Natural n Thick

When I first decided to ditch the relaxers, it wasn't for some profound, self-reflecting reason. I was not thinking about connecting to my culture, promoting self-love, or building bonds with other fro wearing women. My decision to go natural was based purely on the fact that I wanted to grow my hair. For years, I had struggled to get my hair to grow beyond my collar bone. I had always encountered some type of breakage that prevented me from having the long hair that I once had as a child.

Once I started researching and experimenting with various products, I have discovered the best products that work great for MY hair. These products have aided me in achieving longer, stronger hair. I am so ecstatic about the growth and strength of my hair, that I definitely want to share the wealth with you so that you are not spending hundreds of dollars experimenting on the WRONG products. Before we jump into the ULTIMATE list of Hair Products, I must state the obvious; Although these products have worked wonders for my hair, your results may vary.

...Now on to the Ultimate List of Natural Hair Products:

Eden Bodyworks - Peppermint Tea Tree Shampoo

I don't use shampoo that often, but when I do I love to find products that will make my scalp tingle. This natural shampoo provides a soothing and refreshing tingling sensation that makes me feel like I'm at the spa.

Eden Bodyworks - All Natural Cleansing CoWash

Eden Bodyworks makes a second appearance on this list because this cowash has become a staple in my wash regimen. This product provides enough slip that makes it a breeze detangling the kinkiest of kinks. Your hair will feel soft and smell amazing with regular use.

Maui Moisture - Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Conditioner

I recently started using this product but it has quickly become a new fave. This conditioner has a yummy tropical scent that will leave your hair smelling edible. (Please do not eat!) Maui Moisture created a winner with this product and the rest of their curl quench line. If you want to see me use this product, Click Here!

Mielle Organics - Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner

This is the product that changed the game for me. This deep conditioner smells so refreshing and it gives that tingling sensation that I mentioned earlier. The deep conditioner is a great product to use to ensure moisture retention and to restore damaged hair.

Mielle Organics - White Peony Leave in Conditioner

Because I fell deeply in love with the deep conditioner by Mielle Organics, I decided to try this leave-in. This water based product was designed with many different hair types in mind. I also love the fact that it is a spray bottle which makes for easy application.

Maui Moisture - Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie

The Curl Smoothie is hydrating and is a great product to use for all of your styling needs. I especially love using this cream for two strand twists and flat twists. Your hair will feel soft to the touch and have a nice shine to it.

Oils (Grapeseed, Avocado, Almond, Jojoba)

Oils help to seal in the moisture and promote healthy hair growth. Sealing in the moisture will aid against hair breakage and will help to strengthen your hair follicles. All three oils mentioned will also double as a skin moisturizer.

EcoStyler - Black Castor and Flaxseed Oil Gel

I have long been a fan of EcoStyler with my go-to being the olive oil gel. However this new gel has slowly grown on me. I only use this around the perimeter of my head... I need my edges to lay! One of the key advantages of this product is that the black castor oil is a known stimulator for hair growth. You can snatch those edges and grow them at the same time.

Alikay Naturals - Knots be Gone

This detangling spray has made styling my daughter's hair so much easier. This product provides a great slip that also helps to loosen the knots that may encroach upon your curls and coils. Proper detangling is necessary in order to retain your length. The formula is also light enough to not cause much buildup.

The Mane Choice - Growth Oil

This is the first product that I have tried by The Mane Choice and it packs a powerful punch. The Growth Oil is rich with ingredients that have been known to stimulate hair growth. This is a great addition for those the have plateaued hair growth or for those with thinning hair. The great thing is that this can be used on all hair types.

This concludes my TOP 10 favorite products for natural hair. Hopefully, these products will help you achieve the length and shine that you are looking for! What are some of your fave products? Be sure to comment, below.

In case you haven't heard, Shea Moisture, a beauty brand that has catered to the hair and skin needs of Black women, released a new commercial. Just as soon as the commercial was released, the public dragging commenced.

The reason for the major backlash was the fact that the new advertising featured a woman who appeared to be biracial (I could be wrong) and several White women. Say What? Yes, Shea Moisture, who has made tons of money from black consumers created, approved, and released a commercial that didn't focus on it's core audience. Granted, a woman with a lighter complexion was front and center... BUT what happened to all of the other beautiful shades of brown? No caramel, chestnut, chocolate, cocoa, etc.

Before I continue, check out the video that has all of the chocolate sisters up in arms.

Credit: Peculiar Royalty - Youtube

Objective Opinion

I see why Shea Moisture thought this was a good move to make as a brand. They want to expand their horizons and showcase the fact that their products cater to a diverse market. Let's be real, all brands exists with the intentional purpose of making a profit. All other reasons such as filling a niche, raising awareness, and community outreach is secondary. These companies are first and foremost focused on their bottom line. Shea Moisture found an opportunity to potentially make a larger profit. I do not fault them for this.

My problem is the fact that in this new advertising campaign, Shea Moisture appears to have completely abandoned their core base.

It's fine to add some diversity to the mix, but why couldn't they include both sides of the spectrum (dark to light) in the commercial? Is it because the new consumer that Shea Moisture is targeting would find a chocolate woman unappealing in the ad? Would the inclusion of Women of Color with a tighter curl pattern (4a, 4b, 4c) contradict the meaning behind this commercial? Inquiring minds want to know!

I am really curious about how many people played a role in this decision. How many eyes watched this video and never thought "Something is missing"?

Bigger Issue

Are we really surprised that Shea Moisture has taken this route? We have seen this happen many times before. For years, companies have gotten their start by marketing to Black consumers and once those companies have achieved a certain level of success, they transition to a wider, more "ideal" audience. We see this happen in the beauty, clothing, financial, and entertainment industries all the time.

Source: Instagram

Shea Moisture's Response

The negative response was so major, that Shea Moisture felt the need to respond. Here is a screenshot of their response on Facebook:

Is it too little, too late for Shea Moisture? What are your thoughts on this controversy? Are people overreacting or is the anger justified?

I recently had the opportunity to try out some new products. In March, I received four products in my monthly curlBOX subscription. To be quite honest, I had never heard of this brand and had never noticed their products in stores. After doing a bit of research, I now know that you can purchase these products at Target, Walmart, CVS, and Ulta. I was actually excited to be entering uncharted territory with Maui Moisture. Let's dive into the four hair products that I received.

PRODUCT BREAKDOWN

Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo 13 FL OZ
Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Conditioner 13 FL OZ
Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie 12 OZ
Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Milk 8 OZ

I was very pleased to see how much product was included in each container. The products range between $7 and $9 depending on where you purchase from. All of the Curl Quench products were designed for Thick, Curly Hair which is absolutely perfect for me. If you do not have thick and curly hair, Maui Moisture offers several other product lines to cater to your needs. Some other collections that caught my eye include:

Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter -
For Dry Damaged Hair

Nourish & Moisture + Coconut Milk -

For Dry Hair

Strength & Anti-Breakage + Agave -
For Chemically Damaged Hair

Thicken & Restore + Bamboo Fibers -
For Weak, Brittle Hair

**Images are courtesy of www.MauiMoisture.com**

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I only tried three of the four products included in the Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Collection. I tested the shampoo, conditioner, and the curl smoothie. The products had a light, refreshing smell with a hit of coconut. The shampoo was actually not that memorable. It did get my hair clean, which is the job of a shampoo. The conditioner was great. It had great slip and made it easy to detangle. The shinning star of this collection, however, is the Curl Smoothie. The Curl Quench Curl Smoothie made it so easy to do my two strand twists. The twists appeared very hydrated and my hair was glistening.

Once my twists dried, I untwisted my hair to reveal really soft, glossy, defined curls. My twist-out has never been as soft as it was after using the Curl Smoothie. Even better: My twist-out lasted for nearly two weeks. I washed my hair on 4/9/17 and my twist-out is still pushing through as of 4/19/17.

Although I am giving most of the credit to the Curl Smoothie for my results; it could be a combination of the shampoo, conditioner, and curl smoothie that helped me to achieve my super defined curls. You can check out my results, as well as see a bit of my wash day routine.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I will certainly use these products again. I will more than likely repurchase the Curl Smoothie because I am convinced that this cream was the key to my success. If you have thick and curly hair and you're looking for affordable hair products, then I would recommend the Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil collection!

Have you had the opportunity to try out Maui Moisture? Let me know your thoughts.

If you have been following Natural Hair trends, then it may seem like Natural Hair has seriously become a science. There is always something new that one must learn in order to achieve the perfect curl. We hear terms like protein, moisture retention, sulfates, silicone, and of course, porosity. We hear so many hair/beauty gurus talk about the importance of hair porosity, so let's dive into all things relating to Hair Porosity.

What is Hair Porosity?

"Porosity is the quality of being porous, or full of tiny holes. Liquids go right through things that have porosity." - Vocabulary.com

If you aren't achieving the ideal twist out or other curly style, then hair porosity may be the culprit. With that being said, hair porosity basically deals with your hair's ability to absorb liquid (moisture) and also retain it. There are three main types of porosity: Low, Normal, and High Porosity.

How do you know your porosity type?

There is a simple hair strand test that you can perform at home to try to uncover your porosity level. You can take a strand of your hair (hair must be clean and free of product) and place it in a bowl or glass of water. If your strand of hair remains near the surface of water (resists sinking) you have low porosity. If the hair sinks slowly, your hair porosity is normal. Lastly, if the hair sinks immediately, you have high porosity hair.

If you are still having difficulty trying to determine your level of hair porosity, Shea Moisture has an online quiz that you can take by clicking Porosity Quiz. Once you have determined your hair porosity, you now have the information to make informed decisions about your hair.

Why Hair Porosity Matters

Hair porosity can determine which hair products are going to work well for your type of hair. Using the wrong hair products that are not designed for your hair can leave your hair feeling limp, dry, and dull. Many people believe that knowing your hair porosity is the most important factor for determining the right hair regimen needed to create the "perfect" hair. Below are some suggestions for each level of hair porosity.

Low Porosity

Because this type of hair resists moisture due to the cuticle of the hair being closed, you need to focus on ways to open the cuticle. This will allow your hair to absorb moisture.

Use Heat - Deep conditioning under a hooded dryer, or simply using hot water to shampoo your hair can allow you cuticles to open to prepare for the moisture retention
Limit your use of protein-rich hair products - These products have been known to leave your hair feeling stiff.
Use Cherry Cola or Baking Soda - these products are known to help reduce product buildup; which is major issue for those with Low Porosity Hair
Recommended Products: Shea Moisture Low Porosity Line

Source: Shea Moisture

Normal Porosity

Hair with a normal porosity is considered to be the most desired. This porosity level requires the least amount of maintenance.

Routine Deep Conditioning - This will help maintain a healthy porosity level
Limit Heat - Although this type of hair can handle many types of styles; constant heat styling may alter your porosity level
Continue to use the products that are working for you

High Porosity

This type of hair absorbs too much moisture but doesn't retain it. The goal is to adopt a regimen that will allow the hair to retain moisture.

Reduce use of heat and chemicals - heat and chemicals can increase the gaps that are present in your hair cuticle. This will only increase your problem
Trim hair regularly to rid yourself of damaged hair and promote healthy hair growth
LOC Method - this method will help you to lock in the moisture. Put products in your hair in this particular order:

Leave in Conditioner
Oil (jojoba oil, coconut oil)
Cream - use a heavy, thick cream such as shea butter

Recommended Products: Shea Moisture High Porosity Line

Source: Shea Moisture

Have you tested your hair porosity? If so what is your porosity level? Which methods work well for you? Do you believe Hair Porosity is really that important? Let me know in the comments!

** These are the opinions of my own, I am in now way sponsored by Shea Moisture. Results may vary.**

I felt compelled to write today about something that is a total deviation from the normal topics covered on this blog. Today marks the National "Day Without A Woman" Protest. To participate in this protest, women were encouraged to take the day off from work (one day strike), refrain from making purchases, and to wear red in solidarity of the movement.

As a Black Woman, I am proud to stand in solidarity with other women from all walks of life. For many years women have dealt with unfair hiring practices, unequal pay, inadequate workplace protections, and inappropriate treatment... If you are a Black Woman then times that by two. The Black woman has endured all of the above and are often looked at as mere sex objects; nothing of value or worth. I strike because I want to bring awareness to the plight of women, especially women of color.

With Donald Trump and his band of inexperienced simpletons running this country, the time has never been more ripe for women to let their voices be heard. We have a man sitting in the Oval Office that has made disparaging remarks about women on numerous occasions. You would have to be a fool to believe that our current president's personal beliefs and opinions will not impact the decisions that he makes each and every day.

But It's an Inconvenience...

It's supposed to be an inconvenience. I watched the local news and noticed that a couple of school districts were forced to close due to the overwhelming amount of teachers and support staff that took leave in support of this protest. I also watched reporters, parents, and other civilians bash the teachers for exercising their First Amendment right. Most were complaining that the parents had no access to childcare with such short notice. My question to you: What's the difference between today and a snow day??? In both scenarios you would be without childcare.

A protest is supposed to be an inconvenience... that's how you know that it is working. You want people to be affected by the strike... by the protest. If no one is affected then the cause was a loss. You want the Political Right to take notice to the economic and labor power that women have. When you have Secretary DeVos making her charter school agenda very clear, you want her to see the impact public schools have on America. I am proud that female educators across the country have exercised their fundamental right by showing their impact on American Society.

One way or another, women, including Black women, will have their demands met. I strike for all the women that don't have the luxury to strike. I strike so that my daughter will have the rights and liberties that she deserves. I strike so that President Trump and his army of simpletons will see that women will not be silenced; our voices will be heard and our rights will be granted!