ProductWhores

U Color With Ease

 

I am a huge fan of dying hair at home.  Of course I totally love the pampering of in-salon (and the security that the color will almost always look fabulous and exactly as how you envisioned) but there's something to be said for saving all that money and doing it at home yourself.  Especially if you have the right at-home coloring kit that will give you exactly what you need with minimal or no mess.  I checked out U Color by Umberto and this is the best at-home hair color I have tried so far because the color is amazing and it is seriously SO easy to apply!  Its unique packet system looked odd to me at first, but I quickly realized why this is so much easier to work with.  Each kit contains actually two sets of color packets so if you are like me and have shorter hair, the kit will actually go you two coloring rounds (woo hoo - even bigger savings!).  You take three packets (which are labeled well - color, developer and equalizer - and are actually connected to each other so you can't screw it up), cut off the tops and mix all the stuff together in a bowl (I used an old tupperware).  You then use the enclosed brush and brush the mixture into your hair.  What I really loved is that the smell is minimal and the substance you brush on is actually a gel so there was no dripping at all!  I usually drip all over the place with the other at-home kits I've tried, but this one made no mess.  I dyed my hair with 6.43 (a beautiful dark copper brown) which covered all my greys and has a nice, natural sheen to it.  And just to be sure I liked this stuff on all hair types, I dyed my friend's very curly hair with  2.56 which is a stunning light black with slight reddish highlights (I loved that it was a soft color and not the deep black so many at-home kits offer).  Both of our experiences were amazing and the results were perfect (exactly as the box indicates).  A definite must check out.  They offer 24 shades, which you can find at beauty supply outlets, Ulta and online at www.umbertobh.com.  Retails for $12.00.

Note:  A sample of this product was sent to me by a PR representative working with Umberto.     

Be A Control Freak

My sister has sworn by Umberto hair products for a long time, but it wasn't until now that I'd gotten a chance to try any of their products. Turns out, my sister occasionally knows what she's talking about. Who would've thought? (Just kidding, Rachel!) I've been spritzing on the Controller Conditioning Spray every morning and I have to say, I really think it's making my hair look better. The spray is a detangler and leave-in conditioner, and it also helps to protect your hair from the damaging effects of blowdryers and other styling tools. I never used to think that I needed a product like this, but since I cut bangs last summer, I actually have to blow my hair out every morning because if I don't, the bangs point every which way and make me look like the "before" picture in a makeover. It's kind of annoying, actually. I like the bangs, but the extra effort they require might actually be the deciding factor in whether or not I grow them out. (I told you I'm lazy). Since I've been using this spray, I've noticed that my hair is softer and it looks less frizzy, but the Controller isn't weighing it down. I daresay (I've always wanted to use that word) that it's even a little shinier too. And you can buy it at Target for only $8.99, which is always a plus in my book. My final (and clearly most scientific) test came when the nurse at my eye doctor's office this weekend commented on how healthy my hair looked. She works for an optometrist! I kinda think that means she must have perfect vision, and if she feels like my hair looks good enough to mention, who am I to argue? Now if I could only get a lifetime supply of free contacts from her, I'd be all set...

Photo courtesy of Target