Rethink Your Hair Color + A Hair Straightening Tutorial

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A couple of week’s ago I discussed John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ products. (You can check out the post here.)  This product line is designed to help you easily and affordable lighten your brunette hair color at home.  My hair color is medium to dark brown; I say that because my hair is dark, but I’ve always had some natural strands of blonde mixed in.  When I was younger I embraced this by getting highlights at the salon.  But as I discussed in my previous post, each time I went to the salon, I had to get heavier highlights (in order to really see the effect), till I eventually looked more like a blonde than a brunette.  (And I’m talking about a blonde with dark roots and all, once my hair started growing.)  Needless to say, this isn’t what I wanted, so I stopped getting highlights.

Since then, I’ve considered getting highlights again, but I hate the thought of spending $70 to get them, so I was very excited to hear about John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™.  Today I’ll be discussing the results that I got from using the products, and I’ve also got a tutorial for straightening curly hair.

The product includes  John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ Subtle Lightening Shampoo and John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ Subtle Lightening Conditioner.

These products promise to lighten your hair for a sun-kissed glow, but they do it in a natural-looking and subtle way.  They only illuminate the natural tones of your brunette hair and visibly boost the brightness of your brunette daily. You don’t have to worry about your hair turning orange!  And you don’t have to worry about nasty chemicals, because the product is ammonia and peroxide-free, and they are safe for natural, highlighted, and color-treated brunettes.

There’s also a John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ In-Shower Treatment.  This is available at select Walmart stores, or it can be ordered at Walmart.com. This product instantly lightens for sun-kissed brunette.  It will lighten your hair up to one shade instantly but only lightens your natural spectrum, so hair won’t appear bleached or orange.  And it’s also safe for natural, highlighted, and color-treated brunettes.  All you have to do is wet your hair; then massage the product into your hair; let it set for 5 minutes (or up to 10 minutes), and then rinse.  Follow up the in-shower treatment with the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter Subtle Lightening Shampoo  and Conditioner.

Look for John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ products at Walmart in the hair care aisle.

Here’s an overhead view.  My hair usually looks darker when I take photos inside, so I took this photo, just so you can see the subtle lightness that comes out here.

And here are my before and photos.  The after photo comes after using the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™  In-Shower Treatment, and following it up with the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ Shampoo and Conditioner.  After using the products, my hair felt so soft, and I can see how they highlight the natural colors I already have.   From here, I will continue to use the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ Shampoo and Conditioner.  I like the idea of having my hair nice and bright and shiny this summer, and I think these products can help me achieve that.  I also like the idea of doing another John Frieda Brilliant Brunette® Visibly Brighter™ In-Shower Treatment next month and try leaving it on for the maximum amount of ten minutes, just to see how bright it will go.

Along with today’s rethink your hair color results, I decided to share a tutorial on how I straighten my naturally curly hair.

Yes, my hair is naturally curly.  If I wanted to I could just comb out the tangles, dry it for a few minutes, and just go, but all curly haired girls want straight hair, so I have to go through a bigger process!

Step 1: Comb out wet hair, removing any tangles.

Step 2: Add a tiny amount John Frieda Frizz-Ease that works very well.  (Currently my hair is shoulder length, and I use about a dime size in total over my entire head.  Be sure to evenly distribute the product, and for best results, less is more.

Step 3: Blow dry hair. If your hair is extra thick, I recommend waiting about 30 minutes before drying. (You could put on make up, get dressed, or do other tasks in the mean time).  I find that by letting the hair air-dry for a while, it makes my hair less likely to frizz when I go to dry it, and it makes the process easier and more timely.

To dry the hair, use a blow dryer with a comb attached (as seen in my photo above).  You can find a dryer like the one I have at Walmart for $20 to $25.  A dryer like this one makes it easy to straighten hair; the comb holds the hair in place so that you can dry using just one hand, or you may use your free hand to hold the ends of your hair as you brush downward.

As you dry, you should always start with areas that are more prone to curl.  (I part my hair on the side, and as a result, the hair on the opposite site of my part, where the hair is thickest and heaviest, is the most curly, so I always start with it.)

You should also dry your hair in sections.  You should NEVER half way dry a section of your hair and then move on and come back to it later. If you do not dry the section all at once, it will be more likely to come out wavy.

Finally, if your hair is very curly, you will need to PULL.  Don’t just comb through the hair with the dryer, but pull it out straight as you dry.  You may need to use your free hand to pull the air out straight as you brush.

Step 4:  With a good effort put in, your hair should be straightened out now, but if still have some waves or if your hair is sticking out on the ends, you need to bring in a flat iron.  Once my hair gets to be shoulder length, it becomes harder to tame. You will more than likely need to set the iron on a fairly hot setting.  Just be careful not to burn your hair.  To tame your ends, just close the iron about an inch or two from the bottom of the hair and curl under. To remove waves, close the iron where waves occur and pull out straight.

Once your have your hair all styled and ready to go, you just have to pick out the perfect spring outfit.  I recently wore this cute peasant top made of a very light and airy polyester fabric and featuring soft spring hues and a flirty, yet sophisticated pattern with white capris and clogs.

 

I’d love to hear your thoughts!  What do you think of the John Frieda products?  Do you have any hair, beauty, or style tips that are especially for spring?  Tell me in the comments.  You can even share links to your own posts in the comments or at our weekly link party!