Does Maui Moisture Live Up to Its Name?

Happy Wednesday, everyone! This is my review of the Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo. I am so excited to bring this review to you guys because this product has made me enjoy using shampoo again.

When I first came across Maui Moisture products, they immediately caught my eye because I thought they looked like a row of drinks on the store shelf. From the unique packaging alone I could tell that there was something special about these products.

It took me awhile to actually purchase anything from Maui Moisture, but now that I’ve been using one of their shampoos for the past two months, I wondered why I slept on their products for such a long time.

The Specs

This specific shampoo promises to “hydrate, smooth and defrizz” hair that is thick and curly. It’s free of surfactants and contains coconut oil, papaya butter, and plumeria extract. 

There are a number of potentially harmful ingredients to your hair that this product does not have, which includes:

• Mineral oil
• Silicones
• Parabens
• SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfates, foaming agent found in most shampoos)
• Synthetic Dye
• Sulfated Surfactants
• ALES (Ammonium Laureth Sulfates, another foaming surfactant)

What this product does contain quenches your hair and leaves it feeling soft without stripping it. The first ingredient that you’ll see is 100% pure Aloe juice and coconut water, both of which are extremely moisturizing and healing for hair and skin. Going back to the other ingredients mentioned before, let’s dive deeper into why they do nothing but good things for your curls.

Coconut Oil

Most of us probably use coconut oil in our daily lives, whether it be for hair care, skin care, or in our diets. As we all know, coconut oil has many moisturizing and healing properties and can work wonders on hair that is dull or damaged.

Papaya Butter

If Papaya is a regular staple in your diet, keep eating it! You’re already receiving its benefits. 

Papaya is full of antioxidants, carotenes (also found in carrots), magnesium, potassium, flavonoids, and vitamins B and C. It works as a natural conditioner by preventing dandruff, adding shine and volume, helping with split ends, strengthening hair and getting rid of buildup. Perhaps what it is most known for is preventing balding and thinning of the hair. 

I personally use papaya as a tasty addition to my healthy smoothies!

Plumeria Extract

Also known as Frangipani oil, it is a widely used yet underrated essential oil that many cultures have been using for thousands of years. While the main use of the flower in most products is for adding fragrance, every part of the plumeria plant has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, astringent and cleansing properties that leave the skin and hair deeply moisturized and soft. 

However, it is recommended that you consult with a medical professional before using frangipani oil for certain conditions (like pregnancy or diabetes).

Pros

• Uses pure ingredients.
• Vegan and eco-friendly.
• Contains no gluten, so if you're allergic and have a hard time finding shampoos without gluten, this shampoo is perfect!
• It's very budget friendly. This cost me $8.99 at my local Walgreens.
• The smell will make you crave a tropical drink, which is funny because there's a line in the directions that says, “As good as I look and smell, please do not drink me!”

Cons

• I haven't purchased the matching conditioner or curl smoothie yet! 😆

This shampoo will make you fall in love with shampooing again. Personally, I haven't co-washed my hair as often as I used to since using this product, and my hair has been thanking me ever since. 

You can purchase this shampoo and all the other awesome Maui Moisture products from Walgreens, Ulta Beauty, or from Walmart at only $6.97!

I give the Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo...

Thank you so much for reading. This review was done solely based on the fact that it's awesome and I wanted to share it with you guys. I don't collect revenue to do these reviews, but If I do, you will definitely know. 

Have an awesome day and let me know if you try these products!

Review: Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo

I learned about this amazing product from my aunt who actually gave this to me before I left St. Thomas. Although I am familiar with Burt's Bees products, variety was hard to come by where I lived. Therefore, I had no prior knowledge about this pre-poo until I received it from her. 

Little did I know that this would become a staple in my hair care collection. I'm slowly starting to realize that avocado may be essential to my own regimen, which I'll discuss in another post. I have yet to fully test that theory, but I am convinced so far.

The Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment (with Nettles and Rosemary) is 99.33% natural and promises to restore your dry or damaged hair. 

Because I detangle while pre-pooing, this product makes it easy for the comb to glide through my hair and ensure a frustration-free wash day. You guys already know how to pre-poo, however, you can also use this product to style your hair.

What's the Hype?

This pre-poo has eight nourishing, vitamin-rich oils that aid in manageability and add shine to your curls. They include: 

• Avocado oil
• Olive oil
• Sweet almond oil
• Citrus rind oil
• Oat oil
• Chlorophyll oil 
• Vegetable oil
• Rosemary leaf oil

Other ingredients are vegetable glycerin, oat flour, lanolin (helps trap moisture), nettle leaf powder, quillaja extract (bark from the soapbark plant; reduces itchiness and hair thinning), Tocopherol (Vitamin E) and some fragrance.

The texture is quite interesting as well. I assumed that this product would be creamy because of its name, but when you use it, it has more of a runny, glossy texture. 

Have I convinced you yet? If not, good. It's time to consider the pros and cons.

Pros

• You can actually read and understand what the ingredients are. It's hard to come by high-quality hair products that are 99% natural. 
• The online price average ranges from $8.99 to $9.99 according to Target, Walmart, and of course, the official Burt's Bees website. 
• The packaging is made from 42% post-consumer recycled plastic. 
• Animal lover or not, you'll be happy to know that this product has not been tested on animals. 
• The fragrance is light and smells mildly of citrus and natural oils.
• The tube is thin and easy to travel with.
• It makes my hair feel super soft, strong and luminous long after the wash is over.
• Not that it's a curl defining product, but this pre-poo defines my curls nicely. 💁🏽‍♀️

Cons

• Tube only contains 4.34 ounces or 123 grams of product, which if you're heavy handed like most naturals are, this will not last more than four to five washes.
• It runs a bit too quickly even after you stop squeezing the tube, which can become very messy.

So, what's the verdict? I give Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment...

And there you have it! A natural, budget-friendly pre-poo that can be a healthy addition to your natural hair regimen. 

By the way, this product is not sponsored at all. I just like reviewing products I already own so you will be seeing a lot more of these. Let me know if you would try this product and don't forget to follow me on social media, which you'll see on the left below the About Me. 

Until next time!

Tips and Tricks for a Smoother Wash Day

Wash days can sometimes turn into one to two-day events if you're a natural girl. Hours are spent on detangling and doing pre-wash treatments even before the main wash. Add in deep conditioning treatments, protein treatments or some other treatment you saw someone doing on YouTube in addition to styling. And before you know it, you find yourself toiling away until the day is gone.

You know that all the work that you put in will be worth it in the end, but can wash days go by quicker without having to sacrifice your favorite treatment? They absolutely can!

Every wash day is different depending on what may be going on in your life. That's why I've gathered some helpful tips from across the internet as well as a few of my own that I use on every wash day.

Before and After the Wash

Schedule hair routines on a weekly or monthly basis so you know what to expect next wash day. For example, if your wash days are usually on Sunday, plan all of your wash days for every Sunday that month.

Wash your combs and brushes at least once a month so they'll be nice clean when you're ready to use them again.

Detangle while pre-pooing. Instead of doing one before the other, kill two birds with one stone.

Speaking of detangling, warm your spray bottle of water or aloe vera juice before use in a bowl of hot water. You can do this with hot oil treatments as well.

Get reusable shower caps for your treatments. This is much better than using disposable shower caps that are only good for one or two uses.

Streaming shows can be a great way to pass the time while you style your hair, greasy fingers can put a damper in your viewing pleasure. I tend to use a stylus if I ever need to jump between apps.

Get More Use Out of Something You Might Have at Home

Use a T-shirt you no longer wear to dry your hair. It's gentler on your hair than a towel and it stays on your head much better (trust me).

Now, this is my favorite trick that I came up with. If you happen to have a cheap tablecloth lying around, spread it across the floor and sit or stand on it while you detangle or style your hair. This will make cleaning up a breeze! 😁

If you don't have a sink plug but there's saran wrap in your kitchen, line the drain with a layer or two to catch shed hair as it falls. 

You can also use saran wrap to keep oil from dripping down your forehead and neck during a hot oil treatment.

Dr. Bronner's 18-in-1 Hemp Peppermint Pure Castille Soap has been a staple for many of my relatives for as long as I can remember. If you already own this product, you know that it can be used for a multitude of household tasks, as well as a shampoo. I personally use this as a clarifying shampoo.

For your little naturalistas, you can use one of their pool noodles as a neck support if you wash their hair in the kitchen sink. I found this tip on the blog Sherry's Life.

I hope this post was helpful if you've been looking for some ways to make the dreaded wash day a little more bearable. Let me know if this helped you in any way and I hope you enjoyed reading. 

Have an awesome Hump Day!

The Mane Choice: Hair Butter Review

Hair butters provide some of the easiest ways to add moisture to your hair. They are very rich and because they are heavier than oils, those with the curliest textures can benefit greatly. I first discovered The Mane Choice products around last year, with some reviews swirling around YouTube and inevitably disappearing from the shelves at my local Walgreens.

I purchased The Mane Choice Doesn't Get Much "BUTTER" Than This Daily Hair Dressing because I craved a moisture-rich product other than a leave-in conditioner. My hair tends to dry out quickly and I believed that I'd found my solution.

So, What's The Hype About?

This product promises to nourish, soften and add shine to your hair. It's full of the good stuff like shea butter, coconut oil, and castor seed oil. However, there are plenty of other lesser-known butters and oils that are equally, if not better for your hair. The butters include Carrot, Broccoli, Mango Seed, and Avocado. Oils include Sunflower Seed oil and Orange Seed oil. 

If you prefer a more natural hair butter without having to buy individual butters to mix together, this one is perfect. This particular product also has Vitamin D, A, and E.

The Butters: What Are Their Benefits?

Carrot Butter: 

• Contains beta-carotene (which our bodies convert into Retinol aka Vitamin A)
• Regenerates skin
• Balances Moisture

Brocolli Butter

• Strengthens hair at the roots
• Contains Erucic acid, which helps with luster and shine
• Prevents hair loss
• Promotes hair growth

Mango Seed Butter

• Very moisturizing
• Has high levels of saturated and monosaturated fatty acids
• Regenerates the scalp and skin
• Provides the necessary environment for hair growth
• Protects against UV rays

Avocado Butter

• Seals and retains moisture
• Packed with vitamins and minerals that provide nourishment
• Effectively penetrates the hair cuticle better than oils because of its large amounts of saturated and monosaturated fats

The Oils

Sunflower Seed Oil 

• Eliminates frizz
• Is an emollient, which helps to lock in and retain moisture
• Very lightweight, and easily penetrates the hair
• High in oleic acids that prevent hair from becoming brittle

Orange Seed Oil

• Enhances blood circulation
• Rich in Vitamin C
• Conditions the hair and skin
• Blends well with other oils

Before you run to the nearest drugstore to buy this product, consider that even if you shared the same texture and curl pattern with me, our hair is not the same. What may work perfectly for one person's hair type can work differently, for better or for worse, with another person's hair type. 

After using this product for quite some time, here is a summary of the pros and cons of what this product did for my particular texture.

👍 It's very smooth and rich. Helps seal in and retain moisture for at least a week after first application. The texture is soft and quickly melts into the hands. It smells like citrus and makes your hair smell fresh, which most definitely comes from the Orange Seed oil. It can be added to enhance a deep conditioning treatment. Pretty much all of the ingredients are natural and this product is not tested on animals.

👎 It doesn't have much slip (for my hair at least) and doesn't define my curls as well as other moisturizing products I own. It's a bit on the pricey side. It retails for around $15.oo and cost me $18.00 at my local Walgreens.

No product is absolutely perfect but if I had to rate this one, I would give The Mane Choice Doesn't Get Much "BUTTER" Than This Daily Hair Dressing...

 If you already own this product, let me know how it works for you. Thanks for reading and have an awesome Tuesday!

May 2017 Hair Products Haul + Bonus Product

Welcome to my first ever haul! I know what you're thinking: It's not a mountain of products piled onto the floor. This is more of a mini haul, so go easy on me. 😅 

All except for one is a mixture of hair products, but keep reading to find out what the bonus product is. Since I'm planning on doing tons of experiments with different hairstyles, I wanted to stock up on a variety of products. I also did this because I'm still playing around with products to see how my hair reacts to them. 

Deep Conditioners

I am a deep conditioner junkie. I love trying them out because they all react differently with my hair, yet they always leave my hair soft and moisturized. This is the Creme of Nature Professional Nourishing and Strengthening Treatment. 

I bought this because it has Jojoba and Olive Oil. It's also full of coconut oils, Shea butter, cocoa butter and wheat protein that is supposed to reduce breakage, heal damaged ends and protect against thermal damage. I bought this for $12.99 at my local hair supply store. I can't wait to try this! 

The second deep conditioners I bought were a couple of samples from Kmart. It's funny because I actually came across these packets in Walgreens a few weeks ago but I wasn't sure whether I wanted to try them. But once I saw them again I just had to get them. 

The yellow packet is the Hask Coconut Milk and Organic Honey Curl Care Deep Conditioner. What stood out to me was the Memory Curl Complex, which is actually a fancy name to describe its curl enhancing and frizz control abilities. It's also free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten and alcohol. 

The black packet also stood out to me because, well, the charcoal immediately caught my eye. This is the Hask Charcoal with Citrus Oil Purifying Deep Conditioner. As you know, charcoal has great purifying properties, and this particular treatment promises to clarify the hair, remove impurities and to deliver lots of moisture. These packets cost about $2.00 each, but I think the full bottles cost between $12 to $15. I'm suuuper excited to try the charcoal deep conditioner on my next wash day! 

Gels

Here we have the Coconut and Hibiscus Curling Gel Soufflé with Agave and Flax Seed Oil from Shea Moisture. This line isn't particularly new to me because I have a sample of their Coconut and Hibiscus Curling Enhancing Smoothie, which I purchased about two years ago. It smells so heavenly, but back to the gel. If you're concerned about the ingredients, this gel contains no: 

sulfates
parabens
phthalates
paraffin 
propylene glycol
mineral oil
synthetic 
fragrance or color
DEA

This product is also not animal tested. Its promises include curl definition, hydration and sealing of the hair shaft, and no buildup. I plan to attempt Marley Twists pretty soon so this along with my Hick's Edges might help me achieve smooth results. 

I think we've all used the second gel at some point in our lives, natural or relaxed. It's the Ampro Pro Styl Protein Styling Gel, or "the brown gel" as I call it. The last time this gel was used on my hair was when I was in high school and I still remember the amazing hold. This gel did not move for anything, at least not until I caved at the beach and went for a swim. This island girl NEVER goes to the beach without swimming in the ocean. 😏 This is a gel that won't be used as much as the gels I use on a daily basis, but it will come in handy when I want to keep certain styles firmly in place. 

Leave-In Conditioners 

I love trying out different leave in conditioners, and sometimes, I prefer when comes from a spray bottle. The first is another Creme of Nature product, and it's the Coconut Milk Detangling and Conditioning Leave-In Conditioner. Coconut oil is the magic ingredient I'm this leave-in, which is meant to soften the hair and improve manageability. What I will say is that the fragrance may be too strong for some. It doesn't bother me but the scent did stand out to me quite a bit. I think this product runs for about $8.00 at Kmart. 

This Mane 'n Tail Maximum Herbal-Gro technically isn't a leave-in conditioner. I categorize it as a leave in only because it's applied to washed and dried hair, but it's a grease. This is a throwback to my elementary school days, and although I usually stay away from greases, I thought I could try it to keep my hair smooth whenever I twist my hair for protective styling. Mane' n Tail products are known for promoting hair growth, mainly because many of them contain the ingredient colts foot and horse chestnut, which is pretty self-explanatory. The benefits of this include scalp nourishment and conditioning breakage prevention and promotion are stronger and shinier hair. 

Oils

If this oil looks familiar, it's because I already mentioned the first Reshma Henna oil in my last post. This oil, while it has the same amount of oils, is a little different. This oil is meant for normal skin and the blend of oils are supposed to add shine to the hair, keep it nourished and strong, and has benefits for the skin as well such as softening the skin as well as minimizes wrinkles and ease stretch marks. I shall be the judge of that as I'm actively trying to get rid of a few stretch marks. The five oils in this blend are cinnamon oil, olive oil, almond oil, clove oil and henna extract. I'll be adding it to my Fenugreek-Moringa oil blend. I purchased this oil on sale for $5.00.

Bonus Product

A few weeks ago I shared the Spin for Perfect Skin 70% off sale that Vanity Planet was having on my Facebook page. Well, I took advantage if the sale and purchased the $99.99 skin brush for $29.99! This is my third product I've purchased from them, and yet again, I am one satisfied customer. The system not only includes the exfoliating body brush, but it comes with two face cleansing attachments and a pumice stone attachment.

 I've been wanting to get into the habit of "dry brushing", which is just exfoliating dry skin to get rid of dead skin cells. It can also be used in the shower if need be. What I also love about this product, and my other Vanity Planet products is that the packages always come with a promo code that takes 50% off on your next purchase.

And guess what? The sale for the Spin for Perfect Skin brush is STILL going on! I'm not sure how much longer it'll last, so if you want 70% off the original price, I suggest you buy it now. I have no idea what I might come across next on their website, but I have a strong feeling I'll be purchasing more from them. Let's just say the next Black Friday should be really interesting... 

If you made it to the end of this post, thank you for being such a good sport. It was a lot of information but I wanted to let you guys know exactly why I decided to buy these products in case you were interested in buying them yourselves. I'll definitely be posting updates, whether good or bad, and I'm just looking forward to using them. I hope you're having an awesome weekend so far and join me next Saturday for Smoothie Saturdays. This one will include a yummy yet healthy treat that can be a great substitute for dessert. 

See ya!

Rice Water Rinse Update

Welcome to April, everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend and I'm wishing you an awesome week ahead. If you saw my update on Facebook and Instagram, you'll know that I took an unexpected hiatus last week. I've been very busy with school and work, and as much as I would like to shell out a post every day that's just not possible with my daily schedule. But it is what it is. 

I am so excited to give you my thoughts on using the rice water rinse because of the amazing benefits I've been noticing so far. I added this to my hair regimen almost two months ago after stumbling upon an article about the Yao women of Huangluo Hongyao village in China, who use fermented rice water to aid hair growth and to keep their hair manageable and black well into their octogenarian years. You can read more about their interesting traditions here. 

Although I was amazed that all these women had hair that touched the floor, I was honestly very skeptical. So I did more research on the benefits of using fermented rice water on the hair. Rice water has amazing benefits for both the hair and skin, full of antioxidants, minerals; and it is known to restore damaged hair, protect it from further damage and improves elasticity. But what rice water contains most importantly, is the carbohydrate Inositol, which has long-lasting effects on the hair even after rinsing. 

Since I've been rinsing with rice water, I've noticed a huge difference in manageability and softness. Guys, my hair is so soft! And it no longer feels dry when I wear my hair in twists for the week. I've also recently noticed that the shine in my hair has been slowly restored. While everyone does their own rice water recipe differently, here's the recipe that I custom made for myself. 

Now, I just don't use any old cheap rice that you pick up at the store. I chose to buy this organic brown rice from my local bulk store because I know that I'll be using it for my hair. 

I don't want to use just any rice that may contain pesticides, but it may be more economical to use the cheaper kind if you're just using it for your hair. I typically start the process the day before wash day to allow the mixture to ferment. Some people may choose to let it ferment for two days but one day is good enough for me. I use probably a 3/4 cup of rice, which I give a proper rinse in a strainer before adding it to my 64 oz glass jar. Having a glass container is important because there will be some deep fermentation happening in there. Then I add about a cup and a half of water, screw on the lid and leave it in a dark corner for 24 hours. 

This is what you'll end up with the following day. 

Before I use the rice water on my hair, I strain the rice in an old strainer and add the water into a pot and allow it to boil. 

Boiling the mixture stops the fermentation process. If you try this, expect your kitchen to smell like a wet dog. But you can add a few drops of essential oil into the water so that it doesn't smell too bad. Let the hot water cool either until it's warm or cooled completely.  

I tend to use rice water to rinse out either deep conditioner or a protein treatment before the final cold water rinse. It is not advised to use rice water as a final rinse because it may leave behind a residue in your hair. I repeat the process twice by pouring the water on my hair, making sure that it lands in a bowl below my head to catch what is left. I massage my scalp for about a minute, pour the mixture over my hair one last time and massage for another minute before thoroughly rinsing my hair and scalp with cold water. 

I rinse with rice water at every week, leaving out the last week of the month for an ACV rinse. It's also important to mention that you'll see the benefits of this rinse much quicker with a proper diet. A double whammy is what will kickstart the growth. For me, it took probably two weeks before I noticed how soft, shiny and strong my hair had become, and I hope that if you try this rinse, you'll see those benefits as well. 

I finally hit collarbone length! I should probably do an official length check soon. 😁

Let me know if you will add rice water into your hair or skin regimen because you won't be disappointed. I hope you enjoyed reading today and have a great Monday!

My Makeup Routine

There will be no eyebrows "on fleek" in this post. This is my almost daily makeup routine because on a typical day I can't be bothered to put on makeup every day. I wear makeup at least twice a week, and none at all if I'm feeling extra lazy.

If you were to go back a few years on my Instagram, however, you'd quickly find out that I was obsessed with makeup. This was all thanks to YouTube makeup gurus. I became inspired to experiment with different makeup and color schemes and proudly displayed them on my Facebook and Instagram. For someone who had never applied makeup on my own, I quickly picked up skills like winged eyeliner, smokey eyeshadow, and blending. I even considered launching my own YouTube channel dedicated to makeup tutorials. 

Although it was extremely fun, it was time-consuming and very expensive. I was dropping money on brands link M.A.C, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Sigma Beauty (brushes) and BH Cosmetics, which aren't particularly expensive brands, but as a sophomore in college with hardly a dime to her name, it was a lot of money. This is another reason why I now prefer wearing less makeup. 

I still own these brands for special occasions. so if I'm going to a wedding, a show or if I just want to look fabulous for absolutely no reason, these are my staples pictured below! (Face: M.A.C Pro Longwear Foundation SPF 10 IN NW43, M.A.C Select Sheer Pressed Powder in NW43. Eyes: Rimmel London Glam Eyes Quad Eyeshadow in 002 Smoky Brun, Maybelline New York Master Precise by Eyestudio, NYX Doll Eye Mascara. Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown, M.A.C Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Brown Ebony. Lips: M.A.C Rebel and M.A.C Lickable.)

This is the makeup that I use on a typical day. (Face: Milani Conceal+Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation and Concealer in 13 Chestnut, Black Radiance True Complexion Soft Focus Finishing Powder in 9203 Milk Chocolate Finish, Milani Retouch+Erase Light-Lifting Concealer in 06 Deep Honey. Eyes: Rimmel London Glam Eyes Quad Eyeshadow in 002 Smoky Brun, Wet n Wild Megaliner in Black, e.l.f Mascara in Black. Eyebrows: Jordana Brow Powder Duo in 03 Dark. Lips: Black Radiance Lipstick in 5010.)

And this is the makeup I wear when I'm feeling particularly lazy but still feel like wearing just a little bit of makeup.

The brand I am currently enjoying is Black Radiance. Their products are super affordable yet very high-quality. And I obviously had no trouble finding the right shade for myself. The next brand I'd love to try is Iman's makeup line. Whenever I make the purchase I'll be sure to post a review.

I start my makeup routine using a primer but since I currently do not have a primer I use either the Avon Sun+ SPF 40 Sunscreen Face Lotion or the Reviver Rosehip Seed Oil mixed with the Jāsön Age Renewal Vitamin E 25,000 I.U. Moisturizing Crème to keep my skin protected and moisturized. I use these oils/creams very sparingly.

Then I apply my foundation and concealer with a damp beauty blender.

Next, I apply eyeshadow, eyebrow powder, and eyeliner in that order. By the way, this eyeshadow palette is the Wet n Wild Au Naturel in 753A Bare Necessities.

After applying the majority of my makeup I lightly brush on some pressed powder, put on some mascara (which I actually forgot to apply 😑) followed by my Burt's Bees Mango Moisturizing Lip Balm. If I feel like wearing lipstick I go for my Black Radiance in 5010.  

And that's pretty much it! I hope you enjoyed this post and look out for my skincare routine tomorrow! Thanks for reading!