Product Review: Hercules Sägemann Magic Star Jumbo Rake

Fancy name for a comb :)

Y'all know I don't comb my hair. Ever since I started my finger detangling challenge in 2013, I have combed my hair probably twice, and both times I regretted it so much it just reinforced my resolve not to return to combs.

So I was as surprised as anyone when I bought this comb. I had seen a few reviews on it but I really only started paying this comb any real attention when it got a rave review from Natural Haven. I was just kind of like..if it's good enough for her...lol. But seriously, the reason I considered it at all is because, quite frankly, finger detangling is exhausting! It just takes so bloody long! And yes, I see less breakage yadda yadda but it really takes quite some mental effort to prepare for a detangling session, so I took the plunge and ordered one online.

Product Review: Shea Moisture JBCO Strength, Grow & Restore Treatment Masque

Phew! What a mouthful that name is!

Anywho. Shea Moisture have introduced three new product lines but this is the one that I have been most excited to try because I am making a concerted effort to DC regularly this year. That plus I've been on the hunt for a natural-friendly protein DC for a while! So I was super stoked to be able to buy one locally.

Whats In It:

• Water (Aqua)
• Cetyl Alcohol
• Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
• Behentrimonium Methosulfate
• Glycerin

Product Review: Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque

I have upped my deep conditioning game and now instead of doing it when I remember, I make a point to do one every 7-10 days. I'm now all about the DCs and that's all I have been buying and trying recently. This masque was top of my list and I couldn't wait to use it.

Price:

This is one of the few products readily available locally and I bought it for KES 1,590/-. I thought this was quite a reasonable price seeing as it retails on Shea Moisture's website for $12.99 (or approximately KES 1,200/-) so factoring in overheads and profit, it is only a modest markup. It is quite dense so you can probably get three uses out of it, four or more if you mix it with other products so it is good value for money.

The Coconut Oil Shortage Is Almost Over!

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You all know how much I love coconut oil and it's disappeared off our shelves lately so I was chuffed to bits to receive this lovely email from the kind folks at Navida Foods:

Dear Nina

Thank you for your email and your cover in your blog.

Product Review: Which Gives Best Hair Growth? T444Z, JBCO or Jamaican Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil

Guest post By F.M Mburu 

I had the big chop over 5 years ago but my hair seemed to be stuck at the same length. Granted, I coloured my hair twice and didn't have a personal hair care regimen. But still. So finally, a year ago I decided I'd had enough and decided to experiment with products that promised increased hair growth. After some research, I narrowed it down to 3 products: T444Z, JBCO and Jamaican Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil.

For last 6 months, I have been experimenting with each product for a 2 month period as per the instructions on the product and I kept a weekly journal to record any changes. These were my findings:

T444Z:

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Size: 150g tub

Cost: About KES 2,400/-

Ingredients: Aloe, Herbal extract, Rose oil, Chamomile, Menthol, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Castor Oil, Peppermint, Papaya Extracts, Vitamin A, Carrot Extracts, Shea Butter and Essential Oils.

Appearance: It's yellow in colour and has a slightly minty smell.  

Instructions: Use once a week but daily on balding spots. 

Outcome: 

Pros: During the two month period, I did not experience any loss of hair especially on my hairline and there was regular growth on the thinner spots along my hairline. 

Cons: T444Z is too greasy and made my hair too coarse. No matter how much water I used to dampen my hair it would still be coarse in the morning. Also it has some particles that would leave residue on my clothes during combing.

Product Review: Ruby Cup (warning: Women Only!)

For those men who ignored the title, a ruby cup or moon cup is a sanitary aid. 

Now that the men have been scared off...

I decided to buy a ruby cup after almost a year of trepidation and grossed-outness because 1) I'm a bandwagonner 2) it seems a cheaper, healthier alternative and 3) for each one you buy, one is donated to a girl in need. In case you weren't aware, there have been recent private and government funded drives to donate sanitary towels to girls in rural areas who are often forced to drop out of school during menses as they have nothing to use. This is a great long term alternative so I decided to do my part for some little girl out there. Violins.

Product Review: Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo

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This product was never on my radar. I'd heard loads of reviews about how stripping it was for hair and I was happy enough with my sulphate-free shampoo. So when someone gifted it to me, it sat rather reluctantly on my shelves until I decided to try it out a few months ago. Boy was I in for a surprise.

My 4C Hair Hates My Denman Brush

In the throws of newbie-ism, I read a post on Kurly Kichana about Denman brushes and the excitement of their announcement immediately put it on my 'Gotta Have It' radar. It took a little while but the obsessive compulsive me managed to land two Denmans. The D31 and the D13. Result.

D31 on the left. Battered D13 on the right

I was wildly happy and fast-forwarded my wash day so I could have an excuse to use my brushes right away. I had already watched countless videos of naturals detangling and shingling to their hearts' content so I was pretty confident I knew how to use it: Section hair. Wet it. Apply lots of conditioner (Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition at that time). Comb through individual sections with wide tooth comb. Brush with Denman. Easy-peasy.

Um..not so much.

Local Coconut Oils Ranked from Best to Worst

In my previous post about coconut oil, I discussed the difference between virgin and refined oils. In this post, I compare all the locally available oils and list them in order from best to worst*.

FIRST: Navida Virgin Coconut Oil: MBFA'S Top Pick!!

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- Ingredients: 100% Pure Virgin Coconut Oil

- Light, coconut smell and taste.

- White in colour.

- Oil is extracted from cold-pressed coconut milk using the centrifugal process. Basically, this means very little heat has been used in the extraction, leaving the highest amount of Lauric Acid and antioxidants intact. This is definitely the best method for extracting coconut oil.

- After extraction, oil is not refined and no additives are added.

Uses: consumption and external application.

(I use mine for cooking, in my hair, as my baby's diaper cream, for oil pulling and mixed into my body lotions.)

Edit: Healthy U's Naturalli Virgin Coconut Oil is actually Navida's oil which they purchase wholesale and repackage.

SECOND: Coast Coconut Farms Virgin Coconut Oil:

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the labelling may have changed, my bottle says Virgin, not Extra Virgin

- Ingredients: Pure Virgin Coconut Oil

- Mild, slightly toasted coconut smell and taste; more pungent than the Navida, but not overwhelmingly so.

- White in colour

- Oil is extracted by expeller pressing the coconut flesh within hours of opening the fruit.  This probably means the flesh has to be quick-dried first in a kiln so it can be squeezed out. Expeller pressing exposes the oil to high temperatures caused by friction, which may cause some loss in nutrients.  Heating the oil also gives it the slightly toasted taste and smell.

- Oil after extraction is unrefined and unhydrogenated.

Uses: consumption and external application.  

I used to use this oil but it has become impossible to find locally since Dr. Bronner's decided to take it all. Besides, now I have Navida :)

THIRD: Kentaste Virgin Coconut Oil:

- Ingredients: Pure Virgin Coconut Oil

- Distinct toasted coconut smell and taste.

- White in colour

- Oil is extracted by cold-pressing mature grated coconut kernels. As the oil smells toasted, heat must be used at some point during extraction, possily to dry the coconut flesh before it is grated and pressed. 

- Oil after extraction is unrefined and no additives are added.

Uses: consumption and external application.  

I use this oil when Navida is out of stock and although I don't mind the smell, anyone who doesn't like the smell of coconut may find it too strong. It is the best priced virgin oil on the market.

FOURTH: Alisons Tropical Coconut Oil:

- Ingredients: Pure Coconut Oil.

- Strong, toasted coconut smell.

- Light brown in colour.

- Refined - contacted Alisons, they buy it already refined in vats and do not know what additives or processes it undergoes.

Uses: External ONLY! 

Do not eat this oil. However, it should work perfectly well for hair (subject to any additives it may contain).

FIFTH: Dabur Vatika Naturals Enriched Coconut Hair Oil:

I wasn't planning on rating this for the simple reason that it is brought in all the way from India yet we have perfectly good coconut trees here but a friend asked me to so here goes:

- Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Herbal Extracts, Lecithin (softener and emulsifier), Perfume, Aqua, Rosemary Oil, Tocopherol (SP?) Acetate (skin-conditioning agent), Citrus Oil, BHT (preservative)
- Doesn't smell of coconuts at all; smells quite perfumed, like a fragranced soap.
- forgot to check colour.
- Refined (see ingredients).

Uses: External Only:
Although this product is quite popular among naturals, it comes in a solid last for me simply because it is processed. There is some speculation that it contains mineral oil but I haven't found any evidence to substantiate that.

*Disclaimer: When it comes to oils, I prefer to use food grade, virgin oils as much as possible. My ranking is therefore based on least to most refined oil. 

Product Review: Shea Moisture Kids Extra-Moisturising Detangler

I was gifted this product by Amadiva Salon on Riverside Drive and I was really eager to try it because: 1) The Child's hair is extra extra tangle prone. 2) Despite the fact that 90% of Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus range doesn't work for me, I still like their products because they have good ingredients.

Is Dr. Bronner's Stealing Kenya's Coconut Oil?!

Gotta love a sensationalist headline. 

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There has been a recent shortage of coconut oil on our shelves. The good stuff, that you can cook with and all. That's because the main oil we used to buy suddenly vanished. The news trickled out from suppliers that they were fulfilling a major international order but that it would once again be available locally from December. 

Fat chance!

Product Review: Shea Moisture Co-wash Conditioning Cleanser

This review has been a looooong time coming. I was gifted this product by Amadiva Salon on Riverside Drive about 6 months ago and I was super excited to try it out. 

I decided to test it on my daughter as my hair would have eaten that tiny bottle (237ml) for lunch so the little one lucked out. 

What's In It:

Product Review: Terresentials Pure Earth Hair Wash

I hadn't given clay washing much thought until I watched naptural85 enthuse about this product. I've been using Tints Of Nature Sulfate-free shampoo since I went natural and, although it works fine, it leaves my hair feeling a little stripped straight after so when I got the chance to buy Terresentials mud wash I thought, 'why the hell not'. 

New Coconut Oil In Stores Now!

ZThere seems to be a coconut oil shortage in Nairobi. Which is really frustrating because it's not like we're importing the stuff. Particularly sad to me is the fact that Coast Coconut Farms has apparently taken a large international order and can't service their local market until December. Shame on you Coast Coconut! 

So I've been on the hunt for a new coconut oil. A few months ago I stumbled across this oil but my sister pilfered it before I even got it home and when I went back to the shop they were gone. 

I came across it again recently in Nakumatt Karen so I bought a few bottles and I LOVE it. It's from Navida Foods and it smells and tastes gorgeous! It's cold pressed so it as not to lose any of its nutritional value. It went onto my hair like butter, leaving it silky after my prepoo and was very affordable (Kshs 575/- for 750ml). Love. 

The drought is over. 

Update: Email response from Navida:

Dear Nina

Thank you for your interest in our virgin coconut oil and we are happy to hear all feed back from our oil.

You can find it in Nakumatt stores around the country, Elixir in Westlands, Organic Farmers market in Karen, Healthy U has our premium oil under their own label. I hope you have success and will enjoy the oil.

Navida Natural Foods

+254 787265966 - +447766003064

www.navidafoods.com

Product Review: Part 2: Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter Cream

In Part 1 of the Qhemet series I reviewed their Amla & Olive Oil Heavy Cream. In Part two, we will be comparing the Burdock Root Butter Cream.

Why I Have Beef With T444Z...

....and any other miracle growth products out there.

image courtesy of t444z.com

So I am definitely going to get slammed by T444Z users and distributors out there for this post but before you get your knickers in a bunch, hear me out.

It's not that these products are rubbish that bothers me, on the contrary, T444Z actually has good ingredients. Its that they make all these lofty claims to do things that, if you know anything about natural hair, you would have to question the validity of.

What Hair Products Would You Like To See On Local Shelves?

Ladies (and gents), on behalf of someone who will be importing hair products to sell locally, what products would you like to be made available? Please leave a comment below and be as specific as possible e.g. rather than just saying Carol's Daughter, please specify which product or products in their range you would like to stocked.

Should You Ditch Your Shampoo & Conditioner For A Cleansing Conditioner?

Or is that conditioning cleanser? Tomato tomato. 

The first time I heard about them was when my friend told me she was no-pooing her daughter Claire with Deva Curl's No Poo Conditioning Cleanser. I was so confused! I kept asking myself, and her, but what IS it? Is it a shampoo? Is it a conditioner? No, it's super conditioner! #gerrit?

Product Review: Part 1: Qhemet Biologics Amla & Olive Heavy Cream

Can I just start by saying that these products are sooooo hard to get hold of. And I mean even in the US of A, land of plenty etc etc. This is because:

Harvest of Sunshine Giveaway!

This week, from the makers of some of my favourite products, we have three Harvest of Sunshine butters to give away to three lucky readers! Yup, free stuff!

To win one of the butters, please like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter then leave a comment below saying which butter you would like and why. Include an interesting anecdote about your natural hair journey for a better chance at winning.