Holy crap! Do you ever have good hair days? I had a string of them this week, and you can too.
I owe it to the shampoo, conditioner and spray gel from the Aussie Opposites Attract Collection — a reasonable $3 each.
For the past few days, to restore some of the moisture to my hair, I’ve only been shampooing my roots, washing the rest of my hair with conditioner alone. It’s a little trick I picked up somewhere along the way, and I do it to prevent my hair from drying out. It really seems to help.
After rinsing out the shampoo, I coat the hair from roots to ends with the conditioner, wait a few minutes for it to sink in and then rinse one last time. The thick, rich conditioner works well for me because I have a lot of hair and need something to weigh it down (otherwise it ends up very big and Bride of Frankenstein).
I love the berry smoothie fragrance these products have, and so does El Hub, who, it should be noted, has a terrible sense of smell.
To finish, I follow up with the spray gel, applying it on the ends and hair shaft. To evenly distribute the product, I comb it through with a wide-tooth comb and allow it to air dry.
A few hour later, after my hair has had time to dry, it looks shiny, feels soft and flows in loose waves that smell SO GOOD! Seriously, I love this stuff.
Aussie Opposites Attract Shampoo, Conditioner and Spray Gel
Price: $3 each; $9 for all three
Use: To clean, condition and smooth hair
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+
If you have curly or wavy hair and avoid silicone hair products, you should know that both the shampoo and the conditioner do contain dimethicone. The spray gel, however, *is* 100% silicone-free.
In the interest of research, I decided to give all three of these products a try, and I’m glad I did. It’s tough to beat $3 for quality shampoos, conditioners and styling products.
Late Night Party People (and Cat)
I got zero sleep last night because Tabs decided to stay inside and par-tay until the wee hours. At around three in the morning he started scratching at the door, waking me up to go outside. I guess he had places to go and things to do.
But there’s no rest for the weary. Tonight, Border’s bookstores nationwide are holding midnight release parties (with trivia, debates and a costume contest!) for Stephenie Meyer’s new book, Breaking Dawn. It’s the fourth book in the Twilight series. They’re classified as young adult literature, but I don’t care. I think they’re great. They tell the story of a young woman named Bella and the men who love her — incidentally, one of the men happens to be a vampire and the other a werewolf.
So that’s what I’ll be reading this weekend. How about you? Do you have a book on your nightstand at home? Are you reading anything fun or interesting?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
xtina says
August 1st, 2008 at 5:02 pmAh yes, I just got finished my Vince Flynn novel, Transfer of Power. He’s an incredible writer. The genre is fiction, but he writes political thrillers. They’re phenomenal 🙂
Dao says
August 1st, 2008 at 5:36 pmWow, nice hair! I used Aussie about a year ago but the dimethicone is too much for me since I have straight hair. I’ll tell my roomie about this though, she has curly hair.
Just came back from The Dark Knight and it was awesome! As much as I like the movie, the ending was kind of abrupt, don’t you think? The Joker is total psycho and a bit of a pervert. C.Bale is hot hot hot and I like Maggie Gylenhall as Rachel a lot more than Katie Holmes.
Daos last blog post..Creme de la Mer: Miracle in a Jar or Not?
ines says
August 1st, 2008 at 5:38 pmfor me, at the moment i’ve been reading a lot of oscar hijuelos and gabriel garcia marquez (which fuels my general enthusiasm for any dark, handsome, latino… figures XD… not that any latino i’ve met (current man toy included) has even bothered to read either authors). will be reading another book soon, the devil wears prada by lauren weisenberger (for the fourth time!). not exactly heavyweight literature like marquez but i love that book (and meryl streep as miranda – i would love to be dressed to the nines and have my minions tremble at my every command), so i’ll be cozying up with it with bliss moisture gloves and socks with lush lemony flutter slathered all over my hands and feet!
Cynthia says
August 1st, 2008 at 6:01 pmYour hair looks great! The clean, silken shine really showed up in your picture. I used to use Aussie shampoos ages ago, but I think that was when they had different packaging and bottle design. You know, I’ve heard good things about the Twilight series though I haven’t started with it. Although I’m technically an adult (don’t feel like it most of the time), I like reading young adult stuff from time to time. I loved the Harry Potter series. And I like Christopher Pike. The last book I read was Rose of No Man’s Land by Michelle Tea- she’s a San Francisco writer, actually.
Marisol says
August 1st, 2008 at 8:02 pmThanks for the review. Glad to know that people can get decent products at drugstore prices. I posted on your previous post what I was reading but I will post them again so you don’t have to look for them.
The books that I am trying to read are The Red Book: A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark by Sera Beak and Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Have a fun weekend.
Marisols last blog post..Product review – MAC & MUFE plus a bit of Pureology
J-Money says
August 1st, 2008 at 8:23 pmYeah for affordable hair products!! I got an email about the release party for that book. I was intrigued but wasn’t sure what to think about it. I felt like I was going down the V.C. Andrews path again…..I so loved that filth-foul-filth back in the day! ha ha ha.
Brittany says
August 1st, 2008 at 8:33 pmI love Aussie. It’s my go to shampoo and conditioner when my hair is dried out. It’s awesome. Plus, it smells kind of like coconut, which is a good thing in my book.
I’m reading Sellevision by Augusten Burroughs. It’s pretty interesting. It’s about people who work on a home shopping network, that sounds pretty boring, but it’s pretty twisted.
Joanne says
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:09 amI love Aussie’s Shampoo and Conditioner! I was at a friends house and I forgot to bring my own shampoo and conditioner, so I tried her Aussie stuff. I tried the Moist shampoo and the 3 minute miracle reconstruct deeeeeep conditioner. I also saw that it had tea tree oil and I was all over it! It made my hair soft and manageable! I was using Head & Shoulders shampoo and conditioner daily because I was having some major scalp problems, but now I also use Aussie when I feel I need a change. I would definitely recommend the deeep conditioner for added moisture. It’s also great because their so cheap and smell great! I tried looking for the deep conditioner, but I had no luck at target and wal-mart.
Karen B says
August 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 amOooh, that sounds like a mean deal.
Breaking Dawn only comes out within a few month here *pouts* and then it’ll probably be ages before I find it… Ah well. Enjoy it ^^
Karen Bs last blog post..flist is ♥
Asta says
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:19 amI just stayed up all night reading and finished at 6:30! You’ll have to tell us what you think of Breaking Dawn. I loved it, but it’s going to make a lot of fans upset. Oh, the controversy!
Ellery says
August 2nd, 2008 at 6:10 amI love Aussie. I used their mega shampoo and conditioner, and 3 minute mask and it makes my hair sooo soft and shiny and mmmm. 🙂
I rarely read but right now I’ve read a couple pages of Nicole Richie’s book. I’m too lazy to read books.
Erin says
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:46 amWow, your hair does look great!!!! Does the silicone help with frizz? I am having major frizz problems with the humidity here in CT.
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:23 amHi Xtina,
I haven’t read of his books yet, but I’m always looking for new authors to read, so thanks! 🙂
Happy Saturday!
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:23 amHi Dao,
Yeah, they can be really heavy on straight hair. What do you use now?
Yay! You finally got to catch the film. The ending felt bittersweet to me. I was disappointed that there wasn’t the feeling of hope we got from the first movie.
Hmm, I had a hard time with Maggie as Rachel. I felt that Maggie’s portrayal lacked the naivete and the vulnerability that Katie brought to the role.
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:23 amHi Ines,
I think I might be the last person on earth who still hasn’t read Devil Wears Prada. It actually sounds just the thing that I need right now!
My favorite Marquez book is Love in the Time of Cholera. How about you?
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 amHi Cynthia,
I don’t feel like an adult most of the time, either. 🙂 If you venture into young adult books you might like Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.
I haven’t heard of Michelle Tea, but now I’ll have to check her out because she’s from the bay! So thanks!
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 amHi Marisol,
Ahhh! I’ve been meaning to read Eat, Pray, Love! It’s on my summer reading list!
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:24 amHi J-Money,
LOL, I used to love those books, too. They were so scandalous. I think V.C. Andrews died many years ago but they continue to churn out books made by ghost writers.
The Twilight series doesn’t really go down the scandalous route; it’s more like a supernatural love story!
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 amHi Brittany,
Have you ever used their 3-Minute Miracle? I used to love that stuff back in the day!
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 amHi Joanne,
I did a search and found it on the Aussie website. You can enter your zip code and find a retailer near you that sells it, or purchase it online at Walgreens.com. 🙂
Hope this helps!
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 amHi Karen B.,
Oh! I’m sure there will be teasers and spoilers on line if you’re really jonsing for it. Will you watching the movie when it comes out in the fall?
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 amHi Asta,
WOW!! You have awesome stamina. I fell asleep the minute I got home. I am going to start reading it later on today! When I’m done we’ll have to dish. 🙂
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 amHi Ellery,
I love how the products leave hair smelling so yummy, don’t you?
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 amHi Erin,
It’s an ingredient commonly found in most shampoos and conditioners (look for the words that end in “-one”, like dimethicone) to smooth and add shine to the hair. Some believe that it actually makes frizzy hair worse (which is why I stopped using it for a while), but for some women it really is a miracle worker. I think it just depends on how your hair responds to it.
Amanda says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 amyou really are having a good hair day! I wonder if they have a volumizing line….that’s what I need.
I just finished Specials, from the Uglies series. Then I started Zapped, by Carol Higgins Clark (Mary HIggins Clark’s daughter)….she writes “easy” or “fluffy” suspense/mystery, LOL. Also I’m trying to read all the Jane Austen novels. 2 down, 4 to go. BUT, yes, the twilight series is on my list to start soon, I’ve heard it’s awesome. One of my good friends actually just started book #1 this week. And yeah, i’m 31….I totally don’t care that its “teen”. I’ve read and loved several teen series. Check out Meg Cabot if you want.
Karen B says
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:59 amI know but I still want to read it myself you know.
Probably. I’m not sure yet. The first teaser looked awesome, the second just plain scary…
Karen Bs last blog post..French Flower revamp!
Dao says
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:07 amI use Rusk sensories shampoo and Nature’s Gate tea tree conditioner. The first one cleans and gives volume, the second one gives moisture without weighing down the hair.
I think they’re trying to get some air for the sequel although Christopher Nolan said he has no plan for it yet. Also, “Batman vs. Superman” went under, they decided not to make that movie about 2 years ago and I didn’t know. Still waiting for that movie to come!
Daos last blog post..BLV: The Smell of Success
Tekoa says
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 amoHHHHhhh..so THAT’s why the book store is covered in lights, balloons and black curtains. Talk about missing the bandwagon. Probably won’t catch it either. I have this odd adversion to reading popular books.
Glosslizard says
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 amI have to avoid products that give hair weight, since my hair is curly but ridiculously fine! I think I’ll try the spray gel though, that sounds promising! 🙂
I’m currently reading a true-life odyssey book, “Queen of the Road: The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 Miles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband and a Bus with a Will of Its Own” by Doreen Orion. I heard the author on the Ronn Owens radio show and I had to check it out! So far it’s very funny!
April says
August 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pmI’m going to go pick up those products as soon as I finish my current ones. Thanks for the review!
I will be reading Breaking Dawn as well this week! I’m so excited! I can’t wait for the movie of Twilight to come out in December!
bella says
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:40 pmi bought both the shampoo and conditioner at target a few weeks ago, and i absolutely love it. it’s SO amazing, especially for the price, as previously i had been using kerastase and nexxus. the aussie stuff works great, and in addition to it, i’ll condition once a week with the aussie three minute miracle. and it smells good@
Megan says
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:13 pmHey girl. I’m going to have to check these out. My hair has been doing good since I switched over to the Freeman sea kelp and guava (silicone free) stuff…but it seems like i’m going through those bottles really quickly…my hair is getting longer since I’m gowing it out and all…so it’ll be time for something new in the not so distant future.
I have a couple books on my nightstand the one I am getting ready to read is one my mom gave me and insists that I need to read. It’s called “The Shack” and i have no idea what it’s about. So we’ll see how that goes 🙂
This weekend I’ve ordered wood floors to replace the carpet in a couple rooms of the new place which I close on this week. And I’m still looking at paint colors. Seriously…I love too many colors to commit. 🙂
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:46 pmHi Amanda,
They do! It’s called the Aussome Volume collection. I haven’t tried any of these products before but I’m guessing they have the same level of good quality!
http://www.aussie.com/us/collections/aussome_volume/
Have you read Sense and Sensibility yet? I’ve been stuck half-way through the book for about six months.
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:46 pmHi Karen B.,
I have a hard time believing the guy who plays Edward. He kind of freaks me out. I’m just hoping he does a good job in the movie!
Hey, have you been running lately?
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:47 pmHi Dao,
Rusk has really yummy smelling products. I used them in 2000; I remember really liking them.
How’s your weekend been so far?
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:47 pmHi Tekoa,
Yup! There were a LOT of vampire wannabes running around, and most of ’em were rockin’ the red lip!
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:48 pmHi Glosslizard,
For three bucks it’s not bad! Plus if ya don’t like it… well, it’s just three bucks. 🙂
LOL, that’s a great title. It’s interesting, at work we get a lot of pitches for travelogue stories like that quite often. Apparently a LOT of people have cruised cross country in their vehicles.
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 pmHi Bella,
Yay! I know, I can’t believe that each one is just three bucks. And the bottles are huge!
I haven’t used the three minute miracle conditioner in a few years but I remember it being quite good.
Karen says
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:50 pmHi Megan,
Yeah… for sure the conditioner wash process totally zaps product very fast. I am really hoping my hair stays well behaved with this. We shall see!
I’m so happy and excited for your new place. When’s the official move in date?
What colors are you debating for the walls? I swear, I have the hardest time making decisions when it comes to home stuff.
Megan says
August 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pmI am excited…but I’m not sure on the official move in date yet. My birthday is on the 16th…otherwise I would say it would likely be that weekend. I’m going to wait and see how quickly everything gets painted and the floors get installed.
My favorite color is blue, and I find myself gravitating toward blue, purple and green mostly…a little like turquoise/aqua as well. But i like dark wood…so the floors are going to be mostly dark…so most of the colors I am leaning toward are lighter/medium to balance the dark floors. :-)I see other colors i like… but then I can’t decide if I would be able to live with them… so I’m trying to use some of those as accents but not on the walls. Honestly I’m not sure I could live with much purple anyway… as much as i love it….:-) I’ve been reading up though…about how to make it “flow” etc. 🙂
ines says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:13 pmlove in the time of cholera is amazing. that is also my favorite 😀
one hundred years of solitude is a close second place!
Glosslizard says
August 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 pmWow! Maybe I should travel cross-country and write about it! 😉
Karen B says
August 3rd, 2008 at 12:24 amHe is freaking me out too. Maybe a tad too intense.
I haven’t, athletics camp has left me exhausted. But I will start again on monday ^^
Karen Bs last blog post..French Flower revamp!
Karen says
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:00 pmHi Megan,
Oh, happy early birthday! Are you and your friends still having the party?
I know nothing about decorating but know that I do love dark wood floors. 🙂 Tuprnut, who comments from time to time, gave me the very sage advice a few months ago of getting ideas from catalogues and magazines like Better Homes and Gardens. Now when I see rooms I like I just tear the picture out and throw it in the folder. When we move into bigger digs I’m just going to copy the looks I have stored in there!
Karen says
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 pmHi Ines,
Ohh, I think I have that one on my shelf, too. I read that ages ago, though, so I may have to revisit it.
Karen says
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:01 pmHi Karen B.,
Girl, you’re always crazy busy. That’s great! What are you learning at camp?
Karen B says
August 4th, 2008 at 12:55 amI’m not learning, I’m one of the trainers ^^ I had the youngest group so from birthyear 2001. They were so adorable! We did all kinds of things: sprints, high jump, long jump, hurdles, etc. And on Thursday we did water games because it was just way too hot for them. I got 6 buckets of water over my head… and enjoyed it. Thank god I wasn’t wearing any makeup because my mascara isn’t waterproof… lol
Karen Bs last blog post..French Flower revamp!
Joanne says
August 4th, 2008 at 3:00 amThanks for the tip! Hopefully, I can find it in my nearest Walgreens. I think I might have had trouble finding it because the tube on the aussie site looked different from my friends’ deeep conditioner.