Search Results: Diane Mary

Though we love our curls and waves, sometimes we all want to change it up and go for a different look. If you are just starting to embrace your curls or recovering from some serious heat damage, I strongly suggest not straightening your hair for as long as possible. For example, when I embarked on my natural hair texture journey I didn’t straighten my hair for over 2 years to recover some health. However, once you get your hair nice and healthy straightening it occasional won’t cause THAT much damage- if it is done correctly. Here are some tips and things to consider when straightening your curls…

1. Do a deep treatment beforehand.

No matter how careful you will be, any kind of straightening with heat will inevitably cause some damage.

If your hair is not protein sensitive, now is a good time to use a mask with added proteins. Here are two of my current faves:

• Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair
• SheaMoisture Smooth & Repair Hair & Scalp Weekly Therapy

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2. Use a heat protectant before picking up the styling tool.

This step is non-negotiable if you want your hair to remain healthy after straightening. The hot tools can burn your hair- just think of how they feel on your skin. I always work in sections, so I will spray each section with heat protector before applying heat. I like the Living Proof Restore Revitalizing Spray.

3. Decide if you want to blow-dry or flat iron.

We really don’t need to use both hot tools–that only doubles the damage and recovery time.

Blowdrying

If you are skilled enough, blow dry your hair with a round brush, section by section (don’t forget that heat protector”> and when you are done apply a little hair serum to help with frizz. Or go to the salon and have the professionals blow your hair out for you (this is my usual choice since I am terrible at blow drying and only wear my hair straight 1 or 2 times a year”>.

Flat ironing

If you want to use a flat iron instead, wash and condition your hair the night before and sleep with leave in conditioner in 2 loose braids or two big 2 strand twists. The next morning, take the flat iron and go over each section no more than twice, applying the heat protector before each and every pass. Make sure your hair has air dried completely before touching it with that flat iron. Sarah has an excellent flat ironing tutorial here.

4. Make your style last with dry shampoo.

In case your roots start getting oily, spray dry shampoo directly onto the scalp massage and comb through. I like the Klorane and Batiste Dry Shampoos. If the length of your hair becomes too oily too fast, you can also spray the dry shampoo down the lengths and comb it through to absorb some of the oil.

5. Don’t brush or touch your hair.

I am so guilty of this every time I straighten my hair It’s so soft and silky and I can actually run my fingers through it! But just because I could, doesn’t mean I should. Touching your hair too much when straight will make it oiler more quickly and can also lead to frizz. And over brushing can cause hair breakage, so please be careful.

6. Try straightening with no heat… (it’s possible!”>

If you want to straighten your hair with no heat damage at all, straighten it without heat! Using velcro rollers or large curl formers can get your hair pretty straight without the need of any blow dryers or flat irons at all. My friend Nora demonstrates how in this video tutorial.

7. Use a hair milk for extra nourishment.

Be careful not to use too much product or it might make the straightness start reverting back to your natural texture. I really love the SheaMoisture Extra Moisturizing Transitioning Milk for this purpose.

8. Lastly, deep condition again!

This will help replenish a lot of the moisture lost while your hair was straight and help to repair some of the straightening damage. Even better if you can use heat or steam with this deep treatment.

Enjoy the fun change but remember, straightening too often and using too much heat can permanently cause some damage and alter your curl pattern. So practice safe straightening!

Read my tips on maintaining long natural hair here!

First impression

The line of products smell tropical but not that perfumey, fake smell. Hints of pineapple and coconut, which are ideal for this season.

Cleansing Cream

Jessicurl says:

A gentle alternative to shampoo. Use Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream to wash your hair gently without leaving it stripped and straw-like. The super-moisturizing formula will make your hair soft, silky and wonderfully clean. Safe for color-treated hair.

I say:

This is a nice co-wash. It doesn’t really lather which I like. It is in my top favorite co-washes out there. My hair felt incredibly soft after, I might have been able to get away with no conditioner. It also cleansed my scalp and hair nicely. If you have especially dry hair, you should totally give this one a try.

Watch the Video

Gentle Lather Shampoo

Jessicurl says:

Gentle Lather Shampoo creates a creamy, luxurious lather without leaving your hair dry after use. It’s not as moisturizing as our Hair Cleansing Cream and won’t weigh down finer hair. If you’ve found that Hair Cleansing Cream is too much moisture for you, then you’ll really like Gentle Lather Shampoo. Those of you who love Hair Cleansing Cream for regular use will appreciate GLS as an alternative to harsher clarifying shampoos. It also makes a great face and body wash!

I say:

This is a nice sulfate free shampoo. It had low lather and left my hair feeling really clean! My hair still had that “I need conditioner” feel after it, but it did not feel stripped. I tried it as a body wash too and as a body wash it left my skin feeling incredibly soft. I think I actually like it even better as a body wash than a shampoo!

A note about the Jessicurl Conditioners:

I was comparing the Aloeba and Too Shea! conditioner and they both have the extact same excellent herbs and extracts for hair health. The Aloeba has coconut oil and no shea butter where the Too Shea! has added shea butter in it.

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Aloeba Daily Conditioner

Jessicurl says:

Adding moisture to curly hair is a tricky practice –some curls need a good dose of moisture, but are at risk of their hair getting weighed down. This conditioner uses coconut, jojoba and avocado oils to moisturize the hair without being too heavy. The added benefit of a variety of herbs and spices makes this a truly fabulous conditioner.

I say:

If you have fine hair that gets weighed down easily, you will really like this conditioner as it doesn’t seem to weight hair down. It worked okay on my hair, but since my hair is so dry it prefers the heavier stuff.

Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner

Jessicurl says:

This thick conditioner uses shea butter for its moisturizing properties, adding great softness to super dry hair. It also utilizes the beneficial properties of 14 different herbs and spices. Good for daily use for those with thick, dry hair, but might be too heavy for hair that gets weighed down easily.I say:

I say:

This is a great conditioner and also makes a nice leave in. It is one of my favorites to use as a leave in, I notice nice curl definition with it. It made detangling easy which I appreciated. No complaints at all, a five star conditioner.

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Deep Conditioning Treatment

Jessicurl says:

Deep conditioning treatments with heat really moisturize and strengthen the hair, and they’re just plain fun to do. This treatment works best with a plastic cap and left on for 20 minutes. This thick conditioner uses cocoa butter and shea butter to add some serious moisture to your hair. Great for all Hair Types!

I say:

This is one of my favorite moisturizing deep treatments. It is protein free so this is a good pick if your hair is protein sensitive. As they say, I find this treatment really does work excellent when used with heat or steam. Aside from leaving my hair super soft, I like that this has ingredients such as Nettle, Rosemary, Bay Leaf, and Peppermint which can also help promote hair growth. In the winter, I also like to sometimes use a little of this as a leave in as well. It could weigh certain hair types down immediately after use, but it is still worth it because of all the greatness you are putting into your hair with it! My one critique of this product is that it is so super thick, I think it should be in a tub instead of a bottle. It can be hard to get out, but it’s worth it! I usually cut the bottle open and move the contents into a jar.

Watch the Video

Awe Inspiraling Spray

Jessicurl says:

A natural, mid-day spray designed to add oomph to droopy curls. Gives curls a boost when they need a little help making it through. Also good to use on bed head or after a workout.

I say:

This is one of my favorite refresher sprays of all time! It is very lightweight and the Magnesium Sulfate inside really helps to re-encourage my curl formation. The Aloe and Jojoba Oil inside helps to give my hair some moisture. I’ve been able to skip countless washings thanks to this product. I do usually follow it up with a silicone free serum to further help frizz.

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Stimulating Scalp Massage Oil

Jessicurl says:

This potent potion is chock full of herbs and essential oils known for their hair-growth properties. While it won’t re-grow hair on a bald head, it can encourage healthy hair growth for people who still have hair. It also has the added benefit of making dry hair very soft.

I say:

A fantastic hair growth oil. I like to keep this in my hair growth oil rotation regularly and would apply it at night, on night’s before I know I will wash my hair the next morning (so 2-3 times a week”> It smells nice and minty, and a little goes a long way. Because a main ingredient is coconut oil, it can solidify in colder weather but I will take some in a bowl and warm it up in my hands and then massage in my scalp. There are just so many great essential oils in here including Peppermint, Basil, Horsetail, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Nettle and Marshmallow Root just to name a few! I like that there are no fillers or junk, this is a bottle of straight up good for your scalp hair growth ingredients!

Oil Blend for Softer Hair

Jessicurl says:

Smooth a few drops of oil through wet or dry hair to add softness and shine.

I say:

A nice multi-tasker, great to bring on trips! This bottle is 3 simple ingredients: Avocado, Jojoba and Coconut oils. I can use a small amount on day 2 or 3 hair and it will calm down any puff and help with frizz, add some to any conditioner to give it some extra “ooomph” or sleep with some through the lengths of my hair as a great overnight pre-poo treatment. If you do sleep with it in your hair, make sure you wrap your hair in a bonnet or towel so it does not get on your pillow. You can also use this on your body for soft skin.

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Spiralicious Gel

Jessicurl says:

Spiralicious is much thicker than Confident Coils and very gel-like in consistency but does not flake in the hair like many gels can. While it can dry crunchy, that initial crunch scrunches out really easily, leaving the hair very soft to the touch, but the curls hold up all day. No ramen-noodle curls here! One of the best parts about it is the frizz control. Seriously people, the frizz control on this stuff is NO JOKE! Spiralicious will provide you with fabulous hold and frizz control but without giving you “helmet head.” It’s pretty awesome.

I say:

A HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT. I have been obsessed with this since it was released in Fall of 2013. It is one of my top 2 favorite hair styler gels of all time and without a doubt, my favorite product in the entire Jessicurl line. If you watch any of my youtube videos, chances are you probably heard me rave about this more than once. It is a product I will reach for if I need to be guaranteed a great hair day without let down. It is firm hold with no crunch, it is not sticky. Spiralicious increases my curl definition, my frizz is virtually ALL GONE and it also provides some nice shine. Sometimes I can get up to Day 5 (FIVE!”> hair with this gel, which is incredible! I can use it on it’s own or over other stylers like creams or mousses and it does play well with others.

Watch the Video

If you are looking for an effective and inexpensive deep conditioner for your hair, head on over to your local supermarket and pick up a container of Yogurt! You want to get yogurt that is plain, non-flavored and with no added fruit. Regular yogurt is great for moisture but if you want a protein treatment also, pick up a container of Greek Yogurt which has double the protein as a container of regular!

Benefits

Check out the benefits of what deep conditioning with yogurt can do:

• leaves hair feeling soft
• adds extra shine
• provides extra moisture/replaces moisture in moisture lost hair
• makes hair easier to detangle
• helps fight frizz in warm, humid months
• repair chemically processed and damaged hair (Greek Yogurt”>
• can promote hair growth due to the zinc and lactic acid when massaged into scalp

Directions

1. After cleansing your hair, take your desired amount of yogurt and massage it through the lengths of your hair section by section.
2. You can leave it on anywhere from 20 minutes up to an hour.
3. Rinse the yogurt out of your hair with warm water and style as usual. Enjoy hair that is more moisturized and manageable!
4. Feel free to mix some other ingredients your hair loves such as coconut oil, aloe vera juice, apple cider vinegar or shea butter in with the yogurt to amp up the moisture and healing powers of the deep treatment.

If you have any leftover yogurt and don’t want to eat it, you can also use it as a hydrating face mask too! Just apply it on the skin, let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse and follow up with your favorite moisturizer.

Yogurt really is a great product that is not only good for you (and delicious”> when eaten, but works so well when applied to hair and skin too!

HOMEPAGE PHOTO VIA SERIOUSEATS

SheaMoisture has been one of my favorite hair care lines for a while now.

I love that their products are natural, affordable, always sulfate, silicone, paraben and cruelty free. I enjoy many products from all different lines from them and as soon as I got word that there would be a new line specifically for wavy, curly frizzy hair I was beyond excited!! That describes my hair exactly. Then, when I found out this line was infused with ingredients such as monoi oil, keratin, peptides and botanicals I got even more excited. Because my hair is color treated it loves some protein from the keratin!

The new Smooth & Repair line features Tahitian Noni & Monoi. This line was created by demand for people who use heat appliances (diffuser, flat iron, etc”>, who like the option of wearing their hair curly and straight without permanently changing their hair texture, or for anybody who wants nice hair products to smooth frizz and tame their hair! Let me repeat- this line is not ONLY if you want your hair straight. Us Curly Wavies can use these products to help the frizz and manageability of our hair in it’s naturally beauty state!

Smell wise, this line is my favorite scent of items from SheaMoisture. The scents is a soft floral that is not at all overpowering and very subtle.

Tahitian Noni & Monoi Smooth & Repair Conditioning Shampoo

SheaMoisture says:

Control frizz, smooth and cleanse. This low-lather shampoo gently cleanses and conditions hair while replacing lost moisture. Certified Organic Shea Butter, revitalizing Tahitian Noni and Monoi Oil, blended with Keratin, Peptides, and Botanical Extracts strengthen and condition frizzy, flyaway hair. Active strengthening ingredients help smooth rough, uneven textures and control frizz.

I say:

Truthfully, I have a fear of shampoos–I don’t like them to lather, they usually dry my hair out and I avoid sulfates at all costs since they are bad for frizz and my color. This shampoo said it is sulfate free and color safe. The directions say to massage in for at least 30 seconds so the ingredients can get into the scalp and help promote hair growth and that is what I’ve been doing. I am completely in love with this shampoo! It has a runny yet smooth consistency and barely lathers. When I rinse, my hair feels moisturized and clean- yay! This shampoo reminds me a lot of the shampoo from the Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo.

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Tahitian Noni & Monoi Smooth & Repair Rinse-out Conditioner

SheaMoisture Says:

Control frizz, Hydrate and Protect. This rinse out conditioner instantly hydrates and detangles, while fortifying and protecting hair against high heat styling. Certified organic Shea Butter, revitalizing Tahitian Noni and Monoi Oil blended with Keratin, Peptides and Botanical Extracts hydrate and strengthen hair, while nourishing the scalp to help support healthy hair renewal. Active straightening ingredients help smooth rough, uneven textures and control frizz.

I say:

When I saw straightening ingredients at first I panicked. I don’t want my hair straight!. I contacted SheaMoisture and they reassured me that “the conditioner and line is for any wo/man, regardless of race or ethnicity, with wavy, curly or frizzy hair who wants a daily rinse-out conditioner to nourish, moisturize and detangle while eliminating frizz and improving manageability.” Okay good. it won’t ruin my curls. This conditioner has great slip. My hair is color treated, frizzy and genetically dry. I usually use a deep treatment (not with heat every time”> each time I wash my hair, which is twice a week. So when I replaced my deep treatment with this, it wasn’t heavy enough for my hair- it dried fluffier then I would have liked it to. But it did detangle nicely. That being said, this has been my new leave in conditioner and I am OBSESSED! For the same reason I use deep treatments as normal conditioners, I use normal conditioners as my leave ins. It left my hair soft, shiny and I did notice less frizz.

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Tahitian Noni & Monoi Smooth & Repair Nourishing Hair Masque

SheaMoisture says:

Control frizz, re-hydrate and heal. Our intensive treatment deep conditions and infuses hair with a powerful dose of moisture. Certified organic Shea Butter, revitalizing Tahitian Noni, Monoi Oil blended with Keratin, Peptides and Botanical Extracts hydrate, strengthen and repair frizzy, flyaway hair. Helps smooth hair cuticle, controlling frizz and maintaining straight styles.

I say:

LOVE. OBSESSED. AMAZING. This masque is made to give your hair moisture and boy does it ever. The directions on the jar mentioned this masque works especially well with a steamer as the moist heat will add to the masque’s hydration. So the first time I used it I sat under my hair steamer and WOW. My hair was beyond soft and curls were popped ever so nicely! I also used it without steam (just hung out with a plastic shower cap on my head for a half hour”> and it left my hair soft and lovely once again. I will be keeping this masque in my rotation for the foreseeable future because I love the results.

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Tahitian Noni & Monoi Smooth & Repair Hair & Scalp Weekly Therapy

SheaMoisture says:

Control Frizz, Re-hydrate and heal. This ultra-nourishing treatment is the secret to healthy, shiny hair. It works to soothe, hydrate and provide antioxidant benefits to the scalp, which promote healthy hair renewal and growth. Certified organic Shea Butter, revitalizing Tahitian Noni and Monoi blended with Keratin, Peptides and Botanical Extracts nourish, repair and protect distressed hair fibers. Hair looks thicks and fuller over time.

I say:

The directions say you can use this as a pre-poo treatment, but when I talked to the folks at SheaMoisture, they said this can also be used as a deep treatment and it will protect against the damaging effects of heat styling. I tried it both ways and it worked really nice both ways but I prefer to use it as a deep treatment. I do usually pre poo my hair with coconut oil the night before and sleep with it on. The main difference between this and the masque is that this is a protein treatment to restore the hair and the masque is all moisture, moisture, moisture. So it is good to incorporate both treatments in your hair regimen. I also like using this treatment with my steamer or heat and find it to not be hard protein treatment (meaning it does not leave my hair stiff or brittle”> I was nervous there was only a 4oz bottle and my hair drinks conditioning products like there is no tomorrow but a little goes a long way! I can get 3 uses out of the 4oz bottle where as other brands 4oz will barely last me 2 times.

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Tahitian Noni & Monoi Smooth & Repair High Shine Glosser

SheaMoisture says:

Control frizz, smooth and shine. This lightweight oil  glosser instantly adds high shine, without silicone. Formulated with certified organic Shea Butter, revitalizing Tahitian Noni and precious Monoi, Argan and Apricot Oils to help strengthen and smooth hair. Helps control frizz for a sleek finish.

I say:

This product in particular I was so excited to try out because it is a personal pet peeve on mine to see “serums” or “oil blends” on the shelves where the first ingredients are some kind of non water soluble silicones. So the fact I had a lightweight silicone free glosser really did excite me. It is lightweight- I tried sealing my wet hair with this instead of the pure argan oil I am used to using and it was a bit too light for that. However, once my hair completely dries I like to use a couple squirts to add some shine and help tame frizz. It is wonderful for putting shine back into second and third day hair.

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Summary

So overall I am beyond impressed with this line! I also have to say, though I usually prefer to air dry my hair, I also used this line and diffused my hair several times and I notice a decrease in frizz and fluff when I use these products before hand. I think using the rinse out conditioner as a leave in particularly does it.

These products have been consistently in my hair product rotation since January and I plan on keeping them there!

Read my other hair product reviews and tips here.

The first rule of curly hair is shampoo. The second rule of curly hair is shampoo less. You get the picture.

But how exactly do we go 3, 4 or 5 days in between washes while maintaining a clean scalp and hair? The answer is dry shampoo. Dry shampoo is an essential hair product to help us go longer between washings. It leaves the hair and scalp feeling clean and refreshed without using any water.

If you’ve ever sprayed dry shampoo into your hair and were left with confusing results and a white tint to your hair, you probably weren’t using it correctly. Here is how to use dry shampoo to revive curly and wavy hair.

How to Use It

1. Shake the can.
2. Hold the dry shampoo about 6 inches away from scalp.
3. Spray down the part from the hairline to the nape of the neck.
4. Repeat this 3-4 times on the left side and 3-4 times on the right side, about every inch or so.
5. Massage it in using the pads of your fingers, not your nails (as this can scratch your scalp”> for around 5 minutes. Continue this until the shampoo feels completely absorbed. The scalp massage will also increase blood circulation and help encourage growth.
6. You can spray the dry shampoo down the length. Try not to go overboard because dry shampoo can be drying.
7. Do not comb the dry shampoo into your hair! This will disrupt your curl pattern and can also leave to tangles.
8. Rather, take the hair in sections and twist it around each other so the dry shampoo absorbs  whatever oil or styling product there is.
9. Untwist the hair and fluff it out a bit. You can scrunch a little after to re-encourage curl formation.
10. If your hair now looks too dry or fluffy, put a drop of silicone free serum in it to add some shine back.

Here are a few of our favorite dry shampoos:

DevaCurl No-poo Quick Cleanser, Oribe Dry Texturizing Hair Spray, Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo, Baptiste Dry Shampoo. Or you can always DIY your own!

MORE: Top 15 Dry Shampoos

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Watch the Video

Watch my video tutorial for reviving your curly-wavy hair with dry shampoo.

Having dry curly wavy hair, not washing every day makes the biggest difference in the world. At this point, my day 2 and day 3 hair actually look even better than day 1! But going to sleep at night is risky- I toss and turn and I think I fight epic battles in my dreams, because I used to wake up with hair that would give Medusa a run for her money. Not anymore, though! This is how I prep my hair at night time.

Nighttime Hair Routine

Oyin Handmade is a natural line for the hair and body that does not contain any petroleum, mineral oil, sulfates, silicones, parabens or fillers. They contain a lot of good for your hair, nourishing ingredients. Most, if not all, of their products contain honey. In fact, the word “Oyin” is the Yoruba name for honey. These products are handmade in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. I have blonde, color-treated Type 2C hair and this is how the products worked on my hair.

Whipped Pudding

Oyin says:

“This rich, dense, shea-butter-based moisturizing cream is Oyin’s first product. It’s a mixture of rich botanical butters & oils like shea butter, cocoa butter, and castor oil; blended with plenty of aloe vera gel and pure water for lightness & penetration. The result is superior, rich, penetrating moisture in an all-purpose, head-to-toe product.”

I say:

This is my favorite product of the whole Oyin line and is extremely versatile. First the smell. It smells like straight up chocolate milk!! Absolutely delicious.  I like to use it as a leave in conditioner under any gel on wet hair. It makes my hair frizz free and gives added bounce to my curls this way. I find it to be super duper moisturizing but not greasy. I also like to apply it to days 2 or 3 hair, concentrating on the ends to add much needed moisture back to my hair. It works especially well in the Winter. I have also applied this if my hair is thrown up in a ponytail or bun for extra moisturization again and have slept with it in as a pre poo treatment. No matter which way I used this product, I got good results. It may be heavy for fine, thinner haired curlies but I think it is a must try if your hair is dry!

Read reviews & buy it here.

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Honey Wash

Oyin says:

For this all-purpose, luxurious cleansing product, we add a generous dollop of honey’s golden goodness to pure, organic castille soap . . . swirl in organic aloe vera gel and add a few drops of skin-loving oils like jojoba and walnut seed. Head to toe, HoneyWash is a smoothly lathering, moisturizing mild wash for skin, hair, face, or body. Results? Silky smooth skin, smoothly clean hair, happy delicious self.

I say:

Smell wise, this is my least favorite scent in the line. It smells like a weird mix of honey and I don’t know what else. As a body wash, it left my skin very soft. This product is very, very runny, water and thin in consistency. My hair and scalp felt clean but not squeaky clean which is okay. I still had to follow up with conditioner. This isn’t a bad product, but it didn’t wow me either.

Read reviews & buy it here.

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Honey Hemp Conditioner

Oyin says:

“A  penetrating, detangling, seriously softening multipurpose conditioner, enriched with aloe vera gel, hemp oil, honey, and just a touch of hydrolyzed silk protein. (this is not your high protein rebuilding conditioner; we use just enough to make it silky ;o”> HH has got great detangling slip and serious moisturizing power. It rinses cleanly and also makes a nice pre-shampoo deep conditioning treatment. (add oil or extra honey for superior DC power!”> It can even be used as a creamy, nourishing leave-in!”

I say:

This is a really fantastic conditioner, my hair drank it right up! The smell grew on me after a while. It smells like a sweet honey. When I use this as a conditioner, I left a lot of it in on my ends. It made detangling so easy! It feels like a lotion- not too thick or not too thin. It helped with my frizz, added shine and I like that it contained omega fatty acids to help repair and moisturize my dry hair. I’m on the fence with repurchasing this one. As well as it did work for me, sadly I noticed my hair starting to get brassy. If you don’t suffer from that brassy issue though, you totally might want to give this one a try!

Read reviews & buy it here.

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Shine & Define Serum

Oyin says:

Designed to be nourishing, light & non-greasy, this soft creamy serum contains herbal infusions, pure Aloe Vera, flax seed extract, nutritive sea vegetables, shea butter, and more. It’s like a smoothie for your hair!

I say:

This might be on my holy grail list if I was allowed to wear it. The scent of this, which to me was light and fruity-herbally, had something in it to trigger my boyfriend’s allergies so bad it made his eyes tear. Because of that I don’t use the product (hey Oyin- make a scent free version?!”> That being said, when I did try it, it performed incredibly well on dry hair. I love silicone free serums. It has soft hold and I can’t use it alone but it worked the best on dry, second or third day hair. It added shine, helped frizz and also increased the curl definition. This serum is pretty thick, but thinner in consistency in comparison with the Whipped Pudding. A little goes a long way and on wet hair it was a bit too greasy for me.

Read reviews & buy it here.

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Hair Dew

Oyin says:

This creamy, conditioning leave-in is light enough for every day. It’s great on ‘naked’ hair immediately after a cleanse, or as a way to reinvigorate tired hair all the way through your hair care cycle. Looking for a product to wake up and moisturize your second-day hair? Looking for a way to make your hair pliable enough to re-style without a full rinse? Just want to refresh your coils and curls and give them a shot of moisture before sealing? This leave-in is your answer! Plays well with other Oyin leave-ins and stylers.

I say:

The smell is delicious. Like burnt sugar with vanilla undertones. I didn’t like this as a leave in conditioner on wet hair. It wasn’t moisturizing enough for that purpose for me. It also formed white clumps when used under my gel on white hair, but they disappeared once dry. However, this is another nice product for dry day 2 and day 3 hair for me. It helped take away any frizz that may have sprouted and added bounciness back to my hair where it went limp. This is even thinner in consistency than the Shine & Define. I was surprised I don’t like this more than I do, as it contains two of my hair’s favorite ingredients- aloe vera juice and coconut oil. I don’t think there is much wrong with this, but there is other stuff I like better to justify a repurchase. However, if your hair really likes lighter weight products, this might wind up on your Holy Grail list.

Read reviews & buy it here.

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“The Juices” Nourishing Herbal Leave Ins

Oyin says:

“Our nourishing herbal leave-in tonics have been our most popular products since we first introduced “Greg Juice,” the original citrus-herbal version, in 2004. Now available in three unique scents, this oil-free mixture of vegetable moisturizers and herbal essences remains hugely popular among people with many different hair types and needs!”

I say:

I haven’t yet tried the Frank Juice so I can’t comment on that one, but both Greg Juice and Juices & Berries smell AMAZING! Juices & Berries remind me of the red, white and blue rocket popsicles I used to get off the ice cream truck as a kid. Greg Juice smells like herbal citrus. I love these as second and third day hair refreshers. I would place them in my “Top 5 Favorite Refresher Sprays” category. The thing I notice the most with them is how they add spring back to my curls. It also helped with frizz and add life back to my dry hair. I found these to be extremely lightweight. I also like that these have a lot of hair growth herbs inside such at nettle, lavender, and chamomile. If your hair isn’t too thick or too dry you also might like them as a light leave in.

Read reviews & buy them here.

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The Sugar Pomades

Oyin says:

“Does your hair love oils? Our “Sugar” Pomades are nourishing all-vegetable pomade and styling products named after the uniquely sweet, translucent, and fragrant quality of warm, homemade caramel.”

I say:

Both smell yummy.  The Burnt Sugar Pomade really smells like burnt sugar. It reminds me of caramel-vanilla. The Sugar Berries Pomade smells deliciously fruity like the Juices & Berries spray. I kind of love how they both smell so much they’ve been doubling as hand moisturizers just so I can continuously get the scents. These have great ingredients and are very, very thick. The consistency reminds me a lot of coconut oil. A little goes a long, long way. A jar is going to last a while! They are way too heavy for my wet hair but I like them on dry hair applying on my ends to form a temporary split end mender and also if I wear my hair back, they made nice edge tamers. If I am going out for the night, sometimes I will take very little and run it through all of my hair to help frizz and insure my hair for the night. I most likely would repurchase, that is if I could ever get to the bottom of my jar.

Read reviews & buy them here.

Summary

When I started really learning about hair products that treat my hair while styling and really moisturizing it, Oyin Handmade was one of the first lines I tried.  I find these products to be excellent quality but the reason I will not repurchase some of them is because being a light blonde, too much honey can result in unwanted brassiness and added warmth in my hair color. But if you don’t have lighter hair, they are completely worth trying out!

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Tousled waves are the perfect look for Summer! They are very easy to achieve and once you style them, they are virtually fuss free for days. Whether you are heading to the beach or to a bonfire or just going shopping, this style is so fun and pretty.  You can even add a flower or hair accessory to top off your look. No matter your hair type, I have three easy ways for you to achieve the pretty beach babe wave look!

1. Sleep in twists, braid it, bun it, twist it, or pineapple.

Wash your hair at night. A bonus step would be to use deep conditioner and not rinse it out so you are a nice mega treatment going on (Devacurl Heaven in Hair is a good pick”> Remove all tangles with a wide tooth comb or tangle teezer and choose the amount of braids or buns you sleep in. The less braids or buns, the bigger the waves! For example, doing two braids, only one per side would result in the loosest flowy-est of waves, where three or four braids per side will make smaller waves. The next morning when you wake up, under the braids but don’t comb them out. If there is a little frizz, you can run a finishing serum through your hair. I like to use the Nubian Heritage Strengthen and Grow Serum– and a little goes a long way!

2. Use a curl extending styler.

These are great to stretch out tighter curls. There are a few curl extending creams on the market now including Curly Hair Solutions Extenzz and Original Moxie Shape Shifter Re-Forming Cream. These creams allow you to temporarily change and manipulate your curl pattern without any damage or harsh chemicals. Your hair will return back to its natural state with your next washing. You just apply the cream on wet hair post shower and then with your fingers shape the hair into the size of waves you want. Allow hair to dry (air or diffusing”> and do not disrupt the shape of the waves until it is 100% dry.

3. Use sea salt spray.

You know that awesome beachy, wavy texture your hair gets after swimming in the ocean? You  can recreate it easily, sans the shore. There are many sea salt sprays on the market now, it is nice to find one which have added moisturizers, as the salt alone can be really drying for your hair. Just like the other 2 suggestions, these will be removed with your next shampoo. Similar to step 2, wash your hair as normal and remove tangles. Then liberally use the spray section by section scrunching–but not too much! They key to get nice, looser waves is not to over scrunch because a lot of scrunching will result in more curl definition (not that there is anything wrong with that”> The Ouidad Wave Create Sea Spray is a great sea salt spray to try.

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Read more of Diane’s articles here, and visit her blog- CurlyWavyDiane.blogspot.com.

Briogeo is a Natural Hair Care Company that contain pure, premium and natural ingredients that help to enhance all hair textures. These products are always made in the USA and are at least 95% natural, containing no sulfates, parabens, silicones, or anything icky but do include blends of natural plant and fruit extracts, oils, antioxidants and vitamins to really have you notice a difference in your hair.

Being a product junkie who really likes more natural stuff and doesn’t like sulfates or non water soluble silicones, I was super excited to give this line a try.

Something else I really appreciate about this company is that they are eco-friendly! All of their bottles contain at least 25% post consumer recycled plastics. And by the way, a little goes a long way with all these products so the bottles will last and they all smell INCREDIBLE- very fresh and delicious!!

[quote cite=”The treatment mask is now my newest obsession. Seriously- it’s holy grail status!!”][/quote]

Be Gentle, Be Kind Cleansing Shampoo

The label says: “A sulfate-free cleanser for all hair types. Richly cleanse and refresh your scalp and hair with Be Gentle, Be Kind™ sulfate-free shampoo.  This award winning shampoo is fortified with green tea antioxidants, nourishing and shine-enhancing bamboo & palm extracts, soothing aloe, and vitamins B5 & E to give your hair the healthy boost needed to look its best.  Naturally-derived cleansers leave your hair soft, clean, and manageable.  Cleanse your hair with love — Be Gentle, Be Kind.”

I say: It had a little lather which is perfect.

Too much lather I associate with sulfates and it scares me. This shampoo left my hair feeling nice and clean, but not squeaky clean or stripped. It didn’t leave my hair feeling dry but it had that feeling where I still needed to follow up with a good conditioner after. So to me this is nice, true shampoo product as opposed to a cleansing conditioner. I think it is a great alternative to more harsh, clarifying shampoos. I like to use it once a week to 2 weeks to really get rid of build-up. Bonus is I think using this helps my blonde become less brassy.

Blossom & Bloom Volumizing Conditioner

The label says: “Thickening and volumizing conditioner for fine to limp hair. Enhance your hair’s volume and thickness with Blossom & Bloom™ conditioner.  This powerhouse conditioner is fortified with plumping collagen, thickening building-block vitamins B5 & biotin, hair follicle stimulating ginseng, and shine boosting argan & sweet almond oil.  Maltodextrin (yeah, sugar!”> coats and separates each strand to increase the volume and fullness of the hair without sticky or stiff after effects.  Leave thin & limp hair behind as you Blossom & Bloom!

I say: Truth be told, I don’t necessary look for or need products that promise me volume. However what attracted me to this conditioner was how so many ingredients in here are  great to feed my hair! I actually mixed this in with the Don’t Despair, Repair Mask and I felt this product contributed to a crazy amount of shine! I think this conditioner would be wonderful for very fine and thin haired curlies (and all hair types”> who get nervous about conditioners weighing their hair down. It did not feel heavy or thick at all, but still did a nice job conditioning. I wouldn’t repurchase this and not because I think it is a bad product, but because I am in love with the mask and other conditioner from Briogeo that suit my hair a bit better.

Curl Charisma Curl Defining Conditioner

The label says: “Hydrating curl definer for curly to wavy hair.

Define, de-frizz, and enhance your curls with Curl Charisma™ conditioner, specially formulated for curly to wavy tresses.  This super-conditioner is fortified with frizz-deterring rice amino acids, ultra-hydrating rosehip & sweet almond oil, moisturizing shea, and shine-boosting rosehip oil.  Mollis leaf and tomato fruit extract help to ensure consistent curl formation and highlight the texture and form of each curl, boosting the vibrancy and liveliness of your hair.  Treat your curls to naturally-enhancing performance ingredients that bring out your own Curl Charisma!”

I say: First off, I think it is so cool there is tomato in this conditioner! I never heard of tomato being used in a hair product before but I learned on Briogeo’s site that it is good to help encourage curl formation and has nourishing & conditioning properties. This conditioner is AMAZING!! I never want to be without it now. It is a multi-tasking product for me. My hair is curly wavy, color treated and genetically super dry. I usually deep condition every time I wash and regular conditioners are just not heavy or moisturizing enough for my long locks. Well this isn’t an ordinary conditioner, this is something special. For something not considered a hair mask or treatment, it is nice and thick and treatment like. I used it after cleansing and styled as usual and it performed so well!! Made detangling effortless. It is very moisturizing, added shine and increased my curl definition.

What also made me happy is this conditioner made a nice noticeable difference in my frizz! Especially now that the weather is becoming hotter and more humid, frizz becomes a big issue for me. It didn’t take 100% of my frizz away (nothing short of a miracle can”> but it reduced it A LOT. My favorite way to use this as a leave in conditioner after washing, because just like when I used it as a regular conditioner, I find it really does help my curl definition and helped my frizz factor. I also sometimes will mix it water or aloe vera juice and use it as a second or third day refresher. I picked that tip up on one of Briogeo’s social media outlets and love it. It helps my curls re-pop and calms my hair down. This is an absolute repurchase!

Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask

The label says: “Repairing mask for dry, damaged, or chemically-treated hair.  Repair and treat dry, damaged and/or breaking hair with Don’t Despair, Repair!™ deep conditioning mask.  Fortified with ultra-hydrating avocado, sweet almond & argan oils, strengthening keratin protein, power-conditioning rosehip oil, soothing aloe, and super hair-essential vitamins B5, D, A, E and biotin.  This unique complex of targeted ingredients helps increase hair elasticity and moisture to prevent breakage, promotes healthy shine and luster, and replenishes strength.  From hot tools to chemical treatments, we can all use some hair TLC, so Don’t Despair, Repair!”

I say: HOLY GRAIL. If you told me I can only use one mask or conditioner for the rest of my entire life and this was the one, I would be okay with it. I just can’t get enough of this mask. After trying it out I realized I never want to be without it and currently have multiple back-ups in my stash. Yes, it is THAT good! As much as I enjoy the other products, this is my favorite product by Briogeo and one of my favorite hair treatment masks EVER. I have been using it once a week, and sometimes twice for about two months now. Using this mask I feel I have a safety net to have good hair days, even if I experiment with different styling products afterwards.

I can leave this on 5 minutes or I can leave this on an hour. Of course, the longer the better but even if you are short on time just a brief moment with this magical hair elixir will do your hair some good. This is also a mask that gives me results if I just leave it on with a shower cap, if I use it with heat or if I use it with my steamer. Like all the conditioners in this line, this mask gives me some serious shine. I’m blonde and shine is not easily achieved.

Also just like the Curl Charisma, it also helps me to detangle very easily. I love that DDR has both moisturizing and reparative properties in it. My hair as I mentioned is so very dry and this mask leaves it feeling super soft and manageable. I have to force myself to not touch my hair much after because too much touching leads to frizz, but man it is difficult. Day one hair my blonde curly waves look fake in the best way possible. Usually day is my hair is a bit too fluffy but not with this. Day 2 and 3 my hair looks even better. The Briogeo website says DDR is specially formulated to decrease hair breakage and brittleness, as well as increase hair strength and vitality. I actually am noticing less shedding after using this mask consistently so that is a big plus.

This mask currently comes in a 5.25oz jar. I dream of them releasing it in a vat but until then I like that I can get 4 uses out of this size. With most masks I would be lucky to get 2 uses out of 5oz because of how much and how long my hair is (and I never skimp on the amount I use”> If you have hair, give this mask a try. Especially if you chemically altered your hair in any way including color or chemicals, or if you love using hot tools.

To Sum it Up

Overall the Briogeo line truly impressed me. I hope they release styling products in the future as I would love to see them take on a great gel and foam mousse. I really like BriogeoHair.com, as they have a lot information about their products and what each ingredient inside of them does! But I prefer to purchase them on Shop.NaturallyCurly.com.

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For more hair (and beauty”> recommendations and reviews, visit my YouTube channel- CurlyWavyDiane. And follow my blog, too! CurlyWavyDiane.blogspot.com

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Bad hair days happen to the best of us. They are not fun and quite honestly, they can ruin my entire mood. Sometimes, we have no time to completely re-wash and redo our hair but we still want it to look at least halfway decent. Here are my tips and ideas to style your hair and to help bad hair days as much as possible.

How to Fix a Bad Hair Day

The Nubian Heritage Grow & Strengthen line with Indian Hemp & Tamanu plus Bamboo, Monoi and Garlic Extract has become one of my favorite hair care lines out there.

Why? Because not only is it mostly natural, never contains sulfates, silicones, parabens, polymers, phthalates, petroleum, dea, artificial fragrance PVPs or synthetic colors, it is color safe, cruelty free  and also is enhanced with so many beneficial great-for-my-hair ingredients that my waves can’t get enough. And as an extra bonus, it’s SUPER affordable too!!!

NubianHeritage.com says  that they “remix indigenous ingredients born from healing traditions around the globe to create products that meet the skin and hair care needs of women and men” and that their “ingredients and inspiration come from across the world and are rooted in their customers’ cultural healing practices.”

I have tried six items from this line, some of which have now become Holy Grails in my routine.

I am on a neverending quest to grow my hair as long and strong as it can be so the fact these products are specifically designed to not only to grow hair from the scalp but also helps prevent breakage from the length (equally important for hair growth”> has me thrilled. I have noticed less shedding since incorporating these products into my routine. They also smell lovely- very fresh, not overwhelming, too perfumey or offensive. 

Moisturizing Co-Wash

The label says: Sulfate Free. This strengthening formula moisturizes and conditions hair while helping to prevent breakage. Hair grows long, strong and healthy.

I say: H.O.L.Y. G.R.A.I.L.

If I had to choose one co-wash to use the rest of my life and only one, this is it right here. I never tried a cleansing agent (co-wash, shampoo, etc”> before that left my hair equally clean AND moisturized. But not just moisturized–VERY MOISTURIZED. That is why I love this so much- it is the only product I ever try where I can possibly skip conditioner after and feel confident about it.

This co-wash has tons of slip and detangles super easy! It has a nice thick consistency. It makes my hair more manageable and every time I use it I notice a lovely difference with my curl definition too. It can be difficult to locate- more so than the rest of the line, but it is worth the hunt. I usually get mine off Shop.NaturallyCurly.com now.

Moisturizing Curl Gel

The label says: Provides medium hold, definition and brilliant shine while moisturizing chemically treated or natural hair. Bamboo and Garlic Extract help strengthen and thicken hair, protecting it from breakage. Hemp, Tamanu and Monoi Oils hydrate and soften the hair, reducing frizz and improving manageability.

I say: I’m sorry to say it, but this is my least favorite item out of the line. When used for my wash and go’s, the one awesome thing was I had incredible curl definition.  However, my hair air dried very stiff and crunchy. I think this gel has a very strong hold. I tried the gel multiple times, varying the amount thinking perhaps I was too heavy handed but sadly that wasn’t the case.  It did help with frizz also but due to excess dry scrunching, that voided out the no frizz thing. Now I do use it if my hair is in a ponytail or thrown up so it stays slicked back and my hair can benefit from the nice ingredients inside.

Edge Taming Taffy

The label says: The all-natural, petrolatum-free Taffy hydrates and repairs damaged, dry and brittle hair with Hemp, Tamanu and Monoi oils. Bamboo, Garlic Extract and Keratin strengthen and fortify the hair. Controls and smoothes edges for a sleek, professional look.

I say: I don’t like edge tamers or products that feel very sticky or makes my hair feel hard. Luckily this doesn’t do that.  It helps keep those frizzies around my hairline down if I wear my hair up. I also like to use it if my dry hair gets out of control and starts being too frizzy or growing puffy. It adds shine and helps the frizz. If the ends of my hair are being rebellious, I will use this almost as a split end mender to temporarily glue them back together without having a sticky glue like feel.

Treatment Masque

The label says: The all-natural hair treatment intensely conditions with Hemp, Tamanu and Monoi oils, while Keratin and Bamboo strengthen and fortify the hair for a healthy, voluminous appearance. Garlic Extract assists in preventing breakage.

I say: A great deep treatment used with or without heat. My hair is color treated and really likes a nice dose of keratin and this mask provides with a great moisture: protein balance without leaving the hair feeling “hard” Though it can be used as a pre-poo or even a styling aid also, I like using it in true masque form after cleansing and on wet hair. After using it I always notice how soft and shiny my hair looks and feels.

Like the co-wash, it makes detangling a breeze. The consistency is really thick-reminds me of ice cream, but I can still work it through my hair with no problem. A little goes a long way with this product and I do feel like it makes my hair stronger, as the label says.

Grow & Strengthen Serum

The label says: All natural serum encourages healthy new growth. Keratin, Bamboo & Garlic Extract fortify and strengthen tresses, while Hemp, Tamanu Oil and Monoi Oil condition hair and help prevent breakage.

I say: I love silicone free serums! It is a personal pet peeve of mine to see products labeled “natural” serum or similar and then see it full of silicones.  A little goes a long way with this product too. I use this product multiple ways. I have some of it in a bottle with a pointy tip and I will apply it to my scalp and massage it in to help encourage hair growth from the root. When I use the proper amount, it does not leave my hair looking oily or greasy but others hair may vary. Because this product isn’t too heavy, I also like to apply it on second or third day hair sometimes throughout the length and focusing on the ends. It gives me added shine and I know the ingredients inside are helping to treat my hair at the same time. I prefer this on dry hair as opposed to wet, but if you have really fine hair  you might find it as a nice sealer for wet hair also.

Herbal Custard

The label says: Softens and thickens hair while increasing manageability. Keratin and Bamboo help to strengthen hair, while garlic assists in preventing breakage during styling. It naturally reduces frizz, and provides sleek, smooth tresses. No sticky, crunchy after feel.

I say: I really like this versatile styler in many ways. The one way I don’t like it as a stand alone styler on wet hair. When used on wet hair all by itself, though it defined my curls and added some shine I still had frizz and puff so I need to use it under something which has more hold. I like to use it now on wet hair under a gel and I find it does give that added definition and shine still, but the gel helps my frizz and hold it in place. This custard is nice and moisturizing without being too much for my hair. I also like to use it on second or third day hair sometimes, especially in the dry months and winter, to add moisture back into the hair and treat it. As with most of the items in this line, a little goes a long way for me with this too.

To Sum it Up

I really can’t say enough great things about this line from Nubian Heritage. If you are looking for affordable multi-tasking products that will moisturize, treat and repair the hair while adding shine, reducing frizz and helping with curl definition I think you will enjoy them too.

Watch part 1 of my Nubian Heritage review below. And click here for part 2!

Glenda Cooper Response

Forget diamonds, scrunching is a curly-wavy’s best friend!  If you have a looser curl pattern like me and try to get as much curl definition out of your waves at possible, you are going to want to scrunch, scrunch, scrunch and then scrunch some more.  Paired with a great styling product, this will make the most out of your beautiful hair. I promise once you practice and get the hang of it, it will be almost like second nature.

Curly-Wavy Drugstore Products

Mahogany Naturals is a hair and skin care brand created by Tope Beesley, an award winning healthy hair care stylist from the UK. The line is developed with naturally derived ingredients and no harsh chemicals. Every product is sulfate, silicone, paraben and cruelty free. The products are made in fresh batches and there is something for ladies and gents with any hair type and texture.

I recently had the chance to try out two products from the line, the Irish Creme Hair Smoothie and the Hydrating Hair Juice. 

Irish Creme Hair Smoothie

This product is described on the website as “A super rich, luxurious hair smoothie that can be used as a weekly indulging treatment for your hair.” The site also says it is “great for dry, damaged, and frizzy hair.” Being that my hair is dry, damaged and frizzy I was very excited to give this product a try.

It features some ingredients I knew my hair already likes, such as aloe vera, shea butter, organic coconut oil and silk amino acids. It also includes some unique ingredients I personally never saw in a hair product before such as Irish Cream, Irish Whiskey, Organic Coffee and French Vanilla.

My hair is long, pretty thick and super dry so it eats a lot of deep conditioner at a time. I got 3 uses out of the 9oz jar. The smell of this smoothie I can best describe as an off vanilla, but more important I really enjoyed the results! I used this products several times and tested it out both with and without the Huetiful Hair Steamer. Right away when I rinsed it out of my hair I noticed how incredible soft my waves were. I also noticed an increase in curl definition, some shine and reduction of frizz which was wonderful. Frizz is one of my biggest hair complaints. I think continued use of this product would only help strengthen and increase the health of my hair.

Hydrating Hair Juice

This product is described on the website as “A highly effecting detangling and moisturising juice for parched and very dry hair” and it “helps define existing curls  and is PH balanced for smooth cuticles” This is a water based moisturizing hair refresher spray which has a fruity minty smell to it.

Like the smoothie, this product also contains some great hair healthy ingredients such as aloe vera, coconut oil, vitamin E and silk amino acids. I use the product on day 2 and/or day 3 hair to refresh my curls and bring them back to life.

I am not a fan of the spray applicator on the bottle because it comes out in a straight shoot as opposed to a spray mist but that is not a deal breaker for me. A little goes a long way with this product. I like applying it section by section spraying the Juice, smoothing it through my strands and re-scrunching. I can feel the product rehydrating my hair without weighing it down and like that is does help redefine any pieces of my hair that might have lost their shape. I think those with finer curls might even enjoy this product as their leave-in conditioner.

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Takeaway

Overall I enjoyed the two products I tried from Mahogany Naturals and hope to try more products from this natural based hair care line in the future.

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