Older Girl Beauty Blog

Instruction update - Natural Instincts

oldergirlbeauty — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:07:49 -0600

While I may be all about noticing things as I see them, I will take the time to make note when something is updated. Esp when I can claim total credit for something (*that I am sure I had nothing to do with even.) Back in March, I did a post about the "Natural Instincts - Golden Shimmer" haircoloring line. In it I noted that the instructions were not immediately clear that you should not wash your hair right before coloring your hair - it should be on damp hair, but not freshly shampooed.

Well, as I was having a chance to try another box of it today, I looked at the instructions and noticed the following:

Right there in Step 1A. it specifically reminds you to *not* shampoo your hair before you color. I like it. Now, I admit, I haven't looked at the instructions that closely since March, as I learned my lesson then (*yes, I know - bad home hair colorer), so I don't know when this change happened. But, I do know that it's there now, and like I said, I am going to take full and undeserved credit for the change, because I am just that persuasive.

Clairol Natural Instincts can be found in all the regular drugstore chains and mass market stores for around $8.99. However, just a note - I love the Golden Shimmer line, but I seem to have a hard time finding it around here - hopefully, you have better luck around you.

You make me feel like a natural woman...

oldergirlbeauty — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:36:00 -0500

Recently, I attended a webinar (seminar on the web) by Natural Instincts to introduce us to some of their new lines of haircolor. I gotta admit - I had never used this brand before as I was of a mind that all box hair color was the same (save for new advances in haircolor like the the quick-coloring Clairol Perfect 10). This talk was informative and proved me wrong, showing me several of the differences.

I got a chance to try a box from the Golden Shimmer line in Golden Mahogany. First off, I misunderstood how to apply it, which is one big difference from other box colors to me. You are to apply this to damp, NOT dry hair - like I usually do. In the webinar they said, "Apply this to clean, damp hair", which I heard as "Freshly shampoo'd, before you dry it hair". IT'S NOT! It should be on clean, second day, product free hair. I didn't see this pretty important fact until almost the bottom of the first page of the application instructions (*pdf). This kind of peeved me, since I had set aside that specific time to color my hair. *sigh* Anyway, I did manage to color my hair that weekend. Here are my beautiful part roots (you guys are getting to be BFF's now, since you've seen each other so much):

And this is what my pretty glowy hair afterwards (I tried to take it in the same

conditions as my not so pretty roots):

Aside from applying to damp hair, everything else was pretty much the same application as any other home hair color. The wasn't bad - I am going to attribute this to the fact that there is NO ammonia in this color. In addition, there are antioxidents, plus Vitamins C & E, in there with the intent of making your hair healthier than before you colored it. It also comes with a 6wk tube of once a week "Color Treat" conditioner which, I gotta say, made my hair feel very silk afterwards. I let my hair air dry and it wasn't near as flyaway as I would have expected after a coloring.

All that said, I really liked the results (Hell, I got 2 compliments on my color out at the sunny ballfield the next day - who wouldn't like that??). And, since it washes out in 28 shampoos (it's a demi-permanent color), I would definitely recommend this to someone wanting a boost, or to cover grays, without worrying too much about commitment.

The old grey mare...

oldergirlbeauty — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 08:51:00 -0600

The holidays can make a girl kinda overwhelmed and maybe not take care of herself quite as much as she should. Like, say, cover all of the grey hairs, and roots, on her head that make her look insanely older than she feels. For instance:

Yeah, so that needed to be remedied.

Thankfully I was given the opportunity to try out Clairol's Perfect 10 Haircolor in their new shade, Auburn Flash (5R). It was just the thing I needed to start the new year fresh. Check it out:

Quite a difference, eh? It had such good grey coverage, and only took 10 minutes to process (!). This was a much easier process than what I was used to with other home haircoloring products that could take up to 30min to cover up proof of my chronological age. (And, it didn't even stink, which was such a plus to me.). Oh, and let me tell you another cool thing about this - it has two different application tips. One of the tips went right in my roots, but the other was a comb thru applicator. It took just a bit to get used to the comb, but then it was such a breeze to just go thru the rest of my hair after I had taken care of the roots.

Now, I didn't post this as soon as I colored it, so I have gotten to see how it wears, which is pretty damn good. Like any color, it settled down just a bit a few days later, so its not *quite* as glowy, but that's great for me - I really like what it is now. Overall, I really like the results and the ease of this kit. You can find it at any of the mass markets or drugstore chains for around $13.99.