Garnier Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel Review

Years and years ago Garnier used to be a go to brand. They are easy to find and pretty affordable. These days I avoid silicone/dimethicone in my hair stuff so that limits some of the brands/products I am willing to plunk down cash for. This is one of the few products they make that does not have the cones in them. Although there probably still are some questionable ingredients. 

Garnier claims:

Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel provides shiny and defined curls with strong hold and no frizz.

Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel is a strong-hold spray gel for wavy, curly, and coily hair types. Infused with coconut water, it defines curls, adds shine, and helps control frizz without weigh-down, stickiness, or build-up.

• Mist-on spray-gel format coats strands evenly like a hair spray with the control of a hair gel.
• Shiny finish with defined curls that stay in place yet feel touchable.
• Works on damp or dry hair; great for day-2 curl refresh.
• Free from silicones, phthalates, and DMDM hydantoin; Leaping Bunny approved.

No silicones, no phthalates, and no DMDM hydantoin. All Garnier products, globally, are approved by Cruelty Free International under the Leaping Bunny program.

For best results, start with a curly hair shampoo, then layer over a leave-in conditioner for curly hair or curl cream for curly hair before styling.

For all curl types.

This is not my first time trying this product. I had this back in the day when I still had a relaxer. Why? IDK. I guess I thought I would create curls from straight hair. Of course, it didn't work. I don't know how I ended up using the rest of the bottle. 

We'll start with something easy. Scent. It smells nice- kinda a faint light apple/fruity type scent. It's very light though and I don't think it sticks to my hair. But I do like it. Garnier never misses as far as fragrance for their products.

As for the product itself- it is a "spray" gel. I don't know why. I'm not sure I think it makes any sense to have a spray gel. I think I would rather have a squeeze tube or a tub. Spraying it onto the hands seems to be tedious and makes application take longer. It does say you can spray directly into hair for even coverage- I don't think so. It doesn't diffuse- just sprays in a straight line so I do not think that's the best method of applying. 

It does have some crunchy hold that feels a bit drying. Even layering over a leave in conditioner. It kinda defines my hair- but I do feel there could be more definition/stretch. This seems more a product that encourages curls to shrink up rather than stretching them out.  I think I want something to define and weight down my hair just a little more than this does. 

I think shine and overall look just end up being "OK". 

No silicones- which I avoid.  But it does have "acrylates" and PVP which never sound like the best ingredients. 

Ingredients: 

454049 F8 AQUA/WATER, PVP, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, PEG-70 MANGO GLYCERIDES, TRIETHANOLAMINE, POLYACRYLATE-3, LIMONENE, LINALOOL, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, METHYL-PARABEN, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER/SHEA BUTTER, HEDYL CINNAMAL, AMYL CINNAMAL. F.I.L.# D232780/1.

Overall, it's affordable but not something I would repurchase. 

ORS Curls Unleashed Color Blast in Golden Bars Review

 I think they have discontinued these which makes me so sad. I love them so much, they are so fun and I get the best twist outs I have ever gotten from any product with them.  I don't have to retwist my hair each night, I can just throw it in a scrunchie and then bonnet. I take it out and fluff it a little the next morning and then good to go. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself.

I reviewed it here in the shade Dragon Fruit- which I adore.  Much of what I said about that wax applies to this one.

I get the best definition with these. The only thing is I was pretty unsure of the color. Of the four colors I had bought...this was the most intimidating. And I think it might have been a little odd on me if I had applied it full strength but it gets diluted in my twists and just gives me the perfect shade of golden brown. I think this might be my favorite- also because the gold sparkles is not as noticeable on most of my clothes when it rubs off because these do transfer and rub off. But it comes out easily in the wash.

It can feel a bit drying- even with putting a proper leave in conditioner underneath. I feel like I get 3-4 days of great hair before it gets a bit more frizzy than I would like. 

I probably have a few more uses before my jar is gone and I will be truly sad when it is. I will be forced to try other similar products and if I find anything half as good- I'll definitely update here. For now, I am going to make it a goal to use what I have so I can try more (more twist outs!) . I'm most sad I won't get a chance to try out the blue one..that was my next order.

If you can still find them somewhere...I highly recommend! 

 

Hask Keratin Smooth Smoothing Leave in Spray Review

I have an irrational fear of  automated car washes and today I went through my first one. I have been through once or twice decades ago. They do an ok job....I don't think I'll go back. I think I'll just suck it up and stick to hand washing my car-even in the cold. I think maybe I've just seen too many incidents with them..IDK. Also..somehow I left one of my windows slightly down so the soapy water got into my car..and on me a bit. Whoops.

Hask claims:

This multi-benefit, keratin-enriched conditioning spray is designed to pack strands with moisturizing and conditioning agents that protect hair from heat and provide a smooth look.

• Fights frizz
• Smooths hair
• Heat protection up to 400°F/205°C
• Detangles and fortifies strands
• Boosts shine

This is the second of the two leave in sprays from the brand I bought. I think this would be good to use before blow drying or flat ironing to add smoothness and heat protection but I rarely ever do that. I thought I might test this product out like that but I have been a bit lazy. Maybe over the weekend I might. And if I do I'll update. But it's very likely I won't.

Keratin is the building blocks of hair- so maybe I really should try and use it more often. The last time I used a product that highlighted the Keratin it was the deep conditioner from the same brand. It wasn't my favorite product though- not a repurchase. Much like this leave in spray.

Almost forgot to talk scent- it kinda reminds me of Lush Snow fairy. I really like the scent in this form. It doesn't really linger in my hair that I can smell..or maybe i just go nose blind to it after a while. 

I think for my hair texture a watery like spray is just not going to add enough moisture to my hair or anything else to my hair. It's like spraying water in my hair. It has higher heat protection than the other spray I tried..but that's really just not enough.

Ingredients: 

Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Keratin amino acids, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, Cetrimonium chloride, Polyquaternium-22, Polyquaternium-47, Disodium EDTA, Sodium benzoate, Sodium salicylate, Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, Potassium hydroxide, Citric Acid, Parfum/Fragrance, Hexyl cinnamal

It didn't do much of anything for my hair...I can't see myself purchasing again unless I am looking for a product purely to protect my hair from heat damage- but there are other products that provide softness, shine,  and detangling so it wouldn't be my first choice. 

ECO Curl and Waive Styling Gel Review

I can't believe I am just now trying the infamous ECO gel. I used to read about this gel all the time on the hair boards before and right after I went natural. It seems everyone was using this gel...and if not this one then the Fantasia IC gels. I tried that one and then forgot about this one. They have many different versions- Olive is the one I heard most about but the one I decided to pick up was the curl and wave.

Eco claims: 

For the ones who like things curly. Curl & Wave gel is ideal for curly and wavy hair textures. Define and moisturize your locks with our high-nutrient and botanically infused lightweight styling gel.

Eco gel is more affordable than some of the fancy brands you can get your hands on. It comes in a large amount and it's pretty easy to get a hold of. I have no idea why I am just now trying it.

I'll start with the packaging- surprisingly nice. It has a flip top lid which makes it easy and quick to open. 

The gel itself is typical. A nice thick gel texture. It's pink and has visible sparkle in it that I think helps the hair to look shiny. The scent of the gel is very light...reminscent of roses. I don't notice it lingering in my hair. I like the scent...it could be stronger. But at least it doesn't smell bad. 

I think Eco gel stands out because it doesn't use alcohol. Not all alcohol is drying but a good deal of them are. That being said- I don't feel my hair looks dry. But I do tend to put a leave in conditioner under it. While not crunchy you can still tell there is some kind gel/hold product in the hair. 

I like the way it looks in my hair once it settles but when I first put it on I feel like the frizz is a lot. But I guess as it wears it settles into just enough curl definition. I also really like the shine it gives. I could probably get more definition if I rake it through small sections with a curl brush- but that takes a lot of work and usually doesn't look much different in the end...so I rarely do it.  

It doesn't get too crunchy. Doesn't flake.

The ingredients aren't my favorite. It has a few things in it  that give me pause.  Such as Carbomer which as far as I can tell is considered to be a microplastic.But then again there are much pricier hair products that contain the same type of ingredients.  Not my favorite thing. But it does have some goodies- wheat protein, tea tree oil, calendula,  and echinacea. 

Water (Aqua), Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Echinacea Angustifolia Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium EDTA, PVP, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Fragrance (Parfum), Benzyl Benzoate, Amyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Red 33 (CI 17200). 

Overall, it's OK. I don't see myself purchasing it again- but I didn't dislike my time using it. 

Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Style Milk Review

 It's that time again to start watching horribly written cheesy and yet addicting Christmas movies. I'm feeling great because I have finally finished my Christmas shopping and I'm feeling pretty great about it. I'm still contemplating if I want to decorate this year or drag the tree up and I'm leaning towards nah. But I do have my Christmas candles ready. I love a good Christmas scent going while I watch Christmas movies. I'm hoping to burn through the two I have and then buy another to have ready for next year- hopefully on clearance because I want to buy after the holiday. 

But back to Shea Moisture.

Shea Moisture claims: 

Do you hate it when you run your fingers through your hair and find them all stuck in knots and tangles? SheaMoisture's Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk with Certified Organic Shea Butter will transition dry, damaged, over-processed hair to frizz-free, detangled and naturally beautiful curls!This styling milk is boosted with natural ingredients such as Coconut Oil, Neem Oil, Carrot Seed Oil and Shea Butter, all ingredients your hair loves for beautifully conditioned natural curls and a healthy shine that looks amazing. Use it with curlers or curling irons to achieve a good hold for the day. Define natural curls so they are lustrous and bouncy, without that heavy feeling. The natural oils in this formula contribute to soft, silky feeling hair. Plus, hair feels and looks smooth and is free of the frizzies.You can use this Curl & Style Milk from SheaMoisture every day as your go-to curl activator, and for enviously lustrous and easily manageable curls. 

Made with Fair Trade Shea Butter

Made in USA 

Bottle Made with 35% Reycled Plastic 

I've used a lot of products from the Coconut and Hibiscus line: The Gel Soufflé,  Curl Enhancing smoothie,  I also thought I tried the shampoo and conditioner but I guess not. Most Shea Moisture products don't work very well for me but some of them are OK.

Shea Moisture started out as a black-owned, black created brand but it's long since been sold so no longer. Some people claimed that's when the formulas started changing and it stopped working as well but their stuff has always been hit or miss in my hair.

I did really like the Curl Enhancing Smoothie so I was interested in trying the Curl "Milk" for awhile.

We will start with scent. It doesn't smell bad. I find Coconut scents can go either way and have a sour type scent to it...which I find is true of this. I'm not a fan of the scent. It's not horrible, I would just prefer something else for scent.

As for packaging...I don't love it. I think it would be better with a pump or in a tub because the product is pretty thick and can be a bit hard to get out.

The texture of the product is just like a thick conditioner. I don't get white casting on my hair like some other products. It add a little bit of hydration- nothing to write home about but I guess at least my hair doesn't feel super dry. 

As for definition- yes. It's good for providing a little weight so my hair has a more stretched out and voluminous look. Especially if I wait and apply it after my hair has had more time to air dry. I like what it does for my hair but I do feel it's slightly a bit more heavy for my hair than I would like.

I like Shea Moisture because the ingredients are usually better than other stuff you find on the market. The second ingredients is Coconut and it has other goodies in it. I was really excited to see Fair Trade Shea Butter. So many brands use shea butter- but never clarify if they are paying fair wages for it. 

Ingredients:

Water, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Glycerin (Vegetable), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Seed Oil, Panthenol, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Hydrolyzed Silk, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Gellidiela Acerosa (Algae) Extract, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid 

Overall, it's OK. It's a good product but not perfect for me. It's something I would maybe repurchase. 

 

Ampro Pro Styl Curl Enhancer Gel Activator for Extra Dry Hair Review

 

I meant to post this yesterday but I was extra sleepy when I got home so I pretty much took a nap straight away. Then I got sucked into watching those horribly written, horribly acted Instagram movies. Which I will probably jump back into once this post is done. I find them so entertaining even though I can admit they are mainly garbage.  

In the meantime Ampro. An old school brand. I thought I had used something by this brand since I started blogging- but I guess not. I did try the "brown" gel when I was in high school. I had no idea what to do with it and I felt like it made my hair crunchy and caused breakage. I was tempted to buy it again but didn't feel like dealing with the color getting everywhere. Also after looking into it, it really is meant for sculpting hair. Which is not a style I rock.  

But I do wear a lot of wash n go's and this is perfect for that. Or is it? 

Ampro claims:

Ampro Pro Styl® Curl Enhancer For Extra Dry Hair moisturizes and controls thirsty curls and waves! This unique formula is enhanced with Aloe and Olive Oil to help protect and hydrate the hair shaft. Developed to stimulate and define tight or coarse waves and curls, our Curl Enhancer controls frizz leaving hair looking healthy and shiny.

• Vegan formula designed to hydrate very dry, textured hair

• Olive Oil, Aloe and Glycerin deeply moisturize and protect hair shaft

• Free of alcohol, dyes, parabens, and protein

• Olive Oil and Aloe moisturize and control very thirsty, textured tresses.

• Stimulates and denes tight or coarse waves and curls without weighing hair down.

• Daily application helps hair retain its curl memory and controls frizz.

First things first- I wanted to look up if it was a black owned brand. It's marketed to us- and they own a lot of brands that are also marketed to those of us with textured hair/more melanin. And..it's not a black owned brand. 

Moving on, it's a gel for dry hair. I've tried tons and tons of gels and I don't notice this being any more hydrating/less drying than any other kind of gel. I might even say it can be pretty drying. But then again, it does have glycerin which can pull moisture into or dry your hair depending on your climate. I took this with me to Greece and it dried my hair so much! Here in Germany it isn't anywhere near as bad. 

It's easy to apply. I don't get flakes and it layers well with other leave in conditioners under it. 

I get ok definition. I would say it doesn't do anything any other average gel wouldn't. My hair is very easily defined though.. For reference I have 4c hair that is defined after conditioning and combing out in the shower. The gels just help look it and and add a little shine.

The ingredients are pretty basic. I don't think I prefer a gel with such a high glycerin content. And it does have some ingredients that I don't feel great about- Carbomer etc I do like that it has a small amount of olive oil and aloe juice. 

Ingredients:

Aqua, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Carbomer, Fragrance, Propylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, DMDM Hydantoin, Benzyl Benzoate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

Overall, it's OK. The price is more reasonable than some of the other gels I have reviewed in the past and is probably easily interchangeable with most of them  but I can't see myself repurchasing. 

Miss Jessie's Honey Curls Hair Gelee Review

 I'm trying to convince myself to start baking. It's just so hot I really don't wanna run the oven. But I really want to make a cake. I think I'll do two more posts and then get in the kitchen to get started and hopefully some of the heat has dissipated. 

Miss Jessie's claims:

Oh, honey! Miss Jessie’s® has whipped up an excellent curl enhancer for you and your curls. The curl enhancer for wavy hair is handcrafted with love and enriched by Mother Nature’s natural nectar – honey! Honey is a natural ingredient that hydrates and locks in moisture. Our curl enhancer adds a natural hold without weighing the hair down. Inspired by our grandmother’s attention to detail, we blended Miss Jessie’s® Honey Curls™ curl enhancer to a perfect consistency to be spreadably smooth for maximum coverage without any greasy build-up. 

Miss Jessie’s® took extra time to create this new sweet almond oil-enriched styling emulsion that provides conditioning hold, moisture, and all-day shiny softness. The best curl enhancer for wavy hair. Just glide Miss Jessie’s® Honey Curls™ all over your hair and let your curls soak up the sweet feel of natural and curly perfection. This is the perfect choice if you’re looking for an all-natural curl enhancer with gentle ingredients! 

Made in USA

I'm no stranger to Miss Jessie's. I've used a few of their products- my fave being the Multi-Cultural curls. Since I liked that so much, I'm a little more open to trying more. And how can I resist something named Honey Curls?

The price isn't terrible- which is another thing that makes me more willing to try them. She used to sell the largest sizes at the highest prices. They have since come down and though this still isn't cheap it's a bit more reasonable.

 The texture is a gel cream. Seems to be a popular texture for curl products these days. It does leave my hair kinda dry though. So a moisturizing leave-in conditioner underneath it is a must. It goes on clear for the most part and dries fast.

I get definition and slightly stretched out curls. Just the teeniest bit. Which is different from most products that encourage more shrinkage. For the most part, I like it.

Almost forgot to mention the scent. So many of her products smell like laundry detergent which is a scent I hate in haircare/skincare/candles. This has a nice fresh scent that isn't too heavy and dissipates quickly.

It isn't greasy..nor heavy.

The ingredients are OK. It has honey (of course) and sweet almond oil. I'm not thrilled with all the acrylate/methyl acrylate, polymer type, pvp type of ingredients which would probably prevent me from repurchasing. I just don't think they are really good for the hair. 

Ingredients:

Water, Sorbitol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Acrylates/Steareth-20, Methacrylate Copolymor, Glycerin, PVP, Polysorbate-20, Carbomer, Fragrance (Perfume), Disodium EDTA, Honey, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexlglycerin, Glycerth-2 Cocoate, Yellow 5, Yellow 6

Overall, it's fine. I didn't have any issue with it. I think I still prefer the Multi-Cultural Curls. There are other stylers I would repurchase instead of this and that's mostly due to ingredients.  But I would still try more from the line.

African Pride Olive Miracle Anti- Breakage Foam Setting Mousse

Happy Sunday! I'm so grateful we hsbr a three day weekend-it was much needed for me. I'm taking today to reset. And make cupcakes. Hopefully they turn out really good! I haven't made cupcakes in quite awhile and I wanted to make them slightly Valentine themed but we shall see how they come out. 

African Pride claims: 

African Pride® Natural Salon Care Foam Setting Mousse is a non-flaking, alcohol-free formula that provides long lasting, frizz-free fly-away control and shine for curls, waves, weaves, wigs, wraps and braids. Deep conditioning Olive and Tea Tree Oils help to provide nourishment and shine. Perfect for natural hair, short styles and molded styles. Great fly-away control for protective styles.

I haven't actually bought anything from African Pride in years. Probably since I was in high school. I had to look it up--- because I was curious if they are black owned. And it looks like they aren't. I don't like that...definitely points against the brand. I won't get too far into it because it's obvious why that doesn't make sense. Especially with a brand name such as African Pride. I didn't really look that up until just right now though..probably should have before I purchased. 

That being said, .I do like this product. I originally purchased it because I wanted to try a set on blown out hair...and I did try it. But the water in it had my hair reverting so my test pieces essentially just came out a hot mess. Otherwise...I wouldn't try a roller set on my natural hair like I attempted way back when I had a relaxer because my skill level and hair type just wouldn't allow it to come out nice. 

But since it didn't work how I intended, I still wanted to use it up. I figured I would use it under a twist out. It's fine that way. And as a wash n go product where I just pump the mousse out and scrunch it through my hair. I really like it that way. My hair stays shiny, feels soft. And unlike most curl products it helps keep it slightly elongated rather than shrinking my hair up. I'm sure it would come out even better if I applied it section by section...I probably won't be doing that due to laziness though. 

It does have some decent ingredients surprisingly. One thing that annoys me is they don't post the full ingredient list on the website. I shop online for most things and having to track down the list takes so many extra steps. I'm surprised I did it..usually I just skip and don't buy when they do that. 

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Liquid Endosperm, Hydrolyzed Oats, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-11, Polysorbate-20, Phenoxyethanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Fragrance (Parfum), Linalool, Limonene.

Overall, there are issues with the brand itself. But aside from that I did really like the product. 

ORS Curls Unleashed Color Blast Hair Wax in Dragon Fruit Review

 It's definitely Monday and it feels like the most Monday, Monday ever. The only good thing was that my hair looked nice. I think I first saw these with my sister...she told me about them and then ordered a sampler pack from a small business. I found the ORS ones on Amazon for about $8.00. But I think I paid around $12.00 for this color. Idk why it was higher at the time. I couldn't really find many video's with this color so I was very unsure about what I was really getting...but I was ready to try it anyway.

ORS claims:

Curls Unleashed Color Blast provides a temporary color solution, formulated with moisturizing beeswax, to elongate and define curls with beautiful, vivid colors and no damage.

I haven't used an ORS product in years. But I had been waiting to color my hair...just a slightly lighter reddish brown. I was thinking about doing it when I went to the states but the more I thought about it..I don't want to change the texture of my hair. Any time I colored my hair- my hair starts feeling a bit plasticky and isn't as soft as it is naturally. That could be because I always used boxed color instead of the pro stuff ...but I didn't want to do it, regret it, and then have to grow out my hair again. 

So this product is perfect. And it's made for kinky/coily/curly hair. And the price is reasonable. It's easy to order. I had high hopes for it. I ended up buying four colors. And I can tell you I want to try them all. Except maybe the grey/silver/white one. But I will probably try that too....

I know you can use it and just rake it through your hair..and it does elongate my curl pattern but I ended up doing a twist out because I wanted to see how that looked. It kind mutes the color and I get even more elongated curls. This is the best stuff I have used to twist my hair. The definition and the hold is amazing. I don't have to retwist my hair, I can just put it in a scrunchie at night..let down in the morning and go. Before when I twisted my hair, I used to re-twist my hair every night which was annoying. 

 You can't see the color but I had this twist out in for almost a week and never re-twisted. It was also before I cut off about 3-4 inches...😭 It will grow back, It will grow back.

As for the color- I love it! I think because I twist my hair it mutes the color so this is more of a purple color. I think it really compliments my skin tone. I didn't smooth it as much as I usually do because I was in a hurry...but you can really control the color by how much you put on. If you want it to be more colorful instead of a tint, I wouldn't use it to twist. Just rake it right through...

It can be a bit messy- this last time I didn't make much mess though. It will get on your clothes but I have found it washed right out but I wouldn't put on my favorite clothes and then use this. Once it dries it transfers a lot less, if your hands are in your hair and you are taking your twists down- it's going to get on your hands but with normal touching it doesn't transfer. It washes off though and does not stain. It does rub off on clothes through the day....and it can transfer as well but it's not too bad. It also washes out in the laundry. Worth mentioning but won't keep me from buying and trying all the colors.

It does also flake off a bit. I think it kinda depends on what you use under it though. It can last up to five days...but it does fade as the days go by so I wouldn't expect it to be as vivid as it was on the first day.

I did find it to be very drying the first few times I tried it. Especially my ends. I have since chopped my ends off and my latest twist out had no issues. I changed my leave in conditioner that I use under it and feel like my hair feels a lot better than what I was using before. It still does have a bit of a crunchy feel, kinda like if you used gel. But not too bad. You can definitely experiment with what you put under it but I do recommend at least a leave in.

Even though it's not dye and won't damage your hair as dye, I would make sure to take a break from it and make sure you are hydrating/deep conditioning your hair as I do think this is drying overall.

I love it! I will definitely eventually try out all the colors. I will likely always have at least four different colors at a time. 

If you are feeling experimental, try it out! 

Taliah Waajid Curl Sealer Leave in Conditioner Review

It's Halloween, Halloween...and it's time for me pick some scary movies, make a cup of hot cocoa, and relax. I'm not in area where kids will knock on the door...so I didn't get to see any of the adorable costumes this year- but that's OK. 

Tallish Waajid claims:

Curl Sealer

• Light, alcohol free, and hydrating formula

• Helps to stop frizz and lock in moisture for defined curls

• Dries invisible for a flake-free shine

How to Use:

Apply after Clean-N-Curly™ shampoo. Use on wet hair to set in curls. Use on dry hair to revitalize curls. Avoid combing or fingering through hair for at least 10-15 minutes to help seal in curls and prevent frizz

The Curl Sealer gives best results when not combined with the Curly Curl Cream or Curly Curl Cream Lotion.  The Curl Sealer softly shapes and seals in curls.

What It Does:

Curl Sealer™ helps stop frizz, adds shine, shapes and seals curls. This is the perfect leave-in curl conditioner that never causes unwanted product build-up in your hair, so it can be used as often as needed! Curl Sealer™ offers a light, alcohol-free, conditioning and hydrating gel that helps stop frizz in its tracks. It adds moisture and definition while it shapes and seals in any size or texture for great, lasting curls. Curl Sealer™ dries invisible to give you soft, manageable curls that will shine without ever going flaky on you. It also holds hair in place for styles such as ponytails, pinups and twist outs.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Polyquaterium 10 & PEG-14M, Polyquaterium 37, Polysorbate 20, Yarrow Extract (Achillea Millefolium), Jual Extract (Zizpkus Joazerio Bark), Lemon Extract (Citrus Medic Limonum Fruit), Caprylyl Glycol Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum).

I've used a few Taliah products...I can't say I'm a big fan. I hated the Curly Curl Cream but I did really like The Great Detangler and even bought a second bottle before I finished the first. I still have some in my cabinet to help with knots when they arise.  

I figured I should try more of the brand- I think it's black owned. And I know it's woman owned. 

First things first- the smell. I really dislike the scent in her products. It reminds mea fruity laundry detergent. Or a febrile scent.  I usually dislike detergent type scents in anything outside of laundry. I especially don't want it in my hair.

The texture of it is like a gel. You can use it to add definition or slick your hair back. I never slick my hair back so I can't tell you how well it works for that. I mostly just scrunch it through and shake my head around to try and define some curls. Some days it works- some days it doesn't. I think it worked better for me in warmer weather. Now that it's getting cooler, I don't see the definition like I got before. Also...it's heavy on Glycerin so because it doesn't have moisture to pull from the air like it does when the weather is warmer, it seems more drying in the winter. 

I do agree that it doesn't really build up. I don't get flakes...it doesn't sit oddly on top of a leave in I tried. But I didn't test it with more than one leave in. 

It does state on the packaging that it's for curly, kinky, wavy, and coily hair but when I looked it up they mainly show it being used on looser curls.

Overall, it's OK. Better than the Curly Curl Cream....but I wouldn't buy it again. 

Hair Products as a Kid

 I thought it might be fun to break up the constant reviews with something different. I've been reading the hair boards- of course- and one thing you always hear people mention is how back in the day their mom used grease and this or that and their hair was down to theirs butts. I really think it was the fact that when we were younger we always had plaits, didn't use relaxers or heat and that allowed the hair to flourish. 

So that got me thinking back to what was used on me as a kid. I never had hair down to my butt. It got to a good length but it always shrunk so you can never tell how long my hair truly is. My hair is the same today, I embrace the shrinkage.  It was definitely longer when I was younger...then it seemed really short in 5th/6th grade. Which is around the time I got a relaxer. I want to talk more about the relaxer in a another post...

First thing I remember was White Rain. I don't remember if my Mom used this often to wash my hair...but I remember the bottle when I was around 5/6 and that was when I was bored enough to just randomly read product packing. 

I used to hate leaning over the tub to get my hair washed. Sometime later she switched to this- I think she used this more on my sister though...I remember the watermelon scent and the blue bottle the most. I didn't know they discontinued these now....

For conditioner- she loved this Mane and Tail one. Now that I think about it, I think she used the Shampoo sometimes too. I'm not sure if horses really use this stuff- but I guess the thinking is if it gives horses long thick, and shiny hair- why not use it? I don't know if it's truly used on horses or just marketing but  I do remember buying it in high school and not liking it much. But I did have a relaxer then so maybe I should try it on my relaxed hair.

Next up detangler. . I was looking for this a few months back but it's long since discontinued. We always had a bottle of this in the cabinet. I thought the kids on the bottle were so cute growing up and loved their hair! I don't remember if it worked...but I did really love the way it smelled. I even remember the comb my Mom used to use- I feel like I saw it a few years back- it was a Goody Teal Comb with beige and white on the tips. I don't have the best memories of getting my hair detangled with it though- My Mom was ROUGH! I used to think I was tender-headed but I think she just didn't know how to be gentle. 

And GREASE! Who doesn't have memories of getting their scalp greased. Getting your hair parted and then a healthy slather of grease. I ditched it after high school. But I did have a brief stint with Blue Magic grease. My Mom kept the BB Super Gro grease on hand- she used Sulfur 8 herself. I never really had scalp problems - no dryness and no itchiness...unless I used certain hair products. These days there are better oils- but I might buy a jar for nostalgia purposes if I see it in the store. 

  

I think that about sums it up...very simple. I can't think of anything else used on my  hair as a kid. 

But I did want to share my new shower cap. I bought it from Regal Ivy. I usually use the cheap plastic ones for conditioning my hair- but I need a nice one for the next time I straighten my hair and I wanted a good quality one. This one is handmade in a beautiful color from a black owned company- Regal Ivy!  

It has satin on the inside too which is in a pretty green shade- so you can wear it reversible. I'll be showering in style 😁

What do you remember using as a kid? Are the products still around? 

UPDATED to add Tressemme! My Mom loved buying the big ol bottle's of Tresseme. I don't remember them working that well in my hair- but they seemed to work for her! Their conditioners always smelled like grout to me though.

My Hair Closet

 I thought this might be a fun post to do- since I'm still currently obsessed with hair. I don't usually keep a lot of hair products- I used to limit it to one of each product until I started ordering from Chagrin Valley and I like to order those three at a time. Nowadays, I like to keep three products in each category- except for some things that I have more or less of. 

My hair type is 4. I'm not sure of the number after- possible 4c based on shrinkage. I don't do much to define "curls". I tend to just slap leave in conditioner in-lately I have been doing that in the shower. Then I slap gel in it, shake my head and go. I also have fine to medium strands and very dense hair. As for porosity, I think I have medium but I haven't done the strand test yet. 

So here's what I have: 

Chagrin Valley: Carrot Milk and Honey Shampoo and Chamomile & Citrus Shampoo. I really like shampoo bars- they aren't as drying in my hair. Also they have better ingredients. I went off of using these for a while but I am rotating them back in. 

Garnier Oil Repair Shampoo- I bought this for cheap. I just wanted something to clean my hair of all the silicones that coated my hair when I tried some Aussie shampoo and conditioner. My hair was feeling STIFF from that and cones can be hard to get out. So I bought this to get them out. I think it worked. I've used this a few times- I think it makes my hair feel like a brillo pad though. I still need to try it a few more times to be sure. It does smell nice though. 

Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo- I bought this to clarify. I know I have the Garnier but I think I liked this one better. It was on sale too. I'm just going to keep it around to clarify after straightening- which I rarely ever do.  

Aveda Shampure Nurturing Shampoo and Conditioner- I want to try all of the Aveda lines and this was next on the list. I think these aren't as hydrating as I need but they do OK. I still need to use them a few more times before I review them so a review is coming in the next couple of months. 

Hask Keratin Smooth Smoothing Deep Conditioner- I've been meaning to use this for a minute but I get lazy and then grab something else. I think I'll use it this weekend. Or maybe next weekend. Not sure yet. I do really like the Coconut version of their deep conditioner though. 

Aveda Nutri-Plenish Dêep Moisture Conditioner- Just reviewed this one and I love it. I don't love the price but it works really well for my hair to add moisture. 

Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner and Pomegranate and Honey Leave In- I'm trying to use up the Rosemary Mint one, I'm just a little tired of it and ready to move on. I tend to use one leave in at a time so once that one is done I am moving on to the Pomegranate one. 

Aveda Cherry Almond Softening Leave In- I've used this one when I straightened my hair and it was really soft..I'm pretty sure it was this! I need to use it a couple more times but so far I really like it. 

I have three wash n go products. I use the Camille Rose Curl Maker everyday and I'm about half way through. I really like it, the ingredients are great and it does define curls. In my reserve I have the Taliah Waajid Curl Sealer. I used it once and I like it, but I need to use it a few more times. I also bought Miss Jessie's Honey Curls. I really likes their multi-cultural curls so figured I would give this one a try. 

I almsot forgot, I have the Taliah Waajid Detangling Leave-In. I love it for detangling and as a leave in. It can feel drying when you put it on and like it won't help detangle but it does. It works well with my Tangle Teezer especially. 

I have Chi Silk Infusion. Strictly to use as a heat protectant. And it worked really well for that. It also makes your hair feel "silky". 

I have Vatika oil. I never use it because the packaging is a pain. It's probably expired. I'm still going to put it back in my hair closet. Maybe I'll check to see if it's OK and then repackage it to actually use. But likely I won't do that either. 

And last up..I almost forgot I had this. They are the Pooka Hair Butter and Oil. Every couple of months I tell myself I am going to do scalp massages before I wash my hair, I do it maybe 2 times..and then forget about it. I want to grow back what I cut off...so many this time I will actually stick with it. Healthy scalp grows healthy hair. 

Last up..Colour Wax. I got this in the mail yesterday and then ordered three more colors. It's so fun. I'm so excited to do my whole head. It's very subtle but it's cute! Can't believe I waited this long to try it out. 

And that's all! Not too many products- but I definitely need to use up some before I buy more. Although I am thinking of adding another conditioner. I think I might get a huge bottle so I don't have to buy any for a very, very long time.