Rusk DeepShine Smooth Keratin Care

Rusk DeepShine Conditioner, $7.00 Folica.com

Rusk Deepshine Smooth Keratin Care Deep Penetrating Treatment is an intensive conditioning treatment recommended for chemically and color treated hair. Formulated with natural keratin, vitamins and nourishing marine botanicals to improve the strength of the hair, leaving it smooth, shiny and in luxurious condition.

AHS Thoughts: The is a great instant conditioner (leave on for 1-3 minutes) to use in the shower. It immediately made my hair feel soft and made detangling a breeze. The scent reminds me of summer, probably due to the hint of coconut. Overall, I liked the conditioner, but I still needed to use a deep conditioning treatment.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Chlorella Pyrenoidosa Extract, Chondrus Crispus (Carageenan) Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida (Wakame) Extract, Fragrance (Parfum), Propylene Glycol, Quaternium-91, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Wheat Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Honey (Mel, Miel), DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Linalool, Butyphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol.

Split End Fix?

All my fellow Anti Hair Slaves, know that split ends and heat damage cannot by "fixed." We do not get tricked and caught up in the hype of products like White Sands The Fix, that claim to fix split ends. Instead, we take precautions to prevent split ends and heat damage before they occur. But, even the most hair conscious person cannot avoid every single split end and this is where products such as The Fix by White Sands comes it. The Fix is formulated to help fill in the gaps in the hair's cuticle which will buy you a little time before your trim. Also, anyone with porosity issues with their hair will find this product especially helpful because it does find those holes in your strands and settles right in. Just as a reminder, hair with low porosity has a hard time retaining moisture and accepting chemical treatments like relaxers and colors. Highly porous hair will absorb a lot of moisture but it will also release a lot more leaving hair dry and dry hair leads to damaged hair. Your goal regarding porosity is to fall somewhere in the middle and The Fix can help with that.

(WhiteSands.com The Fix, $19.00)

Just as your favorite concealer hides fine lines and blemishes, The Fix by White Sands transforms into makeup for hair by smoothing out cuticle imperfections for a flawless foundation of healthy, shiny tresses. Split ends vanish, coarse locks are cured and frizz is finally finished!

New for Naturals: Essentious

I’d like to introduce you to Essentious, the all natural hair care system by Tymeka Lawrence. The line was originally created by Tymeka for African American hair featuring products that are free of sulfates, silicones, mineral oil, petroleum and parabens. I had the opportunity of trying the shampoo and conditioner, so I'll share my thoughts.

Essentious Exonerate Sulfate Free Shampoo

Product Description: Moisturizing shampoo made from organically-based emulsifiers with a base of Aloe Vera gel for healing and moisturizing. It has a rich lather and a light, refreshing scent. Sulfate Free.

Thoughts: All sulfate shampoos are not made equal and this shampoo proves the point. Usually when I use a sulfate free shampoo, my hair and scalp feel clean but not stripped and it's more like co-washing than actually shampooing and I LOVE that. Instead of that super awesome feeling, I had a feeling of impending doom when I used this shampoo. My hair felt hard, dry, and I was scared to actually get in there and lather it up really well because my hair felt so vulernable and fragile. Needless to say, I immediately reached for the conditioner to rectify the situation.

Essentious Hydrate Conditioning Moisture Treatment

The Deets: Moisture treatment restores moisture lost during chemical treatments and heat styling. Penetrates the hair to provide moisture within the hair shaft.

Thoughts: Thank goodness for this conditioner because without it we would have had an emergency on our hands. This conditioner with it's fruity yet vanilla cake batter scent softened up my hair and smooth out all the tangles the shampoo had caused. My hair no longer felt rough, dry, and hard. Instead, it was soft and sweet smelling.

Overall, I'd skip the shampoo but the conditioner has been spared, I'd use that again in a heartbeat mostly because of the fabulous scent.

Visit Essentious.com for more deets!

Get Your Gleau On

(Gleau Oil (2oz.) $6.50, GleauHairCare.com)

Gleau (pronounced Glow) is an oil blend recreated by Nadege, the writer behind relaxedhairhealth.blogspot.com. Personally, I usually only use oil to pre-poo or on the very ends of my hair if I feel as though they are especially dry. Gleau is a mix of quality oils such as Moroccan Argan oil, camellia seed oil, sweet almond, jojoba, meadowfoam seed oil, wheat germ, coconut oil and vitamin E. On my hair if feels just a tad bit heavy, but keep in mind that my hair is relaxed and fine, on the nap area which is more coarse it feels just fine. The oil has a pleasant yet light scent and the shine this product adds is out of this world. If you're looking for a new oil to add to your rotation this might be it.

MoroccanOil Hair Care Collection

I treat my strands like they are two seconds from breaking off and falling on the floor, leaving me bald. Of course my hair isn't that damaged, but it is relaxed and I do occasionally use heat tools to style. So when I look for new products to try I usually find myself picking out the products for dry, damaged, sensitized hair. Finally, I've tried MoroccanOil. The first product I tried was MoroccanOil Hydrating Styling Cream as a leave-in treatment on the recommendation of my hair stylist. I actually really liked it so I decided to go ahead and try the rest. The MoroccanOil Moisture Repair Shampoo and Moisture Repair Conditioner left much to be desired but the Hydrating Styling Cream and Original MoroccanOil Treatment oil are the best. Both leave my hair feeling super soft and sleek.

**samples received for consideration, see full disclosure**

Sponsored Post: Brazilian Fever for Hair

I hope you didn't think BrushLove was just a place to purchases brushes! I mean it is an amazing site with tons of different brushes for every hair type, like the new Fresh Thermal Round Brush but they also have hair care products. The newest line to hit BrushLove is Novex.

Product Description: This hair protein replenishment was designed for all types and textures. The Brazilian keratin is a substance that reinforces the structure of the hair follicles, establishing shine, softness, and increases the natural movement of hair. This keratin is hydrolyzed, guarantying a fast absorption by the hair follicles. Treat your hair with a bath of proteins resulting in softer, shinier, healthier hair. See all the Novex Treatments available, here!

Usage: For deep nutrition after shampoo, massage into moist hair. Allow to remain in contact for 25 minutes with plastic metalloid cap or 15 minutes with a Hair Therapy Wrap. Rinse well. Curl/Straighten with a ceramic coated barrel brush. Also use as a conditioner for daily care.

Thoughts: I really like this product as a protein based treatment. This product helped my hair feel stronger and made my new growth slightly smoother and definetly softer. If protein treatments are not your thing, then skip this product because you'll be sorry. There are other options though, Novex makes a variety of different conditioners that you might find appealing, like the Brazilian Olive Oil Treatment.

More on the Fresh Brush: So far I haven't met a Brush Love brush that I don't like. This brush features 100% Natural premium cut boar bristles and thermal ceramic coated barrel to help evenly distribute the heat to prevent over drying & damage.

Creme of Nature Argan Oil Treatment Review

Ever since experimenting with henna to strengthen and color my hair, it's been a little bit harder to make it as soft as it once was. Recently, I tried a packet of the Creme of Nature Argan Oil Deep Conditioner and it was great. I left the conditioner on my hair overnight and my morning it was soft and smelling great.

I attribute the awesome conditioning ability to the star ingredient Argan Oil. The women of Morocco and Algerian women have been using Argan oil for years because they know it's amazing on the skin and hair. Since it's full of essential fatty acids and vitamin E, it helps with split ends, dry scalp and skin. Now thanks to Creme of Nature you can try out Argan without digging too deep into your pockets, since the most expensive product will run you about $8.00

Find the entire line in your local beauty supply store!

Carols Daughter Hair Milk Collection Review

So I let you guys know that Carol's Daugther was expanding the very popular Hair Milk into a complete collection with shampoo, conditioner, and a new verison of Hair Milk, Hair Milk Lite. So I've had the pleasure of testing out the products, so here comes yet another review!

First up, Hair Milk Curl Perfecting Shampoo ($16, Sephora.com)

Claims: A nourishing shampoo for the type of hair that needs it most...curls. Cuts frizz, gently removes dirt, oil and product build-up. Made with essential oils plus Vitamin A to help condition the scalp and keep moisture in. Gives curls what they need for that desired healthy, bouncy look.
Thoughts: This shampoo cleansed my scalp well without drying out my hair. The scent is light and fresh with hints of citrus which is a plus because you know how strong the scents in the Carol's Daughter product range can be. Specifically made for Curly girls this shampoo is SLS/SLES/Sulfate-Free which is a plus for many of you guys!

Hair Milk Curl Perfecting Conditioner ($19, Sephora.com)

Claims: The perfect companion to our nourishing, Curl Perfecting Shampoo. An indulgent, penetrating, moisture treatment that restores while supporting healthy-looking natural curls. Made with essential oils plus Pro-Vitamin B5 and Biotin to help replenish and strengthen hair with the natural nutrients it’s thirsting for, leaving your curls under control…which is where they belong.

Thoughts: I absolutely LOVE this conditioner. The scent is the same as the shampoo, light and fresh with hints of citrus. This conditioner made my hair feel like light fluffy strands of silk as soon as I applied it to my entire head. My hair was soft and especially easy to detangle, which I'm sure all the natural heads out there will appreciate. After washing and conditioning my hair was easy to part and smooth while wet which is sometimes a real task especially considering I'm between 8-10 weeks post relaxer.

Hair Milk Lite The Curl Booster

Claims: A curl’s best friend. A curl boosting, weightless lotion that tames frizz while defining your curls. Adapted from our famous original formula, Hair Milk Lite is made with essential oil of Lemon and Vitamin C for an extra light, moisturizing hold.

Thoughts: After shampooing and conditioner with the new Hair Milk Collection I decided it would only be right to moisturize my ends with the new Hair Milk Lite to round out the styling process. I truly wish I would have never done that and just stuck with my usual 'juice' because my hair went from having that light, fresh citrus scent to smelling like old powder. I can't stand the scent of the new Hair Milk Lite, it reminds of expired powder and to make matters worse the scent lingers. Although, the scent of the Hair Milk Lite is definitely lighter than the original it's still not pleasant. If you can get past the smell, the Hair Milk Lite is good moisturizer for natural hair as it was still a bit too heavy for my relaxed hair.

René Furterer Sun Care

After spending the entire day frolicking in the pool with friends this weekend just as if it was simply destiny a package of René Furterer Sun Care was waiting for me at my front door. Whenever I get samples for editorial review here on The Anti Hair Slave, I get all excited and it's like Christmas for me! Anyway, I immediately headed to my shower to tend to my tresses. Now since I had just shampooed a day or so prior the plan was to co-wash and then deep condition.

Before I get started on the product reviews, I will give you some background on the René Furterer Sun Care Collection and why it caught my eye. As you all know, my hair is chemically treated with a relaxer. A chemical relaxer changes the protein bonds in the hair resulting in a change in the appearance and texture of the hair, those protein bonds are called Keratin. The goal with a relaxer is to change the appearance and texture without doing too much damage to layer of Keratin because if you damage the layer of keratin your hair will look and be damaged and unhealthy. The folks over at René Furterer have created a system called KPF (Keratin Protection Factor) that is scientifically proven to measure the amount of Keratin it protects. The keratin protecting agents and keratin rebuilding structure in the products protect the Keratin you already have and also help preserve the longevity of Brazilian keratin straightening (sodium chloride free and sulfate free).

Now on to the product reviews (in order from my favorite to least favorite):

Repairing After Sun Mask ($42, Beauty.com)

Claims: Strengthen and nourish sun exposed strands with René Furterer Repairing after sun mask. Palm butter moisturizes while a complex of phytosterols, ceramides and essential fatty acids rebuild the keratin structure, providing deep hydration that leaves hair detangled, soft and supple.

Thoughts: The sunny yellow color of this product was enough to make me smile and the light creamy almost buttery scent is also a plus. Since I had company over it was also a great benefit that you only need to leave this conditioner in for 3-5 minutes. So I left if on for about 4 minutes while I tended to my other needs in the shower and when I rinsed my hair was soft and super easy to detangle.

No Rinse Moisturizing Spray ($23, Beauty.com)

Claims: After soaking in the rays, let your hair soak in moisture with René Furterer No rinse moisturizing spray. The conditioning spray rehydrates, detangles and repairs parched strands and can be used on wet or dry hair.

Thoughts: This product came in a close second place almost beating out the conditioner. To use this product you make sure you shake it up very well to get all the ingredients mixed properly before proceeding to spray your entire head. This product also has a great scent that reminds me of summer time on the beach with a buttery hint of something that must be the Palm Butter. After using this spray and sleeping overnight without a head scarf my edges and nape are still soft, which never happens. My only issue is that the bottle is on the small side at 5 fl. oz.

Protective summer oil KPF 90 ($23, Beauty.com)

Claims: Without even dipping a toe, look freshly emerged from the ocean with the “wet look” effect of René Furterer Waterproof nutritive oil KPF 90. This spray provides all day protection against the sun, blocking 90% of UV rays, while preventing the buildup of salt and chlorine. Hair is left shiny and smooth for a day outdoors. Ideal after keratin straightening service to maintain the results.

Thoughts: This product took a few minutes to grow on me. After I was done styling my hair I spritzed a little of this product onto my 'do thinking it was going to add some shine. I went to smooth it in and noticed that my hair felt a little bit hard like I'd applied hair spray, I checked the ingredients and realized the first ingredient is alcohol. This put me off a little because it's called Protective Summer Oil. I did noticed however, that it you don't touch your hair for a few seconds and then smooth it in your hair feels like it's been spritzed with a sheen spray instead of hair spray.

As previously stated, products in this review were submitted for consideration by PR company, read full disclosure.

Poolside Hair Favorite: Leonor Greyl - Huile de Palme

(Huile de Palme, $47.00 LeonorGreyl.com)

Leonor Greyl Huile de Palme is a pre-treatment oil that's made it's way into my pool bag.  Generally, I don't even waste my time coating my hair with conditioner before swimming because I haven't found that it actually makes a difference in the health of my hair.  What I look for in a poolside hair favorite is the ability to condition and moisturize my hair post-swimming while I'm sitting poolside or inbetween dips in the water.  ((please note: as soon as I get out the water I rinse my hair in the outdoor shower))   

Product Description: A pre-shampoo treatment formulated with botanical oils that help detangle and nourish your hair. Also very effective at providing protection against the damaging effects of sun, seawater and chlorinated pool water. It’s the perfect blend to protect and restore damaged length and ends as well as your color.

AHS Thoughts:  I absolutely hate that the bottle is glass.  Generally speaking glass by the pool is a no-no, but I made an exception here.  If you can't/won't pour some in a plastic bottle and keep it moving.  Now, on to the full review.  I absolutely LOVE this oil.  It really softens my hair as soon as I put a little bit of this oil on my hair.  Plus mix that with the heat from the sun and it's like a deep conditioning treatment.  Please be warned it's pricey at $47.00 for 3.2 oz.   


Deal Spotter: Leonor Greyl Palm Oil (Huile de Palme) (3.2 oz.) for $34.99 on
Amazon.com

Deep Conditioner Review: Milk Protein & Olive Oil Really Deep Conditioner

This week temperatures are expected to reach almost 100 degrees in my neck of the woods, so I'll be hitting the pool on a daily basis.  I actually might even venture to a waterpark or the beach, but one thing I plan so doing this week is deep conditioning every other day.  That might seem like overkill, but with heat comes dryness and dryness can result in breakage. 

To make sure my hair is thoroughly moisturized, I plan on doing four key things: 

1. Deep condition every other day 
2. Apply  my water and glycerine based moisturizer twice a day 
3. Avoid heat styling 
4. Keep ends damp and tucked into a bun  

As a matter of fact, as I type up this post I'm sitting here with my Heat Therapy Wrap on my head doing my first deep conditioning treatment of the week using SofnFree Milk Protein and Olive Oil Really Deep Conditioning Treatment.  The consistancy is similar to that of mayo and as soon as I applied it I could feel my scalp tingling, which caught me off guard but it's actually a bit refreshing.  There is no real fragrance that I've noticed with the product and the price is right at $1.99 for a packet.  This product is also paraben and sulfate free, but it does contain mineral oil.   

For the full review .... keep reading


Alright so I just rinsed out the SofnFree Milk Protein and Olive Oil Really Deep Conditioning Treatment from my hair.  Next, I added Wave Nouveau to the entire length of my hair.  Put some Design Essentials Gel to the edges and put on my scarf, I plan on letting my hair air dry and then before work I'll re-moisten my ends and tuck them into a bun.  As far as the conditioner goes, my favorite part is the tingly feeling.  I associate tingling with increase circulation to the scalp which helps out the follicles and has been linked to increased hair growth.  Once I rinsed it out, it felt like my hair had actually absorbed a great deal of the conditioner, the slip wasn't as great as I'd expected but my hair was easy to detangle regardless.  Bottom line, I'd re-use the conditioner but mainly for the tingly feeling. 

Infusium 23 Moisture Replenisher Collection

I'm sure during you quest of the perfect hair care items, you've tried Infusium 23 at some point.  The brand is probably best known for the great leave-in's but now they have expanded to include new collections that focus on specific hair issues.  

Infusium 23 Frizz Controller Collection - includes shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment to tame and smooth, frizz-prone, unruly locks, and infuse the hair cuticle to provide softness, manageability and shine.  

Infusium 23 Volume Builder Collection - Shampoo and conditioner set helps boost and enliven the most flat, unresponsive hair while nourishing hair from root to tip.

Infusium 23 Moisture Replenisher Collection - shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment provides deep conditioning and protects against dryness and breakage to leave hair soft and healthy, yet is light enough to use daily. 

Plus, Infusium 23 Renew and Repair Collection - Ideal for hair that is damaged from chemicals, heat and overexposure to the elements, treats hair to restore healthy texture and strengthen against future damage.  This is the collection I tried, since my hair is relaxed I always lend towards products that cater towards chemically treated hair.   

Keep reading to find out what I thought! 


Infusium 23 Renew and Repair Shampoo - Nourishes and treats the hair cuticle to minimize friction and alleviate breakage.


AHS Thoughts:  I absolutely loved this shampoo, it was very light and had my hair feeling like silk during use.  When a shampoo has slip like a conditioner you know that's a good sign!  This shampoo uses Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate to cleanse, but my hair did not feel stripped down, instead if felt moisturized. 


Infusium 23 Renew and Repair Conditioner Product Description - Infuses the hair cuticle to alleviate breakage caused by routine brushing and styling.


AHS Thoughts:  This is a great conditioner to use when you don't have time to deep condition.  Because of the semi-runny formula it's very easy to make sure every strand of hair has been adequately coated with conditioner.  Since my hair already felt soft from the shampoo I did not notice an increase in softness, but my hair was very easy to detangle with my fingers at this point. 


Infusium 23 Renew and Repair Leave - In Product Description - Infuses the hair cuticle to help restore healthy texture and strengthen against future damage.


AHS Thoughts:  To this day I haven't yet met an Infusium 23 leave in conditioner that I haven't liked.  This product is very light weight and just provides an extra detangling boost and some additional softness. 


Infusium 23 products can be found at your local grocery and drugstores at affordable prices usually under $8.00



Check out the Infusium 23 site to enter to win a Spa Getaway for Two!  Enter Here


**Products mention in the review where provided by Infusium 23.  See full disclosure. **

Working Out + Hair Care

Thankfully my gene pool has provided me with the luxury of not having to work out very hard (really at all) to maintain my slender shape.  Except lately, I've been packing on a few pounds and I've been experimenting with different work-out regimens.  Just so you know, I haven't found anything I really like.  Gyms bore me, hot yoga doesn't fit into my work schedule, and I lack the motivation to do it on my own.  Anyway, what I did discover was a way to refresh my hair and scalp without having to actually wash it after every work out. 

My favorite post work out product is DevaCurl Mist-er Right.  DevaCurl Mist-er Right is a herbal cleansing tonic, I would just spray some as close to my scalp as possible and then twirl my hair into a high, loose bun.  The lavender scent is great and really helps you feel fresh after a workout.  

Product Description: This lavender-based tonic helps revitalize even the most delicate, tired curls.  Renew...refresh...rejuvenate...relax...with Mist-er Right, a spa treatment for curls. Use on wet or dry hair to reactivate Devacurl's Angell. A versatile "hair-freshener", use the mist on the beach, after exercising, smoking and other outdoor activities for both scalp and skin.


Ingredients: Aqueous Extracts of: Achilea Millefolium, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), Cymbopogon Schoenanthus, Humulus Lupulus (Hops), Melissa Offcinalis (Balm Mint), Rosmarinus Offcinalis (Rosemary), Propylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lavendar Oil, DMDM Hydantoin.  

Availability: Curlmart.com $17.95

Doobie Moisturization

I recently had my hair roller set and the roots blown out.  With this style I cannot moisturize and seal the same way as when I'm wearing buns or my style would be ruined, so I've been turning to Garnier's Triple Nutrition Nutrient Spray.

Product Description: Garnier’s FIRST two-in-one dual-action treatment spray transforms dry, damaged hair into well-nourished, healthy looking hair with an incredible shine. Perfect for that midday refresher and “pick-me-up” or use on wet hair for leave-in conditioning.

My Thoughts:  This spray adds just enough moisture and shine to my freshly blown out hair without weighing it down or making my roots revert back.  Plus, I love how you have to shake it all up to make all the ingredients mesh together because it features shea butter, olive oil, and avocado oil. 

Keep Reading for the Ingredients  


Ingredients: Aqua , Water , Cyclopentasiloxane , Isohexadecane , Poloxamer 184 , Hexylene Glycol , Parfum (Fragrance) , Benzyl Alcohol , Polyaminopropyl Biguanide , Linalool , Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter) , Olea Europaea Oil (Olive Fruit Oil) , Butylphenyl Methylpropional , Citronellol , Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado Oil) , Ribes Nigrum Oil (Black Currant Seed Oil) , CI 19140 (Yellow 5) , CI 17200 (Red 33)

Hair Therapy Wrap

Remember when I was chatting about BeautyFix?  Well I finally got my package and I have to say the best item is my Hair Therapy Wrap.  Since I gave you guys a discount code so you end up only paying $19.99 for the entire thing, I have to say it was a good deal.  A heat therapy wrap plus a bunch of other sample sized goodies, the wrap itself is about $25.00!  But I also have to say if I paid full price and the heat therapy wrap wasn't available, I would have felt ripped off. 

When I first opened up the Hair Therapy Wrap, I was a bit confused.  The shape of the wrap is a bit strange, I wonder why they didn't make it more round.  I popped it into the microwave for the recommended 10 seconds and I didn't feel any heat.  So I kept heating it over and over at 10 second intervals for about 90 seconds.  Still it didn't feel hot but I slapped it on anyway, I was completely wrong!  It was nice and warm.  I left the Hair Therapy Wrap on for about an hour and then took it off and put my Pretty Wrap on and went to bed.  My hair was super soft in the morning, I rinsed out the Creme of Nature Professional Treatment and my hair was easy to detangle, blowdry, and style.  

So here is how the Hair Therapy Wrap works:
1. Apply your conditioner or deep treatment
2. Cover with a plastic cap
3. Heat up your Hair Therapy Wrap (either microwave or stovetop)
4. Put it on your head and relax!

It's that simple, it's easier than using a bonnet dryer and the results are similar.  I plan on using this all summer instead of the super hot bonnet dryer, plus there's nothing to plug in so I can roam all over my home with it on. 

College Bound Diva's - This is perfect for you guys because it doesn't require cords just a microwave! 

Puppy Shampoo

Remember when I asked you if you would try a shampoo based solely on the ingredients?  If not check here!  Well here is the shampoo I was talking about...

The things I try in the name of achieving and maintaining healthy hair as well as provide funny, insightful reviews of The Anti Hair Slave is crazy. Most recently, I used puppy poo to shampoo my hair! Not puppy poop, puppy poo as in shampoo! Introducing, Isle of Dogs Naturaluxury Gloss Shampoo and Naturaluxury Nutrient Masque. Both products are formulated for dogs, but the product descriptions as well as ingredient list (No parabens, no synthetic fragrances, no flavorings, no sulfates, no phthalates, no petroleum-derived chemicals) had me dying to try both products for myself.


Company Background:
Isle of Dogs set a new standard in natural products for dogs with the launch of NaturaLuxury in 2008. Little did we know that we had stumbled upon the hottest secret in human haircare too. Word-of-mouth buzz from customers has boosted sales of NaturaLuxury Intensely Nourishing Gloss Shampoo and Nutrient Masque by 500% in 2009, as women have discovered the extraordinary benefits of these all-natural haircare products on their Stylists, celebrities, and beauty junkies have started to discover this secret. “I was traveling to a shoot and my luggage got lost,” recounts an A-list celebrity. “The only stuff I had was my NaturaLuxury travel set for my dog. It totally blew me away. The stylist on the set could not believe my hair. She’s now turning all her clients onto it.”




Product Descriptions


Naturaluxury Gloss Shampoo: For this unique botanical gloss shampoo, we use only perfectly-colored hibiscus sabdariffa petals gathered during the winter. This harvesting method ensures that our formula offers the highest quality shine enhancement and organic content available. A therapeutic level of calming essential oils, including luxurious Italian Bergamot and Madagascar Rose Geranium, further enhance the bathing experience. The result is incomparable softness and shine.


Naturaluxury Nutrient Masque: Highly concentrated, this exceptional deep conditioning treatment restores body and strength to all types of hair, reduciong breakage and shedding as well as effectively eliminating tangles. Wheat proteins and vitamin-rich botanicals combine to impart natural beauty, promote all-around coat health. Essential nourishment which should be applied as a finishing treatment at each bathing.


AHS Thoughts: The shampoo took a bit longer than normal to develop into a full lather and even once it did, the lather was still weak. It cleanses well and it's SLS free, but I prefer a bit more suds if you know what I mean. The scent of the shampoo is absolutely delightful. The conditioner is thinner than I expected, but then I had to take a step back and think about it. It's thinner because some dogs have a crazy thick coat and tons of underhair so the conditioner needs to be thinner to get all the way down to conditon. Even though the formula is thinner the amount of softness and detangling properties are awesome, plus the scent lingered in my hair and left me catching whiffs of Italian Bergamot and Madagascar Rose Geranium all day long. I love that "the pure essential oils are extracted from fruit, flowers, leaves and bark through the process of steam distillation or by cold pressing citrus fruit zest. Both processes are done naturally, without any chemical additives." The scent that is garnered by using this process is light, crisp and totally refreshing.

Keep Reading to peep the ingredients! 

Before you start really thinking I'm crazy, check out these ingredients! 


Ingredients:
Naturaluxury Gloss Shampoo: water, decyl glucoside, sodium lauroamphocetate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, hibiscus sabdariffa (hibiscus) extract, wheat amino acids, hydrolyzed wheat protein and linoleic acid and linolenic acid and hyluronic acid and sorbitol and triticum vulgare (wheat germ) oil and simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil and panthenol and tocopherol, yeast extract, di (lauryl dimethyl ammonium hydroxy propyl), decyl glucoside, citric acid, behenamido-propyl hydroxyethyl dimonium chloride, peg-150 pentaery-thrityl tetrastearate, gluconolactone and sodium benzoate, propietary blend of pure essential oils.


Naturaluxury Nutrient Masque: Aqua, behentrimonium methosulfate (Colza Oil) and ceteryl alcohol (non-GMO plant sources), hydrolyzed wheat protein and wheat oligosaccharides, panthenol (Vitamin B5) and hydrolyzed wheat protein and linoleic acid and linolenic acide and hyaluronic acid (plant source) and sorbitol (organic humectant) and triticum vulgare (wheat germ) oil, Simmondsia chinenis (jojoba) oil and tocopherol (vitamin E), dehydro-acetic acid and benzyl alcohol, proprietary blend of pure essential oils.

Deep Conditioner Review: Deity America

I'm always on the hunt for new deep conditioners, while cruising the aisles in CVS is no different.  I always look at the large green tub of Deity America Deep Penetrating Conditioner for Damaged Hair and consider purchasing, but never took the plunge until now.  I finally gave in and spent the $10.99 + tax on the conditioner. 


Product Description: Deity of America delivers an incredible penetrating reconstruction treatment. Deity America Deep Penetrating Conditioner penetrates deep into damage hair with natural plant extracts and with a protein-injected formula to help rescue and restore strength, elasticity, shine and condition split ends and breakage.
- Restore dry brittle hair
- Mends split ends
- Stops breakage
- Adds body shine
- Adds moisture
- Strengths hair


AHS Thoughts:  When I opened the tub I couldn't help but think that it looks like a tub of mud.  Usually, my hair feels noticably softer as soon as I apply conditioner, but this time I didn't feel anything different.  The directions say to apply liberally on damp hair, comb through, cover with plastic cap and place under heat for 20 minutes. Allow to dry to a hard shell and then rinse away.  When you keep reading about ingredients, it says 'main' ingredients while to me means there are 'other' ingredients that aren't mentioned.  I wonder why?  Anyway, I applied the conditioner to my hair, put on a plastic shower cap and covered with my scarf.  I ended up falling asleep and leaving the conditioner in overnight.  In the morning my hair felt soft and in a few areas the conditioner was hard, but for the most part it was soft and so was my hair.  I rinsed and my hair felt soft and I noticed a drastic decrease in the amount of hair in my wide tooth comb.  

Keep reading for the ingredients
   
Ingredients:  Main Ingredients: 100% Tibet Herbal Essence, Ginseng, Ganoderma Lucidum, Angelica, Pseudo-Ginseng, Wheat, Protein, Avocado.  Please note that the label says MAIN ingredients, kind of makes you wonder what the 'other' ingredients are.

Elasta QP Deep Penetrating Remoisturizing Conditioner

Within my goodie package from Elasta QP was Elasta QP DPR-11+.  My favorite type of hair product is conditioners, the deeper the better, so when I was reading the product description of Elasta QP DPR-11+ I just knew it was going to be fantastic. 

Product Description: Vitamin-rich, DPR-11+ is a deep penetrating remoisturizing conditioner with 11+ plant extracts, organic oils and vitamins.  Moisturizing conditioners renew hair strength and elasticity leaving hair feeling like silk.  Contains 11 conditioning botanicals including Peach Blossom oil and Vitamin E, Penetrates inner hair fibers to surge nutrients to moisture depleted hair, Perfect hair repair treatment when combined with Elasta QP Protein Supplement. 


AHS Thoughts:  I had such high hopes for this conditioner and yet it didn't do much for my hair.  The consistancy is super thick and coats extremely well.  I've had regular conditioners (not labeled deep) moisturize my hair more than this conditioner.  From what I've read this conditioner has been reformulated and now contains Petrolatum as the second ingredient.  The scent is a light peachy smell that doesn't actual linger. 


Availability:  Elasta QP DPR-11 is only $6.00 on Elastaqp.com 

Profectiv Mega Growth Conditioner

I use chemicals in my hair and I use heat in my hair, so I'm always using deep conditioners.  Deep conditioning is a staple part of my weekly hair care regimen.  It's a step that I never ever skip, I might cut down the amount of time I deep condition for but I never ever skip it.  I also hardly ever use the same deep conditioner back to back, that's not to say I don't have my favorite because I certainly do but how would I ever keep you guys updated on all the different deep conditioners available if I didn't test different varieties like it's my J-O-B?  The newest deep conditioner to soak into my strands?  Strength Of Nature - Profectiv Mega Growth - Deep Strengthening Growth Conditioner. 


Product Description:  Protects, restores, repairs & rebuilds fragile, damaged hair for healthier hair growth.  Fortified with Pro-Growth Complex - a deep penetrating blend of natural minerals, oils, and proteins.  MegaGrowth strengthens hair from the inside out to promote stronger, longer, healthier hair.  Excellent for deep repair of damage caused from chemical overprocessing, heat styling, over-styling stress and dryness. Stops breakage. Promotes Healthy Growth. Boosts Hi-Shine




AHS Thoughts:  I'm fond of conditioners that are thick and lush and this conditioner is just that.  Once applied to my hair, it felt soft and conditioned immediately but of course I slapped on my plastic cap and went to sit under my hooded dryer for a while.  The scent is not worth noting but it's nothing terrible.  The ingredients leave much to be desired, or should I say much to be undesired like mineral oil, petrolatum, parabens, and cones.  If the ingredient list were better I would highly recommend this conditioner because it actually does condition your hair and really aids with detangling.  Plus, my hair felt like it already had a leave-in applied after only towel drying a little. 
 
Keep Reading for the entire ingredient list     
 

 
Ingredients:  water, mineral oil, petrolatum, propylene glycol, polyquaternium 37, propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, steareth-2, steareth-20, silk amino acids, wheat protein, soybean protein, hydrolyzed oat protein, coconut oil, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, flax seed oil, horsetail extract, olive fruit oil, wheat germ oil, soybean oil, dimethicone, phenyl trimethicone, lanolin, hydrogenated vegetable oil, methylparaben, propylparaben, DMDM hydantoin, fragrance, corn oil, BHA, BHT, Yellow 6

Elasta QP Soy Oyl Conditioner

Not to long ago I talked about some of the benefits of soy in both your diet and your beauty regimen. Thanks to the great folks over at Elasta QP I was able to try another product containing soy, Elasta QP Soy OYL Anti-Breakage Moisture Rich Deep Conditioner. Lately, I've been totally bad, after I relaxed my hair using Mizani Butter Blends I've been loving the sleekness of my hair so much that I've wore my hair heat styled for 2 weeks in a row! So when I received the Elasta QP goodie package with the new conditioner in it, I just had to try it out.


Product Description: ElastaQP presents Soy Oyl Protein + Vitamins! The SUPERIOR Organic Oil - Richer in protein, vitamins and Omega 3 & 6, Organic Soy Oyl infuses natural moisturizers and conditioners deep into hair to help restore strength, manageability and shine. UltraHydrating Soy contains 5 times more Omega 3 & 6 than Olive Oil for healthy hair growth and superior anti-dryness protection. Vitamin-rich Soy Protein penetrates faster and deeper into hair for the maximum protection against breakage, split-ends and dryness.

AHS Thoughts: The package is super big which I love because I use tons and tons of conditioner. I really like to scoop it out and glop it on real good, no dime sized amounts here. The consistancy reminds me of a mix between jello and mousse and the slip was almost instant, the scent is okay not fantastic but hardly even noticable. I conditioned for only 15 minutes under traditional heat and got amazing results. My hair felt totally conditioned, very soft, and it was super easy to detangle and comb through the entire length of my hair with my jilbere shower comb. Although, the label says organic oil please note that the second ingredient is mineral oil (insert the sound of teeth sucking). But regardless of whether the conditioner has mineral oil or not, I still really liked the end results.
Availability: Although I haven't seen this in my local BSS yet, it might be in yours or at the very least coming soon for about $7 to $9 dollars for the big one (32oz.) Check Elastaqp.com for more info

Ingredient Junkies: Keep Reading for the goods.

Elasta QP Soy Oyl Conditioner

Ingredients:  water, mineral oil, petrolatum, propylene glycol, poylquaternium 37, propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, steareth-2, steareth-20, soybean oil, hydrolyzed soybean protein, olive fruit oil, vitamin a, vitamin e, vitamin c, vitamin h, vitamin f, avocado oil, dimethicone, phenyl trimethicone, lanolin, hydrogenated vegetable oil, methylparaben, propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, fragrance, corn oil, BHA, BHT, cetyl alcohol, FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C yellow 6