Happy New Year! My Favourites of 2017 - Hair Edition

Hello beautiful people,
Happy 2018! I'm never sure when to stop saying that, but I know I'm late 😁 I hope this year is going well for you and may all your dreams come true.

I had to share my look for the Cape Town Naturally HairFest from last December 😜. Photo by BrianEngel Photography

For my first post of the year, I'm gonna go with the crowd and talk about my hair favourites for last year. So here we go:

Shampoo - Lush Shampoo Bars NEW! and Soak & Float
I've long since given up on drugstore anti-dandruff shampoos, they just don't work for me I've gone from the most accessible to some pricey ones... and all I achieved was dry tangled hair and no improvement to my dry flaky scalp. These shampoo bars from lush have been my saving grace; they contain sulfates but they cleanse my hair and scalp without drying it out so they get to stay in my stash. Price is R 115.

"Soak & Float" Shampoo Bar

Conditioner - Baylis & Harding Great Hair Coconut Conditioner
I very rarely use rinse out conditioner as directed, instead I prefer to use it for my pre-shampoo treatment/detangling. For this I just need a cheap silicone-free conditioner and this one's my favourite. It's got a creamy consistency and a whole lot of slip and it comes in a 500ml bottle for R 60.

Pre-poo combo: Sunny Isle Extra Dark JBCO and the Baylis & Harding Conditioner

Deep Conditioner - Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque
Hands down my favourite deep condtioner for when I need to revive my hair after a month of braids or twists. It's got amazing slip for detangling and it doesn't necessarily need heat to be effective. I love the scent and though the price is a bit steep R 270 at Clicks, a little goes a long way.

Shea Moisture JBCO Treatment Masque

Leave-in Conditioner - My Natural Hair
For me, the best leave-ins need to have a ton of slip to help detangle my coils, because they love to hug each other. This one from My Natural Hair is the best one included in my stash. It's creamy lightweight formula and a little goes a long way. I haven't sen it stores yet but you can get it online on the My Natural Hair site and on Shop for Life as well for R 99.99.

Styler - Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter
Meet my current #bae! I know that Camile Rose Naturals is super pricey 🙈 but I like nice things and this one is really nice. It's a toffee-coloured cream with pudding like texture. It smells like Old Fashioned vanilla ice cream with almonds. It's super moisturizing and the twist-outs I get with this butter are amazing. It also plays well with others (including products from other brands). The price is a very nice R 550 from Style Studio.

My Natural Hair Strengthening Oil and the Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter

Oils - Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil and My Natural Hair Strengthening Oil
My longtime #bae has been with me since I started transitioning back to natural. I've stuck with one brand (I'm loyal 😊) I use JBCO predominantly as my pre-poo/detangling treatment mixed with a cheapy conditioner. When I feel like my hair needs extra love, I mix it into my deep conditioner as well. Thirdly, I mix JBCO with grapeseed/olive oil and jojoba oil with whatever other oils in my stash to make a scalp oil. R 270 for 236ml from African Flair and Obulunji

Strengthening oil from My Natural Hair is the perfect oil for those who aren't interested in being kitchen mixtresses. It's light and non-greasy. My favourite way to use this is to seal moisture into my strands as part of the L.O.C method. It goes for R 80 online.

All-rounder/Multi-purpose - Shea Moisture Raw Shea Conditioner
I use this conditioner 3 ways: As a rinse out conditioner to detangle post-shampoo, as a deep conditioner and as a leave-in. it's got lots of slip and it's super moisturising. Shea Moisture is now available in Clicks stores and the prices are very nice...not! Wait for the 3 for 2 specials and 30% off sales.

Best new product - Buuya Beauty Intense Hair Masque
This is a moisturising deep conditioner; I use it as a regular weekly deep conditioner and to restore moisture balance to my hair following the ApHogee protein treatment (here's the review). It's light and not as creamy as some of my other deep conditioners. My favourite thing about this one is the fragrance - grapefruit 😊. It's available from Buuya beauty and Beautyontapp for R 325 for 450ml.

Best Underrated/Over looked  - Caivil Fusion Oil  and Root Nourisher
I can't get over how well priced this range is; the root nourisher is R 30 and the oil is R 35, it will not get much better than that considering the ingredient list. I have the root nourisher and I like to use it to oil my scalp and seal moisture into my strands when installing braids and twists.

And that's my list. What were your favourite products from last year and what are you excited to try this year?

Let me know below.

See you in my next post, 

xoxo

Hair Product Review: SheaMoisture Masques

Hi all,

It’s been a while since my last post. It’s not that there’s nothing to write about, I just needed to take the time to sit down and write. So, I promised I’d come back and do a review of the Shea Moisture products I’ve added to my hair regimen. Here, I’m going to give my thoughts two of the masques/masks I’ve been using for the last four months.

Purification Masque (African Black Soap range)

*

Is part of the African black soap range which is designed to relieve dry, itchy scalp. Its suitable for use as a deep treatment following shampoo and as a co-wash, since its designed to remove product buildup.

Ingredients:

Deionized Water, Cocos Nucifera(Coconut) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Mangifera Indica(Mango)Seed Butter*, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil , African Black Soap Extract, Sea Salt, Cetyl Esters, Kaolin Clay, Grapeseed Oil, Simmondsia chinensis seed (Jojoba) Oil, Behentrimonium Chloride (Conditioner), Salicylic Acid, Salix Alba (Willow)Bark Extract, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Sorbitol Esters, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Rosemary Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Extract, Plantain Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower (and) Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract

How does it look? Its grey in appearance and looks a lot like a clay mixture.

Smell: its faint with hints of banana and vanilla

The consistency: It’s not thick or runny ...it’s got the consistency of mayonnaise

My thoughts:

I’ve been using this purification masque as a deep treatment, co-wash and as a scalp cleanser (for when I had braids installed).

As a deep treatment masque: I have thick hair, so I need to be quite generous when applying, since it doesn’t spread very well. It doesn’t have much slip so I would recommend detangling before you shampoo. BUT, when I washed it out after 30 minutes my hair felt soft and manageable.

As a co-wash/scalp cleanser it works really well; I’m trying to shampoo bi-weekly and this has been working out for me really well. I don’t shampoo my hair when I’ve installed braids; I’ve been using the purification masque diluted with water, which I then apply with a spray bottle.

All in all, this one is a keeper.

Strengthen, Grow & Restore treatment (Jamaican Black Castor Oil)

*

Part of the Jamaican Black Castor Oil range that is geared towards dry, overprocessed and colour-treated hair. It works as a deep conditioner following a shampoo.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Stearyl Alcohol, Fragrance (Essential Oil Blend), Behentrimonium Chloride, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Yeast Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Vinegar, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Niacin, Dextran, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower Extract, Caramel, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract

How does it look? Toffee colour

Smell: Peppermint vanilla toffee ...think werther's toffee

The consistency: thick, creamy

My thoughts:

I’ve been using this as a deep conditioner exclusively. I use it conjunction with shampoo and leave-in (both to be reviewed soon). I love the way this one feels …it’s just great...lots of slip and a little goes a very long way. I leave it in for a half hour and then rinse it out with cool water. When used with other products in this range, the results are amazing. Here’s a picture of my hair after a braidout on a blow out.

Availability: In South Africa, you can get these online from www.african-flair.co.za for R 319.00 for 12oz (it’s on sale right now for R 265.00). 

See you in my next post,
xoxo

N

*Images from the Shea Moisture website

Let's Talk About...My Hair!

I've been mulling over this post for more than a month. I wasn't sure about what to talk about or how...meh so here goes
History
I had a big *ss fro up until I was 21, at which I point I decided I wanted straight hair. I relaxed and then texlaxed for about 7 years.

Afro puff at 3 years old

 In the last 2 years before going natural I cut my hair for the first time in my life into a Cleopatra bob...I loved it but as you all know manitaining hair cuts is a mission. So I grew it out and then in April 2014 I did my last relaxer and decied to transition (for 24 months) back to natural hair. 

December 2010: My hair had already started breaking.

I wasn't happy with the texture or the feel of my hair. It felt dry and brittle, I couldn't retain length and truth be told..I just MISSED MY AFRO!
So fast forward 18 months (I couldn't take it anymore); I chopped off the relaxed ends. Best. decision. ever. 

Braidout, 8 Months post big chop

I've been natural for 8 months and I'm in love with my hair once again. For the most part, I keep my hair in box braids and twists. It's just easier that way (I get lazy).

Kinky twists

Silver box braids

Before relaxer, I had bra-strap length hair...so my immediate goal is to get it back to that. 
I'm currently at armpit length (I've already had one trim this year, and I'll probably do another in November).
 
So below is a summary of my current hair regimen, which contiunes to evolve as I discover new products. Also, I've linked to the products to the supplier websites for more information. I haven't included any of the products that I use to straghten my hair. I'll deal with that in a later post (it's not something that I do very often).

Hair regimen
Co-wash (I'm trying not to shampoo every week, so I alternate: shampoo every 2 weeks)
As I Am Coconut Cowash
Shea Moisture African Black Soap Purification Masque
 
Pre-shampoo/detangling (I like to detangle my hair before I wash it. So I mix my cheapie conditioner with JBCO and add that to sections of my hair before detangling with my fingers, wide tooth comb and finally denman brush).
Tresemme Naturals Vibrantly smooth & Colour radiance conditioners (No longer available in South Africa :-( I've got 1and 1/2 bottles left).
Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil
 
Shampoos (every 2 weeks)
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen and Grow shampoo
Giovanni Ecochic Wellness System shampoo
 
Deep conditioners (every week)
The Body Shop Rainforest Radiance Butter
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen and Grow deep treatment masque
 
Leave-in conditioners
Cantu shea butter for Natural hair Leave-in Conditioning Cream
African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner
Jamaican Black Castor oil Strengthen & Grow leave-in conditioner
  
Styling products (I use these after adding my leave-in for a braidout or a twistout. I prefer braidouts because I get better definition and longevity).

Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Styling Milk
Jamaican Black Castor oil Strengthen & Grow styling lotion
Shealoe butter mix (Shea butter, Coconut oil and Aloe vera juice)
Ecostyler Argan oil gel 

Protein treatments (I've lightened my hair and I use semi-permanent colour, so I need all the help I can get).
Light (Once a month): CHI Deep Brilliance Silkeratin 17 & Moisture Treatment
Heavy (Every 8 weeks): Aphogee Two-Step Protein treatment


Done! I'm feeling very accomplished :-)

See you in my next post, 

xoxo, N

New Look: Blue Hair & Bold Lips

Hey everyone, 
One of the ways I get to wear bright fashion colours in my hair (without bleaching my hair within an inch of its life), is to install braids in the desired colours. 
My go-to protective style since graduating from high school many many moons ago is box braids. I just love them... I occasionally install senegalese twists or marley twists but I always come back to my beloved box braids. 
I've had quite number of different colours thus far this year: Purple and forest green ombre, and gun metal/silver.  And now I'm rocking blue; it's been 2 years since I last had blue braids, mainly because finding bright colour braids is not easy. 
I purchased mine from Hair City which is based in Gauteng but has an online store... thank God! 
I'm really lucky in that I work in an setting that doesn't set dresscode rules. I do tone it down when I travel to conferences etc. but if I know I'm not travelling for 4-6 weeks then I wear whatever colour I'm in the mood for.

I installed my braids two weeks ago after co-washing with the Shea Moisture African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner.  

 

I combed Cantu for Naturals leave-in conditionting cream through my hair and used Ecostyler Argan oil gel to smooth the hair and blend it into the extensions (both purchased from African-flair). I used 3 packs (cut in half) of X-pression premium kanekalon ultra braid in #blue. It took me about 10 hours to finish (I have a lot of hair. Half that time was spent on my crown).

 

I keep my braids in for a minimum of four weeks and I spray my hair with a growth remedy that contains Aloe vera juice, castor oil, bergamot essence and bay rum. I add peppermint and rosemary essential oils to it as well. 
I try to co-wash/ scalp cleanse every week and I've been using the Purification Masque for the African Black Soap range. I take about a teaspoon of the masque, add water and transfer to a spray bottle to make application easy. Then, I use the balancing conditioner as a leave-in. 

 

So along with brightly coloured hair...I love wearing bold lipcolour.  Here are some looks I've been wearing recently. 

OFRA liquid lipstick in the shade Atlantic City

Stila stay all day liquid lipstick in Fiery

L'oreal Pure Reds Collection in Doutzen's red

I'll do a post on my lipstick collection at some point. 

What do think of my blue hair? What kind of colours do you like to wear in your hair?

Drop a comment below. 

xoxo, 

N

Shea Moisture Haul...I couldn't help myself

So, for years I've been listening to Natural hair vloggers rave about the virtures of various Shea Moisture products, but I live in South Africa where they aren't widely available and when it they are the markup is ridiculous. 
Well... it used to be, until  I stumbled across African-Flair (an online store) while searching for all the "holy grail" products I've been hearing about. The price is not cheap by South African standards, but considering the current exhange rate and the prices I've seen on some other sites (We shan't mention any names) they're pretty reasonable. I even managed to get some of the products on sale :-)
With the begining of winter, my scalp has taken a turn for the worse... it's dry and flaky :-(. 
So I decided to give the African Black Soap range a try after doing some YouTube and Google research...I've heard nothing but good things :-). I ordered some products from the Jamaican Black Castor Oil range as well because I lighten and colour my hair. 

 

African Black Soap Range

African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner 384ml, ZAR 289.00 

(hoping to use this as a co-wash & scalp cleanser while my hair is in braids)

 

African Black Soap Purification Masque 340g, ZAR 319.00 got it for ZAR 265.00

Jamaican Black Castor Oil Range

Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo 482ml, ZAR 289.00 got it for ZAR 229.00

Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque 340g, ZAR 319.00

I'll try these out in the next couple of weeks and give a full review thereafter. 

xoxo, 

N

* ZAR (South African Rand), 1 US$ = 16 ZAR