Philips Air Straightener Review + Giveaway

Dress- New Look

I think my hair is always a topic of discussion on my social media platforms & I probably receive majority of your emails inquiring about my hair care routine! Contrary to what it may look like, I am actually very care free when it comes to my hair. I try to keep the steps minimal, taking care of it by using a good shampoo & deep conditioner. I also avoid colouring my hair too often. I've mentioned this before, I had pretty short hair when I was in school. It's only when I entered junior college that I started to grow my hair out. I don't know what it is, it's probably my genes or the fact that when I was younger, my parents were rather diligent in making sure that I eat healthy & my dad would oil my hair every Sunday, but my hair grows pretty quickly & it's quite thick! While this may be the envy of many,  it's quite a task to maintain it.

I wash my hair 2-3 times a week, depending on the activities for the week. Usually I hit up the gym 3-4 times a week because of which washing it becomes inevitable! But I don't condition my hair every time I wash it. Because my hair is on the longer side, conditioning it 3-4 times a week would weigh it down making it appear limp. So I only deep condition twice a week using The Body Shop's Rainforest Radiance Hair Butter for coloured hair. This one smells amazing & has been doing really great things for my hair. On the days that I wash my hair but don't condition it, I use the L'oreal mythic oil post shower. I try to keep my routine very simple with limited products because my understanding is that the lesser products  I use, the lesser I will be messing with the natural process. 

When it comes to styling my hair, I naturally have a wavy texture which doesn't always look great! So I do have to style my hair using either a blow dryer or a curler. I love blow drying my hair but because my hair is so long, by the end of it, I am literally so exhausted. However this new Philips Kerashine Air Straightener, has been working wonderfully for me. Not only does it leave by hair super soft, it also gets rid of the frizz due to the keratin. It has literally reduced the blow drying time by 10 minutes which is a lot when you're in hurry in the morning. I also love the naturally straight effect it gives which makes it look like I woke up with this hair! The brush is so easy to plug in & extremely convenient to use. It has a cold as well as normal setting which is always a great option to have. My hair is pretty thick and yet this manages to work it's way through perfectly. I am not very careful about the sections & just randomly slide it through different sections of my hair for a quick revamp. All in all, if you like to blow dry your hair often, this is something that would be right up your alley. It gives your hair that perfect laid back yet smooth finish! With it's reasonable price tag, this is a great tool to add to your styling kit. And just btw, I think this work wonderfully for men too!

Now on to the fun part! If you are super intrigued by this & are wanting to get your hands on a limited edition Philips Essential Air Straightener asap, here's an amazing opportunity for you to win one specially autographed by the gorgeous Alia Bhatt just for you! All you have do is follow these simple steps to enter & win :- 

- Comment below and tell us an essential step in your hair care routine & how it works for you

- Also tell us why you should win the Limited Edition Philips Essential Air Straightener

- You could also tweet your answers to me @aayushibangur with the hashtags #Philips #Kerashine #AliaBhatt

The contest* ends on 19th September, Friday! So until then get creative & share your reasons with us. Good luck ladies!

(*The contest is only open to the residents of India.)

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Braid love with Dove

When I was younger, I was forced to have short hair for school. During those days all I dreamt of was having a long, healthy mane. Now I love my long hair but that comes with it's own problems. Split ends being the most common one. This occurs when the protective cuticle at the end of the hair is destroyed which causes the hair to split into two or more strands. The most common solutions which will be thrown at you to deal with this problem are getting a hair cut every few months, reducing the number of products you use, etc. But the new Dove split end rescue rescue therapy is specially formulated to bring split ends together. Which means, no need to compromise on your hair length just to get rid of those split ends anymore! I hate cutting my hair, so for me, this is a savior system.

I love experimenting with my shampoo and conditioner so, I tend to change them every 2 months and I have been using this new range for over 2 weeks now. Frankly can't say much about the split ends but my hair definitely feels softer and cleaner. Even the ends are softer which makes my hair appear healthier. The products smells like every other Dove product, which I don't mind at all. I wash my hair everyday, so most shampoos are too strong for me. This one however, is a mild, everyday wash shampoo which works perfectly for me. I have used various Dove hair therapies before but this one is probably one of my favourite. I have been loving the results so far.

As the temperature starts soaring, I hate leaving my hair down. The pollution, heat and sweat makes my hair worse! So braiding comes in handy. It keeps the hair off your face and adds that boho chic feel to any outfit. Side braids are what I tend to go for, be it a normal one or a fish tail one. For a side braid, all you need to do is comb your hair out and get all to one side. Now divide your hair into three sections if you're going for a normal braid or two sections if you're going for the fish tail braid. Once you've done that start braiding your hair until 3-4 inches of your hair remains. Hold it in place with a hair tie. And voila!

Next time you're out looking for a new range to try, go for the Dove Split End Repair system and don't forget to tell me how it worked on your hair!

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A date with the hairstylist

I always get surrounded by questions about my hair and I even did a blog post showing you the products I that I swear by for my daily routine. I recently visited the salon for a haircut and this time over, we decided to give you a sneak peek!I used to stick to one hair salon, but now I like experimenting and discovering new places. I get my hair cut every 4-5 months. My hair is extremely long and so sometimes I tend to have dry/split ends that I have to get rid of. This time, I even wanted to add some more layers to my hair to improve it's texture. My hairstylist used all Moroccanoil products and that just made me happier. She introduced to me to the Glimmer Shine spray, which is the best shine spray ever! A new haircut always feels good and refreshes your look. I hope you guys enjoyed the video.

(You can buy MoroccanOil products from www.feelunique.com)

Hairstylist & Salon owner- Ishita Thakkar
Shot & Edited by N7Photography

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Mane Concern

I have really long hair, so a good hair care routine becomes a must to maintain them, especially during the monsoon! These are the products and steps that I swear by for my mane.

Step 1- I keep changing my Shampoo & Conditioner every 3-4 months. The L'Oreal X-tenso is my new favourite! It leaves my hair soft and cleans the scalp perfectly. I wash my hair everyday therefore I prefer using a mild shampoo and this one works perfectly.

Step 2- Ever since I came across Moroccan oil, around almost a year ago, it has become a holy grail product. I apply a small amount of it everyday after washing my hair. I have stopped using all the serums & it's kinds. Moroccan oil is an organic treatment which not only tames the frizz in my hair on a daily basis but has also done long term wonders for my hair.

Step 3- I avoid using heat on my hair during the monsoon because that only makes my hair drier. But if I really have to, I would never do it without a heat protectant. The John Frieda Frizz-Ease is an all time favourite. It acts as a 2-in-1 by helping with the frizz and the thermal protection works against the heat. The Fx Flat iron spray is another amazing product. If you're someone who likes blow drying or straightening or curling your hair on a regular basis, please use a heat protectant, if you don't already. It will reduce the damage caused by the extensive use of heat.

Step 4- Mumbai's humidity makes it hard to keep my hair in place. So whenever I curl or straighten my hair, I spray on some hair spray to help it last longer.

Step 5- Last, I use 100% pure coconut oil every fortnight as an over night treatment to keep my hair healthy and to prevent them from drying. It moisturizes my hair and makes up for all the damage caused due to pollution, heat used or chemicals! And whenever I feel extra love for my hair, I book myself a hair spa!

L'Oreal Professional X-tenso Shampoo & conditioner, Organix's Moroccan Argan Oil, Keratek's Morocco Argan oil, John Frieda's Frizz-Ease, FX's Flat iron heat protectant, L'Oreal Elnette Satin Hairspray, Coco Care

TIP :- I believe using too many products can only damage your hair. So try to find the few products that work for you and stick to them. Also try using organic products as much as you can. Avoid buying cheaper hair products, instead invest in some good hair care.

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