Monday, May 30, 2016

Wash Day 05-29-2016 (Mop Top Citrus Kumquat Curly Hair Custard Wash N Go)

Hey, beautiful people!  Given the long weekend and the fact that summer has finally come to Michigan, I decided to do a wash n’ go with a product that has been sitting in my product stash for most of the winter – Mop Top’s Curly Hair Custard.


I forgot to do an overnight deep conditioner, and I didn’t have time to hop in and out of the shower; so, there was no deep conditioner this week.  First, I washed my hair with Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Shampoo.  This shampoo continues to be a favorite of mine.  It cleans my hair without stripping it, as long as I don’t use too much.


Next, I conditioned and detangled my hair with Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship Conditioner.  It is not often that I call something a holy grail product, but this one is one.


Finally, I used Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion as my leave-in (another holy grail product), and put the Mop Top Curly Hair Custard on top.  The Mop Top went in easily.  It has a lot of slip and a little goes a long way.  In that regard, it reminds me of Kinky Curly’s Curling Custard.  It doesn’t leave my hands with the same sticky feeling as the Kinky Curl; however, maybe it should.  Apparently, Mop Top has little hold, which is not good given that at least 4 of the top 5 ingredients are humectants (aloe vera, glycerin, honey and pectin).  When my hair dried, it frizzed, shrunk significantly and uneven, and took flight.  In short, I looked a hot mess.  To make matters worse, this stuff flakes horribly.  I was wearing a black shirt, and it looked it snowed on my shoulders.  The next day, my hair looked even worse. 

I do not plan to use this product again.



Friday, May 27, 2016

Battle of the Edge Controls Part 2

Hey, beautiful people!  So, despite the outcome of my last battle of the edge controls, I decided to try again.  This time, I only tried seven products (two not pictured).  While I’m still not convinced that anything beats Eco Styler, I did learn that wax gel seems to work well for me.  Here are my new tries from most liked to least:
  1.  Clear Eco Styler Gel ($6 for 16 oz)  – This performs very similar to the pink Eco Styler gel that I previously reviewed.  As with the pink, I have to tie a scarf on my head because the gel takes some time to dry.  I also have to apply a lot of this product to get a good hold, but it will last all day and maybe even a second day.  The only downside to applying a lot is that it can make my hair hard.

  2. Gorilla Earwax Wet Look ($9 for 3.52 oz) – This is made by the same company that makes Gorilla Snot Gel, but it is better.  I really like this, except for the cologne-type smell.  I felt like it made me smell a little like a man, though my hubby said he couldn’t smell anything.  It gives me all day hold (maybe even two days), but I have to be careful not to use too much or it might dry yellow.  Also, like EcoStyler, this dries a little hard.  In other words, a little goes a very long way. 

  3. Murray’s Edgewax ($6 for 4 oz) (pictured on left) – This product reminds me of old school hair grease, but it has hold!  This and the extreme hold version perform very similar and look similar.  However, this one is easy to spread, especially if I apply it to slightly damp hair.  The first time I tried this, it lasted for less time than the extreme hold version.  However, the second time I used it, I used more and it lasted for about the same amount of time (almost a full day); so, the trick is figuring out how much to use.  I do like that it has no scent, and the results are instantaneous.  It also left my hair feeling soft.

  4. Murray’s Edgewax Extreme Hold ($7 for 4 oz) (pictured on right) – Almost everything I said for the regular version is true for this one, but it is difficult to spread.  It is a very thick wax.  I had to rub it in my hands to soften it and thin it out before I could apply it to my hair; and, even then, sometimes I ended up with chunks of wax in my hair.  I wish there was a middle consistency that was a little heavier than the regular version and a little lighter than this one.

  5. Hicks Transformations Edges ($12 for 4 oz) – This reminded me a lot of the Cream of Nature Perfect Edges.  It instantaneously slicked my edges down, but it didn’t last long at all.  Also, it is fairly pricey.  At the only beauty supply store near me that carries it, they keep it behind the counter.

  6. Lotta Body Control Me Edge Gel ($4 for 2.25 oz) - This reminded me a lot of the Cream of Nature Perfect Edges.  It instantaneously slicked my edges down, but it didn’t last long and it left white residue in my hair.

  7. Design Essentials Honey & Shea Edge Tamer ($12 for 2.3 oz) – My hair laughed at this one.  It did not slick my edges at all, and it was pricey.

I’m tempted to try to make my own wax gel, so that I can choose the gel to wax ratio, keeping it easier to smooth but with a lot of strength.

Do you have any recommendations for wax gels, or edge tamers that are similar to wax gel?


Thursday, May 12, 2016

Power Product Line Review: Camille Rose Naturals



Hi, beautiful people!  As I mentioned in my Black Friday post from last year, I’ve been thinking about transitioning to almost exclusively using one product line.  If you followed my blog during my wash n’ go challenge, you know that I really like the Camille Rose Curl Maker Gel.     
Since I like the gel and two of the twisting butters, Camille Rose was a strong contender, so I bought a nice chunk of products in a Black Friday haul.  Here is a review of the products that I’ve tried thus far from my haul, in order of preference.  Overall, Camille Rose knocks it out of the park on cleansers and butters, and I feel in love with the growth serum.  However, none of their leave-ins worked for me.

LOVE IT:
  • Cocoa Nibs & Honey Ultimate Growth Serum ($16 / 8 oz.) – This is now one of my favorite Camille Rose products.  It actually makes me break my dislike of oil mixes.  It is light enough that it works well on my low porosity hair, while still being able to seal moisture in.  As an added bonus, it has hair growing products.
  • Caramel Cowash ($14 / 8 oz.) – It is a close call between this product and the Cocoa Nibs for which one I love the best.  Ultimately, I chose the serum because the bottle will last longer.  This co-wash is amazing, but it will go fast because I have a lot of hair.  In addition to the Camille Rose heavenly scent, it has amazing slip and makes my hair feel like butter, while still being able to clean my hair.  It is also gentle enough to cleanse and condition my 18-month old daughter’s hair, despite her sensitive scalp.
  • Coconut Water Penetrating Hair Treatment ($20 / 8 oz.) – I was so surprised by how well this worked on my hair as a deep conditioner.  Every time I used it, it soften up my hair and left it feeling like butter when I washed it out.  My only pause is that I don’t see any protein in it, and I know my hair needs protein over time.
  • Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse ($11 / 12 oz.) - This is one of the few Camille Rose products that I've tried that does not smell like a sweet dessert.  It cleanses my hair without stripping it, and it has incredible slip.  Plus, a little goes a long way and it is cheaper per ounce than the other Camille Rose cleansers.  For people who think a cleanser should foam, this does that too.

    LIKE IT
    • Nourishing Cream Cleanser ($11 / 8 oz.) – This is a holiday limited edition product.  It reminds me of a watery version of the Carmel Cowash.  It smells heavenly, has amazing slip and it cleanses my hair without stripping it, but I have other cleansers that I can get year-round that I like just as much.
    • Coconut Water "Style Setter" ($15 / 8 oz.) – I was torn on this product as a styler.  It is very similar to the Camille Rose Almond Jai Twist Butter in the way it works on my hair.  It moisturizes, but there was little definition and sheen.  However, on one sleep deprived night, I accidentally attempted to use this product as an overnight deep conditioner.  It left my hair sooo soft when I washed it out.  I put it in the like it, as opposed to love it, because it isn’t performing the function it is supposed to.

    LEAVE IT
    • Nourishing Cream Leave In ($13 / 8 oz.) - This is a holiday limited edition product, and I have no desire to ever buy it again.  I tried it both right after a shower and on wet hair, and it left my bone dry.
    • Ajani Growth and Shine Balm ($12 / 4 oz.) – I have already reviewed this here.


    I’ve also reviewed a few other Camille Rose products on my page, so feel free to check those out too.  I also hope to do a battle of the Camille Rose butters soon.



    Monday, April 18, 2016

    Wash Day 04-17-2016 (Jane Carter Curl Defining Cream Wash N Go)

    Hey. beautiful people!  It has been awhile since I did a wash day post.  However, the weather was really warm here in Michigan, and I had a natural hair event to go to that evening, so I decided to break out the wash n' go.

    First, I did a deep condition overnight with Camille Rose Coconut Water Penetrating Hair Treatment.  I have liked this product more than I ever thought I would, but more on that in other post.  The next morning, I put Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Shampoo in my hair.  This is definitely one of my favorite shampoos.  It smells amazing, and my hair does not dry out.  Next, I used Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship.  This conditioner is a holy grail for certain.

    Finally, I did a wash n' go with Jane Carter's Curl Defining Cream.  I love this cream.  It may be the most versatile product I own.  I have used it for braids, twists, braidouts, and twistouts, and it has not failed me yet.  I also used it once for a wash n' go when my hair was shorter, and it worked well then.  So, I decided to give it another try.  The result was big, fluffy hair, but in a good way.  I think I still prefer my gels for wash n' gos, but this is a good alternative.  Plus, unlike gel, the next day, I was able to just braid my hair up for work.

    Have you ever used this product for a wash n go?  What are your thoughts?


    Sunday, April 17, 2016

    Product Review: Embrace The Natural You Twist Truffle Whip (The Braiding Files #5)


    Price:  $13 for 8 oz

    Ingredients:  Water, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Unrefined Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil, Jamaican Black Castor Oil, Vitamin E, Fragrance and Essential Oils.  **NOTE:  According to the website, as of 2/2/16, this product no longer has shea butter, Jamaican black castor oil, or vegetable emulsifying wax.  So it may be even more low porosity friendly!

    Scent: Light island breeze, like papaya and mango

    Consistency:  Whipped cream cheese

    Results:  I bought this product last September at a market near my job.  As a nice bonus, this is a Michigan-based company, so I can pick it up on the ground.  When I purchased it, I met the owner, who uses her product on her own hair (bonus #2).  

    While I have been using this product for a while now, it has taken me this long to review it because I was not certain what to say.  It leaves my hair soft and gave it nice sheen about 8 times out of 10.  The rest of the time, my hair was really dry, and felt coated, and I wanted to figure out why because I really like this product.  I have realized two things.  First, I need to use water or a very moisturizing leave-in under this product for it to work well on my hair.  If I don’t put enough moisture into my hair under this product, it leaves my hair dry.  While this product comes with its own moisture built in, my greedy hair needs more.  As I mentioned in my post on coconuts, I need a lot of water for coconut to work in my hair. 

    Second, if I use a heavier/coating leave-in under this product, the residue from the this product will combine with the residue from the leave-in, and my hair feels coated.  As I note above, the ingredients have changed, and the more heavy/coating ingredients have been removed, so it may now be perfect for me.  I plan to try the new formulation soon.  Maybe the new formulation will be a “love it”.As an aside, this product reminds me a lot of Annabelle's Perfect Blend Hair Creme in both texture and the way it works on my hair, except APB does not have coconut oil.  Thus, if you already like that product, you may want to try this, and vice versa. 

    Love it, Like it or Leave It:  Like It


    Sunday, April 3, 2016

    Ingredient Investigation: The Coconuts (Coconut Oil vs Coconut Milk)



    Hey, beautiful people.  It has been an awhile since I did an ingredient investigation, but I’ve had a burning question for a while now that I wanted to look into.  If you have read my blog for any period of time, you know that my hair does not really like coconut oil in stylers.  It leaves my hair feeling coated and hard.  That being said, my hair loves leave-ins with coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut fruit, like My Honey Child Coconut Hair Milk, Silk Dreams Mocha Silk Hair Milk and Aubrey Organics Island Replenishing Conditioner.  So, I decided to investigate the different types of coconut products, and how they are made.  Below is a summary of what I found.   

    A green coconut (young coconut) starts off with coconut water and soft, gel-like meat.  As the coconut ages, the coconut has less water and the meat becomes more firm.  Coconut fruit is the “meat” inside the coconut.  Coconut milk is extracted from coconut fruit (frequently using water as part of the process), and coconut oil is extracted from coconut milk.  Thus, coconut oil has the least amount of water of the three.

    One way to make coconut milk/oil is through a process called "wet-milling fermentation".  Freshly grated coconut is blended with water to make coconut milk.  The milk then sits for hours (sometimes overnight) so that it separates into a liquid and coconut cream/butter.  The coconut cream is scooped out, and boiled until the coconut solids fall to the bottom and turn brown.  Then, the oil is filtered, and Voila!

    In case you are curious (I was), from what I've read, heating the milk to create the oil is actually good.  This particular wet-milling fermentation process produces the highest level of antioxidants in the coconut oil.  Both the oil and the anti-oxidants are thermally stable, so heating doesn't break them down.  In fact, simmering the cream for a long time at a high temperature dissolves more anti-oxidants into the oil!  Who knew.

    Based on my research, I think the difference for me is that coconut oil is a purer concentration from the coconut, as opposed to coconut milk and coconut fruit, which have water.  Also, this explains why my hair likes co-washes and conditioners with coconut oil -- because I'm using them in the shower.  In essence, my hair only seems to like coconut when it is with a lot of water, probably to counteract the protein-like properties and because my hair generally loves things that have high water content. 

    If you want to know more, I found a few great Youtube videos that show how coconut fruit is used to make coconut milk and coconut oil:





    Monday, February 15, 2016

    Product Review: Camille Rose Ajani Growth and Shine Balm

    Price:   $12 for 4 oz.
     
    Ingredients:  Cocoa wafers, rice bran oil, virgin palm kernel, babassu oil, murumuru butter, candulla, honey, castor jelly, biotin, castor oil, silky btms, ceteryl blend, natural scent

    Promise:  From the website – This balm is an exquisite, hand blended hair and scalp treatment that nurtures, invigorates and conditions dry slow growing hair.  Mango, Castor and honey were chosen for their potent conditioning and styling power.  Biotin is added for its hair growing benefits.  Your hair will be left with amazing shine.

    Scent: Light chocolate

    Consistency:  Grainy

    Results:   I like this product, but not enough.  True to the promise, it does leave my hair with a lot of shine.  It also leaves my hair soft.  HOWEVER, I cannot get over the grainy nature of this product.  When I take the product out of the jar, I see little granules.  They melt in my palm when I rub my hands together, but it is hard to get all of the granules to melt.  There is usually a tiny chunk left after the majority of it has melted.  I'll be reviewing the liquid growth serum from Camille Rose, which I like better.  The serum is like the liquid version of this product, though the ingredients vary.

    Love it, Like it or Leave It:
      Like It