Silk Elements MegaSilk Moisturizing Treatment Review
Although I have been hearing good things about this product for a while, the $10.99 price tag at Sally Beauty had kept me walking past it on the shelves until now. As you can tell from my previous post, I am somewhat prone to buyer’s remorse and was a bit worried as I made the purchase, because I usually spend $8 or less on conditioners that come in bigger containers, but, happily, no remorse here!
As soon as I opened the bottle, a fruity, candy smell wafted to my nose. At first glance, the consistency of the conditioner made me think of melting butter or cream and on application it smoothly coated my hair. After deep conditioning under my heating cap, I can confirm that the product lives up to its promise of moisturizing and detangling! I usually only comb my hair on wash days after deep conditioning. Since my hair had been in braid/twistouts all week, it was a bit tangled, but the conditioner made the tangles comb out easily and even after rinsing it out, my hair was not only soft (a feat many conditioners can accomplish) but also light, bouncy, and somewhat shiny (something a little more rare for me, given that my hair is somewhat coarse). Although the product promises to strengthen hair, I think its moisturizing qualities are more evident and when adding it to one’s regimen one might also need to make sure to use a light protein the subsequent week or a couple weeks after because it does seem to provide a significant moisture boost.
Although I am not a chemist, a little online research suggests that the ingredients should not be a cause of much concern. Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of fatty alcohols and thus, not drying. Both behentrimonium methosulfate, an effective detangler and thickener derived from rapeseed oil, and amodimethicone, are relatively mild and do not lead to much buildup. On top of that, glycerin is a well-known and much used humectant.
This product will be added to my growing list of staples. I do wish it came in a bigger bottle, but fortunately I have enough left for at least a couple more treatments!
Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, Cetyl Esters, Sodium PCA, Fragrance, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Trideceth-12, Silk Amino Acids, Helianthus Annuus (sunflower seed) oil, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Yellow 5.
Product Rating: 4 out of 5
Ingredient Rating: 4 out of 5
Profectiv Mega Growth Anti-Breakage Strengthener Growth Lotion Review
When I saw this product at Sally’s I was a bit skeptical about whether it would work, having tried unsuccessfully all manner of lotions, creams, and leave-ins on my 4bish coarse, tending towards dry, relaxed hair. However, I definitely do not regret having bought it. The product seems to live up to most of its claims. I just have to wait and see if it promotes growth!
It has a pleasant smell—it seems to me like a combination of banana, coconut, and olive oil. It works wonderfully on both wet and dry hair and the directions suggest that it can be used as a heat protectant as well. Just when I was starting to think that my hair simply could not be airdried without turning into a coarse puff (even though I’m relaxed), I used this and it came out much more smooth and shiny. When I used it nightly after a Dominican blowout it helped to maintain the straightness and, although I’m not planning to do a blowout anytime soon, I do think the lotion reduced breakage and helped my hair recover from the excessive heat. I also apply it after my spray leave-in and before applying olive oil when I do my twistouts and they come out shiny, with a curl that holds for a few days. Although the lotion is full of natural oils, it does not seem greasy on application and does not weigh hair down. The ingredients are, for the most part, wonderful. Though it does contains some cones and parabens, fortunately, these are last on the ingredient list, and therefore, in smaller quantities than the healthier minerals, oils, and proteins. I wish they had bigger bottles (I got an 8oz bottle for $4.89), since this is definitely officially one of my staples!
Ingredients: Soybean oil, water, propylene glycol, hydrogenated vegetable oil, steareth-w, steareth-20, silk amino acids, wheat protein, soybean protein, hydrolyzed oat protein, coconut oil, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, flaxseed oil, horsetail extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, pc-propyl silanetriol, olive fruit oil, wheat germ oil, polyquatermium-38, propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, ppg-1 trideceth-6, phenyl trimethicone, laneth-15, lanolin oil, dimethicone, DMDM hydantoin, corn oil, GHA, GHT, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance.
Product Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Ingredient Rating: 4 out of 5
