Beauty Banter - Let's chat HAIR, shall we?

Since I was a little girl, I have loved long gorgeous hair. In the 80’s my dad gave me a cassette tape of Crystal Gayle (anyone know who that is?) and on the cover was her picture with her insanely long, glamorous and shiny black hair.

I literally could not get over how beautiful her hair was. In my mind, she was the real life (brunette) Rapunzel.  She had the longest, thickest, most aspirational hair I’d ever seen. (I tried to add a photo here, but looks like most of them are copyright protected so just google here and you'll what I mean) I remember wondering if my hair could ever look like hers. So far…no, no it has not. At one point in her singing career she actually grew it all the way to the floor - not kidding.

When I was in elementary school I sat next to my friend Pamela (who had a super long, thick ponytail) and during any classroom downtime, I would braid Pamela’s ponytail. My mom had gotten me a book that taught me how to make different style braids, and Pamela, my friend, now became the guinea pig for braiding practice.

The first time I put blonde in my hair I was probably around 8 or 9 or so. Unfortunately, I didn’t know what I was doing, and I fried it. I mean…FRIED. I was left with straw for hair. A few years later my hair was back and it was time to rock the perm. Whoa – not my best look. (Imagine 1990's Andre Agassi but on a little girl. That's what my brother used to tell me) Yep. You're welcome.

Elise with extensions

Then came the extensions phase.  Oh this was so much fun. I loved everything about the volume and length that I was able to achieve with extensions but wow, the damage. I have fine hair, so this put a lot of stress on it. Clipping them in occasionally was fine for me, but having them sewn in or applied with beads of glue proved to be quite damaging for my hair. I do think this would have been OK had I done it in moderation and used the proper products and whatnot. I'm open to trying this again in the future but in a much more reserved manner.

Elise about the time my hair was getting very damaged

While working at QVC the demands on my hair were too much for it to handle. I was highlighting it, gluing, weaving, clipping in extensions and styling it with high heat about 5 times a week. Over the course of 7 years my hair took a beating and was at one of its worst ever, from an integrity standpoint.

No one is to blame here but myself. I should have been using heat protectant on my hair, I was not. I should have been more careful about only strategically highlighting it. I should have insisted that the salon staff use lower heat. I should have used masks and proper styling products with bond building capabilities in them. 

I can sit here all day long and tell you what I should have done, and yet I didn’t.  But today is a new day and now I know what I didn’t know then!

Enter my good hair era!

Right when I left QVC, I made a commitment to let my hair be. I decided to let it air dry more often. I only washed it 2-3x/week, I began taking a multi-vitamin and I would only put ionic heat on it one, max two times a week and miraculously it began to revive itself.  

Not to mention, this was the first time in 7 years that I was on a normal sleep schedule and I do feel as though that played a big part in the start of my hair transformation.

Fast forward to this year, I received a phone call from a former Beauty iQ colleague asking me if I was interested in presenting a haircare brand on their Tik Tok page. So much of this was foreign to me. I wasn’t familiar with the brand, ironically, it’s a Miami based brand, and I wasn’t on Tik Tok except for the VERY occasional post. I told her that I would be interested if and only if I liked the products and if and only if I enjoyed presenting on the Tik Tok platform.  So, let’s start with trying the products and go one step at a time, I suggested. She kindly agreed and sent me a box of the brands top selling products.

Elise without extensions

When I tell you that my eyes were opened, my world shifted and it was as if I was just handed the keys to the hair kingdom, I’m not exaggerating. Never in my life had I used hair products that actually achieved results better than I could have imagined. I thought, OK – maybe it’s just one or two of the products that will work for me, nope it was every – single – one I tried in the line. I was in shock. My hair was growing at a rate I’d never experienced, I was having noticeably less breakage and split ends, my color was lasting, my style was maintaining…it was an invigorating experience to say the least. I am getting more haircuts in my 40’s and experiencing thicker and longer hair now than I ever did in my 20’s or 30’s. It seems impossible, but it’s my reality and I’m super grateful.

As I used the products, and my hair was noticeably changing, my inbox became flooded with hair comments and questions. It seemed that many were taking notice.  I always receive an abundance of beauty questions (and I love and appreciate it), but this was different. I couldn’t keep up with all the questions. I thought there’s one way to handle this – time to blog about hair!!

Elise without extensions

Now, of course I must preface this with everyone’s hair is different, so you may have a slightly different experience than I do, but I’ll share with you my favorites and why.

The brand is called IGK hair. You can catch me explaining and selling the products on their Tik Tok Page, @igkhair every Thursday from 7-10pm et. and with that being said, if you’re not following me on Tik Tok yet, I’d greatly appreciate the follow here. @shopwitheliseivy I do go live from my Tik Tok page about 2-3x/week so I'd love to have you join me there. It's fun and interactive.

Ok back to hair...

I have fine hair. I have quite a bit of it now, but it is fine, and color treated. I color my roots and I highlight my hair about 4x/year. I’m OK with my highlights not being right at my root. It’s more of a balayage look and that's what allows me to go so much time between highlights.

For scalp health and regrowth I’ve been using Sponsored. This is not instant fix. It takes time and consistency to see results. Spray a little on the scalp at night rub it in, brush it through, go to bed.

The two products that made the most immediate and substantial difference in my hair are Antisocial and Expensive.

IGK Antisocial

Antisocial is a dry mask for your hair. You spray it on your hair (like a hairspray), but I section my hair and then spray to make sure I’m getting it all. Brush through it and go to bed. This product is AMAZING! It’s strengthens the hair overnight while you sleep, with a

time released bond building technology. Wake up in the morning with refreshed hair, stronger hair and hair that’s better today than yesterday. This one is a game changer. Imagine everything you love about a hair mask, but in a dry formula, so no need to wash it out!!

Expensive is the product that actually saves me the most money

IGK Expensive

(ironically). This is a clear gloss, top coat for the hair…and so much more. The reason I love it, is because it takes the brassiness out of my blonde, adds vibrancy and dimension back into my hair and creates an undeniable shine. I use this once a week on Thursdays right before my show on Tik Tok. You put this on your hair instead of conditioner once a week and comb it through. Leave it on for 3 min and viola – you just saved yourself $100 from having to get a tone and gloss at the salon.

Elise holding Body Language

Two other products I’m using religiously are: Good Behaviour 4 in 1 Prep Spray and Body Language.

4 in 1 prep is the perfect first step when you get out of the shower. It detangles (way way better than any other detangler I’ve tried), so you can comb through your wet hair gently, provides hydration, shine, 450 degree heat protection (see, I told you I learned!) and 24 hour frizz control. A true multi tasker. 

Next I spray in Body Language to plump up my hair shaft. This gives me major volume and plumped up hair (use sparingly).

Elise with Good Behaviour Hairspray

Once the hair is dry I like a few other products for styling. The Good Behaviour Flexible Hairspray is incredible – it comes with a 450 degree heat protection so you can use it before and or after hot tools!

Pick me up lifts the root and gives me tons of volume – I love this. Remember, I grew up in Texas. High hair is a status symbol… 😊

There are so many more great products that I use, but just not on the daily. I use them more as needed. I’ll list some here, as your hair concerns may be different than mine and you may find some of these useful:

Cash In – This is a deep repair serum that you use on your wet hair. This helps repair and prevent split ends and it perfect for you if you have color treated damaged hair. If your hair is breaking or splitting and you can’t get it to grow past a certain length, try this. Cash in and the next product I mention are my two favorite smelling products in the line as well. Intoxicatingly yummy and juicy with a grounded dry down note.

IGK Best Interest

Best Interest – Want to air dry your curly or wavy hair AND treat it at the same time. It’s in your best interest to give this one a shot

Have super dry/thirsty hair – I love Mistress. This is lightweight leave in coconut conditioner that smells good and adds a ton of hydration to thirsty hair. I use it in wet hair, you can also put a little in dry hair, if you have thick or coarse hair.

First Class Dry shampoo – duh, we all need a dry shampoo.  This one is clear, but uses charcoal to absorb oil and odors. A little goes a long way, use sparingly.

Beach Club Texture Spray – want the look of a salt spray that gives you those perfect White Lotus beach waves, this is it. The best part, no salt!  Only hydrating, nourshing ingredients and touchable texture, you’ll love for every day or vacay!

IGK Disco Disco

Disco Disco - the ultimate 'cherry on top' shine spray and UV protectant as a final step. (important for Summer)

I love a bunch of their shampoos and conditioners:

Pay Day Shampoo & Pay Day Conditioner – for repair

Legendary Shampoo & Legendary Conditioner – for hydration

Good Behaviour Shampoo & Conditioner – for anti-frizz. Hello Summer Must-Have!

And I wont forget my roots (pun intended) I still love and use Calista Jousse hair cleanser and conditioner that I was introduced to while working at QVC. 

Elise with the 1" Bioionic Curling Iron

Hot tool wise, I get asked all the time how I make my hair curly or beachy looking – I’ve been using the same curling iron in different barrel sizes for YEARS! I own the 1” long barrel curling iron and the 1.25” from Bioionic.  This barrel is 2” longer than the average barrel so it makes it much easier to reach the back of my head. If you’re a contortionist, this doesn’t matter to you, for the rest of us, it’s a gamechanger.

I could go on and on…and in fact, I will another time. There are always new products and new discoveries that I’ll want to share with you. Maybe one of those will get me my Crystal Gayle hair, but in the meantime, I'm super happy with what I have now!

I do think this list, is a good start to answering the majority of the questions I’ve received. With that said, if you have a specific hair question for me, please write me or comment below and I’ll do my best to give you the right product for your concern.

Wising you all your best days and best hair days ahead…

xo,

elise