Product Review: Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Kids Curling Butter Cream

SheaMoisture

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Kids Curling Butter Cream

$9.99 / 6 oz

Available at SheaMoisture.com, Target, Walgreens

ing: Deionized Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Hibiscus Flower Extract, Vegetable Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Silk Protein, Centrimonium Chloride, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Sorbitol Esters, Panthenol (Pro-Vitmain B-5), Caprylyl Glycol, Citrus Medica Limonium, Citrus Aurantifolia, Jasminium Officinale, Slippery Elm Extract, Proprietary Essential Oil Blend, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) *Certified Organic Ingredient

This product is from the SheaMoisture kids line and while it is similar to the Curl Enhancing Smoothie, it is not the same product.  When SheaMoisture burst on the scene many years ago I purchased the CES  to use as a styler and twist cream.  This was when I learned my hair did not like creams to use as wash n go stylers and that heavy butter products were too heavy for my hair.  My hair is very mucilage loving. Snotty, slimy components of aloe, okra, flaxseed, as well as herbs of Irish Moss, Slippery Elm, Marshmallow Root, Blue Malva and Burdock Root are all components of my favorite hair products.  If you glance the ingredient list of the CES as compared to CBC you will see the difference is Slippery Elm and Marshmallow extracts.  While these herbs may be small components their presence makes a huge difference.

5 Things I Love About This Product

1. It has a light coconut scent. SheaMoisture products are known for their sweet, heavy scents.  Me personally I am not a fan of heavily scented products so I much prefer the softness of this scent.
2. It is a cream-gel hybrid, a true pudding. It works well as a moisturizing styler and is amazing as a twist cream.  It is great for setting twists or braids for the perfect out style.
3. It packs a punch. You know when you read the directions and it lists to use a dime or nickel sized amount? Well you really only need a small amount of the CBC to moisturize your hair.  In fact I use a nickel size amount for each quarter of my hair.
4. It is widely available.  So many of the products I like are available online only or if they are in stores they are not in the market where I live. This product is available throughout the US in a variety of retailers.
5. While it is marketed for children, it is actually ideal fine, thin, or medium to low porosity hair.

I’ve been using this product a lot more the past few months. In fact I kind of forgot about it and how much I loved it until my more recent travels. When traveling it is important to pack light and I try to use products that serve multiple purposes. I use this as a leave-in, styler and sealant all in one. Also the small six ounce size makes it easy to store away. To use, I normally start with dry hair and spritz lightly with water.  I section my head into quadrants and use a fingertip full on each section. Lightly comb or brush through the section then style into three to four twists or braids. In the morning I release and separate the braids or twists for a fabulous out style. Boom.

 

Kentuckiana Natural Hair Meetup 9/26

Join Me Saturday 9/26 @ 4:30 pm for

The Kentuckiana Natural Hair Community Presents: Natural Hair Care Meetup  The event will take place at Molly Malone’s 933 Baxter Ave Louisville, KY 40204.

I will be presenting on healthy hair care tips for the winter months.  There will also be swag bags, giveaways, product swap, music, food and a cash bar.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online through Eventbrite.

For more information visit the Kentuckiana Natural Hair Community FB Page.

See you then :)

Product Review: Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask

Freeman 

Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask

6 oz / ~$4

Available online at Freemans.com and many drugstores

ing: Sucrose, Propylene Glycol, Carbon*, Kaolin, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract , Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Maranta Arundinacea Root Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Aleurites Moluccana Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Carbomer, Fragrance (Parfum), Iron Oxides (CI 77491).

From the website:  This unique mask and scrub works double time to detox skin. First, naturally purifying Activated Charcoal helps absorb oil and impurities without over-drying. Then, Black Sugar helps exfoliate away dulling skin cells for softness and clarity. Perfect for all skin types.

You gotta exfoliate. Everyone should exfoliate their face at least twice weekly. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells which can help relieve dry, rough, uneven skin.  Facial scrubs are formulated to be gentle on your face and neck where the skin is more delicate as compared to other areas of the body. However you can also use this scrub on your chest, under your arms, on your scalp and anywhere else you can use gentle exfoliation. Remember to wash your skin first as this is not a combo cleanser and exfoliant.

5 Things I Love About This Product

1. Super gentle, but incredibly effective. The small sugar crystals manage to work well without scratching up your skin.
2. It’s formulated for all skin types which is great for my combo skin. It treats my oily T-zone as well as the rest of my face which is normal to dry.
3. A little goes a long way. I squeeze out about a 2 inch line on my finger and apply to my entire face and neck.
4. The product rinses clean, no oily or sticky residue left behind.
5. The smell is sugary sweet with light floral notes.

Now I gotta tell you I absolutely love Origins facial products, they are fantastic.  But they are also very expensive. The Freeman products are effective and one-tenth of the price.  My daughter who has oily, acne-prone skin uses this scrub as well and she loves it. I also use this on my pre-teen son as part of his weekly skincare regimen, gotta keep that baby soft skin intact. I would definitely recommend this scrub to anyone who is in the market for a facial scrub.

 

Product Review: Shea Moisture 10-In-1 Renewal System Hair Masque

Shea Moisture

Superfruit Complex 10-In-1 Renewal System Hair Masque

$12.99 / 12 oz

Available at SheaMoisture.com, ULTA, Target, Walgreens

ing: Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*,  Behentrimonium Methosulfate,  Glycerin (Vegetable),  Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*,  Stearyl Alcohol,  Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil,  Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol,  Biotin,  Cetrimonium Chloride,  Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil,  Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter*, Fragrance (Essential Oil Blend), Tocopherol,  Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract,  Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract,  Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract,  Psidium Guajava Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Caprylhydroxamic Acid,  Caprylyl Glycol,  Citric Acid,  Sodium Citrate,  Ipomoea Batatas Extract,  Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride *Certified Organic Ingredient

From their website: This intensive antioxidant-rich treatment helps to perfect and renew vibrancy to brittle, lackluster hair. When used weekly in our 10-IN-1 RENEWAL SYSTEM, it treats damaged hair while providing anti-aging benefits, color protection, hydration, nourishment, rejuvenation, strength, anti-stress, deep conditioning, softness and shine. Counteract signs of aging by nourishing the scalp with our SuperFruit Complex and infusing hair with ultra-moisturizing Marula Oil and Biotin.

Add this to the ever growing list of Shea Moisture product lines. I can appreciate that they strive to make products that target specific hair needs. I think everyone can find at least one product line that they love. Then there are those of us who are down to try a new product just because. I have tried the Tahitian Noni & Monoi Smooth & Repair Nourishing Hair Masque (SRNHM), Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque (SGRTM) from the newer line and the Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Masque (ABSM) which was reformulated, so far the SRNHM has been my favorite.

This product makes 10 claims: age defy, color protect, hydrate, nourish, soften, anti-stress, deep condition, revive body, strengthen and shine.  I am not exactly sure how you can prove some of these claims, however I can attest that after use my hair did feel deep conditioned, hydrated, nourished, softened and strengthened.  Like many other products by this brand, TORSHM has a very strong scent, this one is fruity, and it does linger for quite a while. If you are opposed to strong scents you may want to give this one a pass.   Overall, I would repurchase this product, however it is still the 2nd best deep conditioner after the SRNHM.

Self Care Saturday 8/15

Self care is important. What is self care? Self care is the self initiated actions you take for your own overall health and wellbeing. Self care can be simply allowing yourself 20 minutes of peace and quiet, treating yourself to a nice meal, exercising, or pampering yourself.   I treat my hair and skin to a self care ritual every weekend and I am careful to protect this time and make it a priority. I will share with you time to time my self care regimen and the products I use to make myself happy.

Haircare

Because this is a hair blog let’s start with the hair. I washed my hair with Suave Naturals Daily Clarifying Shampoo. It has been a while since I last clarified my hair and my scalp felt like it needed a nice thorough cleaning. Next, I deep conditioned with Shea Moisture 10-in-1 Renewal System Hair Masque. I realize I have not posted a full review of this masque so I will post it up next week. In short the masque gets the job done. After applying the DC I detangled my hair with my fingers, covered with a plastic cap and let it sit for 25 minutes. 

Skincare

I love skin products probably more than I love hair products. I love South of France bar soaps they smell so good and make me feel fancy. My bathroom currently smells like a field of lavender after using it.  I exfoliated my hands, elbows and knees with Shea Moisture Olive & Green Tea Body Scrub. Lastly, I hooked my feet up with Mr. Pumice Pumi Bar because there is nothing cute about cracked or callused heels. 

Facial

Cleansed my face with TGIN African Black Soap. It is very effective and mild enough for daily use. Black soap is great to use on oily and combination skin as well as skin that is acne prone or suffers from eczema or psoriasis. Next, I exfoliated my skin with Freeman Charcoal & Black Sugar Polishing Mask which is my bae skin care product. My skin always feels so good after using this. Lastly, I slathered on Freeman Acai Purifying Clay Mask which is good for all skin types. 
What do you do to treat yourself? Have a favorite product you think I should check out? Leave a comment below. Cheers.

 

PuffCuff Now Available in Smaller Sizes

 

The PuffCuff hair clamp is a required accessory for your natural arsenal. Think banana clip but much sturdier and shaped in the form of a circle to create the perfect puff no stretched headbands or knee high socks required.

I’ve used my PuffCuff to create many awesome styles including this one that I was most proud of. Yes it even works on straight hair and will not slip out!  

2015 Afro Independence Day Deals

Its Independence Day let your fro fly free!  With all that has been going on the US lately I think it is important to remind each other that we are strong, we are resilient and that we are America.

I Too x Langston Hughes (Narrated by Denzel Washington) 

Also SK is a redhead, how is that for patriotism? 

Okay now on with the deals. Save all weekend long on these hair products and accessories

Neero & Ana 20% off all items with code: indy

CurlKit 25% off use code: USA25

Entwine 25% off with code: JULY4FAB

S Dot Beauty 20% off, no coupon code required

Soultanicals 30% off + Free Shipping with code: FREEDOMHAIR

LACE Natural 20% off with code: HAPPY4TH

CurlMart 20% off + $5 shipping no code required

Komaza Care 20% off purchase of $50+ with code: 070415

SheaMoisture 35% off + Free Shipping on orders $25+ no code required

HydraTherma Naturals 20% off with code: JULY4

TGIN 20% off with code: TGIJULY4

Miss Jessie’s BOGO Free on 16 oz products + Free Shipping on orders $30+ use code: JULYBOGO

Bee Mine Organics 20% off orders of $25+ with code: 6BEE24

HAIRiette Free Shipping no code required

AfroVeda 10% off with code: phoenixrising

Exotic Oils & Butters 10% off with code: 3NYM-CG9B-YEFT

The Mane Choice 20% off with code: July20

Rachel Stewart Jewelry 20% off with code: RBG

Pura Body Naturals $9.99 Sale on Cupuaca Hair Butter and MuruMuru Moisture Milk no coupon code required

Freeman Beauty Free Shipping on all products with code: FREEDOM

TreLuxe 25% off with code: July4th

Eden BodyWorks Free Shipping with code: JULY4TH

Bel Nouvo 25% off orders of $25+ with code: SUMMER25

Eboni Curls 20% off with code: FIREWORKS

Louisville Loc Appreciation Day 2015

Saturday June 27,  2015
7 pm – Midnight
Admission is FREE
Chandelier’s Main Event
201 East Main Street Louisville KY 40202
(corner of E Main & Brooks Street)

Guest Presentations Brought to You By Natural Alternatives Salon

Event will feature giveaways, hair demos,  q&a panel,  refreshments and vendors with products and accessories for purchase.