I've spoken extensively over the years about my love of Drybar but I've never done a full Brand Buzz aka brand overview about them. 

Drybar has been on my radar for a while... at least 4 years because that's when I went to Drybar for the first time. However, I think my love affair with the brand had been a year or two longer than that. I've used their products for a long time and am pretty obsessed with the idea and branding of the entire brand, from the salon to the accessories to the tools and products. It's ingenious and I've learned so much about the idea behind it from listening to interviews with Alli Webb. 

I've been a little obsessed with my hair during quarantine because I feel like it's been changing and I figured that now is as good a time as any to share my favorite items from the brand.

Somewhere in the middle of quarantine, my hair started to change. I don't know if it was because I was stuck inside (is that even a thing?) or something else but my goodness, my hair was annoying the crap out of me. 

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein Power Treatment 

Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shots

Living Proof No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner

For the past few summers, I've gotten a keratin treatment to help my unruly hair. The Keratin Treatment straightened and relaxed my hair so that styling was easier and it didn't frizz in the humid, hot weather. It was a blessing and completely changed my life.

The reason I continued to get the treatment is that I loved my straight hair and it was easier to achieve the look I wanted if I had it. However, this past winter I really fell in love with my curly hair and felt a little more like myself with it.

I started using my Kiss Instawave Curling Iron more and embraced my natural locks, probably because my natural hair has changed significantly over the past two years. Gone are the unruly, wild Carrie Bradshaw curls and hello to soft, beachy waves. My hair dries the way I wished for it to dry for years and I'm not sure how it happened.

I didn't want to give up my new found hair so I decided against the Keratin treatment and it was a great decision. I haven't had any problems with my hair and it pretty much comes out exactly how I want it each time.

Some days I curl my hair with the iron, some days I use a product to keep the natural curl alive for a few days and others I just go all natural to give my hair a break. The products I use are curl defying creams, detanglers, and no frizz to keep everything under control.

No curling iron, just Bumble and Bumble 'Don't Blow It'

Curling Iron

I wanted to give you the rundown on how I keep my hair summer ready and below are the products I've been using all summer long!

Hair Products I'm Using This Summer

My hair has been a mess lately. If we're being honest, it's been a mess my entire life. I've said before how my hair is curly, frizzy, and very unruly. Because of this, I am always on the search for something new and exciting -- a product that will blow the socks off of me and change my hair.

I did a post like this last summer but I've since found different products that work just as well. Lately, my hair has felt fried, dry, and stiff so the following products have been helping me keep that feeling at bay.




1. Ouai Rose Hair & Body Oil: I've always been very honest with my love of all things rose scented so when I got this in the Vogue x Birchbox Limited Edition box, I was thrilled. I'm always in the market for a new oil and this one really helps to moisturize my hair and to tame the frizz and fly aways. I also love how this is a travel size because I keep it in my work bag for when the humidity gets a little crazy when I'm on my commute. I don't use oil in my hair when it's wet because I feel like it makes my hair a tad bit too greasy but after it's styled, I always finish off with this oil. *I have yet to try it on my body but I'm sure it's fabulous.

2. Ouai Wave Spray: I don't think I talked about this last summer but I really should've. I alternated between this and the Bumble and Bumble Don't Blow It cream, but I think I might like this more. When I'm   rocking curly hair, I will spray this in wet hair and then sleep on it. I wake up in the morning with full, soft curls and waves. It doesn't leave my hair oily, greasy, or stiff -- it's so good. I have been loving everything I've tried from Ouai and I really want to try more because the products are SO GOOD.

3. Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask: I can't tell you how many of these I've gone through. I have consistently using deep conditioners and hair masks as a regular conditioner for years now and this I think has been my favorite. It has a wonderful price tag of $11-$14 depending on if it's on sale at Ulta, and it take a while to go through. It's very thick, very hydrating, but does not weigh down your hair. It leaves my hair very smooth, shiny, and perfectly conditioned.

4. Drybar Prep Rally Prime & Prep Detangler: Drybar is still one of my favorite hair brands and I still have a lot of their products (and need to buy their newer products) but this is a must-have for me. It's so good my sister kept stealing it from me, and my bottle is now finished. I need to buy more and I'm thinking me not using this is why my hair has felt weird lately. Anyways... it's a hair primer and detangler that you spray in before brushing your wet hair, and before styling. It has heat protectant and hydrates the hair, while also strengtehning it. I can 100% attest to all of these claims. It's such a stand out product and now holds the spot for my #1 hair primer.

What is your current favorite hair product?
xoxo
B

I've suffered from dry scalp since I was young.. like 11 years old young. All of a sudden, my scalp started to itch and nothing helped. My scalp was flaking and I would have a white dusting on my shirt, which looked like dandruff. I thought that's what I had but the itching was unbearable.

Finally, I went to see a dermatologist and they told me I had psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin condition which causes your skin cells to build up and that creates dry patches and scaly rashes. It made total sense and just until recently I discovered that psoriasis was not what I had.

Now, I don't think that doctor misdiagnosed me; I think after 13 years, the condition transformed into something else.

However, at the time I began treating my scalp for psoriasis; I used special shampoos, conditioners, styling products, creams; everything under the sun I used. These products would work for a handful of weeks or months but then they stopped and I'd have to move onto something else.

As of a few years ago I kind of just accepted that my head was going to be itchy and my scalp was going to remain in the state that it was in.

It wasn't until recently that I actually found some solutions to my issue and they were helping. My scalp wouldn't get itchy until it was time to wash my hair (I sometimes go 4-6 days without washing my hair because it's so thick, it never gets greasy).

A few months ago I did go to the dermatologist for a check up and told her about my scalp; she prescribed me some medicated shampoo and it helped immensely. She said that it wasn't psoriasis but rather just a build up (there is a medical term for it that I can't remember) and that the shampoo should help.

I've never loved a doctor more because I've been using the medicated shampoo for 2-3 months and my head has never felt better!

I do believe that there are cases of dry, flaky scalp that isn't as bad as mine and I think these products would work wonders for anyone suffering on a lesser level.



1. Alterna Caviar Exfoliating Scalp Facial: This product is a miracle worker. You use it before shampoo and you basically massage the product into your scalp with the little feet attached to the bottle. It removes all the dead skin from your scalp (you can actually feel this and it's gross) and cleanses your hair. I am obsessed with this and it's the one product that really worked and made a difference.



2. Drybar Double Standard Shampoo: When I saw that DryBar was coming out with it's 2-in-1 cleansing shampoo I bought a bottle the moment it was available. This is made for lifting and cleansing impurities and product build up from the scalp, leaving you with squeaky clean hair. This really helped, especially in conjuction with the Caviar Facial. My hair felt lighter, softer, and smoother with this shampoo and it left my scalp clean and fresh. It's a must-try!

3. Selsum Blue: This is a drugstore shampoo that is perfect for cleansing the scalp. Once my medicated shampoo runs out I'll start using this again. It's one of those old classics that never steer you wrong and I highly recommend starting with this shampoo to try and rid your scalp of that itch and dryness.

Another tip is to try using sulfate and paraben free hair products. The less chemicals, the better! I've been using them for years because I need to use them when I have a keratin and there really is no difference. Most products are sulfate and paraben free these days!

When all else fails, go to your dermatologist and get that itch figured out! You'll be much more comfortable and happier with a healthy scalp :)

xoxo
B

My hair is something that I have a love/hate relationship with. It's very thick, curly, frizzy, and unruly. It has given me a lot of grief over the years; from flat ironing it to a crisp during middle school, to trying to embrace my Carrie Bradshaw like ringlets, to sometimes just throwing my hands in the air & surrendering to the messy mane, I've had my fair share of trouble with it.

I've gotten it relaxed, and I'm on my 3rd keratin treatment which has all been a huge help. My hair is easier to maintain and when I do wear it natural, it's more in control.

Even though its slightly better, it still takes a village to keep it together. I used to not really care about the products I was putting in my hair because as long as it was making it less frizzy, I was good to go. That is until I started really get into beauty and had to pay attention to what I was putting into my hair when I got my keratin treatments.

When you have a keratin, you cannot use any products with sulfates in it, so I pay close attention to that.

Also, I have a very dry scalp so I have to be careful what I use to make sure it doesn't irritate my scalp at all. I can tell within one shampoo if a product is making my scalp itchy and dry.

I also only wash my hair around 1-2 times a week. When I have a keratin, I wash my hair probably 2-3 times a week because it's a little greasier and I don't mind having to wash it because I usually am not blow drying or ironing my hair.

When I don't have a keratin (usually in the winter months), I only wash my hair once a week, because my hair is usually blown out and I hate wasting a good blowout until I have to.

Now that you know my hair routine, here are my most used & beloved products (as of lately). They work for me, keep my scalp in good condition, and help control the horse's mane I have on top of my head.




Alterna Caviar Scalp Exfoliating Facial: A few months ago, my scalp was on fire. It hurt so bad and I couldn't take it anymore. I did some research and found this little product. I immediately picked it up and started to use it, and it made all the difference. It has a scrubby brush on the end, and the product squeezes out from there. You run it through your wet scalp before shampooing and it removes all the dead skin from your scalp, just like a body exfoliator. It makes my hair look and feel so much cleaner. It's such an incredible discovery. If you have dry scalp, TRY this!

Loreal EverCreme Intense Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner: I LOVE the EVER line from Loreal because they are free of sulfates & the price is right. They have a lot of different kinds, depending on your hair type but I love the nourishing shampoo because like I said, my hair is dry. I've tried a lot of shampoo and conditioner duos but this is by far my favorite because it leaves my hair clean and soft.

Verb Hydrating Mask:  This is a hydrating mask that I use as my deep conditioner about once a week. My hair can get very dry & this really puts the moisture back into my locks, and keeps my hair shiny, for longer. It's a huge bottle for only $14 and it's totally worth it! It's also sulfate (and paraben) free so added bonus, for sure. Verb is such a great haircare brand, I highly recommend it!

Amika Nourishing Mask: This is another hair mask that I really love. I think of this more as a repairing mask than strictly hydrating. When I feel like my hair just needs a huge break, I'll use this bad boy to help it out. It's also free of sulfates & parabens, and it is advertised as a true deep conditioning mask, it just feels like it does so much more. I switch back and forth between this and the Verb but both are incredible.

Amika Bombshell Blowout Spray: Amika is such a good haircare brand, you must try it out. This is the only blowout spray I've really tried but it's incredible. It makes my hair easier to brush out and makes it easier to blow dry. I'm also convinced it makes my hair dry faster, which I'm pretty sure is supposed to happen. I just ran out and I need more ASAP.

Below are some of my other favorites like dry shampoos, oils, and finishing sprays!


What are your go-to haircare products?

I have a weird obsession with being fancy, chic, and the most basic blogger gal in the universe. My friends mock me on a daily basis for my Instagrams, for my love of being "fancy" and just enjoying girly things. I love being part of a good trend and I don't like to miss out on something trendy.

Another week has come & gone. I'm getting ready to head to my cousin's wedding today (it's raining and just not good wedding weather) and I haven't been to a wedding in over 10 years. I'm pretty excited to eat & drink... Millennial complex, ladies & gents.



I hate feeling rushed & hectic but that's what this morning is: I went to the Drybar for the 1st time last night and it was epic. More on that later... but this morning I need to paint my nails, shower, pack up and get out of the house by 2 PM.

The good news is that next week is Memorial Day Weekend which means the start of summer fridays at work so I'll have off every other Friday. I am SO HYPED.

This was also a week of highs & lows. I got published on Elite Daily again but was also passed over for a freelance position and another Elite Daily article got rejected. You win some, you lose some but I'm getting used to rejection...as all writers & everyone else should. Take it with stride!



Also -- the Champagne Glow Collection by Becca & Jaclyn Hill releases next week (I already have the face palette that was released in limited quantities this week) and I'm planning on buying everything because JH is QUEEN and I'm so excited.



That being said, here's what I loved this week:

• 50 couples who made us believe in love
• Twitter is making links & photos NOT part of the 140 character limit! #Rejoice 
• Gilmore Girls is coming back & you may want to refresh your memory 
• Baking a cake? Follow some of these tips
• Student loans are the bane of my existence 
• Interesting article on why we don't enjoy our free time
• Got anxiety? These apps can help

I have never been a fan on my dull brown hair. I have dull brown eyes to match so it makes it even more unexciting.

I've put light brown highlights in my hair, blonde highlights, and even dyed my hair black two years ago. I've never cut my hair a drastic length so really the only drastic thing I've ever done was get a Keratin treatment done (#lifechanging).

A lovely selfie with my natural colored hair (after I got my Keratin treatment done)

I've been meaning for a change, especially with all my hair issues that I talked about in yesterday's post... but that's a whole different story in itself.

As I grew older, I learned to appreciate my "dull" brown hair. It's not just a regular brown but from the chemicals and hair dye, it's kind of changed colors. Sometimes there speckles of red or blonde or caramel. It's pretty good.

When I dyed my hair black, I felt like a totally different person. I felt like I was wearing a wig, it took weeks to get used to it.

Black hair don't care ;)

With my "dull" brown hair, I feel like me.

When I discovered Madison Reed, a hair care company that specializes in hair dye, I thought their take on "hair personality" was pretty cool. I've heard a little bit about Madison Reed products and after looking at their website, you know they take hair seriously.



The campaign from Madison Reed is all about hair personality. Your hair is yours forever and as you grow and mature, you can change it to how you feel at that specific time.

I think it's really interesting to know that depending on how you feel, you can alter your hair to reflect that. Some people may go their entire lives without changing their hair and other people change the color every few months.

When you take all of that into consideration, how does your hair really reflect who you are as a person?

There's always hair stereotypes; blondes are ditzy, black haired are emo, brown hair is boring and then you have red heads.

Do you fit your hair stereotype? I'm sure you don't because that's why they're called stereotypes.

Personally, sometimes I do fit my brown haired stereotype. I could be shy, nerdy, low-key, and Type A, but then there are other times when I'm really outgoing, fun, funny, and quirky.

Sometimes I do think that if I had a different hair color I'd be more bubbly, all the time, but then realize that hair color doesn't define you-- that's why you have the ability to change it whenever you want!



As the summer draws near and just with the mood I've been in, I want a change. Madison Reed's Color Advisor allows you to take a quiz based on your current hair color and skin tone to see what hair color works best with you. After I took mine, it told me just what I suspected...a light brown or red.

We'll see if I go through with it but for now, I'm perfectly fine being myself in my "dull" brown hair! At the end of the day, it's the hair I was born with and it makes me who I am!

What's your hair personality? Do you break your own stereotype? Tell me in the comments!

My natural, no product hair on Spring Break

Straightened hair BEFORE the treatment

Right after the treatment was done

Drying naturally after I washed it

All dried and straightened

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