Unleashing Natural Curls: A Guide to Natural Hair Care

My Henna Story

As a holistic thinker, I get that healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp and that healthy, natural products yield that result. But, I must admit my real dedication to my search for hair products comes from the fact that my bright orange halo doesn’t happen naturally. It is the result of wash-ins every few weeks in which I add some henna powder to my shampoo creating a thick and bubbly green goop. I slosh this onto my hair as something of a mask. Then I put on a shower cap to hold in the warmth, and leave it in for a long shower (while I take my time and do a deep clean of the shower, killing two birds with one stone 🙂 and let the henna dye set.

The thing I have discovered about using henna, is… YIKES! it interacts with other hair products! Specifically those containing alcohols and oils… like CRAZY!! Can we say Anne of Green Gables GREEN! Yes, I definitely have had Anne of Green Gables green hair! And, it took me a fair amount of time to figure out what was causing the color change. Expecting orange hair and getting green can be very disconcerting, and the magical thing about henna is… you can NEVER get it out. It won’t bleach, it won’t dye, NOTHING goes over it. You simply have to either cut the color out, or WAIT for it to grow!!

This is why every tutorial or instruction manual around applying henna is extremely clear in saying DO NOT USE WITHOUT WASHING HAIR THOROUGHLY!!! You absolutely have to get any residue of previously used products off your hair before applying henna.

But, what do you do when you’re super lazy and just want to wash it in to dirty, product laden hair in the shower every couple weeks? Um… you go on a years long search for products without oils and alcohols. Turns out… not an easy find!

So, I finally found shampoo and conditioner without them. You can’t just get anything from a brand, either. Even if one brand has one product free of alcohols and oils does not guarantee that their other products will too! It has to be a specific type. Right now, Attitude Super Leaves for Curly Hair is free of both! Safe for my wash-and-go routine to add my henna to!

Then, there is the problem of hairspray. Hairsprays are notorious for their use of alcohols. It has been a long search. As soon as I find an alcohol free one, for some reason they add oils to them. Challenging! But, after a grueling search, I finally found one, Honeybee Gardens Herbal Mint. It works well enough. I don’t use that much and like a softer hold, but, after finger combing through it, this one does the trick for me.

Curls and Waves

But, for some crazy reason, I cannot for the life of me find any curling creams that remain free of both alcohols and oils. I don’t have super wavy hair, but, with the quality shampoo and conditioner I’ve found for my henna, it does allow what little natural wave I do have to emerge and I would love to keep that after my hair is dry.

I want explores the benefits of natural hair products and offers DIY recipes for a sea salt spray and curl cream to enhance your natural waves and curls.

The Power of Natural Ingredients

So many conventional hair products contain other harsh chemicals, too, like sulfates, silicones, and of course, the dread alcohols and, for curl, while they may be nourishing, oils have to be avoided too. The harsh ingredients can strip your hair of its natural oils, leading to dryness, frizz, and breakage. 

I’m interested in some homemade recipes for natural hair products, which, on the other hand, are formulated with gentle, nourishing ingredients like plant butters, botanical oils, and herbal extracts. These ingredients offer several benefits:

• Moisturization: Curly and wavy hair tends to be drier than straight hair. Natural ingredients like shea butter,coconut oil, and aloe vera provide deep hydration, leaving your hair soft, manageable, and frizz-free.
• Scalp Health: A healthy scalp is essential for healthy hair growth. Natural products are less likely to irritate the scalp, promoting a healthy environment for hair follicles to thrive.
• Reduced Breakage: Curly hair is more prone to breakage. Natural ingredients rich in vitamins and minerals can strengthen hair strands, reducing breakage and promoting healthy hair growth.

DIY Sea Salt Spray for Enhanced Waves

Firstly, I’d like to add a Sea salt spray to add volume, texture, and beachy waves to hair. This natural recipe is free of harsh chemicals and leaves hair feeling refreshed.

Here’s a recipe to try…

Ingredients:

• 1 cup warm distilled water
• 1 tablespoon sea salt (fine or coarse)
• 1 tablespoon of your favorite carrier oil (jojoba, avocado, or almond)
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil (optional, essential oils do not interact with Henna so this is a SAFE oil!)

Instructions:

1. In a spray bottle, combine warm water, sea salt, and carrier oil. Shake well to dissolve the salt.
2. Add lavender essential oil for a calming scent (optional).
3. Spray onto damp hair, scrunch, and air dry or diffuse for extra volume.

DIY Curl Cream for Defined Curls

Another product I REALLY want to start using is curl cream. I simply cannot find any alcohol free sources though! Came up with this recipe for a curl cream to define curls without interacting with henna, stiffness, or crunch I get with conventional products. It includes Shea butter (which has been amazing when included in my shampoo) and flaxseed gel to provide hold and moisture, hopefully leaving curls soft and bouncy.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup shea butter
• ¼ cup raw honey
• ¼ cup brewed flaxseed gel (recipe below)
• 5 drops of rosemary essential oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a double boiler, melt shea butter and honey over low heat until well combined.
2. While the mixture cools slightly, whisk in the flaxseed gel until smooth.
3. Whip the mixture with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.
4. Stir in rosemary essential oil for a refreshing scent (optional).
5. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To use, warm a small amount between your palms and apply to damp hair, focusing on the ends. Scrunch and style as desired.

Flaxseed Gel Recipe:

• 1 cup flaxseeds
• 2 cups water

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, combine flaxseeds and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the mixture thickens to a gel-like consistency.
2. Strain the gel through a fine-mesh sieve. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Embrace Natural Beauty

Natural hair products can nourish curls and waves, revealing their natural beauty. With a little experimentation trying these new recipes, I’m hoping to find the perfect routine to achieve healthy, defined curls that shine from the inside out!