The last few times I got my haircut, the stylist used Kérastase products and I walked out with awesomely soft, shiny, swingy “like I just stepped out of a salon!” Salon Selectives circa 1990s hair (but like mentally). I’m sure that has a lot to do with the expert blowout, but maybe it was partly to do with the Kérastase? To believe that is to be a beauty addict, right? To believe in the power of beauty products. Also, I’ve read a bunch of rave reviews on MakeupAlley about various Kérastase products, like Chronologiste Essential Restorative Concentrate, which by the way is $145 (!!) for only 10 applications per box. After reading a particularly gushing review that slightly made me wonder if she wasn’t a plant from the PR company, I thought I need this miracle restorative complex whatever cure! But um, I probably do not need it. Right? Right. Let’s all focus on a negative I read about the product. Someone called it a TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT. If you feel the urge to drop $150 on this, just repeat after me: TOTAL. DISAPPOINTMENT.

According to the site, Chronologiste Essential Restorative Concentrate is: Complete rejuvenating cure for hair and scalp. Hair is left incredibly soft, supple and shiny. Hair fiber is renewed, deeply nourished and strengthened. Hair integrity is preserved. Scalp is regenerated, soothed and hydrated. Approximately 10 applications per box. Is made from 100% unicorn tears. There may be one small aspect of the above PR statement that is slightly fabricated. Free HOTB swag to whoever guesses! And by free swag, I mean I won’t approve your comment for 3 months!

The only Kérastase product I’ve used regularly is Nutritive Nectar Thermique. I use it on my damp hair before I blow dry and straighten my wavy hair. It’s suppose to be a moisturizing heat protectant that adds shine and smoothness. For me, though, it doesn’t give much shine or smoothness and maybe even dries it out a bit. For $39, it should do better. I stuck with it for a while because I had that memory of my super smooth hair post-salon visit. Seriously what is the deal with post haircut hair. Do they have different water? So yeah, I’m on the search for a better leave-in/heat protector/straightener for blow drying.

Yesterday I tried Redken Real Control Crema Care with pretty great results. I’m still in the trial period, though, since good results on the first blowout is just the product trying to win me over. The real test is how it behaves down the line.

I’m open to other suggestions, even Kérastase products since I’m still weirdly fascinated by this line. Any recommendations? What do you use as your heat protector and for blow drying?

15 Best Eye Makeup Primers

Get your makeup to last longer than ever with these top reader-rated primers

This is a TotalBeauty.com eye makeup article

As any makeup artist will tell you, “It’s a crime not to prime!” And this is especially true when it comes to eye makeup primers. The signs of not using one are easy to spot — smudged, creased eyeshadow and runny eyeliner, anyone? Don’t be an eye makeup offender and give one of these top-rated primers a try.

Get reviews

No. 15: Paula Dorf Eye Primer, $25

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 7.8

Great for “brides, prom-goers, and anyone else who needs the staying power that only [this] eye primer can ensure.”

No. 14: Lancome Aquatique Waterproof Eyecolour Base, $24.50

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 7.9

“My eyeshadow looks as lovely [at the end of the day] as the moment I applied it … no matter how many hours have elapsed.”

No. 13: Clinique Touch Base for Eyes, $14.50

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.2

“I am the not-so-proud owner of the world’s slickest eyelids. This product is one of my few makeup products I WON’T do without.”

Want to see which primer was No. 1? Click here!

You know it has to be a good celebrity hair makeover to get me to post on Hair On The Brain! I just couldn’t ignore Anne Hathaway‘s major chop.

As I’m sure you already know, the super crop is for a role. Anne is playing Fantine in the new version of Les Miserables. She probably wouldn’t have gone this short if it wasn’t for work, but she definitely has the face for it. And how awesome must it be to have so little hair for a while?

I was musing yesterday how stunning Michelle Williams looks with her (still) short hair. She told Elle UK a while back that men don’t dig it though. (Shocker.) “I’ve really grown into it,” Michelle says. “I feel like myself with short hair. And it’s been a really long time since I had long hair, five years… Of course, the only people who like it are gay men and my girlfriends. Straight men across the board are not into this hair! I cut it for the one straight man who has ever liked short hair and I wear it in memorial of somebody who really loved it.”

That’s really sad. But also sweet. Heath had good taste; Michelle looks amazing with short hair.

When we were in Maui last month, I was reading an old Lucky magazine and came across an interview with hairstylist and makeup artist Sunnie Brook. In the article they mentioned her blog, so of course I had to check it out! And now I’m obsessed. Sunnie has lots of great hair and makeup advice and amazing tutorials. (Seriously, I’ve watched everything.)

I love this one on how to create organic waves with a clipless curling iron. I don’t have the patients to put this much effort into my hair on the regular. And, yes, this is what I consider a lot of work. But it really does look great. However, I feel like it might work better if I had an iron that tappers narrower at the base instead of wider, like the Paul Mitchell Clipless Curling Wand? Does that matter? Probably not. Sunnie’s hair looks awesome because she has really gorgeous hair. Anyway. Major blog crush.

I came across this video about Nine Zero One Salon in West Hollywood. It looks like a cool place! I’m tempted to book an appointment. I’m so ready for a hair color change–I’m thinking lighter maybe? I’m very bored. And I’m growing out my bangs–still, some more, always. It’s brutal, slow process. They are long and stupid and in my face all the time. Maybe some kind of hair cutting magic could fix them? Doubtful. But I will not succumb to the urge to chop them off again. I’m growing them out this time if it kills me.

How’s your hair?

Amazing mid-to-late summer hair inspiration–shaggy bangs, sun bleached blonde, freckled face…

My summer hair update: finally growing out my bangs, about a shade darker, finally got a trim and took off those bleached ends. The Ombre Experiment seriously fried my ends. Be warned kiddies!

What’s the status on your summer hair?

(Image Source: Jay Carroll)

As some of you have noticed, I’ve been updating far less frequently in the last few months. My life has gotten increasingly busy working for Take Sunset, and I have not had as much time to devote to my lovely Hair On The Brain. I miss my regular readers and all of your great comments. I miss sharing my random thoughts with you guys too, but I need to get business in order, and that takes a lot of time and energy. So I wanted to let you guys know that I’m not going to delete this site, but I am going to take a bit of a blog hiatus for now. HOTB will continue to stay up, so feel free to comment if you feel like it! And I will resume posting when I have time or when I have something to say…

If you’d like to stay in touch, follow me on twitter @homeonthebrain and read me over at Take Sunset.

In the meantime, why doncha dye your hair pink or something… xoxo.

Blake Lively dyed her perfectly highlighted, much copied blonde locks. (We even had a HOTB post all about “Blake Lively Hair” with quotes from celeb stylists saying her hair was “aspirational” and that her disheveled, long layered cut was their most requested cut. Well, girl has got to change things up. And Blake went red… Er, stawberry blonde. Whatever! In this case, you don’t mess with perfection. I’m sensing the color transformation will be short lived.

Supposedly, the color change is due to Blake courting the role of Glinda the Good Witch in Oz: The Great and Powderful, which will be out in 2013. (ummm.) Girl, what about a wig? Also, I’m kinda sad they’re messing with Oz. But then again…

So… What do you think of Blake Lively’s new red hair?

Last year Drew Barrymore‘s beachy waves and ombre hair color got a lot of attention. But like anyone, Drew grew bored of the look and moved on. What was once old news, was new again…

Red! Drew went for an all-over light auburn shade this time. It looks great with her pale complexion, but it is a good thing Drew has a stylist at her beck and call, as anyone who has dyed their hair red will tell you–it fades like crazy!

As you can see, Drew has dabbled with every color and style imaginable over the years. She is one of those lucky souls who can pull off most any hue. That said…

Do you like Drew Barrymore‘s new red hair?