Thursday, October 3, 2013

The Savvy Sleeper

After a long summer of sub-standard hair care (since I don't torture the whole salon by dragging the kids with me if I can help it), I was really looking forward to getting another keratin treatment which makes my hair smooth and shiny and straight.

I am long-time friends with the salon owner and barter my copy writing and social media managing skills in exchange for free hair, which is an awesome deal for me. They asked if I'd be the guinea pig for a new type of keratin treatment and I said sure, because when you get stuff for free, you shouldn't be picky. I also know that she values my opinion because I'm always completely honest with her, even if she wishes I wouldn't be.

Usually the keratin makes my hair too straight--it's a nice problem to have for someone with naturally curly hair that frizzes in the humidity but I get tired of it looking so lifeless for the first few weeks. We've been experimenting with different ways to keep some body while keeping it manageable.

This time was a dud, though.

I've got this one patch in the back that refuses to behave and if it is not chemically treated to the brink of death, it is a wild, unruly rat's nest. I guess we didn't get quite to the brink of death point, because it's a mess. I pointed it out to my hairdresser.

"We've been fighting that spot for years," she lamented. "Did you blow dry it straight and this happened?"

I admitted that I didn't blow dry it. She pointed out that it was pretty good for not being blow dried, other than that one spot. She reminded me that the point was really more to reduce frizz and drying time and that it wasn't intended to be a straightener, necessarily, even though it did do that on some hair types.

I explained that the real problem now was that I actually had to brush my hair, several times a day even. She paused in running her fingers through my hair.

"You don't like the new keratin because you have to brush your hair? Ashleeeeeey."

"I'm not saying I don't brush my hair! I just like it better when it's optional for the bus stop at least because that's so early. There's a lot of brushing needed now, so I put it in a ponytail."

She hates it in a ponytail. She sighed."What if you just blew it out, like, twice a week? You shouldn't do more than that anyway. And a ponytail on weekends?"

"I see, maybe, 3 people a day. Is that worth a blow dry? Eh." She agreed that it wasn't. She's lazy like me. (But she does brush her hair willingly, I think.)

She offered to redo the keratin but I dislike the process, so I said I wasn't ready yet. She pointed out that I would just have to brush my hair and maybe break down and blow dry it until I was ready to come in and do it again. I said yes, and ponytails. She shook her head and sent me off to be blow dried by her assistant.

And the next morning, I still woke up with the wild, wavy patch in the back even with a professional blow dry. Such a waste of time.

Soon after this, I was sent a Savvy Sleeper to review (the backlog/turn-around time on product reviews/giveaways right now is ridiculous and I apologize). It's marketed as a satin pillowcase with anti-aging, hair protecting properties but I was mostly looking forward to a nice cool pillow at night. I had already given up on my hair until its next treatment.

So mostly by accident, I went to bed one night with flat-ironed hair (because I had somewhere to go where more than 3 people would see me) and I woke up...with flat-ironed hair. I don't know if it was the lack of friction or the lack of sweat that helped soothe the crazy patch into compliance, but the crazy patch was straight and silky.

I've tried this a few other times, even with a half-assed blow dry and no flat ironing...and I still wake up with it looking like it did when I went to bed, with no crazy patch. Between the Savvy Sleeper and the stronger keratin, I might never have to brush it again.

(Just kidding.)

(No, I'm not.)

Also, the pillowcase feels lovely. Maybe it's a Florida thing but to wake up feeling cool and dry instead of warm and damp is already such an improvement that I don't even care if it keeps my skin young and makes my hair beautiful. The quality is very nice. I was a little concerned because I had a bad experience once at a rental house with faux silk sheets, but this material feels and looks rich. There's also a secret pocket--I've had all kinds of fun thinking of interesting things one might need in their secret pillow pocket. I love it though, I'll put something in there some day. Mr. Ashley fell asleep on my pillow the other night and I wrestled it out from beneath his sleeping head, because I wasn't going without it.

So I think I've skipped the midlife crisis and officially graduated into one of those house wives who goes to the salon for a once a week blow out and sleeps on a satin pillowcase and keeps her hair perfectly intact until the next blow out. I'm going to need a small fluffy dog, a head kerchief, and a convertible Cadillac.

Okay, I wanted those things anyway.

Savvy Sleeper has offered one to you all as well, so if you'd like to brush your hair less, or feel cooler while sleeping, or want to save time in the mornings by doing your blow dry at night and having it stay that way, you have the chance to join me in my satin-y slumber by entering the rafflecopter contest below. There are two ways to enter, I don't care which way you pick (or both!):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

57 comments:

My3grcs said...

This sounds like fun to try.

Megan said...

White I suppose?

Sasha said...

Beige would be fab. I have boiling blood, so Mr. Sasha says I actually emit heat while sleeping. A nice cool pillow sounds wonderful! I have heard about a Chillow, a pillow that has a cooling chamber of some sort, but laziness has kept me from actually looking for and purchasing it. So having a Savvy Sleeper pillowcase just sent to me would solve all the world's problems! :-)

Amanda G. said...

Yay for hair taming! I have a similar persistent tangle at the back of my head, too. And a silky cool-making pillow sounds awesome regardless. I'd go with black, probably.

FunnyGal KAT said...

I feel your pain about having to have at least presentable hair to take my son to school in the morning (without actually having to work at it!)

I would prefer the white Savvy Sleeper.

Jennifer said...

I'd love a black one!

lola5375 said...

Black or beige - I rarely wash my face before bed, so white wouldn't work

Jacqueline said...

Ugh, I hate brushing my hair! I would love to try any color!

Celi said...

White would not survive a week with my kids. Black it is!

AlexisMorgan said...

I would love one of these! My hair needs it and I also get so hot at night. Thanks!

Katie said...

I have naturally curly hair, which I wash, blow dry and flat iron twice a week. I think a satin pillowcase is just what my hair needs to keep it straight on my off nights. I'd love a white one.

Unknown said...

White please! And disgustingly enough, I sweat a lot in my sleep. Ugh. So, this would be amazing. And awesome. And my husband would probably kiss me more in the mornings. Please and thank you.

Jessica said...

I never brush my hair, except when I'm blow drying! No shame in my game. I'd choose beige.

Mrs. Everything said...

white please :) Sounds so AWESOME!

Jessica said...

White please!

ranniroo said...

I'd go with white. My youngest daughter has wild hair that cannot be tamed - especially the back of her head.

Lisalu said...

My pillow is warm and damp in the morning too, but I can't blame the weather. Damn these getting-old hormones!

Preppy Pink Crocodile said...

White please. I have a weird thing for white linens. Love them!

KK
www.preppypinkcrocodile.com

Stacey said...

I know you really love the commenters more... I'd do beige.

shelly said...

I'd love to try this as I get the rat's neck in the back too. White would be nice

Tara said...

Regarding the satin pillowcase: Yes, that is why your hair has maintained its style overnight. My grandmother did hair forever & has always slept on a satin pillowcase.

To the commenter who mentioned the Chillow...I had one, hubby bought it for me years ago. It leaks like crazy.

Unknown said...

Black please! I'm dying to win this now...

Unknown said...

I got suckered into a chillow too (Big Kid wanted it). It got all wrinkled up and wasn't comfortable. Do not recommend.

I had one set of really nice sheets (I've had several sets, but only one felt really nice) and this pillowcase reminds me of an even slicker version of those pillowcases. Just nice and crisp and cool and smooth.

Dawn P. said...

It sounds wonderful. I would love beige!

Lita said...

I am in love with the idea of a cool, not damp pillow! I must get one even if I don't win!

Kris from NH said...

I'd love white to match my New England, no more beach days for us, booty.

duhneese said...

Aaaaand all the non-commenters come out from hiding!!

I am ALL about low-maintenance hair so, yes please. Black!

Thanks Ashley.

beckyj @ A Lazy Crazy Life said...

I'd go for white. I blow dry my hair at night so this would be great for me.

Christina said...

Would love to try this!

Kim said...

I'd love to try this - no matter if I blow my hair dry to straighten AND then use the straight iron, I ALWAYS end up with a little kink in the front! It would be heavenly to fix my hair and then know that it would look the same the next morning! A white one would be heavenly!

Unknown said...

The beige would be great and if it helps keep me cool at night I'll buy one too!

Bethany said...

Beige sounds the least likely to look nasty after the kids play with it.

Anonymous said...

This seriously sounds too good to be true! I'd love a white one! I bet this would totally buy me two more snooze buttons.

Lisalu said...

Oops -- forgot the color. Beige will do!

Unknown said...

Beige

Rae said...

I need this , need! white would fine!

Anonymous said...

Black, I think. I hear dark pillow cases are better for insomnia. Hope the cooling properties will help w/ %$#*@(! peri-menopause night sweats.

Anonymous said...

Beige, please! C. Newton

Anna said...

Any color will work for me!

Jesse said...

I guess beige would be best, because half the time I'm too lazy to brush my hair AND take off my makeup.

Furiously Curious said...

I'd love white. My hair breaks so easily and I have heard this will really help!

Bethany said...

I wake up with the MOST crazy hair, so I'd love to try!! I think I'd like the neutral beige.

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain. My hair is barely presentable minutes after blowdry and flat ironing, nevermind the next day! I'd love a white one, thanks!

Unknown said...

When someone is offering you a pillow, YOU DON'T GET PICKY ABOUT THE COLOR. Having said that, I'd like the natural beige, but I would gladly accept whichever one came my way.

I get in trouble with my hair-fixer-person, too, because I always wear ponytails, and apparently that kills some of your hair. I DON'T CARE. Brushing hair is for all those hair-brushing kinds of people, of which I clearly am NOT one. Now if I could just figure out a way to avoid brushing my teeth, I think my life would be just about perfect...

Jamie said...

White! though I am skeptical it would help my crazy hair...

Sashay91 said...

Seems cool black especially

Amy and Warren said...

Neutral beige. And what is wrong with a good ponytail? Pretty much every day of the week.

The Lovely One said...

I'm intrigued... I'll go with beige!

dana said...

I would like thebeige one I think

The Menagerie Momma said...

I'd love to try a beige one.

Unknown said...

I want a beige one. I'd really like a black one but my DH would totally take it then. But I bet this would help my split ends; I am also not a fan of hair-brushing before coffee.

Jill said...

Sounds great, I would love to have white one.

b*schus said...

love the black or neutral! thanks for hosting.

Mary Beth said...

I'd love a white one. I wake up several times a night to flip the pillow to the cooler side. I'd love to see if this kept me cool all night.

-Marybeth

Unknown said...

Black please!
I'm curious to see what it would do when my whole head is probably akin to your crazy spot :P

Lori said...

beige please!!!! :) thanks for the chance

JanandJill.com said...

Thank you so much for this review Ashley and your experience with the keratin was a lot like mine. For some reason when I did it a few years ago my hair felt so lifeless no matter how much volume spray I spritzed. So glad you like it and the quality and it's funny because I've heard quite a few wives say their husbands try to steal their's. :)

xoDale
www.savvyspice.com