Hey all,

Received my year’s stash from British Curlies not too long ago, trialing lots of new products at the moment so wanted a place to document what’s working and not working, winning combos, what I haven’t liked very much etc etc.

My hair’s at a weird in between length at the moment - HATING IT, I like short cropped hair or long hair, inbetween doesn’t work for me so i’m sitting on my hands whilst I finish growing out my mohawk, holding out til August minimum but ideally first week of October before contemplating any type of major haircut (That’ll be a year’s break from shaving down my sides) although I won’t lie I do love the scissors and revamping my style soo we’ll see! haha!

Recently ordered;

◦ 1 x Repair Me! 12oz
◦ 1 x Curl Assurance Smoothing Lotion 12oz
◦ 1 x Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo 12oz
◦ 1 x Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner 12oz
◦ 1 x Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie 12 oz
1 x Kinky-Curly Knot Today 8oz
◦ 1 x Bee Mine Strawberry Kiwi with Sulphur 2oz
◦ 1 x Bee Mine Bee Loved Hair & Scalp Moisturiser 2oz
◦ 1 x Bee Mine BEE•U•Ti•FUL Moisturizing Deep Conditioner 2oz
◦ 1 x Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream Moisturiser 2oz Coconut Cream
◦ 1 x GVN Smooth As Silk Conditioner 250ml
◦ 1 x GVN Direct Leave-In Conditioner 250ml
◦ 1 x Type 4 Hair Creme 2oz
◦ 1 x Organic Biotin Conditioner 500ml

Plus I have some samples of Vatika Frosting LOVES and DB Daily Leave in and Hairveda Cocasta (sp) Oil, haven’t tried these yet

As I start to work my way through my stash I’ll update here with thoughts and comments.

Used to be a fan of Aubrey Organics but I’m not anymore currently trying to finish the following;

AO Honeysuckle Rose Condish
AO GPB Condish
and literally can not bring myself to use the AO GPB shampoo…thinking of mixing in some oil olive perhaps?? I shampoo about once a month currently so this could take me a while as I also working through bottles of CURLS Purifying Shampoo and CJ Daily Fix and now Shea Moisture Retention Shampoo which I LOVE

Product Junkie you say? Nope not at all lol I like to have products on rotation so that my hair doesn’t get too ‘used’ to anything..as I mentioned used Aubrey Organics for over a year and now my hair and I cant stand it

Anyhoo that’s it for now, very interested on hearing from other curlies in terms of their winning combos etc etc, massive fan on this forum been a member for the past 2 years although I’ve been a bit quiet recently but saying that I’m still a major silent stalker (I’m hearing good things about Tresemme Naturals condish, I’ve been looking for a cheap co-wash so may have to try this soon! So I can save my conditioners for DTs and PTs!)

lol

Adjoa

Good stash! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

Thanks Lucyprimose! Tonight I co-washed with Giovanni Smooth as Silk, this was nice, nothing wrong with it in fact but I have to say that on first impresssions alone Jason Biotin Conditioner has the slight edge, I remember using less of the Jason’s conditioner. Both went on smoothly and had good slip but the Jason’s is slightly thicker which I prefer.

I followed Smooth as Silk with the Direct Leave In by Giovanni, a cheaper alternative to KCKT which is always good but I’ll have to use it a few more times with a few more products before I can give a final opinion. MyHoneyChild Type 4 Creme was my choice of moisturizer, I’m not overly keen on the smell - kind of pepperminty - but for the moisture levels alone I’m glad I bought the sample…there may be a slightly ‘waxy’ feel here which isn’t a problem as long as it washes out with conditioner. I’m going to try this moisturizer with a few more leave ins. In order to justify the high price of the full size of the Type 4 Creme i’m going to see how long this 2oz lasts and how moisturized my hair stays until my next co- wash.

Seems like the Type 4 Creme might be a curl enhancer too but that’s might underlined twice! lol For all I know it could have been the leave in or the combination of the leave in, conditioner and moisturizer! Either or which way good first impressions of all the products I’ve tried so far, my hair is about 90% dry so will update on day 2 or 3.

Type 4 hair creme by MyHoneyChild is moisturizing, the moisture did last until the next day, I just spritzed with water and resealed and added a bit of hair pudding to tidy up my edges.

I’ve also co-washed again with the Jason’s Biotin’s condish, really happy with this, hair feels clean, moisturized and I got some nice definition. Rinsed out the conditioner and then scrunched out most of the water. I’m currently only finger combing in the shower and scrunching and smoothing in products rather than raking or combing them through so we’ll see what happens there. Hoping I won’t get more tangled as I’m still detangling/finger combing in the shower when I co-wash.

This morning I used KCKT as a leave in…definitely prefer the SM Shea Butter condish, I feel that for my hair if you get the moisture levels right with the conditioner and leave in I’ve won half the battle!

I think I’m going to do I deep treatment this weekend, Ive read the the SM Curl Enhancing Smoothie can be used as a DT but I think I’m gong to use up the last of my Hairveda DT sample first.

I love having options I’d say that rotating products is working a bit better than having staples, looking at my British Curlies ordering history it looks like I use the same products for no longer than 6 - 9months which seems to work well for me.

Hmmmm

This morning I co washed with Jason’s Biotin condish and used the SM Raw Shea Condish as my leave in. I followed with the SM Smoothie as my moisturizer, applied some Komaza Califa pudding for my edges and sealed with Jojoba oil. I have never had soooo many fly away hairs in my life. Frizz frizz and more frizz. Don’t get it. I’m inclined to think it’s the Smoothie to be honest hmmm. Gonna try the Smoothie as a deep treatment instead and see how I go because I’m not too sure as a moisturizer anymore…I guess i’ll see what moisture levels are like tomorrow and go from there…

Great hair day today and yesterday!

Co washed with SM Shea Butter condish as a treat, used Giovanni Direct Leave in next (it does turn the hair white if you use too much but it dries clear and really you don’t need that much) on top as my moisturizer I trialed Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream

I really like this, much thicker than the Bee Mine Curly Butter - which I like but found slightly watery - the Balanced cream is thicker and more creamy so depending on your hair type this is something to take into consideration. Califa Pudding for my edges and I sealed with Vatika Frosting. Lovely. Yesterday I put my hair back in one, combed through the ends and did a twist, when it dried it was soft and shiny. Today I didnt comb through my end and I wore a curly low puff. Nice and shiney too.

Since the Califa is a pudding/gel with no alcohol I’m tempted to leave out the moisturizer and see if the pudding and oil to seal is moisturizing enough hmmm…

Having lots of products that work together is nice but it would be great to know I could get away just a few; leave in, moisturizing styler and something to seal

We’ll see!

Normally I seal with Vatika frosting but today I sealed with Jojoba oil - I wasn’t very keen, my hair came out very stringy. Granted I mixed the Jojoba with my pudding of choice today - Komaza coconut pudding - rather than layered on after the pudding. Hmmm ill try layering tomorrow instead.

Also comparing the Komaza Califa to the Coconut pudding the Califa seems a bit more moisturizing??? Hmm maybe it’s the Jojoba oil, ill do a bit more research on Jojoba and try a couple more combos and go from there… It could be that my hair responds better to the vatika frosting because it isn’t an ‘oil’ whereas perhaps the jojoba oil just sits on top of the hair???

Hmm. Not sure.. We’ll see.

Really itching to cut my hair, trying to sit on my hands but I don’t know how much longer I can hold out, I hate the in between stage

So I definitely prefer the Komaza Califa Pudding to the Coconut Pudding - it used to be the other way round but recently I’m finding that the coconut pudding works well with certain products but with others it does leave white bits in the hair whereas I can use the Komaza Califa with anything and in any combination. Coconut is still a great gel but I’d rather have an all rounder in my stash so when I finish trailing my current set of products in a couple of weeks I’ll be putting this, some Darcy’s coiling gel up on the swap board.

In other hair news I’m currently trialing the Curl Junkie Smoothing Lotion…it’s definitely smoothing ill give it that but not yet sure about moisture levels and could probably just use a heavier moisturizer on top. I’ll report back after i’ve tried this in a few more combos. My fingers and the comb definitely glide through the hair though! I suspect in the long term it’ll come down to price; ‘what gives me (at least) good results and is affordable long term?’ All of the leave in’s I’ve tried so far ‘work’ so it’s just about preference and budget really.

Todays combo was; CJ Smoothing Lotion as a Leave In and Bee Mine Balanced Cream on top, Jojoba oil to seal.

Another observation unless i’m using too much I finding that oils make my hair look stringy so i’m going to save my oils for prepoo’s and my scalp and stick to ‘oily cremes/butters/grease’ to seal; Vatika Frosting, Solid Coconut Oil, MHC grease

Will keep my diary posted

Another winning hair day

First some observations;

- My hair likes creamy products!
- I get the best results when I apply products on sopping wet hair

So today I cowashed quickly with Giovanni Smooth and Silk then I did a PT - Repair Me by Curl Junkie - love this, again, probably because it’s creamy then I followed with a DT - Bee Mine Deep Conditioner - again very creamy as opposed to oily/‘waxey’. I think the Bee Mine condisher is great just wish it wasnt so pricey but ah well it is what it is.

Chopped some of my hair today - couldn’t help myself LOL nothing was wrong with it - no split ends or anything - just felt like a bit of a snip. I love how hair’s more bouncy after a good snip. Much happier now, will try not to touch the hair scissors again for a while.

As a leave in I used CJ Smoothing Lotion - I’m really beginning to like this, less frizzes and hair is very soft to touch, used Bee Mine Luscious Balanced Cream on top - these two work soo well together and I sealed with my Vatika sample. My Vatika Frosting sample is nearly finished and Im freaking out a bit lol Can I really justify ordering a single product from the Emporium???? I really don’t think. Gosh! Straight Coconut oil just isnt the same but itll have to suffice!

I have a few more things to try out and then I need to have a think about what to do with the products that worked ‘well’ but weren’t as good as the rest. I could rotate them and use them on days that I don’t ‘need’ great hair days or I could just sell them…or even swap them! Should figure it all out in the next 2 weeks. My hair is looking and feeling great though!

Happy days!

A ‘good’ hair day as opposed to a great one today; I tidied my edges with Komaza Coconut Pudding rather than the Califa one, this gel really isn’t for me, although the finished look is fine, I don’t find it as moisturizing and it only mixes well with certain products underneath which I think I’ve mentioned before - although granted it does dry clear, this will be going on the swap board next week along with the following products;

- Komaza Coconut Hair pudding - good back up gel but not my go to - prefer Califa
- Darcy’s Curl Defining Gel - Didnt like at all
- GPB Shampoo - Lavender Ylang Ylang scent - Gone off Aubreys now plus the scent is too strong for me
- GPB Conditioner - Lavender scent - See above
- Curls Clarifying Shampoo - Really like this just got too many shampoos now that I only shampoo my hair once a month max

So that I can do a one big clear out, this week I’m going to stop using my go to products and focus on having 1st/2nd tries/revists of the following products so I can decide whether I need to add these too or keep them in rotation;

- SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
- Jojoba Oil
- Bee Mine Hair Serum
- Bee Mine Hair and Scalp Moisturizer
- Giovanni’s Direct Leave in
- Kinky Curly Knot Today
- Darcy’s Daily Leave In Conditioner samples

Most of these products will be up for a swap for something in my signature or other products I’m interested in sampling and/or sale, just gotta work out fair prices/postage and packaging.

Will keep everyone on results here and will post on swap board next week.

That is an impressive haul Adjoa Your PJ must be in heaven.

Sounds like your hair likes protein. I’m sure the Giovanni smooth as silk has a hydrolysed something , but it is near the bottom. I’d defo try a cheaper co-wash though, you’ll go through the emporium stuff so quickly ! I’m liking the Tresseme naturals as a co-wash. I use the smooth one, as opposed to the moisturising one, as I figured it may not weigh me down as much. I’m sure you could find a protein one though.

Have you tried the CJ smoothing lotion on dry hair ? It makes a pretty good tamer of surface frizz on 2nd day hair. Only need a smidge…..see multi tasker, that justifies an emporium splurge in itself.

Looking forward to reading your experiments.
x

Cupcake Queen - 25 June 2012 11:55 AM

That is an impressive haul Adjoa Your PJ must be in heaven.

Sounds like your hair likes protein. I’m sure the Giovanni smooth as silk has a hydrolysed something , but it is near the bottom. I’d defo try a cheaper co-wash though, you’ll go through the emporium stuff so quickly ! I’m liking the Tresseme naturals as a co-wash. I use the smooth one, as opposed to the moisturising one, as I figured it may not weigh me down as much. I’m sure you could find a protein one though.

Have you tried the CJ smoothing lotion on dry hair ? It makes a pretty good tamer of surface frizz on 2nd day hair. Only need a smidge…..see multi tasker, that justifies an emporium splurge in itself.

Looking forward to reading your experiments.
x

hahahaha! Do you think I’m a Product Junkie, Cupcake Queen? As I mostly buy hair products once a year I thought I was fine -maybe not lol.

Yes I’ve heard lots of good things about Tresseme Naturals! I was going to pruchase two bottles when they were last on offer but then I thought I have sooo many conditioners! lol But you’re right in the long run it will be cheaper. Really used to like Garneir Fructis Repair and Shine but I struggle to find it these days hence why I’m using the Emporium conditioners for co washes but definitely willing to give Tresseme a try!

ooh havent tried the smoothing lotion on dry hair will try that next week after I finish experimenting

Ah, but one woman’s PJ is another ones conscientious shopper ! Just think how much you’ve saved on shipping if you’d bought them all individually, lol.

Why don’t you get a little trial size bottle of Tresemme from boots. That way if you’re not keen you don’t have a massive bottle to get through. I’ve heard of a few cg co washes from morrisons, ASDA etc which are cheap as chips too.

Cupcake Queen - 25 June 2012 03:44 PM

Ah, but one woman’s PJ is another ones conscientious shopper ! Just think how much you’ve saved on shipping if you’d bought them all individually, lol.

Why don’t you get a little trial size bottle of Tresemme from boots. That way if you’re not keen you don’t have a massive bottle to get through. I’ve heard of a few cg co washes from morrisons, ASDA etc which are cheap as chips too.

Great idea Cupcake Queen! Thanks

Today I wasn’t so excited about doing my hair as I knew I wouldnt be using my go to products but it turned out great! Wet my hair then added a decent amount of Giovanni Direct Leave In followed by the SheaMoisture Smoothie sealing with a little Castor Oil, worked a treat! Moisture levels seem ok so far will see what they are like tomorrow but it’s looking like Giovanni and SheaMoisture could be a cheaper back plan for ‘normal’ days leaving my go tos for when I need a great hair day.

Same combo as two days ago, my hair looks ok - definitely back up rather than go to products. Yesterday night I tried Bee Mine Hair and Scalp Moisturizer - I didn’t care for it, nothing wrong with it at all it’s an light oil mix but I’d rather just used straight coconut oil or a creme. Wasnt keen on the smell however *meh*

Gonna to try and do a pre poo and DT on Saturday me thinks.