My 2010 Favorite Hair Products

Ok, here are my favorite must have items for curly, kinky, and/or transitioning hair. These are the products that are still in my hair rotation and still give me results. These are the keepers of 2010...


1 - Kinky Curly Curling Custard is the best for style definition. I cannot wait for the weather to warm up and I can start experimenting with it again. It is pricey, but I have found that it performs well and doesn't dry out my hair or flake.



2 - Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Conditioner is a great conditioner for curly, wavy heads. I use it as a leave in and my hair stays curly and twisted all day without any gels.



3 - MoroccanOil Glimmer Shine Spray, Oil Treatment and Hydrating Mask - Great quality products. These three items protect your hair and style. I have found that I have use these items lightly. I have broken out along my neck and behind my ears (but I don't care) because my hair feels great and not heavy.



4 - Coconut Oil has become my latest staple. Although I bought this last summer I have recently revisited this and am in love with it. I use it on my scalp when it feels itchy (which isn't too often) and on my hair at night before putting my scarf on. It goes on light and melts in your hands making it easy to apply. I have now started using it all over my body in addition to my lotions.

Any great products that have been working for you? Please feel free to share!

Hope everyone is having a great healthy new year!

Product Review - Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream

Its early December and up until last week I was still doing a wash and go. Then I was wondering why I was cold all day at work, duh!! Everyone seemed to have decided on a winter hair care routine and I knew I should too but didn't know where to start.

Also, I really like my wash and go's. I like the fact that I don't use a bunch of products in my hair, my scalp hasn't been itchy or flaky and I have been staying away from heat. I also believe that the less I do to my hair (no towel drying, no heat or blow drying, dry combing, less manipulation) the closer I get to healthier new growth.

But I decided to go into my hair product basket and see what I can experiment with. I knew last weekend I was going to wash and deep condition. But what to do afterward?

So I added Hello Hydration after deep conditioning and rinsed out. My hair felt soft and I let it air dry. I now know that my hair is getting healthier because as it dried it didn't have this dry as straw look or feel that it used to have.

Before I headed out to run some errands, I applied some Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream to my hair and put on my hat.

So far I liked how my hair looked and felt when I removed my hat.

In the evening before bed, I applied olive oil on my scalp and some more MO cream, put some rollers in, wrapped in a silk scarf and went to bed.

I was pleasantly surprised in the morning as my hair still looked and felt good.

I did follow up on Monday with a warm flat iron. Yep, I applied heat but just a bit. I also used more of this cream before using the iron.

I am so glad I didn't give up on this MO cream. It works really well on dry hair. I had used a bit on my wet hair before and it took out the curl definition so I wasn't quite sure how to use it.

But I like this stuff, its light, creamy, has some argon oil in it and isn't greasy. I can use it day and night and still not have any build-up.

This will be my staple product for dry hair styling. I will be purchasing this when I run out.

Thanks MO for allowing me to try these products -

For more info, please check out their site - http://www.moroccanoil.com

Product Review - Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo

My primary hair style is a wash and go. (Yes, even in this cold upstate NY weather).

Since I started this styling method, I have really seen first hand how drying shampoos are. I never thought I would be one to wet my hair daily or even give up on shampooing but I have now grown to dislike it. But I do shampoo either weekly or every other week to rid my hair of build-up and have used this product a handful of times.

Now the plus side of this shampoo is that its for chemically damaged hair, is color safe, sulfate, phosphate and paraben free. These are the things you would look for in a shampoo that won't strip your hair of moisture.

Even with all of those positives, I have to admit I am not a fan of this shampoo. It does have a light lather (which is good, not too many detergents) and I do feel that my hair and scalp were clean afterward but I felt it was still too drying. I always follow up my shampooing with a deep conditioner and/or leave in but I still feel that my hair shouldn't feel straw-like after cleaning.

Now I also have to admit that I have dry transitioning hair so maybe if someone has hair that isn't as dry or damaged they may enjoy this product more than I did.

I did add some Moroccanoil to the shampoo with better results but all in all, this product will not be added to my regular staple products. It is now passed onto my sons (and they said they aren't too impressed either).

I am still a big fan of the Moroccanoil spray, deep conditioner and oil.

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Product Review - Totally Twisted

I've been a huge fan of Herbal Essences' products since I began using their Hello Hydration Conditioner.

If you've read my posting on it, there wasn't anything that this conditioner did wrong. It became my number one staple product. Until now...

While my hubby was surfing the net, he came across a deal to get me a Herbal Essence coupon for a free product. He doesn't want to encourage me to get more products but he is also glad that I'm not spending hours in the salon and am much happier with my hair.

So I get the coupons and go to where else, CVS to get more Hello Hydration. But I didn't, I picked up Totally Twisted. I'd read about how great it was and decided, why not?

I tried it the next day. Can I tell you that I ran out the next day to get another one? Yes, I did!

Why didn't I try this before? Although I am not too keen on the scent... I prefer fruity smells. But I can't get over what it does to my hair. Not only does it moisturize, it gives my hair shine and enhances my waves/curls. When I use this, I don't even add gel on most days!

This is my routine:

I wet my hair, add Totally Twisted, comb it through my hair, let my hair air dry a bit, and then spray on Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray.

That's it!

Now I do miss my Hello Hydration, but it doesn't compare in the enhancing department. So this will get pushed to weekend use.

Yes, I have my power products that I use daily because I know how they will work on my hair. Then on the weekends, I use my other products so as not to waste any of them.

To tell you how much of a performance conditioner this is, my son is using it to help with his waves.

Now about my sons, I have tried to get their opinions on other hair products and I just get an ok. No real opinions.

But with Totally Twisted even he is admiring his new waves. My other son is currently following Dad's bald look.

So if you are looking for a drugstore available product that is reasonable. You may want to check this out. I don't know of any other conditioner, that moisturizes, adds shine, detangles and enhances your curls.

Hair Update - Looking back a year ago

I started my blog last year with the idea of sharing my thoughts and ideas. I had hoped to not only write about my hair but to also bring up topics like politics, movies, etc.

But since I took on a new job as of early this year, I realized that I cannot discuss a lot of topics I would like. I am way too jaded, biased and leery to write about government and politics (at this time). As far as movies, I watch plenty and don't have the time to get my thoughts down.

So since I became really intrigued about my incoming natural hair, I thought I would focus on my hair and experience with transitioning. This was a huge step for me. I had my first relaxer at age 19, my last relaxer was at age 41. So I literally had to reacquaint myself to doing my own hair.

You see, even though I dont have pics up and post regularly, I am really trying to share my true honest opinion of what I am experiencing with my hair. If I get a product from a p.r. firm, I post that. If I make a purchase, I post that also.

I also do not post too often because I try to give products a chance to work. I don't want to share bad information. If I shampoo one evening and I didn't care for the shampoo, I can't share that right away. I may have been too tired to have really formed a decent opinion. So I really try to use a product a few times to get the best results and then I share.

I just looked at my earlier posts of my transitioning and saw how far I have come. Along with fighting off my urge to relax my hair, I did know to increase the conditioners but I still would sit under the dryer.

I now do things I never thought I would, like wash and go's. Although I loved the results of other sisters that would do this, I NEVER thought I would run out the door with drippy hair. I NEVER thought I would purchase something as pricey as KCCC, much less love it (I still like it but have found other products that get me satisfying results). I also NEVER thought I would find drugstore products that I LOVE.

Anyway, I realize that I am having a ball playing with my hair. It is not the length I would like it to be (past my shoulder would be desired). But I am glad that after a year, I am in the right direction. I am not afraid to try different products. Most importantly I am not a slave to my hair. I am letting it do its thing while I work on what I need to do (increase exercise, drink more water, vitamins, correct my diet).

What is up with my hair now? After having a lot of straight hair come out last month, I decided to go back to my wash and go's. I do it daily. I comb though my conditioner, use a shine spray and that's it. On the weekends, I shampoo, deep condition with a cap for about 10-30 minutes, rinse, apply my leave in conditioner and that's it. I no longer use a towel on my hair (except when coloring or when I was at the salon). I have also decided that I will be laying off of the salons. I don't mind spending $$ on products when I have cut back on spending $$ going to the salon.

I have a full and thick hairline, what a difference from my relaxed hair. My hair in the back is thick and growing. I still have straight ends from my last perm. But it all blends in after I style it. I've learned that the most growth I've had was when I stopped using heat. I use products that feel good and give me results. I don't pour over ingredients (not sure how wise that is). I think that most of the commercial products are much superior to the products of back in the day. I also think that depending on your hair and what you want to do, its really an individual choice. My mom used Prell, conditioner, hair grease and sponge rollers on me when growing up. Besides the conditioner, none of these items are recommended for healthy hair even though my hair was really healthy, thick, swinging and past my shoulders.

So whoever is reading this, enjoy, continue to stop by, contribute and share. I look forward to it. Also, do what works for you and don't stress. It is just hair. And to quote Chris Rock, "its whats inside your head that is important". And yes, I saw Good Hair and will write about it soon.

Product Review - Moroccanoil Products

What a great set of products!! I wanted to really give it more than a week to review but I kept dabbing in the products and am impressed!!!

I have only been using these products for a week but I have to say that I love them.

I've been reading the reviews for these products with alot of skepticism.

Why?

Because I am tired of reading rave reviews about products that are supposed to be top quality and aren't. Then I pay decent money (which means more than drugstore prices) to expect some results and then nothing. I really don't mind paying a few bucks for some hair products in CVS, but when I keep reading over and over about certain items, I get a little curious and then I get caught up in the hype. And being let down... sucks.

The last quality item that I have enjoyed was Kinky Curly Custard. It was pricey but worth it. I was very happy and very pleased with my results.

What is great about Moroccanoil products is they have this Argan Oil (which I have never heard of) in all of their products. All of their products smell the same. Its a woodsy, musk scent. Men can use it too without worrying about smelling too sweet or feminine. I enjoy a sweet scent but I can live with this since it offers such good results on my hair. Also, the musk smell is easy going and light. It isn't overbearing and won't mix with other scents.

I have be experimenting with olive and coconut oil for the past year and didn't think I would find anything better besides another natural oil. Not that these aren't good oils but I am very heavy handed and they are very oily. I would get oil all over the place (even my clothing). When I had relaxed hair I even tried the Doo Gro oils, which didn't leave me impressed at all (they were just a bit too thick and I didn't get any great results). So trying another oil wasn't at the top of my list.

But this stuff is light as a feather, goes on smooth and does of great job on softening the hair. I'll review 2 products today.

Moroccanoil Glimmer Shine Spray - Remember the oil sheen sprays that you use after styling your hair? That is what this is. What makes it different? You just need a few pumps, you hair has a great, light protective sheen and shine to it. It totally enhances your style. This can be used daily. I would recommend this to anyone - natural, straight, curly, permed, etc.

Moroccanoil treatment - This alcohol free oil treatment has many uses. You can apply it to wet/damp hair or dry hair. It can go on the scalp. It also enhances your style with a nice sheen and softness. What is great is that after applying you wont even have greasy/oily hands. It totally soaks up into your hair and scalp without any heaviness. This can also be used by all - natural, straight, curly, permed, etc.

Please check them out on their site to view all of the products, the other benefits to your hair, vitamins and their trade-free agreement. The website has a salon selector so you can purchase them or have your stylist use them at your next visit.

These products are so worth it!!