hair therapy: WEN Fall Ginger Pumpkin Cleansing Conditioner

just in time for the fall season, Chaz Dean introduces, for a limited time, his WEN cleansing conditioner in a fabulous, Ginger Pumpkin scent*.

and yes, it smells just as good as it sounds...

this being my first experience with WEN, i'm certainly thankful it was with this scent {looking forward to trying Pomegranate and Fig varieties}! i j'adore fall and all the gorgeous spices associated with it...

when it comes to hair products, i have tried many deep conditioners, often loving them when my hair was left feeling light and not weighed down. of course, i always used a shampoo beforehand. WEN not only left my hair feeling healthy, shiny and soft, but surprisingly full of body, bounce, and it was clean - without the use of any shampoo!

it's a bit of a different experience using WEN, but i have to say i enjoyed it. since it doesn't lather, you'll be happy to know it won't strip hair or scalp of moisture, and it keeps color-treated hair vibrant; after applying {directions call for a certain number of pumps depending on length and thickness of hair}, let it sit in for a few minutes. you can {as i did} wash and exfoliate you skin, shave, and when time is up, all that's left is to rinse it out.

WEN can also be used as a leave-in conditioner {who doesn't love a multi-tasker?}, so a few times i applied a small pump into my tresses before bed or right after styling {and if you didn't already know, i only wash my hair 1-2x a week since it is so thick}. me and my hair are in love...

have you tried WEN? if so let me know what you think. if not, i highly recommend treating yourself to a bottle! visit chazdean.com for more info and to order.

*product featured sent to me for the purpose of review; pics are my own

Think and Discuss: Hair Washing Methods

If you look at natural hair care on websites, forums, youtube channels, etc, you will find that there are MANY different ways to wash your hair! You can find an in numerous amount of techniques and methods. We all have our preferred methods.



How do I wash mine?

Let me start by saying I don’t like hair running down my back, on my legs and arms in the shower. AND I really don’t enjoy washing my hair in general because it makes my body itch (no matter what shampoo or conditioner I use). So I saturate my hair with water from a spray bottle, and apply shampoo in front of my bathroom mirror before getting in the shower. In the shower I rinse, apply my conditioner, detangle, clamp it back up and get out. However, sometimes, I apply conditioner, rinse and detangle out of the shower because I get so itchy!

That’s what works for me,

So I want to know, what works for you? What is your favorite hair washing method? Do you use more than one method?

Let’s think and discuss below!

Challenge of the Month October 2011: Develop a Hair Care Regimen

My challenge to you is to develop a hair care regimen that works for you! There are several components that are necessary to obtaining a good and effective hair care regimen.

1. Shampoo

You need to find a good shampoo for your hair. Sometimes you might find more than one that you like which is fine. You want to look for something with natural -preferably organic ingredients. Avoid sulfates and harmful chemicals.

Keep in mind that shampoo is made to CLEANSE your hair. While you don't want something that makes your hair feel like straw, know that it will make your hair feel slightly stripped.

Here are some options:

-Nourish spa
-Tea tree tingle
-Shea moisture

2. Conditioner

This is essential! You have to put moisture back into your hair to balance out the shampooing process. The same rules apply for your conditioner, opt for natural ingredients! In the long run you will have the best results!



Keep in mind that conditioners are NOT meant to be left in your hair. This can lead to breakage and crunchy hair! This is the job of a leave in conditioner! Also, conditioners are NOT meant to be deep conditioners!

Here are some options:
-nourish spa
-giovannis (there are many types of conditioners offered within this line)

3. Deep Conditioner

A deep conditioning treatment is so important when it comes to the overall health of your hair! So finding one that works for you is vital to your hair. Deep conditioners do heavy repair. They fight against damage and keep your hair moisturized and healthy.




You should deep condition once a week or twice a month!

Here are some options:
-burts bees
-bioinfusion olive oil
-Shea moisture masque

4. Leave in Conditioner

Leave in conditioners are the basis of keeping moisture in our hair. Opt for a cream based leave in conditioner! And as always you want something with natural ingredients. They will vary in thickness so you have to decide if you like a thicker or lighter leave in.




Here are some options:
-Shea moisture
-Giovannis
-Organix ( they have a wide variety)

5. Essential Oils or Butters

This is of the utmost important when it comes to sealing in moisture!

Leave in conditioner is the peanut butter and oils/butters are the jelly- you can't have one without the other!




You want to choose essential oils and/or butters for your hair to seal in moisture. The possibilities are endless :)

Here are options for oils:
-jojoba oil
-castor oil
-safflower oil
-grape-seed oil

Here is an amazing option for a butter: SHEA BUTTER! (unrefined or raw)

Comment below and let me know what you plan to use for your hair care regimen!!

Hair Tip # 28: Spice Up Your Conditioner

Do you have a...

• cheap conditioner?
• watery conditioner?
• uneffective conditioner?
• annoying because it won't work conditioner?

Its time to SPICE IT UP! You can add several difference elements to your conditioner in order to make it work better for you. Before you throw it out, try these methods!

To Make Your Regular Conditioner into a better Conditioner:

ADD oils! Your conditioner is most likely lacking the moisturizing properties that a conditioner needs. You can fix this issue by adding oils. Whether it be coconut, jojoba, olive, grape seed, or any other kind of oil, use what works for you!

ADD protein! Your conditioner could also be lacking the protein that you need. Add mayo, or avocado. If you use avocado, it needs to be blended or you will end up with bits left in your hair. You can also use coconut milk for these purposes.

ADD shine! You expect your shampoo to give your hari luster and shine, as it should. Add honey! It will not make your hair sticky :) It is a wonderful additive.

ADD something to make it soft. Remember the banana mask? Add a jar or banana baby food to soften your tresses! It will also add a yummy smell.

**NOTE: Keep in mind that if you add perishable contents to your conditioner, you will want to refrigerate it and mix in small amounts! **

Product Review: Giovanni 50/50 Balanced Hydrating/Calming Conditioner

Product Information

Price: $12.99

Where to buy: Online stores (amazon), Marshalls, TJ Maxx

Ingredients: Purified Water, With Rosemary Oil, Nettle Oil, Thyme Oil, Birch Leaf Oil Chamomile Oil, Clary, Lavender, Coltsfoot Leaf, Yarrow Oil, Mallow, Horsetail Oil, Soybean Protein, Tocopherol, Acecetamide Mea, Cetyl Alcohol, Trace Minerals, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Grapefruit Seed.


My Review

Purchasing the product: I am in love with this product. I have been wanting to try it for such a long time. However, I am determined to use the products I have before purchasing new ones. Since I was at the bottom of my tea tree tingle conditioner, I went to Marshall's to see if they carried this product. They did! Not only did they have it, but they had a large size with a pump! Omw, amazing :) I am expecting this to last the rest of the year or longer. The price was fantastic as well. I paid $12.99 for a 33.6 oz bottle!

Using the product for the first time: It met every expectation I had about it! It was creamy, and had a ton of slip. Detangling was easy with this conditioner. In addition, when I put it in my hair, I could feel how much my hair liked it. When I rinsed it out, my hair was extremely soft!

Who do I recommend it for? I would recommend this product to anyone! I think it would be great for any hair type. If you want a good priced product with good slip that also provides good moisture- look no further.

hair therapy: Pantene Relaxed & Natural Dry to Moisturized Shampoo and Conditioner

when it comes to shampoo and conditioner, i am definitely the type to go for the most hydrating and moisturizing. i use products for dry or color-treated hair, mostly concerned with ingredients rather than using products that are specified for women of color.

if i'm being honest, i haven't had the best experiences with products for woc when used alone. my hair isn't coarse enough to handle the oils, and they have only left my tresses oily and weighed down. i found this to be frustrating the first time this happened to me because i had to go back and rewash my hair. since then, i have found that i can benefit from the heavier products-- they do give my hair a boost in condition-- but always plan for rewash.

this, however, has not been the case with Pantene Relaxed & Natural Dry to Moisturized shampoo and conditioner. i don't know how they do it, but Pantene has it down when it comes to moisturizing hair! i love their "regular" dry to moisturized line and have used those products many times over.

this new-to-me duo is like a step up in the dry to moisturized range. and no rewashing necessary- yay! i love that i can let my hair air dry and it's left with minimal frizz {tip: if your curly hair is frizzy, it needs moisture!}, and when i style, my hair is soft, shiny and full. fabulous work, Pantene!

i would recommend this to any woman with unruly or coarse tresses. don't let the Relaxed & Natural label deflect you. try them. you can find them at a drugstore near you.