After yesterday's post about my "relationship issues" with my hair, I found myself really pondering the things I could do to bring my hair and I back to amicability. You all had some outstanding suggestions that I can't wait to try this weekend. Since I am a rehabilitated product junkie, it can be a bit difficult for me to meditate on any change to my hair routine without also wanting to run out and buy a whole host of new-but-unneeded hair products. While my hair shopping fantasies usually drift to the aisles of Whole Foods with all their potions promising "all organic" this and "inner oneness with the universe" that, I am shocked to find my daydreaming squarely placed in the middle of my childhood memories.Like most little black girls growing up, all of my hair drama took place on one of three stages: in the bathroom, in the kitchen by the stove, or on the floor in between my mama's (or grandmama's) knees. Hair salons were only in the picture for Easter and maybe my birthday, and my "holy grail" product line-up consisted of Blue Magic grease, Motion's Oil Sheen, and a very, very hot pressing comb.Since reaching "enlightenment" about my hair and refining my taste for "sophisticated" products like Kinky Curly and organic coconut oil, I generally only recall my childhood hair memories when I'm looking for a good chuckle and nothing more. Today, however, I was searching the crevices of my mind fanatically, trying to locate those products and practices that did actually do wonders for my hair. In short, I'm craving the old school.While I'm not going to pretend that everything my mother did or used for my hair was optimal (I don't think I'll ever go back to Blue Magic), I can't deny the fact that my (pre-relaxed) hair was healthy, long, and all around fuss free. I think the point is that everyone has a few "gems" from back in the day that might be worth revisiting. Here are mine:

My mother used cholesterol conditioner so much when I was growing up that I didn't even know that "deep conditioner" and "cholesterol" weren't necessarily the same thing. Once I was left to take care of my own hair, I abandoned beauty supply cholesterol treatments in lieu of sexier deep conditioners like Pantene and Nexxus. It wasn't into a few years ago that I returned to cholesterol conditioning by trying out Lekair's Shea Butter Cholesterol Conditioner. I absolutely LOVED the way my hair felt after using this stuff, so don't ask me why I currently down own a jar. I think I got so caught up in trying all the popular products of the day that I forgot that this stuff really works. While my mom didn't use this particular brand of cholesterol conditioner, she clearly was on to something in knowing that my hair could stand for a regular cholesterol treatment.

Have you ever used a product that worked great for your hair, but for whatever reason, you felt like it wasn't the kind of product you would use so you searched for a different product that was "a better fit"? Elasta QP Mango Butter is that product for me. While this product came later in my childhood (the mom of my best friend in middle school introduced my family to it) this was definitely a hit growing up. When I went off to college and found that it still worked great on my natural 'fro, I still had this underlying inclination to try natural, shea butter-based moisturizers from various indie companies because that's what I felt like I "should" be using, which is why I haven't bought it recently. Most of those companies charge up to $20 per product, however, so I'm realizing that both my hair and my college budget need to return to our faithful Mango Butter until I can afford those products that fit in with my "preference". Elasta QP Mango Butter smells great, keeps my hair soft and moisturized, and is easily accessible as stores like CVS or your local beauty supply.

Last but not least is: a pressing comb. Yes ladies and gentleman, I am craving a good, ol' school press. First, let me make a disclaimer: I am craving trying out a pressing comb for one of my periodic straightening sessions, but I haven't decided if I'll actually go through with it. Just last Christmas, my boyfriend bought me the Maxiglide that I lusted over for so long and I wonder if running out and buying a $7 pressing comb wouldn't be a slap in the face. I mean, my Maxiglide works great and it does get my hair very straight. The thing is, I still have to use the one of the highest heat settings just to get it to do that and my Maxiglide has yet to make my hair straight and silky. Ooh, how I sometimes miss the silky presses my mom would give me as an 8 year old. To make matters worse, I've been drooling over Moptop Maven's straight hair and I totally blame this post for making me want a pressing comb in the first place. And I blame this lady. But we'll see what I end up with...***So that's all folks; those three things complete my old school cravings list. Are you craving anything from your past (ex-boyfriends don't count...)? What would be on your old-school "gems" list?