Sale Alert: Ulta Love Your Hair Event (May 12th - June 1st) + 20% off Coupon!

I have been a little obsessed with Ulta lately. And it's all their fault.

See what had happened was, I wanted some stuff from the Giovanni 2Chic Avocado & Olive Oil line. And they had it. Lots of it. Then they tempted me further by having $2 off coupons on each bottle of product. Then they made it WORSE by having the line on sale, buy one get one free.

So I did what any coupon-clipping, sale hounding, slightly-OCD product junkie would do. I cleaned them out. Like literally, cleaned them out. Between two stores, I made away with:

• 2 Avocado & Olive Oil Ultra Moist Super Potion Anti Frizz Serums (for blowouts/heat styling)
• 3 Avocado & Olive Oil Ultra Most Shampoos
• 3 Avocado & Olive Oil Ultra Moist Deep Deep Moisture Hair Masks
• 6 Avocado & Olive Oil Ultra Moist Conditioners

Guess how much this stuff was worth, total? $126.37

And me? I paid $29.44 for EVERYTHING...that's including tax. When you put it like that, it ain't so bad AT ALL. I dare them to have this sale again!!

But in the meantime, they've got some great sales going on for the Love Your Hair 2013 Event! If you've got an Ulta Beauty near you, then you can redeem these deals in-store. If there isn't one nearby, they have some promotions that are available online as well.

It's a three week deal, so check every day to see what's on sale! For more information, visit www.ulta.com.

Even if none of the items for the Love Your Hair 2013 Event pique your interest, there's always this goody: a 20% off coupon!

Click here to print this coupon, or use it for your online purchase!

Happy hair thrifting! For more money saving tips, check out my Instagram: @maneobjective

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ReBlog: The Super Science Behind Coconut Oil

A nice little scientific tidbit I found while perusing The Beauty Brains blog. In case you might have thought the "coconut oil penetrates hair" thing was hokum, check this out:

Here’s more good news for lovers of natural hair care products.

Coconut Oil Penetrates Hair

We’ve blogged before about how coconut oil is one of the few natural oils that has been proven to penetrate deep inside the hair where it can strengthen from within. The problem has been there has been no way to quantify how much oil actually gets inside the hair. A 2012 research paper documents a new method involving radioactively labeled coconut oil that can now measure how much oil actually gets inside hair.

This new method used a scintillation fluid to radioactively tag the coconut oil. (BTW, Sarah Bellum thought the phrase “scintillation fluid” sounded dirty.)  The researchers were then able to track how much of the oil actually penetrated into the hair versus how much stayed on the surface.
The research (although small-scale and preliminary) shows that hair can absorb around 15% of its weight in coconut oil in an hour. An overnight soaking oil (six hours) increases absorption to around 20% or 25%.

With this new method validated, the researchers hope to expand the scope of their work to include other types of oils. In the meantime you can take solace in the fact that coconut oil has been once again validated as an effective natural hair care ingredient.
Reference: Quantitative measurement of the penetration of coconut oil into human hair using radio-labeled coconut oil. JSCC, 2012, Vol 63.

It’s been proven again and again that coconut oil is good for hair. Is anyone out there actually doing this? Leave a comment and share your hair oiling experiences with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Read more at http://thebeautybrains.com/#a6wyCXzLw55tGAg8.99

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Product Review: Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Facial Towelettes

Much like my other dalliances in beauty products, this one begins in the clearance section at Target. Some time ago, I was picking up some Shea Moisture products, and came across a deal that seemed too good to be true: a Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Face and Lip Kit. The contents included:

• 1 30-count Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Facial Towelettes
• 1 Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Line Reducing Lip Treatment
• 1 Yes to Carrots Sweet Fig Lip Butter

All for $7.48. Yes, $7.48. See what made this a sweet deal I couldn't pass up on was the fact that the towelettes alone are regularly $7.99. Kick in two lip sticks (valued at $7.99 and $3.49, respectively), and you'll quickly understand why I shamelessly picked up all 3 clearance boxes for myself.

Fast forward a few months (right on the heels of my 3-month supply running out), and I happened to catch another Target sale. Not as grand, though. 30-count Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Facial Towelettes and a free Yes to Carrots Berry Lip Butter for $5.99.

Why am I so obsessed with these little towelettes? Let's find out.

Ingredient List: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Sucrose Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Sucrose, Mannan, Xanthan Gum, Galactoarabinan, Sodium Hydroxide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Pectin, Fragrance (100% natural), Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon Peel) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Calcium Gluconate.

Ingredient Analysis:

• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: An oily mixed ester composed of caprylic and capric fatty acids derived from coconut oil and glycerin. Mainly works as an emollient, dispersing agent and solvent. As an emollient, it both quickly penetrates the surface to condition the hair, and provides a lightweight and non-greasy barrier of lubrication. As a dispersing agent, it helps enhance the delivery of vitamins, pigments and other active ingredients contained in a solution so that they become evenly spread out and fully absorbed . It's oily texture helps thicken cosmetic formulations and provides a slipperiness, which in turn allows for the easy spreadability of solutions and a smooth after-touch.
• Glycerin: Generally vegetable-based humectant that absorbs and retains moisture from the air.
• Gluconolactone & Sodium Benzoate: A natural preservative that is a combination of a naturally occurring food additive glucono delta lactone, derived from corn, and a food grade preservative sodium benzoate, the sodium salt of benzoic acid, along with a trace amount of calcium gluconate as a processing agent.
• Sucrose Palmitate: A monoester of palmitic acid and sucrose, serving as a skin conditioning agent, emollient, and surfactant (cleanser).

Availability: You can find Yes to Blueberries Age Refresh Cleansing Towelettes pretty much anywhere. Online, Target, CVS, Walgreens, WalMart...the list goes on.

Affordability: At the prices I paid, you really can't beat the value with a stick. I'm still honestly on the fence about whether I'd take the full-price plunge on these towelettes...and I pray that day never comes. Lol, it's why I stock up during sale time. The regular $7.99 tag isn't terrible... I'm just cheap.

Product Claim/Description:
With Apple + Lemon Peel
To Cleanse and moisturize
All-In-One

Yes to Blueberries collection features products that help improve skin firmness, protect skin, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and nourish age-damaged skin. It's a recipe for youth-enhancing goodness!

• Made with biodegradable, natural cloth: FSC fabric
• 99% natural; enriched with organic blueberries, lemon peel, and apple for a brightening cleanse

Performance/Delivery: On most days, I use 2 towelettes: one in the morning, and one after working out. Since I began using the towelettes, I have noticed my skin seems more moisturized, smooth, and even. I can't vouch for all the anti-wrinkle talk, because I don't have wrinkles yet. But perhaps it is a testament to the preventative nature of the towelettes. I really do believe the glycerin plays a major role in the moisture-retention factor here, which leads to better hydration of the skin and less wrinkles. Its a great morning refresher, and gets skin pretty clean after a good workout. However, it is by no means a substitute for a good face wash!

Bonuses: The smell is invigorating. I expected something sweet and berry smelling, but the lemon peel really comes through as the star of the show. It's brightening without being overbearing.

Drawbacks: Unfortunately, all of the ingredients I was looking to make miracles on my face are at the bottom of the list. I can appreciate that Yes to doesn't completely engage in deceptive practices, by marketing the Blueberries line with a bunch of free-radical, anti-oxidant hokum.

Bottom Line: I like the wipes, they are my favorite thus far, of the ones I've tried. If you're looking for a gentle mid-day cleaning, or something to wipe your post-gym sweat without drying you out, this is a great option. If you're looking to take 10 years off your face, I don't think this product can help you. Even though the good stuff (sweet almond oil, blueberry, lemon peel, etc.) are toward the bottom of the list, the product is still effective at what it sets out to do: gently cleanse and moisturize. I can't be mad at that!

Have you tried any of the Yes to products? Which are your favorites?

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Battle of the Butters: Eden Bodyworks Coconut Shea Pudding Souffle vs. Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter

I initially set out to do two separate product reviews, but after using both products for a while I decided that doing a head-to-head might be a little more fun and informative -- and could possibly help some naturalistas and transitioners decide which product to drop dough on. With summer knocking at the door, light, bodified, and touchably soft hair is what's hot in the streets. So which product is going to give you all that? Keep reading to find out!

Ding! Ding! Ding! Let the battle begin!

Showdown Round 1: Ingredients (top 6) & Analysis

Eden BodyWorks: Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Butryospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, PEG-50 Shea Butter

Ingredient Analysis:

• Aloe Vera Juice: Acts as a natural conditioning agent that restores the hair's sheen, luster, and shine. It not only makes the hair soft, but it also enhances strength and suppleness.
• Cetyl & Stearyl Alcohol: Fatty alcohols and emollient conditioners known for giving products a creamy, thick texture and feel.
• Shea Butter: Emollient fat from the nut of the East or West African shea nut tree, used to moisturize and soften hair.
• PEG-50 Shea Butter: Emulsifying form of shea butter that is water soluble, and commonly used in water-based products.

Camille Rose Naturals: Deionized water, behentrimonium methosulfate (BTMS)cetearyl alcohol, prunus dulcis(almond milk), prunusdulcis (almond)oil, cucurbita pepo(pumpkin)seed oil

Ingredient Analysis

• Behentrimonium Methosulfate: Mild detangling ingredient made from the rapeseed (canola). Known for great detangling without leaving product buildup on hair.
• Cetaryl Alcohol: Combination of cetyl and stearyl fatty alcohol. Emollient conditioners known for giving products a creamy, thick texture and feel.
• Almond Milk: Mixture of sweet almonds and water, with high nutrient and protein value for nourishing and strengthening hair.
• Almond Oil: Smoothes hair cuticles, promotes hair growth and thickness, boosts shine.
• Pumpkin Seed Oil: Antioxidant containing omega-6 fatty acids to aid in hair and skin regeneration, softness and shine.

And the winner is: In this round, I've got to give it to Eden BodyWorks, by a CLOSE margin. Both have a very similar composition (which shows in terms of the similar texture/feel of the products), but the Aloe Vera Juice in EBW truly sets it apart. My hair loves Aloe. The fact that it's a part of the product base sets it ahead of Camille Rose Naturals.

 

Showdown Round 2: Affordability, Availability & Value (Size)

Eden BodyWorks: The Coconut Shea Pudding Souffle is 16oz (pretty hefty) for around $8.99. It can be found online, at Sally Beauty Supply, and at select WalMart stores.

Camille Rose Naturals: The Almond Jai Twisting Butter is 8oz for around $16.99. It can be found online, and at select Target stores.

And the winner is: In this round, Eden BodyWorks takes the cake by leaps and bounds. I had to literally talk myself into spending $13.99 at Target for the Camille Rose product (it was on sale, and that was the ONLY way I was going to buy it). There's no way on God's green Earth that I'd pay $16.99 for 8oz of product. With such a similar composition, the price difference baffles me.

Showdown Round 3: Product Claims & Performance

Eden BodyWorks
The Claim: Add moisture to dry, thirsty tresses using this exotic blend of all natural ingredients formulated to reduce frizz, enhance textured styles, and provide a soft, shiny finish.

The Truth: Moisture, yes. Frizz reduction, absolutely. I used EBW to twist my hair up, and when I took the twists down, I had way more definition than I thought I would. My hair was soft, shiny, and most importantly not greasy to the touch (not a fan of that feeling). When you get past the "exotic blend" marketing mumbo-jumbo, you still have a solidly good moisturizing and styling product. It doesn't give a strong hold, but they tell you that on the front of the jar :)

Camille Rose Naturals
The Claim: The Almond Jai Twisting Butter is a  botanical blend of oils and butters that will aid in managing course/thick hair, leaving a soft and smoother feel. Softens and moisturizes hair while nourishing the scalp and stimulating growth.

The Truth: I used CRN for my satin strip braidout, expecting that a twisting butter would provide my hair some weight and hold. It didn't give me the level of hold I was expecting, and my braidout lost definition quickly. My hair definitely felt moisturized and softer, but it didn't have that velvety feel that I have come to expect from most butters, puddings, and whips. Not quite sure how CRN was going to achieve the scalp nourishment and growth stimulation by being applied to my hair only...but my hair was shiny!

And the winner is: In this round, Eden BodyWorks does it again. Can't deny the fact that the proof is in the pudding. What a label says isn't important -- it's all in how it works!

Showdown Round 4: Bonuses & Drawbacks

Eden BodyWorks
Bonuses: With Aloe Vera Juice and Shea Butter in the top 5, this product would also make a great light summer sealant.
Drawbacks: It's called Coconut Shea, but there's no coconut in it. What's up with that? It made me a little sad to realize that too, because it smells so yummy and coconut-like.

Camille Rose Naturals
Bonuses: Although the product is listed as a butter, it's not butter greasy or heavy. Good job!
Drawbacks: It's not a huge one by any means, but I didn't see the point in having little almond flake thingies in the mix. Perhaps for the aesthetic appeal of feeling like the real-deal almonds were going into your hair -- but other than that, I found them pointless.

And the winner is: Camille Rose Naturals! Although artificial fragrances don't bother me (so long as they're toward the very bottom of the list), my product pet peeve is when a product is named after an ingredient that it doesn't even have in it. A few drops of coconut oil could've turned this verdict around.

The FINAL Showdown: The Bottom Line

When you get down to the nitty gritty, both are really good product options if you're looking to add moisture to your hair without weighing it down or making it terribly greasy-feeling. Although I felt the Almond Jai Twisting butter was a good product, the Pudding Souffle really just did it for me. Across the board, hands down. You get more bang for your bucks, good quality ingredients, and a viable alternative to Shea Moisture's Curl Enhancing Smoothie. That last point is really important for me as a transitioner. With my new stuff taking over, but still having some heat damaged ends, finding something that will take care of all of my hair is really important. Eden BodyWorks Pudding Souffle is just the right consistency to get the job done -- leaving my hair soft and moisturized, without making the heat damaged part oily and stringy. In fact, it reminds me of my cohiloe mixture that I used last summer.

And the winner is: You already know. Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Pudding Souffle! I'm about to have an EBW habit....

Have you tried either line? What was your experience?

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17-Day Clean Eating Challenge REBOOT!

I'm not afraid to tell ya'll when I've messed up.

Last Wednesday, May 1st, I embarked on a 17-Day clean eating journey...and it only lasted through Friday.

I won't bore ya'll with the details about my trip to Kaiser Urgent Care bright and early Saturday morning, but suffice it to say that my mouth was in a lot of pain and I left with Tylenol 3 (with codeine). I've spent the bulk of my days since then in a fog, sleeping, sleepy, and just generally functioning in a reduced capacity.

Now that I'm almost all better, I'm rebooting and jumping back on the wagon. I'm starting fresh, with a whole new 17 days. This will take me past my birthday (May 17th), all the way to Saturday, May 25th. Technically that's 18 days, but I've decided to allow myself 1 cheat day on my birthday.

I'm going to get back to sharing recipes, meals and everything else. For the play-by-play, follow me on Instagram!

I'm excited to get back in line.

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Product Review: Aunt Jackie's Knot on My Watch

 

Ever since my Relaxer Lines Turnt Natural article, I have invested more time (and money) in supporting natural hair small businesses when I can. On a few occasions, I have come across a few products from Aunt Jackie's line, and I vowed one day that I would try something. I settled on the Knot on My Watch detangler, because every naturalista needs a plan B. I was hoping this detangler could be my backup, in the event that Tresemme decided to discontinue their Split Remedy Conditioner. How did it stack up against my slippery go-to? Keep reading to find out...

Ingredient List: Aqua (Water), Propylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, PEG-150 Distearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Glycerin, Parfum (Fragrance), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Lanolin Oil, Polyquaternium-37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Stearalkonium Chloride, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, d-Limonene, Hexyl cinnamic aldehyde, Linalool, Amyl cinnamic aldehyde, Lilial,Benzyl alcohol, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Cinnamic alcohol, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, CI 17200 (Red 33), CI 19140 (Yellow)

Ingredient Analysis (first 6):

• Water
• Propylene Glycol: Humectant and conditioning agent, controversial in nature due to its ability to cause skin irritations such as contact dermatitis.
• Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit: The fruit of the shea tree (shea fruit nuts are used for shea butter), rich in Vitamin C and other minerals
• PEG-150 Distearate: Thickener and emulsifier (helps keep oils and water mixed together)
• Cetyl Alcohol: Creamy, emollient fatty alcohol and conditioning agent
• Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil: Cost-effective carrier oil of the soybean that can be used to soften, nourish and impart shine to hair

Availability: I was able to find this detangler at a local beauty supply chain, OK Beauty. As natural haircare grows in popularity, more chains are bound to pick up Aunt Jackie's products, and others. If it's not available in a store near you, amazon.com is always an option!

Affordability: I paid $8.99 for a 12oz bottle of detangler. A little steep, considering my beloved Split Remedy hovers around $5 for a 25oz bottle. But money well spent, if the performances matches up with the claims on the bottle.

Product Claim/Description:

INSTANT DETANGLING THERAPY

Softens, Helps Restore Moisture Balance, Eliminates Knots and Tangles

For Natural Curls, Coils & Waves

Enriched with Shea Butter & Olive Oil

Instead of fighting your hair, treat it to the silky slip of Aunt Jackie's special instant detangling and moisturizing remedy. Watch the comb glide through tangles and knots with ease.

Unruly hair, tangles and knots don't stand a chance against Aunt Jackie's Knot On My Watch. It eliminates tangles and restores hair to a healthy moisture balance, while protecting against breakage. Blended with Shea Butter and Olive Oil to soften and strengthen hair, this fantastic detangling remedy makes daily combing, styling, and overall manageability a snap!

Performance/Delivery: I don't know that the word "instant" applies to this product. Knot on My Watch definitely has the slippery consistency a good detangler requires, and the water-base makes it good for a mid-week detangle without much buildup or heaviness. I liked it, but it didn't wow me like I expected it to. On hair that wasn't terribly tangled, it performed well. On my impossible tangles, I had to bring out Split Remedy for reinforcement. Perhaps for looser textures, this is a great alternative to Kinky Curly Knot Today or Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Leave-In Conditioner. My fingers didn't do a lot of gliding...not as easily as I envisioned.

Bonuses: This product is light enough for continued use throughout the week, and the smell is super cute -- a sweet tropical and floral hybrid mix -- without being too overbearing. Reminds me of a nice Bath & Body Works fragrance.

Drawbacks: I'm not one to automatically demonize ingredients without a good reason. But being that I suffer from psoriasis, I have to be especially careful with certain ingredients coming into contact with my scalp. With propylene glycol so high up on the list (#2), I was definitely concerned about the propensity for this product to irritate my scalp. As a result, I had to take extra precautions and make sure I kept it away from my scalp, and only used it right before wash time.

Bottom Line: If you're not bothered by propylene glycol, then I would say give this line a try, especially if you don't have super tangle-prone hair, or if your texture is looser. If not, stay away. It's not a super turbo heavy-duty detangler, so I would only recommend this to transitioners that are inside the first 6 months of transitioning.

Best Practices: If you're going to use Knot On My Watch, I would suggest pairing it with a spray bottle of water. This product works best on lightly dampened hair, in small sections. Using on larger sections of hair will cause you to use more product overall -- upwards of half the bottle. I do not recommend for use in the shower/with soaking wet hair.

 

Have you tried any of Aunt Jackie's products? What are your thoughts?

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Product Review: Soft n' Free Nothing But Mold & Hold Wax

I wrestled with this purchase for a long time. I was curious, but I didn't want to give Soft n' Free my money. Clearly, by virtue of this product review existing, they won. Darn my product junkie tendencies....

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Ceteareth-20, PEG-7, Glyceryl Cocoate, Polyquaternium 46, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Polyglycery-3 Diisostearate, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynel Butylcarbamate

Ingredient Analysis (first 6):

• Water
• Ceteareth-20: Emulsifier derived from fatty alcohols, used primarily to mix oil/water/alcohols, and help evenly disperse ingredients in a product
• PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate: Synthetic polymer derived from polyethylene glycol and coconut oil fatty acid, used as a conditioning agent, emulsifier, emollient, and surfactant.
• Polyquaternium 46: Polymeric quaternary ammonium salt used as an antistatic agent and hair fixative (for hold)
• Glycerin: Generaly vegetable-based humectant that absorbs and retains moisture from the air.
• Dimethicone: Silicon-based polymer used as a lubricating and conditioning agent

Availability: I purchased the Mold & Hold Wax at Sally Beauty, but I have seen the Nothing But line crop up at major grocery store chains.

Affordability: $7.19 with Sally Beauty Club Card for an 8.8oz jar. With this particular product, a little bit goes a long way -- a pretty good value for a jar of product that will last a long time.

Product Claim/Description:

Perfect for twists, locks, knots and braids

Infused with natural moisture

Flake-free

Your natural hair has a mind of its own. Nothing But Mold & Hold Wax lets your gently twist it with your fingers. Use it daily or after shampooing to maintain twists, locks or knots. Since it is made from nothing but honest ingredients, there is nothing flaky about it either.

Performance/Delivery: Hold and definition city. I used Mold & Hold wax for a twist-out with knotted ends, and my hair was shiny, soft, and super-defined...at first. But as the night wore on, my hair got dry, crunchy...and dry. It had to be a coincidence, but after trying the wax a few more times (without the Beautiful Textures Curl Definer), I had to face the awful truth that the solution to all my hold/definition problems was causing other issues with my hair.

 

 Even though I achieved this super duper definition with my hair only having been twisted for an hour (an unheard of feat), I couldn't deny the 2nd day dryness.

Bonuses: I can't lie, this product can give you amazing results in a short amount of time. I achieved twistout definition that usually takes 6-8hours to achieve, in just one hour. It's also great if you have unruly edges that need a good slickening.

Drawbacks: D-R-Y. As you can see in the ingredient breakdown, there's not a single moisturizing or softening oil in there. Sure, there's tea tree oil (likely included as an antibacterial/antimicrobial agent), but that's not a moisturizing oil.

Bottom Line: This is one of those products that pretty much does what it says. All of the claims were spot on, except for that one about being infused with natural moisture. Unfortunately, tea tree oil and glycerin are not enough to hold up against all the synthetic polymers present in the product. If you're having little luck with hold products, this one might be able to give you that stay-put definition you desire. The definition is epic, but so is the dryness...

Best Practices: If you decide to take the plunge into Mold & Hold Wax, make sure you use an oil or thick butter underneath and on top of the product. I used Beautiful Textures Tangle Taming Leave-In Conditioner underneath, but you couldn't even tell by the end of the night. Surrounding this stuff in moisture is key!

Have you tried any of the Nothing But products? What did you think of them?

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