I've been natural for about 6 years. During those 6 years, I've tried countless amounts of products. Some provided awesome results, some provide horrible results, and some did nothing at all. Over time, I've discovered the products that work for me, and while doing so, I have formed my own hair regimen. These products have given me results such as hair growth, shine, and moisture. They all have served an important purpose.

1. Shea Moisture Yucca & Baobab Thickening Growth Milk

If you are not familiar with Shea Moisture, it is a hair care company that's known for their affordable natural hair friendly products. This particular product is a leave-in conditioner that not only conditions the hair but also thickens and makes your hair grow. This is perfect for ladies who have thin or fine hair. After a few months of normal use, I started to see results in no time. Note: I've been on the same bottle for about 6 months (a little goes a long way). This product can be found in Walmart, Target, CVS, and Walgreens. The average cost is $9.

2) Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strength, Grow & Restore Leave-in Conditioner

This product is absolutely fabulous. What caught my attention with this product was the fact that it contained castor oil. Castor Oil has been proven to strengthen hair while repairing it and adding shine and moisture. This product, which has a smooth consistency, has repaired my hair from split ends. I cut my hair about a month ago and my hair has grown back drastically with the help of this product. I recommend this for ladies who have split ends or any other hair damage. This can be found in Target, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens. The average cost is $10.29

3) Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea Tree Essential Oil is a must have for healthy hair and scalp. The soothing sensation helps provide relief to any dermatological issues. Its antimicrobial properties helps keep dandruff at bay. It is a good rule of thumb to dilute any essential oil with a carrier oil and/or water. I create a tea tree mixture that includes 10 drops of tea tree to 1 tbsp of olive oil. You can scale the amount to whatever size container you are using. I use an applicator bottle for easy access to my scalp. Note: A small amount of Tea Tree essential oil goes a long way. This product can be found at Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Amazon.com. The average cost is $6/oz

4) Unrefined Shea Butter

Shea butter is something I've been using on my hair for 8 years. Since I was a young girl, I've had very dry hair. If I do not moisturize my hair enough, I start to have issues with dandruff in the span of a few days. Shea butter is produced from the Shea-Karite tree nut and has many benefits and uses. It is mainly harvested in West Africa.

The Shea Butter has helped with my dandruff a lot and has kept my hair very moisturized without leaving residue or leaving it extremely greasy (like petroleum based products such as hair grease). I order Unrefined Shea Butter from amazon. If you are purchasing online, be sure to read the reviews. Note: Unrefined Shea Butter should not be confused with Refined Shea Butter. Harsh chemicals are used in the manufacturing process for Refined Shea Butter. The average cost is $14/lbs.

5) Water

That’s right, the most obvious and the most abundant product of them all is WATER! If you are expecting to see results, you are going to need water. If you aren't internally healthy then your hair won't be either. Water provides your hair with its natural moisture which helps it grow. It's recommended for women to drink about 2 liters of water a day. If you want the best results from your products you should definitely include water in your diet. The average cost is Free if you drink filtered water from your tap.

-J. Marie