Qs for those with curly hair!

[Appuskidu]

I have developed curly hair since having children (it was always pretty straight before) and I don't quite know how to handle it. It's not curly curly, but if I scrunch it when it's drying and add a bit of serum/mousse-it goes into pretty long curly locks and I rather like it. However-I can't brush it when it's like this as the brush just wouldn't go through. I also find it looks better after a day or four two without washing it-just scrunching some water into it in the mornings with a bit more gel. God that sounds like I'm really unclean-I do wash the rest of me, honest! It does mean though, that when I do wash it-it's a bit of a tangle and has had LOADS of hair products in it!

Can I ask other curly/wavy people...

1. How often to you wash it? If you leave it a few days-do you add anything to it?
2. Is your hair a bit on the 'crunchy' side when you add mousse to it?
3. Could you get a brush through it?
4. Does anything help keep the curls looking defined? Frizz ease doesn't seem to do much!

I have curly hair. I never brush it. I wash and condition it about once a week, wet it every other day and co wash it the other days , so it gets wet about every other day . You will need to try a plethora of products until you find one that doesn't make your hair crunchy. I have been using vo5 curl up for years and they have just changed the packaging ( so I thought) but it now makes my hair sticky ..great as I bought 3 cans. , . I don't find frizz ease helps. I top up with mousse in the morning if I have any frizz.. Just a pea size amount . Hth

Join us on the no 'poo thread here!. Am hugely jealous though as my curls seems to have wilted since DS appeared

Brilliant, thank you for the reply!! It sounds like I'm sort of on the right lines!

Can I ask what co washing is?

It's washing with conditioner..something to do with the silicone in shampoos .. I know I can't wash and condition mine too much as it goes frizzy. My hair went curvier when pregnant peedie.. Strange what those hormones do !

I use Umberto Giannini and wash 2/3 times a week, I also use a diffuser, with Umberto mousse and styling curl spray.

Wow-there's a whole world of curly girls out there!

So, the jist is to wash with a sulphate-free shampoo or just wash with conditioner! Doesn't the hair get greasy?

Which conditioner can you leave in-the original source ones?

gist

Appuskidu, I have a mass of curls which love to turn to frizz on me! I started using the Tresemme Naturals range (not the regular stuff) a couple of months ago and my hair loves it I wash about every 4 days with the shampoo, then use the conditioner as a rinse-out and again as a leave-in (plenty of it too). I find that gives me good condition and hold so I don't bother with a gel. I use the conditioner (rinse-out and leave-in) about every other day in between washes. Boots Curl Creme (pink tub) is excellent too. Never use a brush - fingers only!

Thank you-I will head off to Boots in the morning! Does the Tresseme stuff not have any sulphates in?

I have just found some serum in the bathroom which says it's good for anti-frizz. It says to rub a pea-sized amount into your hair, but my hair is so thick and long that a pea-sized amount is hardly going to touch it!

I wash and condition mine every other day - but I usually add mouse and straighten it.

But, if I'm wearing it curly, it only needs a wash twice a week or so with some dry shampoo. I also use a serum to get rid of the frizz.

I think the Tresemme Naturals are no silcones but low sulphates - or maybe the other way around!

I wash my hair every 4-5 days and use Trevor Sorbie curl creme every day. It's a nightmare finding something that doesn't make you hair crunchy or sticky. TS brought back the old version of their curl creme this year and I bought some last month when the normal one was sold out. It makes my hair look perfect, but it's quite hard/sticky so a pain the next.day. If I'm going out, I'll use that one and then wash my hair the next day. I only brush the ends of my hair and smooth down the top.

Thank you everyone!

Aswellasyou-silly question but how do you use the Trevor Sorbie curl creme? Do you scrunch it in-or smooth it into particular areas?

I have wavy hair which I encourage to curl most days (otherwise it looks a mess if I just leave it!). I wash and condition it, stick in a wee bit of anti-frizz stuff then towel dry it. Then whilst I'm on the bus on the way into work I curl small sections around my fingers to encourage the curl. That way it goes into nice semi-ringlets instead of just a wavy frizzy mess. Can't comb/brush it if I curl it though.

When I've just washed my hair, I try to scrunch into absolutely all of my hair, especially the ends. Then I leave it to air dry. Every other day, I scrunch it into the ends and smooth it over the top of my head.

I never brush my hair, I give it a quick run over with an afro comb when I put conditioner on and just style with my hands when it's dry.

I have very thick, very curly, frizzy air.

1. Once a week at most, the dirtier the better. I have been known to go running before an interview/wedding etc to "grease up" my hair a bit. It is less bonkers if it is a bit greasy (ie less dry).
2. I never use mousse. I only put "product" in when it is wet, serum or "creme".
3. Wide tooth comb, when it is wet. Can't get a brush through.
4. Boots Curl Creme (dirt cheap, pink goo in transparent pot) mixed with a bit of conditioner, serum, bio oil or leave in conditioner.

Also, step away from the hair dryer.

I have had 2 DC and wiss my hair would go straight!

I bought Boots Curl Creme a while ago after seeing it recommended on here. It is fab! Costs next to nothing and lasts ages.

I haven't been impressed with Boots Curl Creme-I found it very sticky and my hair looked awful the next day. But your suggestion, BikeSkiRun, of mixing it with something else sounds good. I'm a complete cheapskate so that appeals to me!

Lots of useful info at www.naturallycurly.com

Don't brush your hair and don't wash it too often?every four or five days is fine. Don't towel-dry it and blow dry with caution.

Appuskidu It sounds like you have very similar hair to me - everyone above has said it all but I do have one tip - after combing it when it's damp, twirl individual sections around your fingers and let it dry like that without touching it at all. If your hair is like mine the ringletty twirls will stay in position until its dry, then you can fluff them up a bit with your fingers (to avoid looking like you have actual ringlets!). You'll have lovely unfrizzy curls without needing to use lots of products. I use a tiny bit of Shu Uemura tasai styling creme, or sometimes nothing at all. Curl creams, mousses, gels all make my hair crunchy, sticky or flat.