Product Review: Pooka Pure and Simple Shea and Olive Hair Butter
Editors note: While this review is all of my own and my beliefs about the product, Pooka was nice enough to send me a sample of their product.
So, when my sample of Pooka Pure and Simple came in the mail, the mailman actually delivered it to my door. Our mailman is kind of lazy and will cram any package he can into the mailbox, so he doesn't have to get out of his truck, so this was a surprise.
Turns out, it wasn't because he was being nice. We have three cars. Two are kept in the garage. One is on the outside of the garage. We live in a cul de sac, and don't have the room to park that other car out on the side or anything. So that it is easy for Jeff to get out of the driveway, we park the other car at the tail end of the driveway. The bumper juts out into the cul de sac just a touch. Well, it sort of interfered with the mailman getting by and he wanted to know why it was parked like that. I explained it to him and just looked at me like i was stupid. Lazy Mailman.
Anyway, he handed me my package, and the first thing I noticed was the package had a scent. The package itself smelled.. wonderful. It was floral and uplifting and I just wanted to sit there and sniff my package. I opened it up and there were fake flower petals in it, which were delivering the scent. The actual box sat on the ledge near the door for a couple of weeks, so the air was scented. I loved it! I found that the Pooka Girls had sent me this:
Before I talk about the product, lets talk a little about Pooka Pure and Simple. Pooka was an interesting name, and I was tickled pink to find out it was a family nick name!
(From the website)
The name Pooka actually came from my mom.
She always calls her children her “Pookalitas”
(We still haven’t figured out why or what it meant but it was definitely a term of endearment!)
She always calls her children her “Pookalitas”
(We still haven’t figured out why or what it meant but it was definitely a term of endearment!)
When thinking of a name for the company, that was the first thing that came to mind. Pookalitas was a little too long for the labels, so we just shortened it a bit and came up with....POOKA!
The story of the Pookalitas itself is interesting. It sort of comes from the old adage "necessity is the mother of invention."
With Dawn Fitch, founder and creator– POOKA became a lifelong pursuit when she became mysteriously ill. After numerous visits to doctors and specialists and no sound diagnosis she began to explore alternative therapies, it was here her interest in aromatherapy and its healing and relaxing attributes was born.
She began reading the ingredients of EVERYTHING and became painfully aware of just how much of what we consume is saturated with unhealthy, unnatural ingredients. In an effort to combat illness and stress and the realization that so much of what goes into the body is not good for you, she changed her entire health regime.
Combining her love for aromatherapy and the need to take better care of herself inside and out she began creating her own bath and body products. Just for fun, she took a few of her hand made products to sell at a local festival and sold out! The response was tremendous. That’s when the realization hit that she had an incredible business idea and Pooka was born!
She knew she couldn’t achieve her Pooka dream alone so she enlisted the help of those closest and dearest to her. Together she and her girlfriends formed Pooka Pure & Simple and today the 4 Pookalitas manage every aspect of Pooka from sales and marketing to finance.
With all this in mind I started testing the product. The first thing I always check for is the smell. I LOVE the smell of this. It kind of smells woodsy. Kind of like a pine tree to me. My husband however, did not like it. He can kick rocks though, I enjoyed it.
One of the main problems I have with Shea Butter products is the spreadability (I know, it is not a word, deal with it! lol). It seems as if you are sitting there for hours trying to melt the product in your hands unless it is whipped. Pooka's product is spreadable right out of the jar. I wonder if it because of the additional oils added.
It goes on easy and is well absorbed into my hair. My hair feels thoroughly moisturized with it in. This is a product that I do have to apply daily, but I am okay with that. It is thick enough to be used in twists, twistouts, and any other styles that require major moisture. I would recommend Pooka Shea and Olive butter as a great heavy duty moisturizer.
The ingredients are (listed most to least): Shea butter, olive oil, rosemary oil, and lavender oil.
This product can also be used as a moisturizer for your body. I did try it as a moisturizer, but my husband complained about the scent again. So I had to cease and desist on the body moisturizing.
Hair Feelings
I love the way my hair feels right now. It feels moisturized and luxurious. It makes me so happy. Pretty soon it will be long enough to put in protective styles. I feel more self confident and sure about my hair. I hope you guys do too.
Moroccanoil Series Post 2- Curl Control Cream
Author's Note: Moroccanoil was kind enough to supply me with samples.
When it came time for me to try the curl control cream by Moroccanoil I have to admit I was skeptical. My curls are not big wavy Taylor Swift curls. My curls are eensy weensy kinky curls. What could a curl control cream do for me?
Turns out, lots.
The description on the back states this: An advanced technology that offers intense conditioning and a curl memory factor that controls frizz for extended periods. Delivering exceptional movement to hair while enhancing natural curls and offering optimal hold.
Optimal hold to me reminds me of the Rave hair spray that my mom used to put on my hair *cringe* My hair wouldn't move for ANYTHING. Still I decided to persevere and see what this could do.
The directions tell you to put a generous amount in your hair after shampooing and conditioning. Then it tells you to diffuse or let dry naturally. I never use a blow dryer on my hair, so I went ahead and let it dry like normal.
First thing I noticed was that the cream does not have the Rave mega hold stiff and sticky consistency. My hair was still touchably soft. I had my husband do the touchably soft test. Then I noticed something else. After picking out my hair my curls had some semblance of definition. They looked like individual curls, not a grouping of kinky curls. I was impressed. My hair still felt moisturized throughout the day and not dried out like it had been for the past few weeks.
I've noticed a difference in my hair since using these products. I asked my husband for confirmation and even he says it seems like my hair is growing. I enjoyed the curl control cream. It is nice, but it is not a necessary part of my beauty regimen. I think I would use it more if I were going out on the town, but it is not needed for every day use.
Contest time
The lovely people at Moroccanoil have sent me an extra product to give away to my loyal readers. One person will be chosen at random to receive a brand new bottle of Moroccanoil oil treatment for all hair types. There are many ways to get many entries for the contest.
- Sign up to follow this blog (one entry)
- Follow me on twitter- mrsckugs (one entry)
- "like" my page on facebook- facebook.com/thetaleofgoingnatural (one entry)
- comment on every entry within this blog (three entries)
You have a chance to enter the contest 6 times! I will end the contest on the 16th. That gives you a week to get your entries in!
Hope to see some of the entries soon!
Moroccanoil Series Post 1
Editors Note: Moroccanoil was very kind in sending me samples of their products.
I have decided to post this as a series. There are several things that I have to try and I have not gotten through all of them yet.
It is generally a rare moment when I fall in love with a product, especially a hair product. Don’t get me wrong; I was ready to fall in love with anything hair related from Carol’s Daughters and was sorely disappointed.
When I read the information on Moroccanoil I was really impressed by them. You see, every single one of the products has Argan Oil in them. It’s really rare tree oil found only in certain parts of the world, mainly Morocco. Moroccanoil harvests their Argan Oil under a free trade program. It helps women and children in Morocco by improving working conditions, setting up schools and things like that. So by purchasing the product right off the bat you are helping your fellow man.
Shampoo and Conditioner
The first two products that I have tried were the Moisture Repair Shampoo and Moisture Repair Conditioner. They worked amazing with my hair. Usually after I shampoo and condition, I have to have some sort of leave-in conditioner in my hair right off the bat to be able to put a comb through my hair. Not so here. As soon as I got out of the shower I was able to gently comb through my curls. That is heaven in my world. My hair felt soft and manageable even before any other product went into my hair. LOVED IT. That was very exciting for me. Now both of these products say they are for chemically damaged hair. I think that if you are working with dual textures in your hair (you still have relaxed hair because you have not transitioned all the way into a full natural style, but have stopped getting relaxers) this would be a great go to shampoo and conditioner for you.
Intense Curl Cream
After I stopped marveling at how great my hair felt, I decided to apply the Intense Curl Cream to my hair. It is considered a leave-in conditioner. I applied one pump of the curl cream. It is thick and a little goes a long way. It wasn’t heavy but it left my hair feeling soft. There are no heavy perfumes either to compete with my perfume or my deodorant. I liked that. It absorbs quickly as well. I had my husband touch my hair and he was excited by the fact that it wasn’t greasy. When I first got my relaxed and damaged hair cut off my beautician told me that I would need a heavy leave-in conditioner. What she was saying was that I would need something that is non water based. I think I have found one that I completely LOVE in this Intense Curl Cream.
Glimmer Shine Spray
We all want our hair to have that healthy glow about it. A couple of sprays of the Glimmer Shine Spray and I had just that. It’s not a hair spray and it is not alcohol based. It is just a finishing spray that gives your hair a little bit of extra shine.
Another big thing that I want to share with you guys about these products that I have tried thus far. When I wake up in the morning, my hair is still soft! It’s not all crispy and dried out. My hair still feels moisturized without feeling greasy. So far I love Moroccanoil’s products. I have a couple more to review and then after I get done reviewing I plan on having a contest to give away a product from them. Stay tuned!
To Wrap or not to Wrap, that is the question.
With relaxed hair there is a specific rule you must follow no matter what. You must wrap your hair at night. Most people know what I am talking about. You know somewhere you have that satin scarf that you delicately wrap around your head at night. I was no different.
This practice I have carried over into the natural world. It might just be me, but I feel as if my hair feels better in the morning when it has been wrapped over night. It feels like I am maintaining some moisture in it. I have asked my beautician if she wraps her hair (she has gone natural and was the one to encourage me to go natural as well) she said she does not, but her sister does. I guess the choice is up to you. So do you wrap?
Espionage Cosmetics
