Frizzy hair is my life-long enemy, and I used to have keratin straightening treatments to tame it. I loved the fact that I could wash and wear my hair (especially in summer when it's usually too hot to blowdry for 40 minutes) and when it dried it felt much softer than before. It's been about a year since I last had keratin and the hair-straightening business has undergone some big changes in that time due to the debate over the levels of formaldehyde in the formula.
This week I sought to eliminate frizz once again and tried out the curl-relaxing treatment by Australian-owned brand bhave. The formaldehyde-free in-salon service claims to smooth hair and relax waves rather than "straighten", which is perfect for me as I have naturally BIG curly hair but have never been a fan of the poker-straight look.
I went to the Alan Coban salon in Bondi and the hairdresser shampooed my hair before applying the treatment - a mix of keratin, argan oil, collagen and silk amino acids - to small sections. After this I was left for just 12 minutes before my hair was blowdried. The each small section was straightened using a hot iron (180 degrees) to "melt" the formula into my hair. I won't lie - by this stage my hair had a straw-like feel to it, however I only had to keep it in for 24 hours, not three days like the original version, plus it didn't smell bad at all. To extend the life of my treatment I took home bhave sulphate-free products to care for my hair including a shampoo for blonde hair to even out brassiness.
The next day I got up, shampooed my hair twice, put in the new intensive treatment for five minutes then applied conditioner. I then just blowdried it for 10 minutes using a paddle brush to get the knots out (no sectioning or round brush required!). The result? Sleek, shiny and super-soft hair without any frizz in sight! - Michelle
Bobbi Brown Neons & Nudes Ultra Nude Eye Palette
It takes something wonderful to knock my Dior 5 Couleurs from its number-one spot in my list of favourite eyeshadow palettes. And when I say favourite, I mean it’s the only palette I ever used – until now. This limited edition Bobbi Brown palette features the perfect six shade of browns and neutrals. Without even trying (OK, maybe I was trying a little), I was easily able to create a multi-tonal eye shadow look, which was both natural and edgy at the same time. Love, love, love this palette. I’ll definitely be making this a staple in my make-up bag. - Lucy
When I hear the name Jimmy Choo, I instantly think of Carrie Bradshaw and her fabulous shoe collection. Maybe that’s why I was a little taken back and intrigued to see a fragrance with his name on it. Then I started thinking, surely, if a man is so in tune with what women want when it comes to beautiful style, he would also know a thing or two about a woman’s desire when it comes to smelling beautiful.
I was right. The scent is ultra feminine, clean, fruity and floral and the packaging is instantly appealing with its textured pale pink snakeskin-print box. - Bree
Got to love a quick fix hair product that’s small enough to fit in your purse. Tigi Bed Head Sugar Dust is an invisible micro-texture root powder that works both like a dry shampoo and helps give hair extra lift. It’s super easy to use – simply sprinkle into your roots to absorb oil and tease for added lift, or apply it throughout your hair for extra layers of texture. Being a little lazy when it comes to my hair, I’m loving the current boom in dry shampoo products that extends my blow-dry that little bit longer. - Yelena
