Angela Simmons Shares Her Favorite Natural Hair Products

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Though known for slaying a weave with hair from her own line, Yummy Hair Extensions, Angela Simmons blessed the ‘Gram with a peek at her natural tresses. The starlet also graciously gave us a product breakdown of exactly what she uses to keep her natural hair and scalp nourished and maintained in between weave installations.

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Swipe to see the hair products Angela swears by, as well as some of our own recommendations for keeping your hair healthy before, during and after protective styles.

FOR CLEANSING

CREME OF NATURE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR CLARIFYING RINSE

When wearing weaves for long stretches of time, we acquire product buildup on our strands and scalp. We also tend to pick up lint, dirt and flakes from the day to day. To clear out all the debris, Angela loves the Creme of Nature Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying Rinse ($5.89, target.com), which she says helps her scalp and makes her hair feel “really good.” Apple Cider Vinegar is a great alternative to traditional shampoos, providing a deep clean without stripping the hair of moisture and shine.

FOR CLEANSING

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DEVACURL BUILDUP BUSTER

You’ve heard of the amazing cleansing properties of micellar water removing makeup and dirt from your face. Now, DevaCurls Buildup Buster ($28.00, devacurl.com) applies micellar technology to hair care. Much like apple cider vinegar, micellar water attracts and removes dirt without stripping or drying the hair. I love that the buildup buster comes with a handy nozzle for straight-to-scalp application.

FOR DETANGLING

TRUE HAIR CARE MOISTURE RICH DETANGLER

When we leave our natural hair braided under wigs and weaves, normal growth can cause shed hair to become trapped in on itself. If you’re tender-headed like Angela, this can make the detangling process a nightmare. She loves the Moisture Rich Detangler from True Indian Hair to help get through knots without pain and irritation. The detangler comes as part of a new product line, True Hair Care, which launches online and in stores this upcoming Friday.

FOR DETANGLING

AFRICAN PRIDE ALOE & COCONUT WATER DETANGLE & CONDITION PRE-SHAMPOO

For especially dry and tangled hair post braid take-down, try the African Pride Aloe & Coconut Water Detangle & Condition Pre-Shampoo ($4.48, walmart.com). The aloe and coconut water work together to penetrate into the hair shaft with moisture, making super tangled hair more pliable and easy to work through. For best detangling results, leave on the hair for 15-30 minutes before going in with your fingers or wide-tooth comb.

FOR DETANGLING

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WASH-DAY WONDER PRE-CLEANSE SLIP DETANGLER

For heavy duty detangling, I recommend another DevaCurl gem—the DevaCurl Wash-Day Wonder Pre-Cleanse Slip Detangler ($28.00, devacurl.com). Apply this product before cleansing to tackle hair that may have matted up while in a protective style. Sometimes, our fingers and wide-tooth combs just don’t get the job done. This gem will assist you for those times when you’ve neglected your hair.

FOR SCALP CARE

CURLS BLUEBERRY & MINT TEA SCALP TREATMENT

To soothe her tender scalp after the pulling of braids and protective styles, Angela uses the Curls Blueberry & Mint Tea Scalp Treatment ($12.00, curls.biz). As she demonstrates in her Instagram video, all it takes is a couple of drops massaged into the scalp. A word of caution, however, for my sensitive skin girls out there—this product does give a fairly strong tingling sensation. Tingling can work wonders for promoting hair growth by stimulating blood flow to the scalp. However, it proved a little too strong for me. Still, this is a great choice, as the treatment also relieves itching, prevents dryness and combats dandruff.

FOR SCALP CARE

TROPIC ISLE LIVING JAMAICAN BLACK CASTOR OIL HAIR THERAPY

For a thicker oil option, try the Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil Hair Therapy ($19.99, tropicisleliving.com). JBCO is famous for promoting hair growth in areas where you might experience thinning or stress on the hair follicles. This can be common when wearing weave installations back to back.

FOR MOISTURIZING

MIELLE ORGANICS WHITE PEONY LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

Angela says the Mielle Organics White Peony Leave-In Conditioner ($15.99, mielleorganics.com) “works wonders” on her hair when it’s fresh out of a weave. This spray leave-in is super versatile because it’s lightweight enough for looser curls, but still moisturizing enough for kinkier-haired beauties. A leave-in should always be the first step to any healthy styling routine after cleansing and detangling.

FOR MOISTURIZING

CURLS CASHMERE + CAVIAR HAIR SILK LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER/DETANGLER

The Curls Cashmere + Caviar Hair Silk Leave-In Conditioner/Detangler ($15.00, curls.biz) is a super hydrating leave-in option for kinkier hair. The entire collection is specifically formulated to suit coarser hair, which needs extra moisture during protective styles. The caviar delivers a heavy dose of vitamins A and D, while the cashmere extract keeps hair soft and strong.

FOR MOISTURIZING

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BELEZA NATURAL KINKY CURLS STYLING CREAM

Beleza Natural’s Kinky Curls Styling Cream ($36.99, belezanatural.com) is another dose of major moisture for hard to hydrate hair types. The curl cream is specifically for “tight to z-angled coils,” and contains quinoa protein and amino acids which work in the hair shaft to even out thickness, boost moisture and increase elasticity. If your hair is looser like Angela’s, Beleza Natural offers a variety of hair pattern-specific product lines – Wavy Curls, Loose Curls, Tight Curls and Kinky Curls – to cater to your individual needs. There’s even a “Curlies” line made for mini-naturalistas. Don’t fret about the price tag, each styling cream comes in a hefty bottle with a generous 33.8 fl oz of product.

FOR BRAIDING

CURLS BLUEBERRY BLISS TWIST N SHOUT CREAM

Some naturals, like Angela, prefer not to wear their hair out, and that’s perfectly okay! Protective styles offer a sometimes much-needed break from everyday maintenance. Still, it’s crucial to prep the hair correctly to make sure your next style lasts without compromising the integrity of your hair. Angela likes to use the Curls Blueberry Bliss Twist N Shout Cream ($15.00, curls.biz) to braid her hair back up for the next installation. Not only is this cream super hydrating and great at holding definition, but it also smells amazing.

FOR BRAIDING

CAMILLE ROSE NATURALS ALMOND JAI TWISTING BUTTER

The Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter ($16.99, camillerose.com) is an old favorite of mine. While I use it primarily for twistouts or braidouts, it’s great for cornrowing hair down as a base for a weave or wig. Plus, it smells like sugar cookies! Yum and perfect for the holiday season!

Healthy hair, don’t care!