as it left me with that airy, clean, and radiant glow (if I do say so myself).
This blue potion removes brassiness and promises to refresh faded colour. Oh, and did I mention it’s blue? Yeah, I’m sure there is a scientific reason for that but it’s also super fun.
Find Oligo Professionnel Blacklight Blue Shampoo (sold with conditioner) on Amazon
Honourable Mention) WELLA PROFESSIONALS FUSIONPLEX INTENSE REPAIR SHAMPOO and Mask
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”4615″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn”]I’m calling this one an honourable mention as I really tried to narrow down the list, but I couldn’t leave this dynamic duo out.
I used the intense repair shampoo and repair mask in tandem (in lieu of conditioner) and not only did I love the pretty rose gold packaging, I felt like I was giving myself the full spa treatment. Although I don’t dye my hair, I apply heat to it basically every single day, making it vulnerable to breakage. Oh and boy do I have it. I have one particular area of my hair where a few small portions have completely broken off from back when I use to blow-dry like a mad woman (now I’ve learned to love and embrace the cowlicks around my crown). I’ve been left with these awkward pieces that are about half the length of the rest of my hair. Although this was long ago and I’ve given up on maintaining the perfect centre-part, my hair grows super slow, so I’ve been blending these broken bits in amongst the rest until they grow out. So yeah, intense repair is right up my alley.
I enjoyed using this luxurious pair sporadically every few hair washes because it made my hair feel stronger. Used together these products help your hair to build resilience, repair the hair, and prevent future damage. Exactly what I need. The mask container is small, but the formula resembles a cream or moisturizer, so I was able to coat my locks with a dime-sized amount. Leave on for 5 minutes, relax, and upon rinsing your mane will feel noticeably nourished.
Find both products, the shampoo
Anna
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