We polled our Natural Hair Kids Instagram family and found that the average person spends roughly $30 – $40 A MONTH on hair care products. And that’s just for one person. If you have little naturals at home, that can easily rise to $100/month.

Why are we spending so much on hair care products? Do we have shiny object syndrome and want to always try the latest and greatest? Do we have FOMO (fear of missing out) on the latest Shea Moisture BOGO? Have we just not found the right products that work right for OUR hair and are aimlessly trying to find something that works?

You, like me, have probably answered “Yes” to more than a few of those questions. So what to do? Here are 5 ways to stop making it rain in your natural hair care aisle and to save money on hair care products:

1. Learn the science

By understanding the hair growth cycle, you can save yourself the stress of wondering why your little one’s hair isn’t growing as fast as others. This is HUGE! Why? Because you can stop buying “magical potions” thinking that your child’s hair will grow 6 inches in a month. There is no product out that will speed up hair growth. Genetics, proper diet, and a knowledge of your child’s specific hair needs will provide the optimal environment for hair growth, not some hair growth elixir in a bottle.

2. Determine your hair type

Hair typing is no longer just the Andre Walker system for determining your child’s curl pattern. It’s gotten a bit more advanced than that. You should also learn about hair porosity and hair density.

3. Understand product ingredients

You’d be surprised at what some of your favorite hair care brands are hiding in their products. Those hard to pronounce ingredients could be cause some serious damage to your child’s hair. Look at the ingredients list of your favorite product and compare it to this ingredient list to see how they can positively or negatively affect your hair’s health.

4. Become a product Mixtress

A lot of parents are intimidated by the thought of making their own hair care products. Other parents might think that they do not have the time to make products. Wash day is an all day process in and of itself. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to whip up some extra moisturizing deep conditioners and butters with ingredients that you have in your kitchen cabinet!

Imagine spending only $20 every 6 months for your ENTIRE FAMILY! It’s possible, if you take 10 minutes to make your own products. Not only are you saving money, but you are in control of what goes into your hair. No weird or funny sounding ingredients involved!

Want to test out a couple of recipes? Check out these DIY natural hair recipes.

Get the full 50+ recipe DIY Natural Hair Recipe book NOW!

5. Ask and you shall receive

Some hair care companies will send you free product in exchange for a photo or video review of you using the product. It’s worth a try! DM or email popular hair care brands and ask them if they would be willing to send you free products in exchange for a photo or video review. More often than not, they will agree! Make sure to hold up your end of the bargain by submitting the agreed upon review within 2 weeks of receiving the product.

6. Protect your hair at night

Sometimes we get so worried about moisturizing and growing our little one’s hair during the day that we rarely think about what to do with it when they have to go to sleep.

You may think that your $3 dollar beauty supply store bonnet is all you need, but you are doing more harm to their hair than good! Beauty supply store bonnets aren’t made of real satin and often suck the moisture right out of the hair. Not to mention the elastic band rubs up against your edges, damaging them and causing them to thin out.

The next time you think about putting on your beauty supply bonnet, look on the inside and see if you see little hairs snagged on the fabric. Over time, you will see more and more of these hairs. This is a sign that the bonnet is pulling out your precious strands and you need to stop wearing it ASAP!

Why not invest a few more dollars into a quality adjustable charmeuse satin bonnet that that will last for years?

A reversible charmeuse satin bonnet from The Natural Hair Shop has lasted as long as 3 years (that’s how long the shop’s been in business). That’s only $0.83 cents a month! If your little one is a wild sleeper, use a satin pillowcase as a backup.

This weekend, try these steps and see your wallet look a little fatter with all of the coins you’ve saved!

Now, it’s confession time, how much do you spend on hair care products per month? (No judgements here!)

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