Loving It / Using It Vol. 12 - MABH Herbals Fast Growth Hair Oil

So, by now, you must surely be aware how huge a fan of hair oils I am and of hair care tips. My favourite time pass is to search out for new tips in hair care department. That is why the latest on the block is the egg hair oil I am using currently. Sounds interesting, right? Anyways, I shall discuss about this product some other time.

Let me jump right in for the current product we are here to talk about. So, this is a product by Lancy who runs the Makeup and Beauty Home blog. Apparently, this product is a concoction of a lot of herbs in a secret ratio which results in amazing hair which has given Lancy her long locks. And, no doubt, its a family secret which they have been carrying all along :)

Loving It / Using It : Using It

• Price - Rs 400 for 100ml. Really expensive!

• Availability - Online Website

• Packaging - Comes in a plastic bottle with a stopper so it does not really leak except for a few drops here and there. Might not be so travel-friendly but can not really comment on that!!

• Smells - Ok, so, here is something which I noticed that it smells a lot like the mom's oil I talked about. Well, my mum had put all the herbs she knew of in that oil, after all!! I could also smell a whiff of coconut oil but not very sure about that!! But, the smell is not really that strong that it would bother you though.

• Ingredients - It is a secret recipe but we can be assured that it is handmade and herbal.  

Usage and Results 

Well, honestly, one bottle lasted a hair oil junkie like me around 5-7 uses of heavy oiling using the regular oiling method I use. I love my hair oiled like a frying pan!! So, the oil does prove expensive in the long run. Anyways, I think I should have taken a before and after pic just to keep a record of how much has the product helped in hair growth.

But, then, I do not think there was any significant hair growth so can not really comment on that. As regards to how it treated my hair, well, there was no change in hair fall either. Lately, my hair has been falling in a larger quantity but then remember that there is comparatively more hair fall in the fall months because of the hair growth cycles. The resting hair falls to make way for new hair. And, hair growth is less in these months due to dry and cold weather.  

As regards to other results, unfortunately the conditions are too variable for my hair right now! My shampoo does not suit me, hair is dry and lanky and frizzy, conditioner is not in my routine and any hair mask has been abandoned since years!! So, any hair oil making a major impact immediately is going to go on my highly-coveted list but for now, this hair oil also fails to make that mark. I wish I could use it more to review it better. 

My Verdict

Well, I would say that the product better be used before any opinion is formed about it. I am kind of confused about it but then it is a completely herbal product which has showed promising results for many others.

So, what do you think? Have you used the product? How did you find it? Do you also feel that hair growth is affected by a lot of factors and it is difficult to form an opinion about a certain product sometimes? What are your tips and tricks for hair growth and healthy hair care?

Related Posts:

Loving It / Using It Vol. 11 - Omved Purifying Shampoo Brahmi & Peppermint for all hair types
Loving It / Using It Vol. 10 - Vaadi Herbals Face & Body Scrub with Walnut and Apricot
Loving It / Using It Vol. 9 - Le Beurre Shea Butter Body Cream Vanilla

Loving It / Using It Vol. 11 - Omved Purifying Shampoo Brahmi & Peppermint for all hair types

Sometime in between flipkart had discontinued selling my favourite Organic Surge shampoo and I was looking around to see if I could get used to something else!! And, then, Omved people sent out their product to check out.

I was excited to try it out because of the fact that they are a completely organic brand and I have loved their body oil which I had reviewed earlier. And, I have overshot the reviewing time (again!) but I have used the product so thoroughly and almost to the last drop!! Now, I am not really sure if I love the product because I have had variable results with it, honestly!

Loving It / Using It : Using It

Shampoo - Ingredient List

• Price - Really expensive!! A bottle would last 2-3 months depending on your hair length.

• Availability - Online shop

• Smells bad. Actually, I do not like it at all. It is supposed to smell of rosemary and  but it smells really weird. 

• Packaging - I like that the shampoo comes in a aluminium sort of bottle with a pump but unfortunately for me, the pump really didn't work so I had to unscrew the top and use it. It was inconvenient. The conditioner comes in a glass bottle with a pump which worked perfectly and does not give up a large amount of product. I like to think it is travel-friendly but I have not really travelled with it. 

• Has to be followed with a conditioner.  

Conditioner - Ingredient List

Usage 

Only one dollop of shampoo is really necessary for a shoulder length hair. And, I have noticed that it works best to dilute the product with water. It lathers a lot for a SLS free product and it works really well to remove the oil in the hair. 

But, if you do not dilute it with water, the shampoo dries out  the hair and makes it straw-like and frizzy and over time, the hair quality deteriorates. And, it is extremely important to follow up with the conditioner otherwise the hair is generally dry!

I use almost 10 pumps of the conditioner but so much of quantity is not really necessary. But, it softens the hair pretty much because the shampoo leaves it a lot dry and gives a bit of shine to the hair. And, one bottle will last about 20 washes for a mid-waist length hair. Even after using the conditioner, one has to use leave-in.

My Verdict

It does make the dry hair more drier so I would not say it is suited for all hair types. Oily hairs would find it better than the dry haired gals. And, don't forget your hair conditioner and the leave-in.

Have you used the product? How did you like it? Do share your experience with any other product you might have used from Omved!

Related Posts:
Loving It / Using It Vol. 9 - Le Beurre Shea Butter Body Cream Vanilla
Loving It / Using It Vol. 7 - Madara Colour and Shine Shampoo for Colored / Treated Hair
Loving / Using It Vol. 6 - Vaadi Herbals Chandan Kesar Haldi Face Pack

Are these factors causing hair fall for you and how you can work around them? {Hair Care}

A lack of an entire year of hair care and now I am sporting a shoulder length hair which I can not tie neither can I flaunt because it frizzes out crazily! And, facing a major amount of hair fall.

That reminds me that I get an insane amount of mails that everyone is facing a major amount of hair fall and I am not really mocking anyone, mind you. I am just trying to address a problem here. No one really specifies what major amount? Actually, does any one really know how much amount of hair falling is actually called a hair fall issue gone out of hand. 

How much hair fall can be called a hair fall problem?

Officially, everyday we can expect up to around 150-200 hairs coming out of the hair which if we look in a bunch would obviously look a lot!! And, this value can actually vary depending on our diet intake, lifestyle, stress, climate, lack or excess of exercise, lack of omega 3's and good fats in the system and what not!! Its not really easy to make out what is happening to hair and our internal body. Well, that is why probably yoga is one of the most preferred ways to keep body in balance. So, let me just try to write down what can be the most immediate factors for major hair fall in the body.

If you have a continuous hair fall of copious amount for more than two months under variable conditions, then probably it is something to pay attention to. But, again, may be you are pregnant or going through post-partum period or have been recovering from a major shock or change in your life. See what I told you - hair is damn fickle!!

May be you have thyroid or diabetes or anything else? 

Do check out with your doc and get some blood tests done and rule out the more serious health conditions. Thyroid is more often than not the culprit but then you can get yourselves scanned for cancer also, just in case!! Better to safe than sorry. And, then, do check out for antibiotics you are taking. They can weaken your immunity to an alarming rate and hair is the first to show such symptoms.

Oh btw, the list does not end here. Do you have PCOS or PCOD? Or, may be anaemia? Or, your body is basically using all its resources somewhere else. Hair and skin are the last organs to be given nutrients as they rank pretty low on the major organs list of the body so they are the first to show any symptoms of problem in the body. 

Do you have fine hair? 

Ok, this is a sad news for all those fine hair owners. Fine hair is more prone to hair fall than the thick hair counterparts. Now, I am not sure if it is because of the breakage or weak roots, both of which mean weak hair.

Keep changing your parting

If you have been parting your hair or your hair gets parted automatically at the same place, beware that the said area is a potential bald spot zone. It is prudent to keep changing your hair part often to encourage hair growth at all the hair lines. This can, especially, increase the female pattern hair baldness problem. Keep changing the part from extreme left to extreme right. 

Similarly, if you tie your hair constantly in one place, it is a good habit to sport different hair styles. Tying hair or sporting same hair style everyday at the same place creates strain and weakens the hair at that spot so it breaks off easily. So, if you are braiding the hair, leave it in a ponytail next day. 

Improper Diet

Well, isn't diet the most obvious cause of any issue in the body? Lack of iron, lack of sulphur, lack of zinc, lack of magnesium or potassium, lack of good fats, lack of Vitamin A or B family or C or even D, anything can result in hair fall. Vitamin B family is way too important for hair growth whether it is a biotin or folic acid.

Also, lack of protein causes the hair to lose volume and become lanky. Lack of water makes hair lose all the shine and bounce. So, ultimately, it is the food which makes our hair look amazing. So, get your diet to include some eggs, green leafy veggies and fruits. Basically, eat everything and make your plate as colourful as possible!

So, this was just a basic round up of all the reason which might cause severe hair fall. Let us discuss more about them some other time. What all other reasons will you attribute to hair fall? Do add your comments :)

Related Posts:

Update on Onion Juice for Hair Growth - Part II
Why not shampoo everyday?
Do you warm up the oil before applying?

My Hair Diaries - October 2012

What did I do in October?

As such I have not done anything great in this month but yup, I did try to maintain my alternate day routine of oiling and washing the hair. Well, ok, skipped oiling quite a lot of times but kept up with washing part to keep the hair clean. No DIY again!! 

After using the Kamini treatment last month, my hair did become a lot softer and less dry. But, this time I changed the products except for the shampoo. Also, I did order Basil essential oil which is also supposed to be great for hair growth and jojoba and grapeseed oils which again are supposed to be amazing for hair.

One DIY which I tried was using vinegar as last rinse but I don't know if it really helped. Forgot to take the snaps that day!! Also, ordered Organic Surge finally and also got a pair of flats!! Never got footwear online....hope it fits ok!! Will share it with you when my camera gets ok :)

Products Used

• Soul Tree shampoo + Kamini Shampoo

• L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Hair Mask + Liz Earle Botanical Shine Treatment

• Rustic Art Aloevera gel (for hair length) + DIY Aloevera Scalp Gel (for scalp) + The Body Shop Polynesian Monoi Oil (a drop is enough)

• Forest Essentials Sesame Oil (for scalp) + The Body Shop Polynesian Monoi Oil (for the length)

What do you think about my hair this month?

Related Posts: 
My Hair Diaries - August + September 2012

My Hair Diaries - July 2012

My Hair Diaries - June 2012

My Hair Diaries - May 2012

My Hair Dairies - April 2012

My Hair Diaries - March 2012

My Hair Diaries - February 2012

My Hair Diaries - January 2012

My Hair Diary - September 2014

Huh...I miss doing these series the most and guess what, there are only 12 of these posts in a year! And, this is the 10th month of the year and next month would be my first wedding anniversary. Gosh, how time flies! Soon, I will be the old bride :(

Anyways, this year has been really tough on my hair. If you actually notice there are only four hair diaries this year - January, February, June and now this one! So, let me just list down what I did which is not really much!

• Hair Cut - Totally cut off the entire length to get rid of the splits and straw-like ends. Mr. Hubs was a little peeved with it, though! But, I think the new length suits me differently. Will post the snaps soon enough :) 

• Oiling - Have been more or less diligent about it. And, mixing castor oil in the regular oil as well. 

• Massaging - Recently, I have been feeling a lot of pain in my hair roots. So, a light massage really helps calm down the scalp. And, regular massage helps the hair to grow. 

So, that is it! Not really much but it is a start :) Now check out the products I used:

• Hair Oil - Kamini Oil + Dabur Olive Oil + Castor Oil

• Shampoo - Omved Shampoo (review coming soon)

• Conditioner - Omved Conditioner (but only 2-3 times, review coming soon)

• Scalp Treatment - Aloevera Gel

• Leave-in - Morrocan Hair Treatment (review coming soon)
  

What all did you do for your hair this month?

Related Posts:
My Hair Diary - September 2013
My Hair Diary - August 2013
My Hair Diary - August 2013

Vaadi Herbals Amla Thanda (Cool) Tail (Oil) {Product Review}

I have taken quite a good time to review this product, reason being its very difficult to make out how a hair oil will behave and also because I wanted to see if it stands tall on all its claims! I have to say it more than surpasses on one of it!!

So, let me start with the smell. It smells like the typical amla oil which we are so used to smelling. And, let me be honest when I say that how it fares on the hair growth aspect is something I would not speculate since one and half month is really less to make such inferences. 

---

Pros

cools and relaxes the body

gives a subtle shine to the hair

gets washed off easily enough

Cons

its smell might not agree with everyone

---

But, it is sooooo cool. I think no other cooling oil would stand in front of it and it really helps a lot! So, its best to use in summers. When you are going to have the head bath, it feels like heaven so yes, it is amazing in that aspect. It also relieves headache and relaxes the body. It quite beats navratan oil.

So, yup, do give this amazing oil a try. Have you already used the product? Do you like it?

Related Posts:

Vaadi Herbals Aromatherapy Body Oil Pure Lemongrass and Lily Oil
Nivea pure effect Total Face Cleanup
Maybelline Baby Lips Mango Pie and Berry Crush Lip Balms

Get it from flipkart:

My Hair Diary - August 2013

So, August was quite a lazy time for me whether in case of skin or hair. I did practically nothing for my hair except one treatment of Lush Caca Maroon. And, the tip of the month is to apply aloevera gel to contain flyaways and frizzy hair!! Works like a charm for me :) Let me put forward some of the questions I received on the last hair diary entry I had done.

Do you use any essential oils for your hair like rosemary or lavender?

Yes, actually! I have started using essential oils last year and I do very strongly believe that they have helped my hair a lot.

I love rosemary and that is my most extensively used essential oil. It has definitely helped improve the health of my hair and scalp.

Peppermint is another essential oil which is supposed to be amazing for hair growth. And, if you do get, thyme as well. I somehow have not liked any lavender essential oil till date.

Do you do the scalp treatment daily or just after every hair wash?

Well, I do believe that any scalp treatment should be done only after the hair has been freshly washed otherwise you will facilitate the hair to get even more dirtier by accumulating products on the scalp. Also, dirty scalp does not allow proper absorption of products so no point in wasting them then.

Well, there were these two questions last month! If you do have doubts, you can drop in the comments or send me mail and I shall answer them as well as post the detailed answers in the next month hair diary. And, now to the products I used.

Products Used

• Shampoo - Organic Surge

• Conditioner - Kamini Conditioner

• Hair Oil - Vaadi Herbals Amla Oil 

Related Posts:

My Hair Diary - July 2013

My Hair Diaries - June 2013

My Hair Diary - May 2013

Get from flipkart:

Biotique Bio Flame of the Forest Fresh Shine Expertise Oil {Product Review}

Price: Rs 159 for 120ml

Ingredients

Pros

leaves hair soft and shiny

smells pleasant

gets washed off easily

My Experience

I have been meaning to try this oil since a long time and you might have seen this oil being mentioned in the hair diaries. I finally managed to finish the oil after using it on and off for a long time. The first thing to notice about the oil is its fragrance which is really pleasant.

The base oil is groundnut oil which is thick but even then, it gets washed off easily and leaves the hair really soft and adds a bit of shine as well. It did not give me any hair fall and whether it helps with hair fall or not is something which I don't know because I did not have hair fall at any time I was using this product specifically. 

Missing the cons? Well, I am not able to think any!! One more piece of information - "Flame of the Forest". It is a flower called "Palash" in hindi. It is supposedly amazing for dandruff and hair loss. The name of this flower is the only reason I got attracted to the product :) Have you tried it?

Other products I love or hate from Biotique:

Biotique Bio Almond & Cashew Fresh Repleneshing Hair Serum
Biotique Bio Honey Gel
Biotique Basil and Parsley Cleanser

Biotique Watercress Fresh Nourishing Conditioner

Biotique Bio Henna fresh Powder Hair Color

Biotique Mountain Ebony Fresh Growth Stimuating Serum

Biotique Carrot Protective Lotion

Biotique Avocado Body Massage Oil

Biotique Basil and Red Sandalwood Powder Talc

Biotique Kelp Hair Growth Protein Shampoo

Biotique Bio Pistachio Ageless Nourishing and Revitalizing Face Pack

Biotique Bio Musk Root Hair Mask

Winter Skin Care Lotions

My Hair Diary - June 2014

Good Morning folks or should I say afternoon. As I ranted yesterday about the bad condition of my hair, let me say I have to restart my hair caring routines :( The volume is gone, strands are full of splits and hair is peachy and strawy in texture. But, off late, I have inculcated a few good things in my routine so let us have a look at them.

• Oiling - I hate this step!! Of course, I love to oil my hair but damn the timing. I prefer to wash my hair at night and sometimes it gets so late for me to get back from office that sometimes I do not get time to do this. And, then, hot oil massage happens probably once a month so I really miss this step. I do try to keep it up but mostly I miss it. 

• Cuts and Trims - Last hair cut was in April and that too not a good one and I need to go for it again soon enough.

• Massage - I have developed this habit of massaging my hair while I am idle. This happens especially in the office (the environment is pretty relaxed!!) when I am thinking of something or watching House of Cards or The Originals! 

• Rubbing the nails together - Do you think this helps? Well, no scientific proof but people think so let me also give it a try.

• Scalp Serum - Coming to the more practical aspects, I got this Keo Karpin scalp vitaliser. I try to apply it once a week or in two weeks, though it says it should be done everyday. And, then, I stopped using it right away so its lying in the shelf.

• Leave-in - I shifted to rosehip from grapeseed for leave-in. I have no idea how it is working but lets see!! 

• Cocoa Butter Hair Mask - So, I had a lot of cocoa butter from a long time and I have been just wishing to put it to good use. And, finally I have a chance to do it. So, let me see when I will try it!!

And, I think Organic Surge has pulled out of India (not really sure but shampoos are not available online on couple of websites) so guess I shall have to find a new shampoo :( Also, it has been ages since I have used a conditioner. 

Products Used

• Hair Oil - Dabur Olive Oil 

• Shampoo - Madara + Kamini Shampoo

So, how is your hair doing?

Related Posts:
My Hair Diary - February 2014
My Hair Diary - January 2014
My Hair Diary - September 2013

Loving / Using It Vol. 4 - Dabur Vatika Enriched Olive Hair Oil

Donchya think Monday is a better day to start over than waiting for the start of the new month? Coincidentally, the new month starts tomorrow. And, I am a day ahead. Reason being this review should have been done a month back but due to other preoccupations, I was lazy and busy.

And, thanks to the brand for being so generous as to provide me with two bottles of the product, I could use it for a longer time and come back with a thorough-er review. In fact, these past two months have subjected my hair to a very cruel regime so I can talk about the product effects more clearly.

Ingredients as specified on the product
Vegetable Oils including Olive oil, Bhringraj, Hibiscus and Aloe vera extracts 90%, Isopropyl Myristate, Cyclomethicone, Almond Protein Ester, Sugandit Dravya, Vitamin E Acetate, Avobenzone, Antioxidant-TBHQ and C.I.47000,26100,61565 

• Smells nice. That is the first thing I noticed! It has Sugandhit dravya as one of the ingredients. And, its not overly strong so that saves the day!! 

• Not travel-friendly. One of the bottles leaked while the package came to me even after being wrapped pretty securely.

• Inexpensive at Rs 60 for 100ml and Rs 110 for 200ml. And, available everywhere.

• Makes Hair Shiny. No, it does not protect my hair when I am hell bent on damaging it but the days I use the oil and wash off my hair, I can see how shiny and soft it gets!! But, unless I care for my hair regularly, the product will not do anything more than that.

• No, I do not think it helped with any hair fall reduction. And, more often than not, your hair falls because of the dirt accumulated on the scalp so regular hair wash helps keeping hair fall in check. Try it!!

• Gets washed off easily. It does not need loads of shampoo or tons of water to wash off so environment friendly :D

• Only, it should have been packaged in pearlpet bottles or better yet, a glass bottle. The one right now is not of a very good quality.

• Not entirely Herbal. As specified in the Ingredient list, it has chemicals, especially, a silicone which might be responsible for the shine it imparts temporarily.    

Loving / Using It : Using It

 
Overall Verdict

Do give the product a try. It definitely is one of the better hair oils in the market. What do you think? Would you like to use it? 

Related Posts:
Kama Ayurveda Rose Jasmine Bath & Body Oil
Nivea Pure Effect Total Face Cleanup
Garnier Pure Active pore unclogging wash

My Hair Diary - May 2013

Can you imagine my efforts are finally paying off? In a completely unobservant stint in front of the mirror, I realized my hair was an inch or two longer than few months back. This comes as a great news after so much trouble of growing an inch or two of my hair :(

In a very desperate attempt, I decided that I would not even get a hair cut till I even out all the layers of my hair. Well, having curly hair and layered cuts since like 3-4 years, it is quite unlikely that leveling of the hair will happen so soon. It might take 2 years for that at the rate of my hair growth!!

Anyways, I am happy to say that I had my last hair cut in January and it has been 4-5 months since my hair cut because that was before 6th Jan. And, I can hardly spot splits (very negligible) !! Isn't that awesome? Especially, when my hair is prone to splits within like 2 months of a hair cut. And, that makes me go back to all the previous hair diaries of this year and find out what exactly has worked out for me.

As far as I remember, I have been pretty regular with oiling my hair though more on scalp and less on ends. But, then, I was definitely using the pomegranate oil and I am planning something even more exotic this month if the budget permits! I think I have to set a beauty budget now otherwise I shall run myself into ruins :D

The simplest secret of how I am helping my hair to grow is using oil before and after hair wash though after is generally more frequent than the before. I wash my hair in the evenings and there isn't much time to oil hair after coming back from office so more often than not I make do without a pre-wash oiling routine.

Huhh...reading back the diaries haven't been much of revelation because I sincerely did not spend much effort on hair as much as I always seem to promise so guess I have yet more potential! If I stick to DIY's like I did in March, I would probably end up with better results. So, lets raise a toast to that, girls!!

But, beware of the air conditioning. It can seriously dry up the skin and tresses. I have to apply oil repeatedly which is a con because that makes my hair look oily and stringy sometimes! Sigh..hard bargains for greater good. But, I am looking at the silver lining right now so not minding the discomfort. And, I can always wash my hair for special occasions :)

I have to add here that a trim is good once in 3 months as it makes the ends looking lush and full! So, off for a trim soon.

Products Used

• Shampoo - Organic Surge Moisture Boost + Kamini Shampoo

• Conditioner - Kamini Conditioner

• Leave-in and Scalp Treatment - Soulflower Grapeseed Oil with Rosemary EO + Soulflower Pomegranate Seed Oil + TBS Rainforest Coconut Oil + Neelibrigandi Oil
  

• Hair Oil - TBS Rainforest Coconut Oil + Neelibrigandi Oil

Related Posts:
My Hair Diary - April 2013
My Hair Diary - February 2013
My Hair Diaries - January 2013

How long and how often should henna be for? {Hair Care}

So, I was applying Lush Caca last Saturday when I had a chat with my friend. As I have mentioned earlier as well that to get color from Lush Cacas, one has to keep it for like 4-8 hours and that too it doesn't come in one application! One HAS to apply it 2-3 times in a row to color the hair which lasts for 2-3 months.

Now that I have been smitten with chestnut color since long, I really wanted to follow the coloring process like my earlier attempt with the Cacas. But, this time my friend intervened and gave me an advise that henna, howsoever good it might be, should not be applied on hair regularly!

Henna is extremely drying for hair and if applied often or kept for long time on the hair, makes the hair brittle and thins it and makes it break easily!! She says to get the color, henna should not be kept on hair for more than three hours and there should be a gap of at least 2 weeks in the applications!

Well, hearing this, I decidedly sobered down on the thought of applying Cacas in a row and waited for 2 weeks to passby for the second application and this Saturday, I kept henna only for 4 hours. Yes, a delay of 1 hour due to household chores and my reluctance to wash it off early!

But, there is an upside to it. Henna color keeps on building in the hair for a good number of 3 days after the application even if you wash the hair on alternate days. This at least holds true for Lush cacas. Don't know about regular henna, though!

Anyways, what do you think? How often should henna be applied and for how long?

Related Posts:

High Frequency Treatment for Hair

Hard Water affecting Hair?

Hard Water affecting Hair?

My tryst with Natural Shampoos - Some Random Product Reviews - Part V

So, I have finally used 3 SLS-free shampoos and I decided to put up some words about them. One thing before starting. Please do not expect natural products to perform just like commercial products. They may be better or worse in their own ways.

Soul Tree Triphala Hair Revitalizing Shampoo

Price: Rs 350 for 200ml

My Experience

I had used this shampoo way back in last September and I was really excited to try it out. But, unfortunately, it failed to meet my expectations!! It was drying for my hair and it also did not clean the oil, oil applied on the hair not the natural oil.

Neev Olive Neem Shampoo

Price: Rs 85 for 100ml

My Experience

I finished this product just last month. For a change, it was way better in experience than the previous one. It did not dry my hair a lot and it cleansed the hair well, if oil was not applied on the hair. Hair was bouncy and soft after the wash. 

click on picture to enlarge to read text clearly!

But, it cleanses only little of the applied oil which was sad. But, it lathers really well and smells of rosemary. And, I used to use it on the days when I was in hurry and had no time to oil my hair!

Organic Surge Moisture Boost Shampoo

Price: Rs 625 for 250ml

My Experience

The only answer to this product is I am liking it. And, it has been the best of all the shampoos I have used till date. But, unfortunately, no shampoo has answer to my dry hair :(

It lathers really well with a very less amount of product. And, the quantity is enough to remove the dirt and dust. The best part is it removes the oil, howsoever quantity you might have applied and you do not have to use the shampoo more than twice!

click on picture to enlarge to read text clearly!

Ok, one problem is with packaging. The shampoo starts leaking out as soon as you open the fliptop so it has to be stored properly; upside down! Also, it does give a subtle shine but you have to use the conditioner. Sadly, I did not get the conditioner with it.

Damn, it is expensive!! But, it does last long. Oh yes, I forgot to mention, if you skip the conditioner it makes the hair little frizzy which is sad. Otherwise, it is a decent shampoo which can be given a try!!

Get it from flipkart:

What about you? Have you tried using SLS-free shampoos? How do you like it?

Related Posts: 

Some Random Product Reviews - Part IV
Some Random Product Reviews - Part III
Some Random Product Reviews - Part II

Which Shampoo to Use? {Reader's Query}

"Could you please suggest a shampoo for 8 yr old girls? I am using J&J baby shampoo still but I have started observing it is not working on their hair and cleaning it properly? I see dandruff also started developing in their scalps. Any remedy for that?"

Actually, I would suggest organic surge shampoo for anyone. I would say stay away from sls shampoos and get organic products. They help keeping the scalp healthy and moisturized. The dandruff being developed might be due to the dryness of the scalp as far as I understand. Do you oil their hair? I would suggest you to oil their hair regularly and then use shampoos. Or, you can also go for body shop or schwarzkopf shampoos but all of them are definitely expensive!!

Thanks so much for the reply! I'm oiling their hair with J&J baby hair oil only. Do you suggest any other oils (brands)? Also can you please recommend any brand for organic shampoo? I heard Body shop products have lot of chemicals and they tend to dry hair. I've no idea about schwarzkopf shampoo. Should I get one for me first and see :-) 

I would suggest you to go for pure coconut oil or such things instead of J&J baby oil and all. It has mineral oil and might not suit everyone. Also, if possible, I can suggest to you the bhringraj oil or neelibrigandi sort of oil from arya vaidya sala shop or website or even pure coconut or sesame or mustard oils from 24 letter mantra or any other organic brand. If you stay in Hyderabad or Bangalore, I can suggest you to check out goodseeds website. And, for arya vaidya sala, they have lot of shops in Hyderabad and Bangalore as far as my knowledge goes.

Check out the following:
www.aryavaidyasala.com/(S(emocbj45sqglubyiy2aeivib))/Index.aspx
https://www.facebook.com/goodseeds

And, regarding organic shampoo, I would say Organic Surge brand is really really good. I have been using it almost since a year and its awesome. And, regarding body shop or schwarzkopf, I have not personally tried them so I can really not say anything about them. I just suggested coz I have heard good reviews about them!!

What do you say? Any pointers as to which shampoo should she use?

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Do you warm up the oil before applying? {Hair Care}

Yesterday, there was kinda a huge disaster averted. It arose from the same topic as I am about to discuss. Do you warm the oil before applying it? I love to do it as often as possible. I love the relaxation it gives me and I feel oil gets absorbed better on those days! 

And, for me, its a perfect end for a stressful day. Anyways, what I used to do was boil a medium sized utensil full of water and then put the oil bottle into that utensil for like 15 min. Oh! make sure that the oil bottle is not plastic or the water is not boiling hot coz the oil bottle can deform due to excess heat. 

And, then, pour the heated oil from the bottle into a small bowl and apply the oil using cotton ball immediately on the scalp. Or, if I am using this nozzle tipped bottle, I put that bottle directly into the hot water. You can get the water from the geyser as well, btw! 

These methods of heating the oil are perfectly safe but since either of these methods have not been working out for me recently, what I was doing was taking a bowl of oil and heating it directly on the gas. Worst idea EVER! Keep the oil bowl for 2 minutes on the gas and oil boils over. But, I managed it somehow until yesterday. 

I had kept a bowl of oil on the gas for like 1 minute probably and the moment I came back into the kitchen, the oil caught fire right in front of me!! I was like stunned. It was burning high and I could not use water to extinguish it coz any drop of water would make the fire blow up even more. 

Then, I had to call my MIL. She tried to blow off the fire but the oil was igniting again and again. So, finally, she took the bowl with the handler and somehow managed to drop it into the sink. The oil spluttered and the fire blew up for a second and then extinguished. But, it was a lesson for me :D 

Never again will I try it and am before-hand advising you to stay away from such experimentations. It is a bad bad idea. Better to stick to dropping the bottle in hot water. I am not even going to microwave the oil ever again.

So, have you ever had any of such almost-kitchen disasters?

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Love Long Hair Range - Update III {Product Review}

So, I am back with the more advanced and in-depth review on the product. Let me start with the texture. Both the conditioner and the shampoo are white in color and creamy in texture. But, conditioner is not that creamy as much as one would like especially if they have dry hair!

A dollop of shampoo when I squeeze the bottle is enough for two washes for my hair. I always dilute my shampoos with water and even then the shampoo lathers conservatively and removes the oil without you realizing it. When you are gonna apply the conditioner, the hair might feel a bit stringy and oily but that is absolutely fine. After it dries off, there is no oil in the hair!

I have used the shampoo once without oiling my hair and no conditioner either. The hair was soft and shiny. I did feel, though, that the scalp was left a bit dry. So, its better to shampoo after applying oil. Also, I am not sure but my hair might have been left a bit drier without the conditioner.

Oh btw, I have not talked of applying the conditioner. You squeeze the bottle and get a dollop of conditioner but when you are applying it on the hair strands, it just disappears and becomes watery and does not give you the creamy feel like other conditioners give. It gets washed off very easily without leaving any slimy feel behind or without using a lot of water.

And, my final use before publishing this review was today morning. I was in a hurry so I did not apply the conditioner for that long but used the rosehip oil as a leave-in afterwards. My hair is, sadly, feeling a little dry and not so shiny which is really sad. Anyways, once I use the entire product, I shall update my final verdict in the hair diaries. 

For the bloggers who tested it, did you like the products? And, for others, are you excited to know which brand is it? It is gonna be unveiled pretty soon :)

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The Oil Cocktail {DIY}

It has been so long since I have done any DIY!! Anyways, I mentioned in my hair diary that I have been using an hair oil cocktail. So, let me share the recipe with you. Now, it does have some not very easily available things. In fact, I have them on hand right now but even I have no idea how to procure them once they run out. 

Ingredients

• Mustard oil
• Camphor oil
• Clove oil
• Oil of Wintergreen

Method

You simply mix all of them, right? Ok, so, let me explain all of them. 

• Mustard oil is the base oil in which all of these other oils go. 
• Now, all these oils are basically pretty strong oil so they should not be used in heavy quantities. They should be diluted with the carrier oil or the base oil just like the essential oils. 
• Put 20 tablespoons (20 ml) each of camphor and clove oils in mustard oil (100 ml). 
• Put only 5 tablespoons (5 ml) of wintergreen oil for 100ml. 

And, the oil is done!! 

Why?

Now, I have already talked about mustard, clove and camphor oils. 

Oil of Wintergreen is basically a naturally occurring salicylic acid methyl ester from the family of aspirin. It is actually a medicinal herb which is widely used to relieve muscle joints and heal the skin diseases. And, it is highly toxic if used in high quantities!! 

For our purposes which is how it is beneficial for hair and scalp, it acts like an astringent and helps contracting the hair follicles, there by, strengthening them. Also, since it belongs to the family of salicylic acid, it acts as mild exfoliant and keeps the infections at bay which is why it is used in cosmetics.

The oil stimulates blood circulation and is easily absorbed. It has a warming effect on the area where it is applied which is why it helps with pains. But, the oil should never be taken internally or used in huge amounts on skin or hair or anywhere else!! I think oil of wintergreen (which is also called gaultheria oil) might be available in ayurvedic stores. Will confirm and get back on that. 

Btw, I do have EO's as well in my recipe but it just struck me now that I have no idea how wintergreen blends with other EO's so it is always best to use it in seclusion instead of blending with oils. Yes, clove, camphor and wintergreen can blend together coz all of them are stimulants and relieve pain.

So, what do you think of this DIY? Does it sound interesting for you to try out?

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Love Long Hair Range - Update II {Product Review}

I am loving the super awesome weather of Hyderabad. I would love to curl up in my bed with a book and coffee or may be get a chair and sit in front of the balcony with a thriller!! Oh yes, I am daydreaming but some day its gonna come true :) And, I also hope that my dream of long and healthy hair also comes true!! 

Speaking on the same note, I have started testing the love long hair range which I had talked about some days back. This time my product review is not undergoing the usual one month rigor which is sad but then I can always update on the results!!

But, for the starters, the product has surprised me. I was not really expecting the shampoo to wash off all the oil which I had slathered the day I got the product! In fact the shampoo did not lather much and I felt the hair a bit stringy post the wash. I was sure the product would disappoint. 

But, it turned the other way round. Once my hair was dry, it was soft, more shiny and definitely not oily. But, the cynic in me never deters. So, the next time I washed, my hair was greasy with four days of no-wash. The results were not something to jump at. But, definitely, my hair was shiny and looked moisturized.

And, then, I went to Delhi and there I used my mom-made oil which is absolutely smashing for hair. And, once I washed off my hair (trust me, it was damn greasy!) and it was dry, it looked soooooooo shiny. The results lasted for 2 days. And, the result repeated the next time I used the product as well.

My hair was super silky and shiny and moisturized and now I am confused as to what to attribute this change to - the new comb (plastic vs wooden), the oil, the product range or even the water change. In fact, I have one complaint that the results do not last longer than one and a half day to two days at max!! 

Coming back with more testing next week....

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My Hair Diary - February 2014

Finally, I have started taking back my life in control!! This month has been really good on my hair and the hair growth regime is back with a bang :D So, check out what happened.

The good news first. 

- One, I got a haircut so most splits gone :)

- Second, I have been pretty regular at oiling so my hair is back to its old silky self

- Third, less hair fall 

- Fourth, dandruff and lice gone :)

- Fifth, tried a new cocktail of oil!! Oh yes, I have new oils to talk about. 

- Sixth, I got the wooden comb finally! Oh, I forgot to tell you all that my TBS comb broke sometime back in December or January and I was not able to find it for one month in any of the outlets. Finally, got it in Del. And, my hair is happy again :) 

Now, coming to the bad part! My scalp still itches and hair fall is not entirely gone. Mum said that hair itches even during hair fall so I am guessing that might be it. And, I did not really get any time for hair spa which I had determined to get at least once in three weeks. 

Anyways, I have to mention a few points this time.

- Wooden comb is really better than plastic when it comes to frizzy hair! I do not know if it is more efficient in distributing the oils, though. 

- My hair gets itchy on the second day of the wash so it can also be due to any sweat or dirt which gets accumulated on the scalp and hair fall is a direct result of it. 

- My MIL also loved the Kamini shampoo! I got 3 bottles for her this time. I mean the shampoo is really awesome even though I do not know the ingredient list. 

- The Love Long Hair Range is performing well on my hair and I am guessing if it is Pantene only. My dad also suspected the same! 

- Since I got finished with the grapeseed oil, I got rosehip this time to use as a leave-in though I have not yet started trying it!

Products Used

• Shampoo - Madara Shampoo + Love Long Hair Range

• Conditioner - Love Long Hair Range

• Hair Oil - Cocktail (which I will talk about soon)

So, how was the month for your hair? Is it over the winter blues?

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Does oil leave buildup on hair? {Your Opinion}

So, today, I have a very interesting observation to share with you and ask a question. We apply products on hair and claim that even a shampoo can leave buildup on the hair so isn't possible for even the hair oils to do the same?

Well, why did I think of this? Honestly, it was a random thought and I am not able to think of the context in which this thought entered my head. When I racked my brains on this topic, I came to a conclusion why it might be so.

All the commercially available oils have additives and some percentage of them is mineral oil. And, mineral oil creates a layer on the hair strands so it is quite possible for it to leave a residue. Even if there is no mineral oil, the other additives can leave the residue. 

Now that we have got the commercial oils out of the way, what about the vegetable oils or the pure oils? Yes, I am including all the cold-pressed and organic claiming brands.

One observation is about pure coconut oil. In some post lately (I don't remember which), I had read that if the coconut oil is freezing in winters, it is pure. This claim is wrong. It is the property of coconut oil to freeze even if it has additives added to it in some quantity.

Anyways, coming back to the topic, I was concerned about all the amazing oils which I use, whether expensive or inexpensive, what if they leave a residue? Well, my answer is the purer oils don't leave a residue but still it is good to clarify the hair every month.

I love using this ginger infused vinegar DIY. I remember doing this sometime in January or December and will do it in some days again. If you ever feel your hair looks flat even after washing it well, it might be time to clarify your hair.

What do you think?

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