Guinea Pig: NMDL Summer Hair Challenge

Me mucking around on the
video set at work; the hair
looks good, huh?

So, I just had to participate in the No More Dirty Looks Summer Hair Challenge last week. And since I found out about it late, Friday was the day to wash, condition, and go—no product allowed. Only problem? I'd been scheduled to shoot a sponsored video for the magazine where I work. I have to admit, I was nervous not doing anything to my hair when I knew I was going to be recorded. I hate being photographed anyway. But fortunately time was on my side. Or not. Because I basically had to rush out the door to make my train so there was nothing more I could do than leave with wet hair. Also, I don't own a hair dryer. I actually think it looks pretty nice in the pic at left, taken on set at the video shoot. And I'm going to try a tip from their blog that I think would make it even nicer (spraying with aloe juice). All weekend I brushed well and put argan oil on the ends and that was it, and I feel like I was a lot happier with how it looked than I usually am when I put gel in it. Let me just say, though, that a good conditioner is key. I actually used a hair treatment after washing rather than an ordinary conditioner, left it in for 5 minutes as directed on the label, and then rinsed it out with lukewarm/coolish water (which is supposed to help the hair cuticle lay down, or something like that. I'm not a cosmetologist, OK?). Can't wait to try this tomorrow for the second time when I wash again (yes, that's right, I go five days between washes).

Shout Out: No More Dirty Looks, the book

Just a quick note to tell you all to check out the new guide to natural skin care from a pair of GOOD mag editors. I can't fully recommend it yet, because it's still on my nightstand (boo!), but they put up a great Q and A with the authors on Time's website. I'm intrigued because the interview talks about quitting use of glycolic and other AHAs because of skin sensitivity, and these products are something I've recommended to my consultation and facial clients with acne-prone skin. I've already had one client have a reaction after several months of using malic acid products (characteristic little red bumps on the forehead), and now I have another client whose skin is freaking out and I'm suspecting that maybe she's got a sensitivity, too... More investigation needs to be done on my part, so stay posted.

And while you're reading, check out Newsweek's beauty issue online. Great stuff in there, recommended by the author of the excellent blog Beauty Schooled Project.