If you’re anything like me, you love the summer, but hate your summer hair. Humidity, high temperatures and extra time outdoors conspire to create frizzy unmanageable locks. Instead of reaching for chemical-laden hair care products that get the job done at the expense of your health, consider trying one of the natural products that have been cropping up in the beauty aisle lately. Wouldn’t it be nice to have great hair with a clear conscience.
Jessa Blades, a natural beauty artist, has styled all kinds of hair and tested dozens of natural products. “Keep in mind that when using natural products, they, like food, don’t have as long a shelf life as conventional products. Using them within 12 months is usually recommended to make sure the product is fresh and effective,“ Blades said. She recommends looking for products with natural oils (coconut, carrot seed, etc.), natural butters (shea, cocoa, etc.), food-derived proteins and essential oils (lemon, orange, geranium, lavender, etc.).
If you’re new to natural hair care products, rest assured that products made with oils and butters won’t make your hair oily or weigh it down; in fact natural oils prevent frizz by smoothing the cuticle layer (the outer layer) of the hair. Ensuring it lays flat keeps moisture from getting inside and swelling the hair, otherwise known as frizz.
Try these bestsellers
Karen’s Body Beautiful Sweet Ambrosia Leave-in Conditioner ($16 / $24)
Created by Karen Tappin-Saunderson, Sweet Ambrosia is the brand’s cult favorite. Bursting with nutrients such as jojoba, avocado, arnica, calendula, echinacea, nettle & horsetail extracts, wheat germ oil and vitamin E, you won’t know whether to eat it or use it on your hair.
Works for thick kinks or curls, relaxed, color treated or dry hair. Buy it online, or at any of these locations.
Aubrey Organics NuStyle Organic Hairspray ($9.95)
The NuStyle hairspray comes in both regular and soft hold, so you have options. Made with organic quinoa protein and rice syrup to control fly-aways and add volume, smoothness and shine.
Buy it online or find a location near you.
Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Hair Care Duo ($40)
Multifunctional daily use shampoo and conditioner that are anti-aging, antioxidant rich, volumizing, super smooth, non-frizzy, scalp and hair nourishing, non-toxic and color safe. Free of sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.
Works for every hair type. Buy it online.
Check out The Nature of Beauty for more natural hair care and skin care products.
In the meantime, avoid products that contain these dangerous chemicals:
Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, butyl-paraben, etc.)
Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate (SLS or SLES)
Petrolatum (Petroleum Jelly)
Propylene glycol
Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethalnolamine (TEA)
Imidazoldinyl, urea and diazolidinyl urea
Silicone
Ethoxylated ingredients (those starting with PEG- or ending with –ETH)
Visit Skin Deep Cosmetics Safety Database to check the safety of your hair care and other beauty products.
What’s your go-to summer hair fix? Share a photo of you sporting your typical summer do on our Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest pages.