PomSmooth Shampoo and Conditioner by Juice Beauty

I love Juice Beauty. I started using their skin care products maybe six years ago for acne. I was impressed with the organic line’s results and became a regular client for almost four years. But, because my skin won’t let me use anything for a long period of time, I had to switch and use something else.

Recently I decided to go back to Juice Beauty. It’s been years since I was a regular customer so I think my skin will be okay with my return. I remember when applying Juice Beauty twice daily, I received the most compliments ever on the way I looked. Many people said, “Whatever you are doing, keep doing it,” and that made me feel good.

So, as I was online ordering skin care products I noticed for the first time Juice Beauty’s Juice Organics hair care stuff. I might be a little slow with this because I haven’t been on the site for a while, or I can’t remember seeing it before, but this time around I noticed it and became excited. I ordered PomSmooth shampoo and conditioner for normal, dry and color-treated hair.

The certified organic products are free of: parabens, pesticides, petroleum, phthalates, sulfates, propylene glycol, artificial colors and synthetic fragrances! I’m in love! Here are my thoughts.

This is the amount I used for 2 weeks of heavy product build-up.

The gel-like shampoo lathered nicely right away. There was no scent, oddly, but the shampoo made my hair feel moist. After the wash my hair was soft but felt more moist. There was some shedding but not a lot.

My curls take a lot of conditioner.

This is not enough.

So I added a bit more. Conditioner is important to my hair.

During the second huge heap of conditioner my hair felt very moist, not very soft, only moist if that makes sense. I left the product on for 5 minutes. After rinsing my hair was soft and moist! I was pleased! There was no shedding. I was pleased again.

Overall on a scale of 1 to 5, I give Juice Beauty’s Juice Organics PomSmooth Shampoo and Conditioner, 4 curls.

A 3 is the regular score. I added 1 more point because it is organic with no harsh chemicals. I truly love that!

I would say my $10.00 for each product was nicely spent.

Pantene Truly Natural Product Review

I wanted to do an experiment using Pantene’s truly NATURAL hair care products with two variations of natural hair. My mom and I have perm-free hair. For a 73-year-old my mom’s curls are loose, soft and very thin. My hair is a little different. It looks thick but is really thin. My curls are tight, dry and the softness depends on the products I use.

Pantene’s new collection of products for natural hair I received included a Clarifying Shampoo, Deep Conditioner and Defining Curls Styling Custard. This product line:

• Has no parabens or dye
• Helps restore moisture while detangling
• Defines natural curls
• Adds shine

So with that I conducted a test to find out how two different natural hair types compared to Pantene’s truly NATURAL hair care products.

My mom’s hair. It’s thin.

Because she had about 3 weeks of product build-up in her hair, a heap of Pantene’s clarifying shampoo was used during the first wash.

She didn’t experience much lather but her curls felt soft and manageable. No hair came out during the wash.

A smaller heap for the second wash.

Lots of lather, softness and she was able to detangle using her fingers.

Amount of Pantene’s deep conditioner used.

The deep conditioner added more softness. Her hair felt extremely conditioned and she was able to detangle using her fingers.

Amount of Defining Curls Styling Custard used on each two-strand twist.

The styling custard stayed in her hair overnight. Mom’s hair is much longer than mine.

The amount of clarifying shampoo I used. The texture of the product was a little watery.

I had 2 weeks of product build-up on my hair and felt the first heap of shampoo did not produce enough lather.

So I added a little more shampoo.

The second heap during my first wash still didn’t produce enough lather.

So I washed my hair a second time.

Loads of thick rich lather appeared during the second wash and my hair felt super soft and conditioned.

The amount of conditioner I used.

I think I need a little more conditioner.

So I added this much more.

The deep conditioner made my hair feel soft, rich, moist and thick. I easily ran my fingers through my hair and no strands came out!

The size of curling custard put on each of my two-strand twists. I always use a lot of product on my dry hair.

My twists stayed in overnight. I was excited to see the results of our hair.

The next day my mom’s hair felt dry and hard. It wasn’t shiny or moist and her hair produced little curl definition. However, she does like the fact that even though her hair was dry, there was absolutely no shedding. That is a big plus for her.

My hair was dry and crunchy but it had great curl definition. The curling custard caused my hair to stick to my scalp. In order to take it apart for styling purposes I had to add a little water to my finger tips to loosen my tresses. Surprisingly I was happy to discover that no hair fell out during this process.

Truly Relaxed and Truly Natural – Two collections From Pantene for healthier hair* no matter what your style.

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Pantene via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Pantene.”

Obey Your Body’s – Afriderm – For All Shades of Dark Skin

I received two beauty items from ObeyYourBody® to sample and review. ObeyYourBody® is part of a holistic lifestyle skincare company that has been operating throughout Europe, South Africa, and most recently, the United States.

ObeyYourBody’s® Afriderm™ is a skincare system specially formulated for all shades of dark skin. Women who are Black, Latin, Middle Eastern and Asian will all be able to benefit from this line. Afriderm™ addresses dark spots, oiliness, acne, sensitivity, sun protection and extreme dryness. So with all of my skin issues on their list to improve I couldn’t wait to give it a try.

My package included Afriderm’s™ Peeling Gel that was made to exfoliate and cleanse.

While rubbing the product on my damp face in circular motions I began to notice dead skin being exfoliated away. The Peeling Gel doesn’t offer a bead-like feeling while exfoliating. The feeling was more cloth-like and I liked that. I had to rinse well with warm water in order to remove all of the dead skin from my face. Afterwards my skin looked bright and felt clean and smooth.

Dead skin after exfoliating the back of my hand.

I was also given Afriderm’s™ Body Butter that was designed to heal dry skin.

This product is moist, super thick and creamy rich. After saturating my entire body following a shower my dry tight skin felt as if it could breathe. The moisture and shine lasted until I took it off with another shower later that evening.

I am very pleased with both products. So, with that said, look for YOUR chance to WIN Afriderm™ products by ObeyYourBody® in May on Permed to Natural’s Facebook Fan Page!

Don’t miss out!!

To learn more or to purchase products now click HERE. Enjoy!

Giovanni’s Shampoo and Conditioner for Damaged Hair

To purchase a bottle of shampoo and conditioner by Giovanni was not on my list when I went shopping at Whole Foods. But because the products were on sale for $3.99 each I couldn’t walk away.

The shampoo promised a new and improved formula for even silkier hair, and since I have been searching for a fix to end my dry hair situation, I had to give it a try.

I was pleased to see that the shampoo and conditioner featured deep moisturizing agents.

I was excited about the NEW and Improved Formula for Even Silkier Hair.

There was two weeks of product build-up on my hair so I used a huge dollop for the first wash.

The shampoo lathered nicely. It felt rich and thick. But my hair did NOT feel silkier. While shampooing my tresses felt brittle and that made me want to apply the conditioner right away!

A smaller dollop for the second wash.

Good results regarding the lather.

The conditioner.

To make sure the product reached every strand I divided my hair into four sections.

Huge dollop of conditioner.

I wasn’t pleased with the conditioner either. The product did not moisten or make my hair feel smooth. Matter of fact my hair felt brittle with it still in.

None of the above worked on my hair.

I am not sure which hair type the products are made for but my 4 a/b grade did not respond positively. However, you know what? After washing and conditioning I colored my grey using a rinse. I co-washed the rinse out, and for whatever reason, my hair did feel a bit smoother with the product still in. After everything was washed out my tresses weren’t smooth anymore.

On a scale of 1 to 5 curls I give both products a 2.

Using Butter For Your Hair

It took me about two days to take out my braids. But first, it took two days to get myself in the mood to want to take them out. It was a lot of work but worth it overall. For eight weeks I really didn’t have to do too much to my hair. That was cool!

Once my braids were out my hair was super dry. It was disgusting. I needed a deep conditioner badly and didn’t feel like going to the store, walking up and down the aisles, looking at various products, reading labels that I can barely see because I need glasses but don’t want to get them, to find out which conditioner would be suitable for me. I just went to the kitchen, opened my refrigerator and grabbed two sticks of my husband’s butter that I purchased at Costco. I knew the butter would soften my hair and provide the moisture I desperately needed.

Terribly dry hair.

Regular butter that you may find at Costco.

I used two sticks.

Now it’s ready to be applied to my hair.

Immediately after applying the butter, my hair felt softer and moist. I loved it.

I wore a plastic cap for about an hour and washed it out. Afterwards my hair was softer. I think I might apply this conditioning method to my hair about once a month. I am in the process of creating a new haircare regime so I’ll see how it works.

Shea Radiance

Now that I live in New Mexico, I worry about having dry hair more than ever before. Therefore, I am always trying to find ways to keep my hair moist and soft.

Shea Radiance sent me a few samples and I was excited about experimenting with this line because the brand promotes moisture and softness. I am also attracted to Shea Radiance because all of their products are vegan and 10% of the profits go to Agricultural Initiative for Women in Africa (AGRIWA).

From experience I have discovered that my hair doesn’t always like vegan products. So with items designed for kinky, curly & wavy hair, and not expecting too much, I tried the Revitalizing Hair Oil, Moisturizing Hair Milk and Moisture Rich Hair Butter.

After washing and conditioning my hair – below is what I used.

Revitalizing Hair Oil with Shea & Marula Oils – The Revitalizing Hair Oil makes your hair feel wonderful with a blend of shea, marula, hemp and castor seed oils.

Ingredients - Sunflower oil, shea olein, baobab oil, hemp seed oil, castor seed oil, marula oil and Vitamin E oil.

My Experience – I heated the oil in an cast iron skillet. I think the oil soaked up some of the iron from the pan . After applying the oil to my hair, I wore a heating cap for 30 minutes. While the Revitalizing Hair Oil was in my hair it did felt soft and moist, when I rinsed it out, the moisture was still there but the softness really wasn’t.

Moisturizing Hair Milk with Shea Butter - Provides easy-to-comb hair, responsive curls and love-to-touch conditioned hair. The Moisturizing Hair Milk is almost weightless yet eliminates frizz and leaves hair soft and smooth. 

Ingredients- De-ionized Water, Aloe Vera Juice, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine Lactate, Polyquaternium-7, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phenethyl Alcohol and Ethylhexylglycerin, C14-22 Alkylalcohol (Vegetable Based Emulsifier), C12-20 Alkylglucoside (Vegetable Based Emulsifier), Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate (Vegetable-based Conditioning Agents), Hydroxypropyl Starch (Vegetable-based Conditioning Agents), Vegetable Glycerin, Butryospermum Parkii (Unrefined Shea Butter), Persea Gratissima (Avocado Seed) oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor Seed) oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp Seed) oil, Chamomile, Nettle and Horsetail Extracts, Citric Acid.

My Experience – I was able to detangle my hair with no problem, it felt moist, but not so soft, a little brittle. It was weird.

Moisture Rich Hair Butter with all Natural Shea Butter- Gives dry or damaged hair a luscious, nutrient-rich treatment. The Moisture Rich Hair Butter combines high concentrations of pure unrefined shea butter with a host of healing and essential oils. Decreases signs of damage and great for twists and locs.

Ingredients- Butryospermum Parkii (Unrefined Shea Butter), Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) oil, Sweet Almond oil, Ricinus communis (Castor Seed) oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp Seed) oil, Gratissima (Avocado Seed) oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol (Vegetable-based Emulsifier), Glycerin, Panthenol, Calendula, Chamomile, Nettle and Horsetail Extracts Vitamin E, Pure Essential Oils.

My Experience – This product smells great. It reminded my Sicilian fiancé of an Italian pastry shop. It’s creamy, rich and thick. I used the Hair Butter to set my two-strand twists that I left in over night. The next morning my curls were extremelydefined and they lasted for five days. On the second and fourth days I re-applied the Moisturizing Hair Milk and Moisture Rich Hair Butter. I did not reset my twists at all. 

Overall, the products I used provided moisture, however my hair did not feel as soft as I would have liked. Perhaps the alcohol in the merchandise caused my tresses to feel brittle. Any ingredient ending in “ol” possesses alcohol.

On a scale of 1 to 5 curls I give Shea Radiance a minus 4. The minus is for the alcohol.

DevaCurl – Product Review

Trying never before used products is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you are going to get. When I saw this hair care line that I noticed years before, but didn’t pay attention to until now, I decided to purchase a few items and put them to the test.

DevaCurl promoted to me that their products are made for curly heads from all ethnic backgrounds that includes, Latin, Caucasian and African. “If you have curly hair, then DevaCurl is for you.” Guess what? I disagree.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to spend my money on this brand that boosts to be 100% sulfate free, botanically drenched, silicone free, plastic free and paraben free. The sales clerk hyped up DevaCurl then quickly suggested I try the travel sized products to see how I liked them. At first, I questioned her insinuation, but later realized why she might have directed me in a different direction.

Check out my experience below.

DevaCurl No-Poo – Zero lathering cleanser designed to stimulate, hydrate and cleanse the scalp and hair.

My Experience– No-Poo is a zero lathering cleanser. I don’t believe lather is the only method to clean your hair. After using a generous amount a couple of times my hair and scalp did feel clean but I didn’t like the way it actually felt. My hair gave off a signal that it was dry and brittle.

DevaCurl One Condition – This daily conditioner provides maximum hydration and is perfect for all curl types.

My Experience – I literally used a ton of One Condition and my hair did not feel conditioned, soft or manageable.

DevaCurl Heaven In Hair – This intensive moisture treatment provides super hydration and is perfect for all curl types.

My Experience – After applying this product I donned a plastic cap and got busy with weekend chores around the house. The next thing I knew I had left the conditioner on my hair for more than two hours. After rinsing, my curls were soft, but they did not feel conditioned and moist.

DevaCurl B’ Leave-In- A botanically enriched curl volumizer that enhances curl fullness and strength.

My Experience – This product offered no moisture. I mean NO moisture. My hair reminded me of straw on a broom and my curls were neither enhanced nor full.

DevaCurl AnGEL- A light hold moisturizing and defining gel that dissolves instantly when applied to wet hair. As it dries, AnGEL forms a moisture-protective cast to enhance curls

My Experience – I don’t know what they are talking about. The gel left my hair looking and feeling very dry with flakes everywhere.

DevaCurl Set It Free – Eliminates frizz, adds shine and enhances curls with this 24-48 hour moisture lock spray.

My Experience – My hair was frizzy, it had no shine and there was no enhancement or moisture that made my tresses feel loved.

Overall, I don’t think DevaCurl is for African hair even though the sales person and their website gave me the indication that it is suitable for all curly hair types. After applying the products, my curls were dull, dry, lifeless, brittle, and most importantly, they lacked moisture.

On a scale of 1 to 5 curls I give DevaCurl a minus 0.

Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics

One day, to enhance my personal makeup collection, I went to Whole Foods to purchase a few items from my favorite vegan line. As I swatched my selected brand on the back of my hand I noticed a sales representative from Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics. I am familiar with the brand but always felt that the company did not make products suitable for my brown skin. So, because of that, it had been years since I paid any attention to the line. But given that I was standing right next to a rep I had to share my experience. The conversation went something like this…

PTN: So, you are a sales rep for Dr. Hauschka?

DH:      Yes I am.

PTN: You  know your company doesn’t produce makeup I can wear.

DH:      We do have colors you can wear.

PTN: I don’t think so. Especially in a foundation.

DH:      My colleague is African American and she wears this brand.

PTN: What’s her complexion?

DH:      Like yours’. Actually she’s from Haiti. As a foundation or tinted moisturizer you can use our Translucent Make-up 04. That’s their darkest color.

PTN: Let me try some on my hand. It didn’t look right. This doesn’t match.

DH:       That’s your hand. Your color is different on your face.

PTN: Mmmm. I don’t know. Maybe I need to come in wearing no makeup and give it a try.

DH:       I can give you some of our makeup to try. See if you like it. I’ll put together a nice package for you and we can meet back here so I can give it to you.

PTN: Really?! Sure I would love that. I’m no fool. I am not going to pass up free organic makeup no matter what. Okay let’s meet soon.

About Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics

Based in Germany - Dr. Hauschka manufactures a complete line of natural organic makeup that is BDIH certified. The products are frequent award winners and have received Best Natural Make-Up Range at the Natural Beauty Awards in 2006 and Elle’s Green Star for Best Mascara in 2008. In addition, Bio-Fach alone (the world’s largest natural products trade show, whose awards are considered the most prestigious in the natural industry) has spotlighted Dr. Hauschka’s cosmetics on more than one occasion. www.drhauschka.com

Below are the gifted products and their results on me.

• Translucent Make-up 04
• Eyeshadow in Smoky Violet 07

• Volume Mascara in Perl Anthracite This color looks black. However, there is a color Black mascara available.

• Powder Duo in Cool Breeze

• Make-up Palette in Cool Breeze - Eyeshadows: Apricot, Brown, Aqua. Kajal Eyeliner: Aqua. Lip Colors:Rosé and Red. I was gifted this palette because of the blue shadow and eyeliner. I was looking for blues in another brand so Kimberlee, the sales rep (kimberleeB13@msn.com), wanted me to try their blues and I love them.
• Rouge Powder 02
• Kajal Eyeliner 02 in Elegante

• Featuring eyeshadow in Smoky Violet.

• Stone Colours Collection Lip Colour in Brown 04.

• Rosemary Lotion for the Legs and Arms.

No make-up

I have a bit of a red eye.

In the photos I am wearing:

• Translucent Make-Up 04
• Eye shadows in Smoky Violet, Brown and Apricot.
• Eyeliner: Aqua and the shadow under the waterline is also Aqua
• Checks are contoured with the Cool Breeze powder duo. Blush: Rouge Powder 02
• Lips: Brown 04
• Volume Mascara in Pearl Anthracite

On me, the makeup is not very pigmented, and therefore offers a more natural look. If you are around my complexion, and like the look of a hint of makeup, then this brand can be for you.

What do you think?

Light Mountain Natural Henna

I have a lot of gray hair and I am not ready to show it off with a salt and pepper fro. I know many women who do show off their gray hair, and they look beautiful, but they are much older and the look suits them. I have so many gray strands I could easily rock a salt and pepper fro but I’m not going to do it. Not yet anyway. 

I dye my hair often to keep every strand the same color. The various colorings I have used were not from a natural brand. They boosted to be ammonia free but still possessed PPD.  p-Phenylenediamine may also be referred to as phenylenediame, phenylenediame dihydrochloride, benzenediamine dihydrochloride or aminoaniline dihydrochloride is a harsh chemical in many hair coloring products, including hennas.

When PPD makes contact with the skin it may cause rashes and contact dermatitis. Eye contact may cause irritation, redness and pain.  Corneal damage and loss of vision has been reported in some very isolated cases.  Chronic exposures to PPD may affect kidney or liver function and can cause bluish discoloration of the lips or tongue.

With all of that I went on a search to find something natural. During my search for a natural henna I found Light Mountain Natural hair color & conditioner. This product boosts to be:

• Cruelty Free
• No animal ingredients
• No animal testing
• 100% pure botanical hair color
• Chemical free

The ingredients are 100% Organic and certified. They include:

• Indigoferae tinctoria (indigo)
• Leaf powder and Lawsonia inermis (henna)
• Leaf powder

I heard of Light Mountain Natural a few months ago but just got around to using it. I processed the henna as I do all of my hennas (click HERE to see the post) but focused on rosemary as the selected oils.

Overall I am not happy with  how my hair turned out. I used Dark Brown and my gray hairs are red. They stand out and look weird. Matter of fact, the product didn’t dye all of my gray. There are still white strands that are very visible. I left the henna on for 7 hours so I feel the turn out should have been much better.

Will I use this particular product again – no. But guess what? I found out that this company has a line designed to cover gray hair exclusively. I’ll probably check that out and write another post.

Below is how everything was done.

I started with a Horsetail and Nettle hair rinse designed to promote healthy thick hair. To read my post on that topic click HERE.

Light Mountain Natural box

The henna packaged

The instructions stressed using plastic everything while mixing the henna. I used my plastic cup I always use when mixing henna. You can see old henna stains in it.

I incorporated a Rosemary theme for this henna mixture. In the henna I combined my homemade rosemary oil (click HERE to read the post) and rosemary essential oil. 

After leaving the henna on my hair for 7 hours I still had visiable gray stands with a red mixture. Yulk!

Qhemet Biologics

Purchasing Qhemet Biologics has been one of the best hair investments I’ve made thus far.

Essence.com and Vegetarian Times magazine basically said Qhemet Biologics is a great haircare line for natural hair. After reading a comment coming from Vegetarian Times I had to try it. My interest was peaked. So I ordered:

• Egyptian Wheatgrass Cleasing Tea
• Moringa Tree Conditioning Ghee (2oz and 5oz) – 100% Vegetarian
• Amla & Olive Heavy Cream – 100% Vegetarian
• Honeybush Tea Soft Gel – 100% Vegetarian
• Alma Oil Nourishing Pomade – 100% Vegan
• Castor & Moringa Softening Serum – 100% Vegan

The products being vegan or vegetarian was a definitely a bonus since that coincides with my daily lifestyle.

After using Qhemet Biologics I cannot tell you how surprised I was at how my hair turned out. It felt conditioned and soft, right away. It looked shiny but didn’t feel too greasy. It appeared light and full. Plus there was a curl pattern.

At a doctor’s appointment the physician noticed my hair and commented on how soft it looked. The general practitioner said he wanted to touch it but wouldn’t. However, I know he snuck in a touch when he thought I didn’t notice it.

Anyway – while using Qhemet Biologics at first I was doubtful. I had to wash my hair six times using full palms of shampoo to get a descent lather. Yes my hair was full of product, but so. I was looking for a lather so I kept shampooing. But since there are no weird chemicals in this product that probably contributed to the lather issue. In the end my hair felt clean. It also didn’t feel stripped so that was nice.

During the 6th wash

To deep condition my tresses, I applied the entire 2oz container of the Moringa Tree Conditioning Ghee. The product sort of evaporated in my hair and again I had doubts.  However, after I donned a heating cap for 30 minutes, and rinsed out the conditioner, my hair was brilliantly soft. I then realized the Moringa Tree had done its job.

Moringa Tree Conditioner with black hair rinse around my edges to color the gray hairs

Getting ready for the heating cap

Almond rice ice cream kept me company while donning the heating cap

To twist my hair I used Moringa Tree Conditioning Ghee as a leave-in, Amla & Olive Heavy Cream as a moisturizer, Castor & Moringa Softening Serum to lock in the moisture and Honeybush Tea Soft Gel to set the curl.

My favorite of the four is the Amla & Olive Heavy Cream. This stuff is thick, creamy and light. The Amla & Olive provided a good balance of moisture and softness. I was pleased.

The next morning before unraveling my twists, I applied Amla Oil Nourishing Pomade to bring about a healthy shine.

Slept on twists. Of course the scarf came off.

Overall, I think I finally found a staple product line. I live in New Mexico and the climate here is very dry which has left my hair feeling and looking extremely brittle. I’ve used other products to bring back my hair’s moisture, and yes they worked, but they didn’t work like Qhemet Biologics.

 This product line left my hair feeling super soft and moist. That meant a lot to me. Qhemet Biologics is not cheap, so if you have the extra cash and want to put it towards haircare products, I recommend investing in this line. It’s worth every penny.