Being a naturalista takes a lot of work to get those beautiful curls. Part of that work is narrowing down the right choices in terms of products. With so many options available on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to decipher what products curlies need to avoid in order to achieve their best hair. While you may know a good deal already about the dangers of sulfates, silicones, and parabens, there are a few unlikely culprits to be on the lookout for in your quest for healthy, gorgeous hair. So, here are a few products curlies need to avoid in general.

Bleach

This is one of the biggest products curlies need to avoid. Many people try to lighten their hair using bleach products, whether looking for a platinum blonde look or looking to strip it of color to apply a wild pigment like hot pink. Applying bleach to the hair is a no-no, especially for naturals! While bleaching kits may be sold in stores, it doesn’t mean they are good for your hair. In fact, they can leave hair dry, brittle, and prone to breakage. Not to mention the fact that many curlies experience the loss of their curl pattern through the use of bleach.

Sunscreen

While sunscreen may be good for your skin on a sunny day at the beach to beat skin cancer, you don’t need to apply it directly to your scalp or your hair. If you use the thick sunscreens intended for your body on your strands and scalp, you could end up clogging your pores, drying out your hair, or weighing it down. A better solution is to opt for products that already have some SPF in them for better protection such as Phyto Plage Protective Sun Veil or Clarins Sun Care Oil Spray.

Lotion

Along the same lines as using sunscreen meant for your body on your scalp or strands, you don’t want to use body lotion on your hair. While it may seem like the ingredients are pretty similar in body lotions and hair conditioners, they are formulated differently. It is best to stick with using only products made for your hair in your hair.

Dry Shampoo

This one is tricky. The way dry shampoo works is that it absorbs excess oils from the roots to make hair appear cleaner. While this may be fine for some people, it can be disastrous to the scalp of others. For instance, if you have an overabundance of natural oil, you should be fine whereas if your scalp is naturally a lacking moisture, this would be an issue. It is best to examine your own scalp and oil levels before stocking up on any sort of dry shampoo.

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