“I am currently taming the beast!” is a common phrase to be heard escaping the mouths of many African American women. No, we aren’t referring to our adorable pooches, but the regal mane that drapes across our cute chocolate faces—our hair. With more women of color embracing natural hairstyles, we have come to an understanding that our hair is only as bad as what we put in it. Going natural can be a freeing and boosting experience; accepting your natural hair is like accepting the finger prints on your hand; it is who you are. Yes, the transition from relaxed to natural is grueling and can be stressful at times, but finding the right products for your hair type is more than half of the battle.
Saying there is a large variety of hair products for natural hairstyles is an understatement. Products can be categorized by: hair type, curl pattern, natural ingredients, sulfate, parabens free, price range, generic or label, and fragrance or fragrance free, and the list continues inde?nitely. However, what is most important is discovering which products help your hair grow healthy. It is imperative to understand that what works for one person won’t work for everyone. This fact makes the search that much more fun! It leaves room for experimentation and truly ?nding what you do and don’t like. Here are some popular products that might help you in your journey to reaching that desired state of au natural.
Shampoo:
Dr. Bonner’s Peppermint Castille Soap– ($14.76): The top selling natural soap in the United States. It contains all natural and certified organic ingredients, making it also 100% vegan. A little of this product goes a long way, meaning you don’t have to use too much to efficiently clean your hair. Beware of getting the product in your eyes however, because it stings… Ouch!
Another organic shampoo is Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo– ($9.99):
This shampoo helps regulate sebum production while alleviating itchiness and ?aking. That all sounds great! But what is sebum production you ask? Sebum production or “skin oil” is produced by your sebaceous glands located in your skin. These oils protect, moisturize and waterproof your skin—well in this case your scalp. However, when sebaceous glands become overactive or fail to secrete these oils properly, your hair texture and moisture levels can be affected.
The last shampoo on my list is Zipporah Beauty Citrus Delight Shampoo (sulfate free): Shampoos containing sulfates are very vital and important for relaxed hair. Sulfates extract all the natural and foreign oils from your hair, which is great for women with perms who want light and buoyant hair that isn’t weighed down by oils. Natural hair is different; it needs more moisture than relaxed hair. You don’t want your products working against you by extracting essential oils from your natural hair that will keep it moisturized for easy manageability.
Conditioner:
Discovering a bomb conditioner is paramount because it provides moisture for your hair in its weakest state (when it is wet).
Curl Junkie’s Hibiscus & Banana Honey “Butta” Leave-In-Conditioner– ($20.00):
This adds lasting moisture, smoothes frizz and de?nes your speci?c curls and coils. If the price for Curl Junkie is a little too steep, try Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Crème– ($5.39).
This crème is an intensive, deep and penetrating leave-in conditioning treatment made with pure shea butter combined with other natural oils which not only stops but repairs breakage along with split ends. It also hydrates and moisturizes your hair while protecting it from heat damage. However, this product does not mix well with other products. Results are best when simply used alone. This product also has build up and can ?ake if you use too much. Not cute…so make sure you don’t glop it all on your hair at once.
Styling and Moisturizer:
The products you use daily to style and moisturize your hair can make the difference between mornings full of hassle or mornings that are filled with bliss.
Shea Moisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie– ($9.99):
A personal favorite; it contains coconut oil, silk proteins and Neem oil and is sulfate and parabens free. This product adds moisture and shine to hair by only using about a quarter-size amount for each section of hair. An added bonus is its delicious smelling fragrance.
Kinky Curly Original Curling Custard– ($30.00): If you aren’t afraid to break the bank, Kinky Curly gives your hair moisture and adds definition to your curls. This product also enhances natural wave and curl patterns by helping elongate your curls, allowing them to hang perfectly. It is made with all natural ingredients that help moisturize and add definition to your curls while promoting healthy shine and keeping frizz at bay.
When you constantly use a product, it can sometimes lose its potency, and your hair ceases to respond with satisfactory results. So try occasionally switching up your regimen, which benefits your hair. Another way to combat this problem, besides temporarily discarding your favorite product, is by creating a unique product of your own. Good ingredients to use in conjunction with store bought products are black soap, Shea butter, virgin olive and coconut oil, and honey. Cayenne pepper, mint and rosemary oil are also great ingredients that help stimulate your scalp and promote growth. These are just a few of the products out there to help you style your hair! Even if you do end up using and enjoying them, don’t stop searching! You never know, you might discover another product that works even better with your hair.