The Follicle Chronicles: Product Review: Taliah Waajid Curl Sealer

I was in the beauty supply getting more Eco-Styler gel when I spotted the Taliah Waajid products and noticed that they had some new products out. I forgot to mention in my 'Products" post that I have the Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier that I use as a moisturizer when my hair is feeling dry.

 I bought the Clean-N-Curly Hydrating Shampoo and the Curl Sealer which says "Stops frizz, Adds shine, Shapes and seals in curls, Leave-in conditioning, No build-up." It said to use the Curl Sealer in conjunction with the Clean-N-Curly Shampoo so that is why I bought both.

The shampoo was okay, you don't need a lot and it lathers right up. I think I get more slip and need less detangling  when I use my Aussie Moist Conditioner as a co-wash but I was trying to follow instructions!

First I raked/shingled a small amount through each section and then let it semi air dry. I did not use a lot of product and a little went a long way. It smells really light and wasn't greasy at all and I noticed that it elongated my twists. I then braided the root of my hair and twisted the ends in medium size braids/twists. This is what it looked like:

 (Yall know we are friends if I am letting you see me in my ratty robe and my hair twisted up.)

I left it until the next morning and this is what it looked like after the takedown:

My hair was defined but not crunchy or flaky and I only left my twists in overnight. Normally I will let them "set" for about two to three days. 

The Results: My hair was elongated and fluffy but yall know I like BIG hair so I re-twisted my hair into big braids for another hour and VOILA!

(BTW it is a pet peeve of mine to see people spell this phonetically, i.e.WAH-LA. Sounds stupid but I've seen it. Several times in fact.)

I lightened this photo up so that you can see the hair better....

Product Rating: A

What it lacked: Shine! I added grapeseed oil to my hair after taking it down because it looked rather dull to me. I also didn't have a lot of definition on the second day but I think that was because I took my hair down the next day instead of leaving it up for several days like normal.

Price was $7.49 each for the Curl Sealer and shampoo. If you're in Dallas, I bought them at Gold 7 Beauty Supply off of Forest Lane, here is the link to the Taliah Waajid online shop HERE.

Product ingredients: Soft water, (Aqua) glycerine, polyquaternium 10 and peg 14, polyquaternium 37, dmdm hydantoin, yarrow extract (achilea millefolium), jua extract (zizyphus Joazerio bark), lemon extract (citrus medic limonum fruit), wild mint extract (mentha avensis leaf), soap bark extract (quillaja sapponaria bark), polysorbate 20, fragrance. 

All in all, I give this an A, I really enjoyed the definition that it gave and the fact that my hair wasn't hard or flaky. Has anyone else tried this? Gonna try?

The Follicle Chronicles: My Routine and Products

I've had some questions about my hair routine and maintenance so here's my first hair related post. I plan to do more how-to's and before and afters so bear with me. I don't consider myself a hair guru and I don't play one on tv so if you have any product recommendations, hairstyle tips or routine advice, please share!

I conditioner wash my hair once a week with Aussie Moist Conditioner. I sometimes add castor oil or grapeseed oil to my hair while it has conditioner in it to detangle and strengthen.

Pinned up twists 2006-2007

I  wash my hair with shampoo once a month and deep condition once or twice a month depending on how much I wear my hair out and what products I am using. I use Creme of Nature Detangling Shampoo or Pantene Clarifying Shampoo to get rid of buildup. I DEFINITELY deep condition after the clarifying shampoo because it dries the hair out and I need to replenish the moisture.

Twistouts or braidouts are normally done using pure unrefined shea butter + coconut oil or grapeseed oil. I take some shea butter out of the container, add the oil and melt it down in the microwave. I sometimes add a little bit of Eco-Styler gel with Olive Oil for more definition.

She is going to kill me for using this pic, but I had to, Ree!

Wash and Go. I miss my short hair sometimes...

Twists that I pinned in front, my hair was super short in back. Both pics are from 2006.

For wash and gos (I only wear wear wash and gos in a puff now) I will leave a little Aussie Moist conditioner in and add Eco-Styler gel to the edges and tie it down for about 10-15 minutes.

My staple products:

Pure unrefined shea butter (Purchased at Gold Beauty Supply in Mesquite.) I have never ordered shea butter online so I cannot recommend any sites. Make sure you read the product ingredients, you want to make sure that it is only shea butter and that it is not mixed with other things.

Grapeseed oil (Whole Foods) in the cooking section.

Aussie Moist Conditioner (Walmart, Target and Family Dollar)

Coconut Oil (Whole Foods) also in the cooking section.

 Hair sites that I frequent:

Nappturality
Black Girl With Long Hair
Curly Nikki

Most times I will wear either a twistout or braidout, twistouts are easier and faster to do but braidouts give me more definition and stretch my hair out. When I twist my hair I keep it twisted for at least two or three days, this gives it a chance to "set." I think that this helps with definition and my hair takes a while to dry but I choose not to blow dry my hair. After a twistout or braidout I re-twist my hair at night into large twists or plaits and this stretches my hair and usually on the second or third day my hair is exactly the way that I like it.

The style shown in these pics is of a braidout done on wet hair using shea butter and eco-styler gel.

Any questions? Ask away!