Tag Archives: yummy

Jun8

Product : : Bobeam Cocoa & Rhassoul Clay Shampoo Bar

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Product : : Bobeam Cocoa & Rhassoul Clay Shampoo Bar

Chocolate lovers….beware!

I came accross this lovely find from a vendor (Laquita of Bobeam) at National Natural Hair Meetup Day last month. It’s the Cocoa & Rhassoul Clay Shampoo Bar and I got it for $5 (it’s $7 on her Esty site) and I am loving it! You already know I love shampoo bars so I had to add this to my collection (still love my Henna Sooq bars!). Since I’ve been doing ayurvedic treatments each week, I haven’t had to wash with shampoo (the treatments cleanse my scalp and hair) but when I skip a week of treatments, I wash mostly with shampoo bars.

At the meetup (and on the Esty site), Bobeam had a huge variety of bars to choose from! I wish I had more wash days to be able to try them all lol Again, this was another instance where I stood at the table gazing for over 5 mins trying to decide which one to buy. It’s like a life or death decision lol….but really….it’s just a shampoo bar….. lol

Product Description

These mouth-watering ‘scented’ chocolate ( they are made with actual chocolate!) and Rhassoul clay bars are great treats for you hair and body. They will give your hair a fresh, clean start removing build-up and toxins while tantalizing your senses with the aroma of rich, deep chocolate.

This shampoo bar is literally like a giant chocolate bar….that you can’t eat unfortunately :o( but It smells sooooo yummy and has REAL cocoa in it! Who knew that cocoa powder was actually GOOD for your hair! This bar also contains rhassoul clay and cocoa butter. I have a serious love for bentonite clay and Bobeam had quite a few bars that contained bentonite but I had never tried rhassoul clay so I figured I’d give it a try! I hear that rhassoul clay treatments are phenomenal.

Ingredients

Essential Oils/Additives – Cocoa butter, cocoa powder, rhassoul clay, chocolate. Shampoo Bar Ingredients – Saponified vegetable oils mainly coconut oil, glycerine (kosher of vegetable origin), purified water, sorbitol (berries, moisturizer), sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), soybean protein (conditioner), titanium dioxide (mineral whitener), natural fragrance

I really love when the brand owners break down their ingredients and share what each one does. I appreciate integrity :o) Check out the goodness of the ingredients in this chocolate delight (as it appears on the Bobeam Esty site).

Ingredient and their benefits

  • Cocoa Butter – Processed from cocoa beans – high in Vitamin E, softens and hydrates.
  • Cocoa Powder – Processed from cocoa beans. Contains minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium. Antioxidant and humectant – retains moisture.
  • Rhassoul Clay – Contains a high percentage of silica, magnesium, potassium and calcium. It reduce dryness and flakiness, removes surface oil and dead skin, and is a great deep conditioner.

This bar lathers up somethin’ serious! It’s amazing how people think that sulfates are the only way to create a lather, there are so many ALL natural products that lather naturally! So when I washed, I sectioned my hair into quadrants and made sure I did a good scalp scrubbing. I washed twice since I had just done a Greenhouse Effect treatment with a lot of castor oil and wanted to make sure I got rid of any excessive oil on my strands and this shampoo doesn’t strip my hair. I made sure I rinsed really well. The water ran a little brown, even while I rinsed out the conditioner.

One thing though about shampoo bars, I get this waxy, residue-ey feeling over my hair (that squeaky feeling) but it is because shampoo bars have an interaction with hard water (read this). *Side bar* Some bars give you that feeling as well if they contain ayurvedic ingredients. That feeling is due to your hair cuticle being open. The Bobeam site does have a “disclaimer” section that addresses this and suggests rinsing your hair with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). So I got my trusty spray bottle, filled it with some diluted ACV and I was good to go! If you are wondering about this shampoo bar vs. hard water love/hate relationship, check out this link and this link. it gets kinda scientific…

The hard water/residue thing is definitely NOT a reason for me to not LOVE shampoo bars! (they double as body bars too) My hair was so soft and moisturized after washing. A lot easier to detangle. Here’s the crazy thing, it made my conditioner work SO much better. I had used the conditioner many times before but there was something different after I used this shampoo bar. It was as if my hair received the conditioner better. It’s like it enhanced the “powers” of the conditioner lol. After the wash, I did my usual twist-out for the week and my hair felt like butter aaaall week. Extremely light, fluffy and soft. I even had several big chop “moments” where I found myself twirling and playing in my hair subconsciously…

I liiiiike :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)

Apr16

Product :: Naturalista Cosmetics Juicy Leave-In Conditioner

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Product :: Naturalista Cosmetics Juicy Leave-In Conditioner

…I can’t help but think of Biggie’s song Juicy every time I think of this stuff lol *sings* “you know very weeeell, who you aaaaarre, don’t let em hold you down….”  lol

So back at the infamous expo (I know I know), I picked up some Juicy Leave-In Conditioner by Naturalista Cosmetics which is created by another local brand located in Washington, DC. I had never heard of this product until the show and the owner was like really shocked that I hadn’t (dang my bad!). So you know I went right to Google and started searchin….and it has quite a buzz and lots of folks love it.

It’s a super yummy smelling, creamy, fluffy shea butter based hair dressing that claims to give you “Moisture that lasts” (*Sidebar*: We know by now that the only true form of moisture is water! So this would be considered a sealant! Great to use on wet hair. It helps make moisture last because of its thickness and the vegetable glycerin which is a humectant)

I bought the 2 oz. sample size for $5 (in case it didn’t live up to hype). It also comes in 4 oz. for $12, 8 oz. for $22.50 and 16 oz. for $35 as well. It is kind of pricy which is why I wanted to try the sample size first before I made the commitment lol. You can purchase it online at www.naturalistacosmetics.com. Note that the URL will redirect you to an online store front at a different URL so don’t get confused like I did lol. They also have a Facebook page which has lots of fans and customer testimonials.

Here’s the juice about Juicy:

Naturalista Cosmetics Leave-In Conditioner repairs, conditions and leaves hair healthy, vibrant and strong. When used daily, Naturalista Cosmetics Leave-In Conditioner helps bring your hair back to its natural balance. It is a light, easily absorbed formula that is an excellent daily treatment for relaxed, permed, tinted, dyed and chemically treated hair. For best results, use when styling twists and braid outs on damp or dry hair. NOTE: This product is not meant to be combed though hair! Use it as a styling aid for twists and braid outs after hair has been detangled. 

Ingredients:

Organic shea butter, aloe vera oil, hemp seed oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, castor oil, avocado oil, botanical extracts, vitamin b, vitamin e, vegetable glycerin, natural fragrance

Overall, this is good product. The scent is AMAZING (you know I am all about how yummy something smells lol), it smells like sweet cake batter. It is very thick (not heavy),  buttery and definitely seals in moisture. The consistency was very unique, something I’ve never come across before, it is a fluffy whipped, cake batterey consistency that is borderline foamy (weird, I know). I say foamy because it has frothiness to it with air bubbles that melt away as you rub it in….I liked it!

Because of the thickness, you don’t need to apply much. I used it on wet hair for a twist out and it gave great definition and shine. I definitely had good hair days (2nd & 3rd day hair!). I went about 3 days without having to re-moisturize. It says “use daily” (which is ironic if it says the moisture lasts…) but I don’t think you need to unless your hair gets dry quickly and you re-wet it to seal the moisture back in. Otherwise, you’ll have a lot of build-up. I would most likely buy it again :o) Check out some flicks of my Juiciness below!:

This is the morning of a fresh twist-out on Day 1…note how the curls are tighter and more shrunken

The pics below are the same day After I got home from work…note how my hair is fuller

The pics below are 3rd day Hair (I think….slept on one night/re-twisted another/slept on again I can’t remember the duration since the fresh wash but I know it was less than 4 days)…note how my hair is fuller and less defined, which I still like :o) This was Easter Sunday BTW!

“….and if you don’t know, now you know….” lol I had to do it.

Apr15

Product :: Crie Natural Jaja’s Loc & Body Pomade

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Product :: Crie Natural Jaja’s Loc & Body Pomade

…another Baltimore Natural Hair Care Expo product post lol yea I’m pressed lol

 

I also picked up some Loc and Body Pomade by Crie Natural (formerly known as Created by Nature) for $14 8 oz. (I think that’s how much it was). Let me tell you how good this stuff smells! The pomade comes in seven different scents (Almond, Lavender/Vanilla, Spicy Vanilla, Honeysuckle, Lemongrass, Sweet Orange & unscented). I picked up the almond and omg I could sniff it all day lol ok I know that sounds weird #dontjudgeme. It’s a sweet, almond-y scent. Makes me think of buttery cookies or something mmmmm lol

Now, the product says it’s a whipped pomade but to me it seems more like a dense oily butter. The consistency isn’t fluffy like I normally consider something whipped, it’s more solid. The product itself is extremely light weight (good for the low porosity hair crew) and it contains shea butter as the first product in its ingredients. It’s full of my fav oils and melts in your hands easily. It’s only 8 oz of product but I swear it feels at least like 12 oz. I’ll be using this for like at least a year lol (even though it says use within 3-6 months…o_O ). It’s definitely a “little goes a long way” product.

Check out what’s in this bad boy:

Shea butter, olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, infused sage, rosemary, nettle and burdock root. Scented with alcohol free fragrance oil.

So I used the pomade on freshly washed twists (as per usual lol) and was ok with the results the next day for the most part (1st day hair). Nothing super spectacular, my hair was light and fluffy, somewhat defined but I think I will attribute the definition to my hair being wet and then drying into the pattern of the twists.  Then day 2 came….my hair was just eh…I don’t think it’s heavy enough to hold my hair for longer than a day without having to use water and re-twist. Even after I re-twisted on day 3, my curl pattern wasn’t as coily, it was more wavy and sort of all over the place. I can’t really tell you what was really going on with it but it just seemed a bit drab. I’ll have to try this product out again and see if I can yield better results using it with another product, but as far as using it by itself, probably not.

*Side bar* I really need to figure out this lighting situation. I’m not feeling this flash…I’ll figure somethin out… 

I think this product would be much better as a light “re-moisturizer” after I’ve applied some type of “styling” product i.e. as a mid-week moisturizer when my low porosity hair finally absorbs moisture and needs a re-up. I also tried this as a sealant on my ends but again, it was too light and didn’t clump my curls much. This could work over a 2nd/3rd/etc. day wash-n-go to help re-moisturize.

Overall, I like the product because of the ingredients, the AMAZING scent and it’s light-weightiness but I think I’ll stick to using it as a moisturizer when my hair feels dry and as a lubricant for when I dry detangle on wash days.

— Anyone else ever used this brand or any of their other products?!

Apr3

Product :: Oyin Handmade Sugar Berries Humectant Hair Pomade

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Product :: Oyin Handmade Sugar Berries Humectant Hair Pomade

So my last post was about sealing your hair, so I feel like this would be a good opportunity to introduce one of my new fav products…Oyin Handmade Sugar Berries Humectant Hair Pomade! It’s an all-vegetable oil pomade that is great for sealing. I bought mine off of CurlMart for $12 for 4 oz. of product.

This stuff smells sooo yummy! It’s super sweet, juicy and fruity. I also recently got the sample size of Oyin’s Burnt Sugar Pomade, which is the exact same thing but their original scent . That one smells really yummy too and is more of a caramel, sugary scent (which I think I actually like better). Either way, your hair will be smellin good!

Here’s what’s inside:

castor oil, soy wax, organic virgin coconut oil, mango seed oil, olive oil, unrefined hempseed oil, cocoa butter, broccoli seed oil, and fragrance.

I was kind of surprised at the consistency when I first got it. When I thought of pomade, what came to mind is something really thick, waxy, hard and would smooth down edges (like Murray’s Hair Dresssing lol) but this definitely dispelled that thought. I guess that was my naivety. But it turns out I love it so it worked out!

This pomade is definitely rich in oil and is a humectant (great for my low porosity hair). It is solid in the jar but as soon as you rub it with your fingers it melts into a thick (but not heavy) oil. It will definitely keep your hair coated and lock in the moisture. You don’t have to reapply this often. Keep this in a cool place or you may have a greasy, liquidy mess!

I’ve been using this on my ends for twist outs and it keeps my ends nice and sealed for days at a time. I do go a little heavy on this since it is pretty light. It ads lots of shine yet it doesn’t feel super greasy or weighted down.

I paired this with Oyin’s Whipped Pudding (on the length of my hair for a twist-out) and I really, really liked the results! Now I have NOT used the pomade with other products yet so I we will have to see how it turns out.

Check out some pics of my week old hair (I re-twisted my hair 2x since I had washed it):

— Have you tried this product? Do you use it in any other way besides sealing?