My first and main priority when it comes to my hair is always hair health. When I'm shopping or testing new products it has to cater to my hair type and texture, moisturize, and use beneficial ingredients that either build my overall hair strength or promote a healthy scalp. Promising to define or elongate my curls is cool, but it's simply not enough for me.

Lately, I've been trying new products from both mainstream and startup brands to add to my collection, especially during the warmer weather. I noticed a few differences in my summer hair routine in comparison to the rest of the year. During the summer, I have to:

Wash my hair way more frequently to avoid build-up and to just clean my sweaty scalp.
Keep my hair moisturized.
Protect my hair from the sun.
Condition my hair very often.
Use more oils.

Basically, I had to establish a routine and have the right products to properly care for my hair. If you're looking for ways to improve your summertime hair care, here are some natural hair products to add to your routine before the summer is over.

Aunt Jackie's Curl La La Defining Curl Custard

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Although it's labeled as a curl defining custard, the formula adds a ton of moisture and shine to your strands regardless of your hair type. It's kind of like an all-in-one hair cream and leave-in conditioner. It's paraben- and sulfate-free and enriched with olive oil and shea butter that will leave your curls juicy and refreshed for a few days.

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Moisture Love’s Now & Forever Leave-in Conditioning Serum

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This is a brand new product to me and girl, it's staying in my collection. I've never used a leave-in conditioning serum before but it definitely made detangling less time-consuming and a less dreadful process. The plant-based product is very runny which makes it easier to travel through your strands. Whether you apply it to damp or dry hair, it immediately softens and moisturizes your hair, making it easier to comb through.

Pro tip: You can also use this on your roots and ends while it's in a protective style.

$17

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Oils

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Oil is pretty much the GOAT product for hair, skin, and nails, so of course, it was going to find its way on this list. Oils are essential to my summer routine for two main reasons. One, it helps seal in moisture. After I apply a condition to my hair, I seal it with either tea tree or jojoba oil (castor oil is cool too, but depending on the style, it can be too thick for some). Secondly, I use it to protect my hair from drying out in the water. Before I go into the pool, I apply oil to every strand on my head. Chlorine will literally strip all the moisture from your hair and oil helps combat that.

Moisturizing Mousse

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I tend to give gels a little break in the summer. With the amount of frizz-control that I need, it requires a lot of gel and to be honest, I can't bother with any extra buildup. So instead I use a mousse that not only provides hold but moisture too.

I recommend three different mousses for the summer: Smooth'n Shine Bodifying Mousse with sweet almond oil for protective styles. It adds moisture and shine while keeping flyaway hairs in place for a longer-lasting style and protects your hair from extreme heat conditions. Next, is Design Essentials Almond and Avocado Mousse. It's good for moisturizing, adding shine, and reducing frizz by creating a strong hold. Lastly is Lottabody's Milk & Honey Curl Defining Mousse. This is for the girls who don't want such a strong hold but want to keep the curls in place. It adds shine and body to your curls with a medium hold.

Curlmix Pure Homemade Flaxseed Gel

Curlmix

So I know I said I didn't use gels, but this is the only exception. To be honest, it doesn't even feel like a gel, it feels more like a conditioning cream. The vegan and cruelty-free brand has several different formulas for all of your hair needs: hair growth, hair repair, and hair softening amongst others. The one I recommend is moisture formula. It adds a ton of moisture, especially if you're using it with another cream or custard, but it can also do wonders alone. The best part is, it doesn't leave any flakes or white residue.

$13

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Revlon Realistic Strengthening Conditioner And Butter Creme Leave-In Conditioner

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Black seed oil has a number of benefits for our hair; it soothes the scalp, eliminates dryness, increases shine, nourishes hair strands, and promotes healthy hair growth. Revlon Realistic Strengthening Conditioner and Revlon Realistic Strengthening Butter Creme Leave-In Conditioner are dedicated to strengthening your hair and stimulating hair growth. I like to use the conditioner as a deep conditioner to bring my hair back to life and follow up with the butter creme for better results.