Growing up, I always thought it was disgusting shopping at a thrift store or vinage shops. The thought of “old clothes” repulsed me. I could never embrace the thought of wearing someone else’s clothes. You could say I was very ignorant and stubborn. Two years ago during the summer funds were low and I couldnt find a job to save my life. I was discussing the issue with a friend of mine when she suggest i sell my clothes to a thrift shop. So I took a drive to one. When I went in, it was so different from what I expected! The clothes looked high end and I was amazed at all the cute stuff they were selling. I had about 3 big trash bags filled with clothing that I hadnt worn since Grade school that I ifigured I could make money off of. The process was so easy I filled out a slip turned it into the cashier and she told me once all the articles of clothings were checked she would let me know what they couldn’t accept. She told me the check would take about an hour or so, so in the mean time i went to the mall. When i returned she told me she couldn’t accept ANYTHING because the clothes were all outdated and worn, and thats when it hit me. Thrift stores aren’t filled with junk. They also have clothings that have never been worn. They wouldn’t want anyone to wear something that they wouldn’t wear themselves! With that being said, I am taking a little trip to the city tomorrow to a certain store… can you guys guess what it is? The Thrift Shop I am super excited and I will be sure to update you guys, but take a look at these videos. They were quite entertaining and thrift store related!
Pic Source So you are walking through the beauty store and you see shelves upon shleves of beautiful women with long beautiful hair. Your first instinct is to pick up the box with the best looking hair right? I mean her hair looks healthy so why not??? Wrong! Most black hair products are not made with the user’s best interest in mind. Most of the ingredients in the products with the pretty ladies have detrimental ingredients t hat lead to breakage, growth stunts, and worse, baldness! Lets look at Motions at Home Hair Lotion. The ingredients include: Water (Aqua), Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Propylene Glycol, Ppg-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Polyquaternium-37, Ppg-1 Trideceth-6, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Proline, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Pca, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Peg-8 Lanolate, Acetamide Mea, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Cocoyl Collagen Amino Acids, Cocoyl Sarcosine, Wheat Germ Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Triticum Vulgare, Simmondsia Chinensis, Tocopherol, Sulfur, Dmdm Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Fragrance (Parfum), Red 33 (Cl 17200). So water, okay thats good, then we hit Mineral Oil, the second most prominent ingredient in this lotion. Mineral Oil in hair is an ingredient that may seem as if it makes your hair glow and shine but in reality all it does is clog the pores in your scalp leaving your poor head more damage prone. Now the Cones can be both good and bad. ‘Cones basically causes your hair to buildup, and have access products that sit and weigh the hair down leaving it dull. Some cones are soluable and are harmless while others aren’t Here is a list of the good and bad cones: Bad Cones (non-Soluble) 1. Cetearyl methicone2. Cetyl dimethicone3. Cyclopentasiloxane4. Dimethicone5. Dimethiconol6. Stearyl dimethicone7. Trimethylsilylamodimethicone Slightly soluble (May cause buildup in hair, but some may wash out with co-wash)1. Amodimethicone2. Cyclomethicone3. Behenoxy dimethicone4. Stearoxy dimethicone “Curly Girl approved” Water Soluble (Will not buildup)1. Dimethicone copolyol2. Hydrolyzed wheat protein hydroxypropyl polysiloxane3. Lauryl methicone copolyol4. Silicones with PEG listed before it Dont live in complete fear, there are some approved products that contain cones and work perfectly without buildup. Garnier Fructis sleek and shine leave-in Mixed Chicks Leave-In Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship TIGI Bed Head Self Absorbed Conditioner Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Ouidad Moisture Lock Miss Jessie’s Creme de la Creme Dove Advanced Care Therapy Conditioner Yes to Carrots Beyond the Zone Noodle Head Soften Your Curls Curly Hair Conditioner What about the “Proud Lady”? Although you may view the proud lady on the back of black hair care products, it doesnt mean that products is completely safe to use. This logo was implemented by the members of the AHBAI to remind their consumers that the product was produced by “Black America” because other white companies would override their products. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the product will do wonders. In all, I am not saying to renounce all of your beliefs on purchasing hair products, i am just enforcing the right for you to know what is put in your hair products and to be aware of your hair! Peace, Joy and Blessings =)
