Ode to: Oyin Handmade Products

As you can see from some of the photos I've posted here at M&C, I wear my hair natural and generally try to use as few synthetic chemicals on my hair and skin as possible. To that end, I've tried quite a few "natural" hair and skin care products in the 13 years since I stopped wearing a relaxer, which has led to a lot of money spent and plenty of disappointment when products either did not work out, changed as they became more popular (I won't name any names), or didn't quite fit my criteria of "natural".

Of course you can't always blame the product. You have to study your hair, learn your texture/hair type and understand what it needs before you find the perfect product. If you're washing your hair the wrong way or neglect to get a regular trim or grease your scalp (if that's what your hair type needs), even the best product will only do so much. Having said that, I've worn my hair this way long enough to know how to take care of it and when a product is just not all that it claims to be; and today I proclaim that I've finally, found "the one" in Oyin Handmade products.

I don't know what it is about Oyin - perhaps that it's made with love (aww), the clever product titles, or that it is very much a mom & pop operation where everything is mixed by hand - but since I began using their products, my hair has grown like a weed. Since I stopped relaxing my hair, I've always gotten questions about what products I use, but not nearly as often as I have since I became an Oyin believer. Not only does my hair love their products, they're affordable, and made by an adorable (and entertaining) husband and wife team and their friends. As if the wonderful products weren't enough, they had to go and make their site entertaining as well with their comical and informative podcasts. Check them out, and, most importantly, try their products.  There are plenty of reasonably priced and generous sample sizes to get you started.

My Personal Faves:

juices and berries - nourishing herbal leave-in:

The fact that I'm endorsing this product says a lot because I generally avoid liquid-based leave-in conditioners altogether. I've just never had luck with them; but juices and berries has made me a believer.  My hair sops this stuff up like gravy.

shine & define - gentle styling serum

keeps your hair in place w/o the hard helmet or crusting effect. LOVE this stuff

afterbath - blended body oil

another product I generally steer away from - body oils; however I make an exception for "afterbath". Being a bit of a mixtress myself, I actually blend "afterbath" with all natural organic sugar and use it as a body scrub to make my skin glow.

funkbutter - natural cream deodorant

an all natural deodorant that actually works.  If you have uber sensitive skin like me, stick with the unscented version.