What it is: A protein-enriched “hair repair” product line
Price: $5-$7. The price varies. Check your local beauty supply.
Website: ApHogee

The Review:

I did NOT purchase these products. They were sent to me to try and provide feedback. I got them late last year, and I’m finally getting around to doing a review. I was a die-hard ApHogee product fan, in my relaxed days. The products were effective, inexpensive, and they never failed me.  I have good memories.

I used everything, except the Spritz & Shine Styling Spray.  I don’t really use holding spritzes, because my hair isn’t worn straight much.  I may use this in the future, or I may give it away.

I’m going to start with my favorite product, and work backwards.

• Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer
  This is my favorite product in the line,  hands down.  When I transitioned with braids, this was my savior.  I used it several times during the week, along with an oil-based braid spray. It kept my hair strong and helped prevent breakage and split ends.

  As a napptural, I use it when my hair is in twists,  as a leave-in underneath butters/creams (if I need some added strength from protein), and as a barrier against the heat of the blow dryer/flat iron.

• ProVitamin Leave-In Conditioner
  It’s  lightweight, non-greasy and I’ve used it as a conditioning spray for twists, and as a leave-in, underneath styling products.  It helps to detangle and soften. It’s also great underneath the Keratin & Green Tea Restructurizer, as another layer of heat protection. The only thing I don’t like is the bottle. It’s a liquid, and it needs a sprayer, not a flip cap.
• Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor
  I don’t do heavy protein treatments, because I have no need for them. This product is just enough for when your hair needs the benefits of protein, but nothing heavy duty.  As the label says, it “adds strength and softness in one step”.  I agree.  After using it one time, my hair was noticeably stronger, but not dry or brittle.

  There’s also the 2-Step Protein Treatment, which is a heavy-duty protein, and I don’t recommend it, unless you have bad breakage. I used it as a relaxed head.

• Deep Moisture Shampoo
  I wasn’t too crazy about this one. It’s not a bad product, but it didn’t wow me. I think it’s a  low-lather shampoo…or I’ll just say I didn’t get much lather. I like lather. I know it’s not “necessary”, but I want lather.  It didn’t strip my hair (it does contain sulphates), but I have shampoos I like better.

Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about the line.  Whether you’re relaxed or natural, it’s effective, won’t break your wallet, and you can find it at your neighborhood beauty supply, as well as online.

A Nappy Girl

Final Answer:

What it is: A thick, rich styling cream  and detangling/moisturizing styling lotion

Price: Happy Nappy Styles: 8oz/$19,  Silk Shake  8.45oz/$19

Website: Blended Beauty

The Review:

I was curious about this line, and I decided to order, right before Thanksgiving. I didn’t like that I wasn’t informed that the Happy Nappy Styles was out of stock until AFTER I placed my order. I hate when companies do that. Tell me upfront that something is out of stock, and let me decide if I still wanna order or not.

Okay, on to the actual products.  First, I really wanted to these products.  Really.  But…I didn’t. Are they bad products? Not at all. Will I buy them again? Nope.

I tried the Happy Nappy Styles and Silk Shake combination, as a suggestion from Splinta24 on YouTube.  She used the Happy Nappy Styles by itself, initially, and didn’t get the moisture she was after, so she contacted the company and they suggested she try it with the Silk Shake. So, I figured I’d do the same. I was looking forward to a nice Christmas “braidout”. I was tired of two-strand twists.

Happy Nappy Styles is a thick, white, heavy cream.  The scent is very light…can’t pinpoint what it smells like, but I think most people would find the scent to be manageable. The Silk Shake comes in a spray bottle, but you can’t spray a fine mist of it..it sprays in short, direct spurts. I sprayed it in my hand, and applied it to big sections of damp hair, detangled with my rake, and knotted those sections.  I was able to detangle my hair easily, and quickly. When I was done, I took down one section, parted into smaller sections and began braiding with the Happy Nappy Styles, applying a “dab” to each section, from the roots, and working down to the ends. I repeated with each larger section.

My actual braids looked fine.  The hold was firm, but not crunchy. I usually leave braids/twists in for at least 3-4 days, if I’m going to wear a braid/twist out. But I didn’t have time for that, so I unbraided the next day. My hair was COMPLETELY dry,  so the lack of hold (unbraided) wasn’t due to not-completely-dry hair.

Hmmmm….I wasn’t happy with my nappy style.    The definition I usually get (even if I only set my hair overnite) was not there. My hair barely lasted thru the day. I had to re-braid the front…and it still wasn’t right the following day. The hair at the back of my head, which usually holds extremely well, was okay…but not what I’m used to.

As far as moisture, my hair was fine…but I didn’t get the softness I get with my Afroveda Shea Amla Whipped Butter Cream.  It was nothing special.

A Nappy Girl

Final Answer:

What it is: A very rich, creamy, concentrated butter for the hair and skin
Price: $20/8oz
Website: Koils by Nature

The Review:

I was sent a jar of the Citrus Bliss butter, and I immediately liked that the jar was full of product,  to the rim.  The texture is very thick and creamy, and the smell is divine! I love citrus scents, so I was all in. The scent is not strong, and fades after it’s in your hair.

I twisted my hair with the butter, today.  My hair was freshly shampooed/conditioned, and I misted each section with water, before applying the butter. I used no leave-in underneath.

This stuff is SO RICH…I only needed a smidgen for each section of hair. If you use too much, you’ll end up with greasy hair.  Normally, I send visitors to the site for ingredients, but I’m breaking that rule this time.

The Ingredients:  Shea butter, kokum butter, mango butter, avocado butter, aloe butter, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, kosher vegetable glycerin, organic honey, hydrolyzed jojoba protein, vitamin E,  grapefruit seed extract, essential and fragrance oils.

I didn’t use any gel with it, just the butter.  The end result was AMAZING! Soft, puffy twists…perfectly moisturized.  No crunch.  I it.  The next time, I’ll use a little gel along with it, just because the front of my hair needs the extra hold.

This is an excellent product for twisting, sealing the ends, and “winterizing” your hair. If you have protein sensitive hair, note that this product contains protein.  If your hair is fine, and/or thin, use a very light hand. It’s an excellent alternative to The Jane Carter Solution’s Nourish and Shine. You get more product for your money, and I like it better.

A Nappy Girl

Final Answer:

What it is: Natural and organic, black soap shampoo, cream conditioner and herbal hair mist
Price: See website for pricing
Website: Healing Herbs by Rene

The Review:

I first noticed this product line on Etsy some time ago, and I waited to actually try the line, because I hadn’t seen much online info about the products.

I purchased the Herbal Black Soap Shampoo/Conditioner in 1, the Extra Moisturizing Herbal Conditioner, and the Herbal Hair Mist. Her products are 100% natural and organic.  That’s a plus, although I definitely use products that aren’t all-natural. She had a BOGO on the shampoo, so I got two (2) 16oz bottles for the price of one.  Check the site for ingredient info.  Let’s get started…

The Shampoo:

It’s very thin and watery…and that’s what I about it.  I shampoo my hair in sections, and I have a lot of hair. So, watery shampoos work best, because they get thru my hair, down to my scalp…I focus on my scalp, primarily. The hair will get clean on its own, from the suds traveling downward and during rinsing. There’s no strong scent. It’s “herbally”.

It lathers VERY well (important to me), and it’s a rich, creamy/foamy lather.  It rinses clean and leaves my hair soft…no stripped feeling. I only lather once, and it does the job. It’s my favorite shampoo, right now. It’s the only one I’m using.

The Conditioner:

The smell of this stuff is INTOXICATING. I can’t describe it…it’s spicy, yet sweet, but not sickening. It reminds me of some kind of  “bubblegum”, but not the kiddie kind.  I don’t know what EO/herb combination she uses for this stuff, it’s just delicious!

It can be used as a rinse-out or leave-in.  I use it as a leave-in.  I apply it to my freshly-shampooed hair, and I let it sink in for a few hours (head wrapped in Saran Wrap). Detangling is a breeze.  I plait or twist my hair in big sections, and allow it to airdry, if I’m two-strand twisting dry. It leaves my hair soft and fluffy. I’ll add a butter and gel for additional moisturizing/hold, and I’m good to go.

The Mist:

The hair mist smells like…lemongrass, but not too strong. It adds moisture and softens, without making my hair sticky, and there’s no buildup.  It’s perfect as a daily moisturizing spray for twists, braids and locs.  It’s full of goodies for the scalp, as well as the hair.

The Customer Service:

Rene is on jam!  I ordered on a Friday, I got a notice the same or next day, telling me my order would ship on that Monday. She did what she said she would do. My products shipped on a Monday, and I received them two days later, on Wednesday (USPS Priority Mail).  The bottles were taped and packaged in Ziploc bags to protect against spillage.

**Note** Send her an email, with what you want to order, including your address,  and she’ll send you a PayPal invoice, with the cost to ship to your destination.  The shopping cart shipping calculations are wrong.

Final Answer:

A Nappy Girl

What it is: A nourishing, rich cream for nourishing and protecting your hair ends.
Price: $10/4oz
Website: Claudie’s Hair Revitalizer

The Review:

I just got this today, and…I’m hooked!
My ends can be a challenge.  I work to keep them strong, moisturized and healthy…free from breakage.  This product will make the task much easier. The consistency is like light, whipped parfait, although the picture on her site looks more like a regular cream.  Not sure if the consistency of mine is the standard, or if I just got a variation that sometimes happens with handmade products. Don’t know. Don’t care.

You only need a small amount.  It instantly removed the slight “crunch” (not the crunch that comes from having destroyed, split ends) that comes at the end of the day, when I’ve been in a dry room…all day (work).  My ends feel moisturized (not greasy), soft and fluffy.  The fragrance is very light, and pleasant.  I’m completely smitten!

She makes an “Ends Insurance #2″  that’s more of a “nourish and repair” type cream.  It has more protein, and I don’t need to really “repair” anything. I just wanna protect and nourish.  I will never be without this product, as long as she continues to make it.

This will be GREAT for my winter care regimen.

Final Answer:

A Nappy Girl