Being smart with your natural hair products is the only way to get the best out of them in the price area. Some pricier brands are worth the extra cash but aren’t necessary for your week to week washes. Sometimes we buy those extra special hair products that cost more than we would like but are sooo worth the extra cash because of what they do for your hair.
The only problem is we can’t waste them on everyday routines or techniques that require half a bottle! I get it…money doesn’t grow on trees and most of us are trying to hold onto ours so here’s a list to use those cheapy cheap conditioners that work, but not our favorite, and save some money in the process.
1. Protecting your hair from chlorinated water – It’s getting warmer and most of us will want to be in the water either at the beach or in a pool. That water whether chlorinated or salt-water will wreak havoc with your tresses and you need a barrier in-between your hair and the water.
Wetting your hair and adding conditioner is vital to combat the chlorine and salt but no one said it had to be top of the line expensive. Pretty much all conditioners will add that much needed barrier so use the cheap one before swimming and use the expensive one when it comes time to get that chlorine or saltwater out of your hair!
2. Adding to ayurvedic powders like henna* to prevent dryness – Many naturals use henna* or other ayurvedic powders in their hair for coloring or just giving the hair a healthy boost of strength. Sometimes the powders can be a little drying if used alone but with a cheap conditioners they can become less drying and a lot more moisturizing. No need to use the expensive ones here since the cheap one will do the job just as well.
The cheap conditioners are also great to help rinse the ayurvedic powders from your hair. If you have ever done a henna you will know how long it actually takes to thoroughly rinse it from your hair after you have had a lovely treatment. Using a cheap conditioner during the process provides the much needed lubrication to help slide stubborn particles from your strands.
3. Prepooing – is an important part of a natural’s washday routine. Shampoo, a great cleansing agent, can be so harsh on our natural hair. It can strip the natural oils* necessary to maintain healthy hair but despite its ill effects we still need it.
Now, this is primarily for the folks who don’t prescribe to cowashing so calm down cowashers. Prepooing is like a hot oil treatment but there’s no need for heat (unless you want it) and you apply it prior to washing with shampoo.
Lisa says
Great article, great information! I will definitely be trying the nourishing coconut milk, especially since it can be purchased for $4. I’m surprised you pay $12 for the AS I Am Coconut Cowash. Its sold here, down south for $9.99. Thanks for the info, good stuff!
Lucky says
Same here. In my area (the South) it’s $9.99
Sabrina Perkins says
Oh man, I wish it was $9.99! I love it though so I’ll pay. LOL
Bridget D. Webb says
Suave Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner & Suave Coconut Shampoo! 🙂
Beverly Hull-Meadows says
VO5 and Treseeme naturals
JojoFree says
VO5, Tresseme Naturals Avocado and Aloe condish, Trader Joes Tea Tree Tingle
Dee-Dee says
My favorite cheap condition is Tea Tree from Trader Joe’s , $3.99. Leaves my type 4a & b , soft and moisturized. I also use it as a cowash some days.
Parrish Bonner-Bush says
Treseme Naturals
Sabrina Richmond Perkins says
I need to try this one.
Sabrina Richmond Perkins says
I have got to get my hands on that Suave coconut conditioner!
Carrolina Rep says
Suave
Carrolina Rep says
And those I find at Ross or marshalls for 5$:) follow Facebook.com/carrolinahaircare pls
Leticia 'Choc' Joshua says
V05
Nisha says
Hi Sabrina! Love your website! It has become my natural hair Bible… Lol. My favorite cheap conditioner is Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition for Dry, Damaged hair. It’s about $3.
Iris Brock says
VO5 Blackberry Sage Tea conditioner.
McKinney Gam says
VO5 is the best for me.
Vivian Chandler says
Suave’s coconut conditioner is my “go to” cheap conditioner and it mixes well with everything else I use! I’m a bona fide WEN Girl (Fig) for cleansing. I also absolutely LOVE TRESemme`Naturals conditioner.
KESH says
Tresemme Vibrantly Smooth.
KESH says
TRESEMME VIBRANTLY SMOOTH!
Michelle F. says
Tresemme conditioners work best and sometimes I do add oil when I pre-poo.
emelia says
good afternoon.
I’ve got a five year old that I am growing natural hair, its so difficult to detangle, any best products that I can fine in south Africa to
detangle her hair, she’s got a 4c hair type any product to make it softer.
regards
emelia
1stLadyCee says
Great article. Thank you for the great tips. I will definitely refer to this article on my next wash day. Oh yeah, by the way, here in the DMV As I Am Coconut Co-Wash is about $8.99 a jar.
Isha Walker says
Here in Barbados that tresemme isn’t cheap.
Taiesha Atkinson says
Roughly about $10 the least at that :/
Kirra Bryant says
I love Tresemme but it is not that cheap
Terri Poindexter Patterson says
I love the VO5 conditioner. I get it for 84 cents at Wal-Mart.
Cristen Moore says
My favorite too
Angie Jackson says
That Aussie 3 Minute Miracle is awesome. Cheap doesn’t mean it’s not good
Mayia Barnes says
Tresemme is my thang right now but if I find VO5 for less than a dollar I stock up
LaToya Wells says
Tresemme Naturals is not cheap and it works very well for my hair. It’s about $7 at rite aid.
Isha Walker says
$7 is cheap I get it for $14.99
Dave-Ann Bigford says
I prefer Tresemme, it wrks great. The Vo5 don’t wrk 4 me plus I’ve never used Aussie.
Alisa Renee Green says
Suave from walgreens! Super cheap (even the jumbo conditioner)
Cecille Taylor says
Vo5 works just find for me.
Tiki Triplett says
Austin 3 minute miracle!!!!
Nonie Oboli says
VO5 works every time.
Neka Parms says
V05
Malakah Angellia Gladston says
For the life of me, I cannot find this tresemmé natutals anywhere!
Rosie Overton says
VO5
Cristen Moore says
Vo5 and herbal essence ..hello hydration
Mwila Kamombo-Williams says
Tresemme` is $4.79 at Wal-Mart.
Maya Dennies says
TRESemmè naturals. I pay $1.50 for mine lol.
Caroline Maria Sawyer-Anderson says
Trader Joes Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner for co-washings great!
Richards Tanisha says
Aussie 3min miracle
Dana Wilson says
Tresseme curl hydration gets u right!
Michelle Belle-Villa says
All 3!
Carmella McCoy says
Tresseme Naturals
Linda PennyRed Gales says
Traylaunda Smith
Patti Broome says
I love aussie