LSB Product Review: Ori Organics Shampoo and Conditioners

August 29th, 2010

Vida Starr

So I was online one day on one of my favorite hair boards www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk and someone posted a video of EmrpressRi reviewing Ori Organics products. She gave such an amazing review that the Product Junkie in me just wouldn’t let me go without trying it. So I bought 3 items: The Hydrating Curl Cleanser, The Golden Jojoba Conditioner, and the Curl Restorative Masque: Deep Conditioner. I wanted to get a leave-in moisturizer or a curl cream but my budget at the time wouldn’t allow lol.

So anyway, the first product I want to review is The Hydrating Curl Cleanser. I used the shampoo exactly as directed and I didn’t even need a large amount to get some lather. I rubbed the shampoo all through my scalp with my hair hanging. I let the shampoo run all down my hair and then I rinsed it out… all I can say is WOW! I have never in all of my life felt so much moisture after a wash. Now that’s not to say that the Shampoo bars previously reviewed aren’t good… because it was great too… but an all out shampoo in a bottle that made my hair feel almost conditioned?? I loved it. Now I will say this, I don’t have a lot of build-up in my hair so I would be unable to tell you whether or not it is great at removing any build up. I try to be pretty strict on not using products that have ingredients that would cause build up such as silicone.

Overall Rating: A+ This product performed very well. my hair was clean, smelled great and left my hair feeling very hydrated. I will surely be buying this product again, and I do recommend it for those of you who are looking for a good shampoo.

The Golden Jojoba Conditioner was a good conditioner. I did exactly as the directions stated and I left it on for 10 minutes. My hair was definitely soft after I rinsed it out. However, the description says it is for fine to medium hair but I have thick kinky hair. It says it can be used as a detangler which may be true if you have fine to medium hair… which I definitely don’t. But most of you guys know I can give to fungus-filled toenails about hair type so I purchased this product based on the ingredients. The conditioner didn’t have enough slip for me and I damn near used half the bottle trying to get it to help untangle my hair. I still couldn’t get the comb through. It just didn’t have a enough slip for my kinky hair. HOWEVER, when I rinsed it out my hair did feel very soft and well-moisturized which it definitely promised to do.

Overall Rating: I give this product an A. I’d give it an A- due to it not having slip however the description covered them because it says it’s for Fine to Medium hair and my hair is thick and coarse. The product DID soften and moisturize my hair though so I can’t knock it for that. I’m not 100% sure if I’d buy this again. I want to try one of their other conditioners which seems better suited for my kinky hair.

The Curl Restorative Masque: Deep Conditioner was something I was heavily interested in. I have been looking for some good deep conditioners to keep on hand. I have very thick hair so sometimes it’s hard to find a good deep conditioner that can truly penetrate my hair in a way to maintain the moisture. Well so far I really love this one! I used it immediately after the Golden Jojoba conditioner so that may have given this DC an unfair advantage… especially considering how hydrating the shampoo was. I left the masque on for 2 hours. I would have tried to leave it on over night but I knew I’d be too lazy to do my hair the next morning. Well after I rinsed it out my hair felt great! but like I stated this conditioner had an unfair advantage. So anyway I detangled and added a little moisturizer to my hair and waited 24 hours for my hair to dry. I felt my hair and it was still so soft. It felt very moisturized but not over conditioned. There was no weird build up or any residue or anything. I LOVE how my hair feels!

Overall Rating: I am not going to give this product an overall grade. I feel it would be unfair. But what I will do is give this product the ultimate test. I will review this product after a green tea rinse! So be on the lookout!

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Use your PJism to Support a Good Cause

August 26th, 2010

Vida Starr

So I was on Twitter and I saw a tweet about getting natural hair products for making a donation to a good cause. So I hit up the young lady that made the post and she asked for my email and she gave me some info:

My twin sister Rashida and I are committed to running a half marathon (13.1 mi) for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
We are raising funds for the cause and to help raise some of the funds we are selling sample sizes of many products for natural hair

My sister and I are both natural and in the beginning when we were trying to find out what worked for us, we spent a lot of money on products and shipping. That’s how this idea came about.
Naturals, new naturals or transitioners can purchase many items and not break the bank. And, they don’t have to feel guilty about the purchase because it all goes to support LLS to help find a cure for blood cancers.

Also if anyone wants to make a donation, they can go to www.tinyurl.com/shonikasanfran or www.tinyurl.com/rashidasanfran

Most things on the list are $1 or $2 please hit up shonikagriffin@optonline.net and let her know you are interested in making a donation and seeing the list of products! They have Oyin Handmade, Karen’s Body Beautiful, Darcy Botanicals, Yest to Cucumbers, Ori Organics and much much more…

Part of being a Life Star is giving. We must love others as well as yourself and give in whatever capacity that you can give.

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LSB Product Awards (Just my personal opinions)

August 16th, 2010

Vida Starr

So I’ve been natural (as I see it) since April of 2009. There are a ton of products I’ve bought since I first decided to rock my natural hair and some I loved some I hated and others somewhere in between. I decided to give my list of hits and misses since April of 2009. This was inspired from a thread topic on NaturallyCurly.com.

For the products that have given me the best results be it major moisture, style hold, or just a good cleansing I present to you the items that recieve The LSB Seal of Superiority:

Darcy’s Botanicals Organic Palm Fruit & Cherry Kernel Butter

Curls By Sisters Smith Wet Set Hair Pudding And Butter Me Up! Hair Butter

Kinky-Curly Knot Today and Curling Custard

Bobeam Honey Shea Shampoo Bar by Laquita

Tresemme Naturals Silicone-Free Conditioner

Mozeke Sweet Almond Pudding

For the products that delivered what it promised and will maintain in rotation and are of course cost effective, I have for you the category of items that recieve The Life Star Stamp of Approval:

Vatika Oil

Shea Moisture Deep Treatment (As a leave-in)

Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner

Aussie Moist Conditioner

Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa Shampoo and Conditioner

EcoStyler w/ Olive Oil Hair Gel

Mozeke Whipped Avocado Cream

Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose Conditioner

For the products that I was somehow convinced into purchasing even though they may have been overpriced and filled with garbage ingredients (you live in and learn, right?) or maybe my hair just didn’t like them I present to you the items that recieve The Cash in the Trash Award:

Mixed Chicks Deep Conditoner

Miss Jessie’s Stretch Silkening Creme

Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In

Profectiv MegaGrowth Anti-Breakage Strengthener Growth Lotion

Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk and Healthy Hair Butter

Now please remember, everyone is different and I am sure there are items that would be placed elsewhere by others. Just because I like or don’t like a product DOES NOT mean that you will or will not like a product. Everyone’s hair is different and everyone expects different results from their hair. This is not a list of product recommendations in any way shape or form just merely my hits and misses since I’ve begun my natural hair journey.

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Benefits of Being a Product Junky (Junkie)

August 10th, 2010

Vida Starr

So I was thinking about Product Junkism and how some people who are not obsessed with hair in the same way don’t understand it. Well I think there are many benefits to being a product junkie and so I decided to make a list (in no particular order):

You always have something on hand. You run out of one conditioner and there are no worries because there is always some more somewhere.

Your friends love you more because you are such a giving person. Little do they know that the jar of moisturizer you barely used you’re giving to them only because your hair didn’t like it.

You have become the master of budgeting. How else did you get $100 worth of products this month yet the rent got paid, bills are still on time, and you nor your dependents (if any) never went hungry?

You have become a chemist without the degree. How many of your non-PJ friends know the difference between Cetyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol or what on earth Behentrimonium methosulfate does for hair?

You can give an experienced review of almost any product they sell in stores. How many times have you been able to provide info to a random person in the hair care aisle because you’ve already tried the product? I know I’ve experienced this a lot.

You always know when a store clerk is bullsh*ttin you. You always know when there is a product pushing store clerk who doesn’t know goose feathers about the product they are pushing. They tell you the product is a great moisturizing shampoo and you see nothing but drying, stripping, moisture blocking ingredients on the back of the bottle.

Even if the product you used didn’t workout so great for you, you’ve got a back up product to fix the problem. Okay so the new deep conditioner you bought did little to moisturize your hair, you still have a bunch of your favorite deep treatment masque sitting in your cabinet ready to pick up the slack.

You support small business. In today’s economy doesn’t it feel great knowing you are helping a small business succeed?

You stay motivated to maintain your natural hair. While many other people find the task of doing their own hair regularly quite daunting, you always find something new and exciting to try, even if you feel you are in a “hair slump.”

Feel free to add your own. I’d love to learn about many of the benefits of your PJism!

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LSB Product Review: Bobeam Honey Shea Signature Shampoo Bar

August 9th, 2010

Vida Starr

Via twitter under the #naturalhair hashtag, I learned about Shampoo bars and one particular shampoo bar: Bobeam Honey Shea Signature Shampoo bar by Laquita. So being the Product Junkie that I am, I of course had to jump on it since it was so highly recommended. Well I purchased it and received it and loved it!

Let me say thanks to Laquita for sending me a teabag of her Lavendar and Hibiscus hair tea and the beautiful sunflower hair clip accessory.

So on to the review….

I wet my hair and then I followed the instructions and rubbed the bar around the edges of my hair til it got a nice lather. Then I rubbed the lather all through my head. I judge shampoo based on how clean my hair feels as I wash it and whether or not my hair feels stripped of moisture. Most shampoos for me have made my hair feel so dry and stripped even has I washed it. Well this shampoo bar actually felt pretty moisturizing…. yet clean! That’s not always easy to come by. Even my beloved Trader Joe’s Nourish Spa shampoo makes my hair feel a little stripped (I sometimes add a little olive oil) and this shampoo bar may actually become a staple in my PJ cabinet.

Overall rating: A+ I think this product lived up to the hype that it received on twitter. I definitely give this product an A+ for it’s cleansing properties as well as its moisturizing properties. And as soon as more bars are available, I will be purchasing more!

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Natural Hair: Fashion, Fad, or Forever

August 2nd, 2010

Vida Starr

[STEPS ONTO SOAPBOX]

I’ve been seeing the discussion a lot lately about whether or not people are going natural for “The right reasons.” Some people are saying it’s a fad and that’s why they will no longer participate in making videos or blogs about their hair journeys. Comments on twitter are made often about natural hair being just another fashion trend and discussion topics on hair boards are criticizing others intentions with “going natural.” What is my take on all of this? Well, pardon me for being a bit vulgar…

**BUT WHO THE F*CK CARES?!?!?!**

Really though… why are we letting what other people are doing or not doing influence us or even concerning ourselves with this? Seriously, why are people removing their hair videos because they feel that people don’t have the right intentions or because they want loosely curled hair or because it is just a cute trend to follow? What good are you doing for people who maybe do see this as a life decision or a journey toward their self acceptance?

Fact of the matter is, Chris Rock’s film “Good Hair” has definitely brought the discussion forward in the mainstream media, a lot of people are going to go natural because of the “Trend.” For some people natural hair IS just a fashion statement. And for some people, they will be disappointed initially with their hair because it doesn’t look like Rachel True’s or Mya’s curls. But wtf does that really have to do with you and YOUR goals?

Also people in the natural hair community need to stop being so judgmental. For many of us the natural hair transition was a big one. Some of us may have initially done it, for fashion or following a trend or even to make a political statement but a lot of us stayed natural because we saw our growth both in our heads and on it. I know when I first went natural I was disappointed that my hair didn’t stretch. I used to blow dry my hair out then braid it up Then twist it out because I wanted my curls to look looser. Well as I came to terms with the truth, that I wanted to achieve “good hair” or at least the appearance of what many refer to as “good hair” i was difficult. It was a hard thing to accept because I always prided myself on being socially and politically conscious. Growing up in a very “Pro-black” family and being taught that there is no such thing as “good hair.” I was in denial that I was somehow subconsciously hating my natural hair in it’s natural state. But because of all the information on the hair boards and all of the information available online, I learned how to care for my hair and love it for the kinky, nappy puff that it is.

Point is, for those of us who are true to being natural, let’s not let what the mainstream is doing or saying affect our feelings of our own hair and of our own contribution to the natural hair community. Let’s focus on those that want to learn and get information rather than finding ways to hide information so we can continue to be “different” and “stand out. ” If anything, I’d think we would WANT our community to grow bigger and continue to create a market for quality products and quality ingredients for natural hair.

[STEPS DOWN FROM SOAP BOX]

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Winner of the LSB Health and Hair Challenge Giveaway!

July 31st, 2010

Vida Starr

The Winner of the health and hair challenge giveaway is…………………..

EBONY PEARL

I am in no way surprised because she had the most entries in the drawing due to her having a lot of posts on the board. Thanks so much to everyone who participated! Please continue your hard work and I am very happy that you guys took this challenge on with me!

Oh for those of you who are wondering what she won: She won a conditioner from Curls by Sisters Smith and products from Wonder Curl!

Ebony Pearl, email me to claim your prize!

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LSB Product Review: Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque (As a DT)

July 30th, 2010

Vida Starr

OK So You guys saw my review of the Sea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque as a leave-in. Well this time I am reviewing it as a deep treatment after a green tea rinse. The reason I did it after a green tea rinse is because that is how I can truly test to see if it can soften and condition my hair. Green Tea leaves my hair feeling a little straw like so I always follow it up with a deep conditioner. Well I used teh Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque and my hair STAYED feeling like straw. My hair felt so unbelievably Unconditioned. I followed the directions and left the product on for 30 minutes then I rinsed it out. My hair felt crisp and rough. I couldn’t leave my hair looking that way so I had to use a leave-in conditioner (TRESemme Naturals Silicone Free Conditioner) just to make my hair feel soft again. I will say this tho… My hair felt very strong. Usually my green tea rinses reduce breakage by like 80% but I can honestly say that my hair barely shed at all after the Deep treatment. So it wasn’t ALL bad.

My overall rating: I’m going to give it a C. Why? Well to be fair, a green tea rinse definitely hardens hair so the Shea Moisture Masque just wasn’t moisturizing enough to condition after a rinse (or possibly a protein treatment). The upside is that my hair was definitely strengthened even more so than usual after a green tea rinse. I believe this product could create positive results for damaged hair and may even aid to strengthen hair. But the fact remains, you don’t really know a product until you test it on your OWN hair.

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It’s Not Over

July 29th, 2010

EbonyPearl

I am so grateful to have participated in the Hair and Health Challenge. This challenge came at a time when I was in need of something new and different in my life but I just couldn’t figure out what. I’d always been a bit of a health nut, but it’s been years since I found myself really studying what I was doing. And regarding my hair, I’d been natural over a decade and I think I got lax in that as well. This challenge has left me with a lot of new things that I have learned – particularly about myself.

I found that for me, less is more.
This in regard to hair, health, clothing (not that I’m walking around naked), speaking, food prep, home decor – practically every aspect of my life. It’s not so much about the quantity of something, but the quality. I used to be one of those workout nuts, seriously (we’re talking 1 – 1.5 hours a day!). When I started phase 3 of the challenge, I worked out a maximum of 30 minutes per workout, and this new direction rendered better results than I have experienced in a long time.

This past week has been a bit of a challenge though. I haven’t worked out in 3 days (but I have been doing a lot of packing since I’m moving to a new apartment this weekend), and this week I haven’t had my daily health shake (for some reason I’ve opted for oatmeal instead). I have done very little with my hair (again, most likely because I’m distracted with packing and moving), and I have been tired. I also has my feelings hurt by a guy and it was devastating (probably moreso because I hadn’t been in a relationship or dated for years, which just made it hurt so much more). I write all of this to say that this has all been a “challenge” but regardless, I’m feeling all right, and for me, this is only the beginning. Thank you Ms Vida Starr for the opportunity to take part in and chronicle the first part of this journey for me, and I wish you and all the other participants the best!

EP!

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