Sometimes a bad experience can lead to a positive outcome (no, seriously!) Take what happened to me recently. I ran out of my hair cream and decided to  replenish it through Amazon.com even though I was not too pleased with the results; it smelled a little funky,  weighed down my hair, and only kept it hydrated for a short time.

Now, you’re probably thinking, why would a seemingly smart woman like myself buy a product that she wasn’t too happy about? Two reasons: (1) it was recommended by my hairdresser of over 20 years who not only is a good friend, but also has taken care of my hair really well, and (2) time crunch. As always, I didn’t have the time to look for alternatives.

While waiting for the shipment to arrive, I tried to keep my hair as hydrated as possible using my Aveda Dry Remedy® Daily Moisturizing Oil  for dry hair but as any girl with natural hair knows, oil is just not enough. Well, the standard one week order delivery period went by but nothing arrived at my doorstep. I decided to track it down only to find out that the order had shipped but never made it to my house.

Irritated, I called Amazon to get to the bottom of it. Since they couldn’t trace the order, they graciously agreed to reimburse the full cost of the cream. This didn’t solve my problem but it did make me happy that I had my money back. I was in a dilemma; should I reorder the cream that I disliked or should I do my due diligence to find the right product for my hair?

The decision to switch to something else was easier than I imagined. While still on Amazon, I pulled the hair cream reviews of the product that I had reordered. I hate to admit it but I felt really silly not having done it prior to the original purchase (don’t judge.) In addition to the funky smell and the weighing down of my hair, I discovered that it contained harmful chemicals for natural locks like mine.

This discovery fueled my desire to search for a better option.  I looked on Amazon and Google for natural based products for both kids and adults with dry hair and voila! I found these two well kept secret natural haircare products that frankly, will blow yor mind:

1. Jane Carter Nourish & Shine 

This hair product not only works great and smells delicious, but also doubles up as a haircare and skincare  (yeah, no kidding!) solution.  Even though some may find it a tad bit pricey for the size ($16.99 for 4 ounces although they have a 2 for $26.70 offer), the cost is offset by its longevity – you only need a pea size amount every time you apply it so it lasts for a long time. Three of us have been sharing it for the past couple of weeks and have barely made a dent in the quantity.

2. Shea Moisture Cool Enhancing Smoothie 

In need of a no-hassle, curly look? This product will help you achieve it fast! I like that you get similar results whether you apply it while your hair is wet or dry. While not cheap (retails at $11.88 for 12 ounces), you’ll get your money’s worth because you only need a small amount to achieve desired results meaning that you won’t need to repurchase often.

Do I wish for bad experiences to happen? No. But missing out on my hair cream shipment turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me. We’re now using a healthier product for our hair and protecting ourselves from harmful chemicals. Plus it’s encouraging to know that what could have been an unpleasant experience turned out to be a good one. It raises our level of optimism and reminds us to look on the brighter side when things don’t go our way.

Any bad experiences have a positive outcome for you? Please share with us and our readers. We’d love to hear from you.

Welcome to spring gapmusers! Hope you get to enjoy the loveliness that nature has to offer during the season.

Be inspired.