BlackStyleFile

BSF Beauty Review: Pantene Curly Hair Series Dry to Moisturized Shampoo

 
 
 

Product:  Pantene® Pro-V® CURLY HAIR SERIES DRY TO MOISTURIZED™ SHAMPOO

They Say: "Pantene’s shampoo, with targeted moisturizers, helps seal and smooth cuticle edges to define curls and control frizz. Pantene’s unique shampoo & conditioner system replenishes hair from root to tip to help regulate your dry hair’s natural moisture balance.Gentle enough for color-treated or permed hair."

Tichanda Says: On my natural curls, anything with sodium laurel sulfate (the chemical that causes lather) is usually a no no, but I have always been a fan of Pantene products and I was sent the latest products from the Curly Hair Series by Harper's Bazaar to try and review. Upon applying the shampoo and massaging it into my wet hair I noticed the fresh scent, and the creamy foamy suds that appeared. I clearly could have used less product.

After a few minutes of working the shampoo through my curls i was ready to rinse. I could tell I was going to need a lot of conditioner after my rinse because the slip of my hair changed from slick to stiff. My hair qas squeaky clean but it felt stripped of all moisture. Yikes! The good news is that my next step was the Pantene® Pro-V®
DEEP MOISTURIZING TREATMENT. After applying a heap of the treatment my hair soaked it up and returned to moisturized manegable state.

Take Away Tip: I wouldn't use this shampoo daily for natural hair. Once a week as part of a regimen that includes deep conditioning as well as a moisturizer is probably best. 

BSF Launch: SoftSheen-Carson® Professional redefines the relaxer with Optimum Advanced

 

On Tuesday BSF had the privilege of sitting in on a presentation for the launch of the next generation of SoftSheen-Carson® Professional relaxing and styling products called Optimum Advanced.

 

Typically media and press event are crowded, loud and over the top, but this launch was small and intimate. Set in a sleek studio, branded with the logo, colors and informational videos - no detail was overlooked. It set the stage for a truly different conversation surrounding hair straightening and overall hair care.  

This model had a relaxer 3 weeks ago and the stylist used only the Flexible Holding Spray to finish the look. The cute bob had lots of body, movement and a brilliant sheen.

Anyone who has had a perm, or who has seen the 2009 documentary "Good Hair' by Chris Rock may be a bit skeptical about relaxers in general. And if you are like me, a black woman with natural curls that haven't been permanently straightened for more than 6 years, you might be even more hesitant to entertain the idea of another relaxer being introduced to the market. 

However, I have to say I was truly impressed with what I saw. And it wasn't just because they served me some pretty good hors d'oeuvres! Here's why:

• The Optimum Advanced Keratin Whipped Crème Relaxer System features a patented and advanced technology which they call Smart Lye. It uses 25 percent less Sodium Hydroxide* for significantly reduced damage and healthier hair.

• Sure 'Smart Lye' sounds like an oxymoron, but the company claims the relaxer works evenly on each strand to optimize application timing, allowing stylists to relax with control and still achieve maximum straightness. The lye acts like a "GPS system" and attaches only to the parts of the hair that need straightening. This limits breakage and avoids over processing the hair shaft.

• Each step in the relaxing system is infused with patented Pro-Keratin TM Complex and Oil Infusion, a blend of argan and coconut oils.

• It actually smells good! No rotten egg, perm smell here. That alone makes it worth a try!

 Model Maya Haile sports a beautifully sculpted up do with shiny hair that was smooth and soft to the touch.

“Optimum Advanced has the lowest levels of Sodium Hydroxide, which significantly reduces damage and protects the health of the hair," said Johnny Wright, Celebrity Stylist and Artistic Style Director.

“It gives better hair fiber integrity which, as a stylist, means more styling options. It’s as simple as that.”

  Johnny Wright - Celebrity Stylist and SSC Artistic Director, Angela Guy- Senior VP and General Manager of SSC and Shannon King - Director of Education of SSC.

The system which launches Spring 2011 consists of:

1. Keratin Whipped Crème Relaxer
2. Ceramide Gel Scalp Protector
3. Keratin and pH Recovery Crème Conditioner 
4. Keratin Recovery Neutralizing Shampoo 
5. Keratin Sealing Leave-In Conditioner.+ Oil Infusion™technology

The Oil Infusion styling products include a High Gloss Shine Spray and Flexible Holding Spray, and will be available exclusively to professional stylists through Full Service Distributors beginning April 2011.

The Optimum Advanced product line.

In celebration of the pending launch, Soft Sheen Carson will be participating in numerous trade shows and events around the country.

They will also be offering education opportunities for stylists and are currently offering salons a chance at winning a makeover by the Soft Sheen Carson Style Squad.

For more information on events and promotions please visit the Soft Sheen Carson Professional website . 

 Screen shot from newly launched website

 

BSF EVENT: Mizani Launches a Supreme Oil for all hair types

 

 
Last night BSF attended the launch of Mizani's Supreme Oil in New York City's West Village. The event was great and featured live styling demonstrations in addition to the cocktails and yummy hors d'oeuvres. The models that were featured  hair types that ranged from the naturally curly to bone straight. 

The Supreme Oil is a 99% naturally-derived formula with 8 natural oils (sesame, jojoba, almond, avocado, apricot, olive fruit, sunflower and argan oils) that is silicone, mineral oil and paraben-free. Throughout the event, there were question and answer sessions and the opportunity to get up close and personal with the models and stylists to get their take as well. Representatives even massaged the oil into our hands so we could feel how light and smooth it was. The extra perk? The scent is amazing!

  Jade sports a natural twist out fro with straightened sides. 

I chatted with Jade, the model that had the curliest hair and sported a fly twist-out. As a curly girl myself, I had a number of questions I wanted to ask her. During the demos she had the sides of her hair flat ironed. I wondered if the oil weighed down the hair that had been straightened. I find that oil on my hair makes it fall flat and leaves me with zero body. Jade assured me that the oil was light enough to use and didn't compromise volume and movement. I touched her locks and admit the hair did not feel limp or greasy. The curly hair was soft and had just the right amount of sheen.

Of course everyone has a different type of hair so, I will be testing out the samples I received and reporting back my personal experience to BSF. One cool thing about Mizani is their dedication to finding the right balance (Mizani means "Balance"in Swalhili) for any hair type - especially natural hair. Visit their website for a quick curl assessment and see what products from their collection suit you best. Mizani is sold only in professional salons, so locate the one near you via their salon locator at Mizani USA.

 The Mizani Natural Curl Key. I'm Type V - what type are you?

Check out more pics from the event below:

Celebs hit Chicago for a good cause

 

 
Niecy Nash

 SoftSheen-Carson produced their signature Roots of Nature “Picture of Strength,” event in Chicago on September 25, 2010 - a full and exciting day of beauty and charity, bringing the community together and celebrating our strong roots. 

The event was hosted by Niecy Nash with special performances by music artist, Ameriie and an appearance by celebrity hairstylist Johnny Wright. Check out pics and a video fom the event!

SoftSheen-Carson Celebrity Stylist Johnny Wright and Niecy Nash

 Ameriie
 

Naomi Campbell plans fashion show for Haiti relief

Naomi Campbell called on the fashion world to do its part for the Haiti relief effort -- and the fashion world answered: There will be a charity catwalk show pairing top models and designers at New York Fashion Week.

Campbell organized the first Fashion for Relief event at the Bryant Park tents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and has since taken it to Tanzania and Mumbai, India. The return to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Feb. 12 comes at the right time, Campbell said.

"Everyone else is trying to help Haiti, and we wanted to do our part on the fashion side of things," Campbell said in a telephone interview from Paris. "The response has been overwhelming. No one has said `no' -- which means a lot because it's such a busy time with designers preparing their fall collections."

The event is still coming together, but Campbell said she had called upon her friends, including Christy Turlington and the Duchess of York, asking them to participate. Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is putting together the looks, and designer Marc Jacobs has already created a special Louis Vuitton handbag, one of many items that will go on sale on the Net-a-Porter Web site March 15, with proceeds going to the organization CARE.

Tickets will go on sale to American Express cardmembers Friday through Ticketmaster.

via www.businessweek.com

Ted Gibson's Marathon Makeover

If Kim Kardashian is the most Googled reality tv star, Kate Gosselin and her new do can't be far behind. The TLC star bid her, husband, her tv show and 2009 good riddens -and rang in 2010 with a new look and a new attitude. She didn't do it alone, however and it wasn't quick, cheap, or easy to let go of the hair that helped make her famous.

With the help of What Not to Wear'sstylist Ted Gibson, Kate went from short and spiky to long and luscious after a 20 hour marathon hair session that cost more than 5,000. Stylelist.com reported the following comments from Gibson:

"We needed to change Kate's color first before we did anything else. Then the extensions were the next step. After that I cut her hair into shoulder length, layered it and cut bangs."

 "We stayed awake and laughed the whole time," Gibson told StyleList. "Kate is very funny and we had lots to talk about. Besides I was with my team, Jason Back color, Nancy Jiminion hair extensions and Ronnie Dietrich assistant. We had a ball," 

Want the look for less? You can do it for yourself since Gibson sells his high quality clip on extensions at his site tedgibson.com

New E-zine celebrates teen beauty and self esteem

There is a new e-zine for black girls who have failed to find their images and their issues on the local newstand. SunKissedGirlz.com which launched this month was founded by Dr. Yanique Redwood  and her 13-year old daughter Alana Jones in response to the lack of media celebrating the unique beauty of African-American girls. The website will feature beauty and fashion articles, blogs, online games, an advice column, and an online radio show.

The website also heavily emphasizes natural hair, encouraging girls to be proud of their roots and with the release of Chris Rock's documentary Good Hair  - Sunkissedgirlz.com hopes to provide a new, safe place for young girls to receive advice, support, and natural hair and beauty tips.

"Sunkissed Girlz is the answer to Chris Rock's daughter's question: Daddy, how come I don't have good hair?" said CEO Dr. Yanique Redwood. "We say very loudly through our website that you do have good hair. It's curly, fuzzy, kinky, wavy, short, long, or in-between, but it's all good hair. And be proud of it," she added.

Thirteen-year old Alana adds that, "There are very few girls who look like me in teen fashion magazines. Every time my mom and I try to find a magazine for me, none of the girls look like me. We created Sunkissed Girlz so that African-American girls can have a space of our own to talk about fashion and beauty."

The mission of Sunkissed Girlz is to ensure that every African-American girl sees herself in popular media in a way that builds and supports a strong healthy self-esteem. More information about the website is available at www.sunkissedgirlz.com.

Skin Deep - Black Hair, Still Tangled in Politics

Silky straight hair has long been considered by many black women to be their crowning glory. So what if getting that look meant enduring the itchy burning that's a hallmark of many chemical straighteners. Or a pricey dependence on creamy crack, as relaxers are sometimes jokingly called.

via www.nytimes.com

The good hair /bad hair debate amongst black people is as old as hair itself. Spike Lee's new movie attempts to shine light on the subject with a humorous look but does it scrape the surface or get skin deep? This article explores why this topic is still newsworthy and why no matter how much it is discussed the "Why" may never truly be understood.

Target + Ted Gibson = :o)

Run - Don't walk to Target to get your hands on Ted Gibson's line of hair and beauty products. If you follow Ted and his eponymous salon you know fabulous tresses do not come cheap. Lucky for us many of his products are priced just right.

The Goodnight Replenish Serum is the priciest at $99.00, however his must-have Hair Sheets are less than $15. They are perfect for refreshing your hair in-between washing and they are BSF fav.

Visit TedGibson.com for more information and  a $5 coupon off your next purchase.