4C Natural Hair. Product Reviews. My Story is Etc...: 4C Product Review: Twist-Out - ELASTA QP - Olive Oil & Mango Butter Leave-in Conditioner; Entiwne The Manipulator - Creme Jelle Styler; Curls - Curl Gel-les'c - Curl Serum/Gel; Curl's Unleashed - Take Command Curl Defining Crème; Homemade Whipped Shea Butter

So I decided to do a tutorial-like review on some of my staple products.
The night before I had co-wash and semi-stretched my hair using a little heat with the blow-dryer (yikes!) so of course I had to re-moisturize, before bad became worst.

1. Leave-In and Detangle
I parted my hair in 4 sections and use the same leave-in moisturizer in each section. My favorite leave in conditioner is ELASTA QP - Olive Oil & Mango Butter Leave-in Conditioner Elasta QP Leave-In - Click Here
This stuff is holy! I like to use it every other day or whenever my hair feels dry. And it's mega affordable! I think I bribed my sister into buying it for me for about $5. I'm not complaining. It's thick, it smells terrific, and it's what I've been looking for since I've decided to BC.
Anywho... using a combination of my knock-off denman brush, a large tooth comb, and my fingers, I detangled my tresses - taking a piece away from the part, starting at the ends and working my way up to my roots. It's super easy to detangle with this leave-in.

2. Apply Product/Review Section
a) Entiwne's The Manipulator - Creme Jelle Styler - $28.99 (I brought a small size for $10 back when it was on sale)
I chose to put this product on the back left section I parted. I applied it on a small-medium sized piece of hair, used my fingers or the "denman" to make sure the product was well on each strand, and proceeded to twist. Even though this product is pricey, it really does what it claims. If you expect elongation from this product you will get a good amount of hangage without trying as much. Another good thing about this product is you don't have to use a lot at all! You can use less than what I did in the picture below. I've seen many reviews on this product and 4a's and 4b's like it a lot for elongation as well as 4c's. I PERSONALLY like it better for hold. I like a product that would do the work of a gel but not have my hair feel like I used gel. I don't use this product for everyday styles like a twist out only because of product buildup. Once this style is done I will definitely wash my hair WITH shampoo. Even though I don't use it often, I like having this product around. Once it's almost done (and when it's on sale again) I will be buying another tub.

b)Curls - Curl Gel-les'c - Curl Serum/Gel (only found at Target) - $25

I used this product on the back right section.

Let me start off by saying I DID NOT pay $25 for this product. I remember buying it back in November after I BC'd and not liking any of the Curls Professional hair products. I don't remember how much I paid but it DEFINITELY wasn't $25.

I do NOT like this product on my 4C hair... on my sister's hair which is more wavy and on my mothers hair which is transitioning this product had satisfactory results.

When I used this to twist my hair, I used a little bit more leave-in conditioner. On a positive note this product got the job done, I'm just not a gel person. It's takes forever to dry and when it is dry it's hard as a brick, plus it does the work of a cheap gel but instead for $25....Not. About. THAT. Life. (although I must admit, I'd rather use this gel versus a cheap gel. Again the product gets the work done, I personally just don't like gels)

But if you're mixed chick with 3 type hair, you may love it. Contact me and maybe we can make a trade.

c)Curl's Unleashed - Take Command Curl Defining Crème - less than $15

I used this product on the top right section of my head. =))

No need to use a lot at alll! A very little goes a long way.

I LOVE this product. I've had it since December 2012 and now it's June 2013 and there's still product left over. I've let people take containers of it home to try for themselves and I've let my mom use it unsparingly. Price compared to how much product you get is a steal!

It's IMPERATIVE that I cocktail this curl defining creme with some kind of moisturizer. This product is only as good as your leave-in. If you have coils, kinks, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4z hair, and you worry about constant daily moisturizing and elongation, then give this product a try. I don't ever want to run out of this. It holds a very special place in my nappy heart. Wait...whaaaa?

d) Homemade Whipped Shea Butter - free if you have an awesome non-biological sister like me!

I like using this on dry yet moisturized hair. It keeps it from drying out in extreme weather and if used when hair is dry it fights shrinkage noticeably. This time, I added jojoba oil over the twist for a nicer hold because my leave-in made my hair kinda wet.

You can find how to make whipped shea butter anywhere online. It's veryyyyy expensive. The shea butter isn't but the avocado oils, vanilla extracts, grapeseed oil...etc get very pricey. But I've always had this idea and maybe you guys would like to use it: Get a whole bunch of people to want to try whipped shea butter and then have each person buy one component. Once you whip it all up, the shea butter grows. There will be enough for everyone and since a little goes a long way, it'll be enough to last.