Since moving to Australia I have had to say goodbye to Shea Moisture products and access to all the products showcased by of my favorite vloggers and bloggers. Even in the UK there is much more access to American based products online, through sites such as beautybyzara.com. So far in Australia, although there have been attempts to provide this, it has not been successful. Most of the products are available on ebay.com.au, but the shipping costs get you every time. Beware of sellers that offer ‘free shipping’. They usually double the price of the item before they offer it.
However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t products available to women with naturally curly or kinky hair, here in Oz. If you find products with all natural ingredients, it is likely to be suitable for your hair type. It may not be marketed towards our specific demographic, but that doesn’t mean it will not work well with your hair.
I have always been a ‘just juices and berries’ kind of girl. As long as I can order shea butter online, have access to natural oils and can make my own flaxseed (Linseed) gel for styling, I’m pretty much sorted. I also use the Terressential Mud wash for washing my hair, which I purchased in the US. I stocked up on some products last time I visited the States and I plan on doing the same when I go to the UK. Prices here in Australia are distressing to say the least, so it makes sense to stock up whenever you travel outside the country. However, not everyone has that opportunity. So over the next few weeks I will be sharing the products I have bought and used, right here in Australia.
Shampoo – Giovanni Brazilian Keratin and Argan Oil
I decided to try a new wash and go technique (I’m determined to succeed and won’t let this go 😀 ). It stressed the importance of clarifying the hair before attempting to define your curls. The Giovanni Tripple Treat Shampoo was recommended for clarifying. Giovanni products are now available in Australia. Try your local health food store like Healthy Life, which are found in Westfield Shopping Centres. They should have Giovanni products in store. If not they can order any for you. It can take up to two weeks to receive your goods though. They didn’t have this particular brand in store so I chose to use one that was on the shelf. I wasn’t patient enough to wait two weeks.
Instead, I purchased Giovanni Brazilian Keratin and Argan Oil Ultra -Sleek Shampoo. This claims to clarify and moisturize as well as: smooth every strand, create shine, and banish frizz. It also states to contain no phthalates, artificial fragrance, dyes, sulfates, parabens and PEGs. It is said to be for all hair types.
Here are the ingredients:
Aqua (purified water), sodium cocomphoacetate, decyl glucoside, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, cocomidopropyl betaine, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), beta carotene, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, argonia spinosa (argon) kernel oil, hydrolyzed poulinia cupana (Brazilian cocoa) keratin extract [phyto-keratin], aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, aspalathus linearis (rooibos tea) extract, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, macadamia ternifolia (macadamia) seed extract, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) extract, sodium benzoate, citric acid, potassium sorbate, polysorbate 20, gylcol distearate, sodium PCA, phenoxyethanol, natural fragrance
Note: sulfate-free shampoos may not contain sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate, but may still contain other surfactants, for cleansing and forming. Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate for instance. These can still have a drying effect on some hair types. But for deep cleansing or clarifying, such detergents are considered necessary.
I have been so use to co-washing and using the mud wash that I had forgotten what it felt like to experience rich lather when washing my hair. It was great, my hair was lathering up a storm. It removed all residue thoroughly. My hair literally felt squeaky clean. Prior to using this shampoo, I would use Apple Cider Vinegar. This shampoo felt stronger than the vinegar for clarifying and I believe it was more through in removing residue.
I was concerned that my hair was going to dry out and I couldn’t wait to put conditioner in it. After conditioning, the balance was restored. My hair felt both clean but moisturized. Make sure the conditioner to follow is rich and creamy and doesn’t have any silicones or other harmful ingredients. Even when using the shampoo, my hair didn’t feel dry. It simply didn’t have any slip because it was so clean. I wouldn’t equate this to drying my hair out.
I personally wouldn’t use this shampoo too frequently unless I was going swimming often. If you regularly use products which contain synthetic ingredients such as silicones, mineral oil or petroleum, perhaps you would need to clarify more often. I would probably use it once a month or whenever I felt it was necessary.
After using this shampoo, I noticed that my curls were more defined than ever. This was simply because there was no residue to weigh down the strands, at all. This shampoo also contains frizz fighting ingredients such as aloe vera. The keratin protein will work to strengthen the hair and reinforce it’s natural curl pattern. Therefore this type of shampoo may work in treating hair that is suffering from heat damage. It is better to use this in conjunction with products that are moisture based rather than protein based. This will ensure that the hair maintains an appropriate protein to moisture balance. I have ordered the Triple Treat shampoo, so I look forward to trying this one as well.
Please be aware that results may vary depending on your hair type and hair needs. This is not a sponsored post just my own opinions :).
Stay tuned for some more product reviews next week. Have you tried this shampoo or any Giovanni products? If you live in Australia, which shampoos have you tried?
Natural Fantastic 