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Written by Ellysse Clark, News/Student Life Editor

                Whether your hair is relaxed, kinky, or coiled, Julie Van Buren can whip up something for you in her kitchen.  She can create concoctions that will make your hair smooth and silky, and she can also mix up a mud potion that will leave your kinky curls frizz-free and bouncy.  Mrs. Van Buren, a full time nurse with a passion for hair care, says you don’t have to search far and wide for the perfect products to tame your hair; you only have to go as far as your very own kitchen.

• Q: What inspired you to make all-natural hair products?

JVB: Because my family has long history of cancer risk, I was inspired to lead a more natural, less chemical-based lifestyle. My grandmother always made her hair products and medications/herbals in her own kitchen.

• Q: Would you consider your products difficult to make?

JVB: My products usually take from 10-30 minutes to whip up in my kitchen, with mostly food-based products.

• Q: What are some of the ingredients that you use in your products?

JVB: Some of the common ingredients I use are eggs, yogurt, coconut milk, infused and essential oils, clay, avocadoes, bananas, and vinegar to name a few.

• Q: If people don’t have some of the products that are needed in some of your recipes, where can they buy them?

JVB: I purchase my most popular items from the grocery store or the health food store. Some of the products are purchased online from organic herb suppliers.

• Q: Do your products cater only to African-American hair, or can other races use them also?

JVB: The products I make cater to humans, not just African-American hair. Most companies make millions of dollars advertising race-based hair products. Always read the labels and do your research. European, African, Indian, Hispanic, and Asian populations all use wonderful, natural, organic, kitchen-based hair products.

• Q: Do you think all-natural hair products are better for African-American hair? Why or why not?

JVB: I personally think all natural products are best for African-American hair and also for other races as well. Many store or name brand products claim to be all-natural, but are usually chemical, silicon, or paraben-based. Chemical-filled products have shown to increase health risks for cancer, clog hair follicles, and not grow your hair like they claim to.

• Q: Do your products cater to natural and relaxed hair?

JVB: My products do cater to natural and relaxed hair. If you understand the properties of the products, they can be used by anyone.

• Q: Which of your products would you recommend for relaxed hair?

JVB: I would recommend for relaxed, color-treated hair, yogurt co-washes [washing your hair with conditioner only—no shampoo.], marshmallow hair rinse, flaxseed gel, and onion rinses to name a few.

• Q: Which of your products would you recommend for natural hair?

JVB:  For all-natural hair, I recommend hair mud washes for cleaning and detox. Mud washes don’t lather, and have been used by Middle Eastern, African, and Asian cultures for over 5,000 years. They provide wonderful cleansing, soften the hair, give the hair lots of shine, and increase great growth potential.

• Q: What are some of your favorite products?

JVB: My favorite products are the ones that are coconut-based. I like coconut hair mud wash, yogurt hair washes, and coconut oil deep oil treatments. Coconut oil is one of the only oily oils that actually absorb into the hair follicle to provide great strength and shine.

• Q: What do you hope to accomplish by making all-natural products?

JVB: I want to teach men and women a simpler, healthy, cost-effective way to care for their hair and body.

• Q: How can people contact you and learn how to make your recipes?

JVB: I can be found very easily on YouTube—ROOTS4U45 is my channel name. Or if you have specific questions, please contact me and julievanburen1@gmail.com. I also have hair meets, informal classes, to talk about taking care of your natural hair. Come check me out. Remember; take care of your hair now to have hair later!