WHAT'S IN YOUR SPRAY BOTTLE?

One of the tools most naturals possess is a spray bottle. Whether you use an old product spray bottle or buy one from the beauty supply store, pharmacy, dollar store, etc., it is a good tool to have. 

We use it to refresh multiple day WnGs or to refresh/moisturize hair when we want to re-twist for a twist out. Some use just water while others, like myself, add other ingredients for extra moisture. There are products sold specifically for refreshing and moisturizing but it's also less expensive to just make your own and it last a bit longer. 

At present my water spray bottle contains Soultanicals BakeBerry Knot Fairy (a sweet scent version of their Knot Sauce) and Knot So Blue Detangling Dew along with Hairveda Vatika Frosting Herb Infused Coconut Oil (see my review on this oil in a previous blog post). I don't do exact measurements but simply guess-timate around a teaspoon of each and then add HOT tap water (makes it easier for the products to dissolve) and shake it up. I leave it for a bit to allow it to dissolve some. I don't fill the bottle all the way up, usually just over half way.

This combination gives my hair awesome moisture in between styles. I use it mainly to mist my hair before re-twisting it to refresh a twist out. I don't wear WnGs that often but when I do I also use my spray bottle mixture to refresh that style as well. 

You can use any type of leave-in conditioner you like or favor for your hair and oil. Some people just use an oil in the water. You can experiment until you find the combo that works best for YOUR hair.

PRODUCT REVIEW ~ HAIRVEDA VATIKA FROSTING HERB INFUSED COCONUT OIL

DESCRIPTION

Vatika in Hindu means garden. In India, coconut oil is widely used in Ayurveda health remedies. This special blend of coconut oil, henna, lemon & Amla provides natural nourishment to your hair. The blend gives the hair body and radiance, taking care of the critical balance of nutrients. Our pure coconut oil is blended with henna and Amla with lemon to strengthen each strand of hair from within. When used 1 day before washing, Vatika Frosting provides a protective coating promoting shine and health. A scalp massage with Vatika Frosting also promotes hair growth. To maintain the oil and moisture balance of your hair, remember to do a conditioning treatment with oil at least three times a week.

INGREDIENTS:  Pure unrefined Coconut oil, Amla extract, Henna extract, Lemon extract, Fragrance.

MY REVIEW

I have been using this oil in several different ways. As a pre-poo treatment before shampooing my hair, as the O (oil) in my L.O.C. method when moisturizing my hair, as a sealant on my ends in between wash days, to massage my scalp, and also to take my hair down when doing twist/braid outs to reduce frizz and add shine. I also add it to my water/oil/conditioner mix in my spray bottle for moisturizing my hair in between wash days. I love how it works with each method I use it for. My hair stays moisturized with a nice shine. After shampooing my hair it's left feeling moisturized and not stripped. This is definitely a staple product for my hair as well as my daughter's hair.

DC SERIES ~ PRODUCT REVIEW ~ KINKY CURLY STELLAR STRANDS HYDRATING DEEP TREATMENT

Lately I've become kind of obsessed with trying out deep conditioners and finding the best ones that work for me and my daughter's hair. Our hair textures are very different so I love when I find a product that works for both our different textures! So I've decided to do a series of blog posts dedicated to deep conditioners, reviewing them as I try them out on our hair. I've already reviewed a few before deciding to do this series but this will be my first official one! 

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INGREDIENTS: water, acetyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate, hydroxypropyl guar, macadamia ternifolia seed oil, argania (argan) spinosa oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, biotin,silk amino acids, collagen amino acids, glycerin, panthenol, polysorbate 60, phenoxyethanol, natural fragrance

DESCRIPTION: The ultimate hydrating deep treatment!

Enriched with Argan Oil & Macadamia Oil, STELLAR STRANDS (TM) will take your curls from status quo to stellar. When used regularly you will notice improved elasticity and reduced breakage while it rejuvenates and moisturizes dry, brittle hair.

**TIP: Stellar Strands can be used 15 minutes with a heat cap or 30 minutes without for the same excellent results.

Stellar Strands is designed to (with regular use) Rejuvenate and moisturize dry brittle hair, Strengthen weak strands, Improve elasticity and reduce breakage, Maintain your hair’s natural shine silkiness & softness.

MY REVIEW: This deep conditioner has a smooth creamy texture and light scent. I can't quite pinpoint the scent but it wasn't overbearing. It absorbed into the hair very well and you don't need a lot of product at all. I was able to detangle with it as well. I used it as instructed and applied to wet hair after cleansing, covered with a plastic cap and applied heat (heat cap) for 30 minutes, then rinsed with cool water. My hair didn't feel super soft but felt kind of strengthened. I was able to run my fingers through my hair without any trouble. It also worked okay on my daughter's hair as well. 

I have to say I wasn't really 'wowed' by this product but I would use it until it's finished. I don't think I'd purchase it again though as I have used other products that work better. But I would recommend others to try it to see how it works on their hair, as everyone's hair is different. 

THE METHOD TO MY MADNESS!

I titled this post 'THE METHOD TO MY MADNESS' because not everyone feels the need to do so much to their hair. I touched on having a regimen in an earlier post. While some tend to keep it simple, others like myself take a whole different approach to it. After all it is JUST hair right?! 

I felt the need to incorporate a regimen for my daughter's hair because her aim was to get her length back that she had before we transitioned  her out of and chopped her texturized ends off. Her hair is in the 'type 4' category (for those who follow the hair typing charts). It's thich and kinky and doesn't have much curl to it at all. It tends to suck up moisture so quickly and needs some good TLC to retain it. My hair on the other hand is not as dry as hers but can get dry if I don't properly maintain the moisture. It's also curly and not as thick, although with certain hair styles it gives the illusion that it is thicker than what it really is. 

So here's our regimen...we don't always use the same products but the methods are mostly the same...

PREPOO

I have found that this extra step has helped a lot, especially with the detangling process in my daughter's hair after it's shampooed and the deep conditioner is applied. I use a mix of natural oils (JBCO, coconut oil, EVOO) for her hair as this mixture tends to do well with her hair. I sometimes add a little avocado and/or jojoba oil to the mix if I have either of them on hand. I divide her hair up into about 10-12 sections and apply the oil on each section, using my fingers first to massage it into her scalp and smooth it down the shaft of her hair and apply a little more to her ends as well. I then add a conditioner, sometimes a inexpensive rinse out conditioner, but here lately a deep conditioner that has become one of her staple products (The Mane Choice...see review post on this product). I use a wide tooth comb and gently detangle each section which helps to remove any shed hair. I then twist each section. I let it sit in her hair for at least an hour and she would go under the heat cap for 20-30 minutes of that hour to help it to penetrate into her strands. 

I do the same steps for my hair but sometimes my oil mix is a little different or I may just use a pre-mixed pre-poo oil product (like Soultanicals pre-poo oil) or just simply use Vatika Frosting Herb Infused Coconut Oil and then add the conditioner like I mentioned above.

SHAMPOO

To me most shampoos do the same thing so I really don't have a preference for my own hair. I've used shampoo bars, as well as bentonite clay mixed with ACV and aloe vera juice for a cleansing detox. 

For my daughter's hair I've found that UFD Squeaky shampoo serves her scalp and hair best. She used to have really dry scalp before I got into using this regimen and natural oils to combat it. Now I find that using this shampoo along with the natural oils in her regimen have helped to keep it under control. She hasn't had much if any at all. Sometimes during the winter months we may find a small patch or two but nothing major. I shampoo her hair while it's still in the twisted sections I put it in during the pre-poo step. This helps to keep her hair from tangling back up which would defeat the purpose of the first step. Sometimes one or two may come out or come loose but because I'm mainly focusing on massaging the shampoo onto her scalp they tend to stay in for the most part. I gently squish the suds down the lengths of her hair but your main focus should be on the scalp. The pre-poo step usually helps the hair to retain moisture and not get completely stripped during shampooing as some shampoos can be very stripping/drying for the hair.

DEEP CONDITION

This is one of the most important steps in our regimen. This helps with moisture. Once a month I try to remember to do a protein treatment in our hair as well to strengthen it. Again I apply the DC section by section first using my fingers to tackle any tangles that may have crept in during the shampooing and then use a wide tooth comb to make sure it's fully detangled. Most times there aren't many tangles at all thanks to that first step...pre-poo. We would then sit under the heat cap (or a dryer or steamer...whichever you have or prefer) to help with the penetration. Then rinse with cool water while still in the twisted sections. You can loosen each section one by one and re-twist them while doing this if you prefer or you think that all the product won't come out, but it usually would all rinse out successfully even while our hair is twisted. 

MOISTURIZE & STYLE

I have come to love and follow the L.O.C method for moisturizing my hair as well as my daughter's hair. This is L (Liquid...usually water but I also add Leave-In to this step), O (Oil...any natural oil your hair likes such as EVOO, JBCO, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc.), C (Cream...any moisturizing product that you find works in your hair).  

For my daughter's hair her staple products for this step were Qhemet Biologics products. But we have since found that Soultanicals products also work great for her hair for this process, so I tend to use either one or the other. She wears her hair mostly in 2-strand twists and even after wearing her hair twisted for 2 weeks at a time when she takes them out for her next wash day her hair is still soft and moisturized. And sometimes she isn't always that disciplined in moisturizing her hair in between so the L.O.C method definitely works for her. Some people use the L.C.O method but you can play around with both methods to see which one works best for your hair.

For my hair because I tend to try different products for review purposes I hadn't had any major staple products for a while. But here recently I tend to be drawn to Soultanicals products. My hair seems to love these products and stays moisturized for days. Although I have tried others who have been just as good. 

MOISTURIZING IN BETWEEN WASH DAYS

I use a water/oil/condish mix in my spray bottle for moisturizing in between. If I'm wearing a twist out and need to re-twist my hair to freshen up the style this is my 'go to' for moisture. I don't usually need to add more of whatever product I'm using...just spray with this mixture and re-twist. 

I try to get my daughter to do this to her twist every few days but she is hardly fussed with sticking to this step...lol! But thank God for the L.O.C method and her staple products because her hair tends to stay pretty moisturized even if she manages to only do this step once or twice during the two weeks that her hair stays in the twists. 

I also like to do scalp massages using natural oils as well. I do this during the 'Moisturize & Stlyle' step as well as in between wash days. 

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So as you can see my method is not that simple but at the same time isn't much to me as I've become accustomed to it. I do this every two weeks with my daughter's hair, but mostly weekly in my hair due to me using color in my hair, sometimes I'll go 10 days at the most. It has definitely helped my daughter to retain and gain length as well as the overall health of her hair. I find that I've never really had a problem with growing my hair whether it was relaxed or natural. But I notice that my daughter's rate of hair growth isn't as quick as mines. But this regimen definitely helps us both! 

Do you have a hair regimen? Do you keep it simple? Or do you tend to go all out for the health of your hair? 

PRODUCT REVIEW ~ THE MANE CHOICE GREEN TEA & CARROT DEEP CONDITIONING MASK

DESCRIPTION: This deep conditioning treatment is a healthy hair essential. Designed to penetrate the hair shaft like you’ve never seen before. Enriched with biotin, green tea, and carrot oil this product will immediately begin to repair damage and restore dried out strands.  It doesn’t take much of this concentrated conditioner to rescue and restore your mane. This product has been specially formulated to promote growth and retention, and to fight shedding and breakage, and to ultimately give you the healthy luscious hair you have always dreamed of.

DETAILS & BENEFITS: Deep conditioning is the most important step of a healthy hair regimen that most people neglect. Yet, it is necessary to grow and retain healthy hair. It doesn’t matter if your hair is natural, relaxed or tucked away under artificial hair; our Green Tea & Carrot Deep Conditioning Mask™ is a healthy hair essential that is just right for you.

The organic ingredients of this deep conditioning mask deeply penetrates that hair shaft and forms a protective layer over the cortex which seals in moisture while supplying nutrients.

Enriched with biotin, green tea, and carrot oil this mask will immediately begin to repair and protect your hair from heat and daily environmental damages. With dedicated usages you will begin to see your hair transition into its healthiest state. It doesn’t take much of this concentrated conditioner to rescue and restore your mane.

Specially formulated to:

–Repair Damage
–Promote Growth & Retention
–Moisturize & Nourish
–Fight Shedding & Breakage
–Enhance Shine & Luster
–Soften & Protect

INGREDIENTS: Aloe Barbadensis (Organic Aloe) Juice, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil, Biotin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Avocado Oil, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Seed Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Honey Extract, Silk Amino Acid, Green Tea Extract, Stearalkonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, dl-Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut RBD) Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Limmnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Oil (Refined). Essential Oil: Grapefruit, Lavender.

INSTRUCTIONS: Shake well. Apply a moderate amount to hair from root to ends and distribute evenly. Always cover your hair with a plastic cap for 45 minutes, or 15 minutes under a warm hooded hair dryer. Rinse thoroughly. Recommended to be used every 2 weeks depending on the condition of your hair.

MY REVIEW: I use this product mainly for my daughter's hair. This has become a staple product in her bi-weekly regimen. I have been using it consistently for the last 9 months or so in her hair mainly. I use it in mines usually once a month. It's a somewhat thin consistency and the scent is a little different but not bad...I can't pinpoint exactly what it resembles. I apply it to her hair while it's DRY BEFORE I shampoo. I usually include it in her pre-poo process as I find this seems to be the best way it works in her hair. I apply an oil mix to her scalp and massage it in and then on her ends...then I apply the treatment down the whole shaft of her hair and procede to detangle to get out any shed hair (her hair stays in twists/braids for two weeks at a time). When I first used this product I was a bit heavy handed and probably used more then was necessary trying to make sure every strand was covered, but I eventually saw that I didn't need a whole lot to coat her strands completely. I cover her hair with a plastic cap and she sits under the heat cap for about 30 minutes and then sits without any heat applied for another 30 minutes or so (sometimes more depending on when I start her hair and what else I'm doing). I then rinse it out and proceed to wash and condition her hair. When I rinse it out her hair feels really soft and also strengthened and after shampooing it doesn't feel stripped at all but very moisturized. I love what this conditioner has done for her shedding...it has decreased tremendously. 

My daughter's shedding...top pic was 9 months ago...bottom pic was her last wash day...big difference in the amount of shed hair!

I would definitely recommend this product to others! It has worked wonders for my daughter's hair!

For more information visit her Facebook and Instagram pages as well as her website www.themanechoice.com

PRODUCT REVIEW ~ EARTHTONES NATURALS DEEP CONDITIONERS

CURL CONDITION INTENSIVE HYDRATING DEEP TREATMENT

DESCRIPTION: This moisturizing deep conditioning treatment provides intense moisture for extremely dry hair. It contains humectants that increase hydration, and is rich in oils and butters that nourish the hair and seal in moisture. This conditioner softens and detangles the hair, enhances shine and improves the overall strength of the hair.

INGREDIENTS: Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Behentrimonium methosulfate (and) Cetyl alcohol (and) Butylene glycol, Orbygnia oleifera (Babassu) seed oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Astrocaryum tucuma Butter, Theobroma grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Butter, Cetearyl alcohol, Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed rice protein, Hydrolyzed jojoba protein, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Fragrance, Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

INSTRUCTIONS: After cleansing, gently remove excess water from the hair with a towel. Apply Curl Condition™ Intensive Hydrating Deep Treatment ensuring the hair is evenly saturated with the product. Cover the hair with a plastic cap and leave the conditioner on for 25-30 minutes. For increased penetration into the hair use a heat cap or hair steamer. After the treatment is finished rinse the product from the hair and style as usual. For hair that is extremely dry use every 1-2 weeks. Monthly use is recommended for healthy hair maintenance.

MY REVIEW: I followed the instructions and applied the treatment to my freshly washed hair. It is a thick creamy smooth consistency that penetrates immediately into your strands. I was able to detangle my hair after applying it to each section with ease. The scent is also pleasant...a cocoa type scent. I covered my hair with a plastic cap and sat under my heat cap for 30 minutes and then allowed it to sit for another 30 minutes on my hair without heat. I rinsed my hair with cool water and immediately felt the softness and moisturizing effects. My fingers glided through my hair with ease. 

I also used this treatment on my daughter's hair which is of a thicker texture and it also worked great on her hair. I loved how her hair felt after rinsing it out. 

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CURL REPLENISH RESTORATIVE HAIR MASK

DESCRIPTION: This thick, deep penetrating hair mask is rich in nourishing oils, humectants, conditioners and repairing agents. It strengthens the hair and restores moisture and elasticity, assisting in improving the overall condition of the hair. This mask enhances the health of the scalp and hair follicle supporting optimal hair growth while minimizing breakage.

INGREDIENTS: Purified Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Behentrimonium methosulfate (and) Cetyl alcohol (and) Butylene glycol, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Olea europa (Olive) fruit Oil, Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) seed Oil, Coconut Oil (and) Gardenia Tahitensis, Cetyl alcohol, Behentrimonium chloride, ethyl alcohol, Hydrolyzed jojoba protein, Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed rice protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein (and) Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (and) Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Water, glycerin, rhodiola rosea root extract, caesalpinia spinosa gum, Water, Saccharum officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Citrus medica limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Betaine & Hexylene Glycol & Pyrus malus (Apple) Fruit Extract & Camellia sinensis Leaf Extract & Hexapeptide-11, Panthenol, Fragrance, Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

INSTRUCTIONS: After cleansing, gently remove excess water from the hair with a towel. Apply Curl Replenish™ Restorative Hair Mask ensuring the hair is evenly saturated with the product. Cover the hair with a plastic cap and leave the mask on for at least 30 minutes. For faster penetration into the hair shaft use a heat cap or hair steamer. After the treatment is finished rinse the product from the hair and style as usual. For hair that is extremely damaged use every 1-2 weeks. Monthly use is recommended for healthy hair maintenance. 

MY REVIEW:  I followed the instructions and applied the product to my hair after shampooing. This one is also of a thick creamy consistency that penetrates immediately into your strands. You could easily get heavy handed thinking you're not applying enough but it didn't take much at all to cover my whole head. Again I was able to detangle each section with ease with the treatment applied. The scent is also very pleasant...a sweet fruity type scent. I covered my hair with a plastic cap and sat under the heat cap for 30 minutes and left it on without heat for an additional 30 minutes. I rinsed it out with cool water and my hair felt really soft and moisturized and strengthened. This treatment has more protein in the ingredients then the other one so it is more of a protein treatment that can be used once a month. 

I used this treatment in my daughter's hair as well with the same great results as with the other treatment. 

I would definitely purchase these products again and would recommend them to others. They worked very well in both my hair and my daughter's hair. And we have two completely different textures. Products that work for both of our textures is always a plus for me!

These products are available locally (BERMUDA) at MIRAGE BEAUTY & SUPPLY (check out their page on Facebook for further information)

PRODUCT REVIEW ~ CREAM & COCO RASPBERRY GANACHE DEEP CONDITIONER TRUFFLES

DESCRIPTION

Indulge your tresses with the exotic spa mix of rich clays, butters & botanicals. The mud mask comes to you in a delicious truffle packed with hair loving yum to deep condition, soften and transform. New larger truffles!

FEATURES:

• Organic Coconut Flour- dried organic coconut fruit milled to a fine flour. Full of protein that strengthens hair and nourishes the scalp, promoting hair growth.
• Organic Cacao & Maca Powders- antioxidant rich cocoa that nourishes hair with an abundant source of minerals. Plus, pure dark chocolate has Anandamine, the "feel good" chemical that lifts your spirits when you smell it or eat it (that’s why we smile when we eat chocolate!)
• Marshmallow Root Powder- a conditioning herb that detangles thick, curly hair.
• Cocoa Butter- African butter that lubricates, detangles, and moisturizes both the hair and scalp, as well as easily penetrates the scalp hydrating and healing it.
• Raspberry Extract- Antioxidant boost & adds slip to hair

INSTRUCTIONS

Break up the truffle in a ceramic bowl then add about ¼- ½ cup of very hot liquid of your choice. Whisk or use a hand blender to make a paste. The mask will thicken as it cools to the consistency of brownie batter. The clays in the mask will swell when the liquid is added, so you may have to add more but start with less. Use your judgment to get the consistency you prefer. Allow the mix to cool to a safe handling temperature, then part your hair and work in four sections, applying to mask to both the hair and the scalp. Cover in a shower cap, and allow mask to work its magic for 30 minutes.

You can use any type of liquid you want to make your mask. A few suggestions:

• Pure spring water
• Coconut Milk (smells like Heaven when mixed with the mask
• Yogurt or milk
• Simple syrup of honey & water
• Pineapple Juice to help clarify

MY REVIEW

I've had this product in my stash for a while now so decided it was time to try it out. I followed the instructions breaking up the cubes and mixed with hot water and honey. I whipped it with a whisk until it was creamy. It thickened upon cooling as the description said and I added liquid until it was at the consistency I wanted...not too thick but not too watery. 

I applied it to my freshly washed hair and noticed immediately that it had little bits that hadn't dissolved completely. But the mixture still went onto my strands smoothly and I could immediately feel the softness and moisture effects. I covered with a plastic cap and sat under my heat cap for 30 minutes and then let it sit for a further 30 minutes or so for a total of an hour or more with the treatment in my hair. I then rinsed it out with cool water.

My hair felt very soft and moisturized. The only thing I didn't like was I couldn't get the little specks that didn't dissolve completely all out of my hair. So while I was applying my leave-in conditioner and detangling my hair in sections after the treatment the little specks were coming out and were on the counter, sink and floor.

I would purchase this product again as I do like the results on my hair. 

For further info visit www.creamandcoco.com