Recently, I watched two YouTube videos about NaturelleGrow . Now to someone unskilled in discerning product reviews, it might make your head hurt to determine which review was "correct". One young lady didn't have a lot of positive feedback for the product. Meanwhile, the other young lady was raving about the SAME product.
So, when you are watching YouTube, do you know EXACTLY how to understand a product review? Do you even know what makes a GOOD product review versus a BAD one? Is there anything such as BOTH reviews being correct? First of all, when watching any type of beauty product review, you MUST remember that not everyone's body chemistry, hair, skin, and nails are the same. What may be the holy grail for one person may be bane of someone else's existence. Keep in mind that some people have allergies and some products are exactly what that person's hair and skin craves. Now the last piece is very important in scrutinizing product reviews. Consider the person's hair and/or skin type, duration of time using the product, and HOW the person used the product. For example, if the person used the product in a different way other than the company suggests, can you REALLY disbelieve that the product works?
I enjoyed both product reviews by the ladies featured in each of the YouTube videos. Both were honest and provided insight into their use of the NaturelleGrow products. You all know me if you've been reading long enough. I know what my hair likes and doesn't like. So, I'm not really looking to try out any new products per se. However, I will continue to try products from within the same company. I look forward to using new products that Renee creates. Not only does my hair drink in her products and thrives with them, but also I respect her integrity and work ethic.
The next time you select a YouTube video, just keep an open mind and remember that what may or may not work for the other person, may or may not work for you. It doesn't mean that the person was dishonest or negative. It may just mean that your hair just likes different things! It's ALL good! Let's continue to support black businesses and provide positive critique. I like how articulate BOTH ladies were in their review. THESE are the kinds of videos we need to see more of. Our natural hair community won't grow with negativity. Just as a flower needs light and water to grow, we can only grow as a community from positive communication, helpful critique, and a spirit of collaboration!
The winter time in the DMV (Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia) area can be very cold. I know it doesn't get as cold as other destinations, but it gets cold enough to make me whip out my thickest oils and concoct a winter spray mixture. I was perusing Youtube when I came across Naptural85 and there was a video on a nourishing hair and body oil. I automatically perked up because my hair strands were coughing and in need of moisture. Yes, I know oil doesn't provide moisture. It seals in moisture. So, off I went to MOM's Organic (think Wholefoods but slightly smaller) to buy the key oils for this mixture. It is ultra nourishing and my hair was thanking me for using it. No, seriously I swear my hair high fived me when I finished spritzing my hair. WINTER HAIR OIL
In order to make the nourishing hair and body oil you will need to have castor oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, olive oil, and sweet almond oil. Get yourself an empty bottle. I found an oil bottle that I wasn't using but you may want to get one especially for your oil. Then do about an ounce for each of the heavier oils (i.e. castor, olive, and avocado) then about 1/2 ounce for the sweet almond and jojoba. You may want to adjust the oil for your liking.
AYURVEDIC HAIR CARE
My scalp goes haywire with the winter weather, so I decided to step it up on my Ayurvedic hair care. Once a week I use Sukesh Ayurveda as a scalp treatment/prepoo. I put heated aloe vera juice (about a 1/2 cup), rose water (about 1/2 tsp), 4 tsp of Sukesh Ayurveda powder, and 20 drops of clove oil. Sometimes I will add the Henna Sooq Cocoveda oil which has many of the Indian oils along with ginger extract and coconut oil. It is a very moisturizing oil and my scalp loves it. First, I mix the ingredients and make a paste to on my scalp. Then, I use the remaining paste to put on my hair. I start with the ends of my hair first then work my way up. I make about 6 big twists and then wrap my head up with Saran Wrap. Ah, I know. So lovely. There is usually a funny earthy smell from the herbs, but I think the rose water cuts down on the aroma.
MAD MOISTURE SHAMPOO BARS
My hair and scalp LOVES shampoo bars. My most recent purchase is a definite must have for fighting dry hair. It's called Mad Moisture from . It is actually a hair and body bar. So, I like how I can use it on my hair then wash up with it to nourish my skin. The first time I used this lovely shampoo bar, I couldn't believe the absolute moisture. I have been using the Mad Moisture shampoo bars for about a month now and it never disappoints.
KINKY CURLY KNOT TODAY LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER
I have gone back to what my hair loves and so, I picked up a bottle of the ultra wonderful detangler, Kinky Curly Knot Today. I typically don't use this conditioner straight from the bottle. I usually take an empty bottle a la Kimmaytube style and I add about 2 Tsp of Kinky Curly Knot Today, 1 Tsp of castor oil and 1/2 tsp of jojoba oil. Most recently I added about a 1/2 tsp of olive oil too. Then, I squirt a generous amount of rose water then fill the rest of the bottle up with regular water. I shake really good and I have my leave in conditioner ready to go.
I love nourishing my hair in the shower, so I will squirt this in my hair then rinse it out. Then, I will add it as a leave in (just a little) after I deep condition my hair. My hair behaves REALLY well using this method. I get to have the LOC (liquid, oil, cream) method in and out of the shower.
NATURELLE GROW HERBAL BLENDS DEEP CONDITIONER
The NaturelleGrow Conditioners are absolutely decadent. I have yet to find any conditioners that are as nourishing, rich, and creamy. My favorite conditioner is the Herbal Blends conditioner. It contains excellent ingredients like marshmallow root, blue malva, slippery elm, burdock root, and mullein. All of the ingredients work to detangle and moisturize the hair. Also, this blend promotes hair growth. I don't like to be without it. My hair craves it! I like to deep condition about 30 minutes every time I cleanse my hair, which is about once a week.
PROTECTIVE STYLES
My top favorite style is twists pinned up or secured with a Goody Oucheess Barett. I use Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie mixed with Shea Moisture Curling Souffle on most days. Sometimes I will use a castor oil pomade or Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp & Tamanu Grow and Strengthen Edge Taming Taffy. I wear my hair out every other weekend, but I cover my head with a scarf and beanie then take it off when I'm indoors. I NEVER go outside with my head uncovered as the winter air is very drying.
MY WINTER HAIR ROUTINE IN A NUTSHELL -Scalp Treatment -Cleanse -Condition -Moisturize -Seal -Style
I have a bone to pick with the natural hair community. Our natural hair is glorious in all shapes, textures, colors, and lengths. Yes, lengths. I am tired of the long natural hair worship. Enough already with the grow your hair to the floor challenges. We're so glad that people can grow their hair long but it seems as though the waist length worship has made people go coo coo for cocoa puffs. No, seriously it has to stop. People are standing on their heads, massaging onion juice into their scalps, and taking horse pills just to grow their hair to new lengths. It's as though the long hair obsession has made people forget how fun and unique our hair is at different lengths.
Now granted I've had my eyes glazed over in awe of big, fluffy puffs type of admiration too. I've watched YouTube on end wishing my hair would grow already so I could stop stalking all the natural hair guru channels. I have purchased special shampoos, creams, vitamins, and oils to help me grow my hair to new lengths-all in pursuit of that extra long natural hair. Well, this tomfoolery stops right here, right now. Ladies, it's time to throw our hands in the air and say, medium hair, don't care. We can hype up medium hair and start a new movement--medium hair worship. Want to know how to do it? Here's how:
1.Flood the internet with medium hair, don't care tweets, Facebook posts, and Youtube vids. Let people know that we say it loud, we're medium haired and proud. Post pics of lovely medium fros, wash n gos and other awesome hair styles. Yes, we can do it! Start posting now.
Enjoying my medium length hair!
2. Complain more about how your medium hair is so hard to care for that you take so long to do it. Now this is important. You see, waist length naturals need to know that it's not the size of the hair ball, it's the length of the detangling session. Our tangles and knots are just as cringe worthy as the waist and hip length naturals. Perhaps even moreso, because we have to be careful not lose the length we already have. They can lose a few hairballs the size of a spider and not suffer, but if we do it, it is a major issue for sure!
3. Connect with transitioning naturals and let them know that medium hair don't care is for them too. After all, they will reach medium hair before they grow beyond lengths, so why not come over to the medium length side. We will establish a community of love, nurturing, and hair acceptance.
So, long hair naturals, no offense but we can't relate to you when you're fluffing your gigantic fro, separating your long hair into twists, and tossing your mane around. Yes, we know that you were our length years ago, but we don't care. Some of us have years to get to that length and so, rather than worship or hate you, we chose to carve out our own niche in the natural hair community. We are medium length naturals and we are proud.
I love how people like to say "Oh, you do TOO much" when perhaps they do too little. If doing too much means that I care greatly for my hair, then I will proudly shout from the rooftops, "I'm a natural and I do too much." I will sit down in a 12-step program in a discreet location, pull my natural hair products out, log onto YouTube and confess how I LOVE caring for my natural hair. Doing my hair is not a chore; it's a priviledge. You see, when you've had the displeasure of losing tufts of hair and having people ridicule you for bald spots, then you'd probably do too much to grow back hair that was lost too.
Don't you love when the people who are insecure for whatever reason declare that what you're doing is TOO much? Typically, the "Do Too Much" people are VERY easy to spot. You can hear them before you see them and when you see them, you'd rather forget them. Don't get me wrong. No one that I know of actually enjoys spending long lengths of time detangling. BUT, there is nothing wrong with a lovely home spa session giving your natural hair the TLC it needs.
Crown me the Queen of Do TOO Much!
So, in honor of all the "do too much" natural haters... I'd like to share some advice on how to keep them at bay while you continue doing what you do.
1. How about we agree to disagree? I would say that the Do Too Much people would love to push on others how actually taking time to select quality products and detangle your hair is TOO much. Well, I agree to disagree. I agree that if we disagree then we don't have to agree on ANYTHING. Did you get what I mean? In other words, you do you and I'll do me. We don't have to use the same techniques or products. I'll keep on growing my hair where there was none and thank the Lord, I don't have to follow anyone's rules, but my own.
2. I really don't do all of what you think I do (allegedly). If I wrote down all that I did in a wash session or even from day to day, it may seem like too much. But, I don't wear makeup, so I figure my hair stuff makes up for it. Maybe I think it's too much to wear foundation, so we can meet the middle. I'll keep on pampering my hair and you can keep your make up. Agreed?
3. My "expensive" products in reality are less than the cheap drugstore stuff. OK, so I probably will step on toes, but hey, I do too much, so let me proceed on. Let's do some math here. If your product costs less than mine BUT you use A LOT of product, whereas I don't use as much, then ummm... I would calculate that you are actually spending more than me. I use a dollop of my natural products, because my hair loves them and I don't have to heap on stuff that just sits on top of my head. Perhaps you love your drugstore stash. Well, I love my organic stuff. Isn't it wonderful that natural hair companies come in Gucci, Prada, and Nada prices? You can find products for every budget and product preference.
4. It only affects me, so why does it bother you? If what I do is for MY scalp and hair, then why do you even care that much? You could cut all your hair off, paint a tattoo on your bald head, then find a golden wig to wear. Do I care? Not a bit, honeydew. You can go all squirrel monkey dashing through the store looking for your hair and I'll take care of what I have. Am I knocking the weave hussle? Well, as long as you're not knocking me taking care of what grows out of my scalp.
OK, now that we've established that I do TOO much then I figure it's done and I can go ahead and go do my pre poo, henna, shampoo, deep condition, steam session. I mean, time is wasting and I got stuff to do!!!!
