They have great, great products, but they hiked up their prices by 80-90% a few years ago and I only buy them when they are on sale.

So when a forum member (Hey necey!) alerted me to a sale a few months ago, I grabbed a jar of their Shea Amla Whipped Butter (Hair Butter Cream).

I used it on my two-strand twists and it’s too bad the picture doesn’t convey how soft my hair feels right now.

It is literally like butt-ah!

Shout Out to KeKe

I first learned about this company through one of my favorite two-strand twist queens on YouTube. Her username is keke52284.  Unfortunately she no longer does videos, but thankfully she left behind plenty of inspiration.

Check out her channel.

I remember admiring her two-strand twists when I was transitioning.  I couldn’t wait to be fully natural so I could have a luscious head of twists like her.

She was a loyal fan of the AfroVeda line until the price increase.

No Flakes and Great Hold!

If you saw my most recent YouTube video, you know I’ve been struggling with product build-up.  Many of the twisting gel products have hold to help the twists lasts, but that gel is what can cause flaking.

What I like about the Shea Amla Whipped Butter is that it does give you hold (without crunch) even though it’s a butter instead of a gel.  And after scanning the ingredients, I wasn’t quite sure which one actually helps with hold, but I like that this product is loaded with lots of leaf extracts, natural oils and herbs.

And if you are one of those who shakes your head at the “naughty ingredients”, it has no mineral oil, parabens or sulfates.

The label also states this product is good for hair that is dry, frizzy and prone to split ends.

Any Negatives?

Unfortunately there is one major drawback…

The smell.

Perhaps I’ll try adding a few drops of an essential oil next time to see if that helps.

Fortunately it goes away (for the most part) when the product dries.

The Verdict

Overall, I would use this product again and continue to buy — when it’s on sale, of course. 

I also like that it seems to stretch my hair a bit.  I suppose that’s due to the thickness and weight. There’s nothing wimpy about this butter at all.  It’s super rich, and as I already mentioned, I was pleasantly surprised with the added hold without the flaking.

So if you can put up with the strong smell for a few hours, you’ll probably love this product too.

Now if I can just figure out what they use to make it hold the hair so well,  I can make my own concoction at home.

Don’t try looking it up in the dictionary because you won’t find it.

This strange-sounding phrase (not to be confused with anything potty related) was invented by the natural hair community.

Yes, it may sound odd, but there’s nothing odd about the results.

I have always been a fan of pre-pooing my hair, which is the process of adding oils or conditioner to strengthen your strands during the shampoo process.

I notice significantly less breakage when I perform this routine and never shampoo my hair without a pre-treatment.

Usually I use olive oil or some kind of cheap, rinse-out conditioner for the process, but I recently learned from the Natural Hair Rules blog, that coconut oil has been proven to actually be the best oil to use for pre-pooing your hair.

Who knew?

If you want to read the in-depth, scientific reasoning, you can peep this article.

If you’d rather not, here’s the Cliff Notes version… 

Why It’s Useful

Coconut oil prevents protein loss, and it also penetrates the hair shaft better than many other oils.  So adding this to your hair prior to shampooing it, will give you the best protection from breakage before you shampoo your hair.

I personally don’t use coconut oil in my regimen.  I know a lot of naturals and transitioners swear by it, but it’s just never done anything for my hair.

You also have to be careful in colder climates/months because it hardens in cold weather, and will do the same on your hair.  Of course, using it as a pre-poo won’t matter because you’re rinsing it out anyway.

Looks like I have a reason to give this product another try.

As you’ll see in the video below, my knots looked more like clumps, but hey… you gotta learn somehow.

A YouTube subbie noticed I was twisting in the opposite direction of the two-strand twists, and probably should have made the knot go in the same direction.

In any event, I was pretty pleased with the results, and I got 5 solid days out of the style.  Had I not been playing in my hair, I would have gotten more.

I left the knots in for almost two full days and just wore a cap when I went out.  Leaving them in for longer than one night also helped the hairstyle last.

To protect the style at night, I slept in a satin bonnet.

Here’s the video…

This could be true if you morph into a product junkie (*raises hand*), or you constantly select top-of-the-line products.

Now, I must admit, I do splurge on certain brands, but you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to transition or be natural.

Here are some money-saving tips to help you get more for your dollars and spend even less on products by going homemade.

Shampoo Tips

Only a Dollop

It doesn’t take as much shampoo as you may think to cleanse your hair.  So to make your shampoo go farther, section your hair off (you will naturally use less) and soak your hair for up to 30 seconds before applying to fully activate the product.

You’ll find you only need a dollop per section to get the job done.

Just Add Water

Need to stretch your shampoo for one or two more washings?  Add an ounce of water to your bottle to make it last.  In fact, many people dilute their shampoos to prevent their hair from drying out as much.

Apply to Scalp Only

Most people use way too much shampoo because they apply it root to tip.  Simply focus on the scalp.  When you rinse your hair, the shampoo will travel down and cleanse the rest of your hair.

No need to saturate your entire strands with shampoo.  Plus, this can dry your hair out.

Create Your Own Shampoo

Some transitioners and naturals opt to create their own shampoos with castile soap, natural oils, apple cider vinegar, lemon, etc.  Check out this homemade recipe by 4bnfree on YouTube.

Conditioning

Avocados

Did you know that avocado’s are great for moisturizing natural hair?  They also make excellent conditioners when combined with other products.

Check out this easy recipe by happydimples39 on YouTube.  No doubt you already have most of these ingredients at home.

Mayonnaise

Mayo is not just for your sandwiches!  It can be a wonderful conditioner for your hair.

Some say you can buy any kind of mayonnaise, but I prefer to buy whole mayo since it’s more natural and tends to have less additives.

*Something about putting Miracle Whip on my hair just doesn’t sit right with me.*

And no need to buy the commercial brands.  Get the generic store brand if available and save a buck or two.

All you do is apply it to your damp hair like you would any other conditioner.  Let it sit for 20-30 minutes (feel free to add a plastic cap for deep conditioning) and shampoo it out.  How easy is that?

For added strength and moisture, you can add your favorite natural oils as well.

Got Dandruff? Itchy Scalp?

Add a couple of drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo.  Massage gently into your scalp and let it sit for a few moments before rinsing.

Or mix 1-2 ounces of jojoba oil with 1-2 drops of tea tree oil and massage into scalp.  Let it sit for 20-30 minutes before shampooing.

Final Rinse

ACV and Water

If you have excess product build-up and want to give your hair some added shine, simply create a clarifying combo using apple cider vinegar and water.

Feel free to experiment with the amounts, but I use 50/50 water and organic apple cider vinegar (4 oz of each).  You may want to start out with more water to ensure the mixture is not too strong.

Use this as your final rinse after shampooing your hair.

A couple of notes:  Don’t worry, the vinegar smell will go away after a few moments.  And finally, be careful not to get the mixture in your eyes — it will burn like crazy.

Baking Soda

Dissolve 1 tbsp of baking soda in 1-2 cups of warm water.  Be sure the mixture is blended well before applying.  Spray it on your hair after you shampoo and rinse or use this in place of your shampoo.

Note: There’s been some debate about baking soda potentially being too harsh for natural hair.  I personally have never used it to clarify/rinse, but I know of many people who love this routine.  Use at your own risk.

In fact, if you’re ever unsure about how a product will work, just apply it to a small section of your hair to test it.

Moisturizing & Sealing

Homemade Whipped Shea Butter

You can easily make your own sealant (to be applied after moisturizing) by getting some unrefined shea butter (local beauty supply or online) and adding some natural oils of your choice.

I create my own concoction by mixing 2-3 ounces of shea butter with a couple of tablespoons of olive and jojoba oil.  Simply add the ingredients to a bowl, and use a mixer to whip them until they are in a creamy state.

There are tons of videos on YouTube where naturals display various recipes.  Experiment until you find the combo your hair loves the best.

Hot Oil Treatment

For whatever reason (probably laziness), I stopped doing these, but recently started up again.  In fact, I’ve done one for the last three weeks.  I forgot how drastically different they can make your hair feel.  I think I’m addicted.

All you need is a few ounces of your favorite oils and a towel or plastic cap.  Add the warm oils to slightly damp hair (to allow them to penetrate) and shampoo normally.

What a great way to revitalize your dry, brittle hair and make it super soft — especially in the winter.

Learn more about the benefits of the various oils and step-by-step instructions.

Plain Ole’ Water

The foundation for moisturizing your hair is water.  So if your hair is feeling super dry, just spritz it with good ole’ H₂0. It doesn’t get any cheaper than that!

Now, depending on your texture and style, this may create frizz.

If that’s the case, use a thicker water-based moisturizer like Curls Whipped Cream, Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie (Target),  Oyin Hair Dew or my favorite Shea Moisture Leave In Conditioner.

If you have thicker/kinkier/Type 4 hair, the thicker the moisturizer, the better.  Just make sure one of the first ingredients is water.

I have to admit, one area I splurge on is daily/leave-in moisturizers.  I’ve found that many of the cheap so-called moisturizers you can buy at beauty supply stores are not actually moisturizers and are laced with many drying ingredients.  If you decide to splurge, this is one area where it may be worth it.  Just shop around.  Many times you can find great deals on Amazon instead of the official product websites.

Protein

Protein is good for strengthening brittle hair.

No need to spend oodles of money on treatments when you can whip one up at home!

My favorite treatment is incredibly easy to make.  All you need is…

1) one egg

2) 2-3 tbsp of whole mayo

3) 2 tsp of honey*

4) 1 tsp of olive oil (or oil of your choice)

Use a mixer to mix all the ingredients together.  Pour into an applicator bottle and apply to hair.  Cover your hair with a plastic cap and leave on for 1-2 hours.  Shampoo as normal.

*Honey is a humectant, which means it draws in moisture out of the air. However, in the winter, it can have the opposite effect and dry your hair out.  So I would recommend leaving the honey out in the colder months.

Also be careful with protein.  Too much of it is not good for your hair.  And some people are extra sensitive to it, so don’t apply this treatment more often than every 6-8 weeks.

The Basics

Remember, transitioning and being natural does not have to cost a fortune.

Yes, you may spend more than you’d like in the beginning because it takes time to find what your hair likes, but at the end of the day, all you really need is…

1) A Moisturizing (sulfate-free) shampoo and  moisturizing conditioner (I love the Giovanni brand.)

2) A Leave-In Conditioner / Daily Moisturizer

3) Deep Conditioner

4) Sealant (shea butter, natural oils, etc. to lock in moisture)

And as you’ve already seen, you make many of these products at home. 

She suggested I create a hairstyle gallery so all my styles are on one page.

Your wish is my command.

Below I’ve divided the page by style with links to videos/tutorials.  Unfortunately I’ve been a little lazy about taking pictures lately, but I will be more diligent in the future so I can continue to update this page.

Many of these styles can be worn on both transitioning and natural hair.  If you’re still transitioning, add perm rods to the ends when appropriate.

Curious about products I use?  Click here.

Rod Sets

Rod sets are great because you can wear them when you’re transitioning or natural.

My First Rod Set on All Natural Hair

On day 6, I added a headband to mask the sides that had been smushed from sleeping.  The rest of the curls held up well.

To see the full list of products used and a video tutorial of this hairstyle, click here.

Rod Set With Flat Twists

This was the first time I was able to flat twist going upward (8 months transitioning).  If I can learn to do this, anyone can!  Just keep practicing.

Here’s the video for this style.

Rod Set With Pompadour

I was transitioning when I created this style.

Click here to see a video tutorial of this hairstyle.

Flat Twists

Slanted Flat Twist Up Do

This is my favorite flat twist style.  Sorry there’s not a clearer pic of the hairstyle.  I didn’t really have any good still shots so I took a screenshot from the video.  I was 12 months into my transition here.

Watch me create this hairstyle.

Flat Twist Bun

This is a great protective style for both transitioners and naturalistas.

Click here for a video tutorial of this style.

Flat Twist Up Do

I wasn’t a fan of this style at first, but it grew on me.  Another great transitioning style.  Just rod the ends.

Here’s the video tutorial.

Flat Twist Pony

If your hair is not long enough to make it to a ponytail, this is a way to “fake it till ya make it.”    I was nearing the end of my transition here and needed something casual and simple.

I don’t have a video for this exact style, but here’s another variation with bangs.

Flat Twists “To the Side”

Another flat twist style you can wear in twists and take the loose twists down for a twist out.

Click to watch the video.

Flat Twists & Two-Strand Twists

I wore this style near the end of my transition.  My hair was almost all natural with the exception of a few ends here and there.  This was the first time I could wear two strand twists without rodding the ends.

The Puff/Pony

If you’re still transitioning, you can still wear puffs, just use small perm rods to curl the ends.

Mini Twist Out Pony

This is a ponytail I created after wearing my hair in mini twists for about a week.

Another puff accessorized with a headband…

Wash and Go Puff With Eco Styler Gel

After wearing a wash and go style with Eco Styler Gel for three days, I put my hair into a puff.

Wash and Go With Kinky Curly

I liked the Wash and Go (above) with Eco Styler much better than with Kinky Curly Curling Custard, but the puff came out nice.  You can really see how the curls popped.

Click here to read more about the Kinky Curly Wash and Go.

Wash and Go With Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme

This is a FOR REAL wash and go because I didn’t spend time shingling product through my hair and it dried pretty quickly compared to the styles above.  It took me all of 15-20 minutes to create out of the shower.

Click to learn more about this puff hairstyle.

Here’s another wash and go with Shea Moisture Leave-In Conditioner (Can only be found at Amazon.)

Click here to see how I achieved this style.

Side Twist Out Pony

Click here to watch the video on this style.

Chunky Twist Out Low Puff

Watch the video on this hairstyle.

Twists and Twist Outs

My Favorite Mini Twists 

It takes me anywhere from 4-6 hours (depending on the size) but it’s so worth it because it lasts weeks.

Watch the hairstyle video to see how I created this style.

Two-Strand Twists With Flat Twists

When you wear the sides of your hair up, it can give the illusion of longer hair.  This is one of my favorite two-strand twist hairstyles.

Watch the video on this style.

Medium-Sized Twists

This was my first set of twists after I became completely natural.  I used Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme.

Twist Out With Flat Twists on the Side

Twist Out on Medium Sized Twists

Stretched Twist Out on Mini Twists

You can really cut down on shrinkage if you stretch your hair before twisting.

See the comparison between stretched and non-stretched styles here.

Wash and Go

Wash and go with Eco Styler Gel

Watch the video tutorial on this hairstyle.

Bantu Knots

Below is the result of my first bantu knot out hairstyle.

Learn more about how I achieved this look.

Products I Use

Curious about the products I use on my hair?  Check out my up-to-date list of natural hair products I use.

Here’s a list of the products I used when transitioning.

Save on Products at Amazon

I buy a lot of my hair products on Amazon because I can often find great deals, but be careful.  Always compare prices with the actual retail sites (if applicable) because sometimes 3rd party resellers will hike the prices up.

It’s hosted by Natasha (Mane Moves TV) and Yardley (The Coil Review).  The goal of the series is to help both transitioners and naturals overcome hairstyling challenges.

Both ladies exude confidence and charisma while hosting the show and rocking their fly, natural hairstyles.

In their premiere series, you’ll meet Aisha.

Fresh off her last relaxer (literally, it’s been days) but she’s ready to begin her natural hair journey.  Like many new transitioners, she’s concerned about finding appropriate hairstyles for work.

Can you relate?

Watch as Yardley and Natasha dole out sound advice on self confidence while transitioning, and you’ll get to peep Aisha’s new transitioning style.

And don’t forget to check out three-year transitioner, Demica who’s on a quest for the perfect twist out after a few failed attempts.

If you can’t view the video above, watch it on the blog and don’t forget to subscribe to Make Me a Naturalista on YouTube!

I first learned about their Oasis Moisture Gel ($22 for 8 oz.) from a video by CharyJay on YouTube.   Her twists always look so luscious and I was instantly sold when she reviewed this product last year.

Don’t let the word “gel” fool you, though.  It’s not sticky and doesn’t harden/flake like many gels. It’s actually very moisturizing and leaves my twists feeling super soft.  Also, a little goes a long way so I’m still on the same bottle I purchased last year.

Here are the ingredients in case you’re interested:  Distilled Water, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Aloe Vera, Sodium PCA, Cellulose, Panthenol, Phenozyelthonal, Glycol, Essential Oils and Violet Leaf.

So here’s a flat twist style I did using Original Moxie’s Oasis Moisture Gel, and below the video, you can see my big-hair twist out after I took the flat twists down.

Can’t see the video via email?  View it here.

And here’s the full twist out a week later after I removed the flat twists…

So I wore my big hair for a whopping total of one day. This is not exactly an exercise-friendly hairstyle, so you can imagine how it looked after a 30 minute workout.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed rockin’ my big hair for one day.

So I found it a tad bit amusing when I received the most defined curls without even trying.

The Setup

The puff has been my go-to style for the last couple of months out of sheer laziness.  It’s quick, easy and a great style if you work out because it keeps your hair off your face and neck.

So I prepared my puff as usual…

1) Shampooed and conditioned my hair (I didn’t deep condition.)

2) Twisted with medium-to-large sized twists with Miss Jessie’s Stretch Silkening Cream on wet hair (took about 40 minutes)

3) Took the twists down the next day and wore a twist out.

4) On day 3 of the twist out, I misted my hair with water and applied the old school Shea Moisture Leave in Conditioner (I seriously hope they don’t discontinue this!)

Instantly my curls began clumping together like crazy.  (Mind you, I was only adding the water and product for moisture — not curl definition.)

5) I pulled my hair into a puff with a Goody band

Here is my hair on day 5 of the puff…

Day 5 Puff on Old Twist Out

For the record,  I took this pic fresh out of bed.  The only thing I did was finger pick my curls because my hair was matted after sleeping.  It is is still incredibly moisturized and I don’t think I’ll need to apply any product today.

Maintenance

The upkeep on this style is ridiculously easy.  I shower with no cap (for moisture), sleep in a satin scarf or bonnet and re-apply the shea moisture in the morning.

Then I pick out the curls with my fingers and go!

Are your bangs too short to rest on your forehead?  Pin them at the roots with bobby pins or hair clip.  It will hold them nicely.

This is also helpful if your hair is kinky because this type of hair tends to grow out instead of down.

For example, my bangs are way past my chin when straightened, but because my hair is pretty cottony, they don’t lay down in their natural state (especially if it’s hot and humid).

Got this tip from my little cuz of MyNaturalReality.com. (Thanks, Tiff!)

Tip #2: Scarf it Down

Some cloth headbands are now made to fan out at the top and get narrow on the opposite end.  The narrow end is made to wear on the back of your head, and the wider end goes on top.

One of my readers in my Kinky Curly wash and go post (shout out to Catherine) gave me the idea to reverse the headband.

Now I often wear the fanned end in the back and the narrow part on top.  It gives the illusion that you’ve tied a scarf around the back (especially with the headbands that really fan out.)

I have a hard time finding these, but I get most of them from CVS or Target.

Tip #3: Refresh & Fluff

Puffs (created with wash and go’s or old twist outs) are becoming my go-to, lazy style.

If I want to refresh my natural curls (after shrinkage overnight), I’ll just spritz the puff with water and finger through a curling cream like one of Miss Jessie’s products (Curly Meringue and Stretch Silkening Cream work the best because they are light).

Once your hair dries, your curls will clump together and soften up.  Now you can fluff and go!

If you’re not into the afro look and prefer more defined curls, you can use gel or a curling custard instead.  It will give you more sheen and definition as shown below…

Kinky Curly Curling Custard Wash and Go

Tip #4:  Fake it To Make It

Is your hair too short on the sides to make a ponytail?  Just create two giant flat twists on each side and make them go all the way back to where the ponytail starts.  I did this a lot when transitioning for a quick and easy style.

As I trimmed the relaxed ends and my hair continued to grow, it was getting harder to get a ponytail.  So this technique helped me accomplish that goal.

Tip #5: “Don’t Be Strippin”

Does your hair feel stripped (a.k.a. dry) even after using a non-sulfate shampoo?

When washing your hair, try applying a rinse-out conditioner to your hair before rinsing out the shampoo.  It will add more moisture and really makes a difference in how your hair feels afterwards.  (Thanks Kimmaytube!)

Tip #6:  Wasteful Washings

Washing your hair in sections saves on oodles of shampoo (especially as you gain more length)  Why?  Because when you are working with smaller sections, you naturally use less shampoo and realize not much is needed to create a lather.

When you wash your hair all at once, you use more product because you really don’t know how much you need to create that lather.

I realize lather is not needed for hair to be considered clean and some say it even strips the hair too much, but sorry, I gotta have it in my life.  Not a fan of the lather-free shampoos. It’s a psychological thing, for sure.  Don’t judge me.

You can also save by focusing the shampoo on the scalp only.  No need to lather your ends because the shampoo will run down the hair anyway.

My Kinky Curly Come Clean bottle is only 8 ounces, but lasts me at least 12 shampoos.   I only use a quarter-sized dollop per section.  Prior to realizing how much shampoo I was wasting, I could only get maybe 7 or 8 uses.  That makes a big difference if you think about cost.

I guarantee when you start paying attention to how much shampoo you use vs. what you really need, you will discover you can save a lot by using far less.

Tip # 7:  Honey, Please!

If you want to lighten your hair color naturally, add a teaspoon or two of honey to your pre-poo routine.  It doesn’t take much to notice a difference.

And here’s another benefit.  Honey is a humectant and will draw moisture from the air into your hair.  However, in the winter, it does the opposite and robs moisture from your hair, so be mindful of that.

Pre-pooing moisturizes and strengthens your hair before shampooing.  For my pre-poo routine I use olive oil, a cheap, rinse-out conditioner like Suave Naturals or any conditioner that says “moisturizing” on the label.

You can see its effect on my hair in this twist out from last year.

It is definitely a temporary result.  If you don’t keep using it, your color will fade pretty quickly.

Tip #8: Slouch it Out

No doubt you’ve been in that position where you needed to run somewhere but your hair wasn’t styled.  Or maybe it’s one of those days when you feel like being lazy.

We’ve all been there.

No worries.  You can flat twist the sides of your hair and tuck the rest into a slouch hat.  I was notorious for doing this when I was transitioning and learning how to style my hair.  I’d get frustrated and throw on a hat in a New York minute!

Knit Slouch Hat From Sally’s Beauty Supply

And now that cooler weather is upon us, it’s time to rack up on all the cute hats you can find!  Amazon has a nice selection.

Procedure

1) Twisted hair wet using Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme

2) Let twists set overnight and removed in the morning

3) Wore a twist out for 2 days

4) On day 3, I turned the twist out into a side pony.

Watch the video below to see how easy it was to achieve this simple & easy style.  (Email subbies: Can’t view the video? Watch it here.)