Hair

This Valentine’s season, I’ve been to so many events with so many experts that are supposed to help us think “inside the head of a man” when it comes to dating.  Most of the girls, of course, wanted to know what kind of look attracts guys- and the answer that I heard over and over again, is that guys love romantic yet natural, wavy hair.  The good news is, that is also my favorite look- and one that I’ve spent the bulk of my adult years trying to achieve.  Luckily, I finally came across my holy-grail hair tool this past year- the T3 Twirl 1.25″ Curling Iron- which has really just made my hair life so much better! (more…)

Another holiday, another panic attack: What on earth is there left to get for the man in your life? Well, a good home-cooked meal should work, but if that’s not your idea of a special gift, I suggest you say “I love you” with:

… a Hot Shave
I recently got the chance to check out Alexander’s for Hair, a mid-range, family-owned, all-in-one spa and salon in west L.A., and I thought, “What a great place to take my [insert any family member here]!” Formerly the male-targeted Reeder’s Barber Shop, complete with beers and flatscreen TVs, Alexander’s for Hair has undergone a recent makeover to suit its growing clientele base, offering more services for both men and women as well as eco-friendly hair products by Eufora and high-quality GRAM skincare by Dr. Bernard Gramlich (you should see his skin!). Helmed by new owner Krissy Smith and her mom Jeanne Phares, the salon has both a small-town feel and a cosmopolitan flair — perfect for those who want luxurious treatment but find super-high-end salons and spas either intimidating or just not worth the extra dough. Best of all, while you’re loved one is getting his Signature MVP Hot Shave, you can indulge in a Eufora Deep Conditioning and Scalp Treatment (free this month with any color service), a fantastic facial, a mani-pedi or a delightful (and affordable) deep-tissue massage (ask for Barbara!). Ah, the perks of co-ed bliss.

Alexander’s for Hair is located at 11515 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. Call (310) 473-0462 to make an appointment. Readers, mention the code AFHGO through February and you’ll get 30 percent off your service!

… Custom Kicks
If the love (or like) of your life is a label-savvy jet setter who frequently blends street style and upscale threads (or just likes any of the aforementioned), he’ll appreciate the new G3 collection by Ryz, the brainchild of former president of Adidas America and Adidas Japan Rob Langstaff. (more…)

I can be kinda hard on my hair, what with the two showers a day (I know it’s bad to wash it that much, but I hate getting into bed feeling dirty and Los Angeles is so hot that it’s impossible not to most of the time).  Plus, I blow dry it every day and occasionally put it up, so I feel like it deserves a pick me up every once in a while.  Recently, I’ve been turning to Kerastase’s Chroma Reflect Masque whenever I want to get it back into shape.

The masque is specially formulated to bring radiance to color-treated hair, so it’s absolutely perfect for those of us who want to condition our hair without affecting the shade in any way.  It smells yummy too – fresh and clean, which I love in my hair products.  You apply it to clean, damp hair, massage it in so your entire head is covered, then relax with a magazine or a glass of wine for approximately 10 minutes while it works.  When I rinse it out, my hair is so soft and it doesn’t have a knot in it (which is really great for me because my hair knots like crazy).  Once it dries, it’s shiny and just looks overall much healthier.  I’ve been using it about once every week or 10 days or so and it’s really helped my hair get back into shape and kept it looking good.  It’s a little pricey at $58, but those of you who have used Kerastase products before know that they’re worth it.  Everyone needs healthy hair!

If you’re already racking your brain about what to do for Valentine’s Day and all you’ve come up with is “Dinner out or dinner in?,” consider taking pause from all the hustle and bustle at a quiet oasis such as Spa Luce. A seasonal offering on the spa menu, the delightful aromatherapeutic Spa Luce Valentine’s Day Couples Massage, $370, gets my vote for best investment in relaxation. It features massages performed side by side in the couples room, a mineral-salt soak in a hydrotherapy tub built for two, and a complimentary bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.

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I’ve been lucky enough to get the chance to visit a lot salons in Los Angeles, but one of my favorites is Warren-Tricomi on Melrose.  It had been awhile since I was there, but recently, I headed over for a cut and color and it was every bit as great as I remembered. (more…)

“New Year, New You,” is a common theme. But aside from new eating habits, a new workout plan and a list of things to organize in 2011, the new you can often include a new look. And for me, that usually means a new hair color.

I look at hair color as a fun way to change things up — and it’s way less of a commitment than a haircut. If you don’t like the results, there’s no need to spend a year or two growing it back out — you can usually just color it back to its prior state!

That said, I’ve met a lot of people who want to take the plunge but are afraid they won’t be able to pull off their dream hair color. Those people have said to me, “You’re so lucky; you are one of those people who can pull off any hair color. I’m sooo not.” Well, I’m not either — and I have the bad-hair-color photos to prove it. My secret weapon? A good colorist, specifically, celebrity hair stylist Marco Pelusi of Marco Pelusi Hair Studio in West Hollywood.

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Truth is- despite hair oils being a dime a dozen these days, I’ve never really gotten into them.  My hair is very healthy (if not borderline oily) and the few that I have tried just seem to weigh down, and grease up, my locks more than anything else.  So when I started using the new ALTERNA Bamboo Smooth Kendi Oil Pure Treatment Oil – it was more by accident than anything else.  I had gotten a sample from an event and left it at my boyfriend’s place. On mornings when I didn’t have time to shower, I would use some on my hair as a styling aid since I didn’t have anything else at his apartment. That’s when I noticed that not only is it a fantastic styling tool- holding my style all day- it also make my locks super soft- and never oily or greasy.  The oil also immediately controls frizz (pesky bed head) and makes the styling process so much easier- producing bouncy voluminous curls. Needless to say, I’m a believer!

Alterna Bamboo Kendi Pure Oil Treatment  also acts as a color protectant which is important for me since I have demi-permanent colored hair. At $24, it’s incredibly reasonable for the high end Alterna brand and also comes as a spray.

Campy? Yes. Forced? At times. Entertaining? You bet.

Recently, I got a sneak peek of “Burlesque,” courtesy of Sebastian Professional, the official hair product used in the movie. (Plug: See the beautiful limited-edition box set below.) Sebastian Professional Re-Shaper is my favorite heavy-duty hairspray, so of course, I had to see what they did with the hair in the movie … asap.

I hate to have gone into the theater with low expectations, but frankly, the track record for these star-driven vehicles is not exactly well, stellar. (Remember “Crossroads” and “Butterfly”?) Surprisingly, with Christina Aguilera’s voice as the true star of the movie, I managed to ignore the film’s flaws — mostly rushed, unrealistic scenes or bits of dialogue, although there were some really witty lines and touching moments in there, too — as I anticipated her next song-and-dance number. I mean, imagine having a front-row seat and a zoom lens during a Christina Aguilera concert, complete with multiple wardrobe and hairstyle changes, and flawless makeup … priceless, right? (more…)

Say bye-bye to inconvenient hair appointments! Last night, I got a taste of the new Blowout Bar at the Argyle Salon & Spa (located inside L.A.’s landmark Sunset Tower Hotel), where hours are being extended to accommodate clients in the morning and evening.

I stopped by the salon after work to check out their blowout menu, which features four types of blowouts: the Argyle Signature ($40), the Hollywood Blowout (glam volume!, $40), the Beachwaves Babe (finished with a curling iron, $50), and the Polished (finished with a flatiron, $50). (more…)

Recently, I took a ill-timed, direct red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New Orleans for a wild wedding weekend, only to regret not taking a nap before the three-and-a-half-hour trip. (Anyone who was there during Halloween/Voodoo Fest weekend might know that it was practically impossible to check in to your hotel early.) Unfortunately, this was my first time in The Big Easy, and wandering sleep-deprived through the French Quarter at 8 a.m., fueled only by a cup of chicory coffee and a plate of beignets, was — well, not so easy.

Imagine my elation when I literally stumbled upon the charming Kinetix Spa and Salon (formerly Ofadean). On a whim, I asked owner Michael Mikolajewski if there was a “quiet room.” He smiled and gently said the prettiest word I’d heard all morning, “Yes.” I then asked if he could accommodate me and my delirious husband, despite the fact that the salon was bustling with some of what must have been 100 bridal parties in town that weekend. Again he said, “Yes.” (He really had that southern hospitality thing down.)

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