Garnier Fructis Miraculous Oil for Dry to Very Dry Hair

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I’ve had mixed results with the Garnier Fructis brand. The first time I tried one of their product lines was about a year-and-a-half ago. It was not too long after their Honey Treasures Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner from Garnier’s Whole Blends hair care line came out. However, that shampoo and conditioner wreaked havoc on my hair! About a year later, I tried the Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Finishing Paste as a fluke and ended up liking it!

I never really tried anything else from their line until my sister gave me a bottle of their Marvelous Oil for Dry, Damaged Hair a while ago. I’ve been using it for the last year. Unfortunately, I just never really had the time to write a blog post about it or do a video review. But, I definitely think it’s worth a mention. I have since transitioned to using Garnier’s Miraculous Oil for Dry to Very Dry Hair because I couldn’t find their Marvelous Oil for Dry, Damaged Hair locally. I do prefer the Marvelous Oil over the Miraculous Oil, but both are still quite good. What I like best about these products is that they are multitaskers. They act as a (1) pre-shampoo treatment, (2) conditioner booster, (3) blow-dry accelerator, (4) ends finisher, and (5) overnight leave-in.

To use it as a pre-shampoo treatment, just apply the product to wet or dry hair before shampooing your hair. The Miraculous Oil acts as a primer to ensure gentle cleansing. Need a conditioner booster? Add a few drops of the oil to your fave conditioner to improve detangling. If you would prefer a blow-dry accelerator, apply the Miraculous Oil to damp hair to expedite the blow dry process. Your hair will dry faster than it would with a creamy leave-in. As an ends finisher, apply the oil to damp or dry hair to smooth frayed ends and tame flyaways. If an overnight leave-in is more your style, just work the product through wet or dry hair and leave in overnight to help restore suppleness and softness to your tresses.

So far I have used the Miraculous Oil as a pre-shampoo treatment, conditioner booster, and ends finisher. My hair simply loves this miracle elixir. I love the custom blend of ingredients, too! I especially like the inclusion of sweet almond oil, olive oil, avocado oil, sunflower seed oil, and rosemary leaf extract.

Ingredients

1041671 Fs5 Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Parfum/Fragrance, Linalool, Limonene, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil/Sweet Almond Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil/Olive Fruit Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil/Avocado Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil/Sunflower Seed Oil, Ci 75130/Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract/Rosemary Leaf Extract, Citric Acid. F.I.L.# D191042/1

It added shine to my hair without weighing it down or leaving behind any greasy residue. It also really helped to transform my dry, dull hair. The oil is super light and is easily absorbed by my hair. I like to sandwich it between my other hair products, (i.e., my hair moisturizer or thicker hair butters like mango butter and shea butter). While this oil smells amazing (slightly fruity with citrus undertones), it contains a high amount of fragrance (in terms of of quantity relative to other ingredients). Nonetheless, the texture is perfect … not overly thick (like castor oil) and not super thin (like extra virgin olive oil) … The pump top also provides greater control during application.

PROS

♥ Oil is lightweight and easily absorbed by hair.

♥ Oil does not leave any greasy residue.

♥ Oil treats dry, dull, and damaged hair.

♥ Oil multitasks as a pre-shampoo treatment,  conditioner booster, blow-dry accelerator, ends finisher, and overnight leave-in.

♥ Oil has a pleasant texture and smell.

♥  Pump top provides control for easy application.

 

 

CONS

– If you have type 3 or 4 hair, you may still need to follow up with a heavy butter like mango or shea like I did.

– Contains “dimethiconol,”  a silicone-based polymer.

– Contains a high amount of fragrance.

New Hair Strategies for the New Year (2018)

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After so many setbacks in the last two years of my natural hair journey, I’ve decided to make a huge overhaul of my hair care regimen. I spent the last six months of 2017 donating, selling, gifting, and using up my hair “product junkie” hauls. In the past, when my fave beauty supplier or retailer had a “buy 2, get 1 sale” or a 50% off promo, I felt the need to indulge even if my beauty cabinet was already stockpiled with shampoo, conditioner, and hair moisturizer. I felt like it gave me a chance to discover and try new products that would hopefully become my holy grail for cleansing, styling, and growing my hair. More is better right? Well, not always …

Truth be told, I am my family’s resident “go-to” for natural hair care product recommendations and samples, so I didn’t just horde my “extras!” I also don’t believe in being wasteful. Consequently, even when a product didn’t work for me, I always tried to find a way to repurpose it in a new way, remix it with other add-ons (like Jamaican black castor oil, apricot oil, or sweet almond oil), or augment it in with other products (i.e., deep conditioner) until used up. However, if my hair simply hates a product all-together, I’ll usually gift it to a family member or friend and then try to sell the unopened multiples. If that doesn’t work, I’ll donate it to a good cause (e.g., homeless shelter for women and children).

Two years (and several dozens of products) later, I have yet to find the ultimate product(s) to care for my multi-textured mane. I am hair product holy grail-less! I’ve endured the last 24 months of a barrage of brutal testing and trying of new products only to conclude that my hair didn’t mind yet didn’t love most of them or hated them all-together. I tried so many products, in fact, that I didn’t even have the time, effort, or energy to even blog about them all! Some worked (but only temporarily), others just didn’t even deserve an honorable mention. As a result, I tried to remember the last time I believed my hair was healthy and growing. After much thought and reflection, I’ve come to the conclusion that it was when I was DIYing most of my own hair products: from quick hair spritzes and leave-in conditioners to henna hair packs and hot oil treatments …

The only reason I stopped was because I made the decision to go to grad school to pursue an advanced degree. As a result of my harried work:school life balance, it just became impossible to DIY any of my hair products (let alone to spend the time blogging about my hair victories and misadventures! I barely had time to work, go to evening classes, sleep, and eat (or bother doing much else other than group projects and countless research). Sigh ..

So, I started to do one of the things that I do best … research … I investigated various ingredients and hair care strategies. After a six-month long quest, I determined that an Ayurvedic-based hair care regimen would be best for me. Ayurveda’s natural approach to hair maintenance is what convinced me to make the swap from traditional on-the-shelf hair products that never seem to “take” to my hair. While I already practice some whole body care (e.g., exercising, clean eating, drinking plenty of water, etc.), I have started to become more aware of some vitamin and mineral deficiencies (e.g., iron) despite my healthy dietary habits. In light of this, one of my goals for this year is to focus on an improved hair lifestyle … using natural hair care products (or creating my own) … better monitoring my vitamin intake … maintaining healthy hair practices (see Hair Moisture 101, Hair Moisture 201, Hair Moisture 301, and Hair Moisture 401) … and the like.

In this way, by year’s end, I hope to strengthen, grow, and retain a healthier head of hair. Because I have multi-textured tresses (e.g., a combination of 3 different hair textures ranging from 3C to 4B) that is also extremely fine (small in diameter) and fragile (breaks easily even when being gentle with my hair), this is a challenge under the best of circumstances. However, I am hopeful that switching to natural products and hair care practices will help me to grow and retain greater length and, more importantly, strengthen my hair in such a way that it is less prone to breakage.

I have probably used up or given away about 80% of my stash. The remaining 20% is predominately made up of deep conditioners (that I plan to use for henna glosses) and a couple of other odds and ends (i.e., for when I travel). Here are some of the ingredients I have invested in that I can’t wait to start creating with (or taking) in the near future:

1. Ayurvedic Powders: aloe vera, amla, bhringraj, cassia obovata, chamomile, fenugreek, henna, hibiscus, indigo, moringa, neem, rose petal, shikakai, and slippery elm
2. Clays: bentonite clay and kaolin clay (for skin care)
3. Essential Oils: bergamot, chamomile, cinnamon, clove, and ylang ylang. My essential oil collection already includes the usual suspects of tea tree, rosemary, lavender, and about a dozen other faves).😉
4. Floral Waters: lavender hydrosol, rose hydrosol, and ylang ylang hydrosol 
5. Humectants: glycerin and organic honey
6. Oils: almond oil, apricot oil, avocado oil, castor oil, Jamaican black castor oil, mango butter, rosehip oil, and unrefined shea butter
7. Vitamins: iron and SugarBearHair Hair Vitamins

I am also considering purchasing some soaping supplies to make my own body soap and (maybe) shampoo, but I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and skittish, so we shall see! However, I bought two books for added instruction and encouragement: (i.) Easy Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health, & Home, and (ii.). Simple & Natural Soapmaking.

Silk Elements MegaSilk Olive Moisturizing Treatment

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Ingredients

Water (Aqua, Eau), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Esters, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, Stearalkonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium PCA, Isopropyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth-12, Disodium EDTA, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Sodium Benzoate, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Hydrolyzed Silk, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate

Directions

Apply thoroughly to clean, damp hair, making sure ends are treated. Leave on 3-5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Can be used twice a week to help maintain hair health.

 

The Silk Elements’ Megasilk Olive Moisturizing Treatment is a sulfate-free formula that claims to moisturize, strengthen, and nourish strands while leaving hair soft and full of shine. Although the instructions state that this only needs to be left on for 3-5 minutes, because I have multi-textured hair, I always deep condition my hair for at least 20 minutes. If I have time, I’ll leave it on for 30 minutes.

I love that this contains avocado oil, olive oil, and hydrolyzed silk. Because of the hydrolyzed silk, this treatment could also double as a light protein treatment. Yet, it is still safe for weekly or bi-weekly use. As a result, this makes it perfect for both relaxed and natural hair.

The treatment has the scent of a low- to mid-range perfume. I’m not a huge fan of heavily scented products, especially products that smell like it should be spritzed on my neck or wrists! Thankfully, this has a slight perfume scent that is light and fleeting. NOT my favorite product smell, but thankfully it does not linger and is not obnoxiously strong.

Every time I used this Moisturizing Treatment, my hair was left soft and hydrated. Although it is not watery or liquidity, the product isn’t as thick as other hair masques or hair cholesterols I’ve used previously. In addition, this product did not make it easier or worse for me to detangle my hair. Overall, I think this is a decent deep conditioner for the product size and price (when on sale). While this treatment is not my all-time favorite deep conditoner, it gets the job done.

PROS

• • Sulfate-free (Behentrimonium Methosulfate IS NOT a sulfate; it is a compound naturally derived from rapeseed oil used to thicken, condition and detangle hair)
  • Paraben-free
  • Contains avocado oil, olive oil, and hydrolyzed silk
  • Great for dry hair
  • Perfect for both relaxed and natural hair
  • Gentle enough to use 2x a week!
  • Decent results for the quantity and price

CONS

• • Contains a silicone called amodimethicone (fifth ingredient)
  • Contains isopropyl alcohol (thirteenth ingredient)
  • Not a huge fan of the scent (but it is not overly obnoxious)
  • Not as thick and creamy as some other hair masques or hair cholesterols I’ve used
  • Provided average results
  • Expensive (when not on sale)
  • Open jar

As a side note, I have read that several people (of hair types varying from wavy to kinky) have used this as a leave-in with stellar results. Others have used it as a pre-poo or co-wash. I have yet to try this Moisturizing Treatment in any of these ways. However, I think it is moisturizing enough to work as a pre-poo or co-wash, so I think I might experiment with alternative usage methods.

UPDATE

I finally decided to try Silk Elements’ Megasilk Olive Moisturizing Treatment as a leave-in, and my hair loved it! Who knew? The Moisturizing Treatment left my hair silky, soft, and well hydrated ALL day. It provided me with a super moisturized top bun, and it also gave me one of the best wash ‘n gos I have ever had. My curls were elongated and extremely defined. Thanks for the suggestion ladies!

African Pride Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion 2.0

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Remember this? I found a bottle of African Pride’s Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion at my local beauty supply store for only a few bucks last year. Because of the sickeningly intense banana scent, I have only used this product sporadically. In fact, the last time I used it, my mom and sister smelled the product the moment I stepped into the car.  Not cool!  And, to make matters worse, they were not a fan of the scent either.

Because I like the results I receive from this moisturizer lotion, I wanted to try to see if I could find a way to salvage it without almost getting sick every time I use it (due to the intense aroma). So, this is what I did … Once I had used about half of the product, I filled the remainder of the bottle with Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Juice. I also added a ½ teaspoon of vitamin e oil. To mask the unpleasant fragrance of the product, I added 20-30 drops of essential oil. Then, I transferred the new concoction into a spray bottle.

The result? A product remix that hydrates and seals moisture into my hair in ONE step. Just shake and repeat prior to each use! 😉

African Pride Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion

This blog post contains affiliate links (e.g., to Amazon, eBay, etc.), which means that if you click on one of the product links and place an order, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support my blog and allows me to continue to create content like this.

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I found a bottle of African Pride’s Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion at my local beauty supply store for only a few bucks. I have to admit, I bought it solely because of the price … Well, the price and the claims on the packaging. According to the label, this “maximum strengthening moisturizer lotion” prevents breakage and split ends, repairs dry, damaged hair, provides sheen, and protects against the harmful effects of chemical processes and everyday styling tools. This formula states that it is perfect for blow drying, maintaining short styles, and moisturizing curly hair.

Ingredients: Water, Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Propylene Glycol, Steareth-2, Steareth-20, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone,  Lanolin Oil, Laneth-15, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Olea Europaea Fruit Oil (Olive), Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Jojoba), Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut), Persia Gratissima Oil (Avocado), Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract (Rosemary) , Equisetum Hiemale Extract (Horsetail) , Malaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil (Tea Tree), Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, TBHQ,  CI 19140 (FD&C Yellow #5), Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, d-Limonene, Linalool

Directions: Use daily, applying a small amount into hair from roots to ends. Do not rinse out. Style as usual.

I love that this moisturizing lotion has shea butter, olive, jojoba, coconut, avocado, and tea tree oils, as well as ginseng, rosemary, and horsetail extracts. However, there seems to be some discrepancy concerning the ingredients. I noticed that when I looked up this product online, many of the more “unsavory ingredients” (e.g., Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone,  and Lanolin Oil) were listed toward the end. However, on my bottle, they were listed within the first 10 ingredients. Hmmm … I’m not a fan of such unclear product descriptions. I wondered whether I had a newer (or older) formula. I wasn’t too thrilled about this, but I decided to try it anyway.

The hair lotion immediately moisturized my parched hair … No small feat, considering the high humidity I experience in my locale year-round. It also defined and separated my curls even though I applied it to previously styled hair that was dry (and not damp or wet). Eight hours later, my hair was still well-moisturized and defined. Questionable ingredients aside, that’s a pretty amazing accomplishment!

When I tried this product on my freshly washed damp/wet hair, I loved it even more! The lotion had a perfect consistency: not too thick … not too thin … somewhere in-between. It left my curls and coils moisturized, defined, and shiny without being greasy. However, if I accidentally used too much product, it did weigh down my hair and make it oily. So, relaxed ladies be super careful!

While I think this is a decent product, especially for those with limited funds, unfortunately, this hair lotion has a VERY potent smell. It reminds me of a very pungent banana taffy. The scent was completely unpleasant for me. So much so that I think I might have to add some of my own essential oils to it to mask the smell. Thankfully, the smell fades some (about 30-60 minutes) after application, but I do not like it all!

A Capful of Product

All in all, I think African Pride’s Olive Miracle Moisturizer Lotion is a great product for a natural on a budget. I also think it is relaxer friendly … Just be sure not to use too much product!

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!