Product/Technique Reviews!-Coconut Cream and Darcy's Botanicals Natural Coils Curling Jelly

Natural Coils Curling Jelly

Self-Explanatory

I recently tried Darcy Botanicals  Coiling Jelly ($12) which I purchased at the Natural Hair Extravaganza a few weeks ago.  I tried it three times.  Once exactly according to the directions, a second time with leave-in conditioner, and a third time with added water.  I noticed the best results when I added water the second day.  During the first trial, I noticed that the product dried in my hair and I had a few "hair boogers".  The second day, I added sprayed my hair with some rose water and olive oil (my usual hair refreshing mix).  This seemed to eliminate a lot of the "boogers".  Overall, I noticed good curl definition (the looser curls at the nape of my neck looked like a rat tail).  I will post pictures as soon as my camera acts like it has some sense!


Today, I did my honey-cinnamon-lemon hair hair lightener (featured in a previous post) and deep conditioned with coconut cream (about $1.50).  I've read posts on other blogs and seen YouTube videos that claim that it stretches or silkens your natural curl pattern.  I love my curl patternS (yes, plural, because I have about 3 different hair types), but I have noticed some single strand knots (SSKs) since I did the wash and go style with the Coiling Jelly (see above) and also a protective style with mini-twists.  I try to keep my hair stretched to avoid getting knots.  Again, I want to emphasize that I'm not trying to change my curl pattern.   I just want t try different ways to keep my ends tangle-free.  

Natural Hair Extraganza: Shout Outs and Previews

I attended this event on Saturday, May 21st and had a GREAT time!  I could only stay for an hour and a half, as I had to attend a work function, but boy, did I pack a lot of fun into that time. Upon entering, I was greeted by two beautiful naturals, given a bottle of water and some candy (YAY) and then given my choice of samples-Jessicurl Deep Conditioner or Mixed Chicks conditioner, and a Goody mini detangling comb/pic.  I chose the Jessicurl DC which I gave to a friend on the condition that she provide me with a review.  One of the highlights of the event was meeting one of my favorite YouTube vloggers, Keenya Griffin (aka KinkyKeenya)!! 

I wore my hair in a variation on the Southern Tease Bun (tutorial on YouTube, not by me).  When I got there, there was a live big chop in progress onstage, at least 30 vendors of natural hair products, home accessories, clothing and jewelry (I especially loved Aldoeuri Jewelry and Accessories which featured headbands, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings crafted from recycled materials-I bought a pair of earrings AND a necklace), etc.  I'll include pics of these in a later post!

I met with a young lady from Salimah's House (whose name escapes me :(  who was born with HIV and promotes HIV/AIDS and abstinence education among other things.  By the power of Google, I will contact you!


I won  a 4 oz jar of Crocodile Killer Extra Extra Dry Skin Pudding by Adiva!  The scent is a little woodsy and masculine to my nose, so I will be loaning that out for a review of the product.  On the plus side, the ingredients include water, vegetable oils (avocado, sweet almond, cloves, coconut, soybean), capryllic triglycerides in the first three listed.  Other ingredients include colloidal oatmeal and shea butter, both known for their serious moisturizing properties.

I purchased a beautiful soy candle from Pamper Me Essentials owner, Nakia Austin.  She provided me with a sample of her Brown Sugar Scrub, which I will review later on the blog.  Thank, Nakia!

I purchased some Natural Coils Curling Jelly by Darcy Botanicals from Karen Wilson of Karen WilsonBeauty.com.  I'll be reviewing that product as well.  Thanks for the product suggestion, Karen!

I also purchased some 100% Moroccan oil from Urpurebeaty.  I have tried this oil and so far, I love the scent and the sheen. 

I purchased some really cute, ironic "diamond" post earrings (5 pair) from Brit, the owner of The Mass Production Massacre (massproductionmassacre.com).  I'll feature a pic of the earrings on the blog along with a pic of the rest haul.

I also purchased a "Good Hair" t-shirt which will also be featured in the haul pics.

Whew!

Kemi Oyl Review Follow-up

Sooo...on Sunday, I pre-pooed, co-washed, deep conditioned, moisturized, detangled, and sealed my hair with KemiOyl before creating medium-sized double-strand twists. Here it is Wednesday and I'm rocking a twistout which feels...moist. Honestly, not the most moist my hair has ever been, but it's ok. I love the smell of Kemi Oyl, but I get more shine from olive oil or castor oil. I suggest that if you give it try, don't pick up the GIANT bottle that I did!

Reviewing An Old Favorite-Kemi Oyl

I used to LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEE this stuff back in the day. The scent reminds me of evenings spent with my mom at a local salon in Richmond. I saw in the beauty supply store a few weeks ago and have been waiting to test it. I blew out my hair two weeks ago, and just co-washed my hair today. I did my usual routine, but used Kemi Oyl to seal my hair. I'll follow-up with a review of how well my hair stayed moisturized in a few days...STAY TUNED!

Product Review: Deva Curl Leave-in

So, I tried this product and I really, really wanted to like it, for two reasons.  One, I can always use a good moisturizer and two, my favorite blogger, CurlyNikki loves this product line (she likes DevaCurl Set It Free).  I used it with less than stellar results.  I tried it a variety of ways in the name of science and a fair shake.  I used it on freshly co-washed hair, between styling sessions, and on freshly co-washed and clarified (with apple cider vinegar) hair.  The results were the same each time: dry, crunchy hair.  Sorry!

Product Review: Castor Oil Hair Treatment

I have been using this as a pre-poo treatment and also as a light sealant when I mist my hair w/conditioner and water in between styling sessions.  Here's what I have to say;

As a pre-poo treatment:
It softens and makes detangling easier in my opinion (I have thick 4A/4B hair that is about shoulder-length) and the softness remains after washing my hair.  I have noticed no residue following washing sessions--I pre-poo w/a cap for several hours, co-wash twice (or shampoo and then co-wash which I do once a month), then deep condition for at least 30 minutes.  Then apple cider vinegar rinse (1/2 bottled water, 1/2 ACV).  Then I add my leave-in conditioner of choice and seal (since it's fall now, I'm sealing w/plain castor oil or a handful of the above pictured product).  Then I twist it all up.  Days later, my hair maintains it's sheen, softness, and finger-combability.  (My whole routine, including twisting, takes about 1.5 to 2 hrs actively--with the pre-poo and the deep conditioner, most of the time is spent mult-tasking w/a plastic cap and a cute hat).

As a refresher:
This is my quick fix when my hair looks a little raggedy and I don't have time and/or energy for the whole wash/twist routine and I still want to look cute and like someone loves me (Hi, Ma!).  It works well for managing frizziness and making sure that my hair stays soft and squishy (I'm not as heavy-handed as I used to be, but I like my hair to maintain it's moisture for 3-4 days between refreshing sessions and this product lasts until I re-style).  Using this as a refresher, I have noticed a tiny bit of product build-up, which was remedied by refreshing only once before stylng again.  I just mist my hair and then smooth a half-handful of this over and through my hair, concentrating on any dry spots.  I then re-twist my hair in larger twists than the original style and that's it! 

As a sealant:
I love my plain castor oil; however, one advantage of this product is that it contains several other good products


Ingredients: Hollywood Beauty Oil Complex , Mink Oil , Sweet Almond Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) , Jojoba Oil , Paraffin Oil , Safflower Oil) , Lanolin , Cocoa Butter , Propylparaben*** , Fragrance

***Caution: contains a paraben which some studies have linked to breast cancer; however, research remains inconclusive as to whether the same levels of parabens exist in healthy breast tissue.  If you are concerned about the existence of the paraben in this product, you could create a mix with some of the other oils and yield many of the same benefits.  Castor oils, sweet almond oil, vitamin E, jojoba oil, safflower oil, and cocoa butter can be purchased at most drug stores, Walmart (ick), beauty supply stores, and health food stores for low to moderate prices.  I have purchased castor oil and vitamin E oil from Walmart for about $4-5 a bottle and sweet almond oil from the health food store for about $4 a bottle.  I have also purchased 100% cocoa butter from Walmart for $1 and have seen safflower oil in the cooking section for about $5 for a large bottle.  You can add the essential oil fragrance of your choice to this mix.

Deep Conditioning Treatment

Quick recipe:

2 cups suave Almond &Shea Butter conditioner
3 TBs honey (a natural humectant and shine builder)
1/4 cup Giovanni Smooth As Silk Protein Hair Infusion (purchased @ Walmart for $1.50)
1 TB of Olive oil (shine and sealing properties)
2 plastic caps (to relive the Carefree curl days)

*pre-detangled hair is optional, but recommended.  Finger detangle dry hair and mist with water or use your method of choice for wet hair and squeeze out

Mix well (about 2 minutes) and let sit for a minute.  Distribute evenly through your damp, not dripping, hair (I pre-detangled and chunky twisted my hair and squished it through the twists).  Cover with plastic caps (I used two, because I went to sleep and didn't want any goo on my pillows).  I deep condition for at least an hour, but usually overnight (I DC'd overnight this time).  After rinsing well, I found that my hair was soft and shiny and easily combed through.  I will add before and after pics to this review later!

Wen Knock-off--Introducing Hair One

You may have heard of an all-in-one product  called Wen (usually shows up late at night on infomercials, if you have cable).  Antyways, it costs $30 for the entire introductory package which should last 30 days.  Curlies are subject to PJ-ism as much as the next head, but $30 is a lot of money for a product that needs to be replenished frequently.  While perusing my local Sally's (I can ALWAYS be found where there are hair products, especially conditioner), I noticed a new product-HairOne.  My Sally's had an olive oil one, a jojoba oil one, and a tea tree one and they even had sample packets.  The full-size bottle is $10.99 for 8 oz which is a great deal versus the Wen.  Now, I have never used the Wen, but I do know that since going natural, I use conditioner like it's going out of style.  According to the official site, you cannot order the conditioner seperately, so I figure you have to order the entire kit each time you run out of conditioner.  CurlMart charges $28 (plus shipping and handling) for 16 oz.  I usually spend about $5 for 28 oz of Herbal Essences or $6 for 33.5 oz of Aussie Moist, so Wen is a little steep for me. 

Back to your regularly scheduled review: I used two packets of the Olive Oil Hair One, following my usual routine (co-wash twice and then more conditioner and comb through) except that I used the Hair One in place of the two conditioners I usually use.  I found that I needed more product than what is recommended on the package (I used a whole packet to co-wash and a whole packet to comb-through).  While my hair did not feel quite as moisturized as it usually does , I felt that my hair felt soft and conditioned overall and that this product would be good in a pinch or for travel. 

***I also purchased two packets of the Jojoba Hair One that I will review at later time. 

Stay curly, Cupcakes!