New vid on our YouTube channel:
I love love this look <3
Healthy Beauty | My Top 5 Hair Butters
I should probably title this post, “My Top 5 Hair Butters…of 2012” because lord knows I have a new rotation every few weeks years. I’ve actually narrowed it down this time, though, and I think i’m going to stick to these all-natural gems (Unless someone comes out with another dope healthy brand. I’m weak.). This doesn’t mean I use all of these at once. When a jar is done, I order one of these 5. I like keeping my hair challenged with different nutrients/products every few months so it doesn’t get dull. What sells me on a product? The ingredients, scent and how many days I can go without having to re-apply it. With that being said, here are the 5 all-natural butters i’m currently in lust with:
Ingredients: shea butter, raw pressed mango butter, avocado butter, apricot kernel oil, neem oil, sunflower oil, fragrance, optiphen (preservative)
Price: 4 oz -$13 | 16 oz - $26
I rave about this butter all the time, so this isn’t new for most of you. Aside from the incredible ingredients, the biggest plus for this product is the scent. When I sit down next to someone on the train, they ALWAYS turn (not exaggerating) and tell me I smell so good. It’s this light mixture of ginger, amber and vanilla. I also love that I can apply it to both my skin and hair. Being able to do that let’s me know i’ve picked a dope and clean product <3 I buy this for these colder months, since it’s rich and thick. It gives me some serious moisture on my skin and hair for days and a little goes a long way.
Curlaide Moisture Butter - Camille Rose Naturals
Ingredients: Rice milk, distilled water, aloe vera, btms, shea butter, olive oil, coconut, sesame oil, avocado, macadamia, castor, jojoba, vitamin c + e, marshmellow root, rice oil, green algae, amla, optiphen, natural fragrance and LOVE!
Price: 8 oz - $16
If you’re looking for a butter that has a little bit of hold, for more defined twists/braids or slicked back styles/updos, this is the one. I remember being a little confused when I first tried it because most butters give me tons of moisture but no curl definition; which is fine since I use butters for protective styles and not for wash & gos. This one is special, though. You can use it for both styles. I can’t think of another butter that does that! A definite must-have in the textured hair beauty arsenal.The creamy and vegan ingredients also allow for days and days of moisture without having to reapply. Major plus!
Bee Hold Curly Butter - Bee Mine
Ingredients: Shea Butter, Aloe Vera Gel, Essential Oil Blend, Vegetable Glycerin, Rosemary Leaf & Chamomile Extract, Silk Powder, Paraben & Formaldehyde Free Preservative
Price:16 oz - $23
This is my go-to butter all year round. If you like the deep moisture butters give without your hair being too weighed down (especially for those with fine natural hair) this one is perfect for you. It’s light and creamy without sacrificing long-lasting moisture. The perfect product. And the coconut scent is yum! I used it in this video to show how I twist my hair.
Whipped Butter Creme - Belle Amour Blends
Ingredients: Aloe butter, Avocado butter, Mango butter, Shea butter, Coconut oil, Grapeseed oil, Jamaican Black Castor oil, Macadamia Nut oil, Olive oil, Sweet Almond oil, Argan oil, Black Currant oil, various essential and fragrance oils*
Price:4 oz - $6
You guys know I have to big up my favorite indie brands, too! Not only because she’s a sweet kid who focuses on health but because I know a lot of you college kids are side-eyeing me for the prices of the other butters…lol. Here’s an affordable, all-natural, extremely moisturizing skin AND hair jar of butter. With 10+ different scents to choose from, too. She can even customize the scent for you or swap out ingredients you may not be fond of. Love her <3
And last…but not least
How about making your own hair and skin butter from scratch? That’s always my favorite healthy option :)
Watch here to learn how quick, easy and affordable it is.
So there you have it, my end of the year beauty round-up for butters. I made sure to include something for every hair type, desired style and price range. And ALL healthy! I hope this list helps <3
Do you use any of these already?
Loc Hairstyle Tutorial: Petal Hawk (via Chescalocs)
Are any of you subscribed to ATFierceTV on YouTube? He’s bringing the male perspective to the natural hair community. Love him! Check out his way cute Bantu Knot Out <3
Q:Fran do you think it is better if I finger detangle dry hair with coconut oil, then deep condition, wash my hair then apply my leave in conditioner?
Anonymous
Hey :) That’s my exact hair regimen (as you’ll see on my youtube channel) and I haven’t had any issues with it.
“In this episode of The Curl, we recall some of our greatest hair moments as children with natural and curly hair. Also, we show you how to achieve the perfect curl with the Bantu knot out. Watch as your favorite natural hair bloggers, including Fran of Hey Fran Hey, Cipriana of Urban Bush Babes, Chesca Leigh of Chescalocs and Shanti & Antoinette of Around the Way Curls, share their candid and often hilarious hairstyles and hair stories.”
Q:Hi fran! Do you still use a sue maesta to cover your hair at night? I was using it for awhile and i liked it but i dont like the material of it! I feel as if it was drying to my hair. Now i use a satin bonnet but i feel as if it flattens my hair and then i have to re-wet it everyday. Idk what to do in order to get my hair to look good in the a.m after sleeping with the satin bonnet
Anonymous
Hey :) My hair is getting a bit longer so I haven’t been using the Sue Maesta cover. Now I simply put my hair up in a pineapple (if it’s in a wash&go style) and sleep on this satin pillowcase. If my hair is in a protective style, like braids or twists, I use this bonnet, as well, to help preserve the style.
Did you watch my curl refresher video? My process uses only a tiny bit of water! And I also show (towards the end) how I pineapple my hair.
Q:I know you said you personally don't use flax seed gel, but I thought I'd ask anyway; I don't have seed I have the grinded up flax seed I put in my food, could I use that instead of going out to buy a bag of seeds?
Anonymous
The ground flax is perfect for adding to food because it’s easier for your system to process. The whole seed has a husk that takes awhile to break down and can actually pass right through your system, causing you to lose a ton of nutritional benefits. As a hair gel, though, you need the whole seed because it won’t pass through the strainer (like the ground kind would!) and will allow you to extract the gel.
Hope that helps!
For those who missed my video on DIY Flax Seed Gel, watch here.
Q:Hey Fran, your simply amazing! I've been natural about a year & a half now, & my routine during the winter i wear weaves & spring/summertime i leave my natural hair out. My hair is very course w/ not much curl pattern, i wanted to know your advice on how to care for my hair during weaves, for example, length of time because i usually keep it in 1-2months w/ few attemps of washing my scalp. What to do when i take it out usually i start w/deep conditioning? What would you advise for health&growth?
Hey! Thank you for the love :) When you take down the weave, make sure to coat your hair with an oil (coconut, olive, whichever your hair responds to best) and start detangling, before anything! I would suggest finger-detangling for minimized breakage. That way you’ll be able to retain the length you’ve gained from the 1-2 months of wearing the weave. Most people jump straight into washing but that causes matting and you’ll lose tons of hair. Once your hair is completely knot-free and detangled, then jump in the shower to cleanse your strands and scalp. I would use an apple cider vinegar rinse to remove any buildup from your scalp, since you weren’t able to cleanse as deeply as you may have wanted to with the weave in place. Here’s a video on how to do that. Once your hair is clarified with the rinse, deep condition for a good 45 min!
As far as healthy hair growth, the key is keeping it moisturized. Never let your hair feel dried out. And focus on your ends! Always keep them moist and lush with creams/butters and keep them coiled or tucked away, as much as possible, for minimized hair loss (protective styles like twists/braids/buns help!). Sleep on a satin pillowcase or with a hair bonnet to control dryness and frizz, too. Consistently moisturized hair…that’s really all there is to it! Hope that helps!
Natural beauty, nutrition & fitness. All with a bohemian twist!
