My Redken Shades EQ experience !!!

Last month I was lucky enough to have my hair colored with the latest Shades EQ system by Redken's very own Colorist David Stanko at the lavish Angelo David Salon here in NYC.

The hair consultation started off  with David and I discussing what I would like to do with my color as I sipped on my cappucino. We both decided that I would just stay dark, but since I have some weird brassyness to my color ( some areas appear to be very light brown in bright lighting or in pictures - it really bothers me) , we would do more of a gloss to add shine, and get my color even.

To achieve this , David was going to use Shades EQ in Warm Sable Brown  05WN , along with Shades EQ in Crystal Clear . David mentioned that he was going to use a lot of the Crystal Clear, to add shine to my color.  Shades EQ has Pomegranate Oil and Rice Protein as its main components - these ingredients  moisturizes the hair. Maintenance should be done every 6 to 8 weeks, since this is a demi-permanent color.

I have chemically-treated ( I use relaxer to straighten my hair) hair, so David was so gracious as to tell me which Redken lines I SHOULD be using, and to my surprise , two of his suggestions I never thought I needed to use at all.  For my hair type , the best Shampoo + Conditioner + Treatments to use are :

All Soft 

Softness for dry, brittle hair. Indulge hair in golden, luxurious softness. Advanced silkening formulas contain Redken's exclusive Interbond Conditioning System and illuminating Silk-Luxe Complex. Hair is wrapped in softness with increased manageability, movement and luminous shine.

Smooth Down 

Smoothness for very dry, unruly hair. Hair is up to four times smoother*. Get ultra-smooth, shiny hair that's in control. New Smooth Down is specially formulated to enrich and tame extremely dry, coarse, unruly hair. Redken's exclusive Interbond Conditioning System delivers a unique Ionic Smoothing Complex of macadamia oil, candelilla wax and cationic refiners to help replenish oils, provide intense smoothing and a long-lasting, humidity-resistant, frizz-free finish.  I've tried the line out on my hair since David's suggestion , and I am a believer !  

*Lab tests using Smooth Down Shampoo, Conditioner and Butter Treat compared to an ordinary shampoo

Real Control 

Nourishing repair for dense, dry, sensitized hair. This has been my favorite line to use since its release. I have grown to love this line, and that is why I never tried All Soft or Smooth Down  before.  I recommend this line for any one with Chemically Processed hair, or even Natural hair textures ( African American hair). 

These are the three key lines to use for my hair type - moisture , moisture and more moisture is what I am to aim for when using products. David could not stress it enough! 

The hair process continued with David's lovely assistant Mariano Cuevas following up by using Pureology hydrating Shampoo followed by Redken Chemistry Shot Phase in Real Control. 

A new fun technique I learned to achieve a great blow dry is to dry the hair for a bit , before hand blow drying it in sections.  

Blown Away was used before Mariano proceeded to dry my hair - another product I never thought of even using.  After seeing the results it will be a staple in my "at home" hair process. 

I sipped on a glass of wine while my hair was being dried - they know how to provide you with the ultimate "experience" at the Angelo David Salon . 

Once my hair was completely dry, Mariano gave me curls , which he planned on pinning each in place while still hot so it could set.  The main component to having my hair keep the curls was the use of one of my favorite Styling items - Wax Blast. He spritzed my whole head with it prior to curling my hair. 

Me with my pin curls setting.

The last step was a sprinkling of Shine Flash 02 - the perfect end to all hair styling. Gives you that "perfect shine". 

That was my Shades EQ experience , and I am looking forward to re-visiting the Angelo David Salon again in the near future !  For more information on David Stanko, the Shades EQ process, and the products mentioned in this post, check out www.redken.com 

Treat Your Locks As You Sleep !!!!

Real Control Overnight Treat - Redken ( $20)

Already a fan of the Real Control line by Redken, I had to give this Overnight Treatment a shot. So I performed an experiment where myself (Subject A) , and my contributor (we'll call her Subject B) both tried out this conditioner to compare and contrast results.

Subject A

Hair type - Thick , Coarse , Stressed , and Dry from over-use of heat styling products. Already uses Real Control line - Shampoo, Conditioner, Hair Mask.

Results - I actually left it in my hair for the entire day , because I had no time to wash and style my hair that morning - which I found to be to my benefit.. I found the conditioner to also work as a detangler, hardly had to comb through my hair once it was rinsed out. It stayed very soft and manageable even after I washed my hair a second time from the initial time ( when the treatment was placed) . It is definitely going to be incorporated in my hair regimen. My hair also had tons of shine.. my hair did not look dull or dry at all.

Subject B

Hair type - Medium textured, Lacks Volume and Body. Also stressed from over-use of heat styling products.

Results - She was a bit skeptical about what the results, because she never really likes how her hair turns out when she does it herself. To her surprise , she found her hair to be full of shine , and (surprise) a lot more body and bounce was presented when she styled her hair.

David Stanko ( Redken Consultant, Specializes in Color, Redken Chemistry) , also suggests the use of the Real Control Overnight Treatment in the summer color episode of The Hair Files . You can check out the episodes here Hair Files

Redken Chemistry Event

Today I was fortunate enough to attend the Redken Chemistry Event in NYC , where I was able to meet the fabulous David Stanko (Haircolor Consultant for Redken) - and learn about the newly renovated Redken Chemistry.

Redken Chemistry : is a two step in-salon service that is intended to treat hair from Chemical Distress ( Perm, Relaxers, Color, etc..) , and Mechanical Distress ( Flat-ironing, Washing, Brushing, every day maintenance )

The first step is Shot Phase : Specialized ingredients that compensate for missing components in the hair. Every shot contains a more concentrated dose of some of the nourishing ingredients that are found in the corresponding take-home Redken haircare regimes.

The second step is the Shot Phix : Acidic spray on lotion formulated with Redken's interbond Conditioning System to help lock in the specialized ingredients contained in Shot Phase, rebalance the pH level of the hair , and seal the cuticle to leave hair in its most compact, healthy condition - available in two levels , 3.5 and 5.5

A snapshot of all the different types of Shot-Phases : Clear Moisture, Extreme, Color Extend, All-Soft, Smooth Down and Real Control. Along with the two types of Shot Phix : 3.5 and 5.5 .

David walks us through the Redken Chemistry process, - he will apply the two-step system to one side of her head the right side (looks like your left ).

He's such the jokester.

Preparing the Shot Phase

David demonstrating his " shot phase" ritual ! :)

Applying the first step of the Redken Chemistry to the models hair.

After applying the second phase - Shot Phix and blowing out her hair , the model appears again..

see below

David is showing us how the right side (your left) is dramatically different from the left - in terms of shine/luster , texture , bounce , etc... - FYI There was no product used to blow out the models hair.

The color is much more richer. and the hair is so much softer. You could literally feel the difference between both sides.

You can totally see the drastic difference between the two sides.

I would be that happy too !!!!!!

The ultra luxe Redken Chemistry customized in-salon treatments will be available come January 2009

To locate a salon featuring Redken Chemistry , please visit http://www.redken.com/ or call 800-Redken8