Cover Image from O! Magazine’s September 2012 Issue
When the cover of the September issue of O! magazine arrived in my inbox, my initial reaction to the ‘makeover’ issue was that Oprah looked like her usual gorgeous self. However, social media and the natural hair blogging community were buzzing with mixed emotions about whether Oprah’s hair was actually in its au naturale state.
So I set out to get the final word from Lady O’s longtime hairstylist Andre Walker. After seeing the topic covered extensively by Madame Noire and the rest of the blogosphere, I decided to talk to him about more pressing (no pun intended) issues than Oprah’s braid-out.
Oprah’s longtime hairstylist Andre Walker
Like the current state of my at-home beauty closet and the fact that I (like many of you) am probably buying all of the wrong products to take care of my hair. After talking with Andre about the must-have hair care products women should have at home, I discovered I was right because I only own 3 out of the 10 things he mentioned. Check out Walker’s recommendations and see if your at-home beauty product game is up to par?
1. DRY SHAMPOO
MN Suggests: Ojon Full Detox Rub-Out Cleansing Spray $24.00
“Every woman should own a dry shampoo (even plain baby powder works too). The less you wash your hair the better, and dry shampoo keeps hair clean in between washings.”
2. CONDITIONING MASK
AW Suggests: Andre Walker Total Keratin Obsession Deep Conditioner $15.00
“Hair masks should be used on a weekly basis. They help to nourish and repair hair from everyday styling and environmental damage.”
3. PURIFYING SHAMPOO
MN Suggests: Carol’s Daughter Rosemary Mint Purifying Shampoo $13.00
“Similar to the conditioning mask, a purifying shampoo should be used weekly to rid the hair of excess product buildup and water impurities.”
4. WIDE-TOOTHED COMB
MN Suggests: Goody’s Ouchless Detangling Comb $5.00
“Be sure to own a good wide-toothed comb for brushing out wet hair. Any old comb won’t do (especially with finer hair) because it can tug and cause split ends.”
5. ARGAN OIL
AW Suggests: Andre Walker Q-Oil $35.00
“A great pick me up when hair is feeling dull or dry. Argan oil has endless benefits from proving shine to giving strength to the hair.”
6. A GOOD BRUSH
MN Suggests: Conair Ceramic Wooden Boar Cushion Brush $9.99
“Invest in a good quality brush. Look for ones that have boar’s head bristles because they are gentle on the hair and also good at distributing the natural oils found in the scalp throughout the hair.”
7. PRE-SHAMPOO OIL TREATMENT
MN Suggests: Phyto Phytonectar Oil Pre-Shampoo Treatment $30.00
“This prevents your hair from being overly stripped of essential oils and getting “too clean”, and it also strengthens the hair at the same time. It is especially great for dryer hair types, and those who like to wash their hair on a daily basis.”
8. ANTI-FRIZZ CREAM
MN Suggests: TRESemme Smoth Anti-Frizz Secret Creme 4oz. $4.99
“Everyone has a bad hair day, and these creams work great to tame fly aways and excess frizz.”
9. HAIRSPRAY
MN Suggests: Aveda Air Control Hair Spray $24.00
“This is a given- hairspray works wonders for a multitude of hairstyles!”
10. DETANGLER SPRAY
MN Suggests: Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-in Detangler Spray $12.00
Detanglers not only make it easier to brush out tangled hair, but they have nourishing and moisturizing ingredients too.
– – –
Sakita Holley is a lifestyle writer and the founder of House of Success, a New York-based lifestyle PR firm. You can tweet your thoughts about this story directly to the writer, @MissSuccess.
More on Madame Noire!
