I don’t think I’ve mentioned hair yet on this blog. My own hair has been a challenge for most of my adult life. It’s fairly thick, but it grows in a strange mix of curly and wavy textures. I don’t color or straighten it, so it’s as natural as it can be, but it’s still prone to dryness.

I’m completely devoted to my stylist, who prevents any potential hair-chaos with long layers and careful shaping. Without him, I’d be a mess. On my own, I use gentle shampoo and conditioner and I blow-dry with a diffuser after applying a curly-hair styling cream. Sometimes, especially in cold, dry winter weather or humid summer weather, my hair still needs a little extra something. The challenge is adding moisture without weighing down my style.

There are dozens of hair “serums” on the market, at all price points, but most of them only seem to work well for a few days before they backfire and make my hair feel greasy, or uncontrollable, or both. And I’m a little tired of anti-frizz or conditioning products that claim to contain miracle oils gathered from the farthest corners of the globe but are actually silicone-based. (Read the labels!)

All this explains why I was so happy to come across Anjolie Ayurveda’s Lavender Hair Elixir. This potion includes essential oils of lavender and neem in a base of sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, amla, eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil. All natural! No silicones, no mineral oil, no parabens… nice and simple.

Lavender Hair Elixir is a multi-use item, and I’ve tried it a few ways. When I’m getting ready in the morning, I often mix one or two drops of Elixir into my usual styling cream before scrunching it through my curls. For an overnight conditioning treatment, once a week or so, I’ll work three or four drops of Elixir through my hair (which is usually just a little shorter than shoulder-length). The product has a smooth, non-sticky consistency and a light lavender scent. You could even apply it to dry skin on arms or legs as a moisturizing oil.

When I use this Elixir, my hair feels softer (but not droopy) and easier to manage. I get good “curl formation” and a little extra shine, not to mention cumulative conditioning benefits. One bottle—and the packaging is pretty, by the way—will last a long time, even with daily use. It’s amazing how a tiny bit of the right product can address several of my hair issues. I might even be ready to face the summer humidity this year!

Lavender Hair Elixir sells for $24 (110 ml). It can be purchased through the Anjolie Ayurveda website and at other locations carrying the Anjolie line.

Disclaimer: this product was provided as a press sample by Anjolie Ayurveda.

Image: close-up product photo by Tinsel Creation; product/atmosphere photo from Anjolie website; vintage illustration of a woman holding out her hair, via art.com. (My husband recently gave me a wooden trinket-box with this image applied to the lid, and I thought it would be the perfect picture for a post about hair troubles!)