Last fall, I cut my hair off and decided to go relaxer free. It’s all a part of my journey to remove as many chemicals, preservatives, and artificial ingredients from my life. I try to use mostly natural products except for hair dye. I think I’ve found a solid hair routine for my TWA (teeny weenie afro). Hopefully, it can help someone else.

Since it’s winter, I try to limit washing my hair with shampoo to once or twice a month. Shampoo strips the hair of its natural oils. Since my hair is tightly curled, it’s better if I use a conditioner to clean my hair which is called a co-wash.

Currently, my two favorite co-washes are Camille Rose Naturals’ Creme Restore and Cantu’s Shea Butter Conditioning Co-wash. The Cantu costs about six bucks and gets the job done. It cleans and conditions my hair. The Creme Restore is very moisturizing. I use it sparingly because it costs $14 a bottle.

Lately, I’ve been I’ve been reaching for this Shea Moisture Rhassoul Clay shampoo bar. It’s easy to use and has great lather. It’s perfect if you have thick curly hair. Don’t pay the $9.00 price for these Shea Moisture shampoo bars. They’re only $3.99 at Marshalls.

I deep condition my hair at least once a week. I have fallen in love with Shea Moisture’s Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque. You can find it at Sally Beauty Supply for around $12. I keep two back-up containers.

 

My hair loves honey and this masque instantly softens my hair. I detangle with a wide tooth comb or a tangle free brush. It takes about 90 seconds. I put a plastic bag over my hair. I’m lazy so I leave the conditioner and bag on overnight. I’ve slept with deep conditioners in my hair pretty much my whole life. It works for me, but some people say it’s not necessary.

After I rinse out the deep conditioner, I proceed with the LCO method. LCO stands for liquid, conditioner, and oil. The liquid is water. I use a leave-in conditioner and then seal the moisture in my hair with oil. This is important because I have low-porosity hair which means it’s extremely hard to get moisture into my hair strands.

My favorite leave-in conditioner is Alikay Naturals’ Lemongrass. This stuff works magic. It’s very popular and hard to find at times. If you see it, grab a bottle or two. It ranges from 12 to 18 bucks depending on the size.  Target is your best shot at finding it.

I seal the moisture in with a natural oil. I like this Baobab oil, and I also use grapeseed, apricot, olive oil and more.

Now it’s time to style. I prefer gels over creams. I apply them to my hair soaking wet, so after the LCO method, I use a spray bottle to wet each section as I apply the gel. I have to use warm to hot water to make sure the hair shaft is open since I have low porosity hair. My favorite stylers are Kinky-Curly, Jane Carter’s Curls to Go, and I recently discovered Aunt Jackie’s Curl Boss. My hair is still short, but I try to apply the gel in sections to make sure all the strands are covered. All of these gels define my coils and curls, and they have a firm hold.

I like to let my hair air dry. I try to use as little heat as possible. Heat and my hair don’t mix. Once it’s dry, I use The Mane Choice Growth Oil on my scalp, especially in areas that are the thinnest.

 

It really works. This is how my hair used to look. Medication and relaxers had caused bald spots. It’s completely grown back. The Mane Choice Growth Oil cost $9 a bottle, but it’s worth it. I only need to use it once a week.

Now, I’m set for the week. In the morning, I spritz my hair with The Mane Choice Tropical Moringa Restorative Spray. I can’t ever be without this ($14). I also spray on Jane Carter’s Shine On Elixir and give myself a scalp massage. I style my hair by adding a part and some edge control gel. Then I put on my shower cap and take my shower. I feel like this adds moisture to my hair. My last step is to lift my hair with my pick.

The key to keeping my hair healthy is keeping it conditioned. I spend a lot of money on conditioners. Specifically, I purchase leave-in conditioners which I apply most nights.

 

My favorite leave-in conditioners are from Camille Rose. They are pricey. I keep a variety of them around. My absolute favorite leave-in is Camille Rose’s Honey Hydrate. This is a game changer. It’s basically pure honey and heats up in your hands. This knocks moisture into my hair which is hard to do. It’s $14 a bottle but I’d pay double. It’s so powerful that I only use it once a week. I recently discovered Jane Carter’s Healthy Hair Slumber party. It does a great job and only costs around six bucks.

Do you have any hair product favorites? I’m always on the lookout for something new to try. Let me know in the comments.

Stay blessed,

Barbie