Hair, Beauty & Mental Health: curlyhair

Showing posts with label curlyhair. Show all posts

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Herbal Essences: White Strawberry & Sweet Mint

Herbal Essences have always been a brand that I never really picked up when it came to shampoo's and conditioners, as I felt it wasn't for our hair types.I've had great experiences with their Bee Strong Hair Mask and Leave In Conditioner, but since them both being discontinued, I had no real reason to return.Whilst having my weekly browse on Superdrug, I noticed that Herbal Essences have come out with a whole new range, called Bio Renew.All of them are created with a blend of antioxidants, aloe and sea kelp, which are all good for keeping the hair healthy.It also doesn't contain any parabens, silicones, gluten or colurants either, which is great for my hair as these can sometimes dry my curls out.

I decided to go with the White Strawberry and Sweet Mint, for two reasons: 1. I'm obsessed with anything that is strawberry scented and 2. Its designed to clean the scalp and any product buildup, without removing your hairs natural oils in the process.I've provided the rest of the Bio Renew range below as guidance:

Argan Oil Of Morroco - Repair

Coconut Milk - Hydrate

Golden Moringa Oil - Smooth

White Strawberry & Sweet Mint - Clean

Cucumber & Green Tea - Shine

Rosemary & Herbs - Moisture

White Grapefruit & Mosa- Volume

I'm always someone that keeps up there hair routine, whether thats deep conditioning or wash day.I really wanted to put these products to the test, so during the week I skipped having a hair treatment and let my hair build up with product.I'll be completely honest, it was hard yet disgusting not washing my hair, because it began to look so yucky, I ended up putting it up in a bun to reduce the yuckyness.

Wash day FINALLY arrived, and I was so ready to wash my hair.Taking a "generous" amount (ha generous for curly hair), I applied it directly onto my scalp and hair that had the most buildup.It lathered up pretty quickly and smells absolutely incredible.Its scented more strawberry than mint, but doesn't smell like a knock off strawberry scent and isn't sickly at all.Washing it out of my hair was super easy and it was obvious all of the product buildup was being removed, because you could see it in the water as I was washing it out.Once the water ran clear and no more bubbles were being produced, I touched my hair and its felt amazingly soft.My scalp felt very clean, no longer having that yucky feeling and my curls were back to their happy selves.

Next was the conditioner which of course I was super excited to try out since I got really good results with the shampoo.Again taking a "generous" amount, I applied it all over my hair, making sure I got every strand covered, because who says you can't have too much conditioner?Taking a wide tooth comb, I began detangling my hair and it actually was a lot more easier with this conditioner, as it didn't matte my hair up like some conditioners do.The texture is more thick, being more like a cream and the scent is a lot more stronger compared to the shampoo.I personally don't find it overpowering at all, and although it still smells more of strawberry, you're more aware of the mint in the conditioner.Washing it out again was super easy, leaving my hair feeling a lot more moisturised, soft and surprisingly a little bit defined.As I always do after washing my hair, I follow it up with a curl cream to add that extra definition.

Below are pictures taken throughout the day to show the changes to my hair and you may notice the lipstick change too:

12:00pm: This is my hair still somewhat damp, but began to dry after 30minutes of being in the sun.I had a busy day planned ahead of me as well, testing out new makeup products and keeping myself busy, so it was interesting to see how long my curls stayed happy.

6:09pm: This is my hair approximately 6hours after the first picture, with it still being very defined and shiny.I wanted to capture it in natural lighting, just so you could see how shiny it looked.There was also minimal frizz, which was mainly caused by me constantly touching it (anxiety problems!).My hair is prone to shrinkage too (especially on wash day), however it wasn't as bad as it would normally get, and because my curls were happy, I was too.I didn't need to reapply with any curl cream as my curls were still hydrated and defined, and I didn't want to risk my hair feeling sticky with too much product either.

11:00pm: Last hair update of the day, 5hours since the last picture.I've spent most of the day rushing around, chasing my pets, testing new makeup, playing/raging at Crash Bandicoot and laying on my hair.I'm very shocked on how my curls are still so defined and feel incredibly soft.You can see on the left side of the picture, I have a little bit of frizz going on, which again is down to me constantly flipping it behind my ear and touching it.You can still smell a little bit of the strawberry, but its barely noticeable compared to what it was a few hours before.

These both retail at £5.99, but are often on sale for £2.98, which was the price that I paid for them.Would I pay full price?If I continuously get the same results like I did for the first time, then yes, because I've paid more for luxury brands that never achieved these results.You also get 400ml which is perfect for me shampoo wise, but if you have thick curly hair like mine, you need at least 750ml-1000ml worth of conditioner for us.I have nothing negative to say about these at all and I feel these will be a massive hit for those that have the same curl type.

Thursday, 27 July 2017

Garnier Ultimate Blends: Coconut Milk & Macadamia 3 in 1 Mask (Curly Hair)

Garnier have recently added to their Ultimate blends range, including more shampoo's, conditioners and hair masks.I had a great experience with their coconut oil and cocoa butter range, so I was really excited to see the new stuff that was added.I currently have enough shampoo's/conditioners (about 20+), so decided to purchase a hair mask instead.Garnier have a total of 8 hair masks to choose from and I decided to go with the coconut milk and macadamia mask.Its targeted for dry hair, which curly hair naturally can be, mostly more during certain seasons.I like finding hair products that give my hair extra moisture, without it being too much where its left greasy, so I decided to start off with this mask.

"Our ultimate remedy for nourished, soft and supple hair. Garnier Ultimate Blends Wholesome Nourisher for dry hair, enriched with natural extracts and Coconut Milk & Macadamia.Our créme de la créme hair saviour Coconut Milk and Macadamia are blended with love in a delicately scented, creamy formula to nourish hair, leaving it smooth and full of shine.Hair is replenished and nourished, to give it shine and luscious suppleness.Soak it up"

Wholesome blends for naturally beautiful hair every day
Enriched with natural ingredients extracts
No parabens
100% Recyclable Bottles

I like the way hair masks are now presented in a tub, instead of a bottle, because it can be an absolute pain standing there and shaking the bottle like mad.Upon unscrewing the lid, the strong scent of coconut is insane, and its DELICIOUS!.I've smelt a lot of coconut "based" products in my life, where it has that kind of chemical scent intwined with it, but this mask does not at all.

The texture is thick and creamy, melting onto the hair once applied and it feels so nourishing.This hair mask does have the option to apply to dry hair, to smooth and tame, but I personally prefer to use it on wet hair for suppleness.My hair is extremely thick, so I applied two 50p sized amount to my hair, making sure every strand was covered.I left it on my hair for 5minutes, and you can feel it working on your hair.I didn't want to wash it out, because my hair smelt that good and felt soft already before even washing it out.It was extremely easy to wash out and my hair felt so nourished and soft, I didn't even bother applying any curl creams or gels to my hair.

The top picture is my hair an after of drying, with the one below 6hours after

Despite not having curl products in my hair, the frizz is actually compared to what I usually get (BIG CLOUD OF FRIZZ!).Thinking about it though while typing this, its most likely my fault, as I cannot stop touching my hair because its so nice and soft.I have a little bit of shine to my curls, which is impressive as I normally have to use a shine spray to achieve it all over.

I'm happy to continue using this hair mask and no doubt I'll be purchasing this one again in the future.If I had the money, I would purchase all of them to try out and review, unless Garnier would like to send me them *hint hint*.Its currently on sale for £2.50 at Superdrug, with it going up to £4.49 next month.I would happily buy it at full price, considering that I've spent money on more expensive ones and I don't get these results.They are super popular too, with most of them out of stock at Superdrug, but you can also pick them up at Boots and Amazon.If you have any questions that I haven't answered or you'd like to share your experience on this mask, please let me and others know in the comments! :)

Friday, 23 June 2017

ST.Tropica Coconut Hot Oil Hair Mask: Hit Or Miss?

I love testing out coconut oil based products, because I absolutely love coconut oil.I heard so many positive things about this hair mask, but never got round to purchasing any, as I couldn't find any reviews for curly hair types.I was very lucky to be contacted St.Tropica back in May, asking if I would like to try and review them, and of course I accepted straight away.This review is not sponsored in any way and its 100% honest and based on my experience.

I'm not sure if the bow comes originally with the packaging but I still found it really cute.The box got a little damaged (thanks customs!) which isn't St Tropica's fault at all, so I was unable to get pictures of the box properly.The box contains 3 hair masks and a cap, which I thought was an added bonus as my current silk cap is pretty much ruined.The packets contain solid coconut oil, which needs to be melted with either using a microwave for 20seconds or a kettle for 30 seconds, which then you can either put the oil into a bowl or distribute it from the packet by cutting off the corner.I personally prefer cutting off the corner, applying the oil directly onto my hair or by putting it on my hands to then massage it in, making sure I apply it to my scalp too.

What the hair mask states that it can:

Repair damage inside and outside the hair cuticle
Locks in the moisture to eliminate any split ends and frizzy hair
Helps strengthen the hair
Help with hair growth

I remember using this mask for the first time and honestly thinking nothing positive would come from it, as it sounded too good to be true.Firstly my hair absorbed this oil up so fast, I was tempted to use a second packet.It didn't leave my hair feeling heavy either, which some oil based products can leave my hair feeling like that which isn't nice.I also did use the cap that came with it, which did help to penetrate the hair cuticles even more, but I decided to stop using it as I personally feel silly using it.I decided to use my Kérastase Curl Ideal Cleansing Conditioner to remove it, as it works as a shampoo and a conditioner to provide the nutrients back into the hair.These are the results after using the hair mask for the first time, and after applying a little bit of cream to add that extra definition.

Each time I've used this mask, I've noticed a difference each time which are all positive.The normal frizz that I would always get on a wash or deep conditioning day has been reduced by a lot.I would love to say that I have zero frizz, but I constantly touch my hair so I can't really avoid it.I have quite a lot of hair already anyway, but I felt this mask helped with not only detangling the mess that it can get into, but also gave my hair more volume and bounce.I could of easily gone about my day without applying a curl cream, but I love having that extra definition.

My hair tends to get quite dry in the summer, especially because of the heat and the sun causes my hair to change either red or blonde.This mask does help lot with dry hair, leaving my hair not only soft afterwards, but extremely moisturised.The strength of my hair has improved a lot too, with not a lot of fallout when brushing my hair and I'm able to tie my hair up in a bun, without the worry of my hair breaking when taking the hairband out.I'm also able to style my hair in a bun with dry hair, which I couldn't really do before, as I had to constantly re-wet my hair to not risk it from breaking off.

I was worried about the scent of this product, because sometimes coconut oil based masks can smell a bit funky (like an odd smell).This mask smells really really nice of coconut and left my hair smelling really good.

The only difference which I haven't found with this mask, is the hair growth.I feel like I haven't used it that long to be able to see results or give my opinion on it, as its only been other a month.I would say that my edges have gotten thicker, but no new growth has come through yet.I also think where I've had less fallout with my hair, I will hopefully see a difference when it comes to hair growth.I wouldn't count this as a negative, because it does take 2+ months to see any difference.I haven't found anything negative to say about this mask so far either and I've been enjoying it so much I want more!

This is a picture of my hair which I took on the 21st June, using my last St Tropica mask and applying some curl cream afterwards.As you can see my hair is a lot more thicker, especially my curls.I have a lot more bounce to them now as well and I hardly get any frizz in this crazy summer weather.Depending on your budget, you can spend as little as £10 ($15) to £38 ($42) as a bundle on these masks.Since now trying this out and seeing the benefits that its done for my hair, I would purchase the 6 pack during the summer and the 12pack for the winter.My hair does get more dry during the winter time, because of the cold and the constant rain (yay for UK weather), so being able to treat my hair on a monthly basis would be perfect.If you're still not sure about this mask, then I would recommend trying it out by purchasing the cheapest option, that way you can see how well it works for your hair or feel free to ask any questions on here or over on my instagram @shanisemorgan

Below I've listed some more positives about this mask, which you may find beneficial:

Contains ZERO chemicals, parabens, sulfates, additives, stabilisers, preservatives or fragrances
Gluten free and soy free
!00% Organic ingredients
Cruelty free
Vegan Certified
Microwave or kettle safe

Ingredients: organic virgin coconut oil, organic biotin, organic horsetail, organic amla, organic hibiscus, organic green tea, organic coconut butter, organic coconut fruit extract

Saturday, 3 June 2017

Flora & Curl Review

I'm so excited to finally be able to share my thoughts on Flora & Curl, because I have so many things to say about these products.I was very kindly sent these products by Rose to review and to of course let you guys know my thoughts on them.Before I go into this review, I wanted to mention a few things that are extremely beneficial about them:

All of the products are handmade
No harmful ingredients
No animal testing
Free from sulphates, silicones, mineral oil, additives, synthetic colouring/dyes and artificial fragrancing, parabens

I love how Flora & Curl are based in the UK too, because its always hard to not only find brands that are designed for our hair types, but I love it where they're made where I live.It kind of has a bigger meaning to it in a way :)

Jasmine Oasis Hair Mist

What it claims to do:

Restores moisture and instantly conditions dry hair
Instantly softens and reduces signs of brittleness
Great for revitalizing hair throughout the day
Delivers manageability and ease of styling
Suitable for extra dry, brittle, dehydrated hair

I've been raving about this hair mist on my instagram story so much, as I've been using it constantly during this warm weather.I have days where I honestly cannot be bothered to do my hair at all either because I'm lazy or I'm having a bad day with anxiety.At the same time, I don't like my hair getting dry and not moisturised, so this is where this hair mist comes in.I choose to spray it onto my hands first, instead of directly spraying it onto my hair, mainly because I personally prefer this method.I feel like I'm able to cover all of my hair instead of using the nozzle.

I have to agree that it works fantastic at restoring moisture and stops my hair from feeling dry.It also adds a little bit of shine to my curls as well which is a plus.I applied it here on Day 3+ hair and you can use it daily if you want to get that moisture back.I personally don't need to use it on a daily basis, as it keeps my hair moisturised for a good 2-3days (depending on the weather) and overdoing it can leave the hair looking a bit greasy.If you're someone that likes to have there hair up a lot in a bun or a pineapple, this is great for adding moisture to your hair that lasts for the whooooooole day.

Price: £16.99 Purchase Me!

African Citrus Superfruit Hair Oil

What it claims to do:

Antioxidant-rich oil formula intensively seals and locks in moisture
Vitamin C-rich citrus infusion stimulates the scalp and aids in growing, thickening and strengthening the hair
Delivers protection against split ends, environmental damage and breakage
Known to enhance natural sheen to create healthy shine lustre
Suitable for dry, dull, and damaged hair

Firstly this product smells incredible and I mean seriously it smells amazing.Its smells a lot stronger than the hair mist, but its not overpowering to the point where you'll feel sick.I love to drench my hair in this oil too, not just because it smells amazing but it leaves my hair so nice and soft, its hard to not touch it.Again I apply this on days where my hair is feeling a little bit dry and is lacking that moisture.You can also include it into your LOC/LCO method, which I favour to use it in the LCO method, as the oil works great on top of a curl cream/gel and gives it more shine.

I also find sometimes when it comes to oil based products, they either leave my hair with a lot of shrinkage or it can cause my hair to frizz a little.This oil works great as a base for when you may want to detangle your hair without causing damage or breakage, but your hair will still frizz up like a cloud if you do this.My hair is definitely stronger since using this oil and you don't need a lot of it to work a dream.I obviously love drowning my hair in it, especially on a "deep condition day" or as a hot oil treatment, as its such a lovely treat for your hair to bring it back to life.To some extent, I can say that its helped with hair growth, mainly because its made my hair stronger and hardly any breakage occurs.

Price £18.00 Purchase Me!

Flower Garden Hair Butter

What it claims to do:

Provides soft hold and definition without being crunchy or hard
Perfect for styles such as twists out, bantu knot outs, braids and perm rod styling
Nutrient-rich oils penetrate deep into all layers to provide all-day moisture
Delivers superior moisture locking ability to damp hair

This was the first product that I tried when I took everything out of the box and I've saved the best till last.I was actually really intrigued by it, mainly because of the colour (looks so edible) and because I love hair butters.Although the hair oil smells amazing, this scent of hair butter is out of this world as it smells like roses and its so sweet.Like we all know how obsessed I am with roses already, its embarrassing.The texture kind of reminds me of a jelly with sugar in it, but it instantly melts onto the hair once applied.I love applying this to my hair damp, because it penetrates the hairs cuticles much better compared to when its dry.It does provide really good moisture to the hair, not leaving it crunchy or feeling sticky.

I cannot comment on how well it works for bantu knots, braids or perm rod styling, as I don't do any of these for my hair, but it does provide really good hold when it comes to doing buns.I've been wearing my hair up in buns a lot recently, because I just cannot handle this heat with my hair down.I love to use this on my edges too when having my hair up in a bun, because if I don't style them, I'll be rocking the rest of the day with my fivehead.Whats another benefit of this hair butter, is that you can apply as much as you want, and it won't cause any build up or crunchiness.If I could apply this every single day, I would but I want to save as much as I can.

Price £14.00 Purchase Me!

I'm very happy and impressed with this range, and I cannot wait to see what other products Flora & Curl add.I'm hoping they will be adding there own shampoo, conditioner and curl product, because I have no doubt that they will provide amazing results like these.I also haven't found anything negative to say about these products either and I've been testing them for sometime now.If anything does change results wise or if Flora & Curl do add more products to there range, I'll make sure to keep this post updated :)

Monday, 29 May 2017

Moroccanoil Curly Hair Review: Do They Live Up To The Hype?

Moroccanoil has been a brand that I've always wanted to try, but I never had the money to purchase them all.Pure PR contacted me asking if I'd like to review some, and of course I said yes!I was not expecting to receive all of these products, so it was a massive surprise and of course I was super excited to try them all.As always with all of the products that I talk about, whether I purchase them myself or are sent to me for review, I will always be 100% honest :)
I also have a Youtube video on these with a demo of applying them to my hair: Click Me!

Moroccanoil Treatment

"Get the silky, shiny and healthy hair you've always wanted.Moroccanoil Treatment is the product that pioneered oil-infused hair care and created the worldwide buzz on argan oil.The original foundation for hairstyling, Moroccanoil Treatment can be used as a conditioning, styling and finishing tool.Infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil and shine- boosting vitamins, this completely transformative hair treatment detangles, speeds up drying time and boosts shine- leaving you with nourished, manageable and smooth hair with each use.Outshine the rest"

I wanted to start off the review with the one product that didn't work for me as well in this range (which is explained why below) and it was also the first one that I tried too.I was really excited to use this, because I've heard nothing but positive things about it and my hair loves oil based products.This left all of my hair extremely dry the first time when I used it on its own, which I found quite odd.The second time using it, I used it along with the defining cream and it didn't feel as dry.After a few times of trial and error, I found this product works fantastic at taming my edges and any flyaways that I have, instead of me putting it all over.The treatment oil works on Day 3+ dry hair, leaving it silky, shiny and moisturised.It works as a great barrier for when I apply a hairspray to stop it from drying it out and my hair lasts longer in place, considering I have very thick hair, it works a treat.

I don't feel that its the products fault that my hair doesn't work that great alongside it, mainly because each time I've cleaned my hair with my usual shampoo/conditioner, it would leave it dry, but when I tried another brand, it wasn't that bad, so I 100% say its down to the products you use to wash before applying.I wanted to include this in the review as I want it to be as honest as possible, and it was great that Moroccanoil actually investigated this for me too, to get to the bottom of why I was having these results.I'm planning on purchasing the shampoo and conditioner from this range in the future, once its hopefully released in the UK.This is an award winning product and is used by professionals around the world, so no doubt once I use the compatible shampoo/conditioner, it will work even better.

Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream

"Easily activate and define curls while hydrating hair.Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream is one of our most popular products for curly hair.This argan oil-infused definer features an advanced heat-activated technology that provides a curl memory factor to fight frizz and create well-defined, natural-looking, bouncy curls that last"

My hair is always fussy when it comes to curl creams and I'm always looking to find new ones for my LOC method.This cream is fairly thick which I love, so I dispense two pumps into my hands, rub them together then apply to the hair.You have the choice of either using a diffuser to add extra definition, or to air dry for a relaxed curl.My hair loves this cream and I don't even have to apply an oil beforehand to lock in the moisture.It doesn't dry out my hair at all and is perfect to add to day 3+ hair, to add that definition back.

This cream is one of those products where it doesn't cause a lot of build up (if any really) and doesn't make your curls feel heavy at all.I applied it here after using a deep treatment on my hair, which normally leaves me with frizzy curls and shrinkage, and you can see how defined my curls are.I've been wearing my hair down more since using this because I feel more confident and happy that my curls aren't a frizzy mess.

Moroccanoil Curl Control Mousse

"Control curly, coily and tightly-spiraled hair with no crunch.Moroccanoil Curl Control Mousse tames, defines and provides hold for hours, sealing in moisture and preventing frizzy hair in any weather.Lightweight yet powerful formula infused with argan oil provides soft, smooth hair with a natural texture and no sticky residue"

This was the second product that I tried in this range, because at the time my hair was super frizzy.We've surprisingly been getting quite warm weather in the UK recently, so I really needed something that would stop my hair from frizzing up.I'm normally not a huge fan of mousses, mainly because they leave my hair feeling either super sticky, crunchy, and leaving white residue.This mousse works into the hair pretty good, not leaving it feeling sticky, however I recommend not applying too much as it can weigh the hair down.A little bit of this mousse goes a long way too, because it pretty much eliminates any frizz and holds it for at least 16hours, which is pretty impressive.

I like to use it alongside the intense curling cream to add some extra definition and it also helps to refresh the curls as well.It doesn't cause any product build up which is great, but like I mentioned earlier, don't use too much as it can leave your curls looking flat.I have a lot of hair and I don't mind going for a less volumised look when I apply too much of this mousse, its all about trial and error until you find how much product works for you.

Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream

"For natural curls and waves that look shiny, shapely and beautifully refreshed, Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream is a leave-in conditioner that moisturises and fights stubborn frizz without stickiness.Infused with nourished argan oil and vitamins to keep wavy and curly hair looking hydrated and touchably soft all day"

This is another holy grail product from this range that not only combats frizz, but its great for refreshing your curls too.I normally apply this on days where I have minimal frizz and want to get some definition back, but I also like to apply it after wash day as a leave in.It doesn't combat the frizz as well compared to the mousse, hence the reason why I use it on days where I have minimal frizz, but it does work fantastic at refreshing the curls without adding water.I also recommend using just 1-2 pumps, because this can leave a white residue in your hair if you apply too much.This is mainly due to how thick this cream is, but a little bit goes a long way to work its magic.The pump does tend to get clogged up quite easily as well due to the cream being quite thick, but its quite easy to clean it all out.

It can be applied to either wet or dry hair, with me favouring it to being applied to dry as it refreshes my curls without any hassle.This cream does smell extremely strong, but it does start to not smell as strong after 5minutes of it being on your hair.I can't say anything negative about this cream, because it really does the job that its supposed to do and really does leave your curls touchably soft.

Moroccanoil Blow-Dry Concentrate

"Specifically formulated for very rebellious, highly unmanageable hair.Moroccanoil Blow-dry Concentrate provides intense frizz control and facilitates easier blowouts.Creates a polished, ultra-smooth look while increasing softness, shine and silkiness"

I'm not one to really to blow dry my hair, unless its absolutely necessary, but this oil provides amazing protection and results.The hairdryer that I currently use is the Remington Protect and its great for reducing damage to the hair due to the technology, but I still tend to get that little bit of frizz.I apply 1-2pumps to my damp hair, mainly focusing on mid-lengths to the ends and the parts of my hair where it tends to frizz up the most.I only blow dry my hair with a diffuser on the end, because I don't want to frazzle my hair and it helps with the definition as well.I do agree with it increasing softness, shine, silkiness and it also makes the hair more manageable.

I recommend using the Curl Defining Cream with it like I have in this picture, because the oil on its own hardly provides any definition.I also use it as a heat protectant when its super hot outside and it can be used to add extra shine to Day 3+ and dry hair.It smells absolutely delicious and leaves your hair smelling so good.I'm hoping to use it next time after I've straightened my hair to see how long my hair lasts and if it makes it as beautiful as it does to my thick curly hair.

🔻My Final Thoughts🔻

I'm so glad and grateful that I was able to try this range, because I was so worried that they were going to be overhyped.After testing all of these products for over a month and having the majority of them now in my hair routine, I can confirm that these really do live up to the hype.I would of gladly spent my money on this range if I knew they would leave and make my hair this amazing.Once I do run out of it (because I use them so much), I will no doubt be repurchasing them, especially the curl defining cream.At first I thought they were overpriced for what they advertise on what they can do individually, but after trying them all on my hair, its actually priced really well.You can find them at most salons which I've linked the finder here for the UK: Salon/Spa Locator or you can purchase them online from any of these retailers: Look Fantastic & Feel Unique

Monday, 17 April 2017

Only Curls, Curly Hair Towel

Wash days were always a struggle and I'm sure I wasn't the only curly that had this problem.My hair would always frizz, especially when it would just touch a piece of clothing, it was absolutely ridiculous.There was no way I was going to walk around the house with my hair dripping everywhere and all over my shoulders, not worth getting a chill over that at all.Last month, I featured this in my post on brands to keep a look out for and as promised, here is my review on Only Curls.

This towel came in lovely pink packaging with the logo on the front.Its inside that really showed on how beautifully presented this towel is and its so soft to touch.The towel is 100% microfibre which leaves the hair cuticles intact and helps absorb the amount of moisture in the hair, so goodbye frizz!Before this I was using an old shirt instead, because it was a lot softer on the hair, but a lot of frizz would still happen, even if I applied product to reduce it.I never like the idea of wrapping my hair up either and would rather wear my hair down, so I would part my hair down the middle and have each side at the front.This will leave my hair to dry naturally in the style that I'd like it to be (whether I apply a curl cream or not), and will also leave my curls really soft.Its also great for stopping any excess dripping from getting all over your clothes.

This is an example of how I have the towel wrapped around my hair, making sure that everything is covered but also giving it some breathing space too.I applied some Curlsmith Defining Styling Soufflé to add some definition and shine, for when my hair had finished air drying.My hair dried a lot quicker too, which is another benefit of this towel as well if you're someone that is always on the move.

This towel would be awesome for any hair type in my opinion, but would work great for those that have thick curly hair such as myself.Our hair tends to get more frizzy and dry out more, whether thats with air drying or using a diffuser.I've been using this for a few months now and I've seen a massive improvement when it comes to wash days.My hair holds so much more moisture, meaning I don't have to apply a lot of product like before to retain as much as I can.Its no longer feeling dry, with my curls feeling really nice and soft afterwards.

These are the current products that I use on a wash and deep treatment day to keep my curls happy.My product/curl routine is constantly changing, because I've learnt since being natural that my curls stay hydrated by switching between products.I always make sure to include either a leave in conditioner or an oil based product to keep my curls moisturised, and a cream or gel to define my curls.It takes a little trial and error, but once you've found what works great for your hair type, it makes it a little bit easier to maintain your curls.

The towel is available in 3 colours: white, grey and black and can be purchased here

If you have any questions, please let me know and I'll glad answer them for you :)

Saturday, 25 March 2017

CURLSMITH Moisture Line

Surprise!I wasn't meant to be uploading this post until the end of the month to gather my final thoughts on this range, BUT, as I have so much to say about these products, I really wanted to get a post up for you all to read.Curlsmith launched earlier this month and I was kindly sent a box to review, to give them my feedback.

It arrived in a beautifully presented box and I loved the "Curl Code" message printed at the top.I remember the time when I used to hate my curl pattern and had friends that hated there tighter curls too.It was hard to find a brand that would not only cater for all curl types, but made us feel that all curl types were beautiful.Before I agreed to try out Curlsmith, I always do a little research on the brand, which involves me going through there website or there social media channels.It was so refreshing to see so many different girls with different curls types and with inspirational captions.I knew straight away that this was a brand that I wanted to know and get to work with.All of these products none contain any harsh chemicals, are vegan friendly and are cruelty free too :)

Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash:

"Say goodbye to traditional foaming shampoos which contain chemicals and soaps that strip the natural oils from your curls.This gentle, lightweight yet hardworking formula removes build-up and dirt, leaving curly hair manageable, soft and shiny.Suitable for color-treated hair and perfect for detangling.Plus its blended with rare ingredients like Andiroba to restore shine and Resurrection Flower to help curls retain moisture"

This product works as a co-wash, and I'll be honest with you, I was really worried about applying it to my hair for many reasons.I've tried many co-wash based products in the past, and 99% of them left my hair in a really bad condition.This was actually a few weeks ago, which was why I had to take a break from blogging on hair products, because I was super worried that this was going to happen again.However, from looking at the ingredients list, its organic and is handpicked:

Mashed Shea Butter
Resurrection Flower
Organic Coconut
Rare Andiroba
Organic Avocado Oil
Torn Sage And Basil
Black Pepper Oil

This conditioner smells delicious, like I wanted to eat it.The cream is fairly thick, but thats just the way I like it personally.My hair that week had so much build up, which was perfect to see how well this conditioner worked.I applied a 50p sized amount and massaged it into my hair, making sure to focus on the scalp as well to remove that build up.I left it on my hair for 3minutes as recommended on the bottle and washed it out.This is probably going to be TMI, but I couldn't believe on how much dirt and buildup that it removed from my scalp, it was crazy.I'm a very clean person and this conditioner proved on how much it cleansed my scalp from EVERYTHING, without stripping my natural oils.My hair was left detangled, soft and moisturised, which of course made me very happy.You can leave your hair without applying anything else or you can follow it up with the leave in conditioner from this range.

Intense Deep Treatment Oil Serum:

"Our hard-working and versatile serum brings back sine, strength, silky softness and manageability to even the most damaged curls.Perfect for lifeless, dull, brittle, frizzy or roughly handled hair.Our formula contains Oats to enhance elasticity, Macadamia to protect against damage and Apricot kernels for ultra hydration"

I remember opening the pot to this serum and wasn't expecting the texture inside.Of course I couldn't wait to use it as I was intrigued to see what it felt like, so I scooped on the outer side of the pot and kept it untouched in the middle so you can see what it looked like.The texture melts into an oil on skin contact and again smells absolutely amazing.I've applied this both on damp and dry hair, and personally I prefer to apply it on my dry hair on Day 4+ hair, as it re-hydrates my curls.I've provided a few of the ingredients in this oil serum below:

Infused Jojoba
Organic Avocado Oil
Silky Oat Oik
Rare Andiroba
Macadamia Oil
Organic Apricot Oil

It recommends to use a teaspoon sized amount, but I use a smaller size, as too much can make your hair a bit greasy.This will vary on your curl type and how much hair you have, so its pretty much trial and error, but its worth it to have your curls nice and hydrated.Its great to use in the L.O.C method, which I do on days where I'm in a bit of a hurry, but want my curls to be fully moisturised.I've now introduced this for my L.O.C method, so its great for those that either have dry curls or curls that are needing that extra moisture.

Curl Defining Styling Soufflé

"Our styling Soufflé is all about bouncy definition.It is perfect for creating flexible wash & go styles, braids and twist outs.It leaves no residue, is non-greasy and non-crunchy.Plus, its blended with Irish Moss for elasticity, Babassu Oil for moisture and Flax Seed for defined curls"

The Curl Defining Styling Soufflé was the first product that I tried out of the box and it has easily become one of my favourite curl products.I always like to keep at least 3 curl definition products for my hair on days where my hair is feeling temperamental: frizzy, lack of moisture and day 4+ hair.The products that I was using before didn't do too bad, but it was finding them working together that made it difficult, whereas this soufflé works perfectly.A few of the ingredients that are in this soufflé are listed below:

Indigenous Irish Moiss
Babassu Oil
Flax Seed Infusion
Rare Andiroba
Wild Rosemary & Sage
Organic Avocado

I took this picture on the 23rd March after a live stream, as I had a few questions about how defined my curls looked.That morning, I had actually washed my hair and normally after applying a defining cream, my hair would still shrink and have a lot of frizz.After stepping out of the shower with my towel on my shoulders to stop the excess dripping, I took a 10p sized amount, rubbed it between my hands until it turned into a foam like texture and applied it to my hair, whilst doing the scrunching method.Its one of those products that you really have to massage into the hair or it will leave a white residue, which is not a pretty look.It works great alongside the oil in cream for that extra moisture, but I'm perfectly happy with just using it on its own to achieve definition and happy curls.I'd also like the mention that the texture is a bit like a jelly, but turns into a foam like texture once you rub it between your hands as I mentioned above.

Curl Conditioning Oil-In-Cream:

"Our rich leave-in conditioner is perfect for TWA's, Wash & Go, L.O.C. Method, braids and twist outs.It can also be used as a curl primer in combination with other products.It doesn't flake, is non-greasy and non-crunch.Plus its blended with organic carrot, olive and aloe vera oils for extra strength, moisture and shine"

This leave in conditioner works absolute miracles and works so well alongside the soufflé.I love to use it mostly for the L.O.C method, because it gives my hair more moisture and definition.The cream is fairly thick so you literally only need a very small amount to work in the hair.I followed the instructions on the tub to scrunch in a upwards motion, as this gives me more volume from the root and softens the curls too.I love the ingredients in this one the most because it leaves my hair super moisturised:

Resurrection Flower
Organic Carrot Oil
Rare Andiroba
Organic Olive Oil
Aloe And Basil Blend

As it works great as a curl primer, it makes it perfect to use as a base if you like to wear your hair up in a messy bun.I would normally just go in with a curl definition product for hold, but found that my hair would feel a bit dry a few hours later as a definition product wasn't enough.After wetting my hair, I take a small amount of the oil in cream, making sure that all of my hair is drenched in this cream, so its moisturised.I then go in with the soufflé for hold and style my hair up in a high bun, leaving a curl to hang loosely.Sometimes I will use the oil in cream on my edges afterwards so I can style them and of course moisturise them.

I'm really impressed with these products and highly recommend them to anyone with any curl type.I feel that not only would these work for anyone, but will be perfect for those that are just starting there journey of being natural.I would also like the thank Curlsmith for sending me these products to review and also bringing me amazing products that my hair love, and also the amazing message you portray for all curl types.A brand that will for sure will be making there way up to the top this year :D

Thursday, 23 February 2017

BounceCurl Light Creme Gel Review 2017

I remember when I first came across BounceCurl on instagram, and wasn't sure if they were a genuine brand.There feed had lots of pictures of different curl types, looking absolutely flawless and I remember thinking "This looks too good to be true".Nearly 1year later from making my first purchase, I'm so glad that I came across there light creme gel.BounceCurl have grown as a business by a lot since I first purchased from them in 2016, and I wanted to do a updated thorough review on this brand, to help those that are maybe buying for the first time or want to know more about the new formula.I also just want to mention quickly, if you're new here, that my reviews are 100% my own honest opinion and this is not sponsored/advertisement.Also welcome to my blog and I hope this post helps you with any questions that you have.

To start off, I wanted to provide two images of my hair back in 2016, to show the curl pattern differences and what this product did for me.The first picture is when I used BounceCurl for the first time and the second picture is 1month later:

I first reviewed this product back in March 2016, and I was really surprised by the results.My curls had more definition than any other product that I used on its own, and the shrinkage was reduced by a lot.A month later, I was still happily using BounceCurl, because it added so many great benefits, but I will go into this in the next paragraph, as these photo's were taken with the old formula.During this time, BounceCurl had completely sold out of bottles, and because they/I only had the 8oz size(238ml), I had to use it sparingly.My hair was still happy with using just a small amount, but I did need that little bit extra because I love me some definition!

BounceCurl ended up going out of stock for ages, and I wondered if they ever would return with there product.BounceCurl eventually restocked, and not only had they introduced 12oz bottles with new products added to there range, the formula was changed too.I'm not going to lie, I was seriously on panic mode, because I was like "what if my hair doesn't like it?" or "Why did they change the formula when it was practically perfect?" Ok so I might of over exaggerated on this, but if you have curly hair, then you know the struggle is real!At the same time, I had complete faith in the creator too, because she would always give everyone updates, let everyone know what was going on and what her customers thought.I ended up leaving it too long and they went out of stock again, but after seeing raving reviews on the new formula, I had to purchase a 12oz bottle once they came back into stock.Whats a really great benefit now, is that if you're in the UK, you can order BounceCurl from Beauty By Zara.Back then I had to order from BounceCurl directly, and although I didn't have an issue with the courier, it was the custom charges that had me like "urgh"

This was photo was taken the same day that it was delivered (August 2016) and that I had used BounceCurls new formulated light creme gel for the first time.I was so over the moon with it and was so shocked on how amazing the new formula worked for me.There are a lot of benefits of this product and below I've provided a list of them:

Does NOT contain Parabens, Mineral Oils, PEG's, Synthetic Dyes, Sulfates and Silcones
Is NOT tested on animals
Contains Black Seed Oil
Contains Jojoba Oil
Contains Aloe
Contains Panax Ginseng Root Extract
The product won't weight your hair down and will allow you to create volume

My hair loved the first formula, but loved this one even more as its a mixture of a gel and cream.This made it a lot more easier for myself and other curlies to apply to the hair, without having that sticky feeling afterwards.The added ingriedents of Jojoba Oil, Black Seed Oil, Aloe and Panax Ginseng Root Extract, are all perfect to make your hair healthy and to restore any lost moisture.It also strengthens the hair and believe me, my hair used to be so damaged and brittle.

Here is a photo of the two very different formulas, so you can get a better understanding of what I meant earlier:

I used to use this product alongside my Aussie Leave In Conditioner, but since then I've found other products that work with BounceCurl better.I now either use it on its own for Day 4+ hair or alongside the Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker for extra definition and to hold up a perfect bun.It works with certain shampoo's and conditioners, but this is just down to trial and error.I've found for me personally, thats its worked great with everything that I've used, but my favourite is the recently discovered L'Oréal Curl Nourishment range (review here) which is shown in the first picture below.

And my favourite styled hair using Bounce Curl, alongisde Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker:

My hair has changed a lot thanks to this product, and by reading (or scrolling) you can see on how much my curl pattern has changed.Its more healthy, my hair no longer breaks from just doing a simple task like finger detangling, its more nourished and I get a lot of definition.Out of all of the curly hair products that I've purchased or have been sent to be for review, this is 100% my favourite one.Its not just the product itself that makes it amazing, but its also the team behind BounceCurl and also the lovely lady that created this product.I've seen it myself that it works for all different hair types and ethnicities, which is just so amazing to see.I know it sounds like I'm going a bit over the top with it, but when you have found your perfect curly hair product, how can you not be this happy?I hope this post has removed any doubts and answered your questions, but if it hasn't, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact me on any of my social media channels.I'll soon be trying out the BounceCurl vitamins since leaving another brand, so I'll update this post with a new link once the post is available :) More information can be found on BounceCurl here and can be purchased in the UK from Beauty By Zara💕💕

💕Massive love for BounceCurl💕

Sunday, 12 February 2017

L'ORÉAL Elvive Extraordinary Oil: Curl Nourishment

L'Oréal has been stepping up there game recently, by not only adding more foundation shades to cater for us medium and darker skin toned folks, but now a range our curly, afro, kinky hair too.This range has been out for a little while, but its either selling out completely or the store don't stock it.I couldn't find it at my local Boots and Superdrug, so when I saw it available at Amazon, I picked it up so fast.I decided to just pick up the cleansing conditioner, along with the hair masque, because I'm perfectly happy with the current shampoo that I've got and the shampoo has been getting quite a lot of negative reviews.I owned the original Extraordinary Oil range and although my hair loved it at the beginning, it got to the point where my hair was feeling extremely yucky from the buildup after longterm use.My curls are a mixture of 3a/3b/3c

The packaging is always on point when it comes to L'Oréal, and I'm really glad that they decided to shape the bottle like the Kérestase Curl Ideal Cleansing Conditioner, that are also owned by L'Oréal.I've found with this new design that its so much easier to pump the product out, instead of shaking the bottle to get the product out like the old packaging.It was also a nuisance to stand the product on the cap, and the product had hardened, making it a mess and wasting the product (shown below).You don't have this issue with this new designed bottle, however L'Oréal have kept the same styled bottle for the other conditioner in this range, so thats something to keep in mind.The masque is the exact same design like the others which I'm glad that they've kept, because its easy to just scoop the amount of product that you want out of the pot, and screw the lid back on with zero mess.The original conditioner bottle is shown below and its grim:

Ultra gentle wash: The texture cleanses without foaming and gently dissolves impurities without stripping the hairs natural oils.Curls look more defined and protected against frizz
Instant detangling and infinite bounce: The ultra caring balm, infused with Amla Oil and 6 precious flower oils, envelops each fibre.Curls look transformed, feeling nourished and perfectly detangled with flexible bounce

I've been through a lot of conditioners, even the expensive Kérastase products as mentioned in this post, but this cleansing conditioner does such a good job for the price.Before using this product, I want to point out that I had not washed my hair properly for 2weeks, because I had the flu.I had to constantly just apply product after product to keep it moisturised and you can imagine the amount of build up that was sitting on my scalp and hair.The cleansing conditioner doesn't foam like it says on the bottle, but you can seriously feel it working its magic on the hair.In the photo above, that is just one pump, but for me, I need at least two pumps to work for the whole of my hair.Its recommended to massage onto the scalp, whilst combing or finger detangling to separate the curls.I always use my trusty Denman or Lily England paddle brush for this, as they don't tug on the hair at all.After doing that for about a minute, I washed my hair with luke warm water, which was super easy to wash out and my scalp was left feeling very clean.My hair wasn't left feeling dry or stripped and smelt so delicious.If you're not a fan of the scent from the original extraordinary oil range, you might like this one because they smell completely different and has more of a floral scent to it.I feel this cleansing conditioner can just work well on its own like a co-wash, but if you're wanting that extra hair treatment or nourishment, I would follow up with the hair masque from this range.I will be switching to this cleansing conditioner once my Kérastase runs out, because I prefer this L'Oréal one more and I'll be saving pennies.

The ultra rich formula infused with Amla Oil and 6 precious flower oils.The Curl Nourishment Masque envelops each fibre providing supreme nourishment without weighing the hair down
The supple buttery texture and luxurious fragrance restores softness, increases elasticity and provides intense shone to your curls

I've only ever used 3 other L'Oréal hair masques, with the first one being the original Extraordinary Oil, which left my hair only a little bit soft.The second was the Extraordinary Summer Saviour Oil Masque which I absolutely hated for so many reasons, that I wrote a review here of my awful experience.The third was the Full Restore 5 Masque which I absolutely loved, but its so hard to find a store that stocks it, so I assume L'Oréal have discontinued it which is a shame.This Curl Nourishment Masque has again shocked me on how amazing it really is, especially for the price.Its an extremely thick product, but literally melts like butter onto your hair and feels so good just applying it.The scent reminds me of the Full Restore 5 Masque, being a little bit stronger but nothing too bad to make you feel nauseous.The directions on this masque made me laugh though, because it says to apply a walnut sized amount to the hair...Walnut size....Out of all of my curly, kinky, afro, long, short haired friends (including myself), we have NEVER just needed a walnut sized amount.We need so much more for our hair types and this isn't me bashing L'Oréal, because believe me I saw the funny side of it, but seriously though, walnut size?

I admit, I did try applying just a walnut sized amount on my hair, because its not gonna hurt right?but like I predicted, I needed at least another 2-3scoops for my thick curls.It recommends to then leave it on for 2-3minutes which sounded good to me, so I went to go cuddle my cats until it was time to rinse it out.This masque was incredibly easy to wash out, like it was melting away from my hair strands.My hair was not only left extremely soft with a lot of moisture and no frizz, but I had some definition going on too!I wanted to make sure that this definition was going to stay though, beause you can't have too much definition, so I applied my favourite curl product which is the Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker.

I had such a good hair day on that day, that I was comfortable with just having my hair down and being able to take pictures for my other blog posts.My hair only got a little bit of frizz on top which is mainly my fault, because I couldn't stop touching my hair.I'm so shocked at how well these two products worked on my hair and how they left me with such great results.The prices vary between each retailer, but sell from just £1.98-£5.99 each, which is a fantastic price, especially since I've spent so much more on other brands that don't leave my hair feeling and looking this good.Although I'm intrigued to try the shampoo and conditioner from this range, I'm currently very happy with just the two of these.I think it would be interesting to see L'Oréal releasing a curl cream, oil or spray for this range like the others.

Hair, Beauty & Mental Health

Pages

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Herbal Essences: White Strawberry & Sweet Mint

Thursday, 27 July 2017

Garnier Ultimate Blends: Coconut Milk & Macadamia 3 in 1 Mask (Curly Hair)

Friday, 23 June 2017

ST.Tropica Coconut Hot Oil Hair Mask: Hit Or Miss?

Saturday, 3 June 2017

Flora & Curl Review

Monday, 29 May 2017

Moroccanoil Curly Hair Review: Do They Live Up To The Hype?

Monday, 17 April 2017

Only Curls, Curly Hair Towel

Saturday, 25 March 2017

CURLSMITH Moisture Line

Thursday, 23 February 2017

BounceCurl Light Creme Gel Review 2017

Sunday, 12 February 2017

L'ORÉAL Elvive Extraordinary Oil: Curl Nourishment

Welcome

About Me

Social

Search The Blog

Video Games/Tech

Haircare

Lingerie Diaries

Mental Health

Makeup

Skincare

Fashion