10.27.2008

Natural Hair Care 101: Product Review

Hola Buppies! So far it's been almost 1 year since I've gone completely natural (after a couple failed attempts) and my hair has grown like CRAZY (almost shoulder length already). So as you can imagine, it's been quite an experiment with different hair products and techniques to keep my hair looking its best. It has to be one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences to go from shoulder length relaxed hair, to no hair, to reintroducing yourself to your natural hair texture.

So today I'll just give a brief synopsis of the products that have worked best for me. If you have any feedback, please share with the community!

1. I'm using most of the Miss Jessie's line: specifically the Curly Pudding daily (and Baby Buttercreme every other day), which keeps my hair moisturized for straight out of the shower curls.

2. I'm also using the Miss Jessie's curly meringue for my straw sets and two strand twist outs. I don't necessarily like the smell but it works like a charm. I despise hair spritz or setting lotion or gels because it hardens my hair and dries it out, this is a great alternative. It gives a slight hold that actually doesn't dry your hair out or leave residue. Good deal. (btw, I also add Carol's Daughter Tui Jojoba & Shea Butter Sheen as a finisher for my twist out styles).
*Note with the MJ products, be sure not to use it too heavily (I've been there and it looks like I have a gherri curl! - not a good look unless your hair is still short and manageable).

3. I know it sounds like I'm getting paid by Miss Jessie's but for real, you MUST do the rapid recovery treatment once/week. Even if you don't try ANY of the other MJ products, this one is magic. Made with avacado cream and shea butter, this product will transform dull, matted, dry hair back into shiny manageable curls in a matter of minutes (this chick should give me a job). To further extend the benefits of this deep conditioner, you can try an overhead hair dryer for the best results. But if you're anti-heat products like I am - add it to your wet shampoo'd hair and add a shower cap before you shower. The steam from a 15 minute shower will be more than enough heat for it to work.

4. One of the main reasons I went natural is for hair health. I'd been noticing thinning around my hair line and breakage along the ends of my hair. However, during this past year I have consistently been using a product recommended by my stylist, and it's AWESOME. It's called "Ces Cheveux Hair & Scalp Revitalizer" It's pretty difficult to find, but worth paying shipping and buying online. Luckily I have a store a few miles away that carries it. I attribute the thickening and growth of my hair mostly to this product - the rest is just genes.

5. Okay, now for my regular shampoo and conditioner (I wash my hair about 3 times/week and rinse daily). For shampoo I alternate between Nioxin Cleanser and Nexxus Botanoil Treatment Shampoo. For conditioner I use Nioxin Scalp Therapy and occassionally Hair Rules Nourishment Leave-in Conditioner.

Well I know this sounds like a LOT of products, but I'm still testing the waters to see what really works best. I'm also playing a lot with accessories and styles and will share that along with my daily regimen soon.

Here are some of my questions to you natural ladies (and fellas):

  • What are some of YOUR favorite products?
  • Do you wrap your hair in a silk scarf at night? I don't unless I have a new style...should I?
  • Do you sleep on silk pillow cases/sheets? - I don't...probably should.
  • Do you pre-poo (condition your hair before shampooing)? - I do this about half the time.
  • What has been your largest problems with your hair since your transition? - Mine has been moisture! Not to mention matting when I don't stick to my regular regimen or after certain styles.
  • How often do you get your hair trimmed? - I used to every 4-6 weeks, but can't remember the last time I had a trim. I asked for one the last couple times at the salon (which is like once every 2 months now and they said I didn't need it). Not sure if this natural hair salon is looking out for hair health - shouldn't I have a trim by now?
Ok, I guess that's enough for now, lol.

Smooches.

17 comments:

Unknown October 27, 2008 at 12:56 PM  

* What are some of YOUR favorite products?
I love the Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Hair Lotion, Dark and Lovely Naturally Soothing Sensations Peppermint Shampoo, and Shea Butter

* Do you wrap your hair in a silk scarf at night? I don't unless I have a new style...should I?
I was under the impression you should always sleep with a silk scarf.. or at least a silk pillow case :D

* Do you sleep on silk pillow cases/sheets?
I do.. because some nights i'm too lazy or caught up in other stuff to keep a scarf on.

* Do you pre-poo (condition your hair before shampooing)?
Nope..

* What has been your largest problems with your hair since your transition?
Moisture, what products work/don't work, temptations to straighten it..

* How often do you get your hair trimmed?
I did my BC in 2007, I would get my 'fro shaped.. but I haven't been trimmed, shaped, etc since about jan '08.. maybe it's about time? :D

T October 28, 2008 at 9:39 AM  

I absolutely LOVE this post and I may do a similar (read:identical) one soon!

Here are answers to your questions.

What are some of YOUR favorite products? I use olive oil, burts bees raspberry and brazil nut conditioner (sometimes the shampoo). I use Miss Jessies curly buttercreme (I don't dig the baby buttercreme at all). I use Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla leave-in conditioner. It doens't condition much, but it gives shines and smells fab. I also use IC Fantasia Hair Gel (the truth) for defining curls. That's about it.

Do you wrap your hair in a silk scarf at night? Never. I rarely wrap my hair at all. Now that it's getting longer I might have to start though, cause I wake up in the middle of the night thinking someone's in my house when it's just my hair all over the damn place. LOL!

Do you sleep on silk pillow cases/sheets? - No ma'am, but does 400 count Egyptian cotton count. LOL!

Do you pre-poo (condition your hair before shampooing)? - This is actually all I do. Olive oil, then burts bees and that's it (IC Fantasia for curly coils, MJ curly buttercreme for curly fro). I wet and condition my hair most days.

What has been your largest problems with your hair since your transition? - It's not a problem per se, but the unpredictable nature of my hair is both a blessing and a curse. Will it curl, coil, matt up, dry up, or well up. It's a new adventure every morning.

How often do you get your hair trimmed? - I haven't had it trimmed in a year (ICK!), but I never wear it straight, so it really doesn't SEEM to matter. I'm going to get it straightened and trimmed in November, which will mark the one year anniversary of the last time I had it straightened and trimmed. I might make it a once a year deal. I'm a little afraid of heat damage.

Again, fab post!

Indulgenceiskey December 19, 2008 at 1:09 PM  

What are some of YOUR favorite products?

My favorites are Suave Huectant Conditioner, Elasta QP H-two Leave-in Mosture Sealer and Conditioner, Nourishing Hair Butter made by myself, and S-curl Texturizing and Styling Gel. This gel doesn't leave your hair hard, crunchy and dry like most other gels.

Do you wrap your hair in a silk scarf at night? I just began wrapping my hair in a satin head scarf but I have always slept on a satin pillowcase.

Do you pre-poo?
Maybe about 4 times a year because I rerely use Shampoo, but when I do use it I pre-poo with Suave Humectanct conditioner or Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner.

What has been your largest problems with your hair since your transition?

The largest problem that I have had since my transition two years ago has been knots. I get them all of the time. I dust my hair and they come back. I know that it is due to me now really wearing any protective styles and not doing regular Deep Conditioning Treatments. BUT I have began a new hair care regimine on my hair and I am truly focusing on keeping the knots at bay! I deep condition weekly with Elasta QP DRP-11.

How often do you get your hair trimmed?
I dust (stretch out strands of your hair and clip off any split ends or knots you find) my hair once a month and trim twice a year.



www.indulgenceiskey.blogspot.com

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Products for Hair Loss November 22, 2010 at 11:16 PM  

Congratulations. If ever, do you have any suggestions for those who want to have BIG curls? and their maintaining treatments. thanks in advance

Hair Loss Treatment December 7, 2010 at 1:24 AM  

It's really hard to maintain the kind of hair we had.

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There's nothing beats people with natural hairs. They gives pride to there race.

James | Man Hair Loss January 3, 2011 at 11:29 PM  

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thinning hair January 19, 2011 at 7:05 PM  

* What are some of YOUR favorite products?
Pantene extensive conditioner


* Do you wrap your hair in a silk scarf at night?
sometimes

* Do you sleep on silk pillow cases/sheets?
yes. cause there are times I was too tired to do other things than sleeping

* Do you pre-poo (condition your hair before shampooing)?
sometimes if there were enough time.

* What has been your largest problems with your hair since your transition?
Moisture

* How often do you get your hair trimmed?
every two weeks

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