Nene's Secret- A Review!

So friends, 

early last month, home from work, I almost stumbled into this darling package waiting at my doorstep.

When I'd contacted Shanon Stanislaus, the PR Director for Nene's Secret, for the opportunity to review their products, I had no idea that I'd be receiving such a fabulous package a few short days later.

Cute cute cute presentation!

Yep!  A personal note from the owner, Nene.

 I've been committed to protective styling my hair for the rest of this year, but some breaks are allowed, right?  I also figured that fitting in a review, while deep conditioning and pampering my locks would kill two birds.
The Review

Nene and Shanon were gracious enough to send over the entire product line for review, so I've decided to  introduce the different products over upcoming posts.
Upon opening the box, I immediately uncapped each item and inhaled.  Most had a similar aroma- sweet and floral; incredibly pleasant.

My hair had been in Marley twists for over a month, so it was in need of a deep conditioning treatment, and as I pulled out the My Mom's Hair Masque, I eagerly decided that it would be my first trial product.

 The Ingredients

My Mom's Hair Masque
Water(Aqua), My Secret Recipe (Adansonia Digitata) Baobob Extract, (Citrullus Lanatus) Kalahari Melon Seed Extract, (Theobroma Cacao) Cocoa Extract, (Butyrospermum Parkii) Shea Butter Extract, (Macadamia Ternifolia) Macadamia Nut Extract, (Helianthus Annus) Sunflower Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Isopropyl Myristate, Lanolin, Behentrimonium Methsulfate, Cetreayl Alcohol, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone, Dicetyl Dimonium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, PEG-100 Stearate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Polyquaternium-37, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, (Urtica Diocia) Nettle Powder, Butylene Glycol, Diazondinyl Urea, Iodopropynl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, Potassium Benzoate, Caramel

$9.99 for an 8 oz. jar 

 
After I took down my Marleys, I gently finger detangled.  Then I slathered the masque deep conditioner all over my dry hair.  While I had my hair in the jumbo twists, I'd been frequently moisturizing with a simple oil and water mix.  So, for this review, although my hair was dirty, it wasn't overly coated with the buildup from other products (leave-ins or creams) that potentially could alter my results.

The hair masque was thick with good slip. 
I love thick deep conditioners because they weigh down my hair strands and encourage curl clumping.  Clumped curls are an aspect that can aid in length retention, because there is undeniable strength in numbers.  If your strands are separated and left to their own devices, you run the risk of increased knotting.
I also noted the tiny herbal specks in the conditioner.  The additions of baobab and kalahari melon extracts were novel and refreshing, as I rarely ever see these in other hair products.  Both of these ingredients are excellent in encouraging hair hydration, and are perfect inclusions in a deep treatment.
I kept the masque on my hair for two hours, and then I rinsed and shampooed with Giovanni Invigorating Shampoo.  By the time I'd completed the process, it was was late, so I forfeited my normal moisturizing routine, and simply braided my hair up.

I covered my hair with a scarf tied in a top knot work

The Product Claim

"My Mom’s Masque is the perfect remedy to restore any type of damaged hair back to its healthy state. Enriched with natural ingredients from My Secret Recipe ™, this product is sure to make you understand why sometimes moms know best... especially when it comes to restoring healthy hair."

The Verdict
Post work, I unraveled the braids, and marveled over how soft my hair was.  Even though I'd gone without my normal moisturizing process, my hair still felt immensely hydrated.  In fact, it felt so soft, that I noticed that it had started to shrink within the hour. 
Lol!
The 90 degree humid day undoubtedly contributed to this, and as I re-scanned the ingredients in the hair masque, I discovered the other culprit- glycerin!

Disappearing definition

The glycerin in this product, sans an actual holding cream, and the addition of the high humidity, all came together to create the perfect big-hair brew.

As this is an effect I'm usually seeking (lightly defined hair) I wasn't at all dismayed by the results, and I felt that the softness I achieved was a fair trade off. 

Did you notice that I had to introduce a shampoo of my own, in order to rinse out the hair masque?  Yep!  Tres interessant, as this line does not come with its own shampoo.  For a rare shampooer such as myself, this wasn't an automatic deal breaker, however, if I were to suggest the necessary products within any haircare line, I'd always suggest a moisturizer, a deep conditioner, and a shampoo.  This line seems incomplete without a cleanser of some sort, to me.

Apart from that, I'll be happily re-using My Mom's Hair Masque  this week!  Most of the ingredients are great and the price point is okay.  I'm actually excited, since protective styling doesn't give me any chances to play with my hair much these days.

I will be introducing the leave in, style cream, and pudding later on this week, so stay close by!