I'm so excited to share with you my second hair journey post which will be a review of the moisturisers I've been trying on my hair.
On Thursday morning I washed my hair and left it to air dry which was the first time I'd ever done that.. I'm 7 weeks post relaxer so my growth is not the easiest to deal with and I was pretty much freaking out about it! I kept asking Tifa what she thought of my hair and literally placed a mirror in front of my desk which I kept looking at every 5 minutes praying to God that my hair hadn't turned into some unruly beast.
Over the next couple of days I started noticing just how much my hair was breaking which was really freaking me out. To be honest, there's a good chance that this breakage was going on even before my hair journey but I guess I'd never noticed it much.
I read a few hair blogs and forums which said that what my hair needs at this point is moisture and hydration so I slapped on loads of moisturiser and started drinking water like there was no tomorrow.
I've been accumulating moisturisers over the past few months and decided to do a little survey on which one worked best on my hair. To carry this out properly, I sectioned my hair into four different parts and applied one moisturiser to each section and then used coconut oil on my ends. I braided each section, tied a silk scarf to keep the moisturser in and evaluated the results the next morning.
This is my take on each moisturiser.
Organics Olive Oil Leave-in Conditioner - approx. KES500 from Nakumatt
9/10
I really liked it! Left my hair pretty soft and shiny but not oily which is a good thing. This definitely worked the best on my hair.
I really liked it! Left my hair pretty soft and shiny but not oily which is a good thing. This definitely worked the best on my hair.
Motions Oil Moisturiser Hair Lotion - can't remember the price
6/10
Hair was kind of soft but a little oily. Don't think this oil did much for me.
Hair was kind of soft but a little oily. Don't think this oil did much for me.
Glis Oil Nutritive Express-Repair Conditioner - About KES600 in Nakumatt
8/10
This was more oily than Organics but less oily than Motions. I did spray quite a bit of this though so maybe that's why. I know whenever I'd get my hair straightened at the salon, this is the only moisturiser I'd put on my hair cs it didn't leave it greasy! By the way, you have to shake it well before using it to mix it all up.
This was more oily than Organics but less oily than Motions. I did spray quite a bit of this though so maybe that's why. I know whenever I'd get my hair straightened at the salon, this is the only moisturiser I'd put on my hair cs it didn't leave it greasy! By the way, you have to shake it well before using it to mix it all up.
Toni & Guy Rapid Response Leave-in Conditioner - over KES1,000.
-2/10
This. was. CRAP. I absolutely hated it. Goodness, I can't express just how bad this felt on my hair. It felt like someone had put mud on it and left it to dry.. it's almost like if you bent my hair you'd break it. The only reason I didn't it throw it in the bin straight away was because I needed to take a picture for you guys.
This. was. CRAP. I absolutely hated it. Goodness, I can't express just how bad this felt on my hair. It felt like someone had put mud on it and left it to dry.. it's almost like if you bent my hair you'd break it. The only reason I didn't it throw it in the bin straight away was because I needed to take a picture for you guys.
I've actually had this product for aaaages and had forgotten why exactly I hated it till now!
Guys how brilliant is this t-shirt idea?!
I saw it on a couple of YouTube videos where they had t-shirts with lines across and numbers next to each line to be used as a measuring tool. So I went ahead and made my own using a marker and an old t-shirt!
I'm only going to be measuring my hair on it every month (when I straighten my hair) so for now I'm not sure where my hair reaches as I haven't straightened it. I think this is a fun way of keeping tabs on your hair growth and whether you're on the way to achieve your goal!
Once I measure my hair I'll be able to determine what my goal is when it comes to length.
AAA!! So excited!!
Let me know if you've used any of these products and/or what your favourite moisturisers and leave-in conditioners are!
Just for the record, as I proceed with my hair journey I'll be giving my two cents on different products/styles/routines but please don't take my word as the gospel. Try out the products before you write them off - what may not work for my hair may work wonders on yours!
Happy Hair Care :)
Hi, your hair will thank you for air drying. Am also relaxed and that's basically all i do. I haven't used any of the above products but my fav are: 'Venus leave-in conditioner' and 'ORS olive oil hair lotion'. I've also used 'Parnevu T-tree leave-in' and the ' Vitale moisturizer'. I LOVE coconut oil. Read on how to maintain a protein & moisture balance to help minimize hair breakage.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for it to be thicker and healthier! Air drying better pay off BIG ;) (but to be honest I'm sooo excited about having my hair straightened!!! Should I feel guilty about this?)
DeleteYeah I've been reading up on how to handle breakage using protein and moisture and I'm hoping I've got it in the bag!
I think Toni and guy products are made solely for white hair, everything of theirs I've tried fails miserably. I swear by organics olive oil everything.. In fact if I don't have the organics brand I add virgin olive oil to my conditioner :)
ReplyDeleteHope your hair journey goes well!!!
I couldn't imagine how that particular product would work on ANYONE'S hair!! But yeah I knew it was mostly for Caucasian hair but thought I'd give it a shot.
DeleteThanks Anon!!
Ok so i clicked on the FB link because of the measuring t-shirt i was waiting to see a t-shirt that measures like a cup hahahaha blonde moment lol Like Anon above said Toni and Guy products in Kenya are formulated for caucasian/asian hair. Their hair is greasier than ours hence the daily washing i only stick to products for afro hair speaking of which the olive oil people have a sulfate free shampoo yay!!! Now i can't remember if it was from Organics or ORS (could be the same company i don'tknow) but it's in a lime green bottle and has like 7 or 8 ingredients none of which is sulphate and i am very sure my fav beauty store in Nairobi Super cosmetics will have it. The only caucasian formula shampoo that agreed with my hair was Pantene before i switched to afro specific products. Like i mentioned before in a comment i worked retail when younger so we would sample the products since we always got freebies and other than Pantene none of the other stuff Loreal, Herbal Essence and co worked well on my hair i ended up using them only when i was washing out braids. Thought about doing Vlogs for this journey maybe once a month?
ReplyDeleteok dunno how *Kenya" creeped up in my comment above second line just ignore:)
DeleteHa, measuring t-shirt!
DeleteWoop woop for sulfate-free shampoo!! A few weeks ago I spent half an hour in the supermarket looking for a sulfate free shampoo but nada. So I walk out feeling frustrated and decide to try my luck in a store that only stocks organic/healthy things and what do you know - THEY HAD IT!!
I definitely haven't seen the shampoo you're talking about in Nakumatt but I'll look for it in Super Cosmetics :)
I looove Loreal's Elvive Conditioner - LOVE IT!! Always leaves my hair silky soft especially after using my shampoo which is really stripping. Until I find that sulfate-free shampoo I'll be adding essential oils to my shampoo or just stick to co-washing.
Funny - I was just telling Latifa today that I might do a vlog once a month to document my hair journey!! Great minds Lydz ;)
I'm too nervous though..
Ok so just realised I didn't explain myself well there.. The organic/healthy store stocks a sulfate-free shampoo.. I didn't buy it though as I didn't have the money for it then.
DeleteI'll be looking out for the Organics one in Super cosmetics - hopefully it will be cheaper!
xx
In relation to 'white people' products herbal essence's hello hydration has been magic for my hair.. The shampoo isn't as stripping ( though I limit my shampooing to like once every other month) and the conditioner oh my days!!!! total magic!! yes to the vlogs!!! do it!!!
ReplyDeletelove your blog Sharon!!!
I don't think Herbal Essence is only for Caucasian hair, is it? My friend uses it and absolutely loves it!
DeleteI'm actually seriously considering doing videos.. Maybe I'll start next month?
AAAAAA!!! So scary!!
Ive used Toni and Guy a couple of times but it does nothing for me!!
ReplyDeleteI think the product I had must have expired. I don't see how it would do anything for anyone!!
DeleteJust discovered Garnier Fructis conditioner and my hair and I LOOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEE it. I've been natural for about 9 months now and hadn't really found exactly what works for me until I used this conditioner. Leaves my hair feeling silky soft and super duper moisturized!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who used to use their shampoo and conditioner all the time!
DeleteWill be on the lookout for the conditioner as an option for co-washing :)
loong way from success for me.i tried olive oil with honey natural tretment.my hair felt smoother when it was wet but wait until it dried.agony! and it cut soo much when i was combing it out.and i had a wide tooth comb.the widest i could find.and i think i poured half a bottle of olive oil onto it so it was moisturized.
ReplyDeleteAnd it still broke?
DeleteOk here's the thing I'm discovering, as long as you wash your hair, it seems like you're it's bound to break a little regardless of what moisturisers or treatments you've used.
At least that's what I've discovered so far! I've washed my hair twice now and left it to air dry and despite being very gentle, there was still some breakage and shedding. I hope this is normal.
Don't give up CIKU, DOOONN'T!
Sometimes, some folks think some products are only for Caucasian hair or they vow not to even try certain products...but I say, just try it on your hair and see what your hair feels like or how it reacts with it. Let your hair talk to you - it gives you way more information than you think. I got Garnier Fructis one day when I was on a trip because I had no other choice and I was pleasantly surprised as my hair liked and still likes it very, very much. I use it when I do my monthly shampoo. Co-washing - I rely on good ol' Herbal Essences or Suave conditioners. Hair products are like relationships...you date until you find the right one and, sometimes, after many years together, you can grow apart and it stops working as the chemistry changes but then you just find something that works with your new hair. Yeah, that analogy sounded better in my head.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree - you can't rule it out until you try it!
DeleteI'm defo going to try Garnier Fructis, quite a few people have gone on about it..
Love the analogy! Well said Mercy
xx
Hi,
ReplyDeleteSo I use the organics Olive Oil leave-In Conditioner and I have dreads and it works so well... it keeps the growth beneath my dreads pretty soft and it has that clean feel... like my hair is clean... :)
Oh really? I'm definitely going to tell my mum about it as she's got dreads but never puts any sort of oils/leave-in conditioners on them.
DeleteThanks Kaciira :)
You're welcome... ::)
Delete