Review: Miss Jessie's Quick Curls

Hi Lovelies! I literally started this post a month ago and it's been sitting in my drafts this whole time! lol There were just so many other things I wanted to write about and share that this kind of got lost. But it's brought up now because I really want to share with you a product that I am absolutely in love with!

So, I have naturally wavy hair. And by wavy, I really mean I have hair-that-has-a-mind-of-its-own-and-sometimes-is-curly-and-sometimes-flips-and-sometimes-is-frizzy-but-is-all-around-crazy. See? It's easier to just say "wavy";)

For years and years I've been trying to get it to obey and do what I want it to do! I've used mousses; I've used gels; I've used sprays; I've used diffusers. You get the idea.

Sometimes, I like to have straight hair. There is something just so relaxing about the warmth of a flat iron being pulled through my hair. However, did I mention I have really thick hair too? For me to have straight hair it takes quite a load of time to blow dry my hair... then section it off... and straighten each section.. to have it perfect. I put in a LOT of work when I have straight hair. Do you think anyone really notices, "OMG Kristen, how pretty is your straight hair???"

No. So, the next day, I'm running super late. I get out of the shower scrunch in some of my amazing miracle product, leave the house with wet hair, get to work, and suddenly people I don't even know are like, "You hair looks so great!"

Really people? Really? Do you know how little time I spent doing this?? And THIS is what you like?

at the end of the day so a little flat, but you can see the curls!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I've found a MIRACLE product.

Miss Jessie's Quick Curls came to me in a Birchbox a few months ago. It's made more for ethnic hair, but it says, "Excellent for this and more: curly, wavy, & relaxed textures including white gals too!" Yay:)

What it claims:

ITS HERE! Quick Curls weightless spiraling crème was formulated as a fast acting no fuss light weight styler that gives you the results you want fast. This fresh scented conditioning formula exclusively blended with essence of ginger flower and lime fruit activates a quick, light weight, frizz free smooth curl. Excellent for fingerstyling relaxed hair; no rods necessary, a rescue remedy for botched overprocessed texturizers, and great for our beautiful white gals. Instructions for use: Apply to damp hair based on length and density. Air dry or diffuse dry. Enjoy! THIS PRODUCT IS NOT CHEMICALLY ALTERING

The directions say to use a tablespoon to damp sections of hair and dry naturally or with a diffuser for more volume. My favorite part (and I didn't know, but makes sense) is: "Damp curly hair is in its most frizz free elongated state.  You can actually 'capture' this optimal texture as long as you apply product to damp hair." It's true! My frizz hasn't been as substantial!:)

I can't even tell you how much I absolutely adore it! It is not a gel or a mousse, but a creme! I'm not crazy about the smell, but I can get past that because it's just so fantastic! My hair gets actual literal CURLS when I use it. It's not heavy, it doesn't make my hair crunch, like I can go on and on about how simply amazing it is.

The full 8 ounce size retails for about $32. It has 4 stars at Target and about 4.5 on Amazon with some mixed reviews... I think this is because everyone's hair is different. So just because it's awesome with mine doesn't necessarily mean it will be perfect for you too. $32 is a bit more than I'm used to paying for a product like this, but because I continue to get compliments every time I use it in my hair (and oh, p.s. did I tell you how freaking easy it is to do???), I'll probably buy it! Especially now in the summer, don't want to use too much heat on my hair and completely fry it; so the more I can go au natural (or somewhat close to it;) I will!

How about you? Have you tried any of the Miss Jessie's products? What did you think? What is your favorite product for curly or wavy hair?

P.S. With all the recent hooplah about Urban Decay and the animal rights issue, I'd like you to know that Miss Jessie's doesn't do animal testing:)

Wash, Rinse, Repeat

This is the second in my series of wavy/curly hair tips and tricks (requested by Karla!) The first key to pretty, healthy hair is the wash and maintenance of it. There are A LOT of shampoos in this world. OMG different brands for different textures for different colors for different lengths for different scalps for different skin types... on and on and on and on and... you get the idea. It's hard to pick a good shampoo without trying it and seeing how it interacts with your hair and scalp. P.S. How funny is the word "scalp"? Just say it outloud for a moment... Scalp. Ha, funny word. Okay, back to the issue at hand. How do you pick a shampoo? Is it like books and you shouldn't judge it by it's cover? But what else can you go by? Ingredients lists? Commercials? Well, let me help you out. I'm going to go over the three most recent shampoos I've been using and really (at least as of right now) they're some of my favorites.

First is Herbal Essences Totally Twisted... yes, it's a great package, yes it smells fabulous, and yes it works on my wavy hair. What I really like about the shampoo is that it doesn't weigh my hair down.. it's not a thick or creamy shampoo just straight up cleaning shampoo. When I used this, I felt that it really did help my curls spring out more. The conditioner would leave a lasting scent in my hair, and I really enjoyed that (of course, it's short lived once I start putting produt in it, but still very pleased:)

Next I was using Pantene Pro-V Moisture Renewal... I started using this 'cause my hair was feeling (and looking) so rough and damaged. I was dying my hair pretty regularly, blowdrying  and straightening it a lot, and it was really starting to take it's toll. This stuff worked magic. It helped my hair not feel nearly as dry as it did before use. I can't say that it made my hair a whole lot softer... but it defintely felt (and looked:) healthier!

So I had the shampoo to get my curls to pop, and I had the shampoo to renew the moisture in my hair--there was only one problem left to solve--THE FRIZZINESS. I have always lived in very humid areas (I often wonder how my hair would react if I lived in a dry place like Arizona... the world may never know) So I've had to deal with my poor hair frizzing all the time. I believe words to describe my hair in high school would have been "poufy"... I'd scrunch and air or blow dry and when I'd leave for school it would be fine; but then it would grow... and not look sleek or smooth or any of those good hair words... I was a mess. (unfortunately, I did not go to high school in the '80s when *big* hair was actually what all the girls wanted hahaha). Fast forward to now, and I was still dealing with similar issues. I'd learned to use products to tame the crazy waves, but I was still getting flyaways and fuzziness on the top of my head. What was I doing wrong?!

My friend Susan suggested Infusium23. I'd never heard of that before, but figured what the heck? I bought the shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. I've been using the whole three step regiment for a little more than six months and this stuff is pretty fab. I can't say that it's worked miracles beacause there are definite days where I still have frizz, but it's doing a pretty darn good job. It's a creamy shampoo that washes very clean. There's never any weird gross residue left behind on my scalp. It also foams up really well without even using a lot. The conditioner is thick and I think it adds at least as much moisture if not more than the Pantene did. The leave-in conditioner is interesting all on it's own. It's very watery which I both like and dislike. I like it because it doesn't way my hair down at all. I dislike it because it's so thin, when I pour it from the bottle into my hands, I feel like it's going to all drip out before I even get it to my head (I really think I'm just being paranoid). This stuff is great and it's like $7ish dollars at any Walmart, Target, Walgreens, etc. Highly recommend.

I've rambled on quite a bit, what's the bottom line? Find a shampoo that works for you! Get samples, buy travel sizes, talk to your friends. Don't be afraid to not like a shampoo--not every shampoo (and conditioner, for that matter) is going to work exactly as advertised; but you will never know unless you try it!

What are some of your favorite shampoos? What works best for you and your hair type?

Stay tuned as I talk more about different products and tips I have for wavy/curly hair...

xoxo,