Today we have a special guest on Alma Eko's blog and we hope she comes back more often. Ana, from Crianza Mágica , is coming to tell us first-hand how to use natural products without plastic packaging to care for curly hair . We hope that her experience can inspire you and clear up some doubts.
Ana's experience
I have a significant amount of hair and a curl that I now find quite pretty. It hasn't always been like this. Those of us with curly and voluminous hair are cannon fodder for teasing and insults in childhood. That was my case.
As a teenager, I started taking care of my hair and feeling better about it. In the late 90s and early 2000s, all kinds of hairpins, clips and hair accessories were very fashionable. I had them all and I changed my hairstyle constantly: braids, ponytails, buns, half-updos. I loved playing with my hair.
At that time I discovered that a very well-known brand of hair products made a special range for curly hair . I tried it, saw that it worked, that my hair was more defined and I used that same brand for practically two decades. That's loyalty!
During this time, the formulation of the products changed twice and with the second modification, my hair stopped behaving the same. It was noticeably duller, drier and had a curl that I didn't recognize. I also noticed my scalp was irritated and itchy .
The first changes
It coincided with the fact that I started to become interested in making a more conscious purchase , from brands that are more respectful of the environment and also free of potential toxins. In addition, I discovered the Curly Girl Method . A way of caring for curly hair that seeks to get the most out of it and make it healthy, achieving quite spectacular results. There are many different techniques that can be applied to follow this method. The truth is that it can become quite a complex routine with many different products and steps that I didn't want to take on. So no, in case anyone is wondering, I don't follow this method, but I have kept one of its fundamental bases: eliminating sulfates and silicones from products and switching to more natural ingredients.
For me, the change to this type of product was more related to caring for the environment and my health and not so much to a personal image issue. I don't deny that, but it has much less weight. It is obvious, for example, that I don't dye my grey hair. I refuse. It is already a question of principles.
But what about sulfates and silicones in curly hair? Well, the following happens:
- Sulfates , which are surfactants that act as detergents (they generate a lot of foam), are effective at removing dirt from the hair, but they also remove natural oils from the scalp, which is not good for curly hair, which tends to be dry.
- Silicones create a film that gives shine and softness to the hair. However, this same film, especially in the case of silicones that are not soluble in water, prevents water and the products used from penetrating the hair fiber and, therefore, does not allow proper hydration . Only a shampoo with sulfates would be able to remove these silicones, so we would be back to square one.
With this information, almost three years ago I decided to make changes and I have to say that I didn't get it right the first time . I'm not going to name the brands that haven't worked well for me because, if there's one thing we curly hair types know, it's that not everything works for everyone . Every hair type needs something different. Just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for other people.
I started using natural products, without toxic potentials, silicones or sulphates, but packaged in plastic , when I still didn't know about the existence of solid shampoos and conditioners. The curl definition was good, but my hair felt even drier. I started making homemade masks with avocado, aloe vera, coconut oil... But I couldn't get my hair to be properly hydrated.
Furthermore, although they were products that were, a priori, better for my skin and less polluting to the water, they were packaged in plastic and, a few months later, I had already advanced enough in the Zero Waste movement to know that I wanted to go a step further and opt for solid products.
I tried several brands of shampoo and conditioner bars, including homemade ones, and the results were disastrous . I also couldn't find any curl-defining solution after washing my hair that wasn't packaged in plastic.
Do you know what happened? For a few months I went back to the conventional brand I had used for 20 years.
My ultimate routine
While I was in this state of frustration, my friend Stella set up the Alma Eko online store and I saw that she had a brand of solid shampoos and conditioners that I had heard very good things about , but that I had not yet tried. I decided to give LaMalvaflor 's shampoo for dry hair and conditioner a try. What a success! From the first wash I noticed significant changes . In fact, the result was so good that for the first time in many years I dared not to use any curl-defining product after showering. There was some frizz, yes, but it was quite tolerable.
Shortly after, Alma Eko introduced Matarrania anti-frizz oil . I decided to try it. Absolutely wonderful! Finally a solution to define curls in a glass bottle!
In short, my curly hair care routine is very simple and I will explain it to you below:
- I washed my hair with LaMalvaflor's avocado shampoo for dry hair . It smells amazing (which is another thing that put me off in some cases because I'm a bit of a fanatic when it comes to smells) and it's very creamy and moisturizing . In fact, the brand says that it can also be used as a conditioner. This isn't my case because I have a lot of hair, very curly and with a tendency to dry out, but I'm sure that for many people with 'easier hair' it would be enough.
- I moisturise and help detangle with La Malvaflor conditioner . As I was saying, I do need this extra. In fact, I still need a little extra hydration, so I also use a mask, but I'll tell you about that later.
- I remove excess moisture with a towel, comb my hair and finish detangling my hair with a beech wood and natural rubber brush . It has no plastic, so it doesn't make my hair frizzy . It also doesn't have little balls on the tips of the bristles, so it detangles without breaking my hair . Stella gave me this brush to try. Since it worked well for me, she's going to include it in the Alma Eko catalogue. It will be available in a couple of weeks.
- With wet hair I use Matarrania's anti-frizz hair serum . The brand says that, depending on the type and amount of hair, you may need more or less product. They say between 1 and 5 drops. In my case, I need more to get the result I want. I use two full applications of the diffuser. But I insist, I have an overwhelming amount of hair. I apply this product from mid-lengths to ends and perform the totally simplified scrunch technique . You can watch this video which explains in detail what this technique consists of, but I don't do all that. I just apply the product all over my hair (I don't bother doing it strand by strand) and I do the movement you see in the image.
And that's it . That's my routine. I don't use a hairdryer, I don't have one. I let my hair air dry. I don't use special towels, or satin pillowcases, I don't put my hair up in the most suitable hairstyles for sleeping or anything like that.
An extra hydration
The only thing I do do every 10 days or so is apply a homemade mask . The fact is that my hair and skin are extremely dry. It doesn't matter what I use to remedy it. I'm afraid the problem isn't so much the moisturizing products I use, but that I don't drink the amount of water I need, no matter how hard I try.
Again, for simplicity, I usually just use coconut oil . But you can mix in other ingredients like egg, avocado, aloe vera…
Coconut oil has regenerative properties, it is very moisturizing and nourishing, but it does not leave a greasy feeling. I apply it from mid-lengths to ends, at least for half an hour, before showering. It leaves my hair very soft and shiny.
Shea butter can also be used as a mask in the same way. It provides even greater hydration, which is why it is recommended for damaged hair , hair that has been treated with a flat iron or dyed, and also as a rescue treatment during or after the summer , for example.
Another option is to use both ingredients together, creating this calendula balm, the recipe for which can be found on Alma Eko's blog and which can be used as a hair mask.
If any curly girl is reading this, she will be clutching her head and would probably love to ask me the following question: “Can you imagine how your hair would look if you did the complete routine of the method?” Well, yes, it would look even better. I would get more out of it. But the thing is that I like it like this already and I am not willing to invest more time in the care of my hair . In general, in my life, I need things to be simple. I consider myself a minimalist. If you feel like it and you enjoy doing the complete method, go ahead, of course.
Another option: Beauty Cubes
In the last few weeks I have been trying out another of the hair care brands available at Alma Eko: Beauty Kubes .
I must admit that I was surprised. I have tried the shampoo and conditioner for dry hair. Here are my impressions:
- As for curl definition , I think it's the same as with LaMalvaflor. After washing my hair I used Matarrania's anti-frizz hair serum. But one day I tried not using anything and the result was worse than without the serum, but tolerable and practically the same as when I made that change with LaMalvaflor.
- As for hydration , I do think I've noticed some change there. LaMalvaflor products are especially creamy and I think they're more hydrating. In the last few days I don't notice my hair getting drier, but I do notice itchiness on my scalp. Mind you, it could be due to the change in temperature due to the season. In any case, something I could try is the Beauty Kubes range for sensitive scalps to see if this aspect improves.
- And if we talk about the format , I admit that at first I wasn't convinced that it came in cubes. It seemed a bit uncomfortable, but I've seen that I was wrong, because it's quite the opposite. I was wondering if just one cube would be enough for all my hair, since I have a lot of it. And yes, one cube is more than enough for me. This makes me think that other people with less hair and/or short hair can use only half a cube in each wash, so the product will last longer.
What I liked most about this format is the conditioner. With the LaMalvaflor bar I have the feeling that I don't distribute the product well, especially when there is only a small amount left. The way the Beauty Kubes are used means that you can distribute them very comfortably and more evenly.
And of course, this format is perfect for travelling or if you go to the gym. Only once, when I was travelling, I got distracted and didn't leave my LaMalvafor shampoo to dry in a soap dish with a drain (something that is very important) and it got damaged. That doesn't happen with dice.
This is what works for me. I insist again that in the world of curly hair we are very clear that not all of us are suited to the same thing. In fact, in the last few weeks I have been trying another brand that is available at Alma Eko , Beauty Kubes . I don't dare to give you a verdict yet, because I have only used it a few times, but at the end of the week you will find my review on Alma Eko's social networks.
I hope this post has helped you to encourage you to switch to a curly hair care routine that is better for your hair and the planet .
