Just Juices and Berries

I am not writing this to bash ‘product junkies’. I  like trying out new things and for some people that could be hair care products. However, I am noticing a lot more emphasis being placed on products, in the natural hair community. On forums, blogs, YouTube and social networking sites, I am seeing different women post questions about what products to use to address certain hair ‘problems’.  For example: what product can I use to stretch out my hair? What product can I use to soften my hair? What product can I use to make my hair grow? I am thinking about going natural, what products should I be using?

I can’t help but believe that we are reverting back to the old mindset, that we simply need a magical product to make our hair perfect! This is opposed to simply learning how to manage our hair properly. Isn’t that how relaxers were presented to the black community, for decades? Relaxers, perms and texturizers were supposed to be magical products that would ‘fix’ our hair and take away all our hair problems.

This quick fix mindset is based on an unwillingness to do research and educate ourselves about our hair. It is quite concerning to see some women obsessing about products before they have even gone natural. This makes going natural a lot harder than it needs to be and I can imagine why some women find the concept quite daunting. When I first went natural I was living in the UK and most of the products mentioned on the internet were only available in the US. So I didn’t have access to a great number of products. To be honest the last thing I was thinking about was products because 99% of products in my local beauty supply contained harmful ingredients. I had learned about them through doing my research. I came to realize that most of the products I used when my hair was relaxed had sulphates, petroleum, silicones, alcohol, harsh perfumes parabens and other chemicals that I couldn’t even pronounce. It’s funny to see that those same black hair companies are now jumping on the natural bandwagon and releasing natural product ranges, to cater to the natural hair community. It’s good to see that they are taking notice and shows that we have a powerful voice.

However, due to the lack of quality hair care products at the time, I was only concerned about the benefits of natural ingredients. I learned about Shea butter, the benefits of plain water, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and aloe vera juice. This made my life a lot simpler and I wasn’t bombarded with the many products that are on the market today. I was able to focus on learning to manage my hair, and to this day I personally haven’t found a product that holds my twist outs as well as pure Shea butter does.  I haven’t found a product that moisturizes my hair as well as water does and I stretch my hair out by simply braiding or twisting it. A product by itself will not make your hair grow any faster or longer. Protective styling, moisturizing and being gentle with your hair will help you to retain length.

Of course I enjoy trying out new products from time to time and learning about different products can be part of your natural hair journey. However, when all else fails, I go back to my simple usage of water for moisturizing, oil for sealing in the moisture and my Shea butter for styling.  I’m not against products and I’m happy to see many black owned companies becoming successful. However, there is no product out there that will magically ‘fix’ your hair. You simply need to learn how to manage it properly. Some of us need to learn how to manage our hair with simple ‘juices and berries’ instead of looking for a magical product that simply doesn’t exist. We also need to consider being healthy overall; diet, exercise and water consumption can also affect our hair. Products can only enhance your hair, not make it into something it is not. ALL  hair  textures are beautiful, with or without the use of different products. Keep it simple when going natural and learn the important basics that will benefit you well into the future.

What do you think? Is there an obsession with products? Share your thoughts and ideas below.

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I can’t go natural! My hair is too tough (part 2)

Before concluding that your natural hair is too tough to manage, do some research

When I researched the best way to care for my hair I soon became aware of the mistakes I made and why I had problems managing it. I didn’t even comb my hair correctly.  Not being able to put a fine tooth comb through my hair from root to tip, left me to conclude that there was something wrong with my hair.  I should have been aware that kinky, coily afro textured hair should be combed with a wide tooth comb and combed gently from the ends, working out the knots and gradually moving the up towards the roots.  There are many examples of misconceptions related to detangling, moisturizing and styling natural hair.

If you think your hair is ‘too tough’ to go natural, do your research before concluding this. Here are some important facts about natural hair, if you weren’t aware of these then yes you would find it hard to manage your hair. If you apply these you will find managing your hair easier and become a pro in no time.

• Water moisturizes the hair not oil (although oil seals in the moisture).  It is your friend not your enemy so don’t avoid it.
• Hair can be washed while in loose braids or twists. The braided or twisted strands reinforce each other and less shrinkage, knotting and breakage occurs during washing.
• Many mainstream black hair care products have sulphates, silicones, petroleum and mineral oil. These clog and dry out the hair.
• Natural hair must be detangled regularly and shed hair should be removed in the process.
• Finger combing can be just as effective as combing but gentler and less damaging.
• Never comb your hair when it is dry and tangled. Spray it with water first.
• Afro textured hair is actually quite delicate and must be handled with care to avoid breakage.
• Shrinkage is good as it shows that your hair is healthy and reverting back to its natural curl pattern when wet.
• Natural hair can be stretched without using heat, simply putting your hair in large braids, twists or bantu-knots will stretch it out and make it more manageable for styling.
• Natural hair is very diverse and has many styling options appropriate for all occasions. Check out the posts: The versatility of natural hair part 1 and 2
• Rather than tough, natural hair is actually delicate and is prone to breaking off at the ends. Protective styles help to protect your ends and thus retain length.
• Sleeping on a satin pillowcase or covering your hair with a satin scarf will help to retain moisture while you sleep.
• Manage your hair in sections (usually 4-6 sections); don’t just plough a comb through your hair as this will lead to breakage. A small section of hair is less daunting than dealing with a full head of hair.

There is much more information about natural hair relating to products, hair types, styling and even how diet affects the hair.  Do your homework and you will feel more confident about going natural. Everyone’s hair is different and you will have to adapt the information to suit you but that’s what is so wonderful about natural hair. Saying you can’t go natural because your hair is too tough is like a learner driver saying they can’t drive because it is too difficult. Experienced drivers never say driving is too difficult because they know how to handle a car and deal with the roads.  Your hair isn’t too tough; you just haven’t learned how to manage it yet.

What was your main fear about going natural? How have you found the experience so far?

Share your stories below.

Deep conditioning with Carrot Oil

Since moving to America I have been unable to purchase this product. Sally’s use  to stock it apparently. Typical that they should stop when I move here and there is one down the road from me. Next time I go to the UK I will bring back at least ten bottles! I will be purchasing it from Amazon though while I’m here. In the UK it is so cheap to purchase (usually under £2 at Paks ) but it’s price is not a true reflection of how beneficial it is for your hair.  It can also be used on your skin! I find most natural products can be used for both your hair and skin.  I use it to condition my hair after shampooing. It can be heated up in a cup of hot water or you can apply it to your hair cold and sit under a heated cap. I prefer using a heated cap. I section my hair into four and apply it evenly, making sure that the ends are coated well.  You can mix it with your usual conditioner or use it by itself.  Once my hair is saturated in it I cover my head with a plastic cap and sit under my heated cap for 25-30 minutes.  Then I simply rinse my hair.

Some people may prefer to use it before washing as a ‘pre-poo’ conditioning process. This depends on your preference as some may find that it makes their hair too greasy. My hair soaks up moisture like a sponge so I prefer a simple rinse to keep most of it in my hair. If your hair is feeling dry you could just apply it as a moisturiser as well. The benefits I have noticed from using this are: less shedding, reduced number of split ends, it adds shine and moisturises my hair and scalp really well! So I would highly recommend this product. I haven’t tried any other brands but I guess if it’s 100% natural, carrot oil is pretty much the same anywhere. Does anyone else use this or is there another oil you use? Perhaps you use olive oil or coconut oil. If you try this let us know how it worked for you and if you know any stores that sell it in the States please let me know! It’s a shame Walmart doesn’t sell it.