Beauty by Michael Jeffrey

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Hello Everyone! It's time for another installment of my short mens hair product reviews, and my own personal journey in learning to know and love my short hair! Today’s review is a product that i have had a love/hate relationship with over my years in this industry. From my longer haired days to my current short, spiky look i was always a fan of a heavy hold and varying degrees of a matte finish. Today’s contender for my favorite men's product is Reformer; a strong holding, matte finished texturizing paste from Mitch, the men's line by Paul Mitchell. This is a smooth, thick consistency with an almost bewildering scent - nothing that screams masculine, instead a chemical scent that throws me off and almost gives me a migraine. We carry this at the salon and i can see why it doesn’t sell the best. If you’re a “smell” person, this probably isn’t your product.  As for the Matte finish, i can definitely attest that it ISN’T shiny. I wouldn’t necessarily call it Matte, i would say it gave my hair a slightly satin finish similar to the Matrix Style Link Over Achiever or Redken Work Hard paste. The reasoning why this product has spent the last year sitting in my bathroom is probably a mixture of the off putting scent and a hint of my own distaste for most Paul Mitchell products. The product in itself is honestly a great addition to any man’s repertoire of hair styling products if the scent doesn’t throw you off much. I will probably use up the rest of the container and whether or not i will repurchase, i am honestly clueless. I am hopeful, however - the next Mitch product i plan on purchasing to review is the Matterial, a similar- seeming product with an “ultra-matte” finish and we shall see how that works for me.

Until next time; stay beautiful! XOXO Michael Jeffrey

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Mens Products part 1: Manipulator Deathmatch

today’s entry into the Men's product lineup that I am reviewing is two products by TIGI Bed Head. these are the Bed Head Manipulator; and its cousin the Manipulator Matte. these products have been on the market for quite a few years now, and a lot of people love them. I am writing about these because I feel as if they are two product that will have a place in my heart as what really helped me break out into the world of professional hair product as a teenager. let’s start out with the Original Manipulator; in a translucent “Puck” style packaging and a neat metal top, this funky gunk has a glue-like consistency with a satin to a shiny finish. this gave a medium hold on my thicker, medium-coarse hair which is perfect for a day in. I definitely think that this is a perfect addition to any man’s routine, and I think it would be perfect for finer hair types. then, there is TIGI Bed Head Manipulator Matte. this is more of a clay type product, housed in the familiar puck style packaging with a green hue to set itself apart from the original. Manipulator Matte has a thicker, more controllable consistency with a hold that matches. this gave my hair the perfect amount of hold while keeping my hair from feeling like I had it styled with superglue. all in all, I must say that for this blogger; the winner of the Manipulator Deathmatch I the Bed Head Manipulator Matte. I just feel as if TIGI really pulled out all of the stops when developing this product while the original Manipulator just seemed to fall flat. 

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just checking in :)

hey, everyone! I'm just checking in; letting you guys know that I have a new series on men's’ haircare coming soon; I should have the first post coming soon! xoxo MJ

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Redken Extreme Mega-Mask Review and Thoughts; and all about the new Redken RCT Protein Complex!

Joy to the hairdressers! the Redken Mega-Masks featuring new RCT technology have hit the beauty supply store shelves and thus; will be hitting the salon shelves VERY SOON! i am literally geeking out over these treatments as i am typing. i am a big fan of Redken; alongside Matrix, Loreal Professionnel, and SexyHair products to maintain my mane. i always look to these product lines to get my result that i want because these are the brands that i love most. As i was reading my newest copy of the SalonCentric catalog and sales flyer for the month of February, i noticed a LOT of new arrivals, and alongside of the reformulation of Redken’s All Soft, Color Extend Magnetics, and Extreme hair care lines to include a new RCT protein complex and the release of 3 all-new Mega Masks to compliment each line.the Redken RCT protein complex is focusing on rebuilding hair at the 3 different zones of the hair strand - Root; Core; and Tip. that is how the RCT comes into play. the Root formula contains Soy Protein to add structure and strengthen hair as it grows out. the Core formulation contains Arginine; mainly for maintaining the condition of the cold shaft of the hair. The Tip formulation is based off of a substance called Sepicap; meant for restoring the condition of ends and preventing split ends from occurring or getting worse. i purchased the Redken Extreme Mega Mask intro kit; containing a small sample size of the new formula of Extreme Shampoo and Conditioner, and a full size 6.8oz tube of the new Mega Mask. What makes it so “Mega”? it contains a dual chamber design containing the concentrated deep treatment, and a care extending sealer that lock the treatment into the hair for up to 3 washes depending on the porosity and condition of the hair (seemingly based off of the same technology of the Redken Chemistry Shot Phix sealants). i used this mask on my thick, coarse, straight hair that has highlights and i just recently treated with a Japanese Straightening treatment to allow it to be more manageable. now just about any hairdresser knows that chemical straighteners and bleached hair do not mix, and i will admit that my hair is a lot weaker than before; but my hair is not breaking off. i give credit to this wonderful mask. i shampooed my hair using Redken Extreme Shampoo; applied this treatment for 5 minutes while washing up in the shower; and BOY OH BOY did my hair feel as good as new. i am a fan of this product for life, and i cannot say that about many products. in my professional opinon; i will tell you that whether you have naturally fine, weak strands and are looking for added reinforcement; whether you’re a repeat offender of changing your hair with the seasons (like me!) or if you just want to give your hair an extra dose of strangthening love; this product will not let you down. 

for us professionals, you can purchase this product from Salon Centric or your local beauty supplier that carries Redken. 

for consumers; you can either find this product at your local Redken salon, or from your independent stylist! 

until next time, STAY BEAUTIFUL!

XOXO Michael Jeffrey

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The Clinique 3-step skincare system for Oily/Combination skin First Impressions; The Clinique Liquid facial soap- Oily Skin Formula is wonderful. I feel like it is the perfect amount of cleansing power without stripping my skin and making it feel dry. It doesn’t burn my skin; a hard thing to find with how sensitive my skin is! Very concentrated; with my large face I only use ½ pump to cleanse. I use this twice daily to keep my oil under control. The Clinique Clarifying Lotion formula #3- I am in love with this so far. The main ingredients that catch my eye are Salicylic Acid and Witch Hazel. I normally keep away from Witch Hazel because I end up feeling like my skin is on fire. With this product I don’t feel like I’m truly stripping my skin; it gives me a wonderful clean feeling that I never get. The Salicylic Acid also helps to get rid of my blackheads. The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is the reason why I switched from BioElements to Clinique for my skincare needs. I was using BioElements Absolute Moisture for the longest time; searching for a new product that was truly right for my skin. It glides on easily; does not require more than the size of a pea to cover my whole face and neck; and isn’t too heavy; especially in my t-zone. 3 days into this new regimen I feel happy that my blackheads are starting to come out and the system is seeming to clear up my skin. I plan on following up after 30 days to give my final review on these products. Stay Beautiful lovelies!
XOXO Michael Jeffrey

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At home Tea Tree scalp treatment! So as we all know; the winter is known for drying out your hair and scalp. How does one help remedy a dry, itchy scalp and hair? With this simple at home treatment requiring only a few quality products; you too can keep your hair and scalp healthy and hydrated! The products I use are; 1. Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo is designed to remove buildup and residue from your hair and scalp. Using a clarifying shampoo regularly will help keep your hair from getting weighed down and heavy; and keep your scalp and hair follicles from getting clogged up with shed skin cells, therefore promoting healthier hair growth! 2. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo and Conditioner I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS STUFF! I will admit that I'm not a big fan of a lot of Paul Mitchell products, but this line is the creme de la creme of Tea Tree infused hair care. The shampoo lathers up well; smells great; and it does what it says. The same goes for the conditioner. Altogether, this duo is a wonderful feeling for your hair both during the process and afterwards. 3. A sturdy boar-bristled paddle brush or similar 4. Towels Let's get on to the treatment! I start off using the boar bristled brush against my scalp with moderate force to really work out any hair product buildup and shed skin cells. This is the disgusting part of the process; however it is essential to perform this part to ensure proper success. After I use the brush to stimulate my scalp and remove any buildup, I wash my hair with clarifying shampoo. I used Matrix Total Results Pro Solutionist Alternate Action, which is what I use when I am behind the chair and unfortunately it is not available in retail format. It's unfortunate because it is absolutely wonderful. It is also important to use the clarifier to remove any buildup from the hair shaft itself and to help remove any shed skin cells from the scalp that you may have missed while doing the scalp brushing. After I rinse out my clarifying shampoo, I will follow up with the Tea Tree Special shampoo. This starts the tingly part of the process. I leave the shampoo on for a couple minutes; then I follow up with a good rinse to remove all traces of it. I then towel-dried my hair to remove most of the moisture; then applied the Tea Tree Special conditioner, focusing mostly on the scalp and working it through the lengths of my hair. Then here comes the best part - the hot towel. I used my bathroom sink - I set the temperature to the hottest it goes and let it run for a minute. I take a hand towel and soaked it in the water for a minute to let the steam build up. I wrung out most of the dripping water from the towel and wrapped it around my head and the relaxing feelings just came.... my head felt AMAZING! I let the hot towel on my hair for a good 5 minutes until the tingly sensation from the Tea Tree oils returned. At this point; you will want to massage the towel into your hair and scalp to help your scalp absorb as much of the oils from the conditioner as it can! After I rinse out my conditioner I like to finish with a leave in conditioner. I love the Unite 7Seconds leave in conditioner because it doesn't weigh down my hair without leaving it feeling weak or dry either. I also massaged in a lightweight hair oil into my scalp to help seal in the moisturizing properties of the scalp treatment. I personally used L'Oréal Professionnel's Mythic Oil. If you want to really pump up the invigorating feeling of the treatment; you can follow up with Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special hair and body moisturizer instead. Here's to 2017 and a new year full of fabulous styles and wishful thinking! Xoxo, Michael Jeffrey

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Ion Color Brilliance Absolute Perfection step 2; I was walking into Sally’s Beauty Supply and as always, in always out to find the newest thing. I asked the front desk clerk what was new, what was the newest thing that was out, she steered me in the direction of this system that is supposed to be comparable to Olaplex. I first thought “no….. Are you serious? Another olaplex knock-off?” But all thoughts aside; I figured what the heck? Why not? For my hair journey, I have used olaplex in my color formulas when I worked for a private salon. I always used the no.3 when I had bleached hair. I ended up doing a lighter brown ombré in my hair yesterday so I could have a more “summer-y” look while trying to maintain my hair growth as I try to grow my hair. I wasn’t feeling the $28+ you can pay at a salon for the bottle of olaplex no.3 and I figured why not? It probably won’t hurt to try something new! I followed the same instructions as I did with olaplex, I left it in my hair for 10 minutes and rinsed - my hair felt amazing! I finished with Biolage KeratinDose Leave in spray and CHI Argan oil in both photos - you can see the difference! Less split ends, less dryness, all in all it is a very nice dupe. I always give Olaplex a solid 5/5, and I give this all in all a 4.5/5. The product consistency is a bit thick vs olaplex no.3, but I didn’t mind. Altogether, a very nice product and I can see this as a very nice, very viable alternative to Olaplex. I’m very impressed and actually ecstatic at this point. I’m in love! I will definitely be stopping back at Sally’s soon to stock up and I will be trying the step 1 as well in a full stand alone treatment! xoxo, Michael Jeffrey

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New Matrix Style Link Mineral! Backstory behind this; I have been in an “awkward phase” with my hair; I have been pulling it up a lot into a topknot to help get through this stage of awkward length. Now start the review; I cleansed like I always do with Biolage Cleansing Conditioner and I used my leave in, Biolage Advanced KeratinDose Renewal Spray. I wrapped my hair up for a few minutes to release any excess moisture (DO NOT RUB IT IN THE TOWEL or split ends will happen) and dried my hair roughly with my dryer. I then used the Rough Me Up spray, my lord the amazing feeling! It gave amazing texture, density, and thickness but not too much like some OTHER sprays the left my hair feeling weighed down and limo. *coughs* Not Your Mothers *cough* moving forward, I applied the smallest dab, about 2 peas worth of the Grip Definer - that lives up to its name. It gave the perfect amount of grip for my thick, sometimes unruly mane. I then scrunched my hair against my head and blasted it with the blow dryer, and released - still somewhat damp because I don’t want too much volume. I love the results! The perfect amount of definition of my natural loose waves - I’m in love! The best part is that it rinsed clean the next time I washed my hair - no buildup! I’m in love, and once again I feel as if Matrix is stepping their game up with the new additions to Style Link! I will give the hold factor in the Rough Me Up more along the lines of a 1.5 if you use it lightly, but if you use enough, it seems to jump to a 3. Then again, that comes down to how you use it. The Grip Definer I will say that when used properly is a solid 3 as it is marked. All in all, these products still get a solid 5/5 in my book, and I am absolutely in love. As always, stay fabulous, my beautiful readers.

XOXO MJ

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Matrix Style Link Over Achiever; 3 in 1 cream+paste+wax. A favorite of mine. I love this product because it rinses clean from the hair in the shower, first off. If there is one thing that I adore about products and most people ignore with mens' hair care, it's the fact that a lot of hair products for men are waxy, buildup, and don't rinse clean from the hair. Not necessarily a men's product, this product has a a unisex scent, and provides a satin finish, which is a nice change from the matte finishes of yesteryear and the shiny finishes (which I truly believe are coming back into the spotlight.) I have used this product since it hit the market last spring, with the release of the whole Style Link collection. An all around favorite to help control my thick mane that is truly relentless. I adore almost everything about this product. Almost. The only drawback about this styling product is that the product is so good at sticking the hair together and working it all together, but it leaves a very thick residue that you seem to have to wash off with a bit of effort. For a stylist, that can definitely be a pain in the rear. For someone doing their hair once a day, maybe not. I love this product, and I would rate it 4.5/5 stars. You can find this at any hairdresser that sells Style Link products by Matrix.