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!

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: Taliah Waajid Curly Curl Cream

Since I am on a braidout kick, I am on a mission to report to all of you which products to try so that you too can get a fantastic braidout. Today, I'm reviewing a product that you can use to give your braidouts great hold...and it's not a gel! I know that some of my readers are anti-gel, so I do my best to provide you guys with alternatives. Also, I'm still reviewing products you can pick up locally.

So let's get to the review shall we?

Price: $7.99+tax for 6 oz ( I got mine from Rite Aid but it can be purchased at Walgreens as well)

Ingredients: Deionized Water , PEG-75 Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii) , Sage Extract , DMDM Hydantoin , Vegetable Glycerin , Burdoc Protein , Sodium Polyacrylate , Ethylhexyl , Trideceth-6 Fragrance

Their Claims: Non-greasy herbal hair cream that revitalizes curls and eliminates frizz. Conditions and nourishes hair while adding shine and moisture. Holds hair and styles in place. Easily shampoos out with no build up. For curly, kinky, wavy, and coily hair textures,

I used this product to set my braidout on freshly washed and DC'ed hair. As I sat and watched the latest episode of RHOA, I sectioned my damp hair and placed a small amount of Shea Moisture Curl and Style Milk on my hair and followed up with a small amount of the Curly Curl cream. I then plaited my hair, placed perm rods on the end and sat underneath my hooded dryer for an hour and a half. The next morning, I removed my plaits and the results were AMAZING!! My hair was so so defined! I absolutely loved it! Check out the results!


I know right? Definition central! I was thoroughly impressed by Curly Curl cream. Best of all, there was no flaking or white cast left by this product after drying which is a plus.

Texture and appearance wise, Curly Curl Cream is a brownish color and pretty thick, like pudding (sorry. The texture really did remind me of vanilla Jello pudding). It also has a light citrus-esque scent which I found to be pretty pleasant. However, this may be an issue for folks with scent sensitivities. Another thing to keep in mind is that for the folks whose hair doesn't agree with shea butter and/or glycerin, steer clear of this product as it has both. Overall though, I would have to say that Curly Curl cream is a solid product.




Bottom Line: If you want an alternative to using gel for your braidouts, I would say that this product is a great one to try. It gives great hold and definition. However, if you don't like shea butter or glycerin, this would be a product to avoid.

First Impressions: ORS Lock and Twist Gel

Wow so this is the first 'First Impressions' review after a very long hiatus from doing them. I simply hadn't been trying a lot of products and you can't do a First Impressions on nothing so......yeah.

Anyway, as you guys know, I'm on a braidout kick. I am in the process of going through different products and trying to really figure out which ones give the best results. That's how I happened upon ORS Lock and Twist Gel. I am all about finding products that I can pick up locally and ORS is pretty much readily available.

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

Price: $4.29+tax for 16.25oz (I picked mine up at Walgreen's)

Ingredients: Water , Coconut Milk , Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil , PVP , Polyquaternium 37 , Propyl Paraben , Methyl Paraben , DMDM Hydantoin , Propylene Glycol , Fragrance , Sucrose

Their Claims: Natural hair care. Pre-mixed creme formula combines moisture & hold for locks and twists. Great hold, no flakes, super moist, and cruelty free products.

I used this product to rescue a busted braidout. I basically sectioned my hair, applied Shea Moisture Curl and Style Milk to my hair and then put ORS Lock and Twist Gel on and plaited my hair. I put a bonnet on my head, went to bed, and unraveled my plaits in the morning.

Let me just say: I love love LOVE the definition this product gives my braidouts. I have well defined waves and that's all I want out of a braidout. I also love the hold it gives. This gel gives a light hold and isn't flaky at all when it dries. While I have had great results on my dry hair, I would love to try this product on damp hair to see what results it yields.

Texture and appearance wise, this gel is pretty jiggly (like Jello), off white in color, and pretty thick. You definitely have to make sure that you don't go overboard with the application of it. In terms of smell, the gel smells like coconut-which makes sense since coconut milk is the second ingredient. If you are sensitive to smell or don't like the smell of coconut, you may not like this product.


While I love the results this product gives, I am concerned about the propyl paraben and methyl parabens in the product. In case you don't know, parabens are used as preservatives in many cosmetic/beauty products and have been linked to cancer (in particular, breast cancer). Even though the parabens are listed further down in the ingredient list, the fact that they are even there gives me pause.


Bottom Line: While I absolutely love the hold and definition I get with this product, the presence of parabens worry me. However, I think the product is great for braidouts and twistouts (especially on relaxed hair) , the price point is fantastic, and is overall a solid product. It's worth giving a shot if you aren't worried about parabens but if you are, it's best to keep on looking.

Elasta QP Glaze Redux: I Still Hate It

Image from: Elasta QP





Happy Thursday lovelies!

I hope you all have had a wonderful week so far. My week has been crazy busy and to say that I am tired would be an understatement. So while the posts have slowed down a bit, I haven't forgotten about you guys.

Anyway, as you guys know, I have quite a few products in my product graveyard. I'm slowing but surely getting rid of the excess products. One product taking up residence in the product graveyard is Elasta QP Glaze. I purchased Elasta QP Glaze when I started wearing wigs so that I could smooth down my edges. Allegedly, this stuff was supposed to be the bee's knees in taming those edges.

Yeah well that's a damn lie.


When I tell you that my hair absorbed that junk like it was water. Lawd. I only had that stuff on for a good 30 minutes before my edges puffed up again. Then the stuff had the nerve to look greasy after my hair soaked up whatever else was in it. And this happened repeatedly. So I stopped using it for months.


Fast forward to January of this year. I had just relaxed my hair and I was looking at that nearly full jar of Elasta QP Glaze, trying to figure out what to do with it it. I thought that maybe I had been unfair to Glaze. I mean after all, I was deep into a relaxer stretch when I used it. Maybe the Glaze will work better for the first few weeks after a relaxer. Let me give Glaze another shot.

That proved to be a waste of my time.

Even with one week post hair, Elasta QP Glaze failed at keeping my edges slicked back. Repeatedly. My first impression about this product was the right one and I don't intend to use it again.

So bottom line is: I hated Elasta QP Glaze before and I hate it now. Ain't no getting around it.

Girl, Have You Tried?: KeraCare Oil Sheen with Humidity Block

The Girl, Have You Tried? series of The Awkward Stage highlights products that I am currently loving right now. It's not a full review...it's just a brief blurb about a product that I have tried, currently use and love . :)



Another product I use in my quest to keep my hair straight post straightening (as you can see, since I have been straightening, all of my products center around it!). KeraCare Oil Sheen with Humidity Block is an oil sheen much like any other oil sheen. But the difference with this oil sheen and others is that this one keeps your hair from reverting! I spray this on my hair every morning (well...not directly on my hair. I typically make an oil sheen cloud and run my head through it) and head out the door. And it works! A few weeks ago, it was raining ridiculous amounts here and Birmingham and (get this!) my hair was still straight for days! The only drawback for this product is that the first ingredient is mineral oil. So if you are currently avoiding mineral oil and mineral oil based products (or -cones for that matter), this may not be the product for you. For me, this product ( in combination with other anti-humectants I use) makes the battle against frizz and reversion easily won!





Want to check it out? Purchase it at your local BSS (if they carry it) or your local Ulta



Have you tried it? Comment below and let me know what you think!

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque: Redux

As you guys remember ( or may not remember), I tried the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque...and wasn't particularly impressed by it.

I mean, as a deep conditioner, it did its job of moisturizing my hair but it left no slip! I pretty much felt -meh- about the product. Lately, however, I have been trying to get rid of products that I have stocked up in my bathroom ( I admit--I am a product junkie) and I realized that I have a tiny bit of this product to use up. On the label, the directions indicate you can use the product as a leave in moisturizer. So, I have been using it in that way for about a week or so. Let me say that I think I like this product more as a moisturizer and less as a DC. It leave my hair very soft and moisturized (something that I wasn't really expecting given my previous experience). So...ladies...I am somewhat eating my words. Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque may be so-so as a DC but it makes for a good moisturizer!

First Impressions: Qhemet Biologics Amla and Olive Heavy Cream

Happy Sunday lovelies!



As promised, I have my review of Qhemet Biologics Amla and Olive Heavy Cream. I have had it for about a week now and feel like I have tried it enough (and in a variety of ways) to give a complete review. So let's start with the basics:

Price: $5.50 (2oz)/ $16.50 (8oz)

Key Ingredients (per Qhemet Biologics website): Amla, Brahmi, African Aloe, MSM sulfur, Olive Oil, Glycerin, Castor Oil

Their Claims: A perfect all-in-one for moisturizing and softening afro's, coils, curls, pony puffs, two strand twists, braids, cornrows, fades, chemical and color processes, softening new growth and restoring softness and elasticity to dry brittle ends. Also helps weigh down kinks and coils.

Use as a:
Soothing and regenerative scalp butter
Post-shampoo conditioner
Overnight Deep Treatment
Moisturizing daily leave-in
Replenishing body butter
Evenly distribute a small to moderate amount through dry or slightly damp hair.


Let me just say, I absolutely love this moisturizer. LOVE IT!! I have been on a hunt for the perfect moisturizer since the start of my hair journey and I have finally found it! Qhemet Biologics AOHC keeps my hair moisturized for 3 days or so before I have to reapply again (I do apply more to my ends daily before I bun though). It definitely keeps my hair moisturized and although I prefer to use it on dry hair, it can be used on wet hair as a leave in (as a leave in, I find it to be ok....nothing earth shattering though. Hair feels moisturized enough when it dries).

This product is thick and creamy, with a light, pleasant smell. Also, a little definitely goes a long way. It is important to keep in mind that this product is oil based so using too much may weigh your hair down. For that reason ladies with a thinner hair texture should either pass on this particular product or just be aware and use as little as possible since this product may weigh the hair down.

In terms of ordering, I just want to point out that it takes about a week or so to receive your product since it is handmade. However, if you're itching to get it immediately, check out the Qhemet Biologics website (www.qhemetbiologics.com) to see if there is a local vendor near you that sells it! Another thing that I love is that you're able to purchase a sample size before you commit to a full size (which costs more). The sample size is very generous (it looks like I barely put a dent in it)so don't be afraid to try it!

Bottom Line: There are few products that I absolutely love hands down. This moisturizer is one of them! I fully intend to purchase the full size now that I have given this product a chance. My only regret is that I didn't try it out sooner!

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.

I Have My Life Back!!

Before you begin...I know it has been a looooooong time since I posted. Well, I had my dissertation proposal on the 15th of this month so I kinda had to fall off the face of the Earth. The good news is that I got admitted to PhD candidacy (go me!) and I'm back to posting! :D

So let's begin shall we?

I want to talk about 2 things I have been trying lately. The first is Queen Helene's Garlic Shampoo.

I don't know if I ever mentioned this but um....my hair sheds...a lot. It never really bothered me because I know that's what your hair is supposed to do but gee whiz I had a lot. I had heard about this shampoo before and when I spotted it at the BSS I had to pick it up and give it a shot. I paid about $6-$7 for it and so far....it's a'ight lol.

The plus about this shampoo is that it is unscented so you don't go walking around smelling like a big ol' ball of garlic. However, a drawback is that it has ammonium lauryl sulfate as the second ingredient so it made my hair feel stripped and I had to follow up with a sulfate free moisturizing shampoo. As far as shedding goes, I'm not gonna lie to y'all and say it stopped my shedding---because it didn't. I will say that my shedding has decreased a little bit following this first usage but time will tell how effective it is.


I've also been trying One N Only Argan Oil which I :love:!

I paid $12 for this at my local BSS and it has been one of the best hair finds for me. Now I will say the name is kind of misleading. One N Only Argan Oil is mainly chock full of 'cones and not just 100% oil and oil alone. However, this product is amazing! I have used it for blow drying and flat ironing and found that it makes for a pretty good heat protectant. A little goes a long way with this product and my hair never feels weighed down with this product. I've also used it for air drying and I found that it goes a great job of keeping the frizzies at bay. Really, there isn't enough that I can say about this product. I just know that I love it and it is definitely staying in the rotation!

My First Video (on YouTube)!

Hey everyone!

I just did a super duper quick review on the Goody Bun Spiral. I decided to make a video for it b/c any attempt at a picture review would've been a big fat fail!

Enjoy!

First Impressions: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

The other day I decided to try this shampoo on a whim. I have seen a lot of relaxed ladies on LHCF rave about how awesome this shampoo is and decided to give it a go. I have to admit that I was kinda skeptical about this shampoo because I wasn't too impressed with the deep conditioner from this line. Either way, I wanted to test this shampoo for myself.

I purchased this shampoo at my local Walgreens (it can also be purchased at Target) and it cost me $9.99+tax. for 12oz which places it on the expensive side compared to my staple Elasta QP Creme Conditioning Shampoo (I can get a huge bottle of Elasta QP for less than $9.00. Like most of the products in the Shea Moisture line, the ingredients are natural.

Ingredients: Deionized water, decyl glucoside (sugar beets), African Butryospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), aloe vera leaf juice, argan oil, panthenol (Vitamin B-5), rosemary extract, sea kelp extract, vitamin E, Lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower and Lonicera Japonica (Japanese honeysuckle) extract.

Claims: This shampoo claims to be gentle and will help to "soften, moisturize, and repair damaged, over processed hair."

My First Impressions

It seems to me that the products from this line (well, the products I've used thus far) have a characteristic cake batter scent. Consistency-wise, I would have to say it is no different than any other shampoo-not too watery and not too thick. My only complaint is that you kinda have to work to squeeze the product of the bottle. I think it would be great if you could distribute the product through a pump instead of a squeeze bottle but that is must my personal preference.

In Action

To be a natural shampoo, this 'poo lathers up quite nicely (unlike a certain shampoo by Carol's Daughter). I find that it rinses out easily too (I wasn't rinsing my hair out forever and a day just to get that stuff out like I have to do with Elasta QP). Now let me say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE this shampoo! Once I rinsed the shampoo out, my hair felt so soft and moisturized! I have to say that I was shocked because when I used other natural shampoos, my hair felt stripped as all get out (I'm looking at you Kinky Curly Come Clean and Giovanni Smooth as Silk). I couldn't believe it! My hair was so moisturized that I could have skipped my DC if I wanted to.

Bottom Line: I'm impressed! Although I'm going to have to use this shampoo a little bit more to get a definitive impression on the product, I generally know within the first use if a product is good for my hair or not. I must say that this shampoo is a keeper! For now, I give this product a 5 out of 5!

That Relaxer Itch, Half Wigs, and Overall Rambling

Happy Friday everyone!


I was thisclose to relaxing this weekend. I'm about 14 weeks and 4 days post, trying to stretch to 16 weeks. I wound up not relaxing because I got 2 new half wigs so I figure that will keep me from relaxing for another week or so (which is exactly what I need!). However, after washing and DCing my hair last night, I know I cannot go past 16 weeks. My hair has so much new growth, it's starting to look like a lion's mane lol. So, I can't relax now but it's gonna happen soon.

On to the half wigs...

Last weekend, I ordered 2 half wigs from blackhairspray.com (awesome site to order from by the way!): Outre Tammy and Outre Monica (color 1B). They are synthetic, fairly inexpensive and they run about $17.99 each. Right now, I'm trying out Tammy and I *LOVE* her! The hair is very soft for it to be synthetic and the style of the hair reminds me of a braidout. It has 2 combs (one in the front and one in the back) and fits securely on my head. There is also a drawstring in the back so there is no excuse as to why this bad boy can't be secured. I had a hard time blending it (that's more b/c of my hair, it's a COMPLETELY different texture than that of the wig right now....I really really need a relaxer). I'm basically wearing Tammy with a headband right now but, I think you relaxed ladies should have no problems with blending. It's definitely perfect for half wig newbies. Check Tammy out (please excuse my makeupless face! lol)!






I think Tammy is a perfect everyday half wig. It's divatastic but not too divatastic! As you can see, I'm becoming a big fan of half wigs. As someone who doesn't like to manipulate her hair too much or use a lot of heat, half wigs are perfect. I can still get to my hair too-which is awesome. I also think this would be a good transitioning hairstyle for those ladies who are considering that.

I have yet to try out Monica..it seems more like a going out half wig than anything. Trust me though, as soon as I try her out..you guys are gonna hear about it!

What do you guys think? Would you try Tammy out?

My Review: FHI Nano Weight Pro 1800 Hair Dryer

For months now, I have been at my wits end trying to perfect my flat ironing technique. I mean, don't get me wrong...my technique so far has been ok. It was just really hit or miss. Sometimes it would turn out decent, sometimes it would be a huge, fat fail. I had to learn how to get great flat iron results though. I refuse to pay anyone to straighten my hair when I have a $130 flat iron sitting in my bathroom. After some research, I found that the good basis for any flat iron session, is a good blow dryer. A good blow dryer will do the initial straightening for you and result in less passes of the flat iron when you finally do flat iron.

So, I looked at my Jilbere Porcelain Series hair dryer that I got waaaay back in the beginning of my journey at Sally's for about $50. I found that no matter how good my technique was and after tweaking my technique a variety of ways, my flat iron results were never quite what I wanted them to be. It became clear to me: I had to get a newer, better hair dryer.

Today, I swung by Ulta and picked up the FHI Nano Weight pro 1800 hair dryer. This dryer is a ceramic tourmaline dryer-which is exactly what I wanted. It comes with a diffuser and a concentrator (nozzle). Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a comb attachment. I have to warn those who are watching their pennies, the dryer is pricey. It ran me about $100. If you order it online, it may cost more.

Now, without further ado, the review.


The cool stuff:

-The dryer is very lightweight! I was able to dry my hair without my arms getting tired midway through.

-It isn't as loud as your everyday dryer. I mean, yeah, it's gonna make some noise but it's nowhere near as loud an ordinary dryer.

- This sucker will dry your hair fast! Usually, it takes me about an hour to dry my hair completely. With this dryer, my hair was dry in 30min! It cut my drying time in half!

-Once dry, my hair wasn't puffy at all. It was very sleek and didn't have a dry feeling to it. My hair was dry and moisturized.


The bad stuff

-Limited heat options. There is low heat and low speed and high heat at high speed. I usually prefer to dry my hair at medium heat and this dryer doesn't have that. The high heat wouldn't be so bad except....

-The high heat freakin feels like Hell's furnace! This dryer blows out the heat! However, the high heat is just entirely too hot for my liking. What makes it suck even more is that you can't really go to low heat because low heat is slightly less hot than high. Slightly.


Bottom Line: This dryer definitely did the job in terms of being the perfect basis for my flat iron. It got my hair straight and did it in less time than my usual dryer. However, the high heat setting is just too hot! Additionally, there isn't a medium heat setting. In the future, I would probably air dry for a few hours then blow dry, just to limit the time I spend blow drying. Either way, if I give this hair dryer 4 stars out of 5.

Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier: A Review

Happy Friday everyone!

I hope everyone has had a productive and successful week. I know I have been M.I.A. a bit and I do apologize for that but it doesn't mean that I don't have products to review.



About a month or so ago I was in my local BSS (one opened up by my apartment--a product junkie's dream and worst nightmare) just browsing when I saw Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier. It markets itself as a daily leave in conditioner but can also be re-purposed for other uses (e.g.--braid removal). I had heard great things about it via LHCF so I decided to give it a whirl. I paid around $7-$8 for a 8oz bottle which makes it cheaper than my staple (Jane Carter Solution Revitalizing Leave-In).

First Impressions: This leave-in has a thick consistency! I was expecting a more water based leave in but this was not so. For some, this can lead to product build-up so keep in mind that you can dilute the product with water to thin it out a bit (and to make the product last longer).

Also, if you aren't a big scent person be warned that this product smells.....tropical. To me it smells like coconuts. I like coconuts. I like the smell of them so this was cool with me. However, if you don't like coconut smell this may not be for you.

Product in Action: I have been using this leave in (not diluted) post wash and DC. Let me just say that this product is awesome for air drying!! When I use this leave in (with a little Fantasia IC Frizz Buster), my hair dries all nice and soft! I mean buttery soft. Oh so silky smooth soft! That for me is a plus. I have tried it diluted yet but I just may have to since I have these tree braids in now.

Bottom Line: I'd give this product 4 out of 5 stars. The reason for that is even though I can use the product straight out the bottle, some of you may not be able to and may have to dilute it. Also, the smell may be too much for scent sensitive folks.
Ultimately, it does what it says it does in providing moisture and I'll probably keep this in the rotation for awhile.

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.

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful.......

....and it's kicking my hair's behind!!

This cold weather is just running a number on my hair and I am on a mission to keep my hair moisturized and happy. To this end, I am trying 2 new things: Shea Butter and Silicon Mix. Although I have been using them a short while, let me tell you about my experiences with them thus far.


1) Silicon Mix




Oh where has this wonderful conditioner been all my life!?!? I deep conditioned with it for an hour on Thursday (even though the directions say leave it on for 2-3min) and my hair felt......AMAZING!! It was so soft, yet strong. Although I can't definitively say that Silicon Mix is specifically a protein condish or a moisturizinf condish, I can say that this conditioner has protein (keratin), ceramides, and glycerin in it. A word of warning though. The second ingredient is mineral oil so if you're trying to avoid mineral oil, this may not be for you. Also, Silicon Mix is pretty heavily scented. I can still smell the scent on my hair and I DCed 3 days ago! All and all though, this is definitely a keeper!

2) Shea Butter

I had to find a thicker moisturizer to use during the winter other than my ORS Carrot Oil (which I primarily use in the summer months). I'm kinda weary about this. Don't get my wrong, I know how awesome shea butter is. However, it is so thick and I don't want to weigh my hair down with it. So, thus far, my experience with shea butter is being taken with baby steps. I basically place a small amount of shea butter in my hands (and when I say small amount, I do mean a small amount!), rub it until it melts, and place it on my hair focusing on my ends. So far, everything is good. My hair feels moisturized for the most part which is what I wanted. More to come on how it actually works for my hair.



Also, since it is winter time and we're all wearing hats and such, remember to either line your hats with silk or satin or wear a silk or satin scarf under your hat. It'll keep your hair from drying out. Also make sure to protect your ends (moisturize and seal or even bun) as they will be rubbing up against some rough fabrics (like wool, for example).

That's all I have for today you guys,

Happy Sunday!

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!

Walmart Got Me Again!!

Damn you Walmart and your reasonably priced services!!!!


Tonight after work, I made a quick run into Walmart to pick up some of that Creme of Nature Argan Oil Conditioner that I wanted to try out. I had noticed that the Smart Style salon was open and stopped in to look at some of the hair products they had on display.

That's when it happened.

I was lured in by all this talk of a basic roller set costing only $14.95 (I'm a sucker for a good deal). Even when the price went up to $24.95 because of my hair length, I was still hooked. Shoot, in a state with no Dominican salons, 25 bucks is a daggone good deal! I walked on over to the shampoo bowl and allowed the magic to happen. I wound up getting a wash, blowout, and flat iron for $26.95 (my hair is thick, we would've been in there all night waiting for my hair to dry and I don't have that kind of time).

Let me tell you, my hair is GORGEOUS!! It's all soft and shiny and straight. I tried to take a pic of it but my camera was acting like a jerk. I say all that to say, I was pleasantly surprised. This stylist may be the stylist I go to when I don't feel like doing my hair...which has been often because it takes a lot of effort to do my hair now that it's longer. I also may go to this stylist for my touch up. This salon uses Mizani relaxers so it may be worth a shot.

Anyway, I dunno about the Walmart salons where you guys are, but I think I may have found a great thing!