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Original poster

Mixed race curly hair, help

91 replies

Thed0gs · 24/12/2015 20:42

Hi, I've had decades of battling my curly hair (resulting in relaxing for 10 years). I've been natural now for at least five but just cannot find products or a hairdresser that can deal with my hair!! It needs lots of moisture and no product seems to even touch it (although it's much better than it used to be). It also gets so knotty and tangled within hours. I'd like to keep it long too.

Please help!!

OP posts:

Katymac · 24/12/2015 20:55

Are you doing Curly Girl? DD does a version of this (photos on my profile)

She washes very infrequently, once a week or less with an 'one' free shampoo, then conditioner or just conditioner - running her fingers through it to separate

Then rinses and re-conditions with this adding more as they days go by

Never using a comb or a brush

But that might not suit your hair

Lobatri · 24/12/2015 21:00

Watching with interest. How curly are you? Frizzy at slightest hint of steam/mist? Mine is fine, use to be thicker but guess it's ageing I've never relaxed it - was uncertain of damage it might cause so have tried various products over many years, and while they seem to be improving the way they make my hair feel immediately after use, I can't say any of them worked when needed. Going natural after washing is so time consuming so only do in summer when it dries quicker in the sun.

Original poster

Thed0gs · 24/12/2015 21:00

I did try this method, yes, but my hair just didn't take to it maybe I was doing it wrong. I might have to revisit!

OP posts:

Original poster

Thed0gs · 24/12/2015 21:03

Lobatri I'm very curly and go fluffy in any kind of humidity. My hair doesn't seem to hold the curls either, so if I try and go completely natural it just looks a mess rather than having this mane of defined curls which I would love!

OP posts:

Katymac · 24/12/2015 21:05

In Multicultural Famalies there is a thread called Mixed Race hair that I started years ago (2003/4?) with loads of info on

Katymac · 24/12/2015 21:08

pretty long

Lobatri · 24/12/2015 21:29

ThedOgs I too would love those defined neat curls but never manage it really and when it is humid any efforts are immediately undone. I will take a look at katymacs link. I've never tried the method as never had long enough to test it.

Hairdressers - I always struggled with, but now all those who work in the branded high street shops seem able to dry it straight or with nice curls but the moment I step outside the breeze/rain undo whatever they have done

Katymac · 24/12/2015 21:42

It always goes frizzy!

Original poster

Thed0gs · 25/12/2015 08:08

Yeah. I always get products sold to me that inevitably don't work too

Thanks katymac I'll check out that link

OP posts:

badhairallthetime · 25/12/2015 13:32

Thed0gs Might not be a road you want to go down...but have you considered having a Brazillian Blow Dry? My DD, 14, had one a couple months ago and it has been amazing. She is mixed, and has beautiful curls, but hard to keep defined, and also she suffers from massive shrinkage. BBD (non-formaldehyde) made such a difference. She stills wears it curly but it has just loosened everything a little and made it so much easier to manage. Wash, condition and bit of curl cream and it dries beautifully, and she could also get 2 or 3 days out of it. She had it mid October and its just starting to wear off now.

FightTheFrizz · 25/12/2015 19:13

I would definitely recommend the Curly Girl Method. There is a book available by the lady who designed the method Lorraine Massey.
Also re hairdressers I get mine done by Matthew at his own dedicated CG salon Spring in Birmingham (trained by Lorraine). Another highly regarded hairdresser is Linsey Hughes also based in Birmingham but rents a chair regularly in London.
All products I use are sulphate and silicone free.

Katymac · 25/12/2015 19:19

What products do you recommend FighttheFrizz?

Original poster

Thed0gs · 25/12/2015 19:37

Thanks badhairallthetime ...it's one of the many things I've looked at/had over the years, but was looking for something where I don't need to visit the hairdressers too often (I mean, I don't want to be in there more than twice a year )

OP posts:

Original poster

Thed0gs · 25/12/2015 19:37

Ah fightthefrizz I am just outside Bham so will look them up!

OP posts:

FightTheFrizz · 26/12/2015 08:38

Katy, it really is trial and error to find the perfect products for your hair. My hair is fine and fizzes easily I'm useing shea moisture products atm. Tresemme Naturals conditioner is a favourite.
My hair responds best to conditioner wash, leave in conditioner and a gel to finish.

Oh and Thedogs Matthew recommended I only see him twice a year, bonus!

GeoffreysGoat · 26/12/2015 09:17

Place marking to read later (struggling with mixed race toddler hair)

There's a black and mixed race specialist hair dresser near me that I've taken him to. High Street salons struggle with my mousy ringlets, I wouldn't even try them with his loose 'fro - it's a totally different technique afaik

DesertIslandPenguin · 26/12/2015 13:50

I use keracare moisturiser (#3) and their twist and define creme. Oh, and matrix smooth/sleek shampoo/conditioner. I should really use the moisturiser daily but it tends to be as and when I remember to put it on!

I don't know where you're based, but Cococheno in Bristol are fabulous for afro hair, whether you wear it relaxed or natural.

fluffiphlox · 26/12/2015 17:09

I was New York recently and I noticed a couple of 'curls only' salons. Do they exist here?

Original poster

Thed0gs · 26/12/2015 19:02

Flufflphlox I didn't realise there were any, until the last few days (there aren't many though). I guess there's always been more demand for straight and sleek hair. Certainly growing up I wanted to be like my white friends, who all had gorgeous hair (though now I find curls gorgeous). I have a baby daughter now too and want her to be proud of her hair so I'd like to set an example by embracing mine and not straightening it all the time.

I went to a salon who said they specialised in mixed race hair, but I can out with a dry scalp and dry, brittle hair :(

I've been to Afro Caribbean salons too, but have ended u with way too much product and a burned scalp from relaxers :(

Done a bit of reading on the Curly Girl method and I was doing it wrong. The person at work had said I had to leave my hair saturated all day and I could use any conditioner, but it left my hair waxy and knotty. I'll be giving it a go over the next couple of weeks with the proper method.

OP posts:

whataboutbob · 27/12/2015 09:48

I'm not mixed race but have thick wavy/ curly hair which was getting progressively frizzier and dryer.I have done curly girl since August and it has really helped fight the frizz. I use Faith in natrure conditioner to wash, then condition with the same product again. No sulphates and definitely no silicones anymore. Occasionally if I go swimming and my hair gets chlorine on it I use a silicone free shampoo.

JeffyJeffington · 27/12/2015 10:07

I'm mixed race, have very thick curly/frizzy hair but it's also fine and flyaway. Like you i subjected it to many years of tortuous straightening, relaxing etc. I also learned the hard way that mixed race hair doesn't necessarily suit afro products! It's improved a bit now from less washing (often just use conditioner). I also don't bother wasting my money on the super expensive products i used to buy and just use john frieda which is fine. But when i want to treat myself i use living proof no frizz. I also love my tangle teezer! Also working on being more positive about the curly look for the sake of baby dd who's also curly

GeoffreysGoat · 27/12/2015 13:52

Is there a curly girl method for small children please? He's currently got rows but I'm not sure he'll sit through it again at least till he's older. Hair washing is a huge battle but 3yo's will insist on getting mucky!

whataboutbob · 27/12/2015 14:01

Yes jeffy my lightbulb moment came after I splashed out on some expensive (silicone containing) Kiehl's product and my hair came up looking like a brillo pad. Faith in Nature (£4.99 per bottle) does me very well now.

maygirl · 27/12/2015 14:32

I'm mixed race with dry frizz prone hair .The Lorraine M curly girl method wasn't really any good for my hair, looked nice immediately but didn't last. But the 'Curly Like Me book' and her website www.tightlycurly.com/welcome/ however has made my hair dreams come true . I do need to brush it after washing when it's wet and full of conditioner, using a Denman brush in the way described on the website, as it gets really tangled between washes . Best conditioners to comb with and leave in my hair at the moment are Aussie Moist, Tresseme luxurious moisture, OGX coconut Milk and the new Boots Kind natured coconut and shea. This is the only method I've found where my curls stay defined. I usually just wash with a cheap conditioner then follow with the thicker combing ones, occasionally use a recommended shampoo.

whataboutbob · 27/12/2015 16:05

Just read the technique maygirl. Am I right in thinking she washes with shampoo, rinses, washes again with conditioner, rinses, then applies a lot of conditioner, brushes through, and keeps it in till the next wash?

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