Review: As I Am Coconut CoWash

The As I Am product line has fast become popular with many naturals. It is among the most recognized brands for natural hair. One of the most popular prouducts offered by the brand is As I Am Coconut CoWash. I tried this product in a sample pack that I received way back when the line debuted. I wasn't very impressed at that time. Luckily for me, I gave this product another try and I'm not only impressed, but it's become a staple in my regimen. The details are as follows:

Ingredients: Aqueous (Water, Aqua Purificada, Purified) Extracts: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) and Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine)¹, Cetyl Alcohol², Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol², PEG-40 Castor Oil, Stearlkonium chloride, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil², Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil¹, Phytosterols¹, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract¹, Quaternium-18, Potassium Sorbate, Fragrance/Parfum, Limonene, Methylisothiazolinone.
Source: 1-Natural, 2-Coconut

Aesthetics: The product is a thick, creamy consistency very much that of a deep conditioner. It is pale pink in color, with a coconut like fragrance, but it's not strongly scented at all. It offers some slip for finger detangling and to help prevent tangles while you wash.

Cost & Availability: This CoWash is Packaged in a 16 oz. jar, and can be priced from $5.00-$9.00 which depends on where it's purchased. It's available at Walgreens, Target, Sally Beauty, CVS, some WalMart locations, and beauty supply stores. The retail stores are more likely to have sales and specials, I've found some good deals for this item at Sally Beauty and Walgreens stores.

Product claims/ Practicality of Use:
Spreads easily throughout hair.
Gently cleanses hair and scalp.
Maintains moisture, adds more moisture and helps hair retain moisture until your next cleanse.
Makes detangling a breeze.
Rinses easily from hair.
Helps promote a healthy environment for hair growth.
Gentle enough for daily use. Safe for color-treated hair.

Directions: Wet hair thoroughly,
Rub a liberal amount within palms and distribute throughout hair.
Work product through hair and massage scalp with fingertips as you would a conventional shampoo.
Carefully detangle hair with a wide-tooth comb,
Rinse well.
Repeat only if necessary to remove excessive product build up or for further scalp cleansing.
Follow with conditioning. Use either As I Am® Hydration Elation® Intensive Conditioning Treatment or As I Am® Leave-In Conditioner.

Effectiveness & Results: This Cowash really got the job done. It wash very cleansing for my hair and scalp.  It cleansed as well as my old moisturizing sulfate shampoo. My hair was left clean, conditioned and moisturized without being stripped, or left dry. I did transfer the product into a 16 oz. bottle which made it more convenient for the way I wash my hair. I used the product as directed and started by applying it from the roots, massaging my scalp and working it down my strands. The jar is not easy to use especially if your washing in the shower. This is the only drawback of this product so far and this can be easily remedied. Not only will I buy this product again, I already have an extra jar so that I can have it on hand when needed. This is a staple product that I don't plan to run out of. Keep in mind that I don't use products that tend to build up in my hair. Everyone may not have the same experience, because what works for me may not work for you.

D.I.Y. Avocado Deep Conditioner

I had a coworker that had an avocado tree in his yard. This tree produced some of the prettiest, large avocados and he'd bring me one at least once a week. Now, I am not a big fan of avocados. I do eat them, from time to time but not fast enough to keep them from going bad. So, being the natural hair lover that I am, I came up with a recipe to use my avocados in my beauty routine. The following is a recipe for my Avocado Deep Conditioning Mix.

1/2 Large Avocado (1 small)
1/2 Plantain (over ripe) **optional
2-3 Tbsp. Coconut milk
1Tbsp. Raw Honey or Agave nectar
1 Tbsp. Aloe Vera gel
2 tsp. Black Gold hair oil (www.SweetLoveNaturals.net)or oil of your choice.

This mix is so conditioning and moisturizing. It leaves my hair soft, strong, and silky. None of the ingredients give me the hard, stiff feel that I get after a protein treatment, but I get the effect in the feeling of my strands. They are left in great condition. This is not a thick mixture. I put mine in the blender to ensure that there are no chunks that can get caught in my hair. I then strain it through a strainer into a bowl or jar with a lid.

I apply this after I wash my hair. I then put on a plastic conditioning/shower cap and my Hot Head conditioning bonnet. This can be used as a deep conditioner whenever it is needed. You can also boost the mixture by adding a tablespoon of your favorite deep conditioner. Keep in mind all hair is different and what works for me may not work for you. The good thing is being able to tweek this recipe so that it meets your needs. Now that you have your marching orders, happy mixing!! Enjoy!!

Review: Shea Moisture Shea Butter Leave In Conditioner

Shea Moisture Shea Butter Leave In Conditioner is a rich, thick, Shea butter based conditioner that I've enjoyed using for the past few months. It's one of the company's first products, and I've seen more than a few curlies rave about it. In this post I'll share with you the important details of this product and my experience with it. Let's get to it!!

This product is a thick, white, Shea butter based leave in conditioner. It has a very pleasant fruity scent reminiscent of juicy fruit gum. It also provides a good amount of slip for detangling as a result of the centromonium chloride. It is moisturizing, without leaving a greasy residue.

Ingredients: Shea Butter, Deionized Water, Herbal Complex, Panthenol, Centromonium Chloride, Glycerin, Cocoa Butter, Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E.

Cost & Availability: The product is packaged in an 8 oz. flip top bottle. It can be purchased online, and the easiest way I've located it has been via Google search. It's price ranges from $8.00-$11.00 depending on the retailer.

Product Promise & Claims / Practicality of Use: Shea Moisture Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner penetrates deep into hair and scalp to moisturize, repair and protect... transforming dull, lifeless hair into healthy, soft, shiny and manageable hair with extra body.

Directions: For best results, use after Shea Moisture Shea Butter Shampoo or as a daily moisturizer to instantly replenish lost moisture and strengthen hair. Apply from roots to ends and style.

I applied the leave in to my wet, T-shirt blotted hair after washing/cowashing. My hair was sectioned and clipped into place using butterfly clamps. A nickel sized amount of product was applied to each section from root to tip, and distributed throughout using my fingers. I then used a wide tooth comb to detangle my hair.

Effectiveness & Results: This product was so effective at moisturizing, softening, and detangling my hair that it is a staple/ Holy Grail product. It is just the right texture and thickness and provides excellent slip/lubrication for detangling. My hair was always soft, moisturized, and conditioned. I was able to reduce my single strand knots. I also mid week detangled by just adding water. It worked with all the other products I used in my regimen.

I will definitely be repurchasing and stocking up on this leave in. I wish I could go into a retail location and buy it off the shelf. I'd recommend it to anyone with hair that needs moisture, desires a heavier/thicker leave in, and/or with many textures and curl patterns.

Review: Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Leave In Conditioner

I've recently used the Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Leave In Conditioner. I used it after washing my hair and deep conditioning it. According to directions it should be applied after washing to soaking wet hair, any excess water should then be absorbed into a towel or cotton t-shirt, style hair as usual.

The Hair Milk Leave In is a thin, runny , white lotion like product. It has the same scent as the other products in the line. It contains a high content of oil that you can easily feel on your hands and hair.

Ingredients- Water, Soybean oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Fragrance, Agave extract. Ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbic acid, beeswax, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, polysorbate 80, Apricot Kernel oil, Jojoba Seed oil, Tocopherol, Wheat germ oil, Xantham gum, Methylisothiazolinone, phenoxyethanol.

Cost & Availability: This product is available for purchase at www.CarolsDaughter.com, Target, and www.Target.com. Due to recent repackaging the product is now marketed as Hair Milk Original Leave In Moisturiser. The listed price on both websites is $12.00 for 8oz. Carol's Daughter discount club members can purchase the product at a 10% discount with free shipping.

Product Promise & Useability: Dry hair = frizzy curls! So, protect your hair from unwanted situations – breakage, thirst and unmanageability – with this fan-favorite leave-in moisturizer. It has all the goodies you know and love, like Shea Butter to intensely hydrate curls, coils, kinks, and waves, plus Soybean Oil to soften and strengthen it too. We’ve also added Agave Nectar to ensure that your hair keeps moisture locked in and is extra healthy. This rich cream quickly and easily absorbs into your hair, leaving it glossy, nourished, and frizz-free. Hydrate your curls, coils, kinks, and waves to make frizzy, unmanageable hair a thing of the past!

Directions: After co-washing , apply a quarter-sized amount into soaking-wet hair, working it in evenly with your fingers. Use your hands to gently squeeze out excess water or use a cotton T- shirt for best results. Add more as necessary and style as desired.
The thiness of this product makes it easy to over apply and leave you with greasy hair.

Effectiveness & Results: This product is an effective leave in conditioner, because it is oil rich which helps to seal in moisture.  It is not effective for me to use in detangling because it provided no slip. It left my hair soft, but it is very light, and my hair texture and porosity it best cared for with a thicker, heavier leave in. With that being said I'm not sure if I'd buy this again. There is another version of the product available since I purchased this and it appears to be thicker, I may try it at a future date. I am considering using this in conjunction with a detangler, that is less moisturizing and can be improved by the water & oil content of this leave in. For now I'm putting it on the shelf for later use.

Good CoWash Conditioners

When I first attempted to Cowash I was not convinced it would work for me. To be honest I didn't like it. My hair didn't feel clean, I didn't get any added moisture, and it just felt like I rinsed it with conditioner. It was when I began using different products in my regimen that cowashing worked for me. The products were easier to remove and didn't need to be washed out with a shampoo product. I also found cowashing useful for adding moisture when I adopted a modified LOC (LCO) method. The key wasn't just cowashing but using it's along with other healthy hair practices that made the big picture a masterpiece. With that being said, if you have your healthy hair regimen in place, and no other cons to prevent your cowashing success I present you with a list of good Cowash conditioners.

1. Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Conditioning Cowash. $7-9 (16oz.)
2. As I Am Coconut Cowash $7-9 (16oz.)
3. Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner $3.99 (16oz.)
4. V05 Tea Therapy Blackberry Tea .75-$1(15oz.)
5. V05 Tea Therapy Chamomile Tea.75-$1(15oz.)
6. Suave Naturals Everlasting Sunshine $1-2 (16-22.5oz.)
7. Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut $1-2 (16-22.5oz.)
8. Suave Professionals Rosemary Mint $2-4 ( 15oz.-22.5oz.)
9. Suave Professionals Almond &Shea Butter $2-4 (15-22.5oz.)
10. Aussie Moist $2-7 (13.5oz-28oz)
11. Cantu for Natural Hair Cowash $5-8 (12oz.)
12. Herbal Essences Moroccan My Shine $3-7 (10.5-32oz.)
13. Herbal Essences Honey I'm Strong $3-7 (10.5-32oz.)
14. Pantene Truly Naturals Cowash $4-6 (22oz)

These are all products that I've used to Cowash and obtain some degree of success. Some were better than others, and some are good for refreshing, rinsing and freshening, adding moisture, cleansing, etc. There are many other products available and easily accessible. There is no need to purchase a high priced product that costs upwards of $1-2 per oz. when a basic conditioner with the same ingredients will do the same job, if not better. It's quite possible to purchase one of each conditioner listed above and not spend what it costs to buy a 32oz. size of these "miracle" cleansing conditioners. Don't be fooled by crafty advertising. No product takes you from dull, dry, straight and limp hair to a bouncy, spiral roller set. That look requires time, and technique. This post is just to give an idea of where to start and which products may help.

How To: Infuse and Store Herbal Infusions

Last month I received my Cream & Coco Hot Coco box for the month of January. This month's box focused on renewal, as it was the first box of a new year. The box contained seven goodies, amongst them a small satchet containing a blend of herbs, and minerals for infusion. It makes 6-8oz. of solution to ve used as a facial toner, or hair rinse. Knowing that I'm not a heavy user of either, I'd hate to infuse this wonderful blend and let it go to waste. Here's how I infused, and store my solution for long term use. Keep in mind that this method can be used for and infusion that you wish to store.

How marketing influences the products that we use.

I don't want nothin' made for white people hair....!!

Deep sigh......yes I recently heard this. No, I was told this directly. Someone I've known for a very long time came to me seeking help with their hair. They told me what they wanted to achieve, and what their current techniques were yielding. They asked for product recommendations, or suggestions and followed with, "I don't want nothing made for white people's hair". I was a bit surprised to hear this, but it presented an awesome opportunity to educate and give useful information.
I interjected with, "no such thing". I proceeded by informing her that, "when you see a commercial on television, and the people in that commercial, that represents a target audience. They want to give the impression that use of their product will yield the results your seeing on television. The next time you purchase a product marketed towards a black audience. Look at the ingredients on the label, and compare those ingredients with the labels of products marketed toward white consumers. You'll most likely see that they have the same key ingredients. Not one ingredient says cetrimonium chloride for black hair, or cetrimonium chloride for white hair. It simply says cetrimonium chloride, as do the remaining ingredients. Making them usable for either hair type.

Where do products differ?

Products differ in a few ways. They mostly pertain to thickness/consistency, additives such as botanicals, herbs, humectants, etc., and ingredients that improve functionality such as detangling, clarifying, adding body/volume, smoothing the hair shaft, and moisturizing agents.

What's needed by hair!

Most afro textured hair needs two things constantly, and moisture is one of them. Moisture is key to maintaining healthy hair and preventing breakage. A good conditioner regardless of marketing, yields good moisturizing benefits. My favorite moisturizing conditioners are not marketed to afro textured customers but is widely used in the natural community.

Natural hair also needs protein balance. Once again my favorite conditioner for protein is not marketed to afro textured customers. This applies to the majority of my products.

I've found that the products marketed towards afro textured hair don't yield much different results for me. I do own and use some afro specific products and they work great. But it is not always necessary to use afro products. I can truly say I would have missed out on some valuable staple products that have really helped keep my hair healthy, had I not tried certain products "white people products".  I use products marketed towards hispanic consumers (Crece Pelo, Baba de Caracol), Herbal Essences, Pantene, Tresemme, Aussie Moist, Loreal, Organix, You won't know what will and won't work unless you try it. 

Welcome to 2014

HAPPY 2014!!

It's a new year and I'm so excited about what's to come. First, I've launched my company and I'm looking forward to growth and product development. I'm planning to remain passionate about meeting the needs of my customers and providing excellent customer service.

Second, I have lots of videos planned for the YouTube channel. I'll be introducing my company and products, doing demonstrations with before and after perspectives, and doing educational videos. I've gained an understanding of what naturals need to know to help with their journey, and an insight into the misinformation that they've received. There are so many naturals that have been done a disservice because they followed the wrong information.

Third, I'd really enjoy more interaction with my audience. This will help me put my finger on the pulse of what my viewers need and want to see. I have planned series of videos to cover different parts of a natural regimen, what products would work, and what techniques are recommended.

I'm fully immersing myself into this blog, YouTube channel, and this company to provide a full circle experience! I hope that you will be with me every step of the way. I'm sure there may be a few bumps in the road, I'm no guru or expert, but I have the advantage of experience and research. I've come to learn what may or may not work. The basics are all the same, but the products and techniques will require some tweaking. With the right guidance, and information the natural experience can be great. I look forward to a great 2014!!