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| I gotta admit, I'm in love with Femme Noire's packaging. |
You read that title correctly - I completely skipped deep conditioning on wash day. Nope, I'm not clickbaiting you either. I didn't use a regular, or rinse-out conditioner either. I legit completely skipped the step - and felt zero qualms about it.
Femme Noire is to blame.
Some of you guys may be looking at the photos and thinking, Femme Noire looks real familiar!
It should. Femme Noire is the rebirth of of the curated subscription service Curl Collection, focused on nourishing the hair and scalp with vegan, non-toxic ingredients that truly embrace natural. Femme Noire is a Black and woman-owned business, with a product line that focuses on self-love and confidence for women with coily, kinky, and curly hair.
In addition to inspiring women, Femme Noire is a brand that spreads love by giving back. A portion of profits from products sold are contributed to women's empowerment charities and used to donate clothes, blankets, and beauty products to women's shelters.
Now that's a mission, I can get behind.
Come along and explore the world of Femme Noire with me - and learn why I skipped deep conditioning on wash day!
If you're not big on the details but just want to see products in action, here's the video:
If you want to know the magic behind Femme Noire, keep reading for ingredients and more!
Dirty Curl Cleansing & Conditioning Clay
Cost
$24 for 8oz
Where to Buy
Shop Femme Noire
Active Ingredients
- Moroccan Rhassoul Clay: Also known as Moroccan Red Clay, is naturally found and mined from ancient deposits in the northeastern region of Morocco. Rhassoul clay is mineral rich - high in silica content and also contains significant amounts of magnesium. Rhassoul clay is great for reducing dryness in hair, improving elasticity, removing toxins, and leaving hair with body and bounce.
- Bentonite Clay: Bentonite is a natural clay that forms as a result of aged/weathering volcanic ash and water. Bentonite is incredibly powerful, possessing a negative charge (anionic), making it an ideal clay for cleansing and detoxifying, as it has the ability to remove positively charged (cationic) conditioners and products that can build up on the hair and scalp.
- 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.
- Water
- Vegetable Glycerin: Vegetable-based humectant that draws in moisture to the hair.
- Cocoa Butter: An anti-oxidant rich, nourishing, moisturizing, shine enhancing, and UV protecting emollient known to help reduce damage to hair, soften, and stimulate growth.
Yes!
Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!
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| Definition from jump. |
I don't know if this is a good or a bad thing - but Dirty Curl looks and smells like a decadent chocolate icing. On more than one occasion, I considered tasting it. But I maintained my dignity, and kept Dirty Curl about the hair. And I'm glad I did. Dirty Curl is by far one of the smoothest clay blends I've ever used, and definitely made for a positive first-time experience with rhassoul clay. Dirty curl was not gritty or drying (far from it!), and made it really easy to work the tangles out from my hair.
The best part about Dirty Curl? I don't know what sorcery or magic Nadja employs, but my hair felt so soft and moisturized after I rinsed out Dirty Curl. The Femme Noire collection of products doesn't have a deep conditioner, and I see why. The moisture, softness, and definition in my curls felt as though I had already deep conditioned, so I went right into styling.
The Bad
My first instinct was that it couldn't possibly be healthy to use rhassoul clay as a regular cleanser without a serious case of the build-ups. After doing some research, and checking out The Natural Haven (my trusted science blog of choice), I realized I was wrong. Rhassoul and bentonite clays are about as effective as co-washing in terms of removing oils and buildup from the hair. Poof to my theory. Lol!
The Bottom Line
Dirty Curl is an excellent co-wash substitute, and does exactly what it says it will do - gently cleansing and leaving behind soft, conditioned strands. I literally could not ask for more. Except for Nadja to get in the business of making desserts.
Knotty Nectar Leave-In Conditioner
Cost
$19 for 8oz
Where to Buy
Shop Femme Noire
Active Ingredients
- Water
- 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.
- Cetearyl Alcohol: Considered "fatty alcohol" -- NOT to be confused with drying alcohols such as ethyl. Acts as a lubricant, thickener, and emollient. Also gives conditioner its velvety feel without making hair greasy. Is additionally used to keep product ingredients from separating.
- Stearalkonium Chloride: Cationic surfactant derived from stearic acid, a fatty acid found in plants. It is an antistatic agent, and positively charged salt that attracts and binds proteins, which are negatively charged. It is found to increase luster and improve the condition of wet or dry hair, often serving to detangle the hair.
- Silk Amino Acids: Building blocks of protein that help repair the cuticle layer of the hair.
- Vegetable Glycerin: Vegetable-based humectant that draws in moisture to the hair.
Protein Free?
When it comes to amino acids, you gotta make that call. Technically, it's hydrolyzed protein free.
Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!
The Good
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| Perfect for these hot days of summer coming up! |
More chocolate-inspired heaven. Knotty Nectar is a spray-on leave in with a silky, velvety texture that hydrates the hair, adds moisture and strength, and primes curls for styling. It was the perfect follow-up to Dirty Curl, and really set my curls up to pop. Typically, I'm not impressed with spray-on leave-in conditioners, because I find them to have significantly less moisture than their creamy squeeze bottled counterparts. Clearly, a reoccurring theme with Femme Noire is proving me wrong. Not only is Knotty Nectar silky and babysmoove, it packs tons of moisture and helps keeps the curls untangled. Y'all saw in the video what happened after I sprayed it on my hair in sections - right? Right. Plus, because of its thinner consistency, it plays nicely with so many different curl definers.
The Bad
Not a single thing. The spray nozzle didn't even get clogged up. Lol.
The Bottom Line
If you find that most leave-in conditioners sit on top of your hair or take a while to penetrate, Knotty Nectar is definitely worth a try. I'll for sure be keeping her around for Summer 17!
Sweet Cream Daily Moisturizer
Cost
$24 for 8oz
Where to Buy
Shop Femme Noire
Shop Femme Noire
Active Ingredients
- 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.
- Coconut Oil: Oil high in saturated fats (which is why when cold, it is solid). One of the few known oils to penetrate the hair shaft and truly moisturize hair. Coconut oil helps to moisturize, seal, and prevent breakage.
- Shea Butter: Emollient fat from the nut of the East or West African shea nut tree used to soften hair and skin, and aid in moisture retention.
- Cocoa Butter: An anti-oxidant rich, nourishing, moisturizing, shine enhancing, and UV protecting emollient known to help reduce damage to hair, soften, and stimulate growth.
- Palm Oil: Oil rich in vitamins E, D, K, and beta carotene - all which help boost scalp health and hair growth by nourishing and promoting cell growth. Contains essential nutrients to reduce breakage, shedding, and dry itchy scalp.
- Vegetable Glycerin: Vegetable-based humectant that draws in moisture to the hair.
Protein Free?
Yes!
Yes!
Curly Girl Friendly?
Do CG folks use butter creams? Y'all gotta bring me up to speed on this one.
The Good
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| Lightweight, everyday moisture. |
I'ma just say this - butters have a permanent place in my regimen. Especially aloe-based ones. Aloe mixed with butters and oils makes a world of difference for my hair - in softness, moisture, and shine. Aloe-based butters like Sweet Cream Daily Moisturizer work magic on my hair and ends, without weighing it down or making it feel greasy. As you saw in the video, I used Sweet Cream twice in the same day - as a sealant for my leave-in, and again to help break up my gel cast and protect my ends. Hair still wasn't greasy! Total winner in my book.
The Bad
The only bad thing about Sweet Cream Daily Moisturizer is something that's not even Femme Noire's fault. My house gets so hot (no central AC), that things just melt and perpetually stay that way. Coconut oil been liquid since May, and every single hair and body butter I own has literally turned to oil and putty.
I tried to salvage Sweet Cream for the video by freezing it, but I left it in for too long.It was still workable, but have you ever seen frozen butter?
Like I said - totally not Femme Noire's fault. Next time I'll just refrigerate 'em.
The Bottom Line
Sweet Cream is a butter that's lighter than shea, but still softens and helps seal moisture in the hair. If you're a LOC, LCO, etc. method follower, then you'll love the shortened version with Knotty Nectar and Sweet Cream. Tons of moisture, shine, and softness with only 2 products.
Flower Bomb Hair Growth Oil
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| Scalp game on 100! |
Cost
$21 for 8oz
Where to Buy
Shop Femme Noire
Shop Femme Noire
Active Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Olive Oil is rich in high levels of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, which is good for hair growth. Both mono-unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E are good for moisturizing, protecting and nourishing hair. Olive oil makes hair grow stronger and its emollient properties prevent hair loss.
- Coconut Oil: Oil high in saturated fats (which is why when cold, it is solid). One of the few known oils to penetrate the hair shaft and truly moisturize hair. Coconut oil helps to moisturize, seal, and prevent breakage.
- Avocado Oil: mega 3-rich nourishing oil extract that can enhances shine, moisture retention, softness, and elasticity in hair.
- Sweet Almond Oil: Smoothes hair cuticles, promotes hair growth and thickness, boosts shine.
- Castor Oil: Thick, highly viscous oil with antibacterial, antifungal, and humectant properties. It is also a great moisture sealant, and promotes hair thickening and growth.
Protein Free?
Yes!
Curly Girl Friendly?
I believe so - I see lots of curly girls all over the place using botanical oils.
The Good
First of all - it's SO pretty! I spent extra time on it in the video - did y'all catch them flowers?! I love it when oils are infused with dried petals and herbs. Not only is the infusion potent and long-lasting, but it consistently smells amazing.
Flower Bomb did not disappoint - in fact, I became kinda obsessed with it. Not particularly for hair growth, but really for soothing my scalp on and between wash days.
It's no secret that I have scalp psoriasis. Dryness and flakes can literally appear the day after I wash my hair - the same day in some cases. To keep from having to wash my hair every day, I rely on some oils to help soothe my scalp and ease flaking. Since Flower Bomb landed in my lap, it's been my go-to. I even used it when I had my silk press!
Not to mention, hats off to Nadja for giving me a blend with olive oil that doesn't smell like it. Y'all, I can't stand the smell of olive oil. Flower Bomb is so delicately fragranced, I never would have guessed it contained olive oil. Definitely a favorite of mine from the collection!
The Bad
To be honest, some of you guys may be put off by the price - and I get it. $21 for a floral-infused oil isn't exactly Wal-Mart Rollback prices. But when I did my googles, I discovered that forever-knocking-off-and-perpetually-in-bad-taste Urban Outfitters is selling similar oils in 3.9oz bottles for $28. In context, I'd happily give Femme Noire my money on this one. #perspective
The Bottom Line
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| My hair is SO full of moisture and softness! |
I can't speak to the hair growth angle, but the soothing properties of Flower Bomb are spot on. It's legit one of the best - if not the best- oil I've ever used on my hair. It's up there with the Be Kekoa Tamanu.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Femme Noire. The straightforward and effective, minimalist approach to wash day was something different for me - and definitely showed me that with the right stuff, you can skip a few steps.
Which products from the collection are you interested in trying? Let's chat in the comments below!
