An Open, Honest Review of E'Tae on 4c Hair

So I broke down and bought the products.  I wanted to see how it would work on 4c/ 4z hair (because some days I really don't know).  Unfortunately in the lovely videos I kept seeing for the product, I didn't see hair that looked like mine.  So I started to question if it even worked or if it was just the tools used.  I went into this experience as a non-believer with very low expectations.

I ordered the products: the Ultimate Bundle for $73.96+ tax. 




This package includes: the Carmel Treatment, Carmelux Shampoo, Carmelux Conditioner, and Buttershine --everything needed for straightening the hair. When they arrived, I was kind of disappointed.  Everything looked so much smaller than on the order site.  I put off using the products for a couple weeks, since we were having a lot of rain in Mississippi.  I also think I put it off wanting to avoid confirming I'd wasted my money on products that would do nothing for my hair.

Here is what my hair normally looks like after shampooing:

Cut to actually using the products:

Step 1: Carmel Deep Reconstructing Treatment

I sectioned hair in four sections,  used my water bottle to spray my hair with water until it was dripping then I applied product to each section.  Finally I twisted each section (4) total twists, and covered with plastic cap. My hair was pretty wet so I put a scarf around it to keep it from dripping. I ended up sleeping with the product in my hair.  So it was on from midnight to about 8:00 am. The next morning I washed it out in the shower. 

My reaction: Um... I guess 

I was actually kind of disappointed by the product. I guess I thought my hair would be a lot softer. But I guess it's like a pre-poo, so I talked myself into going to the next step so I could achieve the miracle results shown in the videos. 

The Good:  THE SMELL!  I loved the smell of the product. 

The Bad: IT IS STICKY! When it dries, it is like syrup on your skin. But it smells like bananas and honey. So that's to be expected. 

Step 2: Carmelux: Deep Treatment Shampoo

I followed the directions on the bottle - shampoo, massage, rinse, and repeat. As it warns on the website, the first round DID NOT result in lather.  I left the product on for 10 min during the second round.

My reaction: OK now we're doing something!!!

Let me go back: I'm a 4c natural who actually uses some shampoos with sulfates from time to time. Although they strip everything from my hair, I use them every few months to do just that -strip all the product from my hair and scalp and start over.  Unfortunately it takes a couple shampoos with non-sulfate products to stop the dryness that results.  Yes, I know it's a bad cycle, but I have to do what works for this disloyal scalp of mine. Anyway...

The Good: This product really seemed to work like a shampoo with sulfate.  It left my hair feeling product free yet moisturized.

The Bad: The smell.  I hated the smell! Hated it! However, I'm a spoiled natural who uses products that claim to have coconut and mango and all kinds of fragrances that lead me to believe they are natural and great for my hair. I sniff EVERY product I buy. EVERY SINGLE ONE. Would I have bought this product if I had smelled it prior to buying? No. 

Step 3: Carmelux Silk Protein Conditioner

I applied the conditioner and combed through. I left it on my hair uncovered an hour --much longer than I probably needed to, but I should add this was the weekend the new season of OITNB was released, so my hair had to wait til the end of the episode. Then I rinsed it out.

My reaction: Yaaaaaaaaaaaass!!

Wow! So I could feel the softness. My hair was softer--not the softest ever but definitely soft. The best part was the shine. My hair never shines after shampooing or cowashing. Even before heat, the shine was kind of amazing.

After blow drying (on medium heat), my hair felt really soft though some of the shine went away. But it came out much less puffy and straighter than EVER before after blow drying. Unfortunately my hair tangles a lot. So I'm guessing I had a lot of fairy knots   It was NOT caused by the products though. This happens every time I straighten it. 

 

...and then, yes, I trimmed it!!Or cut it.

 

Step 4:  Buttershine Moisturizer

I added a very small amount (1/4 dime size)--similar to what they show in the videos.  Then I flatironed on medium heat using only one pass. I did the "chase method" most of the process but towards the front I stopped. I didn't think I needed it. Next time I will continue using it because the front of my hair reverted first.

My reaction: Hot damn, this ish works!

My hair was straight, had movement, and shine.  Then I trimmed more...

Before curling with the flat iron, I added more buttershine--same amount as before.Now that's when the shine really appeared!!!! It looked really good!  I put it in rollers as I went since I was headed out, but still had to shower and all that jazz. I failed to take pictures...sorry, but here was the final product:

Day 2: Sunshine, blue skies, woke up, hair a mess --apparently I sweat at night.  

I also did not consider how I should manage my hair at night.  So I didn't wrap or roll it the night before.  It was still straight, but it was BONE STRAIGHT.  I went back to my old habits, and broke out the curling iron.  I curled it on low heat after applying more Buttershine.

After church I put my hair in 4 Bantu knots and finished OITNB (and napped). That night I pin-curled it in about 8 large curls, adding more Buttershine to each section. I must note my hair was still very soft and straight with very little frizz, it was also not weighed down despite the additional Buttershine I added EACH time I manipulated it.

Day 3: Sunshine...then rain, but I loved the result of the pincurls

Day 4: Sunshine but the pincurls did not work as well.  I didn't want to take a picture because I was so annoyed with my results.

Day 5: I rolled and slept in perm rods --the purple ones.  I loved the results!!!! Then it rained.  I suffered the attack of 15-20 drops. Roots broke free! 

Day 6 - Day 10: Every night I rolled and slept in perm rods.  No additional heat, but I added Buttershine before rodding each night.  It was still very bouncy and light each day.

Please note the shine on Day 10.  Here are additional pictures from the same day.  One at the beginning and one at the end. Ignore my roots.  I got rained on at least one more time between day 6 and day 10.

So by Day 10, I was over straight hair.  I didn't feel like putting rods in my hair, and I kind of missed my curls. So I pre-pooed with coconut oil overnight, and then shampooed, conditioned, and wore a puff the next day. 

I was very nervous during the pre-poo, because my curls did not return as soon as the water hit my hair as it usually does.

Next Day's Puff: No heat damage!!!

Overall I will use the products to straighten my hair again (because I paid $70) but only in the winter and after I learn what to do at night to maintain it. 

I should note, Carmel expires...so if you only straighten your hair once a year, it may be best to share in the cost. 

I don't know how the results would compare to a professional blowout, as I have not been in a salon chair since I've been natural (2012).  So it's great if you just want to do it yourself or have a friend do it for you.  Again, I'm a natural who didn't really know what to do with relaxed hair when I had it.  I don't know why I thought straightening my hair would be different. 

I did use the products again a week or so later, but then I followed up with a twist out.  My hair was just as soft as before, and I probably had the most defined twistout ever! It lasted almost a full week with no retwisting.  Though that may mean nothing to some ladies, for me, that's amazing!

 

 ...and the twistout revealed that I did, in fact, not trim my hair.  It was definitely cut!