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College Tips: How I Maintained Curls on a Budget

  • Aug 15, 2018
  • 6 min read

Heyo!

So school season is coming up and I am not going to lie... I miss it. I miss those weeks leading up to a new school year in college. It was my favorite time of year when I was getting ready to head to class with my new notebooks and supplies. I would buy myself one new outfit to feel fresh and put together for my first day of class and I would walk around with my head held high laughing and visiting my friends at parties... then settling in to the routine of going to class, doing homework, working two jobs, working out. Plus FALL is my favorite season. I feel no shame, I know I am basic.

To top off my basic-ness, I always had breaks between classes for breathers and to stop at my favorite coffee shop Espresso Royale on State Street in downtown Madison. Even though I felt like I was always busy, I had a pretty flexible schedule. I could wake up when I wanted and do my homework ANYWHERE. I totally took that for granted.

I also took for granted how much downtime I had to take care of my skin and hair while in college. I would sit in my room doing homework with a coconut oil mask on my hair and a clay facial mask! The flexible schedule allowed me to spend the time making/applying the products that completely changed my hair.

It wasn't until my sophomore year that I really started to notice how dry and damaged my hair was getting from dying it in high school, so I stepped up my game and educated myself with some easy steps to integrate into my routine (they turned out to be pretty cheap too!)

1. Coconut Oil is so versatile as a hair mask!

I know people are still kinda crazy over coconut oil and think it can cure everything... but hear me out! I always buy the Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut oil because it tasted great for cooking and it was on sale often! $5 is totally worth it for all the ways it benefits your hair, skin, and cooking! It won't solve ALL your problems, but dry frizzy hair is one! Here's how you do it:

Take a mounded spoon full of coconut oil and microwave for 10 seconds in a small microwave safe bowl. Dip your fingertips in the oil and start massaging your scalp and roots. I tend to focus on the very top of my head that sees shampoo more often then the rest of my head. After the roots, I move down to the ends. Depending on how thirsty my hair is feeling, I'll dip my hair in the bowl or just take a few handfuls and really work the ends with oil. Then I move to the mid-lengths of hair and use up the rest of the oil going from the top layers and working my way down. I typically wrap my hair in a bun and put on a hat or silk cap to lock in some heat to help the oil penetrate the cuticle. A warm towel will work too!

* Pro tip: If you or someone you know has some essential oils, you can mix it a drop or two with the coconut oil to address any hair growth problems for just for a refreshing scent!

Try lavender, lemongrass, or clary sage.

2. Discounted Hair Products

Get stingy, BOGO's at Salon's and Beauty stores can be great deals! I liked to buy Davines products from a salon in Madison Thorps Haircuts & Colors. On the last Friday of each month they have a BOGO 50% off on all of their products so you can bet I took advantage to make some big savings!

Online deals can be just as good - like coupons or sale codes you see on their sites. Sometime all you have to do is join their emailing list and BAM 20% off!

But be careful for counterfeit products if you are buying online! I always stick to buying straight from the manufacturer's websites or in stores.

It takes a little time to do the research, but friends it is worth it! If there was one thing I liked to splurge a little on, it was hair care products. I always get the +90% natural, paraben free, sulfate free, artificial dye free shampoos and conditioners. Trust me, your stylist will thank you for getting quality products without all of the wax and chemicals, and you'll love how healthy your hair is.

3. DIY Hair Products

When I was feeling crafty or experimental, I would dabble in making my own curl creams or leave-in conditioners. Shampoo and Conditioners were too important for me to screw up the pH balance, so I stuck to just making the post-wash products.

ALL time favorite curl cream that lasts me forever:

2 tbs coconut oil

1/4 cup pure aloe vera gel

1/4 cup shea butter

1 tsp Apricot oil

Lavender Essential oil (I added 8 drops essential oil. Keeps well in a mason jar with a lid!)

First, melt the shea and coconut oil together and mix. Cool slightly in fridge or in a/c environment until somewhat solidified (5 mins). Next, whip the oil with a hand mixer while adding the apricot oil (3 minutes). Continuing whipping and add pure aloe vera gel until it gets to be a soft creamy mix (about 5 minutes). Add the essential oil the last minute while mixing... and voila!

Trying to figure out where to get these products? Try Thrive Market! They have unbeatable deals on organic foods, protein powders, cleaning supplies, and of course beauty oils! I save HUNDREDS because I buy protein powder, oils, makeup, and body washes. It's also a great place to buy unique gifts! Making your own curl cream means you'll have enough for well over a year and you won't have to worry about buying more when you run low!

Use this coupon code: CURLSTHRIVE for 25% off your first order with Thrive Market!

(I can offer this discount because I am a member and they have an awesome referral program!)

4. Use an old cotton shirt for drying!

It's that simple, once getting out of the shower I always dry my hair with an old cotton t-shirt (I have so many t-shirts). I lightly scrunch my hair with the shirt until it is no longer dripping. At first I thought this was a myth because I didn't notice a difference right away... but after a month I really started to notice! My hair strand weren't breaking, my hair was softer and less frizzy by a mile! Something about the roughness of bath towels just destroys the curl and makes it prone to frizz. So seriously - this will cost you ZERO dollars to implement into your drying routine. And you have to stick to it otherwise, you aren't going to see the results you want. Give it 1 month! It's easy to leave your t-shirt by the towel to use when you step out of the shower!

5. Less Pony Tails, More Buns with Bobbie Pins

You know when you put your hair up in a pony tail or bun and then a few hours later you take your hair down and your hair binder gets stuck? Then you have to rip it out and tear out a few strands with it... When I was playing volleyball, this happened to me a lot! Pretty much everyday. Once I stopped playing and used bobby pins to secure my bun, I felt like I wasn't losing a quarter of my hair everyday. Less breakage helped my hair grow longer too!

Definitely don't sleep with hair binders in either! All that rubbing of the binder against your hair is a recipe for disaster.

Just so you all know, I don't have any affiliate links. I don't get paid to promote any of this stuff. This is all coming from my experience and my desire to help other men and women out there with curly hair, just trying to make it through life without breaking the bank. I do hope you check out the products I've used just so you get the awesome results that I found! If they don't work, NO SWEAT! The oils should work for skin as well, so they don't have to go to waste!

Stay gorgeous :)

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