African Pride's Shea Butter Miracle Intense Moisture Bouncy Curls Pudding Review

So after heading back to medical school  I realized I hadn’t packed any twisting creams or butters. Ugh! I didn’t want to make my regular shea mix as yet because it would’ve taken a while to locate all of the ingredients. What’s a girl to do with just conditioners? So in wanting to twist my hair I went to the nearest Pennywise, a local beauty supply here and I looked up and down and finally came across something I thought why not give it a try? I skimmed the ingredients and found the first 5 to be things I really liked and I also looked and saw a few of my favourite hair oils. So this is the review for.....

African Pride’s Shea Butter Moisture Intense Bouncy Curls Pudding

Product Description (taken from website- also listed on jar)

African Pride Shea Butter Miracle Bouncy Curls Pudding gives amazing manageability, softness and shine to naturally curly, wavy and kinky-coily mixed textures. Enriched with shea butter, it is nature's superior detangling moisturizer. African Pride Shea Butter Miracle Bouncy Curls Pudding helps eliminate dryness, enhancing body, bounce and shine. Regular use helps soften curls, coils and waves, elongate curls and kinky-coils, and smooth and tame frizz.

Ingredients list (Couldn’t find it online so I typed it out)

Water, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Shea butter, Mango butter, Argan oil, Coconut oil, Olive oil, Rosemary extract, Dimethicone, Aloe Vera Extract, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ginseng Extract, Aloe Vera Extract, Glycerin, Polyquaternium 11, Steareth 2, Steareth 20, DVDM Hydantoin,  Imidazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Carbomer, PEG 150 Disetearate, PEG 12 Dimethicone, Cl 15985/ Yellow 6, Fragrance, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, d-Limonene, Heyxl Cinnamal, Lyral, Methyl Ionene Gamma.

I spent around $30 TTD on the product which is roughly $5 USD/BSD.

First impressions

1.      The pudding has a light mango/citrus scent.  I’m not a huge fan of the scent although it’s not overpowering and actually smells very nice.

2.      The color is a light peach!

3.      The product feels very good like a light lotion. It is also not sticky but has an oily feeling which I’d say is due to the number of butters and oils it contains as well as the aloe extract (Aloe vera being an excellent detangler and styler).

4.       After completing a few twist I noticed that it although appeared white on the hair when twisting it dried clear and without residue.

As per the instructions I applied it generously to dry hair. I started from root to tip and I noticed that as I layered the product on my hair became more manageable (I previously had my hair in a low bun and some of it had started to hall up (shrink) towards the center where I have a more defined texture). The kinkier sections of my hair began to "pop" when the product was applied. The 4c sections of my hair gained a ton of hydration and also showed some definition before twisting.  After twisting I noticed that my hair was very soft and felt moisturized. My hair was also not greasy after the twist dried.

Day 2

After sleeping with my bonnet, I removed it and felt my hair. My hair still felt very soft, the twist looked well and were not greasy. My hair remains very moisturized.

I did not have to reapply product to my hair but I still added about a quarter sized amount over my entire hair a few days later. I also unraveled a few twists and noticed amazing definition!

 If using this product for a twistout I think i'd still add a small bit of gel to my hair because my hair frizzes easily. 

Pros

1.      Great price point!

2.      It lives up to its name. The moisture is intense.

3.      The product also detangles the hair which I love. Of course you’d still have to go through with a come or your fingers but as you work it in and your hair becomes more hydrated, detangled and the hair clumps.

4.        It can be used for a mix of textures. (I have a friend who’s also using the product, although natural we do not share the same texture)

. .   The product also boast to be good for transitioners. Since i'm not transitioning I can't try that out specifically but I do feel as though it should be. This would be a good product to add to a transitioning regimen because I feel as though it can make the journey with you from transitioning to fully natural. 

Cons

1.      One of the things I dislike about this product is that it has so many ingredients, most of which I can’t pronounce. I’m sure they serve a purpose but I’d wish the product didn’t include more than 10.

Overall, I’d give this product 4/5 afro picks! It did a great job! I’ll keep using it throughout the semester and try it on wet hair. Don't worry i'll give updates!

Blessings & Love,

Drea 12:9 (242Naturalista)

Milk + Honey - Hydrating hair Custard Review

Hey Curlfriends, this post has been months in the making. Like any post that I'm going to do for a product that was sent to me i'm going to place my disclaimer. There has been much talk in the natural hair community about noting products so i want to begin my making sure you understand where I stand in terms of this review.

242Naturalista Disclaimer -This review is 100% my opinion and I was not monetized in any way for a good review. I also blog on hair facts and stories for the company in my spare time because I love sharing the knowledge i've gained with you all.

Milk +Honey hair care sent me their Hydrating Hair Custard for me to review.  I’ve used the product a couple months and now feel it’s the right time to write this review. The product is 98% organic and like other products by their line it is tailor made to 4b-4c kinky hair otherwise termed coarse and coily. This hair type usually requires less manipulation and more moisture and also poses serious shrinkage issues.  The Hydrating hair custard does not contain mineral oil, sulfates, petroleum, gluten or parabens which is great for those of us who are concerned about the ingredients in some of our favorite products.  Moreover, this product is marked cruelty free which indicates that it is never tested on animals and that’s another plus for me.

When I first opened the box I noticed a couple things about the product:

The labeling of this product is very colorful, having a chevron design.

The product came in a box with a card that also featured the chevron design and pointed you towards the company website.

The product is very fragrant but not overpowering. You don’t have to open the bottle in order to smell it.

This custard has a very light creamy consistency and does not contain any dyes.

Special care was also placed into the directions for the product indicating that if in warmer climates (like mine) the product may separate but this does not change the effectiveness of it and can be quickly remedied with a vigorous shake or some chill time in the fridge.  I don’t know about you but I love when companies make note of special things like that.

The ingredient list is pretty lengthy but contains some very good moisturizers and sealants like shea butter, coconut oil and sunflower seed oil. The ingredients are listed below.

Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter And Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Butter And Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil And Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit, Coffea Arabica Seed Oil (And) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Coffee Butter), Azadirachta Indica (Neem Oil), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil (And) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Sweet Almond Butter), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract And Canola Oil (Aloe Extract), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil (And) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Avocado Butter), Ricinus Communis Oil (Castor Oil), Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter (Cupuaçu Butter), Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil (And) Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (Hemp Butter), Behentrimonium Methosulfate (And) Cetearyl Alcohol (Conditioning Emulsifyer), Phenoxyethanol And Caprylyl Glycol (Optiphen), Fragrance

So after reading all of that  here’s what I like and what I don’t like.

Pros

-          The product has a bubblegum scent and some fruity notes which smells great. However, the scent is not overpowering and can last through two weeks of a twist/twistout.

-          Although the product is light, when used it really coats the hair and does not leave a film on the hair as some would expect due to its list of butters.

-          This product also lightly detangles and smoothes through hair very nicely. This allows for it to give way to extra defined twists/ braids.

-          Like its name implies it is very moisturizing. “Hydrating Hair Custard is great for quenching brittle and dry natural hair. This creamy custard blend works to embellish natural tresses while giving thirsty coils the nutrients needed for growth and nourishment.  ”

-          You don’t need to seal over this product with oil. When you take down your hair it will be very shiny and will not crunch.

Cons

Like most organic products, it may get a little pricey when compared to other non organic products. ($18 for 6 oz)

Also when twisting/ braiding hair, I usually have to squeeze out some of the product onto a jar in order for me to reapply product to the ends of my hair. This is a bit inconvenient in my opinion. The bottle does contain a pop top which is great for distributing product evenly but can make for difficulty when trying to seal those ends with product.

Overall this product is really great even though I’ve had developed ways of stretching this product lol.  I’ve found that when using this product you don’t have to be extra generous. As you section your hair apply a dollop sized amount based on the section and work it through. You want to also pay special attention to the ends of the hair which is the oldest and most dry part. By sectioning hair and using a dollop sized amount you will conserve product. I love that the hydrating hair custard has great moisture content, can be used to complete a number of hairstyles not just twists or braids and that it focuses on us coily and coarse haired lady’s.

 The pros outweigh the cons for me and so this product gets notable mention . I’m not just hyping a product line I believe in sharing the wealth about really great products and this one is no different. Milk and Honey is a part of the Barefruit Company and its an organic line created by Tasha Branham.

To check out more Milk + Honey hair products visit their website http://www.milkandhoneyhair.com/

All portions in grey were taken directly from the milk and honey haircare website.

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L.A.Colors single eye-shadow review

Hey loves, so I just wanted to share with you something and its not a hair posts. I had a bit of retail therapy over the weekend and decided to pick up some new eye shadows to add to my collection. So I walked in this store and saw a bunch of L.A.Colors products and thought yano what i'm going to give them a try. Ain't no harm in trying right? lol

Well anywhoo, I heard about the products by l.a.colors and l.a.girl from a girlfriend of mine. She loves their eye-shadows and they make up the base of what she uses on her face. Not only are they cheap, which helps us out as college students but they also have good color pay off.

I picked up 4 single shades for $1.99 each...I know that's like $0.99 more than in the states but this is the Bahamas people. They also had the trio's and quads etc but I wasn't really that interested in them. I gravated towards the shades that just spoke to me. The shades I chose were fabulous teal, sunshine, periwinkle and fuschia (not pictured).

Color swatches only (no base)

So in honor of Easter, I tried a simple look. Fabulous teal reminds me a bit of the water in the Bahamas so I think that's right now my favorite color.

So onto the look I created.

Pros
1. Cheap
2. Very pigmented
3. Great for packing color onto the lid
4. Blends easily
5. Company is cruelty free

Cons
1. A little cakey

Overall I really like the colors and this product. These would be essential for any beginner and for those who want to test out different looks and improve their technique. Not every product in your arsenal has to be costly, some can be really cheap and when applied correctly can make you look like really beautiful.

Hope this helps you all out!
XoDrea12:9

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Kinky Curly Product Review

Ever wanted to try the Kinky Curly products, but wasn't to sure about them? 

The product review consists of Kinky Curly Come Clean and Kinky Curly KNOT TODAY!

So here's my review! Hope it helps you when purchasing these products!

Connect with me on Facebook & Twitter @242Naturalsita

Blessings & Love always

Drea12:9

Shea moisture Curl enhancing smoothie review

Hey guys, so i'm back with another review for you. This one is going to be for Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing smoothie. 

So I received this product a couple weeks back, almost 2 months from one of my cousins who went stateside (please excuse my Bahamianese lol that's the US). I read a couple reviews and wanted to try it out for myself. As you all know my hair tends to be quite dry and thick and therefore I try hard to look for really good products that hit my price point and do what they say they do. 

This product was purchased for under $12 at Target and it contains 12 ounces. The packaging for me is pretty detailed, it let's you know that this product contains no parabens, sulfates, animal ingredients among other things which I really liked. The ingredient list is a bit long but it does indicate that this product is made up of certified organic coconut oil, shea butter and mango seed butter among other ingredients. The packaging also specifies that this product is for thick, curly hair which for me was like an instant win lol.

Uses

The packaging notes that this product can be applied to damp or dry hair to enhance curls, minimize frizz  and provide curl control.

My first impressions

First and foremost this product smells fabulous. The product is white and creamy. It is not too thick and it is also not runny. I applied this product on freshly washed hair after my leave in conditioner. My hair felt really moisturized. I did not really notice much changes in curl definition but I did not really mind that. My hair was moisturized for 2 whole days before I had to re-apply product.

My overall impression

I really liked this product for the reasons listed below 

1. Love the fact that its a water based moisturizer. Water is the first ingredient which tells me that this product has a high concentration of water in it which is always a good thing.

2. This product smells amazing and not it one of those "over-fragranced" ways. It has a really sweet smell of coconuts and flowers which I happen to love. 

3. This product has a really nice light hold and does not dry hard. 

4. Fits into my price point and is a good quality. 

5. Allows my hair to be moisturized for days. With some moisturizers I have to re-apply daily but not with this one. It also does not give my hair that greasy feeling which I like.

I would definitely recommend this product to other transitioners and even those who are fully natural. Although I don't actually use it for its curl enhancing properties, I love it as a moisturizer for my hair.

XoDrea12:9

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AVON perfect wear eyewriter review

Hey guys wanted to come to you with a quick liquid liner review. This review is for the AVON perfect wear eyewriter. One of my cousins gave me this liquid eyeliner to try a few months back while I was in between liners and on my way to the makeup counter. I have been using it for a while on and off so that I could give a proper review of the product. 

"Hold the line... with smudgeproof, waterproof color. Smooth, rich color glides on evenly, lasts all day. .08 fl. oz." - Avon.com

So here goes my review....

 I have this liner in evening black and I haven't tried the other shades. The liner is in a sleek kind of cone shaped container and has a felt applicator. In my opinion  it's an okay liquid liner. I really don't have anything spectacular to say about it. In terms of pigmentation its quite black, which I like. It lasted me for a couple good hours and thereby lives up to its 8 hour claim. Also of note, it is quite easy to remove. It can be taken off quite easily with a makeup remover wipe or even an oil. Why don't I have a better review for ya? Well its because of the applicator. This applicator isn't the best in my opinion. I remember my first time applying it, the product goes on as expected but the applicator doesn't give me the control I need or am use to when compared to the other liners I use. This product also dries rather quickly which is good.

  Overall, for persons just starting out aiming at beginning or refining there liquid liner technique, I would recommend this liner because it complete its purpose and is also quite cost effective.  The liner would be more favorable to me if the felt/applicator was improved.Would  I buy this liner for myself? Not really, because I think I can find another liner that would suite me better. I would definitely try it again if the applicator was improved because the formula itself is not bad and I would definitely leave it in my makeup case as a practice liner when creating eye looks. 

XODrea12:9- Blessings & Love always

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242Naturalista