December 2020: Hits & Misses

[shasha8685]

Tentative Hit:
The Doux We Want Easy Texture Tamer- It's a leave in and it seems like my hair is loaded with moisture. It also smells really good. We'll see how my hair feels in a few days......

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Hits

• Saturdays wash day
  • Everything was nice.

Miss

• My twists look so sparse, sigh.

 

[mzteaze]

Miss:

Belle Bar Rice Mask - At $39 for a 1.6 oz jar, this product isn't worth re-upping. You can dupe this product by mixing the dry ingredients to mix with the wet ingredients.

Elasta DPR-11+ - no matter what I mix into this stuff, it makes my hair dry and sucks out moisture.

 

[BonBon88]

I’ve pretty much perfected my regimen so no misses this year!

Hits:
Straight Request Fixative deep conditioner
Silicon Mix conditioner
Silicon Mix heat protectant cream
Olaplex No. 2
Design Essentials Honey Creme shampoo
Qhemet Biologics Amla & Olive Oil Heavy Cream
Godrey Nupur Henna

That’s pretty much it at the moment - I did just order the CHI Silk Infusion to see if it works better than the Silicon Mix heat protectant cream. This cream works great but I want to try a serum.

Ok as an update I’ve added SAA to the Fixative then replaced the Silicon Mix conditioner and cream with the CHI Silk Infusion. I just blowdried my hair and BAAAABBBAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!

 

[mzteaze]

Miss:

Belle Bar Rice Mask - At $39 for a 1.6 oz jar, this product isn't worth re-upping. You can dupe this product by mixing the dry ingredients to mix with the wet ingredients.

Elasta DPR-11+ - no matter what I mix into this stuff, it makes my hair dry and sucks out moisture.

Whomp Whomp...
Just looked up the ingredients (for BB Rice Mask) for the curious:
Rice flour
Yucca (cassava flour)
Rosemary (dried & ground)
Aloe vera (powder)
Rosehip oil
Glycerin
Lavender (dried & ground)
Basan flour (this is chickpea flour)

Easy dupe is to mix all flours/powders then add oils/liquids when ready to use.

 

[HealthyHair2020]

Hit
Melanin Haircare Twisting Cream
My hair drinks this stuff up! I'm feeling the same way I felt about another staple of mine initially which is the Camille Rose Almond Jai: I may not like it but my hair looooooves it.

Miss
Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Oil Blend
It's just an ok oil. It's good for sealing but I'm not super impressed by it so I won't be repurchasing it.

Miss So Far
Camille Rose Mint Condition Braid and Scalp Spray
For the life of me, this thing kept slipping out of my hand when I was spraying it. I know I had the Melanin Cream and Oil on my hands but I had to be resting it on my shoulder and angling it so it wouldn't slip. Also, when I sometimes applied too much on a twist, it wouldn't sink into my strands even when I was massaging it into my hair. The jury is still out since I haven't really used it on my scalp but not highly impressed so far.

 

[Hairties]

Hit
curl of essance Neem dc- ive been using this as a dc and then a prepoo with amla powder to amp it up. Really nice.

shescentit juicy shot- small but mighty! I’ve added to to my dc and my prepoo. Works well and I’m glad I picked up a backup. I felt like I used a lot but looking at the bottle I’ve got plenty of uses left.

shescentit butter quench dream cream- love it. Great leave in sealant. Sometimes it’s heavy enough by itself.

naturelle grow chebe growth dc-
what a nice surprise. I got this from Black Friday and it feels so great on. For ng I expect a dc that will sink in so I had no worries. It had a wonderful tingle. I can’t speak to the growth claim but I know it felt great on. I’ll continue to use it as it’s the larger container.
naturelle grow moisture boost- another good surprise. I tried the fig spritzer a few years ago and was unimpressed so I’ve bypassed their sprays. This was great. It’s similar to APB’s Caribbean oasis spritz.


sheaterra egyptian castor oil-
i got the argan and amla. love it and I have been using it. I also have the coffee and ginseng. I’m reminded of Keravada’s coffee oil from back in the day(woo they used to have some very potent oils). Good but sometimes I can’t stand the smell. Really rich and I’m glad I picked this up on sale.


miss
-inventory check and having to toss dcs- two from APB I think I contaminated with water from my shower. They got discolored spots so I know what that means. It’s from my haul where her dcs where all on sale so I still have 2 I haven’t even tried. 3 from curl of essance as the shelf life is about 6 months for all her products and I got them sometime in February .Major bummer and will mean I don’t continuously buy from the brand. Give me at least a year, I’m a product junkie. I had to toss soultanicals chebe because it looked off too. I had a backup and it looks way different.

-having to put myself on a no buy to get my inventory down. I should be happy but I like trying new things. I don’t like wasting money though so 2021 will be stash shopping til probably Mother’s Day.

 

[IDareT'sHair]

shescentit juicy shot- small but mighty! I’ve added to to my dc and my prepoo. Works well and I’m glad I picked up a backup. I felt like I used a lot but looking at the bottle I’ve got plenty of uses left.

@Hairties
This right here is my Jam!

 

[naturalyogini]

Miss
Nurcreations
Ambunu honey shampoo. This stuff is like a clarifying shampoo. No moisture at all. I'm going to add some ACV to it to lower the pH. If that doesn't work, in the trash it goes. Also I'm slightly allergic to it. My scalp feels uncomfortable.
Ambunu honey conditioner. What is this! No slip. NO MOISTURE. I had to follow up with some MJSoften Up rinse out. My hair strands stuck together. I couldn't detangle with it. I don't know what to with this!
Ambunu leave in.
It has slip. Does detangle but didn't make my hair soft, at all. I can tell my hair is going to dry like sandpaper because my twists aren't plump. They are tight and skinny. Maybe I'll have to spray my hair with ACV and water before I use it again. Crossing this vendor off my list. Her products are not for my hi-po hair.

 

[GGsKin]

@Hairties
This right here is my Jam!

I love this too. A little goes s long way and it moisturises my hair well, without any residue or build-up feeling.

 

[lindseyerinc]

Ok as an update I’ve added SAA to the Fixative then replaced the Silicon Mix conditioner and cream with the CHI Silk Infusion. I just blowdried my hair and BAAAABBBAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!

Where do you find the Fixative DC?

 

[BonBon88]

Where do you find the Fixative DC?

Straight Request Products | A House Top-quality, Best Hair Products

Straight Request Products are top-quality and the best professional brand for shampoos, conditioners and style enhancing agents to make your hair soft, healthy, shiny, and long-lasting.

straightrequestproducts.com

 

[Shay72]

Hits
Alikay Naturals Botanicals Hair & Scalp Balm
Alikay Naturals Avocado Cream Moisture Repairing Mask
Alikay Naturals Shea Yogurt Moisturizer-I use as hair grease
Ecoslay Orange Marmalade-a little goes a long way. It don’t take much. Can be crunchy
Ecoslay Peppermint Snapps Hair Wash-this is like water but what puts it on this hits list is it washed an Ayurvedic gloss out with no issues whatsoever. Often I’ll get out the shower and have to get back in because powder is still in my hair. Not with this hair wash
Ecoslay Rice Pudding Leave In and Moisturizer-I use it as a moisturizer
Melanin Haircare African Black Soap Reviving Shampoo
Melanin Haircare Multiuse Softening Leave In Conditioner-I use it as a moisturizer

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

@Shay72 I havent tried my Ecoslay rice pudding. Its been in the fridge. Its thin so I assumed Id use it as a refresher and not a leave in .

 

[Shay72]

@Shay72 I havent tried my Ecoslay rice pudding. Its been in the fridge. Its thin so I assumed Id use it as a refresher and not a leave in .

My hair is fine and low porosity so thin works for me. I use liquid leave ins.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Did you use it as a leave in or a moisturizer? I was reading it as you used it to moisturize not after wash day @Shay72 which is how I planned to use it after spreading some out

 

[Shay72]

Did you use it as a leave in or a moisturizer? I was reading it as you used it to moisturize not after wash day @Shay72 which is how I planned to use it after spreading some out

Moisturizer

 

[bzb1990]

@Shay72 I havent tried my Ecoslay rice pudding. Its been in the fridge. Its thin so I assumed Id use it as a refresher and not a leave in .

Rice pudding is my all-time favourite esp Firin Sutlak (Turkish rice pudding but it has an element of creme brulee to it). I could never trust myself to leave something that says R.P. in the fridge.
Surely late one night I'd stumble downstairs craving food, half asleep, and totally finish it.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

Rice pudding is my all-time favourite esp Firin Sutlak (Turkish rice pudding but it has an element of creme brulee to it). I could never trust myself to leave something that says R.P. in the fridge.
Surely late one night I'd stumble downstairs craving food, half asleep, and totally finish it.

I cant stand rice pudding.

 

[water_n_oil]

Major hit: CR Nangai & Tsubaki Strength Restore Protein Treatment

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

Miss: USPS, my Shescentit order has been sitting at the Metro NY distribution center since December 19th.

 

[Rastafarai]

Miss: USPS, my Shescentit order has been sitting at the Metro NY distribution center since December 19th.

I'd wait a few more days, but if that status remains into next week try to escalate to that location's postmaster. Their email address is searchable. Every single time I've involved them, my package gets found and arrives a few days after complaint.

Redirecting

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

I'd wait a few more days, but if that status remains into next week try to escalate to that location's postmaster. Their email address is searchable. Every single time I've involved them, my package gets found and arrives a few days after complaint.

Redirecting

Thank you

 

[bzb1990]

Hit
Improved techniques
Using hooded dryer correctly- proper DC with heat...then cooling

Baggy method but with saran wrap all over head not just ends (ad though doing a henna treatment)
and satin cap overnight
=fastest braids ever this morning

IC FANTASIA hair polisher aloe gel in tub

Rice water, honey, MSM powder

Nutiva coconut oil


Shea butter blend (the result is liquid not cream or whipped in texture) for maximum moisture/grease
1 t beeswax granules
1 T shea butter
1 nugget cacao butter
(Dissolve above in a makeshift hot water bath in a ramekin before adding the rest)
5 drops ajwaon
13 drops rosemary
Lemongrass 3 drops
German chamomile 5 drops
Ylang ylang no 3 6 or 7 drops
camellia seed, abyssinian, prickly pear,
3% neroli in Jojoba oil for fragrance (ascending order- least amount is the jojoba) made separately- 1 T of the resulting blend

Coconut oil 1 T

Reveil cactus conditioner (korean brand sold here in pink bottle ) - good slip and scent after co-wash with smthing else

Miss

Johnson's baby oil + aloe/vit E gel for hair leave-in (???). Silliest idea for my hair, it caused knotting like never before. It felt like it had stripped the cuticle unevenly when I washed it out !!


Wigs - feel they just worsen my crown hair even with caps and braiding etc.

Pantene conditioners- they do in a pinch but unhelpful overall

Humecto- still do not find it does anything even for DC...but I want to use it up

 

[mzteaze]

Potential Hit:
Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind - this conditioner has a nice feel. My hair seemed to like it based on this first try. I rarely use 5-10 minute conditioners so not sure how I'd use it regularly.

 

[Rastafarai]

Potential Miss
Waiting on my Yaya Creations order since 11/26.

Wanted to follow up that I received my order today, BUT, I am missing a product I ordered. I had ordered Yaya's Length Retention Bundle (which includes the butter, creme and oil - or so I thought) and separately ordered two (2) oils. I only received two (2) oils. I sent an email and will await what they say.

ETA: She quickly replied and committed to sending the missing oil. Looking forward to trying her products soon!

 

[HealthyHair2020]

I'd wait a few more days, but if that status remains into next week try to escalate to that location's postmaster. Their email address is searchable. Every single time I've involved them, my package gets found and arrives a few days after complaint.

Redirecting

Ooooh thanks for this link. I ordered something from Chocolate Kinks and Kurls that should've arrived in November but never did. I'll try this avenue after christmas.

 

[HealthyHair2020]

Hit
Melanin Haircare Twisting Cream
My hair drinks this stuff up! I'm feeling the same way I felt about another staple of mine initially which is the Camille Rose Almond Jai: I may not like it but my hair looooooves it.

Miss
Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Oil Blend
It's just an ok oil. It's good for sealing but I'm not super impressed by it so I won't be repurchasing it.

Miss So Far
Camille Rose Mint Condition Braid and Scalp Spray
For the life of me, this thing kept slipping out of my hand when I was spraying it. I know I had the Melanin Cream and Oil on my hands but I had to be resting it on my shoulder and angling it so it wouldn't slip. Also, when I sometimes applied too much on a twist, it wouldn't sink into my strands even when I was massaging it into my hair. The jury is still out since I haven't really used it on my scalp but not highly impressed so far.

OK I have an update as well. I was taking down my twists to remoisturize them with these same products and BABYYYYYYYY! THE DEFINITION. I just had to take all of them out and do a twistout. My hair is so soft and still moistured (although I used too much oil as it's coming off my fingers). But that twisting cream on wet hair is just chef's kiss. I still cannot believe it.

Normally when I do twistouts, I have to do the twists small but I had my hair in like 16 twists this time. I wanted to find a way how to do twist outs without doing small twists and now this product has told me it's possible. Amazing.

 

[naturalyogini]

Mega miss
Natty Naturals
Leave in
Rhassoul DC
Styling lotion
These products make my hair dry as sand paper. I'm going to have to rewash and deep conditioner my hair. I'm going to stop buying new brands and stick to the brands that brought me to the dance, so to speak. Inahsi , bekurabeauty and jlexillc. I have wasted too much money this year on products that my hair hates.

My cousin and her girls get 3 more products!

 

[water_n_oil]

Hit
Melanin Haircare Twisting Cream
My hair drinks this stuff up! I'm feeling the same way I felt about another staple of mine initially which is the Camille Rose Almond Jai: I may not like it but my hair looooooves it.

Miss
Melanin Haircare Multi-Use Oil Blend
It's just an ok oil. It's good for sealing but I'm not super impressed by it so I won't be repurchasing it.

Miss So Far
Camille Rose Mint Condition Braid and Scalp Spray
For the life of me, this thing kept slipping out of my hand when I was spraying it. I know I had the Melanin Cream and Oil on my hands but I had to be resting it on my shoulder and angling it so it wouldn't slip. Also, when I sometimes applied too much on a twist, it wouldn't sink into my strands even when I was massaging it into my hair. The jury is still out since I haven't really used it on my scalp but not highly impressed so far.

Oh nooo, I have three bottles of that braid spray but haven't used it yet.