Night Time Protection

Just a Tip: Protecting your hair at night is very important when growing your hair long. Use a silk scarf or silk bonnet to protect your strands every single night. Pillow cases, and the head movement can cause hair to tangle, loose moisture and the friction can cause the hair to break. If you should use a scarf be sure it's not tied too tightly or it can cause tension and breakage at the nape or front hair line. Stay away from cotton scarves and bonnets as they will leach moisture and oil from the hair. Hope this helps you along the way ; ) Happy Growing!

Product Review: Carol's Daughter Monoi Line

I wanted to take this opportunity to do a product review on the Carol's Daughter Monoi Line. I ordered all three newly introduced products : The Monoi shampoo, conditioner and repairing hair mask. I used it consistently for three months as my only poo, condish and DC to really see if it would live up to its promise. Well the verdict is in!

WHAT THEY SAY
What it does:
This moisture and protein-rich formula deeply reconstructs distressed hair helping to fortify it against damage with hydrolyzed silk and hibiscus extract. Antioxidants and UV protectors help combat the drying and damaging effects of UV rays as it softens and smoothes hair, leaving it deliciously fragrant, detangled, and more manageable.

What else you need to know:
For thousands of years, Polynesians have used Monoi Oil for its natural reparative properties. To make Monoi, freshly picked Tiare flower blossoms are steeped in coconut oil to produce fragrant oil that helps repair hair, improving its condition, softness, and shine. The Monoi Collection was created especially for those concerned with hair breakage. This product does not contain petrolatum, mineral oil, or artificial colors.

Research results:
Based on independent studies conducted on natural and relaxed hair textures of Latina, African-American, and Caucasian participants:
- 84% experienced an improvement in conditioning, detangling, and combing ability
- 92% experienced a reduction in hair breakage and shedding during detangling and styling
- 12% experienced an increase in hair strength
- Participants experienced five times the increase in the life of relaxed hair

See my Carol's Daughter Mionoi Challenge post for a full list of product ingredients

WHAT I SAY

The entire line is AWESOME! The shampoo left my hair feeling clean but not stripped of any oils, and it lathers wonderfully. It made my hair feel softer than my usual CD Tui Shampoo, so I think I will swap these out all together. I used the conditioner for three different uses: co-wash, leave in and as a rinse out conditioner after my poo. I love how soft and buttery my hair feels after use! I made my hair very easy to detangle because it provides some serious slip. I even found it so easy to detangle three months post, and i saw very little hair in my comb after detangling. The repairing mask was my favorite, as it made my hair fell so strong, I actually passed on my normal protein treatments and just used a protein leave in spray every two weeks. My hair felt so well and conditioned overall, and I am highly pleased with the product line. I personally noticed fewer break and splits on the ends when I did my dusting, which makes me think this line actually does improve the strength and moisture content of the hair as claimed. I think this line would be great for those who are protein sensitive or scared to incorporate protein into their hair care regimen. The use of the bamboo water to strengthen hair structure is gentler on hair and has great results. The price tag on this line is one of the only cons. The deep repairing mask retails at about $29.00 for a 7oz. jar. And with deep conditioning twice a week on longer hair, you may fly through this stuff pretty quickly. The good new is, with purchasing a CD memeber's card, you can save big time on these products. I actually bought my membership at a sale price of $15.00. I was able to save about $13.00 off retail with purchasing all three Monoi products, so my membership just about paid for itself in use!!! 

Bottom Line: If you are looking for a line that takes the guest work out of what to use for proper moisture/ protein balance, or a quality list of ingredients that will help rather than harm you hair, tis line is it! It is truly suitable for all hair types and textures.  

Visit the CD website for more info and to purchase products at a discount with membership card

http://www.carolsdaughter.com/

New Carol's Daughter Monoi Challenge!

I don't know about you all, but I am over excited about the new CD line "Monoi", which features three new products that promise longer, stronger hair. Now I don't get to heavy into the promises product make but I do get amped when it comes to a great product ingredient list and the offering of something different. What is Monoi oil you ask? Well it is actually an oil that Tahitian's have used for many centuries to moisturize and maintain the beauty and health of their hair and skin. Monoi oil is a natural beauty product based on two unique ingredients, Tiare Tahiti (Gardenia Tahitensis) and refined Polynesian Coconut oil (Cocos Nucifera). Monoi is stabilized with Vitamin E.

You guys know I LOVE coconut oil and can't live without it. The results and benefits my hair has garnered with its use are pretty evident if you read my blog on a regular basis. I was wondering WHEN Lisa Price would finally include a line that would feature Coconut oil as its main ingredient....and now she goes and gives us something that I think will be GREAT. This line not only includes Monoi oil but also bamboo water which is the strongest plant on our planet. This will help to reinforce the hair's structure and give it longer life. Not to mention it features the use of shea butter, silk protiens and pro vitamin B-5. I love what this line will bring to Carol's daughter brand. I have decided to start my first challenge. So to help get me to BSL by my June 30th B-day, I will use the CD Monoi Repairing mask as my weekly deep treatment, the Monoi shampoo & conditioner as my hair care staples for the next 2 months. Hopefully CD delivers on the promise of stronger longer hair! I will keep you all updated and deliver full reviews once I have finished using a full container of the products.

Ingredients List


Monoi Repairing Shampoo: Water (Aqua), Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Coconut Oil Glycereth-8 Esters, Shea Butter Glycereth-8 Esters, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Helianthus Annuus(Sunflower) Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Hydrolyzed Silk, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Quaternium-91, PPG-3 Benzyl Ether Myristate, Disodium EDTA, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance (Parfum)

Monoi Repairing Hair Mask: Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Cetyl Esters, Dimethicone, Fragrance (Parfum), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oiol, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccaride, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extrac, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethiconol, Octyldodecanol, Ceteareth-20, Quarternium-91, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone

Monoi Repairing Conditioner:Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glycerin, Isododecane, Fragrance (Parfum), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Isohexadecane, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hydrolyzed Hibiscus Esculentus Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5), Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Cinnamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Octyldodecanol, Ceteareth-20, Quaternium-91, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sorbic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone

What is Cupuacu Butter?

Cupuacu Butter (pronounced Coo-poo-wa-soo) - Comes from a fruit tree of the chocolate family, native to the northern Amazon. Cupuacu improves the appearance prematurely aging and thinning skin while being a superior moisturizer with great water absorption. It offers high levels of essential fatty acids, which with its rich phytosterols, help the appearance of your skin’s elasticity and overall appearance of your skin. Cupuacu's incredible creaminess promotes a special softness and smoothness to your skin to boosts natural moisture and help your skin appear more elastic.

Cupuacu promotes smoothness and softness to the hair increasing the natural moisture and elasticity. The butter has proven to be beneficial for brittle, dry hair due to it's long lasting hydration properties to replenish moisture while promoting a healthy shine. Cupuacu is considered hydrophpllic (water loving) with a high capacity to retain water and prevent moisture loss.

Alba Botanica: Rainforest Cupuacu Conditioner

I normally love my Suave Almond and Shea conditioner to co-wash, but today I tried something different. Alba has a new series of hair products which feature rainforest ingredients. I LOVE products that have Cupuacu butter in them, so I could not resist picking up the Alba Deep Hydrating Conditioner with Cupuacu.  This ingredient list is so amazing, I will also use as a deep conditioner alternate. After I co-washed my hair was soft and detangling was a cinch! I followed up with Carol's Daughter Lisa's Hair Elixer and then aired dried. Hair and scalp is smiling right now : ) I really liked this Alba conditioner because I can use in all three phases of care...co-wash, DC or even a leave in. The price is right..$9.99 at my local Ulta store. I think I will post a read on the amazing conditioning properties of Cupuacu Butter as I know many of you are like what is that lol. Read on to learn more about this product, it may be a great addition to your product list.

Alba Botanica Rainforest Deep Hydration Conditioner Cupuacu 8 oz. (227 g)

Alba Botanica Rainforest Deep Hydration Conditioner Cupuacu nourishes dry or damaged hair. Creamy Cupuaçu butter, one of the Rainforest's most effective moisturizers, is a rich emollient that delivers deep hydration and helps restore softness and moisture balance and is combined with Jojoba Oil and Cocoa Butter to leave hair smooth and soft. Deep Hydration Cupuacu Conditioner gently moisturizes and restores dry or damaged hair and is perfect for dry, damaged or treated hair.

Hair CareNatural Renewal, Natural Protection Created to help renew, repair and revitalize hair with moisturizing, emollient-rich oils derived from some of the world's most beneficial fruits and nuts.

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuaçu) Seed Butter, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Hydrolyzed Brazil Nut Protein, Bertholletia Excelsa (Brazil Nut) Seed Oil, Panthenol (Vit. B5), Amodimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance (Parfum).

Regimen Updated

Below is my updated Regimen with a list of products I alternate for each step. Really as long as you are putting moisture into the hair daily, sealing with an oil to lock that moisture in, and keeping your scalp clean, you can use what ever products work best for their hair (But please avoid mineral oils,  and petroleum based products as they can suffocate the hair and scalp, lock out moisture and inhibit hair growth). You can use an wide range of products to alternate, or you can choose a minimal amount of products. They key is doing what works best for your hair. If you don't have time to cleanse often, you may not want to apply too many oils and other products as often to avoid build up.  On the other hand if you clean your hair two or three times a weeks because you have a naturally oily scalp, then extra conditioning and keeping oils on those ends is key to avoiding breakage. I have also posted more before and after shots of my 6 month hair journey update. Stay consistant in your regimen and you WILL see results! Happy growing :)

- Wash with a natural Shampoo one a week (Sunday): Bee Mine Ayurvedic Bar or Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus. 

- Co Wash Once a week (Wed) with a moisturizing conditioner: Suave Professionals Shea & Almond Conditioner, Herbal Essences Hello Hydration, or Bee Mine Bee Lovely Moisturizing Conditioner  

-Deep Condition 2x a week (Wed & Sun after my co wash or shampoo): Spiral Solutions Deeply Decadent Conditioning treatment, Shea Moisture's Deep Conditioning mask, Darcy's Botanicals Deep Conditioning Mask

- Light/ Medium Protein Treatments done as needed, or once a month minimum: Aphogee 2 minute reconstructor ( NOT the 2 step hard protein treatment), Coppola's Keratin Deep Conditioning treatment, or Spiral Solutions Repairing Protein treatment. 

- Leave Ins: Jane Carter Solution Revitalizing Leave In conditioner ( Spritz 2x a day to keep moisture on my strands.

- I use a light protein leave in spray (Spiral Solutions Strength & shine or Aphogee Green Tea & Keratin Leave In...applied after my shampoos once a week

- Seal hair nightly with natural oils to lock in moisture from conditioners: Carol's Daughter Hair Balm (my new Fav), Extra Virgin Coconut oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Carol's Daughter's Lisa's Hair Elixer or Jamaician Black Castor Oil.

- Clarify once a month to remove build up: Bee Mine Purity Bar, Giovanni 50:50 Hydrating Clarifying Shampoo.

- I air dry 99% of the time and wear my hair in a bun or a phony pony.  I will be on a no heat diet and wear protective styles until i have reached Bra strap length. 

- Trim/ Dust about 1/4 inch after every relaxer.  I don't require a lot of trimming because I have worn a protective bun or phony pony for everyday of my journey.  I have used heat only once the past 6 months and this has allowed me to retain so much length and have very little breakage.

More Update Pics 6 months of Progress

June 2010

December 2010  (sorry, I did not comb out hair before this shot)

June 2010

December 2010

Coconut Oil and Your Hair

Coconut oil is one of my favorite oils for hair. I seal with it, deep condition with it, and use it as a pre- poo.  Coconut oil has served the human head's crowning glory for millennia. Its unique chemical structure enables it to harmlessly clean, beautify, nourish and protect your hair.  I actually strayed away from it for a while and actually noticed a change in the way my hair held protein...so I will stray no more. It's very light weight and smells great! Read on to find out why coconut oil may be one of your best friends when on your healthy hair journey.

Hair Facts

Your head has about 100,000 hair follicles. Each follicle can grow about 20 individual hairs in your lifetime. Truly healthy hair begins in the hair follicle. Blood carries nutrients through arteries connected to your hair follicles.  Coconut oil and hair growth goes hand-in-hand and is naturally safe. It replaces the natural oils your hair looses on a regular basis.

Hair Protein Loss

Unlike ordinary shampoo formulations, coconut oil helps minimize protein loss during washing to keep each hair strand strong. Coconut oil keeps protein loss at a minimum because of its close association with hair proteins. It’s mostly medium chain triglycerides (MCT) which can pass freely through the cell membrane. The low molecular weight of MCTs enables efficient penetration inside the hair shaft.

My Staples

Starting a healthy hair journey can also start serious PJism (product junkie) problem...I admit I am one.  But I get it...it's really about learning what works for your hair, what does not and building the best regimen for you. So while I am trying to narrow down what products I purchase, I just can't help testing out new products when I run out of the old ones : ) However I must say there are just some products I continue to go back to time and time again. These I consider my staples...hair products I can't live without.

Suave Professional Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner...LOVE THIS

Bee Mine Lovely Moisturizing Conditioner

Shea Moisture's Deep Treatment Masque

Jane Carter Solution Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner

Herbal Essence's Hello Hydration Conditioner

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Fantasia IC Aloe Vera Styling Gel

PhytoSpecific Relaxer