How Chelsea learned to use what worked for her and her hair.
Here’s the scoop. I’ve tried the all natural product thing, and after a lot of trial and error, I can now say that it simply isn’t for me.
When I first came on the scene, I was immediately told what was and what was not acceptable for my hair. I rid myself of anything with silicones, mineral oil, petrolatum, etc. and was left with nothing. After running around Canada looking for all natural products that didn’t leave me more broke than I already was and whipping up some concoctions in my kitchen, I was not at all impressed. My hair was dull, splitting like crazy and just wouldn’t behave.
Out of frustration, I simply gave up and started adding silicones and other no-no ingredients back into my hair regimen and found out that my hair had never been better. The shine, smoothness and overall health that I always figured I would never have were suddenly there and I didn’t care what the articles, blogs and forum members said. I intended to use what worked for me and my hair.
Do YOU, right?
Man-Made Product Mantra
The silicones and other “stuff” in my products give my conditioner its amazing slip, my hair its shine, helps protects my ends and gives me moisture for days. So regardless of what I’m told I should use, I keep going back to the good old stuff because it works.
I hear women go on and on about the evils of silicones and mineral oil and anything not entirely natural. Rare oils and butters are praised for having special abilities, but let’s face it, for the most part, what exists in nature can be duplicated in a laboratory for a lot less money and it might just work better.
We all know that the prices of some of the all natural products have us wondering if they come with a complimentary bag of diamonds to justify the cost. If I can find an alternative on the cheap, then I’m rolling with it.
Science has also been able to tweak the qualities of natural ingredients to make them better. For example, we all know that oil gives sheen and is a good sealant, but the silicones in serums can do just that without the oily residue, and grease can be good for curly hair. The silicones and other “stuff” in my products give my conditioner its amazing slip, my hair its shine, helps protects my ends and gives me moisture for days. So regardless of what I’m told I should use, I keep going back to the good old stuff because it works.
Low Prices, Big Payoff?
I think my main reason for my love affair is because most all natural products are just too heavy for my hair. All the butters and oils just don’t agree with me. I love liquidy products, but my hair requires a ton of it at a time. Using half a bottle of product in one session is a no-no if I had to pay a lot for it plus shipping. Not all products found at the local beauty supply stores and drugstores are bad and my hair is proof of it since I have yet to develop bald patches. I’ll let you know if that happens!
Lastly, I think the main deterrent for some women in using these no-no products is the fact that a shampoo must be used to remove these ingredients. I’m a no fuss girl, and even that doesn’t deter me. It’s just shampoo and I’m down for an extra deep conditioning treatment every week if that is what it takes. I don’t buy industrial cleaner to use as shampoo, so I don’t feel the need to avoid it like the plague. Plus, thanks to my cone laden conditioner, detangling afterward is a breeze.
I can’t be the only one who uses products that contain no-no ingredients. Feel free to confess down below.
As always, remember to have love, peace and curly haired bliss.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 15th, 2012 at 5:30 pm and is filed under Care Methods, Coily Manifesto, Kinky Hair (Type 4a), Kinky Hair (Type 4b), Kinky Hair (Type 4c), Silicones. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed.
April 16th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
I <3 silicones and serums! As our hair is an extension of our skin, likewise, everyone's hair is different. While everyone has their own tips and guidelines, you ultimately have to adopt a regime that works for you.
April 16th, 2012 at 5:13 pm
I love how you actually pay attention to the cost, I mean, seriously, natural products do cost A LOT! I’m not gonna buy a small 2oz. deep condish. for 50 bucks, I’m not crazy…
April 20th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Thanks for being a champion for silicones. My company produces them globally and we don’t understand why they get such a bad rep when they provide so many benefits in hair care products!
April 24th, 2012 at 11:57 am
We never know the physical repercussions and tolls these man-made ingredients have on our body until its too late. But to each their own… Natural health can’t be stressed enough. The skin and everthing attached to it is the largest organ and can be penetrable instantly. Hairs to Health!
May 9th, 2012 at 12:17 am
The “skin” is definitely not “penetrable instantly”. Silicones cannot penetrate the dermis at all, and very few ingredients penetrate the epidermis.Hair is dead, and it doesn’t know the difference between “human-made” and “grown on some rabbit farm.” However, ingredients definitely affect how hair looks and behaves (cosmetically), and every individual’s hair has its own particular chemical imbalances. That being said, I’ve recently fallen for a curl cream that has, according to many hair experts, just about the worst ingredients possible (including mineral oil, dimethicone, petrolatum and two parabens).Just about creepy, I know. My hair LOVES this stuff, and its almost funny, based on the ingredients, how amazing this makes my hair look.I almost feel guilty somehow, and I keep thinking my hair is going to start falling out – except it looks and feels great. It’s the only “non CG product” I indulge in, at this point, but, along with thorough research, I’ll happily take product advancement over stuff the ancients gave up on.
May 22nd, 2012 at 8:01 am
Thank you so much!!! I just recently started using a couple of products with silicone in it and I’m very pleased. Stuff doesn’t really accumulate in my hair, so I’ve never had a problem with silicone. Besides, I think the all-natural hair product industry is totally taking advantage of people’s desire to have healthy hair. It is ridiculous the amount of money people spend on this products. But, hey, if you can afford it without worries, good for you!!!
July 2nd, 2012 at 4:13 am
I’m with you! That is why I am reading this article–I have some silicone products that I love, like Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum or One and Only Argan Oil (which has some silicon–I spike it with additional argan oil as well). I also like to use shampoo a few times per week. If I work out or otherwise need to wash sooner than that, then I do a “co-wash” and that is fantastic. Like everything else, you need to take it with a grain of salt and see what works for you.
July 15th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
My 3c hair LOVES silicones and mineral oil. I use hair grease and water to define my curls and they are shiny and well defined. I’ve tried too many natural hair products to name and not one has made my hair look and feel as wonderful as the mineral oil and hair grease. It worked my ancestors who had long healthy hair down their backs, it worked for me for 40 plus years so I’m going back to the basics! We must all as individuals do what works for us and our hair!
August 16th, 2012 at 9:09 am
I have tried the GC method for 12 years with mixed results. My hair is thin, curl pattern from 2B to 3B in different places on my head. Hair is ruled by Dew pt and Humidity. I am tired of having so many different products for different weather problems. I am now back on some silicones. I now have more room in my bathroom and closet.
In the end, don’t follow dogma. Do what works best for your hair and budget.
August 16th, 2012 at 10:21 am
Agreed! I was so excited at the beginning of summer because I decided to try to do without silicones. I broke my bank buying new products that had high recommendations, but the results were severely disappointing. Silicones work wonders on my hair, especially in the high heat/humidity climate that I live in.
I’m very glad you’ve posted this article to show other curly girls out there that it’s okay to use silicones if that’s what works for them.
August 18th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
I agree to a degree. My hair is happy with tressemmes conditioner even though it does have cones. My hair actually feels very dry and doesn’t keep moisture when I add a conditioner that doesn’t have cones in it.
August 20th, 2012 at 7:11 am
To each her own, of course. I loved this one mousse (that had silicones along with other CG no-no’s) and after being CG for a couple of days, I couldn’t resist and went back to it. It was great at first, but after 2 weeks, my hair was brittle, parts wouldn’t curl (and I have tight ringlets, so it’s obvious when a few refuse to do anything) and I was using more and more and more conditioner just to detangle in the shower! Argh! My sensitive scalp was also back to being itchy and flaky. But that’s MY hair.
The only thing I’d like to comment on and address to just about everyone is that silicone and sulfate-free products do NOT have to be the fancy expensive ones!!!!! Sauve Naturals is awesome and is between 1.30-1.50 at Target (22 oz). Now that I don’t use cones again, I can co-wash with it and use it for a leave-in. My hair ends up silky and smelling nice. The longer I’m without ‘cones and sulfate shampoo, the less and less conditioner I need anyway.
Just be aware that the ‘cheap’ natural products (like Suave) don’t have the marketing savvy to list (in parentheses) where the ingredients come from, so you may not ‘recognize’ some of them. Just think: If they were listed on Aubrey Organics or something, they would have the chemical name (as required), then something like “(from coconuts)” in parentheses. So please- no ‘if I can’t pronounce it, it must not be “natural”‘ diatribes! It doesn’t work like that, ladies! EVERYTHING is a chemical and may be outside of your range of comfortable pronunciation if you’re not a chemist! Just like some of our OWN body parts are probably not easily pronounceable if we’re not physicians and haven’t memorized the Latin names!! Doesn’t make our own body part less ‘natural’!
Anyway- no need for exotic butters and oils. I love doing my weekly deep condition with olive oil from my kitchen and either molasses or honey mixed with the Suave naturals conditioner. Costs pennies. Sure, I like me some jojoba or kukui, but they’re not really necessary. And if I REALLY want them, I order them from an online seller and get them for really low prices (by the pound or whatever).
So my advice to those who don’t go ‘natural’ because of the cost is to stop caring about the brand and about using the next, trendy oil or butter (so annoying)!!! I can honestly say that I do NOT spend more now (actually – I spend less) that I’m on the CG method and my hair is ecstatic.
August 20th, 2012 at 8:26 am
Ageed!!!!!!!! my hair has never felt better using the no no’s because i tried the cg and my hair just fells nasty washing with condish alone like wth i cant do that i love my shampoo i shampoo every 1-2 weeks after using my silicones (<3 <3) soo i dont care bout d mess the plague says because the thing is EVERYONE'S HAIR IS DIFFERENT
I am thankfull to u for posting this article beacause u are not alone ^_^
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:54 pm
Thank you for posting this article, naturallychelsea. I find that after trying all natural products on my hair, the results have not been very good. I have worn my hair naturally curly now for about 3 years, and I’m still sorting out what works right for me. I feel almost pressured to stop using silicone altogether because of all the alarming claims being made about them. I’ve recently tried using sulfate free shampoo, and I have seen a positive difference in my hair. But I was once again stressed out because the shampoo contained amodimethicone in it’s ingredients. What a shame, because my hair has not felt better in quite some time after using this product. In fact, I just had to use it to wash off the stinging and burning sensation in my scalp after using an all natural shampoo and conditioner!(not to mention how dry my hair looked and felt after using the natural stuff) I guess the point I’m trying to make is that it is best to just pay attention to what works for your particular hair, and not so much to avoid a specific set of ingredients. Thanks to everyone for sharing their thoughts about this topic.