Tui Hair Oil from Carol’s Daughter is a fragranced product that looks just the way it smells. Orange- and red-tinted dried flowers float and drift within its gold-colored liquid, creating a dreamy, sunset-hued effect that reminds me variously of a lava lamp, a tropical cocktail, or some arts-and-craft project from nature camp.
I was initially a bit hesitant about using Tui Hair Oil, especially since the ingredients (primarily corn oil, “infused with chamomile and calendula”) sounded too heavy for my hair. I tried it first as a deep-conditioning treatment on a weekend morning, rubbing a quarter-size amount of the oil into my hair (avoiding my scalp) and leaving it there for a half-hour before shampooing. While it was soaking in, I was able to enjoy its scent. Carol’s Daughter describes the Tui fragrance as a blend of guava, mango, and passion fruit; it’s definitely a juicy, upbeat scent, and it brings back memories of the red Jolly Ranchers candies that were so popular in my grade school one spring. Just like the flavor of those enticing little bricks of translucent color, it’s a brightly artificial fragrance, yet it’s agreeable in its own youthful, unpretentious way.
Having enjoyed the results of my pre-wash conditioning, which left my hair feeling smooth and soft, I eventually moved on to using Tui Hair Oil as a leave-in product. Rather than applying it directly to my towel-dried hair, I mixed two or three drops with my favorite styling gel in the palm of my hand. This combination made my hair shinier and considerably tamer than usual: I lost a little volume, but my hair’s waves and curls were still nicely intact, with their early-summer frizz kept in check. When the Tui Hair Oil was diluted in this manner, its scent was a subtle hint of island fruit that lasted for a few hours before gently fading away.
Then again, if you’re definitely in the mood for the Tui fragrance and you want to smell it at full volume, this product can also be used as body oil. Carol’s Daughter doesn’t actually suggest that, but I received this recommendation from other users, and it works just fine.
Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Oil sells for $8.50 for 2 fl. oz. and $18 for 8 fl. oz. For buying information, see the listing for Carol’s Daughter under Perfume Houses.
Jessica: I assume Carol's daughter has skin and hair as dry as the Sahara desert…every one of these products I've bought I've given away….HEAVY as a brick…a skin cream I bought was as dense and fatty as lard.
Ah, I used to LOVE Carol's Daughter. It's excellent for people of color whose hair and skin get really dry. My hair, for example, needs to be tamed on a regular basis. But since I started using Carol's Daughter it's really caught on and gone from niche to Sephora. The price has totally exceeded my budget and they've discontinued the stuff I liked.
But they still have their Jamaican Punch scent, which I looooooove.
Kevin, I've never met the eponymous Carol's Daughter, so I don't know what her own particular skin- and haircare needs might be! I do have dry hair, however, so this oil seems to work for me. (Some of the other hair products are much heavier.) I also like the Almond Cookie body butter.
You're right, Chandrahasa, the brand has really expanded over the past couple of years. I'm glad they offer *some* of their scents in smaller sizes (and smaller prices), at least. The 2 oz. bottle of this oil would be enough to last me for a year!
Oooh, that's for me! The lardier the better .I'm not particularly dry, but like to be slathered in grease. I'll have to check out the line – I've looked at it at Sephora but haven't tried anything.
Tama, LOL! I like the Shea Souffle, but maybe you'd prefer something denser! Check out the Rose and Lemon Hand Cream if you like heavy-duty moisture for your hands.
I've not tried the Tui hair oil but am a devotee of the Lisa's Hair Elixir, which I use as a scalp massage (as you did with Tui, prior to washing) and also just to rub a bit of it on my ends – I have very curly, dry hair. I think a lot depends upon the type of hair you have – if it's fine or if you really hate OIL, these ain't the products for you.
The Lisa's HE has a nice peppermint/sage smell that is part Aveda, part head shop and seems to help calm a fractious scalp and crabby hair. However, I use it sparingly as it can clash with certain perfumes.
Corn Oil? I didn't know that – LHE has soil and almond oil (no corn, as far as I can see on the label)….wonder if it would work if I just infused some Wesson with some essential oils? Just askin…
Mamambear, I've heard that the Hair Elixir is very popular, so I might take a look at that next time I'm in Sephora. I agree that hair-type is an important factor; these are definitely not products for people with fine or oily hair. The corn oil in Tui was a first for me, too. For some reason, though, I'd rather use corn oil than silicones. I don't know how illogical that is!
I don't think it's illogical at all! Why should corn oil be any less 'natural' than soy? I'd just never heard of corn oil as a beauty treatment, which may be as much a result of me not paying attention as anything else.
Do try the HE when you get a chance. I have noticed a real improvement in my hair, especially along the hairline, where it was breaking off due to extreme stress and hair coloring (bad combo). I still color, but less often and the HE seems to be repairing some of the damage. Still working on the stress:-)
Thanks! That sounds pretty yummy, as does the shea souffle. I use the heavy duty stuff on my elbows and feet.
Kevin, I agree. I've tried these products over & over, hoping to find something that works for me, but for someone with oily skin & fine, oily hair it's just too much grease. I like the concept and design of this line, but alas, I'll have to admire it on someone else!
Carol's Daughter was created for African-American hair and skin.
Thanks! And good luck with the stress, of any kind. 🙂
Hi Princess, That seems to have been the impetus behind the company's creation and its earliest products, but I'm sure that users of many backgrounds would find the products interesting, if they have dry/curly/coarse hair or dry skin. Then again, some of the products, like the shower gels, soaps, and foot-care, would be fun for almost anyone to try!