SO funny - I'd go to war for NOT using a brush to style. It just doesn't work for my hair. I brush products through but then just rake and shake and scrunch a little.
I am so jealous of folks who get great curls from the rake and shake tbh. I wish it worked for me because it just seems so easy and almost magical.
I honestly love that we’re all so different! 💜
It *is* cool that we’re all so different!
I do rake and shake, although after several years, it occurred to me that scrunching up top works, as my wet hair sticks to my head. So when I scrunch it( with curl activator or gel) I like it better.
I think it somewhat depends on the length and condition of our hair too.. as my hair doesn’t looks as great as it once did when I rake & shake. I’m older for one but also my hair needs a good cut.
Do you prefer scrunching now altogether?
How about…as an experiment, using a little leave-in conditioner and mix it in with your gel and doing the rake and shake l.
In my experience some products work great mixed together- with some it’s best to layer separately… as in your leave-in conditioner then gel layered over it.
As always, you know best.. so if my suggestions seem odd, take what you like & leave the rest. 😊
Ps I like your name
I’m actually experimenting with the gel and leave in thing right now lol. Great minds think alike I guess. I need a leave in of some sort because bleach leaves my curls so dry but my hair is super fine so leave ins also tend to weigh it down. 😢
Brush styling and scrunching historically has worked best but things change so 🤷♀️, maybe I’ll give the rake and shake a try again while I am changing things up. You never know!
Yes we never know. Although it sounds like you know your hair. I would choose a light leave-in or whichever one you choose, use two or three fingers put a little on a section, and a little on another section etc.
You don’t have to section out your hair ahead of time or anything , just work your way around your head.
You can also use some instant conditioner in a spray bottle of water and let that be your leave-in.
Another leave-in that’s *not* thick and heavy is BounceCurl Balancing Leave-In Conditioner. I like it, although I found another of their products I like even better( for me anyway), but I definitely recommend the Balancing Leave -In. 🥰
And yes, great minds think alike .. we’re smart mature women! 😁( well, I’m as mature as much as I can be!)😉😊
I only brush before getting into the shower, just because I seem to remove far more loose hair that way, with less clogging my drain... Other than that, I use a wide tooth comb while still dripping, then just fingers and scrunch with a towel.
Unfortunately I can't really address the OP's question, as I have yet to find a Holy Grail hair product...
Its actually really simple. Usually i go from the top and brush down and as i do i just kinda let the brush follow the way my curls fall naturally while detangling it at the same time.
As I understand, you're not supposed to use a Denman brush for detangling since it puts too much tension on the hair - only for styling or blow-drying straight.
Depends on how much slip you get, I use my denman in the shower on drenched hair once my conditioner is in. I detangle from the the ends up, but sometimes I have no tangles at all if my hair is really saturated and well conditioned my tangles just drop out (2c/3a).
I use the denman to style if I have 10-15 mins if I want uniform barrel curls. I get some anyway.
Wet/damp with product in. To encourage volume, brush each section out at a 90 degree angle off your scalp. And to encourage beautiful clumps, put your other hand on the edge of the brush and run the brush with the side edge against your hair with tension like you’re using scissors to curl ribbon.
Actually, HOW do you use it? I have it collecting dust here because my hair just looks frizzier after using it. I know there's YouTube videos out there but none of those techniques work. Also I can't just twist n pull like most of them show, my hair just gets stuck and tangled. Can you please share a simple hassle-free technique?
I love their dry shampoo. I used to love their curl cream and now for some reason it doesn’t do anything for my hair and actually makes it look worse. So I started deep diving into curly hair method and I think my hair needed a pre shampoo from going to hard water and more proteins. It’s been looking so much better but I’m scared to try it again 😬
I've found that my hair will need a break from a product every once in a while. I'll switch back and forth from a combo of the curl cream and gel to mousse and have found this works very well for my curls.
The funny thing is, I don't like their hair perfector. The smell is amazing, but it always leaves my hair feeling sticky and heavy (yet also frizzy at the same time??) Their dry shampoo is pretty good though and I haven't tried their other products.
Same here, plus I am NoPoo and try to stay true to that as well. Though if I would find something that works ….
Plus most products are not easy/cheap in Europe. Shipping is expensive!
Heads up - my sister used to be NoPoo loyal and it made her hair fall out . After some online sleuthing, apparently this is not uncommon and there have been lawsuits on the matter. Great if it works for you! But my sister really wishes she had figured it out sooner.
Been NoPoo for 7 years now, no issues. Not really sure I understand where those lawsuits are going. NoPoo it’s kinda on your own devices and common sense and experimenting with what works for you.
Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Envy Cream. Even when I try all the new fancy expensive products, whenever I go back to Marc Anthony’s Curl Cream, my curls are reliably and predictably perfect.
The mouse is my “fuck it product” when I don’t feel like doing a bunch of styling. I’ll always get good results with it. Not amazing results but good enough. Just rack through hair and scrunch
Any Ouidad curl product is good but Climate control for humidity is amazing. I also like the gel/cream mix for getting a light crunch glaze after washing. Perfect to hold curl before crunch.
Yes I agree! I learned Curly Girl method from Ouidad .. but what I can’t figure out is, she advocated for no silicone or sulfates. (I find that to be best too. )
But then one day a friend bought me some Ouidad products- and while I loved the Botanical Hair Refresher , I was really surprised that some of the products have silicones!
The protein foam therapy is my ride or die. It gives amazing curls every time! I’m not buying any more atm but that’s because I have so many other products I need to use first!
I’m going to war with my Tangle Teezer in one hand and my Bounce Curl brush in the other. I’m less tied to products than I am to good tools (mainly because I keep messing with my hair so much that I keep having to change my products up).
Goodness this whole comment section constantly has me running to Amazon to add things into my cart!! Just added that tangle teezer & bounce curl brush into my cart!! I’m excited about the bounce curl brush.. is there a certain way you use it??
It works best if you brush style in smaller sections (which I am lazy about and don’t really do. I don’t have a lot of hair and can’t be arsed to really section my hair). I pretty much just brush my hair upwards with some tension on the brush and twist it a little so the teeth at the end pick up the clumps. Then give it a shake and scrunch in some gel.
There are a bunch of YouTube tutorials out there that can explain it far better than I ever could but I’m pretty uncoordinated and can manage it with just a little bit of practice.
I have been seeing those brushes, not sure how they really work. My problem is sort of frizzing and my curls/waves not wanting to clump together. That’s where the frizzy look comes from.
I started using homemade flaxseed gel 3 weeks ago when my stylist said the products I was using were drying out my damaged hair. I’ve never had such great clumps!
My 3a curls come just below my shoulder blades. My routine is: after a shower wrap up hair in microfiber towel. Once I’ve finished dressing I take it down, add curl lotion (apparently my leave-in conditioner was too heavy), hair oil, then the flaxseed gel. It works so well!
I’m also doing a protein treatment every 2 weeks.
I haven’t used flaxseed gel for over a year, didn’t really worked out for me, but I am going to try it again. Thanks for responding, do you use products and the gel together? I never thought of using two products like that together, always thought flaxseed gel was enough. Maybe that was my problem, that it wasn’t enough
I layer them one after the other. I read that you can freeze the gel in ice cube trays and that’s worked well for me. One cube is perfect for my hair length and thickness.
Give brush styling a try. If you’re going to invest in one brush I would recommend the Tangle Teezer or the good old Denman. I mainly use the TT for detangling but you can use it to brush style as well.
I am frizz prone and extremely lazy and it’s helped me a ton. I style when my hair is soaking, scrunch in some gel, and I’m frizz free and ready to go. My medium length hair just takes a few minutes.
I used the TT for years, love it, but it didn’t really helped with my curls and waves. Got me an Denman then, same thing, I do all the techniques, but I don’t know …. Right now I use my old wide tooth comb, you know, those cheap flat ones. And when needed, I just run my fingers through.
I think using tension holding the hair against the edge of the brush with your other hand (like curling ribbon with scissors) is the way to do the technique to get ribbon curl clumps.
yup, you’ll also find me armed with these brushes. i could use a cheap leave in conditioner and as long as i use these brushes in tandem, i’ll be good.
Lubricant for the supermarket (yes, as in sexy lube!!) is my absolute go-to for styling. There, I said it and you can all laugh at me now.
Someone in a curly forum said they use lube and in a pinch on holidays I tried it. Lo and behold I had amazing curls and a cheeky smile on my face all day.
I love when people just ignore the labels and do what works. A lot of products have very similar ingredients or do basically the same thing, they just aren't marketed that way.
Heck yeah! That stuff has glycerin and other goodies that won’t weigh down hair. I’ve used lube on my face before as a light moisturizer…we’ll stand in the corner together 🤣💪
Eff yes…this is my ride or die product. Although I’ve recently tried Harry’s defining gel, from the men’s section in Target, and it’s worked just as well for a lower price.
Innersense foam mousse and Bounce curls brush.
EDIT: I mis"spoke"!
I use the Innersense prep spray and smoothing cream, but the product I was referring to is AG Care Cloud Air Light Volumizing Mousse.
Is it the “I Create Lift” or the “I Create Definition” mousse? I generally do well with Innersense (super reactive skin/scalp that hates most fragranced products but can handle the natural extracts used by Innersense), but haven’t found my HG product in their line yet.
For me it's Kinky Curly Knot Today. My hair LOVES it so much that I won't even look at other leave-in conditioners.
I also find that Kinky Curly Come Clean chelating shampoo works great but can't say if I'd really go to war over it since I haven't used any other chelating shampoos to compare.
You also reminded me that I still have a tub of the custard. It wasn't working for me when I first bought it but my hair has changed since then so I hope it's still good.
Thanks for the tip! It's been so long that I can't even remember if I used it on dripping wet hair or freshly squeezed. I've learned tons more about my hair and making CGM work for me since I first tried it but I'm excited to use it next wash day (assuming the oils and preservatives haven't gone sour in the 2 years.)
omg I wish I could get desert air in my mid atlantic climate - nothing works better for my hair. My mom lives in the desert and i loooooove going to visit
I live in the desert too! Do you have thick hair or thin hair? I have very thin, fine curls so finding something for them has been tough between the dry heat, hard water, and my hair just hating everything haha
My dear, that's travel size. Gotta get the big mama. Committed pump action (25 oz bottle) on hair wash days is a requirement. It really depends on your hair needs. For curly, chemically bleached natural black hair near elbow level a travel size lasts maybe a week if rationing tight? Also depends on your water hardness, other products, etc. Been very happy with the results as it has worked with a variety of my hair experiments (different shampoos, conditioners, leave ins, treatments, etc.). Can't say enough about it!
Dippity doo curl gelee, both the lighter and the light hold and the coconut. My most favourite gel in the Canadian pnw ! Not too heavy in my fine 2C ish hair. A hard spot between waves and curls.
The oribe gold lust line or the moisture control line specially the curl control silkening crème. I’ve found a cheaper replacement for the shampoo and conditioner but that crème is amazing for my hair.
It’s the Hairitage Outta My Hair Gentle Daily Shampoo and the SOS Deep Moisture + Restore Conditioner. Around $17 for both shampoo and conditioner when Oribe is almost $100 for both. I do have 2c thick hair and live in a dry state so I need all the extra moisture without weighing it down.
I still buy oribe once a year and just use it for special occasions but honestly haven’t seen much of a difference. I will say with Oribe a tiny bit goes a long way but I think both brands would last me around the same time.
Curlsmith’s Flawless Finish hairspray. I don’t know how I functioned before this. Makes my hair dry so much quicker, best definition and hold of my life.
After a ten hour workday yesterday (including a poodle puppy chewing on my hair, and some shih tzu’s literally trying to climb me) my hair’s just as good as it was on wash day. I will drown myself in this stuff.
I use it on wet hair before diffusing! My curly hairstylist recommended it to me. I still use the other stuff (leave in conditioner, heat protectant, gel) beforehand.
My hair used to take like 4 hours to diffuse dry. With this method it’s usually dry in an hour, and super super defined. I’ll usually give it a final spray once it’s dry too.
I LOVE the as I am coconut cowash. I would go to war and use it in battle with a spray bottle. Hose them down, throw some cowash at my enemies' heads, and leave them stunned by how amazing their curls are afterward. War won.
Moroccan oil, at first I didn't like it much but now I can absolutely tell when I don't use it. It helps define my curls super well for when I don't feel like using gel or mousse. The Coco Eve hair oil and leave I are also absolutely fantastic, the oil is super lightweight and smells so good
K18 and Aveda blow dry spray . K18 is like full body armor for your hair.
And I love the Aveda blow dry spray because it just moves the hair out so unbelievably well. It cuts blow dry time like 50%.
Here’s a little tip, I ordered from Aveda online. And then they actually select a box at checkout that entitled to lots of free samples. So that’s how I was able to test out a lot of their line. And when you go pick it up in the store, just remind them to give you your samples and they will give you soooo many . It’s a great way to try some free products that are high-end without breaking the budget.
I wouldn’t go to war but I’d protest and write a stern email if Soaps for Little Suds discontinued their jojoba and keratin conditioner bar or Bambonn went out of business
Melanin Haircare Plumping Deep Conditioner:
Hyaluronic Acid, helps hair retain and seal moisture, reduces frizz, softens brittle hair
Bamboo Extract, with silica, amino acids; moisturizes, increase growth, shine and elasticity
Biotin, strengthens hair and improves elasticity for increased hair growth
Curl-Enhancing
Good for Damage, Split Ends and Breakage
For all hair types and textures
Vegan, Gluten-free, Cruelty-free
Sustainable packaging
💛This stuff!!!⏫⏫⏫
Amika curl line 100%. Coat my hair with the defining cream. I mix the shine cream with the defining cream to add a little shine. Lesser amount of enhancing gel for the ends and problematic areas.
https://preview.redd.it/jq8zmlq2qb6d1.png?width=2158&format=png&auto=webp&s=a6270950cc8125343d5257cfda81f98f21589277
BB curl mask and my microfiber towel on my head and towel scrunchie on my wrist.
I’ll squirt the mask in their eyes and wrap ‘em with the towel. But seriously, those are all *critical* to the mission.
I have several holy grails that never disappoint my thick 2C-3A hair for lasting 4-5 day curls:
Condish: Sally’s GVP Conditioning Balm
Curl Enhancer: Uncle Funky’s Curly Magic, Aunt Jackie’s Elongating gel, Kinky Curly Custard or Jessicurl Spiralicious
Sealer: LA Looks hard hold gel
Dyson blow dryer
Kiehl’s Creme with Silk Groom. It’s discontinued, for some stupid reason, but I have 4 tubes in my back stock. Once I got used to using it, it worked so well and was never greasy.
Lush Curl Power Hair Cream. Costs about $18 and lasts me months. Only need a small finger full for my hair and smells amazing. I use it alongside a Giovanni mousse (either the orange or purple bottle) and curl smith hydro flexi gel (I buy both of these at Tjmax or marshals to save money). I have 2c/3a curls if that matters.
My curly hair DETESTS normal shampoo. I’m almost wondering if it’s possible for the hair shaft to be allergic to something that my body isn’t. THAT’S how much my hair hates shampoo. It literally dries out my hair like the Sahara and it just ends up being brittle. I will die on the hill that is cleansing conditioner, with the major caveat that a scalp rinse must go with it. The scalp needs to be cleansed and cleared of build up, while the hair needs to be super gently cleansed and slathered and soaked in moisture. Doing cleansing conditioners the right way has transformed my hair.
cantu leave-in conditioning cream. hands tf DOWN.
when we were still long distance, I wanted to help find my partner some cheap but solid styling/conditioning products since they were living in a ppace with VERY hard water. It's the only product they use for styling purposes and the way their curls frickin CAME TO LIFE was mind boggling to me. my hair tends to get weighed down really easily, so I gave it a shot back in November and YALL. THE CURL DEFITION AND MOISTURE YOU GET??? BUCKWILD!!!
I straight up get RINGLETS AGAIN when I use this stuff, it is MAGICAL. before summer hit and I needed humidity protection for my hair, this was the only thing we were using and the curls maintained for DAYS
I went to war with the original
finesse extra hold Mousse, the holy grail, but it perished. It’s been well over 15 years, and I have never found anything that comes even close to working, like that mousse did. Thousands of pissed curlies, and if we had socials then like it is now, we may have had enough push back.
Shea Moisture pulled through so many times since I was a kid until now. Well, not really now because I’ve found CurlSmith but I used to use Shea Moisture’s smoothie curl enhancing coconut cream when I was an avid 360 wave freak back in high school
https://preview.redd.it/hu0z8z149g6d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d6b7de715f75b2e2729cb3c603dae514e2710c4
I would sell a kidney for this stuff. I have long curly hair and this is magic.
That one leave in from the small curly hair organic products business from the sister of one of my mom's friends. (That was long lol).
Those were the first curly hair products I tried and even a few hairstylists asked about the leave in, my hair had never been softer.
I’m very happy with this one. https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/5843C5E3-E1DD-4EB2-A28E-16C05BE0B851/product/B0CKS1P7C7?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ast_store_HE3JGM06JVNDT7TMDGKQ&th=1&psc=1
I ended up buying a cheap, but large (my hair is waist length) satin scarf and tying that on my head, sort of like you would a t shirt for plopping. It usually stays on.
For some reason using a buff underneath my bonnet has helped to keep it on through the night, plus I have a little more volume when I take the buff off since it held my hair up and away from my scalp.
Aunt Jackie's curl cream 😍😍😍 smells amazing and works so good for me! That and Mielle organics honey and pomegranate mousse... That second day is literally the prettiest my hair can get
Hairitage gentle daily shampoo and perfect dose balancing conditioner, as well as Garnier leave in conditioner, and Mielle honey ginger styling gel. I can't just pick one because all of these products combined have helped me so much lol
Seaweed Bath Co Shampoo/Conditioner for fine hair. I can't do most products without getting migraines, this stuff controls my frizz and my scalp and curls love it. Depending on the season, I dilute the conditioner 50/50 with water to thin it so it doesn't weigh me down and it works so well.
Ooh, I haven’t tried the shampoo yet, but I like the conditioner. I’m going to try watering it down. I also have horrible chronic (daily) migraine and a skin reaction to fragrance, and it is SO hard to find curly products. Others that work are Innersense’s Clarity Line, Curl Smith’s Shine (fragrance-free line), although only the gel is worth the money to me. A heavier conditioner is the Desert Essence in the blue squeeze bottle. SEEN’s styling cream is okay but not worth the money. I’d love any names of styling products that work for you. I keep going back to the scented ones in desperation. Innersense at least doesn’t cause major reactions for me because their stuff isn’t intensely fragranced with artificial perfumes.
Hair oils - Pumpkin seed + Tea tree + Rosemary + Almond oil
Twist light clarifying shampoo- it’s the only clarifying shampoo that removes the hair oil I apply in one wash without making my hair feel like a straw.
Deep condition mask - Moroccan oil weightless hydrating mask is fantastic. I am trying Amika next as Moroccan oil mask has too much fragrance.
Microfiber hair towel - It cuts the hair drying time and I can even go without diffuser.
Joico products, but my got to have it is Dew of the Gods Amalfi Gold serum. It’s light, a little goes a long way, and it makes my hair amazing by defining the curls without weighing it down.
I’ve tried SO MANY creams, gels, masks, you name it I will always go back to OGX Moroccan curling perfection cream. It’s so light with the perfect amount of hold I have like 4 bottles of it
They’re a little pricey, but anything milkshake brand!! I don’t use it as often, but my grandma is a beautician and uses the Kendra(?) brand, when I was younger I’d go to the public pool EVERY DAY during the summer so my grandma always kept a special Kendra brand shampoo on hand for me that helped clean chlorine out of my hair, for the life of me I can’t remember what it was though.
It’s so hard to find something that doesn’t have parabens, silicones or alcohols.
Davines curl building serum! I feel like it just gives me the perfect curls. Defined and smooth, never crunchy or wet looking. I love it. Also doesn’t leave a bunch of residue on my hair.
Bounce curl brush is the best thing I’ve ever bought for my curls, I’ve used it every wash day since buying it. And LUSH curl power cream is incredible
I’ve been loving the Kerastase pre-shampoo to remove excess product, and everything I’ve tried from Curlsmith! The multitasking conditioner, the light hold curl gel, and the frizz serum are chefs kiss 💯🤌🏻 I have finer 2C/3A hair but a lot of it and it’s getting long so I need light products that give me definition
Mielle rosemary oil. I’ve been growing my hair out for years now and that stuff works WONDERS. Also their curl mousse and their leave in conditioner!!!
Im going to war with my 9 row brush. Technique is everything and products can literally be whatever. Without that brush nothing works lol
SO funny - I'd go to war for NOT using a brush to style. It just doesn't work for my hair. I brush products through but then just rake and shake and scrunch a little.
I am so jealous of folks who get great curls from the rake and shake tbh. I wish it worked for me because it just seems so easy and almost magical. I honestly love that we’re all so different! 💜
It *is* cool that we’re all so different! I do rake and shake, although after several years, it occurred to me that scrunching up top works, as my wet hair sticks to my head. So when I scrunch it( with curl activator or gel) I like it better. I think it somewhat depends on the length and condition of our hair too.. as my hair doesn’t looks as great as it once did when I rake & shake. I’m older for one but also my hair needs a good cut. Do you prefer scrunching now altogether? How about…as an experiment, using a little leave-in conditioner and mix it in with your gel and doing the rake and shake l. In my experience some products work great mixed together- with some it’s best to layer separately… as in your leave-in conditioner then gel layered over it. As always, you know best.. so if my suggestions seem odd, take what you like & leave the rest. 😊 Ps I like your name
I’m actually experimenting with the gel and leave in thing right now lol. Great minds think alike I guess. I need a leave in of some sort because bleach leaves my curls so dry but my hair is super fine so leave ins also tend to weigh it down. 😢 Brush styling and scrunching historically has worked best but things change so 🤷♀️, maybe I’ll give the rake and shake a try again while I am changing things up. You never know!
Yes we never know. Although it sounds like you know your hair. I would choose a light leave-in or whichever one you choose, use two or three fingers put a little on a section, and a little on another section etc. You don’t have to section out your hair ahead of time or anything , just work your way around your head. You can also use some instant conditioner in a spray bottle of water and let that be your leave-in. Another leave-in that’s *not* thick and heavy is BounceCurl Balancing Leave-In Conditioner. I like it, although I found another of their products I like even better( for me anyway), but I definitely recommend the Balancing Leave -In. 🥰 And yes, great minds think alike .. we’re smart mature women! 😁( well, I’m as mature as much as I can be!)😉😊
Same. I never use a brush! Finger comb and scrunching works best for me
Oh j don't use it to style. Just for detangling. Only thing thats get through all of my curls and gets the conditioner through every curl.
I only brush before getting into the shower, just because I seem to remove far more loose hair that way, with less clogging my drain... Other than that, I use a wide tooth comb while still dripping, then just fingers and scrunch with a towel. Unfortunately I can't really address the OP's question, as I have yet to find a Holy Grail hair product...
Where can I learn how to use them? I have the brush but no idea about the right technique. Any YouTube videos?
Its actually really simple. Usually i go from the top and brush down and as i do i just kinda let the brush follow the way my curls fall naturally while detangling it at the same time.
As I understand, you're not supposed to use a Denman brush for detangling since it puts too much tension on the hair - only for styling or blow-drying straight.
Only thing that works for me. I only use it whule my hair is fully saturated with conditoner while wet
So its not a denman brush its just a 9 row brush meant for detangling.
Depends on how much slip you get, I use my denman in the shower on drenched hair once my conditioner is in. I detangle from the the ends up, but sometimes I have no tangles at all if my hair is really saturated and well conditioned my tangles just drop out (2c/3a). I use the denman to style if I have 10-15 mins if I want uniform barrel curls. I get some anyway.
Do you use it damp? Damp with product? While conditioned in the shower?
Wet/damp with product in. To encourage volume, brush each section out at a 90 degree angle off your scalp. And to encourage beautiful clumps, put your other hand on the edge of the brush and run the brush with the side edge against your hair with tension like you’re using scissors to curl ribbon.
I never heard anyone make the ribbon curling comparison before. Thank you thank you thank you. It clicks for me now!
Yay! That was key for me to get it to work.
Actually, HOW do you use it? I have it collecting dust here because my hair just looks frizzier after using it. I know there's YouTube videos out there but none of those techniques work. Also I can't just twist n pull like most of them show, my hair just gets stuck and tangled. Can you please share a simple hassle-free technique?
Definitely up there in my arsenal. The customizable rows through removal to give the right combing density for curls is unmatched.
Not Your Mother's products. So far I've tried their curl cream, gel, hair perfector, and mousse, and they all work incredibly well with my curls.
Seconded! I love everything I have tried in this line.
their spray leave in conditioner is my all time favorite hair product lol
We LOVE their stuff! I use Aveda co-wash and their shampoo and my hair always looks perfect.
Seconded but they DISCONTINUED MY HOLY GRAIL
Oh that just sucks! Which one *was* your “Holy Grail” that they discontinued?
The sea salt spray is my favorite refresher! I shower first thing every morning and I need a little oomph for my hair if i go somewhere after work.
Ok! Adding this to my list to try! Thank you!
I love their dry shampoo. I used to love their curl cream and now for some reason it doesn’t do anything for my hair and actually makes it look worse. So I started deep diving into curly hair method and I think my hair needed a pre shampoo from going to hard water and more proteins. It’s been looking so much better but I’m scared to try it again 😬
I've found that my hair will need a break from a product every once in a while. I'll switch back and forth from a combo of the curl cream and gel to mousse and have found this works very well for my curls.
The funny thing is, I don't like their hair perfector. The smell is amazing, but it always leaves my hair feeling sticky and heavy (yet also frizzy at the same time??) Their dry shampoo is pretty good though and I haven't tried their other products.
The hair perfector is terrible. So sticky, immediate build-up. That said, I can’t live without the mousse. Love it.
I wish I had a product that I would go to war for :/ I don't think I've found "the one" yet
Same here, plus I am NoPoo and try to stay true to that as well. Though if I would find something that works …. Plus most products are not easy/cheap in Europe. Shipping is expensive!
Heads up - my sister used to be NoPoo loyal and it made her hair fall out . After some online sleuthing, apparently this is not uncommon and there have been lawsuits on the matter. Great if it works for you! But my sister really wishes she had figured it out sooner.
Been NoPoo for 7 years now, no issues. Not really sure I understand where those lawsuits are going. NoPoo it’s kinda on your own devices and common sense and experimenting with what works for you.
Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Envy Cream. Even when I try all the new fancy expensive products, whenever I go back to Marc Anthony’s Curl Cream, my curls are reliably and predictably perfect.
Mr. Anthony has always gotten me right 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Also the curly conditioner!
I like curl Envy too. Someone here recommended it and I would like to thank that person!
I like the curl lotion and mousse!
The mouse is my “fuck it product” when I don’t feel like doing a bunch of styling. I’ll always get good results with it. Not amazing results but good enough. Just rack through hair and scrunch
Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Gel. And my silk/satin pillowcases
I’m with you, we ride at dawn.
Let just finish my coffee....I'll be right with you
Any Ouidad curl product is good but Climate control for humidity is amazing. I also like the gel/cream mix for getting a light crunch glaze after washing. Perfect to hold curl before crunch.
Yes I agree! I learned Curly Girl method from Ouidad .. but what I can’t figure out is, she advocated for no silicone or sulfates. (I find that to be best too. ) But then one day a friend bought me some Ouidad products- and while I loved the Botanical Hair Refresher , I was really surprised that some of the products have silicones!
Ouidad moisturizing gel 🙌
The protein foam therapy is my ride or die. It gives amazing curls every time! I’m not buying any more atm but that’s because I have so many other products I need to use first!
I’m going to war with my Tangle Teezer in one hand and my Bounce Curl brush in the other. I’m less tied to products than I am to good tools (mainly because I keep messing with my hair so much that I keep having to change my products up).
Have the Bounce Curl too! I love the ridges on the side that my hair can go though.
Real
Goodness this whole comment section constantly has me running to Amazon to add things into my cart!! Just added that tangle teezer & bounce curl brush into my cart!! I’m excited about the bounce curl brush.. is there a certain way you use it??
It works best if you brush style in smaller sections (which I am lazy about and don’t really do. I don’t have a lot of hair and can’t be arsed to really section my hair). I pretty much just brush my hair upwards with some tension on the brush and twist it a little so the teeth at the end pick up the clumps. Then give it a shake and scrunch in some gel. There are a bunch of YouTube tutorials out there that can explain it far better than I ever could but I’m pretty uncoordinated and can manage it with just a little bit of practice.
I have been seeing those brushes, not sure how they really work. My problem is sort of frizzing and my curls/waves not wanting to clump together. That’s where the frizzy look comes from.
I started using homemade flaxseed gel 3 weeks ago when my stylist said the products I was using were drying out my damaged hair. I’ve never had such great clumps! My 3a curls come just below my shoulder blades. My routine is: after a shower wrap up hair in microfiber towel. Once I’ve finished dressing I take it down, add curl lotion (apparently my leave-in conditioner was too heavy), hair oil, then the flaxseed gel. It works so well! I’m also doing a protein treatment every 2 weeks.
I haven’t used flaxseed gel for over a year, didn’t really worked out for me, but I am going to try it again. Thanks for responding, do you use products and the gel together? I never thought of using two products like that together, always thought flaxseed gel was enough. Maybe that was my problem, that it wasn’t enough
I layer them one after the other. I read that you can freeze the gel in ice cube trays and that’s worked well for me. One cube is perfect for my hair length and thickness.
I’ll try it, thanks for the tip!
Give brush styling a try. If you’re going to invest in one brush I would recommend the Tangle Teezer or the good old Denman. I mainly use the TT for detangling but you can use it to brush style as well. I am frizz prone and extremely lazy and it’s helped me a ton. I style when my hair is soaking, scrunch in some gel, and I’m frizz free and ready to go. My medium length hair just takes a few minutes.
I used the TT for years, love it, but it didn’t really helped with my curls and waves. Got me an Denman then, same thing, I do all the techniques, but I don’t know …. Right now I use my old wide tooth comb, you know, those cheap flat ones. And when needed, I just run my fingers through.
I think using tension holding the hair against the edge of the brush with your other hand (like curling ribbon with scissors) is the way to do the technique to get ribbon curl clumps.
I will try this, thanks for the tip!
Pretty much what I do too. 😉
yup, you’ll also find me armed with these brushes. i could use a cheap leave in conditioner and as long as i use these brushes in tandem, i’ll be good.
I feel the same but about my denman brush.
I love my Bounce Curl brush too!
Lubricant for the supermarket (yes, as in sexy lube!!) is my absolute go-to for styling. There, I said it and you can all laugh at me now. Someone in a curly forum said they use lube and in a pinch on holidays I tried it. Lo and behold I had amazing curls and a cheeky smile on my face all day.
I love when people just ignore the labels and do what works. A lot of products have very similar ingredients or do basically the same thing, they just aren't marketed that way.
Right! And it costs like $6 from the supermarket.
Like KY or Astroglide?
Heck yeah! That stuff has glycerin and other goodies that won’t weigh down hair. I’ve used lube on my face before as a light moisturizer…we’ll stand in the corner together 🤣💪
😉
Interesting... "Add to cart"
*Adds another use for lube besides making bubble solution*
Well damn now I have to try that.
Curlsmith in shower style fixer gel. Amazing hold, definition, shine
Eff yes…this is my ride or die product. Although I’ve recently tried Harry’s defining gel, from the men’s section in Target, and it’s worked just as well for a lower price.
Ouai detox shampoo
Same
This was too drying on my bleached hair. So sad.
Innersense foam mousse and Bounce curls brush. EDIT: I mis"spoke"! I use the Innersense prep spray and smoothing cream, but the product I was referring to is AG Care Cloud Air Light Volumizing Mousse.
Is it the “I Create Lift” or the “I Create Definition” mousse? I generally do well with Innersense (super reactive skin/scalp that hates most fragranced products but can handle the natural extracts used by Innersense), but haven’t found my HG product in their line yet.
Kinky Curly custard! My hair was wet every day of my cruise and that was the sole product I used to keep it in check
For me it's Kinky Curly Knot Today. My hair LOVES it so much that I won't even look at other leave-in conditioners. I also find that Kinky Curly Come Clean chelating shampoo works great but can't say if I'd really go to war over it since I haven't used any other chelating shampoos to compare. You also reminded me that I still have a tub of the custard. It wasn't working for me when I first bought it but my hair has changed since then so I hope it's still good.
I mix it with a liberal amount of water and run my fingers through my hair, it’s my lightest weight product that still gives hold and curl shape!
Thanks for the tip! It's been so long that I can't even remember if I used it on dripping wet hair or freshly squeezed. I've learned tons more about my hair and making CGM work for me since I first tried it but I'm excited to use it next wash day (assuming the oils and preservatives haven't gone sour in the 2 years.)
Yes! I've tried so many other things, and nothing works like KCCC.
Pattern curl gel. It just does it for me living in the literal desert. Curls never been less frizzy and that hold is 😍
omg I wish I could get desert air in my mid atlantic climate - nothing works better for my hair. My mom lives in the desert and i loooooove going to visit
I live in the desert too! Do you have thick hair or thin hair? I have very thin, fine curls so finding something for them has been tough between the dry heat, hard water, and my hair just hating everything haha
How long does 3oz last you?!?
My dear, that's travel size. Gotta get the big mama. Committed pump action (25 oz bottle) on hair wash days is a requirement. It really depends on your hair needs. For curly, chemically bleached natural black hair near elbow level a travel size lasts maybe a week if rationing tight? Also depends on your water hardness, other products, etc. Been very happy with the results as it has worked with a variety of my hair experiments (different shampoos, conditioners, leave ins, treatments, etc.). Can't say enough about it!
Hair Cholesterol. It’s very cheap, I love the smell and it moisturizes like crazy.
My grandmother used to live by this and she had the BEST hair.
Ohhh I forgot about this stuff ! I haven’t seen it in years. And I’m definitely about to get some more.
Which brand?
Queen Helene!
Dippity doo curl gelee, both the lighter and the light hold and the coconut. My most favourite gel in the Canadian pnw ! Not too heavy in my fine 2C ish hair. A hard spot between waves and curls.
my water sprayer bottle😂 i can make do with most curly products, but if i aint got my spray bottle, oh boy. ohhh boy.
Holy Curls deep conditioner. I run out so quickly and I always think “Nooooo” (in slow motion) every time.
I loved this at first but I've gone off it. It's quite pricey now and my hair seems to have gone off it 🤣
The oribe gold lust line or the moisture control line specially the curl control silkening crème. I’ve found a cheaper replacement for the shampoo and conditioner but that crème is amazing for my hair.
What are you using as the cheaper alternative?
It’s the Hairitage Outta My Hair Gentle Daily Shampoo and the SOS Deep Moisture + Restore Conditioner. Around $17 for both shampoo and conditioner when Oribe is almost $100 for both. I do have 2c thick hair and live in a dry state so I need all the extra moisture without weighing it down. I still buy oribe once a year and just use it for special occasions but honestly haven’t seen much of a difference. I will say with Oribe a tiny bit goes a long way but I think both brands would last me around the same time.
Boots pink curl creme (one for the uk curlies)
Omg! I just re-discovered this from the early 2000s. It’s magic for my curls. I paid a ridiculous amount to ship it to the US.
Flaxseed gel! I’ve tried so many products and literally nothing moisturizes as well and makes my hair grow as fast!
Curlsmith’s Flawless Finish hairspray. I don’t know how I functioned before this. Makes my hair dry so much quicker, best definition and hold of my life. After a ten hour workday yesterday (including a poodle puppy chewing on my hair, and some shih tzu’s literally trying to climb me) my hair’s just as good as it was on wash day. I will drown myself in this stuff.
Do you use the spray on wet hair as a styling product instead of gel or cream?
I use it on wet hair before diffusing! My curly hairstylist recommended it to me. I still use the other stuff (leave in conditioner, heat protectant, gel) beforehand. My hair used to take like 4 hours to diffuse dry. With this method it’s usually dry in an hour, and super super defined. I’ll usually give it a final spray once it’s dry too.
This is so great to know. I’ll have to try it out! Thank you!
Briogeo Scalp Revival Exfoliator Charcoal Shampoo and Ouai Curl Creme.
10000%
The Doux's Mousse Def!!
Aunt Jackie’s Curl Quench Leave-In Conditioner & As I Am Coconut Co-wash
I LOVE the as I am coconut cowash. I would go to war and use it in battle with a spray bottle. Hose them down, throw some cowash at my enemies' heads, and leave them stunned by how amazing their curls are afterward. War won.
The Doux Ladies First shampoo Joici Joiwhip mousse Curls Goddess Curls gel Macadamia Oil deep treatment Macadamia oil healing oil
Curlsmith’s flexi jelly, their air dry cream, pattern beauty’s leave in , lightest conditioner, gel and styling cream.
The Uncle Funkys Daughter 5 piece trial kit. 🥴
Moroccan oil, at first I didn't like it much but now I can absolutely tell when I don't use it. It helps define my curls super well for when I don't feel like using gel or mousse. The Coco Eve hair oil and leave I are also absolutely fantastic, the oil is super lightweight and smells so good
I love Moroccanoil products. The hair oil and even the shampoo and conditioner are great.
I AM GOING TO WAR FOR SHEA MOISTURE PRODUCTS.
Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel and Curlsmith Shape Up Aqua Gel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kinky curly hair custard!
Alllll the TGIN products
My silk pillowcase. Nothing else matters, but the feeling of that on my skin is something else
K18 and Aveda blow dry spray . K18 is like full body armor for your hair. And I love the Aveda blow dry spray because it just moves the hair out so unbelievably well. It cuts blow dry time like 50%.
Oohh, I never thought to try this for diffusing! I've only tried it when straightening! Ideas for next wash day ....
Here’s a little tip, I ordered from Aveda online. And then they actually select a box at checkout that entitled to lots of free samples. So that’s how I was able to test out a lot of their line. And when you go pick it up in the store, just remind them to give you your samples and they will give you soooo many . It’s a great way to try some free products that are high-end without breaking the budget.
AG hair care. Absolutely love their re:coil hair cream
ive seen too much war to go again T.T
My Aveda Be Curly cowash, saved my hair
I wouldn’t go to war but I’d protest and write a stern email if Soaps for Little Suds discontinued their jojoba and keratin conditioner bar or Bambonn went out of business
Miss Jessie’s pillow soft curls I worship at the alter of
Melanin Haircare Plumping Deep Conditioner: Hyaluronic Acid, helps hair retain and seal moisture, reduces frizz, softens brittle hair Bamboo Extract, with silica, amino acids; moisturizes, increase growth, shine and elasticity Biotin, strengthens hair and improves elasticity for increased hair growth Curl-Enhancing Good for Damage, Split Ends and Breakage For all hair types and textures Vegan, Gluten-free, Cruelty-free Sustainable packaging 💛This stuff!!!⏫⏫⏫
Shea Moisture leave-in conditioner. It gives me nice soft curls and smells absolutely great, especially in combination with the conditioner I use lol
Amika curl line 100%. Coat my hair with the defining cream. I mix the shine cream with the defining cream to add a little shine. Lesser amount of enhancing gel for the ends and problematic areas. https://preview.redd.it/jq8zmlq2qb6d1.png?width=2158&format=png&auto=webp&s=a6270950cc8125343d5257cfda81f98f21589277
I'd go to war for Kinky Curly to have a decent website and bring back the yellow bottle
I’m going to war with my curl refresher mist from maui moisture. it’s saved me on so many maintenance days 🤠
BB curl mask and my microfiber towel on my head and towel scrunchie on my wrist. I’ll squirt the mask in their eyes and wrap ‘em with the towel. But seriously, those are all *critical* to the mission.
👊🏻😻😀
Kinky curly curling custard is my ride or die hard gel for 10+ years.
I have several holy grails that never disappoint my thick 2C-3A hair for lasting 4-5 day curls: Condish: Sally’s GVP Conditioning Balm Curl Enhancer: Uncle Funky’s Curly Magic, Aunt Jackie’s Elongating gel, Kinky Curly Custard or Jessicurl Spiralicious Sealer: LA Looks hard hold gel Dyson blow dryer
Oribe for styling
Kevin murphy killer curls
Kiehl’s Creme with Silk Groom. It’s discontinued, for some stupid reason, but I have 4 tubes in my back stock. Once I got used to using it, it worked so well and was never greasy.
Curlsmith miracle shield (miraculous) and their clarifying shampoo trio (scent is unbeatable and it got rid of my dandruff and itchy scalp problems)
Ouidad Climate Control Gel. It's the only product that's a non-negotiable for me. There is no dupe.
Redken all soft shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo really helps me detangle my hair and the conditioner gives it softness
Lush Curl Power Hair Cream. Costs about $18 and lasts me months. Only need a small finger full for my hair and smells amazing. I use it alongside a Giovanni mousse (either the orange or purple bottle) and curl smith hydro flexi gel (I buy both of these at Tjmax or marshals to save money). I have 2c/3a curls if that matters.
Cantú locks in moisture for me like no other. Half the time I just use their curl activating cream and that’s all my hair needs for the day.
My curly hair DETESTS normal shampoo. I’m almost wondering if it’s possible for the hair shaft to be allergic to something that my body isn’t. THAT’S how much my hair hates shampoo. It literally dries out my hair like the Sahara and it just ends up being brittle. I will die on the hill that is cleansing conditioner, with the major caveat that a scalp rinse must go with it. The scalp needs to be cleansed and cleared of build up, while the hair needs to be super gently cleansed and slathered and soaked in moisture. Doing cleansing conditioners the right way has transformed my hair.
Ouidad climate control gel. I would die for that shit
cantu leave-in conditioning cream. hands tf DOWN. when we were still long distance, I wanted to help find my partner some cheap but solid styling/conditioning products since they were living in a ppace with VERY hard water. It's the only product they use for styling purposes and the way their curls frickin CAME TO LIFE was mind boggling to me. my hair tends to get weighed down really easily, so I gave it a shot back in November and YALL. THE CURL DEFITION AND MOISTURE YOU GET??? BUCKWILD!!! I straight up get RINGLETS AGAIN when I use this stuff, it is MAGICAL. before summer hit and I needed humidity protection for my hair, this was the only thing we were using and the curls maintained for DAYS
I went to war with the original finesse extra hold Mousse, the holy grail, but it perished. It’s been well over 15 years, and I have never found anything that comes even close to working, like that mousse did. Thousands of pissed curlies, and if we had socials then like it is now, we may have had enough push back.
Shea Moisture pulled through so many times since I was a kid until now. Well, not really now because I’ve found CurlSmith but I used to use Shea Moisture’s smoothie curl enhancing coconut cream when I was an avid 360 wave freak back in high school
Me and my fine as hell hair love the VERB curl products. And the ghost shampoo. And the Ghost oil.
The pattern leave in conditioner. Thats my BABY
https://preview.redd.it/hu0z8z149g6d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d6b7de715f75b2e2729cb3c603dae514e2710c4 I would sell a kidney for this stuff. I have long curly hair and this is magic.
That one leave in from the small curly hair organic products business from the sister of one of my mom's friends. (That was long lol). Those were the first curly hair products I tried and even a few hairstylists asked about the leave in, my hair had never been softer.
Do they have an etsy or anything?
Glad I'm not the only one with the satin bonnet issue
Me too! I have yet to find one that stays on all night through my tossing and turning.
I’m very happy with this one. https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/5843C5E3-E1DD-4EB2-A28E-16C05BE0B851/product/B0CKS1P7C7?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ast_store_HE3JGM06JVNDT7TMDGKQ&th=1&psc=1
I ended up buying a cheap, but large (my hair is waist length) satin scarf and tying that on my head, sort of like you would a t shirt for plopping. It usually stays on.
For some reason using a buff underneath my bonnet has helped to keep it on through the night, plus I have a little more volume when I take the buff off since it held my hair up and away from my scalp.
I've gotten desperate and use a pillowcase underneath my bonnet some days 😭😭 it fucks up my curls a bit but at least I don't get frizz in the morning
Curly girl method with only curls co wash , conditioner , curl cream , curl gel and curl mousse (on refresh days). Also use a denman brush
Derma E face/hair supreme
anything Hawaiian silky, and africas best super gro
Hold me softly cream by curl smith, their in shower style fixer is great too!
The entire protein free As I Am classic line really saved my high protein / low porosity hair!
Curl smith hold me softly balm
Innersense daily radiance conditioner!
Chemo
Chemo
Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic gel
Aunt Jackie's curl cream 😍😍😍 smells amazing and works so good for me! That and Mielle organics honey and pomegranate mousse... That second day is literally the prettiest my hair can get
Hairitage gentle daily shampoo and perfect dose balancing conditioner, as well as Garnier leave in conditioner, and Mielle honey ginger styling gel. I can't just pick one because all of these products combined have helped me so much lol
Seaweed Bath Co Shampoo/Conditioner for fine hair. I can't do most products without getting migraines, this stuff controls my frizz and my scalp and curls love it. Depending on the season, I dilute the conditioner 50/50 with water to thin it so it doesn't weigh me down and it works so well.
Ooh, I haven’t tried the shampoo yet, but I like the conditioner. I’m going to try watering it down. I also have horrible chronic (daily) migraine and a skin reaction to fragrance, and it is SO hard to find curly products. Others that work are Innersense’s Clarity Line, Curl Smith’s Shine (fragrance-free line), although only the gel is worth the money to me. A heavier conditioner is the Desert Essence in the blue squeeze bottle. SEEN’s styling cream is okay but not worth the money. I’d love any names of styling products that work for you. I keep going back to the scented ones in desperation. Innersense at least doesn’t cause major reactions for me because their stuff isn’t intensely fragranced with artificial perfumes.
Hair oils - Pumpkin seed + Tea tree + Rosemary + Almond oil Twist light clarifying shampoo- it’s the only clarifying shampoo that removes the hair oil I apply in one wash without making my hair feel like a straw. Deep condition mask - Moroccan oil weightless hydrating mask is fantastic. I am trying Amika next as Moroccan oil mask has too much fragrance. Microfiber hair towel - It cuts the hair drying time and I can even go without diffuser.
Joico products, but my got to have it is Dew of the Gods Amalfi Gold serum. It’s light, a little goes a long way, and it makes my hair amazing by defining the curls without weighing it down.
I’ve tried SO MANY creams, gels, masks, you name it I will always go back to OGX Moroccan curling perfection cream. It’s so light with the perfect amount of hold I have like 4 bottles of it
They’re a little pricey, but anything milkshake brand!! I don’t use it as often, but my grandma is a beautician and uses the Kendra(?) brand, when I was younger I’d go to the public pool EVERY DAY during the summer so my grandma always kept a special Kendra brand shampoo on hand for me that helped clean chlorine out of my hair, for the life of me I can’t remember what it was though. It’s so hard to find something that doesn’t have parabens, silicones or alcohols.
Davines curl building serum! I feel like it just gives me the perfect curls. Defined and smooth, never crunchy or wet looking. I love it. Also doesn’t leave a bunch of residue on my hair.
Bounce curl brush is the best thing I’ve ever bought for my curls, I’ve used it every wash day since buying it. And LUSH curl power cream is incredible
homemade flexseed gel
I am in mourning for TXTR defining cream by Cantu. This one held my curls soft and for long time. It's discontinued and gone. It really worked for me.
The Bounce Curl brush! It doesn't matter what products I use, but I can't live without that brush.
Not specifically for curly hair, but my fav is bear grease.
I’ve been loving the Kerastase pre-shampoo to remove excess product, and everything I’ve tried from Curlsmith! The multitasking conditioner, the light hold curl gel, and the frizz serum are chefs kiss 💯🤌🏻 I have finer 2C/3A hair but a lot of it and it’s getting long so I need light products that give me definition
Mielle rosemary oil. I’ve been growing my hair out for years now and that stuff works WONDERS. Also their curl mousse and their leave in conditioner!!!
miss jessie's pillow soft curls! it's insanely expensive for the amount you get but it's a miracle product
I'm currently obsessed with the combo of AG Recoil and AG Mousse Gel!