As naturals there are just some products and accessories that we absolutely cannot live without because they help to make our lives easier regardless of whatever stage we are at in our journey. Below I have listed 8 must have tools for naturals I’ve been using since the start of my natural hair journey and continue to use to this day because of their effectiveness.
CONDITIONER
Conditioner is like a relaxer for natural hair. It helps to soften detangle, moisturize and even clump curls together! I often use my conditioner as a leave-in under gel based stylers and I also find that conditioner works beautifully with gel to keep my edges in place.
HAIR PINS
Hair pins are a must have accessory for naturals. No matter the length of your hair from TWA to bra strap, you will ALWAYS find that using a few hairpins can transform a simple style into an elegant up-do, hold stray hairs in place and even help to keep intricate twists and braids intact. More recently, pins have become a fashion hair accessory since placing several pins in a pattern can be quite flattering.
HEADBANDS
Headbands are the perfect go to accessory for a quick fix. Having a bad hair day? Add a headband. In a hurry and short on time to style your hair? Just add a headband. Headbands come in a variety of sizes, colors and shapes which make them perfect for any occasion. Feel free however to use them for their intended purpose- to keep sweat away from the face during workouts, although I almost never use them for this purpose.
TOOTHBRUSH
Seasoned naturals should already know the role of a toothbrush in achieving a slick and polished style. A soft bristled toothbrush is key to laying down your edges and styling “baby hairs.” The toothbrush is the perfect tool since it’s small enough to capture the shortest of hairs and soft enough to avoid excessive friction which may cause delicate short hairs to break. It’s simple…apply your product of choice directly to the toothbrush, gently brush hairs in the desired direction and your edges will be “laid” before you know it!
STYLING GEL
Styling gel is a pet peeve of many naturals since it can be drying especially if it contains alcohol. Many complain about the hold or cast which gels form once they dry. Gel is an essential part of my regimen. I use Eco Styler, Olive Oil (alcohol free) gel and it helps to keep my wash and go and other styles intact for several days. Once the gel is dry and the cast has formed, I simply scrunch my hair to get rid of that stiff feeling. Since water helps to reactivate the gel, I spritz my hair during the week, resulting is softer coils and curls as the week progresses.
SPRAY BOTTLE
What is the natural life without a spray bottle with water or some other concoction? A spray bottle is essential for keeping hair moisturized. It saves you from drenching your hair in water and you can give your hair exactly what it needs in the right amount. Whatever you put in your spray bottle is completely up to you so long as the potion delivers the right nutrients to promote moisture and growth.
SECTIONING CLIPS
When I big-chopped, I found my life extremely easy! I could co-wash my hair every morning if I pleased, finger detangle, style and be done in 20 minutes. Fast forward to 1 year and 5 months later when I now have shoulder length hair to contend with. Now, working without sections only leads to a tangled overwhelming mess that takes forever to style. I have learnt that sectioning hair using sectioning clips makes for less tangled hair and faster styling.
YOUTUBE
A natural should never have to live without YouTube. YouTube has played an important part in my hair journey. So many tutorials, so much great advice from gurus, new naturals, transitioners, and the lists goes on! YouTube has a strong supportive community of naturals and I can almost guarantee that any questions you have will be answered here.
What are some of your natural hair favorites? Let me know by commenting under this posting on instagram: beautifulanomalies1.
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