Hair Care Routine: Products

My hair care routine is probably one of the highly requested posts. I never did it till now because I was myself not happy with few of the products I was using then. However, now after many many trials and errors, I have finally settled into a hair care routine that I love and swear by. I am not going to lie, it's a list of high-end brands but trust me, using these products you will never need to visit the salon for a deep conditioning treatment or any kind of other hair care services (except haircut of course!).

For the record, I have fine, wavy and frizzy hair. The worst of it's kind. Most of these products aim towards giving my hair texture, body and volume while still maintaining moisture. So, few of the products might not be best fit for you if you have say, thick or curly hair type.

{MoroccanOil Moisture Repair Shampoo, Extra Volume Shampoo, Treatment oil & Intense Hydrating Mask}
We all know how much of a self-proclaimed MoroccanOil brand ambassador I am! It all started with me trying out the original MoroccanOil Treatment and then the obsession took new heights and my bathroom shelf is painted with a sweet soft blue tint with a beautiful (M)onogram. I love love love all these products but if I had to choose a favourite on gun-point then it has to be the Moisture Repair Shampoo. This one is my third bottle, already finished two :)

Price :-
MoroccanOil Moisture Repair Shampoo - Rs.1260/-
MoroccanOil Extra Volume Shampoo - Rs. 1485/-
MoroccanOil Treatment - Rs. 2100/-
MoroccanOil Intense Hydrating Mask - Rs. 2025/-


{Oscar Blandi Thickening & Strengthening Mousse and Dry Shampoo}
The Mousse is a recent purchase and I have tried it out a couple of times. It does what it says and I am really liking it specially for the days I curl my hair. The Dry Shampoo is a hands down favourite. Cannot live without it! I have been using it at least once every week for more than an year now(Woah! Has it really been that long!) and there's still more than half product left. Value for money, people!

Price:-
Oscar Blandi Thickening & Strengthening Mousse - Rs. 1700/-
Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo - Rs. 1500/-


 {Toni&Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray & Moisturising Shine Spray}
Again, recent purchases but loving the Sea Salt Spray for the days when I don't wanna apply too much heat on my hair and don't have the time either. Shine Spray is good too, does what it says, so no complaints there!

Price:-
Toni&Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray - Rs. 900/-
Toni&Guy Moisturising Shine Spray - Rs. 750/-


 {Bamboo Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray}
Have been using this for quite a while and it is a darn good smelling product. After styling, I do feel my hair is smoother, silkier, shinier and softer. It's gonna last me a long time telling by the amount of product you need for one use.
Tip - Don't spray it directly onto hair as it's thicker than you would imagine. Just spray a little on the palms of your hands, rub them up and then apply.

Price:-
Bamboo Anti-Breakage Thermal Protectant Spray - Rs. 1600/-


{John Frieda Flawless Finishing Creme}

I did not like it much when I bought it because I was using it wrong. You just need a tiny bit to apply at the ends of your hair to finish off any style and keep the frizz at bay.

Price:-
John Frieda Flawless Finishing Creme - Rs. 500/-

The next installment of this post will talk about the Styling Tools I use to style my hair. Stay Tuned!

Talking Tuesday: Episode 6

An effort to revive Talking Tuesdays...Coz I have received like a hundred messages from you guys that you all loved it and wanted me to continue with the series :)

1. Hey Srish,
Dandruff is my major concern. I have an oily scalp but my hair are silky smooth. I have been using Selsun medicated shampoo for dandruff once a week but every time I use it, it makes my hair dry. I am looking for a better alternative. Please help.
- Manali
I would recommend you to use a deep conditioner on your hair after you wash it. Try Hydrating Hair Mask by Moroccan Oil, it has helped me a lot in just two uses and I am sure it will help you too. Also, use hair oil on your hair at least 30 minutes before you wash your hair, I would recommend Kesh King Hair Oil, it helps with the dandruff issue also.

2. How to do hair spa at home. What products and brands are trusted and what should be the time interval to be maintained.
- Manali
You can do Hair spa at home easily either using home-made packs or market-bought products. For home, use a mixture of egg white and lemon on your hair for 30 minutes before washing it off. If you want to go the easy way, you can try the Hydrating Hair Mask by Moroccan Oil that I recommended you.

3. Hi.. I love going through your blog as and when I get time. Especially Talking Tuesday!! I love your enthusiasm at such young age. My query is... 
My legs are bit too dirty, dark and hard. I never got time for frequent pedicure. I am working women and it becomes bit too difficult for me to carry slipper or something which shows my leg off, making my leg appear manly. If you could suggest me something I could do to make it clean.
I have same problem with underarms too, for it gets dark even though I get waxed. and wearing sleeveless in summers become necessity. Thank you!

- Priyanka

I would recommend you get a pedicure once so that your feet gets free of all the dirt and grime. From there on, maintain the cleanliness by scrubbing your feet with pumice stone everyday while you take your bath. You can also slather on Vaseline every night before you go to sleep and wear socks to keep the moisture locked in for a longer period. This will help soften the hard tissues and eventually they can be scrubbed off. Use lemon juice to clean your feet and underarms every 3 days. That will help lighten the darkness of the skin.

4. Hi Srish,
Thats not done sweetie, so many replies to Akansha and assi kitthe vi nahi??
I sent you a query last week. I m 5 ft bulky married woman appx 68 kgs. I want to wear comfortable yet stylish clothes. Please suggest some good tips, awaiting reply this time :)
- Viju
Hi Viju, we must have not received your query may be due to some technical issues :)
For your height, I think you should go for clothes that lengthens and slims you. Try maxi skirts, maxi dresses, ankle length trousers, longer tops and introduce a little bit more height by wearing heels or wedges. If you are not comfortable in high heels, try kitten heels or 2" wedges. They add a little height while being comfortable for long hours as well. Vertical Stripes are also good for adding height and slimming down your figure.

5. Hi,
Got a pretty gift today...opened a box to discover this pretty denim dress and first thing that strikes my mind is to post you about it asking that how should I style it for a daytime event.
I am getting addicted to talking tuesday now :) 
- Anonymous
Styling a denim dress is easier than you would think. It's one of the most versatile pieces and can be paired with flats, heels, wedges, almost anything. For colder months, wear tights and throw on a cardigan (mustard and burgundy colors compliment denim a lot) and add a scarf. In Summers, you could wear it as it is with a nice pair of shoes. Add a belt to accentuate your waist and make it look more glamorous. 

6. Looking for a good face powder...which one would you recommend??(high end ones)...and could you mention the prices as well...
- Madhuri
As far as I have tried, Chanel Vitalumiere Eclat compact is the best.It's priced at Rs.3800/-. A more affordable option is MAC Blot Powder priced at around Rs.1500/-.

7. Hello princess...I just love ur style..My height is 5'7" and complexion is wheatish to dusky...plzzz suggest me some beautiful colors to get great match with my skin tone...
- Mushu
For your complexion, I think there are lots of colors that would look gorgeous on you. My top picks would be subtle pink with hints of beige in it, a subdued coral, fuschia and red.

8. Hi Srish, I am a big fan of your blog :) I have curly shoulder length hair its super dry, can u suggest me some good hair care products and some nice hairstyles I can do with my curls. 
- Anonymous
I feel like I am advertising MoroccanOil, lol! But really, the hair masks from MoroccanOil are very good for dry hair. And with your hair length, you can do so much! Try curling it and then backcombing the crown section for sexy bedhead look. you can try the hairband bun by tucking all your hair in an elastic hairband. It is very easy, looks super cute and when you open it, you get lots of beautiful waves in your hair.

9. Hey, can you please recommend some good online sites for buying jewelry and dresses(specifically maxi ) ?
- Nisarga
For jewellery, I prefer going to asos.com and if you want to buy from an Indian website, faballey.com, stylefiesta.com and koovs.com are really good. Same goes for maxi dresses!

10. Hey, I actually am in a dire need of a good wallet but can't seem to select any.Can you give me few ideas with brands and style in medium range(1k-2k).I usually carry money, change cards and a lip gloss in it. Thanks.
- Vaishali
I recently got a new wallet so I can understand the confusion it involves. Try finding a neutral color like gold, beige, nude, black or white which will never go out of style and will compliment almost all of your outfits. Check out jabong.com or Done by None for some cute budget friendly options.

Have a fabulous week ya'all!! xoxo

Talking Tuesday: Episode 1

First of all, I want to thank all of you lovely girls out there for such an amazing response!! It's really overwhelming to see so many queries pouring in! When me and A first came up with this idea, we brainstormed for hours deciding the name, designing the logo (The 8th logo was finalized!), creating the Query Page, etc etc. To be honest, I was a little nervous, what if there are very few queries, what if the plan fails, what if! But, you all have been extremely sweet asking questions, sending compliments and believing in me. I feel very blessed to have an opportunity to help even a few of you! 

Okay, so enough of that! Let's jump right into the Q's & A's part coz there's a LOT to cover up in one single post!!

1. According to you what are the three must haves when it comes to makeup? I mean foundation,concealer,mascara,lipstick etc. If you had to pick three what would it be?

- Ayesha

I believe that a good base is what makes the makeup look like a million dollar. If you ignore that and do your eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, etc, then it would just look wrong! Even for the people with amazing skin, a little BB cream or tinted moisturizer would even out the skin tone and make the whole makeup look amazing.

So, I would say, Foundation, Concealer and Eyebrow Powder are the three most important products in general. Properly shaped and filled brows can make you look pulled together in seconds. 

Personally, if I had to choose, I would pick Foundation, Concealer and a Tinted Lip Balm. My eyebrows are naturally thick so I can get away without filling them in. However, my lips are very pale and I like to keep them moisturized 24*7 so a tinted lip balm is a must for me!

2. Hey Srish, how do you prevent getting tanned in the Delhi sun?! I am moving to Delhi for college, I'm moving from a cold country where it is hardly ever sunny, and therefore I would love to know how u stay fair in delhi!! :/

- Sneha

To be quite honest, I do not pay much attention to tanning problems because I do not like to spend time under the sun, except when we shoot for blog. That eliminates the possibility of getting tanned to a great extent. I have also developed the habit of using sunscreen if I am going out anytime before 6pm in the evening(Neutrogena has one of the best affordable sunscreens you can ever find).I also keep one tube in my bag so that I can re-apply on my hands and arms whenever I need to. I also have this habit of scrubbing my whole body every time I take a shower, it takes off the dead and damaged skin and always keeps the skin glowing and fresh. Try the Scrubbing gloves from The Body Shop with any good shower gel. Hope this helps you in some way. And Welcome to India by the way!

3. How do I style a pair of Tropical Print Shorts??????...

- Anonymous

I have styled a couple of outfits around a pair of Tropical print shorts. Have a look HERE and HERE! You can also style it the way I have styled my Cow print shorts HERE. Hope this helps :)

4. Can you do a post on your everyday hair routine?

- Josie

You got it! I will publish the post by next Tuesday. Keep a lookout for the same!

5. What is the best way to handle frizzy hair? Which products are the BEST ? Suggest shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, oil/serum, hair styles , etc.

- Akansha

As answered in the question above, I will give you all the information in a separate post completely dedicated to Hair and all your queries will be answered there! Check back by next Tuesday!

6. Which cleanser, toner and moisturiser would you suggest for oily acne prone skin?I also have scars and open pores.

- Fiona

I would suggest a mild cleanser like Kiehls's Ultra Facial Cleanser. It is very gentle and would not irritate or dry out the skin. For Toner, try Neutrogena's Oil Free Toner or Clean&Clear's Deep Cleaning Astringent. Lush's Enzymion is a very good moisturizer for oily skin, and remember, no matter how oily your skin is, it is never advised to skip the moisturizer. Oil secretion means that skin is lacking moisture and hence producing more and more oil to keep it naturally moisturized. But if you provide the moisturization it needs, slowly the oil secretion would decrease. Try the spot treatment by Clean& Clear for your acne problems.

7. Can you do a skin care routine?

- Fiona

Sure! But, this week I have already promised for a Hair Care Post so how about you check back by 15th August, the Skincare post shall be published by then.

8. I want to Buy the Moroccan oil serum. Plz let me know from where I can buy it.

- Priyanka

You can find the Moroccanoil products in any high-end salons like Looks, Affinity, etc.

9. My makeup routine is limited to kajal, lip balm and occasionally, compact powder and BB cream. I'd like to know more about blushes, lipsticks and what basics are required to create a natural yet glowing look. A simple, beginner level yet complete tutorial on how to apply, in what order to apply etc. would be greatly appreciated!!

- Fab

Well, it's a lot to cover in a small paragraph! But nevermind, I will make sure to film a video tutorial explaining everything step by step and would publish it by the end of August. Please check back by then :)

10. I have a Mac primer...I bought it a few months back...but a month back I noticed that the primer spoiled in a way like milk curdles. (became watery and the solid part looked like curd)....and I took it to the store and the Mac guys were cool enough to replace it for me(I had barely used it) but I recently noticed that the primer seems as if its gonna spoil again( noticed a little water like something) ..I went to the mac store and they shook the tube well...and it was alright then...but I am afraid that it might spoil again...help!!!

- Anonymous

I understand your confusion as I have had the exact same problem with my Mac Primer. In the beginning, a little shake before use solved the problem but in later months, all I could squeeze out of the tube was oil. The tube would leak like a water tap! Do not invest in Mac Primers! Go for Benefit or Bobbi Brown.

11. Please tell me some nice hairdos? I am a college going student and I can't leave my hair open everyday. So suggest some nice pin-ups or stuff? Thank you :)

- Neelashi

One of the easiest hairstyles is a Sock Bun. To know how to do it, click HERE. I am also planning to start video tutorials soon as I get a lot of requests to do hairstyling videos. So, more tutorials will be published after 15th August. Stay Tuned!

12. Lipstick never stays on my lips. Please can you recommend some long-lasting lipsticks?

- Dolly Desoza

For long lasting lipsticks, I find the Maybelline 14 hour Stay Lipsticks are the best. They are a little drying though, so make sure you have scrubbed and moisturized your lips nicely before you apply.

13. Hey hi..Do u have any idea from where I can own a beanie cap..? And also summer jackets/blazer..

Thanx :))

- Shweta Shetty

You can buy a beanie from Forever 21 or Vero Moda but they will be available after October. For Summer Blazers/ Jackets, check out Zara, Forever 21 and Mango. They have sleeveless blazers with amazing fit and designs.

14. Hi, this is surbhi here, I have a favorite bag which was gifted by someone very special and now I have the bag but the handles are totally ruined. I am keeping it with me as I told that its special for me but I really wish to find a way through which I can get it revamped. If your gyaan can help me some way I will be flying high..believe me that it's really important for me.

- Surbhi Agarwal

There is a way! Just go to "Pressto" and ask them to fix your bag! It's as easy as that! :)

Pressto outlets are in many markets, few of them being Vasant Vihar Market, Khan Market, etc.Good Luck! Let me know how it goes.

15. I have to attend a reunion with my college friends and we are going to wear the same skirt that we bought together in final year ..how should I style it..please help ...I have just ten days time to plan everything.

- Surbhi Agarwal

The skirt looks very chic and it would look amazing when styled properly. The waistband and the pocket openings are not very flattering so I would suggest concealing that somehow. Iron out the skirt first of all(obviously! :P). 

The yellow embroidery is beautiful and while styling we should keep in mind to use the flouncy shape of the skirt and to show off the yellow embroidery. Wear the skirt high on your waist till the hem hits a couple of inches above your knees. Now, time to hide the waistband and the pocket openings! Pair the skirt with a soft cream georgette shirt(Fold up the sleeves casually and do not tuck the shirt in!) or a peplum top. Add a thin belt in a neutral brown shade at the thinnest part of your waist. Throw on some statement necklace and chic heels and you will be the talk of the reunion! Take inspiration from this picture HERE. Do not forget to send us a picture after you have styled it! Have fun!

16. Hey, Just wanted you to know firstly i love your style its amazing to see how you create different looks each time and those glasses definitely works for you!!! 
Well I m personally quite into fashion myself and I have been following blogs, reading mags alot I just wnted to know do you guys have interns or maybe is there is a vacancy for asst stylist?? I have been dying to start up something myself and honestly can't imagine anything rather than being a fashion stylist!!! Thanks n Have a great day.
- Ankita B Banerjee
I am sorry dear but we do not take interns or asst.stylists. This blog is a hobby of mine and Aman, not a full time job. But why don't you start your own blog! You can document your work and see yourself grow as a stylist.

17. I am 20 years old with a height of 5'1... recently, I was gifted two palazzo pants by my friends- one is in light shade of green and -the other is blue with white polka dots.. I really want to wear them for my day outs but, am not quite sure as I am short and palazzo pants might end up making me look more shorter.... I also tried teaming with tank tops, but it doesn't work out well...coz I am on the heavier side(with fuller arms)...Please help me out.. on how to style the palazzos because i can't discard them as they have been gifted by my very close friends... :)
- Riri
Height has nothing to do with what you can and cannot wear. If you want to wear those palazzos, you can do so easily. Get the hem altered if you need to and wear them with sky high heels. It will actually make you legs look lean and longer. You can pair your palazzo pants with short sleeved T-shirts to hide your arms. Take inspiration from the picture HERE.

18. Building my makeup kit. Which is the best brand of lipsticks out of MAC, loreal, revlon, chambor?
- Akansha
You should look through different brands for different products. While Mac is good with their lipsticks, blushes, eyeshadows and concealers, Bobbi Brown is excellent at base makeup. I do not use L'oreal, Revlon and Chambor a lot so cannot really comment on those except that Revlon Lipsticks are good and Chambor Eyeliners are long lasting. Hope this helped :)

You can drop your queries HERE for the next week's Talking Tuesday!