Braid Out and Style w/ Camille Rose Naturals Moisture Milk and Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Refresher

Now that we've got the cowashing and deep conditioning out the way let's move onto the styling part, my not so favorite part. My hair is very thick and my arms weren't built for this, after completing a braid out I feel like I just did a full arm workout. I've said it before and I'l say it again I really do prefer braid outs to twist outs because of the amount of stretch that I get when doing them. Twist outs leave my hair completely shrunken for about 2 days before I actually get to see some of my length so to avoid all the hassle I just stick to braids outs. As of late of I've been running low on hair moisturizers, now that the weather is beginning to change here in NY I'm swapping out some of my heavier winter leave ins for my Spring and Summer ones so I had to make a quick run to Target and make my way to the hair aisle to pick up some new stuff.  

I picked this up for $12.00 at the Target in Atlantic Terminal. First off I love the spray nozzle on this bottle it's amazing and even after this product is long gone I'll still be using the bottle because it's perfect! Rarely do you find companies that have quality spray nozzles, they either spray too much or the product comes out in a stream or it doesn't spray enough, but Carol's Daughter get's a round of applause for this one. They also deserves a hand clap for this spray because it does exactly what it says it's going to do and it works well with other products without leaving a residue or coating on my hair once it's dry. Because the nozzle is so great a few sprays and my whole head is lightly coated. This product is supposed to deeply moisturize, improve softness and help to prevent frizz. 
This product has NO:

• Alcohol
• Parabens
• Petroleum
• Mineral Oil
• Artificial Colors

The ingredients are:

• Water, your hair's #1 moisturizer.
• Agave, hair humectant which provides moisture and gives hair a lustrous shine.
• Sweet Almond, helps to nourishes our hair and smoothes hair cuticles.
• Wheat Protein, increases your hair’s flexibility, reduces the urge for hair to split and softens your hair.

I love this stuff! Hands down this is one of my favorite moisturizers it's lightweight, it's creamy but it's insanely moisturizing. This is my second bottle and I will continue to purchase. I picked this up on sale for $13.59 earlier this week. I believe the sale ends Saturday (04/12), but check your local Target each one varies. It smells divine, it's a bit lighter than Hairveda's Vatika Frosting, but if you haven't tried that than it's comparable to cake batter or vanilla frosting. If I wasn't so scared that it would dry out I'd leave the top off all day, but I'm not going to take that chance. 

This product has NO:

• Alcohol
• Parabens
• Petroleum
• Mineral Oil
• Artificial Colors

And is:

• Cruelty free
• Vegan

The ingredients are:

• Avocado oil packs a powerful punch it's packed with healthy hair vitamins such as vitamins A, B, D, and E. It also has protein, amino acids, iron, copper, magnesium, and folic acid. 
• Rice Bran oil contains antioxidants, such as omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, that have been shown to nourish hair.
• Castor oil is one of the best remedies for promoting hair growth.
• Macadamia Seed oil is non-greasy and lightweight in turn helping absorb into the hair easier.

I used the LOC method and look at how shiny my hair is. The LOC method stands for Liquid.Oil.Cream as the order in which you moisturize the hair. I also wanted to show the patch of my hair effected by Alopecia Areata that I mentioned in my review of Giovanni Wellness Scalp Serum w/ Chinese Botanicals, you can clearly see the difference in hair lengths where the patch is and the hair next to it.

Quick update* I'm so glad that the serum is helping and my hair is growing. When I first lost the hair there I thought it would be gone forever, the spot where I lost the hair from was so slick that I figured the hair just couldn't grow back. But I'm glad I kept my faith strong because it's growing and it's rather thick. If you're suffering from this type of Alopecia keep the faith and be patient it'll grow back in time.

As the "O" in the LOC method I've been using SheaMoisture Tahitian Nono & Monoi Smooth & Repair High Shine Glosser. I used this when I had my hair in Senegalese twist to keep my hair moisturized and I love it now that my hair is out. It's very lightweight and has a light floral scent. I'm a hug fan of these 3 products together I get great results without feeling like may hair is heavy or in need of an immediate cowash. I got this from Target for $9.99.

The ingredients are:

• Hydrolyzed Keratin, Keratin protein is the strongest of proteins found in hair products. Your hair is made up of 80% keratin. This protein in particular will strengthen the 3 layers of the hair, Cuticle, Cortex and Medulla. 
• Glycerin, a great humectant aiding in moisture.
• Monoi oil, Reparative benefits revive dry, damaged hair.
• Tahitian Noni, Antioxidant Vitamin C helps maintain hair health.
• Peptides, Antioxidant protection help promote healthy hair growth.

 The following morning I had so much shine and my hair felt so moisturized that I didn't need to put any oil on my fingers before taking the braids down to avoid frizz.

I got superb definition at the initial take down so much so that I didn't bother fluffing or separating. I just rubbed my finger on my scalp to get rid of any parts that may have been showing and pinned the front back to give a pompadour type thing going.

It was quick, simple and served the purpose which was to have my hair done and be out of the house on time to take my midterm. 

Once I got home and got comfortable I got lazy and I didn't even bother re-braiding my hair at night so I just threw my bonnet on and went to sleep. I woke up in the morning with a bird's nest on my head or to put it visually....

So this was the time where I could really put the products to the test, although my hair was still super moisturized it wasn't pliable or manageable and I was running low on time. So I applied the product in the same order I misted my hair with the Hair Milk Refresher Spray, then I put a quarter sized amount of the SheaMoisture Tahitian Noni & Monoi Smooth & Repair High Shine Glosser, and lastly on top of that the Camille Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk. Instead of applying it section by section like I did for my braid out I applied it over my whole head, layer by layer. 

I went for a more tamed look.

In addition to the products listed above I used gel lightly on my edges, bobby pins and tied my scarf on my head for about 5 mins. to give me a polished look.

You can find the products at/on:

• Target
• Your local beauty supply store
• camillerosenaturals.com
• carolsdaughter.com
• sheamoisture.com

You can find me on Tumblr and Twitter at:

• @ariegogetit
• ariegogetit.tumblr.com

Pre-poo and Deep Condition w/ Carol's Daughter Sacred Tiare Restoring Hair Mask

Wassup y'all, I had my hair in Senegalese twist for about 7 weeks and I've taken them out to let my hair breath a bit before I re-install them. I do them myself so it'll take me about 8-9 hrs. I took my hair out about two weeks ago, I took it down then followed up with a braid out just so that I can go to class and function in my day to day life. But now it's time to give my hair the TLC that it loves and deserves. 

So my homie Jadorevastia, a Youtube Vlogger, recently did a review on ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Pack and I instantly felt a blast from my relaxer day past, I had to pick some up at my local beauty supply store for $1.49. I was hesitant to pick up a 8 oz. bottle though, I haven't used this since I was relaxing my hair. I had my last relaxer in August 2011. I couldn't be sure that the Replenishing Pack would work well with my natural hair like it did with my relaxed hair. Then I ran into another dilemma, I only picked up one pack and I didn't have enough of it to really coat my hair like I enjoy doing with my deep conditioners so instead I added some of my oils and used it as a pre-poo.

The ingredients for the Replenishing Pack are:

• Soybean oil, is rich in Vitamin E which is a lipid and an antioxidant. It helps keep the cell membrane intact. This ensures that the cell membrane and skin act as barrier to harmful toxins and air particals. 
• Olive oil, can improve the blood circulation in your scalp. This increased blood flow can stimulate the follicles.
• Orange oil, is a great for healing scalps with bacterial infections and fungal infections.
• Sage extract, is beneficial for controlling dandruff and treating hair loss.

My oil blend consists of:

• Coconut oil
• Peppermint oil
• Jojoba oil
• Avocado oil
• Vegetable Glycerin

Once applied my hair was instantly softened and full of shine. I didn't even make an attempt to detangle at this point I just slapped it on and let it marinate for about an hour with a plastic bag on my hair. I co-washed in the shower with Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Cleansing Cowash (I have a review here) and I detangled with Herbal Essences Hello Hydration. 

 Once thoroughly rinsed out I began deep conditioning with a fairly new product, Carol's Daughter Sacred Tiare Restoring Hair Mask I picked up an 8 oz. container for $15.00 at my local Target. For me the price was a bit steep for a deep conditioner, but I went out on a limb and picked it up. 

This product has NO:

• Parabens
• Petroleum
• Mineral oil
• Artificial colors

The ingredients are:

• Coconut oil, is able to bind to the natural protein structure of the hair. This helps the hair retain its natural moisture content and reinforces the hair fiber, making it stronger.
• Shea Butter,  deeply moisturizes while conditioning your hair and scalp.
• Panthenol, is essential for the strength, shine and health of your hair. 
• Hydrolyzed Silk, adds luster, body and manageability to your hair. 

Once I applied it I to my hair I notice that initially the conditioner just sat on hair and I was a bit apprehensive. Normally conditioners in my hair melt right in and I'm not hesitant about how the product will work with my hair, but this one was different it was unsettling it just sat there. I held out hope though and left it on overnight and the washed it out the next morning. Once I rinsed it out the following morning my hair was soooo soft and manageable, I love it! My next post will be on how I styled my hair in the following days after I washed and dc'd it. 

Check out my girl's Youtube channel, subscribe and follow her on twitter:

• https://www.youtube.com/user/nubiankween323
• @_Jadorevastia

You can pick up these products to try at:

• Target stores 
• Your local beauty supply stores

You can find me on Tumblr and Twitter at:

• @ariegogetit
• http://ariegogetit.tumblr.com/

March Product Empties

Hey peeps! I've been gone for a minute, but I'm back with the jumpoff. Between traveling, flu like symptoms and my school semester starting again I've been running around a lot lately, but I haven't deserted blogging. Now that I'm able to sit down in front of the computer let me give you the 411 on my March empties. 

This is one of my favorites and I will be buying this over and over, I'm actually a little sad that this ran out. I picked this up at my local beauty supply store for $6.99 I had this for about 3-4 months and I was so impressed that this little 4.23 fl oz bottle lasted so long. Creme Of Nature Perfect 7-N-1 Treatment is great for relaxed, texlaxed, and natural hair. According to the bottle you're supposed to spray it onto damp hair, but I've sprayed this on damp hair, dry hair, blown out hair and even as a refresher, I haven't had any issues or problems. I will say that a little goes an EXTREMELY long way and if you mistakenly put too much on your hair it'll feel weighed down and greasy. I suggest spraying some in the palm of your hand first and then applying it to your hand because the consistency is thick and creamy making it a bit difficult to spray out the nozzle. 
The Perfect 7 Leave-in has seven key features:

1. Detangles & Conditions
2. Heat Protection
3. Breakage Defense
4. Controls Frizz
5. Moisturizes Dry Hair
6. Prevent Split Ends
7. Adds Exotic Shine

I have a product review up for this already, HairVeda Review. If you've already peeped the review you'd know that I'm not really feeling this deep conditioner so I won't be repurchasing this again. To be quite honest I'm a little upset this was $17.99, but I digress. This product smells divine and I loved the consistency, but I just couldn't get with the conditioner as a whole. I didn't feel that my hair was moisturized on the contrary my hair felt a little dry. I had to follow up with a cheapy cowash to give my hair back the snap it lacked. 

Some of the ingredients are:

• Water, your hair's #1 moisturizer.
• Coconut oil, hydrates and protects while adding curl definition.
• Castor oil, is filled with essential nutrients like vitamin E, amino acids, and omega-6 fatty acids, it can help you to put a stop to split ends and breakage.
• Glycerin, a great humectant aiding in moisture.

• You can pick this up at/on:

• Ecodermis and Wolfberry (N.Y.C. curlies)
• hairveda.com

 OMG! I love this stuff and I'm so upset I didn't put up more, silly me. I picked this up at Walmart Supercenter in Fulton, NY for $3.29 when I went to visit Babe for his b-day. I heard great reviews about this, but couldn't find in anywhere in the city and my Walmart is waaay too far to visit just for some conditioner so when I went to visit him and I saw it in Walmart I was too hype. I wasn't sure if I'd like it or if it was remotely the same as the regular Aussie 3 Minute Miracle so I figured I'd try one and if I like it I'd get another, right? I didn't anticipate on LOVING it. I finished this in like two weeks and I was so upset this baby has slip for days! A major reason why I love this is because it is not like the regular 3 Minute Miracle you will feel a difference in the strength of your hair.

As opposed to the regular 3 Minute Miracle the 3 Minute Miracle Strong has a new ingredient

• Clover, (Possibly Red Clover), helps restore hair and scalp balance. As well as hydrates and stimulates the scalp for optimum hair growth.

You can pick this up at:

• Walmart stores
• Walmart.com
• Amazon.com

 I have a very thorough review/demo of this in my Wash Day W/ Tahitian Noni & Monoi Pre-poo review. I'm not sure if I'll be picking this up again at Target maybe if it goes on a BOGO sale again, but $9.99 for 4 fl oz is a stretch. I enjoyed it while it lasted, but I'm iffy about picking it up again. I only got about 3, maybe 4 uses of of this and I wasn't thrilled about it. I really wish Shea Moisture would put this into an 8 oz bottle, preferably with a pump, but I'll take what I can get. 

You can pick this up at/on:

• Target
• Target.com

I like this I really do, but I don't love it. I prefer this as a leave in as opposed to a rinse out or co-wash conditioner. I picked this up with Babe at Target for $9.99 while it was on sale. I enjoyed it so much that I picked up the Deep Treatment Masque also from the Raw Shea Butter collection to see how the two worked in conjunction with each other. Eh, I'm sorta kinda feeling it, but I have a more in dept review to be post shortly. The consistency of this is very creamy, but not too thick. This conditioner has slip and provides moisture for days a little does goes a long way. The smell is a bit too perfumed for my palette, but it's not overbearing unless you're using the whole Raw Shea Butter collection together.  I'm so happy that Shea Moisture now upped this from 12 fl oz to 13 fl oz and it has pump! Even if I didn't care for the conditioner I will happily keep the bottle to put other conditioner into once it's empty.

 Some of the ingredients include:

• Water, your hair's #1 moisturizer.
• Shea Butter, deeply moisturizes while conditioning your hair and scalp.
• Argan Oil, Restores while helping promote hair elasticity.
• Sea Kelp, Mineral rich nutrition seals and smoothes your hair cuticle.
• Panthenol, coveted for moisturizing, thickening, and boosting hair's body quotient.

You can pick this up at/on:

• Target.com
• Target Stores
• Walgreens Stores
• Your local beauty supply store

I'm now on twitter so feel free to Tweet/Follow me:

@ariegogetit

If you're on Tumblr let's be friends, Follow me:

http://ariegogetit.tumblr.com/

Freeman Pomegranate Revealing Peel-Off Facial Mask Review

I'm just going to start this off by say I'm very iffy about this face mask probably because it's a peel off mask and this is the first peel off mask I've ever purchase and tried so this is what I'm using as my first impression. And because I got it stuck on my eyebrows and ended up pulling out a few once it dried, that's my first tip for you don't get this on your eyebrows it will be a painful process. I picked this up along with the other Freeman Beauty facial mask at ULTA on sale for $1.99.

 I was curious because this face mask is infused with a Mega 8 complex, a blend of Goji, Acai, Pomegranate, Mango, Mangosteen, Cranberry, Noni and Blueberry. All of which are high in antioxidants to help neutralize skin damage. With all these great ingredients jam packed into one face mask I figured it would do nothing, but great things for my face...eh, sorta, kinda, something like that.
This product is:

• Not tested on animals

• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, one of the most effective pore minimizers.
• Mango Fruit Extract, rich in antioxidants which restrict the oxidation of cells in the body. 
• Blueberry Fruit Extract, helps protect your skin from premature aging.
• Cranberry Fruit Extract, helps ward off wrinkles, reduce redness and prevent any signs of skin damage.

Another con for me is the consistency of this product it's sooo thick, gooey and a bit messy as soon as you turn this upside down it easily leaks out. You really don't need alot of this to coat you face because it's like a liquid it smears quite easily and because if you use to much you're guaranteed to have a dry face. 

Will I purchase this again? Probably not. Even if it's on sale? Eh maybe if it's the last mask on the shelf. I'm torn because it works and says what it's supposed to do, but something about this just rubs me the wrong way. I'll probably give it to my best friend to get her input on it just to see how she her skin react to it. 

You can find this face masks at:

• ULTA stores
• ULTA.com
• freemanbeauty.com
• drugstore.com
• amazon.com
• walgreens.com
• walmart.com

Check out they're website, Facebook, and follow them on Twitter

http://www.freemanbeauty.com/
FB: Freeman Beauty

Tweet: @Freemanbeauty

Freeman Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Facial Mask Review

If you can't already tell by the condition of the bottle this is by far my favorite face mask by Freeman Beauty, I love it so much that I occasionally use this as a facial wash. It cleans my face, clears my pores and smells wonderful. I picked this up on sale at ULTA for $1.99 and I'm going to continue to repurchase this over and over because it actually works for me. What attracted me to this mask in particular were the dead sea minerals in it. 

The Dead Sea is the biggest natural spa on earth, the water contains about 35 percent of minerals per liter. The heavy mineral concentration of over 21 different minerals is believed to help with skin problems, like eczema and psoriasis, plus aching joints and even fluid retention. The sea contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, bromide, potassium, lithium, strontium, zinc, boron, and sodium to name a few. 

• Lithium, increases the effectiveness of bath salt treatment for psoriasis.
• Boron, helps to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
• Magnesium, increases skin micro-circulation and improves the condition of connective tissues.
• Zinc, anti-inflammatory properties and is a natural UV rays blocker.
• Sodium, helps improves the skin cells metabolism.

This product is:

• Not tested on animals

I really dislike the fact that all of they're packaging makes the ingredients so hard to read and that they're so small you have to squint to read them, that's very bothersome. 

• Lavender oil, is an adaptogen*, and can assist the body when adapting to stress or imbalances. An adaptogen is a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes.
• Bergamot Fruit oil,  helpful against depression, anxiety, and nervousness. 

Much like the Strawberry and Chocolate mask also by Freeman Beauty this dries extremely fast on your face so you have to apply a few layers for your skin to be covered, once it's on it's on! I also follow this up with my Dr. Bronner's 18 in 1 Hemp Almond Pure Castille Soap when I'm not using this as a cleanser on it's own. According to the bottle it's recommended that you use this twice a week and I honestly feel like that they completely got it right using it more than that an you'll end up with dry flaky skin which is not a good look. 

You can find this face masks at:

• ULTA stores
• ULTA.com
• freemanbeauty.com
• drugstore.com
• amazon.com
• walgreens.com
• walmart.com

Check out they're website, Facebook, and follow them on Twitter

http://www.freemanbeauty.com/
FB: Freeman Beauty

Tweet: @Freemanbeauty

Freeman Chocolate & Strawberry Clay Facial Mask Review

Now that winter is in full swing it's time to break out those face masks and body scrubs to get that skin ready for the warmer months. Here in NYC we have a predicted 3 or 4 snowstorms coming our way although I'm not looking forward to that I am looking forward to breaking out all my face mask to use alternatively. 

I picked this up at ULTA a while ago while it was on sale for $1.99 so I picked this up along with 4 others, I couldn't help myself. I love trying new face masks to help reduce my pore size, the oiliness and the dryness that I occasionally feel in the colder months. This smell like a chocolate souffle, if chocolate isn't your thing you might want to bypass this one because even when this firms up on your face it smell like chocolate. When you wash it off your face, it's going to smell like chocolate so approach with caution with if you purchase this. 

This product is:

• Not tested on animals

The ingredients are difficult to read due to the color of the packaging, but they are as follows:

• Bentonite Clay, has a strong negative electromagnetic charge, and when activated in water, it acts like a magnet in and on our bodies, pulling impurities and toxins out of the skin.
• Kaolin Clay, efficient in improving circulation of blood to your skin.
• Cacao Extract, helps relieves the stress hormones in turn soothes the collagen in the skin preventing wrinkles and premature aging of the skin.
• Shea Butter, full of nutrients, including vitamin A, which has many healing properties and has been known to aid in treating blemishes, wrinkles, eczema and dermatitis, as well as burns and even stretch marks.

This is one of my favorite masks by Freeman Beauty because it does what it says it says it's going to do, it cleans my pores and leaves my skin feeling amazingly soft without leaving it feeling stripped. The only con with this for me is that it dries so fast that you have to apply a few layers before your face is completely covered with product, a few of they're face masks react the same way with my skin. I follow up with washing my face with Dr. Bronner's 18 in 1 Hemp Almond Pure Castille Soap. 

You can find this face masks at:

• ULTA stores
• ULTA.com
• freemanbeauty.com
• drugstore.com
• amazon.com
• walgreens.com
• walmart.com

Check out they're website, Facebook, and follow them on Twitter

http://www.freemanbeauty.com/
FB: Freeman Beauty

Tweet: @Freemanbeauty

Wash Day: Deep Condition and Black Tea Rinse

We left off with freshly pre-pooed hair, we can now move on to the deep condition and hair rinse faze. I've been playing mixtress for a while trying to get the perfect balance of bentonite clay to water ratio. The first day I mixed  it, it was super lumpy and it just wouldn't spread on my hair, but I added some of my oil blend and I let it sit for a few days sealed in an air tight tupperware bowl.

After sitting and marinating for a few days the mix was smooth, creamy and free of lumps. After successfully mixing my bentonite clay I got the courage to whip up and try my own deep conditioner and I must say it's my favorite not because it's my own mix , but because of the results I received using it.

(Crazy looking I know, but it works)
I mixed together:

• 3 spoonfuls of bentonite clay
• A hefty squirt of Aussie Moist
• A hefty squirt of Herbal Essences "The Sleeker The Butter" 
• 2 hefty spoonfuls of my shea butter mix

When I first mixed it I wasn't sure if it would cling to my hair or if I'd have the slip that I want. I was just mixing and matching until I found a consistency that I liked. 

What I noticed was that it didn't fully hard on my hair like bentonite clay would do on it's own. Adding extra conditioner to the mix gave me extra slip and moisture. When I got in the shower and followed with my black tea rinse my shed hair slipped right out. The deep conditioner smoothed on with ease and I may have been able to detangle with it, but I wasn't taking any chances especially since it was my first time using the mixture. I followed this up with a black tea rinse. 

I let my tea bags steep in room temperature water for about 6 hours and I had enough to refill my  bottle twice. I used an empty Alikay Naturals Essential 17 Hair Growth Oil bottle which is an 8 oz. Most tea rinses are done with green or black tea to reduce your shedding, to stimulate your hair growth, promote shine and enhance your natural highlights. The number of tea bags you use should vary depending on the length of hair you have. I used two tea bags, one I had lying in my cabinet and the other I received in the mail as a sample. 

• Chamomile, has been found to be highly effective in preventing and eliminating dandruff. In addition to soothing an irritated scalp
• Hibiscus,  is rich in alpha hydroxy acids and amino acids and it contains several vitamins including Vitamin C and several minerals.
• Peppermint leaves, are great for soothing the scalp and promoting hair growth as well.
• Spearmint leaves, can be used in a hair rinse to help get rid of dandruff.

• Gotu Kola Nut, improves the flow of blood while strengthening the veins and capillaries.
• Cinnamon Bark, helps with removing impurities from the hair and scalp and also promotes hair growth further.
• Cardamom Seed, helps in strengthening the roots.
• Ginger Root, is an effective remedy for hair loss.

I used the tea rinse after I co-washed my hair  twice with Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Cleansing Cowash. I aimed to get this mainly on my scalp and let it sit on my scalp for a few mintues, I followed up with my V05 conditioner to detangle and remove shed hair. I noticed that the tea rinse helped the shed hair slip out much easier. I'm not sure if that's what the tea rinse intended to do, but I will definitely be incorporating this into my routine regularly. Once I finished all that I oil rinsed and was all done. 

(I completely shaved my head 1 year and 2 mos. ago)

That deep condtion/rinse it the BITNESS! My hair was soft, defined and moisturized. I won't be using it every week because I don't want the bentonite clay to dry out my hair, but I will be using it at least every other week as a "pick me up" for my coils. Try it out and let me know how it works for you.