Taylor Lautner's Must Have Hair Products

If you're "Team Jacob," this post is for you...

New Moon star Taylor Lautner is InStyle's December Man of Style. When the mag asked how he keeps his hair looking so perfect, Taylor answered KMS Hairplay and Redken Rough Paste. Now what I'd really like to know is what this kid is brushing with. I dare you to find me straighter, whiter chompers in Hollywood...natural, I mean; Hillary Duff's chicklet teeth don't count.

Taylor's girlfriend, Taylor Swift, graces the issue's special 3-D cover.

New York Fashion Week: Rebecca Taylor, Spring 2010

At the Rebecca Taylor New York Fashion Week Spring 2010 show, the makeup took its inspiration from the 1940s.

"This woman is very strong, sensual, sophisticated and confident," said Key Makeup Artist Rie Omoto. "The woman who wears these clothes doesn’t have to try hard to show how sexy she is."

Rie started with a sheer, dewy base (achieved with MAC Face and Body Foundation, Select Moisturecover Concealer, and Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder).

Chiseled cheeks were created using MAC Sculpt Powder. Rie smudged MAC Costa Riche Eye Kohl into the crease of the eye, then layered a new MAC Pigment on top. Eyes were finished with a coat of with MAC Zoom Lash Mascara on top and bottom lashes.

The matte coral lip (MAC Pigment in Fire Orange layered with Basic Red Paint Stick) provided a punchy contrast to the shimmering skin.

Using Cutler Treatment Spray, Fly-Away Control Stick, and Redken Workforce 09 Flexible Volumizing Spray, Head Hairstylist Dai Michishita crafted evening-inspired coiffs to flatter the feminine and floaty frocks. By pulling hair back into a low pony and fashioning sleek chignons resembling bowties, Dai created a look that Rodney Cutler, founder of the Cutler Salon, called "clean, beautiful and young."

My Blowout Is The Bomb Y'all!

Peep my super sleek blowout, courtesy of Emma H at Cutler Salon in NYC. Isn't it amazin'? I'm glowing!

I was waltzing around the city that day thinkin' I was too cute. You couldn't tell me nothin'.

Emma tamed my tresses with a T3 hairdryer and flat iron, and polished it off with a little of Redken's Sleek Obedience Anti-Frizz Solid Serum - a pomade that she recommended I invest in.

Another reason to love Emma? She talked me out of cutting my bangs, suggesting that I simply switch my part from the left to the right side. And she was right. I don't know what kind of optical illusion it creates, but my hair looks 10 times more flattering, and it actually makes my face look thinner. And isn't that the ultimate goal?

If I lived in New York, I would definitely be scheduling bi-weekly visits with Emma. In fact, I think I might just make an appointment for September when I return. Can't be looking a hot mess at Fashion Week.

Oh, and did I mention that Emma does Rachael Ray's hair?

Cutler Salon
47 W. 57th Street (between Park & Lexington)
New York, NY 10012

Product Polygamy Week: Hair

Woo woo! Party over here! Party over here!

Welcome to day three of Product Polygamy Week, Spoiled Pretty’s celebration of the beauty items that get big love from me and my girl, Amber.

SHAMPOO
The Barb: Frederic Fekkai Technician Shampoo For Dry, Damaged, Color-Treated Hair
Looking for a shampoo that will nurture your tortured tresses and restore their good health? Then look no further than Frederic Fekkai Technician Shampoo For Dry, Damaged, Color-Treated Hair. Your hair needn’t be dry, damaged, and color-treated to enjoy this product. As long as your strands are one of the above, they will reap the rewards of this sublime shampoo.

The Nicki: Barry Fletcher Moisture Therapy Honeysuckle Moisturizing Shampoo
This is all I have to say…Barry Fletcher’s Moisture Therapy Honeysuckle Moisturizing Shampoo left my hair so silky smooth that I almost didn't need conditioner. What more is there to say? Oh yeah - an 8 oz. bottle is only $7.

The Margene: Bumble and bumble Creme De Coco Shampoo
Made with coconut oil and murumuru butter, Bumble and bumble Creme De Coco Shampoo gently cleanses, supremely moisturizes, enhances shine and tames frizz. Still need convincing? Peep this - it smells like a frothy pina colada. Bottoms up!


CONDITIONER
The Barb: Barry Fletcher Moisture Therapy Revitalizing Conditioner
Nothing makes my hair softer or more manageable than Barry Fletcher's Moisture Therapy Revitalizing Conditioner. It hydrates, strengthens, and leaves my strands implausibly silken. Plus it smells just like a pina colada (are you noticing a pattern here?) and costs $10 for a tub.

The Nicki: Moroccanoil Masque
The people responsible for the Moroccanoil hair care line must practice magic and wizardry. That’s the only explanation I can come up with that could possibly account for the products’ supernatural powers. Moroccanoil Masque is a rich, creamy treatment, designed to hydrate and repair damaged hair. With continued use, it revitalizes hair, restoring shine and manageability.

The Margene: Joico K Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor
If your hair is over-processed, severely damaged and/or you suffer from breakage, then Joico K Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor is the answer. This is not - and I repeat NOT - a moisturizing product. This is a hair reconstructor; it rebuilds and improves the structure of your hair. After just one use, you’ll notice that there’s less hair in your comb/brush, your hair looks healthier and it feels stronger. Just remember to follow this up with a moisturizing treatment, because too much protein can make hair strong but also brittle.


STYLING PRODUCT
The Barb: Moroccanoil Oil Treatment
If you go out and buy just one thing off this list, let it be Moroccanoil Oil Treatment. There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to accurately describe how this magical elixir has changed my life. I’m a beauty blogger, so I have to test and review a plethora of products. Which means that I have to switch it up all of the time. But the one hair product I CANNOT take out of the rotation is Moroccanoil Oil Treatment. This amazing oil strengthens brittle hair, softens unmanageable manes, nourishes dry scalp, restores shine, eliminates frizz, protects against UV damage, speeds styling time by 40% and provides long-term conditioning to all hair types. I don’t know one person who’s tried it an thought, “meh.” Use it once and you’ll want to buy it in bulk so you’re never without it.

The Nicki: Redken Extreme Iron Repair
You’ve heard it time and time again…take it easy on the thermal styling tools. But your hair just looks too damn good when you’ve had a nice blowout and you touch it up with the flat iron. I know, I know. I’m guilty too. So if you’re like me and determined to be a blowdrying, flat-ironing badass, please invest in a thermal protector like Redken Extreme Iron Repair. This lightweight, heat-activated lotion protects hair from heat-styling damage while strengthening the internal and external fiber. And it eases your guilty conscience when you’re putting hot tools in your hair every five minutes.

The Margene: No Frizz by Living Proof
Okay, I lied. Remember when I said if you buy one thing on this list, make it Moroccanoil Oil Treatment? Well, I forgot that I would also be including No Frizz by Living Proof on said list. No Frizz is a revolutionary new hair care line that contains a brand new molecule that does what silicones can’t: eliminate frizz by blocking out humidity. No Frizz by Living Proof is the winner of Allure Magazine’s most coveted beauty honor: the ‘beauty breakthrough award’ of 2008. Already an insider favorite to stylists and celebrities, it hasn’t been available to the general public until recently. Then it hit the market, but you couldn’t find it anywhere because beauty zealots were snatching it up in bulk, like they were on an eppy of Supermarket Sweep. Sounds crazy, but this stuff is serious; it was created by a scientist at MIT!

Since I’ve been using this, frizz isn’t even a word in my dictionary. I forgot what it meant because - rain or shine - my hair looks exactly the same. Hot mess, puffball hair begone! And one thing I absolutely love about these products…it instructs you to apply as much as you want, that you can’t overdo it. I love glopping on some styling products, so a product line that lets me go hog wild (but won't let me overdo it) gets an A+ in my book.

My partner in crime, Amber, is hair obsessed. So you know she’ll have some great product picks. Go check her out and I’ll see you tomorrow…same time, same place.

Fashion Week: Carmen Marc Valvo Fall 2008

This past Friday, I returned to New York for another dose of Fashion Week. I just couldn’t stay away. This time, I got the skinny on Carmen Marc Valvo’s Fall 2008 Ready To Wear collection.

I spoke to Lead Makeup Artist, Tom Pecheux, about his inspiration for the makeup look. He told me he was inspired by the collection, which was based on lingerie. “There is a sensuality about the collection, so I didn’t want to go too sexy for the makeup – or else it might look too boudoir,” he said. “Emphasis on a strong, perfect mouth keeps it couture.”

Foundation was natural and matte, eyes were defined with a simple swipe of mascara, and models wore no blush. Pecheux explained, “The essence of the look is ‘sophisticated woman with a touch of masculinity.’”

The vibrant lip was achieved by lining the mouth and filling in lips with MAC Magenta Lip Pencil. The finishing touch was a dab of MAC Russian Red Lipstick in the center of lips. It was a sporty, modern take on the classic red mouth.

My BFF Victor was there, and he offered a little insight to trends for Fall. “Fall 2008 will be a big lip season. You’re going to see an emphasis on technically astute lips. We’re moving away from women haphazardly swiping at their mouths with a tube of lipstick. Women are going to have to wake up a couple minutes early to replicate this look. And for all of those ladies who have misplaced their lip pencils, it’s time to go out and purchase a new one.”

Models’ hair was smoothed into a sleek low ponytail and separated into two sections. Each piece was braided; then the two plaits were intertwined and pinned at the nape of the neck. To finish off the look, stylists applied a generous helping of Redken Hardwear 16 Super Strong Gel – for a glass-like effect.

CND artists were also on hand (pun intended), painting models’ nails in Clearly Pink, a creamy neutral that compliments all skin tones.


Lead Makeup Artist Tom Pecheux strikes a pose


MAC Senior Makeup Artist Nadine Luke lines model's mouth in Magenta


Victor doing his thang


A model shows off the finished look


CND artists make sure models' nails are perfectly polished

All Soft, No Substance

I really wanted to love All Soft Heavy Cream, a “super treatment” that Redken promises will “provide dry hair with intense softness, replenishment and strength. Hair is wrapped in softness with increased manageability, movement and luminous shine.” I tried it last night and I must say – not only was I not impressed, I was extremely disappointed. After using it, my hair wasn’t any softer than usual. In fact, I think it was less soft than I’m accustomed to. All of my favorite magazines and blogs raved about this product, and I just don’t understand the enthusiasm for such a mediocre conditoner.

Perhaps it’s because I have been spoiled (pretty) by my tried-and-true conditioner, Elasta QP’s DPR 11. So it doesn’t have a catchy name and you may not have heard of the brand before, but this product is the ONLY conditioner you'll need…I don’t know why I ever doubted my DPR 11.

Elasta QP is a line of hair product made for and marketed to African-American women - but really, the products work for all women - regardless of race, ethnicity, or hair texture. Case in point - in college, a friend of mine decided she was bored with her long, thick Persian hair. I can’t remember exactly what she did to it, but I do recall that it was damaged within an inch of its life. Girlfriend’s hair felt, and looked, like straw. She couldn’t get a brush through it, and it became matted and terribly tangled. I gave her some DPR to try and I swear, she cried. Her hair was miraculously restored to its natural state, but even more manageable than before.

It’s been ten years since then, and I’m still using this product. I slather it on after I shampoo and let it penetrate for 5-10 minutes while I’m showering and shaving. As soon as I rinse it out, I immediately notice how silky my hair is. And, every time I use the DPR 11, my husband can’t stop smelling me…the product contains peach blossom oil, which leaves your strands unbelievably soft and subtly fragranced.

Whether your hair is chemically processed or natural, curly or straight, thick or baby fine - this is as good as it gets, ladies! Trust me, I've tried them all. After you use this, you'll finally know your hair's true potential. This is the holy grail of holy grails – remember, you heard it here first.

And at under $7 a pop, you can't beat it. I also highly recommend the rest of the Elasta QP products - Creme Conditioning Shampoo is another of my faves. Click here to find a retailer near you.