Product Review: Eden BodyWorks Cleansing Co-Wash and Leave-InConditioner

A visit to Sallys Beauty Supply in June caused me to purchase the co-wash from Eden BodyWorks. I had heard lots about it thanks to it being included in CurlBox kits. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I always knew I'd give it a try despite my loyalty and love to the one from As I Am. I love coconut oil and it was in the top ingredients. I tried it a few times before taking a trip to Washington, D.C. where I had the honor of attending a conference on volunteering and service. It just so happened that included in the conference goodie bags was a sample of the leave-in from the same line. SCORE! I found it interesting that it was included because there really aren't a lot of African-Americans that attend this particular event. So, I came to the obvious conclusion that it is intended for all hair types. Cool.

So let's get to it. The first few times I used the co-wash I was not particularly impressed. It cleansed my hair- no doubt but it didn't give it that extra umph factor that would make me go back and buy it again. My hair cooperates completely when it likes a product it is soft and compliant afterward. This time is was compliant but not really soft. I didn't give up but I left it behind when I went to D.C. While at the conference, I washed my hair with a dreadful, typically expensive shampoo and conditioner that came with the hotel room. HATED IT! I roomed with my Caucasian friend whose hair also HATED IT! We give that product 2 thumbs down and a flush! It starts and ends with an "A" friends and that's all I have to say about that.

I decided to combat the washing fiasco by using the Eden BodyWorks leave-in. My hair still felt really hard and ridiculous so I gave it a pass and asked for another sample to be used later. Fast forward to Sunday night. I decided to use the co-wash and leave-in together. You know what they say about using products from the same line... It's supposed to yield fantastic results, right? Well, if I'm honest... it left ok results. I tried the co-wash for about 30 days. There are some products which just cause my hair to shrug. Like- yeah that was cool but I don't want seconds or need a repeat visit. That's kind of how I feel about how Eden BodyWorks and my hair.

You can see from the pic that I used the products until they were gone. I can take it or leave it and for now I'll be leaving it. Perhaps I'll try again in a few months since I like the story behind it. You can read it here:  http://www.edenbodyworks.com/?page_id=2. I also like that the company does not use parabens, sulfates, etc (remember- I'm a product snob). I always seem to get product amnesia. What can I say? I'm a second chances kind of girl after all. Here's my overall take:

Price: $$ (reasonable)

Consistency: The co-wash was kind of runny but it't not clear. Just one of my personal quirks.

Results: The co-wash is cleans. The leave-in-- Hmmmm... I would like to say it added moisture being water-based and all, but I really can't say which is a sign that it didn't work for me.

Have you tried any of the Eden products? Which ones? Share with me some of your feedback! I like good news! Just because it isn't for me, doesn't mean it isn't for you. It's probably just me... it usually is. ;D

Revisiting Shea Moisture Curl Smoothie



Smile- it's definition!



 Man! I used to loovvvvve me some Shea Moisture Curl Smoothie! Back in the day when I frequented Curly Nikki, I was one of the first ones to try it. I tested it out on my 5-inch hair and fell in love. I loved the smell, the definition it provided to my twist/braid-outs, the affordable pricing AND the fact that I could get it on the ground at my local Target. Then one day it stopped working. It seemed that overuse made my hair dry up quite a bit. I attributed it to the fact that perhaps my hair didn't enjoy all of that protein and gave it up gladly. However, I decided to give it another try for no good reason (well... it just kept calling me like Pookie on New Jack City!). I'm glad I did. On Friday night I did a late night twist set using the curl smoothie, passing up all my other faves. I intended to take the twists out the next day but I ended up keeping them in until the following Tuesday (today!). While in twists, I moistened the hair after workouts with a spray bottle of water, olive and avocado oils. Today, I have a good looking twist out. It's super soft, defined, has lots of body and all the peeps love my 8-track (I mean, twist out!). I'm excited though because I enjoy wearing my hair out when I teach Zumba. On a good day, my hair  bounces around just as freely as the rest of me. After class tonight I will probably twist it back up and leave them in until Saturday when I have a photo shoot with a group that I'm in (Che' Marie and Extended Play). I'm excited. I'll post the results later. In the meantime- come on Shea Moisture!

 

Aerial view (ignore those granny grays!)



I Found the Magic Styler (for me): Living Proof Nourishing Style Cream Review

Feeling rather lazy, I decided to skip my usual Sunday regimen of washing, deep conditioning, twisting my hair. Instead, I laid on my pillow and went to sleep with visions of a wash and go in the morning. Before though, I prepped my greek yogurt treatment and placed it in the fridge. This morning, I wet my hair, put on the treatment and went about prepping my clothes and making my morning smoothie. After 20 minutes or so, I jumped in the shower and rinsed myself and my hair (used As I Am Coconut Co-Wash). I then immediately applied my leave-in Paul Mitchell The One Conditioner to prep for styling. Normally I just apply EcoStyler Pink and leave. On a whim (and because it was mean-mugging me from the counter), I decided to add the Nourishing Styling Cream by Living Proof.

I stumbled upon this product thanks to my husband who works at Sephora (he does the work, I get the perks). It managed to make it home last month amongst a bag of other goodies. Aside from reading the front rah-rah about not having any oils or heavy silicones, I ignored the ingredient list. As snobby as I am about products, I trusted sight unseen because I liked the feel of it on my hands. It's very light and creamy without being too heavy. I initially tried it out on my twist sets with pretty amazing results (definition and stretch without first drying my hair).

Twist out with LP Style Cream

Even after the twist out, I wasn't ready to judge because I teach Zumba most evenings. As a result of the workouts, my hair often looks great during the day but comes off as a freak when you see it at night. :D 

I've tried many cream-based products that proclaimed to enhance curls but did very little for my hair alone. It was like adding absolutley NOTHING. The other products also didn't mix well with gels which I've always seemed to need for hold or risk the shrunken-brillo-pad-effect by the end of the day. This is why I resorted to gel and conditioner only styles. My only complaint was major shrinkage after it began to dry. When I added the Nourishing Styling Cream this morning, it was like my hair finally surrendered. The heavens opened and music began to play as my curls bowed down, even while wet. Well, actually the music was just my cellphone telling me it was time to get up and out. But seriously, I think the heavens did open. The styling cream seemed to elongate my curls rather than cause them to withdraw. For the first time in forever, I thought that perhaps I did NOT have to apply EcoStyler afterward. But I chickened out and did it anyway. After all, 8 hours is a long time to go around work looking like a Crunchy Side-Show Bobbi with no spray bottle! Either way, as soon as I came out the bathroom to grab the gel, the husband said my hair looked longer and asked what I did differently. Still pretty wet at this point...



Wet hair with the cream added

Later, a natural friend at work asked me what I did today and when I told her it was a wash and go, she repeated "wash and go-ooo?!" in a very shrill voice! And right then, I knowed there was a God! Normally, I try to fluff my hair after it dries to make it bigger but with this product, it stayed pretty elongated without help. Most notably, it elongated most of my hair and not just the bangs which usually hang without much effort. Unfortunately, the back of my hair ALWAYS shrinks and it couldn't change that particular fact. But-- we'll see what happens after a few tries. Here's a pic after it dried today..: It's almost as big as my twist-out hair which is no easy feat!

 I'm going to try it again tomorrow without the gel just to see what happens. This is a fairly pricey product/line developed by a group of founders who used the studies of an MIT professors and his colleagues who were looking to develop beauty products in more innovative ways. I like what they have done so far. Stay tuned!

Have you tried Living Proof products? Which ones and what do you think?