People tell me, "Wow, I wish I had naturally curly hair like yours." and I would always reply, "What I would give for straight hair like yours!" Straight hair is so low-maintenance, for me. There are also so many styles you can cut it, whereas there's not much you can do with curly hair.

But enough of wishing for things that cannot be! While it's true that the grass looks greener on the other side, it's also true that the grass is greener where you water it. So let's stop bitching and work on what we've got, with everything we've got! Obviously, this doesn't just apply to hair trouble. ;)

Speaking of hair trouble, I would love to present a new find of mine: the Kérastase Elixir Ultime (P2,215), a serum that's the perfect combination of four beautifying oils: Argan, Maize Sprouts, Camellia and Pracaxi. I've tried a variety of creams, gels, and liquids to style my hair but there is nothing quite like it. Here's why!

Why I LOVE the product

• It makes my hair feel silky and smooth like you wouldn't believe. I currently use a drying, hypoallergenic shampoo so I have to moisturize with conditioner afterwards. Bu

I thought that the Love/Serum Moisturizing Curl Enhancing Serum from Davines was the ultimate product for curly hair. It was everything I wanted! But when I tried the Bed Hed Tigi Foxy Curls (P1,645), I realized that the Davines serum was missing something crucial: hold.

Foxy Curls makes curls stand out without feeling greasy or heavy, much like Love/Serum. It is a lot stickier and thicker though while it's wet. This texture helps keep curls and stray hair in place, something that Love/Serum does not do all that well, since its main focus is to show up curls and moisturize hair. Oh FC also smells amazing!

Anyway, Foxy Curls was put to an extreme test when I used it before attending a media event.

Summer is usually the time when I get terminally bored with my hair. It's also super hot so a girl must suffer a haircut, or at least a trim! Good thing Hair Philosophie took care of that for me. As for styling my hair at home, I bought a hair blower a couple of weeks ago to help with the frizz.

Well...actually I bought the blower mainly for my dog. :P I've never owned one before so I don't have the slightest clue on how to maximize it! I thought Snaps could use some quick drying after a bath, although I swiftly found out that he is deathly scared of the machine. Oh well. I might as well use it on myself.

I went to Watsons to buy a VS Sassoon blower because I heard of good reviews. They were at 10% off too, with a two year warranty on all the products. Not bad! I wanted to buy the pink hair dryer because it's the most affordable (less than P1,300 I think?) but I got talked into buying the bigger one called the VS Sasson Ceramic Jetset Dryer at P1,800 (price after the discount so I guess the original price is ~P2,000). 

I'm not just looking for a new hairstyle whenever I go to a salon. I'm looking to chill in a well-decorated, quiet area, without having to worry if my hair will turn out right. That's why I prefer mid-range to high-end salons (and spas, too!). I can reasonably expect that their staff is well-trained and professional, and the place discreet and relaxing.

One of the newest salons in the metro is Hair Philosophie, which I visited last Thursday. It is located in Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village Makati, near Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. The place is classy and spacious, with a lot of natural light coming in through the glass walls. I felt so at home! It really is one of the best-looking salons I've visited in the past few years. See for yourself -

The entrance

Work area

Gorgeous right? The staff is courteous (of course, they know I'm visiting to review the salon) and professional.

The Dove Nourishing Oil Care Nutri-Oil Serum is the bomb. For only P239, you get shinier, softer hair with less frizz. No stickiness. No product build-up. How cool is that? Sorry if I sound like a chirpy advertisement but I really really like this serum!

I've been a fan of Citre Shine serum since high school. If you have curly hair, you know how difficult it is to prevet tangling and frizzing, while still maintaining a semblance of definition.

I've been using the Love/Serum Moisturizing Curl Enhancing Serum (P1,203) from Davines for more than a month now. As you could have guessed from my initial review, I absolutely love it! Its a gift to frizzy, messy curly hair like mine.

This serum defines my curls without making them stiff and sticky, although I have to admit, the initial texture and smell is quite unpleasant. It smells off but thankfully the smell dissipates as soon as it dries.

Last Sunday I was at Megamall with my family. We had a carb-laden lunch at Amici - so good! I missed that place! I ordered from there a LOT when I lived in Makati. Anyways as we were walking off the food, I spotted an oriental-themed kiosk called Hua Mulan, near Payless. The store sold precious-looking combs so after dithering about whether I want to blow P330 on a wooden comb, I just went for it.

It's not a lot of money but I think it's the most I ever spent on a comb. :P I feel it's worth the "splurge" though, because the product looks really well-made. What really sold me on it is the smoothness of the sandalwood. Combs and brushes usually catch on my curly hair, so the roots are weakened and I get hair fall. I think a wooden comb would produce less friction with my hair!

According to Hua Mulan's Facebook Page:

Sandalwood Combs - This kind of wood is very precious. It needs a hundred years to grow up.

Something with a name like "hair heroes" better live up to it! Snoe Beauty's Hair Heroes with Intense Argan Oil (P499) is a cleansing conditioner that's designed to "save you from a bad hair day" - and it does. It revives dry hair and transforms it into a silky miracle only after one use. Too good to be true? Well, it's true, but the product is not perfect.

Hair Heroes can be used several ways: as a cleansing product (that is, no need to apply shampoo), a separate hair conditioner after your shampoo, a deep treatment mask (wait for 15 to 20 mins before washing off), and as a leave-on treatment.

What I love about the product

• One wash. That's all it takes for you to see a major difference in your hair! Hair feels A LOT smoother, silkier, and moisturized. Must be the famous argan oil!
• Smells like coconut cream. I like it, a bit strong but it doesn't stay like that for long.

This might sound a little melodramatic but Bedhead Tigi / Davines changed my life. That is, my "mane life". I seriously never knew that my hair can look this good! As in. Wow. It's just air dried ha, then left it in a bun. After an hour I got hair like this:

It's not shampoo commercial hair but I just LOVE the curl definition. I used the Bed Head Tigi Styleshots Hi-Def Curls Shampoo and Conditioner and the Davines Love/ Serum Moisturizing Curl Enhancing Serum. Kick ass combination. Pricy but damn it, I can't say no.

Anyway, Davines / Bed Head kindly sent me a package containing some cool stuff. The shampoo and conditioner smells gorgeous, and the eyeshadow palette - who knew they had makeup?

Let me tell you about my hair care routine before! I shampoo and then...that's it. I normally don't wear conditioner unless my hair is feeling dry (maybe once a month?). As for styling products, I just use serum and then mousse when I'm going somewhere important.

I make a conscious effort to keep my hair low-maintenance because my scalp is very sensitive, and besides, all the hair care products I've used in the past simply don't do much for my unruly, curly hair. But! All that changed when I started using the Bed Head Tigi Styleshots Hi-Def Curls Shampoo and Conditioner. 

Bed Head had an event for bloggers at Basement Salon a few weeks ago, which is where I first experienced their products. Allow me to tell you why I LOVE my Styleshots Hi-Def Curls set. I have photos to prove it, too.

What I love about the product

• As promised, the shampoo and conditioner defined my curls and lessened frizz. My hair also feels smooth, soft, and bouncy instantly after I use them. Like I just came from the salon.
• Smells phenomenal! Hi-Def Curls has this sort of fruity candy scent that really stays until I wash it off.

I've always wondered how it would be like if I were a glamorous celebrity. I would imagine the lights, the makeup, the beautiful clothes, and a score of people attending me as I prepare for a fab shoot. But I am not a celebrity, so all I can do is wonder (and D-I-Y to death) - that is, until Sunsilk asked me to join a shoot by one of the country's top photographers, Niccolo Cosme!

Sophie, Shen, Nikki, and I

I've been blogging for a few years now. In the course of my "career", I've luckily experienced a few cool milestones, but being part of a real photoshoot is definitely a first. It's all thanks to Sunsilk, who chose four beauty bloggers to celebrate with them after they reached 1,000,000 fans on their Hair Experts Facebook Page.

What do you think? I normally hate this angle of me, but Niccolo Cosme has some magic in his shutters. ;) Anyway, would just like to share a photo diary of what transpired at the shoot. You'll see a lot of Sophie, Nikki, and Shen as we prepare for the shoot behind the scenes.

Nikki is bright and sunny as always

Did you know that what you put in your hair can make you break out? The usual culprits are hair styling products, but shampoos and conditioners can also get to your face and cause pimples or irritation. That's why it's important to pick hair products that work for your skin, not against it.

You already know that I love the Sebamed Face & Body Wash because it's great to use when my skin is being extra sensitive, dry, or just plain breaking out. I recently got hold of its perfect partner, the Sebamed Everyday Shampoo! 

So what is it? The Sebamed Everyday Shampoo is an extra mild cleansing product for your hair. If your skin is sensitive, irritated, or inflamed, this is a good alternative since it calms the skin down.

If you've ever been to a Tony Moly store, you'll know that the place is stocked with beauty products from floor to ceiling. The Megamall store in particular is small but the first time I went there, I spent 15 minutes going through everything! There was just so much to take in. However, even though Tony Moly carries an extensive line already, that doesn't stop the brand from bringing in more, more, more.

Here are some of the brand's latest products. A few of these may not be available yet so better inquire at the Tony Moly Facebook Page to be sure.

It's a lot! There's something for the hair, feet, face, and of course TM's cute makeup. Oh, the makeup. They look like toys so I wasn't initially inclined to take them seriously. Well I do now after using them!

Berry Trendy Style Hair Glaze (P378), Backstage Paint Eye Pot in Lavender (P448), Shiny Foot Baby Skin Heel Patch (P178), Petite Bunny Gloss Bar (P278), Lovely Girl Eau de toillete (P748)

Last July 14, Avon introduced its Advance Techniques hair care line to the press. The event happened at the plush Marriott Hotel, where the whole ballroom was transformed into a salon supervised by Lourd Ramos, makeup counter with pro MUAs, and a studio where Jay Tablante took everyone's photos. It was a beauty addict's paradise!

Everyone got a wash and blow dry - of course, all products used were from the Avon Advance Techniques line

Jay Tablante doing his magic

The svelte and style savvy Theresa Herrera hosted the program. Avon Director Ashley Ferguson flew in to introduce the star of the show, Lotus Shield, while Sen Yang, a Senior Manager at Avon's Global Research Center, went on a video conference call to talk about the technology behind Lotus Shield.

I had very high hopes about the Human Heart Nature Natural Moisturizing Shampoo (P44.75) and Conditioner (P49.75). Just a couple of washes using both products left my hair feeling soft, shiny, and less frizzy. Of course, the fact that these two are completely natural and safe to use (no pthalates, parabens, SLS/ SLES, formaldehyde, and other toxic stuff) added to the appeal.

I also loved the texture of both products - the shampoo was delightfully foamy while the conditioner was creamy and smooth on my hair. I only had to use a little to do the job.

As much as I want to really love these products though, I got quite a few pimples while using them.

It's quite silly to wear makeup during a vacation, unless it's the type where you're going to meet a lot of new people you expect to see more of in the future. Why wear makeup when you should be spending time exploring the place right? I brought a bunch of makeup but I only used the concealer, powder, and eyeliner during my trip to Bellarocca. The goal is to just chill.

I used a nifty pouch from Estee Lauder. It can house my stuff securely without having them bump around too much. 

I just bought a basic sewing machine yesterday. I haven't taken pictures yet since I was busy tinkering with it all day (and all of last night), but I'll share with you what I've done with it once I have something! Anyway, for today, I'd like to talk about this Purederm hair mask.

I'll make this review short: I love it. It smells super minty, and feels minty on my hair. Come to think of it, it's like I put toothpaste on my head! The white cream itself feels heavy and luxurious yet easy to rinse off.

Hi Liz! First off, lemme just say that I am a BIG fan of Projectvanity.com and I always make it a point to check for updates when I go online. I really admire your sense of style and enjoy your no-nonsense reviews.

Now pardon my presumption in emailing you, but since I admire and trust your fashion and beauty sense, I thought I'd ask your advice. My thirteen-year-old sister has wavy hair much like yours, but it's very thick, dry and frizzy, and she's been getting quite self-conscious about it. My question is simple, what salon or home treatment have you tried that you would recommend as a remedy? Bearing in mind that she's still quite young and I wouldn't let her try anything that might potentially damage it. That's all, really. I'm sure you're a very busy person, but I would really appreciate a response. Thanks and keep up the good work!

Hi Paola! My gosh! Thanks so much for following Project Vanity! :D I always love hearing from readers.

Now about your question. You hit the mark - hair is something I'm really conscious about. Your sister and I seem to have the same hair and same problems. I was so bothered about my hair that when I was 15 I had my hair chemically straightened every six months until I was 17. I am still suffering the effects; now my hair is thinning and hair fall is a major problem. So if you or your sister is considering it - even when she's 20 or 25 - try not to. The cost, side effects, and maintenance is not worth it.

I think the key to having great hair is to adjust one's view of what great hair is. Right now, I am loving my wavy hair. I always wear it up (for convenience, also because I try not to apply any product on it as much as possible), but when I wear it as it is with only minimal styling, everyone thinks I had it digipermed or something! I'm sure the same goes for your sister. It's a matter of looking at things differently. Perhaps you guys can look online for pictures of glamorous women with thick wavy hair - there are lots!

Vanessa of Gossip Girl

Now that's out of the way, we can go on to products. For my hair, I like using a clear hair serum while it's damp. This manages the frizz and adds extra shine to the hair. I love Citre Shine (~P400)

Watsons is a paradise for the makeup and skincare junkie. They carry dirt cheap to high end products that address specific needs - and actually do a good job of it! I heard from a person who markets a brand exclusive to Watsons that its difficult to get the personal care store to carry your product. Their staff tests it rigorously, and it may take months before it gets approved, if at all!

This is not to say that every single thing in Watsons is gold. It's just that I've observed that this year, the store has brought out a lot of new, unique products for every budget - quite uncommon for competitors and even some department store beauty aisles.

I've reviewed a lot of Watsons products in the past so I thought to compile my best finds from the personal care store. It's this thread in GirlTalk that inspired me to write this post! Take note, most of the products featured here are exclusive to Watsons.

Himalaya Herbals Protein Shampoo with Conditioner

This is my Holy Grail shampoo/conditioner. I am already on my second bottle of this! I love how it makes my hair feel soft and moisturized while minimizing hair fall. 

Finally, my review of Eyliplex-2

Eyliplex-2 claims to lessen your eyebags and wrinkles. Does it work? YEAH! Check out my before and after photos in my review. You have to regularly use it though, like everyday. My bags are bothering me again so I'm using it again. Recently discovered trivia: the day gel is amazing as an eyeshadow primer! It really makes the eyeshadows pop and blend better! However it's too expensive to use as just a primer. ;)