Monday, February 17, 2014

Shea Moisture....Where Have You Been All My Life?

From the title of the post, I am sure you've already guessed that this will be another review of Shea Moisture products. Two of these products are new to the line up and a part of the Moisture Retention line, which I've wanted to try for a while now because I have heard good things about them. In all honesty I did not need a new conditioner because I was fairly happy with my current conditioners. I've noticed however, that a few of my favs have new ingredients, which puzzles me. I mean as the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, why fix it? I am not quite sure if that is why my hair has not been responding to some of my staples the same way. Hair does change over time, so that may also be contributing to the issue I have noticed. Anyway, I thought I would give the following items a try in an effort to meet my hair needs. 

Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner ($9.99 US, $12.99-$20 CDN)

Promise: Our all‐natural, daily conditioner moisturizes and repairs dry, lifeless, over‐processed and damaged hair.
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), Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil. *Denotes Certified Organic Ingredient.

Results: Let me just say, that this conditioner right here, is the business! When I put it on my hair my knots just melted away (and I get a lot of knots). My fingers were able to glide threw it and I loved that. I will need to stock up the next time I am in the States. I used the conditioner for 5 weeks in a few different ways (e.g. pre-poo, detangler, conditioner post-poo) and it worked out lovely any way I used it. My hair was detangled, moisturized and VERY SOFT. Overall, I will give this product a Smiley. It's a keeper.


Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Reconstructive Elixer ($9.99 US, $13.99 CDN)

Promise: This intensely moisturizing and penetrating all-natural oil treatment repairs and strengthens hair. Strengthens strands from the roots, protects against damage and leaves hair silky and vibrant. Trace minerals detoxify hair follicles of impurities and residue. Argan oil restores shine and rebuilds hair elasticity. Shea butter deeply moisturizes and repairs damage to hair and scalp.

Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Oil*, Argan Oil, Vegetable Squalene, Carrot Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Avocado Oil, Castor Oil, Sebacic Acid, Sea Kelp Extract, Essential Oil Blend, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower (and) Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E). *Denotes Certified Organic Ingredient.

Results: Well, I'm not sure what to say about his product. Did it leave a shine on my hair? Yes. Moisturizing? No, it was actually a little drying and the oil seem to just sit on top of my hair, which I didn't like. I used it on top of my twist while damp and on dry hair.  It didn't work either way. For these reasons I have to give it a Smiley.I haven't tried it more than a few times, so my assessment could change, but I really doubt it.

Smiley - Smiley = not worth the money, don't waste your time.

Smiley - Smiley = neither hit or miss; just okay

Smiley - Smiley = good product; really worth trying.

Smiley = amazing product!


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Hits and Misses for 2013

As a new year gets underway I am thinking about my future hair goals since my second big chop *sigh*. I have had some success with products in the last year, but I need to keep it going if I hope to reach BSL by January 2016. Here are a few products (and techniques) that created magic as well as a few disasters for my hair over the last year (note: some of these products have moved around as the ingredients seem to have changed slightly and my hair appears to be changing)

Hits
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner
Aubrey Organics White Camellia Ultra-Smoothing Conditioner
Giovanni Direct Leave in  
Avocado Oil
Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Olive Oil
Jojoba Oil
Virgin Coconut Oil
EOs
ACV Herbal Rinse
Detangling prior to shampooing
Adding oils to my conditioners 
Finger combing 
Sleeping with a satin scarf and satin pillowcase
Overnight deep conditioning treatments
Washing hair in twisted sections
Mild protein treatments once every 3 weeks
Avocado Butter blend as a sealant

Misses
Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Shine Shampoo

Neither Hit nor Miss/Just There:
Homemade Avocado Protein Mask  (after a small adjustment it was much better)
Oyin Lightweight Lotion

What I learned about my hair and products in general over the last year:
  • Finger combing allows me to retain a lot more hair because my hair is tightly coiled and combs causes it to snap, even when wet. 
Well that's me and my journey thus far. Happy New Year to all my subbies...and may you achieve all your many hair goals in 2014!!!!!!