African Black Soap
African Black Soap* is excellent for cleansing both your skin and hair. It totally clears your hair of product buildup and it’s an all natural alternative for sulfate shampoo. You can use the bar soap or the black soap that comes in a jar. Black soap helps clear impurities and is good for people that may have sensitive skin or dermatological issues like eczema or psoriasis.
It contains ingredients like palm oil to help get rid of intense product buildup. You can focus this on your scalp for best results, but you can also apply it to your strands for a total clean.
Brands like Shea Moisture* have a line of African Black Soap* products which are used for clarifying the hair. Since black soap may be a little stripping as well (depending on the brand you purchase), you only need to use it a few times a month to cleanse your hair.
Bentonite Clay
Bentonite clay* is the result of weathered volcanic ash and it becomes activated by water. It’s an impure clay, and is supposed to rid the body of toxins while providing nutrients. When you purchase the clay, it should be gray, odorless, and have a velvet feel.
It should have a powder consistency when you purchase it. Simply mix it with water and an oil of your choice (like olive oil*) to make it work for your hair.
Apply it to your hair before stepping in the shower and rinse it out. The oil prevents you from totally stripping your strands and your hair can be softer and more defined.
A good thing about bentonite clay is that it can bring life and definition back to your curls since there won’t be any buildup left. If you want to take the extra time to make your bentonite clay* mix, this is an excellent sulfate shampoo alternative.
These are four great alternatives to normal sulfate shampoo. If you do decide to continue to use your normal shampoo, try to modify your regimen. Pre poo your hair before use and definitely follow up with a good conditioner.
You can also add conditioner to your strands before shampooing to make sure that your hair isn’t totally stripped of moisture. Moisture is the key to keeping your natural hair healthy, and little adjustments made now can have a major impact in the future.
