Noire Naturals Product Review!

Great day, curly-pies! So even though I am ringing in the new year by training my curls to dine on a two-product regimen (more on that later) I've been trying out some pretty curlicious gems over the past weeks. Er, months. (Don't judge me). I am tasking my spirals to a "product insanity" workout in 2012, meaning conditioner only. PERIOD. Yeah....we'll see what the end of that story brings. In the meantime, I'm sharing with you some awesome goodies that your curls may just fall for!

NOIRE NATURALS: This new brand was envisioned by one of my favorite little ladies, Ashleigh Victoria (pictured above), who was one of the first beauties to be featured on The Frizzness! I must say at a mere 21 years old, we should all be praising with her for her drive & ability to not just chase after, but accomplish her dreams! (Sitting down from my standing "O"). But what we're really about is the product/performance, yes? So let's go!

Oh La La Hair Cleansing Elixir: My curls really enjoyed this cleanser. See, though my coils are extreme & tight, they are very easy to cleanse -without having to section. So if they get tangled during a wash, I KNOW it's the product. The consistency is very thin, unlike regular shampoo, & I did not detect a scent of any kind. The Oh La La flowed easily through my spirals, so there was no added work or forcing my hands through knot-ville. (Very good foreshadowing of the rest of the line). The true testimony is the fact that my curls did not feel stripped following use!

C'est Mangnifique Rinse or Remain Conditioner: Love, love, love! This conditioner is packed with various butters & essential oils that truly smell glorious as soon as you open the bottle! Now, the consistency may throw some of us curlies off at first; there is a high level of shea butter in the cream, which definitely solidifies as it sits in the bottle. My sample, however did include a note stating for best results, submerge the bottle in a cup of hot water for 2/3 minutes (don't put the bottle in the microwave, dolls!) & the product will loosen, allowing you to pour it out for your stands to enjoy. Which mine totally soaked up immediately, like I'd been depriving them of moisture or something! Since I no longer protective style per se, I just coated my coils & let them go. I like the definition the conditioner gave me & I believe I had just a tad less shrinkage than normal.

J'adore Curl Defining Jelly: Anything that gives my curls elongation is alright with me, because I happen to love huge hair! So Now although this product is called "jelly" it's clear & thin, with a little traveling a really long way to to satisfy whatever level of hold you're seeking. I rock much frizz, so I added some extra to as I smoothed it over my coils & went on about my business. But really, there is not much of this needed; just a swipe to finish off your 'do & you're good to go. So there you have it, Curly-Pies! What I like best about Noire Naturals is the line is definitely budget frfiendly (I'm big on that!) and I was left with pretty big, soft, defined & bouncy hair! Please feel free to visit the website: noirenaturals.com to check out their other products & tell them The Frizzness sent you! There's 2 sides to every Frizz, natural dancer (Hey, Loves! I was provided this product for review, however I was not paid for this or any other product review on The Frizzness....)

Getting Down To Frizzness: NoireNaturals!

We are excited to introduce Ashleigh, an intelligent, gorgeous natural owning a tremendously sweet spirit & a head full of vibrant curls! We're already swooning over her upcoming natural hair care line: NoireNaturals...coming this September to take the world of curls by storm!

Tell us about you:
My name is Ashleigh Victoria Thornton, I am a 20-year-old entrepreneur, studying International Business and Spanish at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. After making the transition from relaxed to natural, I decided to develop a product line of my own, called NoireNaturals. The line is made of 100% all-natural ingredients, and was created to cater to the unique needs of ethnic and multiracial hair! (Available for purchase this September)

How long have you been rocking your frizzness?
I have been rocking my “frizzness” loud and proud since the fall of ‘09!

Did you desire a second date following your BC/End of transition, or did you make reservations for a party of ONE?
If you’re referring to how going natural made me feel about dating, it really had no impact on how I felt about that particular area!

Natural Hair doesn't define who you are BUT.....
It has a major influence on who I am as a woman, a leader, and an entrepreneur.

What was the moment of epiphany in your journey?
The moment of epiphany for me during my journey was when I had completely transitioned, and was LOVING the “new” lady in the mirror!

Because natural manes are so unpredictable, how do you combat feeling defeated on days when your crown seems less than stellar (based your OWN criteria)?
I combat the feeling of defeat by comparing the hair issues that I have NOW to the issues that I had when my hair was relaxed… I would rather fight frizz than hair loss ANY day!

Do random people attempt to lay hands in your mane?
Haha, all of the time! As flattering as it is, I am still a firm believer in “look but don’t touch.”;)

Do you find your mane becoming the grand topic of conversation?
Absolutely. I have heard that people who don’t know my name often refer to me as “the girl with the pretty natural hair.”

CONFIDENCE CHECK: Has natural hair allowed you to dance as if no one is watching, or has your aurora remain unfazed since your relaxed days?
I have always been a fairly secure person, but I must admit that being natural has given me an extra shot of confidence! There’s just something about having all of this hair… :)

Share some secrets leading to a fabulous, happy, HEALTHY mane...promise we WILL tell!
Three things: Drink plenty of water/eat well, keep those ends trimmed, and use NoireNaturals!

What was the WORST mistake you’ve made along the way?
The worst mistake I’ve made along the way would have to be getting my hair blown-out… It left me with heat damage that could not be repaired! For now on, I’m sticking to the press-n-curl.

What advice can you bless new, transitioning or frustrated kinky curly queens with?
If you’re transitioning and/or feeling frustrated, DO NOT GIVE UP OR GIVE-IN! Remember that anything worth having is worth fighting for, and your hair is no different... The freedom and overall feeling of being natural will be well worth it in the end!

What natural experiments put the glam in your crown? Which ones ended up filed under Campaign EPIC FAIL?
One natural experiment that ended up being a fail would be my first time trying bantu knots; I had done something wrong, and the results were very LARGE. Hahaha. One experiment that put the glam in my crown was when I whipped up my first batch of shampoo and conditioner… So glam in fact that I shared it with family and friends, who encouraged me to develop my own line!

What's the most fabulous part of your journey to frizzness?
I would have to say that learning how to embrace this new “look” and inspiring others to do the same has been pretty darn fabulous ;)

Outside of your gorgeous mane, what inspires you?
People who are bold enough, brave enough, and bright enough to make things happen! Anyone can be a DREAMER, but the DOERS?—that’s true inspiration right there.

How can our beautiful readers find you on the web?
Find me on facebook at facebook.com/noirenaturals, and on twitter at twitter.com/noirenaturals. Also be on the look out for www.noirenaturals.com (September 2011!)