Father's Day Gift Ideas from Aveda

Still trying to decide what to get Dad for Father’s Day? Not sure exactly what he needs to compliment his lifestyle? Whatever excites Dad, Aveda can help make sure you find the perfect gift for him this year. Aveda offers a variety of budget-friendly Father’s Day gifts that are sure to be a success:

The Gym-Rat Gift: Gift Dad with the highly-energized Rosemary Mint Set to take to the gym. Infused with peppermint and rosemary that naturally energize, Rosemary Mint Shampoo, Conditioner and Hand/Body Wash will leave him felling refreshed following the gym. Or if Dad prefers bar soap, swap the Hand/Body Wash with a Rosemary Mint Bath Bar. The bar invigorates with rosemary and peppermint that lingers long after rinsing.


Lovably Low-Maintenance: Does Dad’s entire grooming routine consist of shampoo and a lip balm? Give him an eco-friendly upgrade with Aveda Men Shampoo, and a few Aveda Lip Savers. Gentle enough for everyday use, Aveda Men Shampoo leaves hair soft and manly fresh. He will also love Aveda's cult favorite Lip Saver, which features cinnamon leaf, clove and anise oils that will keep his lips smooth, protected and soft.


The Ultimate Cut: Take his regular barbershop trip to the next level with a gift certificate for a hair cut at your nearest Aveda salon. Not only will he get a great cut (and maybe update his look), but he’ll enjoy Aveda’s complimentary offerings such as a scalp, head and neck massage and a yummy cup of Aveda Comforting Tea. Find your nearest Aveda salon here.


The Budget-Conscious Cut: Not looking to break the bank this Father’s Day but still want Dad looking well-groomed? Not to fear -- there’s an Aveda Institute nearby that offers the perfect gift for Dad. Institutes nationwide develop the finest artists in the salon and spa industry, and their services are just a fraction of the cost of salon prices. Men’s haircuts start at just $15. Grab Dad a piece of the Institute action with an Aveda Institute gift certificate. Find your nearest Aveda Institute here.


Free Gift Opportunity for YOU and DAD: Send a dad in your life a personalized Father’s Day e-card and enter to win gift sets from Aveda – featuring our top-selling collections – for you and him. Visit www.AvedaThanksMan.com

Gift Dad Lovely!

L'Oreal EverPure Shampoo and Conditioner

I'm all about finding a great shampoo and conditioner I can grab at Walgreens when I run out, especially in these economic times. So when I got sent two bottles of L'Oreal's new natural, sulfate-free, vegan haircare line, EverPure, I was excited to try them out. I've been using the EverPure Moisture Shampoo (rosemary and juniper) and Moisture Conditioner (rosemary and mint) for over a month now and I am totally satisfied with the results. My hair is in great condition even though I haven't highlighted it for 3 months and cut it for 2 months (trying to pinch some pennies... so painful!). It has been a very dry in SF lately, so I think the extra moisture has been good, but I think I will try the Volume version next, since that is still my main concern. The smell of rosemary and mint is not one I would normally think I would like, but it has definitely grown on me. It is a refreshing way to start the day, and I like knowing that harsh sulfates aren't stripping my hair away. For $6.99 each, these are a great way to save some cash on your hair and stay away from nasty synthetic hair products. Not to mention the shampoo suds up quite nicely and the conditioner smooths out my tangles like nobody's business! What more do I really need?

Suds Lovely!

T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer

I basically got one present for Christmas and that was a T3 Featherweight Hair Dryer. I was just fine with this because it is freakin' FANTASTIC. It dries my hair super quick (60% faster, according to T3... sounds about fair)! My ends don't look crazy fried, even though I am long past due for a cut. And I get lots of volume and bounce with minimal product. Yes, I know, $200 is a lot to spend on a hair dryer. But, if you buy it at a authorized retailer (like Sephora!), it come with a 4 year warrenty. So don't be fooled by bogus website deals, pay it all now, and it will even out buying shity $50 dryers for the next 4 years!

Dry Lovely!

Stuff Stockings with Ojon's 7 Piece Discovery Set

Have a friend or family member who travels a ton? Need a few little bottles for stuffing stockings? Ojon has a great set of 7 of their best products in travel sizes for only $39! The set include a 2-oz Ultra Hydrating Shampoo, a 2-oz of Ultra Hydrating Conditioner, a 2-oz Hydrating Thickening Shampoo, a 2-oz Hydrating Thickening Conditioner, a 2-oz Shine and Protect Shampoo, a 2-oz Shine and Protect Conditioner, and their widely popular 2-oz Rub-Out Dry Cleanser. Gives them in sets or separately.

Gift Lovely!

Nick Arrojo's Blow Dry Gift Set

If you're anything like me then you love to watch TLC's What Not to Wear. Seeing frumpy ladies get turned into fashionistas never gets old. I think I watched an episode everyday when I was in college. Part of what makes the show so great are the hosts. I love Stacy, Clinton, and Carmindy of course, but the hair stylist Nick Arrojo is great too. I just found out the other day than not only does he have his own studio in New York but he has his own line of products. I got to try the volume foam, and if the rest of his products work as well as it does, I bet the line will do very well. It gives my hair tons of shape and body without making it feel full of sticky product and it is only $15 for 4.2oz. For the holidays, there are a few gift sets available as well. The Blow Dry Set contains the volumizing foam I like so much and both a round and paddle brush to help you get a great blow-out right at home. Perfect for ladies like me, with flat lifeless hair that needs help on a daily basis.

Gift Lovely!

Aveda Volumizing Tonic

Want to add some life to your lifeless locks? Aveda has a great spray that will help solve your flat woes without adding any weight to your do. I for one know what it is like to have fine, thin hair that does nothing but lay flat, especially if I let it...gasp... air dry. Now I spritz a bit of Aveda's Volumizing Tonic on my roots, maybe flip my head over and give the underneath a bit of love too, and dry the heck out of it with a round brush. The result is bouncy, bigger hair that has a bit of texture without being too stiff. Just don't over spray, or it will get a bit... sticky. Yeck! And, most importantly, this tonic smells good with something called a Pure-Fume(tm) aroma that contains essential oils to uplift your senses! So your mood can be lifted... just like your hair!

Spritz Lovely!

Get Great Hair Tools at BeautyChoice.com

Looking for great hair tools at affordable prices? Don't want to scour eBay for cheap auctions that might send you crappy knock off? I have found a great new site for you to find all your hair needs and beyond. BeautyChoice.com has a wide selection of top of the line hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons. It carries brands like T3, CHI, BaByliss, Clairsonic, and more. Check it out, you will be pleasantly surprised by the deals and the shipping is free with a lot of their items!

They were nice enough to send me a BaByliss PRO Nano Titanium Dryer to try out myself. For only $80, it is a professional tool that everyone can enjoy. I like the shape of it, looks like an old pistol or something. It drys my hair very fast and leaves it silky smooth, using that nano titanium. I always use the concentrator attachment on my hair dryers, to better direct the heat down the shaft of my hair. My only complaint is that the attachment on this dryer doesn't spin around on the dryer head easily, so I have to turn the dryer myself when drying on one side of my head. It is a very light weight dryer, at 18.5 oz., which is very important when you have a ton of hair... or weak arms like me! Try it out or check out the site for other great styling tools.

Style Lovely!

Ojon's Tunu Elastik Hair Smoothing Cleanser and Conditioner

Whenever a boy tells me I smell good, I usually credit it to my hair products. Perfumes and lotions tend to fade, especially the light, fruity ones I like, but good smelling hair products last and last. So it is very important for me to love the smell of anything I put in my hair.

As always, when given the opportunity to try a new beauty product, I pounce. Ojon sent me the latest addition to their great line of hair care products, Tunu Elastik Hair Smoothing Cleanser and and Tunu Elastik Hair Smoothing Conditioner. While having smooth hair isn’t usually my main concern (I have the flattest, finest bone-straight hair you might ever see), I knew it couldn’t hurt. Who doesn’t want smooth hair?! Besides, it contains Tunu extract and Swa Oil to help add a soft, flexible bounce… and I do love me some bounce!

As with other sulfate-free shampoos, the cleanser doesn’t suds up much so it’s hard to feel it really cleaning your hair. But it didn’t tangle mine strands up too much, and rinsed out clean. The conditioner felt really nice, consistency wise, very thick and luxurious. I can see how there is a rubber like substance in it (the Tunu extract) creating strength and flexibility. But the smell is just honestly not for me. It reminds me of peanut butter and sort of looks like it too! The scent just really just doesn’t go with my fruity, fresh scents in my other products. But if it wasn’t for the smell, I would really like this set for my hair health. It did feel smoother and a bit bouncier! So if nutty, earthy smells are up your alley, try them out.

Bounce Lovely!

Get Texture From Sebastian... For now

The other day I was strolling through a rather foreign land... commonly known as Ulta (we don't have such establishments in the city, I was stuck out in the boonies) and I stumbled apon the sale shelf. I had been to my hairstylist the other week and so we had talked about how Sebastian is completely re-doing their whole line. So all there old products would be discounted at beauty supply stores. Well, what did I find at Ulta? A bottle of Sebastian Texturizer Flexible Bodifying Gel for $8, almost half the retail price! So I thought I'd try it out.

So far , I like it. I rubbed it through my hair before I blew dried this morning and this afternoon my hair still resembled what it looked like post-blow dry! The gel has a rubber-like quality, since it uses silicone, along with natutal ingridients like camomile, to give you bounce and hold at the same time. Go check out your local beauty salon or supply store for any of your other favorite Sebastian products before they are all gone!

Bounce Lovely!

Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner by Amazon Beauty

I recently had the opportunity to try a new shampoo and conditioner made with ingredients from the Amazon. Fancy, no? Well I'm not high on the nature kick like everyone else is, but I did enjoy these products because they actually work.

Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner from Amazon Beauty uses a special oil made from Rahua nuts that women in the Amazon use to promote healthy, strong hair. It is supposed to penetrate deep into the hair's cortex to actually repair damaged, broken hair. They also have Paolo Santo oil, which is made from "holy wood." It is a highly coveted substance by shamans and high priests, known for its excellent healing properties. Sounds rare huh?

All I know is I like it. Both smell nice and the conditioner really softens and detangles my hair, something VERY important to me. I have very fine, soft hair but you'd be surprised how some conditioners turn my hair into a complete mess. This one works like a dream. Try it yourself.

Hair Lovely!

Get Some Volume From John Frieda

I was wondering through the isles of Walgreens one day, something I do often on my lunch break, and I came upon the hair styling section. I'm always on the hunt for a new product to give my normally flat, lifeless hair some bounce and ... you guessed it: VOLUME. I am not sure what made me pick up this bottle of John Frieda Luxurious Volume Bountiful Body Mousse out of the many different options available at the drugstore but I did and now I don't regret it. I think this is a great product plain and simple. It does what I want it to and its easy to use. I am careful not to use too much though or I end up blow drying for hours and the end result feels like wig hair... yuck! But just one short squirt (about a tangerine sized ball of mousse comes out) in my palm for my just barely shoulder length hair does me right. I work it in to my wet hair and then blow dry upside down (the secret to bouncy, big hair) and by section with a round brush. I get beautiful voluminous hair all day long. For under $7, you can try it too. Why the heck not?!

Bounce Lovely!

FHI Flat Iron from Misikko

Yes, I know, as you can tell (look left), I have very straight flat hair, so why would i ever need a flat iron? Well, if you have hair like mine you might understand. If I ever put it up in a ponytail, even for a few minutes, it gets bent! So an iron that heats quickly and is thin enough to get all the way to my roots is a great thing to have around when showering and re-drying my hair isn't an option.

The nice people at Misikko, a great site that has both high-end styling tools and fabulous haircare products, sent me a flat iron to try. The FHI Flat Iron Platform Special Addition works beautifully. It heats up fast and glides through my hair like a charm. I don't need to worry about it pulling out my hair or frying it to death. Best part is it is on sale for $119 and it comes with FREE 2 day shipping! Pretty sweet huh? I think so. Check out the whole site, they have some good deals on dryers and other products as well!

Flaten Lovley!

Great Hair Needs Great Tools

While a great hair dryer is an important aspect of achieving hair greatness, a great brush is also vital. I found a great round brush that allows me to dry my hair into a decent shape and get as much volume as possible from my extremely fine, flat hair. I picked up my round Spornette brush at a Pure Beauty shop downtown, but you can find them online at Folica.com or any other beauty supply store. My Spornette is from their Provo collection, which uses boar and tourmaline enhanced nylon bristle. The contour of the brush allows for easy styling without un-due pulling. I have the 3" diameter size but it comes in four sizes, so you should pick the one that is appropriate for your hair length. It really is lightweight and helps to dry my hair faster and with style. Try one out yourself!

Brush Lovely1

Secret Weapon Against White Flakes

Now, I'm not saying I have an actual dandruff problem, but every so often my scalp gets a bit itchy and dry. It feels like my hair products build up on my scalp and I need a good cleansing to get it all out. Not from my volumizing shampoo which adds texture and weight to my hair, but a clean sweep of sorts that takes all the build up away. I've found that Neutrogena's T/Sal Shampoo does just the trick. I use it every few weeks or so and the buildup is automatically gone. It's made with the same stuff I use to exfoliate my face, salicylic acid, so it makes perfect sense that it exfoliates my scalp too. Check it out at your local drugstore or online at drugstore.com.

Clean Sweep Lovely!

Great Volumizing Haircare

The saleswoman at Pure Beauty sold me on a product I already knew I liked, but wasn't sure about the high price. My old hair stylist back in Seattle always used Alterna products on me and my mom and I loved the way they made my hair smell and feel. But how the cleaver woman at PB sold me was explaining about Sulfate-free shampoo. Apparently, most shampoos have sodium sulfate as one of the first ingredients. It's what makes them lather up nice and soapy. But in fact, it strips away too much oil and your high priced highlights! No way! So I purchased Alterna's Life Solutions Volume Restore Shampoo and Conditioner. For $25 bucks each, they better last me forever, but so far I am liking the results. My hair feels soft and light, nothing draging it down. It still needs to get washed everyday, but it smells delicious when I do. Ah, what we do for beauty!

Soap (sulfate-free) Lovely!

My Favorite Gift

So glad its Friday, coming back to work has been surprisingly busy. I'm ready for a fun weekend out and about with some old friends and new ones. And my favorite Christmas gift is going to help make me feel fabulous: my new Infiniti Nano Silver by Conair™ Tourmaline Ceramic™ Hair Styler. I have used it a few times now, and I can honestly say it's the best hair dryer I've ever owned. Of course I've only ever bought hair dryers at the drugstore, and a few years back I even used a travel sized dryer for a long time (I was so clueless back then!).

A month after my last haircut, my ends were already fried. I knew it was time to move up to the next level. This new dryer is awesome. It has 2 speeds and 3 heat settings, and a cool shot. It comes with three attachments: an adjustable diffuser, a straightening comb attachment, and a slot concentrator attachment. The tourmaline ceramic drys my hair faster, without feeling excessively hot. So I end up with less damage, shorter drying time, and a great volume. Very important since I can't seem to have a good hair day without blow drying, everyday. Sometimes twice... Bad, I know!

It is also a great product because it is so affordable! On Amazon right now it is $41.25! What a steal! If you are still drying your hair with some cheap drugstore dryer, click away and achieve better hair!

Dry Lovely!

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone is having a lovely christmas (or day off of work at least, even if you don't celebrate!). I feel very fortunate to have generous family and friends. I got so many great beauty items to try out, and you all will be reading about them soon! Too bad I can't take them all home tonight. I don't want to check baggage, so all the liquids and heavy things are going to be shipped later. Such is life. I'll just have to wait to play with all my treats... except my new hairdryer, an Infiniti Nano Silver by Conair™ Tourmaline Ceramic™ Hair Styler. Yeah! I am fitting that in my little carry on bag. Can't wait to review it. Finally an affordable tourmaline dryer.Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and I'll be back in action asap!

Bonus Time! Sephora Here I Come!

Although dull at times, working in finance does have its perks: Holiday Bonus time! After receiving my check today (of which the government took almost half! sniff, sniff), I heading over to Union Square. I had to go pick up tights to wear with my cute cocktail dress tonight at our company holiday party cause its so darn cold in SF right now. Once they were purchased, of course, I beelined over to Sephora to treat myself on a job well done this year:I got NARS's Night Series Mini Palette($55), something I have been lusting after for months! It's quite pricey, but definitely a must have for my eyeshadow collection. All the colors are so shimmery and fun, perfect for creating holiday looks. I don't usually wear green eyeshadow, but I am going to experience with some new color combos and it will be fabulous, I just know it.I also picked up a small bottle of Smashbox's famed Photo Finish Foundation Primer($15.50). Everyone raves about this so much, I knew I had to try it. Not quite ready to invest in the full size, this one is perfect for me to test it out. I have used products with silicone in them, so I know how lovely they make your skin feel. I have a feeling this is going to be a winner!I also got a new brush ($9) for my gel eyeliners. It is actually a Sephora Professional lip brush, but I am going to use it for my MAC Fluidline tonight, since I forgot the brush I usually use at home. The brush is stiff enough for eyeliner and just becuase it says its for lips, doesn't mean you can't use it on your eyes. Think outside the box, ladies.

Of course I am a Sephora Insider, so with my purchase, they gave me a free sample of Frederic Fekkai Glossing Sheer Shine Mist(full size $22.50). Maybe that will liven up my hair this afternoon before the party. Hope so!

Shop Lovely!

Lovely Locks for Cheap

Sudsing it up this morning in the shower, I realized that all the products I am using on my hair right now are from the drugstore and, believe it or not, I've been having a run of great hair days. While my stylist tells me professional hair products are generally much better for your hair, I think you can find things at Walgreens or CVS that do just fine, especially if you're in a budget crunch like me! Here is what I'm currently using:

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Volumizing Shampoo, in Honey to Caramel($6.59) This shampoo promises to do the two things I want most: give me volume and help my highlights last. I think it does a decent job at both. John Frieda comes in brunette and red shades as well, if you are of the (natural or otherwise) blonde persuasion. Good plus: it doesn't have a strong smell, good or otherwise.

L'Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioning Treatment($4.99) A few weeks ago, I noticed how fried my hair was getting especially at the ends, probably due to my incessant blow drying every morning. I can't help it, my fine hair needs that lift! So I went to find a product that could protect and repair my sad, dry ends without weighing it down. The Nutri Gloss can be used after your regular conditioner, or alone, which I have been doing. My ends are looking a little happier and my hair might just last another month before I need to visit my stylist. Thank god, my piggy bag can't take her charms right now!

Garnier Fructis Style XXL Volume Weightless Gel ($3.99) I like this gel because it allows for some control and volume when I'm styling, without adding additional weight to my hair. The best part though is the smell! I love anything fruity, especially in my hair and all the Garnier Fructis products smell delicious.

So for less than $16 I get fabulously volumized, conditioned hair... not bad, eh? This budgeting stuff isn't so bad. Not I just have to stay away from Stila's Virtual Warehouse Sale. Ahh!

Style Lovely!

Thickefy your Style!

While I am a beauty product junkie, I have never been too obsessed with hair care products. Like most women I have only experimented with products for my hair type and the complaints I have with it! You see, I have very fine, limp, bone-straight hair. The longer it is the flatter it gets so I tend to keep it short, but I am always trying new products to get some more lift in my do.

My stylist recently moved salons (its such a better space, I'm so happy for her!) and the products in her new salon are different than what she used on me before. Her old salon used Kerastase, which I liked OK, but its on the expensive side (~$35 for shampoo!). Her new place uses Sebastian products, which I have used in the past but never really felt too passionate about it.

The new volumizing line is awesome! Its called Body Double and it creates texture and volume like nothing I've tried before! The best part though is it smells like citrusy Pink Grapefruit, my favorite scent! I am currently using the shampoo and conditioner which are great, but my favorite product I've tried is the Thickefy Styler, a "lush, frothy foam instantly thickens fine or thin hair while adding weightless texture, volume and hold with a natural feel." Its fabulous, I can't wait to try the other Body Double products! You can purchase Sebastian in salons and at beauty supply stores like Pure Beauty.

Style Lovely!