Product Review: Naked Detox Clarifying Shampoo by Essations

I am soooo excited about this clarifying shampoo!  It thoroughly cleanses without stripping already delicate hair.  I see glycerin in the ingredients, but NO propylene glycol.  Yes!  Many products use propylene glycol to supplement the glycerin ratio.  Glycerin is a more expensive ingredient than propylene glycol.  So as you would expect, this Naked by Essations Detox Clarifying shampoo is on the expensive side.  The retail 8 oz size (not pictured) runs about $16.00 USD.  That's a conditioner price for most multi-cultural lines.  Anyway, it's worth it!

Relaxed hair, natural hair, locked hair . . . I have used it on all hair types and trust this Naked Detox Shampoo to cleanse the hair without stripping it even if I lather it up more than one time.

Design Essentials have reformulated their deep cleansing shampoo recently, and KeraCare has reformulated their deep cleansing shampoo a few times with different pH values.  Sometimes these companies are just stuffing these new formulations down our throats, and as much as I want to support my distributors who are the middle man, the ecomony is getting too demanding.  We as hairstylists are going to have to stay on the lookout for changes and keep our options open.  At the end of the day, our customers are looking at us- not the manufacturer.  I am getting more and more stylists mentioning to me how the beauty products are failing them.  It could be that the cheaper ingredients are causing the products to expire quicker.  I do not know, but I am keeping my hand on technical support hotlines for these products.  Any questions about new formulations?  Just call the company.  You can get their insight, and they should listen to your feedback to improve their product or at least clarify the directions.

Product Review: Mizani Cutting Solution

Do you remember the "brilliance" of hair when the flat irons and all the moroccan oils were "the new hot trend?"  The hair had "crazy shine" and bounce.  Then diminishing returns started happening.  The silicones started drying out the hair, and the flat irons started frying out the hair.

Now, what if I told you that this Mizani Cutting Solution when used as a leave-in conditioner delivered that "exceptional" hair finish?  Well, I added this spray into my blow-dry services without any hair cutting because of the almond glycerides and  its moisture retention properties.  The final finish on everyone's hair no matter what the texture was absolutely awesome.  I am talking exceptional hair.  I was completely blown away.  It took my work to the next level of fabulous!

This cutting solution is a part of the Master's line.  I believe that they may be discontinuing it.  If they are discontinuing it, then it may be because of poor sales???  Honestly, most of us do not dream about "what our next cutting spray is going to be."  Rewetting the hair with water has always worked.  So I can imagine that no one wants to pay a lot of money for a cutting spray, but this one has a high concentration of glycerin and no propylene glycol.  I am in love with this spray as a leave-in moisturizer.

If it starts to have diminishing returns, then I will let you know, but for right now, this spray is the best thing since "sliced bread."

Product Review: Joico Bio-advanced Restorative Treatment

This Joico K-pak Revitaluxe Bio-advanced Restorative Treatment is quite aggressive in protein deposit.  Without any heat and only a quick instant massage through the ends seems to be overkill in natural and relaxed African American hairtypes.  It seemed to cause some dryness to the hair using alone so I do suggest following up with a moisturizing conditioner without protein to balance it out.

Those with "oily hair" and receiving highlighting on a regular basis may find it a good monthly treatment that is quick and can be done in the shower.

As far as ingredients are concerned, the fifth ingredient is propylene glycol.  The second ingredient is glycerin.    Toward the end of the ingredient list is sodium hydroxide.  Overall, the ingredients are half good and half bad.  It will not be re-purchasing this treatment.  The store manager recommended it, but it is just not the best fit for my clientele.

Product Review: Sedal versus Sedal Co-creations

I did a product review on the Sedal line for curly hair a few months back, and I just completed a product review on the Ouidad line for curly hair. Guess what? The two lines have a "co-creation!" Pictured is two Sedal product lines for curly hair. The Sedal/Ouidad Co-creation conditioning treatment has healthier ingredients such as glycerin versus the regular Sedal line which has propylene glycol. I have written other articles about avoiding propylene glycol as much as possible. The "Sedal Co-creation" version is a little more expensive. It is about $4 more than regular Sedal conditioning treatment, but it is worth it if the ingredients are better. There are expiration dates on the jars. I still like the Sedal line. Please separate article on Sedal line for more information.

A Great Moisturizing Conditioner and Hairdress

Nexxus Humectress is a moisturizing conditioner that works great on wet hair or dry hair. If using on wet hair, then rinse it out. If using on dry hair as a hairdress, then use sparingly as a leave-in conditioner. As a leave-in hairdressing, it softens hair like an "organic coconut oil." Pictured is older packaging of the Nexxus Humectress. This bottle does have glycerin and mineral oil listed in the ingredients. It works sooooo well for moisturizing the hair overnight as a hairdress.


The new packaging as shown on the right of this picture has different ingredients. It seems to have replaced the glycerin and mineral oil combination with dimethicone. I do not know if this newer version works as well as the older version. I found this older bottle in Harris Teeter. It was the last one left. There were plenty of the newer versions on the shelf. It smelled good; so I anticipate that it will still work well.

The Dimethicone (i.e. Silicone) which is now as controversial as the mineral oil may not moisturize as well. It should deliver the same shine, but not necessarily the same softness. I will try out the newer packaging in the future, but since I just paid $16 for the bottle pictured on the left, it may be awhile. Until then, if you still have this older version in your hair products stash, then try it out! It works for all hair types! Race is not important.