The Vine: October 31, 2008
Sars:
This is one of those product-related questions for your other readers. I have naturally curly hair, sensitive skin, and asthma. What do these things have to do with one another? They are making it really hard for me to find a hair product I can use for when I want my hair to just be curly.
For as long as I can remember I’ve been using Clinique’s Defined Curls. It lets my curls be bouncy, not frizzy, soft to the touch and shiny. But it was discontinued in 2004, and I’m now on the last tube I was able to get from their Gone But Not Forgotten program.
I’m looking for something that will give me bouncy, shiny, not frizzy curls and won’t leave my hair feeling crunchy or waxy. At the same time, it can’t be highly scented, because that will trigger my asthma. The skin sensitivity part is usually to the “fragrance” ingredient, as well. If something has a natural scent from essential oils, spices, or herbal or other plant materials (as long as it isn’t highly floral) it doesn’t trigger my asthma and it usually doesn’t cause my skin to react.
It feels like I’m on a search for the Holy Grail. It also feels like I’m going to be spending a lot of money trying things that I have to throw away after one use. Since I think there’s probably something out there in a health food store or on the web at one of the natural sites that would work, I’m hoping one of your readers can suggest something so I can try something with a good chance of working. (You know, a nice unscented shampoo and cream rinse wouldn’t hurt either!)
Thanks for the help!
Bo
Dear Bo,
As you’ve probably guessed if you’ve read The Vine before, I myself can’t help you, as I’m usually looking to add frizz because it gives me more body.
But no doubt the readers have a few ideas.Readers?
Tags: Ask The Readers health and beauty
Bumble and Bumble’s curl creme works really well to keep my frizz to a minimum while creating great curls – I don’t find it too smelly, and I’m pretty sensitive, but I don’t know if you’ll react poorly to it or not – on the B&B website you can find small sizes but I don’t see trial sizes… Good luck!
This might not work for curly hair, but I use Aloe Vera gel as hair gel, and it works really well for my (very short, fairly straight) hair. It should be easy to get something unscented from CVS or Rite-Aid, and it’s not pricey. It might be a little stiffer than you’re looking for, but that doesn’t last, even though the shape does.
I use Osis (by Schwartzkopf) Loopy Curl Cream. It works a treat and no Easter grass hair. I have sensitive skin myself and have had no problem. It also doesn’t have a very strong smell so I hope it won’t affect your asthma. It’s not really a retail product but you can get it online and at salons or beauty supply shops. Perhaps going to one of those shops would help you test out products’ smells without buying. Best of luck!
I have curly hair too and have spent years looking for things that will give me defined curls, help reduce frizz, while at the same time not giving me wet-look curls that go ‘crunch’ when you touch them. Safe to say I’ve tried a lot of products in my time, and lots of them have ended up looking like I’ve got a crazy orange lady sat on top of my head waving her arms around and going ‘whahahahahahahaa’. Which is frustrating.
Lately I’ve ended up using Aveda products. I’m totally sold on a combination of their ‘Be Curly” shampoo and conditioner, using ‘Confixer’ (which is a runny gel-like product) afterwards. Works great! It is perfumed though, but they claim to use natural plant extracts– maybe it’s worth a sniff-test to you?
It’s expensive stuff– but I find that I only need to use a little to tame the frizz, instead of the handfuls of cheaper crap that I used to use.
Wanted to second the B&B Curl system. I used the shampoo, conditioner & creme and loved them intensely.
Also loved Aveda’s Brilliant to sleek up the curls a bit more. You might also check what Aveda has out.
I don’t have especially sensitive skin, nor am I sensitive to scents BUT I do have hair that really wants to be curly, but can’t usually be “good” curly just on its own. I had decent results for a few years with Aveda products [Which, btw, are VERY highly scented. Even though Aveda’s an “all natural/minimal weird chemicals” sort of company, their products are so strongly scented they might bother you.], though after a while they just stopped working on my hair [I also found they worked better for me when my hair was long, it’s pretty short now.]. I switched to Bumble and Bumble which is, sadly, even more expensive than the Aveda stuff, but a little goes a long way and I’ve never been so happy with my curls. Depending on how curly I want to go, I use either the Grooming Creme or the Curl Cream. They actually have 2 lines of stuff for curly hair–one for finer hair, one for coarser hair. I’ve used the shampoo and conditioner and really like them [though I don’t use them all the time, as my hair’s short enough that it’s not especially picky about what shampoo I use as long as it’s reasonably gentle]. I think B&B use a lot of more natural, less harsh ingredients–everything is really gentle–and the products that I’ve used have a nice, but very subtle scent. Again, their stuff isn’t cheap, not by a long shot, but most of their products are available in travel sizes so you can try them out for not too great an investment. And like I said, a little really goes a long way, depending on how much hair you have–a travel size bottle of the Curl Cream lasted me about 3 months.
Have you tried Ouidad? I haven’t tried using any of their products myself (my current budget confines me to Suave), so I don’t know how it rates for scent or skin sensitivity, but curly-haired people I know who’ve used it act like it’s anointing creme from on high. The web site has all kinds of curly hair care advice along with all of their products. There’s a forum where you could ask around, too.
I like Aveda’s “Be Curly Curl Enhancer.” It gives me soft curls, NOT crunchy at all. In fact, it’s pretty much an “invisible” product… except that my curls are much better behaved (and non-frizzy) when I use it.
I am super-sensitive to smells, and some days it is a little strong for me, though. I’d check out a sample in the store first to check out the smell factor.
the aveda curly hair stuff is really nice — they have a few different cremes — and their sap moss shampoo is good for curly hair. aveda is generally natural and not artificially scented. also, if you go into an aveda, you can usually request a free sample to try out.
you could also check out the curly girl deva line — i think you can read the ingredients online. if you’re used to standard shampoo, you could start out with low-poo and maybe transition to no-poo, and the conditioner is really good too. they have a gel (starts out a little crunchy, but once your hair is dry you can scrunch the crunchy out) and some other stuff.
I’d recommend taking the list of ingredients from the Clinique stuff that works for you and looking for a product with the same or similar ingredients without any additional things that appear to be fragrance related. a few extra minutes looking at labels in the store/at the counter might help eliminate a few products and save you the $$ and hassle of buying to try then discard.
Bo, do you know about MakeupAlley.com? You can trade your unwanted stuff on there…possibly with someone who wants to get rid of their unused Defined Curls!
I’ve had good luck with Pantene’s Curl-Enhancing gel – you’d think that just using gel on its own would leave hair kind of crunchy, but I’ve found that it holds curls together really well while still leaving my hair soft. I don’t know how it would react with your allergy issues, but it doesn’t smell like much of anything to me.
I have tried a million hair products – my personal favorite is Aveda Be Curly – it has a scent, but Aveda is very natural (its more of an herbal scent), so you probably wouldn’t react to it. Its not cheap, but a little goes a long way!
Have you looked at any handmade shampoo products–you could get them unscented or with more natural scents as you listed and likely small samples. I don’t know if they’ll help with the curl part and if you have hard water, I don’t recommend them because they don’t rinse out as well if they are non-SLS based (at least not at my non-water softened house). You can order from people online (such as etsy.com, you can toss me an email from my blog if you want any B&B people I’ve ordered from) or you may have some local handmade B&B sellers, I do in my town. You could try samples from people whom I’m sure could send you EO or no scent added products. Again, not sure about the curl/frizz part (but they should be moisturizing). Definitely sure about the scent/sensative skin part.
I wonder if Bo has tried Aveda? My husband has very curly hair and I weaned him from drugstore gel (crunchy!) to using Aveda’s Be Curly (he’s used both the Curl Control and the Curl Enhancer) with a little bit of their Confixor (which is kind of like a light gel meets leave-in conditioner). Aveda’s products definitely have a scent, but I think they tend to use more natural/plant-derived fragrances than the typical perfume-y stuff. At the very least, the smell is minimal enough that my husband doesn’t feel like he’s using “girly” hair products.
I would recommend finding a concepts salon and asking for a product consult (the concepts salons are more closely linked to the Aveda mothership, I think, and I’ve found that their staff seem to really know the product line plus you’d be dealing with a hair stylist and not a retail clerk). They can probably give you samples, too, or allow returns if you explain that you have sensitivity issues.
I can’t help much with the frizz, since I’m straight to minimally wavy, but I can recommend some shampoo. Lately, I’ve been switching all of my body products over to Burt’s Bees and have absolutely no complaints. I was skeptical about shampoo, though, mostly because I tried their shampoo bar and haaaaaaaated it (it was like coating my hair with wax).
However, their Super Shiny Grapefruit and Sugar Beet shampoo? Rocks. I’ve bought salon shampoo that didn’t work as well as this does. It smells vaguely citrusy/sweet and is 98.something percent natural, so it should be good on the gentle front, too. It costs 8 bucks a bottle, but I can live with that, and you can get it at Target, Walgreens, etc. If shiny isn’t your need (and it really does make it shiny!), they have other varieties for volume, color treated, etc. The matching conditioner rocks, as well.
I have a similar set of problems–curly, frizz-prone hair, asthma, and sensitivity to excessive fragrances. I recently discovered Aveda’s Be Curly Curl Enhancer–it has only a slight fragrance, and a little bit of it smooshed into wet hair is seriously like a miracle. Combined with a daub of Confixor (liquid gel) to help with the frizz control, my hair seriously looks better than it has it years.
Giovanni products tend not to trip off my scent allergies, and their line of hair stuff is pretty awesome (bonus: not tested on animals). Whole Foods carries Giovanni, and I know they have a couple other brands there that could help. You can also find it online, but smelling in person is best, right?
I’m a fan of Matrix Curl Life Contouring Milk (which comes in a squeeze tube, unlike their contouring cream, which comes in a pot). It’s very lightweight — I have baby fine curly hair, so that’s important — and doesn’t smell like much of anything.
Bo, have you tried Lush? Their Curly Wurly shampoo (http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/hair/bottled-shampoos/curly-wurly ) does contain some synthetic perfume, but it’s labelled as “safe” synthetic–not sure how that would work with your asthma, but I know others with skin sensitivity who have never had a problem with Lush, and their shampoos are great.
Oh, they also have a solid one for curly hair: http://www.lushusa.com/shop/products/cheveux/shampooings-solides/trichomania
Aaand ignore that, I can’t read and missed that you’re looking for gel. I should not be allowed on the internets unsupervised. D’oh!
FYI: From what I understand, every hair stylist I’ve ever talked to has warned me against Pantene. It seems to work great for a couple of weeks, but one of the main ingrediants is some type of wax–which is totally gross for your hair after those few weeks’ worth of build-up. I think some people who couple it with an intense clarifying shampoo probably have luck with it; I don’t mean to dog on anyone who loves it.
I bet if you wandered into a store like Beauty Brands or Sephora and chatted up one of the cashiers they could hook you up with some samples (with a small purchase of something you’d buy anyway, of course).
What about MOP (modern organic product)? The c-curl curl defining cream is pretty much the best thing ever, and I don’t think it smells too much.
If you don’t have any problems with products from Israel (which some people fo ::shrug), there’s an Israeli product called “Natural Formula Hair Cream,” which is an after-shower hair conditioner. My sister has curly hair, and swears by it. I have straight hair, and also use it. It’s amazing: hold your hair lightly but firmly, soft to the touch, no frizz… As for scents and such, they’re called “natural formula” for a reason – no weird chemicals, all-natural ingredients, etc. etc. and so forth.
In Israel there’s a special variety for curly hair as well, but I see that in the States they only have the regular/dry/shine types. Doesn’t matter – curly-haired sis uses it.
I can’t recommend it highly enough: it’s the type of local product you go insane trying to replace abroad, because nothing else ever does the job as well.
You can get it here: http://www.israeliproducts.com/page/IP/CTGY/Naturalformula
It’s the first product on the page.
My personal experience with this is nill, since I was not born with the curly hair, BUT! My sister (curly girl) and a very good friend of mine (curly girl) both have ceased shampooing their hair.
Now, I have a feeling this is good for folks with dry hair (my sister can go days without her hair looking greasy. This I was also not born with.), but the theory is that our hair, especially curly hair, needs our natural scalp oils, which shampoo strips away and leaves the hair even more dry, which means frizzy.
They just use a quality conditioner and “scrub” their scalp with fingertips. Both report using much less product, since their hair is already nicely moisturized. If you find a conditioner that doesn’t trigger your other issues, it might be worth a shot.
I have done this in the past, and my hair has not been noticeably greasier after washing with conditioner alone. It did not, however, make my hair curly. My disappointment was palpable. :)
Just hit http://naturallycurly.com, which is where I found my current DevaCurl products (alas for the reader, highly scented). There are tons of product reviews, forums, and even links to good hairstyles in your neighbors (it’s also where I found my current stylist). Also, in response to Krissa above, I don’t do a “CO” wash (“conditioner only” — there’s a whole vocabulary over at the NC site), but I do just take a bit of shampoo and scrub at my scalp with it, which has eliminated a lot of the frizz. I also haven’t combed my hair in about two years, just finger-combed it while putting on conditioner in the shower. My hair has improved 100% since then.
“links to good hairstyles in your neighbors”
Good grief — let’s try “links to good hairstylists in your neighborhood.” *facepalm*
I don’t have curly hair, but I wanted to jump in to say you can return used beauty products – to specialty stores as well as stores like wal mart and wal greens. If you try some lipstick you don’t like, you can return it. And that goes for the shampoo/gel/whatever that didn’t work.
If you truly, truly need fragrance-free beauty products (i.e not scented AT ALL–hypoallergenic, etc.), the best place I’ve found is National Allergy.
http://www.natlallergy.com/category.asp?c=500&bhcd2=1225480727
I’ve got curly hair and have tried some of their stuff…it works ok–not as great as some non-hypoallergenic products I’ve used, but they’re definitely TOTALLY scent-free. They’ve got shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, gel, etc. And all of it is for people who are sensitive to chemicals.
I have a giant frizz mop, so I can relate… I cannot say enough good things about the Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper. It’s water-based, so it doesn’t have the same chemicals in it that many of the frizz solutions have. And, you can reactivate it using water, so if you’re not up to doing a whole wash and curl thang one morning, just spritz in a little water, scrunch, and you’re good to go.
Unless you live in Toronto, and can get to the Curly Hair Institute, their products are only available online on their website – http://www.frizzoff.com. If you join their (free) membership club, you get monthly discounts and a deal on shipping. No, I don’t get a cut of the promo *grin*, but I really love what this has done to my hair.
(Oh, and I second the reduce your shampooing suggestion… I shampoo once a week, and condition as many days a week as I can. It’s made a big impact on my hair, as well.)
After wrestling with incredibly thick/curly/paint-in-the-ass hair for 30 years, I’ve found a hairstyling trick that works really well with frizz – after washing my hair, I twist it up into Princess Lea-esque buns (one ponytail, split into 2, twisted around and pinned to my head) and leave it like that all day. When I go to bed, I take it out, and it’s still damp – the next morning, my hair has dried into perfect curls. Having my hair twisted while drying keeps the curl sort of contained. I also slather it with Paul Mitchell’s Super Skinny Serum before I twist it up, but that product is slightly scented. It’s not strong at all, but might be a problem for sensitive folks.
Huh, I’m surprised only one person has mentioned Ouidad so far. I’ve been using their Climate Control gel for about 8 years now, and I have nightmares in which they discontinue it. (I’ve got typical Ashkenazi corkscrew-curly hair, though perhaps less coarse than average, for reference.) It’s got a scent, but it’s not overpowering; I just opened up the bottle to smell it, and was surprised by how faint the fragrance was. (It’s not flowery, either — more of a “clean” scent.)
Different products work for different people, though; my mom (who has very similar hair to mine) didn’t like Climate Control, but did like Tress FX (also by Ouidad). Now I think she’s using Bumble & Bumble stuff, but I’m not sure.
Also, seconding http://www.naturallycurly.com.
I have naturally curly hair, as well, and also sensitive skin. I love Schwarzkopf Osis Soft Wax. It leaves my hair bouncy, soft and keeps the frizzies to a minimum. However, make sure you don’t use too much. Too much will leave your hair really oily feeling. A very small amount does the trick.
It doesn’t have a scent, but when you buy it, make sure the product hasn’t turned white. It should be clear. I’ve noticed it can “spoil”, and when it does this, it starts to smell. Not a pretty smell, but a chemically smell.
Alas, I’ve heard this product might be discontinued soon, as well… but, while it’s still around, perhaps it might be useful!
I’ve been using Jessicurl products for a few years and love them for my thick wavy/curly hair. jessicurl.com. I found out about her on naturallycurly.com and later raved to a few friends, who have also become fans. The founder started her company because other products weren’t working on her own curly hair. She has a number of different products for different types of curly hair. Personally, I would be in difficult straits without Rockin’ Ringlets which I supplement with Paul Mitchell Super Sculpt (a lightweight medium hold gel). I also like her shampoos and conditioners. You can check out all the ingredients on the site and order the products without fragrance.
I’m a fellow victim of curly hair and the best post-shower stuff I’ve found is Redkin Ringlet 07. You have to get it at a salon and it’s around $15 for a little bottle, but you don’t need much. It seriously tames the frizz and the scent is pretty mild. I’d still smell it first before you buy, though, just in case.
I have the opposite problem than you – a serious allergy to sunflower oil, so I stay away from all natural products. Better living through chemistry! And I’ll definitely be looking into that Aveda line. :)
I use L’Anza’s Strait Line Smoother Straightening Balm:
http://www.lanza.com/products/display_products.sd?iid=56&catid=5&loc=show&headTitle=%20-%20Smoother%20Straightening%20Balm
It’s fantastic — light, fairly scent-free (my partner has asthma and it doesn’t bug her to be near me), and animal-friendly! It’s billed as a straightening product but I use it to keep my curls from exploding into ‘fro mode. Apply, shake your head like a metal queen, go about your day.
They’re meant for colored hair but they’re vegan, cruelty free, etc, etc. Pureology. I have the shampoo, conditioner and leave-in and they’re nice; my stylist uses the whole line. I try to avoid the frizz/mushroom head look whenever possible.
My daughter has curly hair and sensitive skin, but not asthma, so I don’t know whether this counts, but hands-down the best product we’ve found is Neutrogena Triple Moisture leave-in conditioner. It prevents frizz, gives shiny, glossy curls and makes for a very easy comb-out (which is important to a 7 year old.)
For what it’s worth, we tried MOP because I thought I should go with organic for my little one, but it did nothing for the frizz.
As a curly haired girl with fine hair (who sucessfully created an Annie ‘fro a few Halloween’s back), I second the love for the Bumble and Bumble Styling Creme. It is my favorite hair product for my hair, but it is pricey. CVS by me carries it, but I found it was cheaper to buy from my stylist by a significant amount. (Like 20% cheaper, who knew?)
I also have had very good luck with a Christophe’s curly hair creme. It’s a “salon” brand carried only by CVS, and they often have sampler packs of it along with the attendant shampoo/conditioner, which is how I found out about it. This is actually the product I use each day as it is only $9 (and the B&B runs ~$24). I don’t think of it having to strong of a scent, and I have not noticed any breakouts above and beyond the ordinary using it.
I will have to check out http://naturallycurly.com, especially if they discontinue my Christophe’s!
If you’re wanting to go for all natural and totally smell free, I have a suggestion…
For the past three weeks, I have been making my own hair “gel”.
2 tbs flaxseed/linseed
1 cup of water
Though I usually double that. I also add 2-3 drops of lavender oil for the scent, but you could skip that step. Also, it’s more of a hair gloop than a hair gel.
I have totally unruly curly hair – seriously, if I tried only a little bit, I could have an afro – and this stuff works. It keeps my hair soft and mostly controls the frizz.
And it’s crazy economical. The bag of linseed I’ve been using cost $1.10 and I reckon it’ll last for another 2-3 weeks. And the lavender oil cost $5. So that’s 4-6 weeks of hair care for $6.10
you might try kiehl’s as well. the products are well labeled, so if there are some ingredients you know are a problem, you might be able to avoid them. and they have a pretty good sample program, giving you three samples with a purchase, so you would be able to try out a few things.
http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/home/index.aspx
There is this AWESOME stuff call Mop Top – I know, hokey name, but the lady who makes it has devoted her life to helping people control curly hair without a boatload of chemicals. It’s her passion. She grew up being teased, etc (hence “Mop Top”). She says it became really important to her “when my two year old girl started looking like Art Garfunkle”. Check out her website, where you can order it. I’m 35 years old, and it’s the very first product that I can use every single day. I use the shampoo, conditioner, pomade and refresher.
http://www.moptophair.com
I, too, have curly hair, and for YEARS hated it, because if I wore a ponytail, I would look like Bozo the Clown.
I SWEAR by the John Frieda >> Frizz Ease >> Curly hair line.
You might not be able to use the shampoo & conditioner (they JUST changed the formula, and now it’s got a stronger scent than it used to), but their Dream Curls spray is all I use. There is currently, six bottles of it in my medicine cabinet.
When I get out of the shower, I get the knots out, and I wrap my hair in a towel. Then, when I’m done getting dressed, I take my hair out of the towel (it’s damp, but not wet) and spray the underside of my hair and then the top of it.
It leaves my hair soft, COMPLETELY touchable, and not scented at all, and with gorgeous curls, instead of clown-like frizz. Seriously. I LOVE it.
(www.snipurl.com/DreamCurls)
I have curly and frizzy – yet thin – hair, and it’s taken me over 10 years to figure it out.
What works best for me is to start out with some really good shampoo, and then you don’t need all the hair products. I recommend L’Oreal Professional Shine Curl shampoo and conditioner. You can only get it at salons, but i think also on the net. Give it a couple of moths and it’ll really moisturise your hair, which will eventually defrizz on its own. Also, the Body Shop’s Macadamia Straightening balm is really lightwight and helps smooth out the kinks without the greasy, crunchy mess of other balms and gels.
Thanks so much everyone. There are a few things there that sound really promising. Sadly, Kiehl’s tends to be really heavy and gives me a rash. And most Aveda is too strongly scented and gives me a rash. (Although, I do use the the Reviving Mist to reactivate between washings–but I dilute it by at least 1/2, leaving just a tiny bit of lavender scent). However, there are a number of other things that I’m looking forward to trying.
I swim every third day, so I wash my hair every third day. Not shampooing, with the chlorine residue, is not an option.
I second the recommendations for checking on/also posting your question on naturallycurly.com–some of the folks there have an encyclopedic knowledge of curly hair products and have always been very helpful when I’ve had a question.
I also really like Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper for styling/frizz control. Jessicurl products are great, natural, and as mentioned above you can get them unscented or scented with essential oils. She also has really helpful videos on her site showing how to use her products and general styling tips. For detangling (and I think it also helps with frizz somewhat… my hair is just wavy but super-tangly and frizzy) I also like another product that’s available at the “CurlMart” site associated with nc.com–it’s a leave-in conditioner by Kinky-Curly called Knot Today. My hair is short now so I don’t do as much with it, but when it was longer I’d layer that with my other styling product(s).
This is my curly hair care regime:
Condition everyday with Aquage Healing Conditioner.
Shampoo every 5th day with Aquage shampoo, condition as normal, and use B&B’s stage 3 Dehydration Therapy leave in conditioner.
For styling product I use B&B Curl Creme and their Thickening Spray.
I used to have terribly frizzy hair and get full foil blonde highlighting done a few times a year. Since I’ve started using these products, my stylist tells me she has never seen my hair looking healthier. I love the way it styles – either blown dry or air-dried. It doesn’t feel crispy or crunchy and never looks or feels greasy. I was very skeptical about shampooing only every 5 days, but since I’ve been doing that (nearly a year now) my hair is so happy. My sister-in-law turned me on to Aquage – they use sea botanicals and skip out on a lot of the chemicals many other products use. The only thing is you have to visit the website to find a salon that carries their products. They refuse to sell in chain stores.
Other tips to help with frizz: use a comb in the shower to distribute conditioner more evenly. Do not rub hair with towel – gently squeeze out excess water and wrap hair in towel. Do not use a comb or brush on your hair after washing it – only finger comb it and try to touch it as little as possible. Good luck!!
Get rid of your shampoo. Period. And get rid of any conditioner or product with silicone in it.
Seriously, I stopped shampooing over three years ago. Best thing I ever did for my curly (and now waist-length — look ma, no breakage!) hair. I use a lot of Nature’s Gate products, but there are a lot of all-natural, organic, silicone- and sulfate-free products out there now.
And curly hair is wonderful! Why would you consider yourself a victim of it? I wholeheartedly second whoever suggested NaturallyCurly.com above. Go! Learn! Be happy!
Philippa, I don’t think any of us curlies said we felt like victims. But there are definite challenges if we want to have some control of the curl we embrace.
I remember the 70s and stick straight hair being the ONLY fashionable thing and my cousins wearing large orange juice cans as rollers and trying to sleep on those things. I never did. I just braided my waist-length hair in little braids when wet and when I released it, it looked like it had been crimped. Even that much work is too much, now, for my just-below-the-ear length hair. (In addition to not wanting to look crimped.)
More ideas to work with. Thank you all so much.
I have similar skin reactions to most fragrances (but not the asthma), and I have had good luck with the John Frieda styling products (the shampoos and conditioners give me a rash, but his styling products don’t seem to have any fragrance in them). I’ve also had good luck with the Redkin products, including the shampoos and conditioners.