Naturally Silk Elements Whipped Curl Cream

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Naturally Silk Elements Whipped Curl Cream is specifically designed to replenish the moisture needed by those with textured, natural, or multicultural hair. This whipped curl cream helps define curls, detangle and control frizz without flaking and build-up, leaving hair smooth, sleek and manageable and is excellent for curly/kinky hair textures. Naturally Silk Elements helps soften hair, define curls, and control frizz. This curl cream is also free of parabens, mineral oil, petroleum, and alcohol.

 

Directions: Apply a small amount of Naturally Silk Elements Whipped Curl Cream in hands, and smooth it evenly through wet or dry hair. Style as desired.

Ingredients: Water, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspol, Phenyl Trimethicone, Fragrance, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Dmdm Hydantoin, Dimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Peg-150 Distearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Peg-20 Hydrogenated Lanolin, Peg-40 Stearate, Hexylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Lupine Seed Extract, Glucose, Fructose, Sucrose, Urea, Dextrin, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Hexyl Nicotinate

 

This whipped curl cream is excellent for curly and kinky hair textures. It has a super thick consistency and a gentle, fragrant scent that is like a light perfume. Although very thick in texture, it applies very easily. I like that I can use this on both wet AND dry hair. The first time I used the curl cream, I applied it to damp/wet hair. It gave me amazingly beautiful curl definition and instantly tamed my frizz. The next day, I applied the curl cream to dry hair to “refresh” my curls, and I noticed that my curls became much more elongated. So, if you want less “shrinkage,” I would apply this to dry hair (or hair that has only been lightly misted with water. 

After using this curl cream for a week straight, I never once developed any flakes or product buildup. The curl cream rinsed out of my hair with ease. And, the best part, I found it at my local beauty supply store for only $3.99!!! 

Watch the video below for a more detailed review and demonstration …

Proclaim Shea Butter Curl Pudding

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The Proclaim Shea Butter Curl Pudding is sulfate, paraben, gluten, and silicone free. It contains a blend of shea butter, biotin, and honey. It claims to define curls while moisturizing dehydrated hair.

Ingredients:

Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Ceteareth-20, Polyquaternium-69, Fragrance, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Panthenol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Phenethyl Alcohol, Disodium Edta, Ppg-2 Methyl Ether, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylisothiazolinone, Biotin, Honey Extract, Phenoxyethanol

Directions:
Apply curl pudding to clean, damp hair, and smooth to style.

 

Okay, so I think my current curl pudding is getting ready to be discontinued because I can’t seem to find it anywhere. I used to be able to get it for $6 at my local Walmart. Shout-out to Roots of Nature’s Feather Whipped Curl Creme with Mango Oil and Cupuacu Butter. That stuff was “the-best.com!” It made me want to do a “happy dance.”

  Then, , and do it again!  

I never had a bad hair day or parched hair whenever I used the feather whipped curl creme. Unfortunately, the only place I can now find it is online at 3-4x the original retail cost! So, I’ve been on the hunt to find a suitable replacement. Although this Proclaim Shea Butter Curl Pudding has its pros and cons, it is a decent “stand in” until I can find another all-in-one Curl Creme or styling agent. Watch the video below to find out why …

 

MineralRich: Two-month Hair Growth Results + My Mini-twist Setback!!!

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Two months ago, I started taking MineralRich liquid vitamins from Maximum Living for hair growth. My 1-month results were moderate but hopeful. Most of my hair grew between 0.5″ – 1.0″  over the course of a month. My crown grew the most at 1.5″. However, I was massaging my front edges with castor oil, so I think that may account for the extra growth there. Nevertheless, I was optimistic about taking the supplement for another month. To expedite my progress, I decided to micro-twist my hair for the last two weeks of use. I made chunky twists in the back for the first row since my hair grows the slowest there, and I wanted it to be easier to take the twists out in the rear of my head. I made small twists in the rows above toward the middle of my head. Then, I made micro twists from my crown forward. After a week, I pulled the twists up into a french roll.

Mini Twists (Day #1)

Mini Twists (Back of Hair)

Mini Twists (Day #7)

 

Mini Twists
(French Roll with a Barrette)

I only had to moisturize my hair twice during 12 days, and that was largely due to the products I used. I wet each section prior to twisting with distilled water I put in a spray bottle, then I layered on some of Roots of Nature’s feather whipped curl cream. For the take-down process, I spritzed each twist with my lavender spritz and then gently unwound each twist. I initially tried to do a length check without unraveling my mini twists, but it was too difficult to measure, and my measurements seemed inaccurate. So, I decided to remove my mini twists a couple of days early so that I could do a proper length check. However, after just a couple of measurements at the front and sides of my hair, I feared that I had experienced a lot of breakage. When I compared my current hair measurements to my previous month’s measurements, my fears were confirmed!

On top of all that, the ends of my hair had gotten so tangled in some sections that I had to lop off as much as 2″ just to salvage the rest of my strands. Thankfully, my lavender spritz removed 85-90% of the knots in my hair, but a few could only be cut out! I lost 0.5″ – 1″ in the front, sides, and back of my hair. My crown experienced the most breakage … a whopping 5″! Likely due to the fact that I had made micro twists from my crown forward. Sigh.

I think the major mistake I made was in making the twists TOO small. My fine strands just couldn’t handle it. Thank God I only kept the twists in for two weeks. I can’t imagine the amount of damage I may have caused if I left them in longer.

For a more complete overview of my hair setback (as well as my closing remarks concerning my experience taking MineralRich), watch my video below.

 

Lesson:

If you have fine or super fine hair like I do, you should probably avoid mini and micro twists. The likely hair breakage and damage that could ensue is REAL!

MineralRich: One-month Hair Growth Results

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Three or four years ago I stumbled upon a YouTube video from Honesty Love that recommended MineralRich liquid vitamins from Maximum Living for hair growth. Then, I totally forgot all about them … until recently when I was browsing YouTube and just happened to stumble upon another video from Honesty Love. Given all of the hair damage I’ve sustained from my local hard water, I decided to give these vitamins a try!

They have two varieties: (1) MineralRich and (2) MineralRich Plus Aloe. Both are around the same price (~$23). However, because I can’t stand the taste of aloe vera juice, I opted for the original MineralRich supplement. Both 32 oz. bottles contain only 30 calories per 1 oz (2 TBS) serving as well as identical daily values for each vitamin. MineralRich contains a proprietary blend of macro and trace minerals (e.g., vitamin B-12, silica, biotin, magnesium, selenium, chromium, et al) for total body nutrition. However, many people that have taken this liquid vitamin (i.e., for mood boosting or to improve their overall health) have noticed significant hair growth. Yes, that’s right! Hair growth from a liquid vitamin.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Take 1 oz. (2 tbsp.) daily. Mix or follow with an 8 oz. glass of water. For nutritional use only. Discontinue if allergic reaction occurs.

The Challenge:

MineralRich comes in a 32 oz bottle. Because the daily portion is 1 oz (2 TBS), one bottle will last 32 days, just over a month. I decided to put this potential hair growth aid to the test for a month (32 days). Here are my results …

 

Summary of Results:

When: July 12, 2016 – August 12, 2016 (32 days)
What: MineralRich Liquid Vitamins
Frequency: Daily (7x per week)

Starting Length (FRONT): 13.50″
Starting Length (RIGHT): 12.00″ (shortest strand) – 13.00″ (longest strand)
Starting Length (LEFT): 12.00″ (shortest strand) – 13.00″ (longest strand)
Starting Length (CROWN): 16.00″ (shortest strand) – 17.00″ (longest strand)
Starting Length (BACK): 11.50″ (shortest strand) – 12.00″ (longest strand)

Ending Length (FRONT): 14.50″
{OBTAINED 1.0″ in GROWTH}

Ending Length (RIGHT): 12.50″ (shortest strand) – 13.00″ (longest strand)     
{OBTAINED 0.5″ in GROWTH}

Ending Length (LEFT): 12.50″ (shortest strand) – 13.00″ (longest strand)        
{OBTAINED 0.5″ in GROWTH}

Ending Length (CROWN): 16.50″ (shortest strand) – 17.00″ (longest strand)   
{OBTAINED 0.5″ in GROWTH}

Ending  Length (BACK): 11.50″ (shortest strand) – 12.00″ (longest strand)       
{NO GROWTH}

SUMMARY: My hair grew 1.0″ in the front. However, the rest of my hair stayed the same or only grew 0.50″. 

Side Effects:

While I didn’t experience any side effects, some people have complained about having severe gas or stomach aches. However, I eat clean, exercise daily, and drink plenty of water. The instructions specifically state that the supplement should be followed by (or mixed in) 8 oz. of water. And, most people who experienced unpleasant side effects were not drinking water with (or after taking) the supplement. So, I think drinking plenty of water is key!

Conclusion:

I am pretty underwhelmed by my mediocre results. However, I have another 1 month supply left. Since I did receive 1″ of hair growth in the front of my hair, I think I will take the other bottle I have to see if I can achieve better results with MineralRich over the next month. Fingers crossed!

Optimum Oil Therapy Dry Hair Healer

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Claims: 

• Deeply moisturizes to alleviate dryness
• Helps repair and protect against split ends
• No greasy buildup

Ingredients: 

42156 SS, Aqua/Water, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 20, Paraffin, Dimethicone, Dicetyl Phosphate, Olea Eurropaea/Olive Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis/Jojoba Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera/Coconut Oil, Persea Gratissima/Avocado Oil. Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Sucrose, Parfum/Fragrance, Ceteth-10 Phosphate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-23, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Amyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, 2-Oleamido-1, 3-Octadecanediol.

Directions: For daily maintenance, apply a small amount into palm, massage evenly into hair, and style as usual. For excessive dryness, section hair and apply directly onto scalp . Comb or brush through hair, and style as usual.

 

After finding Roots of Nature’s Butter Whip Coil Cream and their Feather Whipped Curl Cream at my local dollar store a couple of years ago, I try to keep my eye out for fabulous hair care finds. I lucked out, once again, when I found Softsheen Carson’s Optimum Oil Therapy Dry Hair Healer at my dollar store while perusing for craft supplies. I immediately bought four jars. What can I say? I am a sucker for a deal! I’m glad I did.

The Dry Hair Healer has a light perfumy scent that I love. It’s fragrant but not obnoxiously so. I also like the light, airy texture of the moisturizer. It is great on dry or wet hair, and kept my strands moisturized in humid weather. (Think 90° – 100°!) If the heat index is just as high, I like to layer some SCurl No Drip Activator underneath to lock-in extra moisture. I lightly spritzed my dry hair with water prior to use and then smoothed the product over my hair. My dry ends vanished right before my eyes! If I use this for a wash ‘n go or to make a high bun, I like to slick down my edges with Elasta QP Glaze. I haven’t tried this with a twist-out yet, but I plan to! I love how this product not only moisturizes my hair but also slightly elongates my curls, which makes my hair less prone to getting tangled.

For my relaxed ladies out there, be careful not to apply too much as this product is super-moisturizing. Although, even when I overdid it and added too much product, my hair still didn’t feel sticky or gross like it does when I use other products. Score!

According to Softsheen Carson, this product uses what they call Micro-oil Technology to penetrate the hair shaft with micro-beads of coconut, olive, avocado, and jojoba oils. They claim that this dry hair healer will nourish, repair, strengthen, and protect hair with no greasy buildup. I must admit, this product definitely left my hair hydrated (without being greasy). While it’s too early to tell if it prevents split ends, my hair is so moisturized that I’m thinking I may need to go back to my dollar store to see if they have any more left in stock. This little hair care jewel retails between $4 and $6, depending on where you live. But, even when my stash runs out, I won’t mind paying retail!

P.S. This product also works on multiple hair types. A Caucasian friend of mine with curly, frizz-prone hair tried this product and loved it as well. So, curly girls everywhere, rejoice!     😉

Head & Shoulders Moisture Care for Textured Hair

I am a BzzAgent, and I received Head & Shoulders’ new moisture hair care line for Textured Hair from BzzAgent.com for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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.

Thank you for your support!

 

I am always on the hunt for a great shampoo and conditioner that will treat my sensitive scalp. While I usually only have a few seborrheic dermatitis flare ups a year, a good scalp care line is key to calm the inflammation and irritation I usually experience. For the last two years, my scalp cure go-to has been Aveeno’s Nourish + Dandruff Control line. While I still like this particular product, I recently swapped it out for Head & Shoulders’ new moisture hair care line. My sister told me about the line first and had been raving about it non-stop for weeks, so when I had an opportunity to try it as well, I jumped at the chance!

Their new moisture care line consists of the following products:

1. Shampoo
2. 2-in-1 Shampoo Conditioner
3. Co-wash
4. Scalp Soother

Formulated specifically for “textured hair,” I excitedly tried Head & Shoulders’ 2-in-1, their co-wash, and the scalp soother. Admittedly, I’m always a little reticent to use 2-in-1s. They usually tend to cleanse my scalp really well and leave my strands über dry or are overly moisturizing at the expense of leaving my scalp still sullied with a week’s worth of product and debris. Ick! Who wants that? Not me! So, I have to tell you, I didn’t expect too much from this particular product. In fact, I knowingly had a moisturizing conditioner at the ready prior to taking a shower so that I could ensure that my strands received the moisture they needed. To my surprise, I never needed it! The 2-in-1 thoroughly cleansed my scalp, yet my hair felt extremely soft. I’m not sure how they did it exactly, but my hair was cleansed, moisturized, and conditioned all in ONE step. Talk about a hair care time-saver! In fact, my tresses felt so amazing, I even skipped my usual deep conditioning session! I’ve never had a product that allowed me to do that … Ever!

The only other thing I did was use the scalp soother. Unfortunately, the first time I used the product, I doused my scalp with the product (since I had been experiencing a really bad seborrheic dermatitis flare up for the last two weeks). After applying the scalp soother, my scalp felt like I had started a bonfire on my head! Once the excruciating, burning sensation ended, I still felt uncomfortable … like I had emptied a case of peppermint patties on my crown. I immediately texted my sister to ask if she had experienced the same thing. When she texted back and said that she hadn’t, I panicked!

I reached for the scalp soother bottle so that I could read the instructions. (Yes, I know I should have done this prior to using the product so liberally.) According to the instructions, I was only supposed to use 15 pumps. However, I had expelled closer to 25! I was in such a panic, I almost started to rewash my hair. Fortunately, I was able to tough it out, and my scalp returned to “normal.” The next time I used the scalp soother, I actually followed the instructions and COUNTED the “pumps.” This time, the product had a cooling, calming effect on my scalp that I enjoyed (instead of feared)! So, definitely don’t go overboard like I did the first time. Believe me, 15 pumps is MORE than enough, even if you have a scalp condition like I do.

The following week, temps where I live soared to the high 90s, and the heat index was almost 120! Due to the immense humidity, I had used much more product than I ordinarily do just to get my hair to behave. As a result, I decided to try Head & Shoulders’ co-wash mid-week to “refresh” my hair prior to my normal weekly wash. I really liked it. My hair felt amazingly hydrated after using it. The co-wash is my sister’s personal favorite! She enjoys using this throughout the week in-between washings as well.

I like how all of the products contain vitamin E, almond oil, and coconut essence. I love that they are also pH-balanced and gentle on chemically treated hair. Relaxed and colored divas rejoice!

As a result, I definitely plan to buy more of the 2-in-1, co-wash, and scalp soother prior to running out. And, as soon as I polish off the last of my Aveeno Nourish + Dandruff Control, I intend to replace it with the products I tried from this line permanently. They work that well!