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By Terez Howard
Terez Howard, who has been researching natural hair for 5 years, endeavors to help ladies learn more about their precious tresses. At her blog, she shares her Sisterlocks journey.
Ultimate curl definition.
The softest, silkiest fro imaginable.
Guaranteed to stimulate long, healthy hair growth.
When you read advertisements like that followed by realistic testimonials that say, “This really works!”, don’t you feel impelled to give that super product a chance? We naturals might like to believe that we have the strength to not try every up-and-coming natural hair care product on the market. Some of us do.
On the other hand, some of us label ourselves product junkies. As the name suggests, we are addicted to hair care products. Our hair care arsenal looks like bomb shelter, but instead of canned food and a first aid kit, we have rows and rows of gels, shampoos, conditioners, serums, cleansers, clarifiers, glosses, moisturizers, creams, lotions and detanglers. How much can one head of hair handle?
Less is more.
The more products we pile on our natural tresses, the greater the need to cleanse our scalps of nasty product build-up. The first couple days after we load our hair with product might give it the look we desire. But after those couple days, too much product will start to irritate the scalp and weigh down fragile strands.
Less is more. The absolute least amount of product that gives the greatest results will help your hair and scalp stay cleaner longer, looking cute in the process.
But what if you haven’t found that miracle product yet, the one that detangles, moisturizes and defines your unique curls? You don’t have to give up cable because you are a product junkie. You also don’t have to quit cold turkey from buying natural hair care products.
Here are 5 tips to allow you to nurture your inner product junkie without breaking the bank:
1. Try a sample.
Most companies sell samples of a product. They typically cost only a couple bucks. I’ve gotten products for my curly-haired daughter, thinking that surely this will be the sensation I’ve been searching for, only to be horribly disappointed with the results. So, I’m out $18 and stuck with a useless product.
2. Sell hair care products and tools you aren’t using.
Have any unopened relaxer left in your closet? Did you give up heat and have no use for a blow dryer? Put those items on Ebay or Craigslist, or take them to a consignment shop. With the money you get from them, you can get a product or two that you’ve been dying to try.
3. Make your own products.
The key to making this tip work is to only concoct hair care products with ingredients that you already own or have a dual purpose. For instance, you can make a natural hair conditioner out of avocado and coconut milk, two foods that I would you as part of a dish. So, if the conditioner doesn’t work out, I can eat what I bought. Other natural hair remedies call for honey, apple cider vinegar, flaxseed, and banana, foods that you might already have in your kitchen cabinets.
4. Swap products with other product junkies.
Have friends with natural hair that are harboring some dusty products? Trade.
Don’t have any natural friends living close by? The Nappturality Forum has a Swap and Sell section where ladies post various products and other items they want to swap or sell. Some are willing to send their products, and all you have to pay for is shipping.
5. Allot a budget for hair care expenses.
This is my last tip, but by far the most important. Add your hair care expenses in your budget, right alongside rent, electricity and water. Give yourself a reasonable amount of money to spend each month on hair care products.
Don’t think you’ll spend that often? Still include the amount in your budget, and either save that money for the following month’s hair care purchases or your savings account. You could also choose to reward yourself and buy a little new something you’ve been wanting, like a new pair of shoes. Who doesn’t love shoes?
Product junkies, you don’t have to join an anonymous support group to kick your habit. You can take control of your expenses and feel great about your bank account while looking great.
herStory • Contributor • Product Junkie • Finds • Web Links • Permalink
