Product Review: L'oreal Ever Strong Reconstructing Conditioner

In my attempts to cut down on products I have to admit I was doing pretty well.  Up until I hit Target.  I don't know what it is about this store but I buy everything!  This purchase was somewhat justified, I had run out of conditioner.  I had moisturizer and butters and oils for days but nothing to wash my hair with.

The doctor in me likes to diagnose myself with things.  Because of a post on Natural Selection, I've come to the conclusion that I have mostly fine hair.  I have a lot of hair but most of the strands themselves are fine and fragile.  Which means the name "EverStrong" drew me immediately.  First off the smell I could live without,  it reminds me of the Suave Rosemary Mint conditioner but stronger.  Not a fan. All I can say about is it this, it's creamy, it's lightweight, it's decent.  I hate the bottle design because I have to fight to get the product out.  I don't feel any difference in the strength of my hair and I've been using this for quite some time.  What I like is that it rinses out easily but that's about it.  It's one of those, I'll use it if I have to conditioners.

Truthfully I probably won't buy this again.

My Verdict: 2/5

Product Review: Yes to Cucumbers conditioner

Another Target purchase.  While buying the L'oreal Ever Strong I had the thoughts of "OMG what if I hate it I need a back up"  Now instead of buying a conditioner that I know and love like HE Totally Twisted, I ventured into the unknown again.  I ran over to the "Yes to" section and grabbed this bottle.  Why? Because everyone speak so highly about it and of course I had got to see for myself.

I'm really happy that I did.  It's a lightweight creamy conditioner that really makes my hair feel soft and moisturized.  What I've been noticing is that my hair responds better to lighter conditioner because the strands of hair are so fine.  There are plenty of posts on YouTube or on blogs where girls swear by leaving a little bit of their co-wash conditioner in their hair, not rinsing it all out.  I can't do that.  My hair looks dull and white.  So I need something light because I need it all to be rinsed out. I also need to guarantee that my hair and scalp feels free and clear of the buildup of the stuff I use over the course of the week and this does just that.

I like that fact that there's not a heavy scent to it.  It reminds me of spring, as cheesy as that may sound.  It's refreshing without being overpowering.

Another plus to this is that it's been lasting a really long time and it's affordable.  It was about 7 or 8 bucks at Target.

This conditioner is most likely become a staple in my hair regimen.

If you have fine hair that is weighed down easily, this is a pretty good alternative to the heavier stuff out there

My Verdict : 4/5

Product Review: Sof N Free Milk Protein & Olive Oil Daily Growth Lotion

Gotta admit I was very hesitant to use this.  Typically when I get new products I rush to try them ASAP but this I picked up and put down over and over again. Finally I decided, why not? If I hate it I can wash it out.  Let me just say that I've been looking for easily accessible products that I can rely on and this ladies is one of them.  I don't have to worry about ordering online or having to go to specific stores to find it.  I see it at BSS and drugstores all over my neighborhood which makes me like it even more.

I have to explain my initial hesitation to it.  One word: PROTEIN.  Early on I had tried a protein leave-in just to make sure I had the right  balance of moisture/protein because it's essential for healthy hair.  Too much of either isn't good and trust I was  all about the moisture.  That leave-in was an utter #FAIL.  My hair was hard, dull, and just mad at me.  Since then I stayed far away from anything that had protein written on the bottle.  I even doubted using henna because I heard too many horror stories about brittle straw-like hair.  I love experimenting with different things, I gradually introduced my hair to protein by doing the henna gloss (henna & conditioner.)  My hair has been responding well to henna so I decided to throw another protein product in the mix because henna is a time-consuming process and I wanted another alternative.

Best decision ever.  The brand name does not lie. SOFnFREE.  My hair feels amazing and it MOVES.  Wait let me say that again... it MOVES.  As successful as I thought I was with my hair, it didn't really blow in the wind or have any bounce to it.  But now, even when my hair is braided up, I shake my head and feel the braids hit me in the face.  I love every minute of it.  It's creamy but lightweight which is great because I don't need the buildup. Because I have so much hair on my head I thought I needed something super thick to ensure moisture and softness, not the case.  This does the job without weighing my hair down.  I've learned that I can use the thick stuff immediately after washing but if I use it any day after my hair looks white and ashy.  Even if your hair is relaxed, this would probably be a great moisturizer to use regularly without giving that "weighed down by product greasy, stringy" look

Using it is super simple, I run some through my hair before I hop in the shower, let the steam work with it for a little like the Steam & Style post shows then play around styling my hair after I get dressed, rub some KBB Butter Love afterwards then head out.  I've been using this for about 2 weeks now and since I'm so impressed I plan to incorporate the rest of their products and see whether or not "she" likes them.

I won this product in a giveaway and have no obligation to give a positive review of the product.  This is my honest opinion.

My Verdict: 5/5

 

Product Review: Karen's Body Beautiful Butter Love

I've heard about Karen's Body Beautiful for some time now and the product junkie in me always contemplated ordering online. Lord knows I stalked that site religiously, as I do with every other company natural women rave about.  What peaked my interest was the assortment of scents that they have and her hair.  LOL.  Now if you have ever seen a picture of Karen, you know exactly what I'm talking about.  She has this big halo of hair that I pray I can get to one day.

On one of my random trips to Brooklyn (well not so random I went to grab contact solution from my dad's optical store), I decided to make a huge detour and stop by KBB.  I did it to avoid that killer rush hour traffic.  I dunno when it happened but what used to be a 15 minute trip has turned into 45 minutes just about any and everywhere in NY, that's partially why it's time for me to move.

Anyway, sorry my focus is the worst, I just happened to be searching for a new butter to seal with since my shealoe concoction was starting to turn my hair white and oils just didn't seem to be cutting it for the most part.  (I don't want you to think oils don't work for me at all because JBCO works after washing but the smell is too much for daily use and grapeseed works when I don't need something heavy.  I was missing something that satisfied the "heavier days" Wow that sounded like a period commercial).  See lost focus again.  From the site, I had read about Butter Love and thought it could be a good substitute.  While I was in the store, I spent a good amount of time going up and down the product wall smelling each fragrance but kept coming back to the Creamy Coco Mango and the Coco Lime.

Then out the corner of my eye, I saw it.  Her hair.  Karen walked in and it didn't matter what i was doing before, I was much more concerned with her hair.  It really is gorgeous.  I tried to curb my feelings of hair envy and just couldn't.  I said hi as I went to pay for my jar of Butter Love (I went with Creamy Coco Mango) but my eyes couldn't help but stare.  It's kinda like when guys are fixated on my boobs.  I no longer blame them, they have no control over it, though they may try.

Let's get to this review: It contains an assortment of butters: shea, mango, cocoa, jojoba, and aloe butter along with essential oils, fragrance oils, grapeseed oil and Vitamin E.  I paid $18 (plus tax) for it, which I didn't notice because I was distracted and just handed my card over.  I read the receipt when I got in my car and kinda cursed at myself.  I don't typically spend that much on hair products but what's done was done.

The first night I used it was on pretty dirty dry hair that I needed to retwist.  As soon as it hits your fingers, it melts.  My shealoe never really melted completely from my hands so that's probably part of the reason my hair looked white.  Also a little goes a long way.  You know how some people says all you need is a little and when you have it your "little" is the size of a quarter.  That's what I expected but honestly all you need is a little, about half the size of a dime.  That's all I used for each twist.  Since that's the case, the $18 price tag didn't seem so bad anymore.  So after untwisting the next morning I couldn't help but smile.  Sometimes you gotta shell out a little more money than planned for results.  I love it!  My hair has more of a sheen to it.   It doesn't feel heavy and weighing my hair down.  My ends aren't drying out quickly as they were before.  It's been about a month since I've been using it and I haven't made a dent in it.  Which is great because I use it almost daily.  Now the label says it's best on dry hair and while it is great on dry hair, it works really well when I twist on damp hair also.  Don't feel like you need to limit it to strictly dry hair, it all depends on your hair and how it behaves.

I will say this though:  If you don't melt it between your fingers, there is a chance that you hair will look white and dingy but that can be solved but rubbing it into your hair more.  And as you get towards the bottom, (the way I've using it, there's a well in the middle and the sides are intact) it can be a little grainy compared to the top, nothing to really worry about because it goes away but just a heads-up.

If you're in or near Brooklyn, stop by the store and if you're not, order online.  Especially if your problem is keeping moisture in, relaxed or natural.

My Verdict: 5/5

After reading what I wrote I feel I need to put this out there... I do not work for Karen's Body Beautiful and was not paid for this review.  I bought this product on my own accord and really do like it.  I'm not trying to sell it for them, I am just giving my honest opinion.

Product Review: Ouidad Double Detangler Comb

So I decided to wash and twist my hair before heading out to Charlotte which means I get to try a couple new things out.

I was lucky enough to win the Ouidad Double Detangler Comb through a giveaway hosted by Cassadie of NaturalSelection.  Now I say lucky because if I didn't win this comb there's no way I would be buying it.  It retails for $24 that's why I'm happy I got it for the lovely price of free-ninety-nine.  The buzz about this comb had been crazy on the hair blogs which made me want it even more.  Since I now have it my possession, it's time for me to share my thoughts on it.

My wide-tooth comb and I have been through a lot together.  In hair combat, he combed his way through that forest that is my hair and made things a LOT easier for me to deal with.  Honestly, I was sad to leave him in this journey, especially since it had been a week or so since I had detangled my hair.

Wash day began with my trial of Creme of Nature's Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment.  More on that in another post.  For some reason, I decide to detangle with my fingers before I hopped in the shower.  After a 3 hour non-dryer assisted deep treatment (pre-poo, whatever you want to call it) I proceeded to co-wash with the Suave Rosemary-Mint conditioner.  This hasn't nothing to do with my review but I think I really like this as a lightweight conditioner.  Back to the double-detangler, I like it. Ta-da. That's it.  It does the job.  I don't know if it radically cuts down on my detangling time.  Maybe if my hair were longer I would feel differently but it's not, so it's okay.  I will say this: it's probably best if your hair is loaded with conditioner before you run it through your hair.  If you have long hair, this is a great option if you don't want to waste any time and need to be in and out of the shower.

To my curlies, whether tightly coiled/kinky like me or loose curls and waves: the $24 price tag is a little discouraging so I'm not too sure I would tell you to run and get it because it's worth every penny but if you don't blink at that price for a comb, go grab it, why not?  It will save you some time.

My Verdict: 3/5 I'm gonna keep using it but I'll review it again when my hair grows out a lot more.

Product Review: Suave Rosemary Mint Conditioner

I did it. This past Saturday, I managed to put my HETT to the side so that I could try another conditioner.  I was having a good hair week too.  I didn't want it to end but it was starting to feel a little oily and build-up-y (please excuse that word i just made up but you get what I'm trying to say.)  After my "meh" experiences with the Suave Almond Shea Butter conditioner I felt like this was gonna be the same thing.

This time around, I did a hot oil treatment with a mix of olive, grapeseed and coconut oil.  I wrapped my hair up in a shower cap with a headband around it so that the oil would seep out, and a scarf over it.  I lounged around, watching a couple episodes of "The Game" on BET then headed to rinse this out.  Now the conditioner is not exactly the thickest, in fact it's a little runny which turned me off.  And the smell isn't a strong mint smell which made me kinda sad because I loved the menthol-y scent of Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle but oh well.

I proceeded to cowash my hair and then added an extra squirt of conditioner to each section just before detangling (out of fear.)  I took my wide tooth comb to my hair, cringing as it got closer and then... butter.  The comb slide right through.  Of course I thought it was a fluke so when I got to the roughest section of my hair and I DIDN"T hear a snap, crackle, pop, I smiled.  I like this conditioner.  It's a nice change of pace from HETT. I'll probably alternate between the two.

This conditioner is advertised as the "invigorating" product from the Suave Professionals line while the Almond Shea Butter is "moisturizing."  Now I grabbed the moisturizing one first because I thought that's what I needed the most.  But as I learn my hair and what it likes/dislikes, I realize I need to easy up on the moisturizing products.  HETT is a definitely a moisturizing conditioner and this is my balance.

If your hair doesn't like heavy conditioners because it gets weighted down easily, you should give this a try.  It's cheap ($2.50) so if it doesn't work you won't be mad that about shelling out a bunch of money.

My Verdict: 3.5/5

Product Review: Curls (for Target) Creamy Curl Cleanser

Impulsive me.  Took the crochet braids out last nite because I really missed my hair.  And now... I'm ready to put them back in, lol.  My main reason for doing it was because the humidity was driving me crazy but now the weather's starting to change since fall is right around the corner (gasp!)  I loved how big my hair was and I know this style wouldn't work in the winter because I need something that can fit under a hat.  This is probably my last opportunity to do it again until next spring. :(  So even though my hair is out now by the end of the week it may be braided again.

But while removing the crochet braids I managed to try out a new product. Yay! I think that's why I was so antsy to take them out.  I have a bunch of new products to try but just couldn't.  They were just there... in my drawer, taunting me.

Now as you may know I decided to follow a no-poo regimen when I became natural.  That means I do not shampoo my hair, strictly conditioner washes (co-washes.)  Shampoo can be very drying to hair particularly because of the sulfates in it.  Sulfates are the ingredients that cause that lovely lather that you get as while washing your hair.  Lather is always what made me think I was getting the job done and my hair was really clean.  Although I only co-wash my hair hadn't been washed in 3 weeks and I did continue to moisturize so I could only imagine the buildup. Eww. No way I didn't think conditioner would be enough to rid 3 weeks worth of crap.  Aside from a really great deep conditioning I needed to make sure that I cleaned my hair and scalp.  So off to Target I went.  I actually went there for a completely different reason but you know how that goes.  I couldn't find my fave brand's shampoo (Shea Moisture) but they did have Miss Jessie's and Curls for Target.  Cool. Which one to choose? Miss Jessie's tends to have high prices while the Curls is more in my price range.  So I went with Curls which was only $10.  I later discovered that the Miss Jessie's is only $14 so maybe next time.

This is Curls Creamy Curl Cleanser.  Free of parabens and sulfates, which should mean no dry brittle hair for me.  Now it smells awesome.  Kinda like cake.  A lot of my products smell like cake some to think of it.  Not a complaint just an observation.

I didn't pre-poo this time, just went straight to sectioning my hair, and shampooing.  I really did expect the worst.  Maybe some tears shed, tons of hair loss.  Nope, not this time.  Although there was no real lather, I could see that was hair was cleaned properly.  Especially as I rinsed it out (again eww but my hair was dirty) No more itching.  No dry scalp or flakes.  The one thing that made me feel like this was something I want to use more often was the fact that I could get my fingers through my hair without a problem.  Had I decided to try that with any of my old shampoos, a good chunk of my hair would come out in my hand.

Whether natural or relaxed, kinky or curly, I think this is an awesome shampoo.  Clean hair without it feeling stripped.  I'm thinking I'm going to start shampooing once a month because I really liked the way my hair felt yesterday.

My Verdict: 4/5 (it gets a 4 because this is my first foray into sulfate-free shampoos so as I explore them I may find that 5 star product and I don't wanna be so quick to consider this the BEST)

Product Review: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted (HETT)

It's wash day!! And of course I have another conditioner to try.

Now I was definitely on the fence because I know that HE Hello Hydration didn't impress me at all until I added honey and oil to it.  You can check out that review here.  Let's start with the smell.  It was a little too much for me as soon as I opened the bottle but it wasn't something that lingered after I washed my hair so I was okay with it.  As for washing, seriously! This ish right here...!  My fingers and comb slid right through.  I'm pretty sure my detangling time was reduced because of the slip, which equals cool points in my book.  I rinsed my hair out and it felt unbelievably soft.  I was convinced that I still had conditioner in my hair but nope.  I hopped out the shower and smiled because that was probably the most enjoyable washing experience I've had.  There was no harsh tugging and pulling, no dry hair after it was rinsed out and I managed to be in and out of the shower in less than 45 mins.

The biggest turn-off to being natural is how time consuming it can be, but my opinion may be changing.  If you use the right method best for your hair then it'll take barely anytime at all.  Now I may be singing a different tune when my hair grows out but I'll deal with that when it comes.

It's great that I don't have to add anything to improve it because it works so well on its own.  Now if only I could find a bigger bottle because I'm gonna go through a lot of it now that it's my new top cowash conditioner.

My verdict: 5/5

I'm probably gonna boost the Suave Almond and Shea Butter conditioner I tried the other day by adding honey and olive oil and use that as a deep conditioner since I don't wanna use the Miss Jessie's all the time and the SM Masque as a DC was a flop.

Product Review: Suave Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner

This is the second product I needed to review after my Target visit.  Throughout my transition I heard such good things about Suave conditioners; how well it moisturized and how cheap it was.  Yes and yes!  Especially the cheap part.  I absolutely want something that works but I run through conditioners pretty quickly because I pile it on while co-washing so I don't wanna shell out $15 or more for something that will be finished in 3 weeks. This cost me maybe $2.50.

The first thing I'll comment on is the smell... There barely is one.  Now for the ladies who can't stand a strong smelling product, this is for you.  I had used my Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback so my hair just smells like bubble gum.  I didn't have to deal with 2 competing scents which is good.

Now, how does it work: The consistency is a lot thinner than I would have thought but the slip is meh.  I had no problems detangling my hair except in the dreaded crown area.  After stepping out the shower and continuing to throw in my leave-in, oils, and what not, the fro still felt decent but i couldn't see the definition that I usually see after stepping out of the shower.  Loss of cool points.

It's supposed to be cheaper alternative to Aveda Dry Remedy (which was suggested to be for my dry hair but the price turned me off) but I haven't tried that yet so I don't know how it works in comparison.

I gotta say... I like it, I don't love it, it may not be a staple but it is something I know will work if all else fails.

My verdict: 2/5

Product Review: Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment

Time for another review.  Recently I was lucky enough to win a contest hosted by Danielle, the Style and Beauty Doctor.  The prize was a regular size jar of Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment.  I couldn't have been happier.  I've always wanted to try these products because I hear mostly bad things about them so I wanted to judge for myself.  Usually I tend to hear that their products contain mineral oil so they shouldn't be so pricey.  If you do not know, mineral oil is a byproduct of petroleum and many attribute it to clogging pores, therefore making it pretty unhealthy for hair.  It seems to me that mineral oil is a no-no in the natural hair community.  But there are some women who use it and have no problems with it clogging, weighing hair down or leading to build-up.
While I am "natural" I do not believe that all the products I use need to "natural" themselves although many of them are.  Whatever works best for my hair is what I use.  I'm open to trying different things, but that's a whole other post.
The biggest reason I had not tried any of Miss Jessie's products is the price.  I just can't bring myself to pay around $50 for a hair product.
Here's their claim: "Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback treatment is the essential treatment for growing out naturally curly, kinky, and wavy hair. Healthy growth and length is what most curlies covet. Miss Jessie's can assist you in this process. An elongated curl has more bounce, is more manageable, and is less prone to frizz. Be super sweet to your curls* Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback treatment is a decadent softening treatment which ensures that your curls reach long luxurious length. This rich treatment full of shea butter and centella extract is a growth stimulant that promotes long healthy curls. Your hair is going to love you for this!"


I applied to damp hair in sections and combed through with a wide tooth comb, which I normal don't do until I'm in the shower.  But hey, for the sake of experimentation, I did.  My comb slid thru my hair easily.  I then proceeded throw on my plastic cap and sit under a dryer for 45 mins, which is what I normally do if I chose not apply it overnight.  After time was up I removed the cap- NO SHRINKAGE!  When I DC I tend to remove the cap and see that my hair shrunk to about 1/3 of its stretched length.  Not this time around.  I have to admit.  I was impressed but the true test: How does it hold up after rinsing?  No shrinkage and manageable hair as promised. I can't really say much about the growth stimulant since it was my first time but if I notice any changes as I continue to use it, I'll let you know.
Another Miss Jessie's complaint is usually the scent.  SST smells like that bubble gum antibiotic I used to have to take as a kid.  Can't complain about that, I used to sneak in the fridge when I was young and drink it for fun. So if you're not into a smell like that you may be turned off because it lingers in your hair even after it's rinsed.
I have to say I was expecting the worst but I really like this product and can't wait to try another of their products. The label says it's a weekly deep treatment but I'm gonna do every other week because I'm being a cheapie, lol.  The jar says, "The best darn deep treatments, period" The best? Ehh too soon to say, but pretty darn good in my opinion.
My Verdict: 5/5

Another One to Add to the Main Drawer

As you may have read, I have drawers full of hair products.  Only the ones I like make it to the "main drawer." I love S-Curl Activator/Moisturizer so it has graduated from the secondary drawer to the head of the class.  I don't get the greasy feeling (build-up) that I used to from using Shealoe and SM Milk when retwisting my hair.  And the softness... Amazing!  I'm definitely not gonna stop using my Shea Moisture and shealoe combo but I'm gonna adjust my regimen slightly.  I'll use my SM Smoothie and shealoe after washing my hair but for the following nights, I'm gonna switch to S-Curl.  Many ladies use their own mix of water and glycerin and I'm assuming they have the same results but I have this bottle and it's getting the job done so I won't abandon it until I have the itch to try something new.  I wanted to make sure I gave it a few days before I made an assessment because that first day could've been a fluke. NOPE, not the case.  The only issue I have with this is that there's no hold, but that seems to be my problem with everything.  I need to start exploring different gels since that seems to be the only way my hair can hold a style without inflating due to humidity.  But until I buy some, I think my twists will be smaller so that I get more definition out of them.

Anyone that feels like they suffer from dryness due to the summer sun and humidity, especially coarser hair types, give it a try.

After a long, hazy, humid but amazing weekend in Brooklyn, I didn't suffer the dryness that I usually do.  So what the style didn't hold!

Something New

So last night right before I headed to bed I started retwisting my hair like I usually do.  But instead of reaching for my SM Curl and Style Milk,  I went to my second drawer of hair products (Yep, I have 2 drawers full of hair stuff, I went a little wild while transitioning but what can I say, I was EXCITED)  I rummaged around for a little and grabbed my bottle of S-Curl.  Now you may be thinking, jheri curl juice? Why? There are a lot of women especially with my hair type that claim that this moisturizer seems to work best for them.  A lot of it has to do with the glycerin in the product.  You may not know but glycerin is a humectant, a product that promotes moisture retention.  It draws moisture from its surroundings (the air) and almost adheres to your hair.  Usually glycerin works best in the spring/summer months and not winter because it will suck the moisture out of your hair since there isn’t much in the colder air.

Now I grabbed large sections of hair, sprayed a little on each, finger combed it through and retwisted.  Woke up this morning and felt my hair. SOFT!! Here comes the real test.  How does it feel after it’s untwisted & how does it hold up throughout the day?  I’ll do a quick pic post a little later to show the results.  Have a wonderful Friday everyone!!

There's Nothing Wrong with Cheap

The other day I couldn't decide which conditioner I wanted to use for my cowash.  It was between Trader Joe's Nourish conditioner and Giovanni Smooth as Silk conditioner.  So I turned the bottles over and read the ingredients, only to find out that they're just about IDENTICAL. Now as much time as I spend on natural hair blogs, I don't know why I haven't come across that discovery.

Here's the list: Water, Rosemary Oil, Valencia Orange Citrus, Mango, Lemongrass, Ginko Biloba, Echinacea, Willow Bark, Sea Kelp, Chamomile, Soy Protein, Lavender, Grapefruit... there are a few more from each but that's where they differ.  Giovanni has glycerin, TJ's doesn't.  TJ's has Vitamin E, Giovanni doesn't.

Now since they're basically the same, the should work the same right? Wrong.  My hair does not seem to like Giovanni.  I ended up choosing Smooth as Silk to cowash with and I was mad I did.  The bottle design is the worst so I struggled trying to get this super thick conditioner out of it.  I do like the fact that it's thick but other than that I'm not impressed because detangling was still somewhat difficult.  My hair felt ehh afterwards but I know it can and absolutely has, felt better.  The TJ's Nourish however, makes detangling a breeze and it's so much cheaper. Nourish runs about $3 while Giovanni was $8.  The bottle doesn't give me problems.  And my hair feels soft.  There's nothing like a reasonably priced product that works well. I'm thinking I'm gonna mix the two of them together since I'm about halfway through each of them and see how that works out.  Maybe I'll try a Giovanni product again but right now I'm not in a hurry because my experiences with them.  (I had tried the direct leave-in a while back and immediately returned it because my hair felt brittle and crunchy, never a good look)

My Verdict for Giovanni Smooth as Silk: 2/5

My Verdict for Trader Joe's Nourish Spa Conditioner: 4/5

Product Review: IC Fantasia Olive Oil Styling Gel

From researching natural hair for so long, I’ve learned that my hair type (4a/b/c) usually does better in “stretched” styles such as twists, twist outs, braids, and braid outs.  So my first style after my BC was a twist out.  I knew that just using a moisturizer wouldn’t hold the style so I decided to try out the jar of IC Fantasia Olive Oil Styling Gel that I bought when I first started installing kinky twists back in August 2009.

The process went like this:  I applied my Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Style Milk to wet hair (not soaking wet but not damp).  Then parted medium sized sections of my hair with my fingers. I find it makes it easier to cover the parts later on rather than using a comb to make deep parts.  The more visible the part, the more manipulation it takes to cover it up when the twists are undone.  Too much manipulation can easily lead to frizz and less defined twist outs.  Before twisting, I applied a dab of gel to the sections and twisted to the end.  That’s about it.  Just repeated until my entire head was done, which took forever.  I’m starting to agree with the BF and accept the fact that I have a big head because SHEESH, my arms sure did get a workout.

So the next morning I removed my scarf and made sure my hair was completely dry before unraveling them.  I rubbed my hands in coconut oil and carefully took each twist apart.  So far, so good.  I styled it to a point where I was satisfied and ran over to show my mom because she was working the day before and didn’t know I chopped my hair off.  During my transition, my mom wasn’t against me doing this but she wasn’t exactly a fan either.  I showed her and she liked it! Well I think she did, “It doesn’t look bad,” were her words “Except what’s all that white stuff in your hair”…. THE GEL!!  It looked like a bad case of dandruff. The twist out came out fine minus the scab hair that needs to go but the white flaked ruined it I know some naturals have had success with using gel but it’s not for me.  Oh well… On to the next one: 100% pure aloe vera gel.

My Verdict: 0/5

I don’t want to just toss the other half of the jar away so I’m waiting for an NY natural meet up to swap it.  Maybe someone else will have better luck with it.

Just not that bold yet

I’m weak… The twists are back. In a previous post, I debated going for the BC this week especially since the twists were coming out. Well I washed my hair and learned two things from the process:

1. That HEHH concoction (HE Hello Hydration, olive oil, & honey) I threw together… AMAZING! Soft & manageable, couldn’t keep my fingers out of my hair. For now, I’ve found a new deep conditioner until the PJ in me sees something else on the shelves. I’m on shopping time-out til May so I’m really not allowed to buy anything unless it’s a necessity. Trust, I have enough clothes, shoes & hair products to last until then.

So as a Co-wash: 4/5… it’s cheap and works wonders, there’s not much more that I could ask for

2. Shrinkage is a beast! I dunno how else to say it really… To see my hair stretched is awesome. It’s nice to see how much it’s grown out since I started my transition but without stretching it looks like I’m maybe 3 months post relaxer. I’m not brave enough to sport a TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro) so my styles are probably gonna be twist(out)s/braid(out)s until the length of my shrinkage is something I can live with. It was too short for me to be comfortable with, so I’m back to my May countdown.

Here’s a pic of it stretched, I forgot to take one right after washing so you can see the difference but it’s approx a third of the length.

Product Review: Herbal Essences’ Herbal Hydration (HEHH)

The back of the bottle says: “let me soak it to you. with a fusion of orchid & coconut milk. i'm deliciously hydrating. give your hair a drink. i say you can never get too much of a good thing. so say hello to a deep dousing of lush hydration with my rich formula fused with orchids & coconut milk. drink up and replenish your hair's much needed moisture. it's time to be reunited with manageable, silky, smooth hair.”

Again, one of those products that is a HG (Holy Grail) item for many natural girls. I read so much about slip and how moisturizing it is so it sparked my interest. I also like to try products that are widely available. I would like to be able to go to Target and be able to pick it up. I'm OBSESSED with Target. Since it’s my second home and it was on sale (I am a recessionista, of course) I decided to pick up a bottle. I tried it out a few times as a co-wash and to be honest, ehhh I’ve used better. Plus HE Long Term Relationship leave-in was so good to me. Because of all the hype I wanted it to work so I tried it again and again- still ehhh. Now I am not one to throw money away so I tossed the bottle into my little product drawer (I’m happy all the stuff I buy has managed to stay in one drawer and not take more over.) The twist take-out is approaching which means I’m in need of a good great deep conditioning. Here’s where this half empty bottle of HEHH comes in. Lots of girls have turned an “Ehhh” conditioner into an amazing one by adding some oils, honey, egg, mayo, yogurt, baking soda even. I’m waiting til I BC before I try the baking soda & conditioner method. I decided to grab some olive oil and honey out of the kitchen and mix it, no exact measurement. Cross your fingers.

As a co-wash: 2/5

As a deep conditioner: ???

 

Product Review: Safi’s Avocado Shea Hair Butter

The Description:

-very light and subtle product that can be used on natural hair to style and moisturize.
-can be used to hydrate parched curls and add shine to any style.

My Verdict: 5/5

I got a request on twitter from @Safi_HairCare to follow me and I was a little skeptical because I didn’t know who it was or what they were possibly trying to sell me lol. I’m so happy I accepted or I might have been pulling my hair out right about now. In "Here's my story", I mentioned that I thought about slapping some creamy crack back on my hair simply because I knew what products my hair wanted and needed. My natural hair is nothing like my relaxed hair. Lemme say that again my natural hair is NOTHING like my relaxed hair. Coconut oil works just fine for my relaxed hair but my natural hair is dry and needs something heavier to keep it moisturized. Here’s where Safi’s Avocado Shea Hair Butter (ASHB) comes in. I found her Etsy page via twitter and decided to give her product a try because honestly I’m too lazy to attempt to whip something up myself. When I received it in the mail, I smiled because it smelled so good through the mail packaging.  It passed the first test, "How does it smell?" with flying colors.

It’s made of all natural ingredients like Avocado & Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Gel. My hair couldn’t be happier. It found curls that I didn’t think I had. I don’t know if it’s the combination of my Cantu as a leave in and ASHB as a sealant but my hair is much softer, not greasy or waxy, and has a bounce to it. I can pull a curl and it springs back lol (I do have a few on my 4a/b head.) It's heavier than just using an oil without weighing my hair down.  Plus it smells amazing. I definitely caught myself smelling my hair while I was on line at the bank the other day (I hate how long my bank’s lines are by the way & how the tellers will carry on a conversation with their coworkers like I don’t have things to do… GRRR) I can go an entire day without having to apply anything else to it. Back when I was just using coconut and olive oil, I walked around with a small jar of coconut oil in my bag just in case but I know when I walk out the door after applying my ASHB, I’m set for the day. I got the 4oz jar which sells for $10 but trust this is well spent. This will easily last me 4-6 months maybe more. I do feel a little bad that I’m using it on my twists but my hair will thank me for it when I take them out later. This is definitely a HG product and I’m happy that I found one so early on in my journey.