5 Underrated Hair Products For Under $5

 I have a confession to make: I used to spend hundreds of dollars a year on products for my hair. I know, I know-it’s extreme but having healthy, great looking hair comes at a cost, and sometimes that cost is very expensive.

 It’s okay, you can admit you’ve made some shopping mistakes too! Maybe you passed up some great buys because you assumed they were absolutely too cheap to even be effective, or perhaps you overlooked some low end products to splurge on some fancy-looking, high end creams and oils*; but guess what? The price doesn’t always determine the quality!

Lucky for us, there are some brands out there that are looking out for both our hair and our pockets. Below are 5 great (and truly underrated) products that you can buy for under $5!

Fruit of the Earth 100% Aloe Vera Gel -$3.97

 Whether it is in raw form, a juice, or a gel, aloe vera has healing, moisturizing, and soothing properties that make it a great quality ingredient when it comes to natural skin and haircare products.

Although aloe vera can be turned into everything from a liquid to a cream, it works best for hair when it is in gel form.

 Although there are tons of brands that offer aloe vera gel as a product, Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel is one of the best brands because it is 100% aloe vera and is not mixed with alcohol or any other chemicals that may dry out or damage your hair.

This particular Aloe Vera gel* is typically used for skincare problems such as sunburns, dry skin, and minimizing large pores-but it also serves a great all-natural hair product. The sticky yet lightweight formula can be used as a no-flake, strong hold hair gel, can define curls without leaving them weighed down or stiff, and moisturizes dry, brittle hair.

 Personally, I am very heavy handed and I always apply too much oil to my hair when I pre-poo or seal in moisture, causing oil to drip everywhere. Aloe Vera gel* solved this problem for me because a little goes a long way, it coats and sticks to my hair instead of dripping everywhere, and the light fragrance isn’t overwhelming if I use too much product.

Even though it has all of these great qualities, the best thing about Fruit of the Earth Aloe Vera Gel is that it can be found at virtually all drugstores and vitamin shops.

NOW® Solutions Moroccan Red Clay- $4.49

   Moroccan Red Clay has been a very popular ingredient in skincare products and masks, and now has a place in ethnic hair care.

The clay is an Illite- a natural mineral silicate with iron* and potassium*-that works with other additives to hydrate, moisturize, strengthen, and soften hair. High end clay can be on the expensive side, but NOW® Solutions offers up an inexpensive and effective version of the popular rhassoul clay*.

  Because the clay comes in a powder form, you must mix it with a liquid to create a spreadable substance of any consistency you’d like.

Those with fine hair may add more liquid to the powdered clay to make a thin mixture that isn’t too heavy for their hair, while those with coarse hair may need a thicker consistency.

 I mix one cup of the Moroccan Red Clay with ½ cup of aloe vera juice* and a tablespoon of honey* and coconut oil*. I apply this smooth paste to my hair as if it were a relaxer, allow it to dry, and then thoroughly rinse the mixture out of my hair while in the shower. Do not worry about getting any of the mix on your skin because it is also used for facials and body masks.

 NOW® Solutions Moroccan Red Clay will detox your hair, leaving it feeling clean and soft while defining your natural curl pattern for just under $5.

 Africa’s Best Ultimate Herbal Oil with Ginseng – $3.99

   Africa’s Best products have been around for years, but unfortunately got pushed to the side once new, innovative ethnic hair care products showed up on the shelf. However-unlike its old school counterparts-Africa’s Best products are all natural and petroleum free which means they may still have a place in our hair care regimens!

  Africa’s Best Ultimate Herbal Oil with Ginseng is all of the oils* we already use in one huge melting pot. It includes protein-filled sweet almond oil*, scalp-cleansing carrot oil, and other ingredients that promote growth such as castor seed oil and ginseng extract. The herbal oil also serves as a great sealant, controls frizz, and has a pleasant light fragrance.

  I found this product to be a very important factor in my hair growth and styling during my transition stage. Because I experienced a bit of breakage from straightening my hair too often, I would mix this oil with water and spray it onto my hair as a heat protectant* and as a growth serum. It worked wonders.

 Africa’s Best Ultimate Herbal Oil with Ginseng can be found at most local beauty stores, Walgreens, and Amazon for just under $4.        

Samy Get Curls Reactivating Lotion– $4.79

How many times have you bought a curl defining product just to find out that it weighs down or hardens your hair?

Or perhaps you find a great curl pudding or lotion that feels amazing on your hair but when it dries, leaves your mane frizzy and undefined? A lot of curl enhancing products tend to have a drawback, but Samy Get Curls Reactivating Lotion proved to be the real deal.

 Samy Get Curls Reactivating Lotion is a water based moisturizer meant to reactivate and enhance your curls. Unlike other creams and lotions, it is lightweight but still keeps curls hydrated and bouncy throughout the day. The best part is that it does not flake up like hair gel, but leaves your hair soft and shiny.

  I have a combination of 3c/4a hair and it is easily weighed down by oil but sucks up moisturizers like nobody’s business- so it was hard to find a great, balanced product. When I found SGC Reactivating Lotion, I was skeptical because if the expensive stuff didn’t work on my hair, what could the cheap products do?

 Nonetheless, I bought it and combed it through my hair after every wash and detangling session for a whole month-it soon became my favorite product. It left my otherwise-dry hair shiny and even gave the relaxed tips of my hair a slight curl which made my transitioning hair look much better.

 Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Brazilian Smooth Flat Iron Express– $2.99

 Anyone who doesn’t have naturally straight hair knows that it could be a real hassle to get your curls and coils really straight with your flat iron*.

Luckily for us, there are products that can cut your straightening time into a fraction of what it usually is-and Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Brazilian Smooth Flat Iron* Express is one of them.

The leave-in balm is an “all in one” product. It is both a heat protectant* and sealant, as well as a pretty decent frizz control.

Although it is a “balm”, it is not at all greasy and is actually water based which means it makes for a good moisturizer.

  Admittedly, I walked right past this product because it was not placed in the “Ethnic Haircare” section. However, I had used the Brazilian Smooth shampoo and conditioner from Garnier Fructis and it worked really well on my hair so I thought it would be a good idea to try another product from the line.

 I would brush the Brazilian Smooth Flat Iron* Express through dry hair with a paddle brush*, wrap it up into a silk bonnet, and then blast heat on the surface of my bonnet for a few minutes.

After this process, my hair was noticeably relaxed and took less than 20 minutes to straighten which was great compared to my usual 35 minute process.

Not only did this product-as well as the others-keep my hair feeling and looking healthy, but they also saved me money and a trip to the salon.