Beauty

Brands to Watch: Natural Haircare Brands We Love

Monday Jun 29, 2009 – By Laquita Thomas-Banks

picture-142 Now that summer is here, how about freshening up your hair care routine and give natural products a try? The following is a list of some of the sites that cater to healthy hair with the added bonus of natural ingredients.

Oyin Handmade

Website: www.oyinhandmade.com
Oyin is family-owned company, named after the Yoruba word for honey. Handmade hair and body products for women, men and children all made in small batches to ensure freshness. Free of petroleum, silicones, and fillers.
Product Pick: Juices and Berries – Nourishing Herbal Leave-In
Usage: Moisturizes, detangles and shine. Great refresher for those hot summer days.
Ingredients: Spring water, infused with herbs known to help stimulate the scalp and encourage hair growth; Vegetable Glycerine and nutritious essential oil blend.

Anita Grant

Website: anitagrant.com
All of Anita Grant’s Goodies are hand made to order, her natural ingredients are purchased directly from farming communities and/or partnerships with fair trade and organic suppliers throughout the world. The site features a beautiful array of natural products, although they are for hair, are truly mouth watering. If you have trouble deciding what to try, be sure to check out the yummy sample sizes.
Product Pick: Rhassoul Deep Condish
Usage: For Thick curly hair and locs. Detoxifies your scalp leaving hair light, soft and fluffy.
Ingredients: Rhassoul contains Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Silica, Magnesium and Sodium. Unrefined Black Cocoa Butter, natural Soya based Vitamin E, Honey and more.

Qhemet Biologics

Website: www.qhemetbiologics.com
Features products for men and women made with natural ingredients such as aloe vera, amla, castor oil, coconut oil, Egyptian wheat grass and more. Check out the site’s recommendation chart before ordering. The site is currently in the process of restocking it’s inventory, and will be re-stocked for an upcoming sale on July 3rd.
Product Pick: Tea Tree & Grapeseed Therapeutic Pomade
Usage: Natural healing, regenerative treatment for irritated and flaky scalp. Repairs damaged follicles.
Ingredients: 100% natural, mineral oil, lanolin and paraffin-free combination of cold pressed Grapeseed and pure Tea Tree oils.

Jane Carter Solution

Website: www.janecartersolution.com
Part of the Jane Carter Solution philosophy is that they believe that “hair is hair,” and that segmenting hair care by ethnicity does not encourage diversity, love and multicultural coexistence. Jane also hosts free live conference calls where she discuses her products and answers hair care questions. See the site for more details.
Product Pick: Scalp Renew
Usage: Pre shampoo scalp treatment that stimulates hair growth by cleansing and exfoliating the scalp.
Ingredients: Pure essential oils of Peppermint, Lavender, Tea Tree, Sweet Orange, Rosemary, Ylang-ylang, Bergamot, Vitamins A, D,&E.

Kinky Curly

Website: kinky-curly.com
Kinky Curly products are formulated to give moisture and hold without drying out hair. Features paraben, petroleum, mineral oil, silicone, free products.
Product Pick: Curling Custard
Usage: Moisturizes, curl definition, hold, shine. For wet, freshly washed hair. Recommends that thicker hair types use with leave-in conditioner.
Ingredients: Botanical infusion of water, Horsetail, Chamomile, Nettle and Marshmallow, Organic Aloe Vera Juice, Agave Nectar Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Pectin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate and natural fragrance. A little goes a long way.

Karen’s Body Beautiful

Website: www.karensbodybeautiful.com
Handmade hair, body and bath products that promote a healthy, holistic approach to beauty that are made from natural ingredients. Karen’s Body Beautiful also sells products for babies, men and the home. The site also features a virtual hair consultation.
Product Pick: Hair Milk
Usage: Moisturizes, detangles, defrizzes and defines curls. Can be used on wet and dry hair.
Ingredients: Purified water, Jojoba and Avocado Oils, Vegetable Wax, Vitamin E, Panthenol, Arnica and Calendula Flowers, Echinacea, Nettle and Horsetail Extracts, Vegetable Glycerin, Wheat Germ Oil, Fragrance Oil and Natural Enzymes.

I’ve seen via YouTube great twist and braid out results from Karen’s hair milk, and like most all products offered you can choose your own scent which is a plus.

ASHA’S Be Naturally Beautifully

Website: www.myashas.com/index.html
Natural bath and body products for women and men. Exotic plants and herbs made from natural, handmade products that will provide you with earth’s secrets to obtaining beautiful hair, luxurious skin and a healthier body.
Product Pick: Rosemary Mint Herbal Shampoo
Usage: Cleansing, conditioning for hair and scalp.
Ingredients: Infusion of Rosemary and Peppermint

Taliah Waajid

Website: www.naturalhair.org
Alcohol free moisture based products for twists, dreads, braids and natural hair. Products feature the S.T.E.P.S. system – System To Enhance Protect and Strengthen. The system is an all natural anti-bacterial system based on Bay Laurel. All colors and fragrances used are derived from dried fruit extracts or juices.
Product Pick: Stimulating Herbal Cleanser
Usage: Helps eliminate itchy scalp and other minor scalp irritations. Great low pre-poo also good for locked and braided styles.
Ingredients: Pure Distilled Water, Indian Hemp, Olive Oil, Wheat Germ, Yarrow Root, Sodium Laureate Sulfate, Rosemary, African Herbal Cleansing Complex Sea Salt, Sage, Silk Protein, Corn Oils, Corn Silk, Vitamin E, Fruit Bio-flavonoids, Bay Laurel, Cocomide (coconut bio-flavanoid)

Product Sites

maria says:

June 29, 2009 at 11:29 am

One of my favorites is http://www.hairveda.com which is also an African American owned company that makes handmade hair products. The Whipped Cream is my staple.

↑ Reply

CAI says:

June 29, 2009 at 11:35 am

You picked all my favorites, particularly Oyin Handmade and Qhemet Biologics. Those two lines are pretty much my staples and in this economy, I dare not deviate from them to try out different things! Great list, and frankly I’m glad to see that Carol’s Daughter, with its comparatively inferior ingredients, didn’t make the cut.

Wendy says:

June 29, 2009 at 3:02 pm

Another great one is Darcy’s Botanicals (also Black owned, http://www.darcysbotanicals.com). She has EXCELLENT products and they are also made to order. All orders are packaged with dried rose leaves so the boxes smell awesome even before you get to the goodies inside! The coconut and papaya pomade is the business!

Khadijah says:

June 29, 2009 at 3:14 pm

Oyin handmade is wonderful. I have a new favorite…leave in conditioner from The Good Hair Shop in Atlanta.Its called Honeysuckle Kiss Leave In conditioner…it is my break glass in case of emergency product. LUV IT!

chloe says:

June 29, 2009 at 3:24 pm

Great list. Truly the best of the best.

Cdubb says:

June 29, 2009 at 3:45 pm

Great list! I have never used any of these brands. I’ve been a Carol’s Daughter user for 7 years now (started when she made her products in her kitchen). However, I’ve recently been researching other brands/products and these are the one’s I’ve seen recommended repeatedly. Thanks for more confirmation!

lo says:

June 29, 2009 at 3:59 pm

Are these products great from those who have relaxed hair? If so which ones would you recommend? I have noticed a difference with organic products.

Lisa Johns says:

June 29, 2009 at 5:01 pm

Could we stop naming all these expensive brands and start looking at things that people can afford? Some of the regular shampoos are just as good

Jazmine says:

June 29, 2009 at 5:18 pm

@ Lisa – these are all new and emerging brands by BLACK people. They are no more expensive than the others. Also, this is for natural haircare not regular haircare. Sadly, there are not many brands at the drugstore for women with natural hair. Be grateful and HAPPY for these brands and the women behind them to get some love and recognition.

Lauren C says:

June 29, 2009 at 5:21 pm

I totally agree Jazmine. About TIME they get some love. I know I have seen all the brands mentioned on this site a number of times. But never all at once. I am happy that they brands are being recommended and being praised.

and they are not that expensive for the quality and love that you are getting from them. And to know you are supporting another black person makes it even better. Stop hating.

Laquita says:

June 30, 2009 at 12:05 pm

@ Wendy – SMH – I forgot about Darcy, maybe I can do an exclusive on her one of these days, her products are wonderful.

@lo Yep, all of the products listed can be used on permed/relaxed hair as well – they are also good for those transitioning. Check out the sites for the product descriptions and customer reviews for more info on the ones that would be best for you.

@Lisa – Also remember, a little of these products go a long way – and many of them have longer shelf-lives compared to non-natural products. Also, be sure to check the smaller and sample sizes which are cheaper.

Also, please check out the tons of other products available at the sites listed under the ‘Product Sites’ many of which have first time buyer discounts and specials :o)

June 30, 2009 at 12:48 pm

Also every Jane Carter web site visitor gets a free copy of the e-book “3 Simple Secrets to Growing Great Hair” – great info for all hair textures/types – be sure to get your copy :o)

Talata says:

June 30, 2009 at 8:03 pm

Great list. I know the product junkie in me will get to all of the soon enough. I’m a huge fun of Oyin Handmade (Greg Juice), Qhemet Biologics (Amla and olive heavy cream).

g. says:

July 1, 2009 at 8:15 am

i am excited to try qhmet ladies! thanks for your reviews. i am out and arizona and my hair is thirsty and ready for some ‘greg juice’

MH says:

July 1, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Is it really natural if it has sodium lauryl sulfate?

July 1, 2009 at 1:40 pm

@MH – I saw that too and gave it the side-eye. SLS is not natural, from what I understand. Clearly it’s important to read the ingredients in all products.

July 1, 2009 at 4:07 pm

@MH and Cdubb SLS is not natural – thanks for pointing that out. The amount of SLS in the product and the fact that it does not contain any other chemicals such as TEA (contamination comes about as a result of SLS coming into contact with any number of chemicals including TEA (triethanolamine) – check out http://www.greenfeet.net/newsletter/slsfacts.shtml) so I would put it in the category as a low poo – pre poo and it should be washed out as well.

Amina says:

July 9, 2009 at 9:46 pm

You’ve picked my favorite lines.
I also love Darcy’s Botanicals, Afroveda, Sheabutter cottage, Njoi creations
and Chagrin Valley soaps

Vitamin says:

September 3, 2009 at 12:07 am

Amazing list, thanks!