Product Review: Desert Essence Coconut Conditioner

Hey Naturalistas!!

A week or so ago, I ran out of my current cowash conditioner of choice (Nature’s Gate Pomegranate Sunflower) and decided to peruse VitaCost’s website; stumbling across the Desert Essence brand. Now, I had been introduced to their grape conditioner years ago on Naturally Curly, but passed on trying because the cost and size didn’t rationalize purchasing (found at local grocery store for around $9). But I found it on Vitacost for $4.81 and after looking at the ingredients, I decided….why the hell not?

Below I highlight why I think you should give it a try. :)

Pros

Ingredients: Emollients, conditioning agents, botanicals galore. Even the preservatives are on the lighter side(paraben free). It’s also vegetarian and gluten free!

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Cetearyl Alcohol (Coconut Derived), Behentrimonium Methosulfate (Canola Derived), Coco Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut Derived), Dehydroacetic Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol (Plant Derived), Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate (Fruit Derived), Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum) * Certified Organic

Improved combability: The conditioning agents have great detangling properties. As soon as applied, I had slip. Almost a seaweedy slickness. Could finger detangle without difficulty.

Light scent: As much as I LOVE fragrances, sometimes I enjoy a little subtlety. It doesn’t have to be overpowering, and this product has just enough of a soft, coconut fragrance that leaves you wanting to sniff the bottle….and your hair. :)

A little goes a long way: Even on “dirty” hair, if you will, I had immediate slip. Conditioner penetrated without JUST coating, which can happen if you use products with ingredients that aren’t water soluble. Those products didn’t diminish the conditioner’s effectiveness, and I BET had I used it on freshly shampooed hair, the results would have been even better!

Touchable, soft (but pliable) hair: Now, you guys may or may not have seen my posts on how softness does NOT equal moisturization, but my hair can be on the dry-ish side. Especially in the cooler, winter months. The conditioner appears to have helped with pliability and ability to retain elasticity after usage. I had less breakage after rinsing clean and while detangling. :)

Cons

More expensive at brick and mortar stores: I prefer purchasing products locally, if possible. But the cost in purchasing at my local grocer/health food store is just a turn off since they charge RETAIL pricing and well....I'm all about saving a buck or two. I still save money purchasing online, depending on the site and shipping options. Not necessarily a con, but you have to be mindful of your current conditioner supply and how much, or little, you’re willing to spend.

Size: I REALLY wish it came in a 16oz and/or 32 oz container. While a little goes a long way, I like the option of having larger bottles. I think they should really consider offering larger sizes. If that option became available, I would stock pile right now. RIGHT. NOW. When you find a great conditioner, you’re often willing to spend a bit more if it means being able to purchase larger sizes.

The “cons” are minor. Luckily, they have nothing to do with product effectiveness. I’ve used my fair share of conditioners in the past, but this is definitely up there in my top 10 as of right now. Of course, if anything changes with continued usage, you all will be the first to know. But it’s a conditioner I think is worth a try, especially if your hair does well with coconut oil as some naturals tend to experience dryness with this emollient.

Natural Urbanista

Twist Like This.....A Product Review

After a long and unintentional hiatus concerning natural hair blogging, I'm BACK with my first product review in a few months.

As you all know(or most of you), I like getting more bang for my buck. In terms of natural hair products(or products in general), if I'm spending over $15 bucks PER product, it needs to last longer than 3 months, and it must deliver in its claims. And if it can be substituted for more expensive and less readily available products....SCORE AGAIN, as I really don't like ordering online but my current staples aren't available state-side.

Anyway, back to my review....This past weekend, I went shopping for a product for my twists since I had just run out of my Ori Organics stylers(my curl styling buttercream specifically, as I still have more than half an 8oz jar of the moisture balancing buttercream since purchasing in JANUARY). Went to my local BSS and found a local line I already had familiarity with, as I had used their custard many years ago for my WnG's(with success). The product purchased is called, Twist Like This Herbal Putty by Barry Fletcher. Came in multiple sizes, but the 16oz jar at $17.99 was the better deal. As per the labeling:

Penetrates, holds and protects natural hair(jar had grammatical errors....I corrected them, lol)....Can be used for braiding, texturizing or natural setting.

Jar also states that it provides a "firm, glossy finish." Ingredients can be seen in Picture 3, which are all natural, which I like.


Pros:

• This jar could last me through August, if not September. I barely skimmed the surface of this jar doing more than 70 twists. The ability to spread out usage is a HUGE deal, as I'm all about getting my money's worth and using products that last for more than 3 months.

• Hair felt moist/soft. Now, considering it's SUPPOSED to provide a "firm hold", I'm actually glad that it didn't. I don't really need hold for my twists, I just need it to seal in moisture and help to keep my twists looking good for at LEAST a week.

• Easy application. It goes on smoothly on each section being twisted.

• Works well over my leave in. No dreaded hair product balls!!!! LOL!

• Ingredients are natural. And pretty simple. Sometimes simplicity is a good thing. The aloe (if juice or gel) is humectant-based, which means this product will be good for use during the spring and summer(if your hair isn't highly porous and you don't live in a high-humidity region) in that it'll help to draw in and HOLD moisture.
  

Cons:

• I'm a stickler for products doing what they say, and it DIDN'T provide hold. Now, the hair may have needed to be more than just damp for there to be moderate hold, but if your claim is that the product provides x, y and z, then it should.

• Semi-vague ingredient listing. Is "African butter" shea butter? And is the "oatmeal" oatmeal powder, or the "aloe vera" the oil, gel or juice? Because its shelf-life will be reliant upon this knowledge, and water-based products(if indeed aloe juice OR gel-based) NEED an antimicrobial based preservative to prevent rancidity and bacteria growth. I had to put that in bold because this is very important.

• Non-important con, but it looks like their relaxer. LOL! It even smells somewhat like a relaxer. I was ready to cut some folks if it indeed wasn't what it was labeled as. That's most Naturals worst fear....using a product and finding out it's a relaxer.

All in all, it's a good product. I haven't had the opportunity to use it over other styling products that I use, and I'm hopeful they will work well with them. And if they don't, I will update this review accordingly. So if you happen to see this on your local BSS's shelf, I say it's worth a try. And considering I've paid $10+ for 8oz for OTHER products and this is double for less in terms of $$ per oz, it's a win-win (although I will say those 8oz products can last me a LONG time. :P)

Natural Urbanista