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
I like Pantene Curl Shaper. You can find it any drug store, supermarket or Target-like store, for under 10 bucks. It’s perfect for my frizzy wave/curly hair -doesn’t leave a greasy look or stiffness. And my sensitive skin and sinuses have never complained about it. I let my hair air dry after using this, and it really takes care of the frizz and defines the curls.
I have the curl issue, although not the sensitivity issue, and I find that SunSilk’s curl line works like a charm (the Curl Creme is especially good for the non-crunchiness issue) and the styling products are minimally scented, although the shampoo and conditioner aren’t.
I also wanted to point out that, though I’ve never tried it, the Targets in my area (Mississippi) usually have some Bumble & Bumble and a few other high-end lines for noticeably less $$ than beauty-supply stores, if you want to try that highly-recommended line and price is an issue. I’d look into it.
John Freida’s Frizz Ease shampoos and conditioners (not so much the frizz ease serum itself) really worked for me when my hair was longer – got the curls and the senesitivity, but thankfully no asthema. Good luck with your search
On the Curly Girl system: I tried the stopping shampooing a while ago. Unfortunately, while I don’t have sensitive skin per se, I have oily skin– and if I don’t wash the hair around my face, I look like an acne-plagued teenager very quickly. Even religious use of Proactiv can’t mitigate the damage. (I can’t use any of the curl-relaxing shampoos/conditioners, either– they’re all full of oils, and I break out within days. Oh, adult acne, how I freaking hate you.)
There are some good product suggestions above, though. Thanks, all.
I too am possessed of locks both curly and frizzy, with the added bonus of being ultra-fine so heavy styling products weigh my hair down. I used to use Infusium 23 as a leave-in conditioner, but then the smell started to get to me.
What’s worked best for me is to make a highly-diluted solution of distilled water and my regular conditioner. Put it in a trigger-action spray bottle (the kind with a twist-to-close nozzle), squirt it on towel-dried hair, comb/brush through, scrunch, and go. You might need to shake the bottle for a few seconds before spraying if your conditioner is prone to clumpiness.
This method is about 50 times cheaper than most other styling products, and if I can manage to leave my hair alone and just finger-comb it when it’s mostly dry, I end up with soft, loopy, shoulder-length, non-frizzy, non-crunchy curls.
I have curly, frizzy hair and I swear by Aubrey Organics B5 design gel. http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=098 I believe it’s 100% natural (silicones are a concern for me – I have a lot of breakage from them). Their other products are great as well. Not cheap, but worth it for me.
I use a modified curly girl routine. My scalp gets itchy without a real shampoo at once every week or two.
Oh and I wear a swim cap to swim in, though I don’t have the thickest hair.. maybe getting it all to fit would be a concern for some.
Something I have had great sucess with after 24 years of searching is DevaCurl Angelee. You can purchase it at Ulta. You might want to test the smell first. I don’t think it’s overpowering, but it may be for you…
I have curly, coarse hair and learned a great secret – a thick, sticky, straightening creme. No, really! It clumps the hair without being gel-y crunchy, and is specifically meant to de-friz.
Or any creme-not-gel product intended for curly hair. Spending a bit for salon products more can really help. Specific recommendations are Sunsilk, both for curly and straightening, work well. My best find overall is Origins Hair Dresser – wonderful, thick, non sticky, great hold and friz control. It has a stongish scent, though, so you’ll want to give a sniff before buying. They also have a gel (University of Mane) which is good and actually preferred by my boyfriend (whose has frizzier and coarser hair than I do).
Also, shampoo and conditioner lines specifically for curly hair (I swear by the Pantene for curls).
I second Aveda’s Be Curly!
Gali above knows what she’s talking about. I’ve been using Natural Formula for 8 years and have never found anything like it at all. It’s amazing!!