PRODUCT REVIEW: Dr. Scholl’s For Her High Heel Insoles I received this item as a courtesy from BzzAgent for my honest and unbiased review.  I order my shoes a half size bigger just so I can add insoles so I was excited to try these out. I haven’t tried this brand before because I buy an insole per shoe and it adds up. First Impression: The packaging is plastic but only on the front; it has a cardboard backing. That may not seem like a big deal but oh it is! Think about it…how many times have you strained to open one of those plastic, vacuumed-packed packages. I’ve cut my hands on those suckers before. Thankfully the cardboard makes it easy to open without having to search for a scissors.  Performance: OMG the arch support! I have arches and it seems like other companies totally ignore that part of the foot. Flat footed people have ruled the market for far too long! LOL. Dr. Scholl’s makes my heels feel comfortable and provides great arch support. Pros: Each foot is labeled- awesome sauce. You can’t feel the edges of the insole. With some brands you are aware that your foot is on a platform because you can feel the difference in bulk at the front and back of your foot which makes them uncomfortable and defeats the purpose. With these the the sole feel smooth. Cons: The backing seems like it’s only meant to use on one pair of shoes because it’s somewhat tacky. I haven’t transferred shoes yet but on second thought it probably won’t be too much trouble to peel it off. Other insoles I’ve used leave a residue behind…that’s not the case with this one. So really it not so much a “con” as a “hmmmmm.” Verdict: I will definitely rebuy. There’s nothing like being out on my feet dancing all night and being able to walk to my car without looking like I have a bum leg.  Pick up your pair of Dr. Scholl’s For Her High Heel insoles on and don’t forget to check their website for coupons! PS: Don’t let the name fool you, you can also wear them in shoes without heels. 
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Dr. Scholl’s For Her High Heel Insoles

I received this item as a courtesy from BzzAgent for my honest and unbiased review. 

I order my shoes a half size bigger just so I can add insoles so I was excited to try these out. I haven’t tried this brand before because I buy an insole per shoe and it adds up.

First Impression: The packaging is plastic but only on the front; it has a cardboard backing. That may not seem like a big deal but oh it is! Think about it…how many times have you strained to open one of those plastic, vacuumed-packed packages. I’ve cut my hands on those suckers before. Thankfully the cardboard makes it easy to open without having to search for a scissors. 

Performance: OMG the arch support! I have arches and it seems like other companies totally ignore that part of the foot. Flat footed people have ruled the market for far too long! LOL. Dr. Scholl’s makes my heels feel comfortable and provides great arch support.

Pros: Each foot is labeled- awesome sauce. You can’t feel the edges of the insole. With some brands you are aware that your foot is on a platform because you can feel the difference in bulk at the front and back of your foot which makes them uncomfortable and defeats the purpose. With these the the sole feel smooth.

Cons: The backing seems like it’s only meant to use on one pair of shoes because it’s somewhat tacky. I haven’t transferred shoes yet but on second thought it probably won’t be too much trouble to peel it off. Other insoles I’ve used leave a residue behind…that’s not the case with this one. So really it not so much a “con” as a “hmmmmm.”

Verdict: I will definitely rebuy. There’s nothing like being out on my feet dancing all night and being able to walk to my car without looking like I have a bum leg. 

Pick up your pair of Dr. Scholl’s For Her High Heel insoles on and don’t forget to check their website for coupons! PS: Don’t let the name fool you, you can also wear them in shoes without heels. 

PRODUCT REVIEW: Giovanni NutraFix Hair Reconstructor I purchased this item when my local Ulta was out of the Giovanni Direct Leave-In. From prior research, I saw that the ingredients for each are exactly the same and in the same order. These were buy one get one free so why not give it a try… First Impression: The package is a soft squeeze bottle and it contains less product than the Direct Leave-In (6.8 oz vs. 8.5). This product is meant to be a deep conditioner/protein treatment. While thicker than the Leave-In, I didn’t think it was thick enough for a DC. It also says it’s meant for porous hair- which is a problem of mine. The smell is pleasant and very light- it’s the same scent as the leave-in but lighter. Performance: This conditioner exceeded expectations. I became interested in the Giovanni line in an attempt to eliminate unnatural ingredients from my beauty products. This conditioner was a great replacement for Aussie Moist (a previous favorite of mine). I use it mostly as a cowash and I am able to detangle my hair fairly easily with it in. Pros: The moisture and strength is balanced very well. My hair feels great afterwards and the ingredients are amazing. My porous hair needs protein and this product is able to provide that while still making my hair soft and easy to manage. I will have to use it as a DC and report back but for the time being it’s excellent as a cowash. Cons: The bottle is small. It can be expensive if it’s not on sale. Whole Foods and Ulta have very good sales on Giovanni products so I usually stock up then. The consistency does not appeal to me. It’s too thick for an everyday conditioner and too thin for a DC- for my hair. Verdict: I will repurchase this. I will most likely use it exclusively as a cowash when I run out of everything else. If I end up using it as a deep conditioner, as intended, I could possibly use it exclusively. 
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Giovanni NutraFix Hair Reconstructor

I purchased this item when my local Ulta was out of the Giovanni Direct Leave-In. From prior research, I saw that the ingredients for each are exactly the same and in the same order. These were buy one get one free so why not give it a try…

First Impression: The package is a soft squeeze bottle and it contains less product than the Direct Leave-In (6.8 oz vs. 8.5). This product is meant to be a deep conditioner/protein treatment. While thicker than the Leave-In, I didn’t think it was thick enough for a DC. It also says it’s meant for porous hair- which is a problem of mine. The smell is pleasant and very light- it’s the same scent as the leave-in but lighter.

Performance: This conditioner exceeded expectations. I became interested in the Giovanni line in an attempt to eliminate unnatural ingredients from my beauty products. This conditioner was a great replacement for Aussie Moist (a previous favorite of mine). I use it mostly as a cowash and I am able to detangle my hair fairly easily with it in.

Pros: The moisture and strength is balanced very well. My hair feels great afterwards and the ingredients are amazing. My porous hair needs protein and this product is able to provide that while still making my hair soft and easy to manage. I will have to use it as a DC and report back but for the time being it’s excellent as a cowash.

Cons: The bottle is small. It can be expensive if it’s not on sale. Whole Foods and Ulta have very good sales on Giovanni products so I usually stock up then. The consistency does not appeal to me. It’s too thick for an everyday conditioner and too thin for a DC- for my hair.

Verdict: I will repurchase this. I will most likely use it exclusively as a cowash when I run out of everything else. If I end up using it as a deep conditioner, as intended, I could possibly use it exclusively. 

PRODUCT REVIEW: Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads My mom bought this product for from CVS for 90% off- she only ever buys things on sale, lol. She buys things like this a lot and if we don’t like them she puts them in the barrel to Jamaica. First Impression: I’ve tried several brands of cleansing pads- all of which were purchased by my mother. IDK why, but it never occurs to me to buy this type of cleanser. My go-to brand is Clean and Clear exfoliating scrub (which I haven’t used in sometime because of Proactiv but that’s another story…). The container is fancier than the other pads I’ve used. The lid is screw top so the pads stay moist. Performance: My expectations weren’t too high, but this product far exceeded those. The pad has an abrasive side with just the right amount of roughness and a soft side for a gentle cleansing. I use the rough side everywhere but my eyes. I scrub as hard as I can. It gets all the dirt and makeup completely off. I have large pores and a ton of blackheads and whiteheads- those are completely gone after consistent use. I have hyperpimentation but the verdict is still out on how it works for that. Pros: The abrasive pad is just right. I can go crazy and my sensitive skin is not irritated after. Other products have torn my skin so it’s great to find something that does the job without reeking havoc. My skin is incredibly soft and smooth when I’m done. Another thing I like to do is rinse all the soap from the pad then use it to exfoliate my underarms as well. I’ve noticed a huge difference in the color of my underarms. I don’t use deodorant (for over a year now) so they weren’t too bad to begin with…but there’s a definite improvement. I still believe weight loss (decreasing friction in the area) is the only real way to get pretty underarms but exfoliating helps. Cons: The soap in the pads has an irritating fume to it. It burns my eyes and eecccckkk! when it gets on my mouth. I don’t like the chemicalness of it. I’m borderline hippie so I’m not used to a lot of ingredients. It’s an odd number of pads- 28. It just dawned on me that maybe it’s meant to last 2 weeks at 2 washes a day. I think a 30 day supply would make loads more sense. The green girl in me hates how much packaging is used- the plastic is unnecessarily thick. About 3x as much product can fit in the container. The ice caps are melting people!  Verdict: I will purchase this until I can afford a Clarsonic. I’ll look for coupons or something because my cheap behind is not used to spending $10 per month (2 containers) on face wash. My Clean and Clear probably lasted 3-4 months and is only $6/7 per tube. This is an amazing daily exfoliator for those on a budget and you don’t have to worry about germs and dirt like reusable clothes. **I’ll add a link for the amazon store when I get it up.** 
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Cleansing Pads

My mom bought this product for from CVS for 90% off- she only ever buys things on sale, lol. She buys things like this a lot and if we don’t like them she puts them in the barrel to Jamaica.

First Impression: I’ve tried several brands of cleansing pads- all of which were purchased by my mother. IDK why, but it never occurs to me to buy this type of cleanser. My go-to brand is Clean and Clear exfoliating scrub (which I haven’t used in sometime because of Proactiv but that’s another story…). The container is fancier than the other pads I’ve used. The lid is screw top so the pads stay moist.

Performance: My expectations weren’t too high, but this product far exceeded those. The pad has an abrasive side with just the right amount of roughness and a soft side for a gentle cleansing. I use the rough side everywhere but my eyes. I scrub as hard as I can. It gets all the dirt and makeup completely off. I have large pores and a ton of blackheads and whiteheads- those are completely gone after consistent use. I have hyperpimentation but the verdict is still out on how it works for that.

Pros: The abrasive pad is just right. I can go crazy and my sensitive skin is not irritated after. Other products have torn my skin so it’s great to find something that does the job without reeking havoc. My skin is incredibly soft and smooth when I’m done. Another thing I like to do is rinse all the soap from the pad then use it to exfoliate my underarms as well. I’ve noticed a huge difference in the color of my underarms. I don’t use deodorant (for over a year now) so they weren’t too bad to begin with…but there’s a definite improvement. I still believe weight loss (decreasing friction in the area) is the only real way to get pretty underarms but exfoliating helps.

Cons: The soap in the pads has an irritating fume to it. It burns my eyes and eecccckkk! when it gets on my mouth. I don’t like the chemicalness of it. I’m borderline hippie so I’m not used to a lot of ingredients. It’s an odd number of pads- 28. It just dawned on me that maybe it’s meant to last 2 weeks at 2 washes a day. I think a 30 day supply would make loads more sense. The green girl in me hates how much packaging is used- the plastic is unnecessarily thick. About 3x as much product can fit in the container. The ice caps are melting people! 

Verdict: I will purchase this until I can afford a Clarsonic. I’ll look for coupons or something because my cheap behind is not used to spending $10 per month (2 containers) on face wash. My Clean and Clear probably lasted 3-4 months and is only $6/7 per tube. This is an amazing daily exfoliator for those on a budget and you don’t have to worry about germs and dirt like reusable clothes.

**I’ll add a link for the amazon store when I get it up.** 

PRODUCT REVIEW: Peppermint Essential Oil I haven’t used a lot of essential oils (EO), in fact this may be the only pure oil I’ve purchased. It has multiple uses and lasts quite a while. First Impression: This oil is relatively cheap for an EO. An ounce costs around $6. I bought by first 1/2 ounce bottle from my local vitamin store which was pricey. I since wised up and purchased online. It doesn’t smell that strong in the bottle. It should come in a dark glass bottle with a dropper lid. Performance:  EO’s have multiple uses and this one is no exception. I add a drop to some hot water and drink it for digestion or to help with my sinus troubles. When added to hot water the smell is ridiculously overwhelming so take caution. I add a few drops to my vaporizer if my allergies are bad or I have a cold. I add 1 drop to a cup of cold water and swish it around my mouth to freshen my breath. By far my favorite usage is in my hair products. I add 10-15 drops to a 2 ounce applicator bottle which is usually filled with a mix of water, carrier oils, and a little conditioner. I put the mixture on my scalp and it feels refreshed and tingly.  Peppermint EO is also good for headaches and migraines which I get a lot of. I don’t use mine this way because I have a store bought peppermint creme that I put on my temples. When that runs out, I’ll experiment with making my own. I just just mix the EO with a thick carrier oil like castor oil. Pros: multi-use items, lasts long.  Cons: can’t think of any. Just be careful with EO, the NIH has some good guidelines for which ones can be harmful if ingested or used at full strength. University of Maryland Med School is a great resource for Osteopath info, Vandy is good for supplements and remedies too. Verdict: forever rebuy… To order from iHerb.com use coupon code is EKI823 for $5 off your first order.
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Peppermint Essential Oil

I haven’t used a lot of essential oils (EO), in fact this may be the only pure oil I’ve purchased. It has multiple uses and lasts quite a while.

First Impression: This oil is relatively cheap for an EO. An ounce costs around $6. I bought by first 1/2 ounce bottle from my local vitamin store which was pricey. I since wised up and purchased online. It doesn’t smell that strong in the bottle. It should come in a dark glass bottle with a dropper lid.

Performance:  EO’s have multiple uses and this one is no exception. I add a drop to some hot water and drink it for digestion or to help with my sinus troubles. When added to hot water the smell is ridiculously overwhelming so take caution. I add a few drops to my vaporizer if my allergies are bad or I have a cold. I add 1 drop to a cup of cold water and swish it around my mouth to freshen my breath.

By far my favorite usage is in my hair products. I add 10-15 drops to a 2 ounce applicator bottle which is usually filled with a mix of water, carrier oils, and a little conditioner. I put the mixture on my scalp and it feels refreshed and tingly. 

Peppermint EO is also good for headaches and migraines which I get a lot of. I don’t use mine this way because I have a store bought peppermint creme that I put on my temples. When that runs out, I’ll experiment with making my own. I just just mix the EO with a thick carrier oil like castor oil.

Pros: multi-use items, lasts long. 

Cons: can’t think of any.

Just be careful with EO, the NIH has some good guidelines for which ones can be harmful if ingested or used at full strength. University of Maryland Med School is a great resource for Osteopath info, Vandy is good for supplements and remedies too.

Verdict: forever rebuy…

To order from iHerb.com use coupon code is EKI823 for $5 off your first order.

PRODUCT REVIEW: LeKair Cholesterol Plus I’ve  used this product for about 10 years now. The only thing I used longer was Pantene (which I no longer use but don’t mind).  Back in the day, Cholesterol was all us relaxed heads knew about deep treatments. I washed, conditioned and occasionally used this to DC because I did turrible, yes tUrrible stuff to my hair…like pouring peroxide and lemon juice all over it and overlapping my relaxers. :O First Impression: I’ve used this forever, I don’t remember my absolute first impression. I’ve tried lots of cholesterols and nothing works like this one. It’s a goopy, thick, not quite opaque conditioner with a strange smell- not unpleasant, just unidentifiable.  Performance: I absolutely love this stuff! It makes my hair feel so strong! It’s moisturized and soft but the strands themselves feel like they can withstand more. I used this while double processed (relaxed and colored) and received tons of compliments about the condition of my hair from hairdressers.  Pros: Only $2 at Walmart. I buy 2 or 3 at a time and it lasts a while. The jar is 20 oz…and always says 25% more free, more than what? idk. I DC on dry hair and I end up using a lot more product than necessary because it’s so thick, but add some water and get more bang for your buck. Some people use this to define curls, it works great for that but usually if I don’t rinse it’s because my hair is in braids and I’m feeling lazy. Cons: The smell could be nicer (scent is so important to me) but it doesn’t linger anyway. It contains alcohols, parabens, mineral oil and other yucky stuff that’s enough to cancel out the great stuff (jojoba oil, aloe vera, collagen, vitamins).  :( Verdict: I really REALLY love this product…but in an effort to cut out unnatural products, I’m willing to let this one go… As soon as I find a replacement. If I can’t find something natural and as good as this I will continue to use it. So far I’ve tried a DC by Hairveda and Shea Moisture and hated them both. I have a protein DC by Giovanni that I LOVE…maybe that can do the job, but it feels more moisturizing than strengthening IMO. I try not to spent too much money buying new products so it’ll be a while before I experiment with other  all natural DCs.
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PRODUCT REVIEW: LeKair Cholesterol Plus

I’ve  used this product for about 10 years now. The only thing I used longer was Pantene (which I no longer use but don’t mind).  Back in the day, Cholesterol was all us relaxed heads knew about deep treatments. I washed, conditioned and occasionally used this to DC because I did turrible, yes tUrrible stuff to my hair…like pouring peroxide and lemon juice all over it and overlapping my relaxers. :O

First Impression: I’ve used this forever, I don’t remember my absolute first impression. I’ve tried lots of cholesterols and nothing works like this one. It’s a goopy, thick, not quite opaque conditioner with a strange smell- not unpleasant, just unidentifiable. 

Performance: I absolutely love this stuff! It makes my hair feel so strong! It’s moisturized and soft but the strands themselves feel like they can withstand more. I used this while double processed (relaxed and colored) and received tons of compliments about the condition of my hair from hairdressers. 

Pros: Only $2 at Walmart. I buy 2 or 3 at a time and it lasts a while. The jar is 20 oz…and always says 25% more free, more than what? idk. I DC on dry hair and I end up using a lot more product than necessary because it’s so thick, but add some water and get more bang for your buck. Some people use this to define curls, it works great for that but usually if I don’t rinse it’s because my hair is in braids and I’m feeling lazy.

Cons: The smell could be nicer (scent is so important to me) but it doesn’t linger anyway. It contains alcohols, parabens, mineral oil and other yucky stuff that’s enough to cancel out the great stuff (jojoba oil, aloe vera, collagen, vitamins).  :(

Verdict: I really REALLY love this product…but in an effort to cut out unnatural products, I’m willing to let this one go… As soon as I find a replacement. If I can’t find something natural and as good as this I will continue to use it. So far I’ve tried a DC by Hairveda and Shea Moisture and hated them both. I have a protein DC by Giovanni that I LOVE…maybe that can do the job, but it feels more moisturizing than strengthening IMO.

I try not to spent too much money buying new products so it’ll be a while before I experiment with other  all natural DCs.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Redken Ringet 07 I picked this product up based on the recommendation of YouTuber PrettyDimples (that might not be her exact name). There weren’t many naturals using salon brands so I was intrigued and went out and bought this.  First Impression: The sticker on the bottle says $17 so it is expensive. The bottle is about the size of my palm and an inch or so thick, which amounts to 6 oz of product. It has a pump, which is nice. You can find it a little cheaper at a sale; I thing I paid $12.50. There are a ton of unpronounceable ingredients in it. The smell is unpleasant (almost like it has no fragrance- just the scent of the chemicals used). The consistency is that of spluge, lol (I’m so immature). It’s a slimy, serumy type viscosity. It spreads well (a little goes a long way- as they say) and almost feels like shampoo when it’s in your hair. Two pumps (boom) will do the job (I told you I was immature :p ).  Performance: It does a pretty good job of defining my frizzy afro textured hair. I had low expectations because most salon products are not made for black hair. Afro curls are a completely different animal that other curls. That said, I was very impressed. It cut down frizz, clumped my curls, and left them with a crisp, yet soft finish. I like a little crispiness or hold to my hair. I would rate the hold as a 6 out of 10. I can hear my hair when I touch the ends, but it doesn’t sound like dried leaves… Pros: Great hold, great definition. Product spreads easy. Dries faster than gel with no need for a leave or any other product. Cons: Expensive. Awful ingredients. Small bottle, even though it last a while it’s $17 for 6 oz and that shit is still cray. I also wish it smelled nice; the smell isn’t strong at all but it should smell better. Verdict: I will not repurchase because I’m moving to organic products only. If you are looking for a 1 step wash and go and ingredients aren’t a big deal, I highly recommend this product. Unlike ecostyler or Kinky Kurly Knot Today, I can just slap it on without using a leave in and my hair is just right.  If I ever decided to ditch organic products, wear wash and goes all the time, and I was travelling a lot and couldn’t pack much (a lot of IF’s) I would stock up on this. I should have used it more often, but I mainly used it for puffs.
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Redken Ringet 07

I picked this product up based on the recommendation of YouTuber PrettyDimples (that might not be her exact name). There weren’t many naturals using salon brands so I was intrigued and went out and bought this. 

First Impression: The sticker on the bottle says $17 so it is expensive. The bottle is about the size of my palm and an inch or so thick, which amounts to 6 oz of product. It has a pump, which is nice. You can find it a little cheaper at a sale; I thing I paid $12.50. There are a ton of unpronounceable ingredients in it. The smell is unpleasant (almost like it has no fragrance- just the scent of the chemicals used). The consistency is that of spluge, lol (I’m so immature). It’s a slimy, serumy type viscosity. It spreads well (a little goes a long way- as they say) and almost feels like shampoo when it’s in your hair. Two pumps (boom) will do the job (I told you I was immature :p ). 

Performance: It does a pretty good job of defining my frizzy afro textured hair. I had low expectations because most salon products are not made for black hair. Afro curls are a completely different animal that other curls. That said, I was very impressed. It cut down frizz, clumped my curls, and left them with a crisp, yet soft finish. I like a little crispiness or hold to my hair. I would rate the hold as a 6 out of 10. I can hear my hair when I touch the ends, but it doesn’t sound like dried leaves…

Pros: Great hold, great definition. Product spreads easy. Dries faster than gel with no need for a leave or any other product.

Cons: Expensive. Awful ingredients. Small bottle, even though it last a while it’s $17 for 6 oz and that shit is still cray. I also wish it smelled nice; the smell isn’t strong at all but it should smell better.

Verdict: I will not repurchase because I’m moving to organic products only. If you are looking for a 1 step wash and go and ingredients aren’t a big deal, I highly recommend this product. Unlike ecostyler or Kinky Kurly Knot Today, I can just slap it on without using a leave in and my hair is just right. 

If I ever decided to ditch organic products, wear wash and goes all the time, and I was travelling a lot and couldn’t pack much (a lot of IF’s) I would stock up on this. I should have used it more often, but I mainly used it for puffs.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Proclaim Natural 7 Argan Oil If I remember correctly, I purchased this after a hairdresser used a similar version on my flat ironed hair. I wanted purer argan oil, but this was way cheaper. Argan is way down on the list of ingredients, but I bought it anyway because the oils are good. First Impression: Liquid gold. It has the most divine smell of anything I’ve ever used. I told my sister it’s like heaven wrapped around a sexy man. It’s a musky, deep, faintly sweet smell. I just sit and sniff the bottle like a crackhead on whippets. It’s that good. That said, my sister went out and bought it on my recommendation and she wasn’t that impressed with the scent. You are either in love or ‘eh’- that’s what I’ve gathered from youtube anyway.  Ingredients: HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL ,RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL ,PHENOXYETHANOL ,ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN ,FRAGRANCE ,C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE ,VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED OIL ,SESAMUM INDICUM (SESAME) SEED OIL ,OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL ,ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL ,RED 17 Performance: I would still buy this even if it made me bald- the smell is that good (j/k, lol). In addition to smelling amazing, it works great too. The consistency is perfect for sealing my hair. I leave it in overnight and my hair isn’t greasy, it just smells great and is soft. I mix it with leave-ins, rub it on my skin, I use it to flat iron…it’s great for a number of things.  Pros: Only $7 at Sallys. The SMELL!!!!!! Works great for hair and skin. 100% vegan and paraben free (per packaging). Lasts a long time. I’ve had my 8 oz bottle for over a year. Cons: It doesn’t come as a perfume or with a sexy man. Verdict: I want 10 bottles of this. It’s amazing. I cannot say enough how much I love this stuff! If I could get it as a perfume and a sheet spray, I would buy those too.
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Proclaim Natural 7 Argan Oil

If I remember correctly, I purchased this after a hairdresser used a similar version on my flat ironed hair. I wanted purer argan oil, but this was way cheaper. Argan is way down on the list of ingredients, but I bought it anyway because the oils are good.

First Impression: Liquid gold. It has the most divine smell of anything I’ve ever used. I told my sister it’s like heaven wrapped around a sexy man. It’s a musky, deep, faintly sweet smell. I just sit and sniff the bottle like a crackhead on whippets. It’s that good. That said, my sister went out and bought it on my recommendation and she wasn’t that impressed with the scent. You are either in love or ‘eh’- that’s what I’ve gathered from youtube anyway. 

Ingredients: HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL ,RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL ,PHENOXYETHANOL ,ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN ,FRAGRANCE ,C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE ,VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED OIL ,SESAMUM INDICUM (SESAME) SEED OIL ,OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL ,ARGANIA SPINOSA KERNEL OIL ,RED 17

Performance: I would still buy this even if it made me bald- the smell is that good (j/k, lol). In addition to smelling amazing, it works great too. The consistency is perfect for sealing my hair. I leave it in overnight and my hair isn’t greasy, it just smells great and is soft. I mix it with leave-ins, rub it on my skin, I use it to flat iron…it’s great for a number of things. 

Pros: Only $7 at Sallys. The SMELL!!!!!! Works great for hair and skin. 100% vegan and paraben free (per packaging). Lasts a long time. I’ve had my 8 oz bottle for over a year.

Cons: It doesn’t come as a perfume or with a sexy man.

Verdict: I want 10 bottles of this. It’s amazing. I cannot say enough how much I love this stuff! If I could get it as a perfume and a sheet spray, I would buy those too.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner I wanted to try this since first going natural 3 years ago. I noticed a lot of long haired naturals use this and I had to grab it during a sale at Whole Foods. I purchased for $6, instead of the usual $8 - $9.  First Impression: The ingredients are outstanding. Everything in it is natural and there’s a lot of good stuff that promotes not only healthy hair but hair growth. The smell is pleasant. Reminds me of summer…kinda like wild flowers in the rain, lol. The scent dissipates quickly which I don’t mind. Performance: First, I should say that I don’t like leave-ins. I use them, most of the time…but I don’t really like them. That said, I wasn’t wowed by this. It wasn’t bad, but I just don’t like leave-ins. I think I’ll stick to Shea Moisture’s Style Milk because that felt better in my very fine 4a frizzy hair.  Pros: Excellent ingredients…aloe, nettle, thyme, horsetail extract- all good for hair growth. Reasonable price, especially during a sale. It’s probably good for prepping a protective style. Cons: Awful for layering products. I tried this under Ecostyler and it was a disaster. Does not provide shine. Too much makes hair gunky.  Verdict: I don’t see myself getting is again, simply because I don’t need it. I prefer the Shea Moisture leave-in because I can layer it under gel for wash and goes and it makes my hair shiny (while this does not). I also don’t need this one because I have the Giovanni Nutrafix (a wash out conditioner) which I absolutely ADORE!!! (review to come) and the ingredients are exactly the same and in the same order. It’s just a little thicker (and in smaller bottle) than this leave in.
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner

I wanted to try this since first going natural 3 years ago. I noticed a lot of long haired naturals use this and I had to grab it during a sale at Whole Foods. I purchased for $6, instead of the usual $8 - $9. 

First Impression: The ingredients are outstanding. Everything in it is natural and there’s a lot of good stuff that promotes not only healthy hair but hair growth. The smell is pleasant. Reminds me of summer…kinda like wild flowers in the rain, lol. The scent dissipates quickly which I don’t mind.

Performance: First, I should say that I don’t like leave-ins. I use them, most of the time…but I don’t really like them. That said, I wasn’t wowed by this. It wasn’t bad, but I just don’t like leave-ins. I think I’ll stick to Shea Moisture’s Style Milk because that felt better in my very fine 4a frizzy hair. 

Pros: Excellent ingredients…aloe, nettle, thyme, horsetail extract- all good for hair growth. Reasonable price, especially during a sale. It’s probably good for prepping a protective style.

Cons: Awful for layering products. I tried this under Ecostyler and it was a disaster. Does not provide shine. Too much makes hair gunky. 

Verdict: I don’t see myself getting is again, simply because I don’t need it. I prefer the Shea Moisture leave-in because I can layer it under gel for wash and goes and it makes my hair shiny (while this does not). I also don’t need this one because I have the Giovanni Nutrafix (a wash out conditioner) which I absolutely ADORE!!! (review to come) and the ingredients are exactly the same and in the same order. It’s just a little thicker (and in smaller bottle) than this leave in.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Caruso Steam Rollers I see these mentioned on the hair boards from time to time. They are hot rollers that use steam as the heat source so it’s supposed to be healthy heat- if there is such a thing. A set retails for $43 at Sally’s. I came across these while browsing for workout gear in DD’s Discounts (it’s the cheaper, sister store to Ross). The set was $11, so I snatched it up, lol. First Impression: It was an older model but the box was in okay shape. You never know what you’re going to get with discount stores so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. All the rollers were in the box- great. There was some white woman’s hair in there too- not so great. I decided to keep it and just shampoo the rollers with clarifying shampoo before I used them.  Performance: I don’t know what I was expecting to get out of this but what I got wasn’t it.  There is no way to get a sleek roller set of defined curls on natural hair with this product. The steam WILL cause reversion. Do NOT flat iron then use these rollers. In fact, don’t blow dry and use these rollers. It’s just a waste of your time to get your hair semi straight then use these. The steam rollers leave you with a poofy mass of sorta curled hair. If you know that going in, you won’t be disappointed.  In my opinion, it’s best to use these on previously stretched hair (whether twisted/braided out, banded, bunned, whatever). The crinkly hair will be stretched out more and a lot softer after the rollerset. Then you can do an updo or other protective style.  Pros: Makes hair soft. Easy to use. Steamer can be used for other purposes (face and hair- see below). Cons: Not enough rollers. I have a big head and lots of hair. It comes with 20 rollers and I only had 6 left after doing half my head. I can buy extras but I won’t. It doesn’t get hair straight. It’s poofy and will cause reversion if hair is already straight. If you put the roller in the steam for too long the foam is wet and your hair will have to dry before it can hold a curl.  Verdict: There are obviously a lot more cons than pros. If you are natural and looking for a low risk way to curl your hair- move on, this is not for you. For $20 more than the retail price, you can get a Curlformers set ($60 ish at Sally’s). I haven’t used Curlformers but based on YT, the results look much better than this. Even flexi rods will do. I only spent a fourth of the retail price on this, so I’m happy with my purchase.  The major benefit from this set is that I’ve fashioned a bootleg steamer from it. I use the steamer to steam my hair every weekend while I DC. When I say bootleg,  I do mean BOOTLEG. I hold the steam up to my hair, one section at a time. I go through my whole head then put a plastic grocery bag over my head and let the steam fill the bag and distribute to my entire head of hair. The steam can get a little hot doing this so I have to make sure I don’t hold it too close and damage my hair. Instead of spending $60 for a great rollersetting tool and $100 for a great steam DC, I spent $11 for a so- so rollerset and steam DC. I can live with that. :) Oh, and I can also hold my face over it for a DIY facial. I only use pure water in it and put some Jojoba oil or tea tree on my face beforehand.
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Caruso Steam Rollers

I see these mentioned on the hair boards from time to time. They are hot rollers that use steam as the heat source so it’s supposed to be healthy heat- if there is such a thing. A set retails for $43 at Sally’s. I came across these while browsing for workout gear in DD’s Discounts (it’s the cheaper, sister store to Ross). The set was $11, so I snatched it up, lol.

First Impression: It was an older model but the box was in okay shape. You never know what you’re going to get with discount stores so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. All the rollers were in the box- great. There was some white woman’s hair in there too- not so great. I decided to keep it and just shampoo the rollers with clarifying shampoo before I used them. 

Performance: I don’t know what I was expecting to get out of this but what I got wasn’t it.  There is no way to get a sleek roller set of defined curls on natural hair with this product. The steam WILL cause reversion. Do NOT flat iron then use these rollers. In fact, don’t blow dry and use these rollers. It’s just a waste of your time to get your hair semi straight then use these. The steam rollers leave you with a poofy mass of sorta curled hair. If you know that going in, you won’t be disappointed. 

In my opinion, it’s best to use these on previously stretched hair (whether twisted/braided out, banded, bunned, whatever). The crinkly hair will be stretched out more and a lot softer after the rollerset. Then you can do an updo or other protective style. 

Pros: Makes hair soft. Easy to use. Steamer can be used for other purposes (face and hair- see below).

Cons: Not enough rollers. I have a big head and lots of hair. It comes with 20 rollers and I only had 6 left after doing half my head. I can buy extras but I won’t. It doesn’t get hair straight. It’s poofy and will cause reversion if hair is already straight. If you put the roller in the steam for too long the foam is wet and your hair will have to dry before it can hold a curl. 

Verdict: There are obviously a lot more cons than pros. If you are natural and looking for a low risk way to curl your hair- move on, this is not for you. For $20 more than the retail price, you can get a Curlformers set ($60 ish at Sally’s). I haven’t used Curlformers but based on YT, the results look much better than this. Even flexi rods will do. I only spent a fourth of the retail price on this, so I’m happy with my purchase. 

The major benefit from this set is that I’ve fashioned a bootleg steamer from it. I use the steamer to steam my hair every weekend while I DC. When I say bootleg,  I do mean BOOTLEG. I hold the steam up to my hair, one section at a time. I go through my whole head then put a plastic grocery bag over my head and let the steam fill the bag and distribute to my entire head of hair. The steam can get a little hot doing this so I have to make sure I don’t hold it too close and damage my hair. Instead of spending $60 for a great rollersetting tool and $100 for a great steam DC, I spent $11 for a so- so rollerset and steam DC. I can live with that. :) Oh, and I can also hold my face over it for a DIY facial. I only use pure water in it and put some Jojoba oil or tea tree on my face beforehand.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Redken Fresh Curls: Curl Refiner I saw a review on YouTube for a Redken curl product (not this one). I went to Ulta to pick that one up and there was a buy 1 get 1 - 50% off sale, so I picked this one up too. First Impression: The ingredients are not so great…mostly lab made chemicals…a few good things in there like protein and coconut oil. The front of the package says “leave-in anti-frizz detangler for unruly curls.” The smell is weird; smells like really cheap perfume without the lingering alcohol scent. Performance: At first I thought it wasn’t that bad. Although, it did none of what it claimed on the package. It didn’t reduce frizz, it didn’t detangle really either. It did make my hair soft, but it was a false sort of soft…like it was coated. The smell isn’t offensive and it had no staying power anyway. I recently revisited this in an attempt to use up all my non-natural stuff. I used it for a twist out and my hair is dull, feels dry and sticky, and I really want to wash it out. Pros: I didn’t hate it?? Just disliked it. I think it is meant for silkier hair, larger curls perhaps. It also says to use with the whole line, which I didn’t- that could make a difference, idk. Cons: Very expensive- $16 for 8.5 oz. Ingredients are not natural at all. Provided no refining or definition. Verdict: Definitely wouldn’t repurchase. I would rate maybe 3 of 5 stars. blargh… I think there must be better salon products out there if you are into that.
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Redken Fresh Curls: Curl Refiner

I saw a review on YouTube for a Redken curl product (not this one). I went to Ulta to pick that one up and there was a buy 1 get 1 - 50% off sale, so I picked this one up too.

First Impression: The ingredients are not so great…mostly lab made chemicals…a few good things in there like protein and coconut oil. The front of the package says “leave-in anti-frizz detangler for unruly curls.” The smell is weird; smells like really cheap perfume without the lingering alcohol scent.

Performance: At first I thought it wasn’t that bad. Although, it did none of what it claimed on the package. It didn’t reduce frizz, it didn’t detangle really either. It did make my hair soft, but it was a false sort of soft…like it was coated. The smell isn’t offensive and it had no staying power anyway. I recently revisited this in an attempt to use up all my non-natural stuff. I used it for a twist out and my hair is dull, feels dry and sticky, and I really want to wash it out.

Pros: I didn’t hate it?? Just disliked it. I think it is meant for silkier hair, larger curls perhaps. It also says to use with the whole line, which I didn’t- that could make a difference, idk.

Cons: Very expensive- $16 for 8.5 oz. Ingredients are not natural at all. Provided no refining or definition.

Verdict: Definitely wouldn’t repurchase. I would rate maybe 3 of 5 stars. blargh… I think there must be better salon products out there if you are into that.

PRODUCT REVIEW: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay I’ve been on a mission lately to use only all natural products (and only 1 or 2 of them). I’m slowly going through my stash of stuff packed with chemicals like Redken, etc… In an attempt to replace shampoo, I picked up some bentonite clay. First Impression: The clay is very light in color and seemingly heavy. Unlike henna the powder doesn’t fly everywhere so you can breathe it in and choke to death. The instructions are for a face mask and include mixing it with apple cider vinegar. There is a chemical reaction that will cause it to fizz, which is good because it doesn’t mix well at all. There will be clumps left in it. Performance: I wouldn’t say I got anything spectacular out of this. My hair felt clean and soft but I was over the moon excited about this product. I don’t know how often I can use it but I’ve done it twice in about a week with no problems. Pros: It’s much easier to use than henna. Not as messy and it won’t interfere with anything else you plan on doing with your hair. It has multiple uses. I did a face mask and I write up something on that as well. I didn’t use as much as I thought I would. It’s a 1 lbs jar and I’ve used about 1/3 of it doing 2 hair washes and 1 face mask. Cons: I was expecting more… But nothing really negative to say about this. It may clog your drains so be careful. I got mine at Whole Foods, I think it was between $5-10 so not too expensive but could be hard to find. It irritated my neck, a lot! Verdict: I will repurchase but I need to work on getting the ingredients just right. I mixed with apple cider vinegar, water, and aloe vera juice but I felt it could be better. If I buy the Mud Wash from Terresentials, I replace this for my hair and use the clay for my face only.
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PRODUCT REVIEW: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay

I’ve been on a mission lately to use only all natural products (and only 1 or 2 of them). I’m slowly going through my stash of stuff packed with chemicals like Redken, etc… In an attempt to replace shampoo, I picked up some bentonite clay.

First Impression: The clay is very light in color and seemingly heavy. Unlike henna the powder doesn’t fly everywhere so you can breathe it in and choke to death. The instructions are for a face mask and include mixing it with apple cider vinegar. There is a chemical reaction that will cause it to fizz, which is good because it doesn’t mix well at all. There will be clumps left in it.

Performance: I wouldn’t say I got anything spectacular out of this. My hair felt clean and soft but I was over the moon excited about this product. I don’t know how often I can use it but I’ve done it twice in about a week with no problems.

Pros: It’s much easier to use than henna. Not as messy and it won’t interfere with anything else you plan on doing with your hair. It has multiple uses. I did a face mask and I write up something on that as well. I didn’t use as much as I thought I would. It’s a 1 lbs jar and I’ve used about 1/3 of it doing 2 hair washes and 1 face mask.

Cons: I was expecting more… But nothing really negative to say about this. It may clog your drains so be careful. I got mine at Whole Foods, I think it was between $5-10 so not too expensive but could be hard to find. It irritated my neck, a lot!

Verdict: I will repurchase but I need to work on getting the ingredients just right. I mixed with apple cider vinegar, water, and aloe vera juice but I felt it could be better. If I buy the Mud Wash from Terresentials, I replace this for my hair and use the clay for my face only.

PRODUCT REVIEW! haven’t done one of these in a while. I learnt about this product from this youtube haul video.  Garnier Fructis Style - Pure Clean Finishing Paste The video is worth the watch, the chick in it has a fab bantu knot out on flat ironed hair. I bought it to mimic the style but failed miserably. She doesn’t have a tut up for the knot out but go to the 4:00 min mark in the video for all the info she gives. Review: The product says 99% plant derived but I wouldn’t class this as a natural hair product. For my curly/kinky natural hair, I’m trying to use more natural products. For my flat ironed natural hair, however, I need the “bad stuff” (cones, etc…) to protect it from heat damage. It contains beewax and lots of alcohols. I personally do not like the smell of it, but it doesn’t linger. The consistency is similar those Avon hand creams that came in the jar…I know you know what I’m talking about. Everyone smelt like Imari in middle school, lol. It’s a bright white paste, not oily, not sticky and very light.  The jar is pretty small, it fits in the palm of my hand and runs about $5. I put in some bantu knots outs for a few hours just to test the product. The knots fell rather quickly so the trial wasn’t anything spectacular. I decided to go ahead the write the review now however because I just trimmed my bangs for fall/winter season. I flat ironed them but they weren’t quite falling naturally. I added a fingertip amount of this stuff and voila! Perfect heavy bangs, ready for boot and coat weather! :) Verdict: For overall hair, 4 out of 5 stars…for my bangs 5 out of 5. As of now this is a staple. As a natural wearing straight hair with bangs it’s torture trying to maintain them. This product so far allows me to look normal and gives one aspect I miss about relaxer hair, tamed fringe. (Oh and I don’t know if it’s worth stating but I hate Garnier Fructis and was pleasantly surprised by this product.) I’ll add an amazon link to the right margin for anyone interested in buying. Thanks for reading!
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PRODUCT REVIEW! haven’t done one of these in a while.

I learnt about this product from this youtube haul video. 

Garnier Fructis Style - Pure Clean Finishing Paste

The video is worth the watch, the chick in it has a fab bantu knot out on flat ironed hair. I bought it to mimic the style but failed miserably. She doesn’t have a tut up for the knot out but go to the 4:00 min mark in the video for all the info she gives.

Review: The product says 99% plant derived but I wouldn’t class this as a natural hair product. For my curly/kinky natural hair, I’m trying to use more natural products. For my flat ironed natural hair, however, I need the “bad stuff” (cones, etc…) to protect it from heat damage. It contains beewax and lots of alcohols.

I personally do not like the smell of it, but it doesn’t linger. The consistency is similar those Avon hand creams that came in the jar…I know you know what I’m talking about. Everyone smelt like Imari in middle school, lol. It’s a bright white paste, not oily, not sticky and very light. 

The jar is pretty small, it fits in the palm of my hand and runs about $5. I put in some bantu knots outs for a few hours just to test the product. The knots fell rather quickly so the trial wasn’t anything spectacular. I decided to go ahead the write the review now however because I just trimmed my bangs for fall/winter season. I flat ironed them but they weren’t quite falling naturally. I added a fingertip amount of this stuff and voila! Perfect heavy bangs, ready for boot and coat weather! :)

Verdict: For overall hair, 4 out of 5 stars…for my bangs 5 out of 5.

As of now this is a staple. As a natural wearing straight hair with bangs it’s torture trying to maintain them. This product so far allows me to look normal and gives one aspect I miss about relaxer hair, tamed fringe. (Oh and I don’t know if it’s worth stating but I hate Garnier Fructis and was pleasantly surprised by this product.)

I’ll add an amazon link to the right margin for anyone interested in buying. Thanks for reading!

  I almost didn’t pick this item up because I read so little about it on the net. Shea Moisture Curl and Style Milk is actually my favorite product in this line. I purchased this at Walgreens along with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie, however it is available for purchase on Amazon by clicking the link on the right! First Impression: The product was sealed inside which is always a good sign. The smell was divine and very similar to the smoothie. It’s an exotic and sweet smell.  Texture wise, it’s very creamy.  Performance: I used this as a leave in on freshly co-washed hair. I used about a quarter size amount for my whole head. It spreads very easily. My hair is the softest it’s ever been in all my years natural. Today for instance I used the Curl and Style Milk, put my hair in a pony tail, then put on a silk scarf to flatten my bangs. I cannot stop touch my edges because they are so smooth and soft.  Pros: scent, product will last quite a while, reasonable price, all natural- fantastic ingredients…and it’s amazing!!! Cons: I wish I had found this sooner! Verdict: I’ve never used a leave in routinely before. If I want some sort of moisturizer, I use a wash out conditioner as a leave in. This product is amazing and I want to go out and buy another bottle now so I never have to go without it! :D Click the link to right => to purchase from Amazon or Target, only $9.99 for 8 oz bottle
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I almost didn’t pick this item up because I read so little about it on the net. Shea Moisture Curl and Style Milk is actually my favorite product in this line. I purchased this at Walgreens along with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie, however it is available for purchase on Amazon by clicking the link on the right!

First Impression: The product was sealed inside which is always a good sign. The smell was divine and very similar to the smoothie. It’s an exotic and sweet smell.  Texture wise, it’s very creamy. 

Performance: I used this as a leave in on freshly co-washed hair. I used about a quarter size amount for my whole head. It spreads very easily. My hair is the softest it’s ever been in all my years natural. Today for instance I used the Curl and Style Milk, put my hair in a pony tail, then put on a silk scarf to flatten my bangs. I cannot stop touch my edges because they are so smooth and soft. 

Pros: scent, product will last quite a while, reasonable price, all natural- fantastic ingredients…and it’s amazing!!!

Cons: I wish I had found this sooner!

Verdict: I’ve never used a leave in routinely before. If I want some sort of moisturizer, I use a wash out conditioner as a leave in. This product is amazing and I want to go out and buy another bottle now so I never have to go without it! :D

Click the link to right => to purchase from Amazon or Target, only $9.99 for 8 oz bottle

I purchased Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie from Walgreens last week. I was looking for a mostly natural product that would define my curls and leave my hair soft.  First Impression: The product was sealed inside and filled to the brim! The smell was divine. Texture wise, it looks like a butter mix and it quite thick, but can be warmed in the hands. Performance: My hair is very frizzy, VERY FRIZZY, ridiculously frizzy. I have yet to find a curl product that defines my hair from root to tip. There is no way I could use this product alone in a wash and go. It would lead to frizz upon frizz and knots upon knots. For a braid out or twist out or any protective style, this would work well in my hair. For a wash and go, I layered it with eco-styler gel and created a soft, medium hold which cut down on some of the frizz. Pros: scent, product will last quite a while, reasonable price, all natural- fantastic ingredients Cons: not “curl enhancing” in my opinion, at least not on my frizz ball. Verdict: I can see this being a staple product, it’s similar to Afroveda butters, but smells great and works better. These are easily attainable and I definitely see myself buying again! Click the link to right => to purchase from Amazon or Target, only $9.99 for 12 oz
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I purchased Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie from Walgreens last week. I was looking for a mostly natural product that would define my curls and leave my hair soft. 

First Impression: The product was sealed inside and filled to the brim! The smell was divine. Texture wise, it looks like a butter mix and it quite thick, but can be warmed in the hands.

Performance: My hair is very frizzy, VERY FRIZZY, ridiculously frizzy. I have yet to find a curl product that defines my hair from root to tip. There is no way I could use this product alone in a wash and go. It would lead to frizz upon frizz and knots upon knots. For a braid out or twist out or any protective style, this would work well in my hair. For a wash and go, I layered it with eco-styler gel and created a soft, medium hold which cut down on some of the frizz.

Pros: scent, product will last quite a while, reasonable price, all natural- fantastic ingredients

Cons: not “curl enhancing” in my opinion, at least not on my frizz ball.

Verdict: I can see this being a staple product, it’s similar to Afroveda butters, but smells great and works better. These are easily attainable and I definitely see myself buying again!

Click the link to right => to purchase from Amazon or Target, only $9.99 for 12 oz


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