Product Review: Mikalla Quadra Oil Hair Protein Treatment!

Pictures by DannySkech

 Hey guys! So today's post is the second in a four-part series reviewing Mikalla products. Over the weekend, I treated my hair using the Mikalla Quadra Oil Hair Protein Treatment which contains four natural oils, that is, olive oil, mint, wheat germ and shea butter. 

When it comes to oils, it is important to make a distinction on the two categories of oils; essential oils and carrier oils. Vegetable oils such as coconut and olive oil are classified as carrier oils used to dilute essential oils while also providing nourishment to your hair or body. Essential oils on the other hand, can be extracted from a wide range of plants (leaves, flowers, seeds). They have a strong scent and are very potent, hence the need to dilute them with carrier oils. The carrier oil, therefore 'carries' the essential oils to your hair or skin. Knowledge of this oil classification may inform you as you create your own homemade oil mix.

About the Mikalla Quadra Oil Hair Protein Treatment:

The Mikalla Quadra Oil Hair Protein Treatment contains a mix of both carrier and essential oils that enrich and nourish your hair. This amalgamation of these oils seeks to treat dry scalps and promote growth (mint), acts as a moisturizer and heat protectant (shea butter), infuse vitamins A, B, D, E and acts as a hair emollient (wheatgerm) and offers antibacterial qualities, acts as a natural conditioner and promotes growth (olive oil). 

My Review:

I am one of those people who love smelling products (even though scents may not contribute to the value of the product... think coconut oil....), so the first thing I did was to smell the product, which has a refreshing scent courtesy of the mint. The treatment comes in a variety of sizes and with affordable prices; 150g. (KShs. 110), 250g. (KShs. 225), 400g. (KShs. 350) and 1kg. (KShs. 785).

I started off by washing my hair with the Mikalla Honey & Butter Conditioner (this product will be in my next review) because I only shampoo my hair once a month. Hold up, that does not mean I only wash my hair once a month. Let me explain... Shampoos are naturally made to cleanse your scalp to be squeaky clean and may end up stripping off the sebum your scalp naturally produces. Frequent use of shampoo may result in dry hair meaning brittle strands that cause breakage. I therefore, choose to wash my hair with conditioner commonly referred to as 'co-washing', weekly or every fortnight which is a better option to keep your scalp clean without stripping your natural oils.

I loved the thick consistency of the product. Yessss!

 I applied my treatment in segments, which makes it easier to rinse off later on to avoid tangling. I placed a shower cap over my hair and stayed with the treatment for 45 minutes since I did not use a dryer/ steamer (which if I had I had, would have only required me to stay with the treatment for 15 minutes).

 I then did an apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse before oiling and styling.

 Verdict:
 My hair was so soft after I rinsed off the treatment and left free of any tangles! The only con was the fact that one of the ingredients included paraffinum liqidum, another term for mineral oil, which prevents healthy ingredients from penetrating the hair shaft, therefore preventing the hair from fully receiving the nutrients from the oils applied. I enjoyed using this product and would definitely recommend it!

Earrings- H&M | Leather Jacket- House of Holland | On my lips {MAC Nightmoth lipliner & MAC Diva lipstick}

Do not forget to check out my Instagram page {@threadmuse} for the weekly giveaway with Mikalla! Thank you for reading!

PRODUCT REVIEW: Mikalla Shampoo!

 Hey guys! If you follow me on Instagram, you definitely know that the good folks at Mikalla (from the Alkhemy Group) reached out to me to review their hair product line. This sponsored review will focus on the Mikalla's shampoo, conditioner, treatment and leave-in treatment for the next four weeks.

Before I go into the review, allow me to briefly share my hair story. I chopped my hair on 01. 01. 2013 as a new years resolution (yes, I am one of those...) but also with the aim of transitioning to natural hair. So after the big chop, I didn't do much to my hair for a whole year!! No one told me natural hair needed a whole lot of time and TLC.... talk of complete confusion and frustration! As a result of what I thought was complete disillusionment, in 2014, I had to invest a lot of time researching on natural hair products. So after a few trial and errors (and a lot of wasted money buying wrong products), ladies and gentlemen, I finally managed to develop a healthy regimen all done at the comfort of my home.

Now with all that information at hand, you can somewhat understand why I am particular when it comes to selecting hair products. Today's review will solely focus on the Mikalla shampoo and for every Monday for the next three weeks, I will be reviewing one of their products. There will be a giveaway every Saturday so look out for that!! 

About Mikalla:

The first thing I asked when I met the Mikalla team was the meaning of the name, which is Luhya for 'we have arrived'.  Mikalla is a relatively new product in the market that can be used by women (or men, hello!) with permed, texturized or natural hair. I was particularly happy to hear that they are a local brand which is great seeing as I am all for promoting our own, plus a good chunk of the hair products we buy are imported which doesn't give opportunity for local brands to grow. The Mikalla Cleansing & Conditioning Shampoo has vitamin B5 that strengthens hair while maintaining its moisture, is paraben-free and consists of low sulphate and salt. The shampoo is available in 500ml. (KShs. 150), 1 ltr. (KShs. 200) and 5 ltrs. (KShs. 460). You can buy the Mikalla range of products from these outlets.

My Review:

So I did a wash and go with the Mikalla shampoo last weekend. 

 I undid my two strand flat twists and finger detangled.

The Mikalla shampoo really lathers well, so a little goes a long way.

 The shampoo softened my hair and you can clearly see my curl definition.

 I then rinsed my hair. Yo, that shrinkage is REAL!

 I then applied the Mikalla Total Moisture Boost Leave-In Treatment (I will review this too in the coming weeks) and my homemade oil mix as I styled my hair.

Below: Earrings- Woolworths | Jumper- Toi Market

 Verdict: 

I only blow dry my hair once a year when I go for a trim so I loved how refreshing my scalp felt after using this shampoo. I am also trying a no-comb experiment to try retain length by only finger detangling, so I was excited to discover how easy it was to style my hair after rinsing out the shampoo. The only con was the fact that one of the ingredients included sulphur, which I am not very keen on. All in all, I liked the product!

Finally, the gift hamper that one lucky winner will win every Saturday for the next four weeks! Follow me on Instagram (@threadmuse) to enter! Have a blessed Thursday guys!

Oven-grilled Chicken, Chips & Stir-fry Vegetables!

Cooking is about passion, so it may look slightly temperamental in a way that it's too assertive to the naked eye ~ G. Ramsey

Pictures by DannySkech

Anyone who knows me well definitely comprehends the kind of love relationship I have with food. It's deep. I cook when I am happy. I cook when I need to clear my mind. I cook when I am angry (...yes, and it still turns out good, if I say so myself :-). .... Basically, I cook a lot! It is intrinsic and I love it.

I haven't had a food post on the blog for a while and that had something to do with my numerous recent trips. 

My hope is that this segment of the blog shares quick and easy meals that anyone could effortlessly re-create using locally available produce. Anyway, back to the post. I made this easy meal last weekend. Just follow the quick recipes if you want to recreate the same meal. Enjoy!

{All the ingredients that you need}

{Sauces for the marinade}

Step 1:

1. Marinade the chicken.

{I used all the sauces above, sea salt, black pepper, onion and garlic}

Step 2:

Add olive oil, black pepper and some salt to the chips. {You can choose any other spice you like}

Step 3:

Lightly stir fry the onion, garlic, sweetcorn,  mushrooms, courgette, green pepper, tomato, basil leaves and coriander.

Step 4:

Put the chips and the chicken in the oven and keep flipping them as they cook along.

Finished product!

Have a blessed Thursday!