I've read them online: countless hilarious stories about men sneaking and using their girlfriend or wive's shampoo, conditioner, or styling product. Or maybe you've experienced it yourself -- you get a brand new bottle of an amazing hair lotion or pomade, and little by little you notice more and more of it turns up missing. You asked your man if he has been using it, but his response was to look at you like you're a three-headed monster with a purple tongue. You're not crazy. He's using your products.
And he's ashamed.
Lift the veil of shame for your love, and usher some gender-friendly products into your regimen. You'll love them, he'll love them, and most importantly -- he won't feel some type of way about running to the store to purchase more, or ordering online. Besides, that means he can share in the cost of products too! Imagine that, saving money on hair products....
Shampoos
tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo
Ladies love the tgin shampoo because it's moisturizing, has great slip, and doesn't strip the hair. The fellas will love the simplicity and clear labeling, and the neutral color scheme. The fragrance is light, and won't linger -- making it ideal for everyone. The ultra moisturizing oils and botanicals will leave you both loving your hair more. A little bit goes a long way, so $15 for a shampoo the two of you can use won't put a hurting on your pocket.
Alaffia Authentic African Black Soap (Tangerine Citrus)
This product is really a win for everyone involved. Not only are the ingredients stellar (liquid African Black Soap, shea butter, essential oils), naturals ladies will love the slip and gentle clarifying effect of African Black Soap -- all while being amazed (like me) at how non-stripping the soap is. In fact, if you like Shea Moisture's African Black Soap Shampoo but find it a wee bit on the drying side, this liquid soap is a perfect alternative. The man in your life will love it for one main reason: it is multi-functional. It's a shampoo, body wash, facial cleanser, shaving soap, and just about anything he needs it to be. The citrus essential oil fragrance is bright but not overpowering -- and at under $9 for a 16oz bottle, you and your boo will be happy with this product for a very long time.
Conditioners
Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner
If you've convinced your man to stop using 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioners and adopt a hair conditioning regimen, then you've won half the battle. He won't care about hydrolyzed keratin, silk aminos, or botanical extracts. The perfect no-frills shampoo for the man in your life? Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Conditioner. It's incredibly inexpensive (under $4), great at softening and moisturizing hair, and you can use it to pre-poo, detangle, and cowash.
Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner
Ladies, you already know the drill -- Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle conditioner is an absolute steal. for $4, you get a bottle of excellent cowash, detangler, and conditioner! If your boo complains of flaking or itchy scalp, send Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner his way. The simple labeling and bottle is man-friendly enough for him to not feel judged, and it works so well that you'll probably end up stashing enough bottles for the both of you.
Koils By Nature Ultra Moisturizing Cocoaloe Deep Conditioner
If the man in your life has a more massive mane, chances are he'll need a deep conditioner. Why not share the beloved Koils By Nature Ultra Moisturizing Cocoaloe Deep Conditioner? It's mildly scented, ultra nourishing and moisturizing. Of course, the dark brown bottle and green labeling helps -- but at the end of the day this deep conditioner will have both of you kissing parched tresses goodbye. Cut costs by trading off on who purchases the next $18 bottle of this wondrous deep conditioner.
Moisturizers
Shea Moisture Yucca and Baobab Thickening Growth Milk
Versatile enough for you and your love, Shea Moisture's Yucca and Baobab Thickening Growth Milk packs a moisturizing punch. You really can't go wrong with Shea Moisture products anyway (there are a few exceptions, but that's another article), so why not grab something you both can use? The dark green labeling is man-friendly, and the fragrance isn't overpowering and won't linger. A little goes a long way, so pitching in $6 each to share a bottle won't put a hurting on your wallet.
Qhemet Biologics Amla & Olive Heavy Cream
Many naturals everywhere sing the praises of Qhemet Biologics for this amazing, ultra-moisturizing hairdress cream. If your man tends to struggle with parched tresses of any length, slide this jar his way. The dark brown and white-colored labeling won't give him any qualms about dipping into this jar on the regular. The light citrus fragrance is not at all off-putting, and it will keep both your mane and his moisturized for days at a time. At that rate, the $14 jar of moisturizing miracle will last the both of you a very long time.
Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Hair Milk
This product comes as a personal recommendation from the man himself, Mr. Samuel. When my boyfriend discovered I was a product junkie with ingredient knowledge, he put me to the task of finding a product for his low cut waves that we both could agree on. After he put three or four products to the 'man test' (look of label, smell, consistency), Palmer's was the clear winner (and Shea Moisture is his backup). The Hair Milk is a great mid-week moisturizer for the ladies (I catch myself dipping in it often when I don't have my products nearby), and according to Samuel's personal testimony, "it makes the waves look right!" He's even passed the word to his boys (see, men talk hair products too!) about how well the Hair Milk works given that it's under $6. And the fragrance? As he told me this morning, "you can't go wrong with coconut!"
Oils & Butters
Darshana Ayurvedic Oil
If you and your fella are into oils and butters, Darshana is a wonderful pick. The dark brown, black, and tan bottle is actually more masculine looking than most products on this list. But that doesn't discount this product from being awesome for the ladies too. Sunflower seed, coconut, olive, apricot, and castor oils blended and enriched with tons of Ayurvedic botanicals including henna, saw palmetto, and fenugreek make Darshana a keeper. For the ladies, it works great as a pre-poo treatment, for scalp massages, and to seal dry ends. Your man will love the lightweight softness and shine. It can be a little pricey for some, but split the cost of this luxurious oil 50/50 and everybody wins!
Kyra Shea Medley's Original Butter Cream
If you and the Mr. are into multi-use butters, give Kyra's Original Butter Cream a try. The nutty vanilla fragrance is male and female friendly, and her smooth blended butter is perfect for use from head to toe. It's thick enough to be used as a wave or low cut pomade for men, and for edge control and nourishment for the ladies. The whipped blend of aloe vera, avocado butter, shea butter, leaves your hair and his touchably soft, and skin silky smooth. It'll give you both serious hand-in-hair syndrome, and will make it hard to keep your hands off of each other's velvety soft skin. Don't get too lovey-dovey though -- you might end up fighting over who gets the last dollop. My advice: stock up on the large $20 jar so the quarrels don't happen to often.
Luxe Oil by Addicted to All Things Pretty
With black and white bottles and labeling, Luxe Oil appeals unasahamedly to men and women. What makes Luxe Oil a real winner is the fragrance and how versatile in nature it is. Made with safflower, coconut, sea buckthorn, avocado and olive oils, Luxe Oil is a great in-shower moisturizer, facial oil, and of course, hair oil. You and your bae can feel free to spread this nutrient-dense oil blend from head to toe in customized his and her fragrances (I personally vouch for Scorned Nymph for the ladies), unisex fragrances (like Black Unicorn), or of course, unscented.
What products will you be purchasing for bae?