Kerastase Cristalliste

Let’s give you all a little brief run down on my hair history.

This was the longest my hair was, I was going through old photographs the other evening and found this photo of my friend and I taken in 2003.

And another, just for good measure. Too bad my friend is blinking. Whoops!

I remember chopping it off a few months after, simply because I wanted a change. I also would like to know why it looked so thick in those photos. Of course my hair looked bomb-diggity when I didn’t care about it.

After that I discovered hair straighteners, and curling irons and just abusing my hair ever since. Last August I decided that I didn’t want to damage my hair any further and stopped using my flat iron on a daily basis. Slowly I kept getting my hair cut off shorter and shorter, mainly because of the dead ends after straightening my hair every 24 hours.

Sure my hair isn’t at my ideal length yet, but it’s the healthiest state it’s been in years. All because of a good relationship with my hair stylist, knowing what to tell him, knowing how often to go in and get a trim, and of course – taking care of my hair at home.

I wash my hair 2-3 times per week. I even found out from my latest trip into the salon that it was okay to wash your hair multiple days in a row, and you’re not “starting from scratch” when you do that again.

I always like to have multiple shampoos in the shower with me at all times, but ever since I started this whole regimen of healthy hair, I’ve only used my LUSH shampoo bar.

A few months ago, the folks at L’Oreal / Kerastase sent me a few things to try out from the new Cristalliste line. The shampoo, conditioner and hair serum.

Love that when I see my hair stylist he tells me to “keep doing what you’re doing” and nothing more than that. I’m finally taking care of my hair with good quality hair products from Lush and Kerastase.

But getting more into the Kérastase Cristalliste end of things, these products are all free from silicone, parabens and colorants! This line is lightweight and moisturizes my hair, while locking in moisture without stripping the hair of it’s essential oils. I can use Cristalliste and still just shampoo a few times per week and my hair is smooth sailing the whole time.

The set, has a nice scent to it. Don’t ask me to describe how it smells – I’m terrible at descriptions. But it’s pleasant. Nothing earthy like Aveda’s line. This one just has a fresh sort of scent to it. Not overpowering either. I’m prone to dry hair due to the fact that every strand of my hair is fine, so it’s very delicate and can break fairly easily. The Cristalliste line doesn’t make anything difficult about washing my hair like some shampoo’s can. It’s not drying at all on  my hair. I think my favorite part of the set is the conditioner. It leaves my hair with that slippery feeling when rinsing it out.

As mentioned above, the shampoo, conditioner and hair serum is silicone, paraben and colorant free which means that it is perfectly safe for you to use if you color your hair.

The Kérastase line of professional products are available in salons. I also still use my Kérastase Elixir Ultime in conjunction with the shampoo and conditioner shown above. I don’t like to mix up a good thing so I haven’t used the hair serum shown above on a regular basis. Though from what I can tell it’s similar to the Kérastase Elixir.

Have you found any new shampoos worth talking about lately? What one’s do you use?

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Exercise induced asthma

For the longest time, I’ve had issues with breathing while working out.  I always thought it was a mental issue where I got so excited for working out that I literally couldn’t get a deep breath in. My boyfriend said to me once “If it’s mental, you should be able to force yourself to breathe. Asthma causes your airways to constrict so you literally cannot suck air in.”

My friend who I used to go running with me, tried to talk me through the breathing troubles, which worked sometimes. Then I quit running.

The other day, I was working out at CrossFit and again, a new girl working out there asked how I was feeling (small world, it was Stephanie’s friend!!!!). My breathing was off and I’m sure it scares people if they’re not used to seeing it. I hold my stomach and try to get a really deep breath in, and it usually doesn’t work, so I have to wait a few seconds and try again. Like I’m gasping. Quietly, so people won’t notice.

I was getting ready to roll my eyes at her, and go on my spiel about how this always happens to me and that I’m okay as soon as I stop. But instead I kept quiet and told her I was okay and my breathing always gets like that. She mentioned that she had the same symptoms as I do and she finally went to get a puffer since she was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma.

It’s funny though, because I thought I had asthma as well. Two years ago, I went to a drop in clinic who then referred me to a specialist at the hospital and I got a pulmonary function test. They didn’t put me though any sort of exercise activity at all. I was sitting down breathing through a tube, then holding my air with this tube. Of course the results came out fine, above average in some cases.

Well, I’ve had enough of this breathing issue and not being able to take deep breaths or get enough air into my lungs. Yesterday, I went into a drop-in clinic to ask for a prescription for a puffer. I was so nervous that the Doctor wouldn’t believe that I needed one. It was quite easy to get a prescription from him. He just listened to my lungs and of course as we both knew, my breathing was normal.

I don’t have any issues with wheezing when I workout, which concerned him that this inhaler may not work, as I just have shortness of breath.

He gave me this inhaler to try out for a while and he mentioned if I don’t see any results within the first week or two, to come back and we’ll have to do more tests. He said it could be issues with my heart (!?) and to do ultrasounds and x-rays.

Let’s hope it’s just what I thought it was after all, exercise induced asthma.

I’ll report back when I can of how it’s going.

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Up Side Down Charity Golf Tournament

I’ve never asked my readers to help me out in any sort of way, but I wanted to ask of you something for my dear friend Karl! Please keep reading.

Karl and I have known each other for a few years. We met when he was displaying his companies products to sell in the building I was working in, at the time. I spotted the cool pens, and immediately started chatting away. I realized that week that we attended the same gym. Karl is just as silly as I am and we always are at the same work events. In fact, will I see you next Thursday at the BBQ Karl? :) He also calls me Milk Shake Girl / Candy Girl. Gotta say, it’s pretty appropriate. I love milk shakes. Candy. Popcorn for supper. You name it.

Karl has organized the Waterloo Down Syndrome Golf Tournament, and is still looking for hole sponsors, players & donations.

Join the Waterloo Regional Down syndrome society June 12 2012 at Foxwood Golf Club, Baden Ontario and celebrate the Up Side of Down syndrome. The 2011 event raised just over $7000 for bursaries that assist the families with Speech & Language, Physio and Occupational Therapies.

I would appreciate it if you could help him out if you’re in the area and would love to participate or donate to the charity itself. If you can, please e-mail him directly at karln@promotionalelements.com.

You can register and pay on the WRDSS website with MasterCard or Visa. Click to enlarge sponsorship levels below:

All proceeds go to helping our children young and old to reach their full potential.

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