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There’s nothing better than feeling and looking like a million bucks – am I right?! 
So much of the “feel good” comes from the inside, but sometimes a little hairspray and lipstick can’t hurt! It’s been proven when you feel like you look good, you work harder, feel more motivated, and may even empower yourself to do things you wouldn’t if you’re feeling down. Again, I preface all of this with, “It starts from within.” I don’t know about you, but when I’m having a “good” makeup day or an “outstanding” hair day, it boosts me in the right direction. It gives me confidence and many times, creates a positive outlook on the day ahead. 
So today I thought I’d talk about hair as a follow-up to my Snapchat Q&A yesterday because I know, hair, many times, is so much more than “hair” (do you feel me?). If you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, my Snapchat should be up until around noon today so make sure to stop by pardonmuahsnaps for a talk through and a tutorial on how I tease my hair (thanks to Justin’s help). It was my first time talking on Snapchat while Justin watched so I felt kind of silly! But, luckily he was very supportive – he even gave me creative direction haha! 

If you see this post after 12 pm PST, no worries! I will share all of the products and tools again. Below are my go-to’s for washing, conditioning, prepping, drying, volumizing, curling, straightening, etc. (They are in the order I use them, but keep in mind I don’t always use ALL of them every time I do my hair).
But first…let’s talk about hair type. Depending on the hair you were blessed with you may need more of one thing or less of another. Everyone’s hair is different and, trust me, the grass isn’t always greener. While you may dream of beautifully straight hair right out of the shower, the girl next to you may be wishing for thick, wavy locks like yours. I get the most questions about how I get volume in my hair and a lot of that is thanks to my curly, rather coarse hair type that holds teasing really well. Never fear, whatever your hair type, the hair gods have created all types of concoctions and tools to help! See below.
Shampoo – For the past couple weeks my go-to shampoo has been Briogeo Rosarco Repair Shampoo. It was sent to me as free PR and I ended up falling in love. Before Briogeo I was using Pureology Hydrate Shampoo (and conditionerand I still highly recommend. Both products are great for color treated hair and are free of sulfates which are a big NO NO. Say no to sulfates!

Conditioner – When I received my Briogeo shampoo I also received the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. It’s supposed to help repair hair and it claims you will see a difference in three washes – and I absolutely agree! In my experience, I could tell that my hair was shinier and more manageable after only a couple uses. 

Wet Hair Brush – This hairbrush isn’t only for wet hair, but it’s called a Tangle Teezer for a reason. It helps to safely brush through wet (and dry) hair without pulling it out or causing you lots of pain. 

Blow Dry Repair Cream – My hair stylist recommended this product and I’ve been using it for several months now. I apply my Bumble & Bumble Repair Blow Dry cream after I get out of the shower and brush through my hair. Since I use so much heat and style on a daily basis, this helps to keep my strands in a healthier state. 

Thickening Hairspray – Another Bumble & Bumble product I love is the BB Thickening Hairspray. And despite what you may think you put this onto your hair while it’s wet. I originally used it years ago and didn’t really get it…granted I think I put it on dry hair haha. Now I see a huge difference! I section my hair and spray this directly onto the root. If you have coarser hair feel free to use liberally. For those with finer hair, I would use more sparingly throughout. I can actually tell my locks are more volumized after I apply, even when wet. 

Oil Treatment – Hello holy grail product! I don’t think I could survive (happily) without my Moroccanoil Treatment. I put it into my hair before I blow dry, after I blow dry, and pretty much every day when I touch up my hair. Again, if you have fine hair I suggest buying the “fine hair” version as it won’t create as much build up. My hair seems to eat this stuff up and I can use quite a bit without feeling like my hair is dirty. I even travel with this because the moment my hair senses precipitation it goes into “poodle” mode.

Hair Brush – A couple of months ago I decided to donate my usual hairbrush to Justin because I always caught him using it lol. I gladly gave it up and went over to Sephora to see what they had in stock. I’m not one to spend a large amount of money on brushes so I chose a pretty yellow version by Dry Bar. I use my Lemon Drop Daily Detangler in the morning when I’m getting ready and while I’m blow drying my hair to get it as straight as I can. It’s not life-changing, but I have no complaints!

Blow Dryer – I like this tool so much it made my yearly favorites and I didn’t receive it until November. Which I realize should probably take it out of contention as a “yearly” fav, but it’s just too good. I had my last blow dryer for over eight years and in the end, it almost melted my hair off (not the dryer’s fault, I kept it wayyy too long). So luckily, Justin got me a new one for Christmas! I’d been drooling over it for two years and did lots and lots of research. It does come at a pretty price, but it claims to have a ten-year battery life and a ten-year warranty! Plus, it’s under a pound in weight so it’s great for travel. It also has a heating mechanism that dries hair faster without getting scolding hot. Which dryer is this? It’s the Bio Ionic 10X Ultralight Speed Dryer! Another awesome product I forgot to mention on Snapchat is blow dry clips! I found mine at TJ Maxx, but you can also buy Sephora Collection for $10.

Round Brush – A good round brush is a must for any girl’s hair tool collection. And I highly recommend learning how to use it with your blow dryer. I still feel challenged many days trying to blow dry and brush and curl my ends under – total octopus status. But it helps to smooth out hair while also creating fantastic volume. Right now I’m using a Revlon Perfect Style Ion + Ceramic Brush that I found at CVS. It’s under $10 and does the job! I’d like to get another in a larger size because I don’t want small waves in my short hair, rather straight, full volume. 

Round Brush Blow Dryer – Another cool product that comes in very handy is a round brush blow dryer. And it’s exactly what it sounds like. A round brush with holes that blow hot air like the Helen of Troy 1 Inch Professional Hot Air Brush (Hot Tools also makes great versions). It’s an easier option than holding both a dryer and a brush, but it’s not as fast if this is your only option. I like to do both or I will use this as a touch up in the morning to curl my ends back under. Right now I’m growing my hair out so my ends are constantly flipping out and it drives me crazy!

Straightener – Another item to invest in is your straightener. One, because you want a tool that will get hot enough, but not burn off your hair. One that will smooth your ends, not break them. Two, because they will most likely last longer and come with a warranty. My last straightener lasted over four years! And after I retired it, I bought the same brand, GHD. Last year Justin got me the GHD Platinum Styler and I absolutely love it! It also has beveled edges that allow me to create waves and body. 

Texture Spray – One of my new obsessions this year is texture spray. I’ve owned Bumble & Bumble’s Thickening Dryspun Finish for quite a while, but only used it to create a volume throughout in my hair when it was wavy. I recently decided to spray it on my roots before teasing and realized it helps to give “Wow!” volume. Quick tip: Don’t use too much or it will make your hair dirty quicker. My newest favorite is Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray.

Comb – No fancy combs for this girl. I use a $3 version from Target. I don’t like a fancier comb with short teeth and long teeth and I particularly don’t like a comb with bristles. My favorite of all time was a carbon comb designed for high heat while styling. I found the large KeraStraight Carbon Comb online and it’s super similar.

Hairspray – This is probably one of the most important products you will buy and I’d bet one of the most utilized. Hairspray has been around for a long time and thank goodness it has! My tried and true, go-to, I’ve bought so many cans, is Loreal Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Unscented. Note, I highly dislike the scented version but loveee the unscented. It’s a great everyday, hair with movement hairspray. For extra hold try Tigi Bed Head Masterpiece Shine Hairsprayit smells great! 

Dry Shampoo – And last, but certainly not least, let’s talk about some dry shampoo! The product every gal needs in her hair arsenal. Lately, the weather has been making my hair more oily than usual so I’ve been utilizing quite a bit of shampoo in a bottle. A couple quick sprays on the roots and you’re good to go. It also helps with volume if your hair is falling flat. My long time fav is Batiste Dry Shampoo. My new fav that I will even use with the first is Bumble & Bumble Pret-a-powder.
Phew! That was a longgg post ya’ll!
 I hope it was helpful and please let me know if you have any questions I didn’t answer. You can shop all of the products and tools mentioned below OR any time on the blog sidebar labeled “Hair Care.”
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XO Amanda