10 Products that Saved My Natural Hair
- Nike Anderson
- Feb 20, 2016
- 4 min read
For three years, the length of my hair never left my shoulders. I big chopped the year of 2006, but experienced not only slow growth, but extreme dryness and breakage. In a nutshell, my hair was breaking off at the same rate it was growing. I didn’t know that my journey had a name then. I didn’t even know that it had a community that could help me. All I knew was my relaxed year was damaged and needed to go. I eventually learned that, chemical free or not, if I didn’t learn healthy haircare practices, I was doomed to repeat the vicious cycle of damage.
I found the natural hair community on Youtube in the year of 2008. This community introduced me to some great healthy haircare habits. By 2009, I started to see the fruit of my labor. And even though I had some major bumps in the road (do to straying from my regimen), these ten products have proven to play a major role in retaining length and overall healthy-looking hair. So without further ado, here are my ten ride or die products.
1. Hair steamer. I've been using the hair steamer religiously for six years. My hair cannot be without it! I've had three agonizing years of being natural before I invested in this product. During those years, my hair was always dry and unmanageable. Since day one, I've noticed the improvement a good steam treatment makes on my hair. My strands are pliable, soft, and retains more moisture. See it here.
2. Unrefined shea butter. My fine strands love the protective coating of shea butter. Since I've been using this product, my hair stays moisturized practically the entire week. There was a lapse in my healthy hair journey when I strayed from this product. And, trust me, I could see and feel the difference. My hair was not as soft and lustrous. So, of course I went back to this tried and trusted product, and my hair is thanking me for it. See it here.
3. ORS Hair Mayonnaise. Deep conditioners are probably my most experimented with products. But recently I've decided that ORS Hair Mayonnaise takes the cake in terms of affordability and results. There is something about this product that makes my tight coils pop after rinsing. I can even run my fingers through my curls with little effort. See it here.
4. Shea Moisture. I'm a huge supporter of Shea Moisture products. And rightfully so, since I've been using their Moisture Retention line for over five years with very little deviation. I especially like their shampoo because it does not strip or tangle my hair, making wash days so much easier. Their leave-in product is also great and perfect for my fine strands because it penetrates well, yet it’s very lightweight. Not to mention, it smells amazing! See it here.
5. Cantu leave-in. When I can't purchase my regular leave-in conditioner, either because the store doesn't carry it or it’s out of stock, I use the Cantu leave in. To me, this leave-in works just as well as Shea Moisture products, and the price is more affordable. With this product, there has been minimized frizz when styling my hair, and it makes my hair feel pretty good. The only downside to this leave-in is that the moisture does not have as much longevity as Shea Moisture products, so I must reapply often. See it here.
6. Coconut oil. I'll venture to say that my hair loves coconut oil more than extra virgin olive oil. I don't know why, it just does. I’ve also tried avocado oil, jojoba oil, castor oil, and many others. I've found coconut oil seals in moisture better than other oils I've tried. It also works as a great deep conditioning treatment. See it here.
7. Proper hair shears. Investing in proper hair shears allowed me to trim my hair when needed, without the risk of splitting my ends and causing further damage—something quite common when using dull shears or scissors. I trim my hair twice a year, and these trims have made a huge difference. I'm able to do away with split or damaged ends that ruin the overall appearance of my hair and make styling a hassle. See it here. 8. Satin scarf. Yes, a scarf, not a bonnet. Scarves allow me to tie my hair down and tame flyaways for sleeker looks. Unlike a bonnet, a satin scarf doesn’t allow much room for my roots to expand and get puffy, preserving my hairstyle. This is ideal, especially for protective styles like buns. I can literally wakeup in the morning, take my scarf off, and have a flawless style without ever having to manipulate my hair. See it here.
9. Water. Water is not just great to spray in my hair, but also to drink! Drinking a ton of water has definitely improved the way my hair looks and feels. According to my research, the more water I drink, the more nutrients are being carried to the areas of my body that need them—including my scalp. Therefore, an insufficient intake of water produces an unhealthy scalp for me, and, as a result, dry hair that is prone to breakage.
10. Multivitamin. I don't take hair vitamins but just an overall multivitamin (accompanied with a good diet) to ensure my body is getting what it needs. No, they don’t make my hair grow faster or thicker, but they do help maintain the health of my scalp, which provides a great foundation for healthy hair growth. See it here.
I didn’t realize that some of these products were working for me, until I stopped using them at one point or another. That’s what I love about my healthy hair journey—I’ve made mistakes long enough to know what works and what doesn’t work for my hair. I’m not saying these products will work for you. Not all hair is created equal. But if you have fine, type-4 hair, and you’re struggling to retain moisture and length, definitely give some of these products a try!
**DISCLAIMER** This is not a sponsored post. All products have been in my regimen for years and are always purchased with my own money. I simply provided links to the products for your convenience.
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