Hey Curly Naturals,
Lets take a walk together near the ocean shore, hand in hand you and I.
– Cherish Kool& the gang (Canva)
Over the past few years the Natural hair community has boomed not only in the movement but also by how much products we now have on offer to us. It might be hard to believe (especially if you are fairly new on your journey) but there was a time where options were far and few between and you just had to make do with whatever was on the shelf. I remember I always envied and so wished that I would one day be able to hold a Shea Moisture Curl enhancing Smoothie in my hand (I have and sadly I haven’t found a way where it is compatible with my hair). I decided to take a trip down memory lane to see how far we have come along in the South African Natural hair movement.
(also sorry in advance for the hazy pics this was almost 6 years ago and I was using a Black Berry)
Tresemme Naturals
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqMkdcWlWm8/
This was the staple and existence of my natural hair journey, I used it as a normal rinse out conditioner, a leave in conditioner and a co-wash. I was very gutted when I found out that the range was being discontinued, I know I am not alone though based on the reaction that I got from one of my Instagram posts. Needless to say Tresemme Botaniques does not come close to this range.
Dr Miracles Curl Care
This range was one of the first complete ranges that I could find in South Africa. The range was uncomplicated, reasonably priced for the quality it offered (compared to the prices of the products that we have available in SA today). My 2 favorite products are the Weightless Moisturizing Cream and the Curl Cream, the Curl cream gave my hair a soft definition, made my hair feel soft and moisturized. The Weightless moisturizing cream was a gem who’s true potential I only started discovering when my hair was longer and sadly just before the range got discontinued, this cream is a Low Porosity Naturals’ dream, it gives the right amount of moisture without weighing hair down and it was a dream to use when I do the LOC method. I still have a treasured stash and only use it occasionally use it as a treat.
Twisted Sista
You are probably wondering why this range is featured since its still alive and kicking on the shelves. So here is the store.. Twisted Sista arrived on the scene I found this revolutionary since I did not think that there would be Natural hair ranges available in SA (this was about 2014-2015 Clicks was already gearing itself towards the Natural hair industry back then already) my thank you email reached a buyer or representative of Twisted Sista and I was able to get the full range. Since then the range has redone its packaging and added more products to its line.
Easy Waves
I am LoLing hard on this one. I thought that I had a find on my hands when I discovered the Easy Waves banded pack, the catch was that I did not know how to use it… and to this day I still don’t (If you do know how to use it please comment below). The banded pack is a duo of 2 products that consists of a Curl activating spray, both products heavily feature Glycerin and whenever I used it I felt like an Olie ball. Easy Waves have since been extended its range to gels, stylers and waxes.
ORS Curl Pudding
So before ORS decided that they were going to be all fancy, re-brand themselves and add products suited for Natural hair there was this little gem I found. (their products have always been go though even before ORS Curls Unleashed)
Both my mother and I used it at the beginning of our journey’s and it was our stylers before all the other brands saturated the Market. The Curls Pudding came in 2 variants, one was in a green tub for adults that was green in color and had a lighter consistency than the kiddie version and had a thicker consistency that I loved. The consistency for both were very much like the puddings, creams and butters we use today(gosh it makes it sound like this was 15 years ago)
Do you have any favourite products that have been discontinued or slightly changed?
SACG 😉
SA Curly Girl 