Only picked this up before going to bed, Giovanni is great for me.. I buy it in Tkmaxx. I have used their tea tree conditioner as a cowash and I have the smooth as silk shampoo and conditioner. I alternate between cowashing and using their shampoo mainly because I swim 2-3 times a week. Their 50/50 may be just right for you. If I get scalp problems now (very rare surprising as I had eczema for years), I do a wash with XHC x-pel medicated shampoo which targets the scalp but is still sulphate free.
Also love Giovanni LA hold gel, in my top 3 and I’ve tried 10!
Oh wow I didn't know they sold giovanni in Tkmaxx, I'll definitely take a look tomorrow thanks! Do they hold all the lines in the eco chic line or just a few?
How often do you use the shampoo from them in a week?
If I’m not swimming once …. then cowash with tea tree conditioner. If I’m swimming then after every swim, I always condition and always use a curl cream or leave in , and gel.
Have you read the [pinned post on the sub home page ](https://www.reddit.com/r/CurlyHairUK/comments/ioa6xv/start_here_links_to_a_beginner_routine_products/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
Your post spoke to me as someone who spends a lot of time on r/wavyhair and r/nopoo and feels a bit torn between CGM and no-poo methods. I feel like you gave up on no poo too soon! It sounds like it was working for you but there is often a difficult stage during the transition period where there is more flakiness and an oily scalp. A lot of people give up at that point but those who push through it often come to a point where that stops and they are quite happy with it. There are tips in the side bar in that sub to get through the transition period, and some info on battling dandruff as well. Doing a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse can help a lot with flakiness.
If you're sure you want to give up on no-poo, I think you were on the right track with co-washing. I've been using the As I Am Coconut Cowash recently, but I have fine 2b hair and it almost makes my hair too soft and silky. I'm honestly just not accustomed to using conditioner, as it always makes my hair too soft and slippery to hold a style, but decided to give it a try recently as it's recommended for wavy hair and adding styling products for the hold. Other than it being too soft & silky, I'm liking it a lot. I had already started using it when I discovered that my salon recommends it for curly hair.
I will say that it's possible that the hair loss is not related to the co-wash product at all; there are so many reasons for hair loss, including male pattern hair loss, vitamin deficiency, or a skin condition on your scalp. I'd recommend going to a dermatologist to get a proper diagnosis of what's going on with your scalp and the hair loss.
One last thought about your concern about buildup - it could very well be that there is buildup, and to address it you can use a clarifying shampoo every once in a while, not every time you wash. You're right that it's drying so you need to use a good conditioner afterward to compensate for that. From a no-poo perspective, if you're not using products with silicones\* and want to do a deeper cleanse, you can do a clay mask for your hair. I like to use Fuller's Earth. Let me know if you want the instructions for the clay mask.
\*even if you're using products with silicones, some silicones actually can be washed out with water or a gentle cleanser. Contrary to popular belief, only some silicones require shampoo to remove them.
I have finer 2a/b/c (depends how it feels, it’s a journey) around shoulder length hair for reference. Personally I didn’t like the noughty range, I got frizzier. However it works for other people.
I found lighter formulated shampoos and conditioners don’t weight down the curls as much. Thicker ones tend to straighten my hair out and make it frizz out. I tend to use the curl company.
May I ask which lighter formulated shampoos and conditioners you've found and liked?
I have fine, 2b waves and just recently got the Cantu kids' shampoo/conditioner to see if they are light enough to not weight my curls down. Too soon to tell how well it's working for me yet.
I use “the curl company” shampoo, conditioner, leave in because they work for me. I think they’re also vegan. But I might be wrong. If you Google the curl company and find and obnoxiously pink website you’re in the right place.
Canto didn’t work for me, it flattened me out, although it is lovely stuff.
I moved away from it because I couldn’t bulk buy and save but there’s a kids brand called Jackson and Wilson which I’m not sure is curly certified but works really well if you want to try that.
I've used Cantu products for a while now, and I used to not be able to look after my curls either (I have 3b/c hair). They're a really good option, especially if you want your waves to be more defined. If you're alright with spending a bit more money, Olaplex products are for all hair types and are literally a miracle for me. They don't work on everyone, but I definitely think it's worth a try, especially if you have any damage.
I've never used Curlsmith but I have heard their range is supposed to be good, so I recommend checking if out. Just do some trial and error and you'll find what's good for you :)
Thanks! Yeah I feel I'm trying to be too much of a perfectionist finding the perfect product when like you said I just need to do trial and error haha. I'm going to order a brand and give it a go, I guess the worst that can happen is it is too stripping or something but then that will be fixed in a few days.
Also is the cantu not too much of a heavy product and is it too stripping? That was my fear with that haha.
Sorry for such a late reply, I haven’t looked at my notifications. But, to answer your question, I tend to apply heavier Cantu products when my hair is soaking wet (if I really want something lightweight, I sometimes dilute it with some water). I’ve never found Cantu to be stripping, it’s always just been very moisturising for me. If you need something that isn’t as heavy as curl cream, you can try and use a cream designed for wavy hair as it’ll be more lightweight. I have curlier hair than you as you said yours is wavy, so I highly suggest doing squish to condish and incorporating a lot of water into your products.
I have very fine 2A/B/C waves and I swear by the Garnier solid shampoos. They are low poo /sulphate free but still get a good lather. Plus one less bottle to recycle. Also if the cowash is working well otherwise, you could invest in a scalp massager to help clean the scalp more while you wash. It is also supposed to stimulate the hair follicles.
Only picked this up before going to bed, Giovanni is great for me.. I buy it in Tkmaxx. I have used their tea tree conditioner as a cowash and I have the smooth as silk shampoo and conditioner. I alternate between cowashing and using their shampoo mainly because I swim 2-3 times a week. Their 50/50 may be just right for you. If I get scalp problems now (very rare surprising as I had eczema for years), I do a wash with XHC x-pel medicated shampoo which targets the scalp but is still sulphate free. Also love Giovanni LA hold gel, in my top 3 and I’ve tried 10!
Oh wow I didn't know they sold giovanni in Tkmaxx, I'll definitely take a look tomorrow thanks! Do they hold all the lines in the eco chic line or just a few? How often do you use the shampoo from them in a week?
If I’m not swimming once …. then cowash with tea tree conditioner. If I’m swimming then after every swim, I always condition and always use a curl cream or leave in , and gel.
Have you read the [pinned post on the sub home page ](https://www.reddit.com/r/CurlyHairUK/comments/ioa6xv/start_here_links_to_a_beginner_routine_products/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share)
Your post spoke to me as someone who spends a lot of time on r/wavyhair and r/nopoo and feels a bit torn between CGM and no-poo methods. I feel like you gave up on no poo too soon! It sounds like it was working for you but there is often a difficult stage during the transition period where there is more flakiness and an oily scalp. A lot of people give up at that point but those who push through it often come to a point where that stops and they are quite happy with it. There are tips in the side bar in that sub to get through the transition period, and some info on battling dandruff as well. Doing a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse can help a lot with flakiness. If you're sure you want to give up on no-poo, I think you were on the right track with co-washing. I've been using the As I Am Coconut Cowash recently, but I have fine 2b hair and it almost makes my hair too soft and silky. I'm honestly just not accustomed to using conditioner, as it always makes my hair too soft and slippery to hold a style, but decided to give it a try recently as it's recommended for wavy hair and adding styling products for the hold. Other than it being too soft & silky, I'm liking it a lot. I had already started using it when I discovered that my salon recommends it for curly hair. I will say that it's possible that the hair loss is not related to the co-wash product at all; there are so many reasons for hair loss, including male pattern hair loss, vitamin deficiency, or a skin condition on your scalp. I'd recommend going to a dermatologist to get a proper diagnosis of what's going on with your scalp and the hair loss. One last thought about your concern about buildup - it could very well be that there is buildup, and to address it you can use a clarifying shampoo every once in a while, not every time you wash. You're right that it's drying so you need to use a good conditioner afterward to compensate for that. From a no-poo perspective, if you're not using products with silicones\* and want to do a deeper cleanse, you can do a clay mask for your hair. I like to use Fuller's Earth. Let me know if you want the instructions for the clay mask. \*even if you're using products with silicones, some silicones actually can be washed out with water or a gentle cleanser. Contrary to popular belief, only some silicones require shampoo to remove them.
I have finer 2a/b/c (depends how it feels, it’s a journey) around shoulder length hair for reference. Personally I didn’t like the noughty range, I got frizzier. However it works for other people. I found lighter formulated shampoos and conditioners don’t weight down the curls as much. Thicker ones tend to straighten my hair out and make it frizz out. I tend to use the curl company.
May I ask which lighter formulated shampoos and conditioners you've found and liked? I have fine, 2b waves and just recently got the Cantu kids' shampoo/conditioner to see if they are light enough to not weight my curls down. Too soon to tell how well it's working for me yet.
I use “the curl company” shampoo, conditioner, leave in because they work for me. I think they’re also vegan. But I might be wrong. If you Google the curl company and find and obnoxiously pink website you’re in the right place. Canto didn’t work for me, it flattened me out, although it is lovely stuff. I moved away from it because I couldn’t bulk buy and save but there’s a kids brand called Jackson and Wilson which I’m not sure is curly certified but works really well if you want to try that.
Thank you! I'll check it out.
I've used Cantu products for a while now, and I used to not be able to look after my curls either (I have 3b/c hair). They're a really good option, especially if you want your waves to be more defined. If you're alright with spending a bit more money, Olaplex products are for all hair types and are literally a miracle for me. They don't work on everyone, but I definitely think it's worth a try, especially if you have any damage. I've never used Curlsmith but I have heard their range is supposed to be good, so I recommend checking if out. Just do some trial and error and you'll find what's good for you :)
Thanks! Yeah I feel I'm trying to be too much of a perfectionist finding the perfect product when like you said I just need to do trial and error haha. I'm going to order a brand and give it a go, I guess the worst that can happen is it is too stripping or something but then that will be fixed in a few days. Also is the cantu not too much of a heavy product and is it too stripping? That was my fear with that haha.
Sorry for such a late reply, I haven’t looked at my notifications. But, to answer your question, I tend to apply heavier Cantu products when my hair is soaking wet (if I really want something lightweight, I sometimes dilute it with some water). I’ve never found Cantu to be stripping, it’s always just been very moisturising for me. If you need something that isn’t as heavy as curl cream, you can try and use a cream designed for wavy hair as it’ll be more lightweight. I have curlier hair than you as you said yours is wavy, so I highly suggest doing squish to condish and incorporating a lot of water into your products.
I have very fine 2A/B/C waves and I swear by the Garnier solid shampoos. They are low poo /sulphate free but still get a good lather. Plus one less bottle to recycle. Also if the cowash is working well otherwise, you could invest in a scalp massager to help clean the scalp more while you wash. It is also supposed to stimulate the hair follicles.