Choosing the right products for your hair

Natural hair has its own "wahala make I no lie". When I started growing my hair, I had lots and lots of products in fact I a whole lot buying products. I became a product junkie. There was hardly any week that passed without me buying a new product. In all, I tried about twenty different products ("please don't do this "). In my case, I got several products that does the same thing, and I believe that added to my hair damage. Yes my hair became very brittle and weak, I stressed it out with too many products, I never clarified my hair and so on..... "bet now I know better hehe". 

So, for a newbie, I recommend staying as organic as possible  because the hair at that growth phase is still very fragile, if possible use shea butter, coconut oil and any other carrier oil, aloe vera and , baking soda, avocado and so on to treat your hair. Click here to read about DIY deep conditioners with avocado.

By far, the most common question I am asked — both in-person and online — is, “What products do you use in your hair?”  And I’m  never quite sure what to say in just a few sentences. What may work in one person’s hair may not work in another’s. Furthermore, even if our hair was exactly alike, we each have our own lifestyles and preferences.  So after all said , here is how to find the  right products for your natural hair.  

Know Your Hair Type

Knowing your hair type is always a good place to start. And I’m not simply talking about the Andre Walker Typing System (3C, 4A, 4B) since it is mostly about aesthetics. I’m referring to porosity, hair texture ( fine, normal, coarse), and density (high,medium, 

The porosity of your hair explains how your hair absorbs and retains moisture and will play a major role in the products you select for your hair.  Hair texture determines your hair’s sensitivity to heat and chemical processes. For example, fine hair should be straightened on lower heats and keeps chemicals applied for shorter periods of time. Also, if you have finer hair, heavy products can weigh your hair down.

Density refers to the number of strands on your head.  Hair with high density has a lot of hair strands. It is important not to confuse hair texture and density . People often say that a person has thick (coarse) hair, when they are actually referring to hair density.

You can have 4C hair(tightly coiled hair) with fine hair, low density(few hair strands), and high porosity, sounds confusing right?It took me quite a while to fully understand . That’s why it is important to step beyond the Andre Walker System to truly understand your hair’s needs. 

Take Inventory of Your Products

Before you go shopping for new products, take inventory of your current products.  Categorize your products into three categories: love, like, hate.  For the products you love, take some time to figure out what attributes you love. For the products you like, what characteristics do you like? What would make the products better?  For the products you hate, determine what you hate , this makes it easier for you to choose the right ones.

When you get the new products ,pay attention to the texture, thickness, and consistency of the product. What about the results? Does it leave a waxy residue? Does your hair feel soft? These are all things to consider. I recall trying this out and i ended up throwing half of my products out the window.

Pay Attention to the First Five Ingredients

The first five ingredients, indicate the active ingredients of a product.  (For moisturizers, one of the top ingredients should be water.)  When you conduct an inventory of your products, take a look at the first five ingredients, then when you go out shopping, look for those ingredients. Does your hair love shea butter? If yes then look for products with shea butter . Look for that in the first five ingredients.  Did that product you hated have cones (silicones)? Look for that too. Be an informed consumer.

Too often, naturals look for the magic product. But unfortunately, there is no one size fits all product that works for everyone.  It’s going to take some time and patience to figure out what works best for you.  But these tips are a good place to start.