Benita's Favorite Products of 2016

First of all, anything on my 2015 List from November of last year that I still love will NOT be repeated on this list.  So let's get started!

Favorite Detangling Shampoo
ColorProof SuperRich Moisture Shampoo

Favorite Light Brown Semi-permanent Haircolor
Clairol Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution color name: 6N Toasted Hazelnut

Favorite Weightless Shine Spray
Chi Shine Infusion

Favorite Hairspray for Thermal Straightening
Joico JoiMist Firm Hairspray

Favorite Roller set Foam
Congo Perfecta Wrap-Set-Twist Foam Lotion

Favorite Moisturizing Conditioner
Rucker Roots Moisturizing Conditioner

Favorite Loc Setting Lotion
Design Essentials Twist and Set Setting Lotion

Favorite Leave-in Repair Spray
Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Dramatic Repair (use on wet hair)

Favorite Color Alert Neutralizing Shampoo
Elasta QP Stop Action Neutralizing Shampoo

Favorite Liquid Chalk Temporary Color
L'Oreal Technique Liquid Chalk colors: Pink Pop and Better Off Red

Favorite Synthetic Hair Moisturizer
Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Styling Butter

Favorite Loc Repair Aid
Invisible thread color: Smoke

Favorite Wet Gray Cover-up Temporary Solution

Roux Fanci-full Color Styling Mousse colors: 23 Frivilous Fawn and 12 Black Rage mixed together.

Favorite Moisturizing Semi-permanent Haircolor
Nairobi TruColors

Favorite Setting Lotion Concentrate
Design Essentials Masterpiece


Many products from my previous lists are still my favorites.  So if you are going Christmas shopping or Black Friday shopping - print out this list as well as the previous versions of my favorites list.

Happy Holidays!!!!!

Multi-Purpose Magnetic Wristband

I referenced this Clairol Magnetic Wristband in a previous article on this blog for hair pins and updos.  I realized recently that sewing/weaving needles can be stored as needed as well.

May 2015 Honorable Mentions

 I still have a lot more to discuss than what is in this article, but I needed to start somewhere so here it is!  This article is the honorable mentions to keep you updated on such things as the My Honey Child brand changing their labelling as well as increasing the size of the Sophia's Old Fashioned Hair Grease.  Please see another article on this blog for the old packaging and size.

I bought this newest Tropical Roots product at the Taliah Waajid's World Natural Hair Show. Jamaican Black Castor Oil. The Tropical Roots line is about double in size now. All the components are definitely starting to show up the East Coast stores.  Remember, I originally brought this line back from my So Cal trip earlier this year 2015.

 More Good news:  the Clairol Advanced Gray Solution now comes in warmer undertones.  In their initial offering, only ash undertones were available which sometimes bleed green on lighter colored ends.  I am so happy for the new Expresso Bean and Rich Walnut colors!!!!

 Back from the World Natural Hair Show, the Magic Twist sponge. It was a fraction of cost of the original Nu Dred sponge, and according to reviews, it works, but they say this sponge is not as durable as the NuDred sponge is.

 I am ready to try it out on some short natural hair.  The barber shops do benefit the most from this "sponge rub" styling.

I have been loving this Shea Moisture Professional Vibrant Color Conditioner.  It is great aromatherapy.  The hair smells fresh,  and the whole salon smells sweeter  with each use. I wished that I had tried the conditioner before attending the Natural Hair Show.  I could have stocked up!!!

Advanced Gray Solution: Light Golden Chestnut

The Clairol Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution line only has five  hair colors to choose from. This line is only recommended for up to 50% gray.  If you are 100% gray/white, then the Light Golden Chestnut color covers the gray with a flaming coppery orange color which is very noticeable!

The good news is that the gray hair is covered without mixing a separate activator lotion nor developer.

The bad news is that the flaming brazzy color is NOT a good look.

The better news is that a violet conditioner such as the AG Sterling Silver conditioner will tone the flaming color down.  You will need an additional 15 minutes under medium heat upon rinsing out the Gray solution.

Clairol Recommendations for their Semi-permanent hair colors:
1) Heat is NOT recommended immediately following a relaxer.  (This tip is for all their "squeeze" bottle semi-permanent hair colors.)

2) Heat is not recommended for use with the Advanced Gray solution.

My tip:
From my own experience for those with more than 50% gray or resistant gray hair, the Advanced Gray solution can go under medium heat for 20 minutes to get coverage.   (NO heat on the same day of a relaxer)

But you need to plan for the extra 15 minutes of conditioning with the violet conditioner to tone the Light Golden Chestnut down.  You do have to rinse the processed color out first before applying the violet conditioner for toning purposes.

I have mentioned in other articles in this blog that some of the darker Advanced Gray Solution hair color can leave a "greenish - ash" color in highlighted ends.  Please see separate articles on this blog to learn more on that topic.

The Advanced Gray Solution is not a good fit for everyone all the time.  You just need to know when to use it especially when the customer does not want a demi-permanent nor permanent hair color.

Review: Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution

 Clairol's Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution  delivers results that vary from individual to individual.  Resistant gray hair may require heat processing and using the "Midnight Black" in order to achieve adequate "dark brown" gray coverage.  Then on the flip side,  those with porous, gray hair, sitting at room temperature and just using the "Rich Dark Brown" color can turn their hair's color almost Black.

Even as far as relaxer day goes, the directions does not recommend any heat, but for some resistant gray clients, I find that 10 minutes under medium heat helps.  While, non-resistant gray clients process fine at room temperature on the same day as the relaxer.

The consistency of this color formula is thin enough to cocktail with a conditioner which for some clients with non-resistant gray, cocktailing provides adequate gray coverage and saves time.

Another important observation regarding the Advanced Gray Solution is that there is an excessive amount of "ash/green" as the base color.  So if your client has "dirty blonde" ends, then they may grab a greenish color as you rinse this Advanced Gray Solution from the roots.  If this happens, I found the Tressa "Cocoa" Watercolors shampoo neutralizes the greenish hue from the porous ends.

I began experimenting with this Beautiful Collection color line because the Sebastian Cellophanes color line changed their formula, and I found it to be less effective in covering gray.  I am not completely happy with the inconsistent results of the Beautiful Collection Advanced Gray Solution, so I am planning to begin using Avlon's Moisturcolor Semi-permanent color to see how effective and consistent it works. I will keep you posted.