Lustrasilk Aloe Vera Cholesterol: Super Detangling Formula for Extremely Dry or Damaged Hair

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I have been using Hollywood Beauty’s Olive Cholesterol since February of last year (2013). I loved it so much that I did a product review on it in July (2013). However, my stash began to run out, and I needed to buy some replacements. I received an Amazon gift card, so I decided to see if they carried my beloved deep conditioner. They did! But, to my everlasting surprise, they had a list price of $12.49 for ONE 20 oz. jar with a so-called sale price of $6.80 (+ $3.10 shipping)! Are they kidding? I can get this from my local Dollar General for $3.20, and that’s INCLUDING tax! 

Sadly, I had to pass on that wallet-buster of a deal. But, I still needed a deep conditioner. Straying from my staple Hollywood Beauty (HB) Cholesterol seemed wrong, but I didn’t really need to purchase anything else from Amazon, so I reluctantly searched for a deep conditioner that could tide me over until I could make it to my Dollar General. In my search to settle, I stumbled upon an old favorite brand: Lustrasilk. This was the same company that made my cherished Shea Butter Cholesterol. Only this cholesterol from Amazon came in a 5 lb., salon-sized container. Although, it is also available in a 20 oz. jar.

VS.

I nervously took the plunge and anxiously awaited for my package to arrive. I had one more portion of my HB Cholesterol left. So, I used it. Once my package arrived, the time quickly came for me to deep condition my hair again. I did my normal routine. I shampooed and conditioned my hair. Then, I applied my new Lustrasilk Aloe Vera Cholesterol. I gotta say, I didn’t expect much. After all, this cholesterol had pretty big Hollywood Beauty shoes to fill …

THE CLAIMS:
Lustrasilk Aloe Vera Cholesterol is carefully formulated with deep conditioning agents that treat dry, chemically-treated, or extremely damaged hair. Aloe Vera extract has been added for increased moisturizing properties and to provide extra protection from hot curling irons and blow dryers. Leaves hair shiny and easy to manage.

THE INSTRUCTIONS:
Shampoo and towel dry. Apply cream to hair and scalp. Leave on for 3-5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water. For extra conditioning of overly dry or damaged hair, repeat the process. Style as usual.

THE RESULTS:
The Lustrasilk Cholesterol has a light, mild fragrance that is very pleasant. I always deep condition under a hooded dryer for 20-30 minutes with a processing cap. The first time I used this cholesterol, I used it straight from the container after shampooing and conditioning my hair. It isn’t as thick as my HB Cholesterol, yet it still managed to really moisturize my coils. It softened my tresses and left it extremely detangled. I got the same root-to-tip tangle-free results as my HB Cholesterol, all without pre-detangling my hair. (Gasp!)

It also really made all three textures of my coils (3C, 4A, and 4B) POP, just like my HB Cholesterol. However, when I used the HB Cholesterol, as soon as I rinsed the cholesterol out of my hair, the definition melted away. Not so with the Lustrasilk! Even after rinsing out the product, I had AHHHMAZING curl definition. So much so that I didn’t want to ruin it by adding any product to my hair. But, I know all too well the dangers of not moisturizing and sealing one’s hair properly, so I resisted the temptation. (Sigh.) Nevertheless, this cholesterol worked so well that if I cannot purchase my HB Cholesterol from Dollar General, for some reason, I would definitely buy Lustrasilk Aloe Vera instead.

I spent $19.47 at amazon.com for 5 lbs. of product (the equivalent of four 20 oz. jars) and qualified for Free Super Saver Shipping. While this salon-sized container cost me $6.67 more than four 20 oz. jars of the Hollywood Beauty Cholesterol, it is still pretty inexpensive for the quantity received. I deep condition my hair once a week, so this 5 lb. jar will last me about 10 months (or 38-40 uses)! Not too shabby for twenty bucks! 

While this cholesterol does contain mineral oil, which I don’t particularly care for, it is the ninth ingredient. Although it doesn’t have the same goodies I love from my Hollywood Beauty Cholesterol (i.e., castor oil, olive oil, glycerin, tea tree oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, egg protein, as well as aloe vera, rosemary, sage, white nettle, and chamomile extracts), it works just as well. It also has the benefit of not smelling like grape candy on steroids.    🙂

Here’s hoping Lustrasilk doesn’t discontinue this beauty like they did their shea butter cholesterol …

Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment: Is It Really the Best Darn Deep Treatment?

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All right. So, I decided to give Miss Jessie’s another chance. I haven’t used the brand since I tried the Curly Buttercreme. Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment seemed like the perfect product for round two.

THE CLAIMS

Want long curly hair? Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment is an essential curly hair care treatment for growing out naturally curly, kinky, and wavy hair. Healthy growth and length is what most curlies covet. Miss Jessie’s can assist you in this process. An elongated curl has more bounce, is more manageable, and is less prone to frizz. Be super sweet to your curls.

Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment is a decadent softening treatment that ensures your curls reach a long, luxurious length. This rich treatment, full of shea butter and centella extract, is a growth stimulant that promotes long, healthy curls. Your hair is going to love you for this!

THE INGREDIENTS 
Water (Aqua), Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cyclomethicone (and) Dimethiconol, Lauryl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Fragrance, Dimethicone, DMDM Hydantoin (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Ceteareth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Liposome (Centella Asiatica), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, EDTA Disodium, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, D&C Red #33, Citric Acid

THE RESULTS
First of all, this deep treatment smells like cotton candy on steroids. I am NOT a fan of the sickly sweet fragrance. Ick! Thankfully, it subsides several minutes after application. Smell aside, it has a great consistency. It is very thick and creamy, and easily glided into my strands. Since I used a hooded dryer, I shingled the treatment into my hair and left the product on for 15-20 minutes prior to rinsing out.

Although this deep conditioner left my hair soft and elongated my hair, it did not live up to its other claims. It DID NOT leave my hair less frizzy. It DID NOT make my hair more manageable. While this product semi-stretched my hair, it also left it extremely fuzzy and poofy.

On top of all this, I almost lost ALL of my normal curl/coil definition. So much so that I was scared that the treatment had chemically altered my hair in some way. Seriously, I frantically reread the product label to make sure I had not inadvertently damaged my hair. I just about had a heart attack! The only part of my hair that was unscathed was the third of my hair that has a looser 3c curl pattern (at the front crown of my head). I had to use my Lustrasilk Aloe Vera Cholesterol to get my curls/coils to return! And, after looking at the ingredient list more closely, I can’t imagine this “treatment” assisting with the growth or length retention of my hair.

To make matters worse, Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment is priced like a commodity on the New York Stock Exchange: $9.00 for 2 ounces; $26.00  $18.00 for 8 ounces; $48.00 $32.00 for 16 ounces. (Update: A few months after this post published, they permanently reduced the price for the 8 oz. and 16 oz. container … Hmmm.) I mean, really? A 2 oz. jar of this stuff is three times more than one 20 oz. jar of my Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol. THREE TIMES MORE!!! And, less effective! So, in case you’re wondering if there will be a round three, don’t bother.

The best darn deep treatment? Sorry Miss Jessie’s but, next time, I’ll have to pass. I’ve finally learned my lesson. I’m saving my money. Period.

Roots of Nature Remedies for Natural Hair: Butter Whip Coil Cream with Mango Oil and Brazilian Cupuacu Butter

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Roots of Nature® Butter Whip Coil Cream™ with mango oil and Brazilian cupuacu (coo-poo-wah-soo) butter by Softsheen Carson offers to deeply nourish and condition natural hair while transforming dull, shrunken coils into lasting, soft, elongated, shiny coils. Found in the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest, moisturizing cupuacu butter has for generations been a Brazilian secret for beautiful hair. Combined with softening mango oil, this whipped coil cream is supposed to stretch and define each coil with just the right amount of hold for twists, braid-outs, and TWAs (teeny weeny afros).

SUMMARY of CLAIMS:
New Roots of Nature Remedies for Natural Hair gives 24-hour curl definition leading salon brands can’t beat!* • Nourishes and conditions while defining curls and providing hold. • Shields curls from humidity, without the crunch or shrinkage. • Helps promote strong-growing hair.**
* In tests of Roots of Nature® Feather Whipped Curl Cream and Butter Whip Coil versus Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding and Roots of Nature Curl Reviving Spray versus DevaCurl Set it Free.
 ** Smoothes the cuticle to help reduce breakage so hair can grow longer.

This moisturizing cream retails for $7.99, but my sister found it at my local Dollar Tree. After scooping up a few jars of the Feather Whipped Curl Cream, I decided to go back and purchase a couple of jars of this as well to see how I liked it. At only a dollar, I figured I should try both creams to see which one I liked better.

Like the Feather Whipped Curl Cream, the Butter Whip Coil Cream is free of drying alcohol, mineral oil, parabens, and petrolatum, and comes in a 6.1 oz. container (180 ml). However, I had to use more product than the curl cream to achieve the same results. I also noticed that the curl cream has more of a fragrant scent whereas the coil cream smells nice but is less perfumey. 

The consistency of the coil cream is extremely thick. Although the curl cream didn’t move when I held it upside down, it jiggled when I shook the jar from side to side. The coil cream, on the other hand, doesn’t move AT ALL (not even when the container is shaked). It is THAT thick. In addition, the coil cream has a creamy consistency unlike the curl cream that felt slightly tacky to the touch. 

The instructions for both products are identical. So, I shampooed, conditioned, and deep conditioned my hair. Then, I finger raked the coil cream through my drenching wet hair, shingling the product into my strands in large sections.  I smoothed the product over my tresses until all of my hair was evenly coated.

Just like the Feather Whipped Curl Cream, the Butter Whip Coil Cream INSTANTLY defrizzed my hair. However, I noticed that I had to smooth and resmooth sections of my hair, especially my 4B hair on the sides of my head near my temples. which is kind of funny since the coil cream is made for kinkier hair textures! Nevertheless, the coil cream did what it promised by separating, elongating, and defining my mostly 4A hair. Even my 3c curls at the top and front of my crown cooperated. This was NO small task since I have three different textures on my head.

Even when my hair completely air dried, the coil cream gave my hair crunch-free hold that left my strands moisturized and pliable. The next day, I revived my wash ‘n go with my DIY hair spritz and fluffed my hair. At night, I donned a satin bonnet. And, the following morning I refreshed my curls once again with my homemade spritz.

By day four, however, my hair was starting to look somewhat frizzy (especially the 4B areas of my hair, oddly enough), and my curl definition had noticeably faded. Also, my hair was starting to feel a wee bit parched. So, on day five, I co-washed and reapplied the coil cream to freshen my style. I probably could have made it another day, but I wasn’t liking all the little poofy, dehydrated areas of my hair. In fact, truth be told, I ideally would have preferred to co-wash on day four, but my schedule simply wouldn’t allow it.

The following week, I tried this product with a braid-out. I wore the braids (pinned up in an up-do) for five days and then undid them and wore a braid-out for two days. I used my homemade hair spritz to keep my braids moisturized. They stayed in place until I undid them on day six. 

Although I like this Butter Whip Coil Cream, I prefer the Feather Whipped Curl Cream. The formula of the curl cream seemed to work better on all three of my hair textures. The curl cream is also lighter (not as heavy on my hair), requires less hair manipulation, and I don’t have to use as much product. When I used the curl cream, I only had to apply it ONCE over a seven-day period, and I never had to reapply any additional product throughout the week whereas the coil cream required two applications/uses within the same time frame. Although I prefer to wash my hair once a week, it’s nice to know that, in a pinch, I wouldn’t have to, and my hair would still look great!

If the curl cream was unavailable, I wouldn’t mind substituting it with the coil cream since both products worked similarly. However, the curl cream was more economical in terms of the amount required to style and the fact that I did not have to reapply product during the week. Moreover, I think the curl cream gave me slightly better-looking results. What do you think? Check out the pics below and compare for yourself.

Feather Whipped Curl Cream (DAY 6 HAIR)

Butter Whip Coil Cream  (DAY 1 HAIR)

Believe me, you don’t want to know what my hair looked like on day 5 … It was a hot mess! LOL!

Finger Coils (Single Strand Twists) on Short Natural Hair

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From the beginning of my natural hair journey, when I Big Chopped, I’ve loved the look of single strand twists. It has become my go-to style. This is probably because it is a style anyone can rock with a mere two-inches of hair and beyond. I also love that it is something that I can do ONCE that will last for an entire week. So, it is a low-manipulation style with great staying power. Here’s how I do it …

Technique

If you want perfect coils and don’t mind spending extra time parting and dividing your hair, creating twists with a comb or the end of a rattail comb may be the best option for you. However, because I have multiple textures of hair on my head,  I like my hair to have a more natural, organic feel. I also don’t want to spend four hours twisting my hair, so I prefer to create single strand twists with the built-in hair tool God gave me … my fingers! Depending on how quickly I work, I can usually do this in 45-60 minutes.

1. Start with freshly washed or co-washed hair.
   • Lightly blot hair dry so that it is not sopping wet.
2. Divide out a section of your hair with a comb and use hair clips to hold the rest of your hair out of the way.
   • Or, you can do it freehand like I do: I finger part and only use my hands.
   • You can start from anywhere you would like on your head, although starting from front to back or vice versa will make it easier to ensure you don’t miss any sections of hair.
3. Divide the section of hair that’s out into even smaller sections.
   • You can make as many smaller sections as you want, depending on the size that you want the twists to be.
   • I usually just finger part the bottom third of my hair and pin the top two-thirds out of the way. Then, I split the parted ⅓ section in half to make it easier to manage and clip the other half of the hair in the section up.
4. Lightly mist each section of hair. You can use water or a water-based leave-in conditioner of choice. Then, seal with a light oil, and apply gel for hold.
   • Do this for each section of hair.
   • I use water and some of my homemade Eco Styler custard.
   • You will likely need to remoisten your hair with water or a water-based leave-in throughout the process to prevent your hair from drying out.
5. With my left hand, I hold the loose section of hair. Then, with my right hand, I use my thumb and index finger to grab a smaller section of hair.
   • Grab as large or small a section of hair as you want.
   • The amount you grab will determine the size of your single strand twists.
6. Position your index finger in the middle of the small section of hair and twirl the strands of hair around your finger, moving your finger up and down in a tight circular motion to get the hair to wrap around your finger.
   • The small section of hair will now be in a tightly formed coil.
7. Repeat twisting the hair, working section by section until you have created single strand twists all over your head.
   • Have frizzy roots? Twist each small section of hair with the index finger of your right hand while holding the same strands of hair at the root with your left hand and gentle twirl the roots (as if creating a Senegalese twist).
   • Do both actions simultaneously, and you will have perfectly coiled (and non-frizzy) single strand twists.

* NOTE: For a more detailed example of how to do single strand twists, check out MsRosieVelt’s YouTube video: 

Products Used

• I generally use water (or a water-based leave-in) and my homemade Eco Styler custard.
• Recently, though, I wanted to see how well my finger coils would turn out with a non-gel-based product. So, I tried to do finger coils using water and Luster’s S-Curl No Drip Activator Moisturizer. It turned out just as good! So, this is a great alternative for those of you who don’t like to use gel (or hate the hard-crunch hold that gel creates).

Maintenance

• I wrap my hair at night with a satin scarf (or use a satin bonnet).
• The following morning, I lightly mist my hair with my DIY glycerin hair moisturizer and gingerly fluff my finger coils to refresh my style.
• If needed, I remist my hair at night right before I go to bed and rewrap my hair in a satin scarf.
• You may need to recoil any stray or stubborn areas. I usually have to recoil 5-7 pieces each morning. However, it literally takes me only a minute or two to do so.
• My finger coils always last 6-7 days when I follow this method.
• NOTE: I also got my finger coils to last 5 days using the no-gel method (water + Luster’s S-Curl). I can often stretch the style to 7 days, but it starts to look a little worn after five days, so I sometimes randomly recoil about a third of my hair on day five if I need the style to last for two more days.

Finger Coils on 2.5-inch Hair

Finger Coils on 4-inch Hair

Finger Coils on 4.75-inch Hair

Finger Coils on 5.5-inch Hair with Eco Styler Custard

Finger Coils on 5.5-inch Hair with Luster’s S-Curl

 

Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol

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Ok. So, Lustrasilk Shea Butter Cholesterol PLUS was discontinued earlier this year, and I have been on the hunt for an inexpensive replacement ever since. I even contacted Sally Beauty Supply as a last-ditch effort to procure more of the product. But, they told me once their stores sold out of it, that would be it. Lucky for me, every store within a 50-mile radius of my house was sold out! [Insert temper tantrum of choice here …]

I loved that cholesterol because it was super affordable and did not contain any mineral oil, lanolin, or petroleum. All I did was add some natural oils to it prior to deep conditioning, sat under a hooded dryer, rinsed, and called it a day.

I have searched high and low for a comparable product, but most of the all-natural products I found were just over-the-top expensive for the amount I would receive. Or, their commercial counterparts just contained too many harsh ingredients. I was looking for a product with a nice balance between the two … something without too many crazy ingredients that could moisturize my coils without breaking the bank. Well, guess what? I found it!

Deep conditioner? Thy name is Hollywood Beauty Olive Cholesterol!

This stuff is the business! It has a very strong fragrance, which kind of reminds me of grape candy. When I first opened the lid and took a whiff, I thought, “What on Earth did I just buy?” I’m not going to lie. I almost lost it. The fragrance is potent. The Olive Cholesterol smells as if that girl on WIlly Wonka and the Chocolate Factory who chewed the blueberry bubble gum ingested 5 tons of grape candy instead and then exploded in a 20 oz. jar.

Seriously.

But, when you see the stellar results, you’re going to want to put on your Big Girl pants and deal. It’s that good!

The instructions say to add the product after shampooing and to wrap a moist towel around your head for 5-10 minutes. They suggest adding a few drops of their olive oil for improved shine. I ditched the towel, added extra virgin olive oil, donned a processing cap, and sat under my hooded dryer for 20-30 minutes.

The first time I tried the Olive Cholesterol, I used it straight from the container after shampooing and conditioning my hair. The second time I used the Cholesterol, I added some extra virgin olive oil to it and put it on my dry hair prior to co-washing. The third time, I added extra virgin olive oil and 5-7 drops of rosemary essential oil, and then put it on my dry hair. However, I just rinsed it out without doing anything else, essentially using it as a co-wash.

I’ve been using this Cholesterol for five months now (since the end of February). As a result, I’ve tried several deviations: using the product as is,  adding olive oil directly to my hair, adding olive oil to the cholesterol and mixing it (and then adding it to my hair), adding olive oil directly to my hair and to the cholesterol, adding olive oil and a few drops of essential oil, deep conditioning prior to co-washing, deep conditioning after co-washing, deep conditioning after shampooing and conditioning, co-washing …  you name it.

However I chose to use this product, my hair felt like butter afterward! This Cholesterol works so well that I didn’t even have to dry finger detangle my hair prior to use. It literally melted away all the knots and kinks in my hair. My hair was so soft and tangle-free that I could comb my hair from root to tip. I never do that (and I don’t recommend it as a general practice), but that is how great of a job it did with detangling my coils and curls. Even after wearing  my hair in a wash ‘n go for a week, I got the same results!

It also really made my curls POP, which is saying a lot given all the textures on my head. My hair is mostly 4A, but I have a section of 3C curls at the top front of the crown of my head. I also have some 4B at my temples and above my ears that just never curls (or coils). This Cholesterol works so well that even my 4B sections of hair that never obeys me without manipulation of some sort (i.e., two-strand twists or finger coils) became more defined. I’m not joking. My hair looked and felt so good that I didn’t want to rinse any of the product out!

This Cholesterol moisturized and defined my coils so well that I think I’m going to experiment with trying to use this (or maybe a watered down version) for a wash ‘n go look. This product would be great for virtually any kinky curly texture and works well as a pre-poo, co-washer, regular conditioner, or deep conditioner.  I’ve tried ’em all!

And, the best part? I spent $3 ($3.20, including tax) for it at Dollar General! Walgreens, CVS, Target, and Amazon also carry it at a similar price range.

Did you hear me? $3 for 20 oz. of product. One jar lasts me about 2.5 months (or 9-10 uses)! I deep condition my hair once a week, and I am very generous in my application of the product. I heavily coat each strand. But, even if your hair is longer, it would probably last you at least a month to a month-and-a-half. Maybe more. But, even if it didn’t, did I mention that it’s only $3? Even a diva on a strict budget can afford that!

Although this Cholesterol DOES contain mineral oil, which you all know I have never been a fan of, it is the tenth ingredient. It also has other goodies I love like castor oil, olive oil, glycerin, tea tree oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, egg protein, as well as aloe vera, rosemary, sage, white nettle, and chamomile extracts. Besides, given how well my hair responds to this product, the strong candy smell is something I’m willing to deal with. In fact, I’m going back to DG now to stock up!

Grape smell? What grape smell? DG, here I come!

Regimen for Transitioning Hair

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This is the regimen that I have come up with for my transitioning (mostly 4A) hair.

Weekly Routine
Wash 1x a week (moisturizing sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner)
Deep condition 2x a week
Co-wash 2x a week (with one co-wash, I deep condition before)
Massage scalp with castor oil 3x a week

Nightly Routine
Moisturize and seal
Cover hair with a satin scarf

Monthly Routine
Protein treatment 1-2x a month
Heat pass (no more than 1x a month)

Trim only when needed

GENERAL GOALS
Stay away from heat on a daily basis
Air dry
Use more low manipulation/protective styles

Sunday: Shampoo, condition, deep condition, and massage scalp with castor oil

Wednesday: Deep condition, co-wash, and massage scalp with castor oil

Friday: Co-wash and massage scalp with castor oil