Do we really need a leave-in conditioner?

So we co-wash with conditioner, we condition with conditioner, and we deep condition. So do we still need a leave in?

Well that depends on what your hair needs. As naturals the one thing our hair needs is the holy grail which is moisture. Leave in conditioners temporarily moisturizes in the same way moisturizers for the face or body do.

Leave-In's help to condition and moisturize, smooth, and protect the hair . Most leave in conditioners often use some form of silicon to coat the hair & make the cuticles lay flat so it appears to be healthy. The main problem with cones is that it doesn't wash off the hair easily leaving a nasty build up on the hair which means your hair cannot absorb moisture from conditioner. Some naturals just leave in their regular conditioner , some use the infamous glycerin and water mixture, and some buy a separate leave in conditioner. Everybody hair is different and we each know what our individual hair needs and what it doesn’t. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa.





I decided before I went out to buy a leave in conditioner or any other conditioner for that matter I would use all the conditioners I have hoarded underneath my bathroom sink. Either these conditioners were never used or were just left over, because before I knew better I always ran out of shampoo way before I did the conditioner. ( how many can relate to that one?) So I had a bottle of Nexxus Humectress and Nexxus Headress weightless leave in conditioner. I grabbed a spray bottle and added


1/4 cup Headress (moisture w/protein)
1/2 cup Humectress (moisturizing)
1/4 cup Water (enough to thin )
2tsp olive oil or coconut oil
1tbsp honey (humectant) or glycerin. Because my hair is sensitive to glycerin, I do not use it.
1tsp vitamin E oil
2 Evening Primrose Capsules (I also take them orally daily)
10 drops rosemary essential oil
5 drops sage essential oil
5 drops of Tea tree oil.

After Co-Washing or Shampooing I part my hair in sections and spray, and massage throughout my hair.

Products I Use

After 3 months transitioning, I did the big chop. I wasn’t going to do it so soon but after I removed my micro braids washed and conditioned I had such a tangled mess so I just did it. The micro braids left my edges very damaged (I should have known better). I always say I'm never going to do it again but then I wind up sitting there for hours getting my hair braided. Well after this time i mean it never, ever again!

CO/WASH : No shampoo just wash with cheap conditioner preferably without cones.
Vo5 or Suave Naturals tropical coconut w/vitamin E, or if i have nothing baking soda.

Pre-Poo: Treatment before washing hair for a couple of hours or over night wearing plastic cap.

Virgin or extra Virgin Coconut oil, i mix it with other oils because coconut oil can be drying over time.

SHAMPOO/WASH: One a week any moisturizing shampoo without sulfates
Cream Of Nature moisturizing Shampoo *Update Revlon felt the need to fix something that wasn't broke and i don't know if they will stop this particular line altogether but it's very hard to find right now.

CONDITIONER: After co/wash
TRESemme Vitamin Moisture Rich (for dry damaged hair)

LEAVE-IN/DETANGLER: To condition & detangle also spray on at night before bed.
In a spray bottle I add Nexxus Humectress, Headdress weightless leave-in conditioner add,olive oil, water, vitamin E, Evening primrose, honey

Moisturizer/Styling: Used for my twist out.
Mango Elasta QP Mango butter
Jamaican Mango & Lime Mango Shea Butter Lotion
Although this isn't for hair the ingredients were so good that I started using it. And I love it. My hair is so soft using the two together *Update I do not use this on my hair anymore because the ingredients have been changed.

Oils: seals in moisture.used after washing and nightly especially in parts on scalp
Mixture of jojoba oil, (pronounced ho-ho-ba) aloe,coconut,sweet almond, olive, peach kernal, carrot, evening primrose, vitamin e, I add essential oils.