Consider Revisiting Your Old Hair Products

I have had my fair share of products that have seemed to have been a complete disaster the first time I tried them. I like to trust that my hair knows best, but it has been known to play tricks on me time and time again.

Some reactions my hair has had to certain products, has made me vow to never try them again. Protein overload being one of the worst I have experienced.

However, I am not one to give up easily, or in some cases learn my lesson the first time around. Some of my favorite products today, have been those I have revisited.

They have become a MUST in my regimen and I wouldn’t have been able to figure that out if I did not give those products a second chance.

Start From A Clean Slate

It is hard to tell how well a product will perform if it is reacting with other products that are already in your hair. When you think about it, a hair mishap with a product can be seen as a bad science experiment.

Ingredients in one product may not necessarily agree with a new product you are trying  or pairing with others to make different combinations. That is why it is imperative that you start with a clean slate of hair.

Clarify before trying any new products in your hair so you know the true reaction to a product. I have made this mistake many times, especially when it came to trying new conditioners and styling products.

I would get angry, thinking that I had wasted my money but in reality I did not realize I was setting myself up to fail by piling one product on top of another.

Your Hair May React Differently

When my hair was relaxed, it hated certain products and now that I am natural my hair seems to have a different outcome.

As a new natural, I would spend lots of my money trying new products that I felt were necessary for my hair to thrive.

I would always write product reviews on how well my hair reacted to said products and move forward with my journey.

Although it seemed plain and simple at first, I had to begin to rethink the foundation of my hair journey. I found myself backtracking to products I thought did not work and using them today with success.

My relaxed hair went through a lot of damage as I was just discovering my hair’s needs. Now that I have a pretty good understanding and basis of my hair, I am able to incorporate my past product fails into something that I can’t live without.

Remember your current hair state:  relaxed, transitioning, natural or even damaged or healthy.  Your hair will have a different “state of mind” every time. Sometimes your hair must adapt to products for better or worse.

Use it in a Different Way

By a show of hands, who is guilty of trying a product without reading the directions first? I know I’m not the only one. This is especially true when it comes to the use of deep conditioners.

It is “recommended” that I use my deep conditioner* on wet hair, which I have tried. Results weren’t great but I gave it a shot.

Instead, of throwing the product out, I figured I had to make it adapt for my hair to love it. Knowing that hair is like a sponge, I deep condition on dry hair so my hair can get all the moisture it can (and it needs all it can get).

Not only that, but an overnight treatment is a must for my hair. Any other way it is like my hair knows I am trying to betray her.

I learned that I must exhaust almost all possibilities when trying products because one just may be the right answer. This method may take a lot longer than others mentioned, but you can never be too sure.

While, trying old products may not be a sure fire to your revelation, it is worth a try if you may be short on cash or discovering what your true hair needs are.

If you are a product junkie, you may be rejoicing right now that you don’t have to clean out your stash (the day will come sista).

Just keep in mind your hair will know what is best, so if it rejects a product ten different ways it may be safe to say that product just isn’t for you.

Don’t be in such a rush if it does not work the first time. After all this is a hair journey you are on, not a competition. You have time to make mistakes and learn from them. It is up to you whether you decide to put your best foot forward.