Tag Archives: Products

Jul25

Product :: Kinky Curly Curling Custard

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Product :: Kinky Curly Curling Custard

Hi :o)

I recently revisited an old faithful wash-n-go product for me—Kinky Curly Curling Custard. I’ve used Kinky Curly products on and off for about 5 years, ever since I tried to find an alternative to Miss Jessie’s curly pudding (who wants to pay that ridiculous price?? Ugh). I’ve tried every one of their products (except for the shampoo for some reason) but I think I used the Curling Custard (KCCC) literally every day awhile back lol I went through tubs and tubs of it, to the point where it stopped being effective lol. Too much of a good thing really can be bad I guess lol.

I haven’t used this product in probably over a year until I was able to snag it up again at the National Natural Hair Meetup Day product swap (check out this post for a little more about that). I figured, hey why not, let me give it a go again. I think it’s been long enough for my hair to “detox” from it so I wanted to see what results I would get from using it. There is definitely a lot of hype around this product and it’s a tried and true product, you don’t come across many negative reviews about this product often!

Ingredients

Botanical infusion of water, horsetail, chamomile, nettle and marshmallow, organic aloe vera juice, agave nectar extract, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), pectic, citric acid, potassium sorbate and natural fragrance. Glycerin Free, Organic, Paraben Free, Protein Free, Silicone Free, Sulfate Free

The water-based custard is a super sweet candy-like scented jelly. You can find it at Whole Foods, Target and of course the web. I swear the price has gone up over the last few years because it is a bit pricey now, 16 oz for $29.99 OR 8 oz for $17.00. I think I used to pay maybe $20-25 for the 16 oz tub back in ’08. Supply and demand at its best lol I like that it is water based and contains aloe vera so it doesn’t dry out my hair and the marshmallow root gives it a nice slip when applying. Love that it is organic and all-natural.

Below you will find the product description from the Kinky Curly website. You don’t really find a description, as well as how to use, as in depth as this on other products so this is refreshing and really helpful for the newbies who may not know how to use this.

 Product Description

CURLING CUSTARD™ gives moisture and curl definition, hold and brilliant shiny hair all in one product! It reduces bulk, defines & elongates your curls helping them to ‘hang’ better. CURLING CUSTARD™ will bring out the natural curl or wave pattern you never knew you had!

It is an advanced botanical formula made with ALL NATURAL ingredients that nourish and strengthen the hair. Utilizing the humectant properties of the Agave Nectar, CURLING CUSTARD™ will give weight to your hair, define your curls, remove frizz, provide long lasting hold and shine without ever being greasy, crunchy or drying to your hair. This high performance product is very concentrated so a little goes a long way. **TIP- This product is designed to work alone but ultimate curl definition and length can be achieved when used with KNOT TODAY™ as a leave in conditioner.

For best results apply CURLING CUSTARD™ to soaking wet, freshly washed hair. For very kinky and tightly coiled hair use KNOT TODAY ™ as a leave-in conditioner then apply CURLING CUSTARD™ to soaking wet hair in small sections. Smooth each section with fingers from root to tip.

Now I remember why I loved this product, it pretty much does what the description above says PLUS I can make a wash-n-go last for an entire week without applying any additional product. I probably could make it last longer but my scalp tends to start having fits after one week so I have to wash. But check out the progression of the week below (lots of pics!). Every night, I just tie my scarf loosely over my hair (sleep on my side or stomach lol) and in the morning, fluff my hair with my fingers and let a little of the water droplets in the shower “re-activate” the product. That’s it! Every day for a whole week. Super low-maintenance and super cute hair :o) The curl pattern holds up and does NOT frizz!

So on Day 1, I apply the KCCC to clean, detangled, wet hair (not damp, wet). I start from the back and apply to medium sized sections, making sure I smooth the product from root to end. Oh, I also had a little bit of Kinky Curly Knot Today conditioner and remembered that it said if you apply that first, it helps elongate your curls. I am not sure how much of a difference it makes for me, could be one of those ploys to make you buy it lol but the Knot Today conditioner is a GREAT detangler in itself.

After I apply, I make sure not to touch my hair until its dry (a few hours) or it will frizz. When my hair is wet with the product, I get that Jheri curl look with not much volume lol but once the KCCC dries, I fluff up my fro with my fingers. My hair does has a teeny bit of crunch too it but its perfectly fine with me, I find that crunch usually means hold and definition. Plus the crunch softens as the week progresses or if I apply a little bit of coconut oil over my dried hair. KCCC doesn’t leave any white residue like some gels tend to and even provides some shine. It doesn’t dry out my hair….if I don’t use it too often. I’m not going to lie, this did start to dry my hair out but I think that was because it was ALL I used for an extended amount of time and not doing deep conditions. I think using this on occasion, in conjunction with deep conditions and sealing my hair when I wear twists, won’t dry my hair out like it did before. I guess I will have to add this oldie back into my rotation :o)

Oh if you don’t like the price on this product, check out Curls Unleashed Curl Boosting Jelly. It gave me similar results!

Day 1 — Here’s freshly applied KCCC

Here’s “end-of-the-day-hair” on day 1, completely dry:

2nd Day hair

And Finally 4th Day Hair! It still looks great!

Yup, theres a reason why I love this stuff :o)

— Do you love KCCC?!

Jul19

Product :: Beautiful Curls Curl Activating Cream

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Product :: Beautiful Curls Curl Activating Cream

What up yall?!

I snagged this product at National Natural Hair Meetup Day, DMV edition (not sure why I didn’t make a post about that lol oh well). My girl Jojo from Curly Nu Growth sponsored a product swap at the meetup and since it was my first meetup and first product swap, I had to get a little tutorial on how it worked. Hopefully how I explain it makes sense to you: You bring gently used products that you don’t like/use in hopes to a) swap them for other products and/or b) get rid of them (one curlies trash is another curlies treasure!). So you bring your products and each one is categorized by the suggested retail value and then grouped into 1 of 4 price categories. You get tickets in exchange for the products you bring — Group 1 (the cheapest products) get 1 ticket, group 2 = 2 tickets, group 3 = 3 tickets and group 4 = 4 tickets (the most expensive products). You use the tickets you get to redeem products others have brought to swap. So the more products you bring, the more tickets you get (and the more expensive ones you will get more tickets as well). I was lucky to snag some Kinky Curly Curling Custard, Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding (WHO in the world would want to swap this!? lol the girl said it was because of the scent which I happen to love!) and this….the Beautiful Curls Curl Activating Cream.

I never really heard any buzz about this product on the internet but I had seen it almost every time I went to Whole Foods and skimmed the natural hair section. I never really had to urge to buy it. It retails for $14 for 8oz. I always saw it in a tub like  I have, but it’s sold in a squeeze tube on their website. I guess the change in packaging may have something to do with it’s semi-liquidy consistency. It is not a buttery type of shea product, it’s smoother and thinner and you have to be kinda careful to not let it drip when you take it out of the tub.

Ingredients

Comfrey Extract, Arnica Extract, Aloe Vera Gel, Agave Extract, Certified Fair Trade Shea Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Behentrimonium Chloride, Emulsifying Wax, Panthenol, Coconut Oil (and) Raspberry Fruit Extract (and) Ylang Ylang Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid

It’s got a few ingredients I have never heard of i.e. comfrey and arnica extracts which are the first ingredients but it doesn’t contain mineral/synthetic oils, is gluten free, vegan, biodegradable, paraben free and has no synthetic fragrances. It has a natural raspberry fruity, herbally scent to it which is unique, I don’t come across many berry scented products often (except for my beloved Oyin Sugar Berries pomade).

Product Description

Rich, creamy emulsion of Certified Fair Trade Shea Butter, herbal extracts and plant gels hydrate and elongate your curls for soft, maximum definition. With natural vitamins for shiny, lustrous, long-lasting curls. Great for finger styling, twist and braid-outs and coiling on naturally curly to kinky hair.

This product kind of let me down, I guess there was a reason I wasn’t pressed to buy it lol. It says it elongates and defines curls and I imagine they mean if you were to wear it for a wash-n-go style but I tested it out for a twist-out. The results were so-so, not the best but not the worst. My hair felt somewhat moisturized, not super defined, even had a little more frizz than I had hoped. It just seemed like the product was missing something. It wasn’t a product that I could make the style last the entire week without having to reapply product, it just didn’t have much hold for me (normally I can just spritz some water and re-twist). I am glad I didn’t dish out $14 for this, maybe the person who brought it to the swap had the same issues. One good thing was I didn’t have to use very much so perhaps I will use this as a last resort when I run out of other products to play with :o)  or maybe I try it for a wash-n-go…

Here’s what I was workin with:

…eh, it’ll do :o)

— Have any of you tried this product or any others from this product line?

May25

Product : : ORS Curls Unleashed Part III

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Product : : ORS Curls Unleashed Part III

*This is Part 3 of 3 * Check out Part I here and Part II here.

These are the last 2 products in the Curls Unleashed line— Take Command Curl Defining Creme and the Let it Flow Shine & Define Mousse. I’ll just get right into it…

Take Command Curl Defining Creme — $12.99 for 16 oz. at Sally Beauty

Product Description

Ideal for Curly and Kinky Textures, Defines and Elongates Curls, Free of parabens, alcohol and mineral oil. Curls Unleashed Take Command Curl Defining Creme is ideal for curly and kinky textures. Made with coconut, sweet almond and safflower oils, our curl defining creme moisturizes, defines and elongates tightly coiled curls, and does so without flakes or shrinkage.

Ingredients

aqua, coconut) oil, shea butter, safflower seed oil, glycine soja soybean oil, polyquaternium-11, cetearyl alcohol, polysorbate 60, glycerin, propylene glycol, peg-12 dimethicone, cyclomethicone, dimethiconol, amodimethicone, c12-15 alkyl benzoate, sweet almond oil, hydrolyzed keratin, panthenol, carbomer, vp/va copolymer, pentamethylheptane, dimethicone, dimethicone crosspolymer, laureth 4, laureth 23, triethanolamine, tocopheryl acetate, parfum (fragrance), benzyl salicylate, citronellol, cinnamic aldehyde, hydroxycitronellal, d-limonene, lilial, linalool, lyral, methyl ionone, dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, bht, ci 19140 (yellow #5), ci 15985 (yellow #6).

This was another “high-hopes” product that disappointed me :o(. I used this for a wash-n-go but it can also be used for twists, braids, etc. It’s a medium-thick creme and applied easily as I put it on in sections to ensure coverage. I liked how it elongated my curls! But then the disappointment came….it took forever to absorb meaning I had chunks of white product all over. When it dried, my hair was no where near moisturized and I was left with an oily residue until I washed it out. Oily to the point where I had to wipe my forehead, ears and neck. I could have been heavy with the application but I think it would have been oily either way because it just “sat” on my hair, nothing penetrated. Also, the scent is super strong and lingered in my hair until I washed it out. It’s not a bad scent, just strong. I wanted to try this on a twist out but the oily residue turned me off so I decided not to. I would not buy this.

Here’s my hair WET with the Creme. Note the clobs of white all over:

Here’s my hair DRY with the Creme. I really liked how it looked but it felt horrible :o(

….and here is my hair the next day using the “shower droplet” method to refresh:

and last but not least…my fav…..

Let It Flow Shine & Define Mousse — $10.99 for 8 oz. at Sally Beauty

Product Description
Used to scrunch, shape and get curl definition, Lightweight, Fast Drying, Free of SD Alcohol. Curls Unleashed Let It Flow Shine & Define Mousse is ideal for wavy and curly textures. It will not strip hair of the precious natural moisture that makes it thrive. Curls Unleashed is free of parabens, alcohol and mineral oil. It can be used for wavy, curly, or kinky hair. Use Curls Unleashed to define, twist, and curl.

Ingredients

Aqua, cocamidopropyl betaine, polyquaternium-11, cetrimonium chloride, tea-cocoyl hydrolyzed collagen, panthenol, peg-12 dimethicone, peg-75 lanolin, olive oil, oleth-20, quaternium-80, maltodextrin, dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, pafum (fragrance), d-limonene, linalool.

 

I really like this product and it was the LEAST expected! I have to tell you, this was the most overlooked product in the entire line, which was why it was the last one I tried out. I wrote it off like “eh, this won’t do jack for my hair, whateva”…. and here it is—my fav in the line! See, this is why I must reiterate why it’s important to try out different things because you never know what may work for your hair!

So this product is a very light, fluffy, foamy mousse. It says it’s for hair types 2/3 (looser, wavier curls) which made me count it out even more. But back when I first BC’d and had a teeny weeny afro, randomly, I loved using mousse hair products! Maybe it’s the kid in me, but it’s just something about playing with the mousse and applying it lol. I also love how mousses are light and provide soft hold…and this product definitely delivered! I really think this may be my favorite mousse product I’ve tried. I had light, fluffy, soft, semi-defined curls. The scent is light and fresh. The best part is it didn’t dry my hair (I did apply a little vatika oil over it one day and some coconut oil under it another day). It wasn’t sticky or tacky, it dried amazingly fast and no white stuff leftover! I put it on soaking wet hair and my hair was probably halfway dry by the time I walked out the door for work.

Here is the first attempt with this on WET hair. This was about 25 mins after I applied it:

I also really liked that a little goes a loooog way. It was weird, I would apply it in sections (to ensure coverage) and the more I worked it in, the more foamy it got. It was like it lathered up. That really helped with even distribution. I find that with other mousses, as soon as I put it in my hair, it dissinegrates and I have to keep putting more on.

Another great thing about the mousse, is the ability to refresh my curls. So normally I would tie a scarf on my head at night and then revive it in the shower with water sprinklets but my hair was smashed to the point of no return when I woke up lol. This will not give me second day hair BUT here’s the great news…..when I got in the shower, I put my entire head under the shower head for a few seconds to get my whole head wet (not soaking). This was to “reactivate” the mousse. Then, when I got out, I pumped maybe 3-4 pumps and rubbed it over my hair, no need to section my hair, just over the outside. The water from the shower and the extra pumps of the mousse was enough to “reactive” the foam in the under layers of my fro and it lathered right back up! This took like 5 mins whereas the initial application that I did in sections took maybe 15. I took pics of how it looked doing this process.

I think this will be a new, fav wash-n-go product of the moment. :o)

Here’s my hair DRY at the end of the day on the initial application. Please forgive me for not having better pictures for this stage, this was me after I went to the gym so my hair is no where near as nice as it looked prior and I’m a lil greasy lookin lol but I was rocking my LAKER shirt so it was ok #donthate

And here’s my hair the next morning using the “soak and revive” method. Note that this is immediately after I applied it. See how foamy it is?

And here are pics about 25 mins after the pic above.

 I wish I had pics of my hair dry this day but I had to rush to teach my bible study class and didn’t have time to take any pics but here is an Instagram pic I took while I should-have-been-working at work :o)

In summary, I don’t think I would make it a priority to purchase some items in the Curls Unleashed products (with the exception of the shampoo and the mousse!). Although I did like the way my hair looked, I did not like the way my hair felt…and that’s more important. The chemistry and formulas for most of the products just didn’t work well with my hair. I think since I have stopped using silicone products, my hair went into a ”shock” when I used them again lol.  What doesn’t work for me may work wonders for you so give them a try if you’ve been curious :o)

May24

Product : : ORS Curls Unleashed Part II

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Product : : ORS Curls Unleashed Part II

*This is Part 2 of 3 * Check out Part I here.

So in my last post for the Curls Unleashed review, I talked about my experience with the Lavish in Lather Sulfate-Free Shampoo, No Restrictions Moisturizing Conditioner and the No Boundaries Leave-in Conditioner. This part, I will talk about the Second Chance Curl Refresher and the Set If Off Curl Boosting Jelly…

I think the Leave-In and the Curl Refresher are my least favorite products of the bunch. I really think a lot of it has to do with the silicones and ingredients. I don’t know, they were just…blah. But hey, it’s not to say that these could work wonderfully for someone else! I do however, like the results of the Curl Boosting Jelly.

Second Chance Curl Refresher — $12.99  for 8 oz. at Sally Beauty

Product Description

Ideal for all textures, Use to redefine and refresh, Define twist and curl. Curls Unleashed Second Chance Curl Refresher is a second day refresher for your curls. It is ideal for all textures. Made with aloe vera, honey, and green tea extract, our curl refresher is perfect for 2nd day curls and refreshing twistouts, coils, freestyles and updos. Redefine and refresh curls without starting all over again with this amazing curl refresher.

Ingredients

aqua, glycerin, propylene glycol, ppg-5-ceteth-20, peg-12 dimethicone, honey extract, aloe leaf juice, hydrolyzed wheat protein, panthenol, green tea extract, amodimethicone, trideceth-12, cetrimonium chloride,hydroxyethylcellulose, acrylamidopropyltrimonium chloride/acrylamide copolymer, dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, parfum (fragrance), amyl cinnamic alcohol, lilial, linalool, ci 15985 (yellow #6), ci 140700 (red #4), ci 17200 (red #33).

 

This was yet another fluke. I don’t think there’d be a need for me to have a product like this. It says it is a curl refresher (assuming you already have a styling product applied) but it also says to use on wet hair. To me, if I am going to wet my hair, I may as well rinse out (or co-wash) whatever styling product I already have in and then just apply more of that product. The process of applying this refresher would be the same process I would do for putting in the styling product. It seems like it would be an unnecessary step. I could understand if the refresher was a spray or something you would apply to dry hair, but the whole re-wetting thing seems contradictory to “refreshing”. I’ll pass on this product as well.

Here’s my hair DAMP with the refresher. It was “refreshing” the leave-in from the day before (even though most of it probably rinsed out as I wet my hair):

Completely DRY with the refresher:

Set it Off Curl Boosting Jelly — $14.99 for 16 oz. from Sally Beauty

Product Description

Perfect for curly & kinky textures, Crunch-less curl definition, Lightweight. Curls Unleashed Set It Off Curl Boosting Jelly provides great curl definition without the crunch. It works great for twistouts, coiling, shingling, freestyles and updo’s. It is lightweight and easy to apply for delightful curl definition. It is made with soothing aloe vera, wheat protein and vitamin B. 

Ingredients:

Aqua, glycerin, ppg-5-ceteth-20, polyquaternium-11, peg-12 dimethicone, propylene glycol, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, glyceryl acrylate/acrylic acid copolymer, panthenol, hydrolyed wheat protein, polyquaternium-10, carbomer, triethanolamine, parfum (fragrance), benzyl benzoate, coumarin, d-limonene, linalool, ci 60725 (violet #2).

 

I could work with this product :o) This super giggly, purple jelly product actually did a pretty good job in my hair. It made my curls super defined. The only issue with super defined curls for me is it usually means shrinkage but it was ok, it still looked nice. I had a wee bit of crunch and my hair felt a bit dry but applying coconut oil or Oyin Handmade’s Hair Dew over it (after it was dry) helped relieve some of the crunchiness. The consistency and application process sort of reminded me of Kinky Curly Curling Custard but a little thicker. If you are a fan of that product, this may yield similar results. Oh and I think this product won an Essence Beauty Award if that means anything to you :o) Check out some pics below.

Here is the Jelly applied to wet, co-washed hair. I used a little bit of the Leave-in Conditioner underneath:

 

I applied this in sections to ensure complete coverage, and then let it air dry. It did take about a half a day to be completely dry but it wasn’t to the point where I was dripping or anything like that, just a bit tacky. It does contain glycerin so I probably would only use this in the summer time since it always humid out here on the east coast. I was able to prolong my wash-n-go with the Curl Boosting Jelly for about 3 days without having to co-wash and reapply. At night, I would loosely tie a scarf around my hair and then allow the water droplets from my shower touch my hair (I manually sprinkled some more to make sure it covered my whole head). Once I hopped out the shower, I just shake and fluff out my hair as it dried. Overall, I would use this again and plan to use up the rest that I have.

Here’s more pics of my hair completely DRY with the Jelly:

***SIDE NOTE: I have to laugh, my boyfriend told me these earrings look like those rings you try to toss on the glass bottles at carnivals lol now I can’t get that visual out my head when I wear these… guys just don’t understand…. lol**

Here is my hair the next day. I slept with a scarf tied loosely over my hair and then “refreshed” the curls by allowing the water droplets from my shower touch my hair. I splashed a little water on it too. A little more fuzzy but it’s ok :o)

…stay tuned for Part III!

May23

Product : : Organic Root Stimulator Curls Unleashed Part I

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Product : : Organic Root Stimulator Curls Unleashed Part I

Hey! :o))

*This is Part 1 of 3…I don’t overload you with my ranting. You know how I can be long-winded :o)*

So a few weeks ago I was sent the entire line of Curls Unleashed by Organic Root Stimulator for review by a PR firm (Thank you :o))). I was delighted to give it a shot since I am always one to try new things plus I had sample sizes from my B-more Expo trip that I planned on reviewing anyway.

Here’s are the seven products in the line:

  • Lavish in Lather Sulfate-Free Shampoo
  • No Restrictions Moisturizing Conditioner
  • No Boundaries Leave-in Conditioner
  • Second Chance Curl Refresher
  • Set it Off Curl Boosting Jelly
  • Take Command Curl Defining Creme
  • Let it Flow Shine & Define Mousse

When I wore a relaxer, I used Organic Root Stimulator (ORS) products ALL the time – Carrot Oil, Jojoba Oil, Fertilizing Temple balm, Olive Oil Shampoo, Uplifting Shampoo, Hair Mayonnaise, Replenishing pak –to name a few and I loved their stuff so this made me excited to try their line for Natural/Curly hair…I was actually surprised it took them so long to come out with one…

Here’s the thing though, although ORS products contain some natural ingredients, they mostly consist of those hard-to-pronounce ingredients :o( which is why I don’t use them now. I prefer all natural products. The good thing though, is the Curls Unleashed line is sulfate, paraben, mineral oil and alcohol free (you know, the keys to win over a curly girl lol)….BUT they contain silicones, dyes and “un-pronounceables”.  As with all things, it’s a preference whether you choose to use products with/without these things and I simply choose not to but figured I’d carpe diem and try them out just to see :o)

So overall, the line as a whole is alright—some products better than others. I tried each product individually to see how each worked on its own and then in conjunction with the other products to see how they worked together. I can say this line could be helpful to newly naturals or those who may be intimidated by all the different product choices out there. The products together make for an “all-in-one” system, with something for every “category” of basic natural hair products. It could aid you in getting in the habit of a “regimen”. The packaging explains how to use each product, when to use it and what other product it works well with (i.e. us the Jelly after the Leave-in as a “cocktail”). I think once you get the hang of having a routine and process, you could interchange the products with other similar products (or continue to use Curls Unleashed) NOTE: I did not use these products in conjuction with any other brands so I do not know how they interact.

 So here’s the breakdown of the first 3 products and check back for the others!

Lavish in Lather Sulfate-Free Shampoo — $10.99 for 12 oz. from Sally Beauty

Product Description

Non-stripping,  Moisturizing, Great Lather. Curls Unleashed Lavish in Lather by Organic Root Stimulator is a sulfate free shampoo. It will not strip hair of the precious natural moisture that makes it thrive. Curls Unleashed is free of parabens, alcohol and mineral oil. It can be used for wavy, curly, or kinky hair. Use Curls Unleashed to define, twist, and curl.

ingredients:

Aqua, sodium c14-16 olefin sulfonate, sodium disodium cocoamphodipropionate, cocamidopropyl betaine, polyquaternium-7, cocamide mea, glycerin, polyquaternium-10, hydrolyzed keratin, yarrow, hops, rosemary, chamomile, lemon balm, olive oil, ppg-5-ceteth-10-phosphate, dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, disodium edta, citric acid, parfum (fragrance), benzyl benzoate, hexyl cinnamal, lilial, lyral, methyl ionone.

I was pleasantly surprised by this shampoo, might be one of my fav products in the entire line! It didn’t dry out my hair and left my hair soft and detangled…yup, detangled! It lathered nicely so I didn’t need much and it also cleaned my scalp pretty well. I wouldn’t use this when I wanted to do a good, deep, clarifying cleanse (I’d use one of my shampoo bars or mud wash) but I would use this when I feel like I’ve co-washed a few times and need a “refresher” or if I have a lot of product from a wash-n-go and want to wash some of it away (hopefully that made sense?). I like this :o)

No Restrictions Moisturizing Conditioner — $14.99 for 16 oz. at Sally Beauty

Product Description:

Moisturizes and Restores,  Works for all textures – wavy, curly, & kinky, Can be used as Co-wash. Curls Unleashed No Restrictions Moisturizing Conditioner by Organic Root Stimulator is perfect for all hair types including wavy, curly, and kinky. You can use this product to add moisture to your hair. It can be used as a Co-wash or a conditioner, there are no restrictions with this amazing product. When conditioning, place a generous amount in the palm of your hand then evenly distribute throughout your hair.  Comb through with a wide tooth comb to ensure even coverage from root to end. This product can also be used if your hair is damaged.  Sit under a plastic cap for 5 minutes or under and plastic cap and hooded dryer for 10 minutes.  Rinse through and style. 

Ingredients

Aqua, polyquaternium-37, propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, ppg-1 trideceth-6, glycerin, olive oil, soybean oil, behentrimonium methosulfate, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, quaternium-80, avocado oil, hydrolyzed collagen, panthenol, anthemis nobilis (chamomile) extract, sage extract, nettle extract, rosmary extract, aloe juice, yarrow extract, kiwi fruit extract, peg-9 dimethicone, fragrance, amyl cinnamic aldehyde, benzyl benzoate, d-limonene, lilial, linalool, dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, ci 19140 (yellow #5), ci 42053 (green #3).

The No Restrictions conditioner is eh, it’s alright. It wasn’t one of my favs. It has a good amount of slip, it’s really thick and creamy, softened my hair somewhat. It did a pretty good job at allowing me to finger detangle while in the shower. I felt like it needed something else to really make it condition my hair well. I feel that if I used this after an ayurvedic type treatment, it wouldn’t replenish the moisture that well. I even let it sit on my hair for awhile and it still didn’t do much for my hair. I did enjoy it as a co-wash and I liked that it is in a tub rather than a bottle, you can just grab a handful and slap it on, better for productivity in the shower process lol. For the price and the amount of product, I’ve seen better so I most likely would not buy this.

 

No Boundaries Leave-in Conditioner — $10.99 for 12 oz.  from Sally Beauty

Product Description

Softens & Detangles, For wavy, curly & kinky hair, Free of BPA, Parabens, Alcohol & Mineral Oil. Curls Unleashed No Boundaries Leave-in Conditioner softens and detangles curly hair. It will not strip hair of the precious natural moisture that makes it thrive. Curls Unleashed is free of parabens, alcohol and mineral oil. It can be used for wavy, curly, or kinky hair.  There are no boundaries with Curls Unleashed Leave-in Conditioner. Apply a generous amount to damp hair.  Distribute evenly through the hair to ensure that it covers hair from roots to ends.  Do not rinse out.  Stretch or scrunch hair as desired to define your curls. Use to define twist, and curl. 

 Ingredients:

aqua, shea butter, olive oil, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, polysorbate 60, peg-150 stearate, cetyl alcohol, ceteareth-20, peg-20 hydrogenated lanolin, peg-40 stearate, stearalkonium chloride, coconut oil, cyclomethicone, dimethiconol, amodimethicone, hydrolyzed keratin, dimethiconol cysteine, panthenol, dicetyldimonium chloride, ppg-3 benzyl ether myristate, glyceryl stearate se, cholesterol, tocopheryl acetate, dehydroacetic acid, benzyl alcohol, hydroxyethylcellulose, magnesium aluminum silicate, bht, citric acid, parfum (fragrance), lilial, d-limonene, linalool.

 

This product is a lightweight, liquid leave-in. It’s not watery or runny which is good. The scent definitely bothered me, randomly, it had sort of a weird chemically “after-scent” lol ya know, like an after taste except it was a scent?! It made me turn my nose up a bit. I was kinda disappointed with this product. It didn’t really do anything that it was supposed to for me. I researched the product around the web and saw that lots of people gave it great reviews so I had hopes for it but my bubble was bursted :o(  I used it by itself…it just left a residue sitting on top of my hair after it dried. It didn’t feel soft or moisturized despite the fact that it contains shea butter and coconut oil. I also used it under the Curl Boosting Jelly yet it still didn’t do much. I would definitely pass on this.

Here’s my hair WET with just the Leave-in:

And here’s my hair completely DRY with the Leave-in: 

…stay tuned for Part II!

May5

Product : : Aubrey Organics White Camellia Ultra-Smoothing Conditioner

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Product : : Aubrey Organics White Camellia Ultra-Smoothing Conditioner

Hola! I wanted to share a bit about why I love this conditioner sooooo much. It’s the Aubrey Organics White Camellia Ultra-Smoothing Conditioner. This is one of those products that I will always “have in stock” and I pray NEVER gets discontinued or changes its formula…yea, it’s that serious lol

This product is like that favorite perfume you have and only use on special occasions because you love it so much and never want to run out as if you couldn’t just go buy some more….sad, I know. It’s not even expensive ($11 bucks at Whole Foods) and it’s not hard to find lol BUT I just love it so much. Check out why after the flick…

The Aubrey Organics White Camellia Ultra-Smoothing Conditioner makes my hair feel like butter. It has sooooo much slip (super emollient), detangles like a beast and leaves my hair smooth and soft. It’s effects kick in almost immediately on contact with my hair. It is light and pleasantly scented. I don’t have to use a lot (due to the slip) so I can make this product last (it comes with 11 oz of product).

I use this a regular wash-out conditioner after I wash. I don’t co-washed with it because I think I am afraid I will use too much of it (this is due to that “fav perfume” complex thing I have lol). This is AWESOME used after an Ayurvedic treatment/product (since your hair will have become more porous and this conditioner helps close the cuticle; think Cocoveda shampoo bar). It smoothes your hair and reduces frizz. #winning

It has all natural and certified organic ingredients which makes it even better. It’s also infused with awesome oils and herbs. Aubrey has this formula down! Check out what’s in it below…

Ingredients

Aqua, aloe leaf juice*, myristyl alcohol, camellia japonica seed oil*, wheat germ oil, alcohol denat. (38b, lavender*), geranium flower oil*, glycerin, rosemary leaf oil*, grapefruit extract, sage oil*, tocopheryl acetate, fennel fruit extract, hops extract, balm mint leaf extract, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) extract, soybean oil, carrot root extract, beta-carotene,  witch hazel water, ascorbic acid.     *Organic

Here’s what the bottle says as well:

For Dry, Coarse, Unruly Hair; Extremely emollient anti-frizz formula. Tame unruly hair and replenish much-needed moisture with this intensive, ultra-smoothing conditioner. Vitamin-rich formula nourishes as it protects against heat styling damage and breakage, restoring manageability for the look you want—whether it’s silky, shiny lengths or soft, controlled curls.

Check out the reviews on their website, clearly you’ll see I am not the only one in love with this conditioner ;o)

 

May2

If You LOVE Coconut Oil….

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If You LOVE Coconut Oil….

…then you’ll LOVE Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil! This stuff…is amazing. You may already know how deep my love for coconut oil already is….this just brought it to a whole new level….

Since I have been on an Ayurveda kick, this was one of the products I recently bought at my local Indian market for $3.99. You ready for this?? It’s a coconut oil herbal concoction made in heaven (or India for that matter lol). Let me start by just sharing the incredible natural ingredients and why they are great:

  • Coconut Oil – Penetrates hair shaft, promotes hair growth & nourishment
  • Neem – Anti-microbial, fights dandruff & hair shed
  • Brahmi – Revitalizes hair 
  • Amla – Strengthens roots, delays graying & hair shed
  • Bahera – Helps maintains hair color
  • Harar – Protects from UV rays, delays graying
  • Kapur Kachari – Antiseptic
  • Henna – Colorant, hair conditioner & restorative
  • Milk – Nourishes scalp & roots
  • Rosemary oil – Stimulates hair growth, slows down hair loss & graying, relieves dandruff
  • Lemon Oil – Astringent, fights dandruff, controls sebum flow

This oil is super creamy, emollient and light…and that yummy coconut scent with a hint of lemon… mmmmm…..

It makes for a wonderful treatment for both your strands and your scalp. It is also great as a hot oil treatment, a pre-shampoo treatment or even an overnight treatment. You can also use it finger detangle or even mix it with your fav conditioner. This stuff just works no matter how you use it. Here’s what the packaging says:

Dabur Vatika Hair Oil is a premium coconut hair oil enriched with Henna, Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Lemon and five other trusted herbs. The unique and natural formulation of Vatika Oil ensures deeper oil penetration. Giving your hair and scalp complete nourishment for problem free, healthy hair. While Henna forms a protective coat to prevent oxidation, Amla strengthens the hair-roots and the astringent action of Lemon prevents dandruff.

I also use it lubricate my hands when un-twisting and as a moisture “refresher” when I fluff my twists. Remember, coconut oil actually penetrates the hair shaft (unlike other oils) so this strengthens and nourishes your hair PLUS the phenomenal herbs penetrate as well! It’s a win-win deal. I have also been massaging the oil into my scalp (only a little) since the herbs help strengthen your roots and prevent hair loss (LOVE the rosemary oil). It leaves your hair super shiny, not oily (if you don’t go crazy with it) and lightly scented. The moisture lasted for a few days without having to reapply (my hair is low po though…)

The only thing I can say I dislike about this product, is the packaging—you have to squeeze it out of the bottle through a tiny hole at the top. So if the oil isn’t above room temp, it will solidify. Good news is, you have to pop the bottle into the microwave for about 16 secs to melt it a bit (or in some hot water). One thing I discovered though, on accident I may add, if you squeeze the bottle hard enough while it is still solid, the white plastic part at the top with the hole pops out lol. That solved my issue with the packaging. Genius. Dabur also has a bunch of other products (like the Amla Oil)  that appear to be great products as well. I am kind of excited to try more of them hehe

This product is banging. I will be adding to my essentials list….it is overall #WINNING! Go head and get you some ;o)