Suave Professionals Weather Protection 365 Styling Products

"Suave Professionals" - What a great name! "Suave" says, "You know me; I'm comfortable." "Professionals" says, "I'm going to knock your socks off. You thought you knew me, but wait until you see me all grown up."

About a week ago, I received a box from Unilever with two Suave Professionals Weather Protection 365 styling products in it. No name, no note - I have no idea who to thank for my gift! I really need to thank someone because these two products are phenomenal.

From where I sit, the technology behind the best of today's hair care products has improved radically. So many of the products I have tested and used recently meet their promises (that used to be a novel concept in hair care). The Suave Professionals products swept me away because they performed as well as styling products that cost 10 times as much. Maybe that's why the Suave Professionals products are advertised as "salon-proven."

Weather Protection 365 Cream Gel ($3.99) combines the benefits of a cream and a gel to provide smothness and light hold. The all-season shield complex in the cream gel is formulated with ultraviolet filters, smoothing silicones, and light moisturizers to provide a protective barrier against humidity, static, and wind. No frizz or flyaways!

I've been following the directions, which say to apply a dime- or quarter-sized amount to your palm (I'm splitting the difference), rub your palms together, and distribute evenly throughout damp hair. Comb through your hair with a wide-toothed comb. Then style as usual, following with hair spray for added hold and protection.

Suave Professionals Weather Protection 365 Hair Spray ($3.99) is my hair spray of choice after I use the cream gel, and it may become my hair spray of choice no matter what styling product I use beforehand. Like the cream gel, the all-season shield complex of the hair spray is formulated with UV filters and anti-humidity styling polymers that provide a protective barrier against the elements. Suave says you should spray as usual and then flip your hair over and spray again from beneath for extra hold and control. I haven't found a need to do that.

Both products give my fine, lifeless hair volume and bounce and definitely hold its style. I have used them on the worst days for humidity, when my camera lens fogs up the second I go outside. The combination has kept my bob's ends turned under (not every product will do that) on supremely hot and humid days - without unruly flyaways. My hair feels good too. There's no stickiness, crunchiness, or stiffness - just control.

Both the Weather Protection 365 Cream Gel and Hair Spray have a lovely tropical fragrance that sticks around for no longer than two or three minutes. Even though I don't like fragranced hair products as a rule, I wouldn't mind if this one persisted. It smells good!

Suave claims that Weather Protection 365 products are as effective as Matrix Biolage. I'm not sure why they need to make that comparison. I assume Biolage has a big market. To me, there's no comparison. The Suave Professionals products are much better, and they cost a lot less!

You can purchase Suave Professionals products at drugstores, other mass market retailers, Amazon, and drugstore.com. Suave has a Facebook page you might want to check out to learn more.

Now I want to try the three Suave Professionals Volumizing styling products. Is my fairy godmother out there?

Photos courtesy of Suave/Unilever

MOROCCANOIL Luminous Hair Spray

I'm always searching for the ultimate hair spray - the one that does it all, has it all - and more. I've read so many good things about MOROCCANOIL products, so I sprang for their Luminous Hair Spray (I paid $15.95) at my local beauty supply store.

MOROCCANOIL is a media and celebrity darling. The salon products - all based on argan oil - contain powerful antioxidants and UV protectors. MOROCCANOIL's proprietary argan oil blend is rich in vitamins and natural elements that fortify the hair, including vitamin F (Omega 6), vitamin A to improve elasticity, vitamin E to protect against free-radicals, and phenols to shield against environmental stressors. The company deserves its fabulous reputation.

When I saw the Luminous Hair Spray, I wanted to try it. I was enticed by weightless, but strong, flexible hold; enhanced shine; and manageable, residue-free, and brushable hair. The can promised luminous and unique shine (credited to the argan oil) and a reflective shield to guard against humidity and frizz. Then a store employee told me that it was highly scented. I put it back on the shelf. The urge to try it was too strong, though. I went back, hoping they would have a tester. They didn't. I would like to have sprayed just a tiny amount to test it, but the store is too small. I had no opportunity. Darn!

I can report that the store employee was correct. It is highly scented. It's a nice scent, but it competes with my perfume - and it stays in my hair all day. I smell like baby powder - clean, fresh, pleasant baby powder. The hair spray itself is extremely nice. It held my style all day without any tacky feeling in my hair, and it added a bit of shine. Unfortunately, I can't get past the fragrance. I really wanted Luminous Hair Spray to be the be-all, end-all-searching hair spray for me. It isn't.

If you don't mind having your hair smell like baby powder all day, you may love it. Everything else about it is nice, including the fact that the company does not use ingredients from animals, and they do no animal testing.

You can purchase MOROCCANOIL products are salons (locator at this link), Amazon, and other online sources.

Photo courtesy of MOROCCANOIL

Living Proof Hold Flexible Hairspray

Living Proof has a new hair spray, and it's definitely worth checking out! I saw Living Proof Hold Flexible Hairspray ($24) at Sephora last weekend. Having recently started using - and loving - Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Spray for Fine to Medium Hair, I was intrigued.

Hair spray and I have such a difficult relationship. I need hair spray, but hate hair sprays that are heavily scented or make my hair stiff as a board. That rules out a lot of respected products. So, at Sephora, the first thing I did was spray the tester on my arm to check for fragrance. This one has a fragrance, but it's fresh and citrusy. I can deal with that, especially since the fragrance fades over the day.

What doesn't fade is its holding power. It holds my style! Here's what Sephora and Living Proof say in describing it.

Hold Flexible Hairspray modernizes hairspray and allows you to maintain your style without fear of collapsing [editorial note: I assume they mean without fear of your hair style collapsing]. Featuring the revolutionary No Frizz technology, Hold is perfect for all hair types. It effectively blocks humidity, adds shine, and protects style. Hold's technology is buildable - the more you spray the firmer the hold - but without flaking and dullness.

Here, more or less, is what the can says.

Humidity is your hair style's #1 enemy - making some hair frizzy and other hair limp and flat (mine included). That's why Living Proof's scientists invented PolyfluoroEster, a new molecule featured in Hold Flexible Hairspray that prevents the damaging effects of humidity. Hold can be layered for a light or strong finish, leaving your hair soft and natural feeling.

The first time I used it, I think I held the can too close to my hair when I sprayed. As a result, I got a heavy dose. My hair is so fine, it's easy to overdo hair spray. The second time I used it, I was better with the distance and nozzle, and I succeeded in spraying just the right amount of product for an effective all-day hold. Nice!

Living Proof has developed legions of fans with its frizz-fighting products. I checked out the reviews on Sephora's Web site after I came home with my new hair spray, and they were overwhelmingly good. It appears that Living Proof has another hit on its hands!

You can purchase this hair spray at Sephora, where I got mine. Or you can buy it at Living Proof's Web site. Let me know what you think!

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Sebastian Shaper Zero Gravity Hair Spray

I have a new favorite hair spray - new to me at least. Sebastian's Shaper Zero Gravity provides brushable control. It dries in a flash, feeling as weightless on the hair as "zero gravity," and offers provides perfect all-day hold.

This hair spray is designed to be used on all hair types, but is promoted as ideal for fine hair, which is one of the reasons I like it. I have fine hair, and it doesn't weigh it down or add a distinguishable layer of product to my hair. It holds my style well. I also like the fact that right after the brief, initial "alcohol-laden burst," the scent disappears entirely. I stopped using the old Shaper because I didn't like the fragrance it left in my hair.

You can find Zero Gravity at salons, beauty supply stores, Amazon, and other online sources. The prices vary widely depending on source. Just Google it!

Photo courtesy of Sebastian

Fekkai Golden Shimmer Gelée Mist

What fun! Frédéric Fekkai has introduced a limited-edition Golden Shimmer Gelée Mist ($20) for the holidays. This gleaming and very light golden mist works on my blonde hair.

The mist adds lightweight, "touchable hold" along with very light shimmering shine, delivered by golden micro-particles. It leaves hair more shiny than glittery (good in my opinion). It has a "beachy" coconut fragrance, much like the Fekkai Summer Hair Collection.

I like Fekkai products, and I think this one is a great holiday introduction. I read some reviews on Sephora from women who were not impressed. They wanted more glimmer. Actually, I like this mist because it's not "heavy metal."

It's great for the environment that it comes in a non-aerosol, recyclable container. You might want to try before you buy to ensure that it works well with your hair color. It's available at Sephora, Fekkai, and at department stores where Fekkai products are sold.

There's also a new Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Sheer Shine Mist ($23) that I'd like to try. So many products, so little time!

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Brocato Moveable Hold Hair Spray

For me, hair spray is a necessary evil. How I would love to go without it! Unfortunately, if I do, the bob in my bob takes on the characteristics of a flat tire.

I haven't tried every hair spray on earth, and I don't claim to be an expert on hair spray, but I have used Brocato's Moveable Hold ($16.99) for years. It meets all of my hair spray criteria.

First, it works. It helps me maintain the turned-under ends I work so hard to achieve. Second, it doesn't leave any yukky perfumed fragrance in my hair for me to smell for half the day. This is really important to me. Third, it does leave my hair with "moveable" hold. I don't want to look plastered (I mean my hair, of course). Fourth, it doesn't weigh down my fine hair. Can you ask anything more of a hair spray? Maybe shine, but the products that add shine often make my hair feel heavy or look slick.

There's a Maximum Hold version, but I think the regular Moveable Hold works just fine.

I like it and recommend it. I found Moveable Hold through my hair salon, where it's a staple. Brocato is thought of as a "salon brand," but you can buy it at Amazon and many online sites - often for a discount. I order mine from Just4Beauty.com, where they always have a discount. Today, it's $13.50. They have $5 flat-rate shipping, so I stock up to bring down the per-item price of what I buy. I still save a bunch.

What about you? Have a necessary evil you love?

Photo courtesy of Amazon