4 Months Later… + Qhemet Biologics Product Love!

Style: I braided after washing, then let it out.

This is me now! It’s been a while, huh?

I’m not good at blogging, especially when I have to take pictures …AND… when I have work and kids and school …AND… offline life stuff. But Conscious Beauty reminded me that I need to get back to it, so here I am.

During my unofficial leave, I was using Qhemet Biologics’ Burdock Root Butter Cream and my hair has never ever been healthier or better. WOW. No split ends. No breakage.

Washing My Hair: What’s Changed

What I’ve also found helpful is that I wash my hair without shampoo. The few times that I’ve washed it with shampoo, it didn’t turn out so great. Okay, it was horrible. Even with SLS-free shampoo. Yes, it took out the dirt, but it also took out all of the natural oils on my hair and made my cuticles stand up. It was hard to get my hair to feel good again and I ended up using waaaaaay too much of the butter cream to try to moisturize it again. So what I now do is wash with just straight aloe vera gel.

At first I tried doing the conditioner wash as some others have done, but it left my hair half clean. So I tried the aloe vera gel, put it on my roots, made sure to rub it in nice and good, then washed each section out well. My scalp was soooooo clean! I remember being at the salon and they would use shampoo two or three times trying to get it that clean (maybe because they kept focusing on getting it sudsy instead of cleaning my scalp). So it seems as if I’ve found something that works for my hair.

Qhemet Biologics

I’m such a fan-girl now. They’re having a sale today and I bought their Amla & Olive Heavy Cream instead of the Burdock Root Butter Cream because my hair is way too thick and tightly coiled. It was drinking the product (plus my shampoo made my hair suck it up even faster) so I’m going to try the heavier cream instead. I also ordered the Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade for my ends and in-between days. The Burdock Root works well though and I’m gonna miss it.

I’m excited and it shouldn’t be long before I get it in the mail. Big thanks to Conscious Beauty for sending it to me across the border (saves me $15 on shipping!!!). YAY!

Update: I still think Live Clean is the best shampoo I’ve tried to date, so I’m not knocking shampoos. I’ll use it if I go swimming and need to get the chlorine out. But through trial and error, I’ve found what works for my hair and I’ll stick to aloe vera gel for now.

Product Review: Qhemet Biologics’ Burdock Root Butter Cream

My friend at Conscious Beauty brought me some of this Burdock Root Butter Cream to try and at first I wasn’t sure if I needed it. So I tried it on my kids (why not experiment on them, right?). I can see now why the product is sold out!! I took a little dollop of the cream and wet the hair a little, then spread it all around. The baby, who’s hair on the top of his head usually can’t hold a curl, actually looked really nice and curly. And it wasn’t greasy or sticky. The cream is very light and doesn’t flake (which really really irritates me when creams do that).

So then I tried it on myself, but while my hair was dry. And surprisingly, even then, it still did a decent job of moisturizing and taking a little bit of the frizz out. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a frizz hater. Frizz can be really good depending on the kind of style you’re wearing (especially if you want it big) but at the time I had most of my hair curly, and the top part was starting to lose its curl. It did make the top part seem like it was a part of the style and not some separate thing all together, which is what I was trying to achieve.

My next goal is to try using it just after washing instead of the coconut oil I sometimes use now. I love love love coconut oil but it can be a little too greasy for me (and my pillows).

[Image: Newly Natural]

Product Review: Qhemet Biologics

Originally posted at Conscious Beauty by Kaye

Check out the video from EmpressRi for her review on Qhemet Biologics.  It was her review that got me motivated enough to go buy this stuff. Back in February, I did a post about my journey to obtain a few Qhemet Biologics products.  We are now at the end of April, meaning that I’ve been using QB for two months now.  I feel comfortable with writing a review that I won’t later regret or have second thoughts on.  As mentioned in the previous post, Qhemet Biologics can be difficult to get your hands on, depending on whether the website has it or not.  I bought four items and have used them ever since, so I feel comfortable sharing my experience with what I’ve been putting in my hair.  Here’s the review:

Egyptian Wheatgrass Cleansing Tea- The lavender scent is the first thing you notice when you open the bottle.  It is a SLS-free, clarifying, gentle shampoo.  I like it, I do, but for $13 per bottle, I’m not completely sold.  I can see myself trying something else after I finish it.

Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee-I can not see myself without this product.  It works wonderfully at detangling, and it smells like chocolate.  It makes dry combing a breeze, especially if you use a Denman brush.  My hair feels baby soft after adding this product to it. I think it would be great for anyone who doesn’t want to wet their hair just to comb it without pain.  It has definitely helped with combing out my daughter’s tangles.

Olive & Honey Hydrating Balm- It really does feel just like honey.  I am somewhat divided on this product.  It does exactly what it claims:  it moisturizes.  My hair is so shiny and moisturized that it looks like it’s still wet even when it isn’t.  And it does all this without letting my hair look limp.  My small issue with the product is that it really does look, feel and smell like some olive oil and honey whipped together.  It has the consistency of honey, with the hue of olive oil.  I can’t help but look at it and think, “I can make this.”  A jar of it will last forever, but when it runs out, I plan to whip up my own batch.  It is best to use O&HHB when your hair is still wet or damp after washing.  You don’t want to put this stuff in everyday between washes else it will get tacky/gummy.

Amla & Olive Heavy Cream-This product is QB’s best seller.  I bought the Heavy Cream because I didn’t want to keep conditioner in my hair in order to keep my curls weighed down.  I needed something that was as thick as conditioner, but preferably without all the chemicals.  My co-worker, who turned me on to Qhemet, warned me that the Amla & Olive Heavy Cream is very, very thick.  It is.  It is thicker than the richest conditioner you can call to mind.  Not every one can handle the richness of the heavy cream, which is why the company introduced the Burdock Root Butter Cream.  I don’t own that one, but have heard good things about it.

I use the products individually, depending on my hair need of the day.  When I am wearing my hair curly, I use them together.  I take out a portion of the Ghee, Hydrating Balm and Heavy Cream and mix it thoroughly.  Then I take my little mixture into the shower with me and use it in the place of a conditioner.  I leave it in (this stuff is expensive, do not wash it out!) and wrap my hair in my curl-ease towel.  By the time I unwrap, I have perfect curls that stay defined and silky.  Hooray!

http://www.qhemetbiologics.com/

Updates On The Hair Care Products I Use

In viewing my stats, most people come here for my review of Curly Pudding or for my use of olive oil in my hair.

I just wanted to update you on a few things. Since I’ve started this blog, I’ve tried a few products, including natural ones, and some of them I still use, some of them I don’t. Here’s what has changed since I’ve started this blog:

• Olive Oil: I found it to be heavy on my hair after a while. I think this was because whatever repair my hair needed, it happened and the olive oil was no longer needed. I now use it as a treatment only, which may be once a year.
• Vinegar: I no longer use it as I found that it was mainly good for getting rid of dandruff and once it did that, I really didn’t need to use it anymore.
• Shampoo (sulfate free): I didn’t use it before but now I do. I shampoo only once, making sure to get my scalp primarily.  It strips my hair of valuable oil so I don’t overdo it. I use Live Clean shampoo.
• Conditioner: I didn’t use it before but now I do. I use Blended Beauty’s Quenching Conditioner.
• Aloe Vera Gel: I didn’t use it before but now I do. I use it to detangle my hair and put the balance back in my pH levels. It’s really great for my hair and makes it so easy to style. Since I’ve been using it, I haven’t had any split ends. NONE. Any regular AV gel will do, online or at the natural food store.
• Hair oil: I don’t use any hair oil anymore. There’s no need. I find all the moisture I need from not using heat, keeping my scalp and hair pH balanced, which would be slightly acidic between 4.5 and 5.5 on the pH scale, and using silk/satin pillows or scarf. Plus oils only coat the hair, they don’t really moisturize.
• Combs: I no longer use. I use a Denman brush instead. If I want to part a straight line, I still have to use a comb, but only after it’s been fully detangled with the brush.
• Curly Pudding: Won’t touch it. Ever. Again. My review was much nicer, but seriously, the ingredients in that product make me run for the hills. So no, after using it that one time and having to spend months to repair my hair (hence use of olive oil), it is NOT for me.
• Blended Beauty’s Butter Creme: Nope. Don’t use that either. It wasn’t as damaging as the ‘Pudding’ but still, I don’t do styles that would support that type of product.
• SOMA Solace Anti-frizz serum: I still use it occasionally when I want to reshape my curls.

So there you have it, some much needed updates to my hair care routine. I’ve had this blog up for a little over 6 months and have had over 10,000 views. To me, that says a lot.

So thanks to all of those who comment and participate here and around the natural hair care community. I have found so much support and tons of resources that would have been too hard to find offline.

Aloe Vera

So I tried to do the twists and foam rods again, but instead I ended up buying medium sized perm rods. I took the advice over at Curly Chronicles and Mixed Girl Curls to keep the stress on my hair to a minimum.

Here’s what I did:

• I washed my hair using pH 4-5.5 shampoo without Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulfate (basically a mild shampoo without harsh soapy chemicals)
• I only put the shampoo on my scalp and shampooed only once
• I put in lots of Aloe Vera gel and allowed it to soak a little
• I took a brush and combed though sections of my hair starting from the ends and worked my way up
• I squeezed the excess aloe vera out then twisted each section to keep it detangled until I got out the shower (don’t rinse the aloe out)

To finish the style, I took each section out that I made in the shower and redid them into the size I wanted, then rolled each twist up with a perm rod. In the morning, I took the twists out.

The aloe vera gel is the best detangler I’ve EVER experienced. I barely had any hair come out on my brush. It was wonderful to have my hair stay on my head. There was no residue left back when it dried, no flaking or beading. The gel just left my hair curly and hydrated.

My suggestion, go read Mixed Girl Curls’ “Curly Primer Section” where she talks about her technique. Then take what you’ve learned and modify it to suit our own hair type and style desired.

I’m still open to suggestions about products that need to be reviewed. I’m willing to do the experimenting, so let me know!

Product Review: Any Suggestions?

I’ve been experiencing a little beading with my Soma product lately.  It usually happens when I mix it with olive oil. It works great with heat, but seeing as I’m not using any heat, it may be best for me to try something else. So I’ve decided to go on the hunt again for new hair products.

Currently I don’t use a shampoo, but I am looking for one. Organic, GMO-free, SLS-free, and gentle on the scalp are ideal. I found some good tips at Mixed Girl Curls that I would like to try. So, if anyone has any suggestions about products to use, or products they would like to try but don’t want to buy yet, please list them here and I will have a go at it. It can be anything.

Let me know!

Invest in a Good Comb

For those of us with curly hair, we often find that the regular drug store products are just not made for our hair. Sad, but true. With so many varieties of hair, it’s a surprise that we are often forced to use tools that are suited for one type.

Anyhoodles, I went shopping for a comb and found a good one on Honey Fig. $16 seems a little pricey for a wide-tooth comb, but it’s worth it. It’s strong and has a uniformed body, which means no snagging or tearing your hair. If you wear your hair out, would like to have some curl definition, and keep your hair from breaking, I suggest you comb it while in the shower and have loads of conditioner or moisturizer in it. That ensures that your hair is not fighting to get around the teeth of the comb.

If you plan on twisting or braiding it, you can still use this comb to achieve your style – just start from the ends and work your way up the section. We’ve been taught to use a fine-tooth comb to achieve our braided and twisted styles, but my experience has been that using a slightly wider tooth comb will still detangle but leave your hair on your head.

Check it out.

Thinking a Little Differently About Hair Care

I have noticed that going natural this time around has required that I think differently about caring for my hair.   What has improved is my understanding of the ingredients used in shampoos and conditioners and what works with the body’s pH.  Trying to improve my overall health has led me to understand more about what is healthy for my hair.

What I Recommend

Look at the ingredients ALL the time.  Even if you don’t go the all-natural vinegar/olive oil route that I’ve gone, it is good to try replicating the effects.  Alcohol, sulphates and phosphates in traditional beauty products are not at all good for your hair and scalp.  You should avoid them at all costs.  Manufacturers add the ingredients to create that lather you see in shampoos, or to increase the speed at which gels and creams dry.  You end up paying for it with your hair’s health.

Marketing is used to convince consumers that their products are the best for each type of hair.  That’s just not the case.  No matter who’s face is on the bottle, look at the ingredients inside the bottle.  If they don’t provide you with that information, don’t buy it.  The good news is that more consumers are asking for products that do not have these ingredients and it is becoming easier to find them at the local pharmacy, so things are changing for the better.

What About Oiling the Scalp?

You should also avoid putting any type of oil or grease on your scalp, as it clogs the follicles and blocks the natural oils from reaching the shaft.  For some, the excess grease mixes with trapped skin cells and ‘flakes’.  If your hair is too dry, try washing it less often and find waterless cleaning products. Twist at night or buy a silk/satin pillowcase to keep the oils in your hair and not on your pillow.

Also remember that the type of hair curls you have determines how dry your hair is.  It being more dry that other types of hair does not necessarily make it a bad thing.  Love your hair for what it is.  What you need to watch out for is split ends and breakage.  Dryness alone shouldn’t raise concerns.

As Promised! Pics!

With that being said, here’s a side profile picture of my hair when I let it out of the twists.  The products I used for that was the vinegar/olive oil to start and I finished with the Blended Beauty’s Natural Hair Oil.

This is what it looks like from the front.

Okay, I’m done with the pictures. It’s not working well with my shyness…:-)

Product Review: Blended Beauty’s Styling Butter Creme

My last experience with a curl butter had left me a little apprehensive about using another product like it.  But, for the sake of beauty, I decided to try Blended Beauty’s Styling Butter Creme, also known as the Curl Styling Butter.

After washing my hair using my new hair regiment of vinegar and olive oil, I put a generous amount of the butter in my hair.   I was delighted that it allowed me to comb through my hair much more easily, but was surprised to realize that as it started to dry, it began to feel like it had some gel-like ingredient.  I watched to see if it would start to clump and bead but to my surprise, it seemed to be more of a moist hold than a stiff flaky hold.  I can actually touch my hair and not have it crunch.

So overall, I liked this product because:

• It had a soft hold
• It did not flake or bead
• air-dried fairly quickly
• allowed me to touch and move my hair without losing its hold
• gave me relatively good curl definition for such a light-hold product
• did not parch my scalp

- The Style I Used With This Product -

The style that I used for this product was the finger twirl.  I took small sections of my hair, put a little bit of extra butter to the areas that need it, and twirled the hair around my finger to get it to coil a little.  I did the entire head like that then let it dry.  Afterward, I took each coil and separated them.

I will be posting pictures of the finger twirl soon.

Product Review: Blended Beauty – Natural Hair Oil

I’ve ordered three products from Blended Beauty via Honey Fig and the Natural Hair Oil is what I’ve decided to try first. I was looking to have a moisturizing product lighter than olive oil for in-between days when my hair needs just a little bit of an emollient on the ends.

The product website described it as a light-weight product that doesn’t clog follicles. They say it can also be used as a hot-oil treatment.

This product is wonderful. Here are some of the reasons:

1. Fast absorbing – this oil is like no other I’ve tried. It was quickly absorbed by my hair. I had it on my hands and it disappeared within a few minutes – like body lotion. Wow.
2. Smells great – and I don’t mean the artificial smell produced in labs, but the natural smell of the oils it is comprised of.
3. The application bottle – although it is in a squirt bottle, I didn’t want to squirt it in my hair and drench it with oil. But the bottle type did made it easy to squirt a little bit of oil in my hand quickly and touch up some areas that needed it.

This is something I will be ordering again. I’ve noticed that since I’ve been using it, my hands have never looked better. I think it may have more uses than just hair oil.

My next product reviews from Blended Beauty will be their Styling Butter Creme and their Quenching Conditioner.