I need a conditioner deuce!

Not only have I been searching for a good regular regimen conditioner, I've also been looking for an acceptable leave-in. Its so hard! Sometimes I find one, and then it doesn't agree with whatever gel I'm using or I get a winner and then all of a sudden, my hair decides its not the business!

What I'm using now, mostly for my braid-out's is Creme of Nature Lemongrass & Rosemary Leave-in Conditioner. Its...well...awful.

Okay, that's not very fair because it does..smell good. =) Its also really creamy and thoroughly coats my hair which is why I use it for my braid-out's with no problem. However, its supposed to be for dehydrated hair and I beg to differ! I really don't know if it moisturizes my hair. It's hard to tell for some reason, I guess because its not that great of a product. It does have some "certified organic ingredients" but they're limited to the lemongrass and rosemary. Woopteedoo! Two ingredients, pretty far down in the list isn't what I think should be legally allowed to have an "organic" stamp of approval. I probably should have read it a little better before I bought it, but hey it was $3.99 at a local beauty supply store, what should I have expected, right?

For some reason, I thought a Creme of Nature product would be good for my hair! I don't know where I got that preconceived notion. I'm trying to decide if I should keep trying "ethnic" hair products or go for straight organic.

So, my conditioner/leave-in journey continues. I'll try about anything and I mean anything.



                                                

I need a conditioner!

I'm on a rabid search for a good conditioner. My latest endeavor has been TRESemme Flawless Curls conditioner.

Eh...it's okay. I mean it doesn't really do much for my hair. It's a REALLY good detangler though. I wash with my African black soap and squirt some Tresemme in my hair while combing out in the shower. Easy peeeesy ! I occasionally co-wash with it. As for moisture, not so much (for me anyway). The conditioner plugs that it is a moisturizing formula, containing Vitamin B1, which is ideal for those with curly or wavy hair. It also claims to detangle and smooth the cuticle of the hair, which seems to be true. Even though its not my favorite, my hair doesn't  hate the product though. In fact, it leaves my hair relatively shiny and my curls are always separated and smooth. I just really wish it moisturized more.

In the conditioner's defense, it does say that you should use the Flawless curls SHAMPOO with it. Uhm, no.

Its pretty inexpensive for such a big bottle (Like $4.00 for 32 oz.).  The consistency is creamy but light and I like the smell. I'm just waiting to run out (which seems like it will never happen!) so I can go try something else. I want to get Trader Joe's conditioner next, I've heard good things.

This whole product rehab is not my cup of tea.

                                       

Goodbye Shampoo!

I've always had a problem with shampoo. When my hair was relaxed, that neutralizing shampoo always left my hair SQUEAKY clean and stripped. Even my normal regimen shampoo, Mane' n Tail, gave my hair a stripped feeling.

After the big chop, my hair was so DRY. I never wanted to use shampoo on it because I dreaded the little moisture that was there, getting stripped. I would do strictly cowash's until my hair would HAVE to be cleaned with shampoo from all the build up.

A couple month's ago, scouring through youtube, I came across someone who substituted shampoo with raw African Black soap. I had never heard of it and so I did some research and decided to order some. 

Goodbye shampoo, hello African black soap! I love this stuff. I ordered mine from butters-n-bars.com. The key is to ensure you get authentic raw African black soap. The imitation soaps contain artificial dyes and drying agents (no bueno!). I first tried to get it from a beauty supply store. The soaps they had, claimed to be African black soap BUT they were literally, black; and the authentic stuff isn't at all (more of an amber color). Real African black soap is also hypoallergenic and something with dyes all in it, cannot be! It is rich with glycerin which makes it a good shampoo bar. 

The ingredients vary with different oils added but butters-n-bars lists: 

Roasted cocoa(Chocolate) Pods 

Plantain Skin 
Palm Oil

Water

It leaves my hair very conditioned, despite its ability to thoroughly clean product build-up. It also defines my curls a lot. It smells kind of light and nutty but doesn't really leave a scent in the hair. It's also really good for the skin! I use it the same way I would use shampoo and I follow with a conditioner. I like it because its all natural and really does moisturize my hair, more than any shampoo can ever do.  

                                                 

First post ever!

My name is Sha’Mira and I am a product junkie. 

Class: “Hi Sha’Mira.”

After going natural, I buy any and every hair product I hear about. Its sad…and I need help. I tried to simply stop buying, that didn’t work. I tried only buying when I used up other products; I ended up GIVING things away so I could go buy other products. So, I’ve resulted to counseling and by counseling, I mean blogging about it.

If I’m gonna keep buying this stuff, I mind as well tell other naturals about it…right?

Well let’s get some stuff out of the way:

1. My last perm was June 2010.
2. I transitioned with afro twists for 3 months and did the big chop September 2010. I was SUPPOSED to transition for 6 months, but after I took out my twists, I couldn’t take the texture difference.
3. I have a love/hate relationship with my hair. More love than hate though. =)
4. I’m not big the whole hair type thing, I like to just say my hair is kinky/nappy but I think I’m 4b with 3c (especially in the middle). Its weird.
5. I’m a fashion merchandising and art history student at the University of Georgia. And there’s not one conveniently located beauty supply store in the area…Booooo!
6. I’m doing this blog because although I’m newly natural, I know there are lots of other new naturals looking for products. I’m still looking, hence my obsession and some things that may work for me, just might work for someone else. Other blogs I look at (which are numerous and often) do product reviews too, but it seems like there is a need for other references.


Here’s to my attempt at cataloging all the products I go through!