Natural hair products for 4c hair that you need, and don’t need. I had wanted to save this particular subject for a later time because it’s one where you will agree or disagree VERY STRONGLY, but a rainy afternoon (this is not intended for the poetic effect, it was raining for real :)), a cup of tea, and a look into my product collection made me think it was best to get this out early. A little disclaimer before I begin; this post is not intended to stop you from using specific products, but rather to enlighten you that if you didn’t use these products anymore, your hair would not be bothered. Let’s start with products you do not need. For me, these are products I purchased and have used less than 3 times; they stand dusty (this is for poetic effect, no dust here) and sad, unused for over a year now.

4 NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS YOU DON’T NEED

• Edge control

  Raise your hand if YouTube made you buy edge control. If there was ever any one product that you absolutely do not need, it’s Edge control. Why? Easy. Because you do not need to lay your edges, but if you must, you can achieve that with oil and a scarf. Let me not forget to say that if you have 4B/C hair, edge control will keep your edges sleek for 5 minutes before your majestic hair bursts through.

• Curl definition creams, gels, puddings and custards

  If you’re gasping, hand across your chest, take heart and hear me out. For many of us the idea of enhancing/manipulating your hair/curls (twist-out, braid-out, bantu-knot and more) without the aid of a curl definition product is unfathomable. However, it is possible to obtain a pretty decent twist-out with just a leave-in conditioner, or water and oil. And I should tell you this: as the years roll in and out on your hair journey, the urgent need you once had for curl definition slowly goes mild. At this point, one curl definition product will last you a long, long time.

• Hair growth serums

  More gasping? You do not need hair growth serums because there is no magic potion that will make your hair grow long in a short period of time. I have learnt that hair growth and length retention is linked more to genetics and general hair practices. What you apply on your scalp may only have a small impact.

• Anti-frizz serums

  If you have type 4 hair, what’s the worst thing that could happen if it gets frizzy, or if frizz means anything to you at all? For me the answer is nothing. When hair absorbs moisture from the environment it can become frizzy, but this is the nature of type 4 hair. I say embrace it, don’t smother your hair.

I singled these 4 products out because they are fairly common, and you can achieve similar effects with the next 4 products (these are products that you absolutely need). Natural hair products for 4c hair:

4 NATURAL HAIR PRODUCTS YOU NEED

These are products that will affect the general health of your hair, without which, you might experience setbacks in your hair journey.

• Shampoo

  You need to have a way to clean your hair regularly. Some naturals does not use shampoo and opt for other cleansing methods like clay, black soap or plain water (what?!). Whatever works best for you, regular cleansing prevents product build-up and dirt, which when left unchecked, will affect the health of your scalp and hair.

• Conditioner

  Conditioner is used to strengthen or moisturize hair (especially on wash day). Natural hair gets dry very easily, and you must get ahead of the dryness with a “good” conditioner. Dry hair is difficult to handle and also breaks off frequently.

• Moisturizer

  This is a leave-in conditioner, a cream or hair lotion. All these work to keep your hair soft, moisturized and manageable.

• Oil or Butter of choice

  You have to try different oils in order to find the one that works best for your hair, and when you do, oils and butters can be used for many things, such as sealing moisture in your hair, curl definition, scalp massages, pre-poo and many more.

What does all this mean? It means that you don’t have to be a product junkie, spend a ton of money or suffer because you have natural hair. Take only what you need. Do you agree with my list? What is your list of products that you cannot do without, and those you wish you’d left on the shelf?