Tuesday, December 25, 2012

First Impression || One 'n Only Argan Oil Moisture Repair Conditioner


I'm home for the holidays and I forgot to bring my staple conditioner back with me, so I had to use what was in the house. I remember my hair dresser recommending it for my mom, since her hair is damaged, so I figured it couldn't hurt.

The smell is kind of ... perfumey? Can't describe it but I don't like it much. It doesn't have as much slip as my staple but it does give some slip and it helped with detangling my hair (which shed like crazy after having it under a sew-in for a month with no nourishment whatsoever). Anyway, my hair felt good afterward and is currently deep conditioning so that's all that matters. On the plus side, it's paraben and sulfate free! I would give this a try again but only if I don't have my normal conditioner with me, seeing as it didn't hurt my hair but didn't help either.

Merry Christmas !


Wishing you all a VERY Merry Christmas from DezCurls to you!
Remember, it's not all about the gifts, it's about the joy, the laughter and the togetherness of loved ones. 
Enjoy!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Natural Hair Black Friday Deals !!


These are the only deals found so far from Derby City Naturals ! Check that site regularly as they keep the list updated. The List below is from their site updated today so keep checking and happy shopping !! I personally am taking advantage of the 20% off from Hydratherma Naturals so I can buy their Amino Plus Protein Deep Conditioning Treatment. (Review here)
  • Amazing Botanicals
    • Friday 11/23 3 Pumpkin Pomade $15 + Free Shipping
    • $5 off any order over $20 + free gift with code: DERBYCITY Friday 11/23 thru 12/3
  • Anderson Soap Company Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Saturday 11/24 11:59 pm
    • 40% off everything in store with code: blackfriday
  • Anita Grant Friday 11/23 thru Tuesday 11/27 GMT
    • 20% off everything in store with code: Derby City Naturals
    • *Spoiler Alert* New Clay Wash Product will be introduced as well
  • B.A.S.K. Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Sunday 11/25 11:59 pm
    • 20% off full-size products with code: THANKFUL
    • PLATINUM PJ SAVINGS: 24% off Site-wide by LIKE PlatinumPJ on fb on 11/20 to get the specialty discount code
    • Free 2 oz jar of Muscavado Vanilla Pecan Whipped Custard Souffle Body Cream with purchase of $50+
  • Be Beautiful Natural Products Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Monday 11/26 11:59 pm
    • Free Shipping on all orders $25 and up No Coupon Code
  • Beija Flor Naturals Thursday 11/22 thru Wednesday 11/28
    • 25% off + Free Gift with $65 purchase code: BEIJA2012
  • Belle Butters
    • 20% off order of $25+ with code: BBBF Friday 11/23 Midnight CST
    • Free Shipping on your order with code: BBCM Monday 11/26 Midnight CST
  • Bobeam Friday 11/23 thru 12/31
    • 12% off with code: HOLIDAY12
    • 3 x 2oz butters & 3 x 2oz shampoo bars for $20
  • Brown Butter Beauty Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Sunday 11/25 11:59 pm
    • 25% off sale with code: BlackFriday
  • CC’s Naturals
    • *Early Bird* 40% off Thursday 11/22 9:00 pm – Friday 11/23 11:00 am
    • 25% off everything Friday 11/23 11:01 am  – 11:59 pm
    •  *Early Bird* 40% off Sunday 11/25 9:00 pm – Monday 11/26 9:00 am
    • 25% off everything Monday 11/26 9:01 am  – 11:59 pm
  • Coiffie Friday 11/16 Midnight thru Monday 11/26 11:59 pm
    • 30% off + Free Shipping with code: SAVE30
  • Coily Head Chick Friday 11/23 Noon thru Midnight
    • 20% off purchase $30+ with code: CHCBF2012
  • Curls of Joy Friday 11/23 Midnight
    • 30% off everything (going out of business sale) code: CLEARANCE
  • Curly Kinks Friday11/23 Midnight thru Sunday 11/25 11:59 pm
    • 30% off all products + Free Shipping on orders $65+ No Coupon Code
  • CUSH Cosmetics Sunday 11/18 8:00 am – Friday 11/30 11:59 pm CST
    • 40% off everything in store No Coupon Code Required 
  • Faithfully Beautiful Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Monday 11/26 11:59 pm
    • Free Shipping on all orders $15 and up No Coupon Code
  • Hairitage Hydration Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Monday 11/26 11:59 pm
    • 35% off everything with code: BLACKFRIDAY2012
  • HairVeda Friday 11/23
    • 20 – 30% off everything in store No Coupon Code
    • Plus an Additional 10% off with code: DerbyCity
  • Honey Chile Hair Love Friday 11/23 Midnight No Coupon Code
    • Free 3oz Toasted Pumpkin + Almond Butter with $50 purchase
    • Free 4oz Toasted Pumpkin + Almond Butter and Free shipping  with $100 purchase
    • Free 8oz Toasted Pumpkin + Almond Butter and Free shipping  with $150 purchase
  • Hydratherma Naturals Friday 11/23 11:00 am thru Monday 11/26 11:00 am
    • 20% off all inventory including discounted collection sets No Coupon Code
  • Hydrating Essentials Monday 11/26 Noon – 8:00 pm CST
    • New line from the makers of Mozeke Products
    • 10 – 15% off products with code: HE1015
  • Jamaica Hut Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Monday 11/26 11:59 pm
    • 15% off Jamaican Black Castor Oil products with code: JAHUT26
  • Jessicurl Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Monday 11/26 11:59 pm PST
    • 25% off Everything with code: BFDC2526
  • LaBella Body Care Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Monday 11/26 11:59 pm
    • 15% off Everything with code: BlackFriday15
  • L.A.C.E. Naturals Thursday11/22 5:00 pm thru Friday 11/23 11:59 pm
    • Save 35% off total purchase of $25+ with code LACETHNKS
    • Free Shipping and Free 2 oz sample on orders $65+ with code: LACETHNKS
    • Buy 2 Get 1 Free Soaps with code: LACETHNKS
  • Lexie’s of Louisville Friday 11/23
    • 20% off Lexie’s Hair Milk NO COUPON CODE
  • Lia Naturals Friday 11/23 NO COUPON CODE
    • BOGO 50% Off  Butters and Sugar Scrubs
    • Buy 2, Get 1 Free Soaps
    • 30% off Detangling Conditioner
  • Little Penguins Friday 11/23 thru Sunday 11/25
    • 20% off any product + free shipping on orders $50+ No Coupon Code
  • mainelement: love Friday 11/23 Midnight thru 11/26 11:59 pm
    • 25% off sale on all products and gift certificates code: blkfri
    • Special free shipping offer for DCN followers, use code: dcnlove
  • Miss Jessies Sunday 11/18 thru 12/15
    • BOGO Free product + Free Shipping No Coupon Code
  • Mozeke Products Friday 11/23 Midnight CST 
    • Save 25-50% off all inventory No Coupon Code
  • Naturally Smooth As Friday 11/23 thru 12/31
    • 12% off with code: HOLIDAY12
    • 3 x 2oz butters & 3 x 2oz shampoo bars for $20
  • Pura Body Naturals Wednesday 11/21 thru 12/31/2012 No Coupon Code
    • BOGO Free Sale on Cupuacu Hair Butter, Chocolate Hair Smoothie, Sapote Hair Lotion and MuruMuru Moisture Milk
    • Use code: derbycity for an additional 5% off
  • Sincere-Ly Naturale Apothecary Friday 11/23 1:00 am to Monday 11/26 11:59 pm
    • 20% off everything with code: SNABLKFRI12
  • Sister’s Keeper Friday 11/23 Midnight thru Monday 11/26 11:59 pm
    • BOGO 50% off everything when you spend $25 with code: BLKFRIDAY
    • First 10 orders get a free 4 oz Dip Hair & Body Moisturize

Once again, these deals were not found from me personally but from Derby City Naturals!

Saturday, November 3, 2012

To Those Affected by Hurricane Sandy

I hope that you are all safe and sound and that you get your electricity back as soon as possible!!

Being a NY native, I sincerely pray for my city and it's inhabitants & also for those in New Jersey who got hit the hardest! Please remember to be safe and also PLEASE make it an effort to go out and still VOTE!!!!

Regardless of who your vote for (and please have an educated reason as the why you're voting for them) GO OUT AND DO IT!!!

Peace and Love!

1 Week Water & JBCO Update.

It's been said time and time again that moisture is the key for hair growth and length retention. So what my roommate (who is also natural) and I have been doing is buying tons of bottled water (because DC water is nasty) and trying to drink at least 2 bottles a day and stay close to 4 bottles. It's only been one week and I've noticed a great difference in my hair.

It's been breaking a lot less (which could also be because I don't do manipulate it as often) and I can already tell that it's gotten longer even though I just trimmed it 2 weeks ago. I wish I had a before and after picture but I don't and I'm currently deep conditioning with my room mates heat cap. Apart from hair, my skin and nails look a lot better.

I guess the reason why we started this water thing was because she had to go to the hospital and they put her on a saline IV drip and found out she was really dehydrated. Anyway, she went through about 6 bags and one week later, she had almost 2 inches of new growth. TWO INCHES. So we started drinking tons of water because obviously, moisture (inside and out) is the key to growth.

Another thing, although I also take JBCO into account, is the thickness. MY GOODNESS my hair has gotten so much thicker in such little time. In addition to drinking water and spraying my hair with water, I massage JBCO (Jamaican Black Castor Oil) into my scalp twice a day and seal my ends at night. I absolutely love the result!

So I'll check in again at my 1 month checkpoint with some results and hopefully some pictures.

Tip: Try putting in oils right after you've showered (whether or not you've washed your hair). The steam opens up your follicles so when you apply the oil, it absorbs more readily into your hair/scalp.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Protective Styles.


That's right, I said it. Protective Styles. Anyone who knows me knows that I've always disliked the thought of having my hair in one style for more than two days at a time. However, now that winter is coming soon and classes have already started, what's a girl to do?

First of all, what IS a protective style?
A protective style is any hair style that protects the hair from harmful factors such as extreme weather or mechanical stress. Most of the time, it is a style that can go from 2-3 days to 2-3 months without being taken out.

What kinds of styles are considered protective?
Any style that protects and hides your hair, especially your ends. This could be braids and twists (with or without extensions), mini twists, or even a simple bun. Doing a protective style DOES NOT HAVE TO TAKE FOREVER. That was one of the reasons why I never wanted one. I just never had the patience to sit in a chair for 6 hours to get my hair done. However, a simple bun and even a few twists may only take up to 10 minutes.

Why are protective styles important?
1. If you're in college or working or even in high school, you know that there are not enough hours in the day for you to do everything on your to-do list. When wearing a protective style, you don't need to spend so much time styling it every morning or every night. That's not to say that you shouldn't pay any attention to your hair or try to maintain it, but there's much less work involved.

2. Too much manipulation of the hair strands can cause mechanical damage. You might find that you're getting more and more split ends or that your curls aren't popping as much as they used to. Sometimes, you just need to let it be and give it time to rest.

-While wearing a protective style, don't forget that you still need to care for your hair. Spraying your hair with that water & aloe vera mix, oiling your scalp with JBCO and applying moisturizer to your hair is STILL NECESSARY. (The water mix and JBCO are just examples, but you get the point.)

Thursday, September 27, 2012

CurlBox Natural !!!!


Say whatttt ? So CurlBox is releasing a limited edition "Natural" box that will be mostly (but not all) natural products.
From the email:


"curlBOX Natural will be a limited-edition box.  You do not need to be a current subscriber and current subscribers will need to purchase curlBOX Natural separately from their monthly curlBOX.
 
curlBOX Natural will go on sale this Saturday, September 29th at 3:00pm at shop.curlbox.com
 
curlBOX Natural will be $40.00 (one time charge - not a subscription)
 
curlBOX Natural will ship the week of October 22nd."



I think I might just buy this one. Although $40 is expensive, I've never bought a curlBOX before and would like to try it out, especially if it's natural. But for $40, I better get like 4 fullsized products. 
Thoughts?

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Campus Curls: Tamara





What is your name? Tamara

What year are you in college school? Sophomore
How old are you? Eighteen
What college do you attend? CSUSB
How long have you been natural? Two Weeks
What is your go to style while in college? Now my head is shaven, so I mostly just rock that! I do not think scarves or headbands fit my face type!
What is your normal hair regimen? Dr. Bronner's as Shampoo once a week. Cowashes when needed. And every night I make my hair damp with water, seal with coconut oil and do the baggy method. Also I take a multivitamin (with Biotin) and an omega-3 vitamin. Spritz my hair with water/conditioner/EVOO mixture if my hair feels dry!
Do you feel like you had to modify your regimen to make time for school? Not yet!
What is your hair type? I am not sure because I have no memory of my natural hair. 
Tamara as a child
Do you have a favorite youtube vlogger? kimmaytube, she is so informative I love it!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Campus Curlie: Marquita


What is your name?  Marquita
What year are you in college/grad school? 3rd year full time chemistry doctoral student
How old are you? 24
What college do/did you attend? Jackson State University
How long have you been natural? About a year and a half
What is/was your go to style while in college? The puff with or without a pompadour and if it is hot outside, wash and go.
What is your normal hair regimen?  I moisturize (water based, cream based, then seal with oil) minimum every two days, I drink plenty of water and try to eat plenty of vegetables.  I wash my hair every week and a half to two weeks.  I deep condition and do a protein treatment (my hair has been shedding a lot lately) every time I wash my hair.  I clarify my hair monthly.  I sleep on a satin pillow case nightly.  I do not use heat in my hair (I tried it twice with AWFUL results).  
Do you feel like you had to modify your regimen to make time for school?  I used to wash my hair weekly but now that my hair is longer it takes it forever to dry so I wash it every two weeks.  In addition, I wear two strand twists more often.  One, I feel more comfortable doing so now that my hair is longer but two I can keep them in for like two weeks and they stay nicely.
What is your hair type? I have mix of 4a and 4b but mostly 4b and tad of 4c in random spots. I have atrocious shrinkage and my hair is fine textured.
What are your favorite products and for what styles? Currently, my favorite style is a high puff.  However, I have recently fallen in love with a stretched twist out I tried using Naptural85's method. As for products, I am a product junkie! It's because I am still learning what works well on my hair.  Clarifying shampoo: V05.  Moisturizing shampoo:  Nexxus or Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus,  Conditioner:  Nexxus Humectress, Deep Conditioner:  My homemade shea butter mix and Shea Moisture's Shea Butter Reconstructive Conditioner, Protein Treatment:  Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayo,  Leave In: Infusium 23 Moisture type and Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Strengthener.
I usually do dry twistouts with a bit of the Mizani H2O Intensive or Ganier Fructis Leave-In Cream Conditioner.  My daily spritz consists of water, glycerin, and bit of aloe vera juice, EVOO, jojoba oil, peppermint oil, tea tree oil, and argan oil. I am currently trying to use up all of the products that I have. 
Do you have a favorite youtube vlogger? Naptural85 and NaturallyCandi

Where can we find you? http://chemicalsatire.tumblr.com/

 

Friday, September 14, 2012

Introducing: Campus Curls!!






It's that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, nights are getting longer, the leaves will soon change color and the weather's going to drop. Fall is coming, and with it a new school year and a new semester for a lot of us. With this new school year is a new section of my blog, Campus Curls!

Campus Curls is a section focusing on growing and maintaining natural hair while in school. Those of us who have gone through it or are going through it now can tell you that maintaining natural hair in college is a STRUGGLE. I'll be featuring different naturals, or "curlies" from different campuses to share their stories and tips on maintaining their hair, while maintaining their grades (because that's essentially why we're in college). A new Curlie will be posted every saturday night so stay tuned guys.

Dez.


P.S. "Curlie" is just a name of the naturals that will be shown on the blog. All naturals of every kind will be shown, not just people with curly textured hair.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Sale ends tomorrow!!

Don't forget, the Buy One Get One sale at CVS for all Shea Moisture Product ends tomorrow, September 8th!!!

Perfect time to stock up of your favorites!!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Tress Talk: Why You Should Have Your Own Style



So today I made a trip to the salon for a wash, DC, flat iron and trim. As soon as I walked in, my stylist said "I'm not flat ironning your hair." ... What the hell?! As a part of my nature, I hate when things don't go my way so I was completely thrown off. This is only my third time coming to this salon and she's telling me she's not going what I WANT??

Anyway, she told me my hair was too dry and that the straight style wouldn't last up to 2 days. Greaaaat, especially since I was planning to have it for TWO WEEKS. Strangely enough, she told me everything I was doing to my hair, without me having to say a word. It's wet about 3 times a week, sometimes four. It doesn't get enough moisture, and I'm always keeping it in a tight puff. True, True, True!! But then, where did I get all this from? Youtube. Tumblr. Hair bloggers. I watched them religiously and tried different combinations or what I see them doing. No harm on their part, they were just showing how they work with their hair. What I was doing wrong was NOT LISTENING TO MY HAIR!! All of that washing and even co washing was drying out my hair and the fact that I wasn't applying enough product to my hair added to that. The moisture got in, but quickly evaporated out because there was barely any product there to lock it in.

This is a something every b/vlogger says: What works for me, may not work for you. I even say it in my own posts. This applies not only to products, but also to the way we care for our hair. It's good to take ideas from others who have the same hair type as we do but it's even better to listen to what your hair needs. That hair butter that your favorite YouTube Blogger uses may work for your hair at all. You might need some silicone in your conditioner, you might not.

If you're anything like me and love trying out new products or just need to see what works for your hair without breaking the bank and buying a ton of stuff, try ordering a CurlBox or CurlKit. Both companies send you a few samples of hair products, different every month for you to try out. It's $20/month for each company and it's a monthly subscription. To this day, I'm still using the shea whip, sulfate-free shampoo and Protein DC that I got from my July Curlkit, although I'm using them sparingly so they can last.

Healthy hair journey's, especially in the beginning, are mostly trial and error. Something might work for your mom, sister, AND auntie but may not work for you. Once you find your balance, everything becomes easier.

Peace & Love,

Dez.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Product Review || Jamaican Black Castor Oil



This product is basically a staple in the regimen's of many naturals and relaxed men and women all over the world, for many years. I've heard a lot of hype about it and so I decided to test it out myself and see if it lives up to the hype.

Ingredients: Jamaican Black Castor Oil


Smell- Regular: Has a smoky type of scent. Lavender: Smells like the Lavender Terresentials Mud Wash (see review here: Terresentials Review)

Consistency- THICK. Definitely try using this with an applicator bottle and a little goes a long way.

True to the hype?- Yes. This definitely helped with scalp irritations. 

Availability- May be available in some Beauty Supply Stores but its hard to find. Your best luck would be online on Amazon or at Sams Caribbean Superstore.

Price- Varies by who is selling it but it's usually over $10 for the 8oz and maybe around $6-7 for the 4oz. At Sams Carribbean Superstore it's about $9.99 + Shipping & Tax.

Final Thoughts-  My first time trying it was when my aunt gave me a little bit to try in an empty bowl. At first, it seemed like it increased my scalp irritations but after a week or so, my scalp felt better than ever. I used it for about a month, and my hair grew about 1inch in that one month. CRAZY!! But pay attention: THIS PRODUCT WILL NOT NOW OR EVER GROW YOUR HAIR. It may stimulate your scalp, but not increase your rate of hair growth. It's probably because since I was applying to my hair, I was massaging it into my scalp (which is very good for growth stimulation, and feels amazing). I would definitely buy this again when my 8oz bottle finishes. I actually just bought it on amazon a couple of weeks ago. It was the Lavender scented one, but some people don't like the smell of lavender so it really depends on your taste. The Lavender scented bottle does not smell as smoky. You can use this with your favorite deep conditioner, or for a nice scalp massage. It's also great for sealing your ends. 

You can watch my video review right below. Rate, Comment your opinions and Subscribe. 

**Like all products, this is strictly my experience. Using it is up to your own discretion.**

Peace&Love!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Tress Talk: Different Views

Saturday was my last day of working for the summer. It was busy and I taking payments when this woman told me she loved my hair. Of course, I thanked her. I love getting compliments on my hair. But I've noticed that when my hair was in a weave, or flat ironned, I didn't receive that many compliments on it at all, apart from my friends who wore weaves, asking me where I got my latest fix done.

So since I was leaving, I asked one of my managers who always had something nice to say about my hair, especially when it was in an afro, why he liked it so much. His reply was: "I don't know, it's ... different. You don't really see that many women walking around with soft fluffy afros. Most people's hair is usually straight or in loose curls, and even that gets boring quickly."

Ever since I went natural, I've been getting a lot more compliments on my hair style and texture from people of all different races whether its fro'd up, twisted out or braided down. A lot of people say I look younger, but somehow more mature with my natural hair and I've actually been noticing that people have been taking me more seriously ever since I quit the relaxer.

Now I'm not saying people with relaxers or weaves aren't taken seriously, this is just me and my experiences.

So here's a question for you naturals, have you seen a difference in how people view you ever since you changed up your look?

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Natural Hair Tip #2 - Wrap It Up.

You've heard it ever since 8th grade. Cover up. Use protection. Play it safe. And now I'm about to tell you again. WRAP. IT. UP.

But instead of latex, you need either satin or silk. Oh yeah baby, I'm talkin about that good ol' hair scarf.

Most naturals already know that cotton and hair do not go together. You spend all night getting your hair pineappled or braiding/twisting it down for the night, so it's easier to detangle in the morning. You spray it with water, add that Olive Oil (or whatever you use, this is an example) and twist it down expecting luscious locs in the morning. And then you wake up and you're wondering whether someone beat you with a boar bristle brush in your sleep. But alas, it was just your cotton pillowcase that did the damage.
All that work was for nothing, because you'll find out that the hair did not settle into your hair, but onto your pillowcase. Cotton absorbs the oil and moisture from your hair and leaves it tangled, dry and matted. If you can, invest in a satin or silk hair scarf, bonnet or pillowcase. I have all three. I used the satin scarf but my hair is quite soft so it always slid off at night. I use the satin bonnet now, but I lose things easily and can't bother myself with finding them so I bought a satin pillowcase just in case I get lazy. The bonnet is also easier because all you do is put it on your head. You don't know how many times I've had to tie and re-tie my scarf just to get a good fit that wouldn't fall off at night.

Satin scarfs are cheap and easy to find. You can find them at your local Beauty Supply Store, Walmart or even CVS sometimes. I got my scarf, bonnet and pillowcase there. The prices range from about $3-9 depending on which it is and where you get it. Silk material tends to be more expensive.

So thats it folks. Wrap it up. And don't forget to practice safe sleep. You won't regret it in the morning ;)

Sunday, August 5, 2012

In Review || Oils: Coconut Oil.

Okay so you're probably like "What is there to review about Coconut Oil?" but I want to do it, so I will. This review won't be like the others that have Ingredients listed because the ingredient is... Coconut Oil! It has many purposes but is mainly used for cooking, hair and skin. This blog is about natural hair so the facts listed will be catered towards hair.

Moisture Retention:

Coconut Oil is one of the best oils for moisturizing your hair. Unlike water, it does not break down and evaporate easily and therefore keeps the moisture in the hair and leaves it soft. By doing this, Coconut Oil also helps against breakage. Of course, moisture comes from water so using coconut oil on dry hair may help soften it, but you will not be retaining maximum amounts of moisture because there was no water there to begin with. I usually incorporate coconut oil into my daily routine by spraying my Water+Aloe Vera Juice mix into my hair and then applying the coconut oil to each section to retain moisture. As with any other oil, you don't want to use too much.

Conditioning:

One of the things about using a conditioner on your hair is that your hair becomes soft and it helps return moisture and balance to you hair after the stripping effects of shampoo. Coconut oil can be used as alternative conditioner because it does just that. Unlike synthetic conditioners that sit on your hair and make it LOOK nice and soft and shiny for a new hours, coconut oil is actually able to get into your strands and give you a softness and shine that will last! If you're like me and you need to use actual products, you can just add coconut oil to your conditioner for and extra boost and some slip! In my experience, when I found out that I bought a conditioner that doesn't do much for my hair, coconut oil saved the day until I bought a new one.

Pre Poo/ Deep Conditioning:

Coconut oil can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment to protect your strands from the harsh effects of shampoo. When I pre-poo I usually use a 50/50 mixture of coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil and apply it to my hair for about an hour, or overnight before I shampoo. This way, your hair won't be too stripped after shampooing. 
You can also apply coconut oil to your deep conditioner for extra softness. Just get a plastic bowl, add your DC and 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Mix it all up, apply to your hair, and leave in for one hour or for 30 minutes with heat. 

Misc:

Coconut Oil can be applied onto the skin as a great solution for dry skin. Unlike other oils, coconut oil solidifies at 76°F/24°C or colder and liquifies above that. If you find that your coconut oil has solidified, you can run it under hot water or scoop some into a bowl and microwave. You can also just rub it in your hands since it melts easily. In my experience, coconut oil has been a great protector against chlorine. 

Where can I find it?

Coconut oil can be found at most, if not all grocery stores in the cooking section. I buy mine from Walmart or my local fresh food market. You can also buy it online, although those run slightly expensive especially when you add in shipping costs. Coconut oil should be Organic, Virgin, or Unrefined. It should be 100% coconut oil. Unlike Olive Oil however, getting Extra Virgin as opposed to just Organic is not that much of a difference. It ranges from about $5-$20 depending on where you get yours. The price may not reflect the quality.

***As with everything, coconut oil may not work for everyone. Use with your own discretion.


Keep it curly,
Dez.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Review || Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner

What it says


    Let this rich conditioner indulge you from root to tip, moving moisture through your hair to quench parched strands. It's a sip of satisfaction. Why we love it: serum-infused formula for moisturized softness.
    Made in USA
    Massage it in, soak it up, rinse it out.

Ingredients

Water , Stearyl Alcohol , Behentrimonium Chloride , Cetyl Alcohol , Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone , Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract (Coconut) , Orchis Mascula Flower Extract , Zea Mays Silk Extract (Corn) , Fragrance , Benzyl Alcohol , Disodium EDTA , Sodium Hydroxide , Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone , Blue 1



What I Think

Smell- It smells lovely. Think coconuts, tropical and Hawaii breeze.
Consistency- It's thick but not too thick, and I love that in all of my products. The color is a light blue.
True to the hype?- Yes. This is another product that definitely does what it says.
Availability- Available online and in-store at Target, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart or your favorite Beauty Salon.
Price- Varies by store but it's cheaper at Target (for me). $2.99/10oz, $4.99/23oz, $6.99/33oz.
Final Thoughts-  First of all, the slip is amazing. My fingers glide right through my hair with no problem so it definitely helps with the detangling. It gives my hair a lot of moisture and my hair is always soft after co-washing with it. It works well for my wash and go's, after deep conditioning and after shampooing. It actually gave me so much moisture even after my hair dried out from 2 days of tons of chlorine water. This is definitely going to be a staple for me. Of course, if your hair can't deal with silicones, you should not use this because only you know what will happen next. However if you're like me and you don't have a problem with a little silicone now and then, this is a great product to try. 
Rate: 10/10 




Monday, July 30, 2012

Product Review || Hydratherma Naturals Protein Deep Conditioner







If you've seen any of my other posts, you'll know that I've already done a short review on the Hydratherma Naturals DC. I feel like now I can do a full review because I've practically finished my trial sized bottle and have used it about 4-5 times.



What it says

Strengthens the hair and prevents breakage. With just one use, you will see and feel a difference. This treatment contains an exceptional and unique complex of structurizing proteins, all of different molecular weights. These proteins penetrate deep within the hair shaft producing benefits like no single protein can. Enriched with 10 amino acids, vitamins and botanical extracts. Strengthens each hair strand and protects the hair from harsh weather. Also provides sunscreen protection. Your hair will look and feel terrific. Superb for all hair types. For best results, use with other Hydratherma Naturals brand products. PH balanced. How to use: Shampoo hair with Hydratherma Naturals shampoo of choice. Gently towel blot hair and saturate hair with conditioner from root to tip. Cover head with plastic cap and use our Hair Therapy Wrap or sit under a warm dryer for 10-20 minutes, comb through with a wide tooth comb to remove tangles then rinse with water. Great for all hair types. For extreme deep conditioning, apply the Hydratherma Naturals Hair Growth Oil to the hair / scalp along with the deep conditioner. Cover with plastic cap and then deep condition with heat. 

Ingredients

Water/Aqua, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Panthenol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Spirulina Maxima Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Retinyl Palmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Phytonadione, Pyridoxine HCL, Biotin, Sodium PCA, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Panax Ginseng Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Fragrance/Parfum, Methyl Gluceth-10, PEG-45M, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone. PARABEN FREE.

What I think:

I've gotten used to the smell by now. It smells like ... I don't know. I really don't, but that's not the point! The consistency is thin so at times I was like ... is this stuff really in my hair or what? But it sure was! Anyway, after applying it to my hair, I left it in for about 60 minutes. When rinsing it out it didn't really help much with the detangling, but the breakage was so little! Obviously this isn't for you if your hair is protein sensitive because this is a protein DC but if you're like me, and your hair is THIRSTY for that weekly protein treatment, then try out this product. My hair ALWAYS feels so much stronger after using this product. When I use Herbal Essences Hello Hydration after it, it helps soften up my hair while keeping the strength from the DC. (New regimen I think?) But anyway, I was hoping it would help soften up my hair but it does not and I'm not even mad because it didn't promise that it would. However, it did everything it said it would. My hair always feels stronger, the breakage decreases drastically and I did feel the difference in just one use! At least it doesn't lie.
It runs kind of expensive at $15.99/8oz + shipping. I have one use left in my trial size from my CurlKit so after that I'll look for something less expensive and maybe buy this when I have money to blow. 
Rate: 8/10


You can buy the product online on Amazon or here: http://www.healthyhairjourney.com/Amino-Plus-Protein-Deep-Conditioning-Treatment.html

Much Love,
Dez.