***OBI Natural Hair Care Product Review & Giveaway***

So I was introduced to this product line a little while ago and I'm finally getting around to writing my formal review. In December of last year I was contacted by OBI Natural Haircare and given the opportunity to use 4 of the products from the line. Now, I will admit that I had not heard of the line prior to them contacting me so I immediately went to their website to see what products they had to offer and the ingredients in them. I was nervous about how I would like the products due to the high glycerin levels in them but was willing to give them a try and I'm glad I did. Check out my review.....

Name: Neem & Tea Tree Shampoo Bar

Ingredients: Saponified Oils of Coconut, Palm, Castor Bean, Safflower; Vegetable Glycerin, Purified Water, Essential Oils: Neem, Tea Tree, Rosemary Essential Oil, Sorbitol, Soy Bean Protein, Sorbitan Oleate, Fragrance. **

Product Promise: This invigorating shampoo soothes dry scalp and helps remove unwanted buildup, while alleviating itching and flaking. This cleansing shampoo is excellent for dandruff and psoriasis of the scalp.**

Review: After pre-pooing my hair I used the Neem & Tea Tree Shampoo Bar to cleanse my hair and scalp. The bar produced a lot of lather but was still gentle on my hair and scalp. After rinsing the shampoo my hair did not feel stripped however, my hair and scalp definitely felt clean and free of any buildup. The shampoo smelled just like tea tree oil (which is not my favorite scent) but to my surprise it failed to provide me with the "tingly" sensation that most products with tea tree oil in them do. Overall, the shampoo bar was just ok and for this reason I probably would not purchase this item.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Name: Curl Moisture Cream

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, Vitis vinfera (Grape seed) Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Argania spinosa (Argan) oil, Gluconolactone and Sodium Benzoate, Arctium lappa (Burdock Root), Lavandula officinalis (Lavender) Oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycine soya (Soybean) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Oil, Triethanolamine, Fragrance (Parfum). **

Product Promise: Use to add moisture and hydration to your hair.  Infused with argan oil, lavender oil, grape seed oil, vitamin E, and burdock root. Promotes hair growth without leaving your hair weighed down. **

Review: I've used the Curl Moisture Cream as my moisturizer before styling with the Curl Enhancing Custard and I used it alone to twist my hair with and I definitely prefer it coupled with the Curl Enhancing Custard. The cream does a good job at moisturizing my hair however, my kinky hair prefers heavier creams when doing twist styles. This cream is very light and fluffy which I didn't expect since it comes in a jar as opposed to a bottle. As the product promises it does not weigh your hair down which makes it great for a daily moisturizer/leave-in. Glycerin is the 5th ingredient listed so I expected the product to have that sticky feeling I have found products with glycerin to have but it did not which I was very happy about. The product smells kind of perfumey but it is not over bearing and does not linger.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Name: Curl Enhancing Custard

Ingredients: Purified water (Aqua), Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Vitis vinfera (Grape seed) Oil, Argania spinosa (Argan) Oil, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Vegetable Glycerin, Gluconolactone and Sodium Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Xantham Gum, Fragrance. **

Product Promise: This alcohol-free formula hydrates, elongates, and provides super shine to all types of hair.  Does not leave a waxy residue or buildup. **

Review: I absolutely LOVE the Curl Enhancing Custard!! Of all the products I was sent the custard was the one I figured I would like the least. If you follow my blog you know that I mainly wear twist-outs and normally I do NOT like to twist my hair with gels. For the purpose of this review however, I decided to use it on my twist as opposed to doing a wash-n-go since those are usually hit or miss for me. I applied the Curl Moisture Cream as my leave-in and then added the Curl Enhancing Custard to each section of hair that I would twist. My twist-outs came out soft, shiny, and well defined each and every time I used the product. I couldn't believe that I enjoyed a gel for my twist as much as I did. The product has a pleasant smell, very similar to KCCC and the consistency is like a jelly. I would definitely purchase this product!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Name: Curl Hydration Spray

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Vegetable Glycerin, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Rose Oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Soybean Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Gluconolactone and Sodium Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Fragrance (Parfum). **

Product Promise: Use daily to moisturize your hair and scalp, or to refresh your style. **

Review: The Curl Enhancing Custard and Curl Hydration Spray are tied as my favorite products from this line. Having vegetable glycerin as the second ingredient in this product I just knew I would not like it although I really wanted to. I've been searching for another hydrating spray to put in my rotation and I think I found a winner. As I do with all products that contain glycerin I applied a little to my hands so I can see if the product felt sticky. I was so shocked when it did not give me that feeling. I was still convinced that it would turn into a sticky mess when applied to my hair but contrary to my belief it felt great! I have been using the Curl Hydration Spray every morning and evening as a "refresher" spray to give my hair a light mist of moisture before styling and setting it for the night. This product absorbs into my hair quickly and leaves it soft and moisturized. In addition to loving the way the product works, I absolutely love the way it smells. It reminds me of rose water which I happen to love! Definitely purchasing this product!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Overall, I enjoyed the products from the OBI Natural Haircare line and was happy to have been introduced to them. The products are reasonably priced and packed with good ingredients that I'm sure you all will love. To find out more about the line and to shop visit their website at http://www.obinaturalhair.com/.



Here are a couple of pictures of my hair styled with the Curl Moisture Cream and Curl Enhancing Custard.

**information obtained from the OBI Natural Haircare website.

Disclaimer: I was given the above mentioned products solely for the purpose of completing this review. I was NOT paid or encouraged to provide a positive review. I have given an honest description of my experience with these products and I am in no way responsible for your experience with the product and/or company.


Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win ALL 4 of the products I reviewed. Good luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Viviscal Extra Stength Hair Vitamins

Twist out a few days after the cut

A month or so ago I got a haircut because of the odd shape my hair had grown into. I had some breakage in the crown and some damaged ends in the front as a result of stress and failure to take care of my hair properly because of my hectic schedule. I wanted the haircut to fix all of that regardless of how short my stylist would have to cut it and she did just that. Once I saw how much of my hair was taken off I was kind of upset with myself for not caring for my hair as I should and knew that I needed to do better.

I've heard and read some great testimonials about Viviscal Hair Vitamins so I was extremely happy to be given the opportunity to try them out for myself. I received a 90 day supply of the Viviscal Extra Strength vitamins and began taking them on July 23, 2012. Viviscal offers two types of hair vitamins; this particular one is said to nourish thinning hair and promote existing hair growth. They are dietary supplements and the main ingredient in the Extra Strength vitamins is AminoMar C Marine Complex. The directions state that you are to take two tablets per day with water after food; one tablet in the morning and one in the evening.

While I've decided not to measure my hair until the end of the 3 months I can tell that there has been some growth, specifically at my edges. Whether or not the rate of growth is more than the typical rate, I don't know and won't be able to tell until after the 90 day period when I do my final length check. I measured my hair on the day I started taking the supplements and it measured as follows:

Left Back-5 1/2 inches

Right Back-5 1/2 inches

Left Side-6 7/8 inches

Right Side-7 inches

Crown-6 3/8 inches

Front Center-9 1/4 inches

Left-July 23rd
Right-August 19th

I will come back at the end of October with the results and comparison pictures so stay tuned for that!

Disclaimer: I was given this product for the purpose of completing this review. I was NOT paid or encouraged to do a positive review. I have given an honest description of my experience with this product and I am in no way responsible for your experience with the product and/or company.

Castor Oil Challenge Update-What I've Learned So Far

On April 1st I took pictures and measured my hair to document the progress made since starting the castor oil challenge on March 1st. I haven't experienced much growth in the first 30 days which I wasn't surprised by however, I was disappointed in the fact that my hair hadn't grown the average 1/2 inch that is expected in a months time. So I had to think about how I've been caring for my hair and check myself on the areas that I've been lacking. Many of you know that my business partner and I have been extremely busy fulfilling orders for ReVe' Essentials and unfortunately that has resulted in me neglecting Belle (my hair). Not only have I skipped out on many a moisturizing session which is part of my regular regimen, I hadn't been following the requirements for the castor oil challenge. 

Seeing how much my hair suffers from lack of attention I have vowed to turn things around going forward. For the remaining 2 months of the challenge I will make sure that I am using my JBCO and Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil from Oils from Jamaica as I should. While I have been applying JBCO to my ends and using the Growth Oil on my edges and on the crown of my hair I can't swear to meeting the 3 times a week requirement. Another goal I had set for myself but have not been successful at accomplishing was to do scalp massages 3 days a week. So I've officially been checked and will be making some changes to my schedule to accommodate Belle. Last month she was trying to run away from home so I have to work hard to build our relationship back to where it was...lol!

Below are my measurements for April 1st. It looks as if I got about 1/4 of an inch growth in most areas.  I won't be posting the pictures of my hair as you can't notice much difference from last month.

• Back Left-7 1/4 inches
• Back Right-7 1/4 inches
• Front Left-6 1/2 inches
• Front Right-6 1/2 inches
• Front Center-7 3/4 inches 
• Crown-7 3/8 inches

Here are the two types of castor oil I will continue to use. Both can be purchased from Oils from Jamaica at http://www.oilsfromjamaica.com/.

Thank you all for reading and I will back next month for my May 1st check-in and hopefully I will have some better results!!

Product Review-Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

Name: Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil

Ingredients: Unrefined coconut oil

Price: starts at $19.95 for a 1 pint jar

Click here to buy: www.tropicaltraditions.com

Review: I first learned of this coconut oil when one of my favorite YouTubers mentioned it in one of her videos. My hair and I love coconut oil so I was really interested in trying this brand to see for myself if it was a noticeable difference between it and all the other EVCOs I've tried. I purchased my first jar just a few months ago and immediately fell in love. Although I heard many good things about this brand I must admit I wasn't convinced that it would be any different, well I was wrong. The first thing I noticed was how creamy the Tropical Traditions Gold Label coconut oil is and I'm assuming the fact that it is hand-made (not machine made) contributes to that. It is made in small batches by family producers and contains the highest level of anti-oxidants. These facts are what make the gold label coconut oil stand out amongst the other Tropical Traditions' coconut oils and other brands of coconut oil. I was given the food grade coconut oil for the purpose of this review however, I have only used it on my hair and body. On my hair I use the oil for a pre-poo, as a moisture sealant, and with a few drops of peppermint essential oil for scalp massages. After showering I apply to my damp skin to retain moisture. My hair and body are always left feeling soft and well moisturized after use.

Summary: Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil has definitely become my EVCO of choice. While it is slightly higher in price than the EVCO I use to purchase from my local health food store I don't mind paying a little more for a higher quality product. I would definitely suggest this brand to all of my kurlfriends who like and use coconut oil. The only negative thing I can say which isn't really negative is that I wish it was available on the ground, other than that I have no complaints.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Additional info: Tropical Traditions also offers the Gold Label EVCO for hair treatment and 3 different organic hair oils that have the gold label coconut oil and several other organic oils in them. The difference between the food grade and hair treatment gold label coconut oil is that the hair treatment contains more protein because it contains more coconut solids. For more information and help with deciding what coconut oil you should buy read the following article: Buy Coconut Oil: A Guide To Buying Coconut Oil Online.

Check out this video to see how this coconut oil was discovered and produced.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review. I was under no obligation to review it nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. I have given an honest description of my experience with this product and I am in no way responsible for your experience with the product and/or company.

Spring 2012 Castor Oil Challenge

As many of you know I decided to do the Castor Oil Challenge hosted by Kinky Curly Coily Me!. My hair totally loves castor oil so I wasn't hesitant at all to participate in this challenge. While I'm not competing in the challenge for the prize I am documenting my growth and making sure I use the oil at least 3 times a week. For the challenge I will use both the Jamaican Black Castor Oil and Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil that I received from Oils From Jamaica. 

Here are photos showing the length of my hair on March 1, 2012. I did my best at measuring my hair and the measurements are as follows:

• Back Left-7 inches
• Back Right-7 inches
• Front Left-6 1/4 inches
• Front Right-6 1/4 inches
• Front Center-7 1/2 inches
• Crown-7 inches

Here are the two types of castor oil I will be using for the entire challenge. Both can be purchased from Oils From Jamaica at http://www.oilsfromjamaica.com/. Daily I use the regular JBCO mixed with EVCO as my sealant. I will use the same mix if I need to pre-poo at any time during the challenge. I've been using the Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil daily on my scalp. At least 3 times a week I have and will continue to do scalp massages after applying the growth oil to my scalp, focusing on my edges.

The first of each month I will take pictures and measurements of my hair and create a blog post to document my growth. I'm excited to see the results and would love to see yours so feel free to share on the page. Until April 1st...happy growing!! :-)

Product Review-Jane Carter Solution

I was given another awesome opportunity to try a product line that I had heard so much about but hadn't had the chance to try. Jane Carter Solution provided me with 9 products from their line to try and in this post I will provide my review for 5 of them. Below I will provide the name, ingredients, product promise, review, and rating of each product. Enjoy!

Name: Moisture Nourishing Shampoo

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Certified Organic Aloe Vera, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, Poly- quaterium-7, Glycol Stearate, Glycerin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium hydrolyzed wheat protein, Wheat Amino Acids, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Panthenol, Caprylic Acid, Glycine, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid. **

Product promise: This shampoo gently cleanses your hair and scalp, restoring your hair's proper moisture balance. Moisture Nourishing Shampoo is a natural shampoo with extracts of Coltsfoot, Lemon Balm, and Myrrh. This unique combination infuses moisture into your hair, leaving it incredibly shiny and bouncy. It smells terrific and is gentle enough for daily use, plus it's paraben free! **

Review: I used the Moisture Nourishing Shampoo after doing my normal JBCO/coconut oil pre-poo that I do whenever I am using traditional shampoos. Unfortunately, my pre-poo did not prevent the product from making my hair feel like it was stripped. In addition to the fact that the product contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate I did not care for the consistency of it. If you've ever made or used flax seed gel you know that it feels kinda slimy (for lack of a better word), well that is how this shampoo felt in my hands. There are a host of other wonderful ingredients in this product however, the presence of sulfate and the fact that it made my hair feel stripped will prevent me from using the product in the future.

Rating: 1 out 5

Name: Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth 20, Extracts of: Green Tea, Sage, Rosemary, Basil, Mullein, Licorice, Thyme, and Vanilla, Certified Organic: Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Lavender Oil, Lemon Oil, Wheat Protein, Wheat Amino Acids, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Panthenol, Caprylic Acid, Glycine, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid. **

Product promise: This product does just what is says…it replenishes. It works especially well when used with heat, leaving your hair in better condition than ever before. There is nothing better than soft, shiny, healthy hair. Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner contains ingredients that permanently bond to your hair’s cortex, leaving it stronger and with greater elasticity. Once in awhile, you come across a product that is truly "the best" -and this conditioner is certainly one of those rare commodities! **

Review: Immediately after rinsing the shampoo out I applied the Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner. I first used the product to detangle my hair. Having kinky hair it is important for me to have a conditioner that provides a nice amount of slip in order to prevent the detangling process from damaging my hair. The slip provided by this conditioner was average meaning it was not great but definitely not the worse product that I've used to detangle. I allowed the product to sit on my hair covered with a plastic cap for about 30 minutes. After rinsing the product out I was impressed that my hair felt soft and replenished especially after using the shampoo that I felt had stripped my hair. Although fairly low on the ingredient list this product does contain wheat protein; just an fyi for those of you who may be protein sensitive. I loved the citrus smell and liked the consistency of the the product but because slip is one of the most important factors I consider when choosing a conditioner I can't say this product will be my first pick of conditioners to use going forward. 

Rating: 3 out of 5

Name: Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Extracts of: Aloe Vera, Comfrey, Watercress, Myrrh, Panthenol, Anthemis Noblis Flower (Camomile), Symphytum Officinal Leaf (Comfrey), Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail), Urtica Dioica (Nettle), Rosemarinus Officinalis Leaf (Rosemary) ,Humulus Lupulus (Hops), Lawsonia Inermis (Henna), Certified Organic Essential Oils: Lemon, Vanilla Extract, Polyquarternium11, Soyamid DEA, PPG30, Cetyl Ether, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Hydroxypropyltrimonium hydrolyzed wheat protein, Phenoxyethanol. **

Product promise: Looking for a light product that is ideal for detangling? This is it! Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner seals in vital panthenol and humectants and acts as a protective barrier against heat styling and sun damage. Use it daily as a re-hydrator. Mist your hair in the morning and evening, and it's great for flat ironing or roller setting fine hair. A "must" for every bathroom. **

Review: I will admit that my initial thoughts on this leave-in conditioner was that I was not going to like it. I normally use creamy leave-ins which my hair responds well to. However, I immediately inserted foot in mouth after using this leave-in. I was wowed!! I loved that it did not leave my hair feeling like it had a residue on it as some spritzer have in the past. While I had previously detangled my hair I was still able to see how awesome this product would be as a detangler. As I spritz my curls they automatically began to separate. This product smells great, feels great, and simply is great!! I would definitely recommend it and use it again.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Name: Wrap & Roll

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Anthemis Noblis Flower (Camomile), Symphytum Officinal Leaf (Comfrey), Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail), Urtica Dioica (Nettle), Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Humulus Lupulus (Hops), Lawsonia Inermis (Henna), Certified Organic Essential Oils: Lemon, Grapefruit, Coco-Sultaine, Glycerine, Phenoxyethanol. **

Product promise: Wrap & Roll is the best soft mousse, setting and wrapping product available on the market today. It dries clean and soft without leaving any residue. Great for dry color-treated or damaged hair, the natural glycerides, essential oils and moisturizers leave your hair soft and shiny. Cut dryer time in half by applying Wrap & Roll liberally to wet hair, then wrap/set and dry as usual or let it dry naturally. **

Review: I used the Wrap & Roll to set my curls while using faux curlformers. I applied a small amount of product to each section of hair prior to putting the curler on. I slept with the curlers allowing my hair to set over night. The next morning I removed the curlformers and was greeted by soft, bouncy, and shiny curls. As with several other products in the line I loved the smell and most importantly I loved that my hair was not left crunchy. I can honestly say of all the wrapping products I have used in the past I enjoyed Wrap & Roll the best. I will use this product in the future when setting my hair with rods or curlers.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Name: Nourish & Shine

Ingredients: Shea butter, Kokum butter, Illippe butter, Mango butter, Vitamins A, D, & E, grapefruit essential oils, squalene. **

Product promise: You have never experienced a product as fabulous as Nourish & Shine! We blend all natural vitamins and essential oils to create this incredible hair nourisher. It completely melts in your hair and adds amazing shine and never leaves your hair feeling greasy or limp. Nourish & Shine helps reduce dryness on your scalp and your skin! Be careful … daughters and husbands have been known to abscond with this product, so buy two for them and one for you! **

Review: Nourish & Shine was by far my favorite of all the products I tried from this line. I had high expectations as I've heard nothing but good things about it. I love that this product is able to be used on hair and body however since it cost $22 for a 4 oz jar I would mainly use it on my hair. A little product goes a long way which is a good thing given the price. I used the product as a moisture sealant when twisting my hair and to minimize frizz when separating my twist and spiral curls. My hair was left shiny and soft as a result of using the product. The consistency of the Nourish & Shine is similar to old school hair grease but does not leave your hair feeling greasy at all. It has a light citrus smell that I find to be very pleasant. This is definitely a product I will look to score at natural hair expos where I can get it a discounted price.

Rating: 5 out of 5

My hair after using Wrap & Roll to set my curls and Nourish & Shine to separate them.

Jane Carter Solution products can be purchased from select Target and Whole Foods stores. Or visit www.janecartersolution.com to place an order. 

**information obtained from the Jane Carter Solution website

 

Disclaimer: I was given the above mentioned products solely for the purpose of completing this review. I was NOT paid or encouraged to provide a positive review. I have given an honest description of my experience with these products and I am in no way responsible for your experience with the product and/or company.

 

 

So What's Your Regimen?

I am asked about my hair care regimen often so I figured I would create a blog post that will hopefully answer some of your questions. I will break my regimen down in 3 categories: wash day, morning, and night time routines. Please keep in mind that this is what works for my color treated, 4a/b hair and may not work for you.

On wash day: I cleanse my hair weekly using Terressentials mud wash. If I feel like my hair has a lot of build up I do an ACV (apple cider vinegar) rinse first. As I apply the mud wash to my hair I detangle and twist my hair into about 10 chunky twist. After allowing the mud wash to sit for 30-45 minutes I rinse my hair, keeping the twist in. This prevents the need to detangle my hair for the rest of the process. 

The mud wash leaves my hair so soft that I do not feel the need to condition afterwards however every other week I do deep condition. I saturate conditioner on each twist and then sit under the steamer for 30 minutes. Prior to receiving the steamer I would don a plastic conditioning cap and allow it to sit for at least 30 minutes. I rinse the conditioner out using the coolest temperature I can stand. 

I then apply a leave in conditioner or moisturizer and proceed to style my hair. I generally wear twist outs so I do small to medium sized twists so that my twist are defined enough to last the week. 

Sidenote: I've recently decided to stop using traditional shampoos just because I prefer the results of cleansing with a mud wash. However, on days that I am preparing to do a henna treatment I shampoo with Reve' Essentials Hair & Body Wash and follow essentially the same routine that I do when cleansing with Terressentials. 

In the morning: I lightly spritz my hair with a water/aloe vera juice mix and then seal with an oil or butter. If  my hair is in twist I rub that same oil or butter in the palms of my hands before removing the twist to avoid getting the frizzies. If I pineappled the night before I remove my silk scarf used to crop my hair on top of my head, spritz with water, seal with oil or butter, and then shake my hair into place. By the time I get out of the shower my 'fro has fallen into place perfectly and I'm off to work with hardly no time spent on doing hair. Regardless of how my hair is styled I apply moisture to my hair every day whether it's in the form of water or a water based moisturizer. It is an essential step in caring for my kinky and color treated hair.

At night: I end my day much like how I start my day. I lightly spritz my hair with water, seal with an oil or butter, and set my hair for the next day. If my hair needs to be retwisted I use a water based moisturizer such as Reve' Essentials Moisturizing Creme. I apply the product to each section of my hair before twisting. Once I have completed my entire head I do one final spritz of water and seal the moisture. I sleep on satin pillowcases therefore most evenings I don't wear a satin bonnet. The bonnet smashes my curls and my 'fro tends to the shape of the bonnet which causes me to manipulate my curls too much so I just prefer to do without it. 

As you can see my hair regimen is pretty simple. After much trial and error I was able to find a routine that works for me and was completely surprised that it didn't require much work. I can't stress enough how much moisturizing and sealing has changed my life...lol!! While I don't think every thing will work for everyone, water and natural hair go hand in hand so you can't go wrong with that. So no matter what your regimen be sure to incorporate moisturizing into it.

So kurlfriends, what's your regimen??

Product Review-Original Moxie

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to choose 4 products from the Original Moxie line to try and write a review on. After much consideration I chose Get Clean!, Intense Quench, Lux Locks, and  Hair Bling. I was so excited to try products from this line as I've heard nothing but great things. In order to provide an accurate review I used nothing but the four products I was given from start to finish on my hair. Below I have provided the ingredients, product promise, review, and rating of each product. Enjoy!!

Get Clean!

Name: Get Clean! No-Foam Shampoo

Ingredients: Distilled Water; Aqueous Extracts of Amla, Bhringraj, Neem, Red Sandalwood, Rosehips, Soapnut,  St. John’s Wort, Tumeric, & Yucca; Coco Betaine; Decyl polyglucoside;  Sodium PCA; Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol; Karanja Oil; Wheat Germ Oil; Vegetable Glycerin; Mango Alfonso; Banana; Organic Aloe Vera; Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol  (Paraben & Formeldahyde-Free Preservative); Silk Amino Acids; Hydrolyzed Soy Protein; Acacia Gum; Guar Gum;  Dead Sea Salt; dL-Panthenol; Vitamin E; Essential Oils of Cedar Leaf, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lime, Litsea Cubeba, & Palmarosa.

Product promise: A sulfate-free shampoo that takes a gentler approach, harnessing the cleansing properties of botanicals to remove dirt & build up without disturbing your scalp's natural balance.

Review: This product definitely lived up to it's promise. After using Get Clean! my hair felt clean without feeling stripped of its natural oils. I did not pre-poo prior to cleansing and was happy to find out it was not necessary. Get Clean! provided excellent slip allowing me to detangle my hair with ease. I would recommend this product especially to those who have dry and sensitive scalp. Overall I really enjoyed this product however I didn't love the smell.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Intense Quench

Name: Intense Quench Deep Conditioner

Ingredients: Aqueous Extracts of Amla, Bhringraj, Comfrey, Ginger, Hibiscus, Horsetail, Irish Moss; Neem, St. John’s Wort, Strawberry, & Yucca; Distilled Water; Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol; Soy Wax; Fractionated Coconut Oil; Vegetable Glycerin; dL-Panthenol; Organic Aloe Vera; Hydrolyzed Soy Protein; Cyclomethicone; Dimethicone; Wheat Germ Oil; Olive Oil Infused With Amla, Bhringraj, Burdock, Comfrey, Horsetail, Kelp, Neem, Stinging Nettle, & Yucca; Cupuaçu Butter; Sorbitol; Potassium Sorbate; Sodium PCA; Vegetable Glycerin; Polyquaternium-10; Citric Acid; Acacia Gum; Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (Paraben & Formeldahyde-Free Preservative); Menthol Crystals; Silk Amino Acids; Honey; Vitamin E; Essential Oils of Bergaptene-Free Bergamot, Coriander, Lavender, Lime, Litsea Cubea, & Palmarosa.

Product promise: A unique blend of botanicals, herbs, proteins and emollients that are nourishing from the inside out. Continued use will make hair will be stronger, fuller, and more vibrant.

Review: After cleansing my hair and scalp with Get Clean! I applied Intense Quench to my previously sectioned hair, covered with a plastic cap, and let it sit for 20-25 minutes. I then rinsed the product completely out of my hair. My hair felt soft but I can't say that I was wowed by this conditioner. The consistency was thinner than I prefer my deep conditioners to be. Although I had previously detangled and sectioned my hair, the Intense Quench did provide good slip and would have worked well if detangling was needed.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Lux Locks

Name: Lux Locks Styling & Shine

Ingredients: Distilled Water; Vegetable Glycerin; Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol; Soy Butter; Ucuuba Butter; Soy Wax; Olive Oil Infused With Amla, Bhringraj, Burdock, Comfrey, Horsetail, Kelp, Neem, Stinging Nettle, & Yucca; Jojoba Esters; Castor Oil; Organic Unrefined Shea Butter; Fractionated Coconut Oil; Beeswax; Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol  (Paraben & Formeldahyde-Free Preservative); HE-Cellulose; Polyquaternium-10; Organic Aloe Vera; Vitamin E; Essential Oils of Black Pepper, Clove, Rose, Rosewood, Vanilla (3% Dilution), & Ylang Ylang.

Product promise: A rich styling butter that delivers moisture, shine and definition, all in one delicious little package.

Review: I used the Lux Locks on twist that I would use to create a fab twist out. My hair totally loved this stuff and I loved the thick, creamy consistency. On dry hair I applied about a dime size amount of product to each section from root to tip focusing on my ends. It actually felt as if the product melted into each section. I let the twist set over night and then removed them the next morning. As promised Lux Locks provided moisture, shine, and definition to my hair. I was able to wear the same twist out for 5 days preserved by pineappling and retwisting only the small section of hair that frames my face. This is a great product that I would definitely recommend for us type 4 gals. 

Rating: 5 out of 5

Hair Bling

Name: Hair Bling High Shine Pomade

Ingredients: Jojoba Oil; Jojoba Esters; Mango Butter; Tucuma Butter; Beeswax; Stearic Acid; Vitamin E; Essential Oils of Bergaptene-Free Bergamot, Clary Sage, Grapefruit, Lavender, Tangerine & Vanilla (3% Dilution).

Product promise: To deliver high shine along with amazing softness and subtle hold.

Review: After twisting my hair with Lux Locks I used the Hair Bling to seal in the moisture particularly on my ends. I also rubbed a small amount in my hands prior to taking down my twist to help prevent frizz. The results: shiny, soft twist. This product was highly recommended by several naturalistas and as many of them claimed Hair Bling was one of the top natural pomades. I really liked this product and the way it left my hair blinging. 

Rating: 5 out of 5

Here is a picture of my twist out on day 2, I LOVED the shine and definition!!

So I'm sure you are all wondering how you can get your hands on these products. Check out http://www.originalmoxie.com/ for a full list of products, pricing, and more. 

Disclaimer: I was given the above mentioned products solely for the purpose of completing this review. I was NOT paid or encouraged to provide a positive review. I have given an honest description of my experience with these products and I am in no way responsible for your experience with the product and/or company.

 

Got Moisture?

 

One of the first things you are taught as a natural is the importance of keeping your hair moisturized. With kinky hair this can a bit tricky as our hair cuticles don't lay flat and that basically provides an open door for moisture to escape. We are constantly told to MOISTURIZE and SEAL our hair! Once you have the stand moisturized it's important to trap the moisture in by using an oil or butter.

So you are probably wondering why I decided to dedicate an entire blog post to such a basic, natural hair 101 concept. Well, it's simply because people are not getting it! I can't tell you how many times I see product reviews where people swear the product moisturized their hair but the product contains not an ounce of water. I even see butter based products advertized as moisturizers. These products will help retain moisture but moisturize alone?....absolutely not! 

The reason I started this blog was to help others avoid making the same mistakes I did. I was once that girl who believed moisture could be in the form of an oil and if products were advertized as a moisturizer it must be. Now, the first thing I do is check the ingredient label to make sure water is listed as one of the first few ingredients. While I do NOT claim to know it all, I can truly testify to the importance of moisture. My hair has improved drastically since introducing it to water. I always spritz my hair with water or use water based leave-ins such as Reve' Essentials Hair & Body Moisturizer to quench my hair's thirst. I also make sure I drink my 8 cups of water daily. 

With that being said my Kinky Kurlfriends, please, please, please moisturize those strands and make sure you are paying attention to product labels...I promise your hair will thank you for it later!!

Until next time...keep it kinky!! 

xoxo

Product Review-Terressentials Organic Pure Earth Hair Wash

Name: Terressentials Organic Pure Earth Hair Wash

Ingredients: (fragrance free wash) Organic aloe vera juice, clay minerals, organic extracts of organic linden flower, organic nettle, organic chamomile and organic shavegrass.**

Price: 2 fl oz $4, 8 fl oz $10.75, 16 fl oz $20.50

Where to buy: http://www.terressentials.com/haircare.html

Product promise: Taken directly from Terressentials website: Try it for yourself to find out what everyone is talking about! Our revolutionary Pure Earth Hair Wash does an incredibly beautiful job of cleaning your hair without any chemical detergents, foam boosters, protein thickeners and coating agents, emulsifiers, preservatives or fragrance. Our Pure Earth Hair Wash is simple, pure and effective. Leaves nothing on your hair, so your hair will be clean, full, soft and shiny. Once you've experienced it, you'll never want to use anything else! Works well for thin or fine, normal or wavy hair, and sensitive or irritated scalps. Kids love our "mud," too!

Review: So if any of you follow Naptural85 on YouTube you already know that she totally raves about this product. I seen her video a few months ago where she explained how she discovered it and I immediately wanted to try it until...I read that it was not recommended for chemically treated (relaxed or colored) hair. Interested in how an all natural organic product could be bad for chemically treated hair I decided to do a little more research. Upon viewing the Terressentials FAQs on their site I discovered the reason this wash was not recommend for chemically treated hair was simply because it would not provide the same feeling of having healthy hair as synthetic products do. Since I only have a small section of hair that is colored and I normally use all natural hair products I figured using the mud wash wouldn't be so bad but I really wanted to try the product before purchasing my own. Then my ever so gracious curlfriend and head Kinky Peach, Monique sent me some to try. Now let me tell you, she absolutely loves this stuff so it was definitely out of the kindness of her heart that she shared it with me! Anywho, back to the review, I used the product Saturday evening to cleanse my hair. I did not pre-poo, I just soaked my hair with water and applied the wash to a small section of hair, detangled, and twisted until my entire head was covered with product and in twist. I let it sit on my hair for about 30 minutes and then with the twist still in I rinsed the mud wash out until the water ran clear. Soon as I touched my hair I knew this was a little bottle of goodness. My hair was amazingly soft and felt so clean. I have never been able to cleanse my hair (relaxed or natural) and feel like I did not need a conditioner until now. After cleansing my hair I applied a small amount of a leave-in and sealed with a shea butter mix and the next day my hair still felt so freakin soft!!

 

Summary: So clearly this is my initial review of the Terressentials Organic Pure Earth Hair Wash as I've only used the product once however, I truly believe me and this wash will have a lasting relationship. I can use it and not feel like I'm cheating on Reve' Essentials since we do not offer a similar product. So until we do this will be my wash of choice. As always please do your own research and make a decision on what is best for you and your hair!

Rating: 5 out of 5

**scented washes include additional ingredients

Product Review-Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner

Name: Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner

Ingredients: Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Jojoba Oil, Panthenol, Silk Amino Complex, Coconut Milk, Egg White Protein, Coconut Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate- Vitamin E, Tetrasodium EDTA, Fragrance, DMDM Hydantoin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

Price: 13 fl oz $6.99

Where to buy: Target, Ulta, Walgreens, Walmart

Product promise: organic coconut milk nourishes your hair, while ultra whipped egg white proteins add strength and elasticity, and weightless coconut oils add hydration and balance.

Review: I've been wanting to try the Orgnix line for a while so when I learned that Walgreens had a BOGO free sale going on I thought it would be the perfect time to try it out. I've only cowashed my hair using the conditioner once so this is my initial reaction to the product. First of all the product smells great! I love the scent of coconut so I figured  I would enjoy this. It provided good slip making it fairly easy to detangle my hair. While the product was in my hair it felt soft however once I rinsed it out my hair did not feel as great. I attribute this to the fact that this product and several other Organix products contain silicone. Silicone is said to create the illusion of silky hair because it coats and smooths the hair cuticle making it appear to be healthy. For this reason a lot of naturals avoid using products that contain silicone. That's a story for another day so let me get back to the review. After rinsing my hair I sealed my ends with EVCO and put it in about 8 chunky twist. I didn't want to use any other products that may cause my review to be skewed. This morning my hair smells great but unfortunately feels really dry. I am really disappointed but can't say I'm surprised, my review seems to be aligned with several other reviews I read online.

Summary: Not the best product for this 4a/b naturalista. I like the price and fragrance but the silicone and drying effect it had on my hair is a no no!!! I will save this product and try to give it away at a product swap. I don't foresee buying the product again.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

Product Review-Reve' Essentials Hair & Body Butter

8oz Hair & Body Butter

Name: Hair & Body Butter

Ingredients: raw unrefined shea butter, olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, castor oil, vitamin E oil, fragrance
(contains ingredients that are derived from nuts, if you have a nut allergy please seek medical advise before using)

Price: 4 oz jar $8, 8 oz jar $12

Where to buy: www.ReveEssentials.blogspot.com

Product promise: to lock moisture into the hair and skin, soften dry and rough skin

Review: Most of you know that my friend Rebecca and I started a natural hair and body care line so you are probably thinking my review of our product will be biased but I assure you that I am sharing my honest opinion. While I stand behind all of our products the Hair & Body Butter is by far my favorite of them all. I use this product on both my hair and body. On my hair I usually apply it to freshly washed or refreshed hair to lock in moisture when twisting my hair. I apply a leave-in conditioner to my hair and then less than a dime size amount of butter to each section that I am going to twist. The results are a well defined, soft, and moisturized twist out. On my body I apply the butter after getting out of the shower. I pat my skin dry so that all the moisture is not wiped away and then add the butter to my body focusing on my feet, elbows, and hands. These are the driest parts or my body but after continued use I can say that these areas are a lot softer. I have very sensitive skin and I have eczema. There aren't many products I can use on my body that will not cause irritation but this product does not bother me at all. I will definitely continue to use Reve' Essentials Hair & Body Butter and hope that you will to!

Summary: In my opinion this is a quality product that is reasonably priced and I would recommend it to others. A little product goes a long way so you will definitely get your money's worth.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Starting A Natural Hair & Body Care Line-Q&A w/Me

Many of you know that my friend Rebecca Williams and I recently launched a natural hair and body care line. As more and more people find out about this venture I am asked tons of questions about the line so I decided to create a post to address the questions I have received. Hopefully my answers will help you all understand what was going on in my head when deciding to take on this challenge. Here goes...

What made you decide to start a natural product line?

As I did research to find out what ingredients and existing product lines would work for my hair I began mixing up stuff and using it on my own hair. I tried and liked many natural product lines but I always found myself adding a little bit of this or that to the product to get exactly what I wanted. People started stopping me and asking what I was using in my hair and request that I make them something. So every now and then I would mix up something for a friend and find pleasure in them enjoying the products. I was proud that these lil creations were working for myself and others. I considered creating products and sharing them with more than just my immediate circle. I threw the idea around playfully as I NEVER in a million years thought I would really do it but to my surprise I found a lot of people tell me that they would be interested in trying some of my products. I proposed the idea to Rebecca and asked if she would be willing to join me and just like that we took off with the idea full force.

What makes your natural product line different than existing lines?

I think the biggest thing that makes our product line different is the reason behind us starting it. Neither one of us looked at this just as a financial opportunity but as a way to offer others quality products that we stand behind and feel will help others maintain healthy hair and skin. There are no products that we would sell others that we don't or won't use ourselves. We make all of our products and each batch contains a little bit of love and care!!

Hair & Body Butter

What challenges have you faced with starting a product line?

The biggest challenge has been picking a brand name...which we have yet to do...lol! Ideally we would love a name that really encompasses what we have to offer. Our products are currently being used by natural and relaxed individuals so we don't want the product name to be directed towards a particular group. We think the best way to avoid excluding people would be to focus on the fact that the products are natural and handmade. 

Another challenge is marketing and selling the products however, I'm sure once we decide on a name this will become a tad bit easier. We have to find a way to make our products stand out above the rest so that one day we can compete with the popular name brands. Now I'm completely aware that we are not Carol's Daughter but at the same time I realize that even Lisa Price had to start some where. So while we may never reach her level of success I definitely believe that we can be very successful!

How did you decide what products to offer?

We wanted to start by introducing the basics (shampoo and conditioner) and as we continue we will gradually add more items to the product line that are both needed and suggested by our customers. We now offer a hair and body butter that acts a a great moisture sealant and more recently added a hair and body scrub to our list of products. Very soon we will offer body washes, body lotions, and much much more!!

What should we expect from the product line?

Quality products with simple all natural ingredients at reasonable prices!!

What personal goals would you like to reach with the product line?

I  have already reached one of them which was the most important for me...finding something that I am extremely passionate about and actually enjoy doing. It's crazy because two years ago if you would have asked me would I be a natural I would have looked at you side ways. Now not only do I feel like going natural was one of the best decisions I made I have a freakin' hair and body care line!! It may sound silly but in my opinion no dream is too big so I hope and pray that in the future my passion will become my main source of income. I would love to devote the majority of my time and energy doing something that I love and know that I can do well!

 

Hair & Body Scrub

How do we get our hands on your products?

Our website is in the works so for now you can either inbox me on Facebook or email us directly at EveandBec@yahoo.com