Product Review: HSI Professional Flat Iron

**Disclosure: I received this product for a discount in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.**

Time to update some old tools, and perhaps help my hair look a bit better these days. HSI Professional offered me one of their flat irons to review and I said "Um, YES!"

So I received this beautiful flat iron, which instantly wowed me.  My poor straightener has been around since college. It works great still, but it is always nice to get a chance to update an item I count on daily.

Of course, I read through the material sent with it, just to make sure I used it correctly - especially when it came to temperature.  Now in comparison to my old one, which did not have temperature specified, just number levels, I was a bit lost on exactly how hot I was getting by moving the dial. So of course, I started low and work my way up until I found a temperature that worked for me. 

Here is my hair before: 

Naturally thick, wavy and bleached for the summer. The length is just past my shoulders when not straightened. It can be difficult to get straight and keep the frizz away.  

I found that it had the on/off button discreetly hidden, which is nice to not accidentally turn it off.  I was very disappointed to learn that this does not have an automatic off after a certain time.  I find this safety feature to be a necessity on anything that heats up to such high temperatures.  As you can see, the temperature starts at 140' and goes to 450'.  To forget to unplug this could be disastrous, and we all know on days you are running out the door, an automatic off is a blessing.  

Another issue I had with the temperature is the fact that you cannot really tell what temperature you are at unless you are at the low or high point.  You can guess of course, but if you notice, the curve printed does not actually go from one point to the other, and there are not other marks that give you an estimate of temperature.  So I was very cautious on moving the heat, since I was not sure about the sensitivity.  

The flat iron heated up very quickly and the heat was definitely working.  The cord is super long, which is awesome to have some flexibility with the direction of movement while straightening. The clamping mechanism on mine squeaks, which is actually very annoying considering how often I have to open and close the iron.  This iron is very lightweight, which is both a pro and a con.  With as much hair as I have, it is nice to have it lightweight since it takes me so long.  But being light also meant I had to apply more pressure to straighten each strand.

  

So this was the final product of my hair.  When I did this, I did not turn the heat all the way to the recommended heat, as I felt that was too hot for my hair and I was trying to watch how it worked, adjust the temperature and pressure, so this did take me a bit of time. As I have continued to use it, I have moved up the heat just past what could be considered the midpoint on the diagram, and I feel that it is working fine.  I love that this flat iron does not cause static or frizz on my hair, and that my hair felt smooth after each use.  

Overall, I am happy with this product.  If it did not squeak, I think it would be even better.  I believe it is a good choice for hair that is medium to thin, less wavy or textured, and perhaps less treated in terms of bleaching.  I think for hair like mine, wavy to curly, and bleached, an upgraded version would be a better choice to ensure correct heating and straightening.  

For the product, there are small items that I believe could improve its appearance and functionality, but overall, it heats up well, it straightens great, and it appears to be made of good quality materials.  If you are looking for a new flat iron, I suggest you take a look at what HSI has to offer.  

**Disclosure: I received this product for a discount in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.**

Review: Keeva Deep Conditioning 5-in-1 Hair Mask

**Disclosure: I received this product for a discount in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.**

My hair has had it.  I have dry and worn out hair that is desperate need of some salon TLC.  But right now I am having to be in twenty places at once, and taking the time for me is not a priority.

In the mean time, I will do what I can by using products that can make me feel and look better in the sanctity of my own home.  So I gave #Keeva deep conditioning mask a try to see if it could help me out.

I will say that the down side to this, as with alls masks, is the lack of instructions.  Do you want me to wet my hair first and then sit out of the shower 20 minutes to let it work its magic? Do you want me to apply it to dry hair and then rinse out? How does shampoo usage apply to this product - before? After?  I am not a beauty pro so these are types of information I need to use a product effectively.

So did the wet hair, put on and sit out method.  I rinsed. Just to let you know - I prefer rinsing with cold or cooler water versus the warm they recommend. And I observed my results.  I have to say it works.  My hair felt great right after and my wavy hair was super easy to comb out while wet, and the tangles were manageable.  Once dry, my hair felt good afterwards.  My frizz was well controlled, it was smooth, and my hair had a great scent to it. I did not have to use my extra hair oils once styled to keep the frizz away, which is super nice.

I  am curious what my hair would be like if I used warm water now. I don't like to overuse masks out of fear of oily or weighed down hair, so I will give it another shot soon.  I would recommend always using a strong cleansing shampoo before a mask to ensure you don't end up with heavy hair.

I think I need a few more times to determine if I love the Keeva Deep Conditioning Hair Mask or if this is a good go-to for periodic TLC, but in the mean time, it definitely helps give my hair some love without the cost or time it takes to get it deep conditioned at the salon.

**Disclosure: I received this product for a discount in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.**

Review: Argoil Renew Hair Mask

**Disclosure: I received this product for a discount in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.**  

My hair is far from being iconic, stylish and vibrantly healthy.  This last time around at the salon, what should have been an ombre turned into a roots peeking highlight job.  Very sad that it didn’t have the fading from one color to the next, and that the lighter color went too high up.  But in fear of burnt hair, I let it go and walked away with a half smile.  How do you even begin to approach your stylist about the eh-overcharged POS job they did?  I knew I would have to do some damage control, including some special conditioning.  Argol Renew Hair Mask offered just the help I needed to start getting it back to a healthier appearance.  

When the product came in, I could not wait to get my hands on it.  Opened up that sucker and I was greeted with a soft fine aroma and a thick luxurious cream.  In reading the directions, I was unfortunately discovered they were limited.  It said to apply to the hair, rinse with warm water, once a week.  But I needed details… Apply dry? Apply wet? How long do I wait?

So this was really about trial and error.  I read up on reviews and other masks, and the directions I found were varying as well. So I just gave it a shot. First time around, dry hair.  Rubbing that mask through was difficult because I didn’t feel like it was gripping onto the hair right.  Waited about 10 minutes, showered, and then checked the results.  Guessing my hair was just too dry for it to really create the mask effect. While my hair was conditioned and pretty smooth, I wanted more.  The next time, I did it while in the shower with wet hair.  After I shampooed, I skipped my regular condition and applied the mask.  This is where I felt it coat the hair.  I tried to wait it out as long as I could, and what felt like ten minutes was probably more like five.  Rinsed it out, and checked the results. This was so much better.  Combed it out smoothly and enjoyed the fresh scent.  My hair was easy to manage, smooth and soft to touch.  It stayed that way after I had straightened it with a flat iron as well.  My hair felt so nice and again, the smell was wonderful.

I have been pleased with this product.  While my hair is still in a healing phase, and soon it will undergo a coloring process to return to dark hair for the fall and winter, I expect that I will continue using this weekly to ensure I am giving it some extra TLC.

So if you are interested in it, I found it on Amazon - Argoil Renew Hair Mask - and I recommend you give it a try if you are looking to give your hair some extra love.  

**Disclosure: I received this product for a discount in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.**