Cheap/Affordable Natural Hair Products: South Africa

Deciding to go natural is one of the best decisions I personally have ever made. Not only does it make me feel free and proud to be me, my hair has also been flourishing. It feels so much healthier and is growing amazingly since my big chop 9 months ago.

The hardest part about going natural has been sourcing affordable hair care products in South Africa. It is extremely hard to find affordable hair care products especially ones that are good for your hair and not full of mineral oil, petroleum or any other negative ingredients. It seems that the more natural and healthy the product is, the more it costs. It's a sad reality. This may be part due to the fact that many of the awesome products are imported from the USA or the UK which obviously results in a higher price. There are some South African brands which are definitely good too but many of these too cost a pretty penny.

Throughout my journey, I have been trying out many different products. Although there are some really awesome (and pricey) products out there, there are also some affordable alternatives that you could buy or make that could still see your hair being just as healthy!

Here I will list my top affordable / cheap products or DIY product ingredients and how they can be used to maintain and look after your natural hair without breaking the bank

This is the most important thing in any natural hair journey.

Curly hair - especially the thicker, kinkier hair like mine (Type 4 hair / 4c) needs moisture in order to avoid breakage. The more moisturized your hair is the healthier it will be.

The number one ingredient to moisturize any hair (and if you do buy a store product this should be listed in the top 3 ingredients of the product) is water!

Really, it doesn't get any cheaper than that. In order to keep your hair moisturized all you need to do is keep a spray bottle with some water in it and spritz your hair whenever you notice that it may be a little dry.

If you do have some extra cash to spare, an affordable hair moisturizer that I love and have used forever is the ORS moisturizer. You can get it at Clicks or Dischem. it's only R 56.99 for a 250 ml bottle.

This product is really thick so I make it last even longer by mixing it with water either by adding some of it in a bottle and adding some water before shaking it thoroughly so that it has a thinner texture. Alternatively, I take a tiny amount in my hand and then add some water in the palm of my hand and mix it with my finger before applying. It lasts longer this way and feels better to apply on my hair. It is definitely a win-win either way.

One bottle lasts me a good couple of months.

It is important to try and seal in the moisture so that you don't loose all of the goodness to evaporation. An oil is always the best for this. Oils really arent that expensive especially if you go for a cheaper and yet healthy oil like Coconut oil, Castor oil or almond oil.

Coconut oil is good for your hair in that it adds shine, helps with split ends and promotes a healthy scalp.

Castor oil helps with thickening the hair and aids good hair growth (it's a bit thick though so warm it up to thin it out a little before applying). It also has a bit of a strong smell so add a drop of peppermint or anything if you really mind the smell.

All of these cost around R 20 each for a small bottle. I usually get these at Clicks, Dischem or Pick n Pay. When using oils a little goes a long way so it really lasts a while if you use it properly.

When it comes to caring for your natural hair, the more natural the products the better.

Deep conditioning is a big part of natural hair care.

There are many awesome deep conditioners that you could use. My current favorite which I don't find too expensive is the ORS Replenishing Pak. You can get this at Dischem and Clicks if you're lucky (sometimes it is out of stock).

Palmers is also a great one for me and is about R 70 a bottle.

If you need something to slick down your edges or a gel to help with twist outs or braid outs you may struggle to find one that is affordable and healthy.

If you have the money to throw around, I love Eco Styler Olive Oil. You can now get these at clicks which is totally awesome! It does cost above R 80 for a small jar so depending on how often you will need it and how much you use it, it might prove a bit pricey. I usually use a very little on my edges and a tiny bit on the ends of my twists so one jar lasts me a few months.

I have made my own Flax seed gel and totally loved it! There are many ways of making this gel. I will include a basic recipe below.

There are numerous benefits to using natural flaxseed gel :

• It is cheaper.
  Flax seed (also known as linseed) is highly affordable. At Food lovers market you can measure the amount you would like at the seeds and nuts counter. The amount needed to make a bottle of gel literally amounts to about R 5.
• It is healthy for your hair.
  According to stylecraze flax seed gel has Omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for healthy hair growth. They nourish the follicles and hair shafts, making them stronger and less prone to damage which ultimately ensures that the new growth is strong and healthy.
• It is easy to make.

If there is anything you need ideas on for cheaper or affordable alternatives please comment below.

Good luck!