Shopping for…hairspray

The expert: Eva Scrivo, acclaimed hair and makeup artist (high profile clients range from Martha Stewart to Jon Bon Jovi to Howard Stern) and host of “Beauty Talk with Eva Scrivo” on Sirius Satellite Radio.

The product: hairspray

What I want: Hair should feel touchable and still soft, but with more texture.

I must have: I look for hairspray with an unscented lightweight formula. The lightweight formula allows hair to be easily restyled without washing.

What I hate: Hairsprays that are heavy and stiff, making the hair feel dirty the next day.Hairsprays should be light and powdery and not leave that lacquered finish like the sprays of our mothers’ generation.

Savvy Shopper: Spend the extra few dollars to purchase high quality, professional hairsprays that are sold in salons. Not only will you get a much better result, but you will use less product since the sprays are high quality, more concentrated, and are dispersed in a finer mist which gives you more control during application. You’ll spend more money upfront, but you’ll be happier and the product will last twice as long since you’ll use half as much to get the result you want.

My pick: Elnett hairspray by L’Oreal. It’s not widely distributed in the U.S. and is pricey but very popular in Europe and with many editorial stylists ($24 for 200 ml at our salons--632 Hudson St., NYC-- and other select salons and apothecaries).

Next best thing: Does It All by Bumble & bumble. It is more widely distributed throughout fine salons in the U.S. (including The Vanity Room in Bernardsville) than Elnett and more moderately priced ($24 for 10 oz.) for a professional product. Good rule of thumb: keep your cleaning and household supplies separate from your beauty products. My mother once sprayed Raid (roach killer) all over her hair thinking she had grabbed the AquaNet.

as told to Laurie Squire

re: Shopping for Children's DVDs

San just wrote, "also check out www.erockforkids.com, also on cdbaby a big band for children"

SHOPPING FOR...Children's DVDs

The expert: Rick Gitelson, executive producer of Disney Channel’s “Handy Manny” and co-executive producer of Disney’s upcoming new musical preschool series, “Imagination Movers.”

The product: children’s DVDs

What I want: Something that will add value to my children’s lives. It’s a lofty goal but there are so many great DVDs out there I think it is attainable. I also try to find DVDs that we can enjoy watching together.

I must have: Educational value, cultural value or even personal inspiration. They’ll likely be watching this DVD many times over and I’d like to feel that they’ll take something enhancing away from the experience.

What I hate: So many DVDs are loaded with previews and commercials that are difficult if not impossible to click past—they feel like marketing tools for merchandise. I hate to see kids manipulated into buying products. They’re typically not savvy enough to separate the entertainment from the sales pitch.

Savvy shopper: I read what other parents and children have to say about the DVDs I am considering. For example, Amazon.com does a great job of presenting a nice balance of good and bad reviews. The IMBD.com message boards and comment pages are also a good source of information.

My pick: I’m proud of “Imagination Movers: Stir It Up”. The four musicians from New Orleans have a great sound that even gets parents bopping and singing along to their music videos but the messages in the songs are clearly geared to kids, reminding them to clean their room, take their medicine and always say please and thank you ($14.99, Amazon.com).

Next best thing: I love sharing with my kids the things that entertained me as a child. “Schoolhouse Rock” was a favorite and the latest 30^th Anniversary Edition DVD is a compilation of all the classic shorts ($14.99, Borders in Bridgewater, Flemington, Livingston, Watchung, Woodbridge).

as told to Laurie Squire

Clean Conversation

Environmentally-friendly dry cleaning has finally come to Central Jersey! The perc-free dry cleaning process that we've been reading about for some time is now at Martinsville Cleaners, 1990 Washington Valley Road, Martinsville. And it's not any more expensive than more traditional dry cleaners, points out June Lee, owner and resident tailor. In addition, a state-of-the-cleaning-art soap eliminates odors, repels insects, removes allergens and reduces static electricity. All work is done on premises; pick-up and delivery available. O brave new dry cleaning world!

And speaking of new...starting next weekend a new look for Shopping...Shopping for!

Re gifting

Once again thank you Wildsnowflake for writing, "You're right... "mom and pop stores" are the perfect place to get gifts that aren't at the bigbox places. Plus you actually get customer service, a rarity in mall stores. Other cute stores are Weeping Willow in Warren, Heidi's Cottage in Dunellen, and the Brass Lantern in Metuchen. I also love the downtowns of Somerville, Cranford and Red Bank. Used to like Westfield, but it's turned into another Bridgewater Commons!"

I am familiar with Weeping Willow but now of course will have to try the other places wsnowflake mentioned. These downtowns remind me of my childhood shopping streets, where every block had on its sidewalk either a riding pony or a gumball machine (for a penny...a penny!!)

"Please sir may I have some more"*

Happy New Year!

Some entries ago I made reference to More than Meals, a meals assembly service located in downtown Martinsville. Andy Potter wrote that "More than Meals is one of ~1500 of these 'meal assembly kitchens' across the country. If you are outside of NJ, you can search for similar kitchens in your area at www.mealassembly.net." Truly a godsend for people who can honestly claim "juggler" as their secondary occupation!

*take out that scratched up old LP (LP? what's that?!) of the cast recording of Oliver! and listen to the opening words

Gift Where

Needless to say shopping season is in high heat. Tired of department store sameness? This is where the burgs and villes we all drive through to get from route this to route that absolutely shine. The small stores. Call them "mom and pops"..."boutiques"..."shop(pes)", the off-the-beaten track gems of customer service and uncommon goods. Like The Back Porch. You really have to search for it as it is, literally, at the back of a group of stores (including my favorite pizzeria, Joe's) located in Martinsville on Washington Valley Road. During a recent stop-by I saw things like handblown glass pendants...best-selling Kobo candles in a variety of delightfully subtle scents..."Walligraphy" (clever wall art of words and phrases)...and a lot more beautifully displayed in this cozy setting, holiday and hostess gifts so distinctive you'll wish you were on the receiving end! Look for their signpost out on the street. The Back Porch fronts the block's very commodious parking lot.