Spotlight Monday: Callie

Tell us about yourself.

> Hey, I'm Callie-- a Brooklyn girl with a random, carefree spirit.  I am a junior at Syracuse University, majoring in Child & Family Studies as well as African American Studies.  If I'm not eating, I'm probably watching movies (or both lol).  I LOVE music, books, new places and new things.

Bentonite Clay Review by Melissa

Melissa & 'Le Puff Zaddy' the day after the Bentonite Clay use, a bigger & more defined 'Le Puff Zaddy'

Melissa has previously appeared on Curls Fo' The Girls as a Spotlight Monday feature.  This time, she's bringing a product review on a natural clay that can be used to cleanse and help define curls!

Product: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay - Bentonite clay ($4.99, Vitamin Shoppe)

Why did I purchase this product?
> I decided to buy this clay because of all the amazing and satisfied reviews I read and heard from so many different people (on and offline).  When I heard that your hair gets so clean that your curls soften and become more defined, I said "that's it, I have to try it!"  The clay is fairly inexpensive so I was lucky enough to purchase a pound from the Vitamin Shoppe for only $4.99!  I have had so many failed attempts at trying to define my curls with different products and retain the definition after my hair dried, that I was becoming discouraged.  After detoxing with the Bentonite Clay, I was absolutely more in love with my hair than ever!  I didn't even need anything else in my hair after I used it.  I was really impressed with the results and happy that those reviews steered me in the right direction.

Clay Mix and Application

> I measured each ingredient by eye instead of precise measurements.  Luckily, I've been managing to make the exact amount for one use-- not too much and not too little.

I mixed the clay powder, some castor Oil, aloe vera juice and apple cider vinegar together because this is what works for my hair.  I used the castor oil to give my hair a little more moisture, but you can use any oil that works for you.  This mixture works better than water and the clay alone.  The ACV also made a fizzing sound when it touched the powder!  I highly recommend that you don't use water and the clay alone because there is a possibility of dryness.  However, everyone's hair is different!  When you mix the clay, do not use metal bowls and utensils because the chemical reaction can actually mess up your dishes.  I used a plastic bowl and a plastic spoon until I got a heavy paste.  I sprayed my hair with some water and aloe juice.  Then, I applied the clay section by section-- from the back of my head to the front.  I applied it from my scalp to the ends of my hair almost like I was applying a relaxer LOL.  I also made sure to rub the mixture along my scalp to ensure that my hair and scalp were as clean as possible.  When I was done, I applied a little more to my edges and then I let the clay sit until it was about 80% dry.  I left it in for a little over an hour, but you can leave it in for as little or as much time as you want.  Your hair will start to get hard while the mixture is drying, but once it's time to rinse, it will come right out!  I rinsed my hair in the shower and refrained from disturbing my curls until I saw clear water.  This knocked out the shampooing and conditioning process!  However, I did do a deep conditioning treatment to add more moisture although my hair was super soft.

Results & Recommendation

post treatment

> When I was done, it was safe to say that my hair was amazeballs!  It felt really soft, my coily curls popped, and I saw definition I had  never seen before.  I cowash more than I shampoo, but after using this, I do not think I will ever buy shampoo again.  I like the fact that it's a natural powder from the earth (literally from deposits in the ground from old volcanic ash) and you can use it as a weekly facial and body detox, a twice a month hair detox, to remove dead skin from your feet and calm bug bites, stomach aches, etc.!  It balances the pH in your hair, removes toxins and product buildup from shampoos, conditioners and other products, and it releases minerals in your hair.  It does a lot for $5 so I definitely recommend that every natural try this hair detox at least once.  I am a frugal person, and I am happy that I found something very affordable and simple to add to my already simple regimen.  I believe your wallet and hair will thank you if you use this clay.  I now have hope my first "wash and go" instead of a "wash and no".

Do you have any questions for Melissa about the Bentonite Clay detox?  Comment below!

Shea Moisture Organic Yucca & Baobab Anti-Break Masque Product Review

This stuff right here.. This. stuff. RIGHT. here!  OMG.  This stuff right here..

So I ordered the Shea Moisture Yucca & Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque from Walgreens during the BOGO sale.  I had heard so many things about it, and the sale was a perfect time to try it out.  For $5.24, how could I go wrong?!

I have fine strands so to hear about a product that is supposed to thicken the hair, and it isn't JBCO, sounded great to me.  I couldn't wait to try it!

The masque is formulated "with biotin & bamboo extract for fine, thin hair."  It claims to "strengthen, thicken & volumize."

Claim:

"Our all-natural treatment masque penetrates deeply to moisturize, strengthen, and fortify fine, thin hair.  Helps prevent breakage while increasing volume for thicker, full-bodied hair."

"Baobab oil contains Vitamins A, C, D, E, and F to fortify and strengthen hair.  Yucca thickens hair while adding volume.  Biotin is a powerful B Vitamin that strengthens the hair follicle."

Ingredients:

Deionized Water , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)* , Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut)* , Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter* , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado) , Olea Europaea Oil (Olive)* , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract , Ammonium Salt (Conditioner) , Yucca Filamentosa Extract , Vegetable Protein , Adansonia Digitata Extract (Baobab) , Biotin , Panthenol (Vitamin B-5) , Rosemary Extract , Bamboo Extract , Sorbitol Esters , Caprylyl Glycol , Essential Oil Blend , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Lonicera Caprifolium Flower (Honeysuckle) , Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract (Honeysuckle) 

*Certified organic ingredient

Review:

First off, this stuff smells amazing!  It's not like the Deep Treatment Masque, which smells great, but is a bit overpowering after a while.  The DTM honestly reminded me of men's cologne.  However, the Yucca & Baobab masque is very light in scent, and it reminds me of the Curl Enhancing Smoothie in texture.

I washed and detangled my hair, and I applied the anti-breakage masque.  Because it has a thick consistency, like the curl enhancing smoothie (CES), less is definitely more in this case.  I threw on a shower cap, and headwrap, to run some errands.  Once I got back in the house, I set up my steamer and prepared to steam.  My hair had been feeling extra dry, especially with the extreme temperatures, so I definitely needed an extra boost of moisture.  The directions state that a plastic cap or any other hair covering is not needed when using a steamer because the "moist heat will add to masque's hydration".  I removed my cap and set up a seat.

I had two steaming sessions-- one to get the front of my hair and one for the back.  I needed all of the moisture I could get!  After steaming with the anti-breakage masque, I sat for a bit until the conditioner cooled.  When I used to steam during my textlax days, my stylist used to make me sit for about 10 minutes until the conditioner cooled.  After it cooled enough, I began to rinse my hair with cold water.  *Cold water helps to close the cuticle to lock in the goodies! :)  

I immediately noticed a difference!  My hair was a lot softer and it felt extremely moisturized, which was great after suffering from the cold weather.  The slip was also great, which allowed me to run my fingers through my hair while rinsing.  I also noticed that I had very little hair to remove from my hands after rinsing.

I will say that although my hair was soft and moisturized, I noticed that I had a frizz patch in my crown area.  I'm not sure why the frizz occurred, but I was not happy to see it! LOL Luckily, the frizz was in one area, and not all over, and it was soft! :)

I would definitely use the Anti-Breakage Masque again.  I loved how my hair felt-- it was soft and moisturized for DAYS (I couldn't keep my hands out of it, *bad Ashley*)-- and I loved how the masque smelled.  I think it's a great moisturizing deep treatment with a boost of protein.  If your hair is protein sensitive, I wouldn't recommend using this masque every week as a protein overload is never a good thing, especially in cold conditions.  However, if you need a boost of protein, using this masque one to two times a month would be sufficient enough.

Until next time,

Ashley, xo.

Have you used the Yucca & Baobab Anti-Breakage Masque?  Share your experience below!