Search Results: Diane Mary
We permanently dye our hair for many reasons–we may want to cover up grays, change up our look constantly and maybe we just do not like the hue Mother Nature has given us. If we spend all that time in the salon getting color processed, plus our hard earned money on our color, of course we want it to last until it is time to get redone! Here are some tips to help make our hair color last:
1. Don’t Shampoo Too Often
Frequent shampooing will cause your hair color to fade faster. Wash no more than 3 times a week and on the days between use a dry shampoo to help any oil at your roots.
2. Use a Shampoo & Conditioner with Color Protecting Ingredients
Using a shampoo and conditioner (or mask”> with ingredients to help prolong the life of your color is a great investment. You already spent all the money on your hair color, so you want it to last. Ingredients like UV protectors (more on that in a minute”>, plus butters and oils to moisturize and hydrate your hair is ideal, plus protein to restore the damage from coloring.
My favorite line to use for color protection is the Kerastase Reflection Chroma Captive range. Another great option is the Superfruit Renewal system by Shea Moisture.
3. Go Easy on the Heat Styling Tools
Keep blow drying, flat ironing and curling to a minimum. Color treated hair is more prone to breakage and damage from high heat tools. If you must use them (I get it, no one wants to go outside with wet hair mid winter”> it is best to keep it on a colder setting. It may take a bit longer to dry, but having less damage is worth it.
4. Deep Condition Frequently
This is always my #1 tip for hair health and with color, it is no exception. Deep conditioning will help the damage that hits your hair from the coloring process by restoring moisture and protein. Frequent deep conditioning leaves hair, softer, smoother and more manageable and helps preserve the color.
5. Add a Glaze To Your Routine
Using a glaze every other week will give your hair increased shine and boost your color vibrancy. It will help fight any dullness or fading that may start and keep your color looking fresh until next salon appointment. A great option is the Rita Hazan Gloss for your hair color (I use the Ultimate Shine Breaking Brass one”>
6. Use a Color Depositing Conditioner
These are great to boost the vibrancy of your color treated hair or help balance and tone. I personally love using the Clairol Shimmer Lights purple conditioner to counteract brassiness in my blonde. But be careful not to use them every single wash- as some color depositing conditioners can cause build up.
7. Invest In a Filtered Shower Head
Water is said to be the biggest culprit for fading hair color, but we NEED water to shower- there is no way around it! Investing in a filter for your showerhead will cut down on minerals like iron and lime, which can alter the hair, even being a culprit for blondes turning brassy! Aside from keeping your hair color truer, longer, using a flitered shower head will also help with shine, frizz and manageability. I personally have been using the T3 Source Showerhead Filter since October and can’t believe the difference.
8. Don’t Shower with Scorching Hot Water
Hot showers feel wonderful to our souls, but they zap our skin and hair of vital moisture. Showering with lukewarm water and even (gulp”> finishing with cool water will help your hair color stay shiny.
9. Use Products with UV Filters
“Ultraviolet rays can penetrate the cuticle of the hair and oxidize or bleach the color,” according to allure.com Not only will your hair color fade but it will also dry your hair out. Using a product with UV protectors in it, such as Living Proof Restore Instant Protection Spray will help keep your strands safe from the sun. When you go to the beach, or will be out in the sun for long hours at a time, wearing a hat is most ideal to protect your hair from sun damage.
10. Beware Of Chlorine
Especially blondes. If you go swimming unprepared, your curls can turn green! Coat the hair with conditioner and/or an oil beforehand so your hair does not absorb the chemicals. If you do wind up with a green tint to your locks, a good old remedy is using tomato juice on it- the red can help counteract the green.
This article was originally published December 2014 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.
Being a curly wavy girl and self proclaimed hair product junkie, I have tried so many hair products over the years. Gel has been an important staple for me for styling my hair after showering. When layered with other products or used by itself, using gel helps with my curl definition, frizz control and shine. More than anything else, I am often asked what my favorite hair gels are.
Before I discuss the products, these are the factors that make gels winners for me.
- Strong hold–not crunchy or stiff
- No flaking
- Can help extend multi-day hair
- Adds shine
- Tames frizz
- Increased definition
- Has beneficial ingredients
Regardless of which gel I use, application for me is always the same. I apply my gel on soaking wet hair that has not been towel dried after the shower. 99% of the time the gel gets applied over a leave in conditioner and before sealing with an oil. I like to apply my gel section by section using the popular Ouidad Rake & Shake technique.
Jessicurl Spiralicious Styling Gel
$16.95 in Curlmart
As a looser curly wavy, this alone doesn’t enhance my curl definition but it leaves me with nice, healthy looking hair that lasts even in bad weather! A great choice if you are on the CG method (note: I’m not full CG”> the company is spot on when they say this helps with frizz and does dry crunchy but the crunch doesn’t last. I like the Island Fantasy scent and also appreciate that this comes in Unscented as well. If I pair this with the company’s Rockin Ringlets, aside from the benefits mentioned I also get increased definition as well!
Original Moxie Hold Up Defining Serum
$23.99 in Curlmart
I know this says Serum but I find I can use it alone as a gel as well. This magical elixir is incredible. Shine? Check. Definition? Check. Frizz Control? Check. Soft, Touchable Hair? Check. This is just about everything I could ask for in a styling product. I love that it has strong hold but doesn’t leave my hair hard. I also feel it helps repair my hair as I use it. This stuff is also concentrated- you only need a little to achieve maximized results. Hold Up has a minty, refreshing fragrance.Ouidad VitalCurl Tress Effects Styling Gel
$15 at Ouidad retailers
One of the oldest gels I have loved and I keep going back to. They formula was recently changed to add in Panthenol, but it is still just as good as it ever was! Aside from having the perfect amount of touchable hold, this gel really increased my curl definition wonderfully. Note that with this product I find more is definitely better.Raw Curls Firm Hold Gel
$30 on RawHairOrganics.com
I used the Medium Hold Gel by this brand, liked it but didn’t love it so I was very excited when they released a gel with a stronger hold. It has a thicker, jelly like consistency that does feel the slightest bit sticky in my hands which disappears after a minute. Using this on my hair I wind up with pretty, defined, shiny, frizz free waves. This is another product where less is more when using and there are some excellent extracts and botanicals in here as well.SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Firm Hold Gel-Cream
$9.99 at Target
As soon as I saw SheaMoisture release this product, I could not wait to get my hands on it and I am so happy it did not disappoint! This product has the same fresh floral smell as the rest of the Anti-Breakage line. My favorite thing about this gel is all the awesome ingredients such as the yucca, plantain, baobab, cilantro and garlic that help hair from breaking since it was a problem I recently suffered from. This gel-cream a great amount of hold, minimizes frizz and helps with definition. I get nice shine from it, and it’s not a “less is more” type product. I do have to say I have noticed when paired with certain leave ins, this gel-cream shows white clumps on my wet hair but when my hair dries, they are all gone. But it’s worth mentioning.So, these are my favorite gels right now!
Some of them have remained on my Holy Grail list for years at this point. Admittedly so, why I love them may sound similar to each other–but that is only because what makes gel a favorite for me has the same attributes and features.
SheaMoisture is one of my favorite brands. They are affordable, contain some excellent ingredients and most of the products I tried from them perform so well for my hair. They brand recently reformulated one of their lines as well as added a bunch of new products to it! The Anti-Breakage line is made with natural and certified organic ingredients and is designed to help repair hair, making it thicker, fuller, stronger and more moisturized. I tried a few of the products prior to the reformulation and some of them were even Holy Grails for me so naturally, I was concerned about a change that I would love the products as much. Having experienced bad breakage a few months ago of course anything titled “Anti-Breakage” immediately peaked my interest! Keep on reading to find out what I think of the new line!
Everything in this line contains the following ingredients:
• Yucca to promote hair growth for thicker, fuller hair.
• Plantain Extract is rich in Vitamin B complex. Nourishes hair with moisture.
• Baobab Oil contains Vitamins A, D, E and F to fortify and strengthen hair.
• Baobab oil and cilantro extract refreshes and boosts shine.
The whole line also has a light, powdery floral smell just like they did before the re-formulation. I don’t find the scent to be overbearing at all.
SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Shampoo
What They Say: This Sulfate-free shampoo gently cleanses hair and scalp, removing impurities and product build-up. Smoothes hair cuticles to reduce frizz and improve the appearance of split ends. Certified organic Shea Butter, Plantain and Yucca combine in a strengthening formula that helps weak hair resist breakage. Strengthens and thickens strands for thicker, healthier hair.
What I Say: This shampoo is great! I’ve been using it throughout my lengths once a week and then on scalp only with a co-wash the other time a week. It leaves my hair feeling clean and very moisturized. This may be one of the most moisturizing shampoos by SheaMoisture I tried. It’s a bit runny in consistency. I switched out the cap for a pump and use one pump on scalp and one through lengths.
SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Conditioner
What They Say: SheaMoisture Yucca and Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Conditioner’s fortifying formula detangles and smoothes the hair cuticle for an improved appearance of split ends and frizzy hair. Infused with certified organic shea butter, plantain and yucca for a strengthening formulation that helps hair resist breakage.
What I Say: I only use masques as conditioners so I have been using this as a leave in sometimes alone and sometimes in a mix with other SheaMoisture products (If you follow my blog you probably know what I mean.”> The texture is a nice medium balance- not lightweight and not too heavy and builds the foundation for my styling products after. I really like this conditioner.
SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Masque
What They Say: This intensive treatment deeply penetrates to condition and smooth frazzled strands with a nutrient-rich fortifying formula. Transforms frizzy hair into sleek, healthy strands. Helps bind split ends and improves the overall appearance of hair. Certified organic Shea Butter, Plantain and Yucca combine in a strengthening formula that helps weak hair resist breakage.
What I Say: This was a product I used prior to the reformulation and I did like it but now I like it so much better. The old formula I couldn’t use alone, as it always would leave my hair feeling a bit hard and stiff. That issue has been resolved for me. I can use this on its own and it has an excellent protein/moisture ratio where after I rinse my hair just feels so soft, nice slip, detangles easily, has shine and less frizz. I’ve been using this once a week and haven’t added head to it yet.
SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Root Lifting Styler
What They Say: This lightweight styler lifts hair at the roots and boosts body for full, yet flexible styles. Certified organic Shea Butter, Yucca and Plantain combine in a strengthening formula that improves resistance to breakage. Garlic helps increase blood circulation in the scalp for healthier hair.
What I Say: This product is interesting. I don’t desire my roots to be lifted, in fact I don’t like much volume in my hair because it’s naturally pretty poofy. However, the ingredients in here are extremely beneficial for hair and scalp so I’ve been using it anyway. I like applying it to just my scalp on freshly washed hair and massaging it in. It doesn’t weigh down my hair or make it look greasy. Sometimes if I go too many days between washing I will also apply it after using a dry shampoo and my scalp doesn’t look oily. You have to make sure to shake this well before using.
SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Frizz-Free Shine Mist
What They Say: This multi-purpose mist provides light hold with movement and a boost of shine. Spritz on dry hair to build body and keep natural styles fresh. Conditions and smoothes hair cuticles to reduce frizz and improve the appearance of split ends. Certified organic Shea Butter, Plantain and Yucca combine in a strengthening formula that helps weak hair resist breakage. Thickens strands and increases volume for thicker, full-bodied hair
What I Say: This was a holy grail product prior to reformulating and I am happy to report that even after the formula change it happily remains on my holy grail list. My favorite way to use this is at night if my hair looks particularly dry to add some moisture in before going to sleep. It also makes a great second or third day hair refreshing spray for me. I haven’t used it on wet hair, but I love it on dry hair. It always adds shine, moisture and tackles frizz.
SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Styling Milk
What They Say: This lightweight cream softens as it works to boost body and strengthen hair. Improves manageability for easy styling. Can be mixed, blended and layered with other products for the ultimate smooth finish. Certified organic Shea Butter, Plantain and Yucca combine in a strengthening formula that helps weak hair resist breakage.
What I Say: Just like the mist, this was on the Holy Grail list before the formula changed and it’s still there. I have used it on wet hair with good results under a gel but I also really like this on second or third day hair. Generally I won’t use this AND the mist together, I pick one or the other based on how much moisture I feel my hair needs. It leaves my hair soft and it isn’t super heavy so my hair doesn’t get weighted down from it. Like the rest of the line too I like that every time I apply this on hair, no matter if it is day 1 or day 3, my waves are getting treated with the beneficial ingredients mentioned earlier.
SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Wave Defining Lotion
What They Say: This lightweight styling lotion defines and lengthens even the lightest curls and unruly waves. Hydrates and smoothes hair cuticles to reduce frizz and improve the appearance of split ends. Certified organic Shea Butter, Yucca and Plantain combine in a strengthening formula that improves resistance to breakage. Baobab Oil transforms hair and boost shine. Cilantro helps refresh, while Garlic helps increase blood circulation in the scalp for healthier hair.
What I Say: OMG I can’t say enough about this stuff. It’s brand new so it wasn’t on my holy grail list before but it sure is on there now. The consistency is very runny and I do need a decent amount, but the results are crazy good. This gives me some of the best curl definition on my waves I think any product ever has- and this is without a gel. I didn’t think I’d be able to use this without a gel on top but as of right now (aka before the humidity goes too high”> I can use leave in, this and an oil to seal and I’m done. Curl definition, shine, lack of frizz, almost perfection. (I say almost because my hair will never ever ever be perfect”> This is one of those products I want to have a backup of at all time. If you are a wavy with looser curls I highly encourage you to give this a shot.
SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Firm Hold Gel-Cream
What They Say: This innovative styling gel-cream defines gorgeous waves and curls while providing a soft hold without any sticky, flakey residue. Hydrates and smoothes hair cuticles to reduce frizz, keeping curls soft and shiny all day. Certified organic Shea Butter, Yucca and Plantain combine in a strengthening formula that improves resistance to breakage. Baobab Oil transforms hair and boost shine. Cilantro helps refresh, while Garlic helps increase blood circulation in the scalp for healthier hair. Purpose: shine enhancing, Strengthening, Strong Hold, Smoothing
What I Say: This product has some excellent and one not so amazing attribute. I wasn’t a fan of the other SheaMoisture gel, in the pink jar- it was one of the few SheaMoisture products my hair didn’t love. I was excited to see the brand release a new gel! The one con to this is it doesn’t play well with all other products. A couple of times when I applied this over other leave ins the products produced white clumpy flakes in my hair. Sometimes when my hair dried they would disappear but other times, not so much. It did seem to work well with everything else from this line though. Less is more with this product. I love the hold it provides me, the lack of frizz, shine and the fact it is strengthening my hair. The Wave Lotion definitely defines my hair a bit more but this isn’t terribly far behind as far as definition goes for me. I believe the firm hold of this gel-cream will stand up to humidity in the upcoming months, we will see.
SheaMoisture Yucca & Plantain Thermal Protectant Serum
What They Say: This silicone-free oil serum helps protect hair against damage from hot styling tools. Certified organic Shea Butter, Yucca and Plantain combine in a strengthening formula that improves resistance to breakage. Cilantro helps refresh, while Garlic helps increase blood circulation in the scalp for healthier hair.
What I Say: I am on a no heat tool ban right now so I can’t give a review for heat protection or speed styling. However, I have used this on wet hair in place of oil as a sealer and i like it! It’s very thin in consistency and doesn’t weigh the hair down. I’ve also used this to add some shine to dry hair throughout the day if my hair started looking dull. Because it is smaller in size (4oz”> I like to leave this in my purse in case my hair needs touch ups throughout the day.
To conclude
SheaMoisture has done it again with impressing me. Since using everything in the line, I consistently noticed shine, less frizz and my hair felt so soft. I also noticed two amazing things: A significant amount of less hair in the shower shedding and a lot less breakage! This might be my very favorite line by them now! I plan on keeping them in my hair product rotation for the hair growth and anti-breakage benefits as well.
Since my Ouidad Carve And Slice Cut in early April, I have been getting a lot of questions. Going from really long hair to shorter, above the shoulder hair, required some re-learning and changes in my washing, styling and caring routine. In this article I will share what I learned, and still am trying to figure out, with all of you.
The Amount of Products Used
This probably seems like a no brainer. I am usually heavy handed with product, especially because my hair is uber dry and soaks products up. More often then I should admit, recently I styled my hair and realized I applied way more products then needed. On top of my hair being shorter now, a lot of the bleached damage is gone too and healthier hair requires less product. So I’ve become more mindful of using less. The added benefit is my products now last longer and I don’t have to re-buy as often – yay saving money!
Plopping
When my hair was really long I would ALWAYS plop after the shower. Not only would it enhance my curl definition but it would soak up some of the water to help speed along drying time. This also has to do with the fact it is not the dead cold winter, but I haven’t plopped since cutting my hair. I just apply my products (more on that in a minute”> gentle towel scrunch out some of the excess with my Curly Tee and let it air dry. My apologies I don’t have any shorter hair plopping advice for you right now.
Styling
I probably mentioned this in other articles and/or blog posts but I find the best results I get when applying products to my hair now that it is shorter is using Ouidad’s “Rake & Shake” technique going in section by section for seven sections (low back left, low back right, left side, right side, top of back of the head, left hairline, right hairline”> The only thing I add to this technique is I do scrunch out some of the excess water as mentioned earlier to get it to dry a tad bit quicker.
Sleeping
This is my biggest challenge with shorter hair now. Aside from missing my length like crazy (I really do. I can’t wait for it to regrow. Anyway…”> I really miss being able to pineapple while I sleep to wake up with consistently good second and third day hair. I still sleep on a satin pillowcase or in a satin bonnet but my hair is just wild and free and it does it’s thing. I toss and turn like crazy at night fighting epic battles in my dreams so some mornings I wake up and nothing in the world will save it from wearing it down without completely re-wetting. It’s frustrating. I notice I am clipping or pinning parts of my hair back a lot more since it is shorter.
Q-Redew
With the above being said, I have been reaching for my Q-Redew a lot more since it is shorter. If one thing can revive my shorter waves after a night battle sleep, it’s this. It also helped to re-form my wonky waves into better looking shapes after work outs too.
Exercise
Speaking of working out, having shorter waves while exercising is….annoying. When My hair was longer I tied it in a low ponytail or braid, worked out and was fine. Now because some damaged pieces are so short, it all doesn’t go in a ponytail just yet. So on top of needing the ponytail, I also need a headband to keep it off my face AND I use clips because some of the hair flops around and annoys me behind the headband. Working out is important to me, so I do what I have to do to keep my hair off my face in the process.
Messy Buns
This is another thing I miss. So quickly throwing my hair in a cute messy bun when a good hair day isn’t happening, if I am running late or if I don’t want to be bothered. I can tie maybe about 75%-ish of my hair back now but the “ponytail” in a nub and a bun I simply can not make. There have been a few things I have been doing now that my hair is shorter that I didn’t do as much when it was longer.
Headbands and accessories
I’ve been wearing a lot of headbands for fashion and different clips and barrettes to help hide some awkward length pieces and such. When I wear headbands, it is usually on day 3 hair so my hair is stretched out a bit and it gives off this 1960s mod-look vibe that I like!
Wearing my hair half up
I did this when my hair was longer too but I go to this style A LOT more since my hair is shorter. I clip some of my hair half up, take out a few face framing pieces and I’m good to go. It looks pretty put together and like I tried- meanwhile it took me less than 5 minutes.
I look forward to re-growing it out and if you haven’t already, you can read my article about everything I am doing to re-grow out my hair here.
What are your tips and tricks for shorter curls and waves?
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When you first think of broccoli, you may recall it being on your plate as a kid and wanting nothing to do with it. This vegetable which is a relative to other leafy greens such as cabbage, spinach and Brussels sprouts actually has some incredible benefits for our hair!
When I was little, I always thought of broccoli as little trees. If you live in England, you may refer to Broccoli as “Italian Brussels Sprouts” Both the stalks and “heads” of the broccoli are edible. It can be eaten raw or cooked but the raw ones have a higher content of vitamins and nutrients. Broccoli is a popular vegetable in the United States and is used in a variety of dishes. I personally like to eat it as a side dish lightly steamed with some Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top or chopped up in omelettes.
Healthy hair requires certain vital nutrients to be delivered to the follicles.
This includes Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B5, vitamin B12, iron, niacin, zinc, sulfur, silica and germanium to be delivered to the hair follicles. Dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli are super food for hair and their consumption strengthens the hair at the roots. This is how broccoli can benefit the hair, from stylecraze.com.
- Promotes Hair Growth
Broccoli contains vitamin A, vitamin C and calcium which promote hair growth. Vitamins A and C stimulate the production of sebum, an oil based secretion that acts as a natural moisturizer and conditioner for scalp and hair whereas calcium strengthens the hair follicles.
- Strengthens the Hair Follicles
Broccoli seed oil extracted from the seeds of broccoli is particularly beneficial for hair and skin. This natural oil is packed with hair-nourishing vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin B6 that make your hair strong and silky smooth, while eliminating hair frizz.
- Combats Hair Loss
The antioxidants in broccoli seed oil, particularly vitamin C prevent hair loss by eliminating the free radicals, thus contributing to healthier and thicker hair. B vitamins such as vitamin B6 help in reducing stress, a factor that can contribute to hair loss. These vitamins support mental and physical health which in turn supports a healthy hair system. In addition to these, broccoli contains a powerful substance that can inhibit dihydrotestosterone or DHT which is closely related to hair loss and thinning.
- Imparts Luster and Sheen
Broccoli seed oil contains a unique fatty acid composition that is similar to silicone found in shampoos which is responsible for imparting shine to your hair. Also known as erucic acid, this omega-9 fatty acid gives your hair a smooth natural sheen without leaving residue of harmful detergents or chemicals in your hair follicles. Thus, it has an advantage over commercial shampoos and conditioners in this respect.
Not only can your hair benefit from eating broccoli, but using broccoli seed oil topically in hair products has some great hair benefits as well. Broccoli Seed Oil is rich in hair-nourishing vitamins, such as vitamin C and B6, which can keep your hair strong and silky smooth. This oil is straight from the broccoli seeds which are responsible for growing the vegetable
Broccoli Seed Oil contains a unique fatty acid composition that makes it similar to the silicone you will find in shampoos. Called erucic acid, this special omega-9 fatty acid helps give your hair a smooth, natural sheen without loading your follicles with harmful detergents or chemicals.
Benefits of Broccoli Seed Oil
Aside from containing erucic acid, broccoli seed oil has many, many benefits that can smooth out dry or frizzy hair. This is why it’s great for your hair, according to Emtage Beauty.
- It contains vitamin C. When it’s not helping eliminate the free radicals that can contribute to cancer, the antioxidants in broccoli seed oil can help prevent hair loss. As a result, people who get enough vitamin C usually have thicker, healthier hair.
- It contains vitamin B6. B vitamins can help reduce stress, a factor that can contribute to hair loss. It’s also a part of a spectrum of vitamins that support physical and mental health. When those are in check, your body can support a healthy hair system.
- It contains a powerful substance that has to power to inhibit dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. Why is DHT important? Because DHT has been correlated with hair loss and thinning hair–definitely two things you don’t want!
You can find pure broccoli seed oil at a health food store or amazon.com and squeeze a pea-sized amount of it into your hand and distribute it throughout your hair, using your palms. If you have dry hair, try concentrating the oil on the ends of the hair to prevent split ends or breakage. You can try some of the hair products before which contain the ingredient:
- EverButter Invigoration Smoothing Cream– aids in healing weak, damaged thinning edges, while smoothing and laying down your hair
- Kaia House Broccoli Shampoo For Curly Hair– helps restore shine and luster, while reducing excess grease that weighs down curly hair. When applied to hair, it puts back the spring in your strands.
- Raw Curls Shine Serum blends the perfect combination of 100% organic oils to give your hair superior conditioning, shine, and frizz control while healing your scalp and skin of numerous ailments!
- Ouidad Mongongo Oil Multi-Use Hair Treatment contains Mongongo and Broccoli Seed Oil. The formula restructures hair as it deeply repairs damage to restore a healthy appearance to even the dullest locks. By forming a protective film over the hair fibers, hair is instantly more manageable and has a natural, healthy-looking luster. It coats hair to protect against UV rays and environmental aggressors to help defend against damage.
Have you tried broccoli seed oil on your curls?
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If you have read my articles here on NaturallyCurly (or my blog posts“>, you know that I cut my hair last month. And now I am doing everything in my power to re-grow it longer, stronger and healthier than it was before. Sadly, there are no magic potions or pills (or I would have them by now!”> but there are a few things I am doing to help the process as much as I can. On average, hair grows between a half inch and inch per month depending, so I want to maximize my growth potential. A lot of these things I have already been doing for years to help with growth. Read on for more.
No more bleach!
Bleach is what got my hair screwed up in the first place! A hard lesson learned: it’s damaging and terrible and even if you do everything else right like I did, it can still potentially mess your hair up. Right now I am trying to re-grow out my natural color which I have not seen since 2003ish. Though I don’t love my natural color, the less chemicals on my hair the better off i will be. With this I hope I stay as strong because between my roots, ammonia free color and still bleached very ends my hair color right now is certainly not the best.
No heat tools.
This will be especially easy since the weather is getting warmer. Aside from not touching flat or curling irons, which I so rarely used to begin with, I won’t even be diffusing or blow drying until maybe November? Even then I will be trying to let my hair air dry as much as possible. Air drying is so much better on the hair and it’s what I try to do 99% of the time anyway.
Viviscal.
I LOVE these hair supplements. I have been taking them twice a day since December and have no plan to stop. I don’t have any adverse effects and believe it is helping my hair grow. Viviscal.com says they are “Scientifically formulated hair vitamin supplements for hair loss with the exclusive marine complex AminoMar®. These hair vitamin supplements for women help to nourish thinning hair and promote existing healthy hair growth from within.*”
Drinking 2 cups of Bamboo Leaf Tea daily.
I love tea so this is so easy for me. I touched upon why Bamboo is excellent for hair growth in my recent article.
Eating a hair healthy diet.
What you eat on the inside shows up on the outside and I am a big believer of enhancing beauty from the inside out. Lately I have been very focused on a hair healthy diet which includes lean protein (chicken, turkey”>, lentils, eggs, nuts (especially brazil nuts”>, fish (especially salmon”>, leafy greens, greek yogurt, fruits and more. I believe it is helping my hair grow in nicely and a bonus is I think I dropped a few pounds.
Drink a gallon of water a day.
I do this for my overall health, and it certainly helps aid in having nice hair.
Scalp Oil Blends and Pre pooing with coconut oil.
Before I wash my hair–which lately has been 3 times a week–I will go to sleep with an essential oil blend on my scalp and coconut oil through my lengths. My favorite essential oil hair growth blend as of lately has been the Carol’s Daughter Lisa’s Hair Elixir. I also like the Wild Growth Oil from Sally Beauty Supply. When I apply the oils I massage my hair for anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes to help boost circulation and encourage healthy growth.Deep conditioning treatments.
Something else I have been doing for years. I deep treat just about every time I wash. Once every other week I make sure it is a repairing protein treatment, like Ouidad’s Deep Treatment Curl Restoration Therapy to help repair and prevent damage. Other favorite not-as-intense deep conditioners I like are just about all of the Shea Moisture (I tend to mix them all together”>, Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!, Ouidad Melt Down Extreme, Living Proof Restore, Carol’s Daughter Monoi, Devacurl Heaven in Hair and Original Moxie Intense Quench Deep Conditioner. I also will use my Huetiful Hair Steamer with my deep treatments sometimes.
Protecting hair when I am out in the sun.
Sun exposure can actually break down the hair the way it does damage to the skin! When I am out in the sun if I am not covered in a hat or cute bandana I use a protective product with UV protection such as the Ouidad Sun Shield Spray or any of the Verb products since they all contain UV protection inside!
Using Monoi Oil.
Even since researching about this ingredient, I have been hooked. Sometimes I mix pure Monoi oil in with my sealer or stylers, or I’ll use product likes that contain this wonderful ingredient such as items from the Carol’s Daughter Monoi line or Shea Moisture Tahitian Noni & Monoi line.
Co-washing and sulfate free shampoos.
I like alternating between co-washing and sulfate free shampoos. While some curlies just rely on co-wash, I like a good sulfate free shampoo to help rid my hair of styling products, sweat from work outs and gross toxins from the environment. Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind is one of my favorite co-washes and the Design Essentials Quinoa & Bamboo Shampoo is a current sulfate free favorite.
Sleeping on satin.
Whether it is on a satin pillowcase or in a satin bonnet–my boyfriend is used to it by now–I make sure to protect my hair at night by sleeping on satin. If my hair feels extra dry at night I also moisturize it with the Shea Moisture Anti-Breakage Strengthening Mist.
Those are just some of the ways I protect and am taking care of my hair health so it can re-grow longer and stronger than before. Please subscribe to my blog to follow my on my hair growth journey at my blog, Diane Mary Beauty.
Between my product junky-ness and love of watching TV shopping channels, a couple months ago I watched a presentation on HSN (Home Shopping Network”> on a new hair care line called Tweak-d presented by a man who looked extremely familiar. If you are a long time QVC watcher you may remember Denis Simioni who used to present Ojon Hair products. Well, he is now on HSN presenting something new and because of how awesome Ojon used to be when he presented it, I had to stop and listen. He is nicknamed “The Indiana Jones of Hair Care” as he always finds new and innovative ingredients to help bring us our best locks. Tweak-d is full of lots (around 70 in each formula”> of different beneficial ingredients from all around the globe!!
So Tweak-d is a brand new concept in hair care and something I never heard of before. They are “Self Cleansing Hair Treatments” known for “Beauty Redefined” What you do is you apply the cleansing treatment to your hair DRY before you get in the shower. The theory behind it is applying it to dry hair helps to optimize all the beneficial ingredients inside. The brand website says that “this allows for maximum absorption into the hair shaft, of essential active ingredients in their most potent, purest and restorative state. Clinically proven to absorb more active ingredients versus a leading shampoo/conditioner applied in the traditional format.” It makes such sense!! It may sound a bit tricky, because it is different, but I promise it is super easy to use.
What I tried
Tweak-d has three different formulas and I have been using and loving two of them:
- The Restore Treatment for people with dry, damaged hair
- The Ultra Nourishing Treatment, a universal formula for all hair types, especially for normal to thick, unruly, coarse hair.
I have had success with both formulas, I apply them as directed on dry hair prior to the shower and usually wait around 10 minutes to get wet. The restore treatment says you only need it on for 3 minutes. Both treatments work successfully at cleansing and conditioning my hair on their own with nothing else needed. But being the product mixologist I am, I also have had great success using them and then following with other cleansers and deep treatments sometimes.
Tweak-d Hair Cleansing Treatments are all formulated without Harsh Chemicals, Sulfates, Parabens, Synthetic Dyes, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, Mineral Oil, PABA, GMOs, DEA, Triclosan, and Animal Ingredients.
Restore Treatment
What They Say
Created Especially for Dry, Damaged, Frizzy, Weakened Hair. A 7 in 1 Multi-tasking treatment that helps to undo and prevent damage. Formulated with Dhatelo Oil from the Himalayas. Especially created to replenish and strengthen dry, weakened, damaged, frizzy hair.
- What is it? RESTORE Self Cleansing Hair Treatment was developed to offer consumers the opportunity to use it as an intensive hair treatment, shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler, leave-in conditioner and shine enhancer all in one easy-to-use product. It’s a multi-tasking, no fuss system that saves time, effort and money. Featuring and formulated with DHATELO Oil from the Himalayas.
- What will it do? Our RESTORE Self Cleansing Hair Treatment is a super-hydrating recovery treatment that instantly restores strength, shine and bounce to dry, damaged, weakened hair. This seven-in-one multitasking formula provides maximum anti-breakage protection against chemical treatments and tools so that hair is not only repaired and replenished, but also thoroughly protected inside and out.
- The treatment is full of botanical extracts, blend of essential fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants, lipids and naturally sourced cleanser. It it formulated with no sulfates, chemicals, parabens, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, mineral oil, PABA, BEA and Animal Ingredients.
- RESTORE SELF CLEANSING HAIR TREATMENT IS CLINICALLY PROVEN TO REDUCE HAIR BREAKAGE BY 94% IN JUST 1 USE!
What I Say
I have been suffering from some terrible breakage, dryness, frizz and unmanageability so I am always super excited to try anything that will help it. The smell of this stuff is pure heaven. It has a warm, vanilla musky scent very similar to some Ojon products I used to use. This was the first Tweak-d product I tried and I used it on its own quite a bit before trying the Ultra Nourishing. I was using it every wash, 2x a week and now I generally am using it 1x a week and the Ultra Nourishing cleanser the other.The product feels like a nice, thick cream. It does not lather in your hair, which personally I am fine with. It is SUPER concentrated and a little goes a long way. I like that this is in a tub, it makes it easy to scoop out and use without having to fight with a bottle spout or pump, especially because of the thickness.
I apply it on my dry hair before going into the shower. It says on the label to not leave this product in for more than 3 minutes but sometimes I do wind up leaving it longer. It is nice to know though I can get all the benefits rather quickly- time saving for sure. From my very first use, once I get in the shower I rinse the treatment out, my hair already my hair feels better. My hands glide through my wet hair with ease- much more than I am used to! The directions state once you rinse it out to reapply it on soaking wet hair and the scalp, adding a splash of water to help emulsify. Sometimes I do this now, and sometimes I wet and emulsify the product when it was already on my hair first use and follow up with other stuff to mix. I massage my scalp and spent time massaging the product through the lengths of my hair. Then I do my other shower stuff (cleanse body, brush teeth, etc”> and rinse it out. Detangling was effortless and I just could not believe how smooth my hair felt.Whenever I use the Restore treatment, my hair feels like silk instead of hay.Whenever I use the Restore treatment, my hair feels like silk instead of hay. It has helped all of my hair, but especially the newer last 6/7 months grow that don’t have underlying bleach on it. It looks shiny, feels smooth and so soft. I think using this regularly has really stopped with breakage and excess shedding which is AMAZING for me. This is now Holy Grail status and if I had to only pick onetweak-d formula to use, this would be it!
Ultra Nourishing Treatment
What They Say
This cleansing formula is designed to be Universal. Perfect for all hair types and textures, especially for people with normal, thick, coarse and unruly hair. Renews softness, shine and manageability. Formulated with CHUIRI Butter from Nepal. (1 of 79 Ingredients tweak-d to perfection”> FeaturesProprietary EmulsiFOAM technology that ensures the proper distribution of thr ingredients, while cushioning and maintaining a moist environment allowing for greater penetration of our active ingredients into the hair fibers.
- What will it do? This Intensely nourishing Self Cleansing Hair Treatment has a rich consistency that sensuously disciplines the hair fiber with a smooth fluid touch from roots to ends, delivering frizz control while imparting an incredible shine. Enriched with humectants, hydrating butters, oils, extracts and a hydrolyzed protein, our ultra-nourishing formula provides overriding moisture retaining properties, fuel for appropriate nutrition, strength, structure, conditioning, and aids in the restoration of potential surface damage done to the hair during every day processing. No matter what kind of hair you have it will instantly and easily detangle to avoid damage from excessive combing. Thick, curly and unruly hair may splurge daily; others will love as a weekly soak.
What I Say
This cleanser smells yummy as well. It is not quite as musky as warm as the Restore, it is more of a sweet gourmands meets a light floral. Regardless I really like it. The product dispenses out of the container like a foam mousse or shaving cream. I rub it between my hands and distribute evenly on my dry hair section by section. I apply it and do the same things as I do with the restore treatment. Like the Restore treatment, this also leaves my hair feels very soft and silky. I also feel that this really moisturizes my hair extremely well. The one drawback to this product is that it’s hard to tell how much is left in the can so I will always need a backup on hand in fear of running out. I have no complaints and love the addition of the Ultra Nourishing to my hair care routine as well.To sum it up
Since regularly using these two tweak-d formulas as part of my wash day routines, I have noticed less breakage, more softness, and shine, better manageability and less frizz. Sometimes I will also add a little or either/or back in as a leave in conditioner. I really like that each formula has a lot of different beneficial ingredients to get my hair healthy again and also keep my scalp healthy and clean as well. I already repurchased both. In USA, they are only available on the HSN website and do tend to sell out so I may or may not already have 3 backup jars of the Restore.
I recently got a haircut and want nothing more for it to grow long again healthier and stronger than before.
This led to extensive research to find what, if anything, can help speed this process up. One plant in particular kept appearing in many of my readings, both from internal and external use: bamboo. I have been testing this ingredient for weeks on my own hair and want to share with you some of the claims as well as my own hair health results.
Bamboo is actually the fastest growing plant in the world!
Bamboo is actually the fastest growing plant in the world! Certain species of bamboo can grow up to 10 centimeters a day. Not only does it grow quickly, it also stays strong and flexible in the process. According to OrganicAuthority, bamboo stalks are “strong as steel, more sturdy than concrete and grows to timber size in a year.”
Bamboo has the highest amount of vegetative silica in any plant–up to 70%! Silica is a trace mineral that slowly depletes as we age and if we are lacking in it, it can not only affect our hair but also our skin, nails and other organs in our body, as well. Also known as silicon, silica it is a combination of silicon and oxygen, the two most abundant elements on the planet.
Silica is a trace mineral that slowly depletes as we age and if we are lacking in it, it can not only affect our hair but also our skin, nails and other organs in our body
Briogeo uses bamboo extract in their hair products because it “helps improve the moisture and natural sheen of the hair, while increasing strength and elasticity. This nutrient rich ingredient also has protective antioxidant properties and improves hair health through its silica rich nutrient base. Silica is known to improve hair texture, prevent split ends, and accelerate hair growth.”
The benefits of silica
You should be getting enough silica. Here’s why:
- adds shine to lackluster hair
- may help increase hair growth
- help to prevent hair thinning
- may help to address hair loss
- ensures the hair follicles are supplied with all the vital minerals necessary for hair growth and vitality.
- hair can become stronger
- decrease in hair shedding
- hair may become thicker
- may help temporarily mend together split ends
- helps to restore the appearance of healthy hair
How to consume more bamboo
Bamboo leaf tea is a popular way to consume bamboo and get your daily dose of silica. I have been drinking two cups a day for the past two weeks. Of course it takes a while to notice any true difference and it isn’t magic, but the taste is pleasant to me and a few days in I noticed less shedding and an added benefit that my body has not felt as achy. I look forward to seeing what it does for my hair as I continue to drink it, I’ll be posting updates on my blog. Bamboo leaf tea has a nice, fresh, earthy taste to it that I enjoy without adding any sweetener.
If you won’t want to drink bamboo tea, several companies also make bamboo supplements as well.
Bamboo shoots are a vegetable, very popular in Asian dishes that are nutrient dense and another way to get the benefits of Bamboo internally as well. Bamboo shoots are low in calories, high in fiber and contain vitamins and minerals as well.
The hair benefits
Our hair can also benefit from bamboo being an ingredient in our hair products.
- Shampoos that contain bamboo extract are good at washing away dead skin cells and other unwanted agents that can build up on hair strands. By playing a role in removing a build-up of pollutants, body oils, and chemicals on the hair, bamboo extract can also add a natural shine and luster to your hair.
- Bamboo has anti-irritant and antioxidant properties which is especially beneficial if you have a sensitive or dry scalp.
- Using hair products with bamboo in them can help the overall appearance of your hair, allowing it to become more manageable, shinier, softer and stronger.
Products with bamboo
A few lines that contain Bamboo extract in them are
- Briogeo
- Verb
- Alterna Bamboo Line
- Nubian Heritage Grow & Strengthen Line
- Carol’s Daughter Monoi Line
In addition to hair health, bamboo and silica can have excellent benefits for the skin and body as well. This extract can be worth looking into not only to achieve optimal hair health, but to help your body overall. Please note this article is for information only and absolutely should not take the place of advice given by your medical professional. Individual results using bamboo enhanced products and/or drinking bamboo tea will vary.
If you ask me, I think Ouidad products are some of the best out there for curls and waves.
They have been in my rotation of products probably longer than any other curly hair brand (think back to when the NaturallyCurly.com logo was orange and yellow!”> After visiting the flagship salon in NYC for a great cut a few weeks ago, I have been on a Ouidad kick.
One line in particular that I have been trying out and beyond impressed with is the Curl Recovery Line.
The particular line was developed for dry, damaged textures. It contains a special repair complex with ingredients such as Mafura Butter and Kalahari Melon Seed Oil which are both nutrient-rich. I also like that using this line helps not only to repair the hair, but also help prevent future damage because believe me when I say right now my hair is damaged enough. Read on for my thoughts on all four products in this line!
Ultra-Nourishing Cleansing Oil
What The Brand Says: A foaming, water-activated formula rich in fatty acids, proteins and oils that gently removes build-up while restoring essential moisture and healing distressed curls. Cleansing Oil is an ultra-rich healing formula with an advanced oil base that gently removes dirt and build-up while restoring essential moisture. This foaming Cleansing Oil wraps delicate curls in the proprietary, nutrient-rich CR-4 Repair» complex, a cushiony coating of concentrated fatty acids that helps nourish, rebuild and protect curls in need of repair. Silk proteins and coconut oils bind to the cuticle for lasting hydration and renewed body and shine. Free of Sulfates and Parabens.
What I Say: I used a cleansing oil from a different past a year or so ago and wasn’t impressed, so I didn’t have the highest of hopes here. Boy was I wrong! I was surprised by the lather from an oil but it left my hair feeling clean and so moisturized. I may have been able to get away with no conditioner after but I am always too nervous to ever try. I only needed the tiniest amount (about a nickel size worth”> so the bottle will last a nice, long while. This cleanser is wonderful.
Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner and Styling Primer
What The Brand Says: A healing olive oil blend with Shea Butter and Glycerin moisturizes, nourishes and strengthens hair for smooth, fortified, frizz-free curls. Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer is a modern, dynamic multi-tasker that combines therapeutic conditioning with style priming power. This rich, silky formula wraps curls in a unique Triple Olive Oil Blend and Green Tea Extract to nourish and protect dehydrated hair, keeping curls moisturized all day long. Primes while conditioning to restore the natural curl pattern and encourage bouncy, defined, frizz-free curls.
What I Say: This is such a cool, versatile product! I think the whole “whipped cream can” packaging is cute. This conditioner is rich, luxurious and decadent. I can use it as a conditioner in the shower and I get results just as good, if not even better, than some masks! It helps me detangle really easily, plus my wave definition pops, and my hair was soft and frizz free when I tried it as a rinse out. When I use it as a leave in conditioner/styling primer it elongates my curls, which I like so my hair appears longer. It also leaves them feeling hydrated and frizz free. Like the cleansing oil, a little goes a long way. To compare this to Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner which I also enjoy, that one is more lightweight. I would use that when I want more defined 3A like curls and use this when I want more of a looser curl 2B/2C look. Or when my hair needs an intense dose of moisture. I like that as a leave-in, this also plays well with other products.
Melt Down Extreme Repair Mask
What The Brand Says: A blend of three clinically-proven actives instantly restores hair’s depleted lipid barrier to promote health and prevent future damage. Melt-down Extreme Repair Mask is a luxurious treatment formulated with our proprietary CR-4 Repair Complex including nutrient-rich Mafura Butter and Kalahari Melon Seed Oil – that envelops the hair shaft with a cushion-like coating of concentrated fatty acids vital to rebuilding, nourishing and protecting hair. A blend of three clinically-proven actives instantly recreates hair’s depleted lipid barrier, restoring the protective layer to promote health and prevent future damage. Unique melt-down technology pampers hair with a subtle warming sensation as it replenishes moisture.
What I Say: I’m not sure why, but I do not feel the warming sensation that the brand says happens. Regardless of that, this mask is amazing! Being that I have loved their original 12 Minute Deep Treatment for years, I had to find out the exact difference between the 2. Basically, the 12-Minute is a hard protein treatment, really targeting the core of the hair and needs heat to be activated and should not be done more often than every 2 weeks, where this one helps to repair the lipids and moisture levels and is for really dry hair and can be used more often. I have been using it once a week for the past few weeks. Like everything else in the line, a little goes a long way with this product. The consistency is so nice and thick and my hair drinks it right up. I found it to have excellent slip as well. It has a sweet smell with a little spiciness to it but is not overbearing. It leaves my waves super moisturized, defined and frizz free, even the more damaged hair I have on the end of my strands!
Curl Defining Styling Souffle
What The Brand Says: A proprietary CR-4 Repair Complex envelops the hair shaft with a cushion-like coating of concentrated fatty acids vital to rebuilding, nourishing and protecting hair. Curl Defining Styling Souffle is a cream styler that transforms dehydrated, damaged curls into elongated, healthy, head-turning spirals. Our proprietary CR-4 Repair Complex – including nutrient-rich Mafura Butter and Kalahari Melon Seed Oil – envelops the hair shaft with a cushion-like coating of concentrated fatty acids vital to rebuilding, nourishing and protecting hair. Natural emollient oils from Avocado, Radish, Coconut and Meadowfoam replenish moisture for superior definition, reduced frizz and healthy shine. Cuticle smoothing polymer holds style and conditions all day. Ideal for natural hair and transitioners.
What I Say: I am crazy about this whole line. If I had to get only one product, this would be it–this is also added to my holy grail list and I may need to hoard some back-ups. The container said that this souffle is moisturizing enough on it’s own to not use a leave-in with it, even the whipped curls from the line. That was surprising, I don’t remember the last time I went without using a leave-in conditioner prior to styling products. What’s more is usually cream products do not provide my hair with enough hold not putting a gel on top of them–my hair poofs out way too much. Well, I don’t have either problem! This jar full of goodness is a miracle product. I am used to using at least 4 products to style my hair after the shower to get it to look decent. And I don’t mind that, as long as my hair comes out good. With the souffle, I can use this with an oil to seal–and that’s it! This saves me time styling my hair and will make my bag lighter when I travel. I was shocked how I didn’t need a leave in with it, it defined my curls, left them feeling nice, helped with frizz and had a nice soft hold with no crunch. I hope it holds up just as well in the summer when humidity increases. We will see.
To conclude
Ouidad knocked it out of the ballpark with this line! Out of all the different Ouidad lines I think this is the best one for my hair for right now, plus using the original 12 minute deep treatment every other week. I can kick myself for not trying these products sooner. I just hope they never get discontinued like the Salon Series Biotin did–I was crazy about that stuff.
Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?
[prodmod]*Editor’s note: this article was not sponsored.
Original Moxie is a cruelty free line of hair care products for all different types of hair. The line was developed by Rachel Blistein, a beautiful curly girl who decided to create her own line of products out of frustration not finding products that worked well for her hair.
The brand’s website says that “Rachel personally crafts each product, from customizing herbal infusions, to sourcing pure, natural ingredients and fine-tuning Moxie’s iconic essential oil fragrances.” All of the products are made to nourish hair from the inside out and labeled with Original Moxie’s 3-D Diagnostic System that helps you identify what products work best based on your hair’s own density, curl pattern and dryness level. I have had the chance to play with quite a few products from this line, some of them are part of my Holy Grail list, so of course I wanted to review some products from the Original Moxie line for the NaturallyCurly community!
For a list of stores and salons that carry Original Moxie, click here.
Get Clean No Foam Shampoo
What They Say: Break your Foam Addiction! Sulfates, the chemicals that produce heavy foam, also strip hair of its natural oils. Our Sulfate- free Shampoo takes a gentler approach, harnessing the cleansing properties of Wild harvested Yucca Root & Soap nut to remove dirt and excess oil without disturbing your scalp’s natural balance. Gentle cleansing for normal to dry hair.
What I Say: It doesn’t lather at all, which I don’t mind. It leaves my hair feeling clean, soft and moisturized. To me, it is more of a co-wash than an actual shampoo. It smells a bit like chocolate mint, but not spot on. A great cleanser that doesn’t leave my hair feeling squeaky clean or too stiff.
Intense Quench Deep Conditioner
What They Say: “Most conditioners are like empty calories for your hair – a fleeting feeling of slippery goodness followed by disappointing results. But our unique blend of botanicals, herbs, proteins and emollients is like a smoothie for your hair, nourishing from the inside out. Hibiscus encourages strong growth and Strawberry adds shine. Not only does it bathe your senses like a trip to the spa, it delivers stronger, softer and healthier hair. So give your thirsty hair what it really wants – Intense Quench™! For dry and damaged hair.”
What I Say: It had a nice minty/fruity combo scent. I used this with and without heat and got positive results each time. This deep conditioner is not super heavy and thick, yet it is still very moisturizing. I did need a decent amount to thoroughly cover all my hair. It helped detangle my hair effortlessly and left my hair soft, smooth and prepped it very well for styling products. I like the combination of all the essential oils and butters in this. The one drawback to this deep conditioner for me is it does contain menthol which sometimes my scalp can react negatively to.
Emollience Pre Treatment
What They Say: “Hair that suffers from chronic dryness needs an extra boost to regain its luster. Enriched with Cupuaçu Butter & Castor Oil, Emollience™ breaks the cycle to restore your hair’s natural shine and elasticity. After just one use, hair is noticeably softer, silkier and more vibrant. That’s Mmm-hmmm-mollience! A penetrating oil treatment that restores the correct moisture balance to parched hair for extremely dry hair that needs help to recover from harsh environmental conditions or chemical treatments.”
What I Say: A little goes a long way with this one. I used it overnight as a pre-poo treatment or if my ends look extra frizzy I would apply a little to dry hair to tame it. Unfortunately, I didn’t really like the fragrance– a bit strong and herbally for my personal taste. But as far as performance goes, it is an excellent moisturizing product.
Oasis Moisture Gel
What They Say: “Has your hair lost its groove? Get it back with this miracle treatment that restores life to damaged strands. The initials are ‘OMG’ for a reason! Sodium Lactate, a powerful, naturally occurring humectant, attracts moisture and binds it to the hair, creating a dramatic improvement in softness and body after just one use. Who needs to live in a desert when you’ve got an Oasis™ at your fingertips? An oil-free, highly-concentrated humectant
What I Say: This is a Holy Grail product for me. I can’t use it on its own because it doesn’t have enough hold for me, but when worn under a firm hold gel I love the added definition and incredible shine it provides for my waves. When I use this, I feel my hair looks super healthy and I like that it is repairing my hair all day long! It is a lightweight consistency and a little goes far. It has a unique scent that I am having a hard time putting my finger on–I don’t dislike the scent but I also wouldn’t say it smells amazing.
Hold Up Defining Serum
What They Say: “Frizz doesn’t stand a chance against the strong hold and curl-plumping properties of this silicone-free styling concentrate. Water-resistant, crisp definition locks in your style and delivers multi-day hair that can withstand the elements. Shine-enhancing botanicals, plant-derived proteins, and penetrating humectants mean your hair will feel as good as it looks. So put your hands in the hair and keep those curls where we can see them – this is a Hold Up™! A silicone-free defining concentrate that softens and strengthens hair while offering strong hold and curl activation. Fine to thick ‘wavys’ and ‘curlys’ who seek curl plumping, lift, and strong hold.”
What I Say: My other Holy Grail from this line. I like this a bit more than Oasis. If you want to try just one product from this brand, this should be it! When I use this, it helps eliminate steps in my after shower styling routine. I will use a leave in, this product then seal with an oil. I get excellent definition, shine and hold all in one with this one! It also greatly helps to reduce my frizz. I like that there are proteins in here so it is a treatment and styler in one. Another huge plus for me with this product is when I use it, my day 1 hair isn’t as “puffy” as usual! A little goes far with this one too and has a delightful cucumber mint smell.
Shape Shifter Re-forming Crème
What They Say: “Change your look in one easy step! Our unique floral wax formula helps your hair to bend and stretch – allowing you to go from kinky to curly or straight to wavy without chemicals. Depending on your needs, this amazing product can lengthen and “de-poof” curls or add pliability and wave to thick, straight hair. As a bonus, this ultra-rich crème also deep conditions, detangles, & smoothes along the way. An elasticizing and moisturizing cream gel. Thick, straight hair that needs more wave and thick, curly or kinky hair that needs more stretch.”
What I Say: This is a unique product. My front hairline is a lot curlier than the rest of my head. Not only is it curlier, but the curls are very oddly shaped and wonky. I liked the idea of this crème to help loosen them up to match the rest of my hair. I used it on soaking wet hair prior to other stylers. It did help loosen the curls, but I still found I had to clip my hair to set it and I was hoping this crème would have eliminated that step. It did help to greatly “de-poof” my hair, as the claims mentioned and I really liked that part. I also like that it helps to treat my hair’s poor elasticity. It has an herbally smell that I don’t love, but the product has its benefits so I can get past that.
I hope my review of these Original Moxie products were helpful.
Believe it or not, there are still so many more products in this line other than what I mentioned here! If you are a product junkie on your holy grail quest, or if you just like trying new products, I urge you to give Original Moxie a chance. They even offer convenient trial sizes so you don’t have to invest in full size when you don’t know how your hair will react to something.
I had an amazing experience at the Ouidad Flagship salon in NYC today. I learned so many tips and tricks and got such an amazing haircut by the talented Jason who is a top stylist and also one of Ouidad’s Artistic Directors. Before I get into my experience, here is a little back story on why I chose to cut my hair.
My hair was long, down past my chest and I loved it.
I used to bleach it (at a different salon”> to get it light blonde and despite doing frequent deep treatments, air drying 95% of the time, using good styling products, etc around December 2014 I started noticing some bad breakage. Throughout this past winter the breakage kept on getting worse and worse, despite my best efforts to repair it until I was left with only a few pathetic looking scraggly long pieces. I purchased clip in curly extensions I was wearing to keep my length on special occasions, but my lack of selfies was not just coincidental. I figured it would look better to cut it shorter and re-grow it healthy then to continue to cling to the unhealthy ends.
I learned from Jason today how badly bleach can damage hair. Even though I was treating my hair the best I could, sometimes that can only help so much. I also learned there is no true repair from such bad chemical damage aside from cutting it and growing it out. I have not used bleach since September 2014 and at this point I am also highly considering growing in my natural hair color. Why couldn’t I just be born a healthy light blonde? Sigh. Anyway, okay back to the experience.
Ouidad is the only salon brand that caters to the 4 specific curl types: loose, classic, tight and kinky.
They have 2 Flagship salons to help assist in practice what we preach approach. Aside from the Flagship salons they have many certified salons throughout the country where the stylists are trained in the Ouidad Carve & Slice cutting technique, the Rake & Shake styling method, as well as being well educated on how to use all of the Ouidad products.
I have personally been a fan of Ouidad products for years. They are one of my Holy Grail curly brands and also one of the first curly brands I had ever tried. I usually do their “Rake and Shake” method to style my hair, though I learned today I was doing it incorrectly. More on this method later.
The Carve and Slice Cut
Jason asked me why I never had a Carve & Slice cut before and I admitted, “Carve & Slice” sounds scary. Turns out, it totally isn’t! This exclusive method of cutting curly hair was developed by Ouidad in the 1980s– before that, there never was a specific way to cut curls. I had so many misconceptions about this technique that Jason cleared up for me today.
Here is what I learned about the cut from Jason: The “Carve and Slice” cut is done to mimic the natural curl pattern in order to have curls puzzle in like a puzzle piece. Only small amounts of hair are cut off and this is only done on the inside of the hair, not the outside to avoid the dreaded “pyramid” or “triangle” so many curly girls dread. This cut also helps take out excess bulk if there is any so the hair will lay closer to the head and fall better. Also, by doing so on the inside if you do decide to blow out your hair once in a blue moon, you won’t see it. The cut is also tailored to each and every individual. Based on the desired result and hair texture, not everyone gets carving and slicing, this truly is cut specialized to you. The hair is cut at the curvature of the curl.
[quote]Mimicking the curl pattern is important because it allows the technique to intertwine with the curls so there is no awkward grow out. [/quote]
I asked Jason about cutting hair wet versus cutting hair dry, because I know there are so many people who swear by only cutting curls once they are dry. He said that “Our hair changes day to day and cutting it dry you are only cutting the hair’s shape for the one day and when you cut it wet and clean, it’s being shaped so it can be styled well every day from then on.” That explanation just made so much sense to me. My hair is a mix of loose and classic curls and sometimes they stretch out and don’t bounce right back. It’s incredibly rare my dry hair looks exactly the same on two days so this approach is wonderful.
I won’t lie, I was SUPER nervous about the cut.
After countless bad cuts in my past, haircuts are such a fear. Jason went above and beyond for me with this cut. My biggest concern was I didn’t want to lose any more length than I already lost from the breakage. He respected that wish. Also, in the back of my head I have shorter breakage that I know I just want to grow out before anything is done with, I didn’t want a ton of layers and he listened to that too and knew just what I was saying. He also checked with me before cutting at all, I honestly could not have asked for more! Honestly I feel like my hair somehow looks a little longer after the cut! Not sure how that is possible, but it is incredible. Before cutting, he took me to the sink with these super comfy chairs and cleansed and conditioned my hair with the appropriate Ouidad shampoo and conditioner for my specific hair concerns.
Deep treatment
After the cut I got the signature Ouidad Deep Treatment! I love this deep treatment and use it at home as well. I learned there was a part of it I was doing incorrectly at home. The Ouidad Deep Treatment contains Amino Acids and Proteins to help calm frizz, enhance the natural curl pattern and also assist with dryness, which is natural for most curlies out there.
Though the Deep Treatment can help repair hair to an extent, it can’t perform miracles and magically heal hair that is damaged beyond repair like my bleach damage was. It contains Amino Acids and Proteins to help calm frizz, enhance the natural curl pattern and assist with dryness.
Because the Deep Treatment is full of protein, you need to use a great conditioner like the Balancing Rinse with proper pH to help close the cuticle and finish treating the hair.
He told me to do it at home once a month or every 2 weeks max and not to overdo it. Jason also said it is great to use the Deep Treatment with my Hair Steamer at home.
Rake & Shake Method
I learned so much about how to style my hair after the shower from Jason. You want to apply products directly out of the shower on wet hair, do not towel dry and if you can, do not ring out the excess water either. Jason said that the “Rake & Shake” method is the Ouidad form of a roller set.
Your fingers used to create and set curl pattern and create longevity out of the curls. Just like a roller set, you want to wait until your hair is fully dry to break open cast to create a soft look. By Raking and Shaking, you are smoothing the cuticle down to create frizz free definition.
When I asked Jason what was the main difference between this and just scrunching, he said that scrunching clumps the curls together and doesn’t leave the cuticle as smooth and frizz free.
What you do is you apply hair product in small section, rake the products through and shake it at the ends. The shake at the end is what helps encourage your curl pattern. Also, it is important to not tie your hair up in a twist or to do anything to disrupt the curl pattern. I was actually Rake & Shaking at home and then scrunching after- which explains why my hair didn’t turn out as well sometimes.
Jason first applied the Moisture Lock Leave In Conditioner which is also a primer that fills in the cuticle with moisture to prevent crunch and help with consistent curl pattern. He then used the VitalCurl Tress FX which gives hair soft but strong, touchable hold. After raking and shaking the products, I sat under the hooded dryer for a while. I also had a Latte which was delicious. I then went back in the chair and Jason used a regular bowl diffuser on me and said when diffusing to make sure it is aimed down, this helps prevent frizz and added “poof” I usually would wind up getting if I diffuse at home.
To conclude, I am so thankful to everyone at Ouidad for my wonderful Ouidad Flagship Salon experience!
From the moment I walked in the door until I left, I felt respected, appreciated and valued as a client. I look forward to seeing Jason again in a few months when I need a trim so he can help me grow out my curls nice and healthy. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about my hair being shorter and aside from the fact my neck is cold I actually feel really good about it and will enjoy it as it grows.
My hair feels healthier already even though I still have a little more bleach to grow out. I can see my curls are coming alive again and my hair is so soft and shiny!
My hair pattern actually does get curlier as it grows which Jason said is normal for certain hair types. I will be sure to keep updates here and on my blog about my cut, styling and everything. I still need to figure out how to sleep since I can’t pineapple at this length!
By the way, Ouidad.com has so many helpful videos that explains their methods and shows proper techniques of what I mentioned above so be sure to check them out! (This post was not sponsored”>.
[prodmod]
Hair grows approximately 1/2 an inch a month. If you are trying to grow your hair halfway down your back, this certainly does not sound like a lot of length. Factor in necessary trims and it may feel like your hair is taking forever to gain some length. Eating well, taking hair supplements, and giving yourself scalp massages a couple times a week with oils may help to increase the growth a bit. The Inversion Method, however, is supposed to significantly help with hair growth. This method is not scientifically proven but of course, I had to give it a try. Read on for my personal results.
The Inversion Method claims to grow up to an inch of hair in seven days.
The theory behind it is that being inverted, along with a scalp massage, is supposed to increase circulation to the scalp and allow more blood flow to your hair follicles allowing hair growth to increase. I have seen bloggers and YouTubers try this method and share their results anecdotally so I was anxious to try it for myself.
How to do the Inversion Method
1. Massage an oil of your choice onto your scalp. My personal favorite is coconut oil.
2. Invert for 4 minutes. Suggested positions: Sitting in a chair or on a couch and lowering your head slightly toward feet as if you are painting your toenails, standing at kitchen sink and lowering head as if you are getting ready to wash your hair.
3. Leave the oil to sit on scalp for at least two hours. Co-wash to remove excess oil if necessary.
4. Repeat everyday for only 7 consecutive days/one week. Wait at least 3 weeks between each attempt otherwise, your body gets used to the extra blood flow. Then the method will not work as well, if at all. At worst, you become susceptible to some dangerous health risks. So, only attempt to do this over seven consecutive days once per month (no more than that”>.
FAQ
A question that often gets brought up is why we have to wait 3 weeks before trying this again. People who have found success with the Inversion Method have reported that after 3 weeks their bodies adjusted to the improved circulation directed toward the scalp, and they experienced minimal, if any, growth. Overuse has also reportedly lead to headaches and feelings of weakness. In my opinion it’s not worth putting your health at risk for the extra hair growth.
My Results
I faithfully used the inversion method every day for 7 days for 4 minutes. I chose coconut oil to massage my hair. I found the best way for me to do the inversion was laying off the side of my bed with my head upside down. It wasn’t comfortable at all on my neck which became a bit of an issue.
I do not think I could invert for any longer than 4 minutes. Note, I also have a history of neck problems and dizziness so that may not be the norm, I am just sharing my personal experience. More than once I got a little dizzy, but nothing unbearable that caused me to stop. Much to my dismay, my hair did not miraculously grow an inch that week. I had high hopes and didn’t want to give up.
My hair grew about 1/4 inch which is slightly above average for a week. I will happily take any extra hair growth of course, but I really wanted to achieve 1 inch like so many others did. Something else I was thinking about regarding my results is I do regularly practice yoga a couple times a week, so because there are times when I am inverted in poses perhaps my head is used to the blood flow?
You can chart your progress by taking pictures of your hair or measuring your hair with a ruler. Because I colored my hair and went for a touch up right before trying the inversion method, I measure my new growth in my roots.
Overall, I am disappointed with my results with The Inversion Method, as I hoped for a significant increase in growth like so many others have achieved. I suppose I’ll keep hoping for a different hair growth miracle.
Note: Hair Diary says to avoid trying The Inversion Method if you have any of the following conditions: pregnancy, hernia, low or high blood pressure, recent stroke, heart or circulatory problems, glaucoma, conjunctivitis (Pink Eye”>, detached retina, spinal injury, swollen joints, osteoporosis, unhealed fractures or injuries, ear infection, obesity, or are otherwise unhealthy, or during menstruation.To read more about the science (or lack thereof”> behind the Inversion Method, read here.
If you have tried the inversion method, please let me know your results below!
It is no secret that more and more people are turning to more natural hair care products. These are products complete free of silicone, parabens, lauryl sulfate and synthetic preservatives. In this article I will go over what the previous mentioned ingredients are, natural ingredients that are good in products plus a few natural hair care brands if you prefer not to make your own products at home.
Benefits of Using Natural Products
Using Natural Hair products you may find that your hair is able to grow longer, have less breakage, your hair may become more manageable and your curl pattern can become more defined. In similar concept to The Curly Girl method by Lorraine Massey, this is because no ingredients are “suffocating” your hair and your hair can breathe properly. The more you are consistent with using natural hair products, the healthier and better your hair will become.
Here is some information on ingredients to avoid if you want to use all natural products:
Silicones
Silicones are often used in hair care products to add shine and gloss to hair, decrease combing friction and tangling, provide conditioning and act as a humectant. However, silicones only give the appearance of healthier hair by coating it to make it appear sleeker, frizz free and healthier. They are also known to add weight and give fine and fragile hair a heavy feeling.
Silicone hair products are also generally not water soluble, which means that they can build-up in your hair over time, especially if you don’t use a proper cleanser to wash them out. In order to get rid of the build-up that silicone hair products can create, you will have to use a shampoo containing surfactants. Some people do find their hair behaves better with silicones in their products. If this is the case for you, it is best to try and use products with silicones that are all water soluble. For example, the Ouidad products only use water soluble silicones. But if you are using natural cleansers and conditioners, you will want to avoid all silicones so they don’t build up.
Parabens
Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in many hair products. However, recent studies have shown that parabens are potentially dangerous and a possibly carcinogenic. Parabens have been found to be hormone disrupters, able to mimic estrogen and cause many problems, including breast cancer. Fortunately, many companies are addressing these health concerns by developing and offering paraben-free products at all price points. The wide variety of paraben free hair products today is a wonderful thing, it means the brands are listening to our wants and desires.
Preservatives
Natural preservatives including tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract and potassium sorbate are more acceptable to many users who object to some of the potentially toxic effects of synthetic preservatives. However, many of these either have regular preservatives in them as a result of their processing or they simply cannot guarantee a healthy, microbe-free product for more than a few weeks or months. This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially for the purveyor of more “natural” products, but it is important to understand the limitations of these materials.
Sulfates
Many products contain harmful chemicals that can be damaging to your hair. Both sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS”> and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES”> are common ingredients in many soaps and shampoos and can be damaging to your scalp and hair. Though they do clean, they also strip your hair of their natural essential oils which leaves the hair dry and damaged. Overuse of sulfates can also make the hair become extremely unmanageable and frizzy.
What to look for in natural products
- Labeled 100% natural
- Flowers
- Nut & Shea butters
- Coconut oil
- Aloe vera juice/gel
- Vegetable glycerin
- Jojoba extract
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Castor seed oil
- Honey
- Avocado/avocado Oil
- Tea tree oil
Do you use natural hair products? What are some of your favorite all natural brands?
“This article was originally published in 2012 and has been updated for grammar and clarity.“
Living Proof is one of my top favorite hair product lines ever. I have backups of the Restore Treatment Mask and Repair Lotion at all times so as not to hyperventilate. They have been on my holy grail list for years. You can see my past articles reviewing the Restore line here and the stylers here. So imagine my excitement when I heard that Living Proof would be releasing a product line specially formulated for CURLS! I literally squealed in excitement and couldn’t get my hands on the products fast enough to try. Because of how I truly adore this brand as a whole, I had very high expectations that the curl line would blow me away.
Product claims
Living Proof says:
Beautiful, defined, frizz-free curls are here to stay. The cure for every kind of curl – from the slightest wave to coiliest curl, we’ve got you covered. Thanks to Extended Curl Memory technology, your curls now have more lasting power. Every kind of curl, every single day – no weather report required. Our exclusive Extended Curl Memory technology delivers beautiful, defined, frizz-free curls that last 2x longer. Curls stay intact through any of life’s assaults – humidity, wind – you name it, we’ve got you covered. Powered by our patented Healthy Hair Molecule (OFPMA”>, an optimized emollient and polymer blend and time-release conditioners that repel humidity for superior frizz protection. Provides residue-free cuticle smoothing for long-lasting curl definition, and delivers touchable hold for long-lasting, resilient curls. Finally, life-proof curls that are beautiful, frizz-free, and defined – and stay that way 2x longer.
Overall
All of the products have that signature fresh citrus Living proof scent to them which I don’t mind. To me, it isn’t overbearing or too perfumey.
All of the new Curl products play well with the other Living Proof lines and products which is great! Like all Living Proof products, everything in this line is free of parabens, silicones, oils, sulfates and safe for color treated and chemically processed hair.
Continuing reading on for my individual review of each product.
Curl Conditioning Wash
Product Claims: Curl Conditioning Wash cleanses and conditions in one step. This breakthrough formula combines cleansing ingredients with a conditioning base to give you smooth, conditioned curls that are both clean and healthy.
- Cleans and conditions in one step
- Gently cleans hair of dirt, oil and build-up
- Starts defining curls in shower
- Time-release conditioning keeps hair smooth and conditioned, in and out of the shower
- Perfect for all curl types
- Sulfate free, silicone free, and color safe
My Review: There is no lather at all. Absolutely zero. I don’t mind this personally because I am used to non lathering co-washes. Not only did it feel nice and clean after using, when I rinsed this out of my hair, it felt very soft and moisturized too. I like everything about this product except one thing – I find that I need to use a pretty significant amount each time to saturate all of my hair. Even so, I would still rebuy it because of the benefits and effects.
There is no lather at all. Absolutely zero.
Curl Detangling Rinse
Product Claims: Curl Detangling Rinse is NOT a conditioner. This water-activated, gel-like formula is unlike anything you’ve ever tried. It instantly detangles hair the moment it hits water, prepping hair for frizz-free styles.
- Detangles and defines curls the instant it hits water
- Replenishes lipids to help hair look and feel its best
- Preps hair for frizz-free styling
- For use after using Curl Conditioning Wash
- Perfect for all curl types
- Silicone free and color safe
My Review: Oh Living Proof, I am so so sorry. I don’t like disliking your products. In fact, I only didn’t love one other Living Proof product prior to this, and I tried practically all of them! I tried and played for over a month to have my hair and this detangling rinse get along, but sadly this formula and my hair don’t have that loving relationship. I am disappointed. They do say it is not a conditioner and in that respect they are not lying. It does do what it says- it detangled my hair in the shower at lightning speed. When I rinsed it out my wet hair felt fine but as my hair dried it felt dry, stiff, unmanageable and looked very frizzy. I have never had my hair feel so awkward and weird. I tried so many time with tried and true styling products and tweaked other variables, and I was able to single out this is the product as the culprit in making my hair feel not so lovely. I don’t know where I went wrong here- maybe it is because my hair is extremely damaged? This won’t be a re-buy for me but that’s fine because 99% of the time I follow up cleansing with a masque or deep treatment anyway.
This water-activated, gel-like formula is unlike anything you’ve ever tried.
Curl Enhancing Styling Mousse
Product Claims: Curl Enhancing Styling Mousse shapes and defines natural waves and curls that need a boost. Extended Curl Memory technology combines with contracting resins to give you touchable, enhanced curls that stay beautiful and frizz free, longer.
- Extra hold
- Light conditioning
- Provides frizz and humidity protection
- Creates flexible, long lasting touchable curls
- Perfect for naturally wavy or curly hair
- For extra conditioning, use with our Curl Defining Styling Cream or No Frizz Leave In Conditioner
- Silicone free and color safe
My Review: I LOVE this product!!! Hi holy grail. Never before have I been able to use a mousse with no gel on top of it and still feel that my hair looks good. I apply this after cleansing and conditioning on top of my leave in conditioner and Living Proof Prime Style Extender and Repair Lotion. If your hair is pretty healthy you probably don’t need the repair lotion. I use an oil on top to seal it. But basically I apply it section by section, scrunch and air dry. My waves feel so soft, look shiny and frizz free. I think wavies everywhere would like this product because it has the perfect amount of hold- not too much, not too little plus conditioning properties.
Curl Defining Styling Cream
Product Claims: Curl Defining Styling Cream has extra conditioning and light hold to define and control curls with a stronger curl pattern. Our Extended Curl Memory technology combines with long-wear, flexible resins to give you weatherproof curls that stay beautiful, defined and frizz free, longer.
- Extra conditioning
- Light hold
- Blocks humidity that causes frizz
- Creates smooth, long lasting touchable curls
- Perfect for naturally curly or coily hair
- For extra hold, use with our Curl Enhancing Styling Mousse
- For extra conditioning, use with our No Frizz Leave In Conditioner
- Silicone free and color safe
My Review: According to the website, this is made for stronger curl patterns. Being a 2C/sometimes 3A but lately 2B because I’ve been enjoying my hair loosely wavy lately, this doesn’t directly apply to me so I didn’t use it after showering on wet hair. HOWEVER, I did use it on day 2 and/or 3 on my dry hair and it helped to re-moisturize (is Winter over yet?”> add some shine and help with some frizz that make have snuck onto my head. A little goes a long way for this too.
The Line as a Whole
Overall, the Living Proof Curl line has some winners for me and one disappointment (I really am so sad about that”> I will be buying more of the mousse and conditioning wash, and possibly the curl cream too. The big test for me with this mousse as a styling product without gel will be in summer when it is more humid out and my hair is naturally frizzier.
[prodmod]Disclaimer: These products were provided to me from NaturallyCurly for review consideration. All opinions are my own and honest thoughts and I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review.
Oh spring. Warm weather, sunshine and…showers.
Lots of spring showers and rain can be a curly wavy girl’s nightmare! How many times has your hair looked nice and once you left the house the wear caused frizz, unwanted expansion and all other kind of dilemmas? On top of rain, when summer approaches, so will the humidity. The good news is with the right anti-humectant products, your hair can prevail over the wet and humid seasons.
If you are unsure what anti-humectants are, they are essentially moisture blocking products. They help repel moisture in the air from rain and humidity from going into your hair, leading to bad hair days. Think of them as frizz’s nemesis. Anti-humectants work best in the rainy and humid climates but you want to stay clear of overuse in the drier, colder weather, as they can cause your hair to become dry and parched during this time.
Some natural forms of anti-humectants include shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil and olive oil.
Some natural forms of anti-humectants include shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil and olive oil. Other forms of anti-humectants include silicones, esters, hydrogenated castor oil, beeswax and plant triglycerides.
If your favorite styling product has humectants, do not fear! You can layer any of the above mentioned products underneath and they will form a barrier between your hair and that product so you can get the styling benefits without the excess moisture going into your hair. Or you can check out some of my favorite Anti-humectant products below.
[prodmod]Ouidad Moisture-Lock Leave In Conditioner
A leave in conditioner and primer in one, it helps fill in gaps in the hair cuticles with nourishing, moisturizing ingredients to help define the curls and prevent frizz. Inspired by skincare science, it includes green tea, provitamin B 5 and arnica extract.
Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper
This product is magic in the warmer, humid months. I layer this super thin serum under any gel from any brand and it automatically provides extra shine and frizz protection.
Oyin Handmade Hair Dew
This lotion is good on wet hair as a leave in or on dry second or third day hair. It adds moisture and shine to the hair without weighing it down, and we love the way it smells.
Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade
An excellent product that is a lightweight satiny pomade that repels excess moisture from your hair, helping to prevent frizzies and fly aways. It even tames curls to give hair a polished look and is excellent in humid weather. Work through hair before or after styling.
SheaMoisture Raw Shea Reconstructive Finishing Elixir
This spray is lightweight and helps with frizz and shine. I like to use it on dry hair. Sea Kelps mineral-rich nutrition seals and smoothes hair cuticles. Argan Oil restores shine while helping promote hair elasticity. Shea Butter deeply moisturizes while conditioning hair and scalp.
Devacurl Set It Free
This spray smells like lime Skittles and helps to eliminate frizz, add shine and lock in moisture.
Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel
Heat-activated European Wheat Protein has a shielding effect on hair that breathes with the humidity, protecting the hair shaft and preventing hair from expanding. Amino Acids and Vitamin A nourish and hydrate hair, leaving it soft, manageable and full of shine. This water soluble gel blocks out the excess humidity that creates frizz and flyaways.
Original Moxie Hair Bling High Shine Pomade
An ultra-lux blend of oils, butters and waxes including Mango, Tucuma and Vitamin A that deliver high shine along with amazing softness and subtle hold. A little goes a very long way with this one.
Carol’s Daughter Monoi Hair Repairing Mask
This mask helps hair become stronger, smoother, silkier, and shinier with Monoi Oil, Bamboo Water and Hydrolyzed Silk. It makes hair more manageable and stronger, protecting it from all of the outside elements.
LA Looks Mega Look Gel
The strong hold gel is alcohol free and lightweight. It doesn’t flake and has water soluble castor oil so frizz doesn’t stand a chance in the Summer
When the sky opens and the rain falls or humidity strikes, you need to arm yourself with an anti-humectant product to win the battle against mother nature!
The Design Essentials Naturals Coconut & Monoi Collection was developed for dull, dry hair. Their website says that the line is “Expertly infused with coconut oil, monoi oil and nourishing botanicals to quench dry, thirsty curls. Each coconut & monoi formula is designed to deliver intense hydration to instantly transform dry, thirsty hair into soft, shiny, revitalized curls in just minutes!” Since I have super dry, thirsty, dull and damaged hair, I was very much looking forward to trying out this line! I have loved coconut oil for years and have recently been on a monoi oil kick so I had high hopes for this collection.
Coconut Water Curl Refresher
What They Say: Lightweight silk proteins and a replenishing blend of active botanicals including calendula and horsetail plus vitamin E restore over-worked curls. Deep penetrating daily moisture blend tames frizz. Great for wash and go’s and soft hold styles.
What I Say: I found several pros and cons to this refresher spray. The pros for me are on dry second or third day hair, it adds incredible shine, helps with frizz, and gives movement to my limp hair. The shine factor is really nice. I also like that the spray mists finely and wide (as opposed to a straight shoot”> from the nozzle- this helps to coat my hair evenly and more quickly. I don’t like the smell and it lingers for days. The other is that this spray feels a little bit sticky on my hands (when I massage it in”>, which is something I never experienced with a refresher spray.
Deep Moisture Milk Soufflé
What They Say: Designed to nourish and hydrate all curl types, this moisture-boosting formula delivers the smoothing power of shea butter, plus reparative milk protein. It provides layers of nourishing protection.
What I Say: The scent in this styler is very light, which is great. This soufflé is so thick yet somehow feels so lightweight. It feels very slick in my hair, but not greasy. There is mineral oil in this product, which I usually avoid. However, I do like the fact there are nice hair reparative ingredients such as argan oil, collagen, and milk proteins and of course coconut monoi oil. On dry second and third day hair it imparted shine, reduced frizz, and left my hair so soft! I like that it didn’t feel heavy and sticky when applied to dry hair. It was okay on wet hair, I think it could be used in place of a leave-in conditioner. For my wet hair wash and go however, there isn’t enough hold for me to use it on its own so I will save my uses for dry hair. It gave my hair so much shine and life that I disregarded the mineral oil. This was one of my favorites in the collection.
Deep Moisture Milk Creme
What They Say: This lightweight, highly concentrated oil crème is enriched with vitamin E and restorative milk proteins to replenish curls, reinforcing hair’s natural moisture barrier for all-day frizz protection.
What I Say: The coconut fragrance in here is too strong for me. Sadly, I got a headache and had to wash my hair immediately. It was unfortunate because I did notice some shine. I didn’t leave it in my hair long enough for a proper review.
Deep Moisture Oil Treatment
What They Say: Coconut & Monoi Deep Moisture Oil Treatment, infused with nourishing Moroccan argan oil with vitamin E, nourishing botanicals and revitalizing antioxidants, instantly starts the repair process for damaged hair, renewing strength and elasticity while shielding the hair from damaging elements.
What I Say: This product also has a strong coconut fragrance. I applied it as a 10 min. pre-poo treatment. Like the refresher, there was an odd stickiness to this product I noticed when I applied it, but it disappeared after my hair dried. When I rinsed it my hair felt very slippery (in a good way”> and soft! I like that it has vitamin E, argan oil, and sunflower oil as well as the coconut and monoi to improve strength and elasticity. I also mixed a little in one of my conditioners for additional treatment properties and it added a bit of extra slip! You can also probably use it to seal wet hair if you enjoy coconut scents.
Intense Shine Oil Mist
What They Say: Coconut & Monoi Intense Shine Oil Mist infused with replenishing Moroccan argan oil instantly soothes dry, brittle hair, leaving each strand nourished and conditioned. This revitalizing formula is packed with protectants that help shield curls from damaging elements and keep them bouncing with radiant shine.
What I Say: When they say intense shine, they mean it! I love what it does to my hair. It’s lightweight oil that doesn’t weigh my hair down at all. Aside from the shine, I notice a nice decrease in frizz with additional softness. Like the other oil in this line, this also has vitamin E, argan oil, and sunflower oil. I didn’t love how it sealed my hair wet, but it worked extremely well as a refresher. To me, this was one of the best products from this collection.
In conclusion, as a whole I am up in the air with the Design Essentials Coconut & Monoi Collection. Some products were great for me, others not so much. If you do have dry hair and don’t mind a mineral oil and coconut fragrance, this line could be a winner for you.
[prodmod]Note: this article is not sponsored.
Back in November I was on a bit Kerastase kick and picked up a bunch of products with their Black Friday sale. One of the products I picked up was the Chronologiste Treatment whose regular price is $149! In my opinion, that is a crazy amount of money for a deep treatment that does not come in a super size jar to last forever. I was super curious about it and figured no better time to try it then when I can get 20% off.
Do I like it? Yes. Is it actually worth $150? I’m not sure.
This is what the company says about the treatment (from the Kerastase website“>: “Our finest restorative treatment, perfect for all hair types.”
KEY BENEFITS
- Hair is left incredibly soft, supple and shiny.
- Hair fiber is renewed, deeply nourished and strengthened.
- Hair integrity is preserved.
- Scalp is regenerated, soothed and hydrated.
KEY TECHNOLOGY & BENEFITS
Never before has such a large amount of active ingredients, in the highest concentration, been combined in one single formula. Chronologiste is a haircare miracle with immediate, transformative and visible results.
Hair is left incredibly soft, supple and shiny
- Cationic Derivatives – Soften, smooth and facilitate detangling.
- Silicone Concentrate – Emollient ingredient brings suppleness and shine. Hair fiber is renewed, deeply nourished and strengthened
- Gluco-Lipids – Restore nutritive deficiencies.
- Squalane – Essential fatty acid protects fiber and scalp from drying out.
- Trio of Ceramides – Strengthen and regenerate the fiber. Hair integrity is preserved
- Vitamin A & E – Anti-oxidant protection leaves hair safe-guarded from external aggressions. Scalp is regenerated, soothed and hydrated
- Bisabolol – An active principle of Chamomile, heals the scalp.
- Enriched Pacific Sea Water – Ultra-rich minerals and micronutrients increase skin barrier function and hydrate the scalp.
My initial thoughts
Truthfully, after spending so much on a hair treatment I didn’t actually begin using it until January. Then I realized it was silly to buy it and just let it sit on the shelf when my hair wasn’t looking so great. It is super concentrated, I really only need a teeny tiny amount, so it is lasting quite a while. I still have at least half of the amount left and I have used it 6 times so far!
How I use it
I mix a bit of the cream with the pearls in the bowl that it comes with. so that the pearls break and blend with the cream. After shampooing, I apply it to wet hair that has the excess water squeezed out section by section and let it sit as long as I can–usually, half an hour. Add a little more water to it, massage it into the scalp and lengths of the hair.
My results, so far
I’ve used this treatment with and without heat and each time I have had great results. I am still dealing with breakage from a few months back and trying to get my hair super healthy again and I notice a positive difference when I use this. When I first started using it, I would use it once a week and now I have cut down to using it every other week. I was able to detangle very effortlessly with this treatment. The main thing I can notice with this is the shine. My hair always looks incredibly shiny right after I use this and the results last a few days. Usually my hair starts looking dull by day 3. My hair also felt smoother- this happened instantly as soon as I rinsed the treatment out. Finally, I have come to realize whenever I use this treatment I will have a pretty good hair day so that’s nice.
Will I repurchase?
I do enjoy the results of this treatment. But I am unsure if I will repurchase it right away for 2 reasons: The price–though it works incredibly well, there are other deep treatments I love that aren’t half as expensive and work just as well for me (Ouidad 12 Minute DT, Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair, Living Proof Restore Mask and like 4 SheaMoisture masks that I combine together are my favorites”>.
Reason number 2 is although I strayed from the Curly Girl method for a while, I am slowly transitioning back to using more natural products. I am absolutely staying away from sulfates after using a different Kerastase shampoo that did have them (the treatment is sulfate-free”> and more so staying away from any non-water soluble silicones.
My final thoughts
I saw that Kerastase recently released more products in this Chronologiste line. I was super curious about the shampoo but found out it contains sulfates so I will be passing on it. So, although I do like this treatment and the benefits I see with it, because of the reasons above I can’t justify this as a Holy Grail product or something I cannot ever be without at this time.
There are two super important things to know about The Space Heater Drying Technique.
1. Yes, it will dry hair faster than air drying BUT it will dry hair slower than regular diffusing.
2. This is still considered drying hair “with heat” so it isn’t completely damage-free. You want to use a heat protector on top of regular styling products. My favorite is the Living Proof Restore Spray.
The technique is super simple.
Basically, I have a small space heater. It would probably work a bit faster if you own a bigger one. Anyway, I just hold the space heater about a foot away from my hair and let the heat dry it. If my arms get tired I will place it on a flat surface and sit in front of it. I don’t hold it on any section too long and I don’t want to keep it too close to my hair because again, it is heat and still damaging. Once it has been in the same spot a few seconds I move around to another spot. Sometimes after, I will take out my blowdryer and very quickly diffuse with cool air just to help close the hair cuticle. But when or if you decide to do this, be careful.
I always apply all of my after shower styling products directly after the shower on wet hair.
Then, plop with my Curly Tee towel. I don’t use the space heater drying technique on my hair when it is soaking wet from the shower. I usually will let it air dry at least a half hour to an hour to get some of the moisture out. I apply the heat protectant spray on my hair right before I use the space heater drying technique.
My results when using the space heater drying technique come out much better than when I diffuse.
I have nice wavy definition, minimal frizz, and my favorite part- my hair doesn’t expand or get too poofy the way it does when I diffuse regularly. I believe this is because whenever I use the space heater, it is not a strong force of air forced to move my hair all around as it is drying. Instead, my hair is staying still and drying in place.
Sometimes as I am drying my hair with the space heater, I may “scrunch” my hair a little bit to encourage curl definition and other times I just let it dry completely as is. When I do scrunch while space heater drying I hold the section of hair I am scrunching in my hand for a few seconds with the space heater over it.
If your space heater is big enough, it is great for heating up deep treatments too.
Adding heat to any deep treatment will help increase the absorption of the deep treatment’s ingredients into the hair. Whenever I do deep treatments with heat, my curly waves also are extra define, softer and shinier. One of my favorite deep treatments with heat is the Ouidad 12 Minute Deep Treatment– but make sure to follow it up with a moisturizing conditioner.
Have you tried this technique before?
