Haircare Review: Eco essentials ..another - Made in South Africa

Hello loves,
By now we all know hard it is to find South African made haircare products. I stumbled across this during one long troll session through google search for conditioner [set country to South Africa].

Eco essentials is a local brand, that is cruelty free, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic range based in Johannesburg.
Here's a blurb from their site:

"Eco Essentials manufactures superior quality, effective, cruelty free, pure and natural hair care products for the whole family.

Our products are formulated to the highest standard to cleanse, nourish and rejuvenate delicate and sensitive hair, scalp and skin.  We believe that natural products are the best way to keep the hair and skin healthy and naturally vibrant.  Our products are specifically for sensitive skin which is prone to dryness, irritations and allergic reactions.  We offer products that are that are pure, effective, safe and are made without harsh chemicals.  Our products are made to pharmaceutical industry GMP standards.  Our ingredients have been ethically sourced and are not tested on animals"

I was superexcited to find another brand that caters for naturals and is affordable...because product junkism is a real thing ;-)

I didn't purchase everything in the range, I went for the shampoo, hair mask and the hair butter.

  

Cleansing & Nourishing Shampoo 500ml, ZAR 99.95

The shampoo is orange in colour; the consistency is jelly-like, quite thick and not runny at all. It's the most gentle shampoo I've ever used, definitely not a clarifier (if that's what you're going for, you may have to double shampoo), but it's perfect for weekly cleansing because you don't want ot strip your hair every week. If you like a rich lather when shampooing, then you might not like this one.

Would I repurchase? Yes. I like how gentle it is, it leaves my hair hair soft. 

Shampoo

Deep Treatment Hair Mask ZAR 250ml, 85.95

This mask has the texture of whipped cream and a faint grapefruit scent. It's very light. It doesn't have slip as some of my other masks, so you'll have to detangle before washing. After applying this and applying mild heat for 15 minutes, my hair felt really soft and manageable. It was also shiny..the coils...they love this stuff. It's good. 

Would I repurchase? It's a yes from me.

Hair Mask

Nourishing & Strengthening Hair Butter 250ml, ZAR 125.95

Hair butter is super thick and has a waxy feel. It's got a light nut scent. For my hair food people, this is a great alternative that's free of mineral oil and petrolatum. It might be too heavy for looser curl types though. I used this with my SheaMoisture JBCO leave-in and magic happened; this butter gives amazing hold for twisouts. See evidence below.

Would I repurchase? My favourite product in the lot, so YES! I like that it's not greasy.

Hair Butter

 Here are the results of my twistout:

Look at that definition

 Achieved with:

Add caption

Other products I'd like to try from the range:

The Repair & Nourishing Conditioner, 500ml  ZAR 99.95

All the products are availble for order online at www.ecoessentials.co.za , they ship internationally as well.

This a great haircare range and its affordable too.
Have you tried any of their products? What would you like to try out?

Let me know below.

See you in my next post, 

xoxo

Find it Online - Local Hair Supply Stores

 Hey loves,

I thought I'd compile a list of all the online hair supply stores that operate in South Africa. As you might know finding these stores using a Google store is quite a chore...first change the country setting to South Africa... then type in random hair product ..click enter and hope for the best. Then, go through search results all the way to page 1XXXX before finding a local hair store ....WHAT?!

Image from www.uberhumour.com

It's really hard to find these stores, unless you know the name of the store you're looking for. Here's a list of the one's I've been able to find. You can find hair products, accesories such as satin scarves, pillowcases, crochet hooks, hair extensions etc.

Proudly South African Products
Akan Organics www.akanorganics.co.za
Afrobotanics www.afrobotanics.co.za 
Afro Pride www.facebook.com/Afropridesa/
Archaic Human www.archaichuman.com/
Black African Organics www.blackafrican.co.za
Brown Child www.brownchild.co.za
Curl Chemistry www.facebook.com/curlchemistry/
Curly you www.curlyyou.co.za
Earthy www.earthy.co.za
Essentially Natural www.essentiallynatural.co.za
Eco essentials www.ecoessentials.co.za
HAIRPRINT South Africa http://hairprint.co.za/ 
Kafui Naturals www.facebook.com/kafuinaturals/ Shop for it at www.spaza-nakama.shopstar.co.za/ and www.mudanga.com/index.php/beauty-health
Keitu Haircare www.keituhaircare.com
Keramour Naturals http://www.keramournaturals.co.za/
Lavish Atelier www.solavish.co.za
My Natural Hair www.mynatural.co.za
Natural Aura  www.naturalaura.co.za
Naturally Good  www.naturallygood.co.za
Natmoisture www.natmoisture.co.za
Native child www.nativechild.co.za
Nilotiqa www.nilotiqa.com
Nubian Nature  www.nubiannature.co.za
Oamobu naturals  www.oamobu.co.za
Rockin Naturals relaunching in June 2017 as Buuya www.buuya.co.za
Ruutos www.ruutos.com
Suki Suki Naturals www.sukisukinaturals.co.za
The Moisture Factory www.themoisturefactory.co.za
The Perfect Hair www.theperfecthair.co.za
Tru Curls www.truecurls.co.za
Plush luxury online  - www.plushluxury.co.za stocks Natural aura, Nubian Nature, Zarona & Nilotiqa
Zarona www.zarona.co.za

Stocks Local and International Brands
African-Flair www.african-flair.co.za/
Beauty on Tapp www.shopbeautyontapp.co.za
Blaq Hair Care www.blaqhaircare.co.za
Everything hair www.everythinghair.co.za
Faithful to Nature www.faithful-to-nature.co.za 
Hair city www.haircity.co.za
Hairhouse warehouse www.hairhousewarehouse.co.za
Kinky Moriri www.kinkymoriri.co.za
Lush www.lush.co.za
Obulunji www.obulunji.com
Retailbox www.retailbox.co.za
Style Diva www.stylediva.co.za
Wellness warehouse www.wellnesswarehouse.com

Most of Clicks and Dischem's hair products are avaialble on their online stores:
www.clicks.co.za
www.dischem.co.za

I hope this list is helpful. I'm going to try and keep it up to date. Add new sites as I discover them while trolling the net.

Happy shopping!

xoxo,

N

 

 

Haircare Review: My Natural Hair...Local is Lekker

Hi all,
This post is long overdue, but work has been crazy and it took me a while to get to this post.

My Natural Hair is a South African hair care range that launched late last year; it is the brainchild of Catherine Williams.
I came across it in early October on one of my exploratory stolls through the hair product aisles in Clicks (Canal Walk). as a natural, one is always on the lookout for new and better products (that work and are reasonably priced). So I was really excited when I saw this range, I picked up the conditioner to try (that's usually the deal breaker for me in any haircare range...I'm a sucker for a good conditioner!). I promptly snapped a shot and posted it to the Cape Town Naturally Support group (sharing is caring! Can't leave my curlfriends out in the cold).

FIRST! Facebook post of my new find

I was pretty impressed with the condtioner, so I picked more of it at their stall during the Cape Town Natural Hair Festival (December 2016).

Got my pciture taken at theMy Natural Hair stand at the Natural Hair Festival. Image courtesy of My Natural Hair

And then I got lucky enough to win a hamper during a let your hair speak social media campaign.

I've been using the entire range for a couple weeks and so i'm ready to give my thoughts...

Wash Day things

1. Nourishing Shampoo 250ml 
free from (Sulphates, Pthalates, Parabens, Petroleum & Mineral oil)
Ingredient List (as listed on the website)
aqua, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, lauryl glucoside, cocamidopropyl betaine, PEG-18 glyceryl oleate/cocoate, cocamide DEA, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, glycerine, parfum, ethylene/sodium acrylate copolymer, sodium chloride, acetamide MEA, dimethiconol panthenol, hydrolyzed keratin, hyaluronic acid, disodium EDTA, methylchloroisothiiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, linoleic acid, dimethiconol cysteine, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, sorbitol, citric acid.

I really like this shampoo, I've used after removing braids a couple of times and while my braids were installed. It cleanses without stripping the hair (even with a double shampoo). It leaves my hair really soft and manageable (I can't handle shampoos that leave my hair so stripped, that I'm afraid to touch it for fear of breaking it!). It's a clear formula with a light floral/herbal scent. It does foam up quite a bit, so you do have to rinse really well.

2. Hydrating Conditioner 250ml
Ingredient List (as listed on the website)

aqua, cetearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, cetrimonium chloride, glycerine, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, PEG-20 stearate, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, polysorbate-60, simmondsia chinensus (jojoba) oil, parfum, acetamide MEA, dimethiconol panthenol, hydrolyzed keratin, hyaluronic acid, linoleic acid, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, sorbitol.

I've used this conditioner as a pre-shampoo treatment and as a deep conditioner, and it works well in both instances. I apply this to damp hair section-by-section, detangle with my denman and cover my hair with a plastic cap (or cling wrap), then put a towel over my head and wait 30 minutes before rinsing. After rinsing, my coilys pop and clump together (this is my measure for a good conditioner...popping coils). 

Compared to the holy grail for coilys and curlies, Tresemme Naturals (Now Botaniques) it doesn't have a much slip but it works well enough to detangle without tugging and pain. My only gripe...I wish the contianer were bigger; I'm already more than halfway through the first bottle and the shampoo has hardly moved. You know how it is - it's one bottle of shampoo to a gazillion of conditioner. Tall n Curly the struggle with the most hilarious and honest illustrations (below).

 

True story

the struggle is real

 3. Moisturising Butter 125ml
Ingredients
aqua, butyrospermum parkii (shea) buttter, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, cetearyl alcohol, stearic acid, glycerine, trehalose, glyceryl stearate (and) PEG-100 stearate, helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil, polysorbate-60, olea europaea (olive) oil, ceteareth-20, niacinamide, phenoxyethanol (and) ethylhexyl glycerin, cetrimonium chloride, parfum, acetamide MEA, benzophenone-3, tocopherol acetate, carbomer, disodium EDTA, benzophenone-4, dimethiconol panthenol, hydrolyzed keratin, hyaluronic acid, linoleic acid, dimethiconol cysteine, simmondsia chinensus (jojoba) oil, sodium hydroxide.

4. Strengthening Oil 150ml

Ingredients
helianthus annuus (sunflower) oil, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, persia gratissima (avocado) oil, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, olea europaea (olive) oil, coco caprylate, tocopherol acetate, parfum, benzophenone-3, butylated hydroxytoluene.

I applied the butter to damp hair, after towel drying (sometimes I'm too lazy to find the t-shirt); then I comb through with my denman and seal with the oil and then braid the section up and allow the hair to dry for a few hours or overnight before blowdrying on medium heat to stretch my hair. 
the butter has a chocolate mousse consistency; it's easily absorbed without leaving any white residue. Also, a little goes a long way so this little tub should last quite a while. I've used this as a moisturiser between washdays and as a moisturiser when installing braids. 
The oil is light without being greasy or too viscose, so it's easy to apply. as with the butter, a little goes a long way (too much of any product just ends in a big mess). 

Final thoughts: I'm impressed with this range, I tend to be sceptical of locally made products; a symptom of many decades during which ethnic or curly/coily hair was ignored. As a child, my mum washed my hair with sunlight green soap bar and sealed my wet hair with vaseline or Wella hairfood (the stinky yellow one), so seeing these locally made products with good ingredients, that work really well is super exciting.

Where to find them: the entire range is available at the My Natural Hair online store, takealot.com and in Clicks stores, Jet Mart and  Africa Cash and Carry wholesalers. All the products cost ZAR 79.99 at the My Natural Hair store, and cost between ZAR 89 and 99.99 at Clicks (in-store and online). 
 
Media Event
My Natural Hair held a media event for Cape Town at the Bunglow in Clifton last month. Let me tell you.. I had such hair envy seeing all those curly fros as I had Goddess locs installed at the time. It was an event for local curlies to mingle, we also got a chance to meet Catherine the creator and ambassdor to My Natural Hair (I met her briefly at the Natural Hair Festival in December). Here are some pics from the event. The rest are available on the The Little Black Book Facebook page (here)

Images courtesy of My Natural Hair

I always feel acomplished when I finish a post *waves hands in the air*

Until my next post ,

xoxo,