Hey guys, welcome back to another product collection. As the title says, this post will be on the new design essentials coconut and monoi collection. As always, I will be providing you with all the products in the collection, reviews and finish with where it can be purchased in the UK. So if you want to know about this range keep on reading 🙂
So the coconut and monoi deep moisture range was created for dry, dull and very thirsty hair. It is infused with coconut and monoi oils (of course) among other nourishing ingredients e.g. sunflower and vitamin E and promises to deliver intense hydration to instantly transform dry, thirsty hair into soft, shiny, revitalized curls. It is a relatively small collection, 5 products in total but with great ingredients. I haven’t used this brand before or these products so I will get you some YouTube reviews at the end.
The full collection is as follows
Coconut & Monoi deep moisture milk crème with argan oil and sunflower
Coconut & Monoi hair coconut water curl refresher with sunflower, milk protein and chamomile
Coconut & monoi deep moisture milk soufflé with sunflower and shea
Coconut & monoi deep moisture oil treatment with argan oil and sunflower
Coconut & monoi intense shine oil mist with sunflower and vitamin E
So I realised it doesn’t include a shampoo or a leave in conditioner. Let’s get into reviews now, I haven’t used it yet so off to YouTube to get some videos for you
That’s all folks, I hope you enjoyed this product collection. Let me know if you already have these products and how they have been working out for you. I would love to hear from my readers! Off I go in search of more product collections.
Hey guys, welcome back! So we are starting a new series on the different ways on how to cleanse your hair. Please check out the previous series on conditioners. It has a lot of information and product recommendations (Who doesn’t love that?)
Let’s start off with shampoos, something every natural loves to hate! Is shampooing our hair really that bad? I mean when we had relaxed hair did we not happily reach for our shampoo? (I am assuming we didn’t mind that) so why is shampooing now one of the most horrid words you could say to a natural lol along with creamy crack and heat!
CHECK THE LABEL!
Sure every shampoo is different but if you look at the commonly used ingredients you will find these
Ammonium Chloride
Ammonium lauryl sulfate
Glycol
Sodium laureth sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Sodium lauroamphoacetate
Polysorbate 20 aka PEG(20)
Polysorbate 80 aka PEG(80)
PEG-150
Citric acid
Quaternium-15
Polyquaternium-10
Di-PPG-2 myreth-10 adipate
Methylisothiazolinone, or MIT
The dreaded S words! Naturals are notoriously known to try and stay away from Sodium Sulfate and parabens too (among a bunch of other scary words lol) why? Were we not reaching for the same sulfate as relaxed girls? Sulfate is the main reason your shampoo is able to cleanse effectively. It is powerful enough to penetrate dirt and oil and remove product build up. Unfortunately it also removes the natural oils of the hair…….. (ooo that’s why) causing it to be drier and frizzier and more prone to breakage. It is painfully irritant (Just let a tiny bit get into your eye) and can also dry out the skin (especially if you wash your hair in the shower and you let the water/foam down your body, although this is impossible to avoid lol. Anyone also notice if they spend a while in the shower washing their hair they can become very itchy?)
So now that we know shampoo is evil! Lool. What happens now? What if I mistakenly use it?!!!!
Well for starters, we have been using shampoos for years but our hair grows FINE so I really don’t think it’s THAT bad (After all, that’s why conditioners were made) but I do think moderation is key. Personally I still use sulfate containing shampoo (horror face) but once in a while when I really want to remove EVERRRYYYTHANGG lol.
SULFATE FREE SHAMPOO
So on the market recently are sulfate free shampoos that promise to do the trick without the dreaded ingredients. So what is in these shampoos that make them effective if not as effective as their sulfate containing counterparts (Are they as effective? Let me know)
And are they really sulfate free or are manufacturers choosing slightly different chemicals and re – naming them and branding them as healthier to driver sales hmm? No doubt in recent years the amount of sulfate free shampoos have increased! Actually it seems any product that is labelled *insert chemical perceived as evil here* free has doubled on the shelves in recent years!
So what ingredients should you be looking out for when it comes to sulfate free shampoo? According to Innersense, these are the chemicals you should be looking for and staying away from
Glucosides, Lauryl Glucoside
Taurates and Fatty Acid Isethionates
Glutamates, Amino Acid Sulfosuccinates
Stay away from products that claim to be sulfate-free but contain the following ingredients:
Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA
PEG’s, PEG8
Propylene Glycol
Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Hydroxysultain
I haven’t used many sulfate free shampoos in my day, as a matter of fact I have only used two, Aubrey Organics GPB Glycogen protein balancing shampoo lavender ylang ylang and Dr. Miracle conditioning shampoo. And I used these years apart! The Aubrey when I first became natural about 4 years ago and the Dr. Miracle now (it seems I’m in love with the sulfate lool see what I did there). I won’t say my hair has been in the best state in those years between and even now but I will not contribute that to the shampoo alone.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
It’s up to the individual to decide if they want to carry on using regular shampoo or switch to sulfate free. I say just use in moderation. If you want to make the switch check out some recommended ones below although I can’t vouch for most of these personally lol, you would have to carry out further research on them.
Aubrey Organics, GPB Glycogen protein balancing shampoo lavender ylang ylang. Its such a long time I used this so I can’t remember how it made my hair feel. All I remember is the price lol, it was £5 pounds on sale from the usual price of £9.99 (ouch). You can get online for £10.51
Dr. Miracle conditioning shampoo. I still use this and I love it very much. It has a tingling sensation as with most if not all Dr. Miracle products. It lathers up ok and gets the job done. Its £2.99 from most BSS
Dark and lovely Au Naturale: Moisture L.O.C sulfate free cleansing shampoo for £6.99
Design Essentials Almond and Avocado moisturising and detangling sulfate free shampoo for £8.50
NuNaat Real Me Lather up and hydrate shampoo for £7.99
A great alternative to shampoos are natural shampoo bars. Great ones are African black soap and shea butter soap. I recently received shea butter soap from a company called Mon Shea to review and I must say I love it so much. I actually used it today as part of my wash day and washing my hair has never been so easy! (Why didn’t y’all tell me about the ease of use with shampoo bars? Smh lol) Anyway a first look at the company (On the blog already, read it here > http://wp.me/p1uQOd-ys and a full review will be coming soon. In the meantime check out their website for great alternatives for your hair and skin care needs. http://monsheabutter.co.uk/
If after all of this you are now completely off shampooing all together lol, don’t fret! This series is all about providing you with the different ways to cleanse your hair! Watch out for the next instalment which will be on co-washing.
That’s all folks, I really didn’t think it will be a long one but as I started doing my research I realised I would not be doing you guys any justice if I didn’t include some details. For more information on ingredients or anything please check Google lool. Otherwise here are a few references/websites I used today
Hey family, I hope everyone is doing great so far.
I am starting a series on the different types of conditioners and its importance (seeing that I get asked this question a lot) and I will round up by recommending some of my favourite conditioners for you guys. I will try and add ones I have personally used and cater for every budget. For my DIY lovers, I will also get some recipes for you. So how does that sound? Good right? Let’s get started. Today we will be talking about deep conditioners
WHAT IS A DEEP CONDITIONER/ DEEP CONDITIONING
Deep conditioning is using a deep conditioner to deep condition the hair (Lool, don’t you hate explanations like this? Don’t worry, I won’t do that to you guys). Deep conditioning is the process of adding back nutrients to your hair that may have been lost during excess styling, other hair products or even the weather.
It is very important you incorporate this into your regime, preferably deep conditioning weekly to add those nutrients back to your hair and strengthen it. You will see a major difference after 3-6 weeks of use. Your hair will be much healthier, shiner with less dryness and breakage!
TYPES OF DEEP CONDITIONERS
So, now that you want to deep condition your hair, which ones should you look out for and how to choose the best type. You may also see deep conditioners as ‘treatments’ which is what they are essentially, you can use them to treat a specific hair problem. You may also see them as masques. As a rule of thumb, I always say to have two main types: a moisture based deep conditioner and a protein based deep conditioner then you can alternate between the two depending on what your hair needs.
A moisture based deep conditioner will mainly be for dry hair. This type of product will work to add moisture back to your hair.
A protein based deep conditioner is for damaged hair that is either breaking or shedding a lot. The proteins in the conditioner will strengthen the hair and help with the shedding/breakage.
If your hair is both dry and damaged then you will obviously need a conditioner that will take care of both problems. It is important to notice that most deep conditioners on the market targets both dry and damaged hair. Where possible, try to get moisture based and protein based separately just in case you need one more than the other.
NOW LET’S TALK EXAMPLES
These are some of my personal favourites with ones I am yet to try. If I have a review here on my blog, I link them for you. I will also try and leave links to where you can get them from online.
Moisture based deep conditioners
Beautiful Textures Intense moisture rapid repair deep conditioner. This is a moisture based deep conditioner enriched with aloe vera, coconut, olive, soy, argan oil, shea and mango butter! I have personally used this and testify on how soft my hair felt after. I like the smell too. Its £3.99 from BeautyByZara. Link > http://www.beautybyzara.com/beautiful-textures-rapid-repair-deep-conditioner-15oz/#
2. Soft and Beautiful Botanicals ultra nourishing deep conditioning repair masque. It contains nutrients like shea butter, olive, argan, coconut oil, aloe and vitamin E. I love LOVE the smell of this and it has a thicker consistency. This is another favourite of mine. Try to get this in store, any good BSS should have it. I personally got mine from ACE in Croydon for £2.99. it looks every expensive online
3. Motions Deep conditioning masque. Another great product with great added ingredients. I have a review on my blog for this. Check it out by clicking on this link>> http://wp.me/p1uQOd-tc
4. NuNAAT creams garlic and Cupuacu total strength and repair. This will double up as a moisture and light protein treatment given that is helps to strengthen and repair split ends. I have recently used this product and I am loving the results. I definitely recommend this!
Other great ones that I haven’t used will be (These can also double up as deep conditioners that strengthen the hair and reduces breakage)
It’s worth noting some of these will be marketed as reconstructors. So don’t be afraid when you see reconstructor on the packet. Probably the most common example I can give you is hair mayonnaise.
ORS hair mayonnaise. Who hasn’t used this before? It’s a really good treatment that helps to strengthen the hair. You can get this at almost EVERY BSS (If your local BSS don’t have this stop going there lol). It is enriched with olive oil and egg protein. Prices start from £2.29 for the small tub from BeautyByZara. Link > http://www.beautybyzara.com/ors-hair-mayonnaise-8oz/
ApHogee keratin 2 min hair reconstructor. It is a one-step ‘milder’ version of their two step protein treatment. I haven’t used this yet but I have heard great reviews on it. I have included a video I found really helpful on it below. Be sure to check it out and do more research if you are interested in buying this. You can purchase on Amazon by clicking Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Hair Reconstructor. Its £8.25.
ApHogee two step protein treatment. This is a hard-core protein treatment and it’s only recommended you use every 6-8 weeks I think. Again I haven’t used it before but I am planning to soon. I have included a video link before and you can purchase on Amazon by clicking Aphogee Balancing Moisturizer with Two Stp Protein Treatment. It’s £12.03 for both the protein and the balancing moisturiser. It usually come in this pack of 2 but you can also get them separately
FOR MY DIY LOVERS
You will find lots of ingredients in your kitchen cabinet/fridge that can be used for the perfect deep conditioner. I have tried a few recipes but you can always swap and test new ones! Do let me know what your favourite mixes are as well.
The ones I have personal tried are
Mayo, egg and honey
Greek yoghurt, simple conditioner, castor oil and olive oil
Simple conditioner, egg and any oil I can find: coconut oil, castor oil, spearmint essential oil etc
Of course you have the more popular ones like
Banana, olive oil and honey
Avocado, olive oil and shea butter (Sound good, I think I will be trying this soon)
Olive oil/ coconut milk
Of course you don’t have to stick to these recipes or get the exact measurements, I always just eye ball and use more (It’s never the bad thing lol). Mix and match till you get your perfect deep conditioner. There are COUNTLESS of videos on YouTube on DIY recipes so be sure to have a look if you are really stuck for ideas
HOW TO?
This is fairly easy. After shampooing, apply your deep conditioner of choice to your hair and leave for about 30 mins. It works well with heat so cover with a plastic cap and sit under a dryer. If you don’t have this at home you can always use a handheld blow dryer. Alternatively what I do is pile on plastic bags and go about my day. Your body heat is enough to do the trick. You can also put a heated towel on top of the plastic bag for added heat. That’s it!
FINAL THOUGHTS/ RECAP
Deep conditioners are a must in your regime especially if you use a lot of styling products. There are two main types: moisture based and protein based. Although you can get some formulas that have both properties try your best to get them separately.
Try to do them weekly but if you do a hard core protein treatment, do that every 6 to 8 weeks.
Don’t be afraid if you can get one in store, the kitchen is always the next best thing. Let your inner DIY diva out and get to mixing!
That’s all folks. If you love this post please subscribe for more. Also, don’t forget to connect with me on my social media and like my new Facebook page! You can find all the links on the right on side of this page. I will be continuing my series on conditioners by talking about leave in conditioners next time. Until then,
Hey family! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the weather! This is a quick post about a show I am very excited about! – THE WITJ NATURAL HAIR EXPO! – UK’s largest natural hair expo is back and it’s bigger and better than ever!
Saturday 13th June- Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, London
This year’s show features both international guests e.g. Destiny Godley, Mo Knows Hair and Ms Vaughn TV and UK guests such as the woman herself – Wunmi Akinlgaun (founder) and many more on the day!
WITJ aims to EDUCATE, INSPIRE AND CELEBRATE women of colour through interactive workshops, live demos and by offering versatility in products and services! Everything a woman of colour needs in her hair journey! What more is that the show is created by WOMEN OF COLOUR so you can expect a highly personalised event and carefully selected products brought to you by some of the top companies e.g. You Be-Natural, Cantu, Design Essentials Natural, Fashion Fair and many more.
Guests will have their pick of many workshops on the day including:
Shrinkage and Safe Straight Styling sponsored by You Be-Natural and presented by Monica Stevens of Mo Knows Hair (Professional natural hair stylist and YouTube Guru) and Kevin Pendleton (International celebrity stylist).
Red Carpet to Real Wear powered by Design Essentials Naturals Coconut and Monoi and presented by Destiny Godley (YouTube beauty pioneer) and Vaughn Monroe of MsVaughnTV (Natural hair sensation)
Perfecting Protective Styling brought to you by Cantu Beauty and delivered by Anastasia Chikezie (natural hair specialist of Purely Natural Hair Salon London) and Chiaka Valentina (Protective styling guru)
Three Girls Talk Curls with Wunmi Akinlgaun (Founder), Ginny Pettitt (Fro Girl Ginny) and Farida Sharma (Curly Proverbz)
A Look at Locs presented by Helen Mensah of Huntress Locs
But the show isn’t just about hair. Young Ladies club founder and life coach, Hannah Oyewole will be on hand for the Women’s Empowerment Panel which will aim to cover all the important topics e.g. beauty, business, life and mental wellbeing.
. Its £8.25.
. It’s £12.03 for both the protein and the balancing moisturiser. It usually come in this pack of 2 but you can also get them separately
sarah fynn 
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