Tag Archives: haircare

Why I decided to get a Texture Release

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hihi everyone I hope all is well. After many months of researching about texture releases, I finally got mine done at Maison Style by Andree! Like a few days ago lool

So why did I decide to get a texture release? This year, I really want to unlock my hair’s potential. I’ve been natural for the last 13 years and in the last 2-3 years my hair has taken a back (backkk) seat, I did more braids than usual and wore wigs more often, treating my hair once in a while. At the end of last year, I realized the state of my hair wasn’t great, so I made a decision to put in more effort this year. Lots of previous posts on this. Start here

I decided to wear my own hair out more this year so I could learn more about it and treat it more frequently and this is where TRs comes in. I prefer to wear my hair in a stretched state and I would also like to use heat more on my hair and a texture release (TR) will help with me with manageability. In the last 13 years, I haven’t tried anything new with my hair, not even a silk press girl, so a TR will be a new thing to try.

What is a Texture Release?

According to Avlon, the manufacturers of the system, it is a heat activated Smoothing System that features Amino Acids and Conditioning Agents that crosslink deep into the hair fibers to enable styling versatility. There are no at home kits in the UK, it can only be done professionally.

  • It is not a relaxer
  • It is not a keratin treatment
  • It is not permanent
  • It is not synonymous with heat damage but can lead to it if not done properly
  • It is smoothing treatment activated by heat
  • The ‘active ingredients’ are amino acids and glyoxylic acid
  • It is semi permanent- it will wash out between 10 to 12 washes but a lot of people say it lasts much longer

My Experience

I got mine done at Maison Style by Andree. I chose her because I felt like she had the most knowledge on the system based on all her videos I have watched and I learnt a lot from her Q&As too. I felt comfortable with my decision to go there. I decided to get the TR done back in December however because the state of my hair wasn’t great, I gave myself enough time to improve my hair’s state so April/May was the D-day! To prep my hair for this, I focused on my moisture/protein balance, got a trim and stuck to a good hair routine. It paid off because my hair felt great before the TR and afterwards too. Whilst shampooing my hair, the lady commented on how hydrated my hair felt! I felt so proud, she said my hair was in good condition. My TR came with a trim and Andree also commented that I didn’t actually have a lot of split ends, I just needed a quick dusting. I am so happy that all the hard work and extra effort I put into my hair over the last few months has paid off and it encourages me to keep going. My length is back to where I cut it last March and I’m still pushing for waist length hair!

Im working on a full review on the salon and I will write more about my texture release experience- stay tuned!

Follow up

I plan to write a few aftercare TR blog posts because I found it difficult to see a lot of videos on this. I watched a few 1st wash days after TR but nothing after that. I will do a 3 & 6 monthly post TR check in as well as ongoing stuff I notice about the change- I really hope you find this helpful. I also didnt see a lot of videos on fine 4c hair with a TR so Im hoping this is also helpful to someone!

That’s all for now. Are you planning any big hair changes? Let me know in the comments below!

Loving Lavera…

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My love for Lavera Shampoo started with a hunt for a bargain. I don’t like paying a lot for shampoo, I mean I totally will if I’ve tried everything else and nothing is working for me, or I’m sold on the swishy ingredients list and marketing lingo, but I’ll always try something cheaper if I can.


We’ve gone through a lot of shampoo in this house, both myself and Michael have fussy scalps that get itchy and sore if we use anything harsh (usually if it’s not natural) and we’ve tried a lot of shampoo labelled specifically for a sensitive scalp that works for one or two bottles and then the pain returns and we need to move on. Hair does actually get used to products, so switching it up is no bad thing at all. We’ve been using Lavera (the blue bottle) for just over a year, and it’s just now that I’m starting to need something new.

The Lavera Basis Sensitiv Moisture & Care Shampoo, £6.95, is that perfect blend of cleansing with no build up or greasy residue, but leaves my hair so soft, shiny and conditioned that I rarely needed conditioner. Made with almond milk, aloe vera and avocado it sounds like a fancy green smoothie. It kept my scalp in perfect condition and my hair feeling healthy bottle after bottle (I think I’ve gone through 5 or 6!). What I also love about this shampoo and the other Lavera shampoos that I’ve been using, is that they foam up. I can’t be dealing with a shampoo that has no bubbles, I never feel like my hair is clean!

The green Freshness and Balance Shampoo, £6.95, was a purchase for Michael who’s hair gets oily quicker than mine, but I’ve been using this too if I’ve used a little too much dry shampoo or hair oil. It removes residue with ease and leaves hair feeling clean, a little squeaky perhaps but not super stripped or dry. I do always follow up with a little conditioner though.

Lastly, I purchased the Volume & Strength Shampoo, £6.95, most recently because postpartum hair loss is real, guys. I feel like I might be bald soon at this rate! 😉 I can’t say I’ve noticed a difference in hair loss slowing down yet, but I do like how it makes my hair feel. The formula contains Vitamin C and Green Tea to strengthen those all-important roots. Perhaps I need to use this exclusively to see a major difference because I still like to use the Moisture & Care most often.

I’m now on the lookout and ready to try a few new brands and products in the bathroom because I think my hair is used to these now. Michael is starting to complain about his hair too… maybe it’s the warmer weather!


I did just see that they have a new 2-in-1 Deep Care & Repair Shampoo and Conditioner which sounds diiiiivine! Perhaps I’ll pick up a bottle of that for testing purposes, of course 😉

Have you tried any Lavera haircare? See the full range here (Note that they are all vegan except for the pale pink Gloss & Bounce range)


A Serious Splurge On Dry Shampoo…

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I never imagined I would be using a £30 bottle of dry shampoo, but here we are.

When I think of dry shampoo I think of cheap, colourful cans of white/clear aerosol that make your hair feel matte and disgusting and often promise volume but fall flat.


The Rahua Voluminous Dry Shampoo comes in an aerosol-free, squeezy tube and is nothing like traditional dry shampoo. It’s clay based, and as such can feel a little heavy if not used correctly, but with practice, I now know just how much to use to give my hair volume, remove any oily roots and just generally refresh 2 or 3-day old hair.

To use I simply give the bottle a little shake upside down and then squeeze little puffs of the powder into my roots. I then work the powder into my hair to distribute it where it needs to be and leave it to soak up any oil for a few minutes before giving my hair a quick brush. I also really like the natural vanilla scent that comes from the addition of vanilla powder, it removes any other scents clinging to my hair.

What’s more amazing than how well it works for me? How long I’ve had it and how much my boyfriend likes it too! I purchased my bottle back in January(!!) and I still have just under half of the powder left, a little really does go a long way, and that’s with two people using it on the regular. My boyfriend likes to use this in two ways, as a styling powder, he finds it gives his hair some grit and hold and he can style it in his carefree ‘I’ve done nothing with my hair but really spent a few minutes trying to look like this’ look. And he uses it as a traditional dry shampoo to remove grease. He has a very sensitive head so I’m glad this has such simple ingredients that haven’t irritated his scalp.

The ingredients list is incredibly simple; Fuller’s earth (Clay), Organic Tapioca Starch (Cassava root), Illicium Verum (Star Anise), Vanilla Planifolia, Citric Acid. 


So why pay so much? Honestly, I couldn’t tell you, it’s like paying £40 for luxury natural toner that has the main ingredient listed as water! It’s a luxury purchase, and as I’ve often found with purchases like this you tend to convince yourself that the price means this must absolutely be better than the version that costs half the price.


I haven’t tried a cheaper version such as the Acure Dry Shampoo, and when my bottle of Rahua finally runs out (I would guess in another 4-5 months, giving me a full years use out of one bottle!) I will be torn choosing between a tried and tested product that lasts us ages and ages, to something new that we may not like as much. What would you do?





Would you spend £30 on dry shampoo?