I’m so in love! I’ve been using Matrix Total Results Break Fix Leave-In Elixir for a few months now and I can’t say anything bad about it. I like to use it as a detangler. I apply it right after I towel dry my hair and then comb it through. It keeps my hair manageable and strong, so my strands don’t break while I’m detangling my hair. It’s a lightweight gel like liquid that melts right in and smells tropically fresh – like a fruity summertime cocktail! matrix better never ever discontinue this product – I’m hooked!

Matrix Total Results Break Fix Leave-In Elixir 16.5 oz around $16 at salons nationwide

Style your hair with ease with FHI Heat! Their 1″ Black Diamond Digital Hand Touch Ceramic Professional Hair Styling Iron lets you create effortless curls and waves or use it for a sleek straight look. It quickly heats up as soon as you pick it up and it’s easy color coded temperature display lets you know it’s ready for use with just a glance.

Temps by Hair Type:
Coarse, Thick Hair – Red Zone 410°F – 450°F (210°C – 232°C)
Wavy, Curly & Permed Hair – Blue Zone 356°F – 392°F (180°C – 200°C)
Fine or Normal Hair – Green Zone 266°F – 338°F (130°C – 170°C)

With a simple twist of the wrist, I was able to get gorgeous curly ends with straight roots. It glided smoothly through my hair with even heat throughout. It took my about 30 minutes to style my hair and during that time the iron stayed consistent and evenly heated – no creases and no hot spots. I also loved the heat resistant mat and carrying case that came with it.

Retail:$214

Here’s how to get your hands on one! Simply enter by using the Rafflecopter form below. Enter daily for more chances to win.
Good Luck!

Official Rules:
This giveaway will end Sunday April 28th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. It is only open to U.S. residents of the contiguous states who are at least 13 years old. All entries will be verified. The winner will be chosen using Random.org. The winner will be announced on Monday April 29th, 2013 on this post and will be immediately contacted via email. Once notified; the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

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It’s time for a style update! Spring is here and it’s time to freshen up your locks and do a little spring-cleaning on your face! The winter months can be harsh on our hair and our skin – so this is the perfect time to revive and gear-up for the warmer days to come.

The artistic team at Rush Croydon is a talented group of hair stylists and estheticians that will transform your look with cutting edge techniques and products.

Start off with an Elemis Modern Skin Facial – a purifying treatment loaded with vitamins that helps eliminate toxins, while rejuvenating your skin. An indulgent head, hand, and arm massage is also an added treat. This facial is sure to leave you with a glowing complexion!

Nourish your hair with a much needed hair treatment. The hair treatments used at Rush, deep condition your hair and helps damaged hair spring back into life.  Select locations also offer Shu Uemura ceremonies – it’s the ultimate hair pampering service!

Changing your hair color is another way to revamp your drab do’. It could be as subtle as strategically placed low lights and highlights or as transparent as a vibrant color change – think bright red! Finish it off with a cut and style for a sleek on-trend look.

Rush Hair Salon offers a wide range of services to choose from – including those already mentioned and other services like Brazilian Blow Dry, extensions, and massages. They have over 18 years of industry experience with various locations around the UK. They recently won Best London Hair Salon at The 2013 Hair Awards hosted by Hair Magazine.

Book an appointment with them online today! All first time clients get a 25% discount on their first booking – use code WEB25 at checkout. Cheers to looking beautiful!

(Photo courtesy of Rush Hair Salon)

Bangz Salon and Wellness Spa in Montclair, NJ is hosting their 2nd annual Face of Bangz Contest, a tri-state competition in which women can compete for the grand prize as well as be named the next face of Bangz!

Entries will be accepted from now through February 28, 2013. In addition, all entrants will receive 15% off of any salon or spa treatment. Ten finalists will be selected for a final online vote.

Go to www.bangz.net to upload a photo and in a short 100 word statement explain why you should be The Face of Bangz.  The statement should tell why beauty on the inside is important to you and which charity/community service project you support and why.  Entries must be received by February 28^th, 2013.

One Grand prize winner will be crowned as The Face of Bangz Salon & Wellness Spa for an entire year.  Her prize also includes a year of Bangz treatments valued at $1,500, $500 charity donation to the charity of her choice and appearances at Bangz Better World Foundation events. The four finalists will be awarded prize packages that include $100 gift cards to the salon and a $50 donation to the charity of their choice.

The top ten semi- finalists will be posted on www.bangz.net for open voting March 11-18th, 2013.   The five contestants with the most votes will be selected as finalists and invited to compete live in front of a judging panel at Bangz Salon & Wellness Spa in Montclair, at a date to be determined in April 2013.

Good Luck!

(Photo courtesy of Bangz)

I am amazed at how well Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Shampoo & Conditioners work. My parents live in Florida, so I visit them quite often. Since I like to travel light, I only fly with my carry on – which means I have to keep my liquids within the 3 oz.  limit. It’s my home away from home; so I don’t need to haul all my toiletries with me every time I go. I’ll admit I do miss my perfumes and skincare products while I’m there, but I get over it!

Once I got there, I set off to Target like I always do to pick up some beauty supplies to hold me over. To my surprise, the travel section didn’t have sulfate free shampoos, so disappointing! I had no choice but to head over to the shampoo aisle to see what I could find. Since I was only staying a few days, I didn’t want to spend a small fortune at Target getting things I already have at home. While scanning the shelves I came across the Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion line. This line is comparable to Kerastase products according to Suave. I had tried products from the Suave Professionals line before with happy results, so I figured I’d give it a try.

I went with the Color Care collection since I have color treated hair and do the Brazilian keratin treatment. The only thing I was hesitant about was the fact that these are “lower sulfate” shampoos, not sulfate free. However I decided to go ahead and give it a shot; I would only use it a few times anyway, so I thought what’s the worst that could happen!

This creamy pearlescent shampoo has a nice scent; it’s gentle but works up a great lather. My hair felt smooth after using it. The added keratin infuses to your hair and helps seal the cuticle. The conditioner was also a nice treat. It’s super creamy and conditions really well. After using it, my hair was easy to detangle and my hair was extremely soft once it completely dried. It was still smooth and soft days after and it had a nice shine to it too. This set really held me over while I was out there. It’s super inexpensive but surprisingly a great product. I’m glad I came across this; I might even consider using it on the regular, let’s see what happens!

Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Shampoo & Conditioner only $2.88 ea. at walmart.com

(Photo courtesy of suave.com)

Russell Organics 100% Argan Oil is a natural all-in-one oil that nourishes and moisturizes skin and hair. It’s versatile and loaded with vitamin E, omega-6 fatty acid and squalene – all of which are excellent moisturizers.

If you suffer from dry skin, then argan oil is a great addition to your winter skincare routine. I like to rub some into my dry elbows and knees. It absorbs quickly and keeps my skin soft throughout the winter months. Once the cold weather starts to kick in, my cuticles get dry and peel. Argan oil helps keep them in shape in between manis. I dab some on with a Q-Tip as needed. It also soothes and nourishes hair. After I detangle my hair, I always apply argan oil to the ends of my hair. It keeps my ends looking healthy and helps prevents splitting.

Russell Organics Argan Oil $28

(Photo courtesy of Russell Organics)

Check out my Fitness Magazine interview with the bold & beautiful Laila Ali! Laila Ali on Boxing and Beauty

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(Photo courtesy of Fitness Magazine)

Redken Extreme promises to strengthen your hair from the inside and out so you can have strong hair that can withstand anything. It’s been reformulated with Redken’s exclusive Interlock Protein Network – it helps deliver protein to the core of your hair and Fortifying Complex which rebuilds your hair’s outer layer. Cermide has also been included to help repair extensive damage.

Redken Extreme Shampoo – It’s a creamy white shampoo with a gentle lather. It doesn’t leave your hair dry and brittle like some shampoos. If you have oily roots, I would suggest you not use this shampoo. Stick to a clear shampoo to reduce oiliness. This is perfect for those with extremely dry hair or ultra blonde dyed hair.

Redken Extreme Conditioner – This is a nice cream conditioner. It helps restore strength and helps detangle hair. Hair feels softer and more manageable after using it.

Redken Extreme Strength Builder Plus – This deep conditioning mask is loaded with cermide to help repair severely damaged hair. It’s a thick light blue cream that kind of smells like children’s fruity toothpaste (Weird, I know!) All smells aside, my hair felt wonderful after using it.My hair looked healthier and shinier. My ends even look better too. I know that some people are disappointed that Extreme Deep Fuel was replaced by this. I never got a chance to use Extreme Deep Fuel, so I can’t say if this is better or worse – but what I can say is that I like it.

(photo courtesy of Redken)

It’s Spa Week! Yay!

Check out my latest Fitness Magazine Beauty on the Go Blog Post

Treat Yourself: Your Guide to Some of Spa Week’s Hottest Deals!

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It’s Salon Week! This is your chance to experience service at top industry salon for less.

Participating salons from New York, New Jersey and Boston are offering services at half off their regular price. High-end Salons like Arrojo, Ted Gibson and Sassoon are all taking part in this fabulous event.

Salon Week runs from Oct 1st -  Oct 7th.

Visit SalonWeek.com for more information and to find out what salons are participating near you.

Hopefully this event will be nationwide by next year!