My greatest success has been to use almost any name brand drugstore shampoo (i.e. not the salon stuff, but the higher end stuff you can find at your local drugstore) with this leave-in conditioner. (Sexy Hair Organics.)
usehername said:I don't blow-dry my hair, I just let it dry naturally. It dries to wavy like this:
I've had some success in the past to make it curly but when it's too long it will only go this much curly because of the weight ...
I also find there's times when I put in gel or moose to make it very curly, and sometimes this is successful. Other times, due to a slightly different haircut or hair length (length = more weight) it is completely unsuccessful and my hair doesn't have any good-lookin' curl ability. Because of this I am wary to rely on making my hair curly and sort of avoid it, just leaving it wavy or straightening it for places that I have to look nice.
Another problem I have is that I have wisps of 3-4 inch long baby hair that are never going to grow around my scalp line; they're completely unnoticeable when I wear my hair down, but when it's in a ponytail and I'm sweaty from sports they migrate into horns when I'm running around.
I could use some product advice.
You get those little scalp twisty things too? I was in PEI just a bit ago and loved the way my hair went there! Humid, but not too hot=good hair!
I haven't ever had any luck with spray gel or John Freida products. Very disappointing, as my roomie's hair in university used to look gorgeous with FrizzEase! (But she had wild tight curls) My hair would be like that 2nd picture of Jill. Also folks, do you find your hair gets really dry? Do you have any great deep conditioners to recommend along with the other products?
Yeah, it wouldn't work for my sister who has an afro kink to the curls in her hair, alot tighter and smaller. She uses "pink gel":
Ampro Pink Berry Ice Gel from Discount Beauty Products and Beauty Supply and a mix of pink lotion to weight it down so that she can wear it longer.
Does anyone have recommendations for taming your hair in a humid environment? I just moved to a very humid place recently and I'm having one bad hair day after another.
I make my own hair products. I use a light gel that I make out of basically just aloe vera juice/gel from the health food store, vegetable glycerin and xantham gum (to make it that thick, gooey consistency). I also put in jojoba oil or sweet almond oil or some other carrier oil that I have on hand and has a nice smell. I experimented until I got the right consistency for my mop of many different textures and curl patterns, which represent my many different pockets of ethnicity. The more xantham gum you use, the crunchier your hair will be. Seems to work ok.
Vegetable glycerin is a humectant, which helps your hair retain its natural moisture and allows it to shine without using silicone. Alcohol based products actually dry out your hair, which in my opinion, is the biggest reason why curly hair products fail us and make our hair dry and brittle. The alcohol and the harsh chemicals. Our hair is dry enough since the natural oils don't travel down to the ends as quickly or as easily as our straight haired counterparts.
The stuff I use makes my hair so soft and touchable, never ever flakes (unless I use waaaay to much gum) and holds my curl patterns. It literally feels that there is nothing in my hair, once dry. When it's still damp, it can feel a little slick or tacky. If I mess around in my hair and frizz it out, I simply just dab a little water to reactivate it, and it's back to what it was almost instantly. But everyone's hair is different.
If you are having a bad day, you can add a drop or two of an essential oil to lift your spirits and make a really great scent.
I used to use the most expensive products, which all have the same core ingredients as the cheap shit, so there's no point. I remember doing a cost analysis and came up with about $4 to make 24 oz, or something like that. It depends on how much aloe vera gel sells for in your health food store (which notoriously rips people off). But the other materials are dirt cheap. And since I usually use the size of 1-2 quarters (and my hair is really thick), this stuff lasts forever. And its all edible - depending on which carrier oil you use, if any.
I have Shirley Temple looking ringlets. It literally looks like I roller set my hair, which would be great....if I was eighty.
ThatGirl said:Course/Thick/Extremely Curly: You will want to use some sort of smoothing system. Matrix Sleek Look, Redkin Smooth Down, TiGi, products are all good for this. One thing about these shampoos and conditioners though is that over time they will build up and the hair will become waxy. If your hair remains over coated, nutrients will no longer be able to penetrate this layer and condition the hair. Over time hair will become dry and brittle. Using a clarifying shampoo about once a week is recommended.
ThatGirl said:With curly hair, your goal in a shampoo and conditioner should not be protein based. Unless your hair is very damaged, you need moisture, not protein. Over time protein will dry the hair out and cause it to break. The goal is to stabilize the PH not sway it from one extreme to another.
The longer your hair is the more your curls will be weighed down. If you are attempting to get them to spring up, you can try a few tricks. When towel drying do not abrade the hair. Pat or scrunch drying is more effective. Pile the hair loosely on top of the head and allow to air dry until barely damp. The you can let the hair down, add product (I always liked Redkin Fresh Curls spray gel) and go. When working with sticky, gel like products, you don't want to scrunch, as the hair will stick to your fingers and then separate the ringlet giving you frizz. Instead use your open palm to pat the hair and push it up.
If you are trying to minimize overly curly or course hair, you will want to seek more cream based products. Pomades, and control creams are your best bet (Enjoy makes a good one). After initially combing through when wet, don't touch the hair again. The more you play with it the bigger it will get.
And as always, the main factor in making curly hair beautiful, its all in the cut. Keep in mind that curly hair tends to tangle and break within itself. Your ends will always look like that, unless you commit to your four to six week quarter inch trims. For fine hair, see texture based cuts. Course or heavy you will want to look for undercuts, and fewer layers.
You might want to do some reading at Welcome to NaturallyCurly.com!. As a result of hanging out there for a bit, I used Devacurl products. They are great. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to the styling products -- but that's unusual -- I think most people can use them.
I'm white, but my solution for the humid summer has been to get my hair cornrowed. I've got braids down to about my bra strap, and it stays neat with zero maintenance.
That is crazy cool! (Don't know that I'm capable of following through with all of that on a regular basis though.)
You mix 3-4 ingredients together and it lasts for like 4-6 months. What's so difficult? No heat required.
Yeah, and the supermarket. In fact, everything you need is available at the Fairway. One stop shopping... no biggie.
Curly haired girls are hot.
Curly hair is sexy
Big curly hair is even sexier
Big curly brunette or black hair is the sexiest
Reviving this thread to ask a hair product question:
I've heard that curly hair prefers product that's sulfate-free? Have you guys tried that? Any preferred shampoos/etc? I ask because I've heard sulfates dry out curly hair and I'm still fighting the frizz battle. (Especially now that I'm in a humid climate again... Ugh!)
If it helps, my hair is type 3A, like Shakira's: