A natural product promises shiny, luxurious, bouncy curls. BUT...Every hair product isn't for every head of hair. Some of us thrive on coconut oil, others olive oil, and still others may prefer silicones. Whatever your "hair elixer" is I'm sure there has been a time in which you've learned which products and/or ingredients are THE ENEMY. Trying to make a product work when clearly your hair hates it, will be to the detriment of your hair's well being.
Testing, testing...1,2,3 Test out new products on a small portion of your hair or on your inner wrist to see if there is an allergic reaction. Years ago I learned this the hard way when I slathered on some natural hair butter only to have the most intense itching ever! I immediately shampooed the product out of my hair before hair loss could occur. NEVER continue to use a product if it causes severe itching or redness. Doing so may cause hair and/or scalp damage.
Smell check and all that weirdness. If you can take a whiff, pop the top and sniff. Why? Because if you have a sensitivity to smells then a strong fragrance will bother you to no end. If you can't sniff a product then make sure to check the return policy and keep your receipt just in case you need to return the product. I had this unfortunate encounter with a conditioner that smelled like flowers on adrenaline mixed with popcorn toes. I mean, the smell made me literally sick. Now, I learned the hard way that some products are too sickly sweet for me to use.
Just a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Surprisingly, some companies still give out free small samples (or for a small fee). This is an excellent way to try out products and avoid the money pit of product junkyism. For instance, Miss Jessie's and Original Sprout are two GREAT companies that sent me samples FREE of charge. Another way is to become a part of a natural hair forum and swap products for other products. Often times, naturals will have bottles that are more than 60% full of product to swap or even sell for a reduced free. However, if you choose to swap or sell on the hair forums makes sure that it's from a reliable user with a good reputation. Many forums post great swapper recommendations or swapper complaints for users to get the scoop on who is reliable and who is super flakey.
Naturals like myself who have chemical and/or dye sensitivity or skin conditions have to be careful about product selection. What advice do YOU have to offer to sensitive naturals?
I absolutely learned this about shea butter and silicones. Try as I might, my hair doesn't like either. I also learned that I have to detangle and get out shed hair every two days or else. Keeping my hair in a stretched state is key for me as well.
ReplyDeleteHi AJ! Thanks for stopping by! I likened natural hair to formal wear. You have to tailor fit it to your own needs. My hair doesn't like a lot of synthetic stuff. It has been a great big puzzle of which I'm so involved in figuring it all out. :)
ReplyDeleteI have found that while my hair thrived on synthetic products during my transition and first few months of being natural, the longer my hair became, the more my hair seemed to prefer more natural products. So natural companies like SM and NH and "regular" companies with more natural lines like TRESemme and Garnier were the way for me to go.
ReplyDeleteAnd + infinity for the sniff test for more sensitive naturals! I hardly ever purchase products online because I have to know about the fragrance. Smell, smell, and smell again! And if the product is online, I'd highly suggest looking for a fellow curly on YT with a similar nasal palette. It seems like so many curlies aren't bothered by or don't care about scents, so it's discouraging sometimes to watch product reviews.
SN: Interestingly, I have found that my hair and scalp don't always respond well to what products have all natural ingredients; whichever products have light aromas or no fragrance/dyes and which irritate my skin the least are the ones that make the cut these days.
It's so interesting how even all natural products can still irritate. But, whenever someone has an allergy then that would definitely be the culprit. I wonder one curly mentioning her sensitivity to lemongrass. Years ago I used an all natural hair butter that cause MORE irritation and hair loss similar to what GoldenBlaze experienced with a famous hair company butter.
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