New Product Alert: B.A.S.K. Beauty

January 19, 2012February 13, 2019 by Angelique ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

As did my normal YouTube stalking. I came across a review from one of my favs EmpressRi. She had me ready to dump out my piggy bank to try a new line of products called b.a.s.k. I immediately went to the website and went straight to the hair section. Even from the tiny iPhone screen these products looked amazing and the ingredients were right up there so I had to share.

The line was created by Rashida Jefferson in Spring 2011. She creates these goodies from scratch in here studio in Macon, Georgia. I love the story and vision behind her line it embraces what Diamonds and Curls is all about, loving you and especially natural beauty.

Our Vision

B.A.S.K. is a specialty beauty company established to innovatively craft premium, gourmet-inspired, artisanal spa delectables that cater to the ethnic woman’s different cosmetic needs – such as dryer skin types and diverse hair patterns. B.A.S.K. products aim to indulge those natural beauty aficionados who are seeking the finest ingredients without the compromise of effectiveness, luscious sweet aromas, & textures.

Our Mission

To encourage women of color to embrace & “bask in” their unique natural beauty.

Reminds me of a Jill Scott lyric “Sweeter than your favorite ice cream be/Bask in my glory baby”. The line consists of hair butters, conditioners, and moisturizer which is great for these winter months and type 4 curls that can’t use water based products. I was trying to decide which ones to get for my hair but honestly I can’t decide they all look amazing. I’m trying to control my spending habits so I will be emailing her to see what she recommends for my hair but let me get to the good part and show you the line up:

Cacao Bark Deep Conditioning Hair Treat

Ingredients: Distilled Water, Prime Pressed Cocoa Butter, Virgin Coconut Cream, Kukui Moluccana Seed Oil, Agave Nectar, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Raw Cocoa Powder, Amalaki Fruit Powder, Cetyl Alcohol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol and Ethylhexylglycerin.

Java Bean & Honey Hair Balm

Ingredients: Virgin Palm Kernel Oil,Castor Oil, Coffee Bean Butter, Macadamia Nut Oil, Prime Pressed Cocoa Butter,Soy Wax, Beeswax, Raw Honey, Lecithin, Vitamin E, & Fragrance Oil

Silk & Honey Latté Detangling Hair Milk

INGREDIENTS: Distilled Water, Babassu Oil, Castor Oil, Cupuacu Butter, Shea Butter Glycerides**, Raw Honey, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Fragrance, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Silk, & Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

BLACKBERRY SAGE (fruity aroma of tart blackberries)
CUCUMBER HONEYDEW (fresh melon w/ undertones of green cucumber)
NECTARINE VANILLA (summer peach vanilla icecream….YUM!)
SOUTHERN TEA (brewed lemon tea sweetened w/ sugar)
UNSCENTED (no added scent)

Y.A.M. Nectar Intense Honey Hair Nourisher

INGREDIENTS: Pure Clover Honey, Vegetable Glycerin, Yucca Oil (Virgin Olive Oil infused w/ Yucca Root), Avocado Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Manuka Honey, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Essential oils of Rosewood & Copaiba, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin.

Palm Tapioca Deluxe Hair Cream

Ingredients: Distilled Water, Cocoa Butter, Unrefined Cupuacu Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Babassu Oil, Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Palm Oil, Virgin Palm Kernel Oil, Ucuuba Butter, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Beeswax, Ceteareth-20, Fragrance, & Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin.

Sevenfold Butter Blend Hair Butter

Ingredients: Organic Palm Oil, Jojoba Oil, sevenfold butter blend (Tucuma Butter, unrefined Shea Butter, Mango Butter, unrefined Cupuacu Butter, Cocoa Butter, Illipe Butter, Kokum Butter), Vitamin E, & select essential oil of choice.

Sweet Manna Botanical Hair & Scalp Serum

INGREDIENTS: Castor Seed Oil, Virgin Olive Oil infused w/ (Burdock Root, Nettle Leaf, Pygeum Bark, Muira Puma Bark, Fenugreek Seed, Horsetail, Saw Palmetto Berry), Jojoba Oil, Camelina Seed Oil, Tucuuma Butter, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Agave Nectar, Vitamin E, & Essential Oils of Benzoin, Lavender, & Peppermint.

As you can see these products are top-notch. They are moderately priced ranging from $14-$20 but you get what you pay for and none of these ingredients are cheap. You also get free samples with each order. Be sure to check out the sitefor your self she also has body and bath products. I’m really liking the hair gift set too. It’s currently not available but it includes some sample sizes of the most popular productsI recommend this line for thicker curls and those in cold climates.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

(FYI: The products in bold are the most important and the ones in purple are ones I love.)

Updates, Updates and More Updates!

January 16, 2012 by Angelique ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Hey curls!!!!

If you follow me on twitter (@SuiteAngelique or @DiamondsCurls) then you know I was on a hunt for a new stylist. There is nothing wrong with my old one but I was on a budget and the location of my current stylist is one reason why her prices are a bit higher. All that said I decided to stick with what I know since she was the last person to cut my hair, which brings me to the cut. I know you are thinking cut….yes I said cut. Fall of 2010 my hair started shedding like crazy. Instead of going to a doc I tried various home remedies to find nothing was working. My hair got to the longest ever in a wash and go style the last thing on my mind was a cut. Well after my hair thinned out and I had no edges there was no choice. It’s nothing worse than holding on to thin see through hair. So December 2010 I had it cut into a short bob. I also went to the doctor and found out my iron levels were really low and taking a couple of iron pills a day was the solution.

The pills kicked in and new hair was growing. You can sort of see the little sprouts of hair less than an inch growing in around my edges. It was too thin to do any curly styles so after a week I washed my hair, flat twisted it, and wore a half wig from January to May. I kept it uber moisterized with Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter cream and the Amla and Olive Heavy Cream. Those products are the same, just different consistencies. My inner PJ just had to have both. As my hair grew back it was thicker and tighter curls than before and I think that was because of the Qhemet and iron pills.

During the summer I was fed up with the wigs. Threw them away and started playing around with different curly styles. I love pomps whether my hair is straight or curly so similar to my pomp and banana clip style I had a pomp and two french braids. I finally had a bit of hangtime even though I kept the ends tucked to protect them from the elements. I also wore my little tam/beret out too with a satin bonnet underneath it.

I tend to stick with one style until I wear it out so I decided to switch it up. After one more cut in June 2011 to even things out wearing curly styles had more success for me. After I copied a style from Syesha Mercado. I know you remeber her from American Idol.

I simple did a wash n go with the trusty Eco Styler gel and bobby pinned my hair up. This style worked perfect because the longest part of my hair was the front and the sides were long enough too. The back of my hair was originally cut into an upside down U shape but that was nothing a glob of gel couldn’t hold in place.

December came and I was overdue for a trim. No matter how hard you try wearing wash and go’s is no good for your ends. I had single strand knots and spilt ends all over. My new super thick hair was so hard to detangle even with a shower comb. So I went in for a trim and couldn’t believe how much my hair had grown. Even my stylist, Melanie was asking what I was using and what vitamins I was taking.

I measured my hair before and after my trim and I was in shock. There was no change. This is why I love Melanie, she understands that trim does not mean cut. She also uses the best products. She shampooed me with Elucence. She also gives the best scalp massages asking if it itches when she is done which she knows is not possible. She used Kenra’s Moisturizing conditioner and sat me under the dryer for 20 minutes or so, used One and Only Argan Oil Treatment and Biosilk Silk Therapy to blow me out and flat-ironed. She only used ceramics without me even asking! My hair was super silky to the point it looked and felt relaxed.

Over three weeks later my hair is still holding up. Normally I can’t go longer than a week with out have the itchies and flakes. I kept my hair moisturized with Chi Silk Infusion if I felt like my hair was going to poof and if I decided to bump my ends with my flat iron. I also used avocado (my new fav) and grape seed oil which are both great heat protectants with smoke points at 450°. I used coconut oil with lavender essential oil and massaged it on my scalp and edges whenever they felt dry.

I did flat-iron my hair prior to a random mini photo shoot in the snow. My hair looked great either way. I wasn’t weighed down and very few flakes. (my hair only flakes when it’s straight…weird I know)

As of my last length check December 23, 2011 my hair was 7.5 inches in the front, 6.5 inches on the side, and 3.5 inches in back. This Saturday is my next monthly length check and it looks like my hair is on track for .5 inch increase. I’m usually too lazy to track my hair growth every month but this year I am just to prove a point that healthy hair grows. I also plan to only were my hair in stretched styles this year because I still have a few random single knots and only the front is long enough for search and destroy sessions.

Well there you have it, my official long over due update. Stay tuned for this month’s length check. I will be washing my hair tonight for a curly hair shoot. I am going to attempt a bantu twist out and pin it up the same as the Syesha look or a cute turban/scarf look.

XOXO and Fab Curls!

2011 Staple Products

January 15, 2012February 13, 2019 by Angelique ♥ 1 Comment

Hi there!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and new year. I’ve been preparing for this year the past few weeks setting goals in all areas of my life and making my plans for the year but most importantly for this blog. It’s time to take it to the next level and I just want to give thanks for those that continue to stay on this journey with me. I can’t believe I am over 7 years natural. I have learned so much on my journey and stalking others. I have also tried almost every product under the sun. I have complied a list of my staple products of 2011. One thing I have noticed is that I have learned to keep it simple and have also learned what products work amazingly on my hair. Now what works for me may not work for you but this basic lineup should help you to create a healthy regimen and stash. Here is my list:

My 2011 Staple Products:

Pre-Poo:

Extra Virgin Olive or Coconut Oil

(I simple just apply a gennerous amount of oil to my hair and scalp for 15-20 minutes before shampooing. Sometimes I use a heat cap but most of the time I just left it sit before hitting the shower)

Shampoo:

Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo

(I use this before protein treatments and this year will start using it monthly since I use a lot of heavy oils, butters, and gels)

Jane Carter Moisture Nourishing Shampoo

(I use this to remove silcones from my hair after straightening and occasionally for my weekly shampoo)

Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo

(This is my all time favorite. It’s sulfate free and great for weekly shampooing. It’s were gentle and leaves hair squeaky clean.)

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Rinse

(I use this as needed sometimes after a deep treatment or when my hair’s pH balence is off. It’s also great for cleaning the scalp with braids or weave, even takes the fake shine off of synthetic extensions and wigs)