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!
Freelance writer, content creator, and traveler. She enjoys the beauty of simplicity, a peaceful life, and a big curly fro. Connect with Krissy on social media @iamkrissylewis or check out her blog at www.krissylewis.com.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Are You & Your Partner Financially Compatible? Here’s How To Tell.
With nearly half of all marriages that end in divorce citing finances as the nail in the coffin to deading their relationship, financial compatibility is one aspect of long-term compatibility that doesn't get talked about enough. Beyond the circular 50/50 discourse and whatever hot-button issues regarding providers and the like, at its core, financial compatibility is about how well your financial behaviors, values, and long-term goals align with those of your partner.
More than it is about how much money a person makes or doesn't make, financial compatibility focuses on how you think about money, how you spend your money, and most importantly, how you plan for the future with your money. Think, questions about money mindsets, spending habits, debt, budget, etc. Are you a saver and he's a spender? Do you see money as a tool for freedom? Does he see it as something to hold on tightly to as a means of survival? Can you talk about your financial goals and plans openly?
Knowing if you and your partner are financially compatible can save a lot of heartache, a lot of headaches, and a lot of money in the end. Keep reading for a few key indicators to pay attention to and learn whether or not you and your partner are truly aligned financially.
Signs You’re Financially Compatible
1. You can talk about money without judgment.
Conversations about money aren't something you dread. You're able to talk to your partner freely and openly about money matters, like debts, bills, the budget, etc., even when it is uncomfortable. There is an understanding that talking about money doesn't have to be something you're on the defense about, instead it's an opportunity for transparency, clarity, and solutions.
2. You respect each other's money personalities.
What is a money personality? According to Ken Honda, author of Happy Money, a money personality is our "approach and emotional responses to money" and there are seven money personalities we can fall under. These personalities can help us understand our own relationship with money, as well as our partner's. For example, maybe you're someone who likes to treat yourself to a fancy dinner once a month and your partner is someone who believes ordering takeout and not cooking meals at home is a cardinal sin.
When you can respect each other's money personalities, neither approach is subjected to judgment and shifts can be made in each other's spending habits as needed and from a place of love versus guilt or shame.
3. You agree on what it means to have "financial security."
Whether it’s building a stacked emergency fund, paying off debt before putting a downpayment on a home or being able to splurge on a baecation without checking your account balance before the bill arrives, your definitions of what it means to be financially secure are in sync, or at least compatible enough to reach a compromise.
4. You are not each other's "financial parent."
You’re not constantly teaching, fixing, or stressing out over what the other person is doing with their money. Although I fast-forwarded through a lot of the most recent season of Love Is Blind, I did pay attention to Virginia and Devin and money seemed to be a recurring theme in their conversations. It was clear Virginia had her ish together when it came to money and her financial plans for the future and Devin was not quite on her level.
Though she said no at the altar for additional reasons, I could also see how sis could eventually get very tired of being her partner's second mama, so to speak. And that's the thing about being your partner's "financial parent," eventually, you could end up feeling like you are one-half of a "parenting" or "teaching" dynamic with your partner instead of feeling like you're equals in a partnership.
5. You make financial decisions with each other in mind, not for each other.
Whether it’s booking a trip, deciding which debt to tackle first, saving up for a big purchase, or planning out your next move, there’s a mutual respect for each other’s input. Those shared goals might look like wealth, freedom, stability, or just a debt-free life that feels soft and secure.
You don’t have to be chasing the same bag in the same exact way, but you do need to be aligned on the vision. What you're building should feel like a joint venture with shared effort and purpose, not one of y’all making major money moves like you're still single. Making financial decisions is not just about where the money goes, it's about where you’re going together.
6. You're aligned when it comes to the big stuff.
Financial compatibility extends to the long-term of money management. The legacy, structure, and shared responsibility that comes with decisions like shared accounts, estate planning, having babies, or even blending families. Will you split bills or combine income? Who’s taking time off if you have a child? How do y’all feel about generational wealth or investing for your family’s future? You and your partner have had the real conversations.
These conversations can’t wait until after the wedding or until after a baby’s here. They’re the foundation for how you function as a unit, and if you're not aligned, or at least willing to get on the same page, that incompatibility can cause friction in the end that love alone can't fix.
Love is cute and all, but building an empire together? That’s the real flex. Tap into our new series Making Cents to see what financial compatibility really looks like when love and legacy go hand in hand.
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