Review- Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

Description: All-natural hair dressing moisturizes hair and imparts a shine and bounce to curls. Nutrient rich vegetable butters condition hair, restoring moisture, body and shine. Enhances curls, minimizes frizz and provides curl control. For thick, curly hair.

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado), Vegetable Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Silk Protein, Ammonium Salt, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil (Neem), Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot), Sorbitol Esters, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B-5), Caprylyl Glycol, Essential Oil Blend, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower and Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle), Tocopherol (Vitamin E)


Thoughts: I purchased this product- wanting a styler, I have wanted this product for aaaaages! It is quite pricey- this was actually about £12.99 from Beauty By Zara which is cheap! Usually it retails for £15 and up (have you seen the prices on Ebay?!). Onto the review. The first thing I noticed when I opened the product was how much you get- it is quite a lot. Second, the texture it is really thick which is perfect for type 4 hair (as noted in the description 'thick hair'). Third, the smell which I don't really like- I don't think I am a fan of the smell of shea butter anyway. As for a styler it does work well I will post the video below but it could have more hold! The con is the price but however if you apply it on wet hair it is easier to distribute and you will use less product as opposed to applying it on dry hair. Overall I give it 4/5.
Ingredients/description from www.naturallycurly.com

You're back in my liiife! Elasta QP Olive Oil & Mango Butter Moisturizer

Okay remember this product review? I loveeed the way Elasta QP worked on my relaxed hair. It was my styler, it was my moisturiser and it made my hair buttery soft. Fast forward to here, when I was transitioning it did not work so well on my hair and I gave it up. Well now it's back again! I have been wanting to revisit this product for a very long time. I have seen some natural haired women on Instagram use this product for braidouts and it has worked quite well. The ingredients list is well terrible lol. But to be honest if it does work then why not! I will definitely keep you update with how well it works as a styler and a moisturiser after a few weeks use. This was only £2.49- bargain.

Review: Africa's Best Organics Shea Butter & Tea-Tree Oil Moisturizer

 I'm surprised I haven't reviewed this product before...since I have used this as a moisturiser once before. I purchased this before I went to Ghana and it works quite well with my hair. It is very affordable and retails at about £2-£3 and is widely available (I bought mine from the local hair shop). However with the cheap price will come with some limitations- it is obviously not a 100% natural product.

 
Description:  Africa's Best Organics Shea Butter & Tea-Tree Oil Moisturizer is a organic conditioner. Strengthens weak, damaged hair. Restores nutrients & moisture. Prevents dullness. Improves shine. Enriched with olive oil, egg protein, mink oil, jojoba oil, Vitamin E, silk protein, honey, milk protein, cholesterol & herbal extracts.

Thoughts: It is quite a moisturising hair product, however I do feel I have used more moisturising moisturisers (i.e. Elasta QP mango butter) but for the price I cannot complain. It does the job of a daily moisturiser, but I have used products where you don't have to moisturise every day. One negative is with my thick 4a/4b hair you have to use this daily to have moisturised hair. It isn't really good as a styling product (although to be fair it is not advertised as such) but it does the job. 

I would give this product a 3/5.

Description from http://www.jinnysmall.com/

Review- Giovanni Smooth As Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo

I ran out of my Shea Moisture shampoo (review here) and decided to purchase a Giovanni shampoo seeing as I love the leave-in conditioner so much (review here). It only cost me just over £5 to purchase it from Amazon including delivery. However I checked there now and that offer is not available? I received the shampoo and then realised it is not 100% natural- oops! The next shampoo I buy I definitely want it to be 100% natural. I really want more Shea Moisture products- but £15 for one shampoo ain't nobody got money for that. On to the review...

 
Description:
Soft and smooth, sexy and sultry. It's how you feel when you have silk against your skin. Now imagine that same feel in your hair. Smooth As Silk Deep Moisture Shampoo has a pearlized formula that glistens in your hand and transforms your hair into a silky palette. New and improved formulation with Apple and Aloe extracts provide antioxidant protection and enhanced moisturizers for even silkier hair. Lather and glow with the flow that begins your style. Smooth As Silk Shampoo wears beautifully on you.


Ingredients: 
Aqua (purified water), sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, decyl glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, sodium cocoamphoacetate, lauryl glucoside, sodium cocoyl glutamate, sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate, pyrus malus (apple) fruit extract, *aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, *chamomilla recutita (matricaria) leaf extract, *citrus aurantium dulcis (Valencia orange) extract, *citrus grandis (grapefruit) fruit extract, *cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) extract, *echinacea purpurea extract, *ginkgo biloba extract, *glycine soja (soybean) seed extract, *lavandula angustifolia (lavender) extract, *rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, *macrocystis pyrifera (sea kelp) extract, *mangifera indica (mango) extract, *salix alba (willow bark) extract, xanthan gum, glycol distearate, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), citric acid, polysorbate 20, potassium sorbate, phenoxyethanol, natural fragrance.
*USDA Certified Organic
100% vegetarian ingredients.
No phthalates / artificial fragrance / dyes / sulfates / parabens / PEGs.

Thoughts:
I have used this shampoo a few times. It states that this shampoo is more moisturising then clarifying however the first time I washed my hair it had that squeaky clean feeling you have after clarifying.

This is strange considering the shampoo is sulfate free. Again, I have noticed this shampoo dries out the back section of my hair. However upon rinsing my hair it did feel clean, nicely moisturised (definitely not as moisturising as Shea Moisture!). I think this shampoo with the Giovanni leave-in works very well together. I definitely do not like the smell of this shampoo it smells like strong orange zest. For £5 I definitely cannot complain about the product overall- it does the job of a shampoo which is to clean the hair. It is just a bit strange to have the feeling of squeaky clean and nicely moisturised, rather than the very moisturised, clean and soft feeling Shea Moisture gave me. I definitely wish the ingredients were better but then again if it was all-natural the price would be double at least. I give this 3.5/5.

Ingredients/description from www.iherb.com

Video Review: African Pride Shea Butter Moisture Intense Bouncy Curls Pudding

Description:
Shea Butter Miracle gives amazing manageability, softness and shine to naturally Curly, Wavy, Kinky-Coily Mixed Textures. Perfect for Transitioners.

Enriched with Shea Butter, Nature's superior detangling moisturizer. Helps emiminate dryness enhancing body, bounce and shine.

Regular use of BOUNCY CURLS helps:

Soften Curls, Coils and Waves

Elongate Curls and Kinky-Coils

Smooth and Tame Frizz

Usage Directions:
Rub a generous amount of pudding between your palms. Gently finger comb section-by-section from rots to ends. Continue stretching and elongating curls until satisfied with curl definition.

Natural Styling Suggestions:
Try a two strand twist by applying pudding to damp or dry hair, twisting each section. The more you twist the more you can define the size and length of the curl. Air dry, blow dry w/deffuser or dry under hood. Untwist each sections fro a fuller look or just leave twisted for tighter look.

Ingredients:
AQUA, GLYCINE SOJA OIL/SOYBEAN OIL, HYDROGEANTED VEGETABLE OIL, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII FRUIT/SHEA BUTTER, MANGIFERA INDICA SEED BUTTER/MANGO BUTTER, ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL/ARGAIN OIL, COCOS NUCIFERA OIL/COCONUT OIL, OLEA EUROPAEA FRUIT OIL/OLIVE OIL, ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT/ALOE VERA EXTRACT, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT/GINSENG EXTRACT, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT/ALOE VERA EXTRACT, GLYCERIN, POLYQUATERNIUM 11, STEARETH 2, STEARETH 20, DMDM HYDANTOIN, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, SODIUM CARBOMER, PEG 150 DISTEARATE, PEG 12 DIMETHICONE, YELLOW 6, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, BENZYL BENZOATE, BENZYL SALICYLATE, COUMARIN, D-LIMONENE, HEXYL CINNAMAL, LYRAL, METHYL IONONE GAMMA.

Purchased from:
I purchased this for around £6 from Ebay (I would have purchased it for a bit less had Paks Cosmetics website been working properly). 

Thoughts:

 

Main picture/ingredients/description from http://texasbeautysupplies.com/

Giovanni Leave In Conditioner: I'm in love!

Remember I purchased this Giovanni leave in conditioner?

 

 

 

I purchased it back in the Summer and reviewed it here. I use it on my hair after every wash day (every week) on my wet hair and it leaves my hair so soft! I think if my hair was longer I could actually use it to define my curls and wear it as a wash and go. Here are a few pictures of my curls (who even knew my hair could get this curly!):

Review: Giovanni Direct Leave-In Conditioner Weightless Moisture, 8.5 Oz

Okay I definitely thought I reviewed this product in the Summer, alas I found it under drafts. Anyway here is the review for this leave-in conditioner, I chose to buy after many positive reviews from natural haired ladies with the same hair type as myself. It was £9.39 from Whole Foods (it can also be purchased from Ebay and British Curlies but I did not want to wait for it to be delivered or pay P&P). I will use this as a leave-in after every single wash. Then as part of my natural hair regimen I will add gel and proceed to style in a twistout, braidout or whatever style I choose.

These are the directions on the back of the bottle:

"Apply to freshly shampooed, towel-dried, damp hair and comb through to distribute evenly. Do not rinse. Air dry or blow dry for body." 

Description:

• restores strength, luster and nourishment to abused hair
• moisturizes and builds body
• detangles for easy comb-out, easy styling

To create condition and style, you need to go direct to the source.  Direct leave-in Conditioner goes directly into each hair to provide both.  This leave-in treatment repairs hair as you go through the day.  It also has the added benefit of plumping up each repaired hair so that it feels thicker.  More bodifled.  This conditioner infuses each individual hair with proteins.  Pump it up.  Goes directly to style.

Ingredients:
Aqua (purified water), Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheraol (Vitamin E), Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Natural Fragrance, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Extract, *Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, *Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, *Glycine soja (soybean) seed extract, *Betula alba (Birch) extract, *Malva sylvestris (mallow) extract, *Achillea millefolium extract, *Chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, *Equisetum arvense extract, *Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) extract, *Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, *Salvia sclarea (clary) extract, *Thymus vulgaris (thyme) extract, *Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) flower extract, *Urtica dioica (nettle) extract

*Certified Organic

Thoughts:
As well as the positive reviews, I also purchased this product because of the largely organic ingredients. I am currently working on making most of my hair products in my regimen all-natural.  I do wish it was a pump instead of a squeeze top. I love this leave in conditioner, it is best applied on wet hair. It is multi-purpose and I have seen it being used as a styler as well for twistouts, braidouts and wash and goes. This is definitely the best leave-in conditioner I have tried on my HJ and I'd definitely repurchase. 4.5/5 (wish it had a scent!)

Ingredients, description and directions from http://www.swansonvitamins.com/ and http://www.drugstore.com/

Review: Suave Naturals Juicy Green Apple Conditioner

Sorry just stock pictures (I will add once I find my camera cord)

Description:
After shampooing, apply, massage in, and rinse. 

Ingredients: 
Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate [Vitamin E Acetate], Apple (Pyrus Malus) Extract, Cetrimonium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Distearyldimonium Chloride, Disodium EDTA, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1, 3-Diol, Propylene Glycol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazzolinone, Glycerin, FD&C Yellow No. 5 (Cl 19140), FD&C Blue No. 1 (Cl 42090).

Thoughts:
I used this conditioner after shampoo washing. Prior to this I deep conditioned for an hour. I was surprised to find the conditioner was quite drying on the back sections of my hair (the coarser sections of my hair). You know the feeling when you rinse out a clarifying shampoo? This is what I felt. This was a little disappointing, however my hair at the front which has a looser curl pattern was much more moisturised! I do like the smell of the product, it does smell like juicy green apples. The smell is not overpowering, at all in fact I had to hold the product up to my nose to smell it. I purchased the conditioner from Jamaica for £3, it is sold at Amazon for £9, so I am happy to have got it for such a cheap price! I wish I got the coconut conditioner instead I am sure this would have been much more moisturising. I will definitely use this again (I'm not one to waste product) probably once a month. Or if I am not feeling hair lazy I will mix this with my trusty Tresemme Naturals Conditioner. Not too bad for a co-wash, but wish the ingredients were better, I give this 2.5/5.

Ingredients/description from www.amazon.com

Review: Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner 12oz

Okay here is the review for this conditioner, it goes with the Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo I reviewed here.  The price of the conditioner is the same as the shampoo- 10.99, however for 12 ounces of product- that is not too bad.

 

I ordered it from British Curlies and it came very well packaged:

 And with a sample of Darcy's Curling Cream Gel which I will review in the future!

This will be used as a deep conditioner and in order to make the product last longer I will be combining with an oil (coconut or castor).

Description: Moisturizes and repairs dry, lifeless, over-processed and damaged hair.
After shampooing, work conditioner through hair from roots to ends. Leave on hair for up to 1 minute, then rinse thoroughly or leave on hair for up to 15 minutes for deeper conditioning. As a leave-in conditioner, work a 5p-sized amount through damp hair, then style as desired.

Ingredients:
Deionized water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea butter)*, Argan oil, coconut oil*, Behentrimonium chloride, essential oil blend, vegetable glycerin, emulsifying wax, sea kelp extract, Panthenol (vitamin B-5), avocado oil, Lonicera Caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower and Lonicera Japonica (Japanese honeysuckle) flower extract, Tocopherol (vitamin E) and Daucus Carota Sativa (carrot) seed oil. *Denotes certified organic ingredients.
The ingredients are the same as the shampoo except the ones in bold. The ingredients list looks waaay better than the shampoo- Argan oil is the 3rd ingredient, whereas in the shampoo it is lower down the list. Also it contains carrot seed oil and avocado oil!

Thoughts: Again a strength of the Shea Moisture line is it is all-natural and promises "No Parabens, No Phthalates, No Paraffin, No Gluten, No Propylene Glycol, No Mineral Oil, No Synthetic Fragrance, No Animal Testing, No Synthetic Colour, No DEA, No Animal Ingredients, No Sulfates." this is definitely an advantage! I used this product twice- once prior to shampooing and once after. I really like this conditioner- it is thick and creamy and has the same pleasant scent as the shampoo. I do not need to use too much conditioner for it to lather (about 2-3 pumps). I finger detangled my hair upon the second use of this product and I think it gave my hair quite a lot of slip. Another advantage is this can be used as a co-wash, leave-in and/or deep conditioner so even though it is pricey, it is worth it. I would definitely repurchase again, the only thing I did not like was the fact I have to order this online, wait for it to arrive and pay for shipping. I plan to use this weekly.

I give this product 4/5.

*To Add: After using this product for a month now, I realise it is too light to be use on its own as a deep conditioner. For my thick type 4 hair an oil must be added for it to work effectively. This is better used as a leave-in conditioner or co-wash (but a bit too pricey for a co-wash!). I now give it 3/5 for a deep conditioner and 4/5 for a leave-in and/or co-wash. I reccommend a thicker moisturising product if you have type 4 hair for deep conditioning like Aubrey Organics or Shea Moisture's masques :)

Information from http://www.britishcurlies.co.uk/store/

Review: Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo

I decided to use this shampoo in order to clarify my hair. I cannot remember the last time I used a clarifying shampoo (or shampoo with sulfates for that matter!), it probably was back in January :/ My hair felt really dirty so I decided to clarify and review this shampoo that was sitting in the bathroom cupboard. This was from Sainsbury's, however it can also be bought at Boots for £5.99, Superdrug do often have deals on Aussie Moist products.

Description:
Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo is enriched with Queensland Macadamia nut and is bursting with rich, nourishing oils. Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo has a miraculous effect on dry hair, locking in moisture and protecting against the elements.

“The Aussie Philosophy" - There's more to life than hair but it's a good place to start.

How to Use

Drench your hair with water.

Massage shampoo deeply into scalp and roots. Take a deep breath and enjoy the delicious smell.

Rinse out.

For best results use with Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner.

Ingredients:

Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycol Distearate, Cocamide MEA , Parfum, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Panthenol, Methylparaben, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Cherry Bark (Prunus Carasus) Extract, Kangaroo Paw Flower (Angiozanthos Flavidus) Extract, Queensland Nut (Macadamia Ternifolia) Extract, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Gel, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Benzoic Acid, CI 19140, CI 17200.

Thoughts:

If you are a huge fan of natural hair products, steer clear of this. As you can see above it contains a lot of ingredients that are not easy to pronounce! I used this to wash after deep condtioning (with my Tresemme naturals conditioner, coconut oil and castor oil). This shampoo lathered and I really like shampoos that do this like Shea Moisture. I did use three pumps, two is enough. After rinsing, my hair felt like straw and it felt like every ounce of product was removed from my hair. It definitely reminded me of the difference between a sulfate free shampoo and a sulfate shampoo. It definitely clarified my hair! But I could not use this as a regular weekly shampoo. I also noticed this shampoo led to more shrinkage compared to any other shampoo I have used since transitioning. However it did leave my hair soft, and the smell? OMG the smell is delicious! I think it was the macademia nut oil (although I have never smelt this before in my life)- I loved it. So overall, it is a decent clarifying shampoo, though I am not a fan of the ingredients, easily available and strangely it left my hair soft to touch but my strands did not feel moisturised. I'd give this 2/5 for use as a regular shampoo and 3/5 as a clarifying shampoo - just a bit too stripping.

Product information from boots.com and ocado.com

Review: TRESemmé Naturals Vibrantly Smooth Conditioner 900ml

Here is the review for this conditioner. I needed a cheap deep conditioner whilst I was deciding which (more expensive) deep conditioner I will purchase. I did use this conditioner last year and I am pretty sure it lasted me for half of the year at least! The best thing about this product is the price- £2.69 for 900ml - wow! The shampoo that goes with the conditioner was also half price. When I bought this product before- it was also on offer for half price, so if you want to purchase it I suggest going to Superdrug which is where I purchase it from.

Description:
TRESemmé Naturals Vibrantly Smooth Conditioner with certified organic coconut oil and jojoba extracts smoothes away frizz leaving hair feeling noticeably soft and silky. With our silicone free formula for lightweight conditioning, hair looks shiny and incredibly healthy looking. Discover 10x stronger hair after just one use.* Formulated without parabens and also hypoallergenic, it is suitable for sensitive skin and gentle enough for use on colour treated hair.
*When used with TRESemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner versus non conditioning shampoo.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water),Cetyl Alcohol ,Stearyl Alcohol ,Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride ,Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine ,Lauroyl Lysine ,Aspartic Acid ,Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil ,Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Leaf Extract ,Caprylyl Glycol ,Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer ,Distearyldimonium Chloride ,Ethyl Alcohol ,Isopropyl Alcohol ,Benzyl Alcohol ,Citric Acid ,Parfum (Fragrance)

I used this to deep condition my hair with on Wednesday, I added castor oil for extra slip. I will say this conditioner provides great slip so it is great to use for detangling! My hair felt normal after washing, it didn't feel super moisturised (like my Shea Moisture shampoo) and it didn't feel under moisturised (if that makes sense!). But for £2.69 I was definitely not expecting a miracle product! I like the texture of the conditioner it is definitely a bit thick and very creamy, if you have thick hair like mine you will definitely need a thick deep conditioner. I think this will be used as a co-wash and then I will search for a thicker, deep conditioner. All in all I give it 3/5- no miracles, but provides a lot of slip and is definitely great for the price!
Information from www.tesco.com

Blue Magic Review

As you saw here I hopped on the bandwagon and purchased some Blue Magic grease. I have been using this as part of my daily moisturise and seal routine. Why did I purchase grease? Because I heard it provides excellent moisture and was reccommended by other ladies who are transitioning, see here. Also I ran out of Bee Mine's luscious balanced moisturiser (which is £10 which seemed a lot of money after Christmas).

It is sold at Pak Cosmetics for £1.99

Description: Blue Magic Conditioner Hair Dress is formulated to give effective hair conditioning for days without being greasy. Keeps hair natural and lustrous. Promotes a healthier hair and scalp conditon. Use as often as you like.

Ingredients: Petrolatum (i know), Lanolin, Lecithin, Mineral Oil, Fragrance, Green 6, Violet 2.
Thoughts: My thoughts on this product are 50-50, the positives are also the negatives. Confusing? I'll tell you what I mean. Two positives about it are one, it is quite a heavy product so it does coat the hair strand leaving it shiny. Two, for the price it is ALOT of product, 340g and it comes in many varieties- you can buy Blue Magic coconut oil/argan oil/indian hemp- if you did purchase this product you wouldn't have to repurchase for a while. HOWEVER two negatives are, it is alot of product and if used quite a lot you could have product build up and it could leave your hair with a greasy feeling. Second, the price is good but the ingredients are not and some may wonder if there are any long-term consequences of using this product. My conclusion is as a moisturiser it does the job, but there are many other moisturisers that do a better job. I reckon I will be returning to my Bee Mine moisturiser. I think this product would be better used as a styler when I'm natural for braidouts and twistouts. One other thing I love is the smell, it reminds me of childhood :). I give it an average rating of 3/5.

Friday Night Hair GLS21 Synthetic Wig Final 5 Week Review

I wore this wig for 5 weeks over the Christmas/New Year Period. I will review this wig on a few attributes:

Tangles: This is a synthetic wig- it tangles alot! I would remove the wig and then finger comb the wig in order to detangle it. I did this on a daily basis. To avoid tangling I didn't comb the wig frequently- in fact I only did it once when I flat ironed it. For tangles I have to rate it as 2/10 (0= tangles a lot , 10= hardly tangles)

Realistic? Again, this is a synthetic wig when it came it was very shiny, but the shine faded after a while. Alternatively you could use talcum powder to dull the shine. I think human hair is more realistic looking especially Yaki texture. However I did receive a few compliments on my "hair" lol so I will rate it 7/10 (0= unrealistic, 10= realistic)

Price: This wig is very affordable, it was £50 including shipping and taxes so it's not that bad and for 5 weeks wear it costs less than a good weave. I'd give it 6/10 (0= overpriced, 10= affordable)

Company: The company is very efficient, it has a good website with lots of information. I was impressed with the shipping and packaging. I wish the shipping was lower and they had synthetic wigs with bangs, I'd still give it 8/10 (0= poor service, 10= excellent service).

Durability/Versatility: I feel this attribute overlaps. This wig is quite durable if you hang this wig up everyday but again it tangles quite a lot. It is versatile as it can be straightened but when I tried to curl it using flexi rods the curl wouldn't hold *sigh*. I'd give this 4/10. (0= poor, 10= great!)

Would I buy this wig again? Probably not, I prefer human hair wigs, but I would definitely buy from this company again if I wanted a temporary wig.

Total= 27/50

New Video: Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Cream Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88FjyEZZG0s&feature=youtube_gdata

Review: Bee Mine Products! (Shampoo & Moisturiser)

I purchased both Bee Mine Products from britishcurlies.co.uk. I had wanted to try Bee Mine for aaaages so as I was finally running low on hair products I was able to finally buy them. I bought the sample size products to try them before buying the full sized products which are about £10 each. I have just learnt the shampoo has just been discontinued by Bee Mine so when the stock is out, britishcurlies will not be able to re-order.

Bee Mine Peppermint Tea Tree Nourishing Shampoo 2oz, £3.50

Description: Bee Mine Peppermint & Tea Tree Nourishing Shampoo has essential oils of peppermint and tea tree to cleanse the scalp and stimulate growth. Along with a special blend of moisturizing oils, proteins & vitamins that will give your hair a sensational balance and beautiful appearance.

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Palm Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Distilled Water, Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Glycerin, Panthenol (Vitamin B Complex), Potassium Hydroxide, Guar Gum, Peppermint Essential Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil & Fragrance.

Thoughts: This is sulfate free- yay! I love my shampoos to be sulfate free (unless it's a clarifying shampoo) HOWEVER the smell of this product omg. I almost broke my neck smelling this product the smell is so strong and potent. For that reason alone I would not repurchase, the texture of the product is quite thick and gloopy but it does get my hair clean. I guess the search for a shampoo is still on. I give it 2.5/5.

Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturiser 2oz Coconut Cream, £4.50

Description: Our moisturizer is enriched with pro-vitamins, natural proteins and healing butters that heal seal and nourish your hair and scalp.  Beautiful hair requires a complete balance of moisture and protein to prevent breakage.  This light cream moisturizer help to prevent split ends and strengthen hair from root to tip

Ingredients:  Distilled water, Hydrogenated Persea gratissima (Avocado) Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil (and) Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Persea gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Emulsifying wax, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Vitamin E Tocopherol Oil & Fragrance.

Thoughts: The first ingredient is water and as I always say this is a good indicator of a good moisturising product. Also another great indicator was the average 4 out of 5 stars this product received on the website. I lurve this product! It is quite heavy but my new growth is quite coarse/dry so this product is great for my hair texture. It is really really moisturising and it smells great (you can choose from 2 scents). I will definitely purchase the full sized product. I give this product 4.5/5 (it is a bit pricey).

Product information and picture from britishcurlies.co.uk

Quick Review: African Pride Braid Spray Regular and Remi Collection Indian Hair

Hey remember I purchased these items, well here is a quick review!
African Pride Braid Spray Regular
Description: Healthy, beautiful braids have been popular in Africa for hundreds of years. Our ancient recipe will soften, shine and moisturize your braids. Daily use promotes strong, healthy, shiny hair. Gives hair a fabulous fragrance. Relieves frizzies and breakage. Excellent for locks and twists. 
Ingredients:  African Pride Herbal Complex (Aqua (Water), Apocynum Cannabinum (Indian Hemp Extract), Urtica Dioica (Nettle Extract), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary Extract), Arctium Lappa (Burdock Extract), Betula Alba (Birch Extract), Rosa Canina (Dog Rose Hips Extract), Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan Extract), Tussilago Farfara (Coltsfoot Extract), Prunus Serotina (Wild Cheryy BarkExtract), Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion Extract), Sambucus Nigra, Equisetum Hiemale (Horse-Tail Extract), Echinacea Purpurea (Coneflower Extract), Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Copolyol, PEG-8, Oleth-20, PEG-75 Lanolin, Silk Amino Acids, Panthenol, Acetamidopropyl Trimonium Chloride, Parfum (Fragrance), Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.
Thoughts? I use this spray to moisturise my cornrows (under my wig) daily and it does the job. I love that the first ingredient is water which is a key ingredient of any moisturising hair product. I have found that as the temperature is dropping , it is not as moisturising as before and I need to use oil as a "top up" during the day. I think I'd purchase this again for Spring/Summertime. I love the spray nozzle it is so convienient. I'd give this 3.5 out of 5.

Remy Hair, 10 inchesDescription: Remi Collection Indian Remi Weaving by Sensual Collection is made of hundred percent human hair with remi texture in wet and wavy style.

Thoughts? Well I thought purchasing Remi hair would be a great investment- lovely, tangle free, I can reuse again and again. Erm no *record stratch*, after I had my weave in for 2 weeks- the nape was tangle city! In fact- tangle kingdom! By the 3rd week I wanted to take it out which was a shame. It was the cheapest Remi hair on the site so maaaybe alarm bells should have been ringing. Also wet and wavy texture? Hmm wavy *gives side eye*. I have kept the hair (although some had to be disposed due to tangling) in case I want to make another set of clip-ins. I will say this hair did not shed as much as other brands I've tried like Premium Too or Milky Way. But I will not be repurchasing, I'd give this hair 1.5 out of 5.

Product Review: Hairveda Whipped Creme Ends Hydration Sample 1oz

I was thinking of purchasing this product ever since Jeni reviewed it on her site, it was also rated highly on britishcurlies. I bought the sample size version it was very affordable at £1.75 from britishcurlies.co.uk, in fact Hairveda is quite an affordable range, maybe because most not all of the ingredients are natural as you will read below.
General prices:
16oz conditioner: £6.50-10
6.3oz-9oz moisturiser: £5.40-£7

Hairveda Whipped Creme Ends Hydration Sample 1oz

Description: Whipped Cream 3 in1 Ends Hydration, Leave In & Moisturizer We took out all the wax and replaced it with Rich and creamy unrefined Shea Butter! Not too heavy, not too light! Whipped Cream has Just the right amount of moisture and oils to give you moisturized ends. Whipped (Baggy) Cream was originally formulated to work with the baggie method. However our customers reported that they use it for roller setting, wash-and-go styles, sleek ponytails, and as a leave in conditioner. Just a dime size amount will do! It softens your new growth, adds unbelievable shine and gives new life to your hair! Your ends will love HairVeda's Signature Whipped Cream. Product may settle. Just shake well before use!

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis ( Castor Oil), Sweet Almond Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter),Ceteryl Alcohol, Steryl Alcohol, Sunflower Oil, Allantoin, Isopropryl Palmitate, Emulsifying wax, Germall Plus, Light Fragrance

Thoughts:

Hairveda very kindly included a sample of CoCasta Shikakai Oil for free, at first I thought what the heck is this I never ordered this lol. Okay I've been using this daily for the past week and feel I am able to do a review. The texture is creamy, it is not thick which I think is a disadvantage in this cold weather. To be honest I prefer my Bee Mine moisturiser and will continue to use that thereafter. I think this moisturiser would be nice to use in the Summer when a lighter moisturiser will do the job. However this product did not moisturise my new growth well (remember I am 14 weeks and 1 day post relaxer) so I would have to give it 2.5/5 but in Summer it would definitely go up by 1 point to 3.5/5 if that makes sense! Hairveda is a very affordable line and I am tempted to peruse the other products they offer.

Hairveda CoCasta Shikakai Oil Sample 1oz, usually £1.75 (£8.50 for 9oz)

Description: CoCasta Shikakai Oil- The Ayurveda Oil Blend This oil packs a punch! Promotes healthy growth, softens, regulates sebum, strengthens, adds shine & conditions! CoCasta Shikakai Herbal Hair Oil has a unique natural formulation containing Shikakai with other natural ingredients, which cleans the flow of sebum on your scalp preventing dandruff and hair fall, leaving your hair clean, soft and healthy from root to tip. Our Liquid Gold is a medley of Nut Oils, with Henna, Amla, & Indian herbs that coat every strand of hair, protecting it from sun, wind, dust and pollution, giving your hair and scalp, nourishment and conditioning for long and lustrous, problem free hair. According to Indian history, each ingredient we use is renowned for aiding in giving women soft beautiful locks! Use as a hot oil treatment, sealant for ends, scalp oil and more.

Ingredients: Ricinus Communis Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulsis, Acacia Concinna Oil, Bacopa Monniera Oil, Emblica Officianalis Fruit Oil, Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil, Fragrance

Thoughts: Basically all the reviews on the site said this product was amaaaazing and gave 5/5. This oil - to be honest I cannot convey how much I LOVE this oil in words! Yes I lurrrrve this oil, the reviews were all true, I did a hot oil rinse with this oil (just this oil only) and oh my god afterwards my hair was soo much easier to detangle. I. Love. This. Very simply. I will have to repurchase I will JUST have to! 5/5.

Product information and picture from britishcurlies.co.uk

Review: Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner & Smooth & Soft Conditioner

I purchased these two products for £3.99 (saving £3!) at Superdrug- usually Superdrug and Sainsburys always have 2 for £3.99 deals on the Herbal Essences range. Obviously I bought the two biggest containers at 400ml each.
Herbal Essences Hello Hydration (HEHH) Conditioner, £3.49 on its own
Description: I’ll quench your thirst for Dry/Damaged hair. Say 'hello' to a deep drenching of quenching hydration with my rich formula containing orchid and coconut extracts. Immerse yourself and replenish your hair's much needed moisture. Got thirst for more? Start with my shampoo and treat yourself to my high gloss intensive mask. (Our gloss, your gain!).

Ingredients: water, stearyl alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, cetyl alcohol, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, dimethicone, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, cocos nucifera (coconut) milk, fragrance, glutamic acid, benzyl alcohol, edta, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, blue 1. According to naturallycurly.com it is: sulfate free, paraben free, protein free and glycerin free.

Thoughts: I purchased this to co-wash my hair and I currently co-wash my hair 1x week after shampooing my hair. This definitely leaves my hair feeling moisturised and gives lots of slip. I feel if it aids my detangling process this is very important especially at 13 weeks post relaxer. The price is well worth it and the smell of coconut and orchid is lovely and I like the way the smell lingers in my hair. I would definitely repurchase this conditioner, the colour is a bit off putting when I first squeezed it out I admit I was shocked it is blue, the same colour as the container. I would give this conditioner 4/5, I think it is too heavy to use as a leave-in so imo it only has one use, as a co-wash.

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Conditioner, £3.49 on its own

Description: See smoothness in your future? How about some protection from humidity? Try this deep conditioning formula so your path to soft, smooth hair is perfectly clear

Ingredients: Aqua,Stearyl Alcohol ,Cetyl Alcohol ,Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine ,Glutamic Acid ,Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone ,Parfum ,Benzyl Alcohol ,Citric Acid ,EDTA ,Hexyl Cinnamal ,Sodium Chloride ,Butylphenyl Methylpropional ,Linalool ,Propylene Glycol ,Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Limonene, Magnesium Nitrate ,Margarita Powder ,Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil ,CI 47005 ,CI 14700 ,CI 17200 ,Triacetin ,Methylchloroisothiazolinone ,Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Benzoate,Potassium Sorbate.

Thoughts: I purchased this to co-wash my lace front wig. I have used it once, it definitely did the job, the wig was washed, it felt and smelt clean afterwards and was smooth. I am not sure how well this would work on my natural hair I'd rather use HEHH. However I also liked the smell and yes I admit after washing I smelt the wig once or twice lol. Btw I really wanted the HE Totally Twisted conditioner but could not find it anywhere :/ so if anyone knows where it is sold please let me know! I would give this product 4/5 it does the job but the orange colour is off-putting and the conditioner is not as moisturising as HEHH.

Ingredient & description information from: tesco.com, naturallycurly.com, superdrug.co.uk

Review: Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner

I'm not sure why I did not post this review! I drafted it a few months back. Anyway here it is:
After rave reviews on youtube, hairlista and longhaircareforum I finally got my hands on this conditioner! I purchased this conditioner to use as a moisturising deep conditioner. It is a bit pricey at £10.51 from britishcurlies.co.uk but this is due to the all-natural ingredients and you do get 11 ounces of product. I'm pretty sure you can purchase this product at Whole Foods if you can find one! As if I needed any more confirmation, all the reviews gave this conditioner on average 4/5 and it's the 2nd best selling conditioner behind Kinky Curly Knot Today.

Description: The sweet smell of success for your hair. Trade those dry, thirsty tresses for vibrant, touchably soft hair with this moisture-intensive conditioner. Restorative herbal emollients detangle and rehydrate to leave hair ultra-silky and irresistibly fragrant. Also recommended for bleached or highlighted hair

Ingredients: Coconut Fatty Acid Cream Base ,  Organic Aloe Vera ,  Organic Shea Butter ,  Wheat Germ Oil ,  Organic Jojoba Oil ,  Organic Rosa Mosqueta® Rose Hip Seed Oil ,  Extracts of: Fennel ,  Hops ,  Balm Mint ,  Mistletoe ,  Camomile ,  Yarrow ,  Chrysanthemum ,  Angelica ,  Forsythia ,  and Magnolia ,  Honeysuckle Oil ,  Carrot Oil ,  Aubrey's Preservative: (Citrus Seed Extract ,  Vitamin A ,  Vitamin C ,  and Vitamin E)

Thoughts: I've been using this product for four months as a weekly deep conditioner. I find it very moisturising, I do not really like the smell. But the texture of the product is very thick and coats and moisturises my strands very well. I find as my transitioning journey continues the amount of product I'm applying is increasing. So if you have thick/coarse 4a/4b hair like mine be wary that this product may not last you long (unless you combine it with an oil like I do). The best thing is the ingredients, I'm really happy that they are all natural and I think it justifies the price. I definitely don't feel "bad" or anxious about applying this product. I give it a 4/5.

Product information and picture from britishcurlies.co.uk

Quick Catch Up! Review: African Pride Braid Spray Regular and Remi Collection

I promised a review on these products so here goes:
African Pride Braid Spray Regular

Description: Healthy, beautiful braids have been popular in Africa for hundreds of years. Our ancient recipe will soften, shine and moisturize your braids. Daily use promotes strong, healthy, shiny hair. Gives hair a fabulous fragrance. Relieves frizzies and breakage. Excellent for locks and twists. 
Ingredients:  African Pride Herbal Complex (Aqua (Water), Apocynum Cannabinum (Indian Hemp Extract), Urtica Dioica (Nettle Extract), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary Extract), Arctium Lappa (Burdock Extract), Betula Alba (Birch Extract), Rosa Canina (Dog Rose Hips Extract), Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan Extract), Tussilago Farfara (Coltsfoot Extract), Prunus Serotina (Wild Cheryy BarkExtract), Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion Extract), Sambucus Nigra, Equisetum Hiemale (Horse-Tail Extract), Echinacea Purpurea (Coneflower Extract), Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Copolyol, PEG-8, Oleth-20, PEG-75 Lanolin, Silk Amino Acids, Panthenol, Acetamidopropyl Trimonium Chloride, Parfum (Fragrance), Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Thoughts: I love that the first ingredient is water- that is a key ingredient of a moisturising product. I use this spray to moisturise my cornrows (under my lace wig) every day usually...it does it's job however as we  approach the Winter months I feel I need a heavier moisturiser like a butter. It is a light moisturiser so often I use this daily and then have to "top" up with applying an oil later on in the day. It definitely makes my hair feel soft and the spray nozzle is soo convienient! I would not repurchase this again until Spring when the weather warms up. I give it 3.5 out of 5!

Remy Hair, 10 inches
Description: Remi Collection Indian Remi Weaving by Sensual Collection is made of hundred percent human hair with remi texture in wet and wavy style.
Click for a picture of the hair
Thoughts: I bought 2 packs of this hair, thinking it was remi hair- yay, great quality- woop woop! Erm no *record stratch*. By the second week of wearing this hair it tangled SO badly at the nape, it was tangle CITY! I have to say this hair did not shed as badly as Premium Too or Milky Way but by 3 weeks of wear I wanted to take this hair out. Which is a shame b/c it cost me £40, albeit it was the cheapest brand of Remy hair on the website so maaybe alarm bells should have been ringing. I have kept the weave just in case I want to make clip-ins but I won't be using this hair for another sew-in. Again. Out of 5- 1.5.

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