As a "new natural" or even a "not so new natural" many of us succumb to product junkie-ism. There is no need to have a closet full of products you have spent your hard earned money on just for them to sit and collect dust. The one thing I cant stress enough to my clients is K.I.S.S.(Keep It Simple Stupid).
Here are the 5 essentials every natural should have in their hair arsenal.
Shampoo - Despite what you've heard shampoo is not the devil. They cleanse your hair and scalp from dirt and product. You should shampoo your hair at the very minimum once a month. I recommend at least once a week or every other week. You can co-wash (rinse with conditioner) in between shampoos to re-hydrate and restyle your hair if its not dirty or heavy with product.
Conditioner- I opt for a deep conditioner vs a regular rinse out conditioner on my wash days because deep conditioners are made to penetrate the hair on a molecular level. I recommend deep conditioning weekly or at least every other week.
Leave-in Conditioner - One of the most often neglected products. Everyone is should be using a leave-in conditioner at minimum every time they wash their hair. You can use your water based leave in midweek to rehydrate your dry tresses as well.
Sealant- Sealants do exactly as they say; seal moisture into your hair. You would put it over your leave-in conditioner to seal the moisture in, preventing it from evaporating quickly into the air. Some great sealants are natural oils like avocado, coconut, olive, castor, and jojoba ; and natural butters like cocoa, shea, and mango butters. What you choose to seal with depends on your porosity.
Styling products- Depending on your styling need 2 products I suggest are a
styling foam (for wash and go's, rod sets, twist-outs, braid-outs) Styling foam gives you light to medium hold while still supplying your hair with moisture.
Gel or Custard- These products will supply your hair with added hold and allow you to achieve sleeker styles when necessary.
Once you've got those 5 products you have everything you need to complete your regimen. Comment below and let me know some of your favorite essentials.