Reader Liz wrote with this question:
I’m finally trying to embrace my waviness and make it look halfway decent but have been vexed in this endeavor by not being able to find the right product. Literally every one I try leaves my hair with that dreaded crunchy, wet look. And I’ve moved to a place that is (to my surprise) I think MORE humid than the Twin Cities. So I’m in a pickle. If you could just give the details of your haircare routine, like what you wash with, how often, what products you use, whether you diffuse or air dry, it would be MUCH appreciated.
Now, everyone’s hair is different. Obviously. And curly hair can be a tricky little beast, so I would never expect you to take anything I say as gospel, even if you’re a fellow curly girl. Especially since genetics, climate, and a billion other factors all contribute to how hair looks and feels. But in case your curious about how I wrangle the insane mane, here’s what I told Liz, which includes the info I sent her before my recent haircut (which is when she asked), and also includes my post-chop routine.
BEFORE THE CHOP
Before my recent haircut and serious thinning, I washed my hair once a week with Neutrogena clarifying shampoo
Back then, I rotated styling products frequently, which was absolutely key. My hair becomes immune quickly, so I need to keep it alert! I used Garnier Fructis spray gel
When my hair was long enough to wear up, I would often put a pea-sized dab of Aveda Confixor
AFTER THE CHOP
With the advent of the new ‘do, I decided to give the sulfate-free thing a whirl. I’m trying out the DevaCurl No-Poo
My new, thinned-out ‘do is totally loving Momo curl serum
ENDNOTES
Most of the products I use DO leave my hair a bit crunchy. Even the serum. What I’ve found is that supercrunch means I’ve put too much product in there. Instinct says to load it on to avoid frizz, but often a little dab will do ya. I also un-crunch a little by hand, running saturated curls through my thumb and forefinger throughout the day. (Only the really bad ones, though.)
I never diffuse or blow dry my hair. EVER. I don’t even know how, to be honest. I go to work with a wet head and just don’t care, and my hair thanks me for it. I don’t use a curling iron or any heat treatment. I wash/wet, scrunch, and go.
I use a wide-tooth comb to part my hair. The only time I use an actual hairbrush it is if I’m slicking it back into a tight ponytail or bun, which I don’t do very often. I do not brush my hair at any time.
There are several techniques recommended for curly girls that I haven’t tried. I can’t say I’m keen to do the hardcore no-poo vinegar-baking soda mix, as it just sounds like a ton of hassle. And I’m not sure that drying my hair in a tee-shirt instead of a towel is going to make much of a difference, but I’ll admit that I’ve never tried.
Curlies: Anyone going the full no-poo route? Other tips for curly girls, or products to recommend? Those of you with non-curly hair, how often do you wash and how does it affect your hair?
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{ 64 comments… read them below or add one }
I love your hair! Have you tried Moroccan Oil Intense Curl? It doesn't weigh my curls down and is not at all crunchy. It has made my coarse hair super soft. I used to use Davines products before I discovered this. I have not tried the momo cream you mentioned, but intend to order it. Thanks!
I've got staright hair, and I wash it every other day (thank mom and dad for this amazing gene pool) to keep it looking fresh. I wash my fringe every morning to be able to blow dry it in place, otherwise it tells me nono and does its own thing really. I use leave-in cinditioners, one for ends, another one for smoothness and shine all over.
xxx Charlie
http://www.femininebravery.com/
My hair, when longer, is massively thick and curly. I haven't tried the no-poo thing yet, but my biggest tip is DON'T TOUCH. Any potential frizziness comes out tenfold when you mess with your hair.
Great post for the curly girls! Over the years, I have tried a number of products, and I really don't think you can beat the Deva line. I never brush or dry my hair; with regular use of Deva No Poo and conditioner, I am able to just finger comb it when wet.
I am a gel user, and one trick my hairdresser taught me was to apply all styling products when my hair is very wet, then lean over and use a towel to blot (gently) as my hair hangs down. Then (still leaning), I'll scrunch in a little more gel. If you have long, heavy hair, you can use clips to hold it up above your hairline until it dries to give you some lift. Most important: I never touch my hair until it's completely dry, and then only push my fingers through the roots to fluff it if needed. Otherwise, it messes up the curl pattern, leading to the dreaded frizz.
It was interesting reading this – my hair isn't curly, it's more like irregular waves with kinks and I'm always looking for new things to try.
After your hair is wet from the shower, do you run your fingers through it to give it a rough detangle or just part it with the comb without doing anything else?
I have VERY thick curly hair- about three head's worth, so volume is always a problem. I finally went to a good hairdresser a few months ago, and he added lots of layers, and recomended a product that really helped. I use Morrocan oil hydrating styling cream, along with the same Garnier Fructis spray gel Sal used.
My hair doesn't get crunchy, and the hold lasts for two days- I just finger-comb the ends a little if they get ratty. I wash my hair every other day, and always let it air-dry, so it's a very easy system. I'd really suggest you find a hairdresser who knows what (s)he is doing though, and talk with them to find out which products and cuts are best for your hair.
christine: No, but it's next on my list FOR SURE. I've heard nothing but good things about the Moroccan Oil line.
Julia: Nope, just use the wide-tooth comb to part and settle it! Most of the untangling happens in the shower with conditioner/fingers.
I do the no-poo, but I'm medium wavey, not curley. The good news is that it's not that much of a hassle – you make the stuff up beforehand and take it into the shower, but I never have to remember to buy shampoo now, so that makes it worth it. Is it better for my hair? Well, frankly, only if you don't overdo it. A lot of beginners want something that they can scrub into their scalp, and so they end up using too much baking soda and drying their hair out. I'm still growing out that mistake. I also have questions as to whether it actually gets your scalp clean – but I basically don't have dandruff anymore, ever, and I always had it with commercial shampoo. Does my hair look better? … My hair looks passable. It really depends on the other styling I do; my hair is not the kind of hair that looks great down. There is some slight indication that long-term baking soda use can dull color, though, and no matter what the no-poo people tell you, you will smell like a pickle unless you are careful to dilute the vinegar well and rinse thoroughly.
My hair is coily/very curly and fine, but a lot of the knowledge that I've picked up on naturallycurly.com applies to all sorts of curlies. I wash my hair once a week, using Renpure Organics My Pretty Hair is Parched shampoo and conditioner. It's sulfate free, but lathers like a traditional shampoo and leaves my hair incredibly soft. I have tried conditioner washing and concluded that it is not for me. I also don't like conditioning cleansers (Wen, DevaCurl) because I feel like I need to use way to much to feel adequately clean. My HG leave-in conditioner is Giovanni Direct Leave-In. It's lightweight, so it can be used by a whole variety of hair types, but is still pretty moisturizing. Like you, I don't own any type of hair tools. Instead, I braid my hair after washing at night, then style it in the morning (usually worn down or pulled back in a bun).
I highly recommend that you try drying with a t-shirt instead of a towel. I was also a skeptic, but it makes a huge difference in frizziness.
The t-shirt drying trick works really well on my hair but takes about twice as long to dry. I think it comes down to not frictioning the hair too much while it is wrapped up and keeping your hands off of your hair while it initially dries in the shirt. More enforced behavior modification than any special properties of t-shirts.
Has anyone tried to rag their hair before? I keep meaning to try it to see if I can get my waves to do more ringlets, without having to use heat.
purpleshoes: I've heard the no-poo route strips salon color, too. And I do a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse every couple of months and no matter how long I rinse it out, Husband Mike calls me "salad head" all day.
For curlies, I´d recommend finger-combing and flax seed gel (DIY). The flax seed gel is just amazing, it´s a leave-in conditioner and styling gel, kills frizz, gives body and bounce and it conditions the hair. You can load it on as much as you want, and your hair will still feel product-free when dry.
The basic way to do is boil 2tbs of lax seed in a glass of water. Pour through a sieve while still hot, and let cool. Pour on the hair after washing the hair. Your hair will feel slimy, but don´t worry, once it´s dry there will be no trace of that.
You will need to experiment around with the thickness, and you later on you can also add fancy ingredients like herbs, essential oils and hydrolates.
I use Tresemme products on my hair– color treated shampoo & conditioner. When I was working, I washed & styled every day. Now, I'm a SAHM, and I am lucky to shower every other day… if not every third day. Lots of ponytails for me.
Anywho– routine! Wash & condition daily. Then, color protectant spray and blow dry. If I'm going curly, I do some scrunching upside down, then finish right side up. I try to lift my curls and focus the heat on the roots for volume. When I'm almost completely dry, I use the cold setting and do a final root blast.
To finish, I use a drop of moroccan oil. The key is to rub it briskly between your hands, then finger comb through the curls. It makes them shiny and soft. No crunch!
I really like the Suave Curls Activating Shampoo but sadly I don't think they make it anymore
Redkin makes a similar product that works just as well but costs almost 3 times as much 
I've had a lot of luck with the Treseme curl spray. No crunchies but it works great.
One of my curly coworkers just started with Moroccan Oil, and her hair looked so great I actually asked if she had gotten it cut differently. She says it makes her hair super soft and it smells great.
I am curly haired, but lightweight. I used Chagrin Valley's shampoo bars found here: http://www.chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com/shambar.htm. I mix a little bit of baking soda in every other shampoo. I rinse with apple cider vinegar and lavendar oil.
I wash every other day.
Oh wow, I'm glad you posted this! My hair is similar in curl to yours, extremely thick and very dry. I fought with it until I was 29 when a friend forced me to read Curly Girl. It changed my life and now I don't have to wait five days for awesome hair!
My routine is not as pioneer-like as baking soda and vinegar. I "wash" with Nature's Gate Tea Tree Conditioner, it cleans my scalp. I condition with Deva One Condition or Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose conditioner. Both are super thick and gloppy and mmm. Then I just use Deva Angell which is my holy grail of gels. It starts crunchy but I can scrunch it out once dry and it's DIVINE. And then air dry or a little diffusing in winter.
Watch that serum, I clicked your link and it has two big silicones in the first few ingredients – dimethicone and cyclomethicone. No Poo isn't made to strip your hair of silicones, so the serum might build up and make your hair dull. Word to the wise which you certainly are!
Oh and a total ninja curly hair trick? Sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase. You will not believe the difference in your hair.
As someone with pretty curly/ wavy hair I've been struggling with it for years, but this is what I've come up with to at least give me pretty good to awesome hair days…
I do wash my hair everyday or else it gets super duper greasy, tried to stop and only do it every other day but it just didn't work and I got really sick of having gross hair all the time…
So, I wash and condition my hair with Dove everyday BUT before my hair dries every morning I put in Frederik Ferkai Curling Creme…its kind of expensive, about $20 per bottle but they last three months, no crunch no wet greasy look, and gives my curls nice definition…also I never use a hair dryer, even in the winter months…
I've tried everything and this seems to work the best, I've been using it for at least 5 years now and my hair still responds positively to it!
I am a super straight full and shiny hair kinda girl. But as a kid i had it extra curly like my dad. I hated it when it straightened. I used to wear rags as a teen to give it some wave.It works, but it's tedious and you look like a granny a whole evening. But now, it's fashionable enough/I've grown up and accept the sleek look. THE downside is i have to wash it 3 times a week. It's boring. I used to do once a week-ers…:(
Other than that i observed that blow-drying is actually good for me (no cold-head migraine and less oily). And I use a mouse conditioner for volume. It's really nice that day but it needs washing faster so it's not every time routine.
I have maybe slightly curlier hair than Sally. A few years ago a friend of mine started going to a salon in New York that specializes in curly Hair. She called me and told me to throw out my shampoo. We use gobs of conditioner. (I like Aveda shampure conditioner or rosemary mint.) I scrub it into my scalp and rinse it out–any dirt, skin flakes and sweat is washed away, but the oils your hair follicles need to curl without frizzing are not. The only product I use is more spray on conditioner. The result is curly/wavy hair, with no frizz and no products cluttering up the bathroom. The first three shampoo-free weeks are difficult, but then you're home free! It's so worth a try!
My hair is a little curlier than yours but not as thick. One key is to get it cut by someone who actually knows how to cut curly hair instead of treating it as misbehaving straight hair! Why this is such a rarity is beyond me.
I like the No-Poo but can't bring myself to shell out the dough, so I wash with conditioner or a little of whatever random non-sulfate shampoo once a week-ish. Other days I get it thoroughly wet, scrub my scalp with my fingers, and then use more conditioner (I am liking the Renpure lately, as a previous commenter recommended). I don't like the way wearing my hair up looks with my face shape, so I reserve that for the gym and start over with wet hair every day.
I also rotate styling products all the time. A pretty reliable cheap option is Herbal Essences gels–the purple tube that claims to be for curls is good in the winter but useless in the summer (New England climate), but the blue tube ("Set Me Up" or something like that) works well in more humid weather. One thing I do sometimes is work a big glob of plain aloe vera gel through my hair after rinsing out conditioner, but while still in the shower (the soothing gel you find in the drugstore next to the sunscreen, but not the kind with alcohol or menthol or other "cooling" things in it). Stay in the shower a while, shaving legs or what-have-you. Don't rinse out. When done showering, add some gel to wet hair and squeeze it all together. Sometimes this kind of settles it in the humidity and it looks awesome. (My theory is that it maxes out on absorbing humidity while you're in the shower. Though oddly enough I also did this on a vacation in Arizona, with no humidity at all, and was stopped on the street and asked what I use in my hair.) Other times it looks like hell. It's a crapshoot.
I wouldn't use stuff with silicones even if I used strong enough shampoo to wash them out, because they make my hair feel overly soft and kind of slimy and frizzy. But others swear by them.
Oh, and I do use a diffuser in the winter–walking to work is enough of an adventure as it is.
I love having curly hair even if it doesn't look smashing every single day.
I feel like everyone's curls are totally different and everything I've learned about curls is trial and error. I have very fine hair that's about as curly as yours. I've been using a Jane Carter "gel" – it's way more liquidy than real gel – and I love the results. It's not crunchy at all.
Also, I never brush my hair unless I'm straightening it (very rare occurrence).
I think the right haircut is key to curl maintenance – long layers are my friend.
Also, can I just say how happy it makes me to see posts on curly hair? I can't even tell you how often I read hair advice and think, "Right, if my hair were straight that might work…"
I have curly hair and do diffuse it, but I dry it as much as possible beforehand so I minimize damage. I love "Mimi's Diva Dryer by Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel" – it really sucks the water out after a shower! Otherwise, I keep experimenting and keeping my hair on it's toes too, but it's always some sort of anti-frizz serum and mousse!
I have fairly curly hair (a bit curlier than yours, Sal) and have a very simple routine. I wash once a week with baking soda (1 tablespoon to 8oz of water) but don't bother with the popular vinegar rinse. I never found that it helped my hair any. I follow the baking soda with a combination of Matrix Curl Life conditioner and Jason's Henna Hi-Lights conditioner. I comb my hair out while still in the shower, and then don't touch the brush again. I scruch with Pantene Curl Defining Mousse. My hair has been smoother, stronger, held more moisture, and been generally easier to deal with than any other time in my life. The whole no-poo thing may not work for some people, but I have no plans of going back.
I have a head of fine, thick, wavy hair…and a LOT of it! It holds a curl well, but there's so much of it that it doesn't curl on its own unless little tendrils are released from an updo OR you count the curls along my hairline.
I wash my hair about twice a week. I stopped keeping track, but generally wash it when my scalp wants the wash, because the hair can always be wrangled into something passable. I don't use styling products, though now that it is so long I use a leave-in conditioner in addition to my post-wash conditioner. I give it a minimal heat-dry in the winter if the hair is wet and I need to leave the house – just enough so that it isn't drippy. Otherwise, it's a braid at night, a brush and style for the day, and perhaps a rinse if I sweated a lot at the gym.
I try to time the washings for after a massage to get the oil out, or after a sweaty Zumba class. On non-washing workout days I sometimes rinse my head when I shower, but other times I just let it dry and brush it out. I have found it very helpful to braid it for sleep (again, because it is quite long), and that makes it less tangly in general).
As someone with stick-straight hair, I am always fascinated by what it takes to style curly hair! My hair routine is super minimalist: shampoo and condition every 2-3 days, sleep on it wet, run a brush through it in the morning. At this length (more or less to the shoulder) my hair does not tangle, so I could go out without brushing it and look OK. I hardly ever use my hair dryer, never ever use product (I can't stand feeling it in my hair), and pretty much never "do" my hair.
My hair is super dry, so washing daily is really bad for it. My haircolor lasts way longer this way too. If I could figure out a way to wash my scalp without washing my hair, I think my hair would probably be happier if I washed every 5 days or so.
I've got curly hair and I don't use shampoo anymore. I massage my scalp very well with either just water or silicone-free conditioner and then rinse very well. I then use a leave-in conditioner or oil on the ends. I've had "bad" hair my whole life, but by eliminating shampoo, I have way less frizz (without styling products) because my hair is no longer dried out. My curls hang better without a lot of pouffiness.I haven't had problems with a greasy scalp or smelly hair. I think the key is good friction when washing followed by a good rinse.
I also do an olive oil/honey hair mask once a week with an occasional vinegar rinse.
I have very thick hair, and to further complicate matters, my hair has two different textures. The bottom layer (which is pretty much everything except the hair that frames my face, and what grows around the crown) is fairly smooth, wavy, but not super curly when I wear it long, and generally awesome. The top layer is another story. It's frizzy and coarse and wants to be super curly if I encourage it.
What I've recently discovered works better than anything I've ever tried (and I've tried most of the curly hair stuff on the market) is a cold water rinse. I take an old water bottle and fill it with tap water, and put it in the fridge. When I take a shower, I grab that bottle and take it with me. I shampoo my hair (twice a week) and at the end of the shower, I lean forward and turn my hair over so it's hanging down around my face, and then (with much grumbling about the cold) I thoroughly rinse with the refrigerated water.
It's AMAZING to me that this one simple thing pretty much completely tames my crazy hair. I gently scrunch it dry with a regular towel, apply a little bit of anti-frizz serum, and let it air dry, and it turns out beautifully. No conditioner, no more product, nothing. I've also noticed that my hair (which is notorious for taking hours to dry) dries in less than half the time it used to take.
For even more awesome results, I brew up a batch of lavender water and refrigerate that and use it as a rinse. My hair and my scalp seriously thank me for it. Plus it smells awesome.
I've done the straightening treatment, so no more curly hair for now. BUT I have fine, thin hair, and when it was curly, I found RUSK Jelee gloss was a great no crunch gel for me. Then John Frieda Dream Curl spray and diffusing gave me no-frizz curls. I'd just gotten the hang of it, after 40 years of experimentation with various products.
But I'm straight for now and just shampoo and go. No product, no conditioner. For me it was the right choice and has sped up my morning.
I've been no-poo for almost a year, and I swear by silicone-free conditioner, pure aloe vera gel and plopping (I use a Curl-Ease towel for that). Funnily, I wrote about the process just last week:
http://interrobangsanon.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/going-no-poo/
I am a no-poo-er since April 2008. My hair is rather curlier than yours Sally, but potentially not quite as thick, though I've still got a good head of hair up there!
Advantage to no-poo: super cheap! I use Suave conditioner ($1.99 for a huge bottle! Most, maybe all?, Suave Naturals conditioners are cone free… I use the Ocean Breeze one), Garnier Fructis spray gel, and some baking soda and vinegar (white, because it's what I use anyway) once a week. Way more affordable than all the serums and potions and tonics and whatnot I was trying before, only to habitually abandon each bottle halfway through.
The baking soda/vinegar days are my favorite ones, and I'll often break them out off-schedule if I've got something special to go to. My hair is always so shiny and curly those days. The only time I ever smelled vinegary was when I forgot to rinse the vinegar out. If you rinse your hair well (gently!) after the vinegar, you will not smell like a pickle. I promise. (I also use white vinegar as my fabric softener, and have for years. I still have friends, so I can't be that pickle-y!)
I have not owned a brush for at least ten years and have no intention of ever owning one again. I also do not use a comb of any sort. (But then, I don't ever wear my hair with a defined part. I finger-comb in the shower, but never comb once the water stops running)
I am converted turbi-twist wearer, and find that using a tee shirt to dry my hair makes a huge difference in how defined my curls are. It does take awhile, but I'm willing to find the time for nicer hair. Plus I've been doing it for so long that it's just my routine and not a problem.
During the warm months, I'm an air-dryer. I leave my hair wrapped in the shirt for as long as possible (basically until I need to leave the house), and then let it dry on its own.
In the winter I blow-dry with a diffuser after leaving my hair in the shirt for as long as possible, because I live in New England and my commute is by foot/bicycle and my hair would freeze otherwise.
I sleep wearing a satin bonnet many nights and look admittedly ridiculous, but it helps fight the frizz. Really I should get a silk or satin pillow case, but I don't love the idea of sleeping with my face on something so slippery and cool, so the bonnet's my compromise.
During my shampoo-free time, I've had my hair cropped close close to my scalp and as long as the middle of my back, where it currently is, and at every length in between. With occasional tweaking, I have found my hair to respond well to the method at all lengths and in all seasons.
First, let me say I'm not affiliated with Deva or any other company. Because this is going to sound like a commercial, but I swear it's not.
I'm a no-poo girl. I've used the Deva products for about 5 years now: Deva Curl No-Poo, Deva Care One Condition, Set it Free as a de-frizz/shine spray (it doesn't actually "set" anything, IMO), and Angell gel.
I've tried other "no-poo" methods such as using cheap conditioners for cleansing. I've also tried to other styling products. But I always come back to Deva. It's what works for me.
I can't skip a day of cleansing– my scalp rebels. But only with the No-Poo product. Every once in a while I'll try a "gentle" shampoo and I can't believe how drying it is. I can't believe I used this stuff on my hair for so long.
I come from a family of curly heads and we all swear by different products, brands, and methods. So yeah, I hate to say it but some experimentation may be required to find what works best for you.
first – every body's hair is different, so trial and error…
general things that help me – don't touch. don't brush, only comb right before washing to de-tangle. no poo, wash with conditioner. half conditioner/half gel can provide de-crunchified hold.
if your hair is thick and curly, learn how to thin/trim it yourself. you can use thinning shears or use scissors to thin. just trimming off 1/8" will really enliven your curls (as will a bit of thinning), so if you can do even the bits around your face or crown yourself every 2-3 weeks it can make a HUGE difference in your hair.
i also rec learning how to trim/thin yourself since it's so hard to find anyone who can cut curly hair, not even getting into the price aspect….good luck! steph
I am so jealous of everyone who can get away with washing their hair just once or twice a week! My hair is oily and fine, and if it doesn't get washed every day the oil buildup causes it to stick flat against my scalp. NOT a good look.
But I still have a pretty minimalist routine – shampoo but no conditioner, comb through after shower, put in a little volumizing potion and then dry the roots.
Last year I decided to quit fighting my hair (I wanted it BIG, like all you thick/curly haired gals), and now it's looking great. Sometimes you just gotta go with Nature.
Lest you should ever think I only dish and never take advice: Just ordered up some Moroccan Oil Intense Curl and Deva Care One Condition! Woo hoo!
Thanks for all the great tips and recommendations, friends. As many have said, every woman's hair is different and finding the right care-and-product combo is a delicate art. I'm definitely still experimenting, and it sounds like many of you are, too.
I've followed Lorraine Massey's Curly Girl system for years, and it really works. If you can't get hold of her book, a lot of the information is also available on NaturallyCurly.com — I also love their product reviews and salon recommendations.
Until very recently, I also used Deva products exclusively, but I've switched over to Rene Furterer's "Acanthe" line for "cleansing milk" (no surfactants), conditioner, and leave-in. But I'm still faithful to Angell as the final step.
And yes, the tee-shirt makes a huge difference. The secret is that terry loops on an ordinary towel "scuff" your hair's cuticle, which makes it frizz. A lovely old, worn-in tee is really gentle on your hair. If you're going to use higher-end product on your curls, it's worth it to use a towel as well.
Finally, see if you can find a haircutter in your area who's been trained in the Devachan method. It makes a huge difference in how your hair looks, because the curls hang better. I'm currently not having my hair cut this way, and even though it looks OK, it's never as gorgeous.
First of all: I loooove these comments! I eat up anything about wavy/curly hair care so I painstakingly read everything everyone said (and googled just about every product, too!)
Second: about gel crunchiness – I can't put in loads of gel because my hair is fine and easily weighed down, but I know lots of curly gals will purposefully put in so much gel that it gets crunchy. After it dries, they scrunch their hair until the crunch is gone, but the curls stick around because they dried like that (held in place by the gel)
Third: my routine:
I have fine hair that is wavy, but I'm always trying to make it the MOST wavy or curly it can be. I tried the no-poo method but it just didn't work for me. My hair NEEDS silicones or else it becomes one big tangly dreadlock.
So, I wash my hair about every 3-4 days. I alternate between a no-sulfates set and a set with sulfates and silicones. I comb *before* my shower, not after. Right out of the shower I immediately flip my head over, blot it a little to soak up water, put in gel (surprisingly I found one at Big Lots called Vital Care for $2 that is the best I've tried), and plop for about 15 minutes (however long it takes to brush my teeth, get dressed, etc.). After plopping I spray my roots with volumizing spray, then diffuse.
It works best when I diffuse it until it's totally dry, but I get impatient so I usually only get it about 90% dry.
If I want my hair to be wavy but need to make sure it looks good (if something important is happening that day or something), I wash my hair at night, put in cream/gel combo, then rag roll. It's not my natural curl but it's more predictable.
There is a book called "Curly Girl" by Lorraine Massey that has great advice on embracing your locks and how to treat them. It looks like she's got an updated edition coming out in Jan 2011.
I'm not a curly girl, but I also have gone to shampooing once or twice a week and it's been great for my hair.
I have two things to pass on that I found helpful for various types of hair. First, clarifying shampoos can be quite harsh and are best used "once in awhile", or every X-th wash (according to your hair texture and level of scalp oiliness, according to my hairdresser pal). They strip out the product buildup but also a lot of the hair's natural oils and protections and tend to rile up the cuticle of the hair shaft and make hair tend towards frizzy and dry if used too much.
Another friend of mine, who happens to be the equipment manager for a major sports organization and thus does glamorous tasks like team laundry, taught me to never use fabric softener (including dryer sheets) on your towels…it actually renders then LESS water absorbent, so you end up drying MORE, which in the case of your hair means rubbing it/riling it up more than necessary. I've tried it and it works wonders!
My hair is naturally wavy, bordering on curly, and I have a huge amount of frizz, especially if it's humid. I finally found a product that let me wear my hair curly and it tamed the frizz! It's the Coppola Keratin Complex Infusion Keratin Replenisher. It's not actually a styling product but it let me wear my hair curly/wavy without frizz, and without blowdrying. I'm sure you could add a styling product on top of it if needed though.
For years I fought my waves because I didn't know what to do with them. And frizziness made things look even worse. So this stuff was truly amazing once I tried it.
I too have naturally curly hair and for years fought my hair to get it to work with me. Two tips that work for me are (1) get a good haircut from somone who knows how cut curly hair and (2) frizziness is cause by a lack of moisture in your hair so moisturize.
I now have success with my hair, thanks to finding a good hair dresser who understands how to cut curly hair. THIS IS KEY to managing your curls and getting your hair to work for you.
I use Dove Daily Moisturizer shampoo and conditioner every two days, and switch out every now and then for Nexxus products. I like the Dove because it doesn't weigh my hair down. I shampoo twice leaving the second shampoo on for a minute or so in the shower. Then I condition, being careful to not get too much conditioner into the roots and rinse with cooler water. I read that leaving the shampoo in longer actually puts more moisture in your hair than leaving the conditioner in so that's what I do and it works for me.
I also use John Frieda stying products Frizz Ease, which helps combat frizz right out of the shower and Be Curly spray to enhance the curls. This combo doesn't cause crunchiness. I let my hair air dry and use a diffuser in the winter months when it's cold outside.
Hope this helps some of you. Us curly heads have to stick together.
My hair went wavy/curly when I was about 35, but unfortunately it stayed very fine, and still got very oily on the second day. I tried baking soda/vinegar, but I think it doesn't work with very hard water – it did TERRIBLE things to my hair, like incipient crusty dreadlocks.
Now, of course, my hair seems to have gone wavy/straightish again. Still need to wash every day. Sigh.
I have thick curly hair that naturally forms into beautiful ringlets with very little work. It's type 3A for those that follow the curl type guidelines.
I'm an avid Devacurl user. I use low poo shampoo, and one condition. I shampoo 2-4 times a week. In the summer time I use arc angell (extra hold) and in the winter I mix the two together (arc angell and angell). I use a blow dryer and dry my hair until its about 60-75% dry, then let it air dry. Once dry I lock my curls with Set it free spray.
I also get dry haircuts, and I use a tee-shirt instead of a towel to dry my hair. It makes a huge difference!
I have wavy/curly/depends on the day hair and the best tip I've discovered is to just let it dry the way you want it to end up. Then don't touch it til it's dry and even then as little as possible. Also using a TShirt to dry my hair really really helps – cuts down on my frizzies! I wish I knew about all this when I was growing up. I was a frizzy kid!
I would venture to say that if we were standing side by side, strangers would think that we were related. =)
I move throughout the week wearing my hair straight, wavy and curly. Sort of depends on my mood, but I usually wear it in some degree of waviness because my "curly" is really curly.
Unless I'm doing something completely different with my hair, I can get away with only using 2 hair products. I use a squirt of Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum and a dab of Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Styling Cream.
I only wash my hair once a week, and once or twice a week I co-wash it (using only conditioner as you mentioned). I just recently started to wear a head wrap to keep things under control and to reduce breakage, and this seems to have made a huge difference in the health of my hair. Before I wrap, I add more Anti-Breakage Serum, focusing mainly on the ends, and when I wake up my hair needs very minimal attention. It's fantastic, and cuts about 10 minutes off of my morning prep.
I think we have really similar hair, down to the color and everything. (We also have very similar body types and coloring, which makes your blog even more fun for me, because I can easily picture wearing what you wear.)
I've found that for my hair, technique is just as important as product(s). If I want lots of volume and defined curls, I can get it by bending at the waist at the end of my shower and scrunching in products with my head upside down, then gently squeezing out some of the water with a towel made out of soft knit material (I bought a yard of it at a fabric store and cut it into three hand-towel sized pieces).
If I want more relaxed, ringlet-y curls, I comb my hair with a wide tooth comb while it's still very wet, apply products, comb again to distribute them evenly, then gently scrunch with the aforementioned towel.
Hey, curly girls! A great place with scads of info (message boards, product reviews, etc) is NaturallyCurly.com.
My routine is no-poo (sulfate-free) and cone-free. I wash with Kinky Curly Come Clean every other day. I use DevaCare One Condition. I use Kinky Curly's Knot Today – it's an *amazing* detangler. And Kinky Curly's Curling Custard is a great gel, even for girls with less kinky hair. I never use a brush, I do not diffuse. My hair is crunchy as it dries, but 60 seconds of scrunching around 10am gives me awesome hair for the rest of the day.
I have very fine curly hair, and it has been a struggle to figure out what to do with it. I tried the Deva low poo and it just left my hair stringy and greasy. I currently use the Garnier shampoo (and no conditioner) but it doesn't do a good job defining my curls, and feels somewhat heavy.
I just purchased the Wen cleansing conditioner and will see how that feels. For those you have FINE curly hair, I would love some suggestions. I'm so tired of having bad hair days.
Wow, so many curlies following this
My hair's pretty fine and curly (3a underneath, 3b on top), and is cut layered, since that helps a lot better against volume than thinning. Curled up my hair is past shoulder length on the back, but measured from my forehead it's 65-67cm .
My routine luckily only needs to be done every 3-4 days, when I wash with a proteine and sulfate-free shampoo (I love Garnier Ultra Doux, but I've only seen those haircare products in Belgium and France). Then conditioner, and combing while the conditioner (switch between Jessicurl Aloeba daily conditioner and Garnier Ultra Doux) is still in. Also, I comb the hair upside down, and rinse it with my head down as well, since it ensures more volume on top and less on the side.
To style I always use a leave-in product, since my hair's pretty dry. Best results are with Garnier Ultra Doux hairmasks, and then a couple of dollops of Jessicurl products (1/4 Confident Coils Styling Solution, 3/4 Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion). To dry my hair I wrap it plunking style in a towel and leave it in while I go have breakfast and get dressed. In winter I'll dry it with a diffuser, but that's because cycling with wet hair can get really cold!
If my hair gets a bit frizzy on day 2-4 I spray on some Jessicurl Awe Inspiraling Spray, mixed half half with water, or Bee Mine Juicy. Generally I can wear it loose 2-3 days after I've washed it.
I think products and styling depends on the type of hair and type of curl for each individual.
For myself, I have a great deal of fine, curly hair. It's not thick, but there is a lot of it. The hair on the top of my head is more of a spiral curl, while the hair underneath is more of a wave.
I've tried gobs of products over the years including products from Jessicurl. I've also tried several techniques including tips in the Curly Girl book by Lorraine Massey.
I initially started with gels because that's what I had always been told or heard. I've learned that gel is too heavy for my fine hair. And gel makes my hair crunchy which I hate.
I have since switched to a mousse. I've tried several, expensive and drugstore brands. My favorite was mousse from Salon Selectives. Not too long after I found my miracle product, it was taken from the shelves for no reason other than…well…all good things must come to an end. No good reason at all! I now use Garnier Fructis Curl Construct mousse. It does a decent job. Still not as good as Salon Selectives though.
My routine varies. I used to wash my hair everyday. I still wash my scalp everyday. I've tried washing once a week and conditioning for the rest of the week, but my scalp is so oily and my hair became grimy and heavy. So I wash my scalp daily and condition the rest of my hair.
While the conditioner is in my hair, I use a wide tooth comb to comb the knots out. This makes it so when I get out of the shower, my hair combs easily and I don't have to worry about pulling and tugging on my hair.
I use a good glob of mousse and flip my head upside-down and apply mousse to the bottom of the underneath hair and then I use another glob to apply to top of my hair while it's still flipped over. I know, it sounds strange, but it works to get the mousse in the right places.
I, then, flip my head back to upright, comb the mousse in, flip my head over again and lift the hair (almost like scrunching without the squeezing) to get the spring back in the curls. I blow dry with a diffuser that came with my hair dryer. Nothing fancy.
This isn't how I've always done my hair. I've gelled and left it to dry on it's own, but I like this technique best. It's gives my hair a little extra volume. If I left it to dry on it's own, I wouldn't have near as much curl or volume.
I have wavy to curly hair — I actually get perfect princess ringlets when my hair is conditioned right.
I've been 'poo-less since June. Never going back. I add rosemary oil to the vinegar, as well as shea oil. My hair is so soft and shiny after that! I generally use baking soda/ACV rinse once every 10 days, though I do get my hair wet and "wash" it almost every day. I will occasionally use an egg yolk instead of baking soda.
Try Recoil: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlproducts/product-description/ag-hair-cosmetics-recoil-curl-activator
And Kiehl's Silk Groom:
http://www.kiehls.com/Silk%20Groom%20Serum/579,default,pd.html
I tried skipping shampoo and just washing with water but found it to be a pain in the butt and I didn't like the inevitable greasy hair phase. I'm fine with just using a sulfate-free shampoo every other day.
I also stopped brushing my hair in recent months and found that totally obliterated frizz for me. Love it!
Hey Sal, I love your new 'do. I'm in the TC too (unintentional rhyme). While I love the woman who cuts my hair, I'm not convinced she really knows what's she's doing with my mane. I've got super thick, wavy and I hate to admit it, but it's true, coarse hair. At the moment, just above shoulder length although it's been much longer in the past. Do you feel comfortable sharing who/where you get your hair cut? Thanks!
Susie Q: I do, but in light of everything that's been said here, I'm sure I'll get some flak!
I've gone to fancy salons, including stylists who claimed to specialize in curly hair, and never gotten cuts I liked. My hair pretty much does what it wants and never forms true ringlets anyway … so I go to Great Clips. Usually the one on the U of M campus, but I'll go to whichever one is nearest me when I get a yen for a haircut. I'm sorry, lady, I'm SURE that's not the answer you were hoping for. If I ever hear of a marvelous curly stylist in the TC, I promise to share!
That's hilarious and kinda adds to my sense that it's all puffery, this hair/makeup/beauty stuff. Keep going to Great Clips. Your hair looks great! Thanks for the honesty. Totally refreshing.
I didn't like the No-Poo routine. But for a great, SLS-free shampoo and conditioner, I've found Trader Joe's Nourish line works AMAZING.
The best stuff I've ever used on my hair, and unlike the others I've tried, it's about 3.99 a bottle. I've heard good things about their Tee Tree one too but I haven't tried it yet.
I also only wash with shampoo 1-3 times a week. Still on the hunt for the best styling product.s
My hair has spots that are all ranges of curly, but it's all very fine and tends to go frizzy. I've been growing it out to shoulder-length for a long time, and I have success getting lasting curls and minimum frizz/fuzz – finally – by:
1. Using shampoo 2-3 times per week, and just rinsing it well with lukewarm water the other days. NoPoo is great, but L'Oreal EverPure is also sulfate-free, and my hair also loves Dove shampoo and Pantene Curls shampoo.
2. After washing/rinsing, I squeeze moisture from my hair, then squeeze moisture from my hair with a towel, but do not leave the towel on my head.
3. After this and while my hair is still pretty wet, I put a mixture on my hair (warmed well and mixed in my hand) of 1.5 squirts of Frizz-Ease Clearly Defined Gel and an equal amount of conditioner (this keeps it from getting crunchy and keeps down frizz). Any conditioner seems to work nearly equally well, I just decide depending on how much moisturizing my hair seems to be needing.
4. I work the gel/conditioner all through my hair, from roots to tips, with my head upside-down. My hair feels slippery and sometimes feels like I might have over-done the product, but it's always fine when it's dry. While still upside-down, I work my hair from the roots with my fingertips to separate the curls and get some root-lift, and scrunch it from ends up to the roots until I can feel the curl coming back.
5. After the curls start to tighten up a bit, I flip my head right-side-up and shake my head to get a loose part where I want it. Sometimes it takes another flip and help from my fingers.
6. I don't touch my hair at all now until it's dry. I can get it 90% dry on my 15-minute ride to work if I put the air on defrost-heat and point the vents at my head. After it's pretty dry, I warm a little light pomade or other product (got2b defiant or Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon) in my palms, lightly touch it to the surface of my curls, then flip my head upside-down again and work the rest of it through the upper curls and all of my hair, being careful not to beat up the curls too much, and to keep scrunching.
7. Then when I flip back up, I just kinda neaten up the crazies a bit with my fingers, lift the top roots a bit and scrunch up some of the top curls, and maybe separate some of the longer curls with my fingers.
Voila, lasting curls galore, and no crunch! There seem to be a lot of steps spread over a long time, but the actual labor is 5-10 minutes.
My hair has spots that are all ranges of curly, but it's all very fine and tends to go frizzy. I've been growing it out to shoulder-length for a long time, and I have success getting lasting curls and minimum frizz/fuzz – finally – by:
1. Using shampoo 2-3 times per week, and just rinsing it well with lukewarm water the other days. NoPoo is great, but L'Oreal EverPure is also sulfate-free, and my hair also loves Dove shampoo and Pantene Curls shampoo.
2. After washing/rinsing, I squeeze moisture from my hair, then squeeze moisture from my hair with a towel, but do not leave the towel on my head.
3. After this and while my hair is still pretty wet, I put a mixture on my hair (warmed well and mixed in my hand) of 1.5 squirts of Frizz-Ease Clearly Defined Gel and an equal amount of conditioner (this keeps it from getting crunchy and keeps down frizz). Any conditioner seems to work nearly equally well, I just decide depending on how much moisturizing my hair seems to be needing.
4. I work the gel/conditioner all through my hair, from roots to tips, with my head upside-down. My hair feels slippery and sometimes feels like I might have over-done the product, but it's always fine when it's dry. While still upside-down, I work my hair from the roots with my fingertips to separate the curls and get some root-lift, and scrunch it from ends up to the roots until I can feel the curl coming back.
5. After the curls start to tighten up a bit, I flip my head right-side-up and shake my head to get a loose part where I want it. Sometimes it takes another flip and help from my fingers.
6. I don't touch my hair at all now until it's dry. I can get it 90% dry on my 15-minute ride to work if I put the air on defrost-heat and point the vents at my head. After it's pretty dry, I warm a little light pomade or other product (got2b defiant or Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon) in my palms, lightly touch it to the surface of my curls, then flip my head upside-down again and work the rest of it through the upper curls and all of my hair, being careful not to beat up the curls too much, and to keep scrunching.
7. Then when I flip back up, I just kinda neaten up the crazies a bit with my fingers, lift the top roots a bit and scrunch up some of the top curls, and maybe separate some of the longer curls with my fingers.
Voila, lasting curls galore, and no crunch! There seem to be a lot of steps spread over a long time, but the actual labor is 5-10 minutes.
Mine is wavy & I finally learned that coloring it strips the waves out, so when I stopped coloring it about a year ago, my waves returned!
I wash 2-3 times a week and rinse the others. I wash/rinse at night and condition sparingly- about every other time, depending on how my hair feels. Right now I'm using Tresemme Flawless Curls & loving it. Really light fragrance, which is good for my allergies and light weight. I'm still in mourning for Assie's Hair Salad- that stuff was awesome.
On the weekends, if I don't have plans, I don't do anything. I let the natural oils build up and wash Sunday night.
Like Sally, I use a wide tooth comb to part and after that I finger comb the rest. I do use a brush on days I'm going for a straighter look, but that's the advantage of wavy hair.
For wavy days, I spritz with water in the morning, fluff and spritz lightly with Garnier's Wonder Waves.
I have to agree that the cut makes all the difference for me. The second layers start being cut into my hair, the waves come out. I have a LOT of hair & the weight can really pull the waves down.
My hair has spots that are all ranges of curly, but it's all very fine and tends to go frizzy. I've been growing it out to shoulder-length for a long time, and I have success getting lasting curls and minimum frizz/fuzz – finally – by:
1. Using shampoo 2-3 times per week, and just rinsing it well with lukewarm water the other days. NoPoo is great, but L'Oreal EverPure is also sulfate-free, and my hair also loves Dove shampoo and Pantene Curls shampoo.
2. After washing/rinsing, I squeeze moisture from my hair, then squeeze moisture from my hair with a towel, but do not leave the towel on my head.
3. After this and while my hair is still pretty wet, I put a mixture on my hair (warmed well and mixed in my hand) of 1.5 squirts of Frizz-Ease Clearly Defined Gel and an equal amount of conditioner (this keeps it from getting crunchy and keeps down frizz). Any conditioner seems to work nearly equally well, I just decide depending on how much moisturizing my hair seems to be needing.
4. I work the gel/conditioner all through my hair, from roots to tips, with my head upside-down. My hair feels slippery and sometimes feels like I might have over-done the product, but it's always fine when it's dry. While still upside-down, I work my hair from the roots with my fingertips to separate the curls and get some root-lift, and scrunch it from ends up to the roots until I can feel the curl coming back.
5. After the curls start to tighten up a bit, I flip my head right-side-up and shake my head to get a loose part where I want it. Sometimes it takes another flip and help from my fingers.
6. I don't touch my hair at all now until it's dry. I can get it 90% dry on my 15-minute ride to work if I put the air on defrost-heat and point the vents at my head. After it's pretty dry, I warm a little light pomade or other product (got2b defiant or Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon) in my palms, lightly touch it to the surface of my curls, then flip my head upside-down again and work the rest of it through the upper curls and all of my hair, being careful not to beat up the curls too much, and to keep scrunching.
7. Then when I flip back up, I just kinda neaten up the crazies a bit with my fingers, lift the top roots a bit and scrunch up some of the top curls, and maybe separate some of the longer curls with my fingers.
Voila, lasting curls galore, and no crunch! There seem to be a lot of steps spread over a long time, but the actual labor is 5-10 minutes.
My hair has spots that are all ranges of curly, but it's all very fine and tends to go frizzy. I've been growing it out to shoulder-length for a long time, and I have success getting lasting curls and minimum frizz/fuzz – finally – by:
1. Using shampoo 2-3 times per week, and just rinsing it well with lukewarm water the other days. NoPoo is great, but L'Oreal EverPure is also sulfate-free, and my hair also loves Dove shampoo and Pantene Curls shampoo.
2. After washing/rinsing, I squeeze moisture from my hair, then squeeze moisture from my hair with a towel, but do not leave the towel on my head.
3. After this and while my hair is still pretty wet, I put a mixture on my hair (warmed well and mixed in my hand) of 1.5 squirts of Frizz-Ease Clearly Defined Gel and an equal amount of conditioner (this keeps it from getting crunchy and keeps down frizz). Any conditioner seems to work nearly equally well, I just decide depending on how much moisturizing my hair seems to be needing.
4. I work the gel/conditioner all through my hair, from roots to tips, with my head upside-down. My hair feels slippery and sometimes feels like I might have over-done the product, but it's always fine when it's dry. While still upside-down, I work my hair from the roots with my fingertips to separate the curls and get some root-lift, and scrunch it from ends up to the roots until I can feel the curl coming back.
5. After the curls start to tighten up a bit, I flip my head right-side-up and shake my head to get a loose part where I want it. Sometimes it takes another flip and help from my fingers.
6. I don't touch my hair at all now until it's dry. I can get it 90% dry on my 15-minute ride to work if I put the air on defrost-heat and point the vents at my head. After it's pretty dry, I warm a little light pomade or other product (got2b defiant or Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon) in my palms, lightly touch it to the surface of my curls, then flip my head upside-down again and work the rest of it through the upper curls and all of my hair, being careful not to beat up the curls too much, and to keep scrunching.
7. Then when I flip back up, I just kinda neaten up the crazies a bit with my fingers, lift the top roots a bit and scrunch up some of the top curls, and maybe separate some of the longer curls with my fingers.
Voila, lasting curls galore, and no crunch! There seem to be a lot of steps spread over a long time, but the actual labor is 5-10 minutes.
I'm a No Poo curly girl and have been for about 10 years. I started after reading Lorraine Massey's book Curly Girl. This was before she had her line of Deva products. After she did, I bought them religiously and used them for about 6 years. I only used the No Poo about once a week and then the conditioner daily. I since had to do some budgeting and decided to take try some less expensive items. Right now, I use the Sally line, Bioterra which in all honesty I love more than Deva. I don't shampoo, pretty much ever now. I also use their gel but add a dollup of the pure Fruit of the earth aloe which keeps the curl better. I use it on pretty wet hair then immediately scrunch it with a microfiber towel. It has to be slightly decrunched after it dries but it's worth it, the curl lasts forever and is never frizzy. I used to make my own Flaxseed gel but I find this combo works just as well for me. You just need to find a combination that works for your hair and your budget. Have you checked out the Naturallycurly forum? You can kind of follow others who have similar hair texture and find out what they use. I try not to use anything with -cones in it, my hair doesn't like it. I used to use Tresemme but it's full of them.