2012 Natural Products Challenge

[greenandchic]

Here we go!

I posed the question: Naturals who use natural products, do you see a difference? and the responses prompted me to start a challenge for 2012.

~Overview~
Many people feel using natural products for their hair such as cleansers, conditioners, treatments, stylers, etc makes a difference in the health of their hair. Some of the benefits may include better moisture/protein balance, less breakage and shedding, and better retention. You may also want to avoid certain ingredients out of concern the health of you and your family.

~Guidelines~
1. Thank this post and I will add you.
2. The challenge starts January 1, 2012 and will end December 31, 2012.
3. A "before" photo is due by the first week of the challenge.
4. Please update at least weekly or as often as you like.
5. Updates should includes products used, including brief reviews and photos at least quarterly.
6. Have fun!!

~Questions to Start the Challenge~
1. Current length
2. Natural/Relaxed/Textlaxed/Locked/Other
3. Hair goals for the year.
4. Reggie, styles and products that you will be using.
5. Products/ingredients you will avoid (eg. cones, sulfates, parabens, etc)

~Challengers~
@greenandchic
@A856
@An_gell
@AyannaDivine
@BronxJazzy
@Chelz
@cocoma
@coyacoy
@Curlykale
@Damaged but not out
@DayDreamist
@daydreem2876
@fe6968
@Giggletush
@growinghealthyhair
@HairRaiser
@JulietWhiskey
@lamaria211
@Lita
@Loves Harmony
@MaraWithLove
@Marino
@My-Foolish-Heart
@NappyNelle
@prettybyrd
@ProductJunkie
@Proudnapps
@QUEENJAMES231
@southerncitygirl
@sugarwater
@Ronnieaj
@tiffers
@Whimsy
@youwillrise
@Zeal



_______________________________________
Here are some examples of natural products you can use. Feel free to let me know of any that I've missed and I will add it to the list. Especially welcomed are indie companies, Etsy, etc.

Natural Brands
Anita Grant
Aubrey Organics
B.A.S.K.
Camille Rose
Darcy’s Botanicals
Gleau Hair Care
Hairitage Hydration
Jamaica Hut
Ohm Body
Karen's Body Beautiful
Kyra's Ultimate Indulgence
Marie Dean
Oyin
Pura Body Organics
Qhemet Biologics
Red's Kitchen Sink
Saravun
Shi-Naturals
TLC Naturals
Zipporah

Places to Buy Ingredients (oils, butters, etc)
Bramble Berry
Camden Grey
Elements Bath and Body
From Nature With Love
Garden of Wisdom
Mountain Rose Herbs
Ingredients to Die For

Foods (to name a few)
Apple cider vinegar
Avocadoes
Black tea
Cocoa
Coconut butter
Coconut milk
Coconut oil
Flax seeds
Hemp seed oil
Herbal teas
Honey
Molasses
Olive oil
Yogurt


Other
Henna and other Ayurvedic treatments

Recipes
Please let us know of any concoctions and kitchen creations that works for you!
All Natural Beauty This website contains skin, body and hair care recipes.

[A856]

@greenandchic I think you need to change the title to 2012.

I'm ready...I'm using up what I have now to prepare for my New Natural Year!

[HairRaiser]

I'm in! I'm so glad you decided to start this challenge @greenandchic thank you!

1. Current length - SL

2. Natural/Relaxed/Texlaxed/Locked/Other - Relaxed

3. Hair goals for the year. - Healthier, longer hair.

4. Reggie, styles and products that you will be using.*- Shampoo and DC x1 a week. Moisturize, seal, and baggy everyday. Airdry and 99% protective styling. Protein treatments as needed and heavy protein treatment before and after stretched relaxers.
I have a variety of natural products and oils that I need to use up (yes I am a product junkie) so I will be using Oyin Handmade, QB, DB, KBB, SM, and some homemade products.

5. Products/ingredients you will*avoid*(eg. cones, sulfates, parabens, etc)* If it doesn't grow out the ground, it's not going in my hair. (Exceptions: BTMS and fatty alcohols).

[Ronnieaj]

I'm in!! I followed your other thread closely, realized that I use a lot of natural ingredients anyway, and want to see how far I can go. I'll post more deets later!

Edited to answer Questions:

1. Current length: I think grazing APL straightened. I've trimmed twice while in twists, so I'm not ENTIRELY sure

2. Natural/Relaxed/Textlaxed/Locked/Other: Natural

3. Hair goals for the year: Just healthier hair. I'd love it if it thickened, I'd love it if it lengthened, but I really just want to practice healthy hair care and see where that gets me without the drama of length-checking (no offense to length-checking, AT ALL, I'm just tired of doing it ).

4. Reggie, styles and products that you will be using: Primarily ayurvedic tea rinses weekly with a bentonite/rhassoul clay mask every 3 weeks, followed by co-washing, DCing, alternating light/medium/heavy protein treatments every 3 weeks. I'll probably stay twisted up most of 2012 and bun when not twisted. I'll wear it out on a few occasions. I'll be using homemade mixes, along with SheScentit, Mozeke, DB, Qhemet, Aubrey Organics, and Wen (which I know has amodimethicone, but I still lurves it).

5. Products/ingredients you will avoid (eg. cones, sulfates, parabens, etc): I'm really going to try to stay away from sulfates, and limit my -cones exposure (except for Wen, outlined above).

Question for you ladies: The only time I currently use sulfates is when I do my Aphogee 2-step treatment and my Mega-tek treatment, which I alternate every 6 weeks. Do you guys have any suggestions for getting the hair REALLY good and stupid clean (almost squeaky) for those treatments? TIA!!

[Damaged but not out]

Thank You!!!!!!!!

I would loved to be added.

[growinghealthyhair]

~Questions to Start the Challenge~
1. Current length - TWA
2. Natural/Relaxed/Textlaxed/Locked/Other - Natural
3. Hair goals for the year. - Thicker, healthier hair!!
4. Reggie, styles and products that you will be using. - I'm using U-Part Wigs and sew-ins (will do sew-ins in the summer) for my protective styles. I use ayurvedic herbs mostly and as far as products I use, I'm using Qhemet and Oyin...
5. Products/ingredients you will avoid (eg. cones, sulfates, parabens, etc) Sulfates !

Man, so hairveda isn't all natural??

[QUEENJAMES231]

I'm in..


1. Current lengthSL
2. Natural/Relaxed/Textlaxed/Locked/Other Natural
3. Hair goals for the year.)12 inches or APL
4. Reggie, styles and products that you will be using.
Terressentials once a month
co-wash weekly with Yes to Carrots
dc when needed(Bee Mine or Honey Hemp and add an egg if needed)
M/S with one of my leave-ins/moisturizers in my stash(Direct Leave-in, Hair Dew.KKNT) Coconut oil/Burnt Sugar pomade to seal

As far as styles I do twists/kinky twists/twistouts/wigs I PS 90% of the time due to work/laziness


5. Products/ingredients you will avoid . cones, sulfates, parabens, etc)

sorry for the upside down picture

[CurlsBazillion]

I'm in!!! I already have 2 out of 3 steps of my regimen using natural products. My shampoo and my M&S products are organic. I had shescentit banana brulee DC but it caused breakage so I'm on a hunt for a natural DC right now. Can't wait to see what you ladies are using!

[greenandchic]

Yay! Glad to see you all here! I need to use some some "unatural" products before the end of the year. If I don't use them up, Ill just keep them until...

@A856 - Thanks for the heads up! LOL

[greenandchic]

Crap, I'm not sure how to change the title, any clue?

[A856]

Can any of the "moderators" change the title to reflect 2012?!? Thanks!

[greenandchic]

Originally Posted by A856

Can any of the "moderators" change the title to reflect 2012?!? Thanks!

Do you know who any of them are? Thanks!

[faithVA]

If you click here http://www.longhaircareforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=6

and scroll down to the bottom of the page, it will show you a list of the moderators for this section.

[lamaria211]

IMG_20111206_105904.jpg
this is a current pic taken yesterday.Im 100% natural and use natural products 100% of the time i use mostly Giovanni and AO products, i also have some shea moisture products that are ok.

[tiffers]

@greenandchic Some more natural brands are Camille Rose (http://camillerosenaturals.com/), Zipporah (http://www.zipporahbeauty.com/), Saravun (http://www.etsy.com/shop/saravun), Hairitage Hydration (http://www.etsy.com/people/HairitageHydration), Marie Dean (http://www.mariedeanonline.com/), Shi-Naturals (http://shinaturals.bigcartel.com/) and TLC Naturals (http://www.tlcnaturals.co.uk/)

[tiffers]

1. Current length: CBL

2. Natural/Relaxed/Textlaxed/Locked/Other: Natural

3. Hair goals for the year: To reach APL and be grazing BSB by the end of the year. I'm also trying to thicken up and grow the hair at my temples. For some reason, they're extremely sparse.

4. Reggie, styles and products that you will be using: I use all kinds of brands. AO, Marie Dean, Zipporah, Camille Rose, Qhemet, Jessicurl and more.

5. Products/ingredients you will avoid: Cones, parabens, sulfates, DMDM Hydantoin, hormones (i.e. placenta) and basically anything that I can't pronounce.

Here's my starting pic **CRAPPY, GRAINY CELL PHONE PICTURE ALERT**

[A856]

Calling any available moderator to help change the title to reflect 2012
@Allandra; @SVT; @dontspeakdefeat

Thank you!

[prettybyrd]

~Questions to Start the Challenge~
1. Current length
CBL - just between CBL and APL

2. Natural/Relaxed/Textlaxed/Locked/Other
Natural

3. Hair goals for the year.
I'd love thicker sides and edges.
My fingers are crossed for BSL this year!
I want to retain all of the hair that I grow. All of it!

4. Reggie, styles and products that you will be using.
a. Cleanse (shampoo) and condition once a week - Oyin Head to Toe Honey Wash and Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner.

b. DC once a week - Darcy's Botanicals Deep Conditioning Mask, JBCO Protein Conditioner

c. Daily/nightly moisturizing and sealing ends
JBCO for scalp and ends 2-3 nights a week when I re-braid.

d. Protective style (buns and plaits)
braids

5. Products/ingredients you will avoid (eg. cones, sulfates, parabens, etc)
DMDM Hydantoin
Parabens

[greenandchic]

@lamaria211 - Beautiful hair! I envy how thick and juice it looks!


@tiffers - Thanks for the additional links; I will add them to the list.
What's DMDM Hydantoin? I'm trying to weed out so-called "natural" products too. I wonder if Shea Moisture fits into that category due to some of the ingredients used.

Beautiful hair and great progress!

@A856 - Thanks for making a call out to the mods! I feel like such a fool.

@prettybyrd - I'm curious about the JBCO protein conditioner. I'm looking for something as strong as Aphrogee products, but it may be a stretch to get something that's natural & strong - or is it?

[prettybyrd]

@greenandchic, I haven't used aphogee in a while to give a fair comparison, but I love the JBCO Protein Conditioner. It smells like pickle juice and black licorice, but after I use it, my hair is really soft. I don't remember my hair feeling like that after Aphogee, so it would be my guess that it is not as strong as Aphogee.