Good products for going curly days (not permanently)

[Fabulassie]

I have lots of fine, curly hair. Usually I battle with it and try to make it straight. Recently, I let it air dry one day and really liked the result. I got several compliments on my hair. It was long and curly but not frizzy. It had shine.

However, I am not always able to get the same look. I think there were factors at play where products I use to tame frizz and straighten my hair were in my hair. I can't remember what I had put on my hair at that time. (Some of these products are meant to last a few shampoos.)

Today I put Frizz Ease Extra Strength serum in while it was wet, and then just put a touch of L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil on when it was dry to try and shine/

So, starting from scratch with clean hair - what is the best product to use to make curly hair shiny, non frizzy and with defined soft curls? define/tame a bit of the frizz here and there.

And does a diffuser make a huge difference on a hair dryer? I try to let my hair air dry and then just use my dryer a bit underneath in the back, where it's slowest to dry and it is OK but if I get a dryer with a diffuser will I be able to quickly dry my hair and get the same results?

My hair's not quite the same as yours as it's quite thick and wavy rather than out-and-out curly but I use Fudge Hair Shaper - not cheap but it works for me! www.fudgehair.co.uk/core-fudge-range/fudge-hair-shaper

I don't bother with a diffuser, I just slap some of that on, mess it about and I'm good to go. I do think the right cut makes a huge difference so I'd have a chat with your hairdresser too.

My hair sounds like yours although I straighten everyday except on holiday and I bought the Aussie serum and it was fabby

I use a variety of products but I akways use a leave in conditioner followed by a curl cream or curl soufflé then finish with a gel. Sounds like a lot of product (I guess it is) but I use silicone free products so no build up and they keep my curls frizz free

I definitely find that almost every product contains silicone. I've not yet really found silicone to be a product but maybe it will be if I continue to let my hair do its thing.

The curl emporium section on www.britishcurlies.com has loads of stuff. There are lots of threads on there about what products to use for different hair types. They list all the ingredients so you can check if it's got slicones and if it's Curly Girl friendly (Curly Girl as in the Lorraine Massey book about how to care for curly hair and why sulfates in shampoos are not good for it).

I've tried so many products, mine is wavy with the odd ringlet rather than full on curly, but every single one I've tried makes it lanky, dull or crunchy, so marking my spot for any new suggestions. I stick to silicone free, but have lapsed into Extraordinary Oil etc occasionally and they are no better.

I use Deva Gel and then plop, after that I add some mousse into my hair to hold the curl and this works well for me.

if you're looking for a cheap but very effective curl product, Boot's Curl Creme (the flouescent pink one) is amazing !! don't put in too much, or you get the stiff curl thing, but i find it fantastic, and as good if not better than products that are 5 times the price

Boots curl creme is one of the ones I have found to be completely useless. Too little - no effect. Too much - lanky locks.