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Tag: Coily Hair (page 1 of 6)

How to effectively remove product buildup: DevaCurl Buildup Buster

Hey!

One thing that excites me about discovering new products, is finding out that they have a new take, or an innovative way to solving a problem. One of the most important parts of my haircare routine or any routine is cleansing. Getting rid of the dust, dead skin cells, pollution from living in a big city, excess oils and product buildup that accumulate and are trapped on my scalp by my kinky coils and protective styles. Your scalp is part of the largest organ in the body and it is vital to the health of your hair. It is a living entity that nourishes your hair, helps get rid of metabolic waste from the body and can be the gateway to calming the soul. My mum often gives newborns scalp massages to welcome them into to world!

Image via Sephora

I heard the buzz about one of the newest offerings from curly hair line DevaCurl. DevaCurl is one of the OG brands that I discovered years ago specifically dedicated to the needs of curly hair. I actually never tried a product from them, but when I saw that Sephora had the DevaCurl Buildup Buster Micellar Water Cleansing Serum as a 100-point perk, I picked it up.

If you are in chill mode, watch the video instead – *click here*.

Product Details

DevaCurl claims that this is the first micellar water to be used in haircare. There are a plethora of makeup removers and cleansers that use ingredients that form micelles as a very gentle skincare cleansers.

Anatomy of a Micelle

Basically a micelle is a ‘vehicle’ that traps oils/dirt and that gets washed by water. In the simplest of terms, think of a micelle as a bubble made up of ‘tadpoles’. Each ‘tadpole’ has a hydrophilic (water-loving) end and hydrophobic (water-hating/fat-loving) properties. When you apply the cleanser to your hair, each tadpole is attracted and attaches itself to the oils on your scalp and when you rinse your hair, the hydrophilic ends are attracted to the water, forms the micelles and then is washed away.

This product is a colourless liquid, that is not sticky are makes a very minimal foam. It is also, vegan, sulphate-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, silicone-free and is mostly made of naturally derived ingredients. This lightweight serum is supposed to be used no more than once a week so that it can gently remove excess products and debris that can weight down your curls. It also contains a bunch of botanical extracts, oils and other ingredients, including rosemary extract, hops extract, and glycerin which help hydrate, and condition the hair.

Packaging

My deluxe sample comes in a plastic tube but the full size product comes in a large round plastic bottle with a pointed tip closure. I think this a great idea as it allow you to directly apply product to the scalp without having to pour it onto your hands. Since the scalp is the most important part of head to clean this makes it quite easy. This contain 8fl.oz./236ml of product, which is inline with many readily available liquid shampoos/cleansers. The lettering/labels are printed directly onto the gray/package and yellow-green and teal accent colours, which are in line with the rest of their branding.

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I finally tried Shea Moisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil line! What did I think?

Shea Moisture came out with the Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO) line late in 2014. I wasn’t really keen on trying it out, because I have always shied away from using castor oil as it is one of the heavy, ‘greasier’ oils and has a noticeable smell.

Fast forward to this year and I was looking for something new to try. I have been using my usual routine for ages.

I ended up buying the JBCO Strengthen, Grow & Restore w/Shea Butter, Peppermint & Keratin Shampoo, Treatment Masque and Leave-In Conditioner. The packaging is a bright, buttercup yellow, which makes it easy to see on a shelf and all the products have a faint, butter smell that is quite pleasant. These products are formulated for natural, chemically processed, colour treated or heat styled hair. And for those concerned, the keratin in this is hydrolyzed protein which is a larger protein chain that has been broken up in to smaller pieces so that it can fit into the cracks of the hair shaft therefore strengthening the hair. The problem with the Brazilian or keratin smoothing treatments found in popular salon treatments is that there are ingredients other than the keratin that contain formaldehyde or produce formaldehyde gas when heated.

The Shampoo.

JBCO Shampoo

It is a clarifying shampoo that is sulphate-free and all natural. It contains apple cider vinegar that clarifies the hair as well as balance the pH, which in turns strengthens the hair. It comes with 25% more product (16.3 fl. oz.) than their normal shampoos. It colour is light brown and is extremely creamy and moisturizing. I was surprised at how lovely it smelled and it did not have the heaviness of castor oil. It lathered quite well, was moisturizing and it did not dry out my hair at all. My hair did not feel stripped. It contains peppermint, but I did not feel the typical tingly-ness or burning.

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My new favourite SheaMoisture collection! And buying it helps fight poverty!

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I was so excited when I saw the sneak peek of this new line on Instagram! (Btw, are you following me?) I loved the amber/maroon/burnished gold packaging. I have been using the same shampoo bars for the last year and a half and I was ready for something new. The newest member of the SheaMoisture Collection is The Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Collection.

From PR:

The Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Collection is part of SheaMoisture Community Commerce program, which seeks to fight poverty and better the lives of women globally. Ten percent of Community Commerce sales go to women-led businesses, to support communities that supply ingredients for SheaMoisture’s products, or support The Sofi Tucker Foundation, a non-profit established by the brand.  Each product in the collection contains certified organic Shea Butter ethically sourced from women’s co-ops in Northern Ghana, HoneyMafura and Baobab Oils, and African Rock Fig.

The collection contains both a hair care line and body care line.

Hair:

  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo– This sulfate-free shampoo cleanses, while infusing hair with intense moisture and shine-enhancing nutrients.  Softens and revitalizes hair, while protecting from environmental influences.  SRP: $10.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Conditioner– A rinse-out conditioner instantly softens and detangles, while infusing hair with intense moisture and shine-enhancing nutrients.  Leaves hair soft, shiny and more manageable.  SRP: $10.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Complex– This potent treatment absorbs quickly to encourage a healthy scalp and lustrous, beautiful hair.  Improves hair’s elasticity and promotes healthy growth.  SRP: $10.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque– An intensive, deep treatment conditioning masque that infuses hair with a powerful dose of moisture and nutrients.  Smoothes and fortifies follicles for stronger, healthier, frizz-free hair.  SRP: $12.99.

 

Body:

  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Body Wash– An all-purpose body wash that gently cleanses, while moisturizing dry, rough skin.  Provides a creamy lather and leaves skin soft and radiant. Can also be used to create a luxurious spa bath.  SRP: $9.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hand Cream– Rich in vitamins, this hand cream deeply moisturizes and provides immediate relief to dry, rough skin.  Apply to hands and cuticles as needed.  SRP: $5.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Body Butter– This comforting body butter delivers long-lasting hydration, while rejuvenating dry, rough skin.  Massage into rough, dry elbows, cuticles, knees and heels.  Gently enough to apply to dry lips.  SRP: $11.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Body Scrub– An invigorating scrub that gently exfoliates and nourishes with a rich blend of certified organic Shea Butter Honey, Mafura and Baobab to boost skin’s hydration.  African Rock Fig helps smooth and restore softness.  SRP: $10.99;

I picked up the Hydration Shampoo and the Intensive Hydration Masque from my local Target.

There is a distinct scent of honey that is not too overpowering. I actually love it. I was not thrilled at the last collection, the Manoi and Noni line, but this one is pretty.

Both products lived up the SheaMoisture standard and were quality items, but I loved the shampoo more than the masque.

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Tahitian Noni & Monoi Smooth & Repair Nourishing Hair Masque by SheaMoisture review

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Every couple of months, I like to give myself a protein treatment, to help re-strengthen my hair.   Constant manipulation will eventually weaken the hair shaft and adding a treatment will fill in the weak spots.

The lovely people at SheaMoisture sent me a couple of products from one of their newest product lines, the Tahitian Noni & Monoi Collection. This is touted as their “hair smoothing system” allowing users to go from curly to straight without permanently altering the hair. According to SheaMoisture, “The protein-based treatment products smooth, soften and control frizz, leaving textured hair more manageable for up to four weeks”.

All the products contain certified organic Shea Butter, Tahitian Noni, which is an antioxidant enriched with Vitamin C to help maintain hair health, Monoi Oil, which revives damaged hair, and Keratin, Peptides and Botanical Extracts, to nourish, repair and protect distressed hair fibres. Of course this all-natural line does not contain sulphates, parabens, mineral oil and other stuff.

This line contains a number of products including the Smooth & Repair Straightening System. I got the Nourishing Hair Masque and the Hair Scalp Weekly Treatment.

NoireTropicalBeauty SheaMoisture Tahitian Monoi

I must admit that I was rather skeptical to try these products. Since the day that I decided stop relaxing, I have had zero desire to straighten my hair. So I did not want to apply anything to my hair that would alter its texture. I scrutinized the ingredients and the masque actually does not contain keratin (which is a naturally occurring protein and is the main component of hair and nails) or any ingredients that may straighten the hair. It contains mostly moisturisers and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. This masque is supposed to deeply condition the hair, impart intense moisture and strengthen and smoothen the strands.

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