As you know I am slowly making my way through the various hair products that I have in an effort to streamline what I am using and to eliminate some of the non-natural products I own. As I get through the last bit of these products it occurred to me that there are several products that I think deserve an honourable mention despite their synthetic ingredients because they were quite effective on my hair. Some of you might be thinking, "well why get rid of them if they are doing a good job?" The only answer I can give is "because that is the choice I have made for myself and my hair". Gradually I have been replacing these products, with some success (and some disappointments), which I have also discussed below.
If you plan to try any of these products please don't let my words discourage you. My goal is not to discourage anyone from trying a product I've mentioned on my blog. Please remember, this blog is about my personal hair journey, highlighting the highs and lows of my hair (rightly named "Diva!") and as I've already established, she is a bit of a snob when it come to most hair products. What doesn't work for her, may work wonders for your hair....so always try things out for yourself.
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 used this product I was pleasantly surprised. It isn't the greatest conditioner for deep conditioning in my opinion, but it is a great "cheapie" conditioner for co-washing. 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 . When my hair dried my new growth was incredibly soft and felt moisturized. Overall, I was very pleased. The smell is pleasant and fruity, yet mild. It is just too bad it has all those darn chemicals in it. But if you are not as particular as me, I would definitely give it a try, especially if you can find it for $5.99 or less. Overall, I will give this product a
. I would have given it more, but it didn't work like a conditioner should just a great co-wash product. Problem is, if you don't like to co-wash your hair, then this product may not be for you.
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: When I used this product a few weeks ago I was so impressed I was wondering why I had stopped using it. My hair was so smooth and detangled beautifully. When my hair dried it was a lot straighter than usual and had far less frizz and incredibly soft. The best part is I had absolutely NO breakage. I was ecstatic ! This product has been hiding at the back of my cabinet since I began my journey simply because I was trying to reduce the amount of protein I was using. As I have become more educated about balancing moisture and protein I felt it was safe to give it another try, mainly to use up the last bit of it. The amount of protein in this product is very minimal given its location on the ingredient list. It is also a vegetable source protein, which is not as strong as other forms of protein. This product is such a great leave in that I think a person can over look the last ingredient (which is arguably NOT natural although it is promoted as such). Overall, I have to give this product an
because I really loved what it did for my hair. That's a pretty high score, which says a lot given the fact that I am so picky. It honestly would have got a 8.5 if the product contained a natural preservative.
Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship Split End Protector ($2.99-$5.99 CDN)
Promise: "The beautiful beginning of the ends. Smooth them with a kiss of protective conditioning that strengthens your hair against split ends and breakage. I'll help keep your hair from splitsville with my quenching formula fused with extracts of red raspberry and satin. I'm a tip treat with a silky finish that feels so good."
Ingredients: water/eau, stearyl alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, cetyl alcohol, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, rubus idaeus (raspberry) juice, hydrolyzed silk, dimethicone, glutamic acid, fragrance/parfum, benzyl alcohol, citric acid, sodium chloride, edta, propylene glycol, dmdm hydantoin, red 33.
Results: Now the price alone is a huge plus, however I care more about the product itself and the effect it has on my hair. I will say overall, the product was just "fine". It moisturized well enough, but left my hair a little stiff (if you can believe that ), but it may be the fact that I used too much. it may also be because of the protein, which I was not aware was in it prior to doing this review. It also left a slight film over my hair, which I believed was because of the cones. It really didn't leave my hair feeling as moisturized as I would have liked, but "moisturized" enough none-the less. I found this disappointing because so many people rave about it. For this reason I have to 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!!!!)
If you plan to try any of these products please don't let my words discourage you. My goal is not to discourage anyone from trying a product I've mentioned on my blog. Please remember, this blog is about my personal hair journey, highlighting the highs and lows of my hair (rightly named "Diva!") and as I've already established, she is a bit of a snob when it come to most hair products. What doesn't work for her, may work wonders for your hair....so always try things out for yourself.
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 used this product I was pleasantly surprised. It isn't the greatest conditioner for deep conditioning in my opinion, but it is a great "cheapie" conditioner for co-washing. 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 . When my hair dried my new growth was incredibly soft and felt moisturized. Overall, I was very pleased. The smell is pleasant and fruity, yet mild. It is just too bad it has all those darn chemicals in it. But if you are not as particular as me, I would definitely give it a try, especially if you can find it for $5.99 or less. Overall, I will give this product a
. I would have given it more, but it didn't work like a conditioner should just a great co-wash product. Problem is, if you don't like to co-wash your hair, then this product may not be for you.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: When I used this product a few weeks ago I was so impressed I was wondering why I had stopped using it. My hair was so smooth and detangled beautifully. When my hair dried it was a lot straighter than usual and had far less frizz and incredibly soft. The best part is I had absolutely NO breakage. I was ecstatic ! This product has been hiding at the back of my cabinet since I began my journey simply because I was trying to reduce the amount of protein I was using. As I have become more educated about balancing moisture and protein I felt it was safe to give it another try, mainly to use up the last bit of it. The amount of protein in this product is very minimal given its location on the ingredient list. It is also a vegetable source protein, which is not as strong as other forms of protein. This product is such a great leave in that I think a person can over look the last ingredient (which is arguably NOT natural although it is promoted as such). Overall, I have to give this product an
because I really loved what it did for my hair. That's a pretty high score, which says a lot given the fact that I am so picky. It honestly would have got a 8.5 if the product contained a natural preservative.Promise: "The beautiful beginning of the ends. Smooth them with a kiss of protective conditioning that strengthens your hair against split ends and breakage. I'll help keep your hair from splitsville with my quenching formula fused with extracts of red raspberry and satin. I'm a tip treat with a silky finish that feels so good."
Ingredients: water/eau, stearyl alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, cetyl alcohol, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, rubus idaeus (raspberry) juice, hydrolyzed silk, dimethicone, glutamic acid, fragrance/parfum, benzyl alcohol, citric acid, sodium chloride, edta, propylene glycol, dmdm hydantoin, red 33.
Results: Now the price alone is a huge plus, however I care more about the product itself and the effect it has on my hair. I will say overall, the product was just "fine". It moisturized well enough, but left my hair a little stiff (if you can believe that ), but it may be the fact that I used too much. it may also be because of the protein, which I was not aware was in it prior to doing this review. It also left a slight film over my hair, which I believed was because of the cones. It really didn't leave my hair feeling as moisturized as I would have liked, but "moisturized" enough none-the less. I found this disappointing because so many people rave about it. For this reason I have to give it a
.
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!
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: So, I finally found a moisture based all natural daily moisturizer, but the gosh darn price tag had me shaking my head for days. I tried to get around it by going directly to the website, which you can see sells the product for 50% less and that's even with the exchange rate. The problem is shipment fees. They are so ridiculous it was actually cheaper to buy it locally. Luckily, the store I buy some of my products from was having a monthly promotion, which brought the cost down. Despite the price I simply had to try it after reading and watching several reviews on it, the whole time hoping I would not be disappointed. Now let me start of by saying I love the fact that this products is made fresh to order so that they are not sitting on shelves for months/years. I wanted to wait before giving a review on this product simply because I was not impressed at all the first time I used it. It is not a bad product. It is moisturizing, however it seems like it took a while for my hair to respond to this product. Many people mentioned in their reviews that this product felt amazing the very next day after using it. Their hair was so soft, so manageable, blah, blah, blah...Well Ms. "Diva!" was not hearing it, at least not initially. Like I said it was good, but not amazing, especially for the cost--and I don't mean the Canadian price. I think $12.00 is pretty pricey for this product. Also, I was not that keen on the burnt-sugar scent. It was actually a little off putting to me; I am now use to it, but it took some time. Now, 6 days later, my hair seems to be warming up to the product. I may have been a little heavy handed the first few times I used it, not sure--but likely (LOL), which may have given me the lack luster results I saw initially. My hair feels very soft and moisturized. My breakage seems to be improving as well, so everything is gravy. With all of this taken in consideration I had to give this product an because the price is simply hurting my pocket.
because the price is simply hurting my pocket. 
- 
= not worth the money, don't waste your time.
- = neither hit or miss; just okay - 
= good product; really worth trying. 
= amazing product!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.