Top Secret Tips for Creating the Ultimate Hair Care Regimen [For Both Men and Women]

Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Hair Care Regimen

Generally, what is a hair care regimen?

The truth is, whether you consciously know it or not everyone has a hair care regimen. Now here’s the true question; Is your hair care regimen working for you? A reliable hair care regimen is an imperative part of unlocking the true potential of your curls and any hairstyle you desire. Whatever hair care regimen you decide to choose it is important that it satisfies all of your hair care needs.  Many of us have failed to reach our hair goals because of the lack thereof. Studies have shown that the key component to having a reliable hair care regimen is to have the proper protein and moisture conditioning components.

Nevertheless, a lot of the times, speaking from experience, the lack of adequate moisturizing and conditioning are the issues that are causing problems within our regimens.

Please note that your product use should be in descending pH order (Higher pH to lower pH) to ensure proper sealing of your hair cuticle. To learn more about pH click here. 

Listed below are tips and suggested products from the Caribbean Secrets™ product line that will help you achieve the hair goals that you have set for yourself. Keep in mind that this process involves quite a bit of trial and error. However take heed to the following advice because it has been tested and proven to work for textured hair types ranging from 3A-4C .

Cleansing/Washing Your Hair

Step 1: Apply a Pre-Shampoo Treatment

Before cleansing your hair, using a pre-shampoo treatment is extremely helpful to strengthen hair fibers and reinforce the hair’s protein structure prior to cleansing. When using a pre-shampoo, polar oils such as coconut oil or Pure Unrefined Haitian Black Castor Oil is best because they bind to the proteins in your hair shaft so that they can better endure frequent hydration without hygral fatigue. Each time we shampoo our hair, our hair shafts expand to accommodate for the additional water. After our hair dries our hair shaft contracts back to its normal size. This process is both damaging and stressful to the hair fiber over time.

When using a pre-shampoo treatment a small portion of it is absorbed to the hair fiber when the hair shaft is expanded which will create less trama as your hair naturally dries after applying using a shampoo.

Pre-shampoo

Pre-shampoo is an oil based treatment used before shampooing your natural curly hair. This product will help lock in moisture before cleansing your hair with shampoo. Shampooing your hair without using a pre-shampoo may strip your hair of its natural oils and cause your luscious curls to become dry and brittle. Pre-shampoo is perfect for dry, dull, damaged hair and scalp and is essential for protecting all curly hair types. As stated above, when purchasing a pre-shampoo you should look for ingredients that include polar oils such as castor oil, coconut oil, almond oil, and sunflower seed oil because these oils strengthen your hair’s overall composition and reinforces the hair shaft from within. Also these oils seal in moisture, boost your hairs natural shine while reducing unwanted frizz to obtain beautiful shine and silkiness. In addition, you need to keep an eye out for pre-shampoo products that help repair split ends and breakage. Pre-shampooing your hair helps protect your hair from harmful UV rays and heat using particular straighteners and hair dryers. Most importantly pre-shampoo helps purify and balance your scalp to prevent it from being dry and itchy. Now let's be honest, anyone with curly coiled hair knows the struggle of a dry itchy scalp, and it’s not pretty. Please keep in mind that pre-shampooing your hair will not make your hair extremely soft but will make it a lot more manageable when styling. For best results apply your pre-poo treatment for a minimum of 15 minutes. If you regularly implement this treatment into your hair care regimen those long nights of detangling will soon be over because your hair will be much more manageable!!! 

Try Caribbean Secrets Pre-Poo. Caribbean Secrets Pre-Poo is specially formulated to reinforce your hair structure to prevent hygral fatigue and protects your hair from loosing its natural oils...

Shampoo

Step 2: Apply a Sulfate-Free Shampoo

If your current hair care regimen includes using a daily or weekly shampoo treatment, STOP WASHING YOUR HAIR THAT FREQUENTLY! For those of you who do, you may think you are doing your curls justice by washing out the supposed dirt from your hair. Little do you know you may be doing your hair more harm than good because not only are you taking out an insignificant amount of dirt but you are also stripping your curls of the natural oil that your scalp has already produced. This is true especially if you are using a shampoo that contains sulfates. There's an enormous amount of shampoos in the market are formulated with sulfates and other harsh detergents that strip your hair from its natural oils. Look out for ingredients that contain some version of the word sulfate for example, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS). Sulfates vary in terms of their stripping powers. Ammonium Lauryl and Laureth Sulfates are the harshest , Sodium Lauryl and Laureth Sulfates are least harsh. TEA Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Myreth Sulfate are gentler sulfate detergents. Therefore it is very important to pay close attention to the ingredient list of the products that you are using. Applying the wrong product can be extremely harmful to your natural curls, leaving you wondering why your curls are always dry and brittle and never stay healthy and soft. Washing your hair frequently may also lead to dandruff and scalp irritation. So the question is what is the right shampoo for my hair and how often should I use it?  The answer is simple. If you want to feel the satisfaction of washing the dirt off your hair without any harsh detergents, use a Sulfate-Free Shampoo and use it once or twice a month tops. In addition to doing that try co-washing your hair with a moisturizing conditioner at 2-3 times a week. 

Need a sulfate free shampoo? Try Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Shampoo. This sulfate-free shampoo is equipped with Peppermint oil, Hibiscus, and Yucca Extract to stimulate hair growth. Fortified with soft surfactants such as Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Decyl Glucoside this Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Shampoo will remove buildup without completely stripping your hair from its natural oils.

Step 3: Apply a Moisturizing Wash-Out Conditioner to Your Hair

Ok so now at this point you Pre-shampooed your hair to protect your hair from getting it stripped from it natural oils, and you shampooed your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo. Now it’s time to replenish your hair with a reliable conditioner with a low pH. Keep in mind that you do not always need to shampoo your hair when applying a conditioner. Many conditioners are suitable for daily use. Implementing a moisturizing conditioner into your routine is considered the “heart” of a healthy hair care regimen.This may be especially true for curlier hair types because curly hair has a natural tendency for dryness, perhaps more than any other hair type. The natural oils that your scalp produces can travel much more easily through a strand of straight hair as opposed to your curlier hair strands. Without adequate moisture your hair may experience breakage, frizziness, dullness, and various other dry related problems. With that being said our curly hair strands need plenty of conditioning on a regular basis. 

A good conditioner will nourish your hair stands to improve its elasticity, manageability, feel and overall appearance. 

When selecting a conditioner, much like selecting a pre-shampoo and a moisturizer it is important to select one that contains polar oils. Polar oils provide versatility for black hair as it can be rinsed from your hair strands easily without creating much buildup. Also as mentioned earlier in the Pre-Shampoo section polar oils will deeply penetrate your hair shaft to reinforce its overall structure.  

Conditioner comes in different forms. Depending on your hair care needs you may need to implement more than one conditioner into your hair care regimen. Listed below are a brief description of the various types of hair conditioners in the market that you can use to improve your hair’s overall health.

Leave-In Conditioners

These conditioners come either in the form of a cream or a liquid. Creamy Leave-In Conditioners are best for those with thicker, coarser hair and should be used sparingly for those with finer hair types. Typically leave-in conditioner sprays will get the job done for those with finer hair texture.

When selecting a leave-in you should always choose one that attends to your hair’s moisture or protein needs at the time of use.

If you are experiencing a lot of breakage and/or your hair feels flimsy and/or lacking structure then your hair may be in need of more protein. Thus you may need a Protein, Leave-In Conditioner. 

However, if you are experiencing dryness, friziness, and desperately need moisture, choose a moisturizing leave in conditioner.

Leave-In Conditioners should be applied as often as needed. It is totally up to your discretion.

Cream Rinse Conditioners

This type of conditioner works well in protecting the hair against heat damage from styling. Commonly this conditioner contains silicones, oils and emollients to support hair detangling.  

Cream Rinse Conditioners should be applied before styling or applying heat to your hair.

Instant Conditioner

An instant conditioner is a conditioner that is described as “thin”, “water-like”, or “lotion-like”. They are best used as rinse-out conditioners because they rinse from the ahir easily and cleanly. Instant conditioners commonly have a high water content and are best suitable for those with finer-textured hair. 

Instant conditioners may be used daily.

Deep Conditioners

Deep conditioners are composed of a more concentrated formula that contain moisture-boosting elements and proteins to reinforce the hair cuticle and bring moisture to your hair. To maximize on the penetration of moisture, heat is often applied.

This  type of conditioner should be used weekly or every two to four weeks as needed.

Moisturizing Conditioner

The sole purpose of this conditioner is to increase the moisture levels in your hair and improve its elasticity. Moisturizing conditioners work to smoothen out the outermost layer of your hair and soften it hair to improve its manageability while eliminating frizziness. 

Need a reliable conditioner? Use Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Crème. Fortified with polar oils such Haitian Castor Oil and B vitamins it will provide your hair the perfect balance of moisture and protein to maximize on your curl potential. Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Crème is a combination of Cream Rinse, Instant, Protein, and Moisturizing Conditioners to satisfy a wide range of hair types and hair care needs.

Step 4: Use a Moisturizer

Moisturizer 

The term moisturize has been loosely used in the cosmetic industry as a marketing term rather than actually providing your hair with the adequate moisture that it needs. Moisturization of your hair strands are primarily derived from water. Please keep in mind that OILS DO NOT MOISTURIZE YOUR HAIR, THEY ONLY SEAL IT TO PREVENT MOISTURE FROM LEAVING!  However, water has a tendency to rapidly enter and exit the hair’s cuticle and cortex which means that your hair cannot be maintained in a moisturized state for long periods of time with just water alone. The job of a moisturizer is to draw additional moisture into your hair stands and keep it there. A good moisturizer always has water as its first ingredient and is composed of a blend of humectants, emollients, and oils to get the job done, leaving your hair moisturized for an extended period of time. Moisturization is imperative in your hair care regimen especially during the hot summer and bitter cold months because extreme temperatures can diminish your hair strand’s moisture level down to zero, leaving your hair a dry, brittle catastrophe.

When selecting an efficient moisturizer stay away from products that list Petroleum,  Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, or Lanolin Oil as one of their first ingredients. These ingredients deposit heavy films on the hair when used regularly and offer no intrinsic moisture benefit outside of sealing the hair strands to prevent moisture from leaving. Always pay attention to the first three or four ingredients because they set the tone for the effectiveness of the product.

Look for products that contain polar oils, emollients like cetyl alcohol, and humectants such as glycerine or aloe vera. 

Need a good moisturizer?

Use Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Moisturizing Mist. Formulated with polar oils such as Hempseed oil, and humectants such as aloe vera and glycerine. Caribbean Secrets Moisturizing Mist will deliver adequate moisturization to keep your curls looking vibrant and healthy.

 

Step 5: Apply an Oil Mix

Oil 

This part of the regimen is what we like to call Old Faithful. Since the beginning of time, our ancestors have relied on oils of various types to keep their hair in check, and till this day its use is still very effective. 

Please keep in mind that curlier hair textures are naturally porous, allowing moisture to enter and exit the hair more readily than straighter hair types, thus applying an oil will aid in securing the moisturization within your curls. Heavier oils such as black castor oil and coconut oil tend to seal hair strands better and for longer periods of time as opposed to lighter oils such as grapeseed and almond oil. 

As stated above in Step 4, stay away from synthetic oils such as mineral oil and petrolatum. 

Although they do a great job with sealing the hair, they provide no other benefit to our hair strands. In addition, when used incorrectly, they could cause build up which if gone untreated could lead to hair loss and other negative effects.

We recommend using polar oils such as coconut oil, hemp seed oil, almond oil, and Haitian black castor oil because they provide versatility as they can be rinsed from the hair easily. Not to mention their attraction to the proteins deep within the hair fiber strengthens the hair’s overall structure from within.

To maximize on the oils effectiveness and potency we recommend storing your oils in a cool dry place.

If you are in need of a reliable oil mix use Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Pre-poo . This product is composed of natures finest oils. Our key ingredient is our Haitian Black Castor Oil which is derived straight from Haiti. Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Pre-poo and Haitian Black Castor Oil promotes hair growth all while securing your hairs moisture. Perfect for the winter months, Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Pre-poo and Haitian Black Castor Oil will be a great addition to your hair care regimen!

Step 6: Apply a Gel

Applying a gel should be the last step of your hair care regimen since gels are used to style the hair and maximize the definition of your curl pattern while holding it in place. However, when used excessively, certain gels may dry out your curls leaving them brittle and susceptible to flakiness and breakage. This is a result of the mix of hard proteins and alcohols that many gels in the market possess. Despite this fact, gels are a popular styling product within the curly hair community and when used correctly could dramatically change the appearance of your curls for the better. For this reason, we have provided some suggestions below that you can implement into your regimen to get the most out of your gel without the potential harmful effects. 

First, only use gels on clean, conditioned hair. If you allow gel to build up on your scalp along with other styling products you are making your hair more susceptible to dryness and breakage. 

Secondly, you can soften the drying properties of your gel by applying a moisturizer or oil product prior to adding the gel. Doing this will allow the oil or moisturizer to create a barrier under the gel and protect your hair fibers from contact with the gel’s drying elements. An alternative to this method would be to mix an oil with your gel to enhance its conditioning properties and overall effect on your hair. 

To better your gel hold apply it to your hair when your hair is slightly damp. As you apply the gel try and work out some of the excess water. Then when your hair becomes completely dry apply a little more gel for best results.

Thirdly, never attempt to comb through or manipulate your hair when it’s dried with gel without re-misting it with water or a moisturizer. This goes without being said! If you would like to refresh your gelled style simply re-mist your hair with water.

When selecting a gel, find a product that is alcohol-free to minimize dryness. For as we all know certain alcohols it will dry out your curls and scalp. Avoid adding any type or cream or leave in conditioner when applying gel or you wont receive the best hold or best look that you know your curly hair deserves.

If you are in need of a hair-friendly soft gel use Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Perfecting Jel (coming soon...). Our Perfecting Jèl is specially formulated with nature’s finest ingredients to shape and mold your hair into any style you desire. Alcohol-Free and Paraben-Free, Caribbean Secrets Cosmetics Perfecting Jèl is the best gel to use to perfect any curly hair style!

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