Homemade Refresher Spritz -- 5 out of 5

For my first of many product reviews, I will discuss my own amazing hair recipe, which I now swear by over any product you can pick up in a store. Plus it's cheap!

Ingredients:
-- Distilled Water (I usually am lazy and use tap)
-- 100% pure vegetable glycerin
-- Essential Oil of your choice
-- Spray bottle (any size)

Recipe:
1) Rinse out your spray bottle. It can be any size. This recipe will work for any size spray bottle because the key to a successful spray is the ratio of water to glycerine. This ratio is based on what works for your hair. Many recommend that you start at 20% glycerin to 80% water and increase percentage of glycerin as necessary. My perfect ratio is 40% glycerin and 60% water.
2) Add glycerin up to whatever level of the bottle will give you the percentage of glycerin that you've decided to use.
3) Add water up to whatever level of the bottle will give you the percentage of water that you've decided to use.
4) Shake vigorously. Vegetable glycerin is completely soluble with water, so the glycerin should "disappear" into the water.
5) Add 15 drops of the essential oil of your choice. Personally, I like lavender, but many other scents rock!

Usage: I use this spritz as an awesome morning refresher to fluff and fix my coils and curls. After I wake (I sleep in a satin bonnet), I spritz my curls and fluff with my fingers. My coils last 7 days now, but only with the regimen of refreshing with this spray. Using this, there is nothing else that I need to do. Not even "sealing" with other creams and butters, and my ends are healthy.

First Time Henna Today! 5 out of 5 stars

I did my first henna today! Excitement! Came out great...

My Regimen:
1) Co-wash with Suave tropical coconut +baking soda to clarify.
2) Co-wash with He Hello Hydration to soften to detangle.
3) Detangle with Jilbere Shower Comb.
4) ACV/Cold Water Rinse.
5) Apply 100 g of Jamila Henna mixed with 2 cups green tea + honey (I mixed and let dye release for 7 hours before applying.)
6) Cover with shower cap, white strip around the edges, and headband to seal. I also added a scarf, bonnet, and extra pillowcase to eliminate spillage and dying my pillow doo-doo brown. (I'm a bit paranoid, I know!) Let henna work overnight.
7) Wake up, uncover and rinse in tub under full pressure of spigot.
8) Deep condition with AO Honeysuckle Rose + evoo + honey. Sit under hood dryer for 20 min.
9) Cold water rinse.
10) Apply KC Knot Today leave-in.
11) Finger Coil with KC Curling Custard.

Voila! As I said, it turned out great. The thing I'm most excited about is that I didn't spill or stain anything, although there was a brief panic in the morning when I rinsed out my hair in the tub and the water was really, really brown.

What I've noticed so far: As soon as I began to coil, I noticed some differences in my hair. There was less shrinkage, so there was some curl loosening. I also noticed my hair performing like magic, and there was a dark gleam to it. It was very soft and manageable. Like curlynikki says, the henna color is subtle. It actually makes my hair look dark, but in the light there is a wine-colored red sheen that burnishes the hair. Very classy and expensive looking. All in all, consider me a henna head!

Coconut Oil & Other Disasters...

It's been so long since I reviewed products and posted here, that I'm able to compile an immediate list of what hasn't worked with ease. (I figured you'd want to get right to what you might want to think twice about, avoid, or laugh about.)

Disaster #1: Coconut Oil ---- 0 out of 5 stars
I know what you're wondering. What is she talking about? Well if nothing else my coconut oil disaster proves that every head of hair is different and reacts differently to things, even things that are thought widely to work. I had been diligently trying to get coconut oil to work for me for a month and a half before I finally settled my mind to the fact that it absolutely, positively does not work for me. My hair hates it! HATES it! Every time I apply it, whether alone, mixed in a conditioning treatment, sealed on ends, what have you, my hair wigs out! I get a frizzy, crunchy, hard mess. This is horrifying to me, because for the most part my hair is extremely well behaved -- soft, malleable, easily detangled, stays moisturized well. It could hold a style better, but a sista really can't complain like all that. Well, to my horror, coconut oil transforms my hair into a forest of roach legs, torture to touch. I'm not exaggerating (much). I think it's the protein in it, although I have not shown extreme protein sensitivity using other products. I did have some trouble with the Aphogee 2-step treatment the last time I tried it, however. I won't be trying this again. The most maddening part of it all is that I assumed it would be great and bought a huge canister from Walmart since my hair has responded so well to products using coconut milk! I wound up giving the whole can to my moms... not sure it's working for her twa either...

Disaster #2: IC Olive Oil Gel -- 1 out of 5 stars
My hair is absolutely not fooled. It totally knows the difference between IC and Kinky Curly Curling Custard. It does not seem to like IC gel very much at all. So many people exclaim over the results they get using IC gel for wash n go, for twisting, etc. I've tried it for all of those and got weird gummy textures, dullness, and dryness. The best results I ever got were when I mixed it with shea. And there were still some little matzo balls in there where the shea didn't absorb, and which I was not aware of until my mom exclaimed "Eww! What is that?!?!" loudly and marched across the room to dig one out of the back of my fro and show me. Aargh! I'm almost ready to throw in the towel with this stuff.

Disaster #3: Giovanni Direct Leave-in -- 2 out of 5
The jury's actually out on this one, but the sense of frustration cannot be overestimated. Time and time again I've read rave reviews of this product, and I believe those, but I just haven't seen it. I've tried it as a part of different regimens and even alone, but I am not seeing the moisture lock-in and gleam that I expected. My hair does feel soft and slippy when I first put it in, but inevitably what I put on top feels weird. I still hold out hope with this one, and am not ready to post a final result already but the frustrations is adding up.

At this rate, I won't be re-investing in any of these products. Any suggestions or comiserations? Please comment!

ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Pak -- 3 out of 5

Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Pak. These yellow packets should be familiar to anyone who's ever been down the "ethnic hair products" aisle @ the store or to a Sally's Beauty Supply. My aim in testing this one was to start questioning the effectiveness of every product, even ones that people take for granted.

After clarifying/co-washing and rinsing, I apply this product to my wet hair, cover with shower cap, and then sit under hood dryer for 15-20 minutes with heat on medium. (I'm a big believer in applying heat to conditioning treatments... steam would be even better, but oh well...)

After using this 3 times on my natural hair, I've concluded that it's okay, but that I should keep looking. The first time, I used only the packet, and was unimpressed with the softness or moisture of my hair. I also don't care for the smell. It smells so strongly of oranges that if I were wearing a blindfold when trying this, I would try to clean the counters with it!

I had a lot more success with it the second and third times I tried it, where I used it as a base to add additional evoo, coconut oil and honey. When I did that, I had good results for softness and moisture of my hair. Only thing is the smell stayed the same. I'm sure there's something out there that works better, and I'll be looking for that. However, in a pinch, whether temporal or financial, this is an acceptable alternative.

Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner -- 5 out of 5

I finally tried Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner! It's on many a holy grail product list, let me tell you. As far as I can tell, it is well deserved.

It is my pleasure to add it to my list as well! Light as air on my hair (and my wallet), great slip and softness, very pleasant light smell, this conditioner is perfect for co-washing and so cheap that you can glop it on without feeling guilty. I enjoyed it so much that I cowashed twice with it. I felt that it added moisture well to my hair with the water and rinsed out quickly and easily. I can see this as a staple in my bathroom forever more!

It performed as well if not better than HE Hello Hydration, which I loved, and reviewed before and reserved judgment on pending a review of this one. I can (happily) say that they are what and what. (Idea: look for a blog warring the conditioners later!) Is it fair that I gave Suave a 5 out of 5 and hg rating right off? Yes, because there is one place where Suave kicks HH's but -- price. HH costs 2$ more than Suave and seems to be slightly less available, but that doesn't really mean anything because these are both drugstore products and widely available.

Suave is so cheap and available it may make a good base for mixing homemade products. We shall see...

Aphogee 2-Step Protein Treatment -- 1 out of 4

Let me start by saying that I had never heard of protein sensitivity in hair until I started following curlynikki's blog. By that time, I was curious to answer the question in regards to my own hair because it seems so key. When you check the ingredients of most hair products, protein, usually in the form of wheat germ protein, is on the list! I began to get a a little paranoid. Is my hair protein sensitive?! I'm allergic to a million and one things in nature and on my plate, so I am more likely to assume an allergy as the cause of misery than anything else.

I am happy to report that no, it seems that I am not protein sensitive. Yet and still, Aphogee 2-step treatment was too much for me! This is a WHOLE LOTTA protein ya'll. Imagine 12 eggs stinkily frying on your hair. That's about what the experience was like for me.

This is not my first time dealing with protein. I remember when I got my first perms in 7th grade-- I got them because I was a dancer and my mom was tired of me sweating out my press daily. It only took about 6 months to break off badly. The hairstylist I was seeing, slapped several Aphogee treatments on my head at that time. I remembered it being goopy, hard to deal with, stinky, and rock hard. When I read that some people have a lot of success with it and use it regularly as napturals, I was eager to try again since you can get at any beauty supply store. In fact, the one that I went to single-use packets in the box separately. I got mine for 1.99+ tax.

I co-washed then got ready to use. It comes in 2 parts. First the protein treatment itself, under the dryer @ high heat until hard and dry (NO SHOWER CAP). Then the creamy conditioner which you rinse out almost immediately. Well, step one was a mess! The stuff is super runny, about the consistency and color of beaten eggs. I could hardly get it on my head. I was also concerned that there wouldn't have been enough without my hair being a short twa. I got it worked in, and the smell was eye-watering and chemically. I experienced immediate regret. That's when the stinging began....

This reminded me of a perm so bad I could have cried. I got under the dryer like a concentration camp victim, all dogged endurance. It took longer to dry hard that I would have liked. Once again, if my hair had been longer... torture time! I rinsed it out eagerly only to feel my hair hard and stripped feeling. I rushed on...

The second step was better. The conditioner smelled good, and after applying, working it in, and rinsing, my hair felt alot better. I wound up doing a deep conditioner with evoo, honey, and an olive oil packet to get it back to softness. I didn't notice any immediate perking up of m hair, and the hardness left after the dc, but I think it did give me a protein boost. I'm just unsure that I needed one at all. I'll be leaving this packet on the shelves from now on... try if you dare!

Mega Care Raw Shea Butter Oil -- 2 out of 5

This stuff is something I happened upon while perusing the shelves of the Korean Beauty Mart near my house. (I'm not that big of a fan of this place -- not a lot there for the naptural curly beauties... many of the products have no-no ingredients and there are NO organic products or raw materials to make anything good for your hair.)

It comes in an orange tube. Here's the ingredient list: raw shea butter, canola oil, safflower oil, cotton seed oil, wheat germ oil, jojoba oil, macadamia nut oil, tocopherol, fragrance. It's pretty straightforward stuff, which is why I was surprised to find it there and why I plunked down the 3.99 or whatever to take it home and give it a try. I also saw an awesome youtuber, Ladykpnyc, use it during one of her tutorials to oil her scalp while her hair was wet. I decided to use it the same way.

I co-washed and parted my hair into sections. The tube of has a pointed nozzle, so I applied it directly to my scalp. Frankly, I wasn't impressed. The oil was light, but I found the smell to be very unpleasant (probably the cotton seed oil), and I did notice scalp itching until I co-washed it out. Disclaimer: I'm allergic to nuts. This product has macadamia nut oil. It could be that, but there is a possibility that it's not, because although I am allergic to raw nuts, and raw nut butters and powders, I am usually not allergic to nut oils. This is because oils are pressed and cleaned and whatever allergen affects in the plant is usually processed out, i.e. I eat peanut oil all the time.

Back to the product review. My scalp was moisturized, but the cons outweighed the pros. I'll probably be passing this on. I saw no reason to continue shelling out money for this stuff when there is perfectly good raw shea butter out there (somewhere) for me to use, whipped, mixed, or otherwise, on my hair.

*No pic available online, nor a company website. Me no likey... :(

Dabur Amla Lite Oil -- 5 out of 5

This hair oil contains amla and shikakai extracts. It's a great oil for many uses. Oiling the scalp, sealing the ends, etc. I love the smell. I've been using it for years on my relaxed hair. I was so excited to read online that it's also recommended for natural hair for everything I previously used it for in addition to complimentary use with henna. I've even seen on the henna for hair website that amla powder can be added to henna to enhance the color!

This brand is the "lite", as opposed to the darker, heavier, straight Amla oil Dabur sells. I've used both, but I prefer the lite version -- it's a strictly personal choice. No itching, very light, this oil is a favorite of mine for so many reasons. It adds shine without grease and actually revived my weave over and over from dead raccoon to paparazzi ready!


**I buy this stuff from The Joan @ my salon, Mohair in Baton Rouge, LA. You can purchase it online from the salon at http://www.mohaironline.com.

Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner -- 4 out of 5

I just tried HHC for the first time. I finally found it @ the local CVS after striking out at a couple of other places (It's exceptionally hard for me to find even the most basic of products around here in Gulf Coast MS -- we don't even have a Target!). It cost 4.37 for the regular bottle and 5.99 for the bigger bottle. I, of course, caved and got the bigger bottle. I can't believe that I am excited to try a Clairol Herbal Essences product because I had heard in the past that the shampoo is very hard on black hair and makes it fall out. I've avoided the stuff like it had a "please make me bald" sign on it. What makes me so sure that I will like this product?

One thing: It's on curlynikki's holy grail list. 'Nuff said!

I am very pleased! It smelled WONDERFUL -- claims to have a fusion of coconut milk and orchid in it. I believe them. I can smell it. I co-washed twice because it smelled so good! It was very slippery like Nikki claimed, although my hair is too short and soft to test the slip with detangling-- I detangle instantaneously with my fingers.

That's it for now... this does have the potential of making the Holy Grail list, although it needs further testing, and I refuse to commit until I try Suave's Tropical Coconut.

Rluvlylox's Avocado & Honey Hair Mask -- 2 out of 5

This one is from my brother's fiancee, who I will call Rluvlylox (she probably got it from somewhere else online, so no offense or plagiarism intended)...

Ingredients:
- 1 medium avocado, mashed
- 2 tbsp honey
- 4 oz. castor oil
- 4 oz. olive oil
- 2 eggs
* you can also add 1/2 a small can of coconut milk for softness!

Mix, paint onto hair (I used the "shingling" method of application), cover with plastic shower cap. Sit under hood dryer for 15-20 minutes or wear around the house for 45 minutes to let body heat do the work. Rinse with warm water, and then shock with cold water. All done!

While I enjoyed what amounted to playing with green slime in the sink, I wasn't overly impressed with this one. To be fair, I left out the castor and coconut oil because I didn't have any in the house, so if you want to discount the review, fine with me. Try it for yourself and see... Note: make sure the avocado you buy is ripe.

Here's my take: the avocado didn't rinse out well. I didn't make my hair gleam or moisturize as well as I expected. I'm willing to try again, because I took too many recipe liberties with this to really post a review, and will update again in the future, promise!

Organic Yogurt, Oatmeal & Honey Face Mask -- 5 out of 5

I tried this after starting a routine of applying a coat of honey to my freshly washed face for 10 minutes before bed each night. Just honey alone was a 5 out of 5, but the additional ingredients had such great results that I thought I would share. I learned it from a youtube tutorial -- thanx bubzbeauty!

Ingredients:

- 2 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp Bio yogurt
- 1 fistful oatmeal (I used Quaker Rolled Oats)
Mix into a bowl -- consistency should be a lumpy pulp. Paint on face and scrub around to allow oatmeal to exfoliate. Leave on face 10 minutes. I lay down on a towel for this one, people.

Voila, instantly moisturized, exfoliated, pore-refined, glowing skin!

Phytospecific Cap'n Energy Multivitamin -- 0 out 5 stars

I can't say enough about how much I effing HATE this product.

I didn't even finish a week's worth and that ish has effed up my body something fierce! Good thing I got it as a free sample, because it retails @ 55$ and if I had paid green dollars for that I might have flown to France and looked up the headquarters just to tell someone the hell off face to face.


1) It broke me out. Bad. I was doing honey on my face nightly and getting great results at first, and then all of a sudden there was a constellation of zits on my friggin face! I would not have figured it out, but I read on curlynikki blog that new multi-vitamins can break some women out. I decided to look up the ingredients of cap'n energy because the other multi I was taking was One-a-day women's, and I knew that was innocuous enough not to be causing it. It was the cap'n energy! It has fish gelatin! I am deathly allergic to fish!

1) It gave me a raging yeast infection. There is no delicate way to say this or to describe the between-my-legs bakery that opened about 3 days into taking this one a day pill. I had no idea what the hell was going on. I am highly susceptible to yeast infections from high dosage antibiotics, but never get them otherwise. I combat this by eating one light yogurt a day while taking antibiotics and I'm set. This time, however, I didn't suspect at first that it was the cap'n energy because I was taking it with another vitamin and trying out some natural face mask recipes. I started eating yogurt immediately, and when the infection only got worse, I started applying plain yogurt directly. I was saving the monistat for a last resort. The direct application took a day or so to work, but work it did. However, it was like the yeast was fighting back! I couldn't believe it, and I was really frickin tired of the discomfort, so upset that I stopped my morning routine. Luckily, that also meant stopping the vitamin. The infection got better so quickly I couldn't believe it. Around that time I looked up the ingredients to cap'n energy and found that in addition to noxious fish, it also has active YEAST cultures! Just to test, I took another one after 4 days off, and the yeast infection actually came back. Unbelievable!

Baking Soda (added to conditioner to clarify) -- 4 out of 5 stars

I decided to try baking soda because ACV has some cons (see the review). I liked this better because it is less stinky and messy, but I discerned very little difference in effect, i.e. it still clarified my hair and stripped product well. I may have gotten more shine with ACV though. I did like this method better, as baking soda is an even cheaper and more ubiquitous household ingredient with just as many uses as ACV.

I'll continue to experiment with baking soda vs. ACV and post any updates.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse -- 4 out of 5

So... I tried an apple cider vinegar rinse.
Mix 1 tbsp for every 1 cup water. Warning: THIS DOES NOT LATHER.

Let's get the cons out of the way first:

It stinks.
It stings your eyes.
It's hard to deal with because it's watery.
No lather.

Now for the pros:

It cleans your hair really well and gets rid of build up with the advantage of restoring pH balance. It also makes my hair noticeably shinier. It's cheap and easy to obtain. A little goes a long way, and it has many uses, from cleaning windows and tile to being a great product to settle the stomach and aid digestion. There are even some weight loss claims! (I drank what I didn't use in my hair...it's not that bad diluted). As for the smell, it fades in mere minutes.

I'm liking it so far for clarifying purposes. Once or twice a month is not too much to ask me to deal with this, although I am also intrigued by a method I read about on http://www.curlynikki.com that clarifies by adding baking soda to conditioner. More on that later.

*Note: I did not use this Katz brand of ACV for my rinse. I used the regular old generic out of the grocery store -- I actually had some in the house that I use for other reasons... but the pic is so pretty and appetizing looking, that I couldn't resist!

Burt's Bees Volumizing Shampoo w/ Pomegranate & Soy -- 3 out of 5

First off let me say that I am working towards no poo whatsoever, so Burt's Bees is tainted by being a shampoo alone...

That being said... this is a good product, if you have to use poo @ all. First off, it's ingredients are all natural, lots of emollients and oils. It's gentle, lathers well, and you have to use a lot to get that "squeaky clean", stripped, tupperwear squeak (but it can be achieved with multiple washings). It smells like heaven and definitely gets the job done for washing out build up.

I haven't used it enough to judge the "volumizing" part of the claim, but stay tuned.

Kinky Curly Curling Custard -- 5 out of 5

I can't say enough about this product! I was already super hyped about it before I even tried it because I got a great recommendation from my fellow naptural beauty and great friend, Portia. I then whipped myself into a frenzy of impatience by watching all of the tutorials on the website and cruising the hair boards. KCCC has a huge following and is perhaps one of the most recommended products for the wash n go, which is all I can wear right now with my hair this short.

I really like the way the product defines and separates curls. My curl pattern emerged immediately, and pretty uniformly. I can't see it getting much better than this, and any frizz that I have I am attributing to my won ignorance about the best way to apply this product. Taking the advice I saw, I applied rather sparingly the first time, had really good results, and then the 2nd time tried more. I found that I had put to little the 1st time, but still be careful. Where you put too much you will see some gooping and I've read over and over that it can dry flaky if over applied.

I think my hair loves the fact that this is and organic product with no bad or non-natural ingredients. I'm proud to use it, and I think my hair is proud of me too! :)

On a last note, I don't like the "edible" smell, although many people rave about it, but disregard me because I hate the sweet smell of vanilla and I hate things that smell like cake and muffins that AREN'T cake and muffins! Give me something clean, green, and citrusy... but the smell isn't off-putting at all because it fades.

Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-In -- 5 out of 5

I've used this product 3 times since I bought it last week. I love it because it detangles as well as conditions and it smells great. My hair is super short right now, so there is should be no need for combing with a great leave-in and detangler. This does the job wonderfully, and I don't have to use too much. My curl pattern popped right out with the knot today.

According to the manufacturer, Knot Today can be used in conjunction with Kinky Curly Curling Custard to lock in moisture and give great curl definition. It definitely lived up to its promise! Most of my curlies popped out before I even used the custard because of the Knot Today.