by
Black Girl With Long Hair
Reader Patricia (pictured above) says;
I’ve been natural all my life but I learned how to care for my hair through trial and error. I’ve done well considering all the women in my family are relaxed and plan to stay that way.
My hair has always been resilient and there is a LOT of it; I’ve found that I can pretty much do anything to it (or nothing) and it will grow. Wanting to maximize my growth and improve my hair lustre, I’ve been using Shea butter and other products from Mother Earth and organic companies for over two years. My hair is the same. I’m not complaining, I just thought that I would see more “evidence” of their benefits. To tell the truth, my hair flourished when I did all the “bad” things naturals talk about.
I used to be addicted to straightening and my hair grew like CRAZY when I consistently went to the salon and was shampooed, conditioned, blow-dried and flat-ironed. I can’t explain it. My “regimen” was similar to a lot of black women — except I didn’t have a relaxer — and my hair was fine. My stylist used an excellent protectant, but other than that, I never had to use a lot of product. No heat damage either! And my hair was bright, shiny, healthy and long. But it wasn’t me.
I’ve decided to rock the curls more often, but I find myself getting more and more frustrated as the novelty of styling is wearing off. And I refuse to believe that constantly applying heat to your hair is better than being natural. I’ve done everything to achieve optimum health for my hair– but I seemed to be better off when I was going to the salon. And even when I was curly, the cheap, store-bought products worked WONDERS. What’s up with that?
What do others think? Are there some store-bought products, laden with silicones and petroleum, that work better for naturals than shea, coconut oil, jojoba, etc? My hair is generally unaffected by all of the “good” products. Maybe I need to wait another two years?
31 Responses
When I started going natural in 2000, I always used “natural hemp” (it had pieces of plants in it. It also kinda looked like it had seasonings in it) but it had petroleum in it. I was in college and I couldn’t afford the real natural products. While I used it, my hair grew so much. I always had to get a trim about every 3 months cause I always put the hemp in mostly in the middle of my head, where its really dry. I also used the Original Creme of Nature (until I wasn’t able to find it anymore cause they were changing companies). Creme of Nature worked so well in my hair that all I had to do was wash it once, comb my hair while it was still in and I would have only a little bit of hair that would break off and then put product (which would have been the “natural hemp”) and I was done. I didn’t need to spend money on conditioner, only in the winter.
Then I started doing research on natural products and started to purchase carol’s daughter, qhement biologics, curls, shea moisure, entwine naturale coiffure, koils by nature, 100% natural shea butter, the New Creme of Nature (I don’t care what anyone says, that stuff is NOT the same as the original!!) etc… I am always puchasing new natural products every few months because I felt they were not working in my hair to help keep it moisturized and help grow. Now, my hair is constantly dry, breaks off a lot, and my fro isn’t as huge as it used to be. I know it can also be because I just turned 31 and our hair changes as we get older but this started when I turned 26/27.
I purchased Cush products last week and Jamaican Black Castor Oil today, and I’m really worried that neither will work in my hair (and now that’s going to be gas money wasted). I’ll try them sometime next week and see if they work but if they don’t after a few months, I really think I’m going to have to go back to the hemp petroleum after not using it for over 6 years. I also wish that Creme of Nature would go back to the original recipe (without the extra oil stuff I have never heard of) and my hair would be set!!
Same here…I’ve tried all the natural products and they do nothing for my hair and they break my pockets. Alot of stuff people recommend cost about $60 to $100 dollars a jar. And I can’t afford that at all. I can barley afford a bottle of $2 shampoo. When I was relaxed all I used was VO5 shampoo and conditioner, suave mouse and luster’s pink and my hair was really healthy.
When I use natural products my hair feels extra dry and starved. And I try not to use alot because of the price tag but I end up using half the container in one day just to get the softness I need. I say just know YOUR hair and do what works for YOUR hair.
Sadly, I can totally relate to this. I tried the only natural route, but my hair just doesn’t like it. I had found only one almost totally natural leave in that worked perfectly for my hair, with the help of a little olive oil, but it was discontinued. I have 4a hair, which is kind of weird when it’s dry. It’s like idk. I think I have porosity issues. It’s not soft and cottony, or smooth, it’s just weird and annoying. Without the right products my coils are sticking every which way when dry. I know a lot of girls just love curls, but 4a hair is prone to tangles and knots. Finding an all natural, frugally priced condish with slip, on a poor college student’s budget is he!!. Because I was trying so hard to be the all natural sistah girl, doing things the way our ancestors did it, I now have broken hairs. Oh and lets not even talk about shea butter. Like someone else said, perfect for skin, but for my hair, not so much. I favor wash and goes because I don’t really have to touch my hair everyday. I like being able to wet set my hair with gel and just refresh it in the morning under the shower, and finger detangling maybe every third or fourth day with conditioner. I feel like the act of retwisting or rebraiding my hair every night is just too stressful to it. I’m protein sensitive, so aloe vera gel turns my hair into brillo. My perfect regimen consists of conditioner, more conditioner, and a 2 dollar non protein hair gel mixed with some castor and olive oil. My hair hates shea butter and most other oils, even jojoba. I’ve even tried mixing those other oils in products, but the only ones my hair likes are castor and olive. So I just wanted to put this out there for any naturals with 4a hair. Maybe those natural products are just not for you. I am now modified curly girl, (my condish is too heavy to leave in, even though my hair is super thick. O.O) and my hair has been doing very well.
PS. you may find that a good gel lessons tangles. Please try it. It pains me to know that other black women are going through this type of stress with their hair. I hope this helps someone. I think that my regimen, if modified, could help a CNapp girl. I know that you’ll have to set it every night, but I’m talking about products. Here’s my list:
Cowash: Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner
Detangler/ Deep treatment: Garnier Fructis Fortifying Conditioner Sleek and Shine, mixed with cold pressed castor oil, EVOO and honey.
Leave in: Xcess Styling Gel, Mega Hold mixed with EVOO and CPCO.
Both conditioners proclaim to contain protein activating ingredients (aloe, avocado, argan oil), but trust it’s a minute amount, because my hair does not react to them at all. My hair always reacts to proteins in products.
I should add that I’ve only being doing this regimine for two weeks with great results. The gel does leave a bit of crunch but it’s not that bad. However, I added a dollop of my “Garnier” to a spray bottle filled with water this morning and sprayed all over, it works wonders. To speed up drying time, I blot my hair with paper towels after all is done until I’m not dripping any more. Though my hair is doing great right now, I am getting kind of scared of over moisturization. I’ll probably switch to cowashing with “Yet to Carrots Conditoner” (less moisturizing than Tresemme) and incorparate Trader Joes Nourish Spa Conditioner as a bi-monthly protein treatment.
ps .our body is a remarkable thing. it shows us everything we use eat and do. Most of the signs we dont see or we ignore them. We get confronted with bad habits or bad stuff we use or eat when we get sick and need to consult a doctor.. I say better safe then sorry…even though you never have complaints on your outer self (ie you hair) you might have issues with your inner body unknowingly.
i think the so called bad products are around for so long and they are entwined in our lives so deep it is hard for us to acknowledge it might be really bad stuff not just for “black people”but for all people!! ..for the moment keep an open mind and educate yourself.
also check out this site:
http://www.health-report.co.uk/ingredients-directory.htm
have fun!
I try my best to use all natural products, whether I find them online or in my local NHFS. But I don’t do this because I want my hair to grow. I do this because of the life style I have chosen to lead where I consider my footprint and what goes into my body. That being said, before I made this change 5 years ago, I had a ton of success with standard products, but I realized that I was sensitive to fragrances and what-not.
Ultimately, to re-iterate what others have said, it’s about what works for your hair and your life style. I’d also recommend that the OP look into how she combs out her hair. Gentle detangling helps retain length. It’s totally possible that her hair if growing well but every time it gets combed it breaks a bit. Also, check your diet and supplements. It never hurts to make sure you’re getting the nutrients you need. I see an instant change in my skin when I take Vit. E. She could be deficient in something.
I agree with most of what everyone has said. I personally use whatever works for MY HAIR. I go to youtube for advice on styling natural hair. This has helped me to try new styles that i never thought of. Other than that when it comes to products i’m so over the natural product hipe. However i have tried a few natural products and i wasn’t too impressed of the outcome. Especially when i can get the same results with a regular old product out of the Beauty supply stores. And then 2nd i wasn’t getting the quantity for the money i paid. i have a LOT of hair! lol so my hair uses plenty of product. Use what u choose to use for your hair. i feel there’s no good/bad product when it comes to natural hair.
I’m not really big on “good” hair products. I just use whatever works. If I want a fluffier look, I go for the olive oil and shea butter. If I want more curl definition, I use my Cantu Shea Butter leave-in after I co wash. I also change my conditioner every time my current bottle runs out. I’m reluctant to spend ridiculous amounts of money on natural hair products when the cheap ones I get from the Family Dollar down the street works just fine, lol.
I find it not about good or bad but knowing the pro and cons of these products and know whether to use them, when to use them, how often to use them and where to use them. Just because they are natural doesn’t mean you shouldn’t observe how your body acts to it. For example I have learned that I must be modest with rosemary rinses and peppermint essentials, also that my skin ( including the scalp) doesn’t like coconut oil and Lily of the desert topical aloe Vera gel. Yet my hair is fine with petroleum on the ends and leaving moisturizing conditioner in. I am still find the correct of glycerin with water mixture for humid Toronto summers, with no glycerine, my hair dries too easily, it feels rough but it holds a style. But too much my hair won’t keep an out style, has a more shrinkage but is moisturize for longer and is softer. I think I may have to bring back Aloe Vera into the mixture, to balance looseness of the glycerin, I think I will buy the dietary fillet bottles or the actual leaf.
I find this to be true as well. When I first went natural I went to my local beauty supply and bought products and they worked. Hair seemed to be healthy and growing at a fast rate. When I discovered YouTube and hair blogs and started doing things different my hair changed/ suffered from it. I recently said I was gonna go back to doing me cause it worked. DO YOU BOOBOO!!!
Good to hear this. I guess I can keep my mineral oil, petroleum oil, laureth sulfate filled Paul Mitchell foaming pomade because nothing makes my hair shine like it, ever. I’ll keep it for special occasions, but I’ll try not to feel bad anytime I use it.
Whenever I see posts like this I have to remind myself that, unlike most of the women claiming natural now, I went natural LONGGGG before all this information was available…in fact when I went natural the Internet was only just taking off.
To that end, I must agree with the person who said that “good products are those that work for me” — not those that the online natural hair community decides en masse are good.
Shea butter? Only if it’s mixed with other stuff.
Cones? Depends on the cone but usually they do what they’re supposed to do.
Petrolatum/mineral oil: Hasn’t hurt yet (though I tend not to use such products often because I don’t like the smell)
I realize that newbies are looking for information, but at the same time there needs to be more people saying that just because a product doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with YOU or your hair.
I think so many people in my opinion are so into going natural for so many of their products, that they forget that alot of the so called bad products worked for our hair. Just because a product has mineral oil or petroleum doesn’t mean that it’s bad for your hair. I say this if your was still healthy and growing while using these both relaxed and natural then keep doing it. If you use natural or organic hair products and notice a change in your hair but not the good kind, well go back to what you remebered helped it to look its best in the beginning. Just like not using shampoo etx, that’s still good to use there’s so many to chose from as is conditioners. Not every head of hair will like certain products or ingredients in them, but you have to do what works for you and if that’s it. Then keep on treating your hair and let it do what its suppose to do because only you know your hair.
I can understand this post…I think we all get caught up in the hype of the natural products and I believe in just focusing on my natural hair. Like I think back on my hair when it was in its prime back when my mother was its primary carer and she used the commonly known store bought items, your Luster’s Pink Lotions, and Mane n Tails, etc- still renown products even though some of the ingredients we now disagree with. I’m going back to the basics and what worked in my childhood (save Pink Lotion…hate the smell lol). Also, sometimes you do need the touch of a professional on a regular basis with professional products. That’s what they’re there for 😉
I totally agree! 🙂
My hair can stand a little bit of both natural and unnatural hair products. When I first went natural I used a ton of conditioners with silicones in them. Everything was great! Then, I switched to more natural hair care products. When I tried a product with silicones in it the next go round, my hair didn’t like it at all! I don’t know what happen! It felt all greasy and gross. Additionally, it took forever for my hair to air-dry, which was a pain. I typically wear wash ‘n gos, so I don’t want to have wet hair all day long. I now know the difference between using natural and the not-so natural hair products. I’ve found that when I use more natural hair products, my hair dries way faster and I’m left with really soft hair! As for petrolatum products, my hair does not like that stuff at all. That stuff makes my hair too greasy and leaves a nasty film on my locks. I can’t use anything with petrolatum in it at all! Therefore, in my situation, natural hair products are better for “my” hair. My hair doesn’t grow faster because I use natural products, it just loves natural hair products. If your hair does not like natural hair products, don’t use them.
Finally someone who gets me! I find being natural is a true study of YOUR hair, not anyone else s. When I first went natural the only curly girl product I knew of was Frizz Ease, and it worked pretty darn good. I find my hair grows no matter what I use. Organic, non-organic, sulfate free, with sulfates… it all ended up being the same.
My major issue with many of the specific natural hair products is quantity. I have a big head and a lot of hair. I can use a half a bottle of conditioner in one night. So, I need QUANTITY over quality. Esp because my hair acts no different either way. I just want it cleaned and moisturized, and I haven’t seen a product that couldn’t do that. When asked what I use… I say whatever’s on sale at Costco and smells good!
I found the same to be true with straightening. I see many horror stories about one flat iron session and your curls are no more. This was news to me. Not in a good way but — I used to heat the CRAP out of my hair (blowdry and flatiron)… and the curls came back for more!
Anyway ladies- keep on learning your hair. Everyone will figure out what is best for them in the end.
I’m a firm believer that products themselves do not make your hair flourish. I have no evidence of this myself, but I believe that its really how you are taking care of your body on the inside and out as well as how you manage your hair. Products can aide in the health of your hair, but I don’t think that by themselves they are able to work wonders.
That is why I don’t believe in products that claim to help your hair grow. And when they are geared toward black people they are always spelled funny.
If someone like Patricia is not seeing any noticeable difference form using the more organic products, but is seeing results from using products full of certain chemicals, I say go ahead and use what is working for you.
I find it funny that so many black women with natural hair are trying to go by the “rules.” Just do what works best for your hair because rule are meant to be broken.
Well, first of all, I don’t consider products that don’t work for me to be “good products”–even when they are organic with no harsh chemicals. “Good products” are those that work for me. Shea butter is proclaimed to be a “good product”. It’s great for my skin; it does NOTHING for my hair. Instead I use plain ol’ vaseline (Chicoro style) to seal my hair…Proclaimed “bad product” but it does WONDERS for sealing my hair!!
I enjoyed this post a lot because I often think the same. I have been natural all of my life. I used to use gels and mouses, and my hair always looked great and my hair was seemingly healthy. Now, that I’m taking “better” care of my hair with natural oils and products it is not as great as before.
I think everyone’s hair is different and responds differently to products. I used to go hard with ‘no mass produced products because its bad!’ and ‘if it has this chemical in it I WILL NOT BUY IT.’ Thus my journey for only natural/organic products especially geared toward natural hair. In the process I found some products (e.g. Curls whipped cream- yes I’m throwing that product under the bus) that make my hair feel like TRASH!
But I never down the product I just down the affect it had on my hair. Subsequently when ppl ask my opinion on a product I always say ‘…for my hair…’
Ultimately, I say… Do you! Use what works best for your hair. If its not damaging then continue. After all, it is the hair on your head.
I think your hair should represent you whether it’s straight or curly as long as it’s healthy. So if you protect your hair when you straighten it then you can rock it if you want. There is no fact that says wearing your natural curls is the only way to go. I would just say be remember that when you straighten your hair it can appear to grow quicker than if it was in it’s natural state because there’s no shrinkage. But other than that just express yourself however you want the important thing is if your hair is healthy. Also there is no miracle product your hair grows at a pretty steady rate of 1/4 to about 1/2 inch per month so it’s not so much growth but retaining length.
I understand the obvious difference is that the store bought ones have ‘bad’ ingredients and the ‘natural’ don’t, but those facts probably have nothing to do with anything, lol. It sounds like the natural products you’re using are super thick and heavy. Are the store bought ones you used more creamy? Maybe your hair can’t absorb the heavy stuff. If you already haven’t, give lighter natural products a try and throw in some with cones and whatever else just for a comparison.
But yea, do whatever works for your hair 😉
Plain and simple… everything doesn’t work for everybody. WhoisSugar on youtube said it best “Do You”. whatever works for you hair and provides the results you like then that’s what you should use. I use a mix of “mother nature” products and store bought items… because it works for me and my hair.
lol I completely agree! I should have read this first before I posted
I chose to use natural products not because I was convinced they would make my hair grow faster than the old school “bad” products, but that they were better for my overall body. The longest my hair had even been before now is when I was younger and used all the Pink Lotion products. If I can get the same results from a product with better ingredients then that is awesome, and if I can get better results, thats even better.
“I chose to use natural products not because I was convinced they would make my hair grow faster than the old school “bad” products, but that they were better for my overall body.”
+1
+1
+1
I don’t care about length. I am conscious of what I put on and in my skin and body.
That and I don’t like the way I look with straight hair.
That’s really interesting even though I can’t say the same thing has happened with my hair experience. I’ve read a lot of blogs in the past, and many women have stated that their hair was not negatively effected by the use of silicones and petroleum.
I really think this phenomenon really goes to show that we all need to listen to our individual strands. We shouldn’t view someone’s success with their hair journey and copy their regimen “product for product” because it might not necessarily work as nicely for our particular strands.
Great post and thanks for the read =)
????? Viva