Products for Curly Hair

I would second the suggestion about gel mixed with a leave-in conditioner or styling cream. I find it helps with definition but no "wet look." I've also had success with MOP volumizing spray; I use it when my hair is wet or dry.

I too have curly hair. However, my hair is thick so it may be a little different. But I use Redkin 12. It is a cream you put in your hair after your shower and your hair dries without the friz. I like it. However, I will say this, my hair isn't as curly after I had my son as it used to be. Before my hair was like a spiral curl, but now it is more of a loose curl. Hopefully the Redkin 12 will work for you. It is a little expensive - $15.00 a bottle, but if you don't wash your hair every day it should last longer. Good luck. Let me know if you end up using it and if it worked or not.

I was totally in the same boat. A few years ago i discovered Garnier Nutrisse's "surf hair."
It makes my hair super thick and makes great curls. It's pretty heavy and sticky as you can imagine, so you have to experiment to get it just right - not using too much is the secret. But give it a try - it's like $4 at Walgreens. (And in this cold waeather, let it air dry a bit, and then put your hairdryer on low or use a diffuser at the roots to dry it before you go out. Let me know what you think!

I have fine wavey hair that tends to get flat without the humidity and the product that really works for me is sold at Mario Triccoci and its called Curl Perfecter.

Hi Denise,
I shop at www.melaleuca.com. The products come with a 100% money back guarantee and only cost $9.99. I checked out the Envia Frizz Control & Styling Wax, Envia Curl Defining Foam & the Envia Pomade [which works incredible wonders on my daughter's hair]. I copied/pasted some product details for you.

Envia Nature’s Salon™
Flyaways and frizz ruining your sleek look? Tame out-of-control hair for a smooth, natural-looking style using Envia Frizz Control & Styling Wax. Natural Styling Ingredients
•This easy-to-use wax washes out fast and includes patented UV protectors to fight sun damage.
•Provitamin B Complex helps prevent damage from heat styling.
•Silicone gives hair added luster and shine.
Hair stays in place throughout the day, defined and separated at your whim.
***************************************************************
Envia Nature’s Salon™
Make waves - literally - with Envia Pomade. Mold obvious and lasting definition into your hair that washes out easily.
Natural Styling Ingredients
•Natural waxes give our Pomade a strong hold that makes hair follow your every command.
•Our patented Lipid Replenishing System plus natural oils restore much-needed moisture.
•Brittle, coarse hair receives the benefit of our Provitamin B Complex, which strengthens and repairs brittle or damaged hair.
***************************************************************
Envia Nature’s Salon™
Envia Curl Defining Foam helps separate, define, and smooth your curls for a finished look that screams luxurious. One pump is all it takes to bring out curls or add volume.
Natural Ingredients
•Natural oils leave hair looking shiny and healthy.
•Provitamin B Complex leaves hair stronger and protects against heat damage from styling.
•Strawberry, grape, and raspberry extracts naturally condition hair from root to tip.
Patented Protection
•Patented UV protectors block sun damage, which can leave hair coarse and dry.

Let me know if you'd like to try these. I can set up a temporary preferred customer account for you and can have the same 30%-40% discount I have. Additionally, your products will ship directly to your home. Don't forget, there's a 100% money back guarantee, even if you use all of the product and return an empty container.

M.
____@____.com
###-###-####

I personally like the Bumble and Bumble Curl Creme. I have used that for a while now.

Good luck.

I, too, have super curly thick hair, which mostly drives me crazy. When it's more humid, my hair gets really big (it's not tight spiral curls, but more frizzy bigger curls). When it's dry, like in the winter, I lose a lot of the curl but get to maintain the frizz. I've had the same product struggle and I think I've finally found a mixture that seems to work (and also doesn't leave my hair stiff or sticky or wet looking). I use Herbal Essences Totally Twisted conditioner in the shower and then use Paul Mitchell's The Conditioner as a leave-in afterward to tame frizziness. If I want more curl definition, I use Fx Curls Up redefiner which is not sticky or stiff and is really inexpensive (like $5). Surprisingly it's the best thing I've found, and I think I've tried all of the curl definers out there.

Sometimes I diffuse, if I have time (it does look better). Otherwise I just let it airdry and hope for the best!

I have the exact same kind of hair - I can TOTALLY relate. I do mine curly in the summer. And though it sounds like doing it straight in the winter has not seemed like an option - hear me out. In the winter - my curls go very strangely. Not enough humidity to make them how I like them - part of my hair underneath holds little curl at all in the dry days of winter. So - upon many tips from my hair girl - I blow dry my hair upside down - very fast - no technique - done in 3 minutes. Then, I use the CHI hair straightener -which seals the hair - and does not damage (VERY IMPORTANT - my hair tends to break off in front) and it straightens in 3 minutes. AND it looks awesome. I could not go back to doing it any other way in the winter. Then I can go 4 days without washing - and just touching it up for about 2 minutes each day with the straightener. There is also - CHI silk infusion - which you can put on before straightening to make it look silky. And although my hair is very fine - it looks very nice this way - and I do a little backcoming on the back so it doesn't hug my head. Hope that helps!!! They sell CHI stuff at Ulta - be prepared though - CHI stuff is NOT cheap. (but SOOO worth it!)

Check out the web site for I believe it is spelled "ouidad". They have products specifically designed for curly hair.
Good luck!!
I know your pain. I too have naturally curly hair and am always trying new and different products to "tame" my hair.

I feel your pain. Here's what I've learned: curly hair needs moisture-that's why it looks so great in the summertime-it's soaking up all the humidity. So, when you shampoo, focus on your scalp, and when you condition, focus on your ends. Slather them, and only get a little conditioner on your scalp. Then towel-dry, & spray on leave-in conditioner, then comb. When you're done washing your face, style your hair the way you want it that day-e.g. part it on the side, or pull half back, etc. Then evenly cover all of it with spray gel. (Unfortunately, not everyone sells this wonderful stuff. If you use regular gel, you won't get all of it evenly, so some hair will be frizzy, and other hair will have that wet look. I know Herbal Essence sells it for sure) Let it dry naturally after that-no combing. You'll have beautiful curls without that wet look. Also-there's a book specifically for women with curly hair-I think it's called Curly Girl-it's fantastic-this hair stylist in New York-the only thing is they recommend "shampooing" with conditioner, not shampoo. For me, I got greasy hair with that method, but it may work for you. Check it out-good luck!

Hi. I also have thin curly hair. I use curl rock products. You can get them at Ulta. They really work for me. I use the gel, shampoo and conditioner. It really works for the winter. Good luck. I feel your pain.

Hi Denise. For my curls I use Schwarzkopf Osis Bounce Curl Liquid and it works pretty well. It's a spray and doesn't feel goopy or anything when it's on. You may also try a curl activating shampoo/conditioner (and be sure to condition, not just shampoo - in fact some people with curls only condition).
Good luck!

I have curly hair that flattens out somewhat in the cold weather, so I am not sure my advice will help. Have you read the book Curly Girl? I think there is more to the title, but that's the basic gist. The main tip I took from that book is to stop using products with 'cones'(any chemical ending in cone, like dimethicone) because they build up in the hair. Once you stop using cones, you can seriously cut down on how much you shampoo. I think less shampooing will lead to curlier hair.

Regarding products, have you tried a mixture of leave-in conditioner and gel? It works well and keeps the hair from looking wet and hard. Good luck and let us know what works!!!

Curls Rock hair lotion. It is fabulous. My curls are ick in the winter too and it takes the frizz right out. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the stuff. It comes in an aqua blue bottle with a wierd pump like thing on the top.

I found a product called "Curl Lock" curl cream very effective. The brand is design LINE and can be found at Regis. They often have specials where you can buy this product along with the shampoo and conditioner set for $15.95. Personally, I'm not crazy about the shampoo/conditioner, but to buy the set is often as or cheaper than just buying it individually.

My hair is curly enough to not want to be straight and not curly enough to hold curl on its own. This product I just scrunch into wet hair and leave it. When dry, you can't tell you put product into it. It holds the curl well all day.

Hi,
I have naturally curly hair as well and only wash mine every other day too. Terax Italia products work well for shampooing and conditioning (drugstore.com) and then I use a leave-in conditioner (Terax Life Drops) and scrunch with Matrix Curl Life Contouring Cream (although I just noticed it says for thick hair...mine's not course but not thin either).

A really good resource is www.naturallycurlyhair.com. People recommend different products for different things. It's a great website. Good luck!

E.

I'm writing this before I look at the other responses, and hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised with you at the helpful suggestions, because I am a former stylist whose been out of the business so long that I don't know what is out there! My favorite products for thin hair that you don't want to weigh down have been Infusium and a simple detangler. That first thing to remember is that any product with alcohol will dry out fine hair superfast!!! Most gels and styling products do unless you go high end. Infusium is not too expensive and nourishes your hair so it will be in better condition, perks up the curl, and is not too stiff. You can brush out your hair immediately and it will look fresh and frizz free. It only has that wet look until you brush it once. Then it is soft and natural. It controls the curls by destressing them. It has detangling properties like a detangling spray, and is very good at eliminating tangles and frizz, plus it smells pleasant. L.

Hi Denise,
I too have very curly, frizzy hair. I think I have tried every product out there! I highly recommend Kiehl's leave in conditioner mixed with Kiehls Silk Groom. Their products are natural & don't weigh down the hair. Also, you can get free samples to try out first. They sell their products at Nordstrom & salons and there is a store on Armitage in Lincoln Park. A bit expensive, but worth it.

We use Curls products for my daughter and they are great! They have a women's line - link is below. http://www.curls.biz/Curls_for_Women_Naturally_Curly_Bira...

I feel your pain! I have very curly hair too and am always looking for new products. I recently read a book called "curly girl" by Lorraine Massey( I think that's her name) I got it at the Barrington Library. It has lots of suggestions for different types of curly hair. It says to NEVER use shampoo and suggests other ways to cleanse your hair. The hard part is that all types of curls are different. I use Frizz Ease curl spritz and mousse right out of the shower and let it air dry. Dryers are terrible for curls, even diffusers. I use a diffuser, but only if I'm really in a hurry. That's the problem, the fizz ease works ok for me, but all curls are different. Try to find this book, it has lots of suggestions for all different types of hair.
Good luck,
S.

I understand, I have curly hair and here in the past year, I have finally found products taht work. I have tried everything under the sun and I hate the crunchy look, like I used too much or the frizzy look, that was me too. So I found out that if I use thermasilk mousse for curly hair, I do that first, then I use Pantene spray gel for curly hair, it gives it bouncee, then I difuse, I dont wait for it to dry, I difuse and dry together and it works great, I use pantene curl locking hair spray when I am done. I blow dry/difuse my hair upside down, scrunching it while I am doing it and this helps. I have also found the more layers I have, the better the curls, when my hair gets too long, it gets too heavy and the curls are not so great. When I use these produccts, I have bouncy springy curls most of the day and it is great! I hope this helped, also you might want to try Aussie sprunch spray a little of that before difusing works well too.
M.

Hi my name is V., I am a stylist in Downers Grove and I do a lot of curly hair! It sounds like you need a new haircut, do you have layers? Layers help take off the weight, and give you a nice curl. I would also love to share with you a wonderful product called Bsmooth it is by Bennifactor it is a little pricy but it is fantastic, you can use it when you do your hair curly or straight. It helps with the friz, gives you more of a formed curl and when you use it on you hair to straighten, it gives you smoothness and shine! Good luck and if you are looking for a stylist, contact me!!

Hi Denise!!! The joys of curly hair. I have really curly hair as well, and I a four year old and a six month old...so I totally understand the not blowing it out straight options. I am also a stylist for many years now, and one thing I know for sure ia that a cut for your partilcular type of curly hair is key. If it is thin and course, fine but a lot, etc. all of these things play an important factor. The other suggestion I have product wise is the Fresh Curls Line by Redken. It is my favorite!! I am trying to get it into the shop where I work now, but they do sell it a Hair Cuttery. The shampoo and conditioner is to die for...not to heavy, which when you have fine or thin hair is also key, because if you make this type of hair soft it will frizz more. I love there Spin Control Leave in treatment mixed with the Spray Gel for really humid days, and all by itself in the winter. Don't worry the gel is not crunchy at all if used properly. I don't care for gel much at all, but this product changed my mind. The other thing is that on the days you don't wash, try a little good old fashioned pomade ( like the size of dime rubbed between your palms and applied from underneath....it will shine, detangle and de-frizz, and depending on how curly your hair is you may be able to brush it into soft waves on the second day without it being huge. I hope this helps.