The last ten years + in the natural hair game have been a true testament to the drive and determination of a growing panel of women who long realized a void and opted to fill rather than watch it continually grow & one of the first to claim their territory is the still evolving & inspiring folks behind the Carol’s Daughter brand.

If there were ever an official blueprint on how to be successful in the natural hair beauty game, it is carefully embedded somewhere in the walls or basement of Carol’s Daughter’s headquarters. It must…because to see where it all began to what we’re all able to appreciate today is pretty incredible. I introduced my own Mum to the brand several years ago after initiating a second BC and flocking to their flagship stores in both Brooklyn and Harlem. Clueless and beyond curious about all the oils, butters and lotions that peeked out from the shelves, I carried home what seemed like most of the Carol’s Daughter hair care line along with a few perfumes and creams.

A few years have passed since I stepped into their stores in BK or Harlem, yet walking into a Macy’s department store this past June while visiting the folks found me at their official counter & curious yet again. The majority of the natural hair line had undergone a complete ingredient makeover, including my once beloved Hair Milk, yet peeking out behind one of the glass windows was a jar of Some of Marguerite’s Magic, a creamy hairdress that I always opted not to try because I assumed it too similar in consistency to their Healthy Hair Butter.

Because my mother had sent me to score a jar of Healthy Hair Butter for her own strands & being the PJ at heart that I am, I instinctively picked up a jar of the magic hair cream and finally dug in a few backs while styling with two strand twists. SURPRISE!! I love.this.stuff.

Initially I stared at the jar…clueless on how to approach & style with the cream. But quickly moving beyond own foolishness, re-read the ingredient list & made a mental note of the first ingredient…water.

Water, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Beeswax, Stearic Acid, Fragrance (Parfum), Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Capryl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, O-Cymen-5OL

I’d run out of my go-to leave-in conditioner & on a whim substituted using the hair cream. The results were better than I’d expected. The hair cream not only softened and moisturized my twists, it acted as a great detangler (think Qhemet’s Coco Tree Detangling Ghee) while smoothing on and prior to adding my regular styling product. A very little bit, goes a long way in doing a great job, which is an added bonus if you’re a bit more heavy handed when using an additional styling aid.

I’ve used the hair cream several times since purchasing and rely on it to keep my twists staying fresh, moisturized and shinny for my 5-7 day twistouts. It works great as a multipurpose cream, serving as a mid-week refresher for twists/braids, dry parched hair or as a primary styler if your hair is slightly thinner and does not typically need a leave-in conditioner coupled with an additional styling product.

This morning I untwisted my two-strand twists to rock a proper twistout and love the shine & moisture my hair was able to maintain even 4 days after washing/styling. Definite win win in my book, especially for the Winter months when scalp irritations find their way back into my life and hair needs all the moisture it can handle.

I’ve had a hard time over the past few weeks admitting that a break from the noise and more than just a few deep breathes were what I needed to regroup my thoughts and perfect the art of pure awesomeness that I know I’m ineptly capable of. It took amazing timing, new-found clarity and a heartfelt talk with a good friend to set my thoughts back on their right track. We sat in front of the majestic fountain in the heart of Central Park several weeks back watching newly married couples pose, small children blow bubbles & play tag, the after work crew(s) bask in the last remaining days of Summer in NYC….it all just.felt.right. I felt a whole season of doubt and exhaustion slowly melt away in a matter of moments and understood why seasons change, the nonsensical reasoning behind why some people enter our lives & how swiftly they exit.

Time is what it inherently takes to have clarity, and for that I feel blessed. Lately I find myself regrouping and unpacking my thoughts and belongings into a new apartment, a new way to get home and an earnest desire to treat myself to the simplest of things. It starts with the little things sometimes… and when I mean ‘little‘ ….I mean small.

Over the past few years I’ve lamented over a lil secret that I undoubtedly share with more than just a handful of small apartment hoarders in any Metro area.  Pump your fist proudly (or quietly) if you feel me, but over the past few years I’ve lived without the luxury of a bathtub to canoodle with after a long days/weeks worth of work. SILLY….yah. But there is something undeniably rewarding when you’re able to stretch your limbs in the morning before the sun breaks through or luxuriate in the comforts of a different kind of bubbly that relaxes you to the core. I missed this, and am over the moon happy each morning I step into my new bathroom complete with full length tub!

First night in new apartment, before calling the fam, before placing new sheets on any of the beds in my home…I scampered to the my bathroom…closed the door and Diddy Danced my way to happy! The small things…YES! I doused my Japanese washcloth in Caress goodness using their new Whipped Souffle body wash, and stretched my limbs and toes till they could no more.

Again, it just.felt.RIGHT!

I blew my own bubbles and indulged in a body wash that felt more like a moisturizing cream than something meant to cleanse and scrub away my day. My Mum would approve of the Blackberry Vanilla scent (YUM!), and the way it leaves your skin touchably soft long after you shower.

I’ve been in my new humble digs for approximately 15 days and have yet to play switcheroo with my body wash stash. I’m attached to my new tub and the simplicity of wanting and needing something small yet satisfying to complete my day.

Can any of you guys relate or am I the only one who’s finally learning the importance of the little things in life.…?

*products mentioned in this post were offered for potential review. disclosure policy can be found here

Safe to say…that I’ve unofficially been on the hunt for the half-dozen or so different Eco Styler Gels that are carried in some stores…operative word...some. After having an unusually successful attempt at using the clear Krystal Eco Styler several weeks back, I began to have increased faith in many of the other different formulations. This week, after scurrying through one of the many beauty supply stores sittin pretty on Marcus Garvey Blvd. in Harlem, I snatched up yet another gelly candidate, the Yellow Eco Styler gel, specifically formulated for twists/braids.

Products Used:

• Pre-Poo: Curly Sexy Hair Moisturizing Conditioner (gift from friend, worked well to soften before the poo)
• Cleanse: Elasta QP Creme Conditioning Shampoo (still like this, non-stripping and cleanses the scalp effectively)
• Deep Condition: Curl Junkie Curl Rehab (continues to be one of my fav/go to DC’s, leaves hair touchably soft, even better w/heat)
• Styling: Carols’ Daughter Some of Marguerite’s Magic + Eco Styler Gel (yellow formula)

Because the Yellow Eco Styler gel is specifically formulated to hold braids and twists, I was anxious to see results after I twisted using a new combo. This formulation also aids in moisture retention which I was skeptical about considering this is STILL a gel.

But with a creamy moisturizing leave-in I was able to use less gel, make medium/small sized two-strand twists and really love the results. It’s only day one, but I have very minimal frizz and my twists are shinny, well moisturized and for the first time…has me anxious to see what a twist-out would look like & if it would hold up just as well.

Pinned the hair up and away due to some impending rain showers here in NY

Finding that when using a gel to two-strand twist, adding an effective moisturizing leave-in underneath can save you from inevitable crunch and seals in the moisture, while the gel gives you the desired hold your hair needs to prolong the style. Did make sure hair was adequately wet before adding product (had a spray bottle handy just in case). No matter the style, I find when using a gel and styling, the hair needs to be sufficiently wet in order for the style to set and get better than so so results.

Weather permitting, I just might unravel and rock a mean twist-out this week. To date, I’ve tried the Krystal Eco Styler, Pink, Olive Oil (yeah…I snagged it!!), Yellow Forumala – and have yet to try the Protein Eco Styler, Blue Formula for Color Treated Hair…

…if I’m missing one I won’t mind, I’ve just been too excited finding and sticking to a gel that doesn’t cause massive amounts of irritations for my scalp, costs less than $3 for a 16 oz jar and works amazingly well!

Has it settled in yet? This morning it was noticeably chillier and I finally resigned myself in accepting the fact that Summer is indeed over. I wrapped my shoulders with the nearest sweater before heading out for work, and thought it okay. Summer was nice…better than swell. It was HOT!

So, onto Fall – which promises just as much goodness and warmth as those sweltering days…this is what I’m choosing to believe. I looked in the mirror after getting home from work/school last night…noticed the dry patches near the exterior of my eye where my winter skin tendencies tend to kick in and realized that along with the shift in weather, it is also time to change into a new hair/skin regime. This is always fun…if not timidly so. I rarely know what my hair/skin will adhere to each new winter/fall season, but the fun will be figuring it all out!

Hiatus and due diligence bought me to the fantastical world of beauty supply stores in Harlem last week, which kindly sell not ONLY the Olive Oil Eco Styler Gel I’ve been pinning for…but FOUR other formulations. Two of which I had never heard of before and which I’m doubly eager to try out this weekend. Y’all…there’s a YELLOW Eco Styler gel formulated specifically for twists/braids and tings of dat nature!

Update next week:-)

In the meantime…what I love best about Fall besides the snuggly idioms and hermit like qualities that are treasures for a book whore like myself…is the new season of music that’s set to drop in the upcoming weeks. Lizz Wright is simply ethereal in her musical delivery as well as in her undeniable beauty. Her new album, Fellowship is set for release on September 28th with amazing guest appearances from Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Angelique Kidjo and more. These are good times if you’re a fan, and an even better time if you’re not…time to get familiar & enjoy.

Have a Great Weekend:-)

You know what the best and quite possibly the worst ‘thing‘ about natural hair is – the expected AS WELL AS…the unexpected.

But…I exaggerate, maybe it’s not the worst. Maybe it’s just this…always NEW way of seeing your hair, that even after more than 10 years, is STILL able to astound…and cause ample amounts of ‘hand in Fro syndrome.’

Like everyone and their mother around the nets and realz life, I intended to get back into the thick of posting by updating with a new product review or a fabulous twist-out, braid out, two-strand twist masterpiece…but instead idled my time yesterday, realizing that with the start of a new grad school semester and the new responsibility of a new apartment…luxuries such as time & management still need to be earned and practiced.

Anyhoov…I tried. And I liked. Like….a LOT!

Products Used:

• Pre-Poo: Giovanni’s 50/50 Conditioner
• Cleanse: Elasta QP Conditioning Shampoo
• Deep Conditioner: Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose
• Styling Products: Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia + Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter Creme.

I had little time to decide on a style before heading to bed and calling it a night, so instead I faked improvisation by adding leave-in conditioner well throughout the hair, drying till damp with a blow dryer on low speed and adding a generous amount of Burdock Root Butter Creme. I made haphazard braids/twists (large sized) throughout, prayed. Woke up this morning, and realized the only thing left to fear when having natural hair is a lack of confidence when things don’t ‘work out’ in your favor.

Hair was big. LARGE. But I kept it moving…again, and could not stop admiring how pillowy soft & unique my head of hair actually was.

Does this ever happen to you? The unexpected happens…and you fall in love with your Fro all over again, and you realize thoughts of natural hair not being versatile and manageable is simply poppy cock.

I say all that to say…thanks for hangin with me. Glad to be back & love to hear what you’ve been up to, hairwise or other:-)