I also received quite a few emails about the texture of my pressed hair. So I wanted to address it in this blog post as it relates to the products I used. My natural hair texture without the addition of serums, butters, moisturizers and styling aids is coarse, kinky/highly textured. The key to "silking out" kinky hair when pressing it is as follows:
- You must get the hair very clean during the shampoo phase. Hair must be free of buildup, and oils before proceeding to the next step.
- Replenish moisture and elasticity by using a conditioner that hydrates, improves elasticity and promotes shine.
- Use proper blow drying techniques [an outline of those techniques can be found here]
- Use a moisturizing product that will protect the hair and help it retain moisture whilst blow drying and pressing/flat ironing.
- Use proper pressing techniques [an outline of the proper techniques can be found here]
Your hair doesn't already have to have a very silky texture in order for your pressed hair to appear silky. In fact, the more textured the hair, the better. Hair that is very thick, textured/kinky, and dense appears very full, bouncy and silky provided you followed the steps above. -
When looking for products to use for heat straightened styles, look for products that correct elasticity issues, promote shine, and offer intense hydration. Products that correct elasticity will give the hair more body, which yields a fuller, healthier look. Intense hydration is needed to keep the hair from appearing brittle, and products that promote sheen can give the hair a "healthy sheen".
Here's the review:
$15.95 - 10.14 oz
Product Claims:
Free Your Mane Sulfate Free Shampoo is a luxurious spa treatment for your hair. Super rich lather gently cleanses hair and scalp, while natural oils help rebuild your hair's delicate moisture balance. Free Your Mane Sulfate Free Shampoo extends color life and improves chemical treatment results.
My review:
I used this shampoo before styling my hair in a natural style, and also before straightening my hair. Each time my hair was extremely soft, shiny, hydrated and manageable. For some reason most Sulfate-Free shampoo's leave my hair feeling very "weird". This Sulfate-Free poo lathered really well [which means only a dime size amount should clean a thick head of hair], and cleansed my hair without leaving it stripped, wiry or dry.
**Note: Let the water run through your hair, saturating your hair thoroughly. This helps improve the lather of most Sulfate Free shampoos [the sulfates/surfactants are what causes the bubbly lather], and also helps reduce the amount of shampoo needed to get your hair clean.
Who would I recommend this product to?
Transitioners that are looking for a sulfate-free shampoo to help maintain moisture balance, naturals that are looking for more of a natural alternative to shampoo's containing harsh sulfates.
$15.95 - 10.14oz
Product Claims:
Free Your Mane Daily Detangling Conditioner is a breakthrough "must-have" for coarse, thick or unmanageable hair. Finally, here is a conditioner that magically smoothes, and softens frizz and edges, enhances curl definition and brings out maximum shine and vibrancy. Regular use of Free Your Mane Daily Detangling Conditioner actually extends color life and improves chemical treatment results.
My review:
I also used this product before styling my hair in a natural style as a 10 minute leave in conditioning treatment. I didn't use it with heat [because I wanted to test it's moisturizing properties without the addition of heat/steam], and it left my hair manageable, hydrated and shiny. This conditioner makes a great detangling agent, as I could literally glide a comb through my hair without pesky knots, and large tangles.
Who would I recommend this product to?
If you are looking for a stellar conditioner to hydrate thirsty strands, or a conditioner to aid in detangling your highly textured hair this stuff is absolutely amazing.
$19.95 - 8.45 oz
Product Claims:
A miracle in a tube, Free Your Mane Intensive Hydrating Hair Masque was specially developed to accelerate your hair’s repair & rejuvenation process. This unique high-performance masque miraculously seals damaged ends, eliminates frizz, smoothes edges, seals plaits and works wonders on natural or processed hair. Try it overnight for wrapping/twists, too. Weekly use extends color life and improves chemical treatment results.
My review:
Probably one of my favorites of the bunch. This stuff is the answer to dry, thirsty hair that lacks elasticity. I used this as a deep conditioning treatment before pressing my hair last week. This repair mask was so good, I sent a few samples to my mom to use on my two sisters. It worked well on their hair as well. This repair mask easily makes the top three conditioners I have tried this year. It left my hair soft as butter, with an incredible amount sheen.
Who would I recommend this product to?
Anyone that is suffering from chronic dry strands, or those that are looking for an ultra hydrating, luxurious deep conditioning treat. $14.95 - 6.08 oz
Product Claims:
A versatile and weightless refreshment for over-stressed dry hair, Free Your Mane Reviving Spray offers your hair a fresh start without starting over. Reactivate your style or curl pattern without risking the frizziness that plain water creates. Free Your Mane Reviving Spray also serves as an excellent base for all other styling products when you are starting with dry hair. Spray on before setting or plaiting hair for enhanced manageability and hold. Regular use actually extends color life and improves chemical treatment results.
My review:
I used this as a moisturizing spritz while wearing my hair in it's natural state, and also as a leave-in before pressing my hair. I like that this product is light enough so that it doesn't weigh your hair down; yet hydrating enough to keep my hair moisturized [with a slight hold] during the cold weather we've been having in L.A as of late. - This is also a wonderful leave-in option for those wearing their hair heat straightened, as it keeps your strands lubricated [which helps keep the hair free from knots and tangles] and hydrated whilst blow drying.
Who would I recommend this to?
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a light moisturizer that doubles as an effective leave in. This product doesn't leave your hair crunchy, greasy or hard, and it offers a slight hold [a plus if you're wearing a braid out, or twist out]
$24.95 - 4.1 oz
Product Claims:
A natural, ultra-light formula that makes quick work of frizzy or unruly hair this super sized Free Your Mane Restorative Hair Oil™ leaves it velvety smooth and lustrous in an instant! It revives, hydrates and detangles while protecting hair from environmental factors, heat damage and over-processing. Regular use extends color life and improves chemical treatment results. Great for extensions too.
My review:
Because this product claimed to prevent heat damage, I decided to try it in lieu of my normal serum and heat protector. I applied this to wet hair [after spraying with the Reviving Spray] and began to blow dry my hair per my normal routine. After blow drying my entire head, my hair was very silky, smooth and shiny. My ends were smooth which is also a great sign after blow drying coarse hair like mine. After blow drying, I poured a dime-size amount of oil in my hands, and gently ran it through my hair for even more shine.
Who would I recommend this to?
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a multi-purpose product. You can use this as a serum to promote shine, a heat protectant, and an oil to lock in moisture.
$15.95 - 4.1 oz
Product Claims:
A truly healthy, enriching and effective finish for your hair, Free Your Mane Conditioning Pomade™ is a dramatically different two-in-one styling product. Never greasy, drying or draggy our pomade provides powerful hold for your hair while actually conditioning and polishing the most defiant frizz. Trust it to straighten, smooth and tame as well as to mold, sculpt and define shorter hair and layers.
My review:
I used this product to lay down my hair line after pressing my hair, and what I loved about it was that it didn't leave my hair stiff and greasy. It was also light enough so that my hairline didn't have that gelled down look. The pomade made my hairline lay down smooth, and it offered shine as well.
Who would I recommend this to?
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a lightweight pomade that offers hold, sheen, and hydration without the sticky, greasy feel that some pomades leave behind. This product is also a major frizz buster
My final thoughts on this entire line:
This is one of the first product lines that I had stellar results with while wearing my hair in it's natural state, and whilst wearing it pressed. I often find that products geared towards natural hair are a little too heavy to use when I want to wear my hair straight. So for those that are looking for one highly effective styling system to transition between natural styles and heat straightened styles; I definitely recommend considering this line.
For those that are on a budget, and can only pick a few products from the line; here are my favorites!
Free Your Mane Hair Masque
Reviving Spray
Sulfate Free Shampoo
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I did not purchase these products. They were sent to me for review by Free Your Mane courtesy. In order to maintain the integrity of MTM, all samples sent by PR are for consideration only. This allows me to share with you products that work well for me and are worth spreading the word about. If you would like to read my entire policy regarding product reviews, please read the Editorial Policy by clicking {here}.
