Hey! Hey you! Just want to wish you a Happy April! I decided to take a mini-break from body care items and show you guys some products that I use to wash and condition my hair. As an African American female with coarse, natural hair that has never been relaxed, I have to say, taking care of my hair is one hell of a project. Even from babyhood, my hair has always been thick and abundant but two of my main problems were dryness and breakage. For a long time, I've wanted to grow my hair longer. And any time I made progress it seemed as if I took one step forward and two steps back. Why? Because the dryness of my hair caused so much breakage, it looked like I didn't grow any hair at all! I knew something had to be done.
I was just leisurely searching around my local beauty supply store and came across Shea Moisture hair care products. Mind you, I have heard of this company before and it has gotten awesome reviews from other natural gals like me. Even though the price was a bit...up there ($12 for each bottle), I chose to give this company a shot as I was desperate for a solution. I purchased the Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and the Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner.
Upon reading their labels, I thought these products sounded very promising. First off, Shea Moisture products are made of natural ingredients meaning there are NO sulfates, NO parabens, and NO synthetic fragrances or dyes. Shea Moisture does NOT test on animals. These are certified organic products and may be ideal for vegans/vegetarians. They consist of Shea butter (to moisturize and condition hair and scalp), sea kelp (to help strengthen hair cuticles) and argan oil (to restore shine and help build hair elasticity).
SHAMPOO: What can I say about this product? Well, I give it two thumbs up for changing the texture of my hair as soon as it makes contact. As I said before, my hair is usually dry and brittle but as soon as this shampoo hits my scalp, my hair immediately becomes so much softer, it's like magic! I enjoy running my fingers through my hair in the shower. The texture is like cotton. I love it! I also like that this shampoo doesn't burn my eyes as much. Trust me, I've had terrible experiences where I used products like Dr. Miracle, Herbal Essences and Garnier Fructis and for some reason, my eyes would burn so badly they'd turn red. This would happen even though the products themselves never actually made contact with my eyes. I don't know, maybe I was sensitive to the fumes? I made sure to never buy those items again. But Shea Moisture shampoo is a little gentler on my eyes. The only problem I have with this shampoo is that a little does NOT go a long way. This shampoo sucks at lathering. I have to use quite a bit just to get some suds. And that is a shame because I feel I like I would go through these bottles quickly, not really something I'd like from a semi-expensive product. This (and conditioner) can also be used on over-processed hair.
CONDITIONER: This is a LIFESAVER! It really hydrates my hair. My hair looks shiny and healthy! I like to use this conditioner in the shower before shampooing (a little odd, I know but it's actually better for your hair!) I've been using these products for a while now and I've noticed that for me, this conditioner can also double up as a detangler. After I blow dry my hair, of course, it still gets tangled. Soft, but tangled. I like to take a little dab of this conditioner, rub it into the strands and comb away. My hair becomes noticeably more manageable. And as a result, I experience less breakage! I finally get to retain my hair growth! As far as the smell, well, the conditioner and shampoo both smell the same. Again, they have no SYNTHETIC fragrances but they do have a smell that's a little hard to describe. The best way I can describe it is...it's earthy, kind of woodsy. A bit musky but it does have a nice natural, organic smell. However it's not fruity or floral. Although Shea Moisture was originally made for ethnic hair, it can also work well on Caucasian hair.
I just want to tell you guys about one last product that I use before AND after I wash my mane--coconut oil. Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer to help condition and nourish hair and skin. Because my scalp is so dry that I sometimes suffer from the annoying effects of dandruff, coconut oil does a great job preventing it. It also helps restore the shine in my hair and promotes growth. I usually let it sit for about 30 minutes before washing my hair. Then after the washing, I apply more. Using coconut oil is another great way to detangle your locks. And of course it smells amazing! Always use 100% PURE coconut oil for best results! It doesn't matter what brand you get, just make sure it's 100% pure. I purchased LouAna coconut oil at my local supermarket for about $6.
On a scale of 1-10, I give Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo an 8. I love how soft it makes my hair feel. The smell is very much tolerable and it doesn't sting my eyes. But I really don't like that it doesn't lather up well, for a product that costs $12. I feel the bottle could be bigger, as it is only 13 oz. Nonetheless, I will be purchasing again. The Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner gets a 9. I love everything about it, just wish I got more for the price. The coconut oil gets a 10 of course! It does the job and it does it well. No complaints! Shea Moisture can also be found at Walmart, Target and various pharmacies.
Catch you later!
-Kiki
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