Hair products and ingredients thatare just too hyped up.
Moisturizers
I am a no fuss girl and I like to extend that simplicity to my hair. So you can imagine just how frustrated I get on wash day when I have to apply layers of product to my hair section by section by section. So the natural remedy for this situation is to get rid of at least one of those layers, and the first layer to go is the moisturizer.
The leave-in provides the slip and moisture needed for detangling and keeping your hair happy. The styling agent helps to set your hair, which only leaves the moisturizer.
Its job is rather redundant, especially when you consider that its ingredients are pretty similar to the styler, just different ratios of shea butter and aloe vera gel — especially if they are from the same line. So save some time, keep cash in your pockets and see how your hair fares without the moisturizer.
Exotic Oils & Other Rare-ish Things
Don’t get me wrong. Like the average person, I’m a sucker for anything exotic. Give me a guava over an apple any day, but when it comes to hair product ingredients, I like to keep things simple.
Cheaper oils like olive and grapeseed work just as well as anything else exotic on the market and are much cheaper, too! Yet somebody had the bright idea to add one drop of (insert exotic oil here) and sell me a product at double the price then if it didn’t have that ingredient. And this doesn’t just apply to oil!
Frankly, I don’t care how rare it is. I don’t care about the death defying climb to the top of the mountain to squeeze the oil from the berry growing on the only bush on the planet. I don’t care about the deep political and social history of the far away country where this ingredient is produced. And frankly, the story of the angel who came from heaven and gave you the vial of this mysterious ingredient doesn’t interest me in the least .
I shall not be swayed. I will take the $11 product with generic ingredients that works just as well and pass on the $30 product with angel tears, Zeus’ sweat, a unicorns horn, eye of newt and all the rest of that good and EXPENSIVE stuff.
Side Note
It would be remiss of me to not add relaxers to the list of products that we most definitely can live without. I don’t need to explain. You get it.
Want More?
Learn how to mix and match products and price ranges to get the biggest bang for your buck, and the best curls yet!
Final Thoughts
Now that you have my list, ladies, what are some of the hair product ingredients that you believe are just too hyped up? Let it out, here and now!
- 1
- 2
This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 at 12:00 pm and is filed under Ingredients. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed.
December 20th, 2011 at 8:10 am
I’m typing as fast as I can to be FIRST!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I was feeling so all alone in the natural world. I’ve experienced 2 brands of shea butter and couldn’t understand the hype. Figured it might have been because of my Mixed African American/Indonesian nature. I was feeling like I wasn’t fitting in, bc I wasn’t with the status quo. I tried Aloe Vera Gel, same feeling… I pondered aragon oil, among other oils… this article made me feel more comfortable in my natural journey. You’ve pretty much named the products I believe are hyped… I keep it simple with conditioner and Honey. I experiment now and then, but part of my decision to go natural was to save money- therefore I am resitant to becoming a “product-junkie”.
December 20th, 2011 at 10:06 am
*resistant.. not resitant
January 3rd, 2012 at 7:32 am
THANK YOU! You are not alone. I agree! In addition, I think that the whole process of “going natural” as it’s defined on many sites has become much more complicated, time consuming and involves way more products than are necessary….exactly the opposite of what I hoping to accomplish.
January 3rd, 2012 at 10:38 am
I thought this article was hilarious! I agree with it too. I don’t understand why some naturals feel like they have to use 5 different products on their hair, one on top of the other to achieve good results. I cannot do that. The simpler the better!
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:40 pm
I have always felt that you should find out what works for your hair. Some of these products might not work for you but work for others. No as far as putting layers of products in your hair i agree with. have heard some naturals say find out what works best for you. If you want to try something new always buy a small size and experiment with it. That is what I do and I keep it simple. I have found that my hair like the Shea Moisture Hibiscus, coconut milk line and if I don’t want to use that. My hair also like the shea butter or coconut oil. I also have oils that I may or may not use, depends on what i want to use on that day. I use a spritz to refresh my hair in the morning. I also like the flax seed gel. I have learned what my hair likes and I make my own products to save even more money.
January 4th, 2012 at 6:13 am
I am not entirely natural… YET. Reason being when I tried, I ended up using way too much product and going back to what worked. The simple stuff. I am a newbie, and yet I have been dealing with my curly hair since I discovered it as a teenager. My fall-back? Yes, I mix a little Aloe in with my hair gel, which I scrunch into my hair after a no-poo condition cleansing with cold rinse. But that is all I do. I tried Jojoba oil, which a straight hair beauty gave to me. HATED it!!!! I will have to try this Flax seed gel…. sounds awesome! Can it replace my non-natural hair gel completely?
January 6th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
LUV THIS ARTICLE!!! Shea butter does nothing for my hair!!! I The Shea Moisture line sucks!! Its sticky and leaves a gummy feel to my hair. I will definitely pass on it. I have never cared for gels of any kind, so a definate pass on aloe vera jel in my hair. If I burn myself while cooking, yes; hair =NO! As far as the moisturizers, anytime I would ask someone or look it up on the net, I would never get a conclusive answer, so I pass on the moisturizers as well. Leave in condish and olive oil is what I do.
January 26th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
I love the curly cream from the Shea Moisture line with its coconut oil and silk protein. I have 4b hair and love to use it post wash.I think that different people’s hair responds to different things and we shouldn’t get so wrapped up with what other people use on their hair if it doesn’t work for us. Why stay in the closet. I for one will never spend $30 on Miss Jessie’s.
March 25th, 2012 at 11:36 am
I agree with everything especially the water. On the days I don’t wash my hair, I use my spray bottle full of water and basically spray my whole head until it’s wet. Nevertheless, it’s dumb because it ends up making my hair so dry! After reading this, I am going to lessen my spray bottle use and leave my poor locks alone.
April 10th, 2012 at 11:02 am
I totally agree with all the comments regarding water, butter and oils. I am finding that the thick gels and butters were causing my hair to break off. Less is more on some type 4 hair and I plan to keep it as simple as possible.
March 3rd, 2013 at 4:51 pm
One person’s junk is another person’s treasure. That is, what works for some may not work for others. I have a type of 4c hair, and I could never understand why some people would tell me I didn’t know what I was talking about when I told them that water, generally speaking, was not the best moisturizer for my hair. On the other hand, unless I add additional moisture alongside the leave-in conditioner, my hair becomes dry very quickly. I use a natural hydrating shampoo and a natural hydrating leave-in conditioner. It’s simply not enough for MY hair, and it responds very well to the Shea Moisture C & H line of products. The curl enhancing smoothie is the best thing to happen to my hair since…the jeri curl. Hahahahahaha! I’ve been natural since 2000, and it’s only recently that I’ve begun to understand what MY hair needs. I don’t criticize hair products that don’t work for me simply because they don’t work for me. They do work for some people, even those loaded with chemicals. Also, regardless of what our hair texture is, even those professing to have the same type as you or I, don’t have the EXACT same type of hair. That the beauty of everyone’s uniqueness. It took me understanding and realizing my uniqueness to appreciate and love my hair (and anyone’s hair for that matter) the way it is. That’s what self-acceptance is all about. Okay, I’ll get off my soap box now .
May 21st, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Niiiiccceeee!! Just went natural not too recently and love this site for all the information it provides. I too, Zee_Gee am a 4c hair type (as discovered here:) ) and I first discovered rejuvenating moisture for my hair with the Shea Moisture product line as well. I also use the SM curl smoothie, as well as the curl souffle (yay instant curl and styling happiness as proven after a few days of not moisurizing). I also like the Nubian Heritage line which is from the same maker as SM. The products are heavy, but are to be used as one sees they need it. But as someone with a scalp and type of hair that oil and grease just sits on, I will be trying to adjust these products even more to give my hair breathing room. My hair does not favor chemicals at all, a tale told by the years of my hair fighting relaxers and the more recently tried texturizers. I prefer natural products and can’t wait till I try the flax seed gel, as a holding gel is one of my last hair products to replace. The Curl souffle works well, as well as the NH grow and strengthening custard, but I want a lighter version that’s just dedicated to styling. Not to mention that flax seed has nice internal benefits as well.:) Thank you again for this article!
May 21st, 2013 at 12:46 pm
“I first discovered rejuvenating moisture for my hair with the Shea Moisture product line as well.” Nix the as well. Sorry!! :O