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Shampoo + conditioner + more recommendations for my hair please

17 replies

minicooperpooperscooper · 17/05/2026 20:46

Evening everybody,
As you will see from my attached photo, I have frizzy wavy hair. Ideally I'd like to get that sleek/bouncy blowdry look so will be shopping for a styling tool, however I think I need to first get my hair under control.

I have a lot of hair and I'd say it's medium-coarse, I can feel a strand between my fingers and can see it clearly holding it at arm's length with no glasses on (I'm short sighted!!). If I do nothing to it and let it air dry then it looks like my photo (bird's nest), normally I brush it through when wet and let it air dry, it still waves a bit but I can straighten it at least. The problem is it just seems to expand and go frizzy within about half an hour especially if I washed it within the last 24 hours or so. I never wear it down in public as it cannot be trusted to go full on Crystal Tipps 😔

I've tried a lot of different products. Cheap shampoos leave it very frizzy, so then I tried Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic shampoo and conditioner, they felt a bit better but I could feel residue in my hair and all my brushes and things had purple build up on them 😖I've tried the Aussie range which I don't think does a lot for me, I also tried Kerastase Discipline oleo relax shampoo and conditioner, I noticed a little improvement from using it for about a year but it wasn't dramatic, I don't know if I needed other products from their range as well. Currently I use Goldwell Bond pro shampoo and hair mask, I'd say it's about the same as Kerastase.

I was thinking of going back to Kerastase but trying their Nutritive range instead, I asked Chat GPT and it said it would be better than Discipline for my hair, but as we all know Chat GPT says a lot of things, doesn't mean they're all true!

I just want my hair to be less frizzy in general and also not puff up so much, I'm not sure I'll ever get mega sleek hair but one can try!

Shampoo + conditioner + more recommendations for my hair please
OP posts:
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Turnitoffnonagain · 17/05/2026 20:52

How often do you wash it? My hair is a bit like yours. I wash and condition it twice a week with the same Elvive products, then blow dry straight and straighten. A bit of serum on the bottom half.
A good natural hair brush helps. Half bristle/nylon to get a shine.

minicooperpooperscooper · 17/05/2026 20:57

Turnitoffnonagain · 17/05/2026 20:52

How often do you wash it? My hair is a bit like yours. I wash and condition it twice a week with the same Elvive products, then blow dry straight and straighten. A bit of serum on the bottom half.
A good natural hair brush helps. Half bristle/nylon to get a shine.

4 times a week for me, it goes greasy quite quickly despite being so thick

OP posts:
IwanttoWFH · 17/05/2026 21:02

My hair is fine but always goes very puffy and fuzzy when I wash it. It settles down by the second day.

I really like Coco and Eve pro-bond shampoo and conditioner. It makes my hair so soft and really helps with dryness.

Turnitoffnonagain · 17/05/2026 21:05

I keep mine about mid back length because then it weighs itself down a bit and lays flatter somehow. I have long layers with broken/ feathered ends so it is easier to straighten. Mine isn't at all oily so I brush it a lot to givevit some shine.

PropertyD · 17/05/2026 21:11

Do you comb through conditioner and let it sit for a few mins. I am sure you do btw!

Branleuse · 17/05/2026 21:17

Try Cantu shampoo and conditioner. My wavy hair loves it. My curly haired cousin recommended it for one of my curly haired kids, but I've started using it and it's my new favourite

https://www.savers.co.uk/hair/shampoo/shampoo/cantu-shea-butter-natural-cleansing-cream-shampoo-709ml/p/789400
This one and the matching conditioner.
Smells like pineapple

NorthXNorthWest · 17/05/2026 21:22

It looks wavy - try the curly girl routine modified for wavy hair there is also a wavy girl routine. Lots of before and after photos to show you what can be achieved and which products to use. - products you can buy in the supermarket, boots, Superdrug etc

Keepthecat · 17/05/2026 21:29

I ho stay think shampoo and conditioner is neither here or there. Have you tried a very light smooth on.of Nuxe or MoroccanOil?

Intothewhite · 18/05/2026 15:14

I have wavy hair prone to frizz and I use a Superdrug leave in conditioner called Vitasoft - it's great with the bonus of being very cheap. I have tried various curly girl methods but they didn't really work for my wavy hair.

JulietteHasAGun · 18/05/2026 15:27

You have very similar hair to me. I’d say I’ve tried everything under the sun. I agree it’s styling products which makes the most difference not shampoo. I’ve added photos though of my top three shampoos (also have the matching conditioners). Then my highly recommended styling products.

I obviously don’t use all the styling stuff at the same time. But most times I’ll use a mousse and the aveda leave in conditioner. Then kerastase thermo stuff. Then get it mostly dry. Then add either gissou mist or the ouai stuff and finish drying. The hair oil is my last resort for the ends if needed.

the L’Oréal bond repair I would put on dry hair if needed and I haven’t washed that day. I’d also use the gissou mist on dry hair. It works well.

Shampoo + conditioner + more recommendations for my hair please
Shampoo + conditioner + more recommendations for my hair please
ScrollingLeaves · 18/05/2026 15:47

Have you tried blow drying it segment by segment around a large round wooden and bristle brush like this? ( There are other round brushes, plastic, which I think easily cause a terrible tangle when doing it on yourself. So not one of those.)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kent-68mm-Large-Radial-Brush/dp/B0040QA97E

This Hyraluronic gloss shampoo and leave- in conditioner seem to help.
https://www.lookfantastic.com/p/l-oreal-paris-elvive-glycolic-gloss-shampoo-and-conditioner-set-for-dull-hair/15217216/

I also agree with a pp who mentioned a longer overall length, with layered tips, for more weight, so as to draw the hair down more. The highest layers should not be too short though or they will frizz outwards.

L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner Set for Dull Hair | LOOKFANTASTIC

Buy L'Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner Set for Dull Hair - Join Beauty+ Rewards & earn points today! Free delivery available.

https://www.lookfantastic.com/p/l-oreal-paris-elvive-glycolic-gloss-shampoo-and-conditioner-set-for-dull-hair/15217216/

Thechateau · 21/05/2026 09:35

I have hair just like this. What has really helped is just washing it with conditioner most of the time, with a shampoo wash once a week or so.

It stops the frizz and makes my hair fallore in waves. Worth a go?

Thechateau · 21/05/2026 09:35

It's the curly girl method that pp mentioned

Babymamamama · 22/05/2026 21:29

I also recommend the glycolic gloss range the pink one by L’Oreal. I often pick it up on offer in the supermarkets or boots etc. Recommend you get the shampoo conditioner and serum. The whole caboodle. Brush through the conditioner in the shower so it coats all the hair.

mcrlover · 23/05/2026 01:28

I naturally have hair like yours. Use this set of products, can't recommend highly enough!!! Will give you natural-looking smooth fixed curls for days, and you can leave your hair to dry naturally, or blow dry with a massive diffuser attachment to the hairdryer - works well either way, I just leave to dry naturally. I know it's a bit of a pain to do all the steps, but once your hair is in better condition after a few months you can skip the shampoo and conditioner and just use the final 2 steps after you come out of the shower. After step 4 (the clear setting gel), just scrunch your hair in your fingers. Was a total game changer for me!!!

Shampoo + conditioner + more recommendations for my hair please
mcrlover · 23/05/2026 01:33

mcrlover · 23/05/2026 01:28

I naturally have hair like yours. Use this set of products, can't recommend highly enough!!! Will give you natural-looking smooth fixed curls for days, and you can leave your hair to dry naturally, or blow dry with a massive diffuser attachment to the hairdryer - works well either way, I just leave to dry naturally. I know it's a bit of a pain to do all the steps, but once your hair is in better condition after a few months you can skip the shampoo and conditioner and just use the final 2 steps after you come out of the shower. After step 4 (the clear setting gel), just scrunch your hair in your fingers. Was a total game changer for me!!!

I moved to Spain and noticed loads of women here have gorgeous smooth curls with no frizz, so kept asking them what products they use and trying them out. This is my hair right now and I washed it 2 days ago

Shampoo + conditioner + more recommendations for my hair please
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