Curly hair products.

[SunshineAlice]

Good evening,

After spending years straightening my hair and using rubbish hair products I started embracing my wavy-relaxed curly hair and buying a better quality products.

I used to trim my hair every 12 weeks because it was very dry all the time and since I stopped using straighteners and applying good products my hair changed. Last time I trimmed my hair was in September and my next hair cut will be in Easter this year (first curly hair cut).

Products I currently use are:
Redken shampoo.
I use Moroccan oil. It's very expensive but what a difference! This product is so good.

I bought 3 curly creams: avocado curly cream by made of nature, one by Cantu and I also bought empowering creme and gel by Imbue. These products are okay. Not amazing but not bad.

I have been researching about good curly products. I found these with good reviews:

Curly cream by Moroccan oil
Boucleme super hold styler
Merware items
Innersense (I create hold and innersense cream whipped texturize)
Treluxe gel

Which ones do you recommend? I don't want to use curly cream and gel. As many products as I put on my hair more greasy it looks. I think I prefer a good one but strong to hold relaxed curls.

Thank you 😊 👍

If you have wavy hair, Cantu might be too heavy. I have fine, 2 b/c curls and it’s far too heavy for me.

I have tried any of the products you mention, but thought I’d add a couple of my favourites -
quidad climate control
gel
flora and curl gel
dream curls mousse

I’ve also found that products I don’t think work on my hair when I first try them do work in other seasons, so it’s a bit of a case of trial and error.

Try Coconut Oil. It doesn't have to be expensive, Aldi's one is decent! Just melt a 10p sized piece in your hand, rub your hands together and work it through your hair. Glosses it up nicely. Also don't put conditioner on your roots to avoid that greasy problem (a bit).

The other thing to bear in mind is while there's only one type of straight hair, wavy hair is on a massive spectrum and what works well for a 2c won't be great for a 4c and vice-versa so not all rave reviews will apply to your situation and you won't always get identical results to other people.

I have wavy curly hair, very fine and puffy/awkward!
It needs strong hold products, and no oils/creams I've found. It's all trial and error

My faves are
Innersense I create volume with I create hold
Treluxe gel withJohn Frieda dream curly mousse
Creme of nature snot is a cheap hard hold gel if you wanted to try one, needs lots of water and don't use loads!

Well I don't recommend 'Noughty' curly range.
I like cantu but not near the scalp!

I don't ever use shampoo, just rinse and condition, which I leave in.

Boots curl cream, pink pot, is good and also Tigi Catwalk Curls Rock Amplifier is excellent.

Basically the thicker the goo the curlier my hair goes.

I have the Moroccan Curl cream, which is nice. I use that or John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Styling spray (long name!). The spray is lighter than the cream, which would weigh down fine hair, but fine on mine.

I have yet to find a mousse that doesn't get flaky.

I tried imbue which I got cheap from Superdrug as a trial. It’s okay - it definitely does something but it doesn’t last longer than a day and isn’t reliably nice. Sometimes it’s just frizz! it could be I’m not using enough but I decided to splash out and order merwave kit which I’ve been coveting for months! It arrives tomorrow so I will report back!!

Someone on this board recently recommended the Schwarzkopf beach matt spray. I happened to have some in which hadn't done much when my hair was long, but have had a decent cut since so gave it a go again and it has done a surprisingly great job.

It's a big change in look for me, as like you I've only recently embraced the waves and people are noticing the difference. Not an expensive product but a good starter for me, so thanks to the poster who mentioned it!

F

@SunshineAlice I bought Redken Curvaceous and like it for my curly/wavy hair, it holds the curls but leaves it soft. It is quite a heavy feeling product though, a bit like a leave in conditioner cream. I also like the small can of Superdrug own brand extra firm hold hair mousse too, it controls my curls and it's a fraction of the price!

@monpetitlapin Do you use the coconut oil on wet or dry hair? And do you use any other products at the same time? And (last question!) Which shampoo and conditioner do you use when you use the coconut oil?

This is great, apply a curl crème first to wet hair and then this gel:

https://www.boots.com/umberto-giannini-curl-jelly-scrunching-jelly-200ml-10222389?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Beauty&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajWgZvvvNJ5wIovmybrsqIEXj&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjanoubzWgwMVnZKDBx2yBgxtEAQYASABEgK_SvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Tbh I love only curls - been a game changer for my hair

They are all different products and some may work for your hair and others not. I've tried the innersense I create hold and it turned my hair into a frizzy mess and my scalp reacted to it. Same with all the boucleme I've tried. It loves the Treluxe gel, providing I use Kinky Curly knot today, though and also has some points of the year, mostly when the heating is on, that it likes Cantu custard. It can be quite weather dependent

It's all trial and error with a bit of analysis of the ingredients.

I like Redken and Aveda but have gone back to Umberto and for the price, I can't fault it.

My hair loves the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Mask (in the tub) which I use as conditioner. The banana and papaya work best for me. And I use the Eco Style gel. I tried the Cantu Curling Custard, but I didn’t get on with it.

I recently bought only curls for my wavy hair, the starter kit to see how it goes. I’ve heard good things abouts them. I also have a silk pillow case to see if that helps too.

I loved Only Curls until my scalp started reacting to something in it and I had to stop using it. I've switched to Curlsmith products. Their frizz reducing range is fantastic.

I’ve tried a few but always go back to Umberto Giannini and the Boots pot of curl cream which is dirt cheap.

I love innersence and it comes in minis so you can try it. The only boucleme I love is the purple strong hold gel - brilliant. The curly girl method says to co-wash but all the curly hairdressers say to shampoo. I like innersence - it also stops build up which is very important for fine hair. I like flora and curl stuff too. Welsh curly girl on insta is very helpful to follow for me. But also how you apply and dry makes a difference. I can use the same products and different methods and have very different results. If gel is too heavy on your hair you can either emulsify it with water before applying or use hairspray once you've wet styled. I will spray it on my hands and glaze it over the wet styled hair.

Thank you for all your replies. I will finish the curly creams I bought and when it's time to buy more I will start trying new products as you recommended.
I guess I have to find a balance between a good product my hair likes and a good price.

I also need to find a good hairdresser. They are just bad. When I used to live in France my hairdresser was specialized in wild hair and he was brilliant. He also had normal prices. He didn't charge extra for wavy - curly-voluminous hair. His hair cuts were fabulous.

Normal hairdressers cut your hair how they learnt in college but that works for straight hair. That type of cut for wild hair is disastrous. You leave the hairdresser looking like Beyonce and when you wash your hair at home you look like a mop.

Finishing your hair appointment beautiful is important but the most important part for me is when I wash it and style it at home. I know if the cut is brilliant if hair follows its natural pattern and it settles nicely and people notice you have a beautiful haircut instead looking like a mop.
I cannot find a good hairdresser who knows what to do with wild hair.

Any recommendations for South Yorkshire area please? I found some on Instagram and women look beautiful when they finish their appointments but I would like to know if that is a good haircut after you wash&style it home.

Thank you very much :)

I've just had a merwaves starter pack delivered yesterday so I'll let you know what happens! Hoping it's decent as it's not cheap!

I love Bouclème. I use the curl cream and volume mousse if I’m leaving my hair to air dry. Put the cream in first, comb through and then scrunch in the mousse. If I’m using the hair dryer then I use the yellow gel, comb through and then the volume mousse.

I've found most high street brands react badly with my hair, makes it more frizzy, greasy etc.

I've had great success by first getting a curly hair cut, which is expensive but I only do this twice a year. They give you hair advice, which really helps too.

Through recommendations, I've been using products from only curls. There's no silicone etc in their products.

They have very helpful video tutorials to help curly hair.

The biggest difference is going from washing my hair every 2 days to every 4 days and using a diffuser.

No idea if this is helpful but here is the website I use to buy products and find a hairdresser.

https://onlycurls.com/pages/salon-stockists?_pos=2&_sid=90c83385a&_ss=r

Kerastase curly range conditioner (fondant hydration) is the best I have found. Unfortunately the RSP is @£35 but I’ve been buying it from Toni & Guy for about £20. I also like Aveda Be curly lotion. I can’t live without this. I’ve not got on with oils at all, I thought they don’t mix with water when your hair needs to keep moisture. I just use a cheap shampoo as I go the gym a lot but try to use it sparingly. I went to a curly hairdresser once and got good advice but I’m afraid I can’t not wash my hair frequently if I’m sweating at the gym most days.