My Recommendations Part 4: Hair Care

Cleansing

Shampoo
Of course I recommend our shampoo!  Have hard water?  E-mail me for a super-secret solution!  (And it has nothing to do with baking soda.) stephanie@bubbleandbee.com

Conditioner
Instead of using conditioner with our shampoo, we recommend a vinegar rinse (instructions included with shampoo.)  There are other options, like lemon juice or citric acid that you can use as well if you don't like the smell of vinegar.  E-mail me for more details!  

Also, there's:
Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Hair Conditioner
I have tried this product so I can tell you a few things about it. It is pricey.  Once you pay for shipping it's a $40 bottle of conditioner (and only 6 oz of product.)  Because of the lack of quats and other chemicals, it doesn't spread like other conditioners, and you end up using a lot of product in order to feel fully conditioned.  It does have a strong smell that lingers in your hair afterwards.  Some love it, some hate it.  I didn't mind it, although it was somewhat earthy and masculine to me.  (However, we all experience scents differently.)  The upside: totally certified organic conditioner, and it worked pretty well if you're looking for a vinegar alternative.

Note: My recommending a product, does not mean that I endorse the entire brand.  I never recommend on brand alone, only individual ingredients lists of products.  

Styling
If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm pretty low maintenance.  I don't use hair products very often and haven't tried these so I can't give you a full review of how they work.  But, ingredients-wise, these are my winners!

Hair Spray
Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Perfect Hold Hair Spray

Aubrey NuStyle Organic Hairspray

Hair Gel
Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Styling Gel

Pomade
Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Pomade

Styling For Ethnic Hair
Kinky Curly Curl Custard actually isn't too bad! 

You've probably noticed by now that I recommend Intelligent Nutrients!  These products I've listed are on par with our standards.  However, do avoid their Harmonic line of products, as they contain quaternary ammonium compounds and other chemicals.  

In the picture on the left, I achieved this hair style with no styling aids whatsoever.  I simply dried after washing until my hair was just damp, then used a curl dryer to finish my hair.  You could also achieve the same result with a larger barrel curling iron (2"). Dry hair until just barely damp, and then using the curling iron.  

My hair, once it's dry, is pretty difficult to curl.  I have to use the highest heat settings possible, and then an hour later it's flat again.  But, if I curl it when it's damp, the curl holds.  I prefer the curl dryer to a curling iron, as the hold seems to last longer, and I love anything that simplifies my routine.  Curling and drying at the same time...I'll take it!

This photo is from when my hair was a bit shorter, but I styled it simply with a straightening iron.  I recommend a ceramic straightener, preferably a Chi.  It doesn't tug or rip at my hair, it heats up fast, and works great, even on slept-on-when-wet wavy hair. I had a Hot Tools for a number of years, but once it gave out, I got a new Hot Tools.  The new one tore up my hair because the plates didn't meet up smoothly.  So, I replaced it with my Chi and haven't looked back.

If you have naturally curly hair, using a quality straightener on a semi-regular basis can actually make it feel more "healthy" because it smooths and straightens the hair shaft.  We have a tendency to equate smooth hair with healthy hair, when that may not necessarily be the case.  Using a straightener does have its advantages, however, you can end up damaging your ends, so I try to use it sparingly.  

Most of the time, though, I just let my freak flag fly, and just go with my natural wave/curl.  Humid days are the best for that!  I'll maybe touch up some spots and make some spiral curls with a curling iron if I want a more polished look.  I'll achieve this look by brushing it a little when wet and letting it just air dry.