Photo: Ana Schechter

Amazing Dove shaped cookies!

The people at Dove are pretty smart. First, they launched their new Nourishing Oil products by inviting us to blowouts at the fabulous Dry Bar. Then, this weekend, they announced their new revamped style product line via a Golden Globes viewing party in conjunction with Style Coalition. They really know their way to a woman’s heart.

OH hello. Photo: Ana Schechter

Not a bad way to watch the Globes

So, needless to say, I was the first person to arrive at their viewing party. (Literally. I was the first to arrive. What? I didn’t want to miss out on the canapés.)

Feasting. Photos: Ana Schechter

Beautifying... Photo: Ana Schechter

I have to admit I was glad to get there as early as I did. Not only because I was able to have the first taste the delicious Dove-shaped cookies, imbibe in a raspberry prosecco cocktail without waiting in line, and nosh on endive stuffed with bacon and sweet potatoes—all while critiquing the style and hair choices of the celebrities on screen—but also, because the adorable ladies at Dove gave me a one-on-one lowdown on their new products.

Dove's new Style+Care line

Watching and tweeting as we bloggers do! Photo: Ana Schechter

Dove shampoos. Photo: Ana Schechter

Dove has revived their entire styling products line, from hairspray to serum. The difference? The design of the packaging was revamped, but also, the addition of the +Care element is what’s most significant. The idea is to nourish and fortify the hair while styling it, so Dove has added customized, concentrated nourishing components to each individual product. I’m most excited about the Dry Shampoo and the Frizz-Free Cream Serum. As I mentioned in my previous Dove post, I tend to be a snob about hair products. But I’m still using and raving about the Dove Nourishing Oil line. Can’t wait to start using the Style+Care products, too, which officially launch in March but are unofficially rolling out on shelves now. So be on the lookout.

Anyone else out there using the Dove products? Opinions? Well, if you love as much as we do, you’re going to enjoy this week’s giveaway! Today’s giveaway is the ENTIRE LINE of Dove’s new Style+Care collection. That includes: Style+Care Frizz-Free Shine Cream-Serum, Style+Care Nourishing Dry Ends Serum, Style+Care Nourishing Curls Whipped Cream Mousse, Style+Care Nourishing Amplifier Mousse, Style+Care Strength & Shine Extra Hold Hairspray (aerosol), Style+Care Strength & Shine Extra Hold Hairspray (non-aerosol), Style+Care Strength & Shine Flexible Hold Hairspray (aerosol), Style+Care Thermal Replenishment Spray, and the Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo.

TO ENTER: There are two ways to enter — you can do either to enter, but doing both increases your chances:

1) Leave a comment on FB for this post that has anything to do with Dove or the Golden Globes this year!
2) Follow @BeautyNDFeast and @Dove and tweet the following: I want to win @Dove’s entire Style+Care line @BeautyNDFeast. Retweet to win! http://ow.ly/8APkt

Leave a comment below on how you entered! Winner will be announced Thursday, January 26th. Good luck!

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Haircut from Medulla

Sorry it’s been a little quiet here the past couple of days. I fell a bit sick last Friday and everything fell behind, but good news is I’m all better now…and better news, for all intents and purposes of this blog, is I found yet another fab salon in NYC, Medulla.

Medulla

My friend Ashley had told me about this salon a year ago (“a salon in a cool, tucked away loft space” or some such), and said I had to check it out. I thought it would be a small, contained room but Medulla is actually carved out of a penthouse floor of a 8-floor building. There’s no sign outside the building, and you may very well pass right by it. But when the elevator opens up to the floor, you’ll quickly realize it’s no ordinary salon — it’s also an art space and host to charity events. I was enamored as owner, Éle, gave me a short tour of the space. I’ve had it in the back of my mind to go back for a haircut, and since I had come to a point where hair was begging me to rid it of its split ends, I decided it was time.

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I was paired with stylist Chris, and couldn’t have been in better hands. Chris is a expert stylist, and like all of Medulla’s stylists, worked at some of best salons in NYC (Bumble and Bumble, Rita Hazan). He fixed up my layers and gave me the most insanely awesome cut/blowout in like 30 minutes. He even gave me tips on how to get the wispy look myself when I go home (two words: hot rollers).

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Haircuts run from $70-$120 for women (depending on if you get a junior or senior stylist), but I booked through Lifebooker which they should just re-name “LifeSaver” because I paid $43 instead (that included a $20 credit I had from before). All that’s left is to update my ombre hair (I’m saving that for Brooke at the Bird House!).

Oh and PS, the lipstick I’m wearing in the pics above is my new obsession: Clarins Rouge Prodige True Colour & Shine Lipstick in Rosewood ($24). I don’t even normally do lipstick, but this one keeps my lips moisturized and the color actually lasts. Adore.

Salon info:
Medulla
36 East 20th Street,
btw Broadway and Park
8th Floor
New York, NY 10003
(917) 454-8283
Gramercy

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Yup. That's my morning hair.

Another thing is, I feel like I’m constantly on the go, go, go. I wake up extra early to write, run to work, to events, to dinner…you get the idea. And while I am still obsessed with beachy waves, I often don’t have the time to set my hair like that. Instead, it’s just easier to make my hair sleek and straight. Recently, a friend of mine and celebrity hairstylist Kristan Serafino endorsed the Kiss by SalonTech Silicone Protexion 1″ Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron. She works with some of the best, so if she’s allowing a company to put her seal of approval on their product (no literally, her face is on the box), I know it’s something worth trying. The other issue I have with mega-expensive irons is that they break or burn out so fast. Trust me, I’ve spent the $200-something on flat irons that worked fantastic…while they still worked. This one? $50.

The Kiss by SalonTech 1 inch flat iron with its red silicone bars

Back to my morning nest mess of hair, it’s precisely times like these when I need a flat iron fix. This specific flat iron has silicone bars which minimize heat damage. The ceramic plates allow for even heat distribution so you don’t have to go over the areas as many times. I will say that compared to the more expensive ones, this one doesn’t glide as easily through my hair…but that’s kind of the point. The red silicone bars on the plates make sure the clamp isn’t totally frying out your hair, but the silicone coating also helps seal the cuticles for lots o’ shine. This is what I got, less than ten minutes later:

After using the Kiss flat iron. PS whoever told you taking pics of yourself was easy lied.

I don’t like my hair to fall totally flat though, so I like to add pretty elements to it to make it look more interesting. I found these amazing braidie hair headbands at Sephora for $8 (I swear I paid $8 but it’s $10 online…though this might be the slightly thicker version of the one I have). They’re synthetic but looks like you took the time to set your hair in a sleek thin braid (but actually, this is the lazy girl’s dream). They come in all different hair colors too!

Sephora hair headband, $8

A subtle hair headband.

I put my hair in a messy ponytail and placed the headband on top yesterday though. It was rainy out and I didn’t want it to look too “neat” because I was pretty sure the weather would destroy any chance of that.

Hair up with headband

And that, my friends is how I fake pretty hair (in less than ten minutes!). What are your quick hair solutions?

Kiss by SalonTech Silicone Protexion 1″ Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron ($50) is available at Walmart.com; and you can check out the Thick Braidie headbands ($10) at sephora.com.

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Aloxxi hair models

Upon entering the Stephen Knoll Salon, I was greeted by the lovely (and adorably pregnant) Aloxxi rep Jessica, who had some introductory questions for me. When I go get my nails done, which brand do I use? My answer: probably OPI or Essie. Then came her next question: when you get your hair colored at the salon, which brand do you use? My answer: Uhhhh….

That “uhhh” is precisely why Aloxxi was created, Jessica said. Founder of OPI and now Aloxxi, George W. Schaffer, has a vision for a “renaissance” in hair color, just as he revolutionized nail color with OPI. He wants hair clients to be informed. He wants them to take more ownership of their salon experience. He wants more accountability in terms of the quality of hair dyes, in terms of a focus on rich pigments, chemical responsibility (no sulfates, parabens, etc), and the overall health of color-treated hair. And beyond that, he wants clients to establish a “color personality.”

Aloxxi catalogue of color

I spoke with Mr. Schaffer himself, which was a treat. As we were chatting—well, not really chatting, we weren’t shooting the breeze or anything; rather, he was giving me his pitch—he stopped mid-sentence to intercept a model who was walking past us. “Look at you,” he said. “Look at her,” he said to me, parental pride in his eyes. “Gorgeous.” It was clear that he had no idea what the model’s name was, but neither of them cared. Her hair did, in fact, look gorgeous.

Aloxxi founder George W. Schaffer

The color personality concept is very similar to the nail color concept. Along with the standard color number, which colorists use when mixing your individual formula, Aloxxi has provided a color personality… Are you Peach Bellini? Or Ciao Bella? Or Espresso Yourself? As it is with nail color, you’re likelier to recall the name of your hair color if it’s whimsical and flattering, rather than, say, a formula.

Aloxxi Light Natural Brown

How would you answer those questions? Do you know your hair color?

Aloxxi products are available exclusively at salons. For more info, visit their website at www.aloxxi.com.

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Nusra Alam
@qudsikhan
@priyers

Congrats! Please email me your shipping address so we can get your 3-month supply right over to you. Thanks again for entering! The next giveaway will be posted soon .

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Inside Damian West Salon

Inside Damian West Salon

I started to think a little different about salons a recently. There are stylist who have cut my hair who have done a great job but, well, just didn’t make me feel special enough to go back. There are other salons that looked amazing but totally went for something more trendy than was fitting for my face. It’s a rare thing to find the vibe is right mixed in with a the perfectly balanced ambiance (for me, that means charming and stylish at the same time). That’s what I felt when I went to visit Damian West Salon in the West Village.

On the tree-lined street of brick townhouses typical of the West Village, it’s almost easy to pass right by the salon, which you have to walk down a short flight of steps to enter. Right when you do though, it’s easy to feel like you just walked into a (really rich) New Yorker’s pad by accident. The dark-wood floors, fire place, and pretty chandeliers are add to the warmth of the duplex salon.

Lounge area

The floor

Outside Damian West

I don’t know what to else to say about Bailey, except he had equal amount of talent and graciousness. It was so fun talking to him! He was born in Idaho and lived in Cali for years before moving to the city. And it’s so easy to pick up on his laidback, Cali vibe. I think it might have actually been the first time I stayed to finish our convo even after he was done cutting and drying my hair. I wasn’t rushed out at all.

The cut showed me that Bailey is beyond precise. He gave each layer special attention that practically styles itself now and it gives me a nice style worn down or in a ponytail.  He also gave me some swooping bangs that I’m getting quite attached too. AND he salvaged my ombre hair as best as he could.

Layers!

post-haircut 1

post-haircut 2

I went straight from salon to dinner with the girls at the nearby Centro Vinoteca (post on the deliciousness here coming up!).

Price wise, the salon is on the higher end (cuts start at $80 for men and $110 for women), but for someone like me who usually space my cuts months apart, it’s a worthy investment. Have any of you guys been? What salons do you go to normally?

Salon Info:
Damian West
237 W 4th St
between 10th St & Charles St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 352-2733
West Village

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