D.I.Y. CREAM FOR NATURAL HAIR – My Natural Hair Extensions

D.I.Y. CREAM FOR NATURAL HAIR

Contents

Why I make my own hair creme:

I am a self-proclaimed lazy and frugal natural who likes simple routines, simple styles, and simple hair products. I refuse to spend 15-30 dollars on one bottle or jar of hair stuff that: 1. Does not 100% work for me 2. Breaks my sensitive skin out 3. Runs out extremely fast because I have extremely thick hair. There are so many companies that are trying to push into the market to sell to the ever growing natural hair community. Companies that used to (? and still) sell relaxers are now shouting hair positivity and self-acceptance, while selling their new natural hairline. Natural gurus are using, reviewing, and promoting new hair care lines every week. It’s hard to find one product or mixture of products that work specifically for your hair without spending a lot of money during trial and error. That being said, there is nothing wrong with people who are product junkies, or who want the convenience of premade hair things, I just like having a little more control over what goes into my picky hair.

How To Make Natural Hair Cream

The Base: Shea Butter, Coca Butter & Mango Butters

This is an important part of the creme because this is what most of the creme will be made of. I prefer thick and more solid bases that coat because my hair is more inclined to let water out of the shaft. Because of this, I need a sealant to help keep moisture in my hair. If you use a butter or a thick oil you should use it on moisturized or dampened hair. I would also suggest using a stronger shampoo to avoid build up.

  • Shea butter-This is the one I use. I go for the yellow one because I heard that although there is white Shea butter it is usually processed. It is one of the heaviest kinds of butter. This butter has Vitamin A and E and Fatty acids that help to smooth frizz and works a sealant. It also helps to fight against sun damage caused by UV rays which is great because, even if we don’t think about it, our hair is always in the sun. This also works great on the skin.
  • Cocoa butter-I used to love cocoa butter for my skin and for some reason I never thought to use it as a base for my hair. It smells nice, has similar properties as Shea butter and is easy to find. I might try this next when I start running low on my Shea butter.
  • Mango butter -If I wasn’t allergic to mangoes I would try this. This butter is known to be softening, nutrient-rich, and moisturizing. I bet it smells wonderful as well!

If you want something lighter or more oil based:

  • Coconut oil-An OG in the natural hair community, this thick oil is known for aiding in detangling, being protein-rich ( be careful of protein overload), and adds great shine.
  • Olive oil-This oil is said to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It also has a lot of antioxidants. Whether this antioxidant can get absorbed in the hair is debatable. There are few oils that a penetrate the hair shaft.
  • Castor oil-Thick! This oil is a sealant and a half. I personally don’t like the overpowering smell. It is said to help with hair growth and gives intense shine

Enrichments:

This is where your concoction becomes one of a kind! Depending on how much or how little you add will be up to you. I usually eyeball it and change out certain ingredients depending on the needs of my hair at the moment. I also add these to help with creating a smooth texture. Without other ingredients, it would be a little difficult to mix the butters and create a whip/creme like texture.

  • Vegetable Glycerin- Is used in making and skin care products and is known to be a great humectant. However, be careful with glycerin because if you live in a dryer area glycerin my leech moisture from your hair in an attempt to achieve a balance. If you live in a more moisture rich and humid area. I rarely use it in my cremes. I usually use Glycerin during the summer and in a spray bottle mixed with water or aloe vera juice.
  • Vitamin E- Fights against oxidative stress and adds shine. I feel more of the benefits work for when eating it or apply it directly to the scalp. Can also be used to help extend the shelf life of your mixture.
  • Hylaronic acid- I’ve heard that this works great for moisturizing and promoting growth. I’ve heard of it being the bomb for skin moisture and love a versatile product. Again, I saw that people actually ingest a collagen Hylaronic Acid mix and have seen some hair and skin benefits.
  • Avocado oil- One of the oils that can actually penetrate the hair shaft. The antioxidants and nutrients can actually be absorbed.
  • Grapeseed oil- Mimics natural sebum and helps to balance oil production

Scents:

This is when you can decide whether you want to smell like a field of flowers or a chocolate cake. Add a couple drops of essential oils or fragrance oils to help to create a signature smell. The great thing about adding essential oils is that some of them like teat tree oil is that they have antimicrobial/bacterial qualities. Those qualities could also help to extend shelf life. That’s it! Just grab some ingredients and blend them or whisk them together. Have fun with it by creating your own names and reusing old bottles and containers. Just because I gave you a lot of options doesn’t mean you have to add them all or purchase them all at one time! Let me know down below: Have you created you’re own hair products or do you think it’s more of a hassle?