Camille Rose Natural Almond Jai Twisting Butter

Well I'm late to the party where Camille Rose is concerned, but I wanted to wait before reviewing this product to give it a fair chance. It's been a while and I have tried it on a few occasions styling my hair in various ways that I feel I can review it. Please keep in mind this is based on my very tightly coiled, fine, densely packed type 4a hair.

Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter ($16.99 US, $24.00 CDN)

Promise: The best twisting butter ever! Achieve the ultimate soft fully twist out with a combination of almond milk, almond oil, jojoba, hemp and a drizzle of honey. Your style will be elongated, silky and held in place.

Ingredients: Deionzed Water, behentrimonium methosulfate, cetearyl alcohol, almond milk, almond oil, pumkin seed oil, sesame seed oil, jojoba oil, rice bran oil, macadamia oil, oilve oil, hemp seed oil, slippery elm, castor oil, aloe vera leaf juice, honey, green tea leaf extract, phenoxyethanol/caprylyl glycol, sorbic acid, scent and love!

Results: well this product is not 100% natural, so it loses a few points for that, but it makes up in other areas. Overall, I was pleased with this product. For the most part it did what it stated it would and my hair felt pretty good. I applied it to both damp and dry hair and in all cases my hair was elongated, felt soft and it had nice curl definition when I unravelled my twist. Bonus, it smells great. The only issue I had was the fact that it did not keep my hair moisturized. I found I had to reapply after a few hours, which isn't something I would expect from a product with such a huge price tag. Keep in mind, my hair is highly porous in the front and sides. Therefore, it is hard for me to maintain moisture in these areas. With that said, the back did feel a bit better, but it still needed a reapplication of the product to maintain the moisture level. When I modified the product (e.g. added lemon juice and aloe vera) lowering the pH to a 4.0, it worked much better on my hair. My hair was still elongated and held great definition, but it also had great shine, which it did not have using the product alone.

I am new to the product, so I do not have anything to compare it to, but I understand the formulation has changed somewhat, which has received mixed reviews. I personally think it is decent as it is. I have really been at a loss for products that will give me the look I desire. This is the first time in a very long time I have been happy with my results, so it's a keeper for now.

                                 

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 . 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 .I haven't tried it more than a few times, so my assessment could change, but I really doubt it.

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

- = neither hit or miss; just okay

- = good product; really worth trying.

= amazing product!

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 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 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. 

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

- = neither hit or miss; just okay

- = good product; really worth trying.

= amazing product!

Komaza Care

Now that I am natural I have different needs. I've had to adjust my regimen, which is still a work in progress. Styling my hair is another matter entirely. Wearing a relaxer, weaves, extensions and twists for so many years it's been a bit challenging to style my own hair. I wanted to wait before reviewing these product to give them a fair chance. It's been a while and I have tried them on a few occasions styling my hair in various ways that I feel I can review them. Please keep in mind this is based on my very tightly coiled, fine, densely packed type 4a hair.

Komaza Care Califia Styling Pudding ($15.00 US, $24.00 CDN)

Promise: This is a soft holding styling product designed to elongate curls helping to control shrinkage without drying or flaking. Gives hair softness and shine. Works well to control frizz and smooth hair line. 

Ingredients: Distilled Water, Shea Butter, Aloe Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower, Behenetrimonium, Cetyl Alcohol, Aloe Vera, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Acrylates, Alkyl Acrylates, Sodium Benzoate, Fruit and floral essence (humectant), Phthalates-Free Vegetarian Fragrance, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol.

Results: well this product is not 100% natural, so it already loses points for that alone, but I have really been at a loss for products that will give me the look I desire.  I was told it gave a firmer hold that the Coconut Pudding (see below), so I thought I would give it a try because I am still figuring what my hair needs in term of styling products. This product did not live up to my expectations at all. I used it as a styler (on top of moisturizer and oil) and on naked hair. In both situations my hair looked dull, "dusty" (which may be due to another issue) and a bit hard. I did not elongate my hair at all and it most definitely did not add any shine. It did make my curls "pop" a little bit, but my hair is so coily, I don't know if I am willing to give Komaza credit for that. The hold was decent enough. Truth be told I just wanted to wash it off when I saw my hair.

Overall, I will give this product a .

 Komaza Care Coconut Hair Pudding ($14.00 US, $24.00 CDN)

Promise: This soft holding styling gel is great for all hair types and is among the favorites in the more humid regions. The combination of, Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera allows the hair to receive and retain moisture while eliminating frizz. 

Ingredients: Water, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera, Acrylates, Alkyl Acrylates, Sodium Benzoate, Phthalates-Free Vegetarian Fragrance, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol,  Phenoxyethanol.

Results: I had similar results as the Califia Styling Pudding, but I did give some shine, especially when used over a moisturizer. The hold was lighter, but good enough for any twist out. I'm giving it  a . 

Overall, I don't seem to have much luck with Komaza products. I purchased them because they were on sale, but I won't fall for that again.  I am still looking for a styling product that is all natural, provides good hold, nice shine and nice definition.

ETA: I recently began testing my hair products to determine their pH level and these two products 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. I will give these products one last try after I play around with the pH. I've done this with another product and had much better results, so here's hoping it will in this case. I would hate to waste my money.

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

- = neither hit or miss; just okay

- = good product; really worth trying.

= amazing product!

Product Review, Take Two!

Since I have updated my regimen I have been going through the various hair products I use on my hair so I can re-evaluate how my hair (now 90% natural) responds to them. As I have mentioned in that post, I have found that many of the products that I loved or found beneficial for my relaxed hair just aren't doing anything for my natural hair. More importantly, I have noticed that a few products that I couldn't make work for the life of me now work beautifully on my natural hair now, namely Shea Moisture and shea butter (well my adaptation of it). That, along with a few other products have made my hair feel absolutely wonderful, so I feel its only fair that I do another review for a few of the products I have given poor reviews on in the past. Now please keep in mind, I have very fine hair with low and high porosity. I was experiencing several hair/scalp issues during my relaxer days. So when I used the products I am mentioning below, my reviews were based on it providing me with what I needed to make my hair look and feel the way I wanted. Given my hair condition, I have different needs. So with that said, let the review begin!

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo ($9.99 US, $15.00 CDN)

Promise: Hydrates, smooths and repairs strands leaving hair manageably soft. For dry, damage hair. Heal, grow and strengthen. Sea kelp 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: Deionized Water , Decyl Glucoside (Sugar Beets) , African Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Aloe Vera Leaf Juice , Argan Oil , Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) , Rosemary Extract , Sea Kelp Extract , Vitamin E, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract (Honeysuckle) , Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Japanese Honeysuckle)

Results: So once again, I must start off by saying that I was very happy to finally find an all natural shampoo that lathers well and doesn't make my hair feel like straw *cough* Aubrey Organics--*cough*. When I used this product a few weeks ago I was really just trying to use it up because it had been sitting in my cabinet for months. I actually never used it again since my first review. When I was relaxed I didn't like this product because I felt like it was stripping my hair too much. Not horribly, but enough that I didn't want to use it anymore. My scalp also began to itch a lot shortly after washing my hair, which truthfully I have not experienced in a long while since using my Aveda Shampoo. The itchy scalp actually continued days after washing my hair despite oiling my scalp, so I was not impressed. 

Now? As I pointed out in my previous review, the shampoo is on the thicker side, providing a rich lather, so a little goes a long way. I used less than a dime size per section (I section my hair in fours) and only needed to wash my scalp once. This time around my hair felt clean, smooth, detangled, moisturized and VERY SOFT. Better still, my scalp did not itch at all. I was so happy ! I'm still not a fan of the smell, but overall I was very pleased with the way it cleaned my hair/scalp, and how it made my hair feel. Overall, I will give this product a . I would have given it more, but the smell bothers me. Given these changes I will be replacing my Aveda Dry Remedy. Review on that below.

Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Shampoo ($24-$45 CDN)

 Promises: Drenches even the driest, most brittle hair with moisture, leaving it soft, supple, touchable. Instantly improve dry hair up to 63% when used as part of the Dry Remedy Moisturizing System. Deep moisturizing complex penetrates hair to deliver lasting, intense moisture, powered by buriti oil, pomegranate and palm-derived conditioners.

Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Ethyl Macadamiate, Maurita Flexuosa (Buriti) Fruit Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Sterols, Orbignya Specoisa Kernel Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Hordeum Distichon (Barley) Extract/Extrait DOrge A Deux Rangs, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter Tapioca Starch, Canola Oil/Huile De Colza, Palmamidopropyl Trimonium Methosulfate, Fragrance (Parfum), Geraniol, Limonene, Citronellol, Eugenol, Linalool, Citral, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid. Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol.

Results: Initially when I tried this product I thought was doing a beautiful job on my hair.

Although DR is not chemical free it was working well on my hair (e.g. soft, moisturized hair). For that I initially gave Aveda Dry Remedy Shampoo a .  However, since I have been transitioning it is actually making my hair feel a little stripped and dry--funny how that works. I am actually very surprised. As a result I now have to give it a .

Shea Butter ($10-21.99 CDN)

Promises: Soothes dry, itchy, irritated scalp or dandruff. Provides moisture for dry or damaged hair and is easily absorbed into the hair and scalp and does not clog the pores. It is helpful in locking in moisture without leaving the hair greasy and heavy, softening the hair. Said to be very beneficial for relaxed, coloured and heat-treated hair.

Ingredients: Organic/Unrefined Shea Butter

I first wrote about shea butter when I started my hair journey, and at that time I definitely did not feel it was for me. When I was relaxed I tried it on my scalp and my scalp itched like crazy. I tried it on my hair, it felt weighed down and too heavy. In my conditioners, again a weird feeling on my hair and scalp.  It just didn't work for my hair. Now? it works about the same. It is a bit better in the sense that my hair responds to it much better, but there seems to be a weird film on my hair. I tried it as a styler and as a sealant and in both situations I was a little disappointed. Consequently, I have to give it a , which is a lot better than my previous rating. However....I've been seeing a lot of natural women reviewing hair locking butters, which they use for their twist outs and braid out, so I thought hmmmm how can I use this product differently? I decided to do some research on these locking butters and when I looked at the ingredients I thought, why would someone pay for this when they could easily whip up a batch of their own. Most of these products are made of nothing more than butters, oils and beeswax (in most cases).  So that is what I did. I created my own hair butter using shea butter and can I say it works on my hair beautifully. I use it as a sealant when I twist my hair and it leaves my hair soft, shiny, gives me a soft hold and really defines my twist out. I know I can't rate my own "product", but if I could, I would give it a.

Nature's Gate Aloe Vera Moisturizing Conditioner ($5.99-$7.95 CDN)

Promise: Gently effective, this exotic combination of herbs packed with natural proteins help condition, moisturize, nourish and restore natural softness and shine, giving you silky soft and tangle-free hair.

Ingredients: Water, Cetyl Alcohol**, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Hordeum Distichon (Barley) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Panthenol, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract, Viola Tricolor (Wild Pansy) Extract, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Stearalkonium Chloride, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

*bold/highlighted ingredients are synthetic and/or potentially toxic in high doses.
** plant derived source said to be safe

Results: When I first used this product I was pleasantly surprised. It still isn't the greatest conditioner for deep conditioning in my opinion, but it is a good "cheapie" conditioner for co-washing. When I was relaxed I swear my tangles just fell out with very little effort when I applied it directly to a tangled section for a few seconds. My comb just glided through my hair with such ease I did a little happy dance in the shower.  The smell is pleasant and fruity, yet mild, so overall, I was very pleased.  Now however, it does not do anything for my hair. It doesn't feel horrible or anything, but my hair just doesn't feel as soft or moisturized as it use to. Consequently, I feel I have to change my rating to a .

Giovanni Direct Leave In Conditioner ($6.99-$10.99 CDN)

Promise: Restores strength, luster and nourishment to abused hair. Moisturizes and builds body. This conditioner infuses each individual hair with proteins. Detangles for easy comb-out, easy styling.

Ingredients: Aqua (purified water) with *rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) oil, *nettle (Uritica dioica) oil, *thyme (Thymus vulagris) oil, birch leaf (Butela alba) oil, *chamomile (Anthemis nobilus flower) oil, *clary (Salvia sclarea), *lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), *coltsfoot leaf (Tussilago farfara), *yarrow (Achillea millefolium) oil, *mallow (Malva sylvestris), *horsetail (Equistetum arvense) oil, *soybean protein (Glycine soja), cetyl alcohol (plant derived), tocopherol (vitamin E), trace minerals, citric acid (corn), sodium hydroxymethyglycinate, grapefruit seed (citrus derived).

*bold/highlighted ingredients are synthetic and/or potentially toxic in high doses.

Results: Now that I am natural I have found that this product is now making my hair a little hard when I use it on its on. My hair feels detangled, but when it dries it seems to have a film on it making it look a little dull. On my second attempt I used it before applying some of my homemade hair butter and it was much much better. My hair felt soft and moisturized. So I will say, based on that, it's a keeper and I'll give it a  .

Oyin Homemade Hair Dew Lightweight Quenching Lotion ($12-$19 US or $24.00-$36.00 CDN--oh yes you read that correctly!!!!)

Promise: This creamy, conditioning leave-in is light enough for every day. it's great on 'naked' hair immediately after a cleanse, or as a way to reinvigorate tired hair all the way through your hair care cycle. Looking for a product to wake up and moisturize your 'second day hair'? Looking for a way to make your hair pliable enough to re-style without a full rinse? Just want to refresh your coils and curls and give them a shot of moisture before sealing? This leave-in is your answer! As always, mineral/paraffin/petroleum free and full of nourishing castor, olive, and coconut oils instead. We also combine with aloe vera to quench the thirstiest hair... and since it's glycerin-free it's appropriate for even the driest of climates. Give your hair a drink today!

Ingredients: purified water, castor oil, olive oil, organic aloe vera gel, behentrimonium methosulfate (emulsifier), coconut oil, olive squalane, optiphen (preservative), cetyl alcohol, fragrance, and love!

Results: Overall, this product is still moisturizing, but nothing amazing. I find I have to add a lot of this product to make my hair feel soft (apply and reapply), and even then it wasn't anything special. When I sealed it with my homemade hair butter (something I am noticing I have to do now), my hair felt "alright". Not bad, but it could have been better, especially since I saw a huge difference when I used the Giovanni and got more hold, shine and definition. I will continue to use it because I want to have a good moisturizing product in my regimen and for that reason I have to now give it a  because the price is still hurting my pocket. I plan to play around with the ingredients so I can create my own handmade lotion (which is still a work in progress), but that is for another post.

So that's it. My hair has really changed a lot and apparently, so its needs. Hope that helps!

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

- = neither hit or miss; just okay

- = good product; really worth trying.

= amazing product!