As you all know I won a full set of Kinky-Curly products last week on The Nappturalite Radio Show courtesy of KC creator Shelley Davis and set right away to “testing” the products starting with the Come Clean Shampoo and Knot Today Leave-in/Detanger (reviews of those products will come after my second use of them this weekend).  Because I was most excited about the Kinky Curly Curling Custard , the moment my hair was clean and conditioned I put it to the test, because I was excited to see if I’d be able to achieve similar results as I’ve read in other’s positive reviews.  So I washed and conditioned my tresses and allowed the Knot Today to sit overnight.. Cause I was feeling kinda lazy. *lol*  The next morning I re-wet my hair which gave me this result:

Next I applied a generous amount (about a half dollar sized dollop) of Curling Custard to my sopping wet strands (as per instruction) and finger combed it through.  I think I may have used a bit too much because what I came away with after application was a white gooey mess that weighed my hair down something terrible.  Not to be deterred I toweled the excess custard off and this was the result when I was done:

Not at all what I was expecting since before applying the custard my curls were  a whole lot longer than they appeared afterwards.  But I figured I’d be able to stretch them with a couple of spritzes of water later so I went along my merry way and allowed the product to dry.  Here’s the result of my hair after it dried:

Very tight curls and “dry”, crunchy shrinkage even after I applied a bit of water and fluffed my hair with fingers and pick.  Again, not at all what I was expecting but The Lion said it looked decent so I was cool with it.  After tweeting that I would be using the custard I got a response from The Sistah Chick of The Sistah Cafe who said she’d had the same experience, but said that a friend of hers informed her that she’d “used it wrong”.  I’m not exactly sure what “using it wrong” meant so I did a search to see I could find any reviews that displayed similar results.  In my searching I happened upon to official video tutorial on KC’s Youtube channel where she suggested using the Gloss Pomade to lessen the “crunch”.  After noticing that Shelley and all the other Youtubers who had positive results from using the product had hair that was way longer than mine, I searched for videos of short haired naturals.  All but one videos seemed to boast desired results using the custard so I figured I must have “used it wrong” too, but followed Shelley’s advice and used a bit of the Gloss Pomade.  Here’s what I came away with:

Teeny tiny shrunken ringlets.  And this was the day after I’d initially applied the custard and spritzed my hair with water.  Not the look I was going for.  Although I can’t argue with the fact that my curls were “defined”, as the product promises to do, I desired a looser effect.  Well lo and behold, right on the KCCC jar are directions for both tight and loose curls.  Whodathunkit, right?  So I washed with the Come Clean and reapplied the Knot Today, let my hair dry a little bit, lightly wet it with a couple of sprays of water, applied a moderate amount of custard (little bigger than a quarter) and “scrunched” the hair as per the directions.  Here are the results of all that effort:

Not that big of a difference, eh?  Although my curls were defined this was not the look I was going for and not the definition I’m used to.  What I was expecting was a more “fluffy” version this:

The above look (if you can really see it clearly) was achieved using simple water, a few sprays of Yonnea’s Natural Beauty’s Honey Hibiscus Leave N Condish and a $2 jar of Long Aid Curl Activator Gel which resulted in softer, curlier curls (drawback: tacky texture once the combo dried).  So considering all of the praise KCCC has gotten I was expecting a better experience than my el cheapo combination, but I have to keep in mind that not every hair type reacts the same with every product and every product doesn’t work for every style.  As I stated before, a lot of the videos posted on Youtube that report great results where made by users who’s hair was way longer than mine and had more of a wavy texture (which longer hair tends to do).  There were a few vids of users who sported TWA’s or short styles, but I’m not sure they’re type is the same as mine.

Now while you might suspect I’d give Kinky-Curly’s Curling Custard a low rating based on this one trial, I am honestly going to withhold my assessment because I would love to see how well the gel works on two strands twists/twist outs.  Although it did not “elongate my curls” or “allow them to ‘hang’ better” (per the Website) and I wasn’t all that enamoured with the crunchy feel it left behind (even in relatively small amounts), there are various other things about the custard that I liked.  The fact that it not only defines curls but holds them in place.  I also like the ingredient list, which combines a host of natural ingredients and preservatives (botanical infusion of water, horsetail, chamomile, nettle and marshmallow, organic aloe vera juice, agave nectar extract, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), pectic, citric acid, potassium sorbate and natural fragrance) that are good for the hair.  And I also love the smell, which is absolutely delicious and not at all over powering.  So for the moment I am going to suspend my rating of KCCC because although it did not work well for my WNG (wash ‘n go) it just may work wonders for other styles or in tandem with another product.  So with that being said, I’ll return later in the month with a secondary assessment of Kinky-Curly’s Curling Custard.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

Today women and men all over the country are making an effort to make natural hair a trend.  No, no, no.  Not a passing fashion trend, but a trending topic on the popular social networking Website Twitter!

About a month ago and unknown source designated June 1st, 2010 as the day natural hair lovers and wearers would spend the day tweeting about natural hair styles, products and their love of kinks, coils, curls and naps.  Starting at midnight in their respective time zones, Twitters posted 140 character messages to pass on transitioning tips, quotes, declarations about why they’ve chosen to "go natural" and their appreciation for the support they’ve received in the community, all attached to the hashtag #naturalhair.

The signal for participation has also gone on on Facebook, where status messages alerting natural hair wearers of the occasion have been posted throughout the day.  Even Columbus author M. Michelle George put out a call to arm via her Twitter and Facebook accounts.  Although it has been speculated that the call for a Natural Hair Day was an effort to demean or discredit women who choose to chemically straighten their hair, that is not the aim. The mission of the occasion is to help spread the word about and dispel some of the misconceptions surrounding African-American hair in its unaltered state, and to encourage natural hair wearers worldwide while inspiring those who may be on the fence to take up the journey.

Read more HERE.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

We all know how oily hair can get if we go too long past “wash” day. For most, a week is the threshold, although some can go longer while some opt for every day cleansing. Whether you enlist a liquid shampoo, shampoo bar or “no poo” options, cleansing is a vital part in a healthy hair regimen because it clears the hair and scalp of product build up and its natural tendency to retain its own oils. Because hair is porous, it absorbs oil and other substances almost magically, which makes washing a must. Because of this seemingly magnetic phenomenon, husband and wife team Lisa and Patrice Gautier propose our hair can be used to help retard the spread of oil from the most recent spill in the Gulf of Mexico without placing more biochemical stress on the fragile ecosystem of the area.

Lisa and Patrice created the Matter of Trust charity in 1998 in order to “link ideas, spark action and materialize sustainable systems”, or in other words, create eco-friendly solutions to tragedies such as the Gulf oil spill. Lisa, a mother of three and an extensive volunteer of the Jersey Wildlife Preservation, and Patrice, Vice President of the iTunes Store & iPhone Apps Store Engineering, conceived the idea for MofT before becoming parents and saw their vision as a way to take care of the planet they would be leaving for their children as well as children worldwide. Through their charity they have facilitated various programs that help reuse manmade materials to cut down on waste, enlist natural resources to provide aid and products vital to our society, and help to provide eco-education for activist organizations and concerned citizens. In 2000, Matter of Trust developed the brilliant idea that mats made from human and animal hair, as well as other naturally absorbent fibers, could be used to help clean up the over 2,600 oil spills that occur each year. These EPA approved mats can be used to safely soak up oil spills from drip pans during your car’s routine oil changes, as well as help to contain threats to human and animal life forms from such occurrences as the Gulf oil spill. The mats themselves are invented and patented by hair stylist Phil McCrory and are manufactured by Ottimat for industrial use.

"You shampoo, because hair collects oil. Hair is very efficient at gathering oil, skin oils off your face, oil pollution out of the air, and water, even petroleum oil spills,” states a quote from McCrory that’s listed on the Matter of Trust Website. “Hair is absorbant (as in ‘clings to’ unlike [absorbent] which is to ‘soak up.’) There are over 370,000 hair salons in the US and each collects about one pound of hair a day. Right now, most of that goes into the waste stream, but it should all be made into hair mats."

So for the past ten years MofT has been collecting hair from donation sources all across the globe and the resulting hair mats are providing amazing demonstrations of just how effective the mats are in “cleaning” oil spills. The hair collected can be of any texture, length, color or state (permed or relaxed) as long as it is clean and free of debris. Many salons and barbershops are now participating in the program, providing hair donations in recycled from product orders. And when it comes to disposal of the oil soaked mats, a study was completed that showed the mat could be detoxified by thermophilic compost, broken down by common earthworms then returned to the Earth as fertilizer in just two years’ time.

Although this seems like a viable solution to help in this moment of national crisis, officials at British Petroleum and state and federal authorities are discounting the effectiveness of the hair mats and hair booms, stating they “won’t work well” in comparison to commercial sorbet booms made of polypropylene.

Read more HERE.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

Last Sunday I won a full set of Kinky-Curly products courtesy of The Nappturalite Radio Show and Kinky-Curly creator Shelley Davis, who was a guest.  This tickled me pink of course because I have really been wanting to try the her Curling Custard because I’ve read so many rave reviews about it and knew it’s available at the Whole Food location here, but wasn’t sure when I’d be able to squeeze it into my budget.  Well much to my delight the prize arrived today and I was completely amazed to see a box loaded with FULL SIZED products!!!  This was much more than I was expecting and I am ever so appreciative of Shelley’s generosity.  In total I received a bottle of Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo, a bottle of Knot Today Natural Leave-in/Detangler, a bottle of Spiral Spritz Natural Styling Serum, a  jar of the Original Curling Custard and a tin of Gloss Pomade.  Again, all are FULL SIZED portions!  Can you tell I’m excited?  I knew that you could. *lol*

While I have to admit I am a bit skeptical of the shampoo since it is gel based (no shade, my hair and gel shampoo have never had much of a love connection), the consistency of the shampoo is a lot different than most of the other gel based cleansers I’ve used so I’ll reserve judgment on it for at least two wash cycles because I’m really committed to giving this product line a shot.  I’m most anxious to make short work of this Curling Custard though because I’ve heard good things about it from so many different sources and hoping it will be my “go to” gel for two strand twist outs.  And everything smell so gooooooooood ya’ll!  Like Easter candy delicious type of good!  Think I’m going to put the Spiral Spritz to work tonight for class and see how well it holds out after five hours of psychology. *lol*

Thank you so much Dawn Yerger, host of NR, Jaye Reliford, the NR co-host, and most importantly Shelley Davis for this most excellent prize pack.  And now… back to the group analysis paper I’ve been avoiding all week. *wink*

Healthy Hair Wishes,

Textured hair seems to be all the rage and the formulation of products to meet the needs of coily hair consumers has seen an increase in recent years. One look at retail shelves and you’ll notice that every hair care manufacture in the market has worked to create a line that specifically cares for the different textures and types of hair beyond the simple fine, normal and coarse. Garnier Fructis has introduced its Wonder Waves collection and Herbal Essences has its very own Totally Twisted collection, each promising to give curls much needed TLC.  But even as the curly boom demand being met with a generous cosmetic company supply, for ethnic hair a lot of the products that are offered just aren’t cutting the mustard when it comes to proper care. In order to meet the need, company’s like Miss Jessie’s and Carol’s Daughter have been created to help women of color tame and nourish their tresses using products specifically tailored to care for ethnic hair. Unfortunately for many however, the cost and limited availability of these products oftentimes made it difficult for beauties on a budget to get their hands on them. Well discount retailers like Target, Wal-Mart and even Walgreens are bringing these hair care solutions to their commerce concerned customers and adding a little diversity to their health and beauty departments.

First the curly community was rocked by the news that Miss Jessie’s product line was being available at Target, with the introduction of The Jane Carter Solution and CURLS brands following closely on MJ’s heels. Target has even gone the extra mile of creating its own line of shea butter infused products in order to “catch the wave”, offering shampoos, conditioners and other hair care elements under its recently launched SheaMoisture brand. These contemporary garnishes to Target’s inventory are the retail chain’s way to make good on its trademark promise that its customer base can “Expect More. Pay Less” on a wider variety of beauty products. As Senior Vice President of Merchandising Keri Jones states in Target’s press release on the matter:

“By offering an accessible assortment of salon-quality brands and everyday essentials, Target is the destination for guests’ beauty needs. With the introduction of Miss Jessie’s and other new launches, our guests will now find more of the products they want, need and trust.”

Read more HERE.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

Therapeutically speaking, a support group is one of the key components to making a healthy transition from one state of being to another. From a social point of view, support groups can provide its members outlets to express their creativity to their peers and share informational resources in a casual setting. Women across the global have recognized the benefits of support groups for centuries and have relied on the power of numbers to help them cope, grow and learn. On a general level, church, school and even work environments are where many women band together in support of one another on such universal themes as motherhood, marriage and vocational advancement. But when it comes to natural hair, because the movement is still pretty much in its social toddlerhood stages with no set protocol for interaction among naturals, many women feel alienated when it comes to finding a face-to-face support network. Fortunately for natural newbies, Meetup.com provides a medium for social and supportive interaction to help make the transition from relaxed to natural a breeze.

Meetup.com is a Website that allows people from all walks of life to form collaborative networks with others based on a shared interest. In many ways it’s set up like any other social networking site, like Facebook or the Ning networks, by providing Webpages for local organizations to share information ideas. But where Meetup differs from its counterparts is in its emphasis on facilitating face-to-face interaction between its 6.1 million group members in lieu of simply posting one-dimensional text. In that aspect, it serves as an organizational hub for groups to coordinate events that are of value to its member base and its surrounding community as well. This is a great service for natural hair collectives because it allows women (and men too) to personally learn how to care for their natural hair and receive hands-on support that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

Read more HERE.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

With the wedding season upon us many brides are scrambling frantically to make sure all the arrangements are just right.  There’s the dress, the flowers, the cake, favors for the reception, the decorations… With a seemingly never ending list of  vital elements to think about, finding the perfect natural hair style to set your special day off spectacularly may prove to be the straw that can turn any potentially blushing bride into Bridezilla. 

Although some may think being natural limits your styling possibilities, there’s a host of gorgeous creations that bride-to-be can create themselves or trust to a professional stylist, from gorgeous braid and loc upsweeps to a beautifully chunky TWA.  But the beauty doesn’t just stop there.  Topping your tresses with a splendid headpiece can accent your chosen style spectacularly, whether it’s an intricate tulle veil, a rhinestone tiara, a delicately carved ivory and pearl comb or a single fresh or silk flower placed within your strands.  The possibilities are indeed endless when it comes to creating wedding day hair you, or your groom and guests, will never forever.

If you’ve already picked out your coif and are simply looking for hair accessory, a trip to a local bridal show, like Columbus’ Perfect Wedding Guide Summer Bridal Spectacular hosted June 6th at OSU’s Football Stadium, make be the perfect place to find one or gain ideas for creating your own.  Flower accent pieces can be found at any florist, or if you’d like the longer lasting variety, craft stores like Michaels on West Dublin Granville Rd offer and endless array of floral pieces that are sure to suit your fancy.

If you haven’t chosen a style yet, here is a brief slideshow of a few natural hair creations that can help spark your imagination or provide a guide for your stylist to go from.

Read more HERE.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

(click the image to visit site)

When I was growing up, the age most girls got their first relaxer was around 12 or 14 years old and it was a decision that went against the best wishes of a lot of our mothers.  But for us, the alternatives to chemically relaxing our hair was either salon styling (which cost a pretty penny) or that being subjected to an every Sunday kitchen press ritual that only lasted to Tuesday… if we were lucky.  Most of my generation’s mothers went along with the process in order to make hairdressing easier on both us and themselves.  Of course this was back in the days before the harmful truth about the ingredients used in relaxers was openly disclosed, but I think even then our mother’s wanted us to reach a certain level of maturity before we set about changing the structure of our G_d given tresses.

In the here and now it seems that age bar has been lowered dramatically as mother’s are seeing fit to slap a perm on the heads of their daughters who are as young at two or four.  While a lot of them reason straight hair is more socially acceptable and so they don’t want their child caught out there with “bad” hair, more than a few say they opt to relax their daughter’s (and sometimes son’s) hair because they have no idea how to style and maintain the child’s natural hair.  If that’s your story then you will greatly benefit from being a member of Our Natural Kids, a social network that offers support for parents of children with textured hair.

Created by The Sistah Chick of The Sistah Cafe, Our Natural Kids is a place where parents from all walks of life meet to share pictures, product suggestions and Blog posts of their personal experiences to help encourage and educate each other.  The network offers a platform for chatting among members, a forum for posting questions or advice and even a video section where members can share their tutorials and Vlogs.

I’ve know The Sistah Chick since about January and I have been witness to the magic she works on her daughter Little Chick’s crowning glory (pictures in the screen capture), and the extensive knowledge she has concerning product and styling. Just one visit to her Youtube channel and you know girlfriend knows her stuff!  So if you need help getting your little princess or prince’s natural hair tight and right, or have information that can help other’s master the task of caring for a natural hair child, then surf on over to the Our Natural Kids network and become a member… Then spread the word!

Healthy Hair Wishes,

I love Blogging.  Not just about hair, but about whatever hot topic comes to mind.  I’ve been an avid Blogger since back before Blogging and “citizen journalism” became as wildly popular as it is now because I like sharing my opinions and various resources.  When I started JB2M, even before I thought to use it as a way to document my own natural journey, I was interested in making the Blog an “information” clearinghouse of sorts because at the time information on transitioning and growing healthy hair and even how to receive support was scattered aimlessly across the Net.  Not only did I want my views and experiences to receive notice, I wanted to help promote some of the other ladies out there on the natural hair Blogging hustle as well which helps to lend a bit of diversity to the community.  This is why I started the Features and Spotlights entries and mention any natural Blogger I dialogue with if our interaction inspires a post.  I’m a natural humanitarian that way… pun intended, I guess. *lol*

With the boom in natural hair popularity taking over all media sources, the amount of natural hair Bloggers has seen an increase in the past couple of years.  Where at one time there were only a handful of Blogs geared towards naps and coils, now a Google search will result in over a million sites, a glorious phenomenon from the perspective of the natural newbie who now has a cornucopia of information to start their journey.  But on the same note, the oversaturation of the natural hair Blogging market creates an air of assumed competitiveness among many Blog creators.  Due to this there are a lot of natural hair Blog owners out here who are adamantly against sharing information unless it comes directly from their Websites, an act which painfully limits viable networking opportunities between “us”.  When I first noticed this was a reality I thought it was just a case of me being paranoid since I was so new to the game and hadn’t proven myself.  Now after close to three years I know that’s not that case at all.

The other week after I did an article highlighting Networked Blogs top 50 natural hair and beauty Blogs, the author of Natural Nina (number six on the list) mentioned that she shared my feelings on the whole non-networking element that exists within the natural hair community.  It felt good to finally know I wasn’t alone in seeing how disconnected many of us are and feeling that it did the community more harm than good.  I’d had several other idealistic conversations with other Blog creators over the years but much to my disappointment nothing ever seemed to change the status quo.  The majority of Bloggers continued to boost their Blogs’ popularity while “ignoring” the efforts of their sister publications.  It was either that or they only aligned themselves with the “high end” Bloggers, leaving the more common type sites to fend for themselves.  Both Nina and I agreed that it was unfortunate that things had to be this way, considering there is more than enough room on the Blogging stage for each of us to get time in the spotlight.  Although each of us are essentially talking about the same things, each of Blog brings a different perspective to the table in order to give natural hair newbies a wide range of options to choose from.  Whereas some of us speak strictly of our own experiences, a few Blogs combine general hair care with make up and fashion while others add a healthy food twist to give insight on how to nourish hair from the inside out.  Some sites focus on commercial products while others offer tips on creating homemade alternatives.  So from that perspective, Nina and I were convinced that the hoarding behaviour that goes on within the natural hair Blogging community does more to hurt than it does to help because it limits the resources available for others wanting to take up the journey.

As I work to spread the word about JB2M and my Examiner column I personally take time to help promote other Blogs as well because I truly believe in sharing the wealth.  Whether it’s a publication I personally follow or a link I happened upon that I found entertaining or enlightening, I either tweet it or share it on my Facebook page so that others can benefit.  Much to my chagrin, however, when it comes to returning the favour very few do so.  Oh there’s a whole lot of sharing trivial affirmations, celebrity gossip and personal #naturalhair blurbs, but on average a lot of my links are passed over like a hitchhiker on Route 666.  Case in point, I sponsored a giveaway a couple of weeks ago that was basically slept on for two weeks straight even though I worked my arse off prompting it. *kanye shrug* I’ve tried to keep a cap on my complaining about this in order not to sound like a whiny baby but… Enough is truly enough.  And I’m not just speaking for myself and my Blog.  I’m speaking for Bloggers like Nina and Krissy over at Addicted to All Things Pretty.  I’m speaking for sites like Chocolate Orchid and Une Autre Naturalle.  I’m speaking for all those little known natural hair spots that help educate just as much as the bigger names in the game.  I’m speaking for those of us who want to see our sisters shine alongside us instead of overshadowing each other because we know we are not in competition with one another.  I’m speaking for those of us who truly believe that the chink in the link between us hurts us all in the long run and are willing help repair it by banding together.

After chatting with Nina at length about this issue, I had the idea to start a coalition of Bloggers who’d like to change the tide and work towards loosing up the promotional reins so we can all have our place in the sun, because we all deserve it.  The aim would be for each member of the coalition to reach out and cross promote other member’s sites just as much as they do their own.  In this way, everyone receives a nod and appreciation for their efforts and, because we know readers are more apt to believe external endorsements, we’d each benefit by having someone else speaking about our Blogs.  So, it’s a win-win on various levels, right?  At the moment the idea is still in its concept stages but already I have Nina and the creators of Savvy Brown Blog, Coils, Kinks and Curls and All Day Natural on board which tickles me pink.  It may take a minute or two to work the format (it may just be a badge sharing network like the Top 100 Sista Site directory… with more interaction between members and without the popularity contest element) but it’s good to know there are other interested in the idea.  More details will be forthcoming as I coordinate things with the other creators and see what works best for us all. 

I’m really excited about this and hope we get a few more Bloggers in on the deal so if you are interested in joining the coalition or receiving updates about the progress simply drop a comment here or contact me via Email at amichelle@journeyback2me.com.

Healthy Hair Wishes,

I’ve heard so many naturals speak highly of various organic hair care products (Aubrey Organics or Olyn to be specific) and so when I was attending a hair care lecture at The Raisin Rack I noticed these two trial size bottles of Avalon Organics Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner.  Because I was in the midst of my co-wash challenge I wasn’t immediately able to try the Avalon products on for size, but the very weekend the challenge was over I couldn’t wait to lather up and condition out!  Because lavender is one of my absolute favourite fragrances I just knew I was in for a treat.  Unfortunately… I was tricked.  Apparently not all organic brands are created equal and my experience is proof of that.

First off, the shampoo came across as containing a fragrance that is similar to carpet shampoo.  Now I’m not sure if that is what organic lavender essential oil smells like or if all carpet shampoo use lavender in its fragrance, but what I do know is it’s a smell I’d really not like to associate with my hair and it did not “calm” or “relax” me as the Website claimed it would.  As far as cleansing the shampoo did a decent enough job, but because it was a gel based shampoo my hair did not respond to it well at all.  Even as the shampoo was lathered on my hair, my strands took on a “rough” texture that is the typical reaction my hair has to gel based shampoo.  The lather produced was minimal, which I thought weird because this is a product that contains SLS and I really couldn’t work it into my hair due to the massive amount of tangling the shampoo promoted.  Once the shampoo was rinsed away my hair felt “squeaky” clean, which is never a good thing for coiled hair, as well as brittle.  Not a good feeling at all and not the normal state of my hair after shampooing with my Garnier Fructis shampoos.

Next came the conditioner, which held the exact same carpet shampoo smell.  In addition to that the cream was “watery” and thin in consistency which caused me to have to use more of it than my usual dollop in order to detangle my hair.  Normally when I condition, whether it’s with a Garnier Fructis brand or my avocado-coconut mixture, my curls instantly appear.  With this conditioner my hair felt limp and “flat”, and the brittle feeling the shampoo promoted was still there, which I found rather odd.  Detangling with this product, both with finger combing and using a wide tooth comb, was a chore compared to my experience with other conditioners.  Once I was done detangling I bagged my hair and let the product sit on my hair over night.  When I woke the next month I was highly disappointed that my hair still had the exact same brittle feel to it that it did the night before.  Seems the conditioner just sat on my strands without smoothing them one iota.  When I rinsed the product off my hair came away feeling really light weight and “wiry”, like poodle hair but with really wispy curls.

Not at all the result I’m used to.

The 2 oz. bottles set me back $1.99 plus sales tax each, and for the result that I got I feel I was overcharged.  Because it takes some time for hair to grow used to the effects of a shampoo or conditioner change I was going to reserve my review till after at least two wash cycles.  But by the time midday rolled around and my hair began to feel dry and knotty, I knew I wasn’t going to give these two products another shot.  I could tolerate the carpet shampoo smell (I actually kind of like it though I wouldn’t buy a fragrance that made me smell like washed carpet though *lol*) the look and feel of my hair after just one use was enough to let me know this combination was not for me.  The one redeeming quality of the pair is the tingling sensation of my scalp during use and for a small amount of time after rinsing.  It’s like the cool sensation the comes after using a peppermint oil or spray on tired muscles.  I really liked that, but not enough to subject my hair to that dry, rough, brittleness again.

One more point about this combination is, while the brand name says it’s organic, the labeling is very deceptive.  According to the Website, both the shampoo and conditioner contain only 70% of organic ingredients, one of which is alcohol (doesn’t alcohol dry out hair, whether it’s organic or not?).  The conditioner itself contains six different alcohols, including the organic one, while the shampoo contains two which I am sure accounts for the wispy curls and dryness.  Now while I didn’t spy anything particularly harmful in the list of ingredients, the fact that the company has organics in its title but only 70% of organic ingredients in its products strikes a cord with me.  And not a very good one.  I might have been more impressed with 85 or even 79.5%, but 70 just wasn’t getting it.

And the JB2M rating?

Avalon Organics Lavender Nourishing Shampoo 

Avalon Organics Lavender Nourishing Conditioner  -

I gave the shampoo the benefit of the doubt because it did what shampoos claim to do.  It cleaned.  But beyond that, I will not be buying either of these products ever again and very well might turn them down if they were gifted to me if I’d accidentally slid head first into a mud pit and couldn’t afford to buy shampoo. Maybe it would work better on thinner hair (even though the label says it’s good for all hair types), but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Healthy Hair Wishes,