Messy messy v. Messy cute

If you're like me, you usually have big ambitions for elaborate hairstyles and then procrastinate until it's almost time to leave the house to attempt them. Too many times, it ends up in disaster and brushing your hair back into the same old straight style. I've been trying to give myself more time, but also — more latitude, and that's where Messy messy v. Messy cute comes in. Perfection is usually boring anyways. If you can achieve Messy cute, I say go for it — own the few flyaways or the slightly asymmetrical angle. This Bumble and Bumble stylist had to muss his perfect fishtail braid, but we can probably just skip that step.

Pics via the Opening Ceremony blog.

Pluie

This crescent comb by Pluie is fueling my minimalist metals addiction. My Kathleen Whitaker stick earring and Miansai cuff are on heavy rotation and like those pieces, Pluie's comb is so simple yet striking at the same time. It has kind of a futuristic crown vibe, but also looks totally wearable. Plus, you could style it in so many ways depending on where you place it and how you do your hair. If you need tips, Pluie even has videos:



So the question is: is more more when you start out with less-is-more pieces? You can pick up the crescent plus more barrettes and combs at Pluie's site (they include a handmade pouch so you can carry your comb with you) or Shopbop. Plus, check out Pluie's dreamy lookbook video to see some of their other styles:

Hot Tip From a Hair Stylist

Hot Tip: Jella Jojoba (that's hella 'ho-HO-ba') for your hair and scalp. If your hair is dull or your scalp is dry, or  — horror — both, jojoba can restore supple shininess in a snap.  My friend and stylist at Marquee Salon, Amanda, turned me on to it. Derived from shrubs native to the Mojave desert, jojoba oil's chemical makeup is similar to that of sebum, the oil we naturally produce to keep our skin and hair healthy, so it's easily absorbed and less likely to irritate skin. To use, add a small amount to your normal conditioner, or for a deeper treatment, massage a generous amount into your hair and scalp at night and wash it out in the morning (use a towel to avoid giving your pillow a deep oil treatment).

And it doesn't end with your hair. Because of its similarity to skin's natural oils, jojoba has all sorts of beauty and skincare applications: makeup remover, cleanser, moisturizer, cuticle oil, the list goes on. According to Wikipedia, you can even use it as a biofuel for your car! So massage some into your scalp, onto your nails, and toss some into the tank of your converted '78 Mercedes — viva jojoba!

Dry Shampoo vs. Hair Oil

Cognitive dissonance much? Sure I was drawn to these two products for different reasons. Sometimes your hair seems dull and kind of frizzy and you wish it were as shiny and lustrous as the ridiculous long hair of shampoo commercial models. Other times your hair seems unwashed and oily and all you want is to feel like you've just taken a shower, but in like, 5 seconds instead of 5 minutes. But then you realize that you are maybe waging a kind of divided and unwinnable battle against yourself. Am I oiling my hair just to dry it out? Or maybe drying it to the point that it needs to be oiled?

Moroccanoil Oil treatment for all hair types. Sweet Jesus does this stuff smell good. Deep and rich, but distinctly candy-like. This oil will make you feel like the kind of lady who travels to Morocco to stay in posh riads, ride ornamented camels, and appropriate centuries-old bohemian hair products. Definitely be careful not to overoil. Sometimes, even when used sparingly, I can't tell if it's actually making my hair shinier, or if I'm really just using it as hair perfume.

Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo. Why wash your hair when you can just spray something on it? This stuff will make you feel like the kind of chic, contrarian lady who's decided it's really healthier and more natural  not to wash your hair so much, but who on day four is like, ok, my hair could at least use some sprucing up here. I think the dry shampoo may do more of what it advertises than the Moroccanoil (at least for my hair), but truth be told, it's no magic bullet, and I'm suspicious its effect may be more psychological than anything. Or maybe I just need to try the Rene Furterer brand everyone seems to go crazy for, but that, for some reason, they stopped selling in-store at Sephora.

So is it crazy to use both of these products? Or, is there perhaps no conflict, no purely consumeristic urge to buy two products that negate each other, and only spur the need for more and more products in a vicious cycle of hair anxiety and pretty packaging appreciation? Maybe they truly can balance out your hair's different aspects, and by using the two together, you can achieve commercial level hair perfection?
In the end, hey, they may at least get you close to a real life, lazy girl's version of hair perfection: your hair looks clean and smells like candy, and you didn't even have to get in the shower.