When I made my pilgrimage to Sephora Aventura for last Thursday’s Carol’s Daughter event, I was determined not to spend more than $20. My goal was to score as many samples as I could, and spend some time sniffing the products and deciding what to buy next. I had salivated over the Carol’s Daughter website for so long; I already knew what I wanted. I definitely wanted to try Lisa’s Hair Elixir, but it cost $17.50. I planned to walk away with at least two nurturing hair products. A super friendly and enthusiastic salesperson encouraged me to get the Rosemary Mint Shampoo w/Sea Moss, but I settled for a sample of that. I bought the Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner, and after some debating, I decided to spring for the legendary Hair Milk that I had heard such great things about. When Oprah talks, I listen ya’ll.
At Lisa Price’s recommendation, I bought the $16 8 oz. bottle. Lisa said I would just be mad at myself if I didn’t get that size. Initially I was skeptical, but she was totally right. On NaturallyCurly.com, the message boards refer to certain products as being HG, or Holy Grail products. I think Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk might be my holy grail.
The texture of the stuff is everything I want a curly hair leave-in conditioning goop to be. My hair really does drink it right in. The ingredients are essential oil of lemongrass and lily of the valley fragrance, but to me it smells more like an Indian delicacy, like coconut burfi. In short, Gee, My Hair Smells Terrific! No really, it does. And my curls are happier for it. Their thirst has been quenched with shea and cocoa butter oils, causing them to happily coil up into adorable spirals. I could go on and on. But I won’t. If you’re considering a Carol’s Daughter purchase for the first time, I’d say spring for the hair milk. Or even better, get the Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner.
This is no plain vanilla.
The leave-in’s ingredients also include lavender, rosemary, roses, nettles, chamomile, sage, peppermint, blue malva, marigolds, black coconut, and vodka. After I put it on for the first time, my husband asked me what new perfume I was wearing. That never happens, people. It made my curls perfectly defined and lightly, angelically scented. My one complaint is the packaging. A product like this should really come in a spray bottle. I long to spritz it all over my hair like fine perfume, instead of just having to pour out small amounts in my hand.
I’m so excited about the stuff I used that I want to go back to Sephora Aventura (or South Beach…but not Dadeland. For the love of God, why?) and buy lots more of their products. I just don’t know what to buy next, they all sound so delicious! Mimosa Hair Honey, Khoret Amen Shea Butter Hair Smoothie, Rose & Chamomile Toner, Almond Cookie Eau de Toilette? I want it all! But I’m a Bella on a budget. I have to pick and choose my purchases carefully. Next I’ll probably try the Essential Serum For Oily Skin, since I’m on a mission to be completely matte. After that I want to get the Hair Balm, and Lisa’s Hair Elixir. The chemical fire cream that I slathered on my scalp for years has truncated my hair growth. I want to see if Carol’s Daughter products can restore life to my traumatized tresses.
* I wanted to add that I heard through the PR grapevine that Lisa from Carol’s Daughter loved my review! Holla back, Lisa – I have product suggestions! And for my Bay area readers (do I have any of those yet?) I hear there’s going to be a very similar Carol’s Daughter event in a Sephora in San Francisco. Stay tuned for more details!
Last night I used the Rosemary Mint Shampoo with Sea Moss and Khoret Amen hair Smoothie. I must say that both of these products together were absolutely awesome for curls. They added the right amount of moisture to add shine to my curls. The mint shampoo is so relaxing to use. I’m a fan of Carol’s daughter for sure. I want to buy everything as well.
I so feel you on the Black Vanilla Leave-In! The smell is DEEE-vine. My hubby loves it too, must be a man magnet or something. I put mine in a spray bottle and dilute it half and half with water. The fragrance isn’t diminished in any way, the product lasts longer, and I get the spray-on I desire. Try it! The Mimosa Hair Honey smells delicious! I use it on my daughter’s hair, and she smells good enough to eat. I’ve even caught my cat licking her braids. (ew) The Lisa Hair Elixir is very refreshing on the scalp, I’m assuming due to the peppermint. I use it after I wash my hair when I’m plaiting it up to dry. Oh, and the hair smoothies are GREAT pre-shampoo treatments (I found it too heavy to be used as a conditioner). My favorite scent is Tui; I had the Khoret Amen, but I wasn’t too crazy about that scent. Lovely site, by the way! I will be visiting often!
We don’t have a Carols Daughter here and I LOVE hearing about products that other people use, it gives me a good idea of what i should order, because Lord knows the stuff doesn’t come cheap!! Thanks, fabulous site!!
I need to head to Brooklyn and go to Carol’s Daughter. I’m from NJ and have been hearing about her for years. I’m interested in the Khoret Amen Shea Butter Hair Smoothie – my hair needs a smoothie. I going natural and i have been getting a lot of stares – men and women looking at my hair. I’m waiting for one of my friends to say: “JerseyBred you need a perm.” I’m still thinking about a good reply.
oh yeah they are really good and smell so good, another place for really good body lotions is treasured locks, they carry a line called Nubian Heritage, i have fallen for the olive and green tea body wash and butter.
Has anyone tried her body butters or lotions? Are they any good?
I just can’t get with Carol’s Daughter. I applaud her entreprenurial spirit. But the products just don’t move me. And I’ve tried several.
The only item I’d consider reordering is the tui hair oil.
Is Carol’s daughter really that good? I’ve been using Ouidad, which got too expensive (they upped the price 2 dollars in 2 years. $18 for 8 oz is too much for me), and now I use Curly Hair Solutions’ Curl Keeper. I don’t know if a Hair Milk would be good for me. I dont really have that much of a problem with dryness. I make sure to use an extra hydrating conditioner whenever I wash my hair, and I wash it maybe every 3 or 4 days. But I love the website!! And I was just in Miami a few weeks ago (I live in Mississippi). I went to the Sephora in Aventura mall, AND the Sephore on South Beach (I think). I love Sephora. I’m a complete addict, it’s sad.
Thanks for the thorough review. I have been wondering how to weather the storm of hot, humid winds of Miami my stressed tresses have endured. I will stop by Sephora to check out some of the recommendations you made on the site.
BTW, do any of you know of good natural hairstylists in the Miami area? If not, is there a website that centralizes the information for Black women searching for natural hairstylists to fit their needs? Thanks so much. Love the site…
Hey Afrobella I’m a SF Bay Area reader and I couldn’t get into the Carol’s Daughter event at Sephora last week so I’m going to investigate on my lunch break next week when things at work are a bit calmer..
I think Carols daughter s products are overpriced and a little overrated .I like the Khoret Amen Smoothie but is very hard to rinse off and leave a greasy film on my hair .The tui Hair oil is great as …body oil.Didnt do nothing for my hair .
I got samples of the Rosemary-mint shampoo and black vanilla and fell in LOVE. But they were all out and have been for SEVERAL weeks for both products. So I dried the Khoret Amen shampoo w/ sea moss and the Tui Smoothie. Love them. Bought the hair honey, love it. Bought the kizzi, love it. The Tui hair oil, love it (so sparingly) and got a sample of the loc butter (doing two strand with it right now), love it. Their line must be made for me!
And the greasy film that some claim to get is just locked in moisture for my hair ( I have very dry hair), so it perfect for me.
I’m a mix of 3c with mostly 4a – I know my hair type!! It looks exactly like our Chief bella! lol
Dear Afrobella,
I’m thinking to launch my own blog. I’d like to quit my daytime job, can you live with your blog only ?
Thanks again,
Have y’all tried Miss Jessie’s buttercream? If so, what do you think is better: Miss Jessie’s or Carol’s Daughter? And why? I’ve been using MJ, but the scent is too strong for me and I don’t like the scent that much. The product is pretty good though, but it’s hella expensive… Thinking about changing up.
You can buy Carol Daughters Products at Jackson and Hines, and they have Free Shipping and they ship fast. I love Carol Daughter’s products, all natural and very good for the hair.
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