6 Totally Overrated Styling Tools & Products

I find it amusing that I haven’t yet met a real life person who’s admitted to reading the 50 Shades Of Grey trilogy. Clearly plenty of people have otherwise it wouldn’t currently be the best-selling book of all time in the UK. Now whether you are too toe-curlingly embarrassed to admit to taking a peek or you have genuinely not read it, it’s a moot point.

I don’t wish to spoil the enjoyment of the book for you if you eventually intend to give in to curiosity. All I will say is putting aside the adult nature of the content, the truth is that the story-line, characters and prose are decidedly unremarkable. But with so many people talking about it online and on television, it just a matter of time until vague interest turns into a purchase for the more impressionable among us ergo an average book becomes a bestseller!

Our hair product stashes are not safe from this phenomenon either. These days there only needs to be one glowing review of a product before we all jump on the bandwagon to discover the benefits for ourselves. A short while later these things are gathering dust in our drawers!

Here’s my list of overrated hair tools and products that you may want to think twice about, before purchasing.

 1. Denman Brush*

 – I don’t know who started the rumor years ago that natural girls absolutely had to own a denman brush* if they were to survive. The denman has become like a badge of honor in the membership of #teamnatural but you know what, it’s just not necessary in your regimen. You can get by quite quite well with any old brush or absolutely no brush at all! When’s the last time you had a denman related emergency?

2. Waving Irons

Seriously even white girls know how to braid their hair in pigtails overnight to get easy waves the next morning. The waving iron* is about as useful as a ham sandwich at a Barmitzvah, it’s edible but there won’t be many takers. There’s better tools to use your limited heat allowance on and this one should not be one of them!

3. Overpriced Curl Enhancing Creams, Butters*, Custards & Souffles

Yes they sound delicious and some naturals may not agree with me on this but I never did see the point in slathering half a tub of a $33.99 curling cream on my hair for a single braid out/wash and go when good technique with a cheaper product works just as well. I’m happy to buy these products at a discount but for the most part, curl enhancing creams are overrated.

4. Edge Creams

If you’ve got kinky* 4 type hair prepare to be disappointed with most of the edge control creams on the market. Many are made with ingredients which you may not be comfortable putting on your hair, and many just don’t lay down the edges without some additional support by way of a scarf. An easier method is to use some plain ole gel which you may already have on hand and a scarf to help the edges lay flat. Otherwise just let those kinky* curly coily edges do what they do.

5. Virgin hair extensions* from American vendors

Virgin human hair is great for those wanting instant extra length or thickness but the cost of these products when purchased from American vendors rival the average family’s food budget.

I will admit that some American vendors do vet each and every bundle of hair before they make it available for sale in which case the end product may be worth the cost but mostly you are just paying for the brand name. Many of them are just reselling standard virgin hair obtained from Chinese and Indian vendors at unbelievable mark-ups.

You will save a bundle by just cutting out the middle man and ordering directly from the source. Websites like Aliexpress make it easy to order directly from hair manufactures in China or India. The quality is hit and miss but doing your research and reading the reviews before committing to buy will help you get the best value for money, and a gorgeous weave!

6. Argan Oil*

Yes this is the newest snake ‘miracle’ oil on the block. It’s supposed benefits range from helping hair become thicker, repairing the protein in hair and teaching you to play the piano (ok I made up the last one) but the oil has started to appear in cosmetics from relaxers to hair colors and body washes. I have used the pure oil and honestly, it works great as a sealant but it’s really nothing special. An oil is an oil, is an oil . . .

I’m sure there’s plenty more overrated products out there. Do you get irritated paying over the odds for them or are you happy to shell out to feed your curiosity?