***This post was contributed by Evyan Durham. For her contact information, check out her bio at the end of this post. To submit an article, click here*** [caption id="attachment_134" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Photo by Clean Wal-Mart of Flickr"]

[/caption] As I coax the last drop of my conditioner out of it's container I realize that it's time for me to re-up on products. I dread this day because I always come out of the store with four products I had NO intention of purchasing. The product junkie in me takes over and I find any excuse to buy products I don't need with money I don't have. As a college student it's hard to come by products that are easy on my tresses and my bank account. I stalk natural blogs and websites daily trying to find a miracle elixir to keep my 4a/b hair soft and supple with the least amount of damage to my purse. I have literally skipped meals, yes meals plural, to save up for a product that left my hair as dry as the Saharan Desert! Well no more! Here are a few tips I have on saving yourself time and money when in search of hair food.

1. Shop Around: Do your research and find out if that product you want is at another place at a lower price.
2. Sample: I have friends who have products I want try but am not willing to pay for without knowing how my hair will react. Do a "Test Trial" of the product in question. If you're not satisfied you won't have wasted $30.00 and a huge tub of useless hair goop.
3. Trade: Once again, use your friends! Swap products, what didn't work for her might be the saving grace for your hair!
4. Generic Brand Betty: Kill the bougie girl! Compare the ingredients, snag the generic brand, and see if you can tell the difference. If you can't, then why have you been paying extra money for a fancy bottle and a name?
5. Produce Aisle: Common foods like yogurt, honey, bananas, and more can be used on the hair to achieve great results!
6. Opinions: Although it's true that no two heads of hair are alike, it's still important to see what others have to say about a product (especially pricey ones). Some products give you the bang for your buck, while others may have just swindled you out of your hard earned money. Ask around!
7. Dilute: There is nothing wrong with adding water to that bottle of conditioner when you're running low. This can give you a few more uses out of the product or at least enough time until your next check deposits.
8. Shopping List: I'm a visual person so a list usually keeps me from wandering down aisles aimlessly throwing shelves of shampoo and conditioner in my buggy (it's a horrible habit)

Hopefully these tips will help keep you, your hair, your wallet, and your inner product junkie happy.******

Hello all! My name is Evyan (yes, like the water but without the "i") and I'm currently a Junior at the Mecca, Howard University, majoring in Sports Medicine. I currently cheer for my beloved Bison but my heart shall always lie in track. I'm 1.5 years into the natural scene and I'm loving every kinky curl! I'm so excited to be joining the Think and Grow Chick family, you'll be seeing and hearing from me often.Blog: http://bedspringsandbookbags.wordpress.com/Twitter: http://twitter.com/afropetiteFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/edurham