Review: Shea Moisture Yucca and Baobab anti-breakage masque

I have spent the last few weeks trying a new product by shea moisture. I purchased this product at Walgreens for about $12 (I think).  It is really thick and creamy.  My results were amazing.  My hair stopped breaking. I have so little hair in the comb that I actually did two rounds of detangling the last time because I thought I missed a section.  Now, I know what you are thinking. Tons of products say they will stop breakage. Some products probably do stop the breakage.  However, for me, this is the only masque that achieved such results.  Finger detangling is a breeze. 

 

 

 

 

Have you tried SM's Yucca and Baobab anti-breakage masque?  What were your results?  I will post a video review later today. 

 

 

Sad News on the Natural Hair Front

Titi Branch, co-founder of Miss Jessies, has passed away.  She battled depression and took her own life. If you are battling depression, seek help. Sometimes it is hard to know that someone is going through something.  If you suspect someone is suffering from depression, assist them on a path to recovery.  No one should suffer in silence. www.blackmentalhealthnet.com.

Shirley Temple curls

I found a great product that creates fabulous curls, wjhether you hair is wet or dry. I am talking about Design Essentials curl enhancing mousse for naturals. I normally shy away from products made by companies that did not start with products for naturals. However, this line has a few gems.

I used this product with perm rods. I created small sections starting from the front. I sat under the dryer for 30 minutes. The result was shiny hair. The set lasted for two days because I worked out and forgot to use my scarf at night. Here were my results:

Have you tried Design Essentials for Naturals products?

Great video on detangling!!

I am certainly a fan of Naptural85.  In a recent video she shared her secret for quickly detangling her hair on wash day.  I tried it with great results.  I was particularly pleased with how the hair on the crown of my head was so easy to finger detangle.  Normally it involves a little crying. Just kidding. Check out the video and try it for yourself. Do you have any secrets to detangling your hair sans tears?

From curly to straight

Recently, I perfected my curly girl routine to achieve the best curls ever. Well, I got so excited that I used up most of my stash to create the curls. Thus, I decided to straighten my hair until I could get my new favorite curl definer.

I decided to flat iron using the following products:

1. Redkin real control shampoo and conditioner (sample sizes)
2. Darcy's Botanical Pumpkin Seed conditioner
3. Redkin smooth lock heat glide

I got the sample products when I purchased the smooth lock heat glide.  The shampoo was ok, but I really liked the conditioner. Both the shampoo and conditioner contained shea butter. After applying the pumpkin seed conditioner, I sat under my huetiful steamer for 20 minutes. My hair was incredibly soft when I detangled my hair.

The Redkin smooth lock looks similar to the John Frieda Frizz ease but it is simply the best darn heat protector and smoother I have ever purchased.  I applied the smooth lock after I towel dried my hair based upon the directions. I was afraid to towel dry my hair because I imagined that it would make my hair difficult to blow dry.  I was wrong.  In an effort to avoid the same problems that I had in the past, I used a comb attachment on my blow dryer rather than using a round brush. I never really learned how to use a round brush anyway.  When blow drying my hair, I started from the back first. I normally start from the front.

Once the first section was dry, I realized how amazing the smooth lock was in my hair. See below:

I blow dried my hair faster than I had ever done before. Thank goodness. With my length, it can be tiring to blow my hair. I could not believe the results. Nothing short of amazing. I think I owe it to the hair steamer, pumpkin seed conditioner, comb attachment and smooth lock.

See the final results below:

Overnight I put my hair in a doobie.  When I took it down, it looked like I had relaxed my hair. Shocking.  A first for me. I never thought I could get these results, especially when I did my own hair.

Have you tried the huetiful steamer or Redkin smooth lock?  What were your results?  

The Buzz: Ms. Black Latina goes to Puerto Rico

That's right. I moved! I am loving it all. I recently attended an event hosted by Diosas al Natural. I can say that I met some women with bossy afros and beautiful curls. I am going to venture out to my first salon visit for naturals. It is a place called OM Studio in Guaynabo. I will be doing a salon review after my appointment. I can't wait to give you the scoop on my new discovery.

I have to admit that my hair was not behaving when I first moved here. I don't know if it was the water or what but I looked like I needed a treatment so I got one. Thank goodness. I used Bobeam shampoo bar in rhassoul clay (made with chocolate), Tropic Isle Living protein conditioner, Darcy's Botanical Pumpkin seed conditioner, and Darcy's Botanical's Curlying Jelly. OMG!!!

I finally achieved the results I wanted this week. Finally. I started a new gig so I really wanted to look like top billing. Now, I get so many compliments on my hair. My male co-worker, who I have known for years and has never said a word about my hair, even said something. Honey, I was feeling myself and my hair.

I will post some pictures later today. The curling jelly is a product that I used only once or twice before for a ponytail but I finally started using it for wash and gos.  I can't order enough of this stuff. Its affordable, tames the frizz and gives me the best wash n gos.  Now I look like boricua, morena! I think that means black girl from Puerto Rico. I am still learning spanish.

Stay tuned for a product review of some of the products I used to achieve my look this week. What is you holy grail product?

Update: my picture

What do you think? Have you tried the DB's natural coils curling jelly.

Product Review: Karen's Body Beautiful Butter Love

Hola chicas! It's time for another product review. Today, I will review KBB's butter love. Butter Love is made from rich, thick butter san luxurious oils. It conditions, softens and adds sheen to fragile, stressed hair.  Seals moisture and nourishes natural or straightened hair. 

It contains shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, jojoba butter, aloe butter essental and fragrance oils, grapefruit seed oil and vitamin E. It is sold at KBB for 16 bucks.

check out my video review below:

 

 

 

Two thumbs up!!! Have you tried KBB's Butter Love? What did you think?



Hair Growth Tip: Onion Juicing

Yes, I know it sounds a little crazy. However, I learned that juicing an onion can actually promote hair growth. It provides nourishment and circulation to the hair follicles.  Onions are high in sulfur, which helps in regenerating hair follicles and reducing inflammation.  I plan to try it myself for the next few weeks and post pictures of my results. Here is how it works:

1. Juice an onion (a whole onion should be enough)
2. Apply it to your scalp at night. I would recommend wearing a cap and then a bonnet so that it does not get on your pillow case.The scent won't suggest "come hither" but that's fine by me.
3. Rinse out the onion the next day with your regular shampoo and condition your hair. 
4. I heard that you should try it each night for a week or two.  (I will be doing wash 'n gos during this period. If you live in a cooler climate than Saint Thomas, you may want to try it just once a week and dry your hair before heading out the door.)

Here is a video of a woman who tried onion juicing: 

Here is another video:

Have you tried onion juicing for hair growth?

Sell your not-so-favorite products!

Hola chicas. Gone are the days that you would want to kick yourself for buying products that don't work. Now, you can sell your gently used natural hair products on the website www.lolasgreenhair.com.  You will need to set up a paypal account to get your money from any purchaser. To avoid a fee, ask your customers to indicate that it is a gift. I just learned about this site. I plan to go to my natural hair vault (or what my husband calls my personal beauty supply store) to sell those must-haves that turned out to be duds.

You can also swap products on the forum page on the following website: www.curlynikki.com.  Just go to the link for curly hair product swap. No need to have a paypal account. 

I have been giving away my no-so-favorite products. Now, I can make money off of them or get what my hair likes from swapping. You know what they say: one man's trash is another man's treasure.

What are you doing with products that don't work for your hair?

Product Giveaway!!!!

Hola chicas! It is time for yet another product giveaway. This time Tiffany's Natural Treats is giving away Tropic Isle Living Strong Roots.  Strong Roots promotes growth with top ingredients such as Jamaican black castor oil and pimento oil. To win go the link on the right (for Tiffany's Natural Treats) and post a tip for repairing high porosity hair.  The winner will be announced on September 21st. This contest is open to residents of Canada.

Feel free to like the page. Good luck!

Homemade flaxseed gel - the buzz

Ok, making homemade flaxseed gel is not new, but I recently made a batch over Labor Day weekend for the first time. OMG! #loveit! I went to my local health food store and picked up a bag of flaxseed (linseed). I used a quarter cup of flaxseed and 2 cups of purified water. I added both to a pot and waited for it to boil. Once it started to boil, I began to stir the mixture so the seeds would not stick to the pot. When it reached a slightly thick consistency, I removed it from the stove. In retrospect, I should have removed it sooner because it seems like the blob after I strained and cooled it. I was concerned about hold but it dries with a nice hold. It feels softer the second day.  I was left with the best darn curl definition for a wash n go since I started my journey.  It is easy peasy to make and super cheap because you can re-use the seeds.

Here is a video of how to make it from youtube and my results:

Have you made flaxseed gel?

Update:

I forgot to mention that you should keep the flaxseed gel in the refrigerator so it does not go rancid unless you have a preservative like grapefruit seed extract. About six drops should be sufficient.  Enjoy!

Product Review - Darcy's Botanical Avocado and Wild Plum Twisting Cream

The Avocado and Wild Plum twisting cream is thick and creamy and formulated for hair types 3-4. You can use it to moisurize and soften dry, course coils.

It contains organic aloe vera juice, distilled warer, avocado oil, organic palm oil, vegetable emulsifying wax, botanical oil complex, panthenol, wild plum, phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol, ylang ylang and lemon essential oils. It comes in an 8 oz. jar. On the company's website it sells for $12.00.

I used this product to do a twist/bantu knotout.   Check out my product review and tutorial below:

Have you tried this product?  What did you think of it?

Heat free hair movement - the buzz

Hey guys! It has been a minute since I post here because I seriously felt like a kid waiting for summer break from it all. After a much needed break, I am back. I recently learned about  the heat free hair movement.  The company is based in D.C.  They sell natural  hair weave. Have you ordered from this company?

Hey check this out: CharyJay.com: Karen’s Body Beautiful Giveaway

CharyJay.com: Karen’s Body Beautiful Giveaway:   Karen's Body Beautiful products are a favorite amongst the natural hair community. That's why it's no surprise that it cau...

Huetiful hair steamer

Hey chicas! I just purchased the huetiful hair steamer. I am chomping at the bit to try it. If you are not familar with this product here's the deets:

1. it restores moisture 5x better than conditioner alone
2. stengthens hair by replenishing moisture lost to keratin treatments, relaxers or heat straightening
3. it significantly reduces breakage and split ends caused by dry hair while improving manageability
4. easily converts into a spa facial steamer.

The one I purchased came with the hair and face steamer and manual. I purchased it for $120.  This price also includes the headband which I will receive next week. I purchased it here in St. Thomas at New Horizon clothing store in Frenchtown. They just sold out so I will be giving a product review tomorrow on how it worked for me.

I heard about this product a few months ago after watching countless videos but kept forgetting to purchase it. Based upon the youtube videos, this product really works.  My has been quite tangled lately so it certainly needs a reprieve from the fight with the detangling comb.

For more details on the product until my product review coming up tomorrow, check out the company website: www.behuetiful.com.

Product review: Darcy's Botanicals Curling Cream Gel

Please check out my video product review for the Curling Cream Gel from DB.

Have you tried Darcy's Botanicals Curling Cream Gel?

Hair Envy

I have been on my natural hair journey for four years.  In that time, I have spoken to many naturals regarding hair care. Some naturals engage in negative speak when they feel that their texture does match those with enviable curls. I am not referring to having a hair idol. I am referring to when people say they can't acheive a certain look because of their texture or because they don't have "good hair."  I see it as a crutch that prevents people from trying to look their best because I have seen people with various textures acheive great looks. From a curly fro to a wash 'n go, knowing how to care for the hair you were born with and taking the time to do so, makes a difference. I feel like we are regressing to the days of the light-skinned/dark-skinned debate. Bre from America's Next Top Model demonstrated that you don't need to be "red" to have long healthy hair. She ultimately chopped her tresses to show that she was more than just her hair and her curls are popping.



Anywho, we all have different textures and even different textures on the same head.   Just yesterday someone asked me "is that your breed?" when referring to my hair. I was perplexed.  He wanted to know if my hair looked the way that it does because of genetics. I said yes and Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic didn't hurt.



I tend to shy away from putting myself in the category of women with "good hair" when it is defined only by the texture people see. That doesn't stop people from trying to put me in that box. If I had a dollar for every time someone knocked themselves down by saying they have Kunta Kente hair, I would have paid off my student loans. The debate regarding so called "good hair" will rage on. Whether your hair is long or short, kinky or curly, embrace your curls. Good hair should be synonomous with healthy hair.

Do you speak negatively about your hair because of hair envy?

It's time for another product giveaway

Hola, it is time for another product junkie giveaway. Going natural and looking "polished" in the workplace has been quite a journey. How did you respond to criticism in the workplace while on your journey? Post your comment for a chance to win Karen's Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia and "Like" the page if you have not already done so. There will be (2) winners this time. The last day to enter is April 29th. The winners will be announced on April 30th.

The link to Tiffany's Natural Treats facebook page is to the left.

Winner announced - Shea Moisture giveaway

Tiffany's Natural Treats is pleased to announce that HisandHers Lamb has won the giveaway. Stay tuned for details on the next giveaway for Karen's Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia. The winner will be announced on April 30th.  If you haven't already, be sure to check the link to the left for Tiffany's Natural Treats for product giveaways, natural hair tips and to shop on facebook for you natural treats for the hair and body. If you don't have a facebook account, you can shop on your mobile device at www.tiffanysnaturaltreats.ecwid.com .

My updated regimen for summer

Hey chicas! Here is the low down on my summer hair regimen. I was experiencing a bit of breakage from pregnancy (really after pregnancy) and certain hairstyles so I had to go into rehab mode. I use the following products:

Burt's Bees avocado butter hair treatment - as my pre-poo
Organix Biotin and Collagen shampoo and conditioner
Twist my hair with Darcy Botanicals Curling Cream Gel (which smells yummy delicious)
Add shine with Darcy Botanicals coconut pomade
Karen's Body Beautiful Sweet ambrosia leave-in conditioner (for retwisting)

I have been trying chunky twists and I love it. This style that is easy to do and doesn't require a lot of parting or twisting. With a nine month old, this style is right up my alley. I never tried chunky twists before because I was concerned about not having enough definition. However, DB's curling cream gel is amazing. Now, I will soon be selling this at the store - Tiffany's Natural Treats- but it actually works. It makes me excited to do my hair. I feel like I am starting my hair journey all over again. Love, love, love it. You can see the definition in my last post with the video for the shea moisture giveaway.

Have you changed your hair regimen for summer?