Product Review: Alaffia Hair Care

Whole Foods is the devil. Whenever I walk in there, I get sucked in, immediately ignoring my budget. I sternly remind myself that I will not  spend over $20! Welp, last week that all went down the drain when I spent $60 in one visit, le sigh. How quickly I'd forgotten my budget goals as soon as I saw the beauty aisle!

I've been in the market for a new conditioner and moisturizer for the past couple of weeks. As soon as winter hit my hair became dryer than I could ever remember it being. It's rough to the touch, and my curls are awkward. I don't like it. So I figured it was time to change up products. In the beauty aisle of Whole Foods I found  a row of Alaffia products. I remember briefly reading about these products via various natural hair blogs on the net, so I decided I would give it a go. I ended up buying the Alaffia Virgin Coconut and Shea Enriching Hair Lotion, and the Alaffia Coconut & Shea Daily Hydrating Conditioner.

When I first opened the bottle of Coconut & Shea Daily Hydrating Conditioner, I found the scent to be pleasant. It's light with a hint of coconut and lemongrass extract. When I poured it into my hands my hopes jumped through the roof! It was thick and creamy, just the way I like my hair products. I massaged it in my hair and waited for it to work it's magic. How sad I was when I rinsed it out and my hair wasn't any softer than it was before I used it. I thought that was a bad sign, yet it was too early to judge.

While my hair was drying I used the Virgin Coconut and Shea Enriching Hair Lotion. This too had a pleasant smell, and great creamy thickness. I soaked my hair with it determined to have soft, hydrated hair again, and then I waited. Le sigh. It was a fail.

While my hair doesn't necessarily feel overly dry like it did before, it still feels as if it is begging for moisture. I had so much hope in these products. The Conditioner is made up of shea butter, virgin coconut oil, lemongrass extract, pro-vitamin B5 and wheat protein. How could that not leave my hair soft and shiny? The hair lotion contains behentrimonium sulfate (a detangling ingredient deriving from rapeseed oil), cetearyl alcohol, shea butter, virgin coconut oil, pathenol, emulsifier, essential oil and preservatives. Those ingredients sound yummy to me! However, when I placed it on my hair it was simply...ok.

I know many people love the Alaffia line, but for me, it was a fail. The smell was right, the ingredients seemed right, but my hair is screaming "WRONG! Try again!".

What's your favorite natural hair care product for the winter to keep your hair moisturized?

Alaffia hair and skin products are available at Whole Foods and via the alaffia website.


~HG