Treasure Chest Rediscovery

Sooo... I went digging thru my hair (product junky) crates, and (re)found my cantu moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, Kids Organics shea butter hair lotion, Avon advanced techniques clarifying shampoo, and mane n tail hair strengthener. I also did a Polymedic treatment.

Although the cantu isn't sulfate or silicone free, my hair actually responded well to it. My hair didn't really like it when I was relaxed, but I initially bought all the cantu products for my girls' (younger sisters) hair. I stopped using these, not because I had bad results on the girls' hair, but because I got caught up in the sulfate free "ALL natural" whirlwind. I'm now learning that what works, works. Now... I'm not running back to sulfates, but I'm more open to not totally demonizing products that contain them. Especially since this stuff left my hair really moisturized, so much so that I didn't feel like I needed to DC. My curls were popping, like they used to when I first bc'd. My hair needed this.

My full routine this week:

I hadn't combed thru my hair for a couple of days just fro'd it out and threw my bonnet on at night so I needed to detangle before even thinking of getting in the shower to wash that mess. So I sectioned off my hair in four, and applied kids organics shea butter detangling moisturizing hair lotion by Africa's best to each section. I then misted each section right before detangling with my hair strengthener daily leave in conditioning treatment spray by mane n tail.

Once I was fully detangled, I proceeded to clarify each section with advance techniques clarifying shampoo by Avon. I did two shampoos with this. My scalp was very itchy and had been for the past few wash days with no relief, I realized I needed to really clarify and it worked wonders. I also clarified because I wanted to do a treatment with Nexxus Polymedic, and figured I'd get better results with a "clean slate", that also worked wonders.

I kept the Polymedic on for 10 mins with a plastic cap on then thoroughly rinsed. Did one shampoo with cantu moisturizing shampoo, then applied cantu moisturizing rinse out conditioner and detangled. I rinsed with warm water then did a cold rinse to seal.

I air dried half way with a t-shirt then did the LOC method (which my hair looooves) using my tresemme heat tamer leave in spray, coconut oil, then Giovanni direct leave in. So much life given to my hair with this method. It's officially apart of my regimen now.

The lesson this week was:
I don't need to go out and by a damn thing more... Lol nah. Seriously, it was that I can find something new in something old. I will be digging in the crates more often.

****update****
My hair was weird in the last few days of the week closer to my next wash day. My ends kept tangling... Like a nightmare. I never had my ends do that to me before, before i blame it on anything in particular, i will eliminate one and see if they still tangle up. The different things I did was the clarifying poo, cantu shampoo n conditioner, and this LOC method I've done for the second week. So I didn't clarify or wash with cantu this week and continued the LOC method. I will update accordingly.

Product review: Organix vanilla silk

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker and a huge fan of the organix line. So it's no surprise that I had been eyeing this duo for a while now. I have the biggest obsession with all things vanilla so that only added to the fiendish-ness.

On first sight when I flipped the lid to sniff it, the yummy goodness in this bottle was enough to make me want to impulse buy this. It smells like creamy vanilla mixed with white chocolate. Reading what the product promises "soft & silky" hair, "nourish and moisturize", "strengthen and seal... Cuticles". Plus the already known fact that its sulfate and paraben free... I could not resist!!

Once I got it home I jumped in the shower and... Honestly it's been a good while since I used their shampoo... But instantly it made my hair feel exactly the way I've been craving for a shampoo to make it feel. It's rich, creamy lather moisturized my strands leaving them soft and silky, and manageable not matted or stripped. It felt like I could detangle it with the shampoo on my hair. It rinsed clean and left my hair feeling soft.

Then the conditioner... It's thick consistency can double as a deep conditioner. When applied to soaking wet hair it produced a foam that moisturizes the strands and combs thru easily. It also rinses out clean yet leaves the hair soft, silky, and conditioned. It also gave my hair a noticeable, glowing shine, I hadn't seen in a while. And of course it leaves my hair smelling like vanilla... Mmmmmm.

I just wish they had vanilla silk styling products to enhance my vanilla experience after I wash and condition. I know they had a serum, which was discontinued for one reason or another and replaced by the Moroccan oil serum. But that's not vanilla.... So no. They need to fix that.

I did straight my hair to style and it was soft and sleek, it didn't puff up at the first sign of moisture as it usually does. So I think I'm loving this stuff beyond the scent.

Soft & silky vanilla silk:

indulge your senses with this exclusive blend of smoothing Tahitian vanilla bean oils to instantly nourish and moisturize, while silk amino proteins strengthen and seal your hair's cuticles, revitalizing your hair, creating silky, smooth shiny hair.

What you want: smoothing Tahitian vanilla bean oils blended with exotic silk amino proteins create a decadent treat. All you need for soft, smooth and seductive hair in one irresistible formula.

Shampoo:
What you do: apply organix shampoo generously to wet hair, massage into a lather through to ends, then rinse the hair thoroughly. After shampooing, follow with organix conditioner.

Ingredients: water, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, sodium c14-16 olein sulfonate, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, parfum, glycol distearate, dimethicone copolyol, cetyl alcohol, cocamide DEA, DMDM hydantoin, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, polyquarternium-11, silk amino acids, panthenol, vanilla oil, shea butter, vitamin E, limonene, CI 19140 (yellow 5)

Conditioner:
What you do: after shampooing with organix shampoo, apply organix conditioner generously to hair, working through ends. Wait 3-5 minutes. Rinse hair thoroughly.

Ingredients: water, parfum, behentrimonium chloride, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, cetearyl glycoside, glyceryl stearate, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, jojoba seed oil, cetyl alcohol, panthenol, silk, amino acids, vanilla oil, DMDM hydantoin, shea butter, vitamin E, tetra sodium EDTA, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, limonene, CI 19140 (yellow 5)

Product review: 1st impression: Loreal eversleek

1st impression of the shampoos: didn't soften my hair on contact as a moisturizing poo does. It almost felt as if it would strip my hair, but once I rinsed I was pleasantly surprised at how soft my curls were, I kept touching my hair.

1st impression of the deep conditioner: it's very light, it didn't feel like it would penetrate my hair shaft or moisturize it at all. But in the time I left one side to sit while I applied some to the other side, going back to the first to ensure its evenly distributed, my hair was softened and moisturized I couldn't believe it. and it was even better once I left it to sit the full 10 mins. I think this would work wonderfully in conjunction with a steamer.

1st impression of conditioner: it didn't detangle well, wasn't enough slip. At this point I just knew it was going to be amaze-balls, but it wasn't. I was disappointed.

1st impression of leave in: this stuff was great!! It moisturizes, detangles well, makes hair manageable, and defines curls a bit. I could see the sleeking effect with this. It's very very light though, so if you need something a bit heftier... You may not like this. This is a great summer product for me.

1st impression of finishing creme: another light weight moisturizer. I used this for a braid out, didn't really like it for that because it gave no hold so my hair was less defined and more pillowy (not necessarily a bad thing just not what I intended)... But it doesn't promise hold or definition so I couldn't be disappointed on that front. Next time I will use as directed to really review.

1st impression of precious oil treatment: I used this to take down my braid out, it added even more softness and the smell is great pretty reminiscent of the typical argan oil scent with a sweeter undertone.

Although I didn't straighten my hair with this line to see the benefits of the "sleek performance" I can say that my hair was a lot more manageable in its natural state, easier to comb even after being partially air dried, and better curl definition. It has a light moisturizing texture that leaves the hair very soft and not weighed down. This is great for the summer because its so light weight.

I plan on using it again in the warmer seasons, and this time I will straighten with it to really test the sleek properties of the line.

I'll be back for a full review of each piece.

My Growth: length check Oct. 2011

I received a package of Carol's daughter monoi repairing hair mask a few days ago and decided to try it out yesterday.

I co washed and detangled with my suave humectant conditioner, rinsed then applied CD's hair mask. I left the mask on for about 5 mins, while in the shower allowing the steam to help it penetrate. Then I rinsed with cold water and sprayed my hair with pantene's defending spray. I applied fructis sleek and shine leave in (new formula w/ argan oil) wrapped my hair with my turbie wrap for about a half hour.

I then blow dried my hair on high speed low/ no (cold shot button) heat. Sealed with coconut oil then sectioned off my hair and flat ironed with my slim maxi glide iron, applied fantasia's i.c heat protection serum and bumped my ends with a gold iron. I wrapped my hair applied a little more coconut oil and wrapped with saran wrap abner say under the dryer for 10 mins. Combed down/styled and sprayed very, very lightly with profectiv growth sheen.

I experienced a decent about of growth since the last time I straightened, which was in the beginning of last month. My protective styling technique for the month has been no heat, co wash every few days, moisturize with aussie hair insurance and fructis leave in, and dry in twists overnight with carrot oil on my scalp. I did that for a month and I see the difference.

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Product Review: Herbal Essences Touchably Smooth Conditioner

Yea, so I went out and bought a bottle of HE TS today, just cuz I wanted to try something new. I usually use and love LTR for my cowashes but I ran low and decided to re-up on my product... but when I got there TS was calling my name, so I gave in. Anywho... I decided to use it asap.

The promise: "It's in the stars! See smoothness in your future? How about some protection from humidity? Try this deep conditioning formula for all hair types so your ppath to soft, smoothe hair is perfectly clear."

Ingredients: water, stearyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, hydrolyzed silk, lilium hybrid extract, zea mays (corn) silk extract, fragrance, cetyl alcohol, bis-aminopropyl dimethicone, benzyl alcohol, dicetyldimonium chloride, disodium edta, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, red 33.

During the cowash I noticed a BIG difference between TS and LTR... no not for the better. LTR always melts over my hair and pretty much dissolves tangles upon application, TS... not so much, I couldn't get that good saturated feeling.

During the combout/ detangling it didn't slip as much as LTR does. LTR gives instant slip, add more water and the comb glides thru, TS... again not so much. Don't get me wrong, it detangles, but I had to stand under the shower head to get close to the same slip as with LTR.

During the rinse out it rinsed out clean, and although I was turned off during the past two steps; I was surprised at how soft it left my hair after I removed my turbie twist... very silky. And ofcourse it smells amazing, like roses (or maybe its lillies... as the bottle says its fused with pink lily and asian silk).

Overall I liked the final result as far as the softness. My curls weren't anymore defined or as defined as they are when I use LTR, and I disliked that part. Just because it says its a smoothing condish, I didn't expect to have someone elses texture, but I kinda wanted it to un-frizz at least a little... I don't feel it did that. When I co-wash I like for my condish to be a bit foamy/ frothy, this didn't offer that to me (LTR does.) When I detangle I like to use as little effort as possible, especially since my 3c hair doesn't require any tugging or pulling at all when wet and saturated with condish. I had to try to get my wide tooth comb thru my hair with TS until I stood under the shower head. But as I stated before, my hair was touchably soft... I guess smooth. Sooo... it pretty much does what it says but if you're looking for moisture, not here. My hair needs moisture and this didn't do it for me (I guess that was my bad, cuz it says nothing about moisture).

Will I use this again?? Probably the next time I decide to straighten my hair (which won't be until a good while from now), so back to LTR it is for me.

P.S. the whole time I was using this I felt like I was cheating, and not even enjoying it. LoL!!

I may try HH (hello hydration) next, or break's over (if I can find it) word on the web is its been discontinued. But as my staple cowash... I'm sticking with LTR, it hasn't let me down (unless they do a formula change or worse- discontinues it... +insert blood curdling scream here* lol... but seriously.)

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