new on the shelves

The fabulous folks at Ted Gibson invited Real Beauty into their New York City salon to celebrate the rolling out of their newest service, La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment. Our staffer Colleen, who writes Real Beauty's Reel Beauty blog, was more than willing to be our soon-to-be straight-haired guinea pig.

She's pictured here, with her naturally curly locks:

"I was excited at the prospect of finally having straight hair," said Colleen. "After years of flat-ironing and intense blow-drying, my once thick hair has become incredibly thin. I hoped the treatment would equal less styling, which in turn would result in less heat damage to my hair. "

La Brasiliana Keratin Treatment is a chemical-free formula that won't change the molecular structure of the hair and instead, infuses it with keratin (a protein found in hair and nails), which eliminates frizz and cuts down on drying time. It lasts for up to four months, and you should use a sodium- and sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner.

Upon arrival, Colleen's hair was washed twice with a deep cleansing shampoo. Next, Ted Gibson colorist Jan Marie dried her hair completely and painted on the treatment. It looked like she was dyeing her hair, only without the foils. Next, she went over it with a flatiron to seal in the formula.

Two things we noticed: Colleen's hair wasn't completely saturated and dripping wet with product. Her hair remained lightweight and touchable throughout. Second, there weren't any harsh fumes that made our eyes water. This formula had a subtle scent of vanilla cake — yum.

After flat-ironing, Colleen's hair was rinsed with cool water to seal the cuticles and air-dried for 10 minutes. Last, Jan Marie blow dried her hair using just her fingers. The whole procedure took around an hour and a half. (The treatment time will vary depending on how long your hair is.)

Here's Colleen's amazing, newly straightened 'do:

"My hair was incredibly straight and smooth," said Colleen. "Even my cowlick, which never stays straight even after ironing, was straight as a pin on my head."

Unlike most keratin treatments that demand you to not touch or wash your hair for up to 72 hours, Colleen was able to wash her hair the next day. She was advised to not tuck it behind her ears during the first 24 hours, as that could create unwanted kinks.

"Almost two weeks after the treatment my hair is still as straight as it was in the salon," said Colleen. "The best part of the entire process is that my prep time in the mornings has almost been cut in half. After a quick blow-dry, my hair is ready to go with minimal need for a flatiron. Though a little pricey for me, I think it will definitely be worth the splurge in the summer to beat the humidity and frizz."

Where to get it: Ted Gibson Salons in New York, NY.

How much: $450+, depending on hair length.

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What it is: Haven Spa Deluxe Rose Pedicure and Manicure

Why we love it: Getting a dozen red roses from your man on Valentine's Day is nice, but totally unoriginal. Plus, flowers usually wilt and die in three days (if that doesn't say "love"…). But you don't have to forgo these romantic blooms altogether. Instead, ask your guy to treat you to a lovely rose pedicure and manicure like the one they're offering right now at Haven, a top-rated spa beloved by NYC beautyistas. The treatment, which features fresh and dried roses, includes an indulgent soak and exfoliation, shaping of the nails, and a hydrating massage with shea butter infused with pure essential oils of Moroccan rose and patchouli. Not only will you leave with perfectly polished fingers and toes, but we guarantee you'll be in a state of pure bliss.

Where to get it: Haven Spa in New York City

How much: $45 for a 45-minute pedicure and $25 for a 30-minute manicure

Don't miss RealBeauty's 33 Totally Unique Valentine's Day Gifts!

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Sephora Shoppers at Barton Creek Mall in Austin, TX were given violet, green, and blue eyes at the recent Lauren Luke Inspiration Nation five-stop tour party.

At the January 19 event, the social media sensation introduced her eponymous line of full-face application kits, By Lauren Luke, and invited customers to try each of five different palettes with the help of Sephora's makeup artists.

The British export brought her signature brand of color-oriented, down-to-earth cosmetics-application tips along for the ride as well, unveiling and wearing an original look inspired by the city. A video of how Luke applied the look from the back of her tour bus played on loop during the event, a reference to her first attempts at creating YouTube makeup application tutorials as user Panacea81.

To create the Austin-inspired look, she applied a combination of brown and yellow shadows on the upper lid, blending it at the crease. The effect took on an orange hue as she blended up and outward. She then highlighted the area by tapping a bit of white shadow below the eyebrow, then blended the colors again.

"All I've seen since I've gotten into this city is a bunch of terra-cotta browns and yellows," Luke explained during the video.

She swept a metallic green pencil along the lower lash line, then filled in the water line with a black pencil. She applied a glittery liquid liner along the upper lash line. To finish off the look, she used a pale peach-pink gloss so that her lip color wouldn't detract from the bright and flashy hues around her eyes. Paying homage to the state, she drew a Texas-inspired star with silver pencil on her right cheek.

Luke's opinion of the look? "It's a bit wacky, but it's fun!" she said.

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