2. Curl Activators ( SCurl, Care Free Curls, Long Aid, etc.)
Justtt let your souuulllll gloooo!! I’m sorry y’all, but I could not help myself. For a long time, when most of us heard of curl activators, an image of Ice Cubes’ early NWA hairstyle comes to mind.
There are a few reasons women would not ever try “jheri juice” including the fact that it has such a huge negative stigma that many of us can’t seem to shake.
How are curl activators beneficial to having healthy hair?
Curl activators are a great way to give your strands some ultra moisture because they have high amounts of glycerin in them. Some curlies swear by glycerin and the more glycerine* a product has the better. Curl activators are great for us non-mixologists who become a bit freaked out about glycerin to water ratios.
The thing to remember about using products that are heavy on the glycerin is that when it is dry outside, the product will pull moisture from your hair but when there is alot of water or humidity in the air, the product will pull moisture to your hair, keeping it moisturized. Knowing when to use your glycerin product is what will give you the most benefit.
3. Cholesterol Conditioners (Queen Helene, Hollywood Beauty, etc.)
Oh my goodness, how many of y’all remember cholesterol conditioners? I knew of many ladies that had a jar in their house, and even today still use cholesterol on the low. The truth is Cholesterol conditioners are great for just about anybody because it strengthens the strand due to its protein content.
How are cholesterol conditioners beneficial to having healthy hair?
Whether you are a coarse-haired 3a lady, or a fined-haired 4c lady, cholesterol conditioners can moisturize and strengthen, depending on the type that you choose.
There’s no wrong way to use cholesterol conditioners. They can benefit your strands, whether it is through deep conditioning*, co washing, or even through using them as a moisturizer.
Apart from the benefits, most cholesterol conditioners have similar ingredients to high- priced conditioners and they are very inexpensive between $2.49- 4.00. You can typically find them in beauty supply stores, and even a few in drugstores such as CVS or Walgreens.
Sidenote: With the exception of Queen Helene Cholesterol Conditioning Cream, most cholesterol conditioners contain hardcore protein. So, if you are protein sensitive, beware which cholesterol conditioners you buy.
What inexpensive ole’ school product(s) do you use? Let us know in the comments below!
Betty Williams Collins says
I totally agree. I started using Royal Crown, and have experienced remarkeable breakage results.
Angelica Smith says
I still use the old school methods and I save money and my hair is very healthy.
Heather Roebuck says
I’ve recently gone back to old school products for mine and my daughter’s hair. It’s like night and day
Torkisa Parker says
Luv this!!!
Nacyra Duncan says
Finally!
Lisa Richmond says
I use them all!!! If you can find it, try the Hawaiian Silky (pink product) curl activator! It’s the ultimate best for my 3b/4a hair!
Tonia says
I bought some last week. Please share how you use this in your hair.
Anjanette Anthony says
StaSofFro
Monica Cameron says
I love that spray, omg
BlueCornMoon says
That’s my go to pre wash detangler. Used it in the 70s for my huge afro
Rodemirma Viljean says
went back to the Blue magic for winter, I did not do a protective style and leave my hair out at -12 degree, so i find that the grease and raw shea butter help to protect and seal my hair from drying out of breaking in harsh whether unlike those water based products. Summer only.
afro luscious uk says
On my wave length. .. just realised how well my behaves with all those products I’ve put aside in preference to an au naturel approach… looking for a happy medium now… Thanks for the advice…. x
Cheryl Williams says
I use care free gold activator for my curls and I love Queen Helene cholesterol conditioner
Terreka Chandler says
I was on the product, bandwagon too! until my mom told me about curl activator. Now I’m a bonafide worlds of curls, sulfur 8, and le kair cholesterol girl!! My hair is doing GREAT!!!
Vivienne Morgan says
I returned to old school products: SCurl, Pink and a random “coconut” oil hair grease, along with my Blackseed Oil about 4 months ago. First time the products hit, I could almost hear my hair singing the Hallelujah chorus. My hair is thriving!
Cb Sampson says
I have to agree with you sis the blue magic coconut oil still works for me and the Queen Helene in conjunction with a A.C.V. treatment every two weeks and aloe vera gel mixed in to the Queen Helene is priceless
Metrena Newsome says
True stuff! Embracing old school products!
LivingintheSpirit Gordon says
I love royal crown and sometimes plain ole vaseline petroleum jelly. I wash it, use egg and mayonnaise condition, grease scalp two string twist and Chinese knots. Beautiful results.
Tonia says
My hair loves EVERYTHING that was mentioned. In the winter my hair loves grease, not a Shea mix, but hard down grease. You have to do what works for you!
NubianPrize says
I went back to old school last winter after all those blizzards & harsh windy weather made my fine hair dry & brittle. In the past I’d used Qhemet, Curls, & Shea Moisture in winter but they couldn’t cut it November 2013. Got me some Blue Magic & used it over the S Curl & Qhemet. Also got some Lite Pink oil moisturizer as leave in. Saved my hair ! No more split ends,brittleness. & breakage. I recently revisited Carol’s Daughter & am using the Monoi line. Phenomenal for stopping breakage. I use Blue Magic bergamot or Super Sure Gro over the Healthy hair Butter on damp to wet hair. Just came back from New England & a snowstorm on Thanksgiving week. To keep it simple I just took CD monoi shampoo & condish, lite Pink Oil, & BlueMagic all in little bottles & jars, & 8 oz bottle of SCurl / AVJ mix. Hair moisturized all week ;mostly used plain water spritz & SCurl for daily moisture. OLD SCHOOL RULES !!!
kate says
I had this big bottle of and it added so much moisture to my hair. I used dax when I was younger; it smelled really good. I might use it now because of winter as my sealant but I still need shea butter.
Dawn says
Yes, but don’t you feel the smell of these products is generally unpleasant? My brother once whispered to me that my hair was giving off an unpleasant odour, when I was wearing Sta Sof Fro.
PJ says
YEA–DA OLD SCHOOL STUFF IS **REALLY* STINKY AFTER AWHIE AND THE BUILD UP ON A HAIR JUST AINT WORTH IT. ##RATHAHAVEGOODSMELLINHAIR
BlueCornMoon says
Add some essential oils like peppermint, rosemary or which ever one you want to StaSof Fro to kill that “old man smell”
Tisha Caldwell says
You will find all in my haircare bucket….I LOVE THEM ALL. Only difference is I use the hollywood cholesterol hair grease not as heavy and works wonders. My hair has been growing ever since. =)
On screen I'm Nifa Dean says
I’m considering going back to old school products as my hair is having some bad shedding, tangles and dryness problems. I was natural for 3 years and my hair was well moisturised on its diet of coconut oil and castor oil, and creamy leave-in.
Now I’m transitioning and my hair is just out of braids and it’s not the same. I remember having none of these problems with the old school stuff. Hoping the classics can help me out!
BlueCornMoon says
Those old school products still around from my parents’ days thru the 60s – 70s afro days are TRIED & TRUE! That’s why they’re still here. My mom used Dixie Peach & Ultra Sheen on my hair, as well as baby oil & olive oil. My hair was down my back & very healthy. I used Vitapointe,Afro Sheen, StaSof Fro,Pink Oil & LeKair on my afros in the 70s. I went for the new products,too:Shea Moisture, Qhemet,Carol’s Daughter, & KinkyCurly. Kinky Curly is my summer staple & Qhemet is in the winter. Carol’s Daughter has some great anti breakage stuff but I got some Blue Magic in November 2013 to seal over all of them because of the harsh winter. Now It’s a staple,too. Never used when it came out in the early 70s because it was too heavy for my fine hair,but it sure has improved.