Courtesy Of BlackHairInformation.com

One of the biggest sources of confusion faced by naturals is product selection. What do I need? How do I know what to buy? What works best for my hair care routine? These are but a few questions that plague the minds of naturalistas. The choices are far and wide and the options sure will leave you in a state of frustration. The key to determining what is needed is to consider the basic processes that are involved in your hair care regimen. For the most part, they are standard and not unique to any one group.

Before you can consider becoming involved  in  brand loyalty or getting worked up over which products are superior to others, you first need to determine what general category of products are needed in order to maintain a healthy hair lifestyle. The following are 7 basic product types that you should always have in your stash in order to be fully equipped to execute all daily, weekly and monthly hair care processes:

1. Clarifying Shampoo – This may not be deemed an absolute necessity in the eyes of many naturals. In fact, for some naturals, regular shampoo is not even an item used as part of their regimen. Shampoo, in the eyes of many naturals, is viewed in a very negative light. This is because it is widely renowned as being the culprit responsible for a natural’s nemesis…….dryness. Clarifying shampoo should not, however, be written off as the enemy. On the contrary and quite to the surprise of many, it may be your best friend. You see, the issue with dryness usually leads us to applying loads and loads of products almost on a daily basis to try to achieve moisture. The process of always moisturizing natural hair can lead to product build up. If this is experienced, it could actually cause the opposite effect, causing your hair to become dry because the buildup is so great that the product may no longer be able to get to the strands.

If you are someone who only uses a leave-in conditioner and a light oil in your hair (which is highly unlikely) then you may not necessarily need to do clarifying shampoos or at least not on a regular basis. But if you fall in the category of most naturals, who use heavy butters, moisturizers and oils, then a clarifying shampoo is something that you definitely should incorporate into your hair care regimen. Once per month should be a good start but if you really go overboard with products, then you may have to consider doing them more often. As a personal recommendation, the Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating Shampoo is very effective for accomplishing the task.      

2. Regular Shampoo – Shampooing, although not always an absolute necessity, is sometimes recommended for those wash days when your hair needs a little more than just a co-wash but may not be dirty enough to require a clarifying shampoo. A little itching here or some dandruff there, may call for the use of a shampoo. I am weird concerning my hair and sometimes I just want to have the lather experience, whether or not it has lots of build-up. I have applied a little trick that combats the stripping effect that shampoo has.

Applying some conditioner and then rinsing it out prior to washing the hair will soften it and help to prevent it from having that rough feeling after shampooing. Another tip is to smooth some conditioner on top of the hair while the shampoo is still in and it makes a world of a difference. Try to stick with shampoos that are natural and free of parabens, sulfate, alcohol or other harmful ingredients.  I usually stock up on Shea Moisture’s Moisture Retention Shampoo or the Crème of Nature Argan Oil Shampoo since both are very moisturizing to my hair.

3. Regular  Conditioner - Conditioners are a staple and maybe the most important product used on wash day. Oh, how we love the moisturizing effects that conditioners have as they quench the thirst that natural hair typically exhibits. Conditioners serve multiple purposes in the hair care routine of a natural. Shampoos as mentioned before, usually have a drying effect. So, the use of conditioners help to reverse that dryness. Outside of their primary use for softening or moisturizing the hair, they are also used as an alternative to shampoos, serving as a conditioner wash more popularly referred to as a co-wash. This offers a milder cleansing option and one that doesn't leave the hair feeling stripped. 

One of the most dreaded processes in a natural hair regimen is detangling. The task is not only a tedious but a time consuming one. Using a good conditioner, which is thick, rich and creamy can help to alleviate some of the horrors of detangling. The truth is, the life of a natural would never be the same without the existence of conditioners. A favorite conditioner of mine is Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Moisturizing Conditioner which is readily available at most local drug stores for under $4.

4. Deep Conditioner - Deep conditioners provide an added benefit and serve as a moisturizing or strengthening treatment. While regular conditioners help to soften the hair, deep conditioners take it up a notch by deep penetrating the hair shaft. This type of conditioning treatment is often intended to improve the health of the hair and restore moisture. This hair process is recommended for all naturals every once in a while. The frequency will depend on the condition that your hair is in.

If breakage, split ends or shedding is being experienced, then more regular treatments are recommended. If, however, your hair is in a fairly healthy condition, then treatments once per month is perfectly fine. Regardless of the state that your hair is in, it is good to always have this product in your cupboard as the health of your hair is highly dependent upon it. A favorite of mine is the Eden Body Works Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner.

5. Leave-In Conditioner - While conditioners help to introduce moisture to the hair, using a leave in conditioner is an additional step in promoting moisture retention. The leave-in conditioner, as the name suggests, is not rinsed from the hair and therefore keeps the hair soft and moisturized. Natural hair can tell the difference once it has been graced with the presence of a leave in conditioner. It prepares the hair for styling and provides the hair with the slip that is needed to allow for easy manipulation and detangling. My two favorite Leave-Ins are Kinky Curly Knot Today and Giovanni Direct Leave-In Conditioner.

6. Moisturizing Styling Products - Most natural styles are best achieved and maintained using some kind of moisturizing crème, butter, soufflé, pudding, etc. These are meant to either soften, add sheen, provide hold or all three. If it had not been, for moisturizers in our stash, where would our hair be? There are so many factors that work against natural hair’s ability to retain moisture. There is a natural tendency for hair to become dry and is in constant need of hydration. Moisturizing products are also used as styling aids to achieve beautiful curls. I can’t imagine my 4b hair having to survive without some kind of cream-based product to assist with my styling. There are a plethora of products on the market to choose from but two of my favorite are Eden Body Work’s Coconut Shea Pudding Soufflé and Shea Moisture’s Curl Enhancing Smoothie.

7. Natural Oils – The final category of products essential for naturals is oils. Oils should play a major role in the hair care regimen of just about every natural. They are vital in the washing, conditioning, treating and styling processes of natural hair. Oils are heavily relied on for sealing in moisture, adding shine, treating the scalp and many other purposes. The types of oil varies and are classified in categories of light, medium or heavy. The oils of choice will be dependent on the thickness and density of your hair. Thicker hair types using heavier oils while finer types work best with lighter oils. Oils that are heavier include Black Castor Oil and Olive Oil while lighter oils are Grapeseed and Jojoba oils. My hair reacts better to heavier oils and as such, Black Castor Oil, Olive Oil and Coconut are my go to oils. Experiment to determine which ones your hair loves.

There will always be more products on the market than you can find time or afford to use. There is absolutely no need to become a Product Junkie, stacking up ceiling high volumes of hair products that will likely not be used. Conduct some research and read reviews before testing the waters. It may take a while but before long, you will be able to determine what basic products work best for your hair. Examine the general categories of products that are needed for your regimen and from there you can get specific about brands. Don’t break the bank on products but at the same time don’t rob your hair of the TLC that it needs from being pampered with quality products.