Expired Cantu Twist and Lock Gel

 Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Twist and Lock Gel is paraben-free.  (i.e.  no preservatives)  I purchased this jar less than two years ago.  I would guess that I actually purchased it 1.5 years ago max.

 I have written articles regarding characteristics of expired gels.  This product smelled fine, but it started looking like cottage cheese.

 I started noticing it glob together which further confirmed that the product had expired.  There was no expiration date listed.

Then "plop!"  The contents of this jar eventually clumped over into one giant glob.  I usually allow paraben-free products one year before they expire.  So consumers should be careful about purchasing paraben-free products.  You never know how long they were sitting in the store before you purchase it.  Luckily, I had some fresh Jamaican Mango and Lime Locking Gel for my finger twisting session.

So I had to trash this new jar of Cantu Shea Butter Twist and Lock Gel before I had a chance to review it.  I will probably not purchase it again because I do like the Jamaican Mango and Lime brand as well as the Nahbila's Essentials brand.

Affirm Fiberguard Normalizing Shampoo Changed

 The container is the same, but when I began using a new bottle of Affirm Fiberguard Normalizing Shampoo, I noticed a 2013 ingredient label covering the old ingredient list which was established since 2005.  This "adding on an updated sticker" practice has been seen before with Design Essentials products.  This "label cover-up" practice saves the company money by not trashing the old containers just because of labelling, and it gives those progressive hairstylists such as myself a "flag" to check out what's new with the product.

Well, I compared the two ingredient lists and found that Sodium Laureth Sulfate is now the second ingredient in the list.  The previous version had Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate as the second ingredient.  Also, Hydrolyzed Keratin seems to have replaced Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein.

It's interesting that the ingredients changed so much, but the pH still remained a 5.5.  So they must have balanced the ingredients to ensure proper relaxer neutralization.

Overall, I think that this new formula works great.  So change is good sometimes.  I will keep you posted if my opinion changes.

Lottabody Ready to Use Setting Lotion

Lotta Body Texturizing Setting lotion has been around for a long time, but I just realized that Walmart stores sell this "Ready to use" Original Formula for about $3.00 USD.    There is no mixing.  You can just pour into a spray bottle, and it is literally ready to use.

Sally Beauty Supply stores carry a concentrated formula of the Lotta Body.  It is designed to be diluted to your desired firmness or softness.  The packaging is different than this "ready to use" version.

The ingredients in the "ready to use" version includes Lanolin which is an old school ingredient that helped to reduce hair breakage.

Those who want to roller set at home yourself may like the shine and firmness of this texturizing setting lotion. I have one client that prefers this ready to use version, and I was impressed by it! I will not submit to using it for everyone because I do prefer a salon exclusive type of brand like the Vitale Pro 3 in 1 Design Lotion which is also ready to use from the bottle. However, for you DIYers who need to grab a setting lotion on the go - should try this one!

Solomon Islands: Natural Blondes with Brown skin

Apparently, there is a "blonde hair" gene different from the typical European blonde gene that gives dark skin people blonde hair.  5 to 10 percent of the Solomon Islands natives have blonde hair.

Learn more at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2139462/Riddle-Solomon-solved-Scientists-South-Sea-islanders-blond-hair-didnt-come-Europeans-evolved-separately.html

The exposure to the sun does naturally lighten most haircolor. However, a rule of thumb, is that the lighter your hair starts out naturally, the more natural highlights the sun will bring out.

Gardening, hiking, and other extensive outdoor activities often spark natural lightening of the natural hair.  If you are starting off with brunette or black, typically, off-black to darkest brown is the lightest the hair will lift naturally.

Lighter colored hair is often associated with lighter colored eyes.  Thus colored contact lenses often accentuates a new haircolor change for those with darker eyes.

Photo credit on pictures: Alamy, found at website: www.dailymail.co.uk

Silica Gel Talk

You can find Silica Gel packets in everything from commercial hair extensions packages to beef jerky.  It is used to absorb moisture or keep things dry.  In a previous article on this blog, I mentioned how spiders are attracted to water in the shampoo bowls.  So these Silica Gel packets make sense to prevent moisture from getting into commercial hair packages which therefore should keep bugs from being attracted to the hair.

So you may want to start saving these silica packets for other uses such as drying out wet cell phones and preventing camera lenses from fogging up.  Other uses can be found at  http://thesecretyumiverse.wonderhowto.com/how-to/11-unexpected-uses-for-silica-gel-packets-0140239/

I was amazed to read how people use it for dried flower decorations and more.  You are not supposed to eat the silica in these packets, but apparently there are some forms of silica that people consume for health purposes.

If it says "DO NOT EAT" then obviously that silica may not the non-toxic version.  This is an eco-friendly article.  Please help save the planet by recycling.