Save 15% on Ouidad Conditioners-Now Which One(s) to Buy?

Now through Sunday, July 21, you can get 15% off of all of Ouidad's AWESOME conditioners. A few of these I've tried, a few of them I want to try, but all of them are FANTASTIC!

Keeping it Red with John Frieda!

The hair swatch on the right is similar to the color I have now. The two hairstyle pics are what I want to get to {it will be mine!}. The accessories/cosmetics are inspired by my love of red hair, and of course the John Frieda products that are helping me maintain!

I recently shared a post about my visit to the hair salon, which resulted in me having red hair-and I plan to keep it that way! It takes work to maintain hair color {especially red shades, as they tend to wash down the drain pretty swiftly}, so it's really important to me that I use products that will help protect, maintain, and prolong my new color {in addition to being good for my curls}. I've been infatuated with red hair since I was a little girl {my mother used to color her hair red and I remember going to the salon with her when she got it done}, and I'd been trying to achieve the perfect shade of red on my own since I was about 13 {I started with Herbal Essence semi permanent colors}, but have never been able to do it on my own.

Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo and Moisture Balancing Conditioner AKA: A Curly Girl Chronicle

Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo (MSRP $6 for 10 fl. oz.)- was created to both correct and prevent. A special combination of lipids, vitamins and polysaccharides provides needed hydration to correct moisture-depleted hair. To further prevent dryness, a special surfactant derived from coconut oil is used. Moisture Benefits shampoo is exceptionally color friendly. This dual purpose (gentle cleansing and conditioning formula) shampoo detangles and improves your hair's manageability and texture. Perfect for dry and/or color-treated hair. This moisture-adjusting formulation selectively determines the proper level of moisture needed. Excess moisture is simply dismissed in the lather during rinsing.

L'Oreal EverCurl Line AKA: An Introductory CGC

I'm calling this an introduction because in this post I will only be covering 3 of the 5 products in the line I received for review. The Sculpt & Hold Cream-Gel (pictured below) and the Cleansing Conditioner (not pictured) will be featured in a future post.

Hydracharge Shampoo, Hydracharge Conditioner, Hydracharge Leave-In Cream, and Sculpt & Hold Cream Gel

L’Oreal Paris has launched a new line created specifically for curly girls called EverCurl! It’s a sulfate-free hair care system developed to handle all of our unique curly needs, from cleansing to styling. EverCurl products are designed to keep your curls, coils, and waves hydrated and conditioned.

Here is my first impression of the line:

CGC: SheaMoisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner

White Sands Orchid Bliss Shampoo and Conditioner

I miss warm weather. Dearly. So while I usually prefer to adjust my fragrance selections to match the seasons (more fruity, floral, citrus scents in the spring and summer and musks, orientals, and woodsy scents in the fall and winter)-when I'm missing the sun, I sometimes try to trick my senses in to thinking that it's warm out by using products with scents that are more... "tropically oriented." Enter White Sands Orchid Bliss Revitalizing Shampoo and Conditioner...

It's A Rare Ocassion: My DNA Honeybee Leave-In Conditioner (Revisited)

My well loved bottle of Honeybee Leave-In Conditioner

It is my immense privilege to be able to try out A LOT of products (especially hair products) and then share my experiences with you lovelies. Honestly even before I began blogging, I was sort of a product junkie (well, not really "sort of," more like actually) and I was forever adding to my hair care stash. I don't know if it's just a female thing, or maybe a curly girl thing, but it seems like I was always on the quest to find the perfect product(s) to give me the perfect head of hair. 

Getting It Straight with Redken and Pureology

I love my curls and 90% of the time, my hair is in a mass of ringlets. But sometimes I long for the length and sleekness I get when my hair is straight (and I swear I look 10 pounds thinner when my hair is tamed). So as much as I experiment with products to take care of and make the most out of my curls, I'm also forever on the hunt to find the perfect combination of products and methods to maintain my hair when I wear it straight.

CGC: Arrojo Gentle Conditioner

Arrojo Gentle Conditioner (photo via naturallycurly.com)

Product Description:  Sulfate and sodium-chloride free. Adds luster, shine, and moisture, with natural and organic ingredients. Lightly scented with fresh verbena. Adds moisture and shine.

Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Isopropyl Palmitate, Honey/Mel/Miel, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Agave Americana Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract, Amodimethicone, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Curcurbita Pepo (Pumpkin), Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Fragrance/Parfum, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Trideceth-12, d-Limonene, Linalool.

sulfate free, organic, protein free, glycerin free

My Take: This conditioner was thick and rich and made my hair so silky soft. It provided the perfect slip for detangling and restored the moisture that a day in the sun and pool had sapped. It has a very gentle scent, sort of like chamomile or green tea. I love that it is sulfate free and I will definitely be using this light and gentle conditioner through out the summer. (I think I may just throw it in my bag to carry to the pool and use as protection for my hair through the day!) I love that it is organic and safe to use on my girls too!

PS-Product was sent for review by naturallycurly.com. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own :)

CGC: Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner

Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner (photo via naturallycurly.com)

Product Description:  This thick conditioner uses shea butter for its moisturizing properties, adding great softness to super dry hair. It also utilizes the beneficial properties of 14 different herbs and spices. Good for daily use for those with thick, dry hair, but might be too heavy for hair that gets weighed down easily. Finer curlies might want to try our Aloeba conditioner. It adds moisture, shine,  and aids in detangling.

Ingredients:  Water infused with Lemongrass, Nettle, Burdock, Kelp, Marshmallow Root, Horsetail, Basil, Bay leaf, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint, Sage and Thyme, Aloe Vera Juice, Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Letchin, Hydrolyzed Oat Flour,Fragrance,Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate (the last three are the preservative system.

silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free, glycerin free, animal friendly, and available in a  fragrance free option



My Take: The Citrus Lavender scent is pleasant and I like that the product is cruelty free and vegan (though I am not one). The appearance/texture of the conditioner struck me as a bit unusual; at first glance it almost appears paste like. The ingredients list reads like a veritable herb garden; it's full of good for your hair ingredients. It provided enough slip in the shower for me to be able to detangle and while it made my hair look curlier (if that's even possible), I didn't feel like my hair was as soft as I would've liked (even though I left it in for 5 minutes). I do like that it can be used as a traditional conditioner, leave in, or deep conditioner, so perhaps my tresses will like it better as a leave in moisturizer.

PS- Product was provided by NaturallyCurly.com for review. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own. :)

CGC: Hair Rules Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner

Hair Rules Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner (photo via naturallycurly.com)

Product Description:   This daily, ultra-rich conditioning and softening treatment promotes suppleness, manageability and shine in parched, spongy, frizzy and lackluster hair. 

Formulated with honey and glycerin to enhance moisture penetration, protect against breakage and encourage hair's natural tendency to curl. Super-conditioning shea butter, coconut and olive oils, with extracts of avocado and jojoba, keep kinky, curly and wavy hair healthy and lustrous. Adds moisture, shine, frizz control.

Ingredients:  water, cetyl alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, behentrimonium chloride, behentrimonium methosulfate, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, cyclohexasiloxane, honey, hedychium coconarium root extract, cymbopogon schoenanthus extract, humulus lupulus (hops) extract, coix lacryma- jobi seed extract, gardenia tahitensis flower extract, butylene glycol, isopropanol, dimethiconol, dimethicone, polyquaterinum-10, ceteareth-20, hydroxyethylcellulose, fragrance, disodium EDTA, citric acid, DMDM hydantoin, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate

sulfate free, paraben free, glycerin free, contains bee products

My Take:  Oh my goodness! I am obsessed with this conditioner! I only had a little one time use packet. but that one use not only made me want to purchase a full size bottle, I was so impressed I want to try more products in the line. Wish it was a little more budget friendly, but I totally understand that sometimes you get what you pay for. My hair felt like SILK as soon as I applied the conditioner. Detangling while it was wet was a cinch, and it rinsed out so clean! I'm definitely a fan of HAIR RULES. This is by far, the best conditioner I have used in a long time!

PS- A sample of this product was sent for review by NaturallyCurly.com. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and are my own. :)

CGC: Burt's Bees gud Orange Petalooza Natural Softening Conditioner

gud Orange Petalooza Natural Softening Conditioner (photo via naturallycurly.com)

Product Description:  Condition hair naturally with moisturizing botanicals and a delicious scent of blood orange and hyacinth. 

Ingredients: Water, cetearyl alcohol, fragrance, ceteareth-20, glycerin, phenoxyethanol, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, hibiscus sabdariffa flower*, mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf extract*, salvia officinalis (sage) leaf extract*, thymus vulgaris (thyme) leaf extract*, urtica dioica (nettle) leaf extract*, glycerin, behentrimonium methosulfate, stearalkonium chloride, potassium sorbate, citric acid, alcohol denat. *Organic.

silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free, protein free

My Take: The smell is utterly delightful! The conditioner is smooth and creamy and you kind of feel good using it because it's Burt's Bees, you know? It provided enough slip to detangle my hair while wet, but it was really the smell that won me over. As a conditioner it performed well, but it wasn't particularly outstanding.

PS- This product was sent for review by NaturallyCurly.com. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own. :)

It's Giveaway Time! MopTop Hair Care

Alright lovelies, it's time for me to share more goodies with you! This time, the wonderful people at MopTop Hair Care have generously agreed to give one of my readers their choice of either the kids' Fuzzy Duck Travel Kit or the adults' MopTop Travel kit!

MopTop Travel Kit for Adults (photo via moptophair.com)

Fuzzy Duck Travel Kit for Kids (photo via moptophair.com)

Carol's Daughter Chocolat Shampoo and Conditioner

I saw this video on YouTube on Sephora's channel and thought it was a great opportunity to share my experience with the Chocolat Smoothing Sulfate Free Shampoo and Conditioner.

Chocolat Smoothing Sulfate Free Shampoo, Conditioner, and Smoothing  Blow Dry  Cream

The shampoo and conditioner smell FABULOUS! Both were oh so creamy, and even though the shampoo is sulfate free (a huge plus) it lathered wonderfully. I did feel an immediate difference in my frazzled tresses after using the shampoo; it really did smooth my hair and left it soft and silky. The conditioner was like chocolate icing on the cake. It felt rich, but did not weigh down my curls. It left them feeling bouncy and luxurious. I loved the scent so much that I left a bit of the conditioner in to serve as a sort of leave in conditioner, and it worked beautifully in that capacity. Major bonus: the hubby couldn't stop smelling my hair!

I was so impressed with the shampoo and conditioner (and after seeing the results in the video), I definitely want to try the Blow Dry Cream. It seems like the perfect product to use when I want to switch to a straight style! There's actually a really great starter set that will let you try all 3 products at a reasonable price...

Chocolat Smoothing Collection 3-Piece Starter Set $24 at Sephora.com

I realize I'm a little late on the train, but the more exposure I have with Carol's Daughter products, the more I love them! What's your experience with the brand? What are your fave products from the hair care line? And have you had a chance to try any of the skin care products? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q

PS: PR provided me with the shampoo and conditioner to try. I was not paid to do a review and all of the opinions stated are 100% honest and my own :)

CGC Review: TIGI Bed Head Urban Antidotes Resurrection Shampoo and Conditioner