Apologies to Aunt Jackie

 So.

I had to come and post a HUGE apology to Aunt Jackie and her hair products. Or at least 3 of the products. When I look back at the times I have trash-talked the brand, I'm kind of ashamed. Also, I am puzzled. The first time I tried the Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner, I said some hatefully nasty things when I was critiquing the claims. Such things as:

" Moisture - Well, it's wet, so I suppose that's where that came from. It's wet in the bottle and still wet when I apply it. Wet = Moisture. Until it doesn't."

And, 

"Intensive- I'm kind of mad that that word is even in the label next to "moisture". I am intensively upset with that."

And... 

Leave-In - That's true. You can leave it in. I could also leave talcum powder or dry rice in my hair. Same effect.

See? Brutal. And I am apologizing big time because when I recently tried the Quench again and a couple of other A.J. products, the results were... kind of stunning. In a good way.

Quench? That stuff is amazing. I have to believe that I got a counterfeit the first time I tried it or else my hair has radically changed. (And I think I got it from Amazon that time so... possible!)

In addition to the Quench, I tried the Butter Cream Intensive Moisture Sealant and the Curl La La Defining Curl Custard. The Sealant was truly amazing and I love, love, love what the Curl Custard does to my hair.

What the what, right? To be fair, I do think that my hair texture has changed. It does that every couple of years it seems. I can go back through this blog and see the difference in photos. Also, I never used the Butter Cream or the Curl La La before this.

The thing is, my hair has never made such a quick and drastic change as it has this time. It was once a definite 4C. Since it has grown back in after my big chop - or maybe after I started using the Bentonite clay - it's become more of a 4B-kinda-leaning-C - and a loose C at that. The curls are naturally looser, even before I apply any products. Even at its driest, it's nowhere where near as "dense" as before. 

The last time my hair texture was this manageable after a fresh washing (and before applying leave-ins or doing an oil wash or stretching it with yarn) I was barely in my 20s and rocking a gorgeous Jheri Curl (minus that heavy leave-in stuff). You can still see that pic somewhere on the sidebar.

I knew that the Quench and Sealant were doing something wonderful when I applied them after washing my hair, then got busy gossiping with family on the phone for an hour and forgetting to apply other products. My hair was drying from the wash but not dried out/fried out like usual and there was less shrinkage. It was so weird.

My hair had totally air-dried by the time one of my nieces and I finished minding everyone else's business and got off the phone. I thought I would have to at least dampen my hair again to apply the rest of the products. Nope. There was not a parched strand on my head. What was also nice is that my curls were not all clumped together and tight-feeling. They were very lightly defined as when they are a couple of days old and set with a curl cream and a couple of moisturizers and other leave-ins. All this from the Quench and Sealant.

I applied the Curl La La next. (cute product name!)  I didn't glob it on. I would put a small amount on a couple of fingertips and pull the cream through small sections of my hair - from root to tip. Wow.

What I ended up with is my freshly washed hair looking as nice as it does after a couple of days of applying and re-applying products. Amazing.

Oh, and I love the Quench and Curl La La for touchup styling throughout the week. Because of my hair color, it can be hard to catch the curl definition with the camera so I did some closeups. 

The first pic is of my hair still slightly damp after I washed it and used the products. 

Immediately after
washing, Quench, Butter & Curl La La.
Still damp.

The 2nd pic is of my curls the next morning after a bit of light styling. All had to do was spritz my hair with water, let it dry, then lift my curls with my fingers and go. No overnight twists or anything. 

The next morning. No touch-ups. Just spritzed

with water.

It was nice not having to sleep on twists. I prefer having a truly natural look to my curls and doing a twist-out when my hair is this length is work. The twists don't stay put unless I secure them in a Bantu knot. When I feel up to it - and when I have more length, I will use the AJ products and do a twist out. Just for kicks.

So, yeah. I am sending out apologies to Aunt Jackie. It was about 8 years ago that I talked the most trash about the brand but, still... Sorry, Auntie! (LOL) I love the products and will be looking to try more.  They all have nice, light, and pleasant scents to them. Another plus is that the jars and bottles are good sizes for the prices. (Actually, I notice that Walmart has the lowest prices on the products.)

Peace

--Free

NOTE: This is NOT a sponsored post & I am in any way being compensated. I bought the products at full price.

 

**REVIEW** Aunt Jackie's Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner

If there is a really good hair moisturizer out there, I haven't found it yet. And I have tried several. This is the latest:

                                                       

That's Aunt Jackie's Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner. Let me break that label down in light of my personal experience -

Moisture - Well, it's wet, so I suppose that's where that came from. It's wet in the bottle and still wet when I apply it. Wet = Moisture. Until it doesn't.

Intensive- I'm kind of mad that that word is even in the label next to "moisture". I am intensively upset with that.

Leave-In - That's true. You can leave it in. I could also leave talcum powder or dry rice in my hair. Same effect.

Conditioner- I dunno. Between this one and Miss Jessie's, I'd have to say that M.J's at least left my hair feeling conditioned once I washed it out. This one just washed out.

I think that my hair actually made the sound "quench" once this stuff dried...

I mentioned to someone that I will probably never stop looking for a moisturizer that actually works, but I have now actually put together a list of requirements:

• Must actually leave my hair feeling moisturized once the product has dried.
• Must not require that I take out small personal loans in order to purchase the product.
• Absolutely cannot leave my hair feeling as if it's been shellacked so that it can double as a combat helmet.
• It would be helpful if the product worked at least 1/2 as well as described.

Maybe the next product will be one by "Mama Sue" or "Sister Betty" but, hopefully, whoever produces it will be selling something that really works instead of just having a folksy name and nice backstory.

By the way, I'm irritated by the rave reviews I read about Jackie's on Amazon. I really wish that more people would be clear and honest when they do those reviews. Or that (for hair products) they are grouped by hair type. Or something.  I'm not saying that most reviewers don't play the honesty game, but I sometimes wonder if some reviews are written by people with some kind of agenda. (Or just really good hair.) I get products for free to review, yet I will tell the good, bad and ugly, no matter what. After all, that is the purpose of reviews, right?

Whatever.

You know what? Maybe I  should come up with a homemade formula under my Cosmetic Kitchenista line. Hmmm...  I could call it "Your Play Cousin's Remedy That Actually Works".

~sigh~

Seriously, about this Aunt Jackie's Quench (or, as I call it "Crunch"), it wasn't as bad as Miss Jessie's. Matter of fact, when I applied to to my towel-dried hair, it felt so good that I had high hopes. Then my hair dried and I was left with that slightly crunchy-not-soft result.

I wasn't ready to give up on good old Aunt Jackie yet. Since applying the product straight didn't work out, I decided to mix some in a spray bottle with a bit of water. Water = moisture. Result: Fail.

Still not ready to disown Jackie, I added a couple of drops of argan oil to the spray bottle. Result: slightly better - not because of Jackie but because of Argan.

I finally did give up on Jackie. Here's the thing, I am so disgusted that I'm not even bothering to return the product. I'm going to start a museum of failed product. Jackie's going right to the left just behind Jessie's.

The best thing I can say about Jackie's is that it is at least more affordable that M.J.'s product. It also didn't leave my hair feeling like a helmet, but it sure didn't satisfy my hair's thirst.

As a last word, I have to say that I am starting to get a complex about my hair. Maybe my naps are just so dry that I will need to walk around with a spray bottle of water? Or - and this is what is keeping me from total disappointment with products - I can just keep stocked up on this product (available at a local big box retailer):

                   

I love other Aussie products (I've used the shampoo and 3-Minute Miracle), but had never noticed this one. When I saw it (and its price) at the local Walmart, I whipped out my phone and did a quick search of reviews.  (Then DJ accidentally knocked my phone out of my hand, so... )

Whatever. I went ahead and snagged a bottle of the Aussie Hair Insurance anyway. (Because, I can always return it easily). It was under $4.00 and I won't have a hard time restocking if I like it.

Verdict: This black and nappy sista just disowned the Jackie's and Jessie's to adopt my new favorite cousins from Down Under.

Peace
--Free