Product Review: Avanti Silicon Mix Bamboo Leave in

Everyone who knows me and my staple products knows I've been a faithful Giovanni Direct leave in user for 2yrs now since I found a bottle in Miami at Ulta. 

But I recently had to move and put things into storage except my essentials: shoes, clothes, toiletries, oh yea... and food. I also had a chest full of my basic hair needs, appliances and products. I specifically said I'd be taking it with me, but my movers didn't listen so it ended up going into storage. In that chest... Yes, my direct leave in. 

So off I went to find a replacement bottle (which I knew would be a problem), and of course no one had it in store. I started to pick up a bottle of mixed chicks leave in, it almost made it home too, until I read a few reviews while in store. It doesn't do well with blow drying, I read, so nope... Didn't wanna chance it because I blow my hair dry more often than not. 

So off I go to find another alternative and I see three versions of Avanti silicon mix. I know they use this product in the Dominican salons, and I've heard so people raving about it. Now I was hesitant because I've had my hair on a very low to no cones diet, so this silicon mix seems to be detrimental to my hair's new healthy lifestyle. I read the ingredients list and some reviews while walking around the store picking up other needed items. There are no more comes than are in mixed chicks or any other typical leave in, plus the good reviews out weighed the bad... So I chose the one with bamboo extract and to the check out counter I headed. 

Hard to believe, I didn't use it right away, I waited a few days. So this wash day I only co-washed (I needed a deeper wash but 1) I was in a hurry, and 2) I'm waiting on the product I really wanna wash with to be delivered). So I co-washed and detangled using Shea moisture African black soap balancing conditioner, air dried a bit, and applied Avanti silicon mix w/ bamboo. My first impression is: 

• TEXTURE is thick and creamy (for those of us with drier, thirstier curls) but not so heavy it'll weigh your hair down. 

• SCENT is a little perfume-y but in a good way, it's a warm amberish scent... It's not overpowering or overbearing. It leaves the hair smelling clean once the hair is blowdried. 

• GOING ON it went on impressively, it had a good amount of slip for some detangling before blowdrying. I also felt the bamboo strengthening my hair, it didn't feel fragile or weak. And my hair felt pretty protected before applying blow dryer heat to my hair. 

• RESULTS left my hair incredibly soft and manageable. It was moisturized and didn't leave my hair feeling like it needed any added moisture. Two days later...my hair still feels soft and moisturized. 

So far, so good. I will post an updated review when I use my new products and flatiron my hair. Can't wait!!!

Hand painted natural hair phone cases

So I'm creating natural hair depicted designs to paint onto phone cases. Each case is hand painted and will be one of a kind to each customer.

To order please email me at myrickhair@gmail.com stating your:

• phone model
• what you like to do or what you do for a living (optional)
•how you like to wear your hair the most.

And I will then create something personally for you. I will email an invoice and upon payment send your case to you via USPS.

All cases are $20. Here are some sample photos of designs I've already created. The yellow hairstylist case is available on a first come first served basis. I will comment when it is no longer available.

Mya's hair update

Mya has always had a thick head of hair, of which I've been caring for since she could sit up straight. It's fine hair but a lot of it. She has coily/ curly hair, I'm not much into typing but I guess you could say she's a 4a. I love seeing it flourish and grow into the beautiful mane it's becoming and I can't wait for what's in store. It is growing nicely, and its healthy and strong.

Routine: She gets her hair washed once a month (depending on how dirty it is, i will either do a sulfate free shampoo, or i will co wash it), along with a deep conditioning treatment. I trim her ends 2-3 times a year because I'm working on length retention and I've been doing a lot of protective styles where her ends are not exposed, especially because I don't live with her and can't do daily/ weekly maintenance. Her hair is worn in braided styles to preserve the health of her hair and coconut oil is used approx every other day to maintain moisture.

Products:
I have her on a no sulfate, low silicone routine so...

Shampoo: If I shampoo I use organix shampoos, trader joes nourish spa shampoo, and most recently loreal ever sleek reparative shampoo.

Co wash: trader joes tea tree tingle conditioner.

Deep conditioner: I either make one or I use shea moisture deep penetrating treatment.

Rinse out/detangling conditioner: suave rosemary mint conditioner, trader joes nourish spa conditioner, and most recently loreal ever sleek reparative conditioner.

Leave in /styling: herbal essences long term relationship leave in, fructis sleek and shine leave in, most recently loreal ever sleek leave in, tresemme heat tamer, most recently tresemme keratin smooth heat protection spray, coconut oil, shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie, profectiv growth sheen spray.

Length check: final length 2012

A year's difference. Can't wait 'til this December.

Product Review: Dove purely pampering shea butter body wash w/warm vanilla

Now I'm an avid dove user; so anything they make can pretty much do no wrong, as far as I'm concerned.

I've been using their beauty bath bars lately and I had recently come across this scent in bar form. I used it and fell in love with it because: of its moisturizing properties, it's SLS & ALS free, and of course the smell... Mmmm vanilla.

Well anyway, when I ran out of my bars I ventured out to my normal spots to re-up... But I couldn't find them anywhere, we'll at least not this particular scent. So I purchased another dove scent for the meantime. Every time I went to buy some bars, they never had my vanilla.

Well last week I went to buy some toiletries and I seen the body wash at rite aid... On sale... For $4 less than its normal price. The bargainista in me said: "buy it!" My nose said: "girl don't play with me you better buy this ish!!" But the naturalista in me said: "Hmmm... I don't know, it has SLS and petrolatum in it... I don't do those." But the jones in me told me to listen to my nose and bargainista because they know I been needing this scent in my life. Plus I can never go wrong with dove.

Needless to say as apprehensive as I was, (for all of 5 seconds), I bought this big bottle of goodness and am loving it. Although it doesn't lather the same way the bar does when i apply it to my shower gloves, It's very moisturizing and I think of the petrolatum as a moisture barrier to seal the moisture into my skin. (Sniffs skin) I needed my fix!!!

I do wish they made the body wash with similar ingredients as the bar so it's SLS free as well... But anyway it'll do for now. And the pampering is real, my skin is super soft.

What it promises:

Dove purely pampering: a shower experience that nourishes and pampers.

Dove shea butter with warm vanilla body wash creates a cloud of creamy lather that will leave you feeling restored. The warm scent fills the shower enveloping you with care, allowing you to feel balanced and renewed.

Dove with NutriumMoisture gently cleanses while nourishing deep down, giving your skin the best care.

Ingredients: water, sodium hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, lauric acid , petrolatum, sodium cocoyl, glycinate, glycerin, sodium lauroyl isethionate, fragrance, soybean oil or sunflower oil, shea butter, sodium chloride, hydrogenated soybean oil, stearic acid, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, DMDM hydantoin, tallow acid or palmic acid, sodium isethionate, BHT, terasodium EDTA, methylsothiazolinone, etidronic acid, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, red 33, titanium dioxide, yellow 5.

My New Goodies!!!

Just picked these two up today. Hopefully they will be incorperated into my regimen. Organix hydrating macadamia oil intensive moisture mask and Hask macadamia oil exoticshine treatment. Review will be up soon.....

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Measurements for july 2012

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