First Impressions: Hairveda Whipped Creme Ends Hydration

Hey lovelies!! As of late, I have been all about maintaining my hair's moisture/protein balance. As a result, I have been on the hunt for a great moisturizer for my hair. My search led me to Hairveda Whipped Creme Ends Hydration. For those not familiar, Hairveda is a online company that has been around since 2007 and makes great Ayurvedic hair care products. Their products are also silicone, perservative, and paraben free, which is a plus for those seeking to avoid those ingredients in their hair care products. In the early days of my hair journey, I was a fan of their Sitrinillah Deep Conditioner. I swear that stuff definitely made my hair sing! In my opinion, Hairveda is definitely a solid hair care line.


With that said, let's get to the review:

Price: $8.00+$6.95 flat rate shipping for 9oz/ $15.20+$6.95 flat rate shipping for 18oz (both can be purchased at www.hairveda.com)

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis ( Castor Oil), Sweet Almond Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter),Ceteryl Alcohol, Steryl Alcohol, Sunflower Oil, Allantoin, Isopropryl Palmitate, Emulsifying wax.

Their Claims (per the website):
Creamy, good for types 3-4 hair. May require oil for sealing. Works well for baggying.
To get the most out of this product: use as a leave in, use with baggy method, use when styling or braiding.

Their Claims (per the bottle): " Got dry hair? Whipped Creme moisturizes and softens hair, especially dry ends. Great for a leave in and daily use. It's rich with water, shea butter,and castor oil which helps hair reach its potential."

I have primarily used Hairveda Whipped Creme Ends Hydration as a leave in and as a styling aid when I plait my hair to go underneath a wig. I have to say that Ends Hydration didn't particularly wow me as a detangler (yes, I tried to use it as a detangler lol). It didn't really detangle much. However, as a leave in? Man oh man. After using it, my hair felt moisturized and cool to the touch for DAYS!! To say that my hair loved it as a leave in would be an understatement. I'm not entirely surprised that my hair liked it because my hair loved the previous Hairveda product I used. I also use this product on the hair I leave out for my wig and again, my hair stayed nice and supple. A definite plus in my book. I have yet to use this product for baggying but I intend to do so once my hair is relaxed.

How Whipped Ends looks straight out of the bottle
In appearance, Ends Hydration is white and is very creamy. For ladies who may have coarser hair (like I do), you will absolutely love this. I think that finer haired ladies will have to take care not to use too much of Ends Hydration as it may weigh their hair down. Ends Hydration also has a yummy candy-like, sweet scent which I absolutely love. However, if you are sensitive to scents you may want to pass on this product. Overall, the appearance and the scent get a thumbs up from me.

The only drawback to this product ( the Hairveda line in general) is that shipping takes FOREVER! From placing the order to actually receiving the product will take at LEAST 2 weeks. I think that this lag in shipping is due to the fact that the owner makes each order by hand. So with this line you definitely have to plan for this. If Hairveda has any product in their line that is a staple for you, you need to either a) order multiple bottles at once so that you have that product in stock for awhile b) re-order your favorite product at least 3 weeks before you really, really need it or c) order a deluxe size (if available). Ordering a product a week before you need it is simply not an option with this line. One thing I did like about Hairveda is the handwritten 'thank you' from the owner on my receipt. I think it added a nice personal touch to my order and made me forget that I was chomping at the bit for weeks waiting to receive my order. :)

Additionally, Ends Hydration does contain glycerin and shea butter so if your hair is sensitive to either of these ingredients, steer clear.


Bottom Line: A great leave in and a great moisturizer. True to its name, this product is definitely creamy and smells great! Because this line tends to ship a little slower, you definitely have to plan your purchases well in advance so that you will have the product when you need it. However, the care that the owner puts into making a great product more than makes up for it. If you're feeling bold, definitely give this product a go!

(Hair) Spring Cleaning: Getting Rid of Products that You Aren't Going to Use

Happy Monday lovelies!

I hope you all are having a wonderful day so far. If you're like me, you probably want to go frolic in the wonderful weather outside. Anyway, this past weekend kicked off the start of my spring cleaning. In general, I like to keep my apartment clean but a good deep cleaning every now and again just makes you feel good about life.

But that is not what is post is about.

In my cleaning frenzy, I decided to chuck all the hair products have I haven't used and wasn't going to use. Yep. I couldn't sit and rationalize why I still had hoards of hair products sitting in my cabinet. I had to be really, really honest with myself and just get to removing products. The end result: I can see the bottom of my bathroom cabinet again and I have space to move things around! This has not happened since 2009--when I first moved into my apartment. Within the next week or so, I plan on doing another product purge. From here on out, I will only use the products that are currently in my regimen and use them until they are empty. Yessir.

With that said, I encourage all you PJ's to do a product purge of your own. Take a large trash bag, go into your bathroom, and look at all the products you have accumulated. Be honest with yourself. Ask if you really plan on using a certain product on your hair again? How did your hair react to it? If your hair hated it, that product has no place on your cabinet shelf. If you have NOT used a product within the past year, GET RID OF IT! What you choose to do with your products after you purge them is entirely up to you. You can just toss them completely, sell them, or even donate them to a women's shelter. Whatever you want to do is cool. The point is to free up space in your own bathroom and to really narrow down the products that are staples in your regimen (and are likely to be used). I know it's tough at first but when you see all that freed up space in your cabinet, you will be glad that you did.


I know this post isn't a hair styling post per say but I think it is something that is important to share. Sometimes, we get so caught up in hoarding products that we forget to GET RID OF THEM if they don't work. Getting rid of products that don't work is essential, in my opinion. If you don't see these products, you won't be compelled to 'give them one more try.' If you don't give these products 'one more try,' you won't potentially jack up your hair trying to use the product up. If you don't jack up your hair, you won't suffer a potential setback. See....it all works together lol. So within the next few weeks, take stock of your products and figure out what has to go!

Wash Day: April 15, 2013

Or the "How I Wash at 13 weeks post and beyond"

I know this wash day post is a little late this week...I simply wasn't in a posting mood at the beginning of this week. But now, I finally got myself together and am back to posting.

I've recently realized that it has been 13 weeks (well 14 weeks come Friday), since my last relaxer! I really hadn't paid attention to my last relaxer date but when I realized that my new growth had become more prominent, I had to figure out how many weeks post I was and when to schedule my next relaxer day. Since I am so far gone into this stretching thing, I realized that now is the time to cut down on the manipulation to my hair until my next relaxer day. In my own hair care journey, I have seen that decreasing the amount of manipulation to your hair during a stretch helps soooooo much in decreasing any breakage. Notice I said I decrease the manipulation, I don't eliminate it completely. Nowadays, all the manipulation to my hair occurs only on wash day. The rest of the week, I put my hair in Celie plaits, pin them down, and wig it up. I will continue to do this until the first week in May-when I will get my next relaxer.

This wash day, I washed my hair with Shea Moisture Moisture Retention shampoo. I then DCed with Aubrey Organics GPB since I had used a moisturizing DC on my last wash day. Re-incoporating a protein DC into my reggie has been the best thing I could have done for my hair. Seriously. My hair has a certain strength to it that has been missing for awhile. Anyway, following the DC, I detangled my hair with my bone comb and moisturized my hair with Hairveda Whipped Ends. My hair absolutely LOVES this stuff (and you should see a review here soon)! I finished up by making six plaits, leaving out a small section to blend with my half wig, and pinning them down as flat as I can. I tied my hair up and was done with it.

How I keep my hair under a wig cap. No cornrowing..I'm not very good at it and I'm lazy. I also leave out a small braided section to blend into my half wig

My detangling bone comb. I love being able to comb my hair without my ends popping off.
In the morning, I woke up and put on my Outre Tammy half wig (I ordered a new one since that I had was about 2 yrs old....yeah). I absolutely love it. The week before, I wore Model Model Super Mingo- which is another great wig (check it out below!). I will be continuing this wig thing until my next relaxer.

First Impressions: Taliah Waajid The Great Detangler

Lately I have been looking for a more cost effective leave in alternative to my beloved Kinky Curly Knot Today. I love the stuff but my hair just DRINKS the stuff and having to constantly restock my bottles at 12 bucks a pop is not where it's at. So, it is time for me to find products that are cheaper yet effective at moisturizing my hair.

Enter Taliah Waajid The Great Detangler.

Price: $6.99+tax for 8oz (I purchased my bottle at Target. However, you can get yours are Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Walmart)

Ingredients: Deionized Water , Vitamin E , Olive Oil , Silk Protein , Cocoa Butter Oil Extract Cetrimonium Bromide , Ceteareth 20 , Vegetable Glycerin , Mineral Oil , Glycerol , D&C Yellow #5 , Fragrance , DMDM Hydantoin , Detanglers , Balsam , Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis)

Their Claims: This product eliminates tangles on contact. Softens hair, defines curl pattern and stops breakage while combing. Rich with moisturizers, protein and conditioners, this product coats and protects hair while softening. For curly, coily, and wavy hair textures. Light formula, no build up.

I used this product immediately following a shampoo and DC session. I have to say: it is a great detangler! I am able to go through my final detangling session with relative ease, which is a plus in my book. I see no breakage and my hair is left feeling very soft (for the most part). It definitely lives up to its name as being 'The Great Detangler.'

In terms of moisturizing, I have to say that it is a decent moisturizer. My new growth and relaxed hair was left feeling very soft and moisturized. However, this softness didn't last for long. By mid-week I find myself giving my hair an extra shot of moisture when I use this product. I think it's a great moisturizer in the short term but if your aim is to not have to moisturize your hair until your next wash day, you may find yourself a tad disappointed.

The Great Detangler is a white, somewhat creamy leave in. It isn't as thick as Knot Today and teeters on the edge of having a watery consistency. In terms of smell, The Great Detangler has a scent that is similar to Taliah Waajid Curly Curl Cream: a mild citrus like scent. It doesn't particularly bother me but if you are sensitive to scents, you may want to pass on this product.

Focusing on the ingredients, I think it is great that this leave in has a balance of protein and moisture. If you have been following my latest posts, you know that I am rediscovering how important this balance is to hair care. For that reason this product gets major points from me. However, The Great Detangler also contains mineral oil and glycerin. If your hair does not respond well to these ingredients or if you are trying to avoid them, you should skip this product.

Bottom Line: The Great Detangler is a solid product that delivers on what it promises. I find it to be an effective detangler that imparts moisture-even if that moisture only lasts in the short term. This product appears to have a balance of protein and moisture that is always a plus but contains mineral oil and glycerin. If these ingredients agree with your hair, I say give this detangler a go!

Help! My Hair is Dry!: When Was the Last Time You Had a Protein Deep Conditioner?

As of late, I have been extremely focused on figuring out what kept me at full BSL all last year. The general conclusion is that I got really lax with my hair regimen. I mean, really, really lax. My regimen consisted of shampoo, a moisturizing DC, and a style whenever I felt like doing it. While this doesn't seem like it would be detrimental to my hair, it actually was. One thing I noticed while I was being all footloose and fancy free with my regimen was that my hair seemed drier. Despite the fact that my hair was constantly being bombarded with moisture, I began to notice that my hair would dry faster following a shampoo and DC session. Then, when my hair was dry, it would have a wiry feel too it. I thought that my hair wasn't holding onto moisture as it should and I quickly found out that this wasn't something that could be remedied with Porosity Control.

So what could the problem be?

A week or so ago, the answer hit me. It had been AGES since I last had a washing session were I used a protein DC. I really couldn't tell you the last time that happened. This past wash day, I followed my instincts, purchased a protein DC (Aubrey Organics GPB), and went to work. And that seemed to do the trick! My hair took awhile to dry completely (it was still damp on Monday...I washed my hair on Saturday) and my hair was able to hold onto the moisture I gave it. My hair hasn't felt this soft and cool to the touch in a very long time. I can't believe that my hair was acting a fool because it needed a meeting with a protein DC.

What does a protein DC do for your hair though?

In our hair journey, especially as a relaxed head, we are constantly told that we need to give our hair moisture, moisture, moisture. And for good reason. Moisture is simply required for a healthy head of hair. We all know that. But what about protein? Protein has an equal role in healthy hair. It is protein that gives our hair strength and structure. However, it is protein that allows our hair to hold on to the moisture that we give it (wild, right?). Yep, protein binds water molecules in our hair shaft, thereby allowing our hair to remain nice and supple. We lose a little protein with each hair wash, so it is important that we provide it back via protein DCs, protein leave in, or whatever protein related product that makes your hair sing. In my case, you can see that my sans protein approach wasn't doing my hair any favors. I was washing my hair, not replenishing the protein I was losing, and my hair couldn't retain moisture as effectively. It was a hard lesson to learn but boy, I am glad I learned it. It has spurred me to incorporate protein into my regimen as I once had. So now, I will protein DC every other week (alternating with moisture DCs) and on the weeks where I don't protein DC, I will use a protein leave in conditioner. That way my hair will get what it needs.

If you are experiencing dry hair that a round of clarifying or use of Porosity Control can't fix. Or if you are using every moisturizer underneath the sun and your hair still feels dry, check your regimen to determine the last time you used a protein anything. Your hair could be crying out for a good dose of protein.

Wash Day: March 30, 2013

...Or "The Wash Day Where My Hair Had a Much Needed Date With a Protein DC"

Happy Monday lovelies!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter. I know I did..even though I had to go into lab. Anyway,I was really looking forward to this past week's wash day. As I began to ponder all the things I haven't done since I became really really lax with my regimen, I realized that I have not DCed with a protein DC in AGES!! Seriously, I could tell you the last time I did a protein DC. I figured that a good protein DC would not only strengthen my hair but also help it hold onto moisture better. So, this past Saturday I trekked over to Whole Paycheck (Whole Foods) and got myself a bottle of Aubrey Organics GBP (my hair loves this stuff!). Later that evening, I washed my hair with Shea Moisture Moisture Retention shampoo and DCed with Aubrey Organics GBP for about an hour or so (I had got caught up watching The Ten Commandments lol). I tell you, when I rinsed that condish out my hair felt so soft and strong. My hair really needed that protein deep conditioner. I'm going to have to go back to alternating my moisture and protein deep conditioners every week like I used to do.

The stars of this wash day
After I rinsed the DC out, I detangled my hair using Taliah Waajid The Great Detangler and a bone comb. Let me tell you guys, if you haven't gotten a bone comb, you should get one! With that comb, the only hair that appeared my comb was shed hair. Not a broken hair in sight! I love that comb so much!!! Once I was finished, my put my hair in a high bun since I deemed that a high bun would look fantastic with my Easter dress.

My Easter hair (and outfit!)

At this point, I may stick with bunning my hair for a while and focus on keeping my ends moisturized and protected.I'm also thinking about going back to DCing 2x a week instead of 1. It just seems like so much work though. Either way, I hopethis will lead to some retention. I'm on track to relax in May so when I do my first length check for the year, we will all be able to see where I stand!

How was your wash day?