Basic Products for New Naturals in Kenya and Where to Buy Them

I posted this in a Facebook forum but i thought i would re-post it here:

As a beginner, it is easy to get overwhelmed with the amount of information out there.  Watching videos and reading blogs, you see and hear of lots of different products and it is easy to fall into the trap of buying a gazillion products. The purpose of this document is to bring a back to basics approach to early purchases for the new natural.  It is not a comprehensive list and some of the prices and product sizes are estimates but it should give everyone some idea of what to get and where to get it from.

You will need 9 basic items when you are starting out, namely:

1. Conditioner for washing and detangling your hair:
If you opt out of shampoo, you should use a silicone free conditioner, listed here from most expensive (shs per ml) ml to cheapest:

- Herbal Essences Hello Hydration -  Nakumatt - 347ml - 695/- [although this product is popular with many naturals, it actually has a non-water soluble silicone, bis-amonypropyl dimethicone, and would therefore not be suitable for long term co-washing without the use of a sulfate conditioner]

- Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition - Chandarana  - 384ml for 595/- CURRENTLY OUT OF STOCK

- Tresemme Naturals - Nakumatt - 739ml for 845/-

- Timotei Pure - Nakumatt - 400ml for 450/-

- Enliven - Nakumatt - approx 300/- (contains parabens)

- Alberto Balsam - Nakumatt - 400ml - 225/-

- Suave Naturals - Nakumatt - 665ml for 325/-

How to: Co-wash (wash with conditioner) as often as suits you. I wash once a week, some wash daily, some every 3-4 weeks.  I wash my hair in about 8 loose twists to prevent tangling. Apply conditioner, massage scalp gently, squeeze conditioner through twists, undo a twist, detangle (using fingers or wide tooth comb), re-twist and continue until all twists are done. Rinse and proceed.

2. Conditioner for Deep Conditioning/Treating hair:

Homemade Moisture DC -  Basic Recipe: 
- 1 cup silicone free conditioner (see no. 1 above)

- 2 tablespoons honey

- 1 tablespoon penetrative oil (see no. 3 below)

- optional extra (you can add: mashed sieved banana or avocado or a butter                                                   to your mix) : see my homemade recipe here

How to: DC/Treat as often as suits you. I treat once a week by applying the DC after co-washing and detangling, wrapping head in clingfilm then covering with a towel for 15-20 mins.

Homemade Protein DC - Basic Recipe
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup of coconut milk (or natural yoghurt if you prefer a thicker consistency)
- 1/2 mashed, sieved avocado
- 2 tablespoons penetrative oil (see no. 3 below)

How to: Only do a protein DC once ever 4-6 weeks. Always follow by a moisture DC

3. One Sealant:

This can be an oil:

- Castor Oil - Nakumatt - Ideal brand - 110ml - approx. 200/- (Check My Big Fat Market for Jamaican        Black Castor Oil)

- Almond Oil - Nakumatt - Ideal brand - 110ml - approx 200/-

- Grapeseed Oil - cooking section of most supermarlets - appox 200/-

- Jojoba Oil - Healthy U - 110ml - 2,800/- 

Or a butter:

- Shea, Cocoa (not palmers),Mango or Avocado - see My Big Fat Market on Facebook for a wide varity of vendors selling either pure butters of butter mixes

How to: after moisturising hair with a spritz or leave-in conditioner, apply sealant lightly over the hair (or just on the ends) to seal in the moisture. You can also use a butter on the strand followed by an oil on just the ends. 

4. One oil that can penetrate right into the hair strand/cuticle:

- Unrefined/Virgin coconut oil:
                                               - Coast Coconut Farms brand - most supermarkets - approx 400/- for                                                           250ml always sold out 
                                               - Navida 500/- for 750 ml and smells absolutely gorgeous

- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - most supermarkets - approx 400/- for 250ml

- Cold pressed Avocado Oil - Not so commonly available but check cooking section in larger supermarkets - Butchery at Yaya sell it too - approx 300/- for 110ml or My Big Fat Market on Facebook.

TIP: WHEN BUYING AN OIL, TRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO BUY FOOD GRADE QUALITY, ie. OIL YOU CAN EAT/UNREFINED OIL

How to: These oils have a number of uses; they can be applied on hair overnight before shampooing (called pre-pooing), after washing or spritzing hair (but under a sealant), on dry hair to strngthen from inside and to add shine, mixed into conditioners for extra conditioning... etc

5. Leave-in/spritz:

There are a number of leave-ins available at Healthy U, notably Alba Botanica, but most naturals choose to make their own by mixing:

 - your regular co-wash (silicone free) conditioner

 - water

 - a sealing oil

You can also add a humectant like glycerine or aloe juice to draw in moisture from the atmosphere.  The above is a basic mix; feel free to add or remove whatever ingredients you wish.

How to: Spray hair as often as you need it. I spray my hair at at a minimum thrice a week but ideally once a day.  I usually spray at night before bed so it is dry by morninf and the moisture doesn't ruin whatever style I may choose to wear during the daytime.

6. Spray Bottle:

You can re-use an old spray bottle which had another product or you can buy a bottle from a beauty store or supermarket

7. Clarifier: 
This is basically something to clean your hair of product build-up. Any of the following work:

a) shampoo - sulfate free - Healthy U - approx 895/- for 250 ml - expensive but lasts forever, have had mine for a year

b) black soap - see TN Marketplace for vendors 

c) Apple Cider Vinegar - Supermarket or Healthy U - approx 500/- for 250 ml - dilute one part to three parts water, apply to scalp, massage gently, leave on a minute then rinse

d) Clay - Bentonite or Rhassoul - Healthy U - 250/- per small satchet (about 50g)

How To: once every 4-6 weeks, i apply coconut oil to my hair overnight then shampoo (also in 8 loose twists). I then co-wash, detangle, deep condition, rinse and style

8. Scarf - NOT COTTON:

It doesnt have to be silk, just not cotton. Can be bought from mitumba or satin bonnets available from beauty stores.  

How to: wrap hair at night or spread on pillow to sleep on.

9. Wide Tooth Comb:
You can find these anywhere. Avoid fine tooth combs as much as possible, especially if your hair is very kinky.

How to: use to detangle when hair is saturated with conditioner, or, at the very least, damp. Avoid combing dry hair.

There you have it. 9 basic items:  2 conditioners, 2 oils (or one butter and one oil), one leave-in, one spray bottle, one shampoo, a scarf and a Wide Tooth Comb.