Au Naturale

Lately Penny has had conversations with many about natural hair care. I guess you can say some are "going green" with their hair and opting for natural hair and natural hair care. Hair that is not chemically treated in any way would be considered natural hair. Penny herself has not had a chemical hair relaxer in years, but unfortunately, can't back away from the dye bottle. *sigh* I at least go for dye that is ammonia free (Bigen #58).  Beauty manufacturers have heeded the call and there are several lines on the market for the growing natural hair care trend. Natural and organic products are not as difficult to find as they once were. Keep in mind that the best hair care for any hair type includes natural and/or organic products. They are gentler on your hair and scalp; and often provide overall hair health benefits. Penny recommends the following web sites for those seeking products that work with natural hair whether it be curly, kinky, wavy, or straight...thick, course or fine.  There is a product out there for everyone.

http://www.aveda.com/

http://www.blendedbeauty.com/

http://www.mixedchicks.net/

http://www.hairrules.com/

http://www.kinky-curly.com/

http://www.etaeproducts.com/

http://www.janecartersolution.com/

http://www.justnaturalskincare.com/

http://www.missjessies.com/

http://www.mynhcg.com/

http://www.carolsdaughter.com/

One of the most important things to note when working with your natural hair is to "understand your hair type or texture."  This is important because many products are now created to treat the various type (i.e. wavy, curly, coarse, straight, etc), and not just the condition of the hair (i.e. dry, thin, split ends, etc). Today it is less about ethnicities, and culturally specific products, and more about actual hair types. Penny herself is a "potpourri of sorts" and my hair texture has often reflected this. With multiple textures, it can be challenging to find the right product. But where would Penny be without products to play with? Oh the horror! Ha ha ha! (Read full story...)
When trying to figure out your hair texture, look closely at your hair and what it does when it is wet or when you air dry it.  Many are embracing their natural curls and waves with the help of products like Aveda's Be Curly, Mixed Chicks, Leave-In Conditioner, Kinky Curly's Curling Custard, and Miss Jessies Curly Pudding.  What Penny likes about products by Hair Rules and Blended Beauty is that they cater to a wide variety of hair types.

Please look for the next blog post which will specifically cover the topic of going 'chemical free'...going natural and growing out your relaxed hair. There are pros and cons, and things to take into consideration to get to better hair health, without sacrificing style. Many women are realizing the damage that prolonged chemical relaxation can impart on thier hair and scalp. Some are opting for short natural styles, others for going through the challenges of 'growing out' their hair. Many of the products mentioned here can help with this process.

Be blessed. Be beautiful.