Shu Uemura Art of Hair finally got their online store going ~ i've been obsessed with their moisture velvet conditioner and masque ~ they quickly made the list of products i actually end up buying again and again. I've also been anxiously waiting for the black glossy Shu Uemura paddle brush ~ which has finally arrived on the webstore! While this in and of itself wasn't all that extraordinary, what struck me was the packaging when it arrived. Black shipping box, sealed with black on white Shu Uemura Art of Hair tape sealing it ~ upon opening, black and white typographic logo pattern ~ and custom tissue paper as well... and each object individually wrapped and buffered in tissue paper padding. I can't even imagine what they would do for gift wrap! It was so beautiful, i had to photograph first and open after, as hard as that was! Also a few peeks at the paddle brush ~ while i usually use wood brushes with wood bristles, i'm loving this one! So see it all on the next page...

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Tags: beauty - gifts - hair - packaging - shopping

Firstly, i'm a total Bumble and Bumble junkie ~ it started in high school some time, and even when i was living in Milan, i used to have to go hunt the stuff down at 10 Corso Como (not that i needed another excuse to go there!)... i'm a commitmentphobe when it comes to products usually, but i've used the gentle shampoo so long i have the salon sized pump in my shower... and its not just the products, their packaging is probably what first sucked me in as a teenager, and as its evolved, and i've grown up, their designs have never ceased to amaze and amuse me...

Now, its 3am, i've been a little gift guide, giveaway, and FM overly occupied lately... but i'm so giddy about this Bandball ~ the crazier things got the last few months, the less i've cut my hair, and i have hair elastics everywhere! Sometimes i swear they grow legs and launch themselves into every purse, cup holder, laptop sleeve around... Now i've made my share of rubber band balls of all shapes and sizes, but one with hairthings... that's just far too tempting now, and a nice sized ball core? With ridges for them to naturally fit into to get it starter? And not stretch them out too much? GENIUS! But one question... can it bounce?

Oh, and along with Piet Houtenbos ~ they have also created some very cool gift sets and Pinwheels and Bandwheels... adorable, and awesome ~ but really... Bandball! Now, how do i get my hands on one? Apparently it's only 20$ for the ball of 100 hair things...

UPDATE! Now purchasable on the Bumble and Bumble online store! (i just bought two!)

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Tags: gifts - hair - shopping

Sorry, it's been quiet... i tried to take the day off. Still ended up handling a few emails and calls via the pearl, but at least it was while running around discovering things... like Shu Uemura's Art Of Hair. Shu Uemura is one of those lines i've loved for not only the gorgeous packaging design (have you looked at some of those lipstick and skincare products? The new clear lipstick cases were designed by architects!), but also for their skincare and makeup products. Admittedly i was skeptical about their branching out into haircare... until about an hour ago. I've been a Bumble & Bumble girl for the last decade or so - but the last few weeks i felt like something different - i tried other bumble products (also love their packaging/branding), various 'organic' brands, even some basic drugstore brands (which ended up being far too fruity and chemically for the most part), and was about to give up back to my usual, until i wandered into Shu Uemura today.

Apparently the "Art of Hair" line is not available for sale online, and can currently only be purchased in their retail boutiques (but you can also call and order from them)... the boxes with the gloss images of the bottles on a matte white are gorgeous, and the bottles themselves beautiful as well, so i was already ready to simply show the packaging of the new line here... but only if it was any good! Anyhow, i'm sure you know by now, i'm smitten, and silly enough, can't stop running my fingers through my hair. Smells amazingly fresh, feels ridiculously clean, AND comes in pretty bottles. See the unboxings after the jump, as well as a few other fun goodies i picked up... and a statement from the designers of the packaging, campaign, and branding of the line.

UPDATE: Check out this beautiful flash site for the 'Art of Hair'... check out the Ceremonies in particular, they sound like pure bliss... and more updates being added at the bottom of the post as i obsessively research more.

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Tags: gifts - hair - makeup - shopping

Uki International has some playfully modern hair styling tools ~ most noteworthy is this tiny "go on" 500 watt hair dryer that is a mere 9cm in length! and weighs in at only 110 grams. (see different angles of how adorable it is below) Also interesting is their Ionic 6000 that has apparently the "max ergonomics, allowed by double handle possibility" and is a powerful 1800/2000 watts and 21 cms in length. I also couldn't resist sharing this technical coloration trolley, Moana, designed by Massimo Pizzoleo ~ which although it looks quite like a frog it is ready to go with two tinting brushes and a tin foil roll (see how it opens below).

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Tags: accessories - gifts - hair - shopping - technology