Exploring : hair

Mandy Moore, Heidi Klum, and Jessica Lowndes (shown here) have used Biolustré …so I thought I’d give this 4-step hair-care system ($50) a shake. The folks at Biolustre obliged and sent a sample right away! Here’s what the award-winning kit contains:

Release Cleansing Shampoo: A gentle, low PH cleansing shampoo designed to remove excess oils and product build-up. My cents: This shampoo suds up quite well—a little goes a long way!

Revive Repair Treatment: A unique formula clinically proven to repair hair to a near virgin condition, restoring softness, shine and strength. My cents: One treatment is all it took for me to notice a much healthier mane.

Restore Maintenance Treatment Shampoo: An innovative that delivers low levels of polymers to provide added strength and shine to hair. My cents: Not sure if my shinier strands are the work of Repair Treatment or this shampoo, but no matter—I’m digging the shine!

Renew Daily Conditioning Sealant: A lightweight conditioner formulated with ingredients including mint and tea tree oil for a soothing sensation. Renew is designed to help smooth the hair cuticle and seal in moisture. My cents: I really feel the tea tree oil working on my scalp. The formula is luxuriously thick.

Now four steps seems a tad daunting, but the great thing about this Intense Repair Kit is that you can save time by occasionally skipping a couple of steps (sometimes I stick to just the Release Cleansing Shampoo and the Renew Daily Conditioning Sealant).

Overall, this restorative set is worth the fifty bucks—especially if you have desperately damaged hair.

What measures do you take to repair damaged ‘dos?

Hello, Lady…or should I say, Hello, Kitty? Lady Gaga poses as Hello Kitty to celebrate the world’s most beloved feline’s 35th birthday. The photos—which appear in a special edition of Ms. G’s debut album The Fame—feature the songstress with eyelids painted as big cartoon doe eyes and pink-streaked hair donned with a big plush red bow. 

What do you think of these playful pics?

If you’re looking to play the part of Hello Kitty, here’s what you need.

Photos: Daily Mail

Celebrities like Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, and Halle Berry credit their luscious locks to the Brazilian Blowout, a wildly popular in-salon treatment that smoothes frizz and tames unruly curls. Richie even raved about the keratin-rich treatment on her blog. Five to six months of smooth, hassle-free hair might be worth the $300-$500 and the four-hour trip to the salon to some. But for those of you who aren’t prepared to set aside that kind of time and money, luckily there is a DIY treatment that promises to produce similar results.

Keratin, the main ingredient in the Brazilian Blowout, is protein rich in amino acids naturally found in skin, nails, and hair. The Liquid Keratin Kit— which includes the treatment, shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner—packs the main ingredient into the take-home bottles, promising frizz-free hair for 30 days. The starter kit sets you back $70—a far cry from $300 but still a bit pricey.

What lengths would you go to for smooth locks? Tell us what you hair care treatment you can't live without.

Photo Credit: Russ Einhorn / Splash News

A few weeks ago I had the end all, be all of tragic hair debacles: I burned my hair. Not just the daily heat damage we all deal with and dread, but actual smoke and the toxic smell of shriveled up locks. My flat iron was too hot and I foolishly didn’t use any heat-protecting product. I know, I know, rookie mistake. Since then, I’ve been on the search for products that will sooth, smooth, and tame my abused locks. There is a silver lining to my crispy mane: This accident has provided a crash course in smoothers, frizz busters, and moisturizers. Check out my arsenal of damage control products as well as some popular products from the community.

And take it from this burn victim: Exercise flat iron safety and always use a heat primer before styling your hair.

Is that Cousin Itt? No, it’s high fashion, obviously! Celebrity hair stylist Charlie Le Mindu’s Spring/Summer fashion show took hair extensions to new lengths as models prowled the runway literally wearing hair. Some styles inspired a Lady Gaga getup, others reminded onlookers of mythical woodland creatures. Perhaps these shots of furry models will have you scampering to the nearest salon for a trim—or even a shave—or you could channel the mastermind behind these hairy styles and add some length yourself. Just be sure to use these extensions for your locks and leave the hair lips for the runway…or Lady Gaga.

Photo Credit: Entertainment Press/ Splash News