There’s been a lot of talk recently surrounding Mielle Organics and their partnership with Procter & Gamble, also known as P&G. Many consumers of the brand took to social media to express their disdain for the partnership, in fear that the beloved OG natural hair company would stray away from the things that made us fall in love. While this is a valid feeling because we’ve seen this before, it may not be the case for Mielle Organics.
Co-founder, Monique Rodriguez, expressed the goal is to not only “level up” but to continue serving Black and brown communities with innovative products. As a long-time lover of the brand, I’m here to tell you that they’re doing precisely that, and the new Avocado & Tamanu collection is proof.
The Avocado & Tamanu line is an anti-frizz system that uses cold application technology which requires you to refrigerate some of the product before you use it. This helps to close hair cuticles and reduce frizz. The five-product collection uses active ingredients like avocado to add moisture, while the tamanu encourages stronger and healthier hair. I tried the collection, and here’s my honest review…
The Avocado & Tamanu Anti-Frizz Shampoo
Courtesy of Krissy Lewis
The shampoo is very clarifying and moisturizing, which is great for removing build-up without stripping your hair of its natural oils. The shampoo has enough slip to help you detangle from the very start of your wash day. As you can see, my hair looked very dry and brittle, but with water and shampoo, my hair had already started to get its moisture back.
I always recommend for naturals who have thick, colored, or dry hair use shampoos that cleanse and add moisture. Incorporating one like this will make a huge difference in your overall hair health and wash day routine.
The Avocado & Tamanu Anti-Frizz Conditioner
Courtesy of Krissy Lewis
The conditioner has a ton of moisture, especially if you leave it in for at least 10 minutes. I need, more than anything, a deep conditioning treatment since I have colored hair and went several days without refreshing it. The thick and creamy conditioner has so much moisture and slip, it makes detangling really easy, and it acts as both a regular and deep conditioner.
It’s recommended to leave it in for 10 minutes, then rinse it out with cool water. I left mine in for 20 minutes without heat, I usually don’t rinse with cool water, but it did help lock the moisture into my strands. The only downside to the conditioner is the smell. For some reason, this product had the most potent scent out of the collection, and I didn’t enjoy it. Luckily, the smell dissipated after I rinsed it out.
The Avocado & Tamanu Anti-Frizz Slip & Seal Leave-In Conditioner
Courtesy of Krissy Lewis
I’m not going to lie, I pre-judged the leave-in, but I’m glad I was wrong. I don’t like liquid leave-in. I prefer a light creamy texture because my hair soaks it up better. The leave-in comes in a spray bottle, so I assumed it would be water-based. However, to my surprise, it has a serum-like texture that melts right into your hair to moisturize and seal the hair cuticle.
This is one of the products that require you to refrigerate before you use it to activate the product. Refrigerating the product helps seal in the moisture and prevent frizz as you apply and style your hair.
The Avocado & Tamanu Anti-Frizz Curl Perfector
Courtesy of Krissy Lewis
In my opinion, this is the all-star of the entire collection. I was very surprised and impressed by the curl perfector. It had everything I look for in a styling cream: moisture, slip, creamy texture that melts into your hair, lightweight, and hold. Initially, I was disappointed that there wasn’t any gel or mousse included, but honestly, the line doesn’t need it. The cream has enough hold to make your style last for days! Most curling creams require a gel or holding product to give your style longevity, but this one is a stand-alone product.
This is another product that requires you to refrigerate to activate its potential. When I say moisture and slip are undeniable… if nothing else, you need to give this a try. My hands even felt softer and smoother after using it. This is perfect for my chemically treated hair. If you don’t know, any processing done to natural hair requires you to keep it moisturized to keep its health. The product isn’t marketed for colored hair, but it’s perfect for lasting moisture.
My Overall Thoughts
I give this line a 9 out of 10. It delivered everything it claims: moisture and frizz-free hair. The price of the collection is $45, which, to me, isn’t bad. Individually, each product is about $14. Mielle Organics has always done a good job with affordability and decent-sized bottles, and that hasn’t seemed to change.
I really enjoyed the forward-thinking and innovation in the collection. I had never even heard of a cooling technology, but it does work wonders. I know it's better to rinse my hair with cold water, but let's be honest, most of us wash our hair in the shower, and who’s trying to have cold water touching their skin…definitely not me. I like my shower scorching hot! The fact that you can cool the products without having to sacrifice your preferred water temperature is convenient. Also, I love that I don’t have to keep the products cold, just pop them in before wash day, and your good to go.
Lastly, fighting frizz isn’t just in the products you use but also in technique. The instructions on each product help when achieving frizz-free curls. A few things you’d also want to avoid when fighting frizz is over manipulating your hair and picking your hair unless you desire volume and fullness like me. Both of these can cause frizz and would undo all the effort you put in, so keep that in mind.
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Featured image courtesy of Krissy Lewis
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
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Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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