Living proof. Perfect Hair Day set

Smooth hair, don't care

You've been saving your points for months for Sephora's second instalment of #epicrewardsday, and instead was greeted with SOLD OUT and generic customer service tweets in response to your repeated cries for being hoodwinked. Despite my best efforts in refreshing my web browser, sleep reigned supreme, and I figured waking at 5:30 last Tuesday morning would suffice -- surely something would be left, right?

And then the stories trickled in about shopping carts being emptied as you shopped; clearly your mouse clicking skills were not up to par, that, or the Sephora 'bots preyed on the responsible consumer who deleted their credit card details from their account after a random purchase at Homegoods last year resulted in having their identity stolen. You get the gist.

Back to the banked points. You could complain (which I whole-heartedly think you should), and then cash 500 of them in for Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day set.

Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day set

This five piece set, complete with Jen's lovely mug, is the prescription you'd be willing to forge a signature for -- the shampoo, conditioner and 5-in-1 Styling Treatment work together to smooth, volumise, condition, strengthen and polish every strand of hair.  The Prime Style Extender Spray, created specifically for people with fine hair (hallelujah), promises to extend any style two times longer thanks to its hidden shield (technical term: the reverse Pig Pen) that repels dirt and oil from your freshly styled tresses. Then there's the wicked cute (sorry, recovering Mass-hole here) shower cap which you can use between hair washing.

J.A. has the MIT scientists and Chris McMillian on speed dial; as for the meer mortals, myself included, will have to continue to work hard on our P.h.D. at home.

Still licking your wounds from Sephora's #epicrewards #epicfail? Living Proof's online store carries the Perfect Hair Day travel kit for $29 USD or you could always hit up Nordies.

Straight to the Principal's office: Kerastase's Discipline

Kerastase's latest release: Discipline

Goody two shoes here reporting from the Principal’s office for flunking Hairology. I was recently written up by Claire for over washing, so I reformed my ways to please my teacher and then Kerastase dropped the gauntlet. I’ve been told it’s time for a little Discipline.

Finding good stuff that works for my hair has been a long and arduous uphill battle, so much that I once likened myself to Sisyphus pushing his oversized boulder. How does one fight frizz, enhance shine, reach voluminous heights (not the Snookie sort) and minimise the amount of time spent wielding a hairdryer? These pressing thoughts plagued me for years until I once and for all kicked drugstore hair care brands to the curb or is it kerb?

My Hairology chart

What’s changed? Well, Kerastase’s Discipline range unexpectedly made its way to my doorstep a few weeks back and I really haven’t questioned its arrival. In fact, the shampoo, conditioner and masque have become permanent fixtures in the shower.

Now that I wash my hair every other day, I always double cleanse. The first wash aims to get rid of the dirt, sweat and any other environmental nasties. As for the second wash, it takes advantage of the ingredients in Bain Fluidealiste (shampoo), specifically Morpho-Keratin. I like to think of Morpho-Keratin as the hair shaft smoother/perfector.

Once my hair feels properly clean, I then massage a small amount of Fondant Fluidealiste (conditioner) from the mid-lengths to the ends and allow it to work its magic while I wash my face and body. Fondant Fluidealiste protects the hair and further enhances manageability and shine.

Time for the piece de resistance, Kerastase’s Maskeratine – this masque is the weekly pit-stop my hair looks forward to the most. After (double) washing and conditioning, I work in a dime sized amount of product making sure to start from the roots to avoid weighing my hair down. I swear this stuff is an uptown version of Silkience, a hair conditioner P-Cakes bought in bulk when Gillette stopped making it.

Have my Hairology marks improved? Well, when it comes to managing my frizzy, fine, wavy hair I can confidently say I made the grade (well, my hair did). My mane remains soft and shiny for well over 48 hours, it takes less time to style and the greasy second day hair is no more. Does this mean my days of homework are over?

My freshly styled locks

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Kerastase Discipline:

• KÉRASTASE DISCIPLINE BAIN FLUIDEALISTE - $42.00 AUS / $39.00 USD

• KÉRASTASE DISCIPLINE FONDANT FLUIDEALISTE - $48.00 AUS / $42.00 USD

• KÉRASTASE DISCIPLINE MASKERTINE - $60.00 AUS / $62.50 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 9 out of 10 bags — For every morning I don't have to stress about styling my hair, makes the expense totally worth it.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• The Fluidissime (finishing spray) could so be the cherry on top.

*PR sample provided  –  Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.

My current hair routine

Kevin Murphy's Plumping Wash and Rinse and Kerastase's Elixir Ultime Sublime Cleansing Oil Shampoo

When I visited my hairdresser last month, she had two requests:

1. Stop washing my hair every day
2. Quit being a commitment-phobe by regularly switching haircare brands

Second day hair really isn't my thing, but I'd like to tip my hat off to dry shampoo, inside out braids and ponytails for helping to mask what I feel can sometimes be a hideous situation. It'll take some getting used to, but I'll get there. If Claire asks me to go three days without washing, I might just sob.

Now the second request was admittedly tough, because I had loads of shampoos and conditioners cluttering the floor of my shower from attending various hair events and PR send outs. I'm not complaining at all, but the copious amounts of product far exceeds my precious head of hair. With Claire's assistance I streamlined my haircare routine and in the process, I may've kicked a few things to the kerb.

Kevin Murphy's Plumping Wash (Shampoo) and Rinse (Conditioner) - I picked these babies up last month and haven't looked back. The scent is sweet, yet smoky with a tinge of earthiness from the ginger root. Although, Scott told me my 'fresh from the shower' hair smelled like popcorn - go figure?! The absence of sulphates and parabens means you'll never reach a proper suds session in the shower and that's ok, because my hair feels properly clean, silky and fuller.

Here's what Kevin has to say about this plumping duo:

Nettle Extract 
High in iron with stimulating properties, this extract reduces DHT. It is rich in Vitamins A and C, and a wide range of minerals including Iodine, Silicon, and Sulfur. It is a powerful source of amino acids that the hair follicles require for proper growth. It’s stimulating qualities also help increase the microcirculation to the scalp.

Ginger Root Extract 
High levels of zinc counteract DHT levels making this extract a growth accelerator and also reducing hair loss.

Oleanolic Acid from Lovely Hemsleya root 
Fights follicle ageing by fortifying the roots. It’s anti-inflammatory properties aid in reversing and preventing the damage caused by DHT.

Kerastase's Elixir Ultime Cleansing Oil Shampoo - A luxe PR send out I jumped at the chance to try. This stuff is crazy expensive, like wicked expensive, so much that I've never purchased anything from Kerastase; let's just say their prices will make your eyes roll to the back of your head. 

This shampoo is pure liquid gold, a treat I look forward to when it's time to give my hair a proper washing. Sometimes I'll start with Kevin Murphy's Plumping Wash and then follow it up with Elixir Ultime Cleansing Oil Shampoo. I figure why not, because both brands suggest a double wash. Think peanut butter and jelly or peanut butter and chocolate - they just make sense. This cleansing oil is infused with four oils (argan, camellia, maize and pracaxi) which work together to cleanse, condition, strengthen and protect your hair.

Whenever you look at this bottle, I want you to picture boxing gloves because it "floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee."

Sporting a fresher 'do

My hair will never be as lush as it once was prior the great fallout of 2010, but I do feel a glimmer of hope every time I spy whispy strands hovering about like a halo.