I am so insanely excited about Ouidad Curl Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer!  I always feel as though my curls can never be moisturized enough and this product not only hydrates my curls, but also functions as a styling primer, meaning that I can apply it to my hair before other styling products. The Daily Conditioner/Styling Primer has a great scent and the texture is like the most decadently luxurious cream I have ever experienced.  It is really rich and I can feel the difference in my hair right away.  I love that my hair feels really hydrated, but not greasy with this product.  I've noticed that often times when I wear my hair curly, my bangs refuse to hold their curl pattern and instead form a loose wave.  However, with the Ouidad Curl Recovery Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer my bangs actually held their curl pattern, which was pretty exciting for me!  I've also used the Styling Primer in my hair before applying my blowout lotion and blow drying it straight and it left my hair really soft and shiny and also smelling delicious!  Just in case you can't tell by my usage of exclamation marks, I absolutely LOVE this product! Have you tried it? Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure

Let's face it once summer arrives, for us naturally curly haired girls, there is absolutely no use in trying to battle with what our hair naturally wants to do...which is to suck up the summer humidity and curl to its utmost content.  And why would you even want to spend precious time indoors trying to battle with your hair anyway when you could just wash, apply a bit of product and just go enjoy summer in all of its glory? I plan on spending most of my time at the pool or on the beach and the last thing I want to worry about while partaking in is frizzy straight hair that wants to go curly or weird, crunchy, "jheri curled" looking hair.  So in an effort to embrace my natural texture but still have soft, smooth curls, I decided to give Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls a try. First of all I went weak in the knees by the scent of this product.  I am a huge fan of clean, fresh scents...especially during the warmer months and this product has the most amazing clean, fresh but still feminine scent--exactly how I would want my hair to smell...all of the time!  I followed the suggested application process, which stated that I should squeeze a quarter size of Jelly Soft Curls into my palms and apply it section to a section of my damp (not wet) curls.  I loved that this styling gel never felt sticky or tacky in my palms during the application process.  I actually took a gamble with this product using it a few hours before a photo shoot and I was ecstatic with the results.  For the shoot I had curls that were bouncy, shiny, soft and full of movement.  My curls never went limp or got crunchy and frizzy.  This was my first time trying Miss Jessie's products and I am definitely a fan and cannot wait to try a few of her other products.  Needless to say I shall be embracing and reveling in my natural curls all summer long!

Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! *Disclosure

Many of you can most likely relate to this scenario.  You have in your minds eye the perfect haircut or color that you think will look just absolutely amazing on you. You go into the salon and think that you do a pretty good job of explaining to your stylist what it is that you desire, but then you leave the salon feeling like somehow something got lost in translation because the cut or color you are leaving the salon with is not exactly what you had pictured.

So what happened? Did you not communicate clearly? Should you have brought in a better picture of what you wanted? Did your stylist think that what you wanted might not have been the best look for you? Maybe none of the above or maybe all three?

Either way, this scenario is all too common and with spring and summer fast approaching, many of you much like myself, will be looking to update your 'do a little...or drastically. In an effort to help our readers better communicate with their hairstylist so that they look and feel their absolute best this spring and summer, we reached out to the industry experts at Salon AKS in New York City for some of their tips on better communication between clients and their hairstylist.

We hope this will also shed some light on what your hairstylist, (if they are a good hairstylist), should consider before cutting and coloring your hair. 

Q:  What do you consider to be the key elements in the communication between client and stylist in achieving a client's desired cut, color or style and why? 
A: The key to great communication between you and your stylist starts by choosing the perfect person for you. If you see someone’s hair that you like, ask them who did it! Recommendations are the best way to find your stylist match. As in any relationship, honesty is the best policy. Be open about what you like and dislike about your hair and what your stylists have done in the past. Explain in detail what you’re looking for, but be open to your stylist’s advice as well. After all – we are the professionals! Listening to each other is key, and we take our time during consultations so that there is clarity in what exactly will be done to ensure your expectations are met.

A: Yes, this is so helpful because sometimes clients have a hard time articulating what they are looking for. We like to start by referencing pictures, and then defining what it is about the hair style that the client really likes. Sometimes it turns out they really don't want the hair style at all, and that they really like the color or the dress she is wearing! A: We encourage clients to always be open to modifying the look. A good stylist knows that every haircut should be tailored to the client’s face shape, size and skin color and it should accentuate their best features – so it is important to trust them. A: We always ask how much time the client is willing to put into their style. When someone tells me that they have no time for styling, I say a new look is exactly what they need. Not every style has to be high maintenance. It’s a win-win when we can choose a color and style for a client that when it grows out, it still looks great on them.

A: At Salon AKS, we train our staff to have a fine-tuned vision of the most flattering style for each client during the consultation phase. We account for all variables, including bone structure, height, body frame, hair texture, etc. so we can highlight the most flattering elements of each client.  We team up a stylist and colorist to consult on the client’s dry hair and take their time doing so, to also see exactly how that client’s hair grows out after each cut. We feel it is important to have two sets of eyes focusing on one look, and pride ourselves on providing the ultimate look for each client, knowing that consistency is key!

Salon A·K·S has been providing professional salon services in NYC  for 15 years.  They combine a relaxed, downtown attitude with uptown cutting-edge techniques and styles performed by the best stylists in NYC.  

In addition to having the best stylist and best colorists in NYC  and offering the best keratin and Brazilian blowouts in New York City.our full service beauty salon also offers eyebrow, makeup, and nail services as well as bridal services.  You can visit their website at http://salonaks.com/ or call 212-888-0707 to book an appointment. 

As an avid hair coloring fiend, I was nervous upon hearing January Jones revelation that her hair is falling out in clumps. Since I literally just colored my hair over the weekend, I decided I needed some expert advice from my friend and celebrity Master Colorist, Jason Backe of Ted Gibson Salon. He's also the Celebrity Colorist for L’Oreal Professionnel, so he definitely knows color! Q: January Jones revealed that her hair is falling out in clumps from all of the hair coloring she has done in the past year. Is what is happening to her normal and something that others who color their hair should worry about? Jason: The question in whether or not the hair is falling out at the scalp OR breaking off in clumps. If the hair is falling out at the scalp I would seriously doubt it is product related. In my entire career I have never experienced hair color to cause bald spots at the scalp (and believe me, I have women who color their hair from brown to blond every 12 days). I have however seen bald spots appear because of diet or stress related issues and although I wouldn’t consider this common, it is not unusual. If the hair is breaking off in clumps then it is most likely a hair integrity issue. Excessive coloring can lead to damage and ultimately breakage – no matter how expertly talented the colorist. If you are a girl who loves to change your color frequently, look for the signs of extremely dry, brittle and breaking hair. This will let you know to pump your breaks and run to the salon for weekly treatments (I am obsessed with the Fiberceutic treatment by L'Oreal Professionnel – it REBUILDS the hair from the inside out – MAJOR) to restore health and integrity before your next color. Q: How often should women go between colorings?  Jason: As a general rule I suggest 3-4 weeks. That being said, there are exceptions to every rule. It's not terrible to color more frequently as long as you are not going overboard. Remember, hair is a fiber – the more you manipulate it, the more fragile it becomes. I love using as much AMMONIA FREE COLOR as possible. INOA and Dia Light from L’Oreal Professionnel have completely changed the way I think about hair color and how to avoid compromising the integrity of the hair. Q: What is the max amount of times per year someone can color their hair without it becoming overly damaged? Jason: That is a tough question to answer – it really depends on the individual, her hair texture and type, how frequently she shampoos and heat styles. There are too many variables to really say. Q: Does the damage occur more with dying your hair blonde and highlighting, than coloring your hair with darker colors? Jason: Generally, lightening the hair is more damaging than going darker. However, anytime you use hair color you are going to alter the hair shaft. The more it is altered them more damage is likely. Again – this is why I choose ammonia free colors and lighteners. They leave the hair softer to the touch, shinier and ultimately much stronger. Q: Are there products you can incorporate into your daily routine to help prevent your hair from falling out? Jason: Again, falling out may be more related to diet, stress and overall wellness more than a topical product. Breakage on the other hand has some products that you can use at home to help repair. The Fiberceutic by L'Oreal Professionnel has a shampoo and condition masque for at home maintenance. The Mythic Oil by L’Oreal Professionnel just had a line extension to address dryness and color treated hair – it's AMAZING stuff! Q: Any other tips for those of us who LOVE to color our hair? Jason: Always trust a professional. Stay away from box color. When your colorist says – if we do that today your hair will break – believe him! I hope this is helpful to everyone who colors their hair! If you are in New York and are in need for a color, definitely give Ted Gibson Salon a call to book an appointment with Jason! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Watch our reviews on YouTube. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

l'oreal

Whenever I can do something, anything, that will lengthen the time in between beauty services, I am all about it.  Don't get me wrong, I love receiving any and all types of beauty services...the dreaded bikini wax included, but I never enjoy receipt of the bill for said services. I am always in search of a way to make my services last longer so as to go into the spa/salon less frequently.  My latest beauty budget friendly discovery is Aveda Clove Color Conditioner. This conditioner is a color enhancing conditioner, so it conditions your hair while rejuvenating and refreshing your color at the same time. The Clove Conditioner is supposed to enrich warm tones in medium brown hair, but I have dark brown hair and it worked just fine with my hair color.  My color looked a lot richer and my hair was super shiny and soft.  The scent is pretty great too, the only drawback of this conditioner was that it does get messy in the shower and my fingers were a bit stained after using it. If you have a white shower, don't be alarmed as it washes away pretty easily with soap and water...and it is after all a color conditioner.  It was recommended that I use the Clove Shampoo with the conditioner for better results, but I chose to use my regular shampoo and still loved how it worked with my hair. My absolute favorite thing about this conditioner (besides my soft, shiny, color enhanced hair) is that now I can go a lot longer in between colors!  Aveda also has color conditioners for blond, gray, red, auburn, dark brown and black hair, so I definitely suggest trying it out, the conditioner is only $18.00 a bottle! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! for more beauty reviews! Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too!

Review from my fabulous sister, Courtney “Breathe,” that is what I keep trying to tell myself amidst my crazy life as a mama of seven beautiful babes. “Self-care,” I’ve heard myself preach the importance of it to my pre-teen daughter and to my patients who I care for in the hospital a million times. So as the collection of dust mounted on the silver envelopes of my now two unused Breathe Salon and Day Spa gift certificates, and my daily drive past their ever-so inviting window treatments called my name, my summer fizzled chlorine-damaged hair could take no more and I decided that I WAS finally making an appointment for me. The only appointment that a girl can make that will last a couple hours, but will be sure to rejuvenate her for at least six solid weeks, if she chooses wisely. I am no beauty expert, but I know what I like, and I do have a gift for creative flare that’s easy on the eyes. 215-362-1277, my fingers dialed quickly with a finger flip back to my icalendar, as I listened to a smile answer the phone to help me make my appointment. Did you know that it is a fact that you can hear a smile over the phone? Indeed, I could and it put me at immediate ease that this would be the experience I had hoped. In saying that, I might add that more of my salon experiences have been negative then positive. I always described my experiences to friends as the scene in the 1996 A Very Brady scene when David Spade is Mrs. Brady’s hair dresser and he goes in with a chainsaw and all, then she comes out looking exactly the same with that damn hair flip on the ends, lol. Seriously folks. Just know as friendly as I am I don’t give my every day woman’s stamp of approval of a salon lightly. Here is my scoop and review: Breathe Salon and Spa was recently voted, “Best Beauty Salon” by Readers Choice. They are friendly and created a welcoming environment from the outside in. The atmosphere was bright, filled with beautifully flowing fabrics, clean, and a light spread of coffees and sweets were presented after entering the door. They offered a great deal of services from facials to massages to hair/beauty, as well as a specialty in ethnic hair. Although they educated me about what they had to offer in terms of services, it was more as an FYI without the uncomfortable push. Rebecca Cooper, the master colorist, brought me back within minutes of my arrival to discuss my wants and needs. I remembered her talent from a previous salon and was immensely excited to have her do my color. She has a real knack for listening, advising, then producing color with a pow, like no other that I have met. Before I came for my “me” day, I looked up new looks and was inspired by the Rose gold color tones that I saw in Allure's pics of the fall 2012 hair trends. Rebecca took the time to listen and she even look up what I was telling her I wanted. I had some other ideas that I also liked, so we decided to mix them a bit to give me the versatility I love. David Van Guilder, owner of Breathe, came over to introduce himself as my hairstylist and talk about my goals and plans for my hair. We discussed my typical styles, my likes, and my work parameters. Though I have an idea of what I want, I simply love to get a hair stylist’s advice, in-put, and ideas. When I meet someone who is talented I truly respect and will listen to what they say. David was the first hairstylist to ever respect my own layperson ability to do my hair and he was able to also build in the versatility I wanted. For instance, I wear my hair naturally curly, I straighten it, I put it in up-do’s, twists, braids, I wear it in all sorts of creative funkiness, but I also need to be very professional at times if I am public speaking or out on the floor for my nursing job. David was able to truly listen to my needs, advice me on best styles for my lifestyle and on what looks would be complimentary to my physical features. David and Rebecca worked as a team to get it done and the results were marvelous. Love the color, love the cut, and I LOVE how many styles I can do my hair in, each giving me a different look with a different color enhanced. Awesome job Breathe Salon and Spa of Lansdale, PA!

Why spend money coloring your hair if you're only going to use products that fade your color instantly? In my latest hair care video, I give 4 tips to extend the life of your hair color, along with my favorite sulfate-free shampoos, conditioners, dry shampoos and styling balm. These tips are applicable regardless of season, because I don't know about you, but I color my hair all year long (gotta hide those greys!)  Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and subscribe to our blog for more beauty reviews! *Disclosure, press samples

It's been a while since I've done a video for A Girl's Gotta Spa! so today is your lucky day... With my 38th birthday looming ever closer, I thought it would be a good idea to share a few tips for looking younger.

(Stila, Clinique, LashControl, Xtreme Lashes, Christopher Drummond Beauty, Shiseido, Pureology)

The above are the products that I used to get the look below (although my awesome hair did not translate on camera):

Check out my video and if you love it, share with your friends! And never mind my cleavage...yes, bad shirt choice...keep focused on the words coming out of my mouth. (Pretty please.) What are some of your makeup tips for looking younger? 

Don't forget to subscribe to my A Girl's Gotta Spa! YouTube channel and subscribe to the blog!

Before you know it summer will be upon us and, for me, warmer temps mean a drastic scaling back of my usage of beauty products, especially hair styling products.  In the summer I prefer not to fight nature and will shy away from blow dryers and flat irons, leaving my naturally curly hair as is.  The only product I will typically use in my hair during the warmer months is any type of a curling cream that will enhance, define and hydrate my natural curls.  The problem I often face is that just one product can never seems to do all three things, so I am always on constant lookout for that one product. My latest product testing (sent by a rep. of the brand) involved Unite “Boing” Curling Cream.  This curling cream promised soft, bouncy curls with the right amount of hold.  My curls were definitely bouncy, but they did not feel soft and it was not the right amount of hold for me.  My hair felt like I had applied hairspray instead of a curling cream and my curls felt a bit crunchy.  Lucky for me, summer has not arrived as yet so I still have time to find my miracle product for my curly hair. Have you tried it? How did it work for you? *Disclosure

This past weekend I shot a hair care product commercial during which I got the opportunity to pick up a few beauty tips and tricks and thought I would share one of those tips with you in this post.  Hair care commercials normally means that the hair needs to look absolutely perfect, hence quite a bit of heat (blow-drying, curling, flat ironing) is required.  Another requirement is speed on the part of the hairstylist because as they say when on set "time is money."  So combine heat and having to provide the clients with shiny perfect hair in minutes and you might be looking at a recipe for models with burnt ears.  (I know I have had quite a few mishaps with both my curling and flat iron that have occurred when I was not in a rush!)  It's a good thing that most hairstylists on set always seem to show up prepared for every possible scenario and the hairstylist that was on set that day was no exception.   Before styling my hair that day the hairstylist gave me two slip on ear shields to protect my ear from the styling tools.  Some of you may be familiar with the ear shields, but I had never seen nor heard of them before that day but they immediately made sense.  The hairstylist accidentally burning my ears was never a concern for me, but I have to admit I did feel more at ease with the ear shields on.  The hairstylist said that the ear shields can be found in most beauty stores, so I will be headed to a beauty store in my neighborhood in search of them...I am actually looking forward to curling/flat-ironing those pieces of hair around close to my ear! Have you ever used ear shields to protect your ears when heat styling your hair?