Let's get back to basics! *Product Edition

OK.  So a recent email I received from a friend of mine prompted me to post this.  It is SOOOO easy to get sucked into all this hair growing stuff - like I said THAT'S the EASY part....after you've got sucked in and spent every waking moment you have online researching, reading and scouring you STILL don't know what products to buy or where to start. How many different shampoos do you need?  How many conditioners are you going to have to buy and what are they for?  Should you or shouldn't you use gel and what about moisturizers???  It ALL seems so friggin' confusing, right?!

Well, the FIRST thing you should note is the beginner's shopping list as noted in Building A Solid Healthy Hair Care Regimen From Scratch after that, the BASICS (read necessities!) are only a few.  Remember there is a difference between what you NEED and what you want/prefer. 

The BASICS! by Long Hair Don't Care - The ONLY products you NEED in your stash!

1. A moisturizing shampoo (IF you aren't strictly a co-washer) - Your moisturizing (SULFATE-FREE) 'poo should be used to cleanse at least once a week
2. A claifying shampoo - Use this for deep cleansing to rid your hair and scalp of build-up; a clarifying rinse may be substituted - this should be done ideally once a month
3. A neutralizing shampoo - IF you relax or chemically treat your hair
4. A rinse-out conditioner (IF you opt to cleanse by co-washing)
5. A moisturizing DEEP conditioner *note* all conditoners are NOT formulated for deep conditioning!
6. A moderate protein conditioner - this is a protein-rich conditioner that is meant to be left on less than 15 minutes and then rinsed out; this is not to be confused with a hard protein treatment like the aPHogee liquid stuff  or Nexxus Emergencee
7. A daily WATER-based moisturzer
8. A NATURAL oil to lock-in moisture
9. A heat protectant if you heat style your hair

HONORABLE MENTION! a detangling spray or cream...

So, as far as I'm concerned EVERYthing else is a want/preference/extra - grease, gel, oil sheen, hair spray, setting lotion, etc.

Comments

[BIA No Mo]

This is great info! As a former PJ it was really hard for me to understand when people would tell me 'find what works for you'. I wanted to know what SHE was doing to get her hair like that and off to the store I would go! I have finally found what works for me and it really is only three products daily.

Leave In Conditioner
Homemade Hair Crack to seal in the moisture
Aloe Gel to slick my ends down

And that is it.

All the products out there have proven to not be for me.

I got my basic 3!

BIA is a retired PJ!

[Darling Cancerian]

OH my gosh, you left out Megatek =o

[tiffany]

What wrong with using an Aphogee treatment in your hair? Is that not a must to keep your hair healthy? Also is gel okay to use, and if so which ones.

LHDC: Hi, Tiffany!!! I didn't say don't use an aPHogee treatment...what's necessary as far as LHDC is concerned is a MODERATE protein treatment as opposed to a HEAVY protein treatment like the products mentioned in the article. Yes, protein is necessary to keep your hair strong but you don't have to get it through heavy protein treatments. It's more important to focus on moisture, especially if you're just starting out.

Heavy protein treatments should be reserved for "emergency" situations and really are NOT designed to be used on a regular basis.

One of the hardest things to overcome in hair growing (and a major cause of dryness, breakage and SETBACKS) is protein overload. All protein products really should be used with caution, to be quite frank.

As far as gel, I recommend aloe vera gel, IC Fantasia or curl activator gel. BUT gel is not a necessity...

Hope that helps and thanks so much for reading!!!

[Provillus]

I will keep reading. Please check out my website on Hair Treatment at Provillus Hair Loss Treatment.

[MoM]

Thanks for breaking it down!