How to Add New Products to Your Regimen

New product I plan to try

We all love the thrill of trying new products. The promise of using something innovative that could potentially deliver soft, manageable, shiny hair is alluring. Well before you slather your strands with that promising new product, take the following steps to ensure you have a successful experience.

Are 'New & Improved' Products Better?

New Affirm Relaxer

Presumptively, yes. Automatically, no. Granted, improvements in chemistry/technology and the addition of new (and hopefully) better quality ingredients can lead to wonderful products that perform miracles for your hair.

However, It is possible that your favorite product will stop giving you the same results after the "improvements." Any change to the product formula means there will be a change in how it works on your hair. With that in mind, you can imagine my chagrin when my relaxer was recently revamped.

Ion Heat Protectant: Upcoming Review

Last week, I went to Sally's to buy some hair pins and renewed my Sally's membership card. As a gift for renewing my membership, I got a free heat protectant.

The sales woman offered me two options: Ion Straightening Solutions Heat Protectant or Silk Elements MegaSilk Heat Protectant.

Reader Mail: How Do You Know Which Products Work?

Reader D.S. posed the following question on my Facebook page:


"I notice that you use a lot of different products. How do you know what works and what doesn't? Thanks!"

I have used numerous products over the course of my hair journey (almost 8 years now), but now I pretty much have my staple products because I know what works for me. However, I do try new products every few months to keep abreast of what's new and might benefit my readers.

Natural Detangler: Aloe Vera Juice

A few days ago, I read a tip about spraying aloe vera juice on dry hair to help make wash day uneventful. The tipster said that the aloe vera juice melted her new growth and allowed her to detangle her hair without any problems. After my setback with using Mane and Tail detangler, I all but gave up on the idea of using a detangler on dry hair. I have used aloe vera juice in my spray bottle mix for when I wear my wig and need to moisturize my real hair.  So I know that my hair likes aloe vera juice. I just never thought to use it on my dry hair to detangle.

Mini Product Haul, Part 2

I just got back from Walmart where I bought the Sta Sof Fro and a couple other products.

I bought 2 bottles to save me the trouble of going to another Walmart

Mini Product Haul

During this stretch, Sta-Sof-Fro has been my saving grace. It softens and moisturizes my new growth, which makes it less prone to breakage when I comb it. The last time I used Sta-Sof-Fro, I finished the bottle. Today, I went to Sally and Walmart but they did not carry it. Fortunately, there is another Walmart that does carry it so I will go there tomorrow. (I love that the Walmart website tells you which stores has the products you want). Although I did not get the Sta Sof Fro, I did get the following:

Reader Mail: When Does Shampoo = Dry Hair?

By: MsNastassja

A reader asked "How do you know a shampoo makes your hair dry?"

I can tell that a shampoo has made my hair dry when it makes my hair feel "squeaky clean," like it has been stripped of all the oils/moisture I've added. It will tangle much easier when it's "squeaky clean." Also, if I try to go down the length of a piece of hair, it will sort of catch on my fingers instead of there being a smooth gliding down slippery, moisturized hair.  If you've ever gotten a strand of hair and slid it between your fingers in one direction (root/scalp down to ends), you've noticed it felt smooth compared to the other direction, right? That ends-to-roots feeling is sort of what I mean by this "catching" sensation.

Don't get me wrong, a shampoo should still cleanse the hair and get rid of the dirt on it (especially the scalp!). But ideally your hair shouldn't feel like straw afterwards. I am really sorry if this isn't clear, since I think it is a hard thing to describe. I hope this helps.

Products I Use on My Natural Hair, Part 2

By: MsNastassja

In my last post, I shared the products that I currently use and love.  Here are some other things I really like to use:

Giovanni Direct Leave-In. I'll add this either right after washing my hair, or in the mornings to dry hair before school. I just apply it to the ends with wet hands.

Alberto V05 Hot Oil Shower Works. This has been hard to find where I live, but I use it sometimes after my Aussie detangling session.

Products I Use On My Natural Hair

By: MsNastassja

So I just wanted to give a brief rundown of the products I use in my hair.

There is a bit of variability in the products I use, but there is one thing that I always use and love. Aussie Moist conditioner. It is cheap, comes in a huge bottle with a pump, and I use it to detangle my hair with a wide tooth comb before I attempt to wash it. This is also a good co-wash between shampoos.

From there, things can get interesting. For years I only used Kinky Curly products, including:

• Come Clean shampoo, 
• Knot Today leave-in conditioner, 
• Curling Custard (which is a gel that smells like sugary cupcakes) 

[H]air Freshener

I went to an engagement party this weekend, and after the party everyone went to the club.  I came home with the dreaded "club hair" smoke smell.  YUCK!  To combat the smell, I used the Aveda Reviving Mist.  I sprayed the mist above my head and let it fall onto my hair.  I prefer applying it this way rather than spraying directly on my hair, because the latter makes my hair feel wet.  In the morning, my hair smelled fresh and clean with no hint of smoke. 

This is also useful for when you work out, and don't have time to wash your hair.  It really does a great job of deodorizing mild odors, while leaving a light lavender scent.  I vaguely remember buying this online a couple years ago at drugstore.com (but I'm not 100% sure).  

Me and my husband at the party

At the club

Aveda Reviving Mist

EEP! I ran out of conditioner.

I washed my hair this weekend and when I got to the deep conditioning step, I realized that I ran out of conditioner. 

How could that happen, you ask?  Well I usually buy conditioner 2-4 bottles at a time.  I stock up when Trade Secret has a buy one, get one free or 50% off sale.  The problem is that I keep my products all over the house.  I have the products I use daily in the master bathroom.  The products I use on wash day are in the laundry room cabinet, above the sink where I wash my hair.  Finally, I store my hair relaxer day products, "stock" items, and miscellaneous products in the bathroom upstairs.

Laundry room cabinet with wash day products (and my dog's grooming products)

Since there are 4 different cabinets where I store products, I assumed I had more conditioner somewhere else.  Lo and behold I ran out of conditioner.  I washed my hair at 10pm, and the stores were closed.  So I decided to mix the last bit of Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner with an old favorite - Cream of Nature Detangling Conditioner (I believe this has been discontinued, but I stocked up and had 2 bottles left).

My hair came out great, but now I need to stock up on my staple conditioner - Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner.  I hope one of the stores that carries it has a sale soon...like this week, soon.