First Impressions: TreSemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner with Aloe Vera and Avocado

I finally bought this condish after hearing all the raves about it on the hair boards. This product is the holy grail for a lot of ladies--so it must be good right? Well, after using this product two different ways I have to say that I am underwhelmed. I really expected to be wowed by this product and unfortunately, that was not the case.



Price: ~ $5.00+tax for 25 fl oz


Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Fragrance (Parfum), Lauroyl Lysine, Caprylyl Glycol, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Aspartic Acid, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil**, Citric Acid, Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice**

Their Claims: "TRESemme is dedicated to creating hair care and styling products that are salon quality without the salon price. This TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner with Aloe Vera & Avocado is designed to provide silicone-free conditioning to keep your hair from being weighed down. With USDA-certified organic extracts, this Conditioner is designed to nourish your hair. It contains ingredients such as aloe vera, sweet orange and avocado. Use this Conditioner each time you wash your hair to keep your hair soft and moisturized."

I tried to like this product yall, I really did. I really wanted to like it. I first tried this condish as a co-wash since many ladies use this product for that purpose. I got in the shower and put the condish on my hair section by section. I then placed a plastic cap on my head for the duration of my shower session. When I rinsed the conditioner out, my hair felt soft enough I guess...but not the 'OMG!! THAS' SOFT!' I was expecting. And it definitely didn't have the slip that folks rave about. It got the job done as a co-wash but I was left wanting more.


Not wanting to give up on this condish just yet, I then tried this conditioner as a pre-poo in combination with Kemi Oyl..again a similar result. I applied my pre-po to my hair section by section. Once I was finished, I placed a plastic cap on my head and sat under a heat cap for 30min. Once I rinsed the pre-poo out, my hair felt 'aight' but nothing earth shattering. My hair felt minimally prepared for what I was about to do to it...and that was a problem. Overall, this product was a big disappointment for me.


Appearance wise, the conditioner is pretty thick (which is what I liked about the product) and it isn't strongly scented. Another thing I like about this product is that it is silicone free. I like for my co-wasy and pre-poo products to be silicone free so that I know that my hair is benefitting from the treatments and that my hair isn't showing me some silicone-y deception. That's not cool. It's also not cool that isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is in this product. That's probably why my hair didn't respond so great to it--my hair knows a drying product when it feels it.


Bottom Line: For my hair, this product was just 'eh.' It simply didn't provide the earth shattering moisture that I expected it to provide--especially since it is cone-free. I will use up what I have now but I highly doubt that I will purchase this product again.

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!

First Impressions: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deeeeep Conditioner

As you guys know, I love a good (hair) bargain. If I can get my hair into its best condition without putting a significant dent in my pocketbook, I AM ALL FOR IT!! I also like finding great products at local stores so that I am not forced to order products online or pay un-natural amounts of money for 16oz of conditioner. So that's where this review comes in. I have a drugstore find that performs well and costs pennies: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deeeeep Conditioner.





Price: $2.97+tax for 8oz ( I purchased mine from Walmart but you can get yours at CVS, Walgreens, Target, Rite Aid, etc.)

Ingredients: Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Dimethicone, Glutamic Acid, Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol, EDTA, Melaluece Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract (Balm Mint Extract), Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

Their Claims: Super deep conditioning for a seriously simple fix to dry, damaged hair. It's your own little wonder for any wrongdoing done to your 'do. The Moist collection gives dry hair much-needed moisture so you'll say hello to a silky soft, manageable mane.

I used this product after I washed my hair with a sulfate free shampoo. Even though the directions say to leave this conditioner on for 1-3 minutes, I treated this deep conditioner the same way that I treat any other deep conditioner: I applied it to my hair, covered my hair with a plastic cap, and sat under a heat cap for an hour. Once the hour was up, I rinsed the conditioner out and proceeded from there.

I have to say that Aussie Moist 3 Minute Miracle left my hair with pretty good slip. I was able to detangle my hair with relative ease and my hair felt soft after it dried. I was very impressed by the performance of this product for it to cost so little.

In terms of appearance and scent, Aussie 3 Minute Miracle is pretty thick and white in color. It is scented similar to other the scent of other Aussie products but I didn't find it to be particularly overwhelming. The only issue I see with this product is that it contains -cones. Although my hair does pretty good with -cones, I know that there are readers out there who simply who do not include them in their regimen. If your hair is not a lover of -cones, then you may want to pass on this product.


Bottom Line: It is a solid product if you are in need of a good deep conditioner but find yourself strapped for cash. It does have a number of -cones so if you are sensitive to these ingredients or don't include these ingredients in you regimen, you may want to pass. Even though the product is cheap, you may find yourself going through a bottle rather quickly if your hair drinks conditioner like my hair does. That price can add up over time. Nonetheless, I think this product is worth a try!

First Impressions: Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner

Today I had a little extra money to spend and I decided to take a trip to LeVia's Hair and Body Essentials, a natural hair care store that just opened up here in Birmingham. During my trip, I picked up 2 things: Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner and Darcy Botanicals Transitioning Creme (no, I'm not transitioning. I just thought it may be a good product for my 13 weeks post hair). I always love a good DC, so I'm always on the hunt for one. I admit it. DCs are my (product) weakness. Lately, I have been into products that are geared toward natural haired ladies. As I have mentioned repeatedly, my hair is still pretty textured (even though I'm relaxed) and craves moisture. It just so happens that a lot of products geared towards naturals have moisture as their hook. That sounds like a match made in heaven for my hair!!

So lets get to the nitty gritty about this deep conditioner!

Price: $14.99 + tax ($10.99 on the Mixed Chicks website) for 8oz

Their claim: Nourish, detangle, and restore curly, tightly curled or straight hair with MIXED CHICKS exclusive conditioning blend which penetrates and reconstructs damaged areas, transforming style-stubborn-locks into resilient, easy to maintain tresses.

Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Octamethylcylotetraxiloxane, Isopropyl Alcohol, Safflower Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate and C14-18 Perfluoroalkyethyl Thiohydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride and Benzoic Acid and Glycereth - 2 Cocoate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance

Ok. Where do I start with this review? Let's start with the good: I wound up washing my hair this evening with my beloved Elasta QP. I then applied this DC to my hair. I loved how thick and creamy this product is. I also liked the fact that I didn't have to slather my hair in conditioner. A little really goes a long way with this product. I DC'ed (with heat) for about 45 minutes. When I washed the DC out, my hair felt so soft and my Jilbere comb just glided through my hair. Detangling was a breeze!


Now for the bad.....

This DC is extremely scented. Powerfully scented. Oh sweet Jesus is it scented! It has a perfume-y scent that I swear I've smelled before but I can't quite put my finger on it. I've never been particularly sensitive to scents but this DC wound up giving me a massive headache. No es bueno. It felt like my eyeballs were trying to escape through my eye sockets that's how bad it was. Fortunately, the headache went away as soon as I washed it out.

I also have a problem with the price. Paying around $15 for 8oz is not a deal in my book. Especially since I have a lot of hair and no matter how you slice it, I'm gonna use a lot of conditioner. I just think paying $15 for 1, maybe 2 uses isn't worth it especially when I can get a TUB of Silicon Mix for $3 more.


Bottom Line: Mixed Chicks DC does what it says. It provides moisture and it makes detangling easier. However, no product should be so strongly scented that it gives you a headache-a massive one at that. I don't care how good it may be. I also think that $15 for 8oz is just too much. I can find (and have) conditioners (that have more product) that give the same results as Mixed Chicks for way less money. Ultimately, I will finish up the DC but I will not repurchase. The scent and the cost were definite deal breakers for me.

Return to My Beloved: Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner

Happy Hump Day!


The mercury is rising here in Alabama (90 degree weather anyone?) and um....I don't feel like going through the motions of straightening my hair. I just really don't feel like it. So the way I see it, this summer is about to be a huge break from heat for my hair. All right, enough with this rambling.

I've started co-washing again (and right on time too since I plan on getting back on a workout schedule sometime this month) and after months and months of not using it, I used my HE Hello Hydration conditioner. I love everything about this conditioner from its smell to the way it moisturizes my hair (and my hair is a serious moisture junkie). I have no clue why I abandoned it to use that Aussie Moist stuff. It just doesn't compare. <3

I just wanted to share my love for this product with you guys. I guess that's the good thing about staple products. You can stray and try new/different products but you can always come back to what works...and this works! :)

I'm Going Heat-Free

....for 2 weeks. What did you think I was gonna give it up completely? LOL
This winter has been a huge learning experience for me. My hair has been a little on the dry side this winter and I have been at my wits end trying to figure out how to remedy it. I've been buying moisturizer after moisturizer after moisturizer to no avail. My hair wasn't feeling completely, 100%, undoubtedly moisturized. A few days ago, I figured out why my hair has been dry. I stopped using my staple deep conditioners: Aubrey Organics White Camellia and Aubrey Organics GPB. Instead, I had been primarily using ORS Replenishing (which I love and will do if I don't have my GPB) and Mizani Moisturefuse (I have huge tub of this that I am trying to finish). I used the ORS and the Mizani during the summer with no ill effects. However, I am finding that during the winter, that combination is HELL for my hair. So, yesterday, I drove to the Whole Foods on Highway 280 and picked up my loves. I DCed with it last night and.....my hair is back to normal! It feels like it is moisturized! That is the feeling I have been searching for all winter long! :)
I say at that to say when you find your staples, stick with them.

Moving on to my next point....about the heat and everything. I'm just gonna bun for the next 2 weeks. If I bun longer than that so be it. I'm just tired of straightening every week. It's starting to feel like a chore so that tells me I need a break from it. So, for now I will be washing, DCing, putting my hair in a bun and letting it air dry. I guess I can call it a no-heat challenge but really I'm just being lazy.

Anyway, that's it for today. Happy Sunday everyone!

First Impressions: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Deep Treatment Masque

So I'm home for the holidays and I have A LOT of free time on my hands (and I do mean a lot!). As a result, I've been really into my hair because I don't have anything better to do. LOL

Last night, I tried a new product Shea Moisture Raw Shea Deep Treatment Masque. If you don't already know, the Shea Moisture line can be found in Target. Although the majority of the line is targeted towards the natural ladies (every other product talked about 'defining curls' and since I am relaxed, I figured that those products were not for me), I wanted to give this moisturizing DC a shot. Wintertime is really a time to up the moisture game and I wanted to see if this condish met the goal.

Price: $9.99+tax

Ingredients: deionized water, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), argan oil, cetyl esters, sea kelp extract, panthenol (vitamin b-5), ammonium salt, essential oil blend, avocado oil, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower and lonicera japonica (japanese honeysuckle) flower extract, tocopherol (vitamin e), hyssopus officinalis extract, salvia officinalis (sage) leaf and equisetum arvense extract, soybean oil, daucus carota sativa (carrot) seed oil.



Just looking at the ingredient list, you can't go wrong! It contains all the good stuff. It also does not contain any of the bad stuff--mineral oil, parabens, etc.) When I opened the product, it had a very thick consistency...very thick. It also has a very sweet smell....kind of like cake batter.

After washing my hair, I coated my hair with the condish, placed a shower cap on, and DCed using my heat cap for 40min. When I rinsed the condish out, my hair felt....a'ight (yes a'ight lol). Now, I will say that when it comes to moisturizing my hair, this DC met all expectations. My hair felt very moisturized. However, I am accustomed to using DCs that have incredible slip and sadly, this DC did not have the slip I am used to. I had to follow up with Silicon Mix just to get some slip!

Bottom Line: Will I repurchase? Maybe----only if I don't have any of my staples nearby. Although I left my hair wonderfully moisturized, you really don't get a lot of product for the price and it doesn't have a good amount of slip. If you must use it, I suggest following up with a DC that offers a good amount of slippage.

Creme of Nature Argan Oil Intensive Conditioning Treatment: A Review

Ingredients: Aqua (Water) (Eau), Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride , Polyquaternium-32, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil) (Huile Minerale), Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Honey (Mel) (Miel), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Panthenol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Lanolin Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Polyquaternium-10, Amodimethicone, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch , Isostearyl Ethylimidazolinium Ethosulfate, Parfum (Fragrance), Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Phenoxyethanol

It's raining outside and I figure what better time than now to try out this new conditioner from Creme of Nature.


I have to admit, I have been eyeballing this line for a while now. However, ever since Creme of Nature added sulfates to my former holy grail shampoo, they have gotten nothing but the side eye from me. Anyway, I noticed these packets in Walmart. They run about $1.50/pack. Under $2! If you're on a budget like myself, that is definitely not a bad price! I picked up 3 packets.

First impression: omg the scent!! It smells pretty good to me. However, for those of you who are sensitive to scents, you may want to steer clear of this conditioner b/c the scent is STRONG! I can still smell it on my hands, that's how strong it is.

Consistency wise, this conditioner is very thick and creamy, which is a plus for my strands. I can definitely see how 1 pack of this stuff can be enough for most people.

Post deep condition: Although the instructions say to DC for 10-15min, I almost always DC for 45min-1hr under a heat cap....that's just the way I have always DCed. Anyway, the condish rinsed out pretty easily. I didn't need to go back and wash out any residual conditioner. That's where the good stuff about this conditioner ended for me. My hair felt dry! I have never in my life used a DC where my hair felt dry afterwards. Fortunately, my hair was easy to comb through and didn't tangle.

Bottom Line: I am not impressed. With all the benefits I keep hearing about argan oil, I thought this condish would have done something beneficial to my hair. Maybe the ingredient listing should have been my warning but this conditioner hasn't done anything for my hair. Thankfully, I only got a packet worth instead of an entire bottle. Well...back to my Mizani and ORS I go b/c I am definitely not purchasing this again!

Back To My PJ-i-ness...

...or is it PJism?

Anywho...

Last Saturday, Imade the critical mistake of going the the beauty supply store with my friend. Let me start off by saying that this store is huge (it's Ensley Beauty Supply for all you B'ham natives) so there are products everywhere! It was so hard to contain myself! I have been itching to try new products all summer and now that my hair is out...I'M GOING FULL STEAM BABY! (lol...I'm such a nerd).

One of the new products I picked up is a leave in conditioner by Mizani. Let me preface this by saying that I am a fan of Mizani products. I have come to find that for my hair, they provide the right amount of moisture. I have always wanted Mizani to come up with a leave in and now they have!



I believe I paid around $12 (this includes tax) for it and so far so good. It is really moisturizing. I'm not sure if it could replace my beloved Jane Carter Solution but it is definitely running a close second. Also, since I do have my staple products in place, I just think it's nice to have substitutions for them (just in case some evil corporation decides to change the formulations or discontinue products. This leave in may be a substitute. I just need a few more uses to be really sure.

I also tried a new moisturizing DC. I tried Mizani Moisturefuse and I'm torn.


I paid $7 for the 8oz bottle. But that isn't what I'm torn about. In terms of slip, this conditioner is amazing. My hair was feeling oh so silky smooth with this DC. However, it smells AWFUL! I just couldn't take the smell. It smelled kinda....medicinal to me. I'm not sure if that warrants me purchasing an entire tube of this stuff. SMH

I almost bought some shea butter as well (gotta prep for the cold winter months) but I had to restrain myself. Maybe I'll get it on my next visit to the BSS.!

Aussie Moist Conditioner: It's A'ight

For the past couple of months, I have had a liter of Aussie Moist Conditioner in my cabinet. I don't even remember why I bought it in the first place but there it was...taking up space in my cabinet. I do know that I paid $6+tax for it though. Hmmmm. Anyway, I've finally decided to use it and figure out if it is worth keeping (and possibly replacing my beloved HE Hello Hydration). So far I have used Aussie Moist Conditioner as a pre-poo and a co-wash.

As a pre-poo: It's pretty decent as a pre-poo (when used with heat). I just applied it to my hair without adding any extras (e.g.-coconut oil)and sat under a heat cap for 30min. It kept the sulfate shampoo I was using from stripping my hair. My hair felt moisturized but not over moisturized- which was awesome.

As a co-wash: I'm not too impressed with this conditioner as a co-wash. Don't get my wrong, my hair felt moisturized but it didn't feel moisturized enough. It just seemed like the conditioner fell short on that one. When I use HE Hello Hydration my hair feels OMG moisturized. I didn't get that feeling from this one.

The Verdict: Getting a liter for conditioner for $6 seems like a good deal.Aussie Moist is an awesome pre-poo on its own. However, as a co-wash, this conditioner falls short of being moisturizing enough for my hair. I will definitely use up the rest of this conditioner but I wouldn't purchase it again.

Feeling Like a "Natural" Woman (Product Review)

Well I finally tried 2 new natural products and thought I'd review them so you guys can know what I thought about it!

Aubrey Organics GPB (Glycogen Protein Balancing) Conditioner

Price: $10.29+tax (at Whole Foods)

Consistency/ Smell: Very thick and greenish in tint!! A little bit of this stuff definitely goes a long way! It smelled like something minty...at least that's what I thought.

In Action: I applied the conditioner to my hair right after I had washed it. I deep conditioned with it for about an hour. When I rinsed it out, my hair felt so soft but yet it felt like it was strong. This feeling remained even after my hair was dry!

Final Thoughts: I was skeptical about any other conditioner replacing my ORS Replenishing Conditioner. However, this conditioner has made my hair feel so good, so soft, and so strong. I never had that feeling before! I think this conditioner is my mild protein conditioner staple!

The Verdict: Loves it! If you haven't tried it, go pick some up today!

Giovanni Smooth as Silk Shampoo

Price: $7.97+tax (at Wal-Mart)

Consistency/Smell: The shampoo itself is white and not runny at all. The shampoo has a citrus-y smell to it which was absolutely delightful (but I like citrus smell).

In Action: This shampoo got my scalp pretty clean. However, even though it left most of my hair mositurized, some areas didn't feel moisturized enough. I found that this feeling goes away if you follow up the shampoo with a moisturizing deep conditioner.

Final Thoughts: I have been itching to try this shampoo since my hair absolutely adored the Smooth as Silk conditioner. It's a decent sulfate-free shampoo but I'm not sure I would make it my staple. I think there may be better shampoos out there. Another thing to keep in mind about this shampoo is that it is a protein shampoo. I think that if you use this shampoo enough, you may encounter setback city if you don't follow it up with a moisturizing deep conditioner.

The Verdict: It's a'ight. I wouldn't make it a staple.

Looks like I'm still on the hunt for the perfect sulfate free shampoo that can replace my Elasta QP Creme Conditioning shampoo.....

Making the Switch

For some reason, I've been evaluating the products that I use in my hair. I know that all the products I use work great for my hair but I feel like there may be something better. I have quite a feel natural products in my regimen: Giovanni Direct Leave In, Jane Carter Solution Wrap and Roll, Jane Carter Solution Revitializing Leave In*, and Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner. Let me tell you, when I use these products my hair feels AMAZING! Well that got me to thinking....maybe I should use more natural products in my regimen. Now, I know that my regimen can be completely natural because I relax. I get that. I just see that my hair responds better to natural products. So now, I have to find a new mild protein conditioner and a new sulfate free shampoo. I will be trying Aubrey Organics GPB and one of the shampoos by Giovanni (not sure which one yet). Of course I will keep you all posted on how that goes so....stay tuned!