Cherished Curls: A Beauty and Haircare blog

So my last blog post sparked an idea for me: a hair porosity test. I remember doing a test when I was younger and my hair was very relaxed. However, I wasn't sure if my hair has changed states since then health wise; especially since I cut it down and started from scratch. So, I decided that another test was due. Here's my results below: To Perform a Porosity Test: Get a clean, see through cup filled with room temperature water  Take a strand or even a few of your own clean hair (preferably as close to your most recent wash as possible) Drop it/them in the cup and wait for about 10-15 minutes  Record/ Take note of your results ~High Porosity Hair: Tends to Sink or fall to the bottom of the cup of water after the length of time ~Normal Porosity Hair: Floats somewhere close to the middle of the cup ~Low Porosity Hair: Tends to Float or remain on top of the water after the length of time High Porosity hair can be categorized by hair that has a hard time retainin...

Welcome to Part 2 and my final verdict for both the Shea Moisture Curling Gel Souffle and the Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I heard of the Curl Enhancing Smoothie by word of mouth, and it was said to be good for curl definition. Many have regarded it as a staple in their natural hair regimines, so I decided to give it a go as well. Curl Enhancing Smoothie: (Duration: 3 Weeks) Cons: Slightly greasy Not really light as a "smoothie"/ thick and a little dense with formulation Leaves a white film or residue on hair Pros: Lightweight on hair  Moisturizing Nice for a lighter curl definition  I'm not gonna lie, the Curl Enhancing Smoothie let me down. It was not that great of a product, and I think this is why I don't like to buy into the hype of beauty or hair care products, because once you hype me up, you have to deliver on your formulation. This did not deliver nearly as expected. It left a white film on my hair where it was placed, even more so than the...

Hey you guys! Sorry it's been a minute, but I am back this time with a product review of Shea Moisture's Coconut and Hibiscus line, featuring the Curling Gel Souffle and the Curl Enhancing Smoothie. Honestly, the very first product I have used in defining my curls on this hair care journey has been the Coconut and Hibiscus Curling Gel Souffle. I actually stumbled upon it while trying to find another product for curls in my local drugstore, and decided to give it a shot. According to the label, it contains Agave Nectar and Flax Seed oil, and is an anti-frizz formulation and helps moisturize the hair. Personal feelings concerning the Shea Moisture line are varied, however I decided that an honest review of these products is still necessary for those beginning or just searching for a staple curling moisturizer to just use and go about their day. So here's the diddy: ~Gel Souffle (Duration of use: 1 month)  Cons: Is tacky and sticky Sits on top of the hair Can be ha...

So you know how my hair loves thick oils, and nourishing, natural based products right? Well, since I've started transitioning, I noticed that among Castor oil, Grapeseed oil, and Aloe Vera, Shea Butter has earned a top spot on my list of what my scalp can handle. My hair is so much easier to detangle, much softer, and extremely manageable now that I've added it to my list. My normal regimen breaks down like this: My weekly staples are still my go-to 1) Castor oil: at least 3x a week, 2) Grapeseed oil: when I have somewhere to go the next day and don't want my hair to be all sticky, and 3) A weekend aloe vera scalp treatment-- which includes rubbing the gel straight from the plant slices on my scalp after washing with a sulfate free shampoo, rinsing the excess aloe with cool water, and conditioning with my castor oil if I'm staying in for the night. But, I couldn't leave you hanging with Shea Butter. Here's some of it's other benefits you can look out fo...

And no, I'm not talking about the freaky, half-maybe-mostly-fake gel kind that you get from your local drugstore after a sunburn. I'm talking the real deal, extra lengthy, pointy-prickly pal. Pure aloe gel, cut straight from the leaf, has many health benefits. Everyone knows about how well it can help soothe and aid skin repair after a sunburn, but the little arena of hair care gets vastly overlooked. Some benefits of adding a weekly aloe regimen to your hair care routine are: it helps repair dead skin cells and soothe the scalp after any harsh treatment thanks to its active proteolytic enzymes that help increase cell turnover  it prevents scalp itching reduces dandruff and scalp inflammation helps reduce redness of the scalp promotes hair growth (thanks to all those cell turning, proteolytic enzymes!) adds a cooling effect to the skin with regular use can definitely leave your hair itself smooth and shiny! 😍 There's nothing like good old fashioned natural be...

Let me tell you.. my hair loves itself some thick oils. Castor Oil, Glycerin, anything thick. But my "biased-ism"..😂 isn't the only reason why Castor oil is my favorite hair oil hands down. Its not only moisturizing but protecting, nourishing, and a great sealant. I have yet to fallen in love with anything better to my hair than Castor Oil. It has looads of benefits, many of which being: it contains ricinoleic acid to help increase scalp circulation  hair thickening (helps appearance of fuller hair) reduces split ends seals in moisture to aid in retaining all those good juices for the scalp naturally anti-fungal best natural conditioning for thicker/coarse hair in the winter months beautiful for those with dry and flaky scalp! There's a reason why Castor Oil is in so many beauty products on the market today. It's one of the best and one of the cheaper oils you can get that actually gets the job done. And as far as experience goes, ladies and ...

Welcome to Cherished Curls! Your genuine, one stop hair care guide for curly, transitioning, and coily hair textures! Whether your curls are newfound and confusing, or you've been in it for the long haul, I hope you can use these recipes and tips towards your own personal hair journey as I research and experiment various nourishing hair recipes, masks, and aids with growth, sensitivity, and health in mind. I have spent many years relaxing and damaging my hair, and finally embraced the goodness of natural products. Now I'm loving the way they make my scalp and strands feel. So, I've done my big chop and began my natural care regimen! I wish you good luck on your hair journey, and I welcome you to join me on mine! (Plus some handy skincare tips. 😉) (**I would not ever post anything intentionally to harm you, I am my own guinea pig**)😊😄 (*please spot test before using anything on your skin for sensitivity or any unwanted reactions. User discretion advised**) Be Blesse...