Sorry for the delay in getting back to you BigButtons. I think you might find this video really useful as Tori has fine hair, she gives product recommendations for the UK (both budget and otherwise) and it shows useful tips and tricks too 👍
As for personal recommendations - after trying lots of different products in the early days of learning to style my natural hair texture, I’ve settled on two brands: Jessicurl (https://jessicurluk.com) and Curlsmith (https://uk.curlsmith.com).
My hair is very coarse (with low porosity because it’s not been chemically treated) so I tend to get on best with styling products that moisturise and have only small amounts of protein. I prefer minimal-fragrance or fragrance-free: for some reason curly hair products tend to be very strongly fragranced. I also avoid silicones in my haircare because my hair doesn’t like them.
I use E45 and Nizoral daily shampoo because I like a moisturising shampoo with stronger cleansing ingredients - it prevents build up of styling products. After washing, if it’s a Jessicurl day, I condition with their Too Shea or if I’m going to use Curlsmith stylers, I use their Shine conditioner.
Jessicurl products are fantastic for my hair; very moisturising and great for rehabbing hair that has been through a lot of heat styling. I can’t say enough positive things about their deep treatment conditioner. They’re very concentrated products so a little goes a long way in application - a full-size bottle of product will last me a few months (I wash and style every 3 days.) Also, their conditioners are all multi-use and can be used for heat treatments, rinse out and leave-in.
Curlsmith are a brand with lots of product ranges targeted at specific hair needs. I like their fragrance free Shine range, although I find the strong hold gel can make my hair feel a bit producty if I use too much. I don’t find Curlsmith as moisturising but that might make them better suited to finer hair.
Both of these brands sell trial/travel sizes which is great for saving some dosh while testing things out.
I used to get on well with the Noughty range of wavy hair products but I stopped being able to tolerate the strong fragrances.
Whichever styling products I’m using, I apply them to wet hair in the shower, after I’ve washed and conditioned, and comb them through with my Tangle Teezer detangling comb. Then scrunch to ensure the product coats the hair. I plop () my hair in a microfibre hair wrap for about 20 minutes to help form waves and then diffuse to about 70% dry before I get bored and let my hair air dry the rest of the way. When the hair is fully dry, I scrunch out the crunch of the styling products with a few drops of coconut oil on my hands.
Hope you find this information dump helpful 😊