GorJESS♡

(This post is NOT sponsored by Maui Moisture) This month's brand is Maui Moisture. This brand is perfect for summer, as its name does not lie. So. Much. MOISTURE!! Every product's first ingredient is Aloe Vera Juice. By itself, this particular item doesn't moisturize my hair, but man. In Maui Moisture's products, it's A-MAY-ZING. Below I have listed which products I've used/am using and how I'd rate them on a scale from 1-5. Nourish & Moisture + Coconut Milk Shampoo : I'd give about a 3/5 . One major thing I look for in a shampoo is detangling abilities. Moisture, not so much because my hair is super thick and products stripping my hair isn't too much of a concern, as well as the fact that I will be replenishing that moisture with a conditioner. Plus, if the shampoo is detangling, odds are it's also moisturizing because moisture helps with detangling. This shampoo is very moisturizing, but not enough to detangle my hair. It also do...

D.I.Y. Papaya Hair Mask by Jessica Rivers You will need: a ripe papaya (cut in half) soy milk olive oil raw honey essential oils Click Here to see how I made this mask!

Essential Oils by Jessica Rivers Originally Posted on Curlfluence.com in 2018 Essential oils. Not only do they smell good, but they have amazing benefits for your hair. Here’s a list of popular essential oils and their benefits: Cedarwood Oil : encourages healthy hair growth Chamomile Oil : conditions the hair and helps treat psoriasis Cypress Oil : treats oily hair Eucalyptus Oil : an antiseptic that treats dandruff, encourages hair growth and circulation Frankincense Oil : treats hair loss Lavender Oil : treats alopecia aids in hair growth, itchiness, and dry hair; gives hair shine Lemon Oil : treats dandruff, an itchy scalp, and oily hair Myrrh Oil : treats dry hair, dandruff, and dry scalp conditions Peppermint Oil : promotes hair growth by stimulating circulation to the scalp, cleanses the hair Rosemary Oil : treats dandruff, helps with hair loss Tea Tree Oil : treats dry scalp conditions/dandruff, soothes an itchy scalp, ...

Are There Better Butters for Your Hair? by Jessica Rivers Originally Posted on Curlfluence.com in 2018 Cocoa butter, Shea butter, mango butter, and aloe butter are some of the most popular moisturizing butters out there. But are there better butters? Well, that depends on the needs of your hair. Popular butters & their benefits: ·         Aloe Butter : Highly antioxidant and rich in vitamins A, C, E, and B12, aloe butter is lightweight and hydrating to skin and hair. ·         Mango Butter : This butter is probably the most moisturizing butter I’ve ever used. Not only is it loaded with vitamin A, C, and E but it helps protect your hair and skin from UV rays. ·         Shea Butter : This is probably one of the most popular butters for natural hair. Its many benefits include: highly moisturizing, acts as a natural sunscreen, reduces skin inflammation, r...

Hair Porosity by Jessica Rivers Originally Posted on Curlfluence.com in 2018 By now, just about every curly girl knows about hair porosity. If you know nothing or not much about porosity, here’s a breakdown: Porosity basically describes how your hair handles moisture, depending on how your hair cuticles lay. High porosity hair has cuticles that are lifted, causing moisture to flow through the hair. High porosity hair has trouble retaining moisture, resulting in frazzled, dry hair. Low porosity hair has cuticles that lay flat, resulting in moisture resistance. Low porosity hair has trouble absorbing moisture, which causes hair to feel dry and brittle. This type is also prone to product build-up and is sensitive to protein. How do I find out my porosity? There are a few ways to find out if you have low porosity, high porosity, or even medium/normal porosity hair: ·         The Float Test : Take a strand of your hair (clean, no oils ...

Reconstruct Your Regimen by Jessica Rivers Originally Posted on Curlfluence.com in 2018 We’ve all heard the “rules” of caring for your hair as a curly girl. “Wash (shampoo) your hair with warm water to open the cuticles.” “Rinse (after conditioning) with cool water to close the hair cuticles to retain moisture.” “Don’t shampoo too often─ co-wash instead─ to avoid stripping your hair of its natural oils.” “Stay away from silicones!!!” What I’ve learned this past year is that not all of these methods work for everyone. Do what works best for YOUR hair. As a Type 4, low porosity, fine/medium strand, high density curly girl that occasionally heat-styles her hair, my regimens have been as complicated as my hair. Your hair type, porosity, width, density, and preferences all affect what methods do and do not work for you. 1.        Warm vs. Cool Water . Warm water does open your hair cuticles (allowing more moisture to come in...

Detox Your Locks by Jessica Rivers Originally Posted on Curlfluence.com in 2017 It’s the end of the year, and what better way to end than to detox! Do you detox your hair? If not, you should! But why? Well, just like your body and skin, your hair can hold toxins. Toxins can come from the environment or your hair products, not to mention product build-up.           So exactly how do you detox your hair? The simplest answer is to wash it, but shampooing doesn’t always remove product build-up (unless you use a clarifying shampoo).           But there are other ways to detox. One of the most popular ways to detox hair (and skin) is to use a clay mask─ for example, Bentonite clay. Bentonite clay has the ability to remove impurities, chemicals, and other toxins. Another type of clay is Moroccan Red Clay. This clay is a gentle, cleansing clay that removes excess dirt and oil without s...

Oils for the Coils by Jessica Rivers Originally Posted on Curlfluence.com in 2017 Type 4 hair tends to be the most fragile hair type. It’s the most prone to breakage, as well as shrinkage. It also tends to be more dry and brittle than the other hair types. So which oils does this hair type benefit from the most? Well first, you have to know how to use the oils correctly. That is, you don’t want to use a heavy, sealing oil as a pre-poo treatment. This closes the hair cuticles, causing them to resist moisture, and can also clog your scalp. These oils are best when used as a part of your LOC/LCO method. For a hot-oil treatment you need to use a lighter oil that penetrates the hair shaft, also known as a moisturizing oil. 1.      Olive Oil : MOISTURIZING OIL. This oil is super moisturizing and works great as a pre-poo/hot-oil treatment. It helps to strengthen (reducing breakage and split ends), fights frizz, and softens, as well as adds shine. This is a...

Which Hair is the Fairest? by Jessica Rivers Originally Posted on Curlfluence.com in 2017 By now, every Naturalista knows about hair types, as well as her own. We have Type 1 (straight), Type 2 (wavy), Type 3 (curly), and Type 4 (coily) (Type 5, kinky???). But is one hair type better than another? Which texture is the best? The answers to those questions are no, and all! All hair types are beautiful and unique. So why are there different categories? Well, obviously everybody’s hair is different. Differences are inevitable, differences are good, differences are what make us unique. If everybody were the same, life would be boring! Unfortunately, differences also separate us. They place us in categories and can cause jealousy and unhealthy competition. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Love your tresses; your hair makes you, YOU! Each hair type is special and each needs its own special love and care. Type 2 Wavy Hair : This type is typically fine (but can be thic...

Seal the Deal by Jessica Rivers Originally Posted on Curlfluence.com in 2017 Detangle. Pre-Poo. Shampoo. Condition. Deep condition. Leave-in. Cream. Oil. Style. This is usually how my wash days go. The steps in your wash day are important to how your hair turns out, but what’s also important is how you moisturize your hair. Natural hair obviously needs water to be moisturized, but the oils in your regimen are just as important. The right oils at the right time in your regimen maximize the oils’ moisturizing properties. The first time I use an oil in my wash day regimen is in step #2: Pre-Poo/Hot-Oil Treatment. If you incorporate hot-oil treatments in your regimen, it is important for you to use a moisturizing or penetrating oil. These oils are light and can penetrate the hair shaft to moisturize from the inside out. Examples of Moisturizing/Penetrating Oils: ·         Avocado Oil ·         ...

Manage the Damage by Jessica Rivers Originally posted on Curlfluence.com in 2017 Heat damage. If you heat-style your hair, you've probably dealt with this before. I love straightening my hair; especially in the fall and winter- for a number of reasons: it's low maintenance, it looks great with fall and winter fashion, and it doesn't frizz during the fall and winter months. So what do you do when you have heat damage? Well the most obvious answer is to cut it off. I believe that it can be nourished back to health with proper treatment (protein, moisture, etc.). What worked/works best for me when I get heat damage is to add strengthening products to my regimen. CAUTION : If you have low-to-normal porosity hair, like me, be careful not to use products too heavy in protein. Hydrolyzed proteins are okay since they absorb easily into the hair. If my hair gets a lot of protein it also has to get a lot of moisture, or else it will feel stiff.  You can also ...

Flower Power by Jessica Rivers Originally posted on Curlfluence.com in 2017 Flowers. Not only do they look beautiful in our hair, but they are good for our hair too. We love our Coconut oil, Grapeseed oil, and Jojoba oil, but what about those "floral" oils? One of my favorite floral oils is Hibiscus oil. The Hibiscus flower is found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world, but why is this such a good oil? Well, Hibiscus extract helps to strengthen hair and reduce breakage. This is especially helpful when heat-styling your hair because heat can cause breakage. Another floral oil is Monoi oil. Monoi oil is actually made from soaking the flower petals of the Tahitian gardenia in Coconut oil! This oil is known to soften hair- which is great for protein-sensitive hair. Another very moisturizing and softening floral oil in Sunflower oil. This oil is also rich in Vitamin E and Omega-6 fatty acids. Lastly, honorable mention goes to an essential oil: Lavend...