The 100% Natural Perfume: Bohemian Naturals Thai Sunshine

In my mission to 'clean up' my make up bag I almost forgot about my perfume. I've been addicted to using Mac Jacobs Daisy for as long as I can remember and the though of giving up my tiny piece of luxury (because lets face it...it's the only bit of Marc Jacobs I'm going to get my hand on in this economy!) but I have a feeling that little old daisy might be not be so clean. That being said my expierence with natural perfumes has left much to be desired, I've found they either don't last very long and quite frankly smells like the bottom of an old ladies purse! Plus as much as I like all things natural smelling like a nature reserve is not on my to do list. I also didn't want to loose the sense of luxury that you get from a perfume bottle (it's just so posh!)

So I wasn't holding out much hope on the perfume front until I got my hands on* Bohemian Naturals Thai Sunshine 100% natural, hand crafted perfume the aroma is divine (not an old lady insight) it's a surprisingly fresh, zingy and modern fragrance with herbaceous, lemon grass, cedar wood, lime, spicy ginger and light white flowers. As I'm used to the sweetness of the Daisy, Thai Sunshine is a nice transition sent it's sweet without being sickly and has a hint of spice which elevates the aroma from nose twitching to full on head tuning status! 

On the luxury issue Bohemian Naturals doesn't let me down, the 4ml roller ball though small packs a punch, it comes in a nice box with a hand written date and also signed off by the owner Shannon. when you open the box a lovely silk pouch is revealed which is sewn shut you pull the thread to reveal the cute perfume it's all very personal and would be the perfect love token (do people still do love tokens or am I being a bit vintage....?) at £30 for 4mls some might think it's on the pricey side but the effort that goes into is to me worth the money and I would love to receive this as a present from my hubby! plus rollers balls last ages! (no over usage issues or spillage) I actually think the perfume is kind of perfect. There are 3 in the range Amber Rose, Indian Davana and Thai Sunshine you can pick up a sample pack for £8 so you can try out the scents for yourself here

I N G R E D I E N T S 

CERTIFIED ORGANIC ALCOHOL (WHEAT), FRAGRANCE (PROPRIETARY BLEND OF 100% NATURAL MATERIALS) cYMBIDIUM GRANIFLORUM, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYERIDE

Gifted*

 what do you think of natural perfumes?

More about → The 100% Natural Perfume: Bohemian Naturals Thai Sunshine

The Review: Mahogany Naturals ACV Shampoo Bar

I was sent some products from Mahogany Naturals to review, after reviewing the brand last year I was excited to see what new goodies Tope (founder) had to offer, So far I'm head over heels for the Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo Bar (£6.95).

Naturalistas have been using ACV for some time as this benefits of  being a highly acidic liquid that helps smooth the hair cuticles, gently improve shine, manageability and can enhance curl definition.  

B E N E F I T S 

Removes build up from your hair.make it soft shiny,define your curls and are PH balanced.

Smoothes the hair cuticles making your hair smoother and more manageable

Great for those with porosity issues and very frizzy hair.

Rich thick lather, soothes and nourishes the hair and scalp.

Does not smell like apple cider vinegar, has a delicate tropical scent.

Last longer than regular shampoo so can be more cost effective

I N G R E D I E N T S 

Organic apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil,organic castor oil,raw honey,Tropical essential oil, emulsifier

The ACV Shampoo Bar foamed up well without much fuss, so for those who like to work up a lather when shampooing this may be for you.  The smell is great but what was really nice is the clean feel of my hair with out leaving it stripped. I follows this up with my usually styling method of leave in conditioner (TRESseme Naturals) and Coconut Oil mixed with a little Eco Styler Gel. I definitely noticed a difference in my hair regarding my curlies, this is one of my best wash n go's

More about → The Review: Mahogany Naturals ACV Shampoo Bar

The Clay: Moroccan Rhassoul Clay

I finally found the time  to use my Rhassoul clay (300g at £8.70) from the Sheabutter Cottage, 

Rhassoul is a mineral-rich clay from Morocco. It's different from other cleansing clays, as it is very gentle and beneficial  for dry hair and sensitive skin and scalp. this clay is found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

I used the clay on my hair and face and found the results great! I used the methods suggested by Akua Wood, (I have added extracts from her 'how to' below) I used the Rhassoul clay  for my hair and as a face pack, as suggested I did not use a conditioner after using the clay on my hair which felt odd but I actually didn't miss the conditioner. I aired dried my hair until it was almost  dry then I used a blow dryer as I wanted a stretched out big hair look. (I used coconut oil to seal when my hair was damp but no leave in conditioner) My hair feels very soft and my scalp feels so fresh!

Mostly I'm loving the effects the clay has had on my skin after just one application my face feels divine  when removing the clay I could feel the moisture from the clay on my skin which felt great! I'll definitely be adding the clay into skincare regimen from now on!

B E N E F I T S 

Completely non-irritating to skin and scalp

Cleans skin and hair without removing all of its protective sebum

Removes surface oil and oil from inside and around comedones (blackheads and whiteheads)

Leaves hair soft and shiny and enhances its volume

Gradually reduces the need for frequent hair washing

Removes dandruff and eases problems of excessively oily hair

HAIR

To make rhassoul mud for your hair, you will need:

50g of rhassoul, more if your hair is very long, less if you have short hair. Put the rhassoul into a

bowl and add 50mg of tepid water, which should be enough to cover the pieces. Don’t attempt to

stir the mixture at this stage, simply leave it to stand for a full 5 minutes or until the water is absorbed.

You will then find it easy to stir the mixture into a smooth paste, adding a little more tepid water if

necessary.

Apply the rhassoul mud to dry or damp hair. Work it through your hair and massage well into your

scalp.

For dry hair, leave on for 5-10 minutes.

For normal hair, leave on for up to 5-15 minutes.

For oily hair, it can be left on for 10-20 minutes.

Rinse thoroughly, then towel dry. Ideally, allow your hair to finish drying naturally

FACE

To make a face or body pack, including a foot pack for smoothing dry skin, follow the same

method as described above. Always think in terms of an equal figure of grammes and millilitres – for

example, 10g of rhassoul mixed with 10g of water; 100g of rhassoul mixed with 100g of water, and

so on. You will probably need extra water which can be mixed in after the rhassoul has swelled.

Face packs are normally left on the skin for 5-15 minutes, before rinsing thoroughly with warm water.

You might follow this treatment with a spritz of rosewater to tone and refresh. Body packs can be

left on for 20-40 minutes and then rinsed off under a warm shower or in the bath.

 FACIAL CLEANSER AND EXFOLIANT

Rhassoul is a great exfoliant and skin softener. The same rhassoul paste that you mix for your hair

can be used as a daily cleanser and skin polisher. For this purpose you may wish to mix a slightly

thinner paste the consistency of a cleansing lotion. Massage it gently into damp skin using circular

movements and then rinse. The paste will remove most make-up (except perhaps stubborn

waterproof mascara) and will leave your skin feeling velvety.

My hair after Rhassoul clay application wet and dry lightly blow dried and below my hair picked and styled as desired.

Price of the clay starts at £2.00 for 50g you can find out more about the clay and purchase it HERE

More about → The Clay: Moroccan Rhassoul Clay

The Naked Curls: Naked Bounce

After trying out the Little Miracle Leave In from Naked Body Care I ended up ordering, 6 more items from the Naked website, these included items from the Naked Bounce range for curly and wavy hair, I'm aware that I have neither curly nor wavy hair my hair is in fact kinky however I was enticed by the claims that the bounce range moisturised and defined curls, If I'm honest I wasn't expecting miracles with this line which is why I'm pleasantly surprised! That I'm happy with the results

I co washed my hair with the Curl Defining Conditioner a thick lightly perfumed product, the conditioner had great slip which made it easy to detangle with  my trusty Tangle Teezer, Its a rinse out conditioner but my hair still felt soft after rinsing out.

Aqua, Cetearyl alcohol, Glycerin, Brassicamidopropyl dimethylamine, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Persea gratissima (Avocado) oil, Aspartic acid, Dicaprylyl ether, Lauryl alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, Crithmummaritimumextract, Laminaria digitata extract, Chondrus crispus extract, Citrus aurantium amara (Bitter orange) leaf oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) leaf oil, Citrus aurantifolia (Lime) oil, Pelargonium graveolens (Geranium) oil, Ferula galbaniflua (Galbanum) oil, Rosa damascena (Rose) flower oil, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA, Ascorbic acid, Potassium sorbate, Citric acid, Benzyl salicylate, Linalool, Butylphenyl methylpropional.

Once I rinsed out the conditioner I used Curl Taming Cream as a leave in, which is said to help define and add lustre, I found this to be my least favourite product of the three I used as it didn't have a lot of slip and found it didn't run through the hair as smoothly as I would like (though now my hair is dry I can feel that it has benefited from the moisture obtained by the Curl Taming Cream)

Aqua, Cetearyl alcohol, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl ether, Sucrose laurate, Alcohol, Glyceryl stearate, Stearalkonium chloride, Corn starch modified, Mangifera indica (Mango) butter, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Benzyl alcohol, Dehydroacetic acid, Citric acid, Benzyl salicylate, Amyl cinnamal, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Eugenol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Benzyl benzoate, Limonene.

 To set (applied mousse and combed through from root to tip leaving to air dry)  my curls I used the Curl Styling Mousse, the mousse claims touchable defined curls, this products has no hold, if you wanted really defined curls you'd have to follow up with a gel, but the mousse did define my natural curl pattern which is as you know very tightly coiled

Aqua, Hydroxypropyltrimonium hydrolyzed corn starch, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Sodium cocoyl glutamate, Hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, Corn starch modified, Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) extract, Parfum, Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric acid, Benzyl salicylate, Amyl cinnamal, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Eugenol, Geraniol.

After using Eco Styler Gel over the last week it would be easy for me to say that the naked range didn't really work as well at defining my curls, but it actually worked very nicely at defining my natural curl pattern (the pattern that I have with out applying heaps of gel) I basically washed and added some product no twist outs, finger coiling or shingling methods where used and I can see my coils popping which doesn't usually happen when I don't manipulate my hair. My hair doesn't feel like I have too much on it which is great for the touchability factor but not so great for gaining second day hair (we shall see)  Overall I'm pleased with the results I got, I'll use the conditioner again and the taming cream because my hair is super soft right now! The mousse was OK but I think it would work better on a looser curl pattern as my hair needs a little more hold for real definition

for a drug store brand with added benefits of being 97% natural, with no parabens or silicones and easy on the pocket (everything is under a fiver!) I'm glad I stumbled across this brand!

I must also mention the speedy delivery and packaging of the naked products which was wonderfully presented (I'm a sucker for good presentation!)

www.nakedbodycare.co.uk

More about → The Naked Curls: Naked Bounce

Hair Talk: Postnatal Hair Loss (Shedding)

A lot of people have been asking if I suffered from postnatal shedding/hair loss and how I have dealt with it. Well the answer is yes I have had a lot of postnatal hair loss, my hair loss seems to be concentrated in two areas the crown of my head and on the right hand side of my hair. After Freya's birth I thought that perhaps I was one of the lucky few that had little to no hair loss, as I didn't notice much difference in the beginning. Then at about 6 weeks post I noticed that my hair was thinning and that I was getting a lot more shed hairs during hair washes then I noticed the thinning areas. Though I knew about postnatal hair loss I was still shocked and a little upset when it happened.

But we are not alone, hair hero Philip Kingsley explains;

"Pregnancy always affects hair due to hormonal changes, nutrition changes (ie two to feed instead of one) I was involved in a scientific study with Cuckfield (Sussex) Maternity Hospital in the mid 80s.  It showed that approximately a third of women experienced better hair, a third worse hair and the other third no noticeable difference. This was a little surprising because oestrogen (female) hormones increase, which causes the growth cycle of hair follicles to lengthen and less hair is shed than normal, resulting in more voluminous (thicker appearance) hair.  Further, as oestrogens increase androgens (male hormones) decrease.  Androgens encourage oil to flow so the hair becomes less oily and appears drier, also adding to volume.  On the other hand, from a nutrition viewpoint, other than taking pre-natal supplements, nutrition is often worse with the well-known “cravings” for junk food – and oddly – not eating as well anyway because of potential weight gain added to the baby bump.  The hair follicle is the second fastest producer of cells in the body, (bone marrow is first), but as hair is considered, by the body, non-essential tissue, it is the last to benefit from good nutrition.  And, the “bump” would take precedence anyway"

So while all this is happening during pregnancy hair loss can be a given, add to that the stress of motherhood in the early days and you have a pile of hair and it's not on your head! thankfully Philip Kingsley goes on to reassure us; 

"The good news is that post-partum fall always regrows – or it should.  If it doesn't, which is rare, there would be cause for extra professional advice and various blood tests.  Another point that should be born in mind is post-natal depression, which can effect hair fall and growth.  Post natal fall, though, usually begins after 6 weeks- 8 weeks of birth and can last until the 7^th month, so don’t panic – it will regrow eventually"

Though it's hard their really is no real way to stop the hair loss, I've been doing stress free styles such as puffs, and wearing my hair out, I try to take good care of my diet and scalp

(head massages are a must for me) also be sure your hair is shedding and not breaking, shed hair should have a little white bud at the end, also it is normal to shed hair (pregnant or not) we loose up to 100 hair a day! If you hair loss starts to concentrate in one area don't panic! it could be due to excessive styling, stress or your diet.

Phillip Kingley adds;

"You can’t do anything to stop true post-partum fall but good hair care habits will make it grow faster and look and feel better.   Use products suitable for your hair type and whatever styling aids you require.  Apply scalp masks and hair masks regularly, and massage the scalp with a kneading motion each time they are used as well as when shampooing, Eat nutritiously with plenty of proteins and take a good all round supplement.  You may need an iron supplement, too, as well as Vitamin B12.  (Philip Kingsley has supplements and Masks).’ 

I've used both the Philip Kingsley Supplements and the scalp mask*, the mask is great and really refreshes the scalp, the supplements worked as part of a healthy diet (results can be seen after 3 months)

*scalp masks by Philip Kingsley have been relaunched, now there are two! one for stimulating and the other for exfoliating the scalp 

Visit www.philipkingsley.co.uk and be sure to check out Philip Kingleys Hair Bible here 

Thanks Phil!

More about → Hair Talk: Postnatal Hair Loss (Shedding)

The Little Miracle: Naked Hair Care

I'm currently in product junkie mode, I was running low took one hit and now it's like I need a daily fix! So I was out seeing my dealer (the great British high street) and came across naked body care A 97% natural body, hair and skincare company and everything is practically under a fiver! I almost OD'd the hair care range is huge with a vast array of products for all hair types. We all know that most drug store lines are not made for afro hair in mind but that has never stopped me as we all know most products can work for all hair types and the fact that Naked Body Care has 97% natural ingredients has me sold! Naked is also Made in the UK (carbon footprint friendly) they also don't test on cute animals (or ugly ones) 

I finally decided on purchasing the Little Miracle (£3.32) Leave In Conditioner , which contains shea butter and argon oil, it's silicone free and also paraben free, however it does contain a  alcohol and parfum which can dry out hair

I used Little Miracle after shampooing with tresemme naturals shampoo and conditioner, I then used Little Miracle in place of my usual leave in conditioner on damp hair I used two big squirt, Little Miracle has great slip so de-tangling was not too bad I used it with Eco Styler gel and Little Miracle really plays nice with others! no clumping or turning white (so no flakes in the morning) also Little Miracle held up to it claim of heat protection as stretched my roots with a blow-drier and no waxy clumps or jellys! 

You can check out more on my Instrgam for other products I'm using

This morning my hair is soft to touch and defined (due more to the Eco Styler Gel) but Little Miracle was a great base for defining products, Little Miracle is great value for money it's currently on offer at www.nakedbodycare.co.uk along with most of the hair care range (I should know I just brought 7 products lol!) If you are not into spending a fortune on natural hair products this is a great little product to pick up.

Ingrediants: Aqua, Cetearyl alcohol, Polyquaternium-37, Hydrolyzed vegetable protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Brassicamidopropyl dimethylamine, Aspartic acid, Ceteareth-20, Dicaprylyl ether, Lauryl alcohol, Argania spinosa (Argan) oil, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea butter), Parfum, Tocopheryl acetate, Chlorphenesin, Benzyl alcohol, Dehydroacetic acid, Coumarin, Linalool.

The only downers is the size, 150ml will last me a bit but for those with long tresses you my need to pick up a couple of these at a time but at this price you can afford too. Also the alcohol (guess that is the pesky 3%) but if you are not averse to these things go get some Little Miracle!

Little miracle is available at boots as well as online

www.nakedbodycare.co.uk

More about → The Little Miracle: Naked Hair Care

The Wash n Go 2: Curls Unleashed **updated**

Those of you that follow me on Instagram or Twitter may know I have been trying out Curls Unleashed by Organic Root Stimulator, I saw it in my local hair supply shop and thought I'd give it go. People have told be good things about the whole range but I decided not to jump in with both feet and just try one thing at a time (been burned like that before) I brought Set It Off Curl Boosting Jelly. I used it for a wash n go, I used my Tangle Teezer to de-tangle and smooth in generous amounts of the jelly in sections the Tangle Teezer helps to smooth hair and create defined curls I finger coiled some of my ends so my curlies are less uniform. I was a little dubious of the purple colour, Curls Unleashed is not an all natural product and it always concerns me when products are an unnatural colour I makes me thing of chemicals also it has quite a chemical smell (it actually reminds me of Jam gel a bit sickly) But it does do what it says on the tin (crunchless defined curls) the good thing about the jelly is that I did't get much shrinkage, also there was no residue left on my hair nor did it leave my hair looking wet, I checked out the video on the curls unleashed website and my hair didn't come out like the models in the video their hair looked kind of wet look (maybe I didn't use enough) but I'm happy with how my hair looks this would probably work well for twist outs and braid outs for a stretched out defined look, It cost me £9.99 for a reasonable sized tub not sure if I'd purchase this again as I prefer lotions and foams for wash and go's but this was not a bad product

INGREDIENTS: AQUA (WATER), GLYCERIN, PPG-5-CETETH-20, POLYQUATERNIUM-11, PEG-12 DIMETHICONE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE, GLYCERYL ACRYLATE/ACRYLIC ACID COPOLYMER, PANTHENOL, HYDROLYED WHEAT PROTEIN, AMODIMETHICONE, TRIDECETH-12, CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, CARBOMER, TRIETHANOLAMINE, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), BENZYL BENZOATE, COUMARIN, d-LIMONENE, LINALOOL, CI 60725 (VIOLET #2)

I had to update you on my feeling for Curls Unleashed Set It Off Curl Boosting Jelly as I'm in love with my second day hair! I slept with my hair in a pineapple (in a loose band atop my head) and this more added some water and a little eco styler gel to any unruly ends, my hair still feels good. Day 2 YOU RULE!

More about → The Wash n Go 2: Curls Unleashed **updated**

The Osas Dress: Isossy Children

Baby Belle is in fashion heaven rocking a gorgeous dress from Isossy* Children's spring/summer collection. The Osas dress is soooooo cute it's a little big at the moment but will be just right for the summer. The dress is fully lined and finished to a high standard and comes in a variety of colours.

Isossy Children have a variety of clothing for ages 0-14 dresses start at £25 and there is something for every occasion. The range is very age appropriate and uses african print in a way that is trendy and vibrant my top picks are the Osas dress (modelled by the one and only!)  the Kiana dress and the Tara jumpsuit (erm I'm going to need this in my size!). You can check out the full range at www.isossychildren.com

 *dress gifted by Isossy Children 

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