Bad Hair Year - Part1: Kheils Haircare Review

I've had a bad hair year. My hair started thinning about four months after delivery and although all pregnancy websites/forums say its absolutely normal, it was still alarming to see the significant hair drop every time I washed my hair. Worse, my scalp also felt itchy a lot and started flaking badly. It was embarrassing every time I scratched my head and the white flakes would fall everywhere, on my clothes, keyboard, car seat, everywhere!

My regular shampoo just wasn't working anymore (prior to this I had never really paid much attention to my hair care and have used Sunsilk for most of my adult life) and I started reading and asking around friends for some better shampoo to use. So here are some shampoos & conditioners I've tried over the past year for sensitive scalp and thin/liveless hair.

The first products I tried were from Kheils after reading some great reviews. I was desperate for anything that could help with my hair loss at the time so the Ultimate Thickening Shampoo was for me. There is no conditioner available in the same range so I paired it with the Rice & Wheat Volumizing Conditioning Rinse.

Shampoo description:
 This antioxidant enriched shampoo is infused with a blend of thickening polymers, naturally-derived proteins and an Omega-6 essential fatty acid derivative to fortify and texturize thinning hair. Combined with these is a blend of nurturing Vitamin E and Rosemary, Peppermint, and Cedarwood essential oils (for a stimulating sensation on scalp), to create a gentle formula that helps reinforce hair strands for a noticeably thicker, healthy-looking appearance and improved scalp coverage.









Conditioner description:
Our lightweight conditioning rinse is infused with a blend of naturally-derived proteins and Pure Honey to revive and add body to thin and lifeless hair. Kiehl's chemists have utilized the latest in haircare science-a volumizing complex that coats hair to impart a healthy, thicker appearance and vitality-and combined it with the long relied upon benefits of Rice and Wheat Proteins to create fullness and body without stripping hair of natural lipids. This rinse, with conditioning extracts of Jojoba Seed and Rice Bran, gently moisturizes hair without weighing it down so hair looks and feels healthier. The formula further helps to detangle hair and smooth split-ends and fly-aways. Hair appears fuller and thicker with a healthy shine and a silky softness.




Exfoliating Scalp Treatment description:

 Active treatment for dandruff control.

• Controls dandruff and promotes a healthy scalp
• Deep Micro-Exfoliating Pre-Shampoo Scalp Treatment helps gently exfoliator and balance the scalp.
• With micronized Apricot and Argan exfoliators
• Dermatologist tested to help loosen flaky buildup and stimulate healthy turnover on the surface of the scalp.







My verdict:

The thickening shampoo unfortunately did not work for me. My skin was somehow sensitive to it and it made my ears itch and burn. The redness on my ears went away after I stopped the shampoo and applied medication. I wasn't sure the redness was caused by the shampoo and decided to give it another try. My ears started to feel a bit itchy again so I stopped. Gave the shampoo to my husband who had absolutely no problems with it.

The Rice & Wheat conditioner was great. I really loved the scent which was very refreshing. I must say used with the thickening shampoo, my hair did look a bit fuller. I'd love to try the conditioner again with its Rice & Wheat shampoo.

Finally, the scalp treatment. It applied well and left this great warm tingling sensation when massaged into the scalp. Unfortunately it didn't help much with my flaky hair.

Quote of the Month: May 2014

I've stopped writing for over two months, I can write down a list of excuses reasons excuses why but all I'm gonna say is...

A Little Party

If you follow me on Pinterest, you'd know that I've been looking for inspiration for my outfit to a Great Gatsby-themed party. 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/126593439499140406/

Being rather time-poor in addition to my baseline laziness, research consisted of Pinterest and YouTube.

And no, I've never seen the movie. Or read/seen/heard the story in any form except for the Wikipedia summary. Go ahead, gasp.

So here's the Pinterest board. Once I started, though, I couldn't stop. Who can resist shiny stuff??? I love the dresses!

Follow Ink's board .style: Gatsby party. on Pinterest.

At Party-8days I'd still yet to figure out how I'm going to find a dress that fit the theme, and didn't make me look like a big round disco ball. And also preferably, not pay a bomb it. And also not spend hours and hours going to various malls to look for it.

So after work, Seoky and I were on a mission - find me this dress that fit the theme, wasn't too expensive, and could be found before Kenny joined us for dinner.

Ta-daa!

Shiny. Check.

Lace. Check.

Fit me. Check.

Below RM 100. Surprisingly, check!

Did Mac ask me to get her one as well? [my usual benchmark for whether something looks grownup/dressy enough]. Check.

Paired with a pearl necklace, and I was pretty much done!

Except that I hadn't thought about what to do with my hair. That's usually a big problem for me - short of lots and lots and I mean lots of heat and so much hairspray it could freeze a bear in its tracks, my hair doesn't stay curled or styled. Ever. 

At this point I'm at Party-5 days and strongly debating if I should bother with those elastic hairband things that are more on-theme, but never seem to stay put when I wear them, or a regular hairband. 

Was about to give up after shopping all afternoon, being distracted (and tempted) by loads of other cute hairbands that didn't really fit the theme.

Then I finally decided to take a walk around the department store while my shopping buddy was trying on more dresses. Up the escalator, passing the kids section...and I found it!

Yes, in the kids section.

A little gift

A small parting gift for my desk neighbour of almost 2 years. 

Handmade best wishes card with floral details on the front. 

Stamp on the back says merci.

one day at a time

I've always had questions about "what it all means", and at one point in time, this was compounded with the whole idea of getting reacquainted with who I was with the "one half of a couple" tag having been recently ripped off. I was in search of something inspiring to watch/read. And just then, I had the good fortune of stumbling upon this book - A Year of Doing Good by Judith O'Reilly. This book seemed to be one woman's attempt to answer a couple of questions I've often thrown at my Mum since I was a child.

Do the little "good" things we do even make a difference?

How do you even know the people receiving the good deed even think you're helping them? Maybe they're just humouring you?

Why do we even bother?

I have to admit that as I read the book, I initially scoffed at the things that were counted as good deeds - could something so small (and yet so troublesome to the individual trying to do the good deed) really be worth it?

So, I decided to give it a try myself - a conscious effort to throw in a good deed here and there.

It's been more than 365 days since I first picked up the book (and some months since I've finished reading it, too). And I think I've found the best answer to my questions to date. 

Do the very small everyday "good" things we do even make a difference?

I like to think so now. 

Example: I used to be pretty indifferent about little things like opening doors for others, or just giving a damn about a passing stranger. And in my experience, that was the attitude of pretty much everyone else. Since being inspired to experiment with everyday doing good, a particular set of heavy doors I encounter day to day sets the scene for many a good deed of mine. Holding the door open for the old man wheeling his wife in on a wheelchair, or the young mother who's got her hands full trying to manage her young child and push the baby in a stroller. 

Then there was a time when someone did the same for me when my hands were particularly full. 

Doesn't quite end all the big problems of the world. But at least in my little piece of the world, I'm bringing sexy courtesy back.

Are people just humouring you when you're trying to do something nice for them? Trying being the operative word here.

Sometimes. But then the bigger question is, does it matter that they're just humouring you? I know it makes me feel good when I know someone even tries to do something nice for me.

And also when I run out of pink Panadols, it's a no brainer that handing me one is a definite good deed - no humouring required. 

Why do we even bother?/Is it worth the trouble?

I've since realised that the fact that we bother to do anything is because there's something in it for ourselves. Even if that something is just the satisfaction of being a nice person. So there. 

Is it worth the trouble? Well... I'm still selfish old me, and I've never really had a problem saying no to anyone. So I don't actually do anything that I find too much. So it's just a matter of what your threshold for troublesome is, and sticking to it?

I'm not sure if I'm a better person for it. But I know it's made me feel better about myself.

So, more good deeds to follow!