Tips & Trends - Pre-Fall 2009

Pre-fall is a season that only exists in the fashion world. However, the benefit of pre-fall is that it gives us a sneak peek of what's to come.

I spent the weekend going over the pre-fall collections posted on Style.com and noticed a few hair trends worth mentioning. It was glaringly obvious that simple was in, and big was nearly out. In fact, the trend I took the most note of were the long, straight, sleek, flat ironed locks with a side or middle part. A variation on this look included a severe slick backed look.

The straight style appeared in the collections of such designers as Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone, Doo.Ri and Roberto Cavalli. But other designers including Nicole Miller, Monique Lhullier and Narcisco Rodriguez played with shiny and straight, slicking hair back. Here's a few of the inspring images.

Alexander Wang - The Straightest of Them All

Rag & Bone - Straight Shooter

Doo.Ri - Sideways Straight

Monique Lhuillier - Shellac'd Back

Narcisco Rodriguez - Slide Back

Look of the Week - Faux Reality Bob

I admit it, I watched the Hills finale last night. And with the exception of the bizarre Little Bo Peep flower crown worn by Whitney Port, I thought the reality stars looked lovely.

Naturally, Lauren Conrad went all out in a sparkly mini with this chic mini bob that seems to be all the rage lately. (Note: also seen on Rosario Dawson at the Seven Pounds premiere.)

This hair style requires a bit more concentration than Kate Winslet's curly waves but it can be done. You will need a good styler, a lot of bobby pins, some sculpting spray and patience.

Given that it's the holidays and I'm short on time. I'll tell you that I've tried this look before and for me I wash, condition, moussed and dried as usual. For mousse, lately I've been using Rene Furterer Anti-Dehydrating Volumizing Mousse because it makes my hair super shiny and big without being sticky.

Next step is to pin the majority of long layers under, while leaving the shorter layers loose for a bit of light curling. Pin the back up higher to give the illusion of a stacked bob with the longer front pieces framing the face.

Again using a styler like the Sedu Revolution or Amika Pro-Styler, being creating light waves on the bottom half of the loose pieces. It should look a bit piecey and messy, falling gently over the pinned up sections to disguise what's underneath.

Finish up the look with a lighter-weight sculpting spray such as Aveda Witch Hazel Light Hold Hair Spray or Aveda Brilliant Medium Hold Hair Spray. Pair with some red lips and you're ready for holiday partying.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, Aveda.com, LoveAmika.com

Look of the Week - Revolutionary Waves

Every the epitome of classy style, Kate Winslet wore this hair style to the recent Revolutionary Road premiere. A simple look, it would be easy to recreate with the help of a styler such as the Sedu Revolution or Amika Pro-Styler. I'd start by washing and conditioning hair, adding a little mousse and drying. Then, use the 1" styler of your choice to flip out sections of hair away from the face into wavy curls. Vary the section size to create larger or smaller curls to your liking. Spray and set the style with a lightweight product to avoid looking stiff.

Where to Buy: Folica.com
Where to Watch: December 26th, 2008 (US Release)

On Target - Human Rights Day

Just wanted to take a brief moment from blogging about hair care to emphasize the importance of Human Rights Day.

For more information on Human Rights Day, go here. Sign the petition, Tweet the news, or discuss with your friends.

To read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, go here.

Remember - "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."

Happy Human Rights Day!

Flat Iron Frenzy – Sedu vs. GHD

I’m going to shelve the CHI comparisons for a little while to shift my focus on to Sedu and GHD. Both irons receive high marks, so let’s see how they match up against one another based on styling, technology, material and cost. This entry serves as a shopping guide for each flat iron, rather than direct comparison.

This round features the Sedu Revolution styler vs. GHD IV styler.

Styler Defined

First off, it seems that lately most hair appliance companies are producing “stylers”. One might ask, what is a styler?

Stylers are a specific form of flat irons that are designed to not only straighten hair but also to curl, flip, wave, twist or whatever else you can imagine. Sedu features rounded plates and a rounder barrel, GHD offers a rounded barrel.

Since both the Sedu Revolution and GHD IV are stylers, one point for each.

Sedu - 1, GHD -1

Futuristic Favor

Both the Sedu and GHD claim to be the next wave of styling, but is one more technologically advanced than the other?

The Sedu Revolution’s big technology selling point is the Freestyle Guiding System, which features anti-slip edges which prevent hairs from slipping and snagging. This FGS also promotes the styling capability discussed in the section above. The Sedu also offers dual voltage for usage in a number of countries.

On the other hand, the GHD MK IV touts its safety functions, including sleep mode after 15 minutes, and automatic shut off after 30 minutes. Also, the GHD flat iron offers shiver mode to combat condensation in rooms less than 41 degrees. Plus, the GHD has universal voltage, making it ideal for heavy travelers.

The question remains, which is more advanced? The Sedu Revolution technology is more hair styling based while the GHD technology is safety-centered. Should you purchase styling over safety or safety over styling? It seems likely there’s an audience for both. This round is too close to call, another draw, and one point each.

Sedu – 2, GHD – 2

Make Up or Made Up

The materials used in flat irons seem to constantly be changing. Are the Sedu Revolution and GHD Mark IV identical, or can one outperform the other?

Both the Sedu and GHD are ceramic. However, that seems to where the similarities end.

The GHD is just ceramic, but the Sedu Revolution also includes tourmaline and nano technologies. The addition of these two other materials makes the Sedu Revolution more ionic than its GHD counterpart. Sedu wins this round.

Sedu – 3, GHD - 2

Cost and Review

I looked on Folica.com, because they sell both items as part of value packs complete with how-to DVDs and two-year warranties. The Sedu Revolution also includes a heat proof flat iron combo mat and pouch.

In terms of price, there’s about $100 dollars between both value packs. The Sedu Revolution 2009 edition retails for $139.95, while the GHD pack is going for $239.95. A pretty hefty price difference.

As far as reviews go, the Sedu Revolution pack has around 140 reviews, ranking at 4.63 out of 5. The GHD MK IV value pack has 30 reviews, and ranks 4.57 out of 5. Another close round, but this one goes to Sedu based on affordability and a slight edge in customer ranking.

Sedu – 4, GHD - 2
Final Say

Having compared the technologies, materials and cost of these stylers, I have to pick the Sedu Revolution. It seems to be more bang for your buck.

For more info on each brand, plus ordering information visit the Sedu and GHD homepages.

Flat Iron Frenzy - Sedu vs. Sedu

Sedu vs. Sedu? What?

This go-around meant to clarify the differences between the two main Sedu lines - Sedu Ionic vs. the newer Sedu Revolution. I’ve seen a lot of people questioning the difference between these two flat irons so I thought I’d shift the focus for a moment.

I emailed Sedu Beauty to get to the scoop. Click the image below to read the Sedu response:


Basically, Sedu Beauty says the main differences between the two lines include plate shape, plate size offerings, and temperature settings.

The Sedu Revolution is a styler, with rounded plates for creating curly or wavy styles, and has the ability to heat all the way up to 450 degrees. It also offers the Freestyle Guiding System which makes it possible to glide over hair in one pass, without snagging strands. BUT, the Revolution is only featured in a 1" plate size.

On the other hand, the Sedu Ionic comes in both 1" and 1-1/2" plate sizes, and offers more squared plates designed specifically for straightening hair. The temperature settings max out at 410 degrees.

So, both irons can straighten all hair types, get incredibly hot, and offer the same ceramic, ionic, and tourmaline technologies.

End result - if you just need a flat iron, both the Sedu Ionic and Sedu Revolution will get the job done. If you are more interested in creating multiple hair styles with one tool, go directly for the Sedu Revolution.

For more information, visit Sedu Beauty.

To purchase online, visit Folica.

To find out where to purchase near you, click Where to Buy.

Look of the Week - Garage Rock Bangs

An even representation of brunette, blond and red, the Vivian Girls - Ali, Cassie and Katy respectively, just made Spin magazine. Having taken note of the Girls over the last year and a half, I must say this picture showcases their penchant for bangs. Try them perfectly coiffed, sweetly side swept, or brightly blunt. Congrats to the Vivian Girls and keep up the good bangs, er, tunes.

Where to Listen: www.myspace.com/viviangirlsnyc

Read the Article: www.spin.com/articles/vivian-girls

Tips and Trends – Thanksgiving Thoughts

With Thanksgiving tomorrow I decided I’d suggest some seasonal faves. I tried to find stuffing scented shampoo but turned up empty handed. So instead, fill your cornucopia with the enriching products stuffed with pumpkin, apple cider, cinnamon, and cranberry.

Down By the Pumpkin Patch

Mm, pumpkin pie. A fall standard and Thanksgiving must have, pumpkins are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals like zinc and magnesium. When you aren’t shoving it in your mouth, rub a little on your face!

Try out Doll Face’s Lolita Restore and Heal Peel with Pumpkin and Honey. Chock full of revitalizing organic pumpkin, with the added benefit of carrot, honey, green tea and cucumber, this peel infuses skin with vitamin A to limit environmental damage to skin. Smell yummy, and look younger, sounds like the perfect combination.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, SkinBotanica.com

Apples to Apples

Apple cider vinegar is one of hair care’s most popular ingredients, cleanly purifying hair of buildup. Master hair guru Frederic Fekkai created an entire line dedicated to the powers of apple cider vinegar featuring a shampoo, conditioner, and rinse.

I suggest the Frederic Fekkai Apple Cider Clearing rinse, a weekly method of rejuvenating strands and saving hair and scalp from product buildup and styling damage. Added benefit from sage, rosemary, silk and oat proteins, and antioxidant vitamins A and E, and a host of other good-for-you ingredients to promote cleanliness and health of hair.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, StrawberryNET.com

Cinnamon Stick

Cinnamon is known for having a plethora of uses. From spicing up food to controlling blood sugar, cinnamon is certainly one handy seasoning. You can even use it to improve your skin with Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Moisturizer.

Based off Kiehl’s legendary Blue Herbal Astringent formula, this handy little moisturizer packs a wallop of cinnamon bark along with ginger root to balance and clarify skin’s overall appearance. Contains salicylic acid for acne control and is perfect for oily skin types who usually avoid moisturizing.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, Nordstrom.com

Cranberry Saucy

Perhaps the only time of year cranberry gets some credit. Containing vitamins A, C, K and a host of other minerals and antioxidants, cranberry is a near perfect fruit. Get yourself looking even closer to perfect, by rubbing a little cranberry onto your skin using the Doll Face Foxy Lady Fight or Flight Mask with Cranberry and Green Tea.

Full of cranberry goodness along with green tea, honey, tapioca, cucumber, and orange peel, this mask is seriously tasty. The Fight or Flight Mask revitalizes skin cells imparting a youthful glow to tired skin. So serve yourself up a Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, and apply a little cranberry to your face and relax, it’s a long weekend.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, SkinBotanica.com

Hair Health - Thermal Styling Protection

Let’s talk about hair health. I think its common knowledge at this point that the environment, coloring, and heat styling can all damage hair. But it’s this last element that I want to focus on, damage from heat styling.

Obviously, applying heat to your hair everyday will eventually fry your strands, leaving them messy and injured. However, it’s easy to protect your hair while styling.

One of the latest hair trends is the heat protection sprays, with many flat iron companies, like CHI and FHI, producing their own protection sprays. The majority of these sprays contain a combination of proteins or herbs meant to shield hair from heat styling damage while improving hair’s shine and overall health. Here’s a rundown of some of the top heat protectants I researched.

1. FHI Heat Hot Sauce – This moisture-based protectant seeks to penetrate the hair follicle during heat styling, rather than simply coat the hair shaft. Using heat-activated jojoba crystals that dissolve into hair, the Hot Sauce formula also includes algae, shea butter, wheat protein, rosemary and witch hazel. Hot Sauce still contains alcohol and silicones, which many claim to cause further damage, but don’t seem to detract from the ultimate effect of the product.

In total, Hot Sauce received 4.24 out of 5 stars on Folica.com. Available in 2 oz. bottles for purchase from Folica.com and Stylebell.com, and other sites.

2. Sedu Moisturizing Heat Protecting Boost – Sedu offers several heat protecting boosts, but for the purposes of investigation, I’m choosing to only compare the moisturizing one. For normal to dry hair, the Moisturizing Heat Protecting Boost benefits from heat-activated Crodosone W wheat proteins, to infuse damaged hair with humidity resistant moisture to resist and repair damage. Downside, this boost may be a bit oily for certain hair types.

This Sedu Boost rates 4 out of 5 stars, and is available only from Folica.com in 8 ounce bottles.

3. CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray – From the incredibly popular Farouk Systems, the creation of a thermal styling tool that combines ceramic technology with CHI quality. This spray intends to hydrate damaged hair from the inside out while increasing shine and luster. Some customers complain it rests a bit heavily on the hair, almost like hairspray – comes in an 8.5 ounce size.

Average rating is 3.54 out of 5 stars, available from Folica.com and BeautyChoice.com.

4. GHD Thermal Protector Spray – The GHD line is designed for hair types, offering heat protection for dry/coarse, normal to fine or weak/damaged hair. Each version comes in a 5.1 ounce bottle, and touts 50% extra protection during heat styling. All three contain sunflower seed oil and provide UVA protection against further damage up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Typical complaint is that the spray is bit stiff.

Receives mixed reviews, offers GHD name and expertise. Available for purchase from Folica.com and ShearUp.com.

Tips & Trends – Fierce Feathering

For the last few years, the 70s and 80s have snuck back into the style spotlight. From the reintroduction of leggings to neon colors, it seems the long tormented decades are now in vogue.

While most still shudder at the thought of a perm, there is something intriguing about big hair styles – with maybe a twinge of feathering. Perhaps feathered hair isn’t for everyone – yet, a few brave celebs seem to be incorporating the look again.

Feathered hair can range from subtle to extreme (read Farrah Fawcett circa Charlie’s Angels). Luckily, its easy to use the feathered look if you have just the lightest bit of layering. So, here are some very basic steps and product suggestions for achieving the feathered look.

Sudsy Start

My shampoo collection is always growing but lately I’ve been really partial to one. Philip B. Peppermint & Avocado Volumizing and Clarifying makes my scalp and hair feel so clean, so tingly, and so fresh. At the same time, I get a bit of lift for both my roots and my mental state with the combination of peppermint oil, avocado, gardenia, sweet almond, lavender, geranium, black walnut and so many other plant extracts. Philip B. makes so many wonderful shampoos and conditioners, I want them all. But this one is the perfect beginning to achieving solid, fresh style.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, bebeautiful.com

Deep Condition
In addition to adding volume, I like to thicken my strands with the famous Bumble and bumble Thickening Conditioner. A long time B & b fan, this conditioner is in my constant rotation, its lightweight and helps plump up my hair’s appearance.

I can’t say I’m wild about the fragrance but I can deal for fuller locks. Plus with lots of wheat proteins, aloe and vitamin E, it’s another enriching product for styling success. Sometimes I pair it with the B & b Thickening Spray for the ultimate in thick hair.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, Tuvee.com

Lift Off

Since the 70s and 80s were all about BIG hair, the next logical step is to boost hair up! For this, I rely on Kenra Root Lifting Spray. Complete with amino acids, take the Kenra Spray and spray on damp hair at the roots, work through hair and move on to blow drying. It’s a quick but important step for capturing that glorious retro volume.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, DiscreetlyBeautiful.com

Fluff and Dry

You can do much of the magic with your hair dryer. An excellent hair dryer is the Elchim 2001 Professional; it’s fast and ferocious with 1800 watts of power and seven switch combinations. Honestly, this dryer is no joke, but for this style you can slip on the concentrator nozzle and infuse those roots with volume.

Try blowing over and away from hair to bring out the feathering in soft layers and bangs. The bigger the better, with only a few steps left.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, bebeautiful.com

Curl’s Best Friend
I must admit, I’m not exactly handy with a curling iron. Feathering might be the extent of my talent. But if you’re anything like me, may I suggest a clip free curling iron to avoid those unsightly dents and bumps that it seems hard to avoid for the curling iron challenged.

Try the Amika Tourmaline Clip-Free Curler to take strands of hair near the face and curl loosely outward (away from the face!). Once satisfied with the flipped out curls move quickly on to the final two steps.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, SunCapsuleBeauty.com

Brush and Hold

Last two steps! Carefully brush your curls into a soft wings and spray into place! Gently mist some heavy duty hair spray over the look for hold, I recommend CHI Helmet Head Extra Firm Hair Spray or Spritz. It’s easy for finer hair to lose its style quickly, and feathered wings are gravity defying, so this hair spray will give the look that extra boost.

Where to Buy: Folica.com, Tuvee.com

When in doubt, always refer back to the ultimate feathered hair goddess for inspiration.

Flat Iron Frenzy – CHI vs. GHD

Ah, round three for CHI! Perhaps some vindication? We’ll see.

This posting is part of a set of CHI comparisons Hair and Frenzy is conducting to see how CHI stacks up against other professional flat irons. So, let’s put CHI to the test against GHD based on temperature settings, materials, convenience, reviews and cost.
Battle call – CHI Original Ceramic 1” versus GHD Ceramic.

Heat Up

To kick things off, let’s look at temperature. Comparing CHI to GHD, there’s no obvious difference. Both irons come with exactly one heat setting – 370 degrees. And since the CHI and GHD offer quick heating time, these irons reach temperature within seconds.

GHD contains an internal microprocessor to provide even ceramic heat over the entire plate, avoiding hot spots. CHI maintains a similar level of heat, but it is not clear if CHI uses the same microprocessor technology as GHD. Either way both irons heat to 370 degrees and use ceramic heat technology to maintain this temperature.

CHI – 1, GHD – 1

Material Whirl

Hm, even match so far! Let’s see if we can find some differences.
Well, they are both ceramic. So, ceramic versus ceramic – I guess there isn’t much variation here either. As I mentioned before, GHD touts an internal microprocessor to spread the ceramic heat evenly across the plates. CHI does mention that in addition to ceramic plates, the coils are also ceramic, producing moist heat. Whether or not these are the same mechanics, I’m unsure but it seems the two are still in close competition.

Then, GHD brings something new to the table - floating plate technology. Basically, the ceramic plates adjust with hair to adapt to every hair textures while maintaining styling ability. So, GHD styles with heat rather than tension, CHI seems to lack this ability. This round goes to GHD for this design versatility.

CHI – 1, GHD – 2

Convenience Capability

Both CHI and GHD promise more than straightening – as styling tools that can create a number of looks. CHI features an ergonomic design, weighs in at about two pounds and features a 10’ swivel cord to ease physical strain on wrists and hands while styling.

The GHD design includes curved plates and a barrel shape for curls, waves and flips along with straightening. The styler weighs a bit less, around 1 ½ pounds, and features a professional swivel cord, along with an automatic safety shut off when the iron is left unattended for 30 minutes.

CHI and GHD seem pretty even in this category, too. Another tie.

CHI – 2, GHD – 3

What the Reviews Say

Just by comparing the number of reviews on Folica.com for each product, CHI is in the lead with over 1300 compared with just 132 on GHD. The two differ in rankings with CHI scoring 4.12 out of 5, and GHD getting 4.57 of 5 stars.

But on Amazon, GHD has 28 reviews over just 2 for the CHI Original. I figured I’d take all of the Amazon reviews and 5 pages of Folica.com reviews into account.

CHI receives well over half its reviews from satisfied customers who give the product top ranking. Sifting through the reviews most customers seem really impressed with how well the iron straightens their hair, and retains the style. On the other hand, customers complained about trouble using the CHI to create other styles like curls, and a number of customers had the CHI break or experience mechanical problems shortly after purchase.

GHD receives incredibly high marks from over 80% of its reviewers, with many customers raving about salon quality hair styles and the ability to create a variety of looks with ease. The top complaints customers wrote about were the fixed temperature setting and cost.

This round goes to GHD. Basically, even with less reviews, the GHD receives more positive feedback, the complaints seem less serious. An expensive flat iron with one heat setting is still better than a broken flat iron.

CHI – 2, GHD – 4

Final Cost

There’s a big difference between CHI and GHD when it comes to cost. From what I can tell there is $100 dollar price difference between the two. But so far, GHD was leading CHI – so maybe the extra $100 is worth it?

The CHI Original has a manufacturer’s list price of $179.95, but is available from Amazon and Folica for about $100 less. Some websites offer a warranty on CHI appliances, but the CHI website says that internet purchases from online retailers will not be covered by the CHI warranty.

GHD lists for between $250-300 but is available for less than $200 on Folica and other sites. GHD has a similar warranty policy.

Both irons are big investments, with little protection, but this time CHI wins for affordability.

CHI – 3, GHD - 4

And the Winner is…

By a hair (pun intended), GHD. The CHI and GHD irons are incredibly similar, but ultimately, the GHD won. However, it’s good to know that CHI is a great alternative to the pricier GHD styler.

For more information on both these products, check out the product pages on Folica for CHI or GHD, or try the brand pages.

http://www.chiretail.com/
http://www.ghdhair.com/

Tips and Trends – Some Holiday Color

The holidays, sigh, are perhaps the most exciting – yet, hectic time of year. Attempting to squeeze in holiday shopping between turkey dinners, work, and the endless list of parties can be a bit trying. So, for a touch of inspiration, here’s a list of some colorfully inspired ideas (pun intended!) and where to buy.

I’m aiming to suggest the ideal gift, a few stocking stuffers, a gift set idea and some new favorites. It can’t hurt to buy yourself something nice, too.

Go Green

With talk of climate change and carbon foot prints, 2008 is the year to go green. There’s certainly no shortage of all natural or organic beauty products lately. But my favorite for the year is Greek-based Korres Natural Products – specifically the hair care line.

Taking homeopathy to a new level, Korres offer shampoos, conditioners and treatments that use interesting herbal combinations to address common hair concerns. For daily usage there’s Aloe and Soapwart, Acacia Milk for dry hair, Sage and Nettle for intense cleansing, and Sunflower with Vitamin F for color treated locks. These higher-end products make for perfect stocking stuffers, or could even be a personalized gift set.

New Favorites: Juniper and Olive Tree Shampoo, Achillea Conditioner

Stocking Stuffers: Green Silt and Coralina Oligoelements Hair & Scalp Scrub, Yucca Soft Shine Wax

Where to Buy: Folica.com, Tobi.com

Pomegranate Red

Pomegranate is still the ‘it’ ingredient. A miracle fruit chock full of Vitamin C and antioxidants, these red fruits may just be the secret to eternal beauty. This makes pomegranate-infused products a perfect present for those youthful spirits in your life. BORBA regenerates skin’s appearance with a full line of moisturizers, makeup and vitamin-rich powders to clarify and improve complexion.

The BORBA Clarifying collection uses pomegranate and cotton fiber to both clarify and replenish skin, using antioxidants to balance skin. Featuring facial cleansers and treatments for day, night or oil-control, this BORBA collection has something for everyone. Including enriched lip tints or bio-vitamin powder packets for beautifying skin on the go.

Stocking Stuffer: BORBA Nutraceuticals Lip Tint – Soft Kiss or Divine

Perfect Gift Set: Pomegranate & Cotton Fiber Complexion Perfecting Treatments

Where to Buy: Folica.com, Beautysak.com

Karma Chameleon

Hair styling can be a tedious process. However, there’s a new kid in town. I’ve seen a few articles about the Chameleon 5 in 1 Advanced Hair Styler, and it seems to get a lot of positive reviews. Here’s my two cents – this is the perfect present for any tween or college student, as well as the seasoned hair obsessed fashion plate.

Not only does Chameleon have a fascinating prismatic design, but so far, I’ve managed to see it create every possible style. From the makers of Sedu and Solia, Chameleon uses the new mineral plate technology plus ceramic and tourmaline to provide even temperatures without causing damage. Plus it has variable temperature settings and a one-year warranty.

Ideal Gift: Chameleon 5 in 1 Advanced Hair Styler

Where to Buy: Only available at Folica

Hazy Shade of…

It’s never been a big secret that hair color can fade between trips to the salon. To fight against fading, celebrity stylist Ken Paves created Healthy Hair Boost Up Color Drops to enhance color and sheen while strengthening color treated strands with wheat and soy proteins. Added UV protection and humectants keep hair moist and conditioned protecting it from further damage.

With six shades, the Color Drops mix right into your conditioner, so you control how much drama to add. Plus, since the drops fade with the next washing it’s easy for you to rejuvenate your color on a daily basis.

New Favorites: Ken Paves Healthy Hair Boost Up Color Drops

Where to Buy: Folica.com, Hair Boutique.com

Paint the Season Red

Winter weather seems to make people dreary, and it wreaks havoc on nails. Personally, I think it’s a great time to spice up dark clothes with a touch of bright nail color. Try China Glaze nail lacquers as a winter accessory or stocking stuffer, with pinks, reds, purples and everything in between. The line features cuticle gel, calcium fortifier, nail strengthener, top coat and lacquer complete with hardeners for quick-drying and durability.

China Glaze nail lacquer is a petite present guaranteed to add some joy to the holidays, or perk up a party dress.

Stocking Stuffer: China Glaze Nail Lacquer with Hardeners

Where to Buy: Folica.com, NailSpaSupply.com

Flat Iron Frenzy - CHI vs. Sedu

Here’s an interesting showdown between two powerhouse professional flat irons. Do you Sedu? Or CHI? Ok, so for this round it’s the CHI Ceramic Original 1” versus the Sedu Ionic Ceramic Tourmaline 1”. Up for comparison will be temperature, materials, convenience, reviews and cost.

Temperature Rising

CHI offers a set temperature of 370 degrees, which the iron achieves within a matter of seconds. At this fixed setting, CHI users get intense heat that can straighten in almost every hair type. However, some users may find the CHI temperature setting too hot for their hair and complain of damage, while other find that is not effective enough for their thick locks.

Sedu offers five variable temperature settings between 240 and 410 degrees. The lowest settings are ideal for fragile or bleached hair with the higher temperatures suitable for thicker and coarser styles. So, you get styling versatility without damage? Sedu, please. For more info on styling temperatures, refer to my last post.

CHI – 0, Sedu – 1

Material World

This post is beginning to sound a lot like the CHI vs. SOLIA comparison! Maybe I should do SOLIA vs. Sedu. Either way, CHI uses ceramic plate technology which is an improvement over tradtional metal plates, since ceramic technology provides moisturizing heat without damaging locks.

Sedu, also uses ceramic plate technology, improving it with the addition of tourmaline. Tourmaline is a mineral/semi-precious stone that emits potent negative ions to soothe the frizziest strands, infusing them with far infrared heat helping strengthen and protect hair from the inner core to outer layers.

Tourmaline helps Sedu edge out CHI, but this was a close call, ceramic technology is definitely a major asset for both styling tools. I’ll give CHI half a point for a good effort, and Sedu a full point for ceramic and tourmaline.

CHI – ½, Sedu – 2

The Greatest of Ease

Flat iron styling is both a skill and an art form. Getting sleek straight hair or voluminous curls takes practice, but having a versatile tool is the easiest place to start. With flash heating and swivel cord, the CHI is ready to go within seconds, but achieving your perfect look might take awhile. Slim, small and weighing in at two pounds, the CHI Original makes curls, waves, and flips but without the ionic boost from tourmaline styling is a slower process.

The Sedu also offers flash heating and a sleek design, but has slightly more rounded edges meant for versatile styling, giving customers greater styling ease in a third of the time. And the Sedu is about a half pound so it’s extremely lightweight, and has a 9’ swivel cord for maneuverability.
This round is a tough call, both irons straighten and style but Sedu wins for speed. So CHI gets ½ point and Sedu a full point.

CHI – 1, Sedu – 3

Judgment Day

Using the reviews on Folica.com, the CHI and Sedu get different marks. Both flat irons have almost the same number of reviews, hovering around 1300. The CHI ranks 4.14 out of 5 stars while the Sedu receives 4.53 of 5 stars.

To get to the bottom of what customers really thought, I read through the first 15 pages of reviews on both flat irons. Most CHI customers seem to either love their product or completely hate it. The top complaints on the product were durability and hair damage. Many users loved the product while others claimed it broke within a few months or damaged their hair irreparably, and with only 1-year worth of warranty coverage, CHI customers seem to be left disappointed with broken flat irons.

The reviews on the Sedu fare better, with most customers seeming thrilled with hair health and styling capabilities. There are still a few reviews complaining about mechanical problems but since the Sedu warranty covers two years there seems to be a lot more general customer satisfaction.

CHI- 1, Sedu – 4

Cost

Right now the CHI is available on Folica.com for $79.99 making it the cheaper of the two irons. The Sedu retails for $169.95 but is currently $108.95 and comes with a free iron holder (a $20 value). Both irons receive free shipping from Folica.

The CHI is available in salons and on a number of websites, while Sedu is only available through salons and online at Folica. CHI wins for cost and availability.

CHI – 2, Sedu – 4

And the Winner is…

Sedu wins for temperature settings, tourmaline plating, styling convenience, customer satisfaction and warranty coverage CHI comes in second, again.

The final score is CHI – 2, Sedu – 4.

I use Folica.com for most of my information; you can go there to purchase or go to the brand pages for a complete listing of where to buy.

http://www.chiretail.com/

http://www.sedubeauty.com/

Flat Iron Frenzy – CHI vs. SOLIA

In the ongoing battle to determine the fiercest flat iron, the CHI and SOLIA seem like closely matched opponents. These brands are considered primo by professionals, and both CHI and SOLIA offer their customers superior styling capability. But for the sake of argument, let’s do a little comparison.

For this round, the chosen competitors are the CHI Original Ceramic 1” versus the Solia Tourmaline Ceramic 1 ¼”. I’ve decided to evaluate the two flat irons based on temperature settings, materials and construction, cost and value and customer reviews.

Hot, Hot Heat!

To begin with, temperature settings are a major difference between these two flat irons. The CHI Original comes with just one temperature setting – 370 degrees. On the other hand, the SOLIA features a range of temperature settings from 140 to 450 degrees.

So, what does this matter? Well, it seems that temperature settings vary for hair type. Based on the chart below, the CHI’s set temperature of 370 degrees may prove a bit weak for coarser hair types, but it seems that if you crank the SOLIA way up you can flatten and style even the thickest mane.

CHI – 0, SOLIA - 1

Materialistic

Ceramic? Tourmaline? What does that even mean? In terms of construction and materials, the obvious difference between CHI and SOLIA is tourmaline. The CHI Original uses ceramic plate technology which is non-damaging to hair, and provides even, moist heat and negative ions.

SOLIA also uses ceramic plates, in addition to the special ingredient, tourmaline, to improve upon professional flat irons. Tourmaline , a mineral, also considered a semi-precious stone, generates high levels of negative ions which enhance hair and produce far-infrared heat to dry hair from the inside out. This means even less damage and faster styling, even when hair is styled damp.

In short, while both irons offer less-damage than traditional aluminum plated irons, SOLIA edges out the win for using tourmaline.

CHI – 0, SOLIA - 2

Weigh In

Since both flat irons use cutting edge technology and construction to provide consumers with the fastest, non-damaging styling tool possible, it’s time to look even closer. The CHI Original weighs in at two pounds and SOLIA at one pound, making both irons fairly lightweight.

The use of ceramic technology means both irons heat quickly and maintain even heat throughout styling. Yet, SOLIA offers the Dynamic Alignment System, with the plates self-adjusting to provide perfect coverage of hair eliminating damage and pressure points. As of now, CHI lacks a comparable feature. Score another point for SOLIA – lighter weight and flexibility.

CHI – 0, SOLIA-3

Cost, Value and Warranty

Both CHI and SOLIA are higher end professional brands so neither of these flat irons comes cheap.

The list price of a CHI Original is around $100-190, but a quick Google search found a variety of lower prices all ranging between $70-80. Some of the retailers included Amazon, Folica and Misikko. Also, CHI irons only work in the USA and Canada due to 110 voltage, and cannot be used in foreign countries even with converters.

According to the CHI website, there is no warranty policy on flat irons purchased through the Internet, only a 1 year warranty for products bought in professional salons. Some sites offer up to a 1 year warranty on CHI products.

The SOLIA list price is $140 but is currently available for around $85 from Amazon and Folica. Unlike the CHI, the SOLIA flat iron has variable voltage (110-120) and can be used in a variety of locations.

Meanwhile, according to Folica, SOLIA just extended their warranty to 2 years on all products purchased on or after October 3, 2008. Good deal.

Originally I was going to give this round to CHI for being less expensive and more widely available for purchase, but the lack of a warranty on such an expensive item makes me a bit nervous. SOLIA wins again; a two year warranty is peace of mind for any customer.

CHI-0, SOLIA-4

The Customers Sound Off

I chose to examine the reviews on Folica.com to see what people are saying about the CHI Original and SOLIA Tourmaline Ceramic. Folica lists over 1000 reviews for each product, so I decided it was a good place to see customer likes and gripes.

In general, the CHI receives a rating of 4.14 out of 5 stars, and the SOLIA has 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Here’s some feedback on the CHI – Having read the first 10 pages of reviews on Folica, it seems that most CHI users really like their product. But, it seems most liked it - until it started having electrical troubles, like the iron failing to turn on or heating up. The other main complaint of CHI users is the lack of temperature control; some found the iron too strong for finer hair and felt it caused damage.

For the SOLIA, most customers seem to be ex-CHI users. The 10 pages of reviews for the SOLIA seem more positive and enthusiastic for the product than the CHI reviews. In fact, there didn’t seem to be any general negative comments about SOLIA. Then again, over 64% of the reviews on Folica rate SOLIA as 5 out of 5 stars or “The Best”.

CHI – 0, SOLIA – 5

And the Winner is…

The knockout winner for this showdown is SOLIA, because of the flat iron’s multiple temperature settings, tourmaline plates, sturdy construction, two-year warranty and overall customer enthusiasm. CHI takes second place being a possibly more affordable alternative that may suit some customers and hair types better than others.

For more information on both products, and to see where I got my information, visit Folica.com where you can buy both the CHI and SOLIA, or visit the brand homepages listed below.

http://www.chiretail.com/

http://www.soliabeauty.com/