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| The Fall Styling Arsenal. |
My everywhere-but-the-west-coast peeps will judge me, but 60 degrees in LA is COLD. I mean heck, it even rained yesterday outta nowhere. Los Angeles just might get a real fall and winter. And by real I mean temperatures at 75 degrees or below, with occasional clouds and rain.
I say all of this to say, it's time for me to seriously consider switching up my wash and go process. I need to adopt an alternative process and some new products - and I think Silk Elements just might fit the bill.
Yes, Silk Elements.
See, I wasn't ready - and I'm sure you weren't either. But I got blessed with the Pure Oils Leave-In Moisturizer, Moisturizing Marmalade, Hair Butter, and Olive Oil.
I put them to the task and I can honestly say - I was floored with the results. Keep reading to learn more about each product - or jump to the end of the post for my quickfire fall wash & go styling demo!
PS - Silk Elements Pure Oils products are BOGO 50% off at Sally's through the end of the month (October 2016)!
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| Love this leave-in! Don't mind the bootleg smize. I'm trying y'all. |
Cost
$7.99 for 8oz
Where to Buy
Sally Beauty (in store and online)
Active Ingredients
- Water
- Glycerin: Generally vegetable-based humectant that absorbs and retains moisture from the air.
- 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.
- Butylene Glycol: A colorless, organic, non-drying alcohol used as a solvent, viscosity decreasing (thinning), and conditioning agent.
- Sunflower Seed Oil: Pressed oil of the sunflower seed, rich in omegas 6 and 9 which help stimulate growth, improve elasticity, and ciments the cuticle layers to help improve moisture retention and correct porosity issues.
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: Coconut oil that is lightweight, nutrient rich, and fast absorbing. All the benefits of coconut oil without the heaviness.
No. Contains hydrolyzed keratin further down on the list.
Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes! No cones.
The Good
I've said it before and I'll say it again - a great leave-in is the foundation of a great wash and go. If your leave-in is wack, your results will be wack. A great leave-in conditioner maintains internal hydration, imparts moisture and shine, combats frizz, and lays the canvas for styling. And let me tell you - the Pure Oils Leave-In Moisturizer is LEGIT! It's an amazing leave-in at a great price. It's super moisturizing, without being oily or greasy. I love how creamy and spreadable it is, without being too thick. It cuts frizz, lays my curls, and does everything it needs to do to set me up for a good hair day. Plus, the slip is there and it plays nicely with other curl definers too! [Insert emoji praise hands]
The Bad
Honestly...truly... I've got nothing. This is a solid leave-in conditioner that I'm happy to use time and time again.
The Bottom Line
If you're looking for a solid leave-in that will moisturize your tresses without breaking the bank, look no further than the Pure Oils Leave-In Moisturizer. Plus, it's CG friendly for all the ladies who don't do cones!
Would I Buy it Again?
Absolutely. And you bet I'm doing it before the end of October, too! #BOGO
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| Post-duffusing. I diffused for dryness, not volume. Shine OFF THE CHAIN! |
Cost
$8.99 for 8oz
Where to Buy
Sally Beauty (in store and online)
Active Ingredients
- Water
- Hydroxyethylcellulose: Water-soluble polymer used as a thickening agent.
- Polyquaternium-10: Quaternary ammonium polymers with film forming, antistatic, and fixative properties used to provide hold as well as promote ease of combing, elasticity, and shine.
- Fragrance
- Glycerin: Generally vegetable-based humectant that absorbs and retains moisture from the air.
- Sodium Benzoate: Preservative ingredient
- Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil: (Passionfruit Seed) Oil native to Rwanda that is rich in Vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorus. Known for balancing moisture and conditioning the skin and hair.
Yes! A protein-free gel for my protein sensitive curlies!
Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!
The Good
Not gonna lie to you guys, I was skeptical about the Moisturizing Marmalade, because I'm a heavy gel girl. The Moisturizing Marmalade is a lot lighter and thinner than what I'm used to - but it's not watery thin. It's suuuuuuper spreadable and has great slip, which made my styling go by lightning quick. Seriously - this was the fastest curl defining I had ever done. And the results? The pictures and video speaks volumes. Shine, definition, body..SHINE... I mean, did you see it though?! And my hair had crazy body on day 1 which I never get with any gel I use. There may be something to this lighter gel thing...
The Bad
I was worried that the Moisturizing Marmalade wouldn't define my crown area, but it did for the most part. The only downside was that by day 2, it had some frizz and I needed to re-apply more leave-in and gel (and water). But other than that no biggie - and for the record, my crown area is incredibly disrespectful anyways.
The Bottom Line
If you're a gel girl like me, then you know this time of year can be a pain in the butt. With cooler temperatures comes longer drying times and walking around with wet roots for what feels like 3 days in a row - especially with heavier gels. Moisturizing Marmalade is an awesome alternative that works to define hair in a fraction of the time.
Would I Buy it Again?
Absolutely. Look to see this jar of goodness around for fall wash and go's... I think I'll use it next for a satin strip braidout!
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| Texture shot. |
Cost
$8.99 for 6oz
Where to Buy
Sally Beauty (in store and online)
Active Ingredients
- 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: Extracted from the nut of the karite tree. Proven effective moisturizer, natural anti-oxidant, improves skin elasticity, and treats a variety of skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
- Sunflower Seed Oil & Wax: Pressed oil of the sunflower seed, rich in omegas 6 and 9 which help stimulate growth, improve elasticity, and ciments the cuticle layers to help improve moisture retention and correct porosity issues.
- Mango Seed Butter: Rich in beta carotene, essential fatty acids and vitamins A and E. This ingredient also helps to treat dry skin and protect against future dryness.
- Thebroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter: (Cupuacu) Butter native to the Amazonian rainforest known for its skin and hair conditioning, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties, thanks to high Omega-9 content.
Yes!
Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!
The Good
I love nostalgic products. You ever get your hands on the 2016 version of something, but it takes you all the way back to 1992? Yeah. That's me and the Pure Oils Hair Butter. The consistency and gentle fragrance reminds me of sitting on the footstool at my Grandma's house while she greased my scalp, dug that shiny black comb into my scalp, and gave me twisted ponytails with click-clacks (you know lmao) and barrettes on the end.
Ya know, something like this:
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| Me, circa 1st grade. |
Pure Oils Hair Butter took me back to a simpler time - but with updated ingredients. Instead of petroleum and mineral oil, Pure Oils Hair Butter is full of nutrient-dense oils and butters that nourish from scalp to ends. I used Hair Butter to seal my leave-in, and I've also used it directly on my scalp. I love it both ways - it's super rich and creamy, without giving me the crazy greasies. And the shine? Off the charts! Also worth noting - this is the first butter I've ever used that has a discernible impact on frizz! [more emoji praise hands]
The Bad
I got nothin'. Between the old school feels, new school ingredients, and style results, I'm in love.
The Bottom Line
If you miss hair food but don't miss the Vaseline (lol), Pure Oils Hair Butter is for you! Even though its coconut oil based, I find myself reaching for it in cooler temperatures. It nourishes, seals, adds shine, and still remains soft and workable - even during these cold times.
Would I Buy it Again?
In a heartbeat. Anything that reminds me of my Grandma is an automatic must.
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| Post-styling, pre-diffusing. |
Cost
$4.99 for 1oz
Where to Buy
Sally Beauty (in store and online)
Active Ingredients
- Olive Oil: Oil extracted from the olive fruit, which 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.
Yes, lol.
Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!
The Good
Okay, hear me out here. I've lamented here on the blog before about how a lot of oils stink to me. I love me some coconut oil (I find the fragrance delightful), I find tamanu oil's earthy nutty scent warming, and argan oil to me is virtually odorless (and a win). I promise you, I've avoided olive oil at all costs because I haaaaated the fragrance. To me, olive oil has such a pungent odor - I even avoid it (when I can) in foods. I've always felt like I was missing out on something because everyone loooooves olive oil, but I couldn't bring myself to use it because of the smell. Silk Elements must have heard my cries because this stuff right here?
A golden oil
Rich and potent, fragrance free
My heart is now full.
I was so moved by this oil, I wrote a haiku. I now feel like thanks to Silk Elements Pure Oils, I don't have to miss out on the olive oil party. I love how it soothes my scalp, adds shine to my hair without being greasy or weighing it down.
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| Day 2 definition and volume realness! |
The Bad
The only thing I wish is that it were available in a bigger bottle - perhaps a 4oz glass bottle with dropper? #thanksinadvance
The Bottom Line
I wrote a poem about this oil. Need I say more? Lol...
Would I Buy it Again?
Yes, yes, yes!
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| Fall ready. |
Silk Elements Pure Oils Wash & Go Demo
Here's a full demo with the Silk Elements Pure Oils collection. Here's a quick rundown of products and tools used:
- Pure Oils Leave-In Moisturizer
- Pure Oils Hair Butter to seal
- Pure Oils Moisture Marmalade to define
- Pure Oils Olive Oil for added shine and softness
- Blow dryer with diffuser attachment
In this demo/tutorial, you'll see that I break out my diffuser for the first time since like February 2015. Make sure you watch the video to see how I diffuse for dryness, definition, and keep my curls frizz-free!
Have you checked out the Silk Elements Pure Oils collection? Don't forget to hit that Sally's BOGO before the end of October!
PS - If you're not already on my e-mail list, get on that thang below this post! I'll be dropping some special tips on using the Pure Oils collection this weekend - but ONLY for my e-mail squad!
Note: Per the FTC, I have to let y'all know that this post is sponsored by Silk Elements. But that doesn't mean anything - I'm still keeping it 100 and giving you guys the real.
 Tutorial with Silk Elements Pure Oils){kind=link}