According to most in the natural hair community, choosing products for your hair is purely trial and error. However, this is one of the most inaccurate statements made repeatedly throughout the natural hair world.Turning your bathroom sink into a hair laboratory is not only expensive but it isn’t necessary. There are some very simple guidelines that we can all follow to help make this task uncomplicated and affordable.
To make your next natural hair product purchase seamless and successful we’ve put together 6 simple tips to get you started.
1. Look for products with water soluble ingredients.
While the general focus for most naturals is to avoid silicones, the focus needs to be shifted to choosing products that are water soluble. Water soluble products can be broken down with water and/or may be removed with gentle surfactants. This means that you can use much milder cleansers to keep the hair hydrated and clean.
2. Look for products with botanically based ingredients.
According to cosmeticinfo.com, “A botanical ingredient is a component of a cosmetic or personal care product that originates from plants (herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, leaves or seeds). Specific ingredients derived from biological sources are classified based on their chemical structure and how they are isolated from plants.”
“Plant-derived (botanical) ingredients were among the very first cosmetics. Natural colorants, plant juices for soothing and protection from insect pests, and fragrant oils for imparting scent were all used in ancient times.”
Naturals should be on the lookout for products containing ingredients like marshmallow root, aloe, nettle and horsetail, just to name a few.
