My Hair Products

Click to enlarge

From left to right:

Aloe Vera Juice Mix-(Aloe Vera Juice(40%) Water(60%) a few drops of Rose Oil)- I spritz my hair daily and nightly with this before I seal with an oil or butter

Shea Moisture- Yucca &  Baobab Thickening Growth Milk- I rarely use this, but when I have my hair in twists, I sometimes use this to seal instead of an oil or butter. Once done I will not be repurchasing 

New Products

When I started my hair journey, I was buying new products like crazy, always trying to find the next best thing. 

Well, things have changed. I rarely purchase new products unless I really need them. I basically stick to what I have and re-purchase when necessary. 

Oldies but Goodies!

Hey, Hey, Hey!

So I'm going through that dreaded "dry" phase after the big chop. Although my hair is in chunky twists, I can still feel that my hair is drier than the Sahara(no matter how much I moisturize it)

Instead of purchasing a bunch of hair products that I am not yet familiar with, I decided to go back to what worked best.  

I have used everything pictured and being a former relaxer stretcher(and long term transitioner), I grew to learn what worked well on my natural hair. 

Keep on reading if you're interested in seeing what I purchased. 

Reader Question: New-Growth Spritz

I received a few questions about my New-Growth spritz  that I previously used when stretching relaxers. 

The main ingredients in my home-made spritz were: Aloe-vera juice, castor oil, eucalyptus oil and rosemary oil.

I still use something similar, but now add distilled water,glycerin and sometimes a drop of Silk Amino Acids if I need protein in my hair. I also switched out castor oil for an oil in my current product arsenal such as safflower or coconut oil.

Anyway, the main question was if they should make the spritz or if there is something comparable they can just buy. 

I definitely suggest purchasing a commercial product if the person doesn't already have the ingredients readily available. 

The only product I can recommend (that can be easily found in stores) with similar ingredients and that has MANY positive reviews is Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier. 

Price:$7.00- $12.00 for 8 oz


Can be Found:  Walgreens,CVS, Amazon and many Beauty Supply Stores
You can also search for places it is sold using this link:  http://www.naturalhair.org/storelocations.aspx


Ingredients: Deionized Water (Aqua), Wheat Germ Extract, (Triticum Vulgare), Aloe Vera (Aloe Babadensis) Leaf, Cetrimonium Bromide, Cetyl Alc., DMDM Hydantoin, Olive Oil (Olea Europaena), Glycol -(Vegetable Derived), Silk Amino Acid, Bay Laurel Extract (Lauris No Bilis), Fragrance (Parfum).

Hair Products Update

As of now, the only commercial hair products I have used on my hair is a Deep Conditioner and Shampoo. 

I deep condition on "dry hair" before washing and currently use ORS: Replenishing Conditioner(which I adore). 

For shampoo, I use Shea Moisture: Moisture Retention Shampoo.

That shampoo is running low, so once it's complete.. I will finally have a chance to use the WEN I was gifted.

For a leave-in, detangling and moisturizing spritz..I use my AVJ Mix which contains:

Aloe Vera Juice

Distilled Water

Glycerin

an Oil of my choice (either Safflower, Coconut or Vitamin E)

a few drops of Rosemary, Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Oil

My Products

These are the products I use on either a daily or weekly basis. If you have any questions on how I use any particular product, let me know.

Shampoo- Organix Cherry Blossom Ginseng Shampoo

Conditioner- Mane n Tail Moisturizer, Texturizer Conditioner

Moisturizing (with very little protein") Deep Conditioner- ORS Replenishing Conditioner

Light Protein Conditioner- Roux Mendex

Porosity Control Conditioner- Roux Porosity Control 

Leave-ins- Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine OR Nexxus Headress, Chi Keratin Mist

Weekend Haul

So I purchased a few things through-out the weekend which I decided to share with you all.

First Stop- Walmart

Multi Vitamins- $ 4.75 (or around that price)

Castor Oil 6 oz- $2.69

Now we all know how multi-vitamins are good for overall health, so no need to explain that.

I use Castor Oil in my pre-poo treatments and in my Sulfur Mix. I'm running low on it

Second Stop- Local Dollar Store

Satin Scarfs- $1.00 Each

These will be cute headbands!!

Hair Clips- $1.00

Ya'll know how I like to clip the left side of my hair back when I do braid-outs and bantu-knot outs. These are some cute clips to use for that purpose

Satin Scrunchies- $1.00

These will be used to secure my bantu-knots and also for my buns. My hair is finally thick/long enough, that when I do a bun...you cant see the holder. 

Sally's Haul and More

I originally went to Sally's to pick up the ORS Lye Normal Relaxer because I saw it was on sale when I purchased my braid spray a few weeks back. I didn't purchase it then because the Sally's I went to wasn't as good as the one near my place...so I waited a while and as I suspected got some more good deals at the Sally's I typically visit.  :-D

ORS Lye Relaxer- Normal- $5.29 (Used this last time I relaxed and it's a new staple)

ORS Replenishing Conditioner Pack- $1.19
 (I originally purchased the bottle in May, but when doing my May purchases post..I realized they charged me $6 or $7 more then they were supposed to, so I returned it. I meant to buy the bottle at normal cost, but forgot to..and now with braids..don't really need it. I do need this for when I relax though, so I picked up the packet.)

Roux Fermodyl (233) Leave- In treatment for Double Processed Hair-$1.50 *typically $6 +
(I used this in the past and my hair loved it. The back of the package says:

• Treats color treated hair that is bleached, permed or relaxed
• Penetrates the Cortex to help improve and repair damaged surface areas of the hair
• helps re-hydrate porous, moisture depleted hair
• Improves porosity and elasticity
• seals the cuticle to help reduce breakage and intensify shine

I just read the ingredients and it has sodium lauryl sulfate in it and other ingredients I am currently researching. I know I used it in the past and liked it, but for some reason I'm now hesitant. Thank goodness it only cost $1.50.

Salon Care Slotted (Perm) Rods- Pack of 12- $.40
 ( Not sure how I will use this, but it may be on the ends braid-outs...I basically got it because it was 40 cents..LOL)

Out of Africa Organic Shea Butter Soap(Lavender)-  $2.69
( May use this to wash my face at night, I liked the ingredients )
Ingredients: Organic shea butter, palm kernel oil, olive oil, lavender essential oil, purified water(not sure if it's bad that there is water in this because all other ingredients are oils..but I'll still try it out)



Total Spent: $11.83


I picked up the below at a Dollar Store near my parents house.

Hot Six Oil(8 Fl. Oz)- $5.00 ( I liked a few of the oils listed in the ingredients such as, Sweet Almond Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, Castor Oil and it has Vitamin A and D in it. Not to mention, I love the fact that you can just spray it on! It also smells great!)


ORS Creamy Aloe Shampoo- $2.00 ( This is the neutralizing shampoo I will use for my relaxer. I didn't buy full bottles because I already have 2 different neutralizing shampoos and relax so in-frequently. I do want to use the whole ORS line during my next relaxer)

Total Spent: $7.00


As said before, I purchased braid spray earlier in the Month, which cost $2.80, so I spent a total of about $20.00 on hair products (not including the face soap)
Not too Shabby. I should be good until September..I have everything I need at this moment

On My Radar

I have used a few different spray leave-ins in the past 2 years, but one I haven't tried and read so many great reviews on, is Chi Keratin Mist. I hear it's comparable to Aphogee Keratin and Grean Tea Restructurizer, which I have been using for a while. The only difference is that the Aphogee is activated by heat and should be used at most twice a week, while the Chi can be used Daily(if you are a daily co-washer) and doesn't require heat to work (although it is great to use before flat-ironing).

My other spray leave-in's are almost gone, so once I remove my next set of braids, this is the first product I will go out and buy. I will check out the T.J Maxx or Marshalls to see if they have this first(because it's usually half the price).

*P.S- The great thing about Braids is that I don't buy any hair products unless absolutely necessary.

Ingredients:
Rosewater, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids, Acetamide MEA and Lactamide MEA, Lauryl Pyrrolidone, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Methylchloroisothiazoline and Methylisothiazolinone, Nettle, Chamomile Extract, Algae, Aloe Vera, Lavender Extract, Rosemary Extract, Parfum, FD&C Yellow 5, D&C Red 33, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Boron Nitride Powder.


If you use this and have something to say about it...let me know..in the comment section :-)

Going Back...

....to what I loved!
The first year of my hair journey, my products remained consistent and I actually found a few products that worked really well for me.
BUT, me being me, I thought I could find products that were better.

I did find some new products that I did like..but nothing beats what I used to use!

SO, the first product that I absolutely LOVED and don't know why I strayed away from, is the ORS Replenishing Conditioner. It has the perfect balance of moisture and protein and ALWAYS made my hair feel soft, well conditioned and a little bit stronger after rinsing out and for days leading to my next wash.
I still like the Aubrey Organics WC, but with this..I just can't go wrong.

Going forward, I will use this as my DC only. And the remainder of my other DC will be used only after Henna Treatments.

 

The next product is Roux Porosity Control. I used to use this once a week for a year, but when I started doing ACV rinses, I stopped. Porosity control, as most of you know, helps bring the PH of your hair back to a normal level. If you are having issues with retaining moisture or if your hair dry's super fast after washing, this is something you should look in to.

Anyway, I am now using this as a final rinse after 1 weekly co-wash and on Wash Day.

The last product is Roux Mendex. I used this ALL the time..but once again, I stopped for some reason. It is said to make hair strong and "mend" split ends which we all know can't be done. BUT it sure does make my hair strong. This is a light protein treatment that can be left on hair for one minute(then rinsed out) or for damaged hair, 10 minutes with a plastic cap(then rinsed out). I do the 1 minute way and use this on wash day.

My hair is NOT afraid of protein and this light protein treatment is perfect for me. I'm not sure how often I will use this, but I'll keep ya'll posted.






Sally's had a BOGO sale on Roux products, so I bought them both for $12.99 total.
I originally purchased these products for Relaxer Day, which I did use them then, but I am keeping these in my weekly rotation.

Vitacost Haul

It was time to replenish my staple products. The only new item is the sample size of Giovanni Direct Leave-in. I suggest sample sizes, if they have them, when trying out new products just in case you don't like them.

32 oz Aloe Vera Gel- $4.27

8 oz Hemp Seed Oil- $6.74

16 oz Castor Oil- $5.71

16 oz Dr. Woods Black Soap with Shea Butter- $4.70

Sample Size 2.0z of Giovanni Direct Leave-in- $1.22

11oz Aubrey Organics White Camellia Ultra Smoothing Conditioner $8.09

Shipping- $4.99

Total: $35.72

So if you follow my blog, I purchased products from iherb.com last month. But prices were only better then Vitacost because I was a first time customer and didn't have to pay shipping and had a small discount. Of course I compared prices before ordering and vitacost came in cheaper.So, vitacost it was. I was thinking about going to Whole Foods to get these, but I figured it would cost me 5 dollars of gas to get there..haha..and online prices are typically less anyways.  

Thank You!!!!!

I won a give-away done by Miss Music from www.fromshorttolong.com.
I never win anything, so I am extremely happy! I just got the products today and I would like to extend a BIG THANK YOU to Miss Music!

If you haven't already checked out her blog, you really should. She has a lot of useful information, great hair styles and beautiful hair.

What I won:

V05 Moisture Milks Conditioner- Great for co-washes, smells great and very moisturizing
Hercules Comb- Seamless, wide tooth comb- great for detangling and minimizes breakage(I don't have one of these, but I am excited to try it out)
Aubrey Organics White Camelia Conditioner- I haven't tried this yet, but I heard its a uber moisturizing deep conditioner. This is an all natural product which came right in time because I just ran out of Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose Conditioner.

Mane n' Tail Enriched Moisture Enriched Hair Strengthener

I picked this up a few weeks ago because at Sally Beauty Supply, they had a BOGO sale for some Mane n Tail products. I needed conditioner, so I purchased their moisturizing conditioner and got this leave-in for free.
*See below for my review











What they Say:

•Provides essential nutrients to help prevent split ends
•Protects hair strands from heat styling
•Prevents damage from chemical services
•Conditions and prevents frizz
•Improves hair texture
•Alcohol Free
•Adds shine

Mane 'n Tail Moisture Enriched Hair Strengthener contains an advanced daily use protective formula that increases hair strength. Stronger hair holds up better to the stress of daily styling, heat appliances and chemical treatments. Conditions and fortifies already damaged hair for a renewed, lustrous, healthy look. Helps prevent hair breakage and split ends which make hair look dull and frizzy. Natural oils nourish and condition while essential moisturizing ingrediants corrects the drying caused by sun, wind and use of bleach and peroxide lighteners. Keeps hair tangle free, soft and manageable.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-11, Dimethicone Copolylol, Isostearomidopropyl Morpholine Lactate, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder), Horsetail (Equiesetum Arvense) Leaf Extract, Chaparral (Larrea Divaricata) Extract, Coltsfoot (Tussilago Farfara) Flower Extract, Horse Chestnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum) Seed Extract, Meadowsweet (Spiraea Ulmaria) Flower Extract, Clover (Trifolium Pratense) Flower Extract, DMDM Hydantoin, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 20, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk, Allantoin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Panthenol, Niacin, Fragrance (Parfum), Cinnamal, Coumarin


Cost: $4.99 (Sally Beauty Supply)

What I have Say: I used this product in the beginning of my hair journey and I don't know why I stopped.  My hair always felt strong & soft and I never had an issue with stickiness or brittle feeling hair.If you look at the bolded ingredients, this product does contain a little protein, but it has moisturizing properties as well.
After using it for the last few weeks, my hair still responds well to this. When using this as a leave-in, my hair drys frizz-free, which is a plus because I air-dry 98.9% of the time.
I don't think it smells too bad either. It's hard to describe the scent, but to me it smells okay(not great, but not bad)

How I use it: Because it is said that products made from the same manufacturer sometimes work best used together, I decided to use this as a leave-in after I do I co-washes with the Mane n' Tail Conditioner. I also spray a little of this through-out my hair before moisturizing with a creamy moisturizer.
*On the bottle it said this can be used on dry or damp/wet hair.

Will I re-purchase?- Yes. I am done with the whole experimenting thing when it comes to leave-ins and conditioners. I found what works for me...and I will now stick with them.


* When doing reviews, I try to review products that are affordable and easily accessable. What works for me may not work for you. But remember, items can be returned if you are not satisfied.

$ Dollar Find $

During my lunch break, I went to Marshall's to look at some of their hair appliances. They usually sell Flat-irons such as Chi, Baby Bliss and others for a good price. I actually saw a Chi Flat Iron(I forget which one) for $69.99 and it came with a watch and carrying case. The box said retail cost is  $120.
I didn't purchase it though because I am still just looking around.

Anywho..I worked my over to the hair products and although I don't need anything at this moment, I still felt the need to see what they had.
I went to the Clearance section and saw a product called Sexy Hair Organics Moisture Boost for a dollar, that I just had to buy. The ingredients looked good and it was only a dollar, so I said why not.
I just looked up online how much it normally costs(for the 1.7 oz) and prices ranged from $10-25. Looks like I got myself a deal.

Don't sleep on stores like Marshall's, TJ Maxx, AJ Wright, Winners and so forth for hair appliances and products. 9.5 times out of 10 , you will find a good deal.  For my international readers, I'm speaking about stores that sell designer/name brand clothing for less.

Here is more info about the product

Sexy Hair Organics Moisture Boost provides an extra shot of moisture when added to cream conditioners, leave-in conditioners and moisturising treatments. The ultimate hydration for dry hair, it will quench its thirst and leave it silky soft.
The natural way to hydrate dry hair, Sexy Hair Organics Moisture Boost is made with 95% organic ingredients, including a combination of organic aloe vera juice, organic goji berries extract, organic avocado extract and organic sunflower oil.

Directions of use:
Add a small amount of Moisture Boost to any Sexy Hair Conditioner or Treatment to give hair that extra moisture it craves.


Review to come

Scalp Massages

Remember the Vibrating Scalp Massager that I purchased online a lil' while ago?
See post here: Vibrating Scalp Massager

Well, it kind of died on me haha. I used to carry it in my purse, without a case or anything and use it on my way to work..or on my way home and now it no longer works :-(. Guess I got my monies worth. haha
Well now I'm going to massge my scalp kind of the old fashion way.

I use this now:

Product Features:
Stimulates the scalp
Creates the unltimate relaxing experience
Promotes hair growth
Fits in the plam of your hand
 
They sell this for like 89 Cents at CVS, Walgreens but I got mine at Sally Beauty Supply.
I massage my scalp probably every other day for about 5 minutes.
 
Reminder on the benefits:
Benefits-One of the most beneficial aspects of a scalp massage is that is will increase the circulation in the scalp area. This will help the hair follicles become receptive to the nutrients and oxygen they need for maximum health.


Effects-By increasing blood flow to the hair follicle, hair is less likely to go into the resting phase prematurely. After hair goes into the resting phase, it is shed so that new hair can begin to take its place. But if hair prematurely enters the resting phase, there could be an abundance of hair being shed at one time, which will give the appearance of thinning hair.

HydraCap

I absolutely love these caps! Instead of going under the dryer when I deep condition, I would just put the cap over my head, blow-dry the cap starting around the edges for about 30 seconds on high heat and the cap somewhat suctions on to my head trapping in the heat/moisture. These are great, no water drips down and I get the full deep conditioning benefits.

Here's a lil more info from Sally Beauty's website:

•Innovative way to deep condition your hair
•Helps deep conditioners work better
•Opens the cuticles of your hair for better absorption
•Locks in heat and mositure
•Pushes conditoners into the hair

The HydraCap Processing Cap is a new innovative way to deep condition your hair. Everyone knows that deep conditioning treatments work better with heat. Warm, moist heat opens the cuticles of your hair, allowing deep conditioning treatments and hot oil treatments to penetrate the hair cuticle. The HydraCap Processing Cap Traps in heat, locks in the mositure, no drips from the casing/less mess, the cap pushes the conditoners into the hair

Cost for a pack of 4 @ Sally's: $3.99

Roots Only Applicator Bottle

With all of this new-growth, the only way I can oil my scalp without too much manipulation is with the Roots Only Applicator Bottle. I could use a regular applicator bottle, but this covers more area in a short period of time. This was orignally made for a dye touch-up of the roots, hence the name "Roots Only"

I just put my oil(s) in the bottle and do exactly what the lady in the picture below is doing all over my head. I only have to squeeze a little and my whole scalp is lightly oiled. It now takes me about 3 minutes to oil my whole scalp.

These can be found at Walmart(I got mine there for about $3.50 I think back in April) or on Rootsonly.com

Couple of Things I'm Waiting On.....

Before I took a vow to not purchase anymore hair products until I absolutely need them, I purchased a few things online. Of course I won't be able to use any of them until I take my braids out, but now I have something to look forward to when I do. :-)


Satin Pillow Rollers:

I bought some Satin Pillow Rollers, which I feel like I need. See, I want to do more braid-outs and actually wear them down and for them to look good with a nice curl on the bottom, I will need to apply rollers. I usually braid my hair at night, so pillow rollers are perfect for me because I can wake up in the AM, take them out, and hopefully my hair will look good. Of course I got satin because  they will help me retain moisture more.

Henna and Indigo:

I'm sure I said this before, but I like to think of more natural ways to do things with my hair. Now, I'm on a mission to thicken up my hair and I heard Henna makes your hair so much stronger. It also adds a reddish tint to your hair if after mixing it, you let it it sit for a while to let the color deposits out. I plan to mix the Henna with a moisturizing conditioner and some oil and let that mix sit for like a half hour. Then I will apply the Indigo which will turn my hair jet black. By using these two, I will have stronger and my favorite jet black hair with out having to get a color rinse. I will do this treatment 2 weeks before my next touch up then 1 week after. I read really good reviews about these two and the only caution I keep hearing is to make sure you do a  moisturizing deep condition treatment after because the henna can be a little drying.

I will of course give my opinion after I try it out.

 http://www.hennaforhair.com/

www.mehandi.com

Trip to Sally's

I was running some errands today and stopped by Sally Beauty Supply to buy a few hair products.

As I said earlier I washed my hair today and it was still drying when I left my place. I wasn't ready to put a bun in because my hair was still damp and I don't like to manipulate my hair when it's not fully dry. So, I just wrapped a scarf on my head and left.

As for what I purchased at Sally's.........

This is what I got:

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is one of my favorite oils. I love the smell, the way it moisturizes my hair and I especially love the shine it adds.
I mainly use coconut oil after I wash and put in my leave-in conditioner. It's a great sealant. I also add coconut oil in my moisturizers.Not only is coconut oil great for the hair, it's also great for the skin.



A little more:

Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shiny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care
Health-benefits-of-coconut-oil

Here's an article on the benefits of Coconut Oil.
ehow.com/benefits-coconut-oil-hair_.html

When I purchase, I make sure to get Virgin-Unrefined Coconut oil. It can be found at most Vitamin Stores.