MAKING YOUR OWN HAIRCARE PRODUCTS

I am trying to find some ingredients to mix together so I won't have to worry about buying these commercial products with all this extra b/s in them that make bigger problems for people that already have a damaged scalp and damaged hair. I hear mayonnaise is good and extra virgin olive oil. I also hear that yogurt and honey is good as well, but I need help w/ mixing. This is my first time actually having to deal w/ something like this, but I am going natural and what could be better than knowing what's in your products and what they can really do for your hair, right?? I need something that will help dry itchy scalp, really bad dandruff cases, and some moisturizers and moisturizer sealers. I just found out I am allergic to PPD, which is in majority of products and permanent dye. I have to be careful cause my skin and scalp is sensitive anyway. I also need to know about oils and different organic, natural products that benefit hair such as mine. Again, I have 3c 4a hair texture I'm guessing because it is kinky curly and wavy. Gel and water curl it up easily. I believe I have washed my hair too much in the past, which may have stripped my hair of it's natural moisture. Where I live, there is city water. I don't know if that makes a difference and if so, what kind of water should I expose my hair to?? If that isn't such a big deal and there's way to lock-in moisture or keep your hair moisturized, let me know that too LOL...I need as much information that I can get. If anyone knows any sites for natural hair where recipes or oils and different techniques are listed, please feel free to make me aware of such. I am so infatuated with this natural hair journey of mine and I need to start off on the right foot.

Indidiiamond.....Congrats on making the decision to go natural!!!!!! Knowledge is so powerful and I commend you on doing the research early on. It sounds like you may still have perm on your hair. If that is the case, throw the hair typing system out the window. You will not know your true texture until about a week or longer after you BC. As for the products and making your own. That is such a great idea and it has worked out well for me and many others. The key is finding out what your hair likes and dislikes. I use a combination of the things my hair loves (coconut oil, sweet almond oil, castor oil, shea butter, vegetable glycerin, commercial conditioner and of course water) But those are the things that work for me. And for the dryness, you may want to try cowashing. It did wonders for my hair while transitioning. There is also a transitioners forum here where you can find a lot of useful information.

Here are some threads of Recipes found here on CN.com:
http://www.curlynikki.forumotion.com/general-f3/post-your-hair-recipes-t740.htm?highlight=recipes
http://www.curlynikki.forumotion.com/products-f4/post-your-hair-recipes-t739.htm?highlight=recipes
http://www.curlynikki.forumotion.com/general-f3/your-best-recipes-t2166.htm?highlight=recipes

Hope this helps.

ty for the advice

I bc'd in July of this year so i'm like 1 1/ monthz natural and i have a twa and cool weather is coming up and my hair has a tendency 2 b very dry sometimes. i have a spritz bottle now w/ water (mostly) evoo and vitamin e oil. i guess when i shampoo and condish my hair i can try putting castor oil on after conditioning it and then sealing with evoo. i know cold weather can be harsh to ur hair and being i have a twa i don't want to do any weaves ne more or anything of that nature.....

Hi Indidiiamond

I just joined the forum, but I've been keeping up to date on CurlyNikki for a while now. When I first BC'd I searched for a product for my hair too. I have sensitive skin and it seems like everything breaks me out or I'm allergic to it. I'd made lotion before so I started searching. I found quite a few places to buy ingredients. Most of them have recipes too. I did found one blog where the lady is a amateur chemist.

Its a wonderful site, she explains the ingredients, what they do and why they are included in products. She has some great recipes. She did a series on hair and hair products. Shampoos, conditioners, etc. I asked her about a hair pomade for curly hair and she even did some research and found one for me.

I have made a few things, not as many as I'd like. But the information about ingredients on her site has helped me buy better products off the shelf. I haven't had an reaction to anything in a long time. My sister is sooo disappointed. She used to get all my rejected products.

Here's a few of my favorites, but a search on cosmetic making will get you a good list too.

http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/search/label/hair%20chemistry
http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/2010/05/chemistry-of-your-hair-african-hair.html - good article
http://www.thesage.com/
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/
http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/

@Madeaj, thanks for the links to Points of Interest.

thenaturalhaven.blogspot.com also has good information based on facts on issues related to African American hair.

ty so much...all the advice and info very much appreciate =)