I am always on the quest to find the “must have” hair care products. And since making the choice to go natural almost a year ago, my quest has that much more of a purpose. Most people think that going natural means less maintenance for your hair, but really, in my opinion, there’s more.
Through my quest to find the best of the best, I have put together my natural hair survival kit. My list of “must have” products from start to finish.
Shampoo:
Mizani True Texture Natural Hair Curl Balance and Natural Hair Cleansing Cream. They are very gentle on the hair. They’re both sulfate free. Sulfate=dry, stripped hair. Detangling is easy and your hair will not tangle while washing. If you co-wash or condition wash, then you will want both. You will use the Cleansing Cream if you are co-washing. Co-washing is an awesome way to keep your hair clean between regular shampooing.
Another shampoo is Essentious’ Exonerate. This is 100% all natural, very gentle. It reminds me of baby shampoo. You don’t need a lot, the lather is beautiful.
Wash out conditioner:
You always want a conditioner that keeps your hair hydrated. Natural hair has a tendency to be very dry. Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner is awesome. This conditioner will moisturize your hair and keep it that way. It will not harden in your hair like some conditioners do. Detangling is easy. My bangs are the driest part of my hair, and after the first use, I could see a difference.
Styling products, to me are as important as cleansing.
Leave in conditioners: Again, it is all about moisture. I will let you in on a secret, if you use a leave in, while your hair is wet, it will absorb the conditioner better and will leave your hair moisturized for days. I have two in my kit. The first is Mixed Chicks Leave In Conditioner. This will define your curls and eliminate frizz! Depending on curl type and density there are two different ways to apply the conditioner and both videos can be found on my blog. It does kind of harden, but no more than a mild hold hairspray.
The second is Mizani Butter Cream. I use this if I am wearing my hair straight or any style that I don’t need my curls defined. It leaves the hair soft and manageable. Both are great as far as hydrating the hair, especially the ends. These are the oldest and most fragile part of your hair.
Styling Gel:
This is not a must have item, but if you are going to use a styling gel it is best to try and get one that has no alcohol, it is very drying. Thanks to youtube, I was introduced to Eco Styling Gel. You can use it to define your curls, you can use it to mold down your hair. It steps up when other gels fall because of your curly hair. This gel is alcohol free, it comes in different types. And you can grab it at your local beauty supply store like Sally’s.
Heat protective:
This IS a must if you plan on using ANY kind of heat on your hair. Matter of fact that goes for everyone, not just naturals. We all know heat is very damaging to the hair, and some use heat way more than they should, so for this reason a good heat protective is essential. Again through youtube research, I can across Redkins Smooth Down Heat Glide. I LOVE this product. It pulls double duty here, not only will it protect your hair from heat, it will give it a beautiful shine if you are flat ironing. I will caution you, this product does smoke when using it with direct heat like a flat iron, don’t panic, it is the product burning, not your hair.
Hair spray:
Hold hair spray is so important to me. I have thin hair so in order for me to keep certain styles I need a good hold hair spray. Again, you want to find sprays that are not so drying on the hair. I use Garnier Fructis Anti Humidity Hairspray. I use the highest hold and it is still flexible and I haven’t noticed any drying. Great with frizz control.
Now, the other spray I use is Pump It Up. I use this spray only if I a styling my hair using extensions or on the extensions. I use it in addition to the eco to mold my hair. This is a very good spray if you want your hair to never move, but because of what it does there is a lot of alcohol in it. And it is very drying. So use it very little.
So now you know what’s in my natural hair survivor kit. I hope it has helped beginning naturals with what to look for. I know it was crazy when I first went natural. It is all about research and knowing with it is that you want from a product. More money doesn’t always mean better quality. I am still on my quest and I am always looking to update my “must haves” so who knows, I may just have to do a revised list sometime in the future. And remember if all else fails, Youtube is the best ever!
You can find products on these websites: Mizani, Essentious, Mixed Chicks, Redkin, Garnier, Pump It Up, and Eco Styler
I’m MarieRedd. I own the blog Fashion 24/7 and Faces of Angels. Which is my new blog that is in progress. Fashion is more than clothes and accessories to me. It is a way of life. I love being a blogger and my goals with the new blog is to spread the word on child abuse awareness. Tell their stories. I belong to Fashion Network Industry, iFashion, Shine and Blog Catalog. I am also an adoption assistant at DCFS here in my home state. I love what I do.
