Product Comparison - Bee Mine Bee Hold Curl Cream vs. Donna Marie Dream Curling Creme

I often get tons of questions about products and what I use for curl definition or how I achieve certain looks. I will try to answer those types of questions in as many posts as I can. I will start here by comparing two types of natural curl creams that I have been using this winter. Before I begin, please keep in mind that though my hair probably looks similar to yours, everyone's hair responds to products in different ways, so don't feel like you have to purchase everything that I rave about in order to achieve similar looks. These posts are to just show you what I am using to maintain my hair and to compare products that you may have considered purchasing.

Donna Marie Dream Curling Crème

 

I have purchased this product twice and I have used it for a few years, so I definitely feel comfortable doing a thorough review.

 

Description: creamy in texture, varies in color, as it is a natural product, has a nut butter smell that does not linger (key ingredients include macadamia seed oil, Shea butter, and Cupuacu butter) thick whipped gelly, cream-like consistency

Costs: $20 for 16 oz. jar

Packaging: plastic, large, round jar allows easy access to all of the product

Claims: medium hold styling product that imparts shine, moisture, definition, and elongation to curly styles. Provides effortless, frizz-free, fluffy, soft, curly styles without crunch, stiffness, or flakes. 

Recommended use: curls, twist outs, braid outs, pony puffs, coils

Key ingredients: water, aloe vera juice, glycerin, sweet almond oil, Shea butter

The truth: I agree that this product imparts shine and definition. I use this product with a moisturizer, as I do not expect to receive moisture from a styling product, so I can not vouch for moisturizing properties. I can also agree with the elongation claim because if I let my hair dry without any products, my curls are much tighter and less visible. I can also agree that I have never experienced crunch, stiffness, or flakes, and this product does not build up in my hair. 

How have I used this product: twist-n-curls, flat twist outs, braid outs, two-strand twist outs, three-strand twist outs, wash-n-go; on wet, damp, and dry hair. 

I would not recommend this product for: wash-n-go's as it does not have enough hold for my thick hair

The overview: One 16 oz jar of this product lasts a long time, as you don't need much product to create the desired results. I generally use a pea-sized amount per twist when doing twist-outs etc. the product is definitely worth the cost, at about $1.25 per ounce when calculated, and a greater value in comparison to the average curl cream, which is usually about $16 for 8 oz. At this time Donna Marie Dream Curling Creme is on my list of holy grail hair products. I recently used up this product and I plan to repurchase in the future, as soon as I use up other products.

The proof:

This was a twistout that I did during the spring of 2013. I applied DMDCC to hair that had been blown dry. 

Here I used DMDCC for a wash and go also during the spring of 2013. 

Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter

I have had this product forever but I just started using it regularly in December. I am trying to use it up, as I am trying to discontinue my product hoarding ways in 2014. I have used this product several times and I am able to provide a valuable review.

Description: thick, smooth, and creamy in consistency. Appears to have the texture of a lotion, yet it is thick enough to where it does not move, even when the jar is held upside down with the top removed. The product does not have a butter-like texture or consistency. I have the island mango scent, but the product is available unscented or in a coconut cream fragrance. I love the smell of this product. It has a citrus, sweet, orange and mango smell. The smell does not linger. The fragrance does not haunt me in my sleep like the scent of other products that I use!

Costs: $14 for 8oz. jar

Packaging: plastic, large, round jar allows easy access to all of the product

Claims: Provides long lasting moisture and promotes growth 

Recommended use: twists, finger curls, pony tails, puffs, natural hair, relaxed hair, and texlaxed hair. 

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, aloe Vera gel, glycerine

The truth: This product provides a very light hold, so it is not the best product for twist outs if you have frizzier hair that needs extra hold. I would not use this product for moisture as I think of it as a styler since it has aloe Vera gel, and the product is not water-based as water is the primary ingredient that provides moisture to the hair. I would rather reserve the growth conversation for another post, but please note that the product says promotes growth not causes growth. Hair grows naturally at different rates per individual, yet there are multiple factors that determine whether you retain length from your hair growth. 

How have I used this product: twist-n-curls, flat twist outs, braid outs, three-strand twist outs, and on wet and damp hair. 

I would not recommend this product for: wash n go's, styles that require extra hold or definition

 

The overview: I currently have two jars of this product in my arsenal. I plan to at least use up the one that I have already opened and I may give the other jar to a friend. This is a great product depending on your styling preferences and your hair needs. I prefer more hold and definition in a styler and I do not consider the product a moisturizer. Because this product does not offer much hold, I am unable to get third-day hair from a style set with this product. I am fortunate to get second-day hair at times, though that is not always the case. That is the real deal-breaker for me, as I am too busy to style my hair daily and I do not think it is healthy to manipulate your hair on a daily basis. I appreciate that this product does not cause flaking, build up, stiffness, or crunchiness, and it washes away easily with water and conditioner. At this time I do not plan to repurchase this product. 

The proof:

Braid out over the weekend using Bee Mine Curly Butter applied to dry hair. My hair was super soft and the curls were stretched and my hair moved freely and appeared full. I was unable to get multiple wear out of this style as the product does not provide enough hold for me.

Three-strand twist out using Bee Mine curly butter on wet hair. My hair was soft and the curls were stretched. 

The comparison:

This is a three-strand twist out that I did last month. On the side of my hair shown on the right side of the picture I used Donna Marie for a three strand twist out. On the side of my hair pictured to the left of the center part, I used Bee Mine. I had more hold, shine, and definition on the DMDCC side. 

This pic was taken the day after the pic above was taken. I flat twisted my hair the night before. I did not apply any additional product. On the right side of the picture where the DMDCC was previously applied I have more definition, hold, and shine. On the left side of the pic, where Bee Mine was applied, I have less hold, less shine, and less definition. Side by side comparisons are a great way to compare products without having to rely on memory and other factors like weather, activity level, etc. 

 

I prefer the Donna Marie Dream Curling cream because of its styling properties - shine, hold, and definition. The DMDCC is also more cost effective, as I receive twice the amount of product offered by Bee Mine, at just $6 more, or the same amount of product offered in Bee Mine's $24 16oz. product for $4 less. I am also able to get multiple days of wear out of a single application of the Donna Marie product, where that is not possible for me with the Bee Mine product. Because of the time that it takes me to do my hair, second day hair and beyond is very important to me in selecting products.

I hope that you found this comparison helpful. I would love to hear about some of your favorite products, so feel free to leave comments below. 

Introducing Monthly Empties - December

I love to see what people have used up during a particular month. When you are a person guilty of having too much stuff it is sooooo intrinsically rewarding to get to the bottom of a container! This is also a quick way to give you guys product reviews for items that you may have considered purchasing.
Here is what I have used up in the month of December:

MAC Graphblack Technakohl Eye Pencil - I somehow lost the crayon part of this liner. It fell out somewhere and I am not sure how that happened. Nonetheless, I had it for a long time before it finally gave up the ghost. I was not a fan of this felt tip liner. It dried out quickly, it does not apply smoothly, and it smudged very easily, even if you set it with eyeshadow. I do not intend to repurchase this product. 

SheScentIt Pomegranate Conditioner - I purchased this product online at SheScentIt.com. I absolutely love this conditioner. It smells yummy and it leaves my hair really soft and conditioned. I like to use this conditioner in the summer because I wash my hair with "conditioner only" at least two to three times per week during those muggy months. When I use the "conditioner only" method I usually rinse my hair, then apply the conditioner and let it sit under a shower cap for about ten minutes while I'm in the shower or while I'm preparing to take a shower and then rinse it thoroughly and continue with life (adding a leave-in conditioner, etc.). It is always over 100 degrees here in Texas during the summer so I usually wear my hair in a bun or ponytail. I plan to repurchase this product but there are other conditioners that I need to use up before doing so. 

Pura Body Naturals Chocolate Hair Smoothie - I received this deep conditioner in a product swap from one of my online natural hair friends (we call each other curl friends). This product is available at the company's website and other online natural hair boutiques. This product smells exactly like milk chocolate, which I enjoyed, but it was just okay in terms of performance for me. I used it both under the steamer and under a shower cap to deep condition. It did not have any adverse effects on my hair and I would not label it as an underwhelming product. However, I do not intend to repurchase this product as I feel that I have other deep conditioners that perform better.

Donna Marie Dream Curling Cream - I love this product and I did a thorough review of it in another post. I purchased this product at donnamarie.com.  I definitely plan to repurchase this product but there are other curl creams that I need to use up before doing so.

SheaMoisture Moisture Retention Shampoo - this is my Holy Grail shampoo! I have repurchased this product several times and I have used it for years. This is one of the only shampoos that I use. I use this product once per week, and a bottle of this lasts me a long time, as a little goes a long way. This product is absent of harsh surfactants that are drying to kinky/curly hair, however it does foam if you are one of those people who have a hard time adjusting to sulfate-free products because of the usual non-foaming properties. This shampoo also has a very strong floral perfume-like scent that does not linger. This moisture retention product lives up to its name as it leaves my hair soft and manageable after use. While I am raving about this shampoo I have to say something important here. The way your hair looks after you have washed, dried, and styled it, is determined by what you do from wash to style. The entire hair care regimen is important. If you use a drying shampoo, prepare for rough, thirsty, less defined hair. If you don't follow your shampoo with a conditioner or if you don't use a conditioner that is appropriate for your hair needs - once again prepare for bad hair days ahead. If you use a styling product that has drying ingredients or that does not agree with your hair, then you will not get the desired styling results. It took me a while to learn about styling products but I found my shampoos and conditioners very easily. You and your hair may not like everything that I rave about so don't get frustrated if you try something that I love and you don't have similar results. Return the product until you find something that works for you. If you are still learning about hair care, I recommend that you buy your natural hair products locally at stores like Whole Foods, Target, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and vitamin shoppe, where you can return them fairly easily. I have worn my hair natural for a few years so I have learned about the ingredients that work best for my hair and I purchase products accordingly, so it is easier for me to find products that I love online. If you are new to haircare, getting into the habit of reading ingredients before purchasing products will save you so much money and storage space. I do not buy any hair products from the traditional beauty supply store, as those products are usually filled with synthetic ingredients that do not work for my hair. I find that products with organic ingredients work best for me. I buy SheaMoisture products at Target and Walgreens and I recommend this shampoo for all hair types and textures (natural, relaxed, etc.)

Pura Body Naturals brazil loc oil - I received this product as a gift from one of my online hair care friends. This oil is very light and can be used on all hair types and textures. I really liked this oil. I used it for hot oil treatments, and for extra moisture after applying my leave-in conditioner. I would repurchase this oil but there are other oils that I need to use up before doing so. This product can be found on the company's website. 

Marie Dean Peach Honey Syrup Deep Conditioner - this is a very pricey deep conditioner at $22 per 8 oz. It smells amazing and has a honey scented dessert-like smell. It has a thick, creamy consistency. It moisturizes my hair very well. I  would repurchase this product on sale but not at regular price, as I have an equally expensive deep conditioner that I prefer to indulge in from time to time. Overall, this is a great conditioner but I have less expensive ones that work just as well. 

Mac brush cleanser - this is my Holy grail brush cleanser. I purchased this product at the MAC Cosmetics counter. I have had this cleanser for months and tried to use it sparingly, but since I started picking up more freelance jobs it has ran its course. I have tried other brush cleaners, but of the ones that I have tried this one is the absolute best. It works well to clean your brushes when you're doing makeup for a large group and are in between clients. This cleanser thoroughly cleans and disinfects the brush and dries it very quickly. I also use it as my daily brush cleanser at home, as I only deep clean my personal brushes (with dish soap and olive oil) once per week or every other week depending on frequency of use. I have already repurchased this product and I do not plan to ever be without it, unless I find something comparable in price that works better. 

The Natural Hair Struggle Is Real

I suppose I should start off by telling you guys my hair story. If you do not care to read it just skip down to the pictures! For those of you who are curious about my strands, I will begin by saying that I have had long, thick, healthy hair for most of my life. I wore my hair natural or pressed during my childhood and at age 13, I made the decision to get a relaxer to fit in with my peers who did not have to worry about their hair reverting when the gym coaches required us to stay outside and run in spite of light rain. "Your hair will be so much longer relaxed", they said. (We know the power of shrinkage too well). I was all about flaunting my length so it seemed like a great idea! By the time I reached age 15, after nearly two years of getting re-touches every eight weeks, I experienced breakage in my crown. I am talking extreme breakage, where the hair in some places was 3-4 inches in length. That has always been a problem area for me, even to this day, that is the driest, most coarse part of my hair. I spent ages 10th and 11th grade in various braided styles to give my strands a break, in hopes of achieving the same hair health that I had in my pre-relaxer days. I started relaxing my hair during my senior year, and I ran into the same breakage issues. When I left for college, I started wearing microbraids/freestyle braids and wore them up until my senior year. My crown grew back but my hair was not as long and thick as I hoped it would be. During senior year, I wore my first sew-in and instead of perming my perimeter, I would have my friend relax my entire head and braid it up and sew it in. Needless to say, I broke my crown again! I started wearing braids and weaves and in November 2008, I got my last relaxer. I got a really short layered haircut (see below) and I had never seen my hair so short (it was a little past my shoulders in the back) and it seemed thin. I did not say "I am going natural" because I stereotyped natural hair as afros and being militant and low maintenance. I decided that I would wear weaves and braids for the rest of my life. Fastforward to February 2010, and I discovered makeup tutorials on YouTube, and as I was watching a young lady's channel, she had a video entitled "My Hair Story - Through Hell and Back". As I listened to her tell her story, I related with her issues of breakage and improper haircare practices, etc. She shared her products and regimen and I decided that I would give relaxers a try again and immediately booked an appointment with my long time hairstylist. When I arrived at the salon, I got nervous and decided to get it flat ironed. I was impressed by the length and health of my hair and knew then that I needed to continue the journey. I educated myself on haircare by watching vlogs, reading blogs, and participating in online communities. I parted ways with my relaxed ends September 2010 and here we are August 2013 and I am still living the lye-free life! When I am tired of my hair, I get a sew-in. I recently got my hair straightened last month and suffered heat damage in the nape area, so straightening is not a frequent option for me. I have posted pics below of various hairstyles that I have tried, along with pics of my hair during various stages of my journey. I plan to update this blog with product reviews and tips/techniques, so if you are interested in hair care stay tuned.

 

November 2008 - My last relaxer and my first major haircut

 

 

February 2010 - 15 months post-relaxer, flat-ironed and trimmed

 

 

September 2010 - the day after my big chop, my very first twistout. I remember using Yes to Cucumbers leave in conditioner. I never repurchased that product.

 

 

February 2011 - you could not tell me that this was not the best twistout ever! I used SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Kinky Curly Curling Custard.

 

 

 

 

 

The beginning of 2012. I am not sure what products I had or what my technique was during this particular day, but I remember raving about Saravun Castor cream around this time of the year. I probably twisted it the night before and put the top half up in a hair zing and slicked my edges with a pomade such as Hairveda Almond Glaze or MyHoneyChild Hair Grease.

 

 

 

Spring 2012 - A braidout with OHM hair pudding.

 

 

 

Spring 2012 - Things at work were slow so I was able to work out a lot during this time, and lived in buns and ponytails. Bun Life! I usually slick my edges with Claudie's Hair Revitalizer hair gel when I want it this smooth.

 

 

 

Protective style - summer 2012. My first and last time ordering kinky curly hair from AliExpress. It only lasted two weeks and I paid $200 for my sew-in so guess who was so upset!

 

 

 

Summer 2012 - my hair bounces right back after a sew-in. Hence the reason, it is so important to get protective styles done by professionals. I go to Chara Joyner of Houston Weaves.

 

 

 

 

November 2012 - The first time I had my hair straightened since going natural. Chara from Houston Weaves also straightens and trims my hair. I maintained it for three weeks by sleeping in flexi-rods each night.

 

November 2012 - my hair bounced right back after the flat iron. I did not suffer any heat damage. I just applied a curl cream and it reverted and this pic shows the results.

 

 

 

 

December 2012 - protective style, kinky curly hair from California Lace Wigs

 

Spring 2013 - an overnight wash and go with Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Donna Marie Dream Curling Cream. I like the curling cream for braidouts and twistouts but I do not recommend it for wash and go's especially for thick hair that may need a heavier product. If you are looking for a curl cream that will give you hold and definition without flakes, build-up and dryness, the DM curl cream is great. It was my go-to cream before I started doing more wash and go styles.

 

 

March 2013 - A twist out on lightly blow dryed hair

 

My length comparison pics - November 2012 vs. July 2013. I was a hostess in a wedding in July and I wanted to wear my hair wavy so I got it flat ironed and wore it in cornrows until the day of the wedding.

 

 

 

July 2013 - I did bantu knots to revert my flat ironed hair. I used water, Jane Carter wrap and roll foam, and Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic

 

 

 

 

Earlier this week after a workout - an old three strand twist out that was set using Anita Grant Creamy Café Latte, SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, and Donna Marie Dream Curling Cream.

 

I look forward to sharing more hairstyles and product reviews/progress with you beauty addicts! In the meantime feel free to ask questions or leave comments.