I Tried Design Essentials New Platinum Moisture Line & Here's What You Should Know
Design Essentials recently rolled out with four new lines under their unifying Platinum Collection line: Volume, Finishing, Styling, and Moisture. Each collection caters to specific hair needs and concerns. My main hair concern is dryness. I struggle a lot with maintaining moisture, so it's important that I use products that not only adds moisture but locks in it in for more than a day. If not, my hair can get very brittle and cause unnecessary shedding. Based on my hair needs, I tried their Design Essentials Platinum Moisture line, and this is what I thought.
What's in the Design Essentials Platinum Collection?
Photo by Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
The collection features three products: a Deep Moisturizing Shampoo, an Ultra Moisturizing Hair Mask, and Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner, to be used in that order.
As naturals, I think it's important to check out the ingredients in whatever product we use to make sure we stay away from what may not work the best for our hair. The main ingredient in the collection is coconut oil along with other ingredients like mineral oil, water, seed oil, and much more. For me, coconut oil isn't one of my go-to's. I've tried it many times but have yet to get the same benefits as everyone else with natural hair seems to rave about. Nevertheless, I was optimistic because I've tried other form of coconut products like coconut milk and it has worked for me, specifically with detangling.
Now let's breakdown each product...
Design Essentials Platinum The Deep Moisturizing Shampoo: Review
The first step in the system is the shampoo. The Deep Moisturizing Shampoo has a lot of slip which I loved! A little goes a long way and you don't have to worry about it drying out your hair. It adds enough moisture and slip to reduce tangles and knotting.
Design Essentials Platinum The Ultra-Moisturizing Mask: Review
Design Essentials/Design Essentials Blog
The Design Essentials Platinum Ultra-Moisturizing Mask is somewhat like a deep conditioner. After you apply the shampoo, it is recommended to apply the mask and leave it in for 15 minutes. It's optional to go under the dryer, but I put on my hot head cap and allowed the heat to increase the benefits of the mask. When it came time to rinse the mask off, my hair felt different than when I applied the shampoo. It was a bit harder to detangle and it wasn't as soft as I hoped. However, I truly feel like it was because of my hair's love/hate relationship with coconut oil rather than the product itself.
In my opinion though, I think a regular conditioner rather than a mask would possibly be better.
Design Essentials Platinum The Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner: Review
The Design Essentials Platinum Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner has a runny consistency which allows it to get into your hair strands better. I actually prefer liquid-based leave-in opposed to cream-based. Sometimes with cream-based leave-ins, it sits on top of your hair instead of allowing the hair strands to soak up all the moisture. The leave-in is also very lightweight and it doesn't make the hair too oily nor does it weigh it down.
However, one con for the leave-in conditioner is it had the same effect as the hair mask as far as the way it made my hair feel. It was harder to detangle and it changed the texture of my hair a bit. I felt my hair getting drier. So, if I was adding moisture, it didn't feel like it.
My Overall Thoughts?
Krissy rocking her first day hair after giving Design Essentials Platinum Moisture line a spin.
Courtesy of Krissy Lewis/Instagram
Keep in mind that this is my experience using the collection and every natural girl isn't the same so it may work differently for you.
As I mentioned before, coconut oil isn't compatible with my hair. I have type 4 hair, and it seems to cause more dryness rather than add moisture. If you struggle with coconut oil and have a love/hate relationship like I do, then this may not be the line for you. However, if your hair thrives off of coconut oil, then this line is right up your alley. I would definitely recommend giving it a try.
My favorite product from the line (and the one I'd recommend the most) is the shampoo. The slip made cleansing so easy and still left my hair feeling soft. Good shampoos are hard to come by, so if you're looking for a new moisturizing shampoo, I would recommend this one.
Lastly, keep in mind that there are four different lines within the Design Essentials Platinum umbrella and you should use the collection that best caters to your hair needs.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
I Tried A $14 Hair Gel On My 4C Natural Hair
This Hair Company Is Giving Its Customers Free Weave Installation - Here's My Review
I Tried A $30 Curl Elongator On My 4C Hair
Featured image by Krissy Lewis/xoNecole
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Freelance writer, content creator, and traveler. She enjoys the beauty of simplicity, a peaceful life, and a big curly fro. Connect with Krissy on social media @iamkrissylewis or check out her blog at www.krissylewis.com.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Crystal Renay Is Prioritizing Healing, Her Kids, And Her Coins Amid Divorce
Crystal Renay is reclaiming her time and her identity after dealing with heartbreak. The model was married to Ne-Yo for seven years and they share three young children together. However, after a cheating scandal that resulted in a baby outside of their relationship, Crystal decided to end her marriage to the “So Sick” singer. Now, she is focusing on her bag and her kids. She is co-owner of Johnny’s Chicken and Waffles, launching a lip kit line, and is back on TV starring in the new WE TV reality series Bold & Bougie.
But it wasn’t an easy road, especially with reality TV. From the beginning, Crystal and her castmates bumped heads due to misconceptions and alliances with her ex-husband’s former partner, Monyetta Shaw. However, the mother of three exclusively tells xoNecole that she doesn’t regret her decision to join the show.
Crystal Renay
Photo courtesy
“Honestly, being in that space, we had a– you know, when you're first getting to know people, sometimes it can be smooth, and sometimes it can be rocky,” she says. “In our case, it was a little bit rocky and just getting to know each other, and I like to call it growing pains. And I felt like we had a couple of moments, but all in all, like the experience was really good for me, and I would do it over again.”
Crystal describes herself as “career-oriented” and says she is in her selfish season because she is now prioritizing herself first. But she admits that she is still healing from her divorce. The reality TV star shares some tips for others who may be going through the same thing.
“I would definitely say pray, pray as much as you can. Try to take your emotions out of your reactions to things because it’s always going to be something that you don't like in the situation,” she says. “But we can't move off of emotion because 10 times out of 10, a few months later, you're not going to feel like that. So, I'm a firm believer in not doing things that I will regret later. So I would just say be patient with yourself and stay positive.”
While there may be an opportunity to find love again, that’s not Crystal’s focus at the moment. She is in the rebuilding phase of her life, emphasizing the importance of self-care, personal growth, and finding her own happiness. She has had her share of challenges, including dealing with negative emotions and the public's perception of her, but her priorities involve spending quality time with her children and running lucrative businesses.
“I would definitely say pray, pray as much as you can. Try to take your emotions out of your reactions to things because it’s always going to be something that you don't like in the situation.”
“With my kids, I'm very hands-on. I’m team mother with soccer kids, and they don't really make no goals because they like five years old, but I'm there cheering them on every week,” she jokes. “I want to travel, especially this summer, with my kids and take them somewhere internationally because they're at the age where they can handle a long flight. So, me just spending more time and more new experiences with my kids is my main focus with them and showing them all the love that I could possibly give them.”
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Photo courtesy of Crystal Renay