Buy This: Harry Josh Pro Tools Dryer 2000

A blow dryer is a desert island item for me (I'm assuming all desert islands have plentiful electrical outlets). I don't have wash-and-go hair. I can't air dry. Without heat, and a whole lot of it, the situation on top of my head is fairly tragic.

My hair is thick, super thick, and I have a ton of it. It's also super wavy and prone to serious frizz. And that's before you factor in any weather conditions. Now that I live in one of the most humid regions in the county, saying that my hair is unmanageable is an understatement.

I've used a lot of blow dryers over the years. I went through many terrible drugstore models before I discovered the magic of a professional dryer. For a decade I was loyal to Babyliss (particularly this model, which is still a great dryer at a good price), but I was itching to try something new.

After reading all of the rave reviews for the Harry Josh dryer on blogs and in magazine beauty columns, I was definitely curious. Thanks to last year's killer Cyber Monday promotion (DermStore offered all Harry Josh products at 50% off), I pulled the trigger. Without a doubt, this is the best blow dryer I've ever owned.

I'm hoping DermStore offers the same Cyber Monday deal again this year (I actually may pick up a spare), so I thought I'd share a quick review in case for anyone is thinking about a splurge.

Model: Harry Josh Pro Tools Pro Dryer 2000

PROS

Power -- this 1875 watt dryer has an incredibly powerful motor that blows hot, hot air at a ridiculous speed. This is perfect for anyone who spends a lot of time blow drying -- if you have thick hair, long hair, or if you just want hair that is drastically different than what naturally grows out of your head (straighter, more voluminous, curlier, etc). My hair really holds onto moisture, and this dryer really gets every last bit out, and does it quite a bit faster than any other model I've tried. I've cut my blow dry time down from about 30 minutes to 20 minutes.

Size -- I really love how tiny this little guy is (it's about 10" high and 7" long). It's perfect for travel and fits in the smallest carryon, which means you don't have to wear the same outfit every day of your vacation for the sake of having good hair.

Durability -- I've treated this dryer like I've treated every new iPhone I've ever had: so careful at first, afraid to damage a pricey toy, and then after a few weeks, I was dropping it, banging it, leaving it in puddles of water. All good! It's a tough little beast, which is a great feature in an expensive tool.

Accessories -- this dryer comes with 2 different concentrator nozzles (so important for a blowout), and they snap into the dryer super securely. I've had nozzles on other dryers get forcibly ejected (into my head) during a blow dry, and that's exactly as much fun as it sounds. Also included are a couple of duck clips to help section your hair (I always laugh when magazines say "divide your hair into 4-6 sections" -- I need 4 to 6 sections for just the bottom third of my head; I usually end up with 12-14 sections, and I'm sweating and angry at the end).

Cool Shot Button -- this is pretty important to a good blow out. Once you're just about done with your sections, you want to blast your hair with the cool air to really lock your style in place. And this button really makes the air cold (rather than just not warm, like a lot of dryers). I use the cool setting to blow through my whole head to really set everything, and also make sure that I haven't missed a section (you'll feel the moisture as soon as that cool air hits you).

CONS

Button Placement -- this is my biggest pet peeve. The design of the button panel seems meant for someone who is using the dryer on someone else, not the at-home DIY-er. The buttons that control the power, the fan speed, and the ion functionality are tiny, they're all the same same size, and they're all crunched into a small space. For the first few weeks I was really fumbling through every blow out. I've gotten the hang of it, but this is not great design.

Heat -- while this is really an advantage of the dryer, be careful. This dryer can get incredibly hot, and make your hair incredibly hot. Keep the dryer moving at all times or you risk burning and singeing your hair (a lesson I learned, several times, the hard way).


VERDICT

This is a great blow dryer; expensive, but absolutely worth it. If you're a blow out addict, this will change your life.

But if you're more of a wash-and-go girl, or if you have the silky straight hair that I dream about, you can probably skip it and save your pennies. Check out my favorite Babyliss dryer if you're looking for a sturdy model that will give you a professional blow dry (it's actually the model my stylist at Oscar Blandi always used on me) at a decent price.

Wednesday Wishlist: Going, Going, Gone

Right now your favorite stores are desperately trying to move old merch out to make room for all of the fall goodies. This is a great time to snap up super deals on some cute summer-y pieces. Maybe you still have a vacation coming up (me), maybe you still have a few weeks/months of warm weather (me), maybe you just want to have a few new things to pull out next year (sure, why not?) -- sizes are limited but most items ring in at $50 or less, so get them before they're gone.

clockwise from l to r:
J. Crew Factory Racerback Stripe Maxi ($18) -- a classic that would be perfect for layering well into the fall.

H&M Round Earrings ($5) -- simple, versatile, sparkly.

J. Crew Factory Striped Photo Collector Tee ($10) -- I love the slim cut and cool graphic -- perfect with white jeans for a casual chic summer look.

Rock, Flower, Paper Lobster Jute Tote ($20) -- the quintessential summer tote

Anthropologie Pilcro Linen Trousers ($50) -- super flattering, and quite a range of pretty watercolor shades to choose from (I'd pick up white for sure).

Boden Espadrille ($62) -- happy shoes for your warm weather adventures.

J. Crew Factory Drapey Shorts ($9) -- easy pull on shorts with a sporty vibe.

Zara Printed Camisole ($20) -- love the cheery print and drapey fit.

Wednesday Wishlist: Swim on Sale

As the final weeks of summer slip away, this is a great time to stock up on some summer clothing essentials at super reduced prices (gotta make room for the wool!). Since I still have a warm weather vacation coming up (and I live in a year-round summer climate), I'm going to grab a few of these cute suits for a steal.

clockwise from l to r:

Old Navy Halter Swimsuit ($12) -- pretty damn sexy for Old Navy, and you can't beat the price.

J. Crew Metallic Gold French Bikini ($75) -- does your dude have a Star Wars thing? Surprise him with this (which also happens to be a perfect for a day by the pool)

Boden Knot Front Taniki ($43) -- you may find some odd separates left over in the sale section. A striped top like this would work well with just about all of solid and print bottoms you already have.

ModCloth Anchor Values Swimsuit ($27) -- a perfect mix-and-match option for the striped tankini top, and lots of other fun tops in your closet.

Kate Spade Georgica Beach Striped Bandeau ($121) -- simple and stylish.

Beth Richards Taylor One Piece ($182) -- I prefer one-piece suits, and I love how sleek and sporty this one is. Perfect for when I want to run around the beach reenacting Mariah Carey's "Honey" video.

J. Crew Ikat Print Bikini ($75)-- a great classic print that you won't soon tire of.

J. Crew Hibiscus Ruched Bandeau One Piece ($100) -- punchy print, flattering style.

Kate Spade Georgica Beach Jewels Bandeau Maillot ($121) -- a little skin, a little sparkle.

Wednesday Wishlist: Zara on Sale

Zara is trying to murder wallet right now. Everything is on sale, and I want it all. And full disclosure: I had a bad today and decided to buy the 6 things sitting in my shopping cart to make myself feel better. I mean, I can always return some things...

(I won't return anything)

I'll let you know what I end up keeping, but in the meantime here are some of my favorite sale buys:

clockwise from l to r:

Embroidered t-shirt ($23) -- you know I love a peekaboo perforated pattern. This top is sweet and sexy and I snatched it up!

T-shirt with shoulder detail ($20) -- I recognize that I do not need yet another striped shirt in my closet, but I like this one with pretty beading at the shoulder.

Multi-thread sweater ($20) -- I bought a slouchy cardigan in this pattern and I ADORE it (it is also on sale). This very relaxed sweater is a nice option for lazy Sundays with skinny jeans, or for the office with really tailored trousers.

Long cotton trench coat ($79) -- it is so hot and steamy in Florida that I can't even think about wearing a coat, but that's exactly the right time to get a deal on a classic outerwear piece. I like this one because it seems modern but not trendy.

Micro studded court shoe ($40) -- an unbelievably sexy shoe that looks about 20x more expensive than it is.

Blouse with contrast collar ($40) -- I love a Peter Pan collar, and I love this blouse because it avoids being too twee. 

Wide leg high waist jeans ($50) -- soft and slouchy and perfect. So flattering, too. 

Top with cross-over front ($20) -- I have a lot of blouses in my closet, but nothing like this.I love the pattern and the pretty layered detail.

Jumpsuit with lace back ($40) -- a classic jumpsuit with a sexy twist.

Creating a Shopping Budget and the No-Buy January

Sometimes an idea pops into your head and then suddenly it seems everywhere you turn, you keep seeing or hearing things related to that idea. It just seems to be in the air, like the universe is telling you something. That's been happening for me lately, and the idea is simple: girl, you need a shopping budget.

So why a budget, and why now? To explain, I'll first say that I love a good routine, and lately I find that I've fallen into a routine that makes my heart happy but my wallet a bit sad. I start out most Saturday mornings with my favorite yoga class, which happens to be a 30 minute drive from my house. I finish by 10am and feel happy and energized and ready for the day! And I take advantage of the energy, the early hour, and my location to run some errands and get things done.

And maybe I start thinking, I've done something good for my body, I deserve a treat! On the way home from yoga, I have to pass 2 enormous malls, 2 fantastic outlet malls, a massive outdoor shopping plaza, and about a dozen Targets. And I think, ooh, the stores will be empty -- I should pop into Old Navy and just see what's new! I need to get a birthday present...I'll stop at the mall and hit the sale racks at Anthro. Hey, a new TJ Maxx just opened -- wonder what treasures they have?

By about 3 o'clock, I'm walking through the door loaded down with about half a dozen different bags. And I can justify all of it:

I had to pick up a few things at Target and this sweater caught my eye!

Everything at Old Navy is 40% off!

I really needed some new jeans and I'll get an extra 15% off if I spend $75, so these sweaters are practically free!

I've been doing this for a few months, and while I haven't gotten myself into any debt or purchased anything I'm unhappy with, I just feel like this is an unhealthy habit that I need to break. I love to shop, but I want to do it mindfully. I love a deal, but I want to build a wardrobe full of pieces that I absolutely love.

I'm looking for a closet full of Mr. Rights, and I'm getting distracted by clearance stickers, which are the Mr. Right-Nows.

All of this has been swirling in my mind and I've realized that a lot of my friends and some of my favorite bloggers work hard to stick to a shopping budget. I've learned that I may not be the best at natural self-discipline, but I know am excellent at setting goals and sticking to a plan.

Shopping budget: let's do this!

I've decided to give myself a monthly budget of $200. This feels comfortable right now -- not extravagant, not restrictive. I like to shop, so I don't want to be frustrated all month long...but I also want to focus on building my wardrobe and buying beautiful pieces that I'll wear for years. I'm hoping this budget will give me the right mix of quality and quantity...we'll see!

In addition to my budget, I decided to take a month off of shopping: this is officially a no-buy January. I bought a lot (= too much) in December, seemingly unable to resist all of the holiday sales. I overdid it, and I need a break. So just as Gwyneth Paltrow starts a new year with a miserable, restrictive juice cleanse (so she can rid her body of that extra cheese cube she ate on Christmas), I wanted to kick off the new year with a (slightly-less-painful) wallet cleanse. No clothes*, no makeup, no jewelry...not easy, but necessary. (*I did make one exception, allowing myself to buy workout clothes -- January is usually the best month to find deals, and my daily workouts mean I need a lot of sweat-wicking garments in my life).

We're about halfway through the month and I'm doing well! I've had some temptation, but I haven't given in. Everything is on sale, but I'm kind of tired of looking at the old winter collections anyway...my $200 and I can't wait to see what spring goodies arrive next month!