Why Monat?

Some things to note:

1. I'm not and I don't want to be salesy. It's 100% not who I am.
2. I built my photography business on just sharing me and trying to never be salesy.
3. I actually love these products.

This post is not supposed to try to convince you of anything. I hate whatever the hot thing is to sell as much as the next girl. I promise. When I see social media posts about a fad product, I usually roll my eyes and think "that doesn't work and you're not going to make any money"...

So then... Why Monat?

Monat became popular in the photography community, and I watched as photographers I have followed on social media for 5-6 years began using the products. It started with Sarah Hill. She posted the most incredible before and afters to show case how broken and damaged her hair had gotten and how Monat was healing her hair. I thought it was amazing, but Sarah has thin, fine, straight blonde hair. I have none of those things! So I didn't do anything about it.

Then another photographer I've followed since I started photography, Rachel Vanoven started using Monat. I've always been a little obsessed with Rachel's hair because it looks similar to mine. It is big and thick and curly, and in a world of thin haired blondes, I've kinda always loved Rachel's hair (and her pictures and just who she is, but that's beside the point). Rachel is good friends with Sarah, so Rachel started Monat. She didn't have damaged and broken hair, but she needed help with manageability. She needed something that worked on dry, curly hair. And that made me intent on following her Monat progress. What sold me the most were 2 things: the curls she got using the Curl Cream and her before and after of just a blow dry with no heat tools. ​Her before picture looked like blow dried curly hair, which is a giant no-no if you're not planning on spending the next 2 hours straightening the mess you've made. Her after pic of a smooth blow out convinced me. The fact that Rachel could wear her hair both naturally curly and blown out straight meant these products weren't going to alter your hair in a negative way (like a chemical straightener). 

The nail in the coffin was seeing posts from my photography friend, Christy Spurlock. Unlike Sarah and Rachel, I had actually met Christy in person (6 years ago at a photography workshop! Before I could even drive! haha) and we were friends on Facebook. Christy has curly hair as well, and I knew she'd be able to help me get on the right track with products that would work well for me. Christy is also a mom of two special needs boys, and I knew she was the person I wanted to support.

I began using Monat the day after Christmas, and after one week I was in love. My hair is dry, coarse, thick, curly, and wiry in the back. In one week, I could not believe how much softer and less wiry it was. I'm going to be real. I did not have bad hair prior to Monat. In fact I got compliments on my curls all the time. But I just thought, what if I didn't have to straighten my hair before I could curl it with a curling iron? What if the back of my head didn't make me cringe when I saw it in pictures (it was just a super funky texture to the curl pattern)? Also, Monat styling products don't make your hair crunchy, and prior to Monat, my hair was either frizzy or crunchy and only some delicate in-between on really good days. And within a week my curls were soft. Even with product in them. 

I did not start Monat haphazardly. I have been interested for probably 6 months. I've researched and researched and researched what I was getting in to. I have watched these friends literally change their lives with the business of Monat in the 6 months since they started. This is a new company (oh and it's an American company with American made products), and I got excited watching others get excited about Monat. I just want my friends to know this shampoo is changing my hair, and if you're not 100% happy with your hair, it can help you too. :)

To get in touch with me, send a text, Facebook message, or email to brianaowenphotography@gmail.com
brianaowen.mymonat.com
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What I Use:
Renew Shampoo
Revitalize Conditioner
Rejuvenique Oil