Product Review: My Mizani Army- The Story: Shampoos and Conditioners

PURIPHYING Intense Cleansing Shampoo
BOTANIFYING Conditioning Shampoo (with botanicals)
FUFYL Conditioning Treatment
MOISTURFUSE Moisturizing Conditioner

I call the my Mizani Army because when I first began to grow my hair in high school, these are the products I chose to help me. My routine was washing every two weeks, wrap every night, apply Mizani overnight treatment every other night, and use Mizani Rose H2O and Organic Root Stimulator Carrot Oil Cream. I wasn't extra educated at the time about hair care products, but I had learned that the best was Mizani or Keracare and because Mizani seemed and smelled less chemical like I went with that. My hairdresser at the time was great with styling, but maybe not the best with actual hair care... I guess someone told her Design Essentials was the best, but I just didn't think so- so I brought my own stuff.

I decided to switch hair dressers because I just felt like the one I had wasn't growing my hair. So I took a risk, jumped shipped and began going to a man that had grew my aunts hair ridiculously long and thick. I won't go through all the details, but long story shirt- he was scissor happy and was cutting my hair waaaaaaay to much. Also he used Kercare Dry and Itchy Scalp.... which ended up.... wait for it.... wait for it.... effing up my hair. Yeah it did, it worked wonders for my aunt and sister, but it was my worst enemy.

Fast forward to college. I decided I want to grow my hair back out, so I went back to "my Mizani army"... and I wore weaves at times in between and went natural underneath (the weave). My hair GREW alot... I wore weaves almost full time for two years. You could say my hair went from
neck length to a little over shoulder length.... then I decided to perm and cut it for the whole Rihanna thing and, well that's a whole other story, that I'll share later (I wish I would have stayed natural though)

Anyway, I say all that to say even though I'm currently choosing to switch it up products. These 4 products did work for me, when I used them consistently.

When I first picked them, my thought process was- well I need 2 shampoos and 2 conditioners because that's what they used at the beautician. Then I figured I needed one shampoo to clean my hair and another one to restore moisture that the other shampoo may have stripped. Then I needed two good conditioners- one regular and one treatment.

More Info from the bottles:

Puriphying Shampoo- pH balanced shampoo that removes residue. Has hydrolyzed wheat protein.

Botanifying Shampoo- gentle shampoo with botanicals

Moisturfuse Conditioner- has moisturizers and proteins. Polyquatermium-37 and hydrolyzed wheat protein.

Fulfyl Treatment- has protein and moisturizers as well

List of the Best Products for African American Hair

My sisters and I have used a lot of different products over the years, we've had a few different hair beauticians and they were all good at what they did. I also have a whole host of friends who have great hair and they use great products (not that this matterspersay, but they come from well to do families and are able to spend alot getting their hair done every week or 2).So with my experience I feel like I am accurately able to name the best products for women of color:

This list is in NO particular order. The best product for you totally depends on your hair type. After I name the best, then I 'll give you my general preferences and recommendations.

1. Mizani

2. Patene Pro-V Relaxed and Natural

3. Nairobi

4. KeraCare

5. Dr. Miracles

6. Organic Root Stimulator

7. Design Essentials

9. Essations

10. Jane Carter Solutions

11. Elasta QP

12. Nexus


Others: Straight Request (Silky Milk), Redken, Designer Touch, Dudley's, Bronner Brothers, Nioxin

If you check with any great hairstylist, they will agree that these are the best mainstream hair products hands down.

My personal recommendation is to use the products that are infused with more natural minerals oppose to the products that are chemical heavy--- but again it just depends on your hair.

For example, I swear by Mizani because it had truly nurtured my hair, but my sister and aunt use Keracare. I personally don't recommend Keracare as a whole because it had done more damage to my hair than good... but that's just because alot of their products are just so strong. There perm is too strong and the fact that they have shampoos and conditioners that are the color blue makes me realize that I should have never used them (in retrospect). Because a light blue opaque shampoo is completely unnatural... its reminiscent of a perscription shampoo and I beleive should only be used if you have severely dry and itchy scalp. But with that said Keracare does have great products- their glossifier and leave-in conditioner are really good!

I also believe every woman of color should implement Patene Pro-V Relaxed and Natural into their hair maintenance routines. Though seemingly too mainstream and perhaps not as high-end, Patene Pro-V is one of the best haircare systems for every woman (white, black, or and mix) and almost every celebrity hair stylist will recommend patene as an alternative to their self-named brands... it really is that good.

Nairobi is a product that I have not personally used, but want to. Why, you may ask.... well because during college every once in a while I would meet a woman whose hair was just so pretty and healthy looking and black that I would have to ask them what they use... and Nairobi was always the answer. So I feel like they have a good product- I've seen and touched the hair of Nairobi product users and I'll have to give them two thumbs up.

At a certain point during high school, I was adamant about my hair growing. So I stopped using gels, spritz, and alot of heat and I began to wrap my hair each night and nurture it. During my "nurturing" I would lightly "grease" my hair each night with my product of choice- at first Keracare, but I felt the clear Glossifier was lacking nutrients and the clearish pink Dry and Itchy Scalp moisturizer was too strong. Then I began to use Mizani's Rose H20 in conjunction with their Overnight Treatment- this worked well. But I felt like my hair became the most thick and was the strongest when I used Organic Root Stimulator Carrot Oil in conjunction with the Mizani products every now and again.

The Dr. Miracles commercials are funny and entertaining, but in my opinion that made the brand seem like a gimmik... I never desired to use it because I simply didn't belive the hype. But, my mother proved me wrong. She cut her hair to right below her ears (mid-neck) and a few months later her hair was to her back... her secret- using Dr. Miracles Stimulating Moisterizing Gro Oil every or every other night (and tying her hair with a silk scarf). Now the Gro Oil does have a strong smell and it's very liquidy, so not all people may be moved to use it.... but it works. I use it every time I get cornrolls and it keeps my edges straight and my hair looking and feeling healthy. Because this is an oil, if you are wearing your hair straight you should NOT saturate your scalp with it, just very lightly dab a little on parts of your scalp and edges (only do this a few times a week).

Each of us have our own experiences with hair products, feel free to share yours- and be as specific as you can:-) What are your top hair care products and why?