Price: $30
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:
SugarBearHair vitamins are soft and delicious chewy hair vitamins! They are vegetarian, cruelty-free, and made in the U.S.A. They're flavored with natural berries for a sweet taste you can enjoy!
Formulated with essential hair-friendly vitamins like biotin, folic acid, and Vitamin D, it nourishes your hair from the roots to improve strength, elasticity, length, and shine.
Just chew and swallow 2 gummy bears a day to get all the nutrients needed to meet your hair goals! Unlike the conventional large, gross vitamins, our gummies are easy to take and are gentle on your stomach.
Our vitamins do not contain hormones so it will not affect your facial or body hair.
No gelatin. No dairy. No side effects.

Review:
SugarBearHair is a new hair vitamin that I've been trying out since I have a hard time swallowing pills. Because of that, trying Hairfinity and Hairburst didn't work out for me, so when I heard of these chewable gummy bear hair vitamins I knew I had to try it.

The vitamins taste really good and I haven't missed a day of taking them yet. I wish the company sold just the gummies as a candy (without the nutrients inside) so I could just eat them all. But I control myself and just chew the recommended 2 gummies per day lol

Another cool thing about SugarBearHair vitamins are that they're vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and cruelty-free. However, for those who are allergic to nuts, they do contain tree nut oil.
Since I started taking them 2 months ago my hair has been growing about an inch every month, which is double the normal rate for my hair! I will continue to take these vitamins because they really do work. SugarBearHair has officially become a holy grail product for me.

Bottom Line:

Great chewable and vegetarian hair vitamins that have helped my hair grow twice as fast.

 

Price: Free (I had all of the ingredients in my house)
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Recipe:
Large bowl/sink of warm water
1/4 cup of baking soda
2 tsp of lemon juice
1 tsp of sea salt
3/4 cup of apple cider vinegar

Stir until all is well dissolved

Review:
I tried this on my locs more as an experiment to see how much build up was in my locs after a year of having them. I got the recipe from Chescaloc's YouTube video where she recorded herself doing the cleanse in the sink. She, along with other people, did the cleanse on their locs and the mixture in the sink turned from clear to brown. I wanted to see where my hair stood when it came to product build-up.

When I did the cleanse, my water did not turn brown, but it was slightly darker and I could see residue and flakes. I chose to shampoo as well since it couldn't get much of the oil from my scalp. After washing and conditioning my hair, it was shinier and looked healthier in general.
I am relieved to know that I'm not using too much product in my locs lol

Bottom Line:

Great recipe for getting the build up out of your locs. Wouldn't recommend doing a harsh cleanse like this more than twice a year.

Black Soap Pros
All natural
Affordable
Effective

Black Soap Cons
A bit drying on the hair
Scalp was oily the next day

Shampoo Pros
Affordable
Effective

Shampoo Cons
Can be drying to the hair
Usually has sulfates (unless labeled as sulfate free)


I've tried Raw African Black soap for my face and scalp. My face loves it (especially when I follow up with shea butter) but it may be too drying for my scalp and hair. It cleaned my scalp well but I think it may have done too good of a job. My scalp produced even more oil than usual as punishment, so I was back to square one.

I'll just stick to using sulfate-free shampoos. It may not necessarily be completely natural but it's what works better for my hair.

Price: $9.50
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:
Dudley’s Scalp & Skin Antiseptic is a soothing pre-shampoo treatment that removes odor-causing bacteria and excess oil and helps control dandruff. It stimulates the scalp for a better shampoo and conditions the skin, making it feel soft and refreshed.

Ingredients:

• SD Alcohol 40 – a readily evaporating colorless liquid is a powerful stimulant and antiseptic.
• Clove Oil – has antiseptic properties derived from a dried flower bud of a tropical evergreen.
• Peppermint Oil – a healing agent with cooling properties.
• Eucalyptus Oil – a colorless pale to yellow liquid.

Review:
I consider this product to be the reason my oily scalp and dandruff problem hasn't driven me insane. Other dandruff-targeted products didn't do anything for my scalp. This is the only one that has made a difference. This is a pre-shampoo that helps remove the oil and bacteria from your scalp and keeps scalp fungi in check.

The instructions say to use a cotton ball to apply it to the scalp, which does not work for dense hair. Since the product is a liquid, I put it in a bottle that has an applicator tip. After wetting my hair and scalp, I use the tip to pour it throughout my scalp (not hair), massage it through, and then rinse. I do it a total of two times and then use my regular shampoo.

Something that surprised me is that it burned a bit the first time I used it, but after that it didn't really burn; it only tingled.

This product is very drying to the hair strands so it's best to try to avoid getting it all over your hair. After you follow up with your usual shampoo, make sure you have a good conditioner.
If you have dry "dandruff" (which is actually dry scalp flaking; not dandruff) this product is not for you. It will make a dry scalp worse. Only use this product if you have issues with oily dandruff.

Bottom Line:

Perfect pre-shampoo treatment for oily scalp and dandruff issues. Not recommended for those with dry scalp issues.

 

Commercial Facial Cleanser Pros
Effective

Commercial Facial Cleansers Cons
Can be expensive
Only a little bit of product in the container
Can contain harmful chemicals


Raw African Black Soap Pros
Affordable
Great value (a little goes a long way)
Effective
All natural

Raw African Black Soap Cons
Can be a bit drying


Raw African Black Soap is the only thing I use to clean my skin for the rest of my life.
Commercial skin cleanser were effective, but to be honest they always dried my skin out too much. I've had other cleansers leave residue on my face, causing my acne to become worse.

I tried Black Soap after my cousin recommended it to me. She uses it on her face to remove her makeup and she attested to it being a good cleanser.

My acne improved significantly since I started using Black Soap, but I saw the most improvement after incorporating shea butter. These two work well together, as if they were made for each other. Black soap is a bit drying to the skin, but shea butter restores moisture. They are truly my holy grail products for keeping my skin healthy.

Commercial Facial Moisturizers Pros
Effective
Smells good

Commercial Facial Moisturizers Cons
Can be expensive
Only a little bit of product in the container
Can contain harmful chemicals


Raw Shea Butter Pros
Affordable
Great value (a little goes a long way)
Effective
All natural

Raw Shea Butter Cons
Some may not like the smell


My skin loves shea butter and so does my wallet. I've had the same container of shea butter for over 2 years and I use it on my face every day. I also occasionally use it for my hair.

Commercial skin moisturizers were effective, but my skin always looked dull. I switched to raw shea butter after seeing so many naturals boast about how it helps their hair and skin. I love it because it gives my skin the proper moisture it needs as well as a healthy glow.

As another perk, my acne improved A LOT since I started using shea butter along with Raw African Black Soap. These two products together saved my skin.

The only downside to shea butter is that if you're used to your facial products smelling like flowers or a tropical island, it could take some time to get used to the earthy smell of shea butter. I never cared for smelling like fruit so it was cool with me.

Giovanni's Pros
Great for cleansing an oily scalp
Feel-good tingle
Affordable

Giovanni's Cons
Can be drying to most hair types


Trader Joe's Pros
Great cleanser
Feel-good tingle
Cheaper than Giovanni

Trader Joe's Cons
Can be drying for some hair types

These shampoos are so similar that for some people it's almost hard to tell the difference. They both stimulate your scalp, smell fresh, and may help with flakes.

In my experience Giovanni's shampoo cleans my scalp better. I have to use more of the Trader Joe's shampoo to get my scalp clean. Because of this, using Giovanni is a better value for me.
I like to dilute Giovanni's shampoo a little because it is a tad thick. It truly lasts longer for me than Trader Joe's version.
If you don't have a scalp with a lot of build up from oil, sweat, etc, then Trader Joe's version would be sufficient for you (and it is cheaper than Giovanni).

Bottom Line:

Use Giovanni's for a deeper clean. If you don’t need a deep clean then Trader Joe's is fine.

Eco Styler Pros
Cheap (huge 32 oz tub for about $5)
Maximum hold
No flaking (in my hair)
Nice, light smell

Eco Styler Cons
Leaves a "gel cast"
Makes my hair feel dry

There are plenty of people who use Eco Styler gel to retwist their locs. It's no surprise since you get a lot for a cheap price. Personally, I loved Eco Styler gel when my hair was loose, but for loc maintenance I don't like it all that much.

It does hold well, but I don't need maximum hold on my roots. I also found that over time my roots were starting to feel dry even though I was moisturizing my hair between washes. Not to mention that I have an oily scalp so my roots being dry is a sure sign that something isn't right.

This is because Eco Styler gel leaves what some people call a "gel cast." The gels coats your hair strands and then hardens, creating a barrier against anything else you'll try to put on your hair. If you have ever used Eco Styler to define your curls, you know this is why hair tutorials tell you to scrunch your hair so it won't be hard. You're breaking up the gel cast a bit.
Eco Styler gel has helped me achieve many sleek ponytails, but it's not ideal for retwisting my locs.

Taliah Waajid Pros
Good hold
No flaking (in my hair)
Nice, light smell
No gel cast
Doesn't leave the hair feeling dry

Taliah Waajid Cons
More expensive especially if you're heavy handed (6 oz jar for about $7)

I found out about this gel from watching Damian Walter's videos on YouTube. He uses the "tight hold" version of it in his clients' hair when retwisting their locs. He went over the pros of using it and I was sold. At the time my locs were 2 months old and still developing, but I could still tell the difference in my hair after shampooing the Eco Styler out of my hair and then using the regular Taliah Waajid Lock It Up gel. When I come from under the dryer, my hair holds well but it isn't hard at all. My roots feel moisturized and healthy which means I'm happy.

One thing to remember about the gel is that you don’t need to put a lot. For me, one jar lasts for 3-4 retwist sessions so I actually don't mind the price.

Bottom Line:

Even though Eco Styler holds better and is cheaper, I prefer Taliah Waajid Lock It Up gel for the quality and because it doesn't make my hair dry.

Price: $6-$8
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:
Maintains locs, twists and naturals. This product is part of a natural anti-bacterial system. All colors/fragrances used are derived from dried fruit extracts and juices.

• Adds moisture and sheen
• Holds with no flaking
• Defines natural curl pattern
• No alcohol
• No animal testing

Ingredients:
Deionized Water (Aqua), carbomer, Yarrow Roots (Achillea Millefolium), Rosemary (Rosmarinus), DMDM Hydantion, Indian Hemp Extract (Cannibis Sativa), Brown #518, Yellow #10, Nettle (Citrus Aurantium), triethanolamine, fragrance

Review:
This is my go-to product for retwisting my roots. The hold is really good, the gel is light, and it doesn't flake or leave residue. It also smells nice (to me). You don’t need to put a whole lot for it to be effective.

After retwisting, I make sure I sit under the dryer. My hair is very dense and air-drying my locs takes forever. I also find that when I air-dry, the hold is not as good.
Because I bought this for my locs, I can't really say if it helps with curl definition but other reviews have given it 5 stars in that regard as well.

Bottom Line:

Excellent product with a good hold that won't flake or leave residue.

Price: $7-$9
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:

• Leaves hair conditioned and healthier-looking
• Protects hair against heat damage
• Lightweight formula delivers shine
• Sulfate, Paraben and Gluten free

Silk Elements Mega Silk Heat Protection Creme helps prevent heat damage caused by heated appliances while leaving hair shiny, smooth and healthier-looking.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua, Eau), Cyclopentasiloxane, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Polyacrylamide, Diisopropyl Adipate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Fragrance (Parfum), C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Phenethyl Alcohol, PPG-2 Methyl Ether, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Methylisothiazolinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethyl Ester of Hydrolyzed Silk

Review:
I had this product for a while considering I purchased it while I was still transitioning. I used to put it on my hair before blow drying since I was trying to be more careful not to break my hair off. I didn't know how effective it was since the bulk of it was applied to the relaxed part of my hair. After my big chop, this product was just sitting in my bathroom cabinet since I would only air dry my hair.

I have only flat ironed my natural hair once and this was before I started my locs. I didn't want bone straight results; I just wanted to see my length at least one time. I pulled this product out again and put it on each little section before flat ironing. I got a little nervous when I saw all the steam, especially because the temperature was a pretty low. That steam was just the product evaporating. If I needed to do another pass with the flat iron, I'd put a little more product.

When I washed my hair, it curled back up as if nothing happened, so it did a great job of protecting my hair from heat damage. It did not make my hair hard or anything and it doesn't have any weird smell to it, so I appreciate that.

Bottom Line:

Overall great product for protecting your hair from heat damage.