Organix Review, Hydrating vs Moisturizing, & Cowashing away the Stress

                     

So about that Teatree mint update: I co washed my hair with it after prepooing again and I liked it a lot- I do not Love it, but I do like it. The smell is just so awesome and this does not dry out my hair or anything, so I can see it being a definite repurchase, but nothing close to the top of my  list. It's hydrating, not moisturizing. 

*Skip to the bottom of the page for the organix awapuhi conditioner review only.

So what's really the difference between the two? Moisturizing is creating a barrier to prevent water loss,  while hydrating is  binding water to something like a humectant and keeping in ( on our skin or the hair strand). SO,  with that said, although it is not drying, I  only mean that I still need to add moisture to my hair after this ( it doesn't literally feel like it deposited water into my hair). This means that after I cowash with the Teatree Mint condish I cannot just add some oils  to my partially air dried  hair and go- I need to be sure to add my leave-ins and then my oils on top of it to make sure my hair stays soft and moisturized.

Still confused? Think about it like this:

Drinking water helps your body stay hydrated, and helps the body and hair better absorb vitamins. Think Hydrated-Hydro- water. you can also read this incredible article on hair and water here.

Hydrated= fertilizing your body with water ( or the roots) so that your hair ( the plants) will grow

Moisturizing= adding moisture will keep the hair supple and shiny

Sealing= sealing with an oil will ensure the moisture does not escape, but that the mositure stays bound to the hair.

So lately I've been a little bombarded- I mean, you know when life gets the best of you, but you know you have so much to be appreciative for, but you just wanna sulk in your misery,  but you have so many blessings surrounding you that you'd feel ungrateful to allow such nonsensical frivolity to disturb even a second of your purpose-driven life? well, yeah, that's me at the moment. I have so much going on at the moment. I no longer experience stress the way I used to, with extreme bouts of anxiety and hyperventilating, accompanied by extreme migraines and longs spans of not eating with a constant sense of fear of the unknown. Now, instead,  I experience stress in  my  neck, shoulders, hands, and feet that ache and are extremely tensed.  If I don't correlate the two, I may not even be aware that I am stressed, but will just excuse these symptoms as a lack of exercise, or old age approaching .

 The first thing I do to alleviate this is take a shower and cowash my hair! I feel like I do cowash frequently, especially recently. Too much cowashing can lead to hygral fatique, but stay tuned for an upcoming post on  how I combat or retard this happening.  When I'm stressed cowashing my hair helps melt away the tension. It allows me to stretch in the shower, and refreshes me. It also helps me to refocus and melts my limbs, making them more flexible during exercise stretching post exercise. Other ways to help me wind down and to alleviate my body feeling a state of tension is to give a self message and to mediate.

My first stress relief step ( cowashing) was accomplished by the awupuhi condish. I didn't prepoo with coconut oil this time because my hair had so many oils in it already. I was afraid I would not like this scent, being that it seems a bit overwhelming when sniffed from the container. But to my liking I found it to be very sweet and subtle  I was  at how surprised to see how fast this squirted out of the container. It was creamy, a tad bit looser than the macadamia nut version, and gave lots of slip, making coverage and detangling a breeze. This also meant that I did not need to use much product. I let this sit for about 10 minutes and when I rinsed I fell in love...yes, again! This was only the first time I used it but my gosh I like it better than the macadamia nut!  It will definitely last longer since it gives more slip and less in needed to spread it.It was mega moisturizing. 

 I used the dry styling oil ( what a misnomer because had I not read the packing that it can be used on wet hair, I would not have purchased it  thinking it was for dry hair only) on my damp hair and it did a decent job sealing in the moisture and keeping the hair soft. I have to be careful with this because too much comes out of the container at once. It is thick and clear, just like  a serum, but the bottle hole is rather large for the amount that comes out once the bottle is squeezed. This is not s problem, just something to note if you see this as a future purchase. The smell was identical to the conditioner , and neither one of them lingered too much. I believe this is just perfect when you have  products from the same line that smell alike,  transports you in the shower, and lingers ( sometimes) slightly or not at all, as not to annoy me entire day.

I really cannot wait to cowash my hair again! Two thums up for my first experience with awapuhi!

*picture from mynautralblackhair.com, natural-homeremedies.com, beautytoptotoe.com

Organix Teatree Mint Conditioner Quick Review

I needed to purchase more Organix Macadamia Nut Conditioner and the store was sold out. They did have the Awapuhi Line, so I purchased this and the Teatree Mint conditioner. I'm not too into anything that smells like mint, except for Trader Joe's Tea tree and mint, but when I smelled this I was absolutely taken away. This smelled so attractive and refreshing. Normally I would not have grabbed for this but I was looking for something from the Organix line that would be just as moisturizing as the Macadamia condish.

The reviews on this conditioner were so mixed- bottom line is you either hate it or love it. What I noted was that it was more moisturizing on natural or relaxed African hair, although there were some reviews from AA ladies that did not like it. 

I prepooed with coconut oil for a few hours before the cowash. My gosh this condish is THICK. I mean, thicker than any other deep condish I've ever used! I can foresee it being a definite problem getting the last bit out of the container. I could add water to it and thin it out a bit.

At first it seemed to coat my hair, maybe because of the coconut oil I had in it. But then it quickly rinsed away. My strands kind of stuck together a bit but my hair went back to normal after an ACV rinse. This condish was thick but did not have slip. It was hydrating but because there was not slip it can leave the impression that it did not moisturize. 

***Update*** this condish does offer slip!!!!

So far so good. I will use it again today to see if it yields the same results. 

Is Your Conditioner Working for you?

Many times I have used a conditioner and it has left me puzzled as to how something so great could feel so horrible on my hair. This left me with the notion to pay close attention to what is happening with and to my hair, and what conditioners and other products I have used beforehand that has helps or hindered their performance. Here is what I found:

 Shampooing before a co wash

If I shampooed and then cowashed, my hair would never feel that moisturized and I'd feel like the conditioner failed me.  I now pre poo with coconut oil or an oil blend of whatever oils I have on hand, so as to retain some of the oils on my hair and scalp that  can be stripped away by the shampooing process, and I  now deep conditioning. I also use sulfate-free shampoo and can be damaging and also stripping. With an exception, there are some products that I can shampoo and cowash  ( condition) with without needed to deep condition, as well as some  great sulfate shampoos that I turn to to clarify and chealate the hair and scalp. 

Products before a cowash

If I've slacked on moisturizing and sealing throughout the week, then there isn't that much product in my hair. SO when I cowash, the conditioner may not feel as moisturizing. If I did an ayurvedic treatment, then the conditioner may not seem as moisturizing. Sometimes I can use a conditioner that did not work too great in the past, but once I add in an ACV, the conditioner is now awesome! 

Moisture/protein balance in check

If I've done a hard protein treatment and then cowashed, this is sometimes not enough  moisture and once again my conditioner has 'failed.' Or if a protein is needed and I cowash, my hair can have a moisture overload and begin to shed, leading me to believe my condish has 'faild' again! 

Season for product

Some conditioners work better in the warmer months, others work better in the colder months. For example, coconut oil makes my hair feel a bit harder in the winter months.

Condition of your hair

I found that some products that I have used on freshly relaxed hair did not work as good  as on 8 week post relaxed hair or on natural hair. I also found that some products that did not work for me when my hair was not healthy are working wonders for me now that I have revisited them with healthier hair. 

Aesthetics

If you're anything like me you can easily be snatched up into purchasing a condish because it's packaged nicely and smells wonderful! Well I've come to realize the hard way that not everything that looks and smells nice actually works great. I am  very big on scents but if it doesn't work then it has to go.

Additive a boost!

I like to try a product before and after I have added my oils and honey and glycerin to it just to see what I am getting into. This way I can better judge if a deep conditioner will be just okay or ultra moisturizing. Some products that have never worked for me in the past are great with a bit of aloe juice and glycerin added to them.

Comb that thang!

There were a few times that I felt like a condish left my tresses a bit rough, when in actuality I never smoothed down my hair that had been all over the place. When I used it again on detangled hair, like something so simple as runny a wide toothed come through it at the end of the process under running water, what a huge difference this makes. 

You Learn and you Live

I know that may sound a little backwards to some, but I don't want to live and keep learning the same mistakes, I want to learn from my mistakes so that I can live life out the correct way! 

What I've learned is not to judge a product ( not just conditioner but any product for that matter) before I have examined the ways in which I have used it and if I was consistent before making a call on whether to keep it or chuck it. There are sometimes that you just know when something will not work without needed further assessment.

To help my hair at all costs, I pretty much prepoo with coconut oil almost every time I cowash ( and shampoo!- and sometimes  deep condition!).  Again, there are exceptions where you just have a really great conditioner you can deep condition with, or co wash with right after a shampoo, or just cowash with without having to prepoo with oils. I know it may seem like a lot to take into account, but change is necessary. You probably wont find someone with waist length hair that has not assessed their products and has been doing the same exact thing from day one. These are things that will come natural with time, kinda  like stretching a relaxer! 

Alma Oil Update

Yesterday marked the end of my bottle of amla oil...Amazing! This oil lasted me a very, very long time, making it a great oil and a great investment. I made my last purchase of three 4oz bottles back on May 12th, and I received it about a weeks later.

I first tried this oil in a  2 oz size before purchasing the next three 4 oz oils. Ever since, I have been in love... 

This is how I used the oil:

After a cowash or dc, I apply  my leave in spray, leave in cream, and a bit of warm cocoveda oil to the scalp  and lengths of my hair. After my hair has air dried completely or at least 95% , I will moisturize with my cream of choice and then seal it in with the amla oil.

 On days that my scalp needs to be moisturized I will seal it in with this oil as well. 

When my hair feels like it needs a boost I will spritz it with my liquid of choice and seal it in with the amla oil.

At times I  will also use a bit of this oil on my face as a moisturizer. It is great for the winter months too.

 I have used this oil on both of my children, ages 3.5 and 1.5, without any adverse reactions.

I moisture and seal at least 3 to 6 times per week and use it on my face 2x per week  and sometimes on the kids and it has lasted me at least 4.5 months! For $15 and then a 20% off coupon this is not bad! 

Get your amla oil today from hennasooq.com!

Cowash, Past Weekend Happenings , Breast Cancer Walk, and Sukesh Time! Baby

 

I spent my weekend at my mother's in preparation to braid her hair and to walk for breast cancer. It took me nearly 9 hours to finish, with a few small breaks and 1 hour break. We opted for a less expensive brand of hair, but without consequence. The braids were lovely, however, the hair was horrible and would barely hold a curl. With wet and wavy there is just no way around buying quality hair. 

This walk marks the very first walk that I was a part of on Long Island that involved my sister and mom. When they walked in the past it wasn't for anyone alive, in particular. But this time the walk way personal, very personal.

I crocheted a few scarfs so we'd be walking in style! I used an awesome baby yarn of a pink  color I just could not turn down. Unfortunately, this particular brand was not on sale, but a great scarf makes for a warm neck and I couldn't cut corners here :-( In the picture above I wore a band around my head I also crocheted.

 

The only problem that I had with this yarn is that the first and last two  feet look like the picture above. I could not use this and had to cut it off. This makes for a huge waste.

 

When I got back my hair hadn't been washed for 3 days. On day 1 I used the Creme Of Nature Argan Oil Perfect Edges and then the Arganics Edge Smoothing Gel on top of my second day hair. Since it didn't hold has well as I would have liked , I used the argan oil one again on the third day. Well let me tell you that when I went to cowash, my edges were a bid dried out and crispy. I have never had this problem with the creme of Nature Argan Oil Line, so it had  to be the arganics line. There was no way a quick cowash was going to remove this reside and moisturize my strands. I had to shampoo this stuff out of my hair. So after cowashing to find that I needed a shampoo, I let my hair air dry almost fully and then based my scalp with warm coconut oil in preparation for my shampoo in the morning.

I shampooed with dessert essence coconut shampoo, did a sukesk treatment ( and added a bit more powders of shakaki, tulsi and amla), deep conditioned with the Proclaim Argan Oil Hydrating Mask and then cowashed with Hair Chemist Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Masque and my hair was so soft afterwards. I have been using these two moisture masks/masques without heat or any added ingredients such as oils, honey, or vegetable glycerin and they have worked just fine.If they work this great without these ingredients one can only imagine how much better they'd be after this added boost!

Renpure Brazilian Keratin Straightening Update

 I used this line again, clarifying (ORS aloe shampoo) and then shampooing before my Rhassoul treatment and the conditioner after my sukesh treatment (I did both treatments back to back). It did not have any slip, from the shampoo to the conditioner. I'm not sure if it's because my hair experienced so much from the clarifying process and needed something  else, or if this just didn't do it for me. It worked great as just a cowasher. It was wonderful for this and smoothed down my hair.

I liked the smell at first. It was a bit odd, but I could not put my finger on it. I had read many reviews on this line before purchasing it and the moment I used this again, a review about it smelling like play -doh popped directly into my head.....THIS SMELLS JUST LIKE PLAY-DOH!  YUCK!


Of course I could not leave my hair like this. I had  to re- cowash it with the argan oil line of this brand, which restored the moisture right back into my hair. My hair had definitely gone through a lot on this day, but the good news is that it was not far from good health. Just one or two more  deep  conditioners and I should be good.


Off the smell alone there is just no way for me to purchase this again. I mean, it works just ok. I will use it up but once it's gone, it's gone! Then end.

 

*pic from http://fairytalesandcoffee.wordpress.com

My New Found ♥: Shea Moisture Thickening Growth Milk

 

I never thought any other moisturize could take  the place of the Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream but I think I have honestly changed my mind. I've been using Shea Moisture's Organic Thickening Growth Milk on my partially texlaxed hair and I just this stuff! 

I've used it as a leave-in on damp hair.

     I've used it as a moisturizer on dry hair.

 I've used it to smooth my ends.

     I've used it to rehydrate my hair after spritzing.

 I've used it before wrapping my hair.

     I've used it to style my hair.

The point is, no matter how this growth milk touches my hair, it always does my hair good! I cannot say enough good about this product. Each and every time I use it my hair is left soft, smooth, and hydrated for days. Just Amazing !!!There is no other moisturizing product I'd rather use. I cannot wait to try all the products from this particular kind in the Shea Moisture Line.