Haute Spot: The Private Room Salon

Yesterday I stopped by a new Beverly Hills salon called The Private Room to check out the chic, intimate space (black and white modern finishings, with a dose of sparkly glamour) and was treated to some much-needed pampering.

Owner Tina Dizion is warm, bubbly and uber-talented (she's best known for her masterful work with extensions), and gave me a bombshell-worthy blowout in no time at all. Then I was introduced to their signature Color Bar, where I spied a rainbow of colorful clip-in hair extensions to try out. 

I'm certainly not one to go for wild experimentation, but just this once, I trusted Tina and let her do what she wanted with me.

In the end, I walked out with a vibrant magenta extension piece, and some pink 'chalking' to even out my look. Definitely not my usual style, but super fun for the right occasion, just in case I'm feeling spunky for some reason!

I can't wait to go back and check out their other genius offerings (permanent waves? ballet extensions? Keratin treatments?)--I'm intrigued!

The Private Room
9414 Brighton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.247.2228

Obsessed!

It's certainly no secret that my bathroom counter/shower/cabinets/any ounce of storage in my apartment is positively bursting to the brim with beauty products, so goodness knows that the last thing I need in life are extra bottles of shampoo and conditioner to add to the rotation.

But when I recently sampled John Frieda Full Repair products, I snapped them up without any hesitation. While my (color-treated, heat-styled) locks are usually spoiled by fancy salon lines like Kerastase, Joico, Gloss Moderne, Aveda and more, this drugstore range changed my world completely. They left my hair silky smooth and manageable--a far cry from the results I often times get even when using pricey products. And even if you have fuss-free healthy hair, everyone could use a little extra TLC in the winter. Go on, try the line--they are well worth their mass retail price tag.

Organic Goodness!

When it comes to beauty, there's certainly no shortage of products that come my way, but when I spy a natural, organic line that's also seriously effective (and smells divine!), I quickly take notice. Meet Melvita--a yummy beauty brand that's organic and gentle and--(admittedly) addictive! The line offers an extensive amount of soothing solutions for hair, skin, face, body and more and even has a wonderful selection of baby products, too! With a baby nephew on the way, there's a little Melvita for everyone on my list this year.





Check it out here.

Backstage Beauty at NYFW: Badgley Mischka

I head backstage to talk hair, makeup & nails at New York Fashion Week for typeF!

Obsessed!

Want to know my latest (and greatest) hair obsession? It's Gloss Moderne, a fabulous luxury line that effectively strengthens and smoothes the hair with a technically advanced formulation of essential oils and proteins. I was skeptical at first, but I have to admit I was immediately hooked in just one wash. It's that good!

I have naturally straight, color-treated fine hair that I heat style daily, so it's no surprise that by the time summer rolls around, my hair is looking and feeling a little lackluster. So. Cal's constant sun exposure doesn't help, and while I'm constantly slathering on different intensive moisturizing masks and deep conditioners on, it's still not quite as glossy and bouncy as I'd like it to be. After just one wash with their high-gloss shampoo and conditioner (I also have the treatment mask for more intense days) and a dollop of their serum, my hair was transformed! I could slide a comb right through it post-shower without a million products, and my hair looked better than it has in months. Amazing! Love this stuff. (Yes, I deem it better than Kerastase.)



P.S. The serum also helps protect against thermal styling. Score.

Beauty Junkie

With a name like 'Glued' this hairspray may evoke a little hesitation from most folks, but for me, it's a winner. I've tried tons of hairsprays in my time and I've never been fully satisfied with a spray that locks in my (heat-styled) curls and (hard-earned) volume. Got2B's Glued freeze spray hasn't let me down yet, and its fierce hold control appeases my southern Texan roots and glamorous big hair dreams!



$5.99 at most drugstores.

Beauty Junkie

My hair is naturally straight and smooth, but post-shower, it needs a little help in the detangling department. Lately I've been loving MoroccanOil's Hydrating Styling Cream. It's a bit of a miracle-worker and keeps my hair feeling lush, full and happy--no matter how much I overdo it in the heat styling department.

Beauty Junkie

I've been traveling quite a bit this winter, and have frequently found myself without my reliable beauty stash during hotel stays in an ambitious attempt at packing lightly and being more minimalistic (who are we kidding?!)

Sadly, my hair is the first to suffer--from varying climates, weak products (or worse--no products) and hours on icky airplanes--some ill-fated situations can leave even the best of us feeling far from fabulous.

When I finally get home, I reach for Joico's K Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor, a miracle worker that transforms my sometimes-overworked, dehydrated hair into silky, bouncy locks all over again. Smooth on for five minutes, rinse out and you're good to go!



$18.99 at Walgreens.

It's a Wrap

Banish bad hair days in 2011 with the help of these super chic stretchy head wraps from L.Erickson. The chain and crystal encrusted detail add instant glam to even the most basic outfit.






Check out their site for a myriad of fun and ultra-fabulous options!

Beauty Junkie

Happy to report that my hair has been considerably bouncier lately, and I owe it all to Fresh Soda Shampoo. And FYI, I'm a big fan of Fresh--I swear by their soy face cleanser daily, love their lip balms and have gone through a few bottles of fragrances in my time--but this was my first shampoo experience and I think I've found my Fresh favorite.

This clarifying, volumizing cleanser also smells amazing (an awesome blend of mint flower water, balancing lavender water and vibrant grapefruit extract) and invigorates the scalp, too.



I'm hooked.

$26 at Sephora, Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue.

Beauty Discovery!

As I write this, I'm almost giddy with excitement. Literally, ecstatic. As a super straight-haired gal, I'm always on the quest for secret hair weapons that will give me volume, waves, curls, anything at all more interesting that stick-straight strands. And for the last solid two years or so, I've stayed true to my ghd flat iron to curl my hair.

Now I still love my ghd, but today I received a new life-changing styler to test out and I have to admit, I am falling for it fast.




The Sultra Bombshell curling iron is actually clipless, which makes for really easy, really fast hair twisting and twirling around the super-hot rod. Wear a heat-resistant glove to protect your fingertips and work your magic without worrying about weird kinks and clamps ruining your curls. It heats up in seconds and gives you a head of fabulous, beachy, bouncy, gorgeous, sorta-messy, sexy curls that I seriously dream about.
Think Kate Hudson hotness, and that's just about what I've managed to create effortlessly during my first trial run tonight. If I keep practicing, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to pull off red carpet-ready hair in a moment's notice.

$130 at Sephora, and I swear to you, worth every penny.

Secret Weapons

On a whim, I recently snapped up two hair products from Sephora in hopes of improving/enhancing my 'do. It boggles me that even with trendy highlights, pricey haircuts and an arsenal of high-tech appliances, my hair still fails me in performance more times than not. The optimal hair goal? shiny, bouncy, voluminous, gorgeous hair that holds heat styling and still looks healthy. Up until now, I sadly miss the mark on this quest about half the time....until now!

I'm thrilled to report that my bad hair days are finally over, and I owe it all to the goods I grabbed on Sephora.com.
I am positively loving on Living Proof Thickening Cream and HerCut Long Layers Catalyst for my hair.





A combo of both (worked evenly throughout before blow drying) transforms my hair into thick, lustrous, bouncy locks. Styling with a flat iron or hot rollers after is a cinch, and the style (more importantly, the lift at the roots and the curl at the ends) lasts all day long. Even day-old hair still looks shapely and fresh, and needs no touching up.

Glorious!

Beauty Junkie

I was at an event the other evening, and after making the rounds schmoozing with publicists and checking out some impressive (and not-so-impressive) lines, I was treated to a mini pampering session in the back. I got a hand massage and oxygen facial compliments of Bliss Spa, and my hair styled by Salon Heroin and Sebastian products.

My hair was in a clumpy mess thanks to product mixed with a recent bout of L.A. rain (the nerve!), but my stylist, Sarah, was able to get it in impeccably pretty shape in no time with a large-barrel curling iron and some savvy skills. When all was said done, I waited for my typical spritz of mega-hold aerosol spray, but instead Sarah pumped a dollop of Sebastian Microweb Fiber in her hands and lightly scrunched into my curls for easy definition and light hold.



Intrigued, I asked for more info., and she told me it's her fave product for long hair--it's lightweight, smells great and has tiny little fibers that keep strands from clumping together, while still adding texture. Love it. Even better? She tossed me her tube and said to enjoy!

It's my new hair obsession.

The Very Best Brush

My naturally stick-straight Asian hair requires next to nothing in the smoothing department. I usually run a wide comb through it after I shower, and haven't actually touched a hairbrush of any sort for ummm...years.

Blow drying is as simple as running my fingers through it a few times, and it certainly doesn't tangle overnight. I never thought I needed a hairbrush thanks to my low-maintenance mane, but during a recent press event at UMBERTO Beverly Hills, I was turned on to the Banana Brush, and now I'm a changed woman.



Not only is it ergonomic, which fits perfectly in your hand, but it provides great lift at the roots when drying and has widely-spaced bristles for easy detangling. Oh, and best of all? It's only $8.99 at Target.

Beauty Junkie

I received a sample of got2b's new Fat-tastic Thickening plumping non-aerosol hairspray the other day on my doorstep, and let me just say it was godsend! I almost always use a massive can of intense volumizing super-hold aerosol sprays to secure my curls, which usually lasts for about an hour before things turn for the worse and everything loses its defined shape and sticks together in some way or another.

Got2b's spray not only instantly gives my hair lift, but it actually holds curl and pumps everything up--and comes in a sleek, plastic pump bottle that doesn't scare people away.




And at just $5.99, this one is most definitely a summer beauty score!

Beauty Junkie

I enjoyed a weekend getaway with the girls and discovered my latest beauty obsession in my friend's bathroom cabinet in San Francisco: T3's Plump Heat Seeking Liquid Hair Plumper.

I spritzed this product on at the roots and enjoyed the benefits of fuller, shapelier (yes, that's an adjective I would use it to describe these results) hair with far more volume than I anticipated in SF's notorious dreary, cold climate.



Definitely picking up a bottle on my next Sephora trip.

Drugstore Beauty

Quite naturally, I'm always tempted by indulgent cosmetic splurges at Sephora or fabulous department stores, but thankfully, sometimes the best of beauty can also be a bargain!

Take it from me--a die-hard beauty junkie who has been blessed with too-good-to-be-true access to samples galore (thank you, beauty publicists!) from every brand under the sun--if I'm still reaching for these reliable stand-bys at my local drugstore and bypassing products from top-tier labels, it says a lot.

Here are my personal picks for the frugal-minded fashionista:


Maybelline Sky High Curves Waterproof Mascara: My favorite mascara of all time! Beautifully accentuates lashes and creates length, volume and curl where you never thought possible.


Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover: If I could only buy one drugstore beauty product for the rest of my life, it would be this one! Not even kidding.


Physician's Formula Shimmer Block: A totally reliable bronzer for the perfect beachy, sun-kissed, summery glow.


Cover Girl Lip Stains: A new discovery of mine! CG just launched these high-quality magic marker-like lip stains that provide wearable, all-day color in a super easy (and fun!) applicator.


L'Oreal Intense Carbon Black Liquid Liner: Easy to use, ultra-inky and long-lasting liquid liner. Such a steal.


Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Collection: Not all drugstore brands are created equal. Thankfully, Garnier outperforms all of the others, so my hair is consistently shiny and smooth--for a fraction of the price of high-end salon formulas.

Beauty Junkie

I rotate beauty products in my shower like no one's business, so when I find a few that I like, I want to shout it out from the rooftops. My latest discovery is Sebastian Professional Light Shampoo and Conditioner.





First, let it be known that it's rare that pretty much any shampoo and conditioner duo mutually succeed. I'm forever mixing and matching brands in the shower because one tends to perform better than the other. Not the case with this pair.

These two leave my hair feeling fresh, vibrant and...light (literally.) No unruliness or dryness (I know, I was skeptical that the 'lightness' wouldn't pack enough moisture as a conditioner--I was wrong!); just plenty of gorgeous shine, manageability and smoothness (sans flatness!) Color me surprised.

I was so impressed with the results that I even wore my hair totally natural, air-dried and straight today and didn't regret it once.

Fabulous.

Beauty Junkie: The Perfect Hairspray

Maybe it's because I'm originally from Texas, but if there's one hair product I can't live without, it's definitely a volumizing hairspray. I'm forever looking for a miracle worker that actually lives up to its claims (and trust me, a lot of them don't), and I'm constantly coming up short.

The ideal spray would really hold style without disappointing, last all day, emit a pleasant scent and never feel sticky, hard or crunchy once applied.

At long last, I think the search is over: introducing Kenra Volumizing Spray.



Performs like it says it will, and leaves hair shiny and perfectly coiffed--no matter the weather.

Hairspray success!

Hairstyle of the Moment

Just wanted to point out that Hayden Panettiere, Lauren Conrad and Madonna all seem to have something in common lately: a fondness for retro glam updos.



Evoking classic Hollywood glamour, the blonde bombshells have all been sporting a middle part, loose tendrils around the face and softly-tousled curls pinned at the nape of the neck.

I'm pretty much positive I'll never personally rock this look, but tell me what you think! Is it a Do or a Don't?