A CGC For the Mini Me's: CURLS Curly Q's Line

London and her glorious crown of curls! 

I love that I have 3 daughters-honestly I have no idea what I'd do with boys (but that's probably because I don't have them). I have to admit though, with 3 very different heads of hair to deal with (two of which are very, very curly), at times I envy mommies that have the comparably easy duty of grooming boys. 

A Preview of My Cut & Blow Review + A Giveaway!!!

I'm still working on my review of the goodies I received from Cut & Blow, a new Hair and Beauty Private Sale site that offers members new offerings every day - each available only for a short time. I'm pretty much enamored with the site, and not just because they sent me products (lol). Just recently, I was able to order the 4 polishes I wanted from the new OPI Wizard of Oz Collection (I ordered Lights of Emerald City, What Wizardry Is This?, When Monkeys Fly!, and Which Is Witch?) for a mind boggling $5.50 a piece (they regularly retail for about $9). That's all I need to rave about them!

Fair Haired Gals, Get Your Streek On!

It's been ages since I've dyed my hair and with the exception of 2 or 3 grays, I have a head full of very (very) dark tresses. I've grown to love my natural color and don't often wish to change it, but some of the latest trends have me itching for a change. I love the look of chalking and admired the look of pink highlights on the likes of Demi Lovato, January Jones, Lauren Conrad. Come to think of it, I've always been a fan of off the wall touches of color, ever since Gwen Stefani started sporting them way back when. And now that Spring is steadily approaching, I'm itching for some bright change again!

Original Sprout Natural Styling Balm AKA: A Curly Girl Chronicle

Original Sprout offers natural hair styling products that help improve hair health and are ideal for all hair types. Their Free & Clean formulas contain soothing emollients & organic botanicals to smooth frizzies, tame flyaways & support curls softly. Their leave-in treatments restore moisture and help protect hair from UV damage and dryness.

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:

Blended Cutie Silky Swirls Shampoo AKA: A Curly Girl Chronicle

Blended Cutie Silky Swirls Shampoo (MSRP $18.50 for 8 fl. oz.) is from the kid's line offered by Blended Beauty, a Canadian based company that makes 98-99% natural hair care products made especially to suit the needs of those with " dry, wavy, curly, kinky, and relaxed or heat-straightened hair." 

CGC: Aubrey Organics B5 Design Gel

Product Description: Aubrey B5 Design Gel is a styling gel and conditioner in one! Herbal gums and vitamin B-5 (a natural hair thickener) offer body and hold, and Organic Rosa Mosqueta® and other herbs deep-condition and help protect hair from sun and blow dryer damage.

Ingredients: Deionized Water, Organic Aloe Vera, Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Organic Gum Arabic, Tragacanth Gum, Organic Rosa Mosqueta, Rose Hip Seed Oil, Inositol, Sulfur-Containing Amino Acids (Methionine and Cysteine), para-Aminobenzoic Acid (PABA), Horse Chestnut Extract, Nettle Extract, Linoleic Acid (Vitamin F), Biotin, Aubrey's Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract, Vitamins A, C and E), Organic Balsam Oil, Organic Orange Oil.

silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free, organic, protein free

My Take: As far as gels go, it's good. I don't really like to use gels so I may not be the best judge of it, but it works really well for my oldest daughter, who is transitioning. When we need to put her hair back in a ponytail, it is perfect for getting her roots smoothed out and slick.

Until next time...

CGC: SheaMoisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner

"Diary of a Product Junkie" via NaturallyCurly.com

NaturallyCurly

This is was so cute/funny, I had to share it with you lovelies! How many of us can relate? I know I can! Until next time...

Honey Curls 4 Step System Set AKA: A Curly Girl Chronicle

If you follow me on Instagram (which you really should be doing), then you got a bit of a preview of this CGC. Honey Curls is a cruelty free hair care line (targeted towards the junior market) from Canada. This is my first time using them, and at first my expectations weren't high (idk exactly why, probably because they have no discernible scent), but now I am super impressed. My curls look fantastic, shiny, and defined AND I'm pretty sure the amount of shrinkage that usually occurs was reduced. I used all four products as directed, and my hair is not crunchy, sticky, or heavy. I think I may be in love...

Bantu Know Hair Tutorial! AKA: A Curly Girl Chronicle

Please excuse the sound quality! It was all the way live at the Taliah Waajid World Natural Hair Show (where this was filmed). This is Francesca, a stylist with Design Essentials, teaching me how to do bantu knots. Enjoy!





Until next time...

Pureology Precious Oil System AKA: A Curly Girl Chronicle

Quick side note: I can't see the name of this line without hearing Golam in my head saying "My precious."

I was super stoked to try out this line, because as y'all know, I'm OBSESSED with oils! Plus the information I read on it said that it would do some awesomely major stuff for my hair: Experience radiant haircolour and 10X softer hair after just one use with Pureology Precious Oil™ haircare system for all hair types for ultimate softness. The Precious Oil system features the groundbreaking Green Seal Certified Versatile Caring Oil, the first 100% biodegradable product that is free of silicone and parabens for colour-treated hair, as well as a first of its kind Shamp’Oil – an oil-infused Zero Sulfate and silicone free featuring a unique oil delivery system that penetrates deep into hair fiber to deliver 4X the active ingredients to drastically replenish hair from the inside out. The Precious Oil system also includes an oil-infused Condition and Softening Masque. Together, the system evenly recharges every hair strand for softer, shinier, fuller and longer-lasting hair colour guaranteed. Each product in this system is designed to cleanse, condition, treat, or restore the health of the hair’s protective layer. Additionally, the Precious Oil haircare system features Sunflower Seed Oil for softness, Coconut Oil for elasticity, Olive Oil for shine and Jojoba Seed Oil for moisture. The Precious Oil system also features the exclusive oil-based OleoAntiFadeComplexTM/MC that replicates the way hair absorbs nutrients to deliver 4X active ingredients from root to tip to provide superior colour retention for longer lasting hair colour, guaranteed.

See? Pretty awesome! I don't have color treated hair, but often times I find that products marketed towards color treated hair are well suited for curly hair as well, as they are super moisturizing and non stripping. So here's what I thought after trying Pureology's Precious Oil Line...

Jane Carter Solution Scalp Renew AKA: A Curly Girl Chronicle

Jane Carter Solution Scalp Renew (MSRP $20 for 2 fl. oz.)

Product Description: This all natural pre shampoo scalp treatment is great for stimulating hair growth by cleansing and exfoliating the scalp. The fundamental to growing great hair is a healthy scalp. The tea tree oil, sweet orange and peppermint will invigorate your scalp and exfoliate all of the toxins and sludge that slow hair growth. Not only does it make your scalp feel tingly clean, peppermint and tea tree revive your energy. Scalp Renew is a must!

Ingredients:  Pure essential oils of peppermint, lavender, tea tree, sweet orange, Vitamins A, D, & E, and Hybrid Safflower Oil 

silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free, protein free, glycerin free

My Take:  They had me at the convenient applicator tip! The oil is thin enough to seep into the scalp well (I find that thicker oils lay on top of scalp and just gunk up my hair). It leaves a refreshing, tingling sensation and really relieves dry scalp and flaking. Plus, it smells like yummy peppermint. I like to use it at night, preferably as part of my pre poo treatment, after detangling my hair. 

Until next time...

Zoe Saldana at The Words Premiere-AKA: Get the Look with John Frieda

Zoe Saldana at the premiere of The Words

I have been a fan of Zoe Saldana since she made her film debut in the ballet drama, Center Stage. She's always had a unique since of style and has carried herself well throughout her Hollywood career. Currently she can be seen in the new film, The Words, starring hot hot hottie Bradley Cooper and Olivia Wilde. She looked beyond impeccable at last night's premiere of the movie...

Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion-AKA: A Curly Girl Chronicle (CGC)

Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion

Product Description: Get the ultimate in styling control for your hair with Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion. Formulated for wrapping and setting, this styling lotion gives hair superior control to create defined curls. Keeps hair looking glam and gorgeous all day long. It is an anti-humectant and provides definition. (Retails for about $5.50 for 8.5 fl oz)

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Polyquaternum-11, Alcohol Denat., PEG-12 Dimethicone, Oleth-20, TEA-Lauroyl Collagen Amino Acids, PEG-75 Lanolin, Cetrimonium Chloride, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance (Parfum), Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Panthenol

sulfate free and paraben free

My Take: I would never have thought to use setting lotion in my hair, I grew up watching my mom use it for roller sets on her relaxed hair, so I didn't think it's use translated over to my natural tresses. I used the Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion in my oldest daughter's transitioning hair. She's determined to go sulfate and paraben free in the products she uses so this was a perfect fit for her roller set. We used a spray bottle of water to dampen her hair (her natural texture is 4b/c) and then used a generous amount of the foam throughout before putting in foam rollers. While I don't exactly like the scent (it's not bad, it's just not good) and the fact that it leaves your hands quite sticky, the results are undeniable. After leaving the rollers in overnight, she woke up with lovely curls that I'm positive will stay in her hair all day, despite the humidity. We did need to apply some cream moisturizer, as her hair did look a bit dry, but the important thing is that her hair will hold, thanks to Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion! I still can't figure out how to use it in my 3b hair, but we will definitely be using it again in hers!

Until next time...


Ciao, XxO


Q


PS-Product was sent for review by the company and NaturallyCurly.com. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own. This post does contain affiliate links-if you choose to click on the picture or text links AND make a purchase, I will receive a small commission :)

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. 

Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now: nuNAAT Brazilian Keratin Daily Care Collection

I've had the privilege of trying out several products from nuNAAT, an internationally known (I can't type that without hearing Rob Base in my head) hair care company that fuses nature with modern technology to offer a vast array of extraordinary products (and I've tried 2 different lines so far and they were both kinda AWESOME!). I'm extremely happy to share this new from nuNAAT with you lovelies...

nuNAAT is promoting that they can give you GREAT hair, every day! If you want straight, frizz-free hair, check out nuNAAT's NAAT Brazilian Keratin collection. Designed to work for ANY hair type to restore and intensify's hair's nutritional balance, leaving it incredibly smooth, strong and flexible.

nuNAAT is giving away three sets of their popular NAAT Brazilian Keratin daily care collection. You have until 12:00 AM Eastern, Friday August 31 to enter to win via the Rafflecopter Widget below! 

I do hope that one of you lovelies win! Stay tuned for my reviews of nuNAAT's Karite Special with Shea Butter Collection, NAAT Treatment Curly Hair with Cupuacu and Keratin Collection, and the NAAT Treatment Repair Care with Acai and Keratin Collection.

nuNAAT Rafflecopter giveaway



Until next time...


Ciao, XxO

Q

Take Your Style to the Beach with Pureology's Control Twist

Even though fall is upon us, you can still make like it's summer by turning your tresses into perfect beachy waves!  Beachy waves are not just for summer vacation  - surfer girls and city girls alike will love Pureology’s newest addition to the Colour Stylist family, Control Twist high hold liquid wax.   Used on dry or damp hair, this versatile, high hold liquid wax is a must-have product for everyday styling for every season! 

photo via Pureology Website

Get the Look with John Frieda: Kate Beckinsale at the Total Recall Premiere

John Frieda's Frizz Ease Serum has been a Holy Grail item for me since I discovered it in high school-I've had the chance to try many similar serums, but NOTHING comes close to the sleek finish and frizz control that his Serum provides.