Product Review: OBIA Natural

OBIA Natural

**I tried these products with the Trail Pack which only cost $10.00...great deal!!!  At the time they had a special which included the shampoo bar** 

This is SUPER late so, let's jump into the review...


Obia Coconut & Shea Shampoo Bar

Cost: $10.00 (www.obianaturalhair.com) 

Size: N/A

Scent: Very light coconut scent
Consistency: N/A

What They Say:
This rich moisturizing shampoo will leave your hair soft, conditioned, and hydrated.  Shea butter deeply moisturizes and repairs damage to hair and scalp, while coconut oil protects hair from heat and chemical damage.

What I Say:
This is my favorite item from the line!  This was my very first time using a shampoo bar and I must say, I was very impressed.  This shampoo does a very good job at cleansing the hair and leaves the hair very moisturized.  It lathers very well and it also washes away very easily.  After washing BG "S" hair with this shampoo bar, her hair was left soft and clean...oh it smells so good!

Ingredients:
Saponified Oils of Coconut, Palm, Castor bean, Safflower; Shea Butter, Vegetable Glycerin, Purified Water, Rosemary Essential Oil, Sorbitol, Soybean protein, Sorbitan Oleate, Fragrance.

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

Obia Curl Moisture Cream

Cost: $10.00 (www.obianaturalhair.com) 

Size: 4 oz.

Scent: Light Floral
Consistency: Creamy

What They Say:
Use to add moisture and hydration to your hair.  Infused with argan oil, lavender oil, grape seed oil, vitamin E, and burdock root. Promotes hair growth without leaving your hair weighed down.

H balanced Curl Moisture Cream seals in moisture and minimizes frizz by smoothing and closing the cuticle.

What I Say:
I used this product as a leave-in/moisturizer and it did a good job at moisturizing.  It left BG "S" hair soft and fluffy.  It also gave her hair a nice sheen and it smells great.  Overall, I liked the product because it is very light but moisturizing plus it doubles as a moisturizer and twisting cream if you don't require much hold and the ingredients are nice!

Ingredients:
Purified Water (Aqua), Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, Vitis vinfera (Grape seed) Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Argania spinosa (Argan) oil, Gluconolactone and Sodium Benzoate, Arctium lappa (Burdock Root), Lavandula officinalis (Lavender) Oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycine soya (Soybean) Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Oil, Triethanolamine, Fragrance (Parfum).

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

Obia Curl Hydration Spray

Cost: $10.00 (www.obianaturalhair.com) 

Size: 8 oz.

Scent: Light Floral
Consistency: Liquid

What They Say:
Use daily to moisturize your hair and scalp, or to refresh your style. Infused with argan oil, rose oil, and vitamin E.  Hydrates curls, adds shine, detangles, and conditions hair.

What I Say:
This product smells great and is an excellent daily moisturizer, it brings back life to the hair.  It sprays nicely and leaves the hair soft and moisturized.

Ingredients: 
Purified Water (Aqua), Vegetable Glycerin, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil, Rose Oil, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Soybean Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Gluconolactone and Sodium Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Fragrance (Parfum).

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

Obia Curl Enhancing Custard

Cost: $15.00 (www.obianaturalhair.com) 

Size: 12 oz.

Scent: Light Floral

Consistency: Thick custard

What They Say:

This alcohol-free formula hydrates, elongates, and provides super shine to all types of hair.  Does not leave a waxy residue or buildup. Infused with argan oil, grape seed oil, and olive.

Use to define curls, to smooth edges, or to aid in up-do styles.  Curl Enhancing Custard defines and conditions hair leaving it soft, shiny, and deeply moisturized. 

What I Say:
This is a great styling product, it is moisturizing and provides great hold.  It also does a wonderful job at defining your curls. I tried this product on both dry and damp hair and it works best on damp/wet hair. The only problem I have with this products is that it makes the hair a little crunchy but still a great product overall.

Ingredients: 

Purified water (Aqua), Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil, Vitis vinfera (Grape seed) Oil, Argania spinosa (Argan) Oil, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Vegetable Glycerin, Gluconolactone and Sodium Benzoate, Triethanolamine, Xantham Gum, Fragrance.

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

INGREDIENT CHECK: Panthenol? What is It?

Panthenol is a very popular ingredient in skin and hair care products which is a derivative of vitamin B5 products.  It is a humectant, emollient, glossifier, detangler and moisturizing agent. It is highly water soluble and is also easily removable with mild plant-derived oils or via conditioner cleansing (co-washing).  Panthenol can be found in shampoos, conditioners, deep conditioners, leave-ins, hair lotions, etc.

Excerpt from Naturally Curly:

{...Panthenol is capable of penetrating the cuticle and entering the hair shaft as well, where it aids in moisture retention and provides volume.

It is important to note that sometimes penetration of the shaft by ingredients can create a rough cuticle surface and lead to frizz, due to swelling of the hair shaft. This may not occur for everyone and is dependent upon several factors, including porosity of the hair and the amount of the ingredient used in the product. It is a potential undesirable effect, so keep this in the back of your mind when using a product containing the ingredient.}

Ding, Ding, Ding...something hit me!  I have been currently battling with BG "S" hair being ridiculously frizzy and couldn't figure out why and then it all made sense.  I have been using a new leave-in with panthenol and although I love the product and it leaves the hair super soft and moisturized it would also be super frizzy, that's a big NO-NO!  And then I thought about past products that yielded frizzy hair and they all had one common ingredient...Panthenol.  This is obviously not something that will happen to everyone just like with other ingredients but just in case you may be experiencing a similar issue, check the ingredient list on your products!

So for now, I will discontinue using I will monitor "leave-in products" with panthenol and pay close attention to how the hair reacts since I can't completely avoid it as it is in most leave-ins (especially the good ones, lol).  Experimentation and listening to your hair is the best way to find out what works well on your own hair.  I'll keep you guys posted...

FYI..this is not to say panthenol is bad because it isn't, just for you to be educated on what may work or not work for your hair!

What have been your experience with Panthenol?

Product Review: Oyin Hair Dew

Oyin Hair Dew

Cost: $13.00 (www.oyinhandmade.com) or (www.curlmart.com)

Size: 8 oz.

Scent: Sweet like Dessert
Consistency: Rich Creamy & Thick (lotion)

What They Say:
This creamy, conditioning leave-in is light enough for every day. It's great on 'naked' hair immediately after a cleanse, or as a way to reinvigorate tired hair all the way through your hair care cycle.

Looking for a product to wake up and moisturize your second-day hair? Looking for a way to make your hair pliable enough to re-style without a full rinse? Just want to refresh your coils and curls and give them a shot of moisture before sealing? This leave-in is your answer! Plays well with other Oyin leave-ins and stylers.

What I Say:
First of all, the smell is amazing!  I've used this product as a leave-in and moisturizer yielding good results both ways.  It leaves the hair looking healthy and shiny.  It doesn't provide much slip as a leave-in.  It also absorbs nicely and provides softness and moisture but the moisture isn't lasting for my daughters' Type 4 hair. This product is also very light.

Ingredients:
Purified water, castor oil, olive oil, organic aloe vera gel, behentrimonium methosulfate (emulsifier), coconut oil, olive squalane, optiphen (preservative), cetyl alcohol, fragrance, and love!

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

Product Review: Blended Beauty/Blended Cutie

**Thanks to Blended Beauty for allowing us to review your products**

Blended Beauty SilkShake

Cost: $19.00 (www.blendedbeauty.com/)

Size: 8 oz

Scent: Sweet & Pleasant (Cake)
Consistency: Lotion

What They Say:
Treat your curls and give them a shake! SilkShake will revive dry and lifeless curls and hydrate while boosting shine, with Rice Bran oil. Perfect for detangling damp curls or for a boost in the morning or anytime of the day, on dry or damp hair. You can never spoil your curls too much!

What I Say:
I used this product on (3) unique hair textures and I can honestly say it is great!  It does an excellent job at detangling and moisturizing (detangling was actually a breeze with this lotion).  It provides great slip, adds an amazing shine to the hair and makes the hair so manageable and soft.  This product is also a winner because it can be used as your leave-in.  It also plays well with other products, who doesn't want that?! Check out results HERE and HERE.

Ingredients:
Aloe Water, Vegetable Glycerine, Capryl Isostearate, Rice Bran oil , Natural Conditioner, Natural Preservative Optiphen, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Soy Protein, Silk Powder

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

Blended Beauty Happy Nappy Styles

Cost: $21.00  (www.blendedbeauty.com/)

Size: 8 oz

Scent: Sweet & Pleasant (Cake)
Consistency: Rich Creamy & Thick

What They Say:
A rich and moisturizing styling cream for kinky curls and dreads, or highly textured hair. Style and define your curls or twist locs, while naturally hydrating. Perfect for finger twisting curls! Create defined curls, with maximum moisture and softness. Dries touchably soft and satiny, not sticky or greasy.

What I Say:
This styling cream is the bomb.com!  It is very moisturizing which is a big deal for us, it also keeps the frizzies at bay like no ones business, lol.  It also provides a nice hold.  I have used this product to twists, cornrow and maintain locs.  The definition after taking down twists is unbelievable and I had the best set of cornrows ever! I was surprised at the outcome after using it to maintain locs, BG "S" locs turned out very neat and soft.  You can go days without re-moisturizing with this product.

Ingredients:
Aloe and Chamomile Water, Rice Bran Oil, Shea Butter, Natural Conditioner, Polysorbate 20, Vegetable Glycerin, Capryl Isostearate, Soy Lecithin,Guar Gum, Natural Preservative Optiphin, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Silk Powder

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

Blended Beauty Down & Out Styles

Cost: $21.00 (www.blendedbeauty.com/)

Size: 8 oz

Scent: Sweet & Pleasant (Cake)
Consistency: Rich Creamy & Thick

What They Say:
A gentle, moisturizing, conditioning and curl defining butter cream. Enriched with shea butter, chamomile and aloe, for smoothing, defrizzing and defining curls. Silk and Beantree create body and shine even on defiant frizzies. Wearing your hair down and out has never been easier!

What I Say:
This product appears to be a lighter version of Happy Nappy Styles.  Although it doesn't provide the hold that HNS provide, it did an excellent job at moisturizing and providing shine to the hair.   The hair was also full of bounce and body....oh and frizz free!  Pictures HERE.

Ingredients:
Aloe and Chamomile Water, Rice Bran Oil, Shea Butter, Natural Conditioner, Vegetable Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Soy Lecithin, Capryl Isostearate, Guar Gum, Natural Preservative, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Silk Powder

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

Blended Beauty Jelly Cream

Cost: $19.00  (www.blendedbeauty.com/)

Size: 8 oz

Scent: Sweet & Pleasant (Cake)
Consistency: Thick Lotion

What They Say:
A soft hold moisturizing gel lotion that defines and conditions curls, while nourishing the scalp and hair. Smooth and define each curl with natural conditioners. Absolutely no plastics! Only silky and bouncy curls...naturally! Jelly Cream has twice as much hold as the Down & Out creams.

What I Say:
This product certainly defined and conditioned the hair.  It laid down and smooth the hair but didn't provide much hold.  The hair also felt very smooth like "silk" and left the hair frizz free.  I can still feel the product on the hair after re-spritzing with water (I'm not sure how much I like that...). Although it worked well on my niece's hair type, I don't have much use for this product on my daughters' hair type.

Ingredients:
Aloe and Chamomile Water, Shea Butter, Vegetable Glycerin, Rice Bran Oil, Capryl Isostearate, Natural Conditioner, Soy Lecithin, Guar Gum, Natural Preservative Optiphin, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Silk Powder

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

What's your favorite Blended Beauty Product?

Product Reviews: Cara B Naturally

Cara B Shampoo/Body Wash

Cost: $9.99 (Target/CVS)

Size: 8 oz

Scent: Very Light Sweet Floral 

What They Say: Gently cleanse your child’s delicate hair and skin with our all-natural, nourishing bath solution. CARA B Naturally Shampoo / Body Wash includes vitamin E and aloe to moisturize and soothe, while imparting a rich cleansing lather and calming all-natural chamomile fragrance. Hair and skin are left feeling clean and soft.

What I Say:  The ingredients are amazing!  It has a great lather and a little goes and long way.  This shampoo leaves the hair feeling really clean without feeling stripped and dry.  It is very gentle and excellent for kids plus it doubles as a body wash!

Ingredients: Deionized water; natural coconut oil, cornstarch and sugar soap blend (decyl glucoside); natural chamomile fragrance blend; vegetable glycerin; sugar (glucose); vitamin E; aloe vera barbadensis leaf juice; citric acid; guar gum (natural thickener); caramel; glucose oxidase & lactoperoxidase (natural preservative)

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

Cara B Leave-in Conditioner/ Daily Moisturizer

Cost: $9.99 (Target/CVS)

Size: 8 oz

Scent: Very Light Sweet Floral

What They Say: Gently condition and moisturize your child’s hair without any oily residue. Our all-natural Leave-In Conditioner / Daily Moisturizer is designed for use immediately after shampooing to improve manageability, and for use every day as a light, non-greasy, and gentle moisturizer. Jojoba oil and shea butter leave hair feeling noticeably soft.

What I Say:  This is a rich and creamy conditioner.  It is very moisturizing but doesn't offer much slip.   However, it does wonders if you use it with the Cara B Moisturizing Hair Mist. I prefer to use it as a moisturizer vs using it as a leave-in (doesn't do much as a leave-in for us).  It is very water based so as a moisturizer it will cause shrinkage on stretched hair.  I use this moisturizer when styling in two-strand twists.

Ingredients: Deionized water; vegetable glycerin; coconut oil (capric triglyceride); sweet almond oil; jojoba oil; sugar (glucose); natural chamomile fragrance blend; aloe vera barbadensis leaf juice; vitamin E; potassium sorbate; glucose oxidase & lactoperoxidase (natural preservative); citric acid

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

Cara B Moisturizing Hair Mist

Cost: $9.99 (Target/CVS)

Size: 8 oz

Scent: Very Light Sweet Floral

What They Say: Improve manageability and impart a light shine to your child's hair with our all-natural Moisturizing Hair Mist. Jojoba oil increases moisture, while sweet almond oil leaves behind a light, healthy shine without any greasy residue.
What I Say: This one is my absolute favorite!  It provides good slip and is an amazing moisturizer.  I use this daily sometimes twice a day.  It definitely adds definition to your curls!  Its makes it so much easier to comb and detangle if you apply to the hair before applying a leave-in.  The consistency is light so it doesn't weigh down the hair. It leaves the hair moisturized and it adds a nice shine.

Ingredients: Deionized water; vegetable glycerin; coconut oil (capric triglyceride); sweet almond oil; jojoba oil; sugar (glucose); natural chamomile fragrance blend; aloe vera barbadensis leaf juice; vitamin E; potassium sorbate; glucose oxidase & lactoperoxidase (natural preservative); citric acid

  

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