Shanda asks:
Am I the only one still on the all natural, natural bandwagon? I use organic products and avoid silicones, mineral oil and sulfates like the plague and honestly feel that my hair is at its healthiest. I guess I just feel like everyone else got off the bus and I didn’t get the memo. I don’t plan on changing my routine anytime soon, but wonder-
Are you an all organic curly? Why or why not?
I was on the natural bandwagon until I realized that they were leaving my hair extremely dry and dull…I would do it all….wash, co wash, and seal w natural products and NOTHING else. The only proven was that it wasnt working. Then I was told about Garnier. I swear I was putting poison in my twa…but I cannot express how happy I feel and how satisfied I am with the texture and softness of my hair! I am no longer running to the bathroom to put more Shea and Giovanni moisturiziers in my hair! Garnier leave in conditioner paired with my natural organic oils does the trick for me and my hair stays soft ALL DAY. What works for my hair doesn't have to work for another natural, vice versa, and I am a believer of that concept ever since using a non natural product. Trial and error days are certainly over or me:)
What is everyone opinions about WEN products? I'm curious to hear reviews on 4b hair. Would you replace it over Shea Moisture, Oyin products?
Absolutely prefer natural products. Having prior years of experience of using natural plants for cosmetic & medicinal purposes, when I went natural, it was inevitable that I would start 'brewing' up my own products. I did try commercial products, including naturals, but discovered that I saw max results when I used natural products, freshly made.
Our bodies looks & functions a lot better when we consume fresh, natural & organic foods, so it made sense that our hair would respond in the same way.
By 18months into my hair journey, all my products (leave in conditioner, spritz, sealant etc) were products I made myself using natural & organic ingredients. 4 months of using only natural fresh products, I had a major growth spurt – see link below – and my hair looked so healthy & thick
When my readers requested that I make my products available to the public, my product line, TLC NATURALS, was born.
Fresh, natural definitely enhance the health, length & beauty of the hair.
http://care4curls.com/2011/10/03/my-hair-has-graduated-another-length-slash-growth-check/
I use what works for my hair and my wallet. My SheaMoisture products moisturize my hair for days and I don't have to reapply too much product. My $1 Softee grease from the dollar store makes my hair soft and shiny. I'm not going to empty my pockets for hair products, but I will spend a little more for fresh food.
I use whatever my hair likes…..when I change what I put in my body, I'll adjust what I put on my head. I will say, though I don't do Sulfates, etc. because they truly dry my spirals out to no end. I say, there is no "natural/natural" – either you have chemically straightened hair or you don't. And I don't believe there is a "right way" to be a natural – it's all about being comfortable in your OWN skin & your OWN hair. I just love seeing all the natural beauties out here! #justsayin
I prefer simplicity and anything under $10, lol. If I'm gonna try different products it has to fit those two requirements. I will use anything that works well on my hair organic or not, but some of the prices for either product are ridiculous. Sometimes I feel like naturals are being exploited just like we were when some of us were relaxed. I say do what works for your hair but don't kill your wallet doing it.
I'm so over any bandwagons..overit.com LOL. So put simply, I use whatever my hair likes! :-))
*self admitted product junkie***
I use what works well on my hair and try to be conscious of harmful ingredients in products, but don't obssess about it. I typically buy organic poos and cos, but don't limit other products with cones from my routine. I just know that my hair hates sulfates so that's what I typically avoid. I'm going to have to try Terressentials when all of my current shampoo runs out. I say do what works for you and steer clear of bandwagons.
Anon 4:05 pm: "My allegiance is ultimately to my hair, not any particular bandwagon." Couldn't agree more. You can have my HE HH conditioner when you pry it from my cold dead hands. 🙂
I do use natural products and, as far as I can see, I always will. I have chemical sensitivities, so using regular store bought products is really painful to my scalp. Otherwise, I would be using off the shelf products.
My hair definitely loves and responds best to the organic lines like shea moisture and kinky curly.
I've never been attached to any particular product or regimen for my hair, so when I decided to wear my natural hair, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try natural products, so that's what I'm doing right now. I'm still in the process of seeing what works for me, and I am not opposed to incorporating some non-natural products if after a while I don't find natural products that I like for all parts of my routine.
I try go consume the most natural foods I can afford, but eating organic is very expensive! I've never purchased natural products online for the very same reason. I always used silicone and sulfate products and I have no plans to stop. My hair like them well enough. I care more about what eat, than what I put on my hair.
-Foxyrou
It's not a bandwagon–it's part of the healthy lifestyle I choose to lead.
I use natural hair, skin, make-up and personal care items (store-bought and simple DIY). I am a vegetarian (for over a year now!). Currently, I'm working on living a more active lifestyle (Yay for excercise!) as well as being more eco-friendly. Going natural sparked this wonderful transformation in me and I'm forever thankful!
P.S. For my hair, I use Shea Moisture products, coconut oil, castor oil and flax seed gel. Shea Moisture products work wonders for my afro-textured hair and fit into my lifestyle.
I prefer to use natural or organic products although I strayed when I was fighting a battle with frizz this past summer. I tried a few products with silicones and later regret that I did so. Back to the sulfate-free products, avoiding mineral oil, petroleum and sulfates….period.
I prefer to use all natural products for my hair and my daughter's hair because i'm trying to promote a more healthy lifestyle for my family. So I stick with oils, butters and companies like qhemet biologics and Camille rose naturals.
I use primarily natural products even if they're not organic….castor oil,almond oil, shea butter,argan oil,etcetera……..
I feel comfortable using products such as Shea Moisture and Oyin. Last year around this time I was using Motions hair products. It is not like I felt like my hair was stripped of moisture…when I needed oil or moisture I added it. I feel comfortable knowing natural fruits, oil, and butters are maintaining healthy hair on my head instead of those blah, blah, blah chemical ingredients. I so badly though, want to try Suave Shea Butter and Almond shampoo and conditioner, because it is only a 1.85 at WalMart. When I turn it around the ingredients turn me off.
I wasn't entirely on it. When I first went natural, I was definitely more aware. But now I'm just focused on what works best for my hair.
I may have to go back to all natural, and get rid of my 'cone-laden products, because my hair responds better when I use my natural products. Missing using only 'juices and berries' 🙂
i go all natural because sulfates and cones dry the shizz out of my hair, mineral oil makes me break out no matter how little i use…and if I use a product laden with chemicals, my hair feels weird but that might be just in my head! Anyway, i just know in general my hair is in a better state with all natural products.
Now just because a product is are all natural doesn't mean my hair will automatically love it, the trial process is still there of course. But when my hair loves a natural product, boy does it show it!
It's a worthwhile lifestyle that pays off and I think is worth it in personal. I don't push it on anyone except if they are curious then I unload on them ha!
I never had a problem with sulfate or mineral oil but I use natural and non natural hair products
I'm a "no -cone" and no poo natural because that is what works best for my hair. I stick with natural butters and oils. I am not strictly organic, because nothing is 100% organic. I have been growing my hair for 3.5 years and it nearing waist-length. I am staying on the band wagon!
Fotki Page: http://public.fotki.com/Napurally-Obssessed/length-check/
I use both organic and non organic items for my hair..
Im cool with mineral oil,, and occasionally i use a sulfate shampoo.. If i didn't my hair will flip the hell out.. but i also make my own herbal spritz and herbal hair oil.. which my hair also loves.. So i jus use what my hair say it likes at the moment..
I stay away from sulfate shampoos my hair hates sulfate shampoos natural or relaxed! My hair also dislikes gels of any kind, products with alcohol (the bad kind) and anything that makes it hard (which seems to break my hair). I would like to be all natural but I respond to what works for my hair.
The homepage and the most recent page keeps redirecting to youtube without any influence of my clicking. Just thought you should know. Also the video is not what the title claims, haha.
My allegiance is ultimately to my hair, not any particular bandwagon. I mostly use organic products but I'm open to trying products that aren't natural. If my hair doesn't like it then I toss it! Oh and it works the other way too- sometimes my hair doesn't like the natural stuff. I tried clarifying my scalp using Witch Hazel and my scalp wasn't having it! So yeah, it's basically all up to my hair at this point. ~H
I've been nearly completely organic for about a year and my hair loves it.
After lots of experimenting, I've found that my hair responds best to traditional shampoos and conditioners (cones, sulfates, parabens, etc.) and all natural organic moisturizers and stylers. This is working very well for me.
I love keeping it simple and all natural homeade stuff is the route I go. I've been perm free for 4 years now but just started to keep my hair in its natural state (no braids or flat ironing) I use a shea butter/natural oil mix for moisterizing and DCs and giovanni smooth as silk for shampoo and conditioner but I discovered that even that has some questionables! so my next venture is terresentials to keep it all natural! Besides the initial start up its actually cheaper being a mixtress than buying some products! So all natural is good for my hair AND wallet 🙂
Thanks to Naptural85 of YouTube for Terressentials Lavender Garden Hair Mud Wash (she's my hair twin re texture)–that stuff is the BOMB! Don't even need to follow-up with a conditioner: hair is soft, fluffy and detangled! But I twist up using Kimmaytube's DIY leave-in and homemade peppermint whipped shea butter–yea!
I try to closely monitor what foods I put into my body. My hair and skin are just natural extensions of an overall "juices and berries" approach to healthy lifestyle living.
I too try to stay as organic as possible. Over the past year and a half I've found that my hair seems to like organic better than non-organic. I use Terressentials mud wash,a mix of oils as a pre-deep cond., Henna/indigo to color(every 2 wk),
Giovanni direct lv-n, Raw shea butter/oil mix, and my all time favorite SHEA MOISTURE'S SOUFFLE', SMOOTHIE, HAIR MILK & SPRAY!! I've strayed from these products and tried others but my hair sent me running back to these. (smile)
Allnatural1 (Michelle in TX)
I use organics and whip up my own hair supplies because thats what my hair likes.
My hair never felt amazing when I was shampooing it like it does when I do an ACV rinse and EVOO deep condition.
My hair just likes its products "straight out of the ground" so to speak
I'm mostly organic. My hair seems to like it that way, so I cant complain. It'll also do okay with some unnatural ingredients; I just use them sparingly only because its my preference to use natural ingredients.
well, it's a bandwagon– the very nature of it is that people hop on and off it. And as with many other things with the "natural movement", people are into it some days and not other days. I've never had a perm, relaxer, chemical treatment, etc. and have always used what was available to me and what worked for my hair, regardless of if it was "organic" or not. I don't much like the phrase "natural natural" because it's another bs way [just like hair- typing, or judging naturals who press their hair, etc.] to remove credibility from people who are in fact chemical-less/natural. It doesn't matter, not does it make you "more natural" or a "better natural" to use organic products– you've really just got to do what is in the best interest of how your hair thrives, feels, looks and what works for your pockets. If it's organic or not, then good.
I am still figuring out exactly what works for me. It's definitely affordable to buy pure shea butter and oils, but I get better result using pre-mixed products from the store. Maybe I am just a poor mixtress? I have fallen in love with Carol's daughter (Miss Jessies contains all types of no nos and doesnt work as well) but Carol's daughter burns a whole in my pocket. My hair is very important to me but I cant stomach spending so much money on my hair all the time.
SOoooooooo, at this point I am playing with figuring out which non-organic products are a huge no no for my hair and which I can deal with. It's a work in progress.
I just got on the wagon and I love it!!!!! My fine 4abc hair has never felt better and so much more manageable than it does right now. I don't do sulfates, cones, I pretty much make all my own stuff aside from the terressential mud wash.
I'm not fully organic but I try to stay as organic as much as I can. Reason being, it works better for my hair and if it's not broke, then why fix it :).
I am still on the organic bandwagon. Even if, from time to time I try other kind of products. My conclusion is to use what is successful as sometimes even organic combination don't work properly with my hair.
I try to use my own haircare creation (vegetal silicon with aloe vera and organic oils) with natural staples (conditionners)and not so natural staples (but paraben free) that I buy and try to do the best with it.
But at the end of the day, what is good with my hair is good with me.
Excuse the typo's! I am at working and trying to type fast before my boss creeps over to my desk! LOL
Honestly, I'm just lazy.
I try to get off the organic band wagon when it comes to my hair and I cannot bare to do it. When I try non organic products my hair hates them. I don't know why. So it's not like I am trying to be this or that, my hair has it's own preferences.
This article is right on time!I have been toying with the idea of using more natural products only because after become much more naturally-savvy, some of those ingrdients freak me out! I mean, you pick up a product that screams, Vitmain this and natural that on the bottle, but turn it around to see Hyccooccooodone and Dimethaloodydone and the rest of those creepy -ones and -ates….then all the way at the bottom is a drip drop of Vitamin E. No ma'am. Now I am not all the way green where I make my own products; I have a 1 yr old daughter I'd rather spend time with her than making hair concoctions. However, i do try to stick to products that are more natural, like Aubrey's Organics. I am still seraching for a regi that my hair loves from top to bottom. I am interested in reading everyone else's views though.
I use all natural products for my hair and it's thriving. When I first went natural, my personal decision was to avoid sulfates, silicones, mineral oil, etc. I pretty much use 3 main "products" for my hair and that's it. Bentonite clay to cleanse, my own shea butter mixture and flax seed gel. If I feel the need to treat my hair with an actual product, I make sure that the ingredients are all natural.
My relaxed hair was always in good condition. I think it's almost crazy to "strip down" your hair routine from what its use to. At least for me it was. I tried the all organic thing and my hair ended up looking like a cotton ball. I tried to address the "dryness" with all of the natural oils. All of that "greasiness" ran down into my face and started breaking me out. I don't play about my skin.
I ran back to sulfates and 'cones. My hair feels like MY hair now. Everything isn't for everyone and you have to find a regimen that works.
I guess I was never on the all natural natural bus. I have been 100% perm free since sept after a one year transition. I have been playing around with different products to see what works for my hair. I never consciously avoided the no no's such as cones and mineral oils. I use leave ins with silicones. I probably have used products with mineral oil. I had my best twist out using hair grease — Indian hemp (the kind with the particles in it :)). I have started using sulfate free poos. I have not tried to be all organic — for no particular reason. It just did not seem to be a big deal for me. I say do what works for you, your hair and your budget (I know some of that all natural stuff can be expen$ive too).