Mane Diva : Qhemet Biologics

Continuing from my previous post I wanted to share my thoughts on a few more products that I have been using over the past few months. I wanted to wait before posting my thoughts on these product in an effort to give them a fair chance. I am noticing overall that my strains are very particular and a lot of the products other naturals have been raving about simply aren't cutting it for me. I will address this in another post, but I will say I can't really blame the products for failing me. So with that said, let's take a look at the products. Again, please keep in mind this is based on my very tightly coiled, fine, densely packed type 4a hair.

Amla & Olive Heavy Cream ($17.00 US, $28.00 CDN)

Product Description: Our nourishingly rich blend of world oils, organic herbs and natural humectants leave course, dry and brittle hair extra soft, healthy and supple. This thick, rich formula leaves extra dry, course hair soft and supple for days!

Ingredients: Castor & Olive Oil Blend, Distilled Water, Amla Extract, Organic Brahmi Extract, Organic Aloe Ferox Extract, Vegetable Glycerine, MSM, Sorbitan & Cetearyl Monoesters, Essential Oils Scent, Phenoxyethanol and Ethylhexyglycerin.

Results: I found this product to be very heavy for my hair, hence the name. Mind you, I can be heavy handed, so I had to be careful. Unfortunately, even using the lightest touch seem to be too much for my fine hair strains. I also noticed that it just sat on my hair, leaving a light white film. I wasn't a fan and quite disappointed given the price tag. I used it on damp hair, which may have been the problem, but I also watched a lot of YouTube tutorials using this product to see how other women were using it and they were using it the same way. I currently use it as a moisturizer prior to twisting and have no plans to repurchase it when I finish the jar. It gets a Smiley

from me.

ETA: I recently began testing my hair products to determine their pH level and this product had a test reading of 7.0. Given what I now know about pH level and its effect on low/high porosity hair, I understand my results a bit better now. To manage this, I added a touch of aloe vera juice and lemon juice to this product to lower it to 4.5 (for my low porosity sections) and 4.0 to my high porosity sections and it has worked much better on my hair. With this adjustment I would now give this product a

Burdock Root Butter Cream ($16.00 US, $28.00 CDN)

Product Description: Our Burdock Root Butter Cream is a light, water based leave-in for fine haired naturals, straight styles and those looking for a light penetrating moisturizer. It conditions and softens while nourishing the scalp. Leave hair healthy, soft and supple!

Ingredients: Distilled Water, Burdock Root Extract, Nettle Leaf Extract, Oatstraw Extract, Olive Oil, Vegetable Glycerine, Wheat Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearalkonium Chloride, MSM, Essential Oils Scent, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol and Ethylhexyglycerin.

*Please note, as of 1/20/12 the ingredients list on this label has been modified for better FDA compliance. Dimethyl Stearamine, which was erroneously omitted from previous labels, is now included on the current labels.

Results: Well, first off I want to state that I am not impressed with any company that "omits" ingredients from their packaging. I think it's dishonest, misleading, potentially dangerous and it makes me wonder what else are they leaving out because they haven't been forced to include it by the FDA. Once I run out of this product I will not purchase it again.

Now for the results. This product was quite moisturizing. I am noticing (through trial and error) that any product that contains vegetable glycerin does not provide the best results on my hair. It "swells", shrinks like crazy and looks dull. This may be because of the nature of vegetable glycerin as a humectant and the challenges that can come with this ingredient. Did it leave my hair soft and supple? Yes. Did it give me the desire effect (shine, definition)? No. Sadly, I didn't even get good results when I paired it with a styler. I'm giving this product a Smiley

because it definitely is not worth the money in my opinion.

Aethiopika Hydrate & Twist Butter ($14.00 US, $26.00 CDN)

Product Description: Softens, thick, extra dry hair with an ultra rich blend of pure olive oil,, mango butter and rice oil! A touch of plant wax helps reduce frizz and smooths edges and soy extract adds humectancy. Use sparingly. A little goes a long way. Use this thick, rich butter to soften and maintain twists, braids and loose hair! Ideal for highly porous hair!

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Mango Butter & Rice Oil Blend, Behenyl Ester, Cetyl Alcohol, Soy Extract, Plant Wax, Phthalate Free Fragrance.

Results: This product was okay. I like the scent, it is really pleasant and fruity. It provides a nice shine and made my hair feel soft. I used it as a sealer, but truth be told I have seen better results with simple avocado butter. Compared to the Aethiopika Hydrate & Twist Butter, avocado butter provides a lot more shine and makes my hair feel just as soft . I will not repurchase this product when I finish the jar. It's has too many unnecessary additives, provided little hold (despite the addition of the wax), it did not give me the results I wanted and therefore is not worth the price. It gets a

from me.