10 Must-Haves in your Natural Haircare Arsenal; Product Edition

In my previous article, I made a point to debunk some popular natural hair misconceptions like; natural hair doesn’t grow, natural hair is stubborn and difficult to maintain, natural hair is tough (etc).

I also dropped tips on how to figure stuff out if you ever get to that point in your hair journey and most importantly, I dropped pointers on how to not get to that point in your journey.

Today, I’m picking up from where I left off by listing out ten (10) Natural Haircare must haves and also explaining why they’re so important.

So without further ado, in no particular order, let’s get down to it!

10 Must-Have Products In Your Natural Haircare Arsenal

1. Water.

You read that correctly. Water is an extremely important ingredient in natural Haircare as water is the only true hydrant for your tresses making it extra important for moisture for both your strands and scalp. Not hard water though, soft water. Also, if your porosity is low use warm water. If medium to high, room temperature water is best. Endeavor to have some in your spray bottle!

2. Neutralizing Shampoo.

Yes! I’m being specific and it’s not just because I’m awesome, it’s because a Neutralizing shampoo is a peculiar type of shampoo that rebalances your hairs pH level along with clarifying and removing build up.

This is important because a healthy pH balance is a natural barrier that prevents fungal and bacteria growth on your scalp and hair and also seals your cuticles, keeping them closed and healthy. So make sure you always have one handy.

3. Deep Conditioner.

This is super important because Deep Conditioners are specially formulated with extra nutrients to penetrate your hairs shaft and replenish your hair with lost nutrients and vitamins and antioxidants and whatnots. All of which are extremely important in maintaining your hairs health and achieving your hair goals because deep conditioners help improve hairs elasticity. So it’s imperative you have one in your arsenal!

4. Essential Oil(s).

These babies are like their name implies, highly essential. This because although tiny, usually 30ml at the most, they are super potent, concentrated oils that can be used to achieve a number of things in your hair care ranging from stimulating growth, to hot oil treatments, scalp massages, thicker hair, regrown edges (etc). So it’s always best to have at least two or one in your arsenal.

My personal favorites are; Peppermint, Lavender and Rosemary.

5. Carrier oil(s).

Carrier oils are base oils that are used to penetrate and mildly seal our hair shaft and also to carry essential oils into our scalp and hair. Essential oils are super potent and volatile and cannot be applied directly to our scalp and hair hence the need for carrier oils.

Examples are; Coconut oil, Avocado oil, Palm Kernel Oil (etc)

6. Leave-in Conditioner.

Leave-in Conditioners help provide our hair with much needed moisture, they also help to soften and set angle our hair as well as tame frizz.

Here’s a pro-tip to help your selection of leave-ins; The more slip, the better.

7. Curling creme.

This is essential as I always advise to have at least one curl enhancing product in your arsenal to ensure your twist outs, finger curls and palm curls and generally most of your natural hair styles come out looking dope! Please endeavor to have one as without them, curl defining might become laborious.

8. Hair Butter/Creme.

As a Naturalista, this is equally essential. Why? Basically because nothing does the job of sealing in moisture like a butter/Creme does. Regardless of your hair type, texture and porosity.

The only thing worse than not moisturizing your hair, is not sealing in all of that moisture with a butter!

9. Protein Conditioner.

So this is technically a type of Deep Conditioner but it’s separate with its own number because it’s super important. Now, a protein conditioner is important because it adds protein and amino acids to the cuticle layer of hair and binds then together thereby giving you strengthened strands that won’t break easily. Basically, protein conditioners improve hairs tensility.

10. Hair Gel.

This is important because natural hair is frizzy and dense and so, to achieve most sleeked down, smooth styles like; Afro ponies, side buns, laid back buns, half up half downs, (etc).

Contrary to popular opinions, gels aren’t all bad. It’s however important to shop gels that are free of drying alcohols, gels infused with rich moisturizing oils and also don’t forget to rinse out your hair gels before attempting to comb out your hair.

So, there you have it! Ten Natural hair must-haves product edition!

Feel free to drop a comment on the product(s) you’re going to stock up on. I hope you enjoyed reading this.

xoxo, The Naturalista.