March 2013 Update

I really feel like I'm turning the corner with my hair and things are getting much better!  The past 6 months have been challenging, mostly due to a lack of moisture.  I now know how to keep my hair moist, and I'm starting to enjoy the styles too.

A couple of weeks ago I was so frustrated with my hair.  I tried to get it braided, but the braiding shop was booked. I then tried to make an appointment at the salon to get it flat ironed, but I got nervous because I don't trust anyone in my hair at this point.  So I decided to straighten it myself. I hadn't straightened my hair once since my big chop in June.  I knew it could mess up my curl pattern, but I felt so bad about my hair that I had to try something.  My hair is kinky, but I have no definite curl pattern.  If anything, it would loosen my curls/kinks, which isn't a bad thing.  Even though my hair is pretty soft, it shrinks up about 95%.

Here are the results of my flat iron:

I didn't blow dry it, I just air dried in twists and then flat ironed.  I HATED the heat protectant I used (Tresemme).  It made my hair feel hard and dry and tangled.  I was shocked how easy it was to flat iron my hair.  I set my flat iron to 265 degrees and only had to go over my hair once in most areas.  However, ,my ends were so bad that they wouldn't even get straight and curl. So I trimmed about 1/4 of an inch. The next day I bought some Jane Carter Nourish and Shine and that really moisturized and softened my hair. I can't believe I'm just trying this. It's really good, even at the high price.

I didn't love it, but I liked it, and I got a boost of confidence seeing my growth.  I wore it straight for about a week, and either used satin rollers or tied the sides down at night. For my next wash, I was excited to see if the trim I gave myself would make my twistouts look better, and it did!

After washing and conditioning, I used the tension method to stretch my hair out a little. This made it sooo much easier to apply and distribute product.  When I took my twists out the next day, my curls weren't that defined, but I didn't use any gel or holding product, so I expected that.  I was just happy my hair was moist and looked cute.  I decided (out of boredom) to put 4 cornrows on one side.  A couple of days later, I re-twisted with a little gel on the ends, and my hair looked so much better.  

I don't want to flat iron my hair too much if I can help it, but it's a nice change every month or two.

Moist!

My hair has stayed moisturized for 3 weeks straight. It's like a miracle!  I've been doing a few things to keep my hair moist:

1. I colored my hair with semi-permanent color
I've always thought that my naked hair was a dull brown and prone to dryness.  I thought henna would help, but it really hasn't helped with sheen or moisture retention.  Since my allergic reaction to the black color I had put in last year, I've been very wary of color.  However, I remembered how a semi-permanent color always gave life, shine and moisture to my hair. A few weeks ago, I applied Adore semi-permanent color in Dark Red Brown.  I noticed a difference in moisture and shine as soon as I applied it!  My hair looks thicker, and seems to absorb products better.

2. I've been deep conditioning with heat
I mentioned this in a post last month.  Consistently sitting under the dryer for at least 30 minutes with my deep conditioner has worked wonders.  

3. I've been doing a final conditioner rinse with Trader Joe's Nourish and Spa Conditioner, and leave a little of it in my hair
I bought this product a couple of months ago. It gives moisture and slip and makes my hair so easy to de-tangle.  I don't even use a comb these days.  Leave-in conditioners don't seem to have any effect, so I decided to leave some regular conditioner in after I rinse.  This has really increased my moisture level.  Usually, my hair dries up and dries out within 10 minutes after adding a leave-in.  I feel the effect of leaving some conditioner in even after my twists dry.

4. I sit under the dryer with my twists

I decided to do this just to open up my cuticles more to let the products absorb more.  Even if I only sit under the dryer for 10-20 minutes, my hair retains so much moisture and is much shinier when I take the twists out.  Lately I've been flat twisting since it takes less time, and this has really been working for me.

5. I moisturize and seal at least once a day  

Thick moisturizers haven't done much for my hair, so now I'm using a more watery moisturizer.  Africa's Best Kids Organics Shea Butter Detangling Moisturizing Hair Lotion has been my moisturizer of choice. I then seal with castor oil.  I had been doing all of this research on low porosity hair, but every rule does not apply to every head.  My hair doesn't like heavy moisturizers, but it does like castor oil, which is heavier than most oils. 

I have been washing my hair once a week, but I may need to go to twice a week.  By the 5th or 6th day, my hair is still moist, but doesn't behave the way I want it to.

Other than the semi-permanent color, I haven't bought any hair products for almost a month and a half.  Go me! 

Black Tips

Last week was a good hair week.  I wore a twistout for 4 days.  I was able to keep it moisturized, so I really got to see my true texture in a healthy state.  I noticed that from the roots to about 3 inches is wavy and smooth, while my ends are wiry, course and straw-like.  Also, my tips are black...the semi-permanent color I had in May ended up being permanent! I've said it before, but I really mean it this time: I WILL NEVER GET A BLACK COLOR AGAIN.  It causes too much damage and now I know for sure it changes the texture of my hair.  I really want to just cut the black out so I can experience my true hair texture, but I want to wait another month or two to get a little more length.

To think that since I big chopped almost 5 months ago, I thought my hair was course with no real curl pattern, when it was really the color that made it this way!

I'm really excited to work with a full head of healthy color-free hair.  I think my ends will behave so much better.  If I get impatient over the next couple of months, I may do small dustings every couple of weeks until the black is gone.

PPD Allergy

A little over a week ago, I went to the salon to get my hair done.  I had some stubborn gray hairs, and decided to get a black rinse.  The stylist used a semi permanent color from Clairol, called Radiance.  I sat under the dryer with it in for about 15 minutes, she rinsed it out, and proceeded to style my hair.  My hair looked great and felt fine when I left the salon. The next morning, my scalp felt itchy, which is rare for me.  By noontime, I had a red rash along my sideburns and my ears.  I also had a few oozing sores in my scalp. I knew then, that I was reacting to the color.  I took some Benadryl and washed my hair, but it was too late.  The next day, the burning, itching rash was all around my hairline, neck and ears, and my face was visibly swollen.  I felt like a monster!  I went to the doctor and was prescribed steroids for 10 days.

I reacted to a chemical found in many permanent and semi-permanent hair colors called paraphenylenediamine (PPD).  This chemical can also be found in dark colored cosmetics, dark synthetic hair (which is why some people think they are allergic to braids), textile dyes, temporary tattoos, black henna products and printing inks.  

This has happened to me before, but it wasn't this bad, and I didn't know what it was from.  The previous two times it happened were both from salon experiences.  However, I had gotten a relaxer and a color at the same time, so I assumed that the stylists didn't rinse out the relaxer enough.  I just moved on to another stylist. This allergy gets worse with each exposure to PPD.

My rash is just about gone, but I'm still itching- all over my body, actually.  I'm still taking Benadryl.  My scalp is very tender, so I'm trying not to manipulate my hair too much. I've also only been co-washing, staying away from shampoos or any products that might aggravate my scalp.  Applying hydrogen peroxide once a day has helped the rash go away more quickly.  I also apply calamine lotion to the areas that itch.  Not fun at all.

Compared to some, I didn't have such a bad reaction.  For some, the swelling lasts for a week or more.  My doctor told me that she has seen much worse, and some even experience trouble breathing.  Some people are hospitalized, and there have been reports of some falling into a coma from their reactions.  Fortunately, I haven't lost any hair.

Make sure you check the ingredients of your hair products.  PPD can also come up under the following names:

• PPD or PPDA
• Phenylenediamine base
• p-Phenylenediamine
• 4-Phenylenediamine
• 1,4-Phenylenediamine
• 4-Benzenediamine
• 1,4-Benzenediamine
• para-Diaminobenzene (p-Diaminobenzene)
• para-Aminoaniline (p-Aminoaniline)
• Orsin
• Rodol
• Ursol

You can develop an allergy to this any time, even if you've used the same product before.  Doing a patch test a couple of days before applying hair color can usually reveal a sensitivity to PPD.  Please, please, please, do a patch test- using a NATURAL product or not- before applying any color!

I really want to move on from this bad experience, but since I have this blog, I feel I should use this platform to help others and prevent what happened to me to anyone else.

Amla Oil: My Love/Hate Relationship

Every time I use amla oil, I have mixed feelings. Every so often, I use it as a pre-poo. When I put it in my hair, it feels great. After I wash and condition my hair and start to de-tangle, I wonder what the heck I was thinking when I decided to pre-poo with amla oil. I left the oil in my hair for about a day and shampooed and conditioned my hair last night. Even after putting more than the usual amount of leave-in conditioner, my hair was so tangled! I lost so much hair as I detangled. However, after my hair was dry and styled, it looked beautiful- shiny, soft and moist. I'm just not sure if the results are worth all the hair loss. I still have over half a bottle left, and I've had it for over 3 years. I may just have to toss it, because my blood pressure shot up when I saw all of that hair in the comb!

Goodbye Aphogee 2 Minute

I've been using Aphogee 2 Minute Reconstructor for 3 years. I realized last year that it really wasn't doing anything for my hair, but I continued to use it because I thought my hair needed the protein. What I know now is that my hair does need the protein, just not from this product. A little over a month ago, I replaced the Aphogee with Mane 'n Tail conditioner as my 2 minute protein conditioner while I'm the shower, and boy do I notice a difference. Even after 2 minutes, I can feel how much more moist and strong my hair is. I'm throwing out the Aphogee for good now. I'm still mad at myself for trying to force that product. This is another lesson for me to not use products that don't do anything for my hair. What a waste of time and money...I can't even be mad at the product because I should have known to stop using it a long time ago.

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!

Product Review: Clairol Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution

I've been using the regular Beautiful Collection semi-permanent colors off and on for years. I've seen the gray solution for the past year, but for some reason, I've been hesitant to try it. My stylist told me that it works pretty well, even if I just want to use it in the front, where most of my gray hairs are. I was in the beauty supply store yesterday, so I decided to try it. I bought the Light Golden Chestnut color. When I colored my hair a few weeks ago, I used Toasted Chestnut by Jazzing, so I wanted to use something similar.


Product Description
Cover more gray, longer with Beautiful Collection Advance Gray Solution. Clairol Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution Semi-permanent Color gives relaxed hair intense gray coverage, while adding back moisture and shine. The gentle, semi-permanent haircolor leaves hair feeling silky soft and looking beautiful.Professional Features:-All tones are excellent for refreshing color treated hair -Gentle no ammonia formula allows use immediately after relaxers -Formulated to cover more gray -Covers more gray for up to twice as long -Penetrating, saturating color that leaves hair feeling moisturized and full of shine -No peroxide. Advanced Gray Solution shades cover up to 50% gray.

Advanced Gray Solution’s breakthrough SynAIRgy technology contains an oxidative dye that uses oxygen in the air as a color developer to form a large dye molecule, eliminating the need to use a product with hydrogen peroxide for longer-lasting coverage.

Directions
Apply directly from bottle generously and thoroughly to shampooed and towel-dried hair. Can be used immediately following a relaxer. Be sure hair is thoroughly rinsed and shampooed per relaxer directions before applying any Beautiful Collection shade. All Advanced Gray Solution shades are intermixable for custom colors. Intermixing with Beautiful Collection Moisturizing Color is not recommended. No developer is used with Beautiful Collection shades. Process up to 25 minutes at room temperature. Use of heat is not recommended. Rinse well, do not shampoo.

Ingredients
Water, Oleic Acid , Toluene-2 , Ascorbic Acid, Undeceth-3, Cetearyl Alcohol, 5-Diamine Sulfate, 2-Methylresorcinol, Alcohol Denat., Glycol Distearate, Fragrance, 2-Amino-6-Chloro-4-Nitrophenol, Ethanolamine, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Resorcinol, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyethyl-2-Nitro-P-Touidine, Basic Blue 99, HC Red No. 3, M-Aminophenol

My Experience
I'm glad I read the directions, because they said not to use heat and not to shampoo it out- both things I do when I apply a semi-permanent color. I noticed that this product is a lot thicker than the regular Beautiful Collections colors, or any other color I've used. I thought this was a good sign, because maybe there is more conditioner in it. I applied it to my whole head, not because I had a lot of gray to cover, but because I wanted to see how much it would moisturize and condition my hair. I put a plastic cap over my hair and let it sit for 25-30 minutes. I rinsed it out, and deep conditioned with Aubrey Organics White Camellia conditioner. I then used diluted Infusium leave-in conditioner and roller set my hair. When my hair was dry, it was shiny and bouncy. My grays in the front were covered, and looked pretty dark, considering I used a light color.

I liked this product, but I'm not sure if I'll use it again. Today, my scalp is a itchy, which makes me think that there is something in it I'm allergic to, because my scalp never itches. I'll also have to see how long the color lasts. If it doesn't last long, I might as well use the other colors I've been using.

12/16/10 Update: Okay, I couldn't take the itching (and a little burning) yesterday, so I washed my hair last night. I also didn't want to cause any damage to my scalp. I'm not sure what ingredient I'm allergic to, but I will not be using this product again. Even after I used a clarifying shampoo and conditioner, my nape still itches/burns a little!

Product Review: Silk Elements MegaSilk Moisturizing Treatment

After reading such a good review on this product, I bought the sample packet when I was in Sallys this weekend. It's usually $1.39, but was on sale for 99 cents. I know I wrote that I don't want to risk any setbacks, but the ingredients seem pretty good, so it didn't seem like a big risk.

Product Description
- Deep conditioning properties reduce tangles
- Gives an intense shine and manageability without product buildup
- Great for detangling and ease of combing

Adds an intense shine To give your hair amazing shine without the gunky build up, this product is great. Detangle and soften hair with the deep conditioning properties of this treatment. Use is for everyday conditioning or deep conditioning treatments and watch your hair transform into beautiful, healthy hair.

Directions: Apply to wet hair. Allow to sit for 3-5 minutes then rinse. For intense conditioning, cover hair with plastic cap and use moderate heat for 5-7 minutes. Style as usual.

Ingredients
Water(Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium, Methosulfate, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, Cetyl esters, Sodium PCA, Fragrance (Parfum), Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Trideceth-12, Silk Amino Acids, Helianthus, Annuus (Sunflower Seed) oil, Chlorhexidine, Dihydrochloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Yellow 5 (CI 19140)

My Experience
I used this as a deep conditioner for my wash yesterday. It's a lot thicker than I thought it would be, which worried me, because in general, super-thick conditioners don't do well on my hair. I used about a third of the packet, and deep conditioned under the dryer for a little over 10 minutes. When I rinsed it out, my hair felt moisturized, but I didn't feel the slip that I'm used to. It also didn't de-tangle my hair as well as I wished. I softened it up with a quick rinse of Pantene R&N conditioner and roller set my hair as usual. My hair came out pretty good. It feels moisturized and full, and my roots feel good, which is what I look for in conditioners now. So I liked it, but not as much as I like my ORS Replenishing or Pantene R&N Breakage Defense. I will use up the rest of the packet, but I'm not sure I will buy it again. I'm sure it's great for many heads, but like I said, my hair doesn't really like super-thick conditioners.

Product Review: Neutrogena Triple Moisture Cream Lather Shampoo

I bought this last week in CVS- it was on sale for $4.99. I've been trying to find a good moisturizing shampoo, so I bought it. I know I wasn't all that happy about the mask from this line, but I thought it might be better if I used the products together.

Product Description
Developed to treat extra dry or over-processed hair. The gentle, deeply moisturizing shampoo for soft, smooth, totally touchable hair all day. For soft, smooth, totally touchable hair, begin with this gentle, deeply moisturizing shampoo. This revolutionary cream hair cleanser gently dissolves away impurities and helps provide intense moisturization throughout every hair strand. Salon-approved and scientifically proven to help even severely dry, over-processed hair feel soft, smooth and totally touchable all day, after a single use.
Three naturally derived extracts penetrate to help moisturize each layer of the hair strand:
Olive: penetrates to the center
Meadowfoam Seed: helps moisturize the middle
Sweet Almond: wraps the surface


Ingredients
Water, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamide MEA, Meadowfoam Seed Oil (limnanthes alba), Olive Fruit Oil (olea europaea), Panthenol, Ethyl Ether, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Polyquaternium 7, Amodimethicone, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Dimethiconol, Sweet Almond Oil (prunus amygdalis dulcis), Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Cetyl Alcohol, Guar Gum (cyamopsis tetragonoloba), Citric Acid, TEA, Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Fragrance

My Experience
I pre-poo'd with amla oil (after not using it for about 8 months) for a few hours. I didn't like the amla before, but now I realize I was using too much. I still like vatika better, but amla is good every now and then. Anyway, I shampooed with this product twice, and even the first time I got a lot of lather- which I'm not sure is a good thing or not. After rinsing, my hair didn't feel much different. It didn't feel drier or more moisturized than it did before I washed it. I followed up with the NTM Deep Recovery Mask, and dc'd with heat for about 25 minutes. I did my normal routine of leave-in and rollerset. When I took my rollers out, my hair was stiff and dry-looking. It felt somewhat moisturized, but looked horrible.

The only reason I did not immediately re-wash and condition my hair was because I was tired and defeated. Wrapping with saran wrap under the dryer for 15 minutes helped my hair lay down some, as did sealing the ends with a good amount of coconut oil.

I returned the shampoo last night. I felt bad about taking back a product I used, but not that bad. I could take or leave the shampoo, but I was so disgusted with how my hair came out from the shampoo/mask combination. I never say never, but I will probably never use anything from the NTM line again. Back on the hunt for a good shampoo...

Product Review: J/A/S/O/N Scalp Balancing Natural Jojoba Conditioner

I bought this conditioner last month. I found it at TJ Maxx for $3.99, and ever since I saw this line in Whole Foods, I've wanted to try one of the conditioners. I've also been experimenting with natural products. There really isn't a reason why I waited almost a month to use it.

Description
"Volumizing" JASON Jojoba Conditioner normalizes hair and soothes the scalp. 22 Keratin Amino Acids, 3 Proteins and Planthenol-3 deeply penetrate the hair shaft and strengthen hair while imported botanicals, vitamins and minerals add a deep, moisturizing boost and a natural, healthy shine. JASON Jojoba Conditioner helps correct itchy scalp, excessively dry hair and dandruff from heat curling, blow-drying, perming and too much sun. Continued use can produce dramatic results in as little as two weeks.

Ingredients
Aqua (Purified Water), Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract*, Calendula Officinalis (Marigold) Flower Extract*, Emulsifying Wax, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Leaf Extract*, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) leaf Gel*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Stearalkonium Chloride, Natural Tocopherol (Vit. E), Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol-3 (DL-Panthenol, Ethyl Panthenol and Panthenyl Hydroxypropyl Steardimonium Chloride), Retinyl Palmitate (Vit. A), Lavendula Intermedia Leaf/Flower/Stem Extract*, Linoleic & Linolenic Acid (Vit. F), Triticum Vulgare (Hydrolyzed Wheat) Protein, Vegetable Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane and Dimethicone, Oxybenzone, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Fragrance Oil Blend (ingredients with a * are certified organic)

My Experience
I decided to use this as a pre-poo after I applied some vatika oil the day before. I applied it like a relaxer, as I do with other conditioners. I have never used jojoba oil before, and the smell was pleasant. I put on a plastic cap, then a scarf, and left the conditioner on for about an hour while I did housework. I actually worked up a good sweat sweeping, mopping and dusting! When I rinsed it out in the shower, I didn't really like how my hair felt. It didn't feel dry or stripped, but it didn't feel good either...a little rough, I think. Usually when I wash my pre-poo out, I feel a difference in my hair. It feels moisturized and smooth. I co-washed with my V05 Strawberries n Cream twice, and put in some Pantene Relaxed and Natural conditioner in for a minute or 2. That seemed to soften my hair up. I also put in a cedar red brown rinse from The Beautiful Collection and deep conditioned with ORS Replenishing. My set came out shiny, moisturized and bouncy, but I'm sure it wasn't from this conditioner.

The co-washing helped soften my hair up, but overall I didn't see much difference using this product. Maybe I used too much. Maybe I should try it as a conditioner after washing my hair. I won't give up on it just yet...

Product Review: Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask

I've been using ORS replenishing paks to deep condition my hair. However, I thought that I was using it too often, because my hair was becoming too moisturized. I thought this because my hair felt too heavy and weighed down. I bought the NTM Deep Recovery Hair Mask in the hopes of alternating deep conditioning with the ORS. I've heard great things about this product, so I picked it up and tried it last night after a co-wash.

Product Description
- Concentrated weekly treatment for soft, lustrous hair
- Professional - Treats extra dry, over-processed and color-treated hair
- This intensive moisture treatment rescues even the most dehydrated hair strands
- Use this restorative mask each week for effective treatment of extra dry or over-processed hair
- So powerful, just a small amount is enough to restore dried out strands to be soft, lustrous and shining
- Three naturally derived extracts penetrate to help moisturize each layer of the hair strand
- Olive penetrates to the center
- Meadowfoam Seed helps moisturize the middle
- Sweet Almond wraps the surface

Ingredients
Water , Cetyl Alcohol , Behentrimonium Chloride , Cyclopentasiloxane , Dimethicone , Cetearyl Alcohol , Ethylhexyl Isononanoate , Behenyl Alcohol , Meadowfoam Seed Oil Limnanthes Alba , Cyclohexasiloxane , Olive Fruit Oil Olea Europaea , Sweet Almond Oil Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis , Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine , Behentrimonium Methosulfate , Trimethylsilylamodimethicone , Panthenol , Glycol Stearate , Ceteth-2 , Hydroxyethylcellulose , Phenoxyethanol , Methylparaben , Propylparaben , Citric Acid , Mica , Titanium Dioxide , Iron Oxide , Fragrance

My Experience
I deep conditioned with heat for about 15 minutes. I have to say, I was not that impressed with this product. It was good, but maybe I was expecting some kind of magic to happen. I did as it instructed and only used a small amount, but maybe I should have used more. I didn't feel any "slip" as I do with the ORS. It did de-tangle my hair pretty well. When I took my rollers out, my hair was bouncy, but when I combed my hair out this morning, I thought my hair looked a little dry, even though it felt moist.

I realized that this has protein in it, and I probably need a moisturizing deep conditioner. I'm also almost 6 weeks post relaxer, which is a difficult stage for me..my hair is harder to manage at this point. I'm not giving up on the NTM just yet, but I am trying to come up with a regimen that I will use when I'm past 5-weeks post, since my hair just isn't the same and doesn't react to products the same way as it does when I have a fresh relaxer.

UPDATE 8/19/08: My hair looks great today. It's light and bouncy and feels great. Maybe I just needed to sleep on it another night for it to fall better and let my hair absorb the moisturizer. I will definitely use the NTM again!

On another note, I'm seeing some progress with my left side. My left side has always been thinner and weaker than the rest of my hair. I made it worse wrapping my hair and ending the wrap on my left side. It was so thin, that when setting my hair, I only needed to use 2 rollers on that side, while I use 3-4 on my right! Well last night when I set, I noticed a difference in thickness. I rolled using 3 rollers, but I was happy to know that I could have fit in a 4th if I wanted to. So even though I'm not that happy with the style of my hair, the little successes I notice makes me feel good! A woman in a bar last week told me that my hair looked perfect- imagine that!!

UPDATE 10/6/08: I tried this again 2 days ago, and I officially hate this product. When I took my rollers out, my hair was stiff and dry looking. It wouldn’t even lay down. I know I’m 5 weeks post relaxer, but still…it did NOTHING to soften up my new growth. The only thing that helped (a little) was to wrap with saran wrap and sit under the dryer for 10 minutes, then coat my ends with coconut oil so that it didn’t stick straight out. I am so disgusted. I can’t believe they call this conditioner.

Product Review: Elasta QP Recovery Moisturizing Creme Hairdress

I didn't plan on doing product reviews on this blog, but I feel so strongly about this product that I had to write something. I need to remember what works and doesn't work for my hair. It's terrible! Maybe some heads of hair love it, but not mine. I've had it for a while, so I don't remember how I felt when I first bought it, but it really sucks for my hair. I started using it about a week ago. The thick cream made me think that it could really moisturize my hair, but I thought wrong. It didn't moisturize my hair at all- in fact, I think it made it feel drier. I took it to Boston this weekend. After 2 days, I knew that this stuff was wreaking havoc on my hair. I threw it right in the trash. However, the next day I pulled it out and jotted down all the ingredients so I could research them and figure out what in it is so bad for me.

Ingredients: botanical extracts of birch, horsetail, horse chestnut, chmomile, rosemary, sage, nettle, lemon balm, coltsfoot leaf in purified water, mineral oil, cetimonium chloride, cetyl alcohol, cetareth-20, dimethicon, capric coprylic triglycerides (coconut oil), glyceryl stearate, PEG-100, stearate, stearate-10, guar hydroxypropylitrimonium chloride, methylparaben, propylparaben, imidazolidinyl urea, frangrance

Before even researching, some of these ingredients look pretty suspect to me. I know I need to stay away from mineral oil, but what's up with the horsetail and calling coconut oil capric coprylic triglycerides?!

My father didn't really have anything in his cabinet except some s-curl moisturizer, which was actually pretty effective on my hair. (Note- My dad doesn't have an s-curl. In fact, he has very soft "Indian" type hair.) I don't think I would use it regularly, but it did the trick for the rest of my stay.