Review: Clairol Perfect 10 Haircolor

A few months ago, I reviewed my experience with Frederic Fekkai at-home hair color.  Over Thanksgiving, I noticed I had almost an inch of roots coming in (different lighting at my parent's bathroom).  This time, I decided to change it up and dye my hair using Clairol's Perfect 10.  I've used it once before, so I felt comfortable going with the drugstore brand.  I did a lot of research on at-home hair coloring kits prior to my first time using Perfect 10, but since it was touted as a great, innovative product by all of the major beauty/fashion magazines, I was sold.

The hype around this product is that it only takes 10 minutes to process...up to 15 if you are covering grays.  This makes it a bit quicker and easier to use than the Fekkai, which takes about 3 times as long to process, but really once it's on, who cares?  The other thing that sets it apart is it's comb applicator.  The comb screws onto the bottle of color, and has holes that deposit color as you comb through hair.  It's supposedly easier for beginners and those who have trouble applying color to their own hair.  I found it a bit difficult to use.  For one, I had applied color to my roots using the traditional applicator tip and let that process for 5 minutes before moving on to the rest of my hair.  After that I tried to distribute color through my hair with the comb applicator, but eventually gave up and used my gloved hands.  The application process was still easier for me than the Fekkai bowl and brush set, especially since I realized a couple of days later that I had missed a large section of hair when I was using the brush. 

Processing time was short and sweet - well, not literally, but the smell wasn't too bad, and wasn't overwhelming.  I do like the conditioner that's included in the kit, which you are meant to apply once a week for 6 weeks.  They probably figure by then you're ready to color your hair again.  I used shade 4G, Dark Golden Brown, which was within a couple of shades of my color.  My hair came out glossy and evenly colored.  I've heard some people have had issues with their color fading fast using Perfect 10, and I'll be keeping a close eye on that this time.  For now, I'm still happy with it, but I also only shampoo my hair a few times a week, always with color-formulated products, and I try to deep condition once a week.  I use Pureology ColourMax spray to help prevent UV fading. 

A tip if you do decide to purchase - go to Target.  I bought mine for full-price at CVS for $13.99, and a couple days later was at Target, where I noticed it retails for $9.99, and that's not a sale price.  I have no idea why CVS would be almost 50% more, but that's a big difference when we're talking discount hair color.

Bottom Line

Product: Clairol Perfect 10

Website: http://www.clairol.com/ 

Retail Price: $9.99 - 13.99 

Category: Hair Color 

Recommendation: A good alternative to the pricier Frederic Fekkai

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume + Length = Love

A few weeks ago I reviewed CoverGirl's new LashBlast Length mascara (yellow tube), and while it did add length, I was disappointed at how sparse my lashes looked.  I had already been using LashBlast Volume mascara (orange tube) for a few months, so I decided to so a little experiment.  Since the magic of mascara isn't as much about the product formula as it is the brush itself, what would happen if I layered LashBlast Volume on top of LashBlast Length?  Great looking lashes, that's what.  Now why they couldn't put this together in one tube...well like I said, it's about the brushes.  Maybe they could make a double-wand tube of mascara that would eliminate the need to use 2 tubes, but for now I'll make do.  If you have a mascara that you're not in love with, but aren't ready to toss, try layering if with another formula and see if it adds up to great lashes.

e.l.f. Available at Target

As if there weren't enough reasons to love Target, here's another one for all those beauty recessionistas out there.  e.l.f., which stands for eyes, lips, and face, is now being sold at Target.  I'm not sure which other retails stores sell it, but I personally never saw it available except online.  For those not familiar with the brand, it's decent quality makeup, with each piece being sold for $1 (they have added some "premium" mineral items that may go for a buck or two more now). 

I've always wanted to try many of the items, but couldn't justify spending as much on shipping as I do on products - not that shipping is more expensive than other places, but when the items are so cheap, you'd need to buy a bucket-full to make it worthwhile.  While trying to finish up my Christmas shopping today, I came across the e.l.f. display and allowed myself to pick up a trio of Plumping Lip Glaze.  This specifically is a product I've been wanting to try.  The colors in the trio are gorgeous, and look exactly like the Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Polishes that I love.  Each gloss has a dual applicator - one side a clear plumping gloss, and the colored gloss on the other end.  I'll be back with a review once I've had a chance to try them all out, but anything from this line would make a great stocking suffer!

Inspiration for the New 'Do

I'm getting my haircut tomorrow, and this is the pic I'm going to show my stylist for inspiration.  Ted Gibson created the look, and while Ted has opened a salon in DC, I think his haircuts run about $700-$800.  Hmmm, I think I'll just use his design for inspiration.

It's Hair Week!

I'm finally getting my haircut this week after 6 months.  6 months people!!  I haven't gone this long without getting my hair done since I've had control over making my own appointments.  I really can't wait.  I'm also dying my hair.  This time I'm going with Clairol's Perfect 10 instead of the Frederic Fekkai I went with last time.  I'll report back and let you know if it's worth paying twice the price.

Tip: Creating Waves

For as much as I love beauty products, I consider myself to be somewhat hair-styling challenged.  I did the perm, big bang thing during middle/high-school, but for the most part keep my styling routine to a minimum.  Granted, I have about 20 shampoos and conditioner at any given time in the shower, boxes of styling products, and the latest and greatest ionic tools, but if I have to spend more than 10 minutes (blow drying time included), I start to get antsy.  I've even been trying to take top stylists' advice to wash your hair as least often as possible (not working helps, but I can't get up to the recommended week), just so I don't need to deal with styling it. 

However, there are those times that call for a little something extra, and just love the look of long loose waves/curls.  My experiences with curling irons haven't been too great.  They've involved either curling my bangs in the late 80s/early 90s that involved cans of hairspray, or somehow burning my neck.  But always, always, they've involved a little crimp at the ends.  I hate that little crimp.  So I found a way to get rid of it, and it's so simple that it's genius.  Instead of opening the clamp, wrapping hair around the barrel, then closing the clamp - just don't use the clamp at all.  Some people actually use tools to remove the clamp, but it works just as well to wrap hair around the closed iron all together.  Your hair will need to be long enough to wrap around the barrel at least a couple of times while keeping a tight grip with your fingertips on the ends.  I've used this technique a bunch of times now, and have yet to burn my fingers, so don't worry too much about that.  And the best part?  Use enough hairspray or styling product, and the waves look even better a bit messed up the next day.  So no need to restyle.