Texture Talk: 6 Natural Hair Products You Need to Know Now

Welcome to Texture Talk, a column that celebrates and deep dives into the dynamic world of curly hair, from crowns of curls that are free flowing to strands that are tucked away in a protective style.

If you’re looking to add some exciting new products into your natural and textured hair routine this season, look no further. These six natural haircare brands are offering exciting new options from leave-in conditioners, natural edge controls, and lush loc care.

Founded by award-winning hair stylist Charlotte Mensah (who was inducted into the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame in 2017), every product in this natural haircare line is formulated with both manketti nut and ximenia oils. Manketti nut oil, also known as mongongo oil, is brimming with fortifying ingredients, such as calcium and zinc, as well as the fatty acids and proteins that are crucial for hair growth.

Star Product: Manketti Hair Oil

Considering this nut oil is the foundation of every single product in Charlotte’s line, if you’re going to try anything, it should probably be this. As a result, you can look forward to added shine, tamed frizz, and a seriously moisturized scalp.

The world fell in love with curly haircare brand DevaCurl after its launch nearly thirty years ago, and now, co-founder Lorraine Massey (who has also written two books: Curly Girl: The Handbook and Silver Hair: A Handbook) has launched another exciting line, which, let’s face it, will probably reach cult-status just as quickly. CurlyWorld includes natural hair cleansers, conditioners, treatments, and even a volumizing pick that promises to take your curly hair to its highest possible heights.

Star Product: Sham-Free Hair and Scalp Cleanser

This unique cooling cleanser leaves your curls and scalp feeling incredibly fresh, without stripping it of essential hydration.

Like its name suggests, NaturAll is formulated with all-natural ingredients. When founder Muhga Eltigani realized how much her natural, textured hair thrived while using only food-grade ingredients that could be found in her kitchen, she decided to create a line of her own so that everyone could enjoy the same whole foods-based benefits. Now, NaturAll includes everything from natural edge controls to hydrating “bundles” especially formulated for 4C hair, including a hydrating shampoo, rinse-out and leave-in conditioner, and a twisting paste.

Star Product: Ice Cream Treatment Deep Conditioners

Available in six different formulas for all of your hair woes, these freshly-made deep conditioners (they come frozen!) are avocado-based and work to moisturize and detangle hair in a hurry.

Founded by a Togolese and American couple in 2003, Alaffia exclusively uses ethically-sourced ingredients from Togo, such as shea butter, African black soap and coconut oil in their natural hair, skin and body care products. Olowo-n’djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde have also founded a number of social enterprises using some of their proceeds, including providing sustainable incomes for women wanting to quit the sex trade industry, as well as working against poverty in Togolese communities.

Star Product: Curl Activating Leave-In Conditioner

Made with ethically-sourced, unrefined shea butter, this leave-in conditioner formulated without mineral oil, silicones or sulfates, hydrates and softens kinky and curly hair. Plus, five percent of sales goes towards the Alaffia Beautiful Arrival program, which helps provide maternal care to women of colour in marginalized communities.

Not only does Design Essentials carry specialized hair products for literally every hair texture, but they also offer formulas specifically targeted for use with wigs and extensions, including clip-ins and u-part weaves. Plus, their website just happens to be an extremely helpful haven of tips and tricks on how to effectively use their natural hair products effectively, breaking everything down into easy DIY steps.

Star Product: Almond & Avocado Moisturizing & Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo

This shampoo, which is made with almond oil (known for giving hair that impossible shine) and avocado, which deeply moisturizes and strengthens, will not only give you some of the cleanest hair you’ve ever, had but also some of the softest.

This one goes out to all the loc lovers. This brand has a full range of products that are specifically created to help create and maintain dreadlocks. Founded by Jessica Pritchett in 2018 after a successful journey and healthy relationship with her own locs, the line is complete with oils, gels and cleansers, all formulated to help you maintain your best protective hairstyle. For those that truly love their locs, this brand is a one-stop shop.

Star Product: Loc’d In Leave-In Conditioner

The perfect remedy for extremely dry, brittle and dehydrated locs, this leave-in conditioner contains black cumin oil to help prevent hair-thinning, while also promoting shine.

By: Kenisha Alexander