My hair has been a vibrant hue of some purple shade since November of 2015. The salon upkeep sometimes has me questioning if my wallet can afford my artisanal adventures, but I can’t even think about returning to that dark shade of brown. So with the help of my colorist, and recommendations from a few other colorsseurs (color connoisseurs) I’ve discovered a few brands that aide in color elongation, vibrancy maintenance, and proper nutrition of the hair.
OVERTONE is a vegan conditioning treatment that deposits color to your hair. This formula works to brighten dulling vibrant colors, color bleached hair, or add color to non-vibrant or non-bleached hair. With my hair a shade of purple, I ordered the extreme and vibrant purple to maintain the color lost from being in the sun. While in Spain, I wanted to see how my hair would look with a bit of grey, so brought along the sample sized vibrant silver conditioner to use as both a travel conditioner and treatment.
They offer 9 colors with varying hues for each, including the famed rose gold, plus travel sized conditioners in case you want to try before committing fully. We all love a good discount, so follow this link for $10 off your purchase. When I ordered my first batch there was no free shipping for purchases under $100, so I was salty since I couldn’t find a discount AND had to pay shipping. Now they offer free shipping for orders of $60 or more, which is a much better deal. PLUS a coup… YAASSSS, you are set. [P.S. I’m in no way an affiliate of Overtone. This item was a recommendation of my colorist.]
Wait, before I forget… I recently went in for a color touch up in-salon, and when the bleach was added, it changed my hair to a pinkish hue. My colorist’s other client also started using Overtone, and when the bleach was added, it too went a pinky hue. Just something to keep in mind as your mixing together your next formula after using Overtone. You may need to add or remove something if the pink will interact with the color you’re hoping to achieve, after bleaching.
RITA HAZAN true color ultimate shine gloss was another colorist recommendation. We opted for the Breaking Brass as I had a Rogue platinum blond streak in the front. Though it was toned in-salon, it was still suspect to brassiness. The foam brought my color back to salon perfection. I didn’t like how it felt squeaky clean, almost dry, afterwards, but a conditioner quickly fixed that.
A couple of weeks back their PR reached out to inform me of her collection, therefore I requested the shampoo and conditioner as I was already a fan of the gloss. Using complete sets aren’t my cup of tea; it’s like wearing a matching ensemble of yellow and topping it off with yellow accessories. Adding color, or different brands in this case, is how I like to break things up to create a formula that works specifically for my needs. BUT, the trio was surprisingly a perfect match.
With my hair being short now, I use far less shampoo than before. The conditioner is so rich that I can now use the same amount of both the shampoo and conditioner without having to replace one before the other. So, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth in that area, but most importantly, they work really well together. Like, REALLY well. With the shampoo being somewhat moisturizing followed up with the slightly squeaky clean aftermath of the gloss… it’s as though one is the ying to their yang. The conditioner is a great finisher as it adds in the ideal amount of moisture to replenish what was lost in the cleansing process. Don’t feel you can’t replace her conditioner for your fave either, just know it may not balance out the way you’d expect.
Sorry, I have no coups for this one, but if you’re a first time buyer of the Rita Hazan site you can sign up for the email list and receive 15% off. Plus it’s free shipping on orders of $50 or more. Sephora also carries Rita Hazan products for the beauty perk points.
ESSENTIAL RINSE by celebrity hairstylist and salon-owner Younghee Kim was designed to remove product buildup that shampoos don’t even remove, without stripping your hair’s natural natural oils. It’s like that perfect scalp cleanse received at the salon sans the massage. With my hair being natural and vibrant I steer away from products that hurt one and benefit the other. Everything used in my hair has to work to protect both characters.
I’ve found through trial and error the wonders a Denman nylon pin brush and a Ouidad gel can do for my curls. [This technique was something I discovered through a youtube video I fell upon.] Anyway, using pure argan oil as a moisturizer, then following up with Ouidad Moisturizing Styling Gel brushed through sections seems like an easy clean. But even after every wash, I felt like my scalp just wasn’t as clean and pure as it should be. Almost as though products from past stylings were just sitting there.
When I tried Essential Rinse for the first time, I didn’t get that itchy feeling I use to get after washing my hair. And even days later, I’ve scratched my head only a handful of times in comparison to other times when I’d scratch so much it would not only cause flaking but would find closed sores days later. It was always assumed I had dandruff, or just wasn’t moisturizing my scalp enough, but it was buildup all along!
There are two rinse scents – mint and apple cider vinegar. The smell doesn’t stick around after rinsing out, but it’s pretty potent when on your scalp. At the time of writing this, you can save $10 on your first purchase using code: 10OFFNOW, plus with free shipping for purchases over $35. Their website may change this promo any day now, so just giving you a heads up and incentive to get it now. [Nope, not affiliated with them either… just passing on some savings.] Or you can stop by their salon in New York – Younghee Salon, 64 North Moore Street, New York, NY 10013.