Saving Money With Natural Hair!~

In case you didn't know, I've been natural for 4 years (Did the big chop on July 24 of 2011.) And if you're a natural yourself you probably realize how expensive having natural hair can be. However, the strange thing is: the longer my hair has gotten the more I've realized how cheap it can also be. When I first went natural, like many people, I wanted to try all the fancy products. As we learn more about ingredients we often turn to all natural products. Many of them can be very pricey. Still, I didn't mind purchasing them. Since February of this year I've been attempting to save money for my 6 month trip to Mexico (thats for another blog.) It is because of this that I learned that my hair doesn't really need all of those expensive/fancy products. So, the things I've discovered it does need are very few and very cheap. Starting with conditioner: I've discovered that I can use basically any conditioner on my hair and it works. So I went back to a conditioner that I was very fond of at the beginning of my natural hair journey: VO5! Yes, the cheapest conditioner you can possibly buy ($0.88 at BigLots.) This is a great thing for naturals, because you know how much conditioner many of us can run through in a heartbeat. Now, on to shampoo: For a time I was an avid buyer of Shea Moisture's shampoos. And don't get me wrong they are lovely and such. However, they don't last at all. They don't supply nearly enough product for a person, such as myself, who shampoos their hair once every week to two weeks (I often alternate between co-washing and shampooing.) So, I began to use castile soap. If you've never used it before, you should definitely look into it. What it basically is, is an all around cleaner. Depending on the ingredients you mix in with it, you can use it for anything. I often just add oil and water to mine. I pour the mixture into an applicator bottle I got a t Sally's, shake it up, and proceed from there. However, if I run out of castile soap, there's another option. I've found that I can use any shampoo the same way I use castile soap (add a little water and oil to it until it meets the right consistency for your hair type.) Still I much prefer using castile soap, because it is a purer component. It also tends to have less suds. One always has to be careful when watering down a sulfate shampoo because you must get the proportions right each time. If not, you'll end up with a shampoo mix that is too harsh for your hair. And that my friends, is a whole 'nother headache. When it comes to styling products though, I simply bite the bullet. One could always mix one's own products. However, I feel as if that's more expensive than say buying a batch of Shea Moisture's Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie. Not to mention, It would probably be more time consuming. The sad thing is, The Curl Enhancing Smoothie doesn't last me as long as it used to when my hair was shorter. I mean, back then it seemed like it lasted me months. Now I buy it and I get about a month and a half. For some people, I'm betting that's plenty long enough, but I guess I'm just spoiled. I need to find a styling product that is both cheap enough and big enough to fulfill my needs. Or just bite the bullet and order some whipped shea butter or something. In the area of oils: I know that oils can be expensive as well; but I think this is only if you make it expensive. For instance, some people feel it's necessary to have an entire spice cabinet of different oils. I on the other hand buy one kind in a large container and use it until it's gone. I prefer olive oil(because you can often find it cheap) and coconut oil(because of all the beneficial qualities - such as its protein content and antibacterial characteristics.) Sure, I want to try those other types of oils just as much as the next person; but I see no need to have all of them at the same time. Anyhow, that is how I've been saving money with natural hair. Everyday has still been just as good of a hair-day, even without the costly products. I'm not saying that what I do will be right for everyone. And if you have the money to spend on said products, then go for it and I envy you lol. To me those things are luxury.