My HairCare Line Up

A lot of my friends, and sometimes even strangers ask me what products I use. Well, it's no longer a secret. I'm bringing it to the masses:

Pre-Poos: 
Some people don't like or think pre-poos can be beneficial. I don't agree. Ever since I was a child, I remember getting them. If used properly, they can saturate the hair with oils so the hair is protected during washing. For instance, coconut oil is one of the only oils that can penetrate the hair shaft (after being left in for hours). This makes coconut oil the PERFECT pre-poo!

• Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Hair Cleansers:


Its essential to clean your hair. The buildup of dirt whether applied (products) or naturally forming (sebum, sweat, environment) can ultimately hinder growth. Wash as you see necessary. But over washing it (especially with sulfate shampoos) can cause irreversible damage. I wash my hair every 1 – 2 weeks…depending on how lazy I’m feeling.

• As I Am Coconut CoWash
• Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

*I don’t use shampoos often. I only use shampoos after protective styles or before a protein treatment or hair straightening. For the most part, I cowash. I have a tighter curl pattern and cowashing has proven to be a better fit for me.*

Conditioners/ Deep Conditioners: 
Conditioning natural hair is so important especially if you use sulfate shampoos. A conditioner’s ingredients are meant to coat the hair and add back some of the good oils you may have washed away while shampooing. Whenever you wash your hair, condition it after! Conditioners are designed to protect and repair the hair.

• TRESemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner
• As I Am Hydration Elation
• Spiral Solutions Deeply Decadent Moisturizing Treatment

 Leave In Conditioners:

A good leave in conditioner is just as necessary as a good deep conditioner. They have higher levels of humectants, which are ingredients that are meant to retain moisture (i.e glycerin, aloe, sorbitol, Vitamin E, etc). They are your number one savior when it comes to detangling! I prefer and recommend a thicker, creamier leave in for my thick and coarse haired girls (like myself). 

• As I Am Leave In Conditioner
• KeraCare Natural Textures Leave In 
• Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream
• Karen's Body Beautiful Leave In

Sealants:
Sealants are very important. Think of it in this sense. Companies sell their products in a set in order for your to maximize the results you are looking for. Beauty lines typically sell a body wash, body lotion, and a body butter. Think of the body wash as the shampoo/cleanser, the lotion as the conditioner, and the body butter as the sealant.  The sealant seals in all the moisture you added as well as what you produce naturally. It is usually a butter or an oil.

• A mixture of random butters and oils: mango, almond, jojoba, cocoa, shea, etc

Treatments: 
Sometimes you have to spoil your hair, whether its because you've treated it bad, been neglectful, or just because you want to give yourself a little TLC.  Whenever I straighten my hair or install a weave, I do a protein treatment (either before or after).  Your hair is made up of  fat and protein (among other things). Sometimes, the protein is damaged and by adding extra protein, you can gain some recovery for the follicles.

• Aphogee 2 Step Protein Treatment
• HENNA!!! (Don't sleep on Henna! You can add some color and give your hair some extra protection at the same damn time....for cheap!)

Stylers:
This category is completely subjective, even mores o than the others. What works great for me, may not work at all for you. Some of my favorites are:

• KeraCare Natural Textures Twist & Define Cream (great for twist outs, flat twists, mini twists, and braid outs)
• EcoStyler Gel (I use the maximum hold)
• Shea Moisture Curl & Style Milk (for bantu knot outs and roll /tuck styles)
• Hicks Total Transformation Edges (This stuff is sent from heaven! If you want a super sleek look, or if you just want your edges to lay down and act right, this is the product for you)
• Jane Carter's Wrap & Roll (great for curlformers, flexi rod sets, and roller sets)
• Ouidad Curl Quencher Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream (Excellent for 4a-c Wash N' Gos)

FAV HairCare Toys:

• Denman Brush - essential for detangling
• Huetiful Hair Steamer - I use this for deep conditioning sessions when I want to spoil my hair. It leave it feeling so lush and soft. It uses wet heat (steam) instead of dry heat. Its like a spa treatment for your hair.
• Conditioning Cap - My mother has had one of these for as long as I can remember and I still use it. I use it when I deep condition without having to haul out the steamer or the huge hooded dryer.

 What products do you use?