Wavy hair products

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Hi, if you have wavy or curly hair, what products do you use and have you got a specific routine? I currently straighten mine, but it is getting more wavy as I get older it seems!

Thanks

It depends what you’re trying to do. I use Only Curls conditioner and curl cream, but I want curls. If you are straightening it then you’ll need different products.

Yes to encourage the curls... sorry!

I too use only Curls. I've been trying for years to straighten my hair and at nearly 60 I've finally embraced my curls. Life is so much easier. In fact I've not had it cut since February as I don't have split ends due to not using any heat on it. The one thing I've learnt is that the more moisture your hair retains the curlier up is. I also used to wash it every day but now I don't need to. Just spray with water and put a curl cream on between washes.

I use mousse, specifically Umberto Giannini. Of all the different types of products that's the best on mine (which is kind of bendy at the roots and goes ringlety at the ends). Only Curls doesn't work any better than high street stuff for me.

Mine was very trial and error. I didn't get on with Only Curls, found the consistency too runny. Liked Cantu. Hated the much feted Boots Curl Cream. But have landed on a good combo of normal shampoo, leave in cream, mousse and gel all by Umberto Gianini. Good scrunching, almost soaking wet hair, 75% dry with diffuser, leave to air dry the rest then scrunch out the gel cast.

*leave in conditioning cream

Same - fab range. I use their shampoo as well and then a cheap silicon free conditioner.

The key really is the wet styling and creating the gel cast, has been a game changer for my hair the last few years

Thanks all

My curls are better if I let them dry naturally, I only dry if I’m going to work.

I've started using cantu styling custard.

I use cantu conditioning co wash and occasionally their curl activator. Plop in a microfibre towel. Silk pillowcases.

Aveda botanical here. We're all going to be different. I spotted around for ages across all price points before deciding on aveda.

I wet comb usually with leave in conditioner, lightly dry with a microfibre towel, scrunch in a curl cream and then use a gel, the umberto Gianni already mentioned is good. When I'm not in too much of a hurry I diffuse too and thy makes the waves really pop.
It is trial and error to find what works but it does feel more fun and wild than straightening. That merwave system also looks good for beginners.

Not what you asked but if you don’t already, try a curly hair specialist hairdresser. Changed my life (and recommended the right products for my hair too)

Is that a curl cream product or shampoo / conditioner? I'm trying to improve my day 2 and 3 curls!

I have never straightened mine. All I use after washing is Boots Curl Creme and let it dry naturally.

My hair is so thick that I can't leave it curly unless it's summer, as it won't dry at the roots and then gives me dandruff.

The key is to comb your hair with conditioner in, gets all knots out. Set your parting when wet, and then with the conditioner in, you kind of let the water soak it, but not wash it out. That's when you scrunch with the curling cream (I use cantu). I have a plop turban that helps remove moisture, but not figured out diffusers yet!

I've settled on:

Shampoo with Body Shop Ginger
Condition with Garnier Banana Hair food, brush in the shower while rinsing.
Microfibre towel turban very tight for 5 mins to remove excess water
Umberto Gianni mousse scrunched in (it doesn't work if the hair is sopping wet).

Then don't touch till it is bone dry, then gently scrunch and separate curls with fingers. If I need it dry faster I hover a hairdryer and diffuser over it a few inches away for a while then let it finish naturally

Never brush it dry, next day run fingers through to remove any mats and tangles, spray lightly with water and a tiny bit more mousse.

It's just a really moisturising line, I don't think it's aimed specifically at curls. That said, the leave in conditioner, which I use after the shampoo and main conditioner, and the styling cream are great for reducing frizz, which means I have more defined curls. The curl products I've tried never suited my hair, which is thin, dry and a lot of it. I can actually brush my hair now, with a wide tooth brush of course, but still.

Wave revival shampoo, conditioner and gel. Work well for thin hair

Davines curl building serum, either dry using diffuser or let dry naturally. Gives great definition.

I shampoo then condition, combing out any tangles with a wide toothed shower comb. After rinsing , I gently squeeze out any excess water, apply Cantu curl cream, then put my hair in a microfibre turban to help dry off. Once I'm dressed I apply some Pantene hair oil to help give my hair a bit of shine, then let it finish drying naturally. No brushing or combing in between washes, except to use a wavy wide tooth comb just before washing to get rid of any loose hairs. It looks like this when fully dry. I'm 54 (53 when the pic was taken), hair natural colour.

Thank you all, I will have a nice online window shop at products.