BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Hair products to define curls

Hey everybody! I usually post over in the craft sections, but I got a hair question today. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
As you can see, I have very curly hair, yes naturally. For so long, I've used moose (sorry, but I can never seem to spell that word). but it just seems to weigh it down, and I'm just sick of looking at this life-less birdsnest. Can anyone tell me which hair product gives the best curl definition? I wish I had a dime for everything I've used, in my search for the best one. Advice? BTW - I have a Sally's Beauty Supply in my neighborhood, so I have access to some of the professional prodcuts. Help!!

Hi Melissa,
I've found that there are many types of curly hair. What works for one person will not work for another <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
My favorite combination - although Sallys does not carry these products - is ARTec Kiwi Blow Serum mixed with ARTec Texture Creme (or Nioxin Texture Creme )Sometimes I add some flexible gel. I have to layer products to get definition without frizz.

my sister has a curly blonde dry hair, she wanna know what products to use to make it silky and shiny?

My baby has hair like this, jadlyn. I've yet to find something that doesn't make her hair look dirty or flat. She has really tight curls, dry hair, and major frizzies where there's new growth. I don't know what to do with it!

Hi Jadlyn.
It really depends on the hair, but Aveda makes many products that work well for curly hair. One of the best combinations I found for my curly hair when it was really dry was Confixor and Elixor (curl cream and a leave in conditioner). Both feel great if used correctly and leave the hair very very soft. Another use would be the Humectant, but it's tricky to use. Too much will definitely make the hair feel very greasy. Litterally, the tiniest amount of this will do fine. My small jar of it has lasted me 3 years...and I'm STILL not even half done. I don't use it often as my hair is not really dry enough to warrent using it. It's best used on the ends after coloring when they tend to be slightly fried. Check them out. Only good salons will carry it, or find it online. Ask the people in the salon for help. I used to work in a big salon here and it's required, even as front desk staff, to take a few classes about Aveda products so we can make educated suggestions.

Also, look into shampoos and conditioners. It's not just products that help curly hair succeed. I use Aveda Sap Moss shampoo and Cherry Almond Bark conditioner. Have her buy some travel size to try. Good luck!

Hi Lynn B.
I know it sounds like I'm a rep for Aveda, but it's just what I've had experience with. Try Aveda Smoothing Fluid for your daughter's hair. You can put it in wet before styling OR dry to smooth out the frizz. Also, try a little of the Confixor/Elixor mix. About a dime size of each in the palm of you hand, rub them together and pull through wet hair. Scrunch with a towel, NEVER your hands (using your hands will separate the curls) and let air dry, or use a diffusor on the end of a really good hair dryer. A good hair dryer is essential if drying curly hair. The cheap ones tend to get too hot over too long of a period of time, causing the hair to burn and fry, which makes it frizzier. Also, run product through from the underside by having her flip her head over. This allows the curls on top to be less messed with. (ever notice how the curls on the underside of her hair look fine?) The less you touch it, the less frizzy it will be.

Hope this helps!

Hi Butterfly67.
I wanted to caution you if you decide to get your hair cut...
Avoid people who want to razor your hair or cut very blunt layers. Razoring is horrible for curly hair like ours (I'm guessing from the picture) as it thins the ends...where the curl actually holds together. Also, the blunt cut ends are too heavy for the curls. A perfect medium, I've found, is a slight texture cut at the ends, where they cut as normal, then go back and cut up into the layer about a quarter to half inch. This breaks it up enough to make the layers blend nicely. A good cut can make the curls do what they should do on their own. Also, check out my other 2 posts in this forum about products. I think you could benefit from the Aveda products I mentioned.

Good luck!

Maybe this is not considered true curls for most natural curly hair girls in this topic, but what about permed hair?
While I don't have natural curly hair, I noticed I love them very much after getting a perm. So I take care of it and intend to keep perming it, maybe with tighter curls (there pretty loose now and were set with a minimal amount of benders)
Anything specific on this?

Hi !

For volume & hair boost, fullness and thickness, I'd highly recommend cassia obovata. It's gives fantastic hair conditioning and immediate fullness, allowing your hair to relax into its natural state. You mix it up into a paste like henna mud, then apply into the roots and all over your hair for about 20 - 25 mins and rinse it out. If your hair is fine or damaged, you may need to add oil to your cassia obovata mix to help it wash out more easily, or you may want to wash it out with mayo or hair conditioner.

Best wishes, and don't despair - you've got beautiful hair !

Regards

Sabrina.

Hi sabrina1, I just saw your post and wanted to ask you about cassia obovata, since I've never heard of it..What exactly is it? Does it colour your hair along with adding fullness and thickness? Where does one get this product? Are there any chemicals in it?

thanks,
franny