Sleeping on PhytoSpecific?

Ok, so I'm sitting at my PC reading my email and I saw an email from NaturallyCurly.com and the subject was: "PhytoSpecific Celebrates 12 Years". I'm like, "I've seen this before at the beauty supply, I think". So I followed the link in the email and it said PhytoSpecific was "Targeted Care for Textured Care". I'm like "Really? I must have been sleeping on this stuff". (Btw, what's with the relaxed girl in the photo? Hey relaxed girls need healthy hair too)

I went to the product website it I have to say, it sounds great. The bit that really got me was

"The products contain no harsh detergents and are loaded with plant extracts such as shea butter, macadamia oil, kukui oil, wax of mimosa, jojoba oil and mango oil, as well as vitamins and amino acids".

I thought that I'd become a pro at reading ingredient labels and had read everyone at my local beauty supply, but I reckon that I must have been sleeping on this one.

Here's another good line from the article:

"PhytoSpecific has become a favorite of celebrity powerhouses such as Oprah, Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz. And it has become a favorite of a growing number of stylists who work with texture".

Next month, I plan to get a few products from the range and do a review on them for you guys (and me!!). I'd hate to miss a good natural hair care line that's not only targeted for textured hair but also available in the UK (hehehe). So keep an eye out for that next month.

Till next time,

xxMwuahxx

Product Review #2 - NAKED Shine Conditioner

Okay yall so I'm still looking for products without any nasties so this is my 2nd product review. I've decided that I'm only going to try a new product every month, so I don't turned into a big ol' PJ!

I found the NAKED products thanks so to Sugarbabe01 on NaturallyCurly.com and this is my 1st review of one of the products of which I've used 3.

Product Type: Conditioner

Product Name: Naked Shine Hydrating Conditioner

Where From: Boots

Price: 3.91 each (Buy One Get One Free)

Size: 250ml

What does it say (on the www): To shine like a diamond, dry to normal hair needs to be smooth and moisturised - just perfect for fingers to run through....
Buttermilk is renowned for its amazing softening properties and Green Tea extract helps add sheen and elasticity to your hair cuticle. Topped up with Black Tea extract, this conditioner has a bit of a glossy reputation.
THIS PRODUCT IS VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY

Scent/Smell: Very lovely scent, very light and not at all perfumey. Very nice smell.

Rating: *****

Comments: Every time I have co-washed with this, the results have been soooo fantastic that I have already recommended it to a few people. My hair came out sooo soft and and really moisturized. This is a UK Only product but if anyone State-side wants to try it out, I'll happily ship it to you - it's that good. This is definitely a keeper!!!

The Natural Organic Debate

This is an article I read in UK magazine 'Black Hair' April/May issue.

"Would you wash your hair with washing powder or washing up liquid? Well, if your shampoo contains sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate, that's essentially what you're doing! Yes, sodium lauryl sulphate gets the hair and scalp clean, but at the same time it strips the hair of its natural 'good' oils and can often irritate the skin. This is why a shampoo must be followed by a conditioner, to help restore the moisture lost. So why is this chemical found in almost 90% of shampoos? Because it's a cheap foaming agent and we've been trained to believe that foam equals clean! Below are four more ingredients that do more harm than good to your hair..."

Diazonlindinyl/Imidazolidinyl Urea
Found in: Shampoos, conditioners, styling products and hairsprays
Used: As a preservative
Consequences: It can potentially release formaldehyde which can be toxic

Propylene/Polythylene Glycol (PPG/PEG)
Found in: Shampoos, conditioners and moisturizers
Used: As a humectant to give the product a firmer consistency. It also keeps the product from melting in high heat or freezing when it's cold
Consequences: These chemicals are known as eye irritants and possible carcinogens. Some are safe but some are not. The problem is, you never know which one was used!

Mineral Oil (often described as petroleum, or the fancier 'Paraffinium Liquidum')
Found in: Many haircare products, especially moisturizers
Used: As a moisturizer and a chap 'filler'
Consequences: It actually coats the hair shaft and clogs pores, thereby preventing toxins from being released. mineral oil can also prevent other ingredients from penetrating into the hair shaft, so you don't get the full benefit of the product

Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl)
Found in: Moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, gels and other styling products
Used: As a preservative to prevent the growth of mould and mildew
Consequences: There is an ongoing debate as to the harmful effects of these parabens and whether or not they are carcinogens. The fact remains that they accumulate in the bloodstream.

"So why go natural? With natural products you have the peace of mind that every ingredient is doing its job to help your hair and not hurt you. With this in mind, make it a habit to always look at the ingredients before you buy a product. Just because it says 'natural' or 'organic' does not necessarily mean that the product is chemical-free."

So what do you think girlies? I'm completely sold on the natural thing and if I'm going to stop relaxing my hair because I don't the chemicals, then I definitely don't want the chemicals in my shampoos, conditioners o r whatever else! I'll be trying out some 'natural' products and let you know how my hair reacted. It may end up being that my hair likes the chemicals. :-)

Let me know what your thoughts are on this.

Till next time,
xxMwuahxx

Product Review #1 - UK Only

This is a product review for my UK ladies!!. If you saw my post above, you'll see that I'm on the hunt for products without nasty chemicals and as part of that I'm going to be trying a bunch of them out, hopefully without becoming a PJ (product junkie). Here's my first review.

Product Type: Shampoo and conditioner
Product Name: Organic Care Natural Miracle Ultra Hydrating Dry Moist Shampoo and Conditioner
Where From: Superdrug
Price: 2.96 each (Buy One Get One Free)
Size: 400ml
What does it say: No sles, sls, als, ales. No parabens. No petrochemical cleansers (shampoo only). No mineral oil (conditioner only). Achieve salon results naturally. Organic Complex. Vitamin & Protein Boosted. Intensive Shine Illuminers. Ultra Hydrating. Smooth Glossy Finish
Scent/Smell: Woody and earthy. Not the perfumey smell I've been used to. Not bad though.
Rating: *
Comments: OMG! Where do I start? This pair almost made me cry. I was really excited when I saw them at the store because they were sulphate and paraben free and cheap. But I should have known that cheap isn't necessarily cheerful.
I used this pair to wash and conditioner my hair instead of my normal Hello Hydration co-wash and then I just continued with my normal hair regimen from there, so nothing else was different. I put my hair in Bantu Knots (my latest transitioning style - review coming soon) to wear all day Saturday and take them out on Sunday morning for church.
The knots were fine on Saturday, but on Sunday, my hair was dry and brittle and horrible. Honestly, I wanted to cry. Even my hubby noticed how dry it was. I was so grateful to God that nobody at church said anything. I couldn't wait to use my Hello Hydration co-wash this morning and hopefully get back to normal.
I'm not saying I wouldn't recommend it, I'm just saying my hair didn't like it at all!