Hair
Using hair care products with toxic ingredients doesn't benefit you or your hair, PERIOD.
A big part of being natural is about embracing your natural hair texture and creating new beauty standards, but it goes a little bit beyond that. It's also about treating ourselves better by using products that are good for us and our hair. Don't get me wrong, eliminating perms and relaxers is a great first step, but now it's time to look at what's in our shampoos, conditioners, and styling creams.
There are many harmful ingredients to avoid using in our hair, some of the most common include: silicones, parabens, sulfate, retinol, isopropyl alcohol, and phthalates among the many others. Switching to organic plant-based hair products and techniques enhance natural hair growth, are more gentle to your hair and scalp, and overall show better results.
Doing the research and finding better hair care products can be a a job in itself, that's why I'm here to help. I tried 4 vegan natural hair products, here's what I thought.
Rucker Roots
Rucker Roots, created by sisters — Ellen and Ione — was introduced to the world back in 2015, but has been a family regimen dating back to the 1980's. They pride themselves on using natural ingredients that stimulate hair growth, strengthens hair, and adds shine and elasticity.
Active Ingredients:
Ginger, turnip, and carrot
My Thoughts:
The GTC line (ginger, turnip, and carrot) works great for my 4C hair and it smells really good. I use the entire line to wash and style my hair and it left me with moisturized, curly, and soft hair. The shampoo immediately starts to moisturizes, soften, and detangle your hair when you apply it, allowing the conditioner to reinforce that. The leave-in conditioner also softens and moisturizes your hair very well and I love the fact that it's a spray bottle, I would recommend spraying it onto your hand first!
After I used the leave-in conditioner, I tried their GTC curling cream and that enhanced my curls. I completely saturated my hair and used a detangling brush to comb it out. Although, the curly cream has a thicker consistency, it didn't weigh down my hair at all. Next, I used the GTC Styling Mousse. I never used a mousse in my hair but I definitely will start now. It added a firm hold without making my hair hard like most gels tend to do and it helped wash n' go style last longer.
All-Star Product(s):
The GTC curling cream and styling mousse. If there's anything you should get from this line, it's these two products.
Yay or Nay:
Yay!
Tre Luxe
Tre Luxe believes the right products and ingredients can help you achieve your hair goals. It's made for women on-the-go with naturally textured hair. Their products help nourish, define, and style natural curls, offering solutions to the various hair care problems so you can feel and look your best.
Active Ingredients:
Aloe Vera, Broccoli seed oil, coconut milk, Slippery Elm Bark Extract
My Thoughts:
These products stand by the brand's mission and really cater to all hair types. The cleanser and and leave-in conditioner sets a good foundation for you to style your hair and provide lasting moisture. The cleanser provides you with a gentle yet efficient clean. The cleanser is more liquid-like than most shampoos, and it made it very easy for me to apply it to my hair. By the end of my wash, it left my hair feeling silky, hydrated, and easy to comb through.
As for the leave-in conditioner, I didn't immediately feel the moisture, but as I continued to detangle my hair, I saw a big difference in my curls. One thing I would recommend for better results, is using all the products in the Tre Luxe line, instead of mixing products from another brand.
All-Star Product(s):
Untie The Knot Leave-in Conditioner
Yay or Nay:
Yay!
Hot Head Thermal Hair Care
The Hot Head Thermal Hair Care product is a bit different. It's a healthy alternative to minimizing the amount of heat you apply to your hair, while increasing hydration. Hot Head is a flaxseed-filled microwavable deep conditioning heat cap.
Active Ingredients:
Flaxseed
My Thoughts:
This product is definitely a product for those who don't like to sit under the dryer. This cap allows you to treat your hair with the mobility to do whatever you have to do without cords. I personally don't mind sitting under the dryer. One thing I noticed about the Hot Head is, to maintain the same heat that the dryer does, I would have to keep reheating it in the microwave. While I do have the flexibility, I would have to reheat the cap for my desired conditioning time and the results I'm looking for.
I think this is good product to have for when you are short on time, however, it doesn't replace the hooded dryer or steamer.
Yay or Nay:
Nay.
Fortify'd Naturals
Active Ingredients:
Black Soap, Sage, Hydrolyzed Baobab Protein, and MSM Powder.
My Thoughts:
I tried Fortify'd Natural's Reconstructing Deep Conditioner and the Sage Infused Black Soap Shampoo, and both products brought out my natural curl pattern.
The Sage Infused Black Soap shampoo left my hair feeling light and clean with just one cleanse. This shampoo has a liquid-like consistency and can easily spread throughout the strands of your hair, so a little goes a long way. I just applied the shampoo to my roots and massaged my scalp, then moved down to my ends. Once I finished, I noticed that my hair was very hydrated and curly; it provides conditioner benefits in a shampoo.
The Reconstructing Deep Conditioner added another layer of moisture to my hair while elongating my curls, which I love. I do recommend saturating your hair completely to make sure it penetrates each strand. Unlike the shampoo, more is more. However, both products made my hair feel hydrated, light, and very refreshed. It also works well when mixing with other products.
All-Star Product(s):
Sage Infused Black Soap Shampoo
Yay or Nay:
Yay!
ALSO ON XONECOLE