The Top 5 Best Dry Shampoos
Dry shampoo is a summer staple, a must-have if you travel, and a lifesaver in all the worst hair situations.
Ever since I wrote How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?, I’ve received tons of emails and some comments wanting dry shampoo recommendations. Over the past few months, I’ve been on a quest to test them all out, and have finally decided on my top 5 favorites.
What is dry shampoo?
For those of you who don’t know, dry shampoo is a powder, usually in a spray can, that absorbs oil in your hair and leaves a fresh scent. It gets rid of greasy “second day” hair, adds volume, and makes hair look and smell fresh and clean, minus the need for water.
Why use dry shampoo?
There are a so many reasons why dry shampoo is amazing. First of all, if you’re blonde, dry shampoo is the best for getting rid of greasy hair and even lightening up your roots! Second, it’s perfect if you have damaged hair that you don’t want to shampoo every day. Daily shampooing, blow drying, and styling can stress your hair even more, causing extra damage and breakage. By shampooing only 3-4 times a week and using dry shampoo in between washings, your hair will be less damaged and prone to breakage. Third, it’s perfect if you travel or just wake up late and need to get ready fast. A quick spray and your hair will be good to go, no shower necessary.
The Top 5 Dry Shampoos
Cheapest option: Batiste Dry Shampoo
Don’t let the low-budget packaging fool you – this stuff is as good now as it probably was in the 80’s when they designed the label. Batiste Dry Shampoo comes in a bunch of scents, but I only tried Original and “Blush”. Original smells clean, lemony, and a little bit chemically, but once it’s on your hair the scent disappears. Blush smells powdery and floral, but not too overpowering. At only $5.99/can at Sally’s, Batiste is a budget-friendly dry shampoo that works well.
You can buy Batiste Dry Shampoo for $5.99 at Sally Beauty Supply.
Best scent: Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo
I’m in LOVE with the lemony scent of this dry shampoo! It’s definitely pricey, at $11 for a tiny bottle, but pricey is what you have to expect with Oscar Blandi. As far as results go, this worked just as well as the cheaper brands at eliminating oil and leaving hair looking fresh. If you only plan to use dry shampoo once in a while and want to splurge on something that smells amazing, you have to try Oscar Blandi.
You can buy Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo for $11 at Sephora.com.
Most fun: Lush Candy Fluff powder
This product isn’t technically labeled as a dry shampoo, but it works well as one. Candy Fluff powder contains a mix of cornstarch, talc, and gold sparkles, and smells super sweet, kinda like red swedish fish. You can use it as a shimmer powder for your body, or in your hair as a dry shampoo. Since it’s not in a spray can, it can definitely be a little messy to apply.
You can buy Candy Fluff powder for $11.25 at Lush.
DIY version: Baby Powder
If you don’t want to shell out the money for a dry shampoo, and want to use something you might have around the house, you can use baby powder instead. Just sprinkle some baby powder on your roots, turn your head upside down, and brush it out, and your hair will look and smell nice and fresh. If you can’t stand the baby powder scent, you can always buy unscented powder which works just as well.
Best overall: Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo
Klorane Dry Shampoo was my favorite of all the ones I tried. It’s definitely pricey and hard to find in stores, but it’s worth it for the scent, the fact that it’s natural, and how well it works. It makes hair look clean and fresh, but doesn’t build up or make hair look dull the way other dry shampoos can. Klorane is also great because it’s natural and contains fewer toxic ingredients than other products on the market. It’s also perfect for darker hair, as it doesn’t leave any white residue. Highly recommended!
You can buy Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo for $18 at Sephora.com.
Your thoughts?
You’ve seen my favorite dry shampoos, now I want to hear your recommendations. Do you use dry shampoo? If so, let me know which dry shampoo is your favorite in the comments section!
Filed Under: Beauty & Hair / Tags: Beauty, Dry Shampoo, Hair, Hair Products, Product Review, Sally Beauty Supply, Sephora, Shampoo, Travel
Would You Wear… a Visible Bra?
Here’s another trend for you guys to debate in this week’s installment of Would You Wear.
Celebrities, models, and style bloggers alike are jumping on a hot summer trend.. showing off a lacy bra under clothing. The visible bra look has been in and out for years, but it’s especially trendy right now, appearing in many a fashion editorial this season. It’s caught on with bloggers and celebs too: Rumi from Fashion Toast has been rocking this look constantly over the past few weeks, and just today Rihanna was spotted wearing a hot orange lacy bra under a cute button-down top in NYC.
Personally, I think this look is cute and fun for summer, so long as it’s worn the right way. A lacy bra worn under a loose, basic top is sexy and fashion forward, while a satin push up bra hanging out of a too-tight top is NOT. This trend has the potential to go very wrong, very fast, so it’s important to make an effort to wear it right if you’re going to attempt it.
What do you think? Would you rock a visible bra? Or will you leave this one to the models this summer? Do you think there’s a right and wrong way to wear this trend? Post a comment and let us know your thoughts.
Filed Under: Would You Wear? / Tags: Blogs, Bras, Celebs, Rihanna, Summer 2009, Underwear, Would You Wear?
Anna Sui for Target Lookbook
Anna Sui’s Gossip Girl-inspired collection for Target won’t launch until September, but it is already generating lots of buzz. In case you’re out of the loop, Anna Sui announced a few weeks ago that she will be doing a capsule line for Target, following in the footsteps of Alexander McQueen, and the line will be inspired by the four main female characters from Gossip Girl. The line will be available in Target stores and online September 13th through October 17th.
I know many of you are Gossip Girl fans, so I thought I’d update you on the latest with this line. When it launches in September, it will be a great chance to get some Gossip Girl style at budget-friendly prices!
If you’re curious about Anna Sui for Target, here’s your chance to check it out – I’ve posted the photos from the lookbook below. There are 19 looks in the collection, each inspired by one of the four main female Gossip Girl characters (Blair, Serena, Jenny, and Vanessa).
Here are the 19 looks sorted by character. (Thanks to New York Magazine fashion blog The Cut.) Check out the photos below and let me know what you think!
Click on each picture to enlarge.
Blair Looks:
Serena Looks:
Jenny Looks:
Vanessa Looks:
What do you think of Anna Sui for Target? Will you be picking up any of the pieces this fall? Which look is your favorite? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on this new line.
Filed Under: Fashion News / Tags: Anna Sui, Fashion News, Gossip Girl, Target
Coupons & Sales: Week of 6/26/09
Benefit Cosmetics is offering free shipping with any order – enter SET2SAIL at checkout (expires 6/28). You’ll also get free shipping with the purchase of any of their new lip glosses. Use the code LIPGLOSS at checkout (expires 6/30).
Urban Outfitters is having a sale -men’s and women’s graphic tees are $18 each, plus save an extra 15% on sale items (discount will apply at checkout, no code needed). The sale will be going on until 6/30!
Alloy.com is having a clearance sale too – dresses are on sale starting at $9.99, jeans are $14.99, and many other items are up to 80% off right now.
Nordstrom is offering 50% off women’s swimwear. If you still need a cute bathing suit, now is your chance to buy a nice one for cheap.
Onlineshoes.com is offering 20% off one regular-priced item, as well as an extra 15% on sale items. Use this link and the discount will automatically apply when you go to checkout. Some brand restrictions apply. (Expires 6/29.)
Bliss is offering 15% off all Bliss and Remede purchases with code 069911. Offer expires after 6/28.
Lucky Brand Jeans is having their twice yearly sale, with 50% off select jeans and other clothing. Also, every order over $125 ships for free. Offer ends 7/12.
New York & Company’s Summer Clearance Sale is going on now through 7/12. Clothes start at $9.99! Also, get 99 cent shipping when you spend $65 or more and use the code 1579 at checkout.
dELiA*s’s new clearance sale includes deals like dresses starting at $14.99, with many products up to 80% off! Also, get free shipping on orders over $75 with code DXGAFF (expires 7/3).
American Eagle’s summer clearance sale is still going, and there are TONS of cute dresses, tops, bikinis, and more on sale. I just bought a dress from them earlier today. It’s worth checking out!
Express‘ summer sale just got even better – now you can save up to 70% off PLUS take an additional 20% off clearance items! The sale will be going through 6/30.
Havaianas will give you free shipping when you purchase 2 pairs or more! This is rare for them, so it’s definitely worth taking advantage of.
Piperlime has new styles on sale as part of their 50% off Lime Tag sale! Shop now for the best selection.
YOOX.COM is offering free shipping on all orders! No code necessary. Ends 6/30 at midnight.
Bluefly has a new coupon for new customers: get $20 off your first order of $100+ with the code AFF20 (expires 7/31). If you’ve never shopped at Bluefly before, take advantage of this one for back to school shopping!
Here’s an offline sale you might want to check out: Zara kicked off its semi-annual sale yesterday in all stores across the US. The entire store is 50% off! Thanks to Lauren for the tip.
Have a great Friday/weekend! Hope you all save some money and score some fabulous finds! Don’t forget to post a comment if there are any sales or coupons I missed.
Filed Under: Coupons & Sales / Tags: Alloy, American Eagle, Benefit Cosmetics, Bluefly, Coupon Codes, Delias, Havaianas, Lucky Brand Jeans, New York & Company, Nordstrom, Online Sales, Piperlime, Sales, Urban Outfitters, Yoox.com, Zara
What to Wear on a Rainy Day
With the June gloom we’ve been experiencing across the US recently, I’ve received tons of emails from you guys wanting outfit ideas for rainy days.
It can definitely be tough to dress for a rainy day because there are so many things to consider. From what type of material you can wear (suede shoes are a no-go) to how to stay dry without sacrificing style, dressing well when it’s rainy out requires a little planning in advance.
Don’t worry, though! It’s easier than most people think to dress for a rainy day. Here are some rainy day fashion tips, as well as six outfit ideas for rainy days.
Rainy Day Fashion Tips
Add color! Don’t be scared to wear something bright and fun on a rainy day. Bad weather can be depressing, so why not go out of your way to wear something non-depressing and cute?
A cute umbrella can be an accessory. There are so many adorable and cheap umbrellas available at stores like Target, so there’s really no excuse to stick to basic black. Buy a couple in your favorite colors if you live in a really rainy area and use them to add color to your look.
Kids umbrellas are cheap, cute, and perfect for one person. I mentioned this in my article 25 Fashion & Style Tips to Brighten Your Day as well, and though I’d repeat the tip here. Why not save a little cash, have some fun, and buy a really ridiculous kids umbrella?
Don’t spend a lot on an umbrella. If you’re anything like me, you’ve lost more umbrellas than you care to remember. That’s why you should never spend much on them. Even if you aren’t prone to misplacing them, umbrellas still aren’t investment pieces – you don’t use them every day! So buy a cute one from Target and pleeeease skip the $250 Burberry version.
A classic trench coat is always perfect for rainy weather. There aren’t many inexpensive and cute trenches in stores right now as it’s summer, so I didn’t include many in the outfits below. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love them! The trench coat is SUCH a classic & essential piece that’s perfect for all occasions and especially rainy days.
Be careful of the materials you wear in rain. I’m sure you probably know this already, but just in case… Suede is off-limits in rain because water usually ruins it, and leather that hasn’t been treated with a protectant can easily be damaged by water as well. Don’t risk ruining your clothes – go with rubber, pleather, or protectant-treated leather shoes in rain and leave your favorite suede handbag at home.
At the same time, don’t worry too much about a 100% waterproof jacket. If you plan ahead and have your umbrella on hand, your jacket won’t get wet enough for waterproofing to matter.
Go crazy when it comes to rain boots. There are so many cute rain boots out there today to fit any sense of style – they literally come in every color under the sun. Have fun and find a pair you love! Much like umbrellas, you can go completely nuts with your rain boots and no one will mind.
6 Rainy Day Outfit Ideas
Outfit #1
When it rains in the summer, you can get away with rain boots paired with shorts, a tee, and cardigan. By forgoing jeans in favor of shorts, you avoid having soaked pants all day. In the outfit below, I added some color with a bright scarf.
Product Information: Cardigan – Forever 21, Tie-Dye Scarf – Aeropostale, Tee Shirt – American Eagle, Denim Cutoffs – Pacsun.com, Umbrella – Target, Rain Boots – Gabrielle Rocha, available at Zappos.com
Outfit #2
The inspiration for this look came about when I found the adorable umbrella with an NYC subway sign print and had to find a way to include it in an outfit! A plain black dress becomes more interesting layered under a mustard jacket (worn unzipped, of course), and pair of ultra trendy green Doc Martens.
Product Information: NYC Subway Sign Umbrella – Target, Dress and Jacket – Forever 21, Green Patent Doc Martens – Zappos.com
Outfit #3
This outfit would be perfect for a day when it’s REALLY raining. The jacket is a “Pac-a-Poncho” from TopShop, so it’s super waterproof. But unlike the typical ugly yellow poncho, this one actually has style. When paired with neutral grey rain boots and a bubble umbrella with a hint of pink, the overall look is functional and cute at the same time.
Product Information: Rain Boots – Target, Pac-a-Poncho – TopShop, Skinny Jeans – Charlotte Russe, Clear Bubble Umbrella – Target
Outfit #4
For those of you who love a classic trench coat, you can keep your rainy day outfit simple by pairing your trench with jeans, and bright rain boots of your choice. Honestly, that’s all you need. The heart shaped umbrella, of course, is a cute extra.
Product Information: Trench Coat – Miss Selfridge, Skinny Jeans – American Eagle, Heart Shaped Umbrella – Umbrellaheaven.com, Polka Dot Rain Boots – Target
Outfit #5
If you’re not the type to rock a typical rain boot, you can always wear regular boots with a bit of a heel. Layering a pretty, summery dress under a long-sleeved cardigan and 3/4 sleeve jacket will add dimension to your outfit as well as keep you dry. Add black tights and a simple umbrella and you’re set!
Product Information: Umbrella – TopShop, Jacket – Newlook.co.uk, Cardigan – TopShop, Boots – Nine West, available at Zappos.com, Dress – Pacsun.com, Footless Tights – TopShop
Outfit #6
Here’s a very simple outfit that you could throw on in 5 seconds and wear on a rainy summer day. A striped dress is a step above basic layered under a classic denim jacket. I added some cute pink rain boots, because, well, why not? If pink’s not your thing, you could always wear some basic black motorcycle boots instead. Oh, and how great is the cloud umbrella? Completely genius if you ask me.
Product Information: Denim Jacket – TopShop, Striped Tunic – TopShop, Umbrella – Target, Rain Boots – Tretorn Skerry, available at Zappos.com
What do you wear on rainy days?
Those are just some of my ideas for rainy day outfit possibilities. I’m sure you all have even better ideas for what to wear when the weather is bad!
So what do you usually wear on rainy days? Do you normally dress in dark colors or do you make an effort to brighten up the day with your outfit? Do you wear jeans or stick to skirts and shorts during the summer?
Filed Under: Fashion Tips / Tags: Boots, Ideas, Jackets, Outfits, Rain Boots, Rainy Day Fashion, Tips, Umbrellas, Weather
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