Since cooler weather has finally arrived for a lot of us kinky-curly gals, additional help is needed to protect not only our fragile tresses, but our scalp as well. Healthy, moisturized hair and scalp can be achieved with the right products. It’s not necessary to spend a fortune (unless of course you got it like that), and it is possible to find reasonably priced products to fit anybody’s budget. I love grapefruit, peppermint and lavender essential oils and they tend to be listed in the ingredients of a lot of products I buy specifically for hair and scalp treatments. I also buy them as essential oils for at-home hair recipes.
Basic Lavender and Peppermint Scalp Massage – In a bowl, add 4 tablespoons of almond, olive, or grapeseed oil (or base oil of choice). Add 3-4 drops each of lavender and peppermint essential oils. Massage into scalp and wrap in a hot towel for 15 minutes. For those with hair loss, lavender and rosemary essential oils can be substituted in the scalp massage recipe.
**Please note some essential oils should be avoided in pregnancy and by epileptics, and used with caution for those with sensitive skin.
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair and Scalp Treatment, 6.8 oz., $14.00. This treatment has a fresh, wake-me-up minty smell (tea tree, peppermint, lavender) which tingles the scalp. Other ingredients include soy proteins, panthenol, vitamin E and shea butter. Definitely a protectant against cold weather. This product leaves your hair strong and soft, and your scalp clean and fresh. Buy online at Drugstore.com, Trade Secret, CVS, etc.
Elasta QP Intensive Breakage Control Serum, 6 oz., $5.99. This is a heat-activated treatment (dryer or hot towel) that is great for hair prone to ends that are dry or have split ends. This product quickly cut down on the amount of shedding I had. It also strengthened and revitalized my hair. Curls were soft, defined, and felt stronger. Elasta QP is easily found at any neighborhood beauty supply store.
Sebastian Potion 9 Wearable Treatment, 5.1 oz., $14.99. What does the “9” in Sebastian Potion 9 mean? There are 9 essential extracts in this product that moistures, repairs, and revitalizes your tired, damaged, and dull hair. The essential extracts are jojoba seed oil, safflower seed oil, sesame seed oil, babassu oil, olive oil, evening primrose oil, rice bran oil, willow bark and green tea extracts. A little pricey, but you won’t be disappointed. It’s definitely worth it. Buy online at Drugstore.com or Trade Secret salons.
Better Botanicals: Herbal Hair Oil, 4 oz., $15.99. This ayurvedic herbal oil improves the strength and condition of the hair, especially hair that is dry or damaged. Ingredients are peanut, sesame and sunflower oils, extracts of bhringraj, brahmi, amla, harad, behra, nagarmotha, jataamansi (ayurvedic herbs), and tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E). This herbal oil is also good for the scalp and can be used weekly as a hot oil treatment. Results give you hair that is shinier, softer, and stronger. Also found at Vitamin Shoppe and Ebay.
Let me know what other hair and scalp products work for you.
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