Conditioners

I’m looking for a good rinse off conditioner that I don’t have to order from the internet, I want to be able to walk down the high street and pick up two bottles of a conditioner and not feel like my purse is talking back to me with the words ‘Hell no, may be next month”. So I have 4 conditioners that I’m going to consider. The first is one that I used early on in my journey and that’s Garnier Fructis Repair and Shine, I stopped using this once my TWA stage had passed and I wasn’t co-washing as much. I recently re-purchased it and it has a new formula, so I want to see how it works in my hair. The second conditioner is a winner so far and it’s The Body Shop Rainforest Moisture, I’m on my second bottle and so far so good. The third conditioner purchased today and not used yet is Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture conditioner, and the fourth is Herbal Essences Hello Hydration (and yes I know I’m late), this is one that I’ve picked up and put down on many a visit to the supermarket because it has cones it, but I’m going to give it a try and it has a new formula.

First things first, I’m going to look up ALL the ingredients and then decide if I want to go any further and then I’ll get back on how they fair.

GARNIER FRUCTIS -  REPAIR & SHINE

Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palm Oil, Behtrimonium Chloride, CI 19140, Niacinamide, Sugar cane extract, Steaaramidopropyl Dimethylamine, Olive Fruit Oil, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Limonene, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lonalool, Benzyl salicylate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Apple Fruit Extract, Avacado oil, Shea Butter, Citric acid, Butylphenyl methylpropional, Lemon peel extract, Hexyl cinnamal, Glycerin, Fragrance

THE BODY SHOP – RAINFOREST MOISTURE

Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Distearoylethyl Hydroxyethlmonoum Methosulfate, Coconut Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Citric acid, Cetyl Esters, Sodidm Benzoate, Fragrance, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Mongongo Kernal Oil, Salicylic Acid, Honey, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Tocopherol

TRESEMME – NATURALS

Water, Caprylic/Capric Troglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Aspartic Acid, Lauroyl Lysine, Avacado oil, Aloe Leaf extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Brassica Campestris/ Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Ethyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol

HERBAL ESSENCES – HELLO HYDRATION

Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonoum Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Dicetyldimonoum Chloride, Isopropyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linalool, Mgnesium Nitrate, Coconut extract, Orchid Flower extract, Zea Mays Silk Extract, Methylchloroisthiazolinone, CI 42090, Mgnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Citirc Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

Ingredient of the week: Pracaxi Oil

Every week I will feature an ingredient that is used in BeUNIQUE hair products

This week PRACAXI OIL found in Mango Twist

Pracaxi (or “pracachy”) is a tree widely distributed in the lowland Neotropics. It can be found in South America from northern Venezuela to the Guianas, including Trinidad and Tobago and the Amazon rainforest. The pracaxi tree has fruits that contain seed from which the pracaxi oil is extracted. The oil extracted from the pracaxi seeds is used by the Amazonian riverside populations in several ways. Its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-hemorrhagic properties have made the plant traditional among local inhabitants in the treatment of snake bites, healing of ulcers and surgical sanitation. It also has several applications in the cosmetic industry. As a powerful dermatological moisturiser, the pracaxi oil helps cell renewal and treats stretch marks, skin spots, depigmentation, severe acne, and scars. When applied to hair care products, it provides an excellent conditioning effect, eases combing, and enhances hair smoothness and shine. 

http://www.personalcaremagazine.com/Story.aspx?Story=7738

This oil can be found in The Body Shops Rainforest hair care range and also

Kérastase - Elixir Ultime

Ingredients Glossary

I've never tried Burt's Bee's products before (even though they do seem to sound great!). I'm just mentioning them because I cam across a rather useful glossary on their website CLICK HERE to check it out.

Another useful site with information on ingredients is LUSH 

"Put down the Eco Styler!" - Dangerous Ingredient

I'm doing my public service bit and have come to inform you all about an ingredient called TRIETHANOLAMINE. You'll find this mostly used in hair gels and it's used in Eco Styler and African Essence (I'm sorry to say when desparate I still use my African Essence). Please read extract below taken from Aromantic.co.uk (http://www.aromantic.co.uk/buy-organic-natural-emulsifiers-cosmetic-skin-care-uk.htm)

"Another Emulsifier to avoid is Triethanolamine. It is produced within the petroleum industry and has been used for several decades (and continues to be used) within the cosmetics industry to support emulsification. This chemical is severely irritating for the eyes and skin. It penetrates the skin and can cause liver damage. In addition to this, when combined with nitrate ions - normally found in drinking water and many meat products - it produces a carcinogenic substance, Nitrosamine. It should never be used in Skin Care products but is regrettably, common in the UK."

Click here for detailed break down, and you can look up other ingredients too!

PVPs and hair gel

See these websites for for information:
http://www.in-cosmetics.com/ExhibitorLibrary/39/Natural_Polymers_in_Cosmetic_and_Personal_Care_Applications.pdf
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4922470_hair-gel-work.html

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curly-q-a/the-nitty-gritty-details-about-hair-gel