White Sands Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner

A few weeks ago I was sent bottles of White Sands moisturizing shampoo and moisturizing conditioner to try out, then write about.  I was given the formula for dry/normal hair.

Even before the first use, I liked that the products were sulfate and silicone free.  The moisturizing shampoo and conditioner says it is ideal  for hair ‘that has become delicate from UV exposure, salon services, and hot tools.’  That?   Would be me.  Between frequently dying my hair, blow drying it and using the flat iron I do enough damage all on my own.  Not to mention in the warmer weather when I spend half of my day outside in the sun without a hat.

I opened the bottles and they smelled pleasant enough, but it’s a faint smell.  It’s not all overwhelming herbal essence-like on you.  I have to say that at first, that disappointed me.  I did not realize how accustomed I had gotten to waiting for that waft of perfume to hit me as I shampoo my hair, no matter what the brand these days… and believe me I am always switching brands.

I will be completely honest here.  The very first time I used White Sands shampoo and conditioner I was not only not impressed, but I had decided that I did not even like it.  I thought it made me hair feel … different in a way I could not place.  So I judged it right then and there and I was ready to write this up as a flop.  Then a few days later I received a second package from White Sands with another bottle of shampoo and conditioner.  I took that as a sign that maybe I should give this another go and try again.

By the second or third time I washed my hair I realized I was really starting to like this shampoo and conditioner.  After blow drying I actually started to feel like my hair was not only feeling smoother, but looking nicer.  I have now been using the products for almost two weeks and I am very pleasantly surprised.  I’m glad I didn’t give up on it after just one use because I have a feeling it took a few washes to get whatever junk was already in my hair from the other shampoo and conditioner I had been using, out of it.

On the White Sands website the shampoo retails for $12 at the 7.6oz bottle or $28 for the 33.8oz bottle.  The conditioner retails for $15 for the 7.6oz bottle or $34 for the 33.8oz bottle.  On Amazon.com you can purchase both the 7.6oz shampoo and conditioner as a combo for $26.98.  While I have never been a girl to stick by just one brand of shampoo and conditioner, I have a feeling I will be sticking with this one for the foreseeable future.  It just makes my hair feel good!

Disclaimer: I was not paid to endorse this product, it was however sent to me in exchange for an honest review.

Garnier Fructis Blow Dry Perfector brings peace to my world

Hi, I’m Becky, known as Ms Batman around the internet.  I have my own blog over at Welcome to my life.  When Britt asked for contributors here at Buy-Her, I jumped at the chance.  See I am a single mom trying to raise two daughters who are bound and determined to be divas extraordinaire.  That usually amounts to a shopping list of wants and needs that far exceeds the length and depth of my bank account.  So, when this opportunity came up I saw the chance to help my friend Britt out, *and* buy some of those things on the girls’ ever growing wish list.   This way I could justify every purchase I make by saying “I need it for Buy-Her”.  Also? It’s an amazing way to get to work with my friend Britt.  Win-win for me I’d say.

My youngest daughter, Megan, has been blessed with my hair.  Well, at least the hair of my youth.  It is thick, and course, and frizzy, and unruly, and 10 days out of 10 ends up in a pony tail or a bun, out of her face.  She has beautiful hair after a blow out and it’s been flat ironed.  The problem becomes, it takes well over an hour to do all her hair.  Neither of us have the time or the patience for that every night without wine and or Xanax.

That’s when I found it.  The promise of beautiful hair *and* peaceful nights.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfector.

The box claims it’s a 2-step smoothing kit that

• Tames frizz
• Stays smooth & shiny
• Easier, faster blow dries
• Lasts up to 7 shampoos.

For a reasonable price, (and one evening given up to chemicals, hair driers, and flat irons and wine) my baby, who’s 10, can have straight, smooth, sleek, shiny, manageable hair that won’t end up in a pony tail every single day.

It’s a simple process, much like coloring your hair, with the exception of starting with clean wet hair (shampoo, don’t condition).  Using the gloves (enclosed) coat hair with the 20-Minute Smooth-It Serum.  Beware, there is a slight chemical smell, but it is not over powering.

When the 20 minutes have elapsed, rinse your hair thoroughly and then apply enough of the Heat Activated Perfect-It Cream to lightly coat your hair from roots to tips.  Heat is required to activate the product, so you will want to blow dry your hair.  The product also recommends to ‘thoroughly smooth hair straight with a flat iron to achieve long-lasting results.”

We followed the directions, which for me were simple enough as I color my hair fairly regularly but for Megan the 20 minute wait was an eternity.  The blow out and flat iron treatment were close to torture for her as she hates both, but I kept promising her this would eliminate them from her life for a while if she would just. hold. still.

When all was said and done last night her hair was in fact smoother and straightened and looked absolutely beautiful (yes, mommy goggles were on).  But we had also just completed blowing it out and straightening it with a flat iron.  The true test came this morning when she got up.  What would her hair be like this morning?

She got up this morning and her hair was still straighter than usual, and smoother.  5 minutes with the flat iron on the top layer of hair and she was good to go out the door today.  With her hair not. in. a. ponytail.

Please be aware this is not a permanent hair straightener (says so right on the box) and you will have to blow out and flat iron your hair even with this product.  This just makes it faster and easier to do both and get smooth shiny hair.

You can get Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Blow Dry Perfector at Amazon, or at Target (where I found it).

How To Straighten Curly Hair – A Video

While I am an advocate of embracing your natural hair texture, especially if you’ve been blessed with naturally curly hair, I am also a fan of the infamous Spice of Life: variety.

And that, my friends, is why I did a little happy dance when I figured out how to straighten my curly hair in less than 30 minutes.

If you can’t see this video, click here to watch it on YouTube.

Products listed after the jump.

Read more