5 Must-Haves for Natural African-American Hair

1. Water. Plain ol’ water in a spray bottle. Tap is fine, distilled/boiled is better. You’d be surprised at how well a daily spritz of water can maintain your moisture balance.

2. Moisture Milk. (cheapie conditioner). These are the $1 or $2 conditioners you see all over the place – Sauve, Vo5, Aussie Moist, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration). They’re low in silicones so they won’t leave behind residue/build up. A lot of people use these as an alternative to shampoo and/or supplement their hair care regimen/add extra moisture. I add a few squeezes to my water bottle for spritzing and sometimes add a few squeezes to my deep conditioner as filler. My favourites are Sauve Green Apple, Sauve Coconut, and Herbal Essence Hello Hydration. They seem to be the richest.

3. Wide toothed comb. This is my tool of choice for whenever I comb my hair. Very rarely do I use a brush (Denman/Tangle Teezer/whatever). I believe in minimizing undue shedding/breakage, which can come with smaller toothed combs. I will only comb my hair when wet. The easiest way for me to detangle is in the shower, under the streaming showerhead while rinsing out my conditioner.

4. Large elastics. Great to use as headbands, for making puffs, or for sectioning hair while styling or detangling. Sometimes they break, get lost, or eventually wear down. I say go to your local dollar store and stock up!

5. Gel. Yes, I said it. Some people don’t like the feel of it but it makes a tremendous difference in how groomed your hair looks, depending on the look you’re going for. It tames “fly aways” around the hairline and makes twists/coils hold together tighter as well as last longer. My favourite is (clear) EcoStyler. It has tremendous hold and is very inexpensive. You can find a small jar at your local beauty shop for about 3 bucks!

Optional: A silk or satin scarf, bonnet, or pillow case. This helps to keep your hair from drying out (cotton absorbs moisture) and/or breaking due to friction/rubbing as you sleep.