Product Review: Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative

Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner

Cost: $9.99 (Target/Walgreens)

Size: 12 oz

Scent: Pleasant
Consistency: Rich Creamy & Thick

What They Say:
Our leave-in or rinse out conditioner detangles, moisturizes, repairs and restores lifeless damaged hair.

• Sea kelp: Trace minerals detoxify hair follicles of impurities and residue
• Argan oil: Restores shine and rebuilds hair elasticity
• Shea butter: Deeply moisturizes and repairs damage to hair and scalp

What I Say:
This is another oldie but goodie so I decided to finally doing a review!  This is also one of the first products I used when I started BG "S" healthy hair journey.  I have never tried this product as a rinse out but absolutely LOVE it as a leave-in.  I first tried this product with the KimmayTube Leave-In Recipe and I liked it a lot and then I decided to try it alone and liked it as well! It does a great job at moisturizing and detangling the hair.   It leaves the hair manageable and super soft.  Although it is a thick conditioner, it doesn't weigh the hair down at all.  I believe it works best on thick, dry hair.  This product never stays in stock at my local Target, it is very popular and one of the best leave-in conditioners out there.

Ingredients:
Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Argan Oil , Coconut Oil , Behentrimonium Chloride , Essential Oil Blend , Vegetable Glycerin , Emulsifying Wax , Sea Kelp Extract , Panthenol (Vitamin B-5) , Avocado Oil , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot)

**** I give this product a 5 out of 5 Baby Curls****

**Deep Conditioning on Dry Hair (Before Washing)**

This post was written before the start of BG "S" Loc Journey....  Back to loose natural tresses!!!

I have been deep conditioning on dry hair since my first experience with DC'ing BG "S" back in April.  I started DC this way simply for the sake of time, its not easy doing a toddler's hair!  I ended up loving the outcome this way, not to mention it cuts the time in half and it works great for us! I haven't looked back, I must say I like it so much I've only DC on freshly washed hair a few times.  I don't use products that contain silicones, mineral oil, petroleum, etc. that can cause build up, so the DC can still penetrate and condition the hair. 

  Here is how I deep condition on dry hair:

• Start out with dry unwashed hair
• Pre-poo with coconut oil and lightly finger detangle
• Put the hair in sections to apply DC (optional: you can lightly mist the hair with water first)
• After appyling the DC, I cover with a grocery bag and secure with stocking/spandex cap
• Let her run and play anywhere from 45 mins to 2 hours
• Remove bag, gently detangle and section hair for twisting or braiding 
• Rinse, wash and then condition while in braids

**I deep condition no less than twice a month (minimum)**

The Natural Haven recently posted on Deep Conditioning on Dry or Dirty Hair.  After reading this post, I thought I was doing this all wrong BUT I'm not! This is what works for us and I like it.  If its not broken don't fix it! Is there a right or wrong way?  I say do what works for your hair. But being my curious self, I decided to do some research and found I'm not the only one doing it this way!

To get a better idea of DC on Dry Hair, here is a video by Elle of Quest for the Perfect Curl

More info on Deep Conditioning:

Naturally Curly: Deep Conditioners For Curly Hair (Homemade Recipes, Products to try, etc.)

The Beginning of BG "S" Loc Journey =)

As most of you know from the post titled, Loc'ing Your Child's Hair...Yay or Nay? ,we decided to loc BG "S" hair.  Yay!! I am so excited and looking forward to this new hair journey.  Before twisting her hair, I simply followed BG "S" Hair Care Regimen.  BG "S"  loc start date was Tuesday August 8th, 2012.  The pictures below show the process of completing her two-strand twists along with a couple of styles her first week. I used Qhemet Biologics Aethiopika Hydrate & Twist Butter to twist the hair (love, love, love this stuff...review to come). I also did a lot of splitting, re-parting and combining the first week and a half to ensure the locs will be uniformed as much as possible...stay tuned!!!   

  It took a total of 7 hours over 3 days to complete, she has some really THICK hair!  The botton right picture shows me splitting the bottom row into smaller twists (btw, look at that definition!) 

Ponytails

Ponytails

Ponytail w/ a Bang

Bantu Knots with Two Strand Twists

This style was done about 2 weeks ago on BG "M".  I was inspired by Une Autre Naturelle (Pinwheel Bantu Knots) yet again, lol.  I still have to work on my parting skills but I think I did a pretty good job for the most part =)  So I didn't quite get the pinwheel effect o_O.  I did this style on damp hair and it was pretty easy and quick.  I two-strand twisted the hair before putting in the bantu-knots.

Products Used

Shampoo - Kinky Curly Come Clean

Conditioner - TRESemme Naturals

Leave-In - Cara B Leave In Conditioner/ Daily Moisturizer

Styling Aid - Darcy's Botanicals Madagascar Vanilla Styling Creme

Loc'ing Your Child's Hair...Yay or Nay?

I love natural hair but I absolutely LOVE locs.  I have been natural for 8 years and loc'd for 7 years.  I have no regrets and have never looked back.   In our home we have always discussed the idea of loc'ing our daughters' hair.  My husband also have locs and have been loc'd for 13 years, so he loves the idea for many reasons.

My oldest is at a very impressionable age and has expressed interest in wanting locs and ask for them often but I am not sure if her mom will be on board.  My youngest doesn't really pay much
attention to her hair but always says, "Mommy, I like you hair", while touching it, lol.  Random people often ask me if I am going to loc BG "S" hair because its almost always in two-strand twists and of course because they see me loc'd and my answer have always been YES. So here goes....I began two strand twisting BG "S" hair last night and will finish tonight, so I am going to see where this takes us.  I may start her locs with this set of twists or maybe another set depending on how the spacing and size looks when I am done.  Why do I want to loc my daughter's hair you ask, its simple: Locs in itself are beautiful and it is a style that I like & love and I believe it is something she will love as well--just as you like cornrows, puffs, twists, twist-outs, braids, ponytails, etc. and style your child's hair as such.  This is not based on convenience, as I currently take excellent care of their hair.  If it turns out to be something she doesn't like, I am okay with that and we will take them out!

It is interesting to me that parents always say they want it to be their kids decision about loc'ing but decide on everything else for their kids. Parents make the decision to press, flat iron, perm, curl, add "fake" hair and so much more without the kids decision but when it comes to locs its different.  Why is this?

Some quick facts about locs: Contrary to what people believe, locs are very versatile.  Locs are not at all painful to get done if you take care of them and keep them maintained regularly.  It is not painful for a child to get locs. Although locs are low maintenance, they still need to be cared for, after all it is still hair.  Locs can be taken out, it does however require time and diligence.  There are tons of videos on YouTube showing how to remove locs.  If that method is overwhelming, you can let the hair grow out a bit and then cut them, you can even get braids or twists with added hair until the hair grows to desired length.  Proper methods and products are important for the care of locs and yes locs do need to be washed!  With proper care, your child will have beautiful and healthy locs.

 If you are still uncertain whether or not locs are for your child, simply do your research until you're comfortable. Locs aren't a good fit for everyone and should never be used as a way to "manage" a child's hair, that makes it no different than relaxing at that point.  I believe you should have an appreciation and positive attitude towards locs so that same attitude will exude through your child. Its just hair folks! =)

Loc'd and Loving It

Look at these loc'd beauties...

VIDEOS

**This Video is Such an Inspiration**

**Removing Locs on a Child**

Yay or Nay to loc'ing your child's hair? Why?

Product Review: Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque

Cost: $9.99 (Target/Walgreens)

Size: 12 oz

Scent: Strong
Consistency: Rich Creamy

What They Say:
Our all-natural intense treatment masque deeply penetrates to moisturize and repair over-processed, dry, brittle or damaged hair. Sea kelp trace minerals detoxify hair follicles of impurities and residue. Argan oil restores shine and rebuilds hair elasticity. Shea butter deeply moisturizes and repairs damage to hair and scalp.

What I Say:
This is a oldie but goodie and I am finally getting around to doing a review!  This was one of the first products I used when I started BG "S" healthy hair journey.  When I first began using this product, I used it as a styling product to do two-strand twists on slightly damp hair.  As a styling cream, this stuff is A-mazing, it absorbs nicely into the hair, it is unbelievably moisturizing and it makes the hair super soft.  The scent is strong, so if you are sensitive to smells this product probably won't work for you.  It wasn't until recently that I used this product as a deep conditioner.  As a deep conditioner, I wasn't exactly blown away.  I didn't notice much if any difference in the hair other than a nice sheen added to the hair after rinsing the product out.  This product is great if used as a styling creme but not so great if used as a deep conditioning treatment. I will not be using this product as a deep conditioner but as a styler.  A little goes a long way so the product last a long time!

Ingredients:
Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Argan Oil , Vegetable Glycerin , Emulsifying Wax , Sea Kelp Extract , Panthenol (Vitamin B-5) , Essential Oil Blend , Avocado Oil , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower and Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle) , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Hyssopus Officinalis Extract , Salvia Officinalis Leaf and Equisetum Arvense Extract (Sage) , Soybean Oil , Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil (Carrot)

**** I give this product a 4.5 out of 5 Baby Curls****

Product Review: Shea Moisture Organic Yucca & Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque

Shea Moisture Organic Yucca & Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque

Cost: $9.99 (Target/Walgreens)

Size: 12 oz

Scent: Light Floral
Consistency: Rich Creamy

What They Say:
This all natural intense treatment masque with biotin & bamboo extract is for thin, fine hair. It penetrates to moisturize and repair over-processed, dry, brittle or damaged hair. It thickens, volumizes & softens.
Baobab oil-Contains vitamins A,C,D,E and F to fortify and strengthen hair
Yucca-Thickens hair and helps to prevent hair loss
Biotin-A powerful B vitamin that strengthens the hair follicle

What I Say: 
I enjoy this masque as a deep conditioner.  It has a nice creamy, thick texture.  I have used it on dry and wet hair and liked the results of both. It leaves the hair soft, manageable and feeling healthy & strong.  It does not provide much slip for detangling which I don't mind because I detangle prior to using.  BG "S" does not have thin or fine hair (she has thick, coarse hair) but I like this masque for her hair especially since it has both biotin and vegetable protein in it. (I typically stay away from products with protein for BG "S" but to my surprise this product doesn't make her hair hard.)  Oh and I absolutely love the smell!

Ingredients:
Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut) , Mangifera Indica Seed Butter (Mango) , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado) , Olea Europaea Oil (Olive) , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract , Ammonium Salt (Conditioner) , Yucca Filamentosa Extract , Vegetable Protein , Adansonia Digitata Extract (Baobab) , Biotin , Panthenol (Vitamin B-5) , Rosemary Extract , Bamboo Extract , Sorbitol Esters , Caprylyl Glycol , Essential Oil Blend , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower and Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle and Japanese Honeysuckle) , Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

**** I give this product a 4 out of 5 Baby Curls****