This week’s pick is another fave I discovered at good ol’ Targaaaaaaay (Target). While browsing through the hair care aisle, a tall, gold, old school looking bottle caught my eye. I stopped to check it out, and upon closer inspection I realized it was L’Oreal’s Elnett, the keeper of elegant European hairstyles, which has not been available in the U.S. until recently, as L’Oreal has introduced this more ozone friendly American version in order be in accordance with the U.S. government’s environmental laws.

I like to think of Elnett as the chic version of Aqua Net. The hairspray’s packaging boldly states, “Disappears at the Stoke of a Brush”, which is no lie. Elnett gives your hair a very touchable hold, similar to Bumble and Bumble’s Does it All Hairspray (one of my classic faves), but delivers just a tad bit more hold (sort of like insurance, which ALWAYS gives me more confidence), while also protecting it from humidity, and infusing it with body and volume, a very European quality, and therefore slightly more glamorous than its American contemporaries. The color-treated hair formula contains a UV filter to protect hair from sun damage and fading, which is GREAT FOR ANYONE WITH CHEMICALLY TREATED HAIR, and/or for those that spend a lot of time outdoors.

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There is nothing sexier than when a woman has tousled, beachy hair. When I say beachy, I mean the kind of hair that looks a little wild, a bit more primal than bed-head hair; the kind of hair that evokes heat and moisture; like an afternoon laying out on the hot island sand or a spontaneous evening dip in the ocean…So this week’s tip is how to make what I call, Stylie Power Surf Spray, which is basically a hair tonic that will give you subtle summer highlights, or not, and beachy tousled and texturized hair using mostly basic household ingredients.

Now there are a few products on the market that give hair this effect, their cost and efficiency spanning quite a range. There is Bumble & Bumble’s Surf Spray, which does the job quite simply without depositing any fragrance, but for a high price, $21 for 4 oz. A newer product to hit the market is John Masters Organics Sea Mist Spray with Lavender, which is also on the pricey side, $16.50 for 9oz., and is scented with lavender, a fragrance widely used to create a relaxing mood, the kind of fragrance that would counteract the energetic mood I like to have at the start of my day. My product of choice for this purpose used to be John Frieda’s Beach Blonde Ocean Waves Spray, which was unfortunately discontinued early last year, and replaced by a product they call Starlit Waves ($5.99 for 6oz.), marketed towards brunettes, but appropriate for any hair color, but lacking the wonderful tropical scent Beach Blonde Ocean Waves used to encompass, which is exactly why I decided to make my own.

What you need to buy:
Chamomile Tea – $1.99
Water
Lemon
Monoi de Tahiti Oil – (Ladidaspa.com $6.25) or Olive, Jojoba, or Baby Oil
Sea Salt - $1.50

Instructions:
Steep the chamomile tea in 1 cup hot water for 5 minutes.
Add 1 Tablespoon Sea Salt. Stir.
Then add the juice of half a lemon, removing any seeds.
Add 2 Teaspoons Monoi de Tahiti oil. Stir then pour into spray bottle.
**If you don’t want the lightening/highlight effect, omit the lemon and chamomile tea.

To Use:
First, apply a pomade to roots to prevents flyaways. Then, shake bottle to combine ingredients. Spray on to wet hair, scrunch and let air dry. For waves and more body, spray onto wet hair, scrunch, then twist hair into a bun(s). When you let your hair down, you’ll have super sexy, surfer chick waves.

Enjoy and stay posted for more beauty tips and picks to come next week!!