1. Accept your hair as it is, it will only do what it is naturally capable of doing – This is more for the new naturals out there. Never purchase a product hoping that it will give you curls where there are none or hoping that it will change your curl pattern.
If you are a newbie, a cheap jar of eco styler gel* defines curls just as well as any other product and if you are pleased with the results you can then try one or two other curl definers to improve slightly on the end result (softness and hold).
Again I stress that no product will change your curl pattern but you can expect different levels of hold or sheen depending on the combinations that you use.
2. Monitor yourself – You will probably always have a tendency to product junkieism if you don’t carefully monitor your actions. Understand that there will always be new companies with new products that claim to do new things. But the one thing that will remain constant is your hair and what it likes and does not like.
By dismissing the hype created around new products and concentrating on learning your own hair, you will naturally find yourself getting more staples and testing new products less.
Every now and again it’s great to try a new product line to see if it works well for your hair, but more often than not you will find yourself gravitating back to a select group of products that you like and trust. Let these products become your staples, don’t fight it! After all the key to successfully growing your hair long is simplicity and consistency.
3. Decide on your staples – As a bare minimum you need a shampoo, protein conditioner, moisturizing conditioner, a leave in and a good natural oil. You can rotate between two or three of each item at one time.
For instance you can buy coconut oil* and castor oil* to begin and see how well they work on your hair. There really is no benefit to purchasing 7 oils* that serve the exact same purpose in your hair regimen. 2-3 variations are fine but any more and you are teetering on the brink of product junkieism.
4. Resolve not buy any more products until the ones you’ve got are finished – This one is simple, if you already have 3 protein treatments at home and you are tempted by a new product discovery, resolve to wait until at least one of your products is finished before picking up a new one.
Bottom line is this: If you have too many products, you will be probably be doing too much to your hair. Remember this equation TMM=2B (Too Much Manipulation = 2 times the Breakage). And you thought you would never use algebra again after school!
Sherice Hodges says
Yesss I has the BC two weeks ago and I’m still trying to find what works with my hair. I’m 4c
Shonique Sears-Farquharson says
Yes still trying to find what works! I’m 4c please help!!!!
Ameenya German says
Yes, I am…
Rachel Williams says
Me too!!! Me and my daughter have 4c hair it’s hard trying to find products that hold these curls!!
Mieshel Jett says
Yes….looking for the nearest rehab!!! Lol
Katrina Crockett says
Yes, I am..
Tanya Ferguson says
I have no more counter space, because I have so much PRODUCT!! I need a12 step program
Leandra Mauricio says
no no noooooooooooooo 🙂
Chavon Walton says
I refuse to be a product junkie. I did my research on my hair, looked up products others were using and researched those. I also got recommendations from my friend who specializes in natural hair care. Only then did I decide on a few and purchased. If I didn’t like it after a couple of uses I took advantage of the return policy.
Cookie Dunn Fraiser says
ugh I am I just went back to my mixed chicks
Selena Jeffries Taylor says
I AM…have products i haven’t opened. O but will try ’em.
Khortni Nichole says
I realized I’m becoming one.
Jacqueline QueenEgyptann Weaver says
I don’t buy everything I see
Semendablessed Howard says
No! I use to products only!
Larianna James says
This came just in time. I’m transitioning & was going to head to the BSS today for a deep conditioner & moisturizing butter. I know I would leave w/ way more than I went for, so think I’ll stay home & just make use of the items I already have.
RaeAngela says
No. It just doesn’t make sense to think it makes sense to keep purchasing products and you haven’t really given previously purchased products a real chance to see if they work. There are no miracle cures for hair so if you want to see IF something that was ‘recommended’ as a ‘go to’ by some blogger will work for you, you need to use the majority of it to see how your hair will react long term. Not just a few times and move on to another. “Ain’t Nobody Got Time For That!!!” Or money for that matter if you’re smart. Unless you see your hair on the floor after one or two uses then use them up first. You may find over time they have some benefit. Most of the products are not found in the dollar store so how is it wise to waste your money? Anyone who thinks it’s a smart idea, I’ll send you my address and you can just send me your cash. I have a few bills to pay each month and I like to eat about three times a day. Sheesh….
Ashley says
At the beginning of my natural hair journey, I definitely used to be a product junkie. Now, two years in, I’ve reigned back the junkieness. Finding HG and staple products in each category has really helped to cut down on my product spending. I am loathe to try a bunch of new products when I feel that the ones I already have are going to perform better.
I still have a bunch of products to go through, but my spending on products has gone down dramatically.
Iris says
I kinda am. I went crazy on these YouTube websites trying to find the right product. Ran out to the BBS and made myself crazy trying to find the recommendation. Nothing worked except the eco gel lineup. I have 4c hair. Everyone that I find on the web has that natural curly hair to begin with so it just curls up with water. My hair kinks up with water and If I don’t try to comb it our before it dries, it turns into a rock so I have to add more water and then twist or something to work with it later. I just want to know some great styles with midlength 4c hair. I understand 4c ad 4d are the most fragile because they are the driest of hair so we need to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize I just need to know with what and styles. I just cut out all of my perm last week, I have been transitioning for over a year now I am lost.
Stephanie Steffie Grady says
I believe I am but I don’t want to be…lol
Karen Jackson says
I went to product junkie anonymous rehab and now I’m doing much better.
Vicki Steverson says
I am a product junkie and proud of it, I love trying new styles, as well as products. The teen up the street, would suffer it I went to rehab. She loves her natural hair, her mom won’t buy her products, so I give her what I don’t like.
Deatrice Hildreth says
I am too. It starts off small…
La'Charae Brown says
Yes I am
Blessed Tresses (Robin) says
I can definitely relate to this….every time I watched a product review I would be tempted to try to find the product. I can finally say that I’m doing much better and my stash of products has definitely thinned out. I had so many products I could have literally started my own BSS lol.
Felicia Robinson says
It not easy passing up the great sales out there. I purchase what I need.
Melanie says
I was totally a product/tool junkie in high school! I’ve done away with my old ways (for the most part) lol. The only things I honestly spend money on is shea butter, oils, and aloe vera. I mix my own creamy shea butter for hair & skin which works wonders. I make my own face wash and toner too. Outside of that I buy conditioner to co wash, either Giovanni or Avalon and shampoo with black soap or Bronner’s unscented castille soap.
Kimberly Govan says
Can excessive product weigh down my twist out? For example can my hair be too heavy due to applying to much product and ruin the chance of a successful twist out?
Siphokazi Luyanda Kayana says
Yes I am. *sigh*