save on hair care best drugstore products for natural hair under $20

Save On Hair Care: Best Drugstore Products for Natural Hair (Under $20)


Beauty on a Budget

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in women who have ditched getting chemical relaxers and embraced their natural hair.

When I decided to do my "big chop" in 2013, the first thing I noticed about taking care of my natural hair was that it is expensive! The journey of taking care of your natural hair is everchanging. Anyone who has worn their natural hair for longer than a year can tell you that, as the seasons change, and your hair grows longer you will need to update your regimen and hair products in your product collection.

Testing how your hair responds to the newest conditioner or hair milk is exciting, but the cost of repeatedly buying new drugstore products adds up over time.

YouTube natural hair gurus like Kendra and Kelsey Murrell and Mo Knows Hair helped me discover that my local convenience store is good for more than deodorant and lip balm. With just a little investigation, it's possible to build an entire natural hair care regimen at your local drug store.

build an entire natural hair

Why Buy at the Drugstore?

Modern technology has made most of the things we need available by just the click of a button but purchasing hair care products at a drug store comes with many benefits.

Convenience

Simply put, buying your hair products from your local drug store is convenient.

Sure, you can order your favorite curl cream directly from the brand's e-commerce site, but what happens when you suddenly run out of your holy grail product? Or worse, your product is out of stock online? The ability to grab what you need without missing a beat is a huge benefit to purchasing natural hair products at a drug store.

Rewards

Who doesn't love a good deal? I know I do!

Drugstores like CVS and Walgreens give you rewards for shopping with their Extra Care CVS and Balance Rewards Walgreens programs. Rewards come in the form of exclusive pricing, coupons, and cashback. The more you shop, the more you get!

Plus, the rewards you earn can be used for other drug store products as well. You have to buy your hair products anyway; you should get rewarded for it.

Rewards

Inclusion

Most natural hair care businesses are small, minority-owned businesses.

Although you can buy directly from their websites, shopping locally creates a demand that urges retailers to provide natural hair products within their stores. If a product you want is not available at your local drug store, you should put in a request online or with the store manager so that they can start carrying it.

Women and men with natural hair should be able to purchase the products they need online conveniently. The benefit of offering natural hair products in drug stores is that the business gains more exposure to customers who might not be aware of their products resulting in increased sales.

Talk about supporting the cause!

Natural hair products

Drug Store Products Under $5

When I think of natural hair, my mind automatically goes to the high price tag of natural hair care products.

Due to the high demand for accessible products from the natural hair community, drug stores around the world have begun carrying quality and higher-end and products. Here are a few great natural hair drug store products available at your local drugstore for less than five bucks:

Smooth N' Shine Polishing Gellation Plus Weightless Hold Styling Gel (16oz)

Every natural girl needs a gel with a good hold in her bathroom cabinet. This gel has significant moisturizing properties because one of its main ingredients is Aloe Vera. It also promises a level 3 hold, out of 4. Not to mention that you can't beat the price for a 16-ounce container.

Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner (2oz)

Mixed Chicks is a staple product in my collection. The line is compatible with all hair types, and the results are out-of-this-world amazing!

The only downside is that the product line is a bit pricey. CVS offers a 2oz bottle that's the perfect size for someone interested in testing the product out before purchasing a full-size bottle. At such a low price, the saying, "It doesn't hurt to try" is true!

Crème of Nature Leave-In Conditioner Coconut Milk (8.5oz)

We, naturals, know that it takes a good leave-in conditioner to maintain a beautiful style and this one fits the bill.

Made with certified natural ingredients like Coconut Oil, this conditioner improves manageability, softens, and eases the detangling process. The Crème of Nature line is a trusted brand in the natural hair community, and for less than $5, this hair milk is a win-win.

Nature Leave-In Conditioner

Drug Store Products under $10

It isn't much you can get for ten dollars these days.

A quick trip to your local drug store will get you an impressive selection of hair care products to meet all your natural hair concerns. Take a gander down the hair care aisle on your next toilet paper run and discover some of the great drug store products available at an affordable price.

SoftSheen-Carson Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Anti-Shrinkage Clumping Curls Clay Cleanser (13.5oz)

It doesn't matter if you wash your hair once a week, twice a month, or less – you need a cleanser in your hair product collection.

All the products you put in your hair builds up over time, and the residue needs washing away. For less than $10 this product can be used as a cleanser and a rinse-out conditioner. It is the first step in Softsheen-Carson's anti-shrinkage line that promises to elongate your curls.

At such a low price point, your budget will be elongated as well.

Pantene Pro-V Gold Series Curl Defining Pudding Cream (7.6oz)

The favorite natural hair site, My Black is Beautiful, recommends this hair pudding cream - and rightfully so!

It's free of sulfates and parabens and has Argan Oil in it. It is super lightweight and defines curls while reducing frizz. Just a little goes a long way so that this 7-ounce jar will give you a bang for your buck.

With all the high ratings and a price point under $10, I've added this product to my drugstore shopping list.

Taliah Waajid The Great Detangler (8oz)

This one was a regular in my hair regimen for years.

My product junkie lifestyle often leads me to try new detangling drug store products, but I always end up recommending this one, especially for 3c/4a kinky-oily hair like mine. The formula feels smooth to touch and has a pleasant scent and leaves your hair super soft.

Detangling agents are one of the products I go through the fastest, so having this product on the shelf of my local drug store is super convenient. It's worth dropping a Hamilton to try this one out!

Detangling products

Drug Store Products under $15

Carols Daughter Black Vanilla (Moisture and Shine) Hair Sheen (4.3oz)

A few days after that fantastic wash and go, or twist-out your hair will start to look a little dull.

I like to keep a hair sheen on deck to spritz my curls back to life. This sheen by Carol's Daughter has a 4.6 out of 5-star rating and gets tons of kudos from YouTube hair gurus.

The blend of Shea and Jojoba Oils keeps your hair moisturized throughout the day, and the black vanilla scent will make you feel as though you just had a spa treatment. This product is worth every penny. Thankfully, it only costs a few dollars.

Design Essentials Coconut Monoi Nourishing Leave-In Conditioner (8oz)

Not all leave-in conditioners are created equal. This one by Design Essentials is a treatment possible to use on wet or dry hair.

For less than $13, this product boasts the stellar combination of coconut and sunflower water leaving your hair hydrated and full of shine. If you're heading out for a new tube of toothpaste, stop by the hair care aisle and grab a bottle to get super-soft, silky hair.

Carol's Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey Calming Tension Spray (8 oz)

When it's time to wear a protective style, make sure that this product is only an arms' reach away.

Whether you braid down your hair for a sew-in weave or to wear a wig, your scalp can get hot and itchy. This product is created with Orange and Peppermint Oils to nourish and soothe your scalp. It's important to remember that protective styles are meant to give your hair a healthy break.

You should only be wearing 100% human hair extensions in your weaves, wigs, and braids. Private Label Extensions has an array of human hair extensions that are perfect for whatever style you choose.

Honey Calming Tension Spray

Drug Store Products under $20

Twenty dollars might be on the higher end of your drug store budget but keep in mind that many conditioners and hair treatments cost twice as much online. Using coupons and reward programs plus shopping during sales and specials will help you keep the cost of your favorite products down.

Here are some great natural hair products that are less than $20:

Joico K-Pak Protective Hair Spray (9.3oz)

After you've straightened or curled your natural hair, you are going to need a product that will help your style last.

This hairspray works great at protecting against humidity, softening, and maintaining your hairstyle. For less than twenty bucks, consider this product your insurance plan against all the hours you put into heat styling. You can't beat the price, and with 5 out of 5 stars, you will get a large return on your small investment.

Miss Jessie's Coily Custard (8.5oz)

Just the name alone makes me want to run out and grab this drug store product.

Most natural hair products are for curly and kinky haired users, but those of us with coily hair know that we are often forgotten. Specially designed for our tiny corkscrew coils, this product allows coily hair to defy gravity without being too heavy.

This custard has Coconut and Agave oils that keep your wash and go fresh for days! Not only is it specifically for coily girls and guys, but it's budget-friendly and available at the nearest drugstore? Sign me up!

Hair products

Don’t Break the Bank!

Your natural hair care journey should be fun.

There are tons of products on the market to test and trial and buying them at your local drug store makes the process affordable. The next time you want to try a new product for your natural hair, check out the hair care aisle at your local drug store.

What are your favorite drugstore products for your natural hair? Drop a comment below and suggest my next purchase! And If you're planning a protective style, check out www.privatelabelextensions.com.

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