How to Save Money on African American Hair Care Products

Let’s begin with some statistics: 

• African Americans spend 35% of their income on hair products, but;
• Over 50% of black women can’t find the right products for their hair type. 
• 58% of afro textured hair care products contain at least one toxic ingredient (sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and mineral oil are the top culprits).
• Even though we seek hair products with natural ingredients, 20% of consumers have difficulty finding them. 

To me, this looks like there’s a huge demand for high-quality, all-natural products for afro textured hair, but either they’re too expensive or hard to find. That’s why today we’re looking at ways to save money on natural African American hair care products, from buying tips to DIY alternatives. 

Do Your Research About Affordable Natural Hair Care Products

Consider searching Reddit and Quora for natural hair care products, or following natural hair blogs for recommendations. You can also search for deals or discounts on Amazon or other platforms, or buy certain products in bulk as long as they’re within their expiration dates. Ask your stylist, too, because they may know about incredible but super-cheap products to help you out. Do your homework if you’re searching for a particular brand at a discount or a good alternative. Here are some tips that can help: 

• Always read the reviews for your natural hair products and look out for buyers with your exact hair type. 
• Compare prices across different online retailers and stores using price comparison apps like Shopsavvy or Rakuten. 
• Sign up for newsletters and loyalty programs for your favorite afro textured hair products to get exclusive deals whenever there’s a discount or promotion. 
• Buy multipacks, salon-size bottles, or wholesale private label products from sites like Etsy. 
• Partner with your hair stylist to buy bulk products, too. Some wholesale distributors only sell to licensed hair care professionals, so your stylist may have access to good deals that you’d otherwise miss. 

Extend Your Hair Products’ Life

When it comes to afro textured hair maintenance like washing, detangling, or deep conditioning, you want to be generous with your products to get maximum benefits for your natural hair. Unfortunately, this means going through bottle after bottle, or using less-than-ideal amounts for less-than-ideal results. So, here’s how to make your precious natural hair products last longer: 

• Store your hair care products properly: Almost every hair product has the same instructions: keep in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Why? UV rays break down the ingredients, causing them to lose their texture, scent, and color. You end up using an inferior product if you store it inappropriately, which means potential hair damage and a waste of money. 
• Use containers with dispensing pumps: Buy some dispensing containers for cheap online or reuse empty hand-wash or lotion containers for your hair products. It’s easier to portion how much product you use by the number of pumps rather than eyeballing a handful (and spilling over, as it usually happens). 
• Find all-in-one hair products: Shampoo + conditioner is the most common hair product combo, but you can also find leave-in + detangling, hair serum + heat protection, or styling products + UV protection. These combinations give you more bang for your buck and make your hair regimen faster and easier. 

Save on Natural Hair Products by Being Consistent

A consistent natural hair routine for daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance can save money in the long run. You’ll know exactly which hair products you need, how much you use, and how long they last. Eventually, you’ll be able to schedule your hair product refills, too, which is great for your budget. 

Consistency also applies to your styling choices. You don’t have to wear the same look 365 days a year, but you could choose to keep your hair at a consistent length through regular trimming since longer hair needs more products. If hair growth is your target, notice how much more product you use or how much faster it runs out, then adjust over time. 

Track Your Hair Care Budget 

A natural hair budget typically includes three things: hair products, salon services, and styling appliances. When I did my big chop and decided to go fully natural, I basically cut all my salon expenses. I even trim my hair at home now, so I don’t need to visit a barber. My only natural hair expenses right now are my hair oil, shampoo, and the little electricity my hair dryer uses for about 5 minutes a week.

Of course, most of us put a lot more effort into our crowns, so you want to look fabulous without breaking the bank. Therefore: 

• Find a balance between natural hairstyles you can do yourself and professional styling for special occasions. 
• Have a nighttime hair routine that maintains your style for much longer. Learn how to wrap your hair properly overnight or wear a silk bonnet.
• Use natural hair accessories like scarves and turbans to save you on bad hair days.
• Keep a hair care diary where you track how often you buy natural hair products, how much they cost, how many salon visits you have per month, etc., then find ways to adjust and save money. 
• Use Instagram to find salons and beauty schools that offer package deals or group discounts; you can team up with your friends for treatments. 
• Swapping: Join natural hair groups and forums online where you can exchange products you don’t use or need. You can sell what you have for cheap or exchange hair products, paying only for the shipping fees. Make sure you get photos of the products showing their expiration dates, and contact the owners by video call to verify their authenticity. 

DIY Natural Hair Care Alternatives 

A word of caution: Before you apply any homemade hair treatments for afro textured hair, see if they really do save you money. For example, a hair mask recipe with avocado, eggs, or yogurt may cost more than a product from the store. In my case, homemade food-based hair treatments like these are a luxury. If you can find natural ingredients for cheap, try them and see how they compare with your store bought hair products. 

That said, some super cost-saving hair care options include: 

• Vinegar: Dilute one part apple cider vinegar or white vinegar with three parts water and use it to rinse your hair after washing with shampoo. It acts as a cleanser and prevents dandruff and scalp irritation. You can save on buying specialized hair products for cleansing. This is my go-to for dandruff treatment. 
• Natural oils: Coconut oil is probably the cheapest and most readily available product for afro textured hair. It’s a great moisturizer and carrier oil, meaning you can blend it with other ingredients to create the ideal moisturizer and leave-in conditioner. 
• Simpler hairstyles: Read through these short and long styles for natural hair and see what works for you. In most cases, styles that don’t need braiding are the easiest to wear, and you don’t need to pay a stylist for them. Just search for that style’s tutorial on YouTube and give it a try. 

A Word About Diet and Stress

Did you know you can nourish your natural hair from within and end up saving on products? Healthy hair generally needs less maintenance than brittle, damaged hair. Instead of looking for hair products with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, incorporate those into your diet instead. Your whole body will benefit, not just your hair. Then you can get away with a basic shampoo, conditioner, and hair oil to maintain healthy afro textured hair. 

Manage your stress levels while you’re at it. If you’re going through a high stress situation or struggle with anxiety, you may notice your hair weakens, breaks easily, or loses its shine. Poor sleep also means you toss and turn too much at night, which strains your hair as well. Try to address the root cause of your stress rather than seeking temporary fixes. Again, our entire body will be better for it, and your skin and hair will glow. You’ll spend less on specialized, expensive hair damage products. 

Combine Different Tactics to Save Money on Natural Hair Products 

Use these ideas to come up with a strategy to save money on your hair products. Switch to a super easy but beautiful hairstyle you can create at home, then develop a hair care routine with all-natural products you can buy in bulk online or from local beauty stores. You really can get away with one salon visit a month and still look incredible with vibrant, healthy hair. Do you have other money-saving tips? Let me know in the comments and I’ll update the post!