4c natural hair care

The Best Shampoos For Natural Hair

The co-washing crazy seems to be dying down now. Whilst I never believed the hype, I did try them out. It took me a while to actually get a co-wash. I only got one last year which was the Cantu Cowash which I wasn’t so fussed about! After trying a few more last year, for me it’s just hype and never replaced my traditional shampoo.

Which Shampoo Should I Use?

There’s a lot of different shampoos for diff hair concerns e.g. moisturising shampoos for dry hair, clarifying shampoos for excessive build up. I try not to be too particular with these and almost always get moisturising ones. For my texture (4c) which tends to be dry, I always need all the moisture I can get.

What About Sulfates? Should I Get A Sulfate Free Shampoo?

Basically sulfates are responsible for the lather in shampoos and have been known to dry out hair too, try to go for a sulfate free shampoo if you can (a lot of the newer shampoos still sud up quite well without sulfates) however don’t beat yourself up because you found out your fav shampoo has sulfates. It won’t hurt because you’re going to follow up with a conditioner! P.s some shampoos that has left my hair really soft has had sulfates in it compared to the ones that didn’t. No shade though lol

What Are The Best Shampoos For Natural Hair?!

It’s safe to say by now, I love shampooing my hair and I have put a lot of shampoos to the test! Here are my best picks that cleanse your tresses without leaving it in a dry mess.

ORS Monoi Oil Anti-Breakage Shampoo

ORS Curls Unleashed Shampoo

Shea Moisture Super Fruits 10 In 1 Shampoo

Mizani True Textures Moisture Replenish Shampoo

ApHogee Deep Moisture Shampoo

Remember to shampoo at least once a week to remove excess build up and follow with a deep conditioner. You can also do a pre-shampoo treatment with an oil too.

That’s all folks! The best shampoos for natural hair that will help cleanse the scalp and hair. A clean scalp and hair are essential for healthy hair so do make sure you are cleansing properly and frequently!

If you are Christmas shopping, I hope you took my inspiration from my gift guides! I am spilling the beans on the best gifts and where to get them! I have guides for skincare, Customised Gifts and Black British brands. What’s that I hear? You want to get me something as well, aww how sweet! My Christmas wish list is here

Countdown to Christmas!

Winter Natural Hair Routine

Winter for me means protective styling and serious haircare. My hair 4c coarse texture tends to shed more during this season so it’s all about more moisture and all the treatments I can get. I am sharing my current natural hair routine with you guys hopefully it helps!

Winter And Hair

It’s no surprise that the winter takes a toll on our hair and skin. In my Protective Styling and Haircare post, I spoke in depth on how you can combat the effects of winter and how to keep your fro in check all season long! Check it out after you read this post!

My Routine

I am not going to lie and say I do a whole bunch of things! Like everyone else I have to balance work and free time. Weekends are my free time and I usually have a bunch of things to do so I don’t really want to spend it on my hair (I love my hair but….)! I tried and tested a few techniques and I think I finally for the right formula.

I shampoo my hair every 2 weeks now followed up by deep conditioning. This is key for retaining moisture and repair my hair. I use different shampoos as I do a lot of reviews but some of my all-time favourites are Mizani True Textures Moisture Replenish Shampoo & ORS Curls Unleashed Shampoo! I’m currently testing the very new Dermalogica Hair Shampoo

In between shampoos, I swear by Zerreau Shampoo Foam to gently cleanse my hair and scalp! I have a full review and demo here! I realised my hair and scalp loves to be clean and missing a wash day for my hair means extra tangles etc but the foam tackles product build up! After this I usually follow with my scalp oils (my DIY mix- castor & almond oil with peppermint essential oil) and a leave in conditioner- I choose this depending on what I am feeling like lol but I have been reaching for my Cantu Natural Hair Leave In these days.

During the week I like to go in with oils and dampen my hair when am in the shower. It’s literally the quickest way to add moisture to my hair. I also use my DIY water spray bottle which is water, my oil mix and some more peppermint essential oil.

I always sleep with a satin bonnet- no questions asked.

Important Things To Note!

I always add heat to my deep conditioners by using a hood dryer attachment to my blow-dryer. This has made such a difference to my hair and it leaves lets you get the best of your deep conditioning sessions
I always finger detangle when I am shampooing my hair. I like shampoos that are quite slippery so it makes finger detangling a bit easier.
I then detangle with my wide tooth comb when I add my deep conditioner. It’s quicker and easier because of previous finger detangling. ( I don’t trust finger detangling ALONE for my hair texture)
I do protein treatments every 8- 10 weeks to strengthen my hair
I also take multi vitamins for all round health

That’s all folks! I don’t really use a whole bunch of products or do a lot to my hair although it doesn’t seem like it. This works for my hair and my whole wash day is literally 1 hr 30mins! If you find which techniques work for you just stick with them and don’t let the trends fool you. I like to try trends once in a while because I’m a blogger but once I realise it’s just hype I’m like meh lol.

Christmas shopping? Read THIS

His love keeps me on my feet

The Best Deep Conditioners For Natural Hair

It’s no lie that when we naturals deep condition our hair, we feel a certain type of way! It’s like God himself blessed our hair and anointed it with his (olive) oil

Preach!

via GIPHY

If your deep conditioner is not giving you this much life, gurl you deserve so much better! That’s why I wrote this post because every fro should be as soft as soft can be. Let’s get a bit technical first

Conditioning vs Deep Conditioning

Conditioners work on the surface of the hair to close the cuticle and puts moisture back in the hair after shampooing. Conditioners for this are also called rinse out conditioners and usually come with a matching shampoo. It’s left on for 3 to 5 mins then washed out.

Deep conditioners targets specific hair concerns e.g. excessive breaking etc and penetrates deeper into the hair shaft to repair, rebuild and restore. Deep conditioners are also called hair masks, masque, hair treatments etc and are left on longer. Heat will activate the active ingredients and allow it to penetrate quicker.

Technically you can turn your rinse out conditioner to a deep conditioner with added heat but it’s always best to actually get a deep conditioner has it will have more benefits for your hair

How Often Should I Deep Condition?

The answer isn’t set in stone but recommended at least once a week or every wash day for coarser/dryer hair textures. I have 4c natural hair so I deep condition every wash day.

Why Deep Condition

Besides the softness you get, deep conditioners actually target specific hair concerns. They are also packed with nutrients and benefits that regular rinse our conditioners don’t have.

The Best Deep Conditioners For Soft Natural Hair

more recommendations are in the info graphic above!

Are you ready?! Do you really want to be about that life?

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment

Dark & Lovely Alma Legend Replenishing Hair Mask

Mizani True Textures Intensive Moisture Replenish Treatment

Paul Mitchel Supercharged Moisturiser

ApHogee 2 Min Keratin Reconstructor

I hope you found this useful. Let me know if you picked any of these up!

Christmas shopping? Here are the guides you need

Black British brands, Skincare Gifts, Customised Gifts

Nunaat Naat Cream Blast of Shine Review

Hey guys, how’s everyone doing? Good I hope. Today we will be talking about the Nunaat Naat Cream Blast of Shine conditioner, which is part of their Naat Cream range. The range has 7 conditioners in total and targets a range of hair issues like breakage, dryness and colour treated hair! I purchased 3 of them from the WITJ event last year and overall I have been impressed with all of them. I have reviews for the previous two I bought, check them out by clicking the links below

Garlic and Cupuacu Naat Cream

Argan Oil and Macadamia Naat Cream

The Blast of Shine has avocado oil and fruit complex and is perfect for dry and damaged hair. It’s also says it leaves hair shiny and silky and revitalised. It also helps to detangle hair.

Ingredients

The fruit complex has lemon, orange, tangerine, pineapple and passion flower extract. It also has mineral oil.

Thoughts

It has an ok smell, nothing like avocados though lol. Compared to the previous Naat creams I have had, it has less slip but enough to detangle nonetheless. It has a medium thick consistency and yes its completely green!. It works excellent on my 4c hair to moisturise it and makes it so soft. I haven’t noticed shine on my hair after use but on my silky textures wigs e.g. Brazilian hair, it gives it a beautiful lustre.

Verdict

I REALLY love the size! 1kg will last you a while! While I haven’t used it every wash day on myself, I have used it religiously for my wigs and I have only hit half of the tub. I really like its quick action too, 3 mins is all you need, 5 if you want more however I always deep condition with mine anyway. I think it’s a fab purchase and good value for money. I got mine in a deal for 3 for £10 (I am hoping to catch NuNaat at a hair event this summer to buy more) or its £6.99 from Paks

The whole range and uses

Catch you guys later x

Palmer’s Olive Oil Co Wash Review

Hey guys, it’s been a while, how you doing (*Wendy Voice*). I have a new product review for you guys, it’s the new Palmer’s Olive Oil Co wash. Let’s get to it

The Co wash has no nasties like sulfates, detergents, mineral oil, petrolatum, phthalates etc and its ideal for curly natural hair. It says it won’t strip chemically treated hair or hair that is dry, damaged or fragile.

Palmer’s also says the co wash will replace your shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner and detangler- that’s a lot of claims for natural hair! It’s made with a blend of olive oil, vitamin E, keratin proteins and natural herbal extracts.

What Do I Think?

Let’s talk about the smell and texture. The scent reminds me a lot of medicine lol. It has a medium consistency so it’s not too thick or runny. Now unto these claims:

I think as a shampoo it has mild cleansing properties which is perfect for low product build up. Remember co-washing is primarily for hair and shampooing focuses on your scalp. As a conditioner/deep conditioner, I really wanted more from it and I have used it both ways. Initially my hair felt soft but as I was washing the product out my hair didn’t feel as soft anymore. I always follow with a conditioner afterwards because I feel as though my hair is not conditioned enough when I use this alone.

For a detangler it hasn’t got the best slip, I had to use a lot of product but still struggled with my wide tooth comb, especially at my roots and my hair has never been extremely tangled when I use it. I feel like it gives me just a little bit more slip when my hair is damp/wet before applying it.

How I use it

I usually wet/dampen my hair then apply this GENEROUSLY to it (it also gives you recommendations on how many pumps to use). After detangling, I let it sit on my hair for 10 to 15 minutes then I rinse out with warm water and apply a bit more to cleanse it further.

Verdict– I don’t like it for my hair type, 4c texture. As my hair is coarse and very kinky and coily, it’s prone to tangles so I make sure I detangle properly each wash day. It hasn’t got much slip so I won’t recommend you detangle with a brush like the Tangle Teezer (Thick &Curly Tangle Teezer review) if you use this as your detangling conditioner, learnt the hard way lol. This Co wash is supposed to replace your detangler, shampoo and conditioner but I found as a detangler I was disappointed with it. As a cleanser its ok and as a conditioner I wasn’t too impressed.

I think it will work great for looser textures/ curl patterns but for me, I prefer the Palmer’s Coconut Co wash (Review), which has a lot more slip and makes the same claims.

Priced at £5.99 on Feel Unique

That’s all for now. Tell me your favourite co washing conditioners so I can check them out!

Also be on the lookout for my massive Birthday Giveaway next week! You wouldn’t want to miss out on that!

I post a lot on Instagram, come join me there if you haven’t already, my birthday giveaway will be opened on there!

As always, with love

Sarah

NuNAAT Argan Oil & Macadamia NaatCream Review

Hey family, I hope you are doing well! I have a product review for you guys today and we will be talking about one of my favourite brands NuNaat!

Learn more about the whole collection by watching the video below, Claire talks us through the whole collection and its uses! This was from the WITJ event in May last year, read my event cover here

So I purchased 3 of the NAAT Creams and I have been using them on and off since then! I have a review for the Garlic and Cupuacu Cream (finished) up (read it here)

Today, we will talk about the Argan Oil & Macadamia NaatCream which has been formulated to provide deep moisture and is ideal for dry hair. It also claims to provide long lasting frizz treatment and restore shine and softness. It gets to work in as little as 3 mins!

My experience

It has really good slip! Something I always appreciate in a conditioner as I use it to detangle. I left it on for 5 mins with a cap and when I was rinsing out it out my hair felt really soft. I like the big size of it! Nunaat got it right for us naturals lool. I am not a big fan of the smell though, it almost smells like medicine or a cleaning product.

I like to use it on ‘lazy’ wash days- days where I need a just condition my hair! So I really like it works in 3 minutes.

Verdict- it’s a good one to have in your collection, especially for slip. it leaves your hair nice and soft and a big bonus to the size meaning it will last you a while!

Available from Paks