Getting Organized: A Product Junkie’s Guide to Organizing Her Stash

As a natural almost 2 years into her journey I have accumulated tons of products. I once considered myself a product junkie. I know, I know. *hides face in shame*

The number one no-no for going natural is “don’t give into the product hype.” But due to experimentation and finding what works best for my hair it is inevitable that the products have piled up.

I love to get things organized around my house when the seasons change. It just seems like the perfect time. With Fall approaching and the plan to move within the next month I thought I’d tackle my hair product stash. If you’re anything like me and have products on products all around your home use the following tips to get yourself organized.

Take Inventory

First let me share that my product stash is huge! I have products I’ve purchased, freebies from couponing, 6 months worth of full size products from CurlBox and to top it off I won a Creme of Nature giveaway earlier this year where they sent me over 150 products!

Yes. Boxes on boxes. As a result, I’ve filled two cabinets under bathroom sinks and have a book case in a spare closet all filled with hair products.

While going into it feeling a bit overwhelmed, the first thing I wanted to do was take inventory. I took a visual account of everything I had. What was unused? What didn’t I like that I still had? What are my faves? How long have I had an item for? etc.

Purge

The biggest solution is to purge! I know you don’t want to get rid of any of your precious babies. You may need it for next season or you may get to it… eventually, right? But a girl can only use but so many products.

Toss

First remember products can go bad! Those products you have had for years and years that you honestly can’t remember when you bought them, toss them!

During my purge I found some products I bought my freshman year of college almost 10 years ago! Yikes Straight to the trash.

Donate

With all of the products I have collected, especially freebies from couponing, I think it’s perfect to give to those in need.

If you have a lot of unused products donate to a local women’s shelter. They are typically always in need of hair care products for every hair type.

Do some good and pay it forward!

Swap

After tossing all of the baddies, swap your dislikes/extras or just straight up give them away! This is how I literally cut my stash in half and cleared out a bunch of space.

I loved all of the Creme of Nature products I received but just didn’t have the space for all of them. I gave over half of my supply away to family and friends who I knew would appreciate them.

This also applies to some of the other products that you don’t use. I purchased the Kinky* Curly Curling Custard and I don’t what it is but it just don’t like the consistency of it. It’s a little too tacky for my liking so I ended up trading it with a friend who likes it for something that works for my hair.

Grab a couple of girlfriends, pop open a bottle of wine and trade/giveaway your extras!

Get Organized

Finally now that you’ve gotten rid of everything you know you won’t use,you should feel so much lighter! Now you can get to organizing.

1.  Take an inventory… again! With a smaller haul you have to re-evaluate what you are working with. This is especially important for the next step.

Take another visual account of what you have left and what will fit where (under sinks, shelving etc)

2. Purchase baskets or containers that will fit under your sink.  Amazon or IKEA have tons of cute options. Keep in mind your inventory and the ability to fit everything in the organizers.

I also recommend doing a little research prior to purchasing. I love Pinterest and got most of my organizing ideas and hacks from there.

3. Separate items by category: Shampoo, deep conditioners, stylers etc. Place combs, hair accessories, and edge control into drawer style container storage.

Also be sure to label the containers with what’s what!

Still have excess?

I put the extra unopened products in boxes and placed them in cool dark places such as under my bed. I did add a little note with the list under my sink just so I know what I have put up so I don’t forget about them!

Also since I travel at least once a month I like to put together a travel hair care set that stays with my luggage.

What now?

Now that you’re all organized I recommend first using up the opened products before trying those newbies that you decided to hold on to.

Because the chemical composition of hair products can change overtime and is expedited once the product is opened, you want to use up what you have already been using first! This process definitely helped me get organized and hopefully it does the same for you!