Welcome to the natural hair world! While you’ve stopped using hair relaxers and cut off your damaged, brittle hair, you’ll need to put in extra effort to maintain your natural hair. Transitioning to a natural hair lifestyle requires lots of work and patience. With some of our listed products in your hair care arsenal, you’re taking your natural hair journey to the next level. Let’s get started!
How to pick the best products for natural hair
Whether you want to wear afros, twists, Bantu knots, ponytails or braids, you need to get the right hair product for your hairstyle. Here’s how to pick the ideal product for natural hair.
1) Know your hair porosity
This is probably the first step in choosing a natural hair product. You need to know your curl type for a seamless, natural hair journey. This is important as some curl types require oil-based products. 4C hair type needs moisture-based products. How well does your hair retain moisture? Find out about this. It will help you determine the right product to use to maintain lustrous and healthy hair. Do you want to know your hair porosity? Get a glass or bowl of water and a hair strand. If the strand of hair floats, it shows you have low porosity. You have normal porosity if the hair strand floats and then sinks. A strand of hair that drops quickly in a glass of water depicts a high porosity. Low or normal porosity hair results in a closed cuticle which makes absorption of nutrients and oil difficult. For hair with low or normal porosity, choose products with olive oil, argan oil or jojoba oil. If you have high porosity hair, you’ll gain more from thicker moisturizing products formulated with mango, honey, shea butter, and coconut.
2) Select paraben-free and sulfate-free products
While sulfates help get rid of oil, dead skin, and dirt from hair and scalp, they can lead to dry strands and frizz. Products containing parabens should be avoided as they can cause scalp irritation and dry scalp. Look for approved shampoos, oils, and conditioners that are paraben and sulfate-free.
3) Be careful with alcohol-based products
You need to choose products with alcohol carefully since they have effects on the hair. Alcohol can dry your hair, removing all the moisture your hair requires. Avoid hair products with ethanol, isopropyl, ethyl, benzyl, isopropanol, and propanol. You might want to opt for products with fatty alcohols like stearyl, cetyl, and lauryl. They help to hydrate and condition your hair and scalp. In addition, these products help detangle kinkier and curlier hair.
Our Top Picks
1) Mizani Miracle Milk Conditioner
Consisting of 25 ingredients, Mizani Miracle Milk Conditioner offers many benefits, from protecting hair against heat to detangling, hydrating hair and preventing dryness. This leave-in conditioner will make your hair bouncy and soft. It’s ideal for all hair types, whether straight, curly, wavy, thick or medium. If you need a good detangler and product suitable for every type of curl, this might be a nice option.
2) Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Shampoo
The 2-in-1 formula deep cleanses without stripping your hair of its natural oil. Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Shampoo softens, detangles and add moisture to the hair. It helps strengthen weak and brittle hair, giving it a noticeable body. The moisturizing conditioner hydrates the strands. Typically, hair loses moisture due to everyday styling and harsh weather conditions. Formulated from botanicals and Vitamin E, the natural almond and avocado shampoo smoothen the hair, giving it a luminous shine. The key ingredients, almond and avocado, promote quick moisture absorption and reduce detangling time. Apply conditioner generously to damp hair and massage gently. Separate hair strands to prevent tangling and knots. Naturalistas will fall in love with this product.
3) Pattern Styling Cream
With Pattern Styling Cream, your curls will stay in place. The thick buttercream is a blend of shea butter, cacao oil and sweet almond oil. The key ingredients replenish the hair, promoting hair retention and preventing damage. This styling cream seems perfect for Bantu knots, twist outs and braid outs. If you’re opting for a protective style, it’s ideal to moisten the hair with Pattern Styling Cream before styling.
4) ORIBE Moisture and Control Deep Treatment Masque
Give your curls some pampering with this treatment masque. ORIBE Moisture and Control is formulated with coconut oil and almond oils. It rejuvenates your curls while preventing breakage and hair damage. If you have curly, coily or thick hair, you might want to consider this hair product. It will leave your hair silky, healthier and hydrated. For maximum benefits, massage your hair with the masque and let it stay for about 10 minutes before rinsing. Furthermore, ORIBE Moisture and Control helps fight frizz, promote detangling and restore elasticity.
5) Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls Hair Cream
This styling lotion is your go-to product if you want to achieve big, soft and curly hair. Easy to apply, Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls Hair Cream spreads smoothly and feels light on your curls. To use the hair cream, add a capful to freshly washed, damp, detangled or conditioned hair. Spread generously until it’s evenly distributed around the hair. Air dry your hair and go about your activity. If you want to restore curls, dampen hair and repeat steps.
6) Mizani True Textures Moisture Replenish Shampoo & Conditioner
Suitable for all hair texture and curl types, Mizani True Textures Moisture Replenish Shampoo & Conditioner makes your hair supple, soft and bouncy. The two-step product works to remove dirt while hydrating the hair strands. A blend of coconut, marula and olive oil, Mizani Shampoo and Conditioner offers hair protection and helps maintain natural hair patterns.
7) It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in treatment
You can use this alone or as a restorative styling product. It’s ideal to use this after shampoo and condition as it helps detangle and manage the hair. From removing frizz to promoting a lustrous look and preventing breakage, It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in treatment has several hair benefits.
