Product Review: Silk Elements ColorCare Sulfate Free Shampoo

I've been looking for a moisturizing shampoo for a while now. I've been using ORS Creamy Aloe or Creme of Nature or Elasta QP. The ORS is really just for clarifying, so I shouldn't use it weekly, and the Creme of Nature has been discontinued- I just found a stray bottle at the store. The Elasta QP is good, but I want something that I can see gives my hair the moisture it needs. I usually like products that are for colored treated hair because they usually provide more moisture.

Product Description
Silk Elements ColorCare Sulfate Free Shampoo is specifically formulated with a UV protector and silk protein to help prolong hair color vibrancy.
•Helps prolong hair color vibrancy
•Leaves hair soft and smooth
•Provides luxurious lather
•Hair left healthy looking

Silk Elements ColorCare Sulfate Free Shampoo is specifically formulated with a UV protector and silk protein to help prolong hair color vibrancy while providing essential moisture and conditioning to color-treated hair. Luxurious lather that gently and effectively cleanses. Hair is left soft, smooth, nourished, radiant and healthy looking.

Ingredients
WATER ,SODIUM C14-16 OLEFIN SULFONATE ,ISOPROPYLAMINE DODECYLBENZENESULFONATE ,GLYCOL STEARATE ,AMMONIUM LAURYL SULFOSUCCINATE ,FRAGRANCE ,PEG-150 DISTEARATE ,PPG-2 HYDROXYETHYL COCAMIDE ,PANTHENOL ,HYDROLYZED SILK ,HYDROLYZED KERATIN ,POLYQUATERNIUM-11 ,HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN PG-PROPYL S ,SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL ,CINNAMIDOPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHORIDE ,HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED EXTRA ,BUTYLENE GLYCOL ,DMDM HYDANTOIN ,IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE ,SODIUM CHLORIDE ,TETRASODIUM EDTA ,PHOSPHORIC ACID ,RED 33

My Experience
The first time I used this was after applying a color rinse. I usually shampoo my hair with a moisturizing conditioner after a color rinse to get all the color residue out, and to add moisture back into my hair. I used this a second time for a normal wash. I didn't like this product either time. It did nothing for me. It didn't feel like it moisturized or cleaned my hair and scalp well. It felt like it tangled my hair and made it a little drier.

This is the third product from the Silk Elements line that I didn't like. I didn't like the conditioner or the moisturizer. I'm all set with Silk Elements!

February 2011 Relaxer

I got a relaxer on Saturday after a 10 week stretch. It would be nice to go longer, but I think 10 weeks is my limit at this point. I didn't have a lot of shedding, but my hair was hard to style and my ends really needed a trim. I told my stylist to give me a good trim. It looked like she was cutting a lot and I saw a lot of hair on the floor, but my hair is still just hitting arm-pit length. Either I had more new growth than I thought, or I didn't need as much of a trim as I thought. Anyway, I'm happy with my ends now.

My main focus right now is moisture and thickness. I've been looking at a lot of old pictures of my hair lately, and I've realized that my hair has never been that thick (except when I was pregnant). I think it just looked thick because I had a short cut with layers for so long. I thought about getting layers this weekend, but I need to think about it a little more. I also haven't been good at keeping curls in my hair. Lately I've just been cross wrapping it at night instead of putting my hair in pincurls, flexirods or bantu knots. The weather has really been getting to me- I'm so unmotivated to do anything extra.

I need to find a way to keep moisture in my hair! I know the biggest reason for this dryness is the weather, because my baby's hair has been dry too. When we were in Jamaica a couple of months ago, both of us were able to retain moisture in our hair, so I know it's the dry, cold air that's doing it to us. I've been using a humidifier at work and home, and I'm drinking a lot more water, but I need something else...steaming? better conditioner and/or moisturizer? Probably all of these. I guess my hair has the winter blues just like I do!

Back to Black

I did it. I colored my hair black again. I really missed the shine and the thicker/healthier look. I wanted to use Adore semi permanent, but the beauty supply store I went to was out, so I used black from The Beautiful Collection. I did my normal wash, protein condition, and moisturizing deep condition (I added aloe vera juice to my conditioner). I just bought Giovanni Vitapro Fusion Leave-In, so I used that in addition to my diluted Infusium 23. When I took my rollers out, my hair looked like this:


I was really happy I decided to go back to black. My hair is so shiny, looks thicker and there are no grays in sight! Here it is after my saran wrap:

I also bought a 1/2 inch ceramic flat iron for my roots. I only used it for my roots in my part, and my edges. It made a huge difference. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to stretch my relaxer to 12 weeks, but now I think I can make another 3 and half weeks. Hopefully...