As a seasoned natural – I’ve been in the game for over 10 years – I’ve tried a lot of different tools and products on my hair. My hair and I have come to a consensus about what she likes. So, I’ve decided to share all the natural hair tools and products that I use on my hair, regularly, for any style.
This post contains affiliate links (read my disclaimer). Thanks for helping me adult!
COMBS & BRUSHES
While I do most of my detangling with my hands, I incorporate combs and brushes when I want to achieve different hairstyles or before starting the LCO/LOC method.
Rattail comb is essential for parting my hair for the various styles that I do. I don’t typically part my hair when doing braid or twists outs but will do for all protective hairstyles and flat twist outs
Am I the only one that uses separate detangling combs for wet and dry hair? When detangling my wet hair, I prefer this widetooth comb because it’s so easy to comb through my hair. I got it from the beauty supply and haven’t looked back.
On blown dry or straightened hair, I use this widetooth comb because my hair is already in a stretched state and does not require a ton of detangling. This is perfect when I’m switching styles when my hair is straight.
The Felicia Leatherwood Brush is only used on my wet hair specifically after a wash. I finger detangle without the brush prior to and during my wash routine, then use a widetooth comb or the brush to further detangle my hair.
The last comb that I have in my arsenal is my afro pic. I mean, can you really call yourself a natural girl if you don’t have one?? I actually have 2, one that I keep in my beauty pouch (cause you never know when you need that extra fluff), and the other at home.
HOT TOOLS
These are natural hair tools that I use when I want to add heat to my hair or do a deeper treatment with my hair.
I did a review on my Q-Redew Handheld Steamer already, but I definitely use this at least once a month, but no more than twice, when I am in-between wash days and need to refresh and re-moisturize my hair. It’s also great to travel with if you are away from home for more than a few weeks. Even though mine just died after 6 years, I’ll be repurchasing soon.
Although I don’t blow dry my hair often, this blow dryer is efficient! I can blow dry my entire head in less than 30 minutes. This blow dryer is affordable, it’s less than $25, and comes with 4 different attachments. I only use 3 out of 4, but you can’t beat the price for this great blow dryer.
PRODUCTS
The products are the piece de resistance. These are what help keep my hair clean and moisturized. Karen Body Beautiful Leave-in Conditioner is my favorite leave-in because the consistency is so light, and it smells so good. It’s used after every wash. I don’t need a lot in my hair, so one bottle can last me a long time.
My homemade whipped shea butter is used specifically for moisturizing my hair. I use it when I don’t plan to unravel my hair to wear out and when I refresh or re-moisturize it. For my homemade whipped shea butter, I used this tutorial. I use Wild Seed Botanical when I run out of homemade whipped shea butter.
SheaMoisture Twist Defining Custard is my staple twisting custard that I like to use on wet or dry hair when I’m planning to do a twist or braid out. I love the scent and how defined my twist and braid outs are when I use this product. This product is no longer available, but I occasionally find it at Dollar General. Whenever I see it, I stock up, okay?! So if you ever see me leave the Dollar General with a bag full of this custard, just keep it moving.
Clarifying Shampoo is new to my routine but something that’s important. My stylist created her own line of hair products; this is the only thing I’ve used that gets my hair clean. Clarifying shampoo is important for removing any residual product building or other things lurking in your hair and scalp that your regular shampoo doesn’t always get. The Trifecta Moisture Balance Cleansing Shampoo smells wonderful and cleanses my hair without feeling stripped.
SheaMoisture Manuka Honey Shampoo is the staple shampoo that I use after my clarifying shampoo. So, like my body and face routines, I double-cleanse my hair. I love the manuka honey collection that SheaMositure created because it smells great. But this shampoo is a fave because it doesn’t make my hair feel stripped, dry, or crunchy.
There are two deep conditioners that I rotate between SheaMoisture Manuka Honey and Cream of Nature Pure Honey, depending on whichever I have on hand. I use both because I love how great they make my hair feel and are both reasonably priced.
OILS
Hair oils are essential for your natural hair routine. I use them during all parts of my hair – pre-poo, deep conditioner, LCO/LOC, and styling.
Coconut oil is a must for my hair. I use this when I pre-poo my hair, and it’s included in my homemade whipped shea butter. My hair loves how coconut oil penetrates the shaft to get a deeper treatment during the pre-poo.
I usually just buy a big gallon of olive oil from either Sam’s Club or Amazon and refill a bottle. Olive oil is my most used natural hair tool in my routine, so I always need it more than anything. I use this in my LOC and LCO method and my homemade whipped shea butter.
OTHER TOOLS
Items in this section are tools that don’t fit in the other sections but are still essential for my natural hair routine.
For the longest time, I used the $1 spray bottles you can get from Target or Walmart. I constantly had to replace them because they would find a way to break or get lost. My friend Mimi actually put me on game with my now staple spray bottle. I love this bottle because the water comes out in a mist rather than a full-on spray. The mist is perfect for those days when I don’t need my hair to get soaked and don’t want to deal with shrinkage.
Bobby Pins are a staple and items that I am constantly losing. I typically buy both hair and bobby pins because you need both depending on what style you’re doing. I get them from the beauty supply store for under $5.
Hair shears are another must-have in for my natural hair tools. I always keep hair shears to keep my hair tamed in between trims. During the pandemic, I needed to get my ends under control until I felt comfortable to get back to the salon.
Hair clips are used throughout my wash routine – when I section my hair for pre-poo, deep conditioning, LOC method – I use them anytime I need to section off my hair. These hair clips are my favorite because of the shape and the teeth.
My perm rods were originally bought to do roller sets on wet hair. But I’ve never actually done this as I find that I’m too lazy to do all that work on my own hair. I mostly use the rollers to roller the ends of my hair for a braid out, twist out, or twist and curl. When I was heavily into crochet braids, I would use them to curl the Marley hair I installed.
I mostly use flexi rods only when my hair is straight to give it some extra bounce and fullness that I like when it’s not straight. Ambitiously, I bought these flexi rods to style my hair, but it hasn’t happened yet. Mostly because I really dislike sleeping with rollers in my hair. Everyone talks about how these aren’t as bad compared to perm rods. However, rollers are rollers, and they are all uncomfortable no matter how you spin it.
I use the snappee whenever I put my hair in a puff or any type of ponytail. This is the only hairband I use in my hair because there’s nothing else on the market like it. Before using these, I would just use kneehighs. lol! Glad, I was able to upgrade to something a bit more sophisticated.
BONUS
While my satin cap is not considered a tool, it is essential to keeping my hair healthy. I love the satin cap from Isoken Enofe because of its use of African prints and the fact that it comes in 3 sizes. I typically use the smaller size every day and the larger size when I have extensions.
My XL shower cap that I purchased on Amazon was the best purchase for me. As someone that constantly changes her style or have protective styles that don’t fit in those tiny plastic shower caps, I need something that works for me. I love this shower cap because it fits my hair no matter how long or thick the style is on my head. Also, I love that it has a drawstring that you can adjust to your changing hairstyles.
WHAT NATURAL HAIR TOOLS DO YOU USE ON YOUR HAIR?
