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July 27, 2013

My Favorite Natural Hair Products (with product reviews)

Hi all!
"What products do you use?" This is a question I get a lot on my YouTube channel, so I thought I'd make a video to answer it. 

In addition, I thought it might be helpful to include a review of these products for anyone interested in why I like them so much. So here goes!

Organix Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner

Disclaimer: I do not own this image. 

Why I love it: The shampoo smells great and it's silicone-free so it's very gentle on my hair. It lathers really well with a small amount of product, so it lasts long as it does its job. It's amazing because you can really tell a difference between this shampoo and cheaper-quality, harsher shampoos. As for the conditioner..I LOVE it. It has a lot of slip so it's perfect for detangling my hair inside the shower. It also leaves my hair feeling super soft once it's all rinsed out. This conditioner is also a huge difference from conditioners that don't hydrate or moisturize nearly as well. Again, the ingredients here are not harsh and it still does exactly what it's supposed to. The price for both of these is not bad, and as I showed in the video, I can generally find the conditioner in double the size for the same price, which is awesome! In addition, these products are very easy to find. I've gotten them everywhere from Wal-Mart to beauty supply stores, and grocery stores to Target. 
Where it could improve: Honestly, I've got nothin'. Haha! If only they could make the bottle even bigger! 


Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream 
Disclaimer: I do not own this image. 

Why I love it: Smells sooooo good. Really, I love the way this smells, and I love my hair smelling that way too! After a wash, I rub this into my hair once I'm out of the shower and it keeps my hair really soft throughout the day. I've purposely had days where I leave it out of my routine just to see if it really makes a difference in how soft my hair feels..and it does! The product itself is a thick, creamy consistency, but it's not heavy on the hair at all. I've found that this works well alone even as a sort of setting lotion. If I put some in my hair before I twist/straw set it, this product alone will help the style hold the next day, even without gel. I discovered that on accident once when I ran out of gel and decided to try using it alone! This is another product that's easy to get anywhere. I usually get mine from Wal-Mart. Considering how long the product lasts me, I think the price makes it a very good value.   
Where it could improve: It doesn't mix well with everything. When I use it in combination with some gels, it leaves white streaks or clumps in my hair. You need to experiment to find out which products can be used with it without leaving streaks/clumps. Also..you have to be really careful with how much you put in your hair. If you put too much, it will be impossible to blend in and you will have to squeeze it out of your hair. 


Kinky Curly Curling Custard 
Disclaimer: I do not own this image. 
Why I love it: I'm so glad I found this stuff. I tried product after product to create the perfect defined curls and this was the CLEAR answer. It's like magic for my curl definition. The consistency is on the thinner side and it feels jelly-like between my fingers. It smells pretty good and goes on easy as there's no struggle to get it to coat my curls. It leaves some crunch after it dries, but I like the crunch...it keeps my curls defined longer. And the longer I wear the wash and go, the less crunchy my hair becomes. I just can't say how much I love this stuff enough. However, there are some downsides:
Where it could improve: This isn't that easy to find. My local Wal-Mart doesn't carry it and neither does my local beauty supply store. The only place I've consistently been able to get it is Target. And in my small hometown, the nearest Target is 20 miles away. Also, the price... is just...yuck. This stuff is a little expensive for my frugal taste. It also doesn't last very long. With all  my hair, I can get probably get only 3-5 wash and go uses out of each jar.  =/


Dark and Lovely Au Naturale 10-in-1 Styles Gelee 
Disclaimer: I do not own this image. 

Why I love it: This works pretty much the exact same way as the Kinky Curly Curling Custard (KCCC.) Smells good. Leaves a little crunch. Thinner consistency with a  jelly-like feel. Curl-defining magic. As I stated in the video, the main difference is the ingredients. The KCCC touts all natural ingredients, while this product includes natural ingredients, but also includes some that are not (like alcohol.) The price of this is great though..almost half the price of the KCCC. I think the ingredient difference might be where the huge difference in price comes from. (This is also comes in a smaller jar, but not by much.) 
Where it could improve: It's hard to find, at least for me. I've only found it at a beauty supply store and have yet to see it at your average department store. A con might also be the ingredients if you're a stickler for using all-natural stuff. ...That's not me.


Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel 
Disclaimer: I do not own this image. 

Why I love it: This stuff is awesome for setting my hair in twists or straws to wear a twist out or straw set the following day.  It also works great to slick back my hair and edges if I want to wear my hair in a puff or bun. I have not tried using this for a wash and go yet. It doesn't really have a smell and it's a thick gel. The ingredients are hair friendly and if you just look around the internet, you will quickly find this stuff is a favorite among many naturalistas. 
Where it could improve: My local Wal-Mart doesn't carry this. Annoying. Other than that, I think this is a good value and have no other complaints. 


IC Fantasia Hair Polisher Styling Gel
Disclaimer: I do not own this image. 

Why I love it: I didn't mention this in the video, but I use it a lot. This works just like the Eco Styler. Really. They're so much alike that I'm not going to write much here. The price of this is also fair and comparable to that of the EcoStyler. I will say that this is easier to find than the Eco Styler...that's the reason I bought this in the first place. I went out to buy EcoStyler and couldn't find it, so I picked this up and was pleasantly surprised by the almost identical results for my hair. 
Where it could improve: None! I really like this product. if you ever have a hard time finding EcoStyler, give this a try. =)


Well, that's all for now! I hope this post is helpful to someone out there!
Until next time!



July 20, 2013

Plum-wine "Highlights!!!"

Hi all!

As I was browsing through the #naturalhair hashtag on Instagram, I ran across some photos of naturallytash, a girl with gorgeous colored curls. If you've been following my blog, you'll know that colored curls is something I've wanted to play with, but something I've avoided for multiple reasons: high costs of getting it done professionally, maintenance of uncolored roots, commitment to a color for an extended amount of time, and the damage the harsh chemicals can cause to my own natural locks. I toyed with the idea of temporary color, but many of them require that you bleach your hair in order for the lighter colors to show through. So when I learned exactly how naturallytash achieved her gorgeous colors, I was ecstatic! 

Her secret is this: she uses eyeshadows and blushes to add temporary color to her hair! Yes, you heard correctly: eyeshadows and blushes. She even coined the term "hairshadowing" to describe her method. I found her on YouTube under the moniker "TashNaturally" and watched her tutorial at this link:

Then I had my boyfriend run out to the store and buy me 2 different cream blush colors.
I used  Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush in "Plum Wine."
Disclaimer: I do not own this image. 


The end result was pretty and subtle purpley highlights throughout my hair:




Day 2:

I am in love!
My mind is going nuts coming up with other colors I want to try: blue tips, blonde highlights and lowlights. I can't wait to keep experimenting. This is exactly the sort of solution I longed for; something easy on the wallet, pleasing to the eye, and non-damaging to my hair! I love that it will come out as soon as I wash it because all I want is to try different things and have fun with color over the summer. =)
Thanks naturallytash