First two photos are before I started being more intentional with my curls (I started mid-January or so).  I think I have 3B?  (The second "after" is with some finger curling, whereas the first "after" photo is more what occurs naturally.). Definitely low density, but I am awaiting my Strandprint results to find out porosity for sure.  I tend to think it's fine, but it's also very rough texture, so also awaiting to find out on that.

My routine can use a ton of improvement still, but here's what it is right now:

Regular Washday Shampoo/Conditioner:
\- Pre-Wash Primer - I've been using the Curlsmith Pre-Wash Super Slip Primer.  They're discontinuing it, so I bought a bunch to hoard for the future.
\- Shampoo and conditioner - Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Shampoo + Conditioner.  I used to use the DevaCurl, but it is super heavy, so I just recently changed to this and it gives more lift.

Sometimes used instead of the above:
\- Deep Conditioner:  When I need to deep condition, I will sometimes use the Curlsmith Bond Repair Deep Conditioner or sometimes the Olaplex #3, depending on what I've got going on.
\- Detox:  I do also like the Curlsmith Detox Shampoo, I like the lather I get when using it with the Pre-Wash Primer better than I do the Ouidad Detox, but both are great.

I do not style soaking wet because it tends to weigh down my hair - I micro-plop with a microfiber towel, particularly at the back of my head which takes forever to diffuse.

Styling:
\- Leave-In:  I usually use a leave-in, unless I did a deep conditioner.  I tend to like the Innersense leave-in over a heavier item like the Curlsmith.
\- Heat Protection:  Curlsmith Miracle Shield
\- Foam:  I next use just a little bit of the Innsersense "I Create Lift" Volumizing Foam at the roots for volume there.  VERY sparing amount, it's really just to help keep this area dry with some oomph.
\- Gel:  I tend to most use some combination of the Innersense "I Create Volume" lotion and/or their "I Create Curl Memory" gelee.  I did get a free Curlsmith Curl-Defining Styling Souffle when I bought my hair dryer, so sometimes I will use that instead of the Innersense.

I've been using the new BounceCurl brush without boar bristles to avoid breakage.  I've tested out a little bit of finger coiling, but it is somewhat elusive to me in doing it right. I then pixie diffuse with the Curlsmith Defrizzion dryer.  Since I tend to do my wash routine at night, I sleep in the cast and then SOTC/clap the next day.  I sleep in a satin turban because the bonnet of my daughter's that I borrowed was crazy big - I used to have a TON of density, but I lost so much hair postpartum with each of my kids that I struggle with something that big.

Anyway - if anyone has any advice/suggestions, I'm all ears!  I've been trying to get trial sizes of things before committing financially, to make sure that it works for my hair.

How It Started vs How It's Going


I guess next step is to try layering a slightly harder hold gel over it.

I just can’t believe how wealth shaped everything was after sleeping on it despite never really having much of a crunch to scrunch out.

Routine (I usually shower at night and sleep in a cast)

In shower- wash 2x with NYM Daily Nutrition shampoo. Squish to condish with NYM Daily Nutrition conditioner. Brush in a small amount of Knot Today then squish in more water (I need a tiny amount of slip. But too much weighs my hair down). Put in shower cap and finish shower.

After shower- I do my skincare etc first so keeping it in the shower cap ensures it stays wet. Spritz with more water to get dripping, rake in gel (in this case the ReFlex) and brush it in. Then I section, and use Bounce Curl brush (alternation between the original and the volume ones each section). If a section feels dry or not slick enough, I add more water or more gel. After, I mix water and gel in my hands and scrunch slowly and carefully while upside down to remove excess water. Then hover diffuse until a cast is formed, and let air dry the rest of the way before bed.

Sleep- I Medusa clip, and use the Moonstone Seven satin hair sleeper.

AM- use steam to release the Medusa (my hair Will stay where it’s clipped otherwise) and maybe a spritz of water as needed. Normally, I need to scrunch out the crunch, and I do so using a satin bonnet like a glove. But today I didn’t need to scratch it all.

Grabbed TreLuxe ReFlex on a whim at Whole Foods and I’m in love with the results. But holy moly I used SO much for one single wash day. Idk if this is sustainable- I wish it was just a little thicker. Or had a little more hold.


First two pics show frizz!!! Give me your best moisturizing product without protein??

So I have randomly started getting SEVERE issues with frizz, and haven’t been able to get it tamed at all even after switching products, hard water detox, TONS of gel, and deep conditioning. I also use a decent amount of bond repairs from different brands. My routine changes constantly but I’ll include what I use most often.

1. Camille rose guava slip detangling shampoo

2. Nexus humectruss conditioner or their amino bond repair

3. Deep condition with olaplex number 3 or Ouai mask

4. Ouidad advanced climate control gel, and Doux honey setting foam.

Style using a denman and diffuser.

Help with frizz PLEASE!


I need help because this has become a big issue. My 4-year-old has curly hair that tangles extremely easily to the point where it starts to mat and form almost dreadlock-type tangles if we don’t stay on top of it constantly, and she also has a very sensitive scalp. Dealing with it causes a lot of distress for her, and it’s gotten to the point where it feels unfair to keep putting her through it.

No one in my family has this type of hair, so I feel like I’m kind of figuring this out blindly. I’ve posted in a few mom groups already, but I’m trying here because I’m thinking we might need more curly hair-specific advice.

Up until now she hasn’t wanted to cut it, but last night she said she does. I’m completely fine with that, but the styles she likes aren’t super short, so I’m worried we’re still going to be dealing with at least some of this.

We’ve really tried everything at this point.

Routine:
We wash with Fairy Tales Super Charged Detangling Shampoo and Conditioner. We detangle in the bath with conditioner in, going very slowly and holding sections so we’re not pulling her scalp, and I’ve also tried finger detangling. After the bath, while her hair is still wet, we go in again with a detangling spray (Unite 7 Seconds has worked the best so far) and gently detangle more if needed. We never brush it dry. I’ve also tried probably 10+ different brushes and combs, and keeping everything as calm and low-pressure as possible, but it still turns into a struggle almost every time.

For leave-ins and detanglers, we’ve tried Baby Bum, SoCozy (both the curl leave-in and the detangler), Unite 7 Seconds, It’s a 10, Marc Anthony Grow Long, and Fairy Tales detangling sprays and conditioners. We’ve also tried the usual suggestions like satin pillowcases and bonnets, but she refuses both.

At one point I even tried using a numbing spray on her scalp just to see if it would help, and it still didn’t make enough of a difference.

Even with all of that, it’s still really upsetting for her every time we have to deal with it.

I also just tried adding a silicone-based argan oil serum (HerStyler Hair Serum) for the first time last night and today, just hoping it might help with slip. I’m not sure yet if it’s helping, but the smell is really strong, so if this is a good type of product to keep using, I’d love suggestions for better ones that aren’t so heavily scented.

At this point I’m open to anything. Haircut ideas that actually help with tangling for curly hair, routines, or anything we might not have tried for a really sensitive scalp.

I honestly don’t even know what her hair type would be, but here’s a picture of it right now. It was brushed last night and then put in a ponytail, so I’m not sure how helpful it is, but I figured I’d include it.

Need help!! 4 year old with very sensitive scalp.


Hey, I'm from a humid place now living in a dry place. For a routine I just use Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Conditioner every day, shampoo every other day, and I use a Lush curl cream after. I usually air dry but diffuse if it's below freezing. That's about it; I'm low maintenance.

My Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Jelly-to-Cream conditioner is running out and I'm in search of a scentless alternative; I appreciate that it's very light weight and provides slip without weighing my hair down and making it greasy, but the rose scent is too strong for me.

Also, if anyone has some advice on getting my hair to be as curly as it is at home here, that'd be awesome. The jump from 90% humidity to 30% has left my hair a little sad looking. Appreciate y'all's help!

ISO scentless alternative to Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Conditioner


My Hair is curly/wavy in the front but extremely straight and flat in the back, is there anyway to change this?

Routine:

Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Conditioner 4x/week

YU by Tia Clarifying shampoo 1x/week

Camille Rose Guava Slip leave in conditioner

Camille Rose Curl Maker

Camille Rose Rosemary Oil

Aunt Jackie’s Curl la la Curl Custard

Not your mothers Curl talk Mousse

Can i change this without perming it?


Lately I’ve found I get best results when I take the time to detangle my medium textured, 2C-3A curls before I shampoo it. But, it takes longer to do it when it’s not soaking wet with conditioner in the shower after shampooing like I normally do, and I’m concerned about breakage doing it before I shampoo. Does anyone have a good detangler that they use before washing that is fairly quick and super slippery that doesn’t cause a lot of breakage? It can be an oil, spray leave in, mask, etc. Thanks in advanced!

Routine:

Dry detangle with Not Your Mothers strengthening oil (not as much slip as I’d like)

Pantene Abundant and Strong Shampoo

Dove Intensive Repair Conditioner

Scrunch in the Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam when damp

Hover diffuse

When cast forms, scrunch in more foam, then glaze in some Aveda Be Curly Gel diluted with water to the top layer for more hold

Diffuse until 100% dry

Sleep with a high ponytail on a silk pillowcase

To refresh, I just add in a small bit more gel diluted with water and glaze over the hair and diffuse for a few minutes

Best pre-wash detangler?


For the life of me I cannot figure it out, I'm absolutely confounded. I have thick 2c/3a hair. The individual strands themselves are also not fine, they're quite thick. My hair is also completely chemically untreated as of now. My usual routine include an off-brand herbal shampoo and conditioner followed by leave-in moisture rich curl cream and gel, left to air dry. I'm still experimenting and trying to figure out what works for me, so please bear with me.

It's porosity that has got me stumped. With the cup test, my hair does not sink even after 5+ minutes. At the same time, my hair gets wet quickly in the shower and air dries relatively quickly if there's no product in it. The slip and slide method is also very confusing because I do feel unevenness but it also makes a 'squeak' sound. At the same time, the general feel of my hair is not smooth. It feels dry and coarse, and is not completely dull and brittle but is not super shiny either.

I'm completely lost. Could I have medium porosity? Or low porosity coarse hair? Or something else? Please help :')

Can someone please help me figure out my hair porosity?


I have dual texture hair. I think it mainly started when i was 6(?) and after i had started my medication. Not sure which one would have done it at the time, it was Vivance, then Adderall, back to Vivance, then onto some sleeping pill, concerta, risperdone, and one last pill that started with a ‘z’.  It started as this little coil at the back of my head, at the very bottom layer, my hair is type 1A-1B. My hair would get wavy whenever it got wet, then back to straight. Now im 26(f) and my hair is all over the place. Ive used herbal essence, head and shoulders, not your mothers, dessert essentials, im now using bar shampoo and conditioner, Viori. It works well but im still not getting the slip i need from my hair. Im using the Aussie detangler and it helps but not for long.  These curls/waves are making it super difficult to keep up with. Its heavy, like 5 pounds wet kind of heavy… makes your neck FREAK OUT after a hair cut heavy. Straightening is not an option, i cant deal with the headache of the burnt hair smell.  I would like some suggestions on how to deal with this though. Ive asked my stylist about it and she acted like she didnt know about it. Im not all straight hair either, so i literally just threw all of my brushes away and grabbed a hair pick comb from the textured hair section, works the best thus far🙄 and a silk bonnet to reduce overnight friction.

I feel like im going crazy. I keep looking for things that might help me in my situation, but i cant ask most of my textured girlies, they just look at me like im crazy, it cant be heavy or too thick because my hair ranges from super fine to a moderate corse. Oh, and im a red head. Its only curly/wavy in the back. Until its getting washed then it all twists. Its air dried. I cant comb it when its wet, it will snap like a rubber band. Thats pretty much the whole routine.

What do i do?


Hi! So to preface I have a long history of straightening my hair from 10-16 yrs old and bleaching and dying it quite a few times, and due to that as far as I know some pieces aren’t gonna get much improvement, right? But I still need help because I need to find what gives my hair its highest potential. And I suspect I’ve lost some of my volume or thickness bc I just leave it up after I get my 1 good wash day and I don’t touch it again for over a week😭

So currently when I do wash it I just use anything now. Currently it’s Pantene’s Smooth & Sleek shampoo and conditioner. Then I brush and part my hair after the shower, while it’s still wet I either apply a quarter size amount to each half of my hair of Garnier Fructis’ Sleek & Shine leave in conditioner or like 30+ sprays of Pantene’s Leave in Conditioner spray. This time I used Pantene’s leave in conditioner spray and Mielle’s Anti-Frizz Slip & Seal Leave-In Conditioner Avocado & Tamanu. After that I also mixed a little bit of gel and water and scrunched that into my hair because I saw a video of it recently and it gave really nice results. (That is the first and only time I’ve used gel in my routine) Then I let it air dry. I can’t say the gel did a whole lot for me but my hair also needs lightweight products. It’s super soft and I basically don’t have the time to search for what works and the best products/brands etc. Do you think all I need is mousse and texturizing spray? I used to experiment with products and it seems like I got a lot more ringlets years ago when my hair was full of bleach and dye but I would really really really appreciate if someone could point me in the right direction😭it has some curls and I have a million single curly strands that stick out when my hairs up and I heard about curl training but I always thought finger coiling was just a styling technique. This is so long and I’m so sorry to whoever read till the end, and I’m probably leaving things out but thank you sm in advance.

Long history of damage, want to find my hairs highest potential


Routine: kristen ness lightly clarifying shampoo, not your mother’s conditioner, kinky curls leave in conditioner and ouidad red bottle gel. Then microfiber towel wrap and diffuse. Use a silk bonnet at night l.

I gave birth 8 months ago. Not only is my hair so matted it also feels awful, hard and absolutely no slip. Never had this problem before

My hair is SO matted.. please help! Can’t run fingers through it for a millimeter without getting snagged


Guys, the hype for the Miche Gel-to-Foam Styling Mousse is absolutely warranted. This products is amazing. I have the anti-humidity gel and it’s good, but I wasn’t as blown away by it as I am with the mousse.

For context I have 2c, low porosity hair. My hair bas a mixture of some fine/smoother pieces, but the majority of it is very coarse and hard to work with. I also have a hall of baby hairs that are super coarse and curly. They will not pay down for the life of me. Even when drenched in water, they still stick up.

My hair normally takes an insane amount of water while styling. I end my routine drenched. My hair also requires a decent amount of moisture and slip, so leave in conditioner is a non negotiable.

I always see products advertised as a “one-and-done” product. Being so moisturizing you don’t even need leave in conditioner. I never believe it and always end up using at least the product and some leave in. I think even the Miche Anti Humidity Gel said the same- it’s very much needs more.

This Gel-to-Foam Styling Mousse has literally blown me away. All my expectations were met. I did still use a leave in conditioner, but I am very confident that even if I didn’t I’d be ok without. It is insanely moisturizing and gives good slip. I do think it would be a good “one-and-done” product. I also have been able to use drastically less water than normal. I literally went from using 2-3 bottles of water to barely 1- probably about half the spray bottle. My curls were defined and voluminous. All the frizz and coarse baby hairs were manageable (there’s always gonna be some, but it was definitely not as bad as normal). My hair looked amazing.

It doesn’t create a cast like a normal gel, but there definitely was hold. My curls lasted a lot longer than normal. But you could definitely add a gel on top- I have been planning on my next wash trying that. Also re-wetting my hair, to fix pieces reactivated the product pretty well. At one point on hair wash day, I had got under the water and went to take a brush to my hair like normal. I’m not normally “fighting” with my hair. I do brush carefully and usually with some product in for detangling. My hair texture also allows me to detangle my hair a lot easier and quicker. But with me rewetting the mousse, my hair glided through my hair like butter. I was shocked.

This product has very quickly become a holy grail for me. I don’t think I will ever go back to not using this. I definitely want to try some of their other products. I highly recommend getting it if you have been thinking about it!

The bot wants a routine, so here it is.

Routine:

In the shower I started with the BondiBoost HG Clarifying Scalp Rinse. This was my first time trying it. No opinions about it, but I love BondiBoost and many of their products are amazing. For shampoo I used the As I Am Rosemary line. I also use the conditioner, but skipped it this time in place of the BondiBoost HG Miracle Hair Mask (I love this mask). I used the Tangle Teezer to detangle and distribute products throughout my hair.

Out of the shower I used the Ouidad Moisture Lock leave in conditioner (also new product. I really like it). I applied a dime-ish size on each side of my head and used my Tangle Teezer to spread the product. Applied about 2-ish pumps of the Miche Gel-to-Foam Styling Mousse on each side. Went back in with Tangle Teezer. Sectioned my hair and used the Bounce Curl Volume brush. After brush styling is scrunched excess water out with the Bread Beauty hair towel and plopped with a hair plopping wrap. Had it up for maybe 20-30 minutes. Took it out and air dried.

Miche Gel-to-Foam Styling Mousse


So I've been at this for a few months now and I still cannot find my curly people.  My hair does NOT like any of the typical curl advice.  Conditioner is too heavy, heat styling does not hold.  I get my best hold from cool air diffusing/air drying.  Tension styling destroys my pattern.  Dripping wet styling does not work.  also please don’t come at me for my hair color I’m growing out black box dye 😭

My hair seems to respond best to:

strong clarifying/chelating shampoo

very light or no conditioner

protein gels (especially cheap ones honestly)

cool air diffusing + air drying

letting clumps form while dripping wet, pulling apart where I feel separation in my mid lengths, and then locking them while still damp but no longer dripping

My absolute best result was when I used crappy shampoo on a small section in my sink and then quite literally the cheapest protein gel I found at WalMart.  Protein gel, even with zero conditioner and strong clarifying + chelating shampoo, makes my hair so shiny and soft, it literally looks like a hair commercial.  I need SOME slip for clump integrity, but even Verb Ghost conditioner is too heavy.  (Trying Odele leave in as a rinse out next wash)

I have used conditioner maybe 3 out of my last 15+ washes and my hair looks and feels thicker and healthier than when I was using it regularly.

I just want to understand my hair better and learn more about routines that will actually work.  But all I can find is the usual heavily moisturize/oil/etc advice. the last photo is from the first day I used no conditioner. The one before that was a wash day when I still used it regularly

the photo of my wet clumps was my best clump day yet. it never stays like that when it dries, but I’m willing to sacrifice definition to keep my length. I know that’s a huge limiting factor here.

Full routine used today:

Kristin Ess chelating shampoo 2x

Not Your Mother's conditioner

Scrunch with tshirt/no product until not soaked

Ampro protein styling gel

I threw on some Clear Ice styling gel half way through for funsies.  My hair tolerates a LOT of product and really loves protein gel (but hates protein foam)

Diffuser on high heat/speed set on sink while I hovered around it to dry my roots

Lift/hover diffuse on cool followed by air dry

Scrunch out with a small bit of Olivia Care Shine Hair Elixer

Anyone else’s hair hate conditioner and heat but love protein + air drying?


I've been getting my bonnets from Marshall's and they're cheap. So I guess that explains why they don't last long. The eventually start losing their grip and slide off and I'll wake up to a Bonnet mostly off of my head. Anyone have any recommendations?

Do I really need to post my routine for Bonnet recommendations? There I said the word I can post it now.

Bonnets that don't slip?


Okay so I have thick 3C curls that go past my shoulders. Wash day used to be an actual nightmare that I'd put off until my hair was basically one giant knot.

The biggest problem for me is sectioning. I'd try to apply the product evenly but without proper clips, half my hair would just fall back down while I was working on another part. Some pieces ended up drenched in leave-in conditioner while others barely got touched. The end result was always this frizzy, uneven mess that made me want to cry.

I tried using whatever I had around the house. Those big claw clips were too weak, they'd slip right out. The smaller ones were too tight and left these awful dents that ruined my curl pattern. Bobby pins were a complete joke. They'd just disappear into my hair like they never existed.

Then I saw this girl on Instagram with her wash day routine and she had these perfect little sections all clipped up neatly. I commented asking what she used and she told me they're just basic sectioning clips that actually grip without creasing.

She mentioned she got a big pack online for cheap, like 24 clips for around $12 from some wholesale beauty supplier.

I found a similar set on Alibaba and went for it. My hair actually stayed where I put it. I could see what I was doing for the first time ever. The product went on evenly. My curls dried with actual definition instead of that half-done look I'd gotten used to.

Wash day went from this two-hour frustrating ordeal to one focused hour where I actually felt in control. My curls have never looked this good and I'm kind of mad nobody told me about this sooner.

If you've been struggling with managing your hair during wash day, I'm begging you, get proper clips. It's such a small thing but it makes the biggest difference.

Why did nobody tell me sectioning clips would completely change wash day?


Hi everyone, I'm in need of some advice or product recommendations; primarily conditioner and 1-2 styling products. For the last 3 years I have been on an exhausting journey to find truly fragrance free products that make my curls look, at the very least, decent-ish. I have very fine hair that is prone to frizz and without products with a lot of slip, my hair looks like an absolute mess. For a long time I was using Innersense I Create Volume and it gave me the most gorgeous, smooth, shiny, well-defined curls of my life. Sadly, due to contact allergies I had to stop using it. I have tried so many products and have switched back and forth because the reviews were so positive, but my experience with them was very much lacking.

Currently, I don't have a very set routine as I have been cycling in and out of products, but this is what I am currently using:

1. Shampoo 1x a week (more or less as needed) with SEEN shampoo.

2. Condition daily with Ouidad Unbreakable Bonds Fragrance-Free conditioner (pretty sure I'm allergic to this and will be removing it from my routine)

3. Apply SEEN Curly Cream and Color WOW Dream Coat for Curly Hair.

4. Scrunch out excess water and plop in hair towel before air drying.

This routine is kind of meh and only about 50% of the overall satisfaction I'm looking for, but its the best I've come up with so far. As far as other products I've used, its as follows:

\* VaniCream/Free & Clear Shampoo and Conditioner -- Shampoo completely stripped my hair and I had to use an enormous amount of the conditioner to keep my hair soft.

\*VaniCream/Free & Clear Styling Gel -- Way too heavy even in small amounts. Left my hair limp and crunchy even after scrunching all day.

\* Innersense Clarity Shampoo and Conditioner -- Worked really well but ended up being allergic to it.

\* LOVE UR CURLS 3-in-1 Styling product -- Too sticky and left my hair frizzy and limp.

\* Curlsmith Fragrance Free Conditioner -- Definitely NOT fragrance free. Contained allergens.

\* SEEN Conditioner -- Again, had to use a bunch of it to achieve a desirable effect.

\* SEEN Hair Serum -- Even one drop mixed in with other products left my hair greasy.

\* Color WOW Dream Coat -- Truly fragrance free and helped with frizz, but it left my hair a bit shapeless on its own.

What I have recently tried but have yet to fully incorporate into my routine:

\* The Ordinary Behentrimonium Chloride 2% Conditioner -- Read a lot of revies about how it was very high slip and made curls look great. However, my experience has been that it is NOT high slip and didn't leave my hair very soft.

\*FRAGFRE Styling Gel -- Read that it was a very strong hold and to water it down. Tried it straight and cut with other products. Either way the application of it left my hair limp and very... poofy?

Please help.

Struggling to find truly fragrance free curly hair products that work.


Hi all!
I’m looking to help my boyfriend build a **very simple hair care routine** for his wavy/curly hair.

**Hair details:**

* Curl pattern: **2C–3A (wavy with loose curls)**
* Density: **medium–high**
* Takes about **1.5 hours to air dry**
* Mild frizz, especially when dry
* Hair feels dry if he doesn’t use oil

**Current routine:**

* No styling products
* Uses **coconut oil** for slip and softness
* Recently started using **Amika (blue bottle) shampoo + conditioner**, about once a month
* never brushes his hair
* never uses heat on his hair

**Goals:**

* More **defined waves/curls (losing shape lately)**
* Better **moisture** (not just surface slip)
* Keep the routine **low effort** (ideally 1–2 products max)

I suspect the coconut oil is giving slip but not actually moisturizing anymore, and his curl pattern seems less defined as he gets older.

Looking for:

* Lightweight leave-ins, creams, or gels that won’t feel crunchy
* Tips for moisture without over-washing
* Anything beginner-friendly for men with wavy/curly hair (shampoo, conditioner, hair mask)

Thanks so much! PS: first photo is his hair in the morning, straight out of bed. second is his preferred length of hair “styled”

Men’s wavy hair routine


title is my question in a nutshell. i unfortunately have fine curly hair, this is my routine:

1. wash like once a week with l'real elvive hyaluron plump 72 hour hydrating shampoo (i honestly just grabbed this kind of at random a long time ago, but recently bought the Camille Rose guava slip detangling shampoo to try)
2. comb through and use Shea Moisture Jamaican black castor oil strengthen & restore leave-in conditioner after washing or wetting my hair
3. deep condition once a week after washing with Argan Oil from Morocco Intensive Conditioning Treatment
4. style with the bounce curl brush and AG Re-Coil Curl Activator, Argan Oil Style & Shine Foaming Mousse, and a gel over that. i was using Not Your Mother's Frizz Control Sculpting Gel #3, but found it to be not quite enough hold, so starting using 4U by Tia's Strong Hold Gel and it's honestly a bit too much and very thick, so i'm in the market for a new gel i suppose. AG's Re-Coil Curl Activator has been a game changer, so i've been wanting to try their gel mousse but haven't found at a store near me yet.
5. after styling i blow dry my hair to probably, realistically, about 40-50% dry with Infiniti Pro Conair Hair Dryer + diffuser attachment. even with the strong hold gel, that's about as much as i can blow dry it without introducing frizz (sob).
6. i sleep with a Moonstone 7 satin sleeper hair bonnet on (it was about $70 but i am an extremely restless sleeper and it almost always stays on my head the whole night through) and silk pillowcases underneath that.
7. on day 2 hair, i use the Infiniti PRO by CONAIR Steam Therapy Hair Steamer + diffuser attachment to spruce up my curls a little bit, then rub a bit of Re-Coil Curl Activator with water between my hands to scrunch and set.

if you have fine curly hair and are still with me after all that, i desperately want to know if only making it two days without having to wash/re-wet is normal for you. by the end of day two my hair is so tangled and frizzy that i don't dare let it go any longer without re-wetting and detangling, and i always lose a big ol handful of hair doing it. if that's normal for most people with fine curly hair i can live with it, but if it's a matter of better products, what should i try?

i also know that hair is more easily damaged when wet and it's not great to always have to re-wet it in order for it to look good, because you can get trapped in a vicious cycle of "it only looks good when I re-wet it" --> rewetting it --> it gets more damaged because of the time it spends wet and looks worse dry, making you think you need to re-wet it-->ad infinitum.

similar question about blowdrying. if you have fine curly hair, are you actually able to blow dry it 100% dry without introducing frizz? do i need a better blowdryer? stronger gel? my hair takes forever to dry the other 50-60%, and i hate how it looks stuck to my head while it's still in the gel cast during this time. i feel like a drowned cat.

fine curly-haired people: is anyone actually making it past day 2 without washing/re-wetting? and can you actually blow dry your hair to 100% dry without frizz?


I was doing my routine and i realized i was struggling to detangle my hair with the deep conditioner i was using and i know i can just go get another one with more slip but id like to use the rest of it since i feel like it works really good just doesnt have enough slip. So i was wondering if i could use a conditioner with my deep conditioner and if so would i use it before?

Routine: shampoo twice with camille rose ginger cleansing rinse

Deep condition with brigeo dont despair repair deep conditioner

For styling i used miss Jessies multicultural curl cream and not your mothers gel then scrunched the cast with verb ghost oil

Question


I dont know what type of curls I have. It’s a mixture of ringlets, waves and some areas are more straight. I do the worse thing due to convenience and I wear it in a bun or with an oversized clip. I would like to be able to do my hair routine which is good for a day. But by day 2 I have no choice but to wear it up. I have tried using bonnets but they always slip off before I’m even asleep.

What are the best ones to use for non African American hair? I dont know if there’s a difference. I would just like to actually enjoy my natural hair instead of seeing it as a nuisance. Picture for reference.

Taking back the curls


hi yall, so since ive been trying to restock on conditioner, I've noticed that its out of stock practically everywhere. ive been using the nym naturals tahitian shampoo + conditioner for years now; its my absolute HG. im looking for a replacement; no coconut, no aloe, high slip, and preferably no silicones. i want something super hydrating or moisturizing. pls help me out yall 😩

wash routine
\- nym naturals tahitian shampoo or sauve essentials clarifying shampoo (alternate weeks)

\- nym naturals tahitian conditioner

styling routine (work in progress)

\- hair is styled wet, parted into sections, and product is combed through first with hands

\- mielle pomegranate & honey leave in conditioner

\- used to use uncle funkys curly magic but ended up not liking it; left my hair dry and barely kept my curls

\- right now im back to wetline xtreme gel because im in the middle of finding gel/souffle replacements

\- after each section, i comb everything over w/ a tangle teezer

\- diffuse until dry

\- hair in pineapple and bonnet to bed

are the nym naturals shampoo and conditioners being discontinued? need replacements!


Toddler is 2, her heart is heaps Curley but also super fine and naturally is very fluffy and messy. Up until now I haven’t really done anything but washed super super occasionally (probably every 2 months) with a tiny bit of baby shampoo. I’ve now used some of my trashy pantine shampoo and conditioner.. when I style it I just use water and the curls looks amazing until they dry.. on a humid day like today they look amazing (second pic) how can I make them look like that all the time? What products should I use?

My hairs so straight hairties literally slip out of it and I can go >6months without brushing without a knot lol so I have no clue what I’m doing, thanks heaps.

Routine:

Rinse in bath with bath water

Rarely shampoo is baby shampoo or pantine

No other product,

Spray to wet and comb to style, air dry. Sometimes we tie it up.

Toddler is curly, what do I do?


Hi!! I want to get a different mousse because I’m not really getting the results I want. I want volume, I love volume but I still want my curls defined, but volume is the main goal. My hair gets weighed down easily. I have fine hair strands, medium density, medium porosity, 3B hair, that is between armpit and bra strap length.

I keep going back and forth between mousses:

1. Curlsmith Invincible Volume Mousse

2. PATTERN Curl Mousse

3. Rizos Curls Curl Defining Mousse

4. Ouidad VitalCurl Soft Defining Mousse

5. Ouidad Advance Climate Control Featherlight Volumizing Foam

6. Innersense I Create Definition Foam

7. Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam

Sorryyy I have a lot of options, I’m just really indecisive and all of these seem like good options, I just don’t know what would be better for me.

My Current Styling Routine:

\- Camille Rose Guava Slip Leave-In Conditioner

\- Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse

\- I brush style the top of my head with the bounce curl brush

\- To protect my hair while sleeping I put my hair in a pineapple, silk scarf and a bonnet

I plan on changing my routine to the Innersense Sweet Spray Leave-In Conditioner and 1 of the 7 mousses. What mousse should I get?

What Mousse Should I Get?


Hello! I’ve been thinking about getting more layers in my hair but I’m not sure. I have 3b hair (I think), fine hair strands, medium porosity and I think medium density. My hair keeps falling flat and I’m not sure if it’s from my hair’s weight or my products.

My current styling routine is the Camille rose guava slip leave-in and Umberto Giannini curl whip. I don’t use gel because it weighs down my hair. I’m thinking of changing my products up to the innersense leave in and a different mousse (unsure what one yet). I also brush style the top of my head with the bounce curl volume brush. In the shower I use Rizos curls clarifying shampoo, and I rotate between rizos curls biotin shampoo & conditioner and Camille rose guava slip shampoo & conditioner. I use Curlsmith bond curl rehab salve every 3-4 wash days.

But i really want volume and I always see people saying layers will give more volume. I’m not that happy with my hair shape anyway so I’m thinking of changing it up. Any ideas/recommendations for haircuts to get or advice would be helpful!

Haircut Recommendations?


Hello! I’ve been thinking about getting more layers in my hair but I’m not sure. I have 3b hair (I think) and fine hair strands. My hair keeps falling flat and I’m not sure if it’s from my hair’s weight or my products.

My current routine is the Camille rose guava slip leave-in and Umberto Giannini curl whip. I don’t use gel because it weighs down my hair. I’m thinking of changing my products up to the innersense leave in and a different mousse (unsure what one yet). I also brush style the top of my head with the bounce curl volume brush.

But anyway i really want volume and I always see people saying layers will give more volume. Anyway any ideas for haircuts to get or advice would be helpful!

Haircut Ideas


Pic 1, yesterday's wash
Pic 2, same products, same routine, different state

Exactly same products included in my travel kit for both trips. Almost everything I use regularly at home, and the travel sizes are stuff I've used fine at home and at my daughter's house.

Is the water in the hotel too hard or soft?

This was my second wash at this hotel. First was fine, not exceptional, but fine. Second wash, hair washed fine, suds were normal.

The InnerSense Conditioner is amazing, normally, but this time my hair tangled badly, and the wet frizz was off the charts when I rinsed it out. Usually, I have soft seaweed hair after rinsing. Not this time. So, I put extra EcoSlay cream (normally use AG beach bomb sparingly at home), and it felt sticky, so I added more water, and "squish to condish" without improvement.

I loaded up my hair with InnerSense I Create volume, that I normally I use for slip while brushing, and it was better, but my hair felt WEIRD.

So, second wash I left the gel off. Tried a little InnerSense I Create Lift foam to help with definition. Diffused, and I guess it'll stay in a pineapple until I go home.

Routine (travel kit)
1. Ouidad Anti-frizz shampoo (I always use)
2. InnerSense Conditioner (I always use)
2a. BounceCurl detangler brush (I always use)
3. EcoSlay Orange Marmalade cream - travel size pump
4. InnerSense I Create Volume serum (I always use)
5. DevaCurl Ultra Defining gel - travel size pump
5a. BounceCurl detangler brush
6. BounceCurl EdgeLift brush (I always use)
7. Biosilk Rock Hard gelee (I always use)

I've used all of these off and on at home without issue.

My only guess is the hotel's salt-based water softener system. Anyone else have solutions for either hard or soft water?

Hotel water... hard or soft... what happened?


I fell in love with the Bounce Curl Brush when I purchased it for the almost perfect ringlets it gave me. But over the maybe 3yrs I've been using it, my hair has not grown an inch.

I don't like the hair typing system, but just for reference:
I have around 3c-4a hair.
Medium density
Medium porosity
Medium strand thickness, although I've found some thicker strands & some thin strands of hair in my head.
My hair is all Virgin, no dye or bleach. (Pictures I post with hair color is hair wax, which is an product overlay, not a dye)

When I use the brush, I make sure my hair is FULLY DETANGLED with a wide tooth comb & Tangle Teaser before styling with it. I'm positive it's not user error that there's lots of hair stuck on the brush & that my ends are splitting. I find myself having to trim more often than most because my hair starts feeling rough.

I only straighten my hair approximately 1-2xs a year in the Winter because I live in the South. I straightened my hair for my birthday in January & decided since it was straightened, it would be easier to see any damage. I used the search & destroy method to go through as many sections of hair as possible & snip off damage. The amount of single strand knots, split ends, breakage & even keyhole splits I had in my hair was insane.

Keyhole splits in particular, I read, are mostly caused by mechanical damage, i.e. brush styling, high tension, pulling & playing in your hair too much, etc. I'm almost certain most of this damage & the breakage is coming from the Bounce Curl Brush & I'm going to stop using it to see if this is the cause of the breakage.

Routine & Products:

1) Pre-wash detangle using a wide tooth comb on damp hair & a light leave-in conditioner to provide slip.
2) Shampoo with Tresemmé Rich Moisture. Clarify 1x a month or as needed with Paul Mitchell's Shampoo 2.
3) Condition with the Tresemmé Rich Moisture & on Clarify Shampoo days, I use Ouidad's Coil Infusion Triple Threat Deep Conditioner.
3) On wet hair, I apply Camille Rose's Curl Love Moisture Milk as a leave-in in sections using my fingers.
3) I section my hair and apply Camille Rose's Spiked Honey Mousse with my fingers. Then I take smaller sections that I want to style, make sure it's fully detangled with a pass through with a Tangle Teaser, then do one pass with the Bounce Curl Brush, using the tension & tilt the brush into the divots as it's supposed to be used.
4) I scrunch in a little bit of the Ouidad Curl Quencher Gel on styled sections (I didn't care for this too much but I'm trying to get rid of it lol).
5) Hover-Diffuse blow dry my hair for about 20-30mins. Let the rest air dry.
6) Scrunch out the crunch & separate curl clumps with Mise En Scene Perfect Serum.

For bed, I pineapple with a scarf & put on a bonnet.
In the mornings, I let my hair get some steam in the shower, take off the bonnet, shake, use a little serum, finger coil a few wonky strands if needed. I wash 1x a week.

TL;DR: I feel like the Bounce Curl Brush's high tension styling causes breakage & other forms of mechanical damage.

Wanted to know if anyone else felt the same way!

I'm breaking up with my Bounce Curl Brush


I have 2B curls/waves, very tangle-prone, thin strand, easily weighted down, hair that’s mainly so easily getting knotted to the point where I’ve had to cut off knots on occasion in the past. I wash my hair daily or every other day with shampoo/conditioner. I try to detangle as gently as possible w/ conditioner, starting at the ends, in the shower. But once it’s detangled, it’s smooth for a bit & then re-tangles SO quickly 😭 lol it’s like my hair sticks to itself almost - besides braiding it, silk pillowcase & leave in conditioners, any advice on how to detangle without damaging & keep it tangle free more often? It’s mainly tangle free only briefly in the shower/when braided.

Routine:

1. I use Trader Joe’s tea tree tingle shampoo (& I’ve tried shea moisture retention shampoo) and sometimes Aussie girl apricot conditioner other times the Trader Joe’s tea tree conditioner

2. I don’t use gel nor mousse usually but I’ve tried the doux mousse which is really nice but does make my hair appear thinner/less voluminous.

3. I let my hair air dry

4. I do use satin pillow case when possible.

TL;DR:

thin, 2B wavy hair that tangles so easily and re-tangles quickly after detangling. I wash every day/two, and detangle gently with conditioner, but it only stays smooth/knot-free briefly. Looking for ways to prevent tangles & detangle w/o damage beyond braids/silk pillowcases/leave-ins.

Also open to styling techniques too (worth noting my hair gets weighed down easily, but also won’t detangle w/o some slip)!

Thank you!!

What’s the healthiest/effective way to detangle?


I spend alot of time detangling my long FINE THIN 2b hair even when I'm not 'that' tangled and looking for a cheaper SILICONE FREE product with slip.
-A lightweight leave in that isn't sticky would be nice too for when I dont want to gel up-

I'm trying to replace Curlsmith Glow Perfection Conditioner (no longer made) and CS Weightless Air Dry Cream more affordably -ha ha!

I have to wear my hair up in ponytail in a ball cap for work and I think it causes extra tangling leaving my hair 'wadded up.'

Routine - wash about every 4 days  and apply products (below) and diffuse till mostly dry.

Shampoo (I rotate each wash) - occaisional nioxin, sulphate, sulphate free, cowash, moisturizing-
Camille Rose Sweet Ginger, TGIN 3 in 1 co wash, John Freida color depositing, Jhirmack purple, Redken Curls, Aveda Moisturizing (I love but only have a small bottle).

Conditioner - Camille Rose Moroccan pear and CurlSmith Glow Perfection are all i have left (yep, definitely use up conditioners faster than shampoos!).  Prefer the CS Glow Perfection as has more slip.
I have Kinky Curly Knot Today and African Pride Moisture Miracle (very similar to Knot Today- but for use on dry hair before shower) -but I kinda feel both dry my hair out a bit/make brittle.
I wide tooth comb hair in shower to detangle, if in rush a curl clumping brush (feel like it's rough on hair if tangled).

I squish and scrunch conditioner out then squish out most most water and add Curlsmith In Shower Fixer with wet hands and squish in and wrap in super soft T shirt.  (I find if I put in sopping wet, I just need to add more gel after).

(I have other gels, but CS Shower Fixer seems to be the 'best' long lasting hold for me most the time).

Then I often add more gel here or there with wet hands and diffuse till at least 1/2 dry.  Then I put in loose bun or clip around crown and let rest air dry down.

If im going to do alot of diffusing, I sometimes use some heat protectant with 'silk' (a silicone?) Which loosens my waves and makes gel not hold as well.

I sometimes use some lightweight leave in between washes to help keep ends from tangling. Or just use leave in instead of gel for a change up.

THANKS!!!

Wavy and long - what are your favorite 'cheap' silicone free products? Esp for detangling conditioner and non sticky leave in conditioner


Last photo reference of where my hair started. I have been curl training for maybe half a year now. 3a-3b curl types have been forming. Any advice on how to get my roots and back of head to curl? Or is it just going to take way longer for the roots to start curling? Is it just my hair type or am I doing something wrong?

🎀 HAIR ROUTINE 🎀

   Ask for face framing long

\- \[x\] 1st Week: Hydration Week → Hydration Shampoo, Hydration Hair Masque, Hydration Conditioner (add Hydration Masque only once if washing more than once that week) Jan 27

\- \[ \] 2nd Week: Protein Week → Hydration Shampoo + bonding protein treatment. “Bond repair masque” green bottle

\- \[ \] 3rd Week: Hydration Week → Hydration Shampoo + Conditioner (Hydration Masque if dry)

\- \[ \] Clarify Week → Clarifying Shampoo (2 lathers) + Protein Masque

⸻

🧴 Wash Products

1. SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo

	•	Use: Weekly (non-clarify weeks)

	•	How: Focus on scalp & roots only. Massage with fingertips (not nails). Let suds run through lengths as you rinse.

	•	Rinse: Thoroughly with lukewarm water.

2. SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Conditioner

	•	Use: Weekly (after Hydration Shampoo, except Clarify Week)

	•	How: Apply to mid-lengths & ends (avoid roots to prevent heaviness). Use wide-tooth comb or fingers to detangle.

	•	Rinse: After 3–5 minutes, rinse lightly (leave a little slip if your hair likes it).

3. SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Masque

	•	Use: Every 1–2 weeks (instead of conditioner).

	•	How: Apply generously mid-lengths → ends. Detangle with wide-tooth comb. Smooth with “praying hands.”

	•	Wait: 10–15 minutes (cover with cap for extra effect).

	•	Rinse: Fully.

4. SheaMoisture Protein Masque

	•	Use: Once a month (after Clarifying Shampoo).

	•	How: Section hair, apply mid-lengths → ends first, then lightly on roots if needed. Brush through for even coverage. Light scrunch to help curls.

	•	Wait: 10–15 minutes.

	•	Rinse: Fully.

	•	Conditioner: Skip (this masque replaces it).

5. SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore Clarifying Shampoo

	•	Use: Once a month (Clarify Week).

	•	How: Do 2 lathers — first lifts buildup, second deep cleans. Focus on scalp, let suds rinse through lengths.

	•	Follow with: Protein Masque (not conditioner).

6. SheaMoisture Bond Repair Masque (optional/alternate)

	•	Use: Every 2–3 weeks or when hair feels weak/breaking.

	•	How: Same as Hydration Masque — mid-lengths → ends, detangle, smooth in.

	•	Rinse: Fully.

⸻

🌿 Leave-In & Styling Products

7. Curlsmith Frizz Rescue Curl Retainer

	•	Use: After cream (daily).

	•	How: Scrunch into damp hair, focusing on mid-lengths & ends. This helps lock curl shape and reduce frizz.

	•	Tip: Use hands or microfiber towel to “cup & scrunch” upward.

8. Curlsmith Frizz Rescue Finishing Serum

	•	Use: After styling, when hair is 100% dry.

	•	How: Warm 2–3 drops in hands, then scrunch out any crunch or frizz. Glide lightly over surface for shine.

	•	When: End of styling, or as touch-up on dry hair between washes.

⸻

In shower process:

STEP	WHAT TO DO	WHY

1	Detangle only with conditioner in	Prevents root stretch

2	Rinse conditioner thoroughly	Slip flattens roots

3	Light scrunch before turning water off	Encourages curl memory

4	Exit shower with hair clumped	Preserves pattern

Wash day styling:

STEP	WHAT TO DO	WHY

1	Keep hair soaking wet	Curl forms only when wet

2	Detangle once (wide tooth, straight down)	No shaping yet

3	Apply Curl Retainer FIRST (diluted)	Roots need early hold

4	Root Pinch: small sections, pinch curl upward at scalp (2–3 sec)	Shortens curl path

5	One gentle scrunch (mid → root)	Activates curl upward

6	Directional set: push hair forward → back → side to side	Prevents straight drying

7	Optional: ½ pea cream on ends only	Softness without slip

8	Optional micro-plop 2–3 min max	Encourages curl, protects roots

Diffusing for root curl:

STEP	WHAT TO DO	WHY

1	Set diffuser to low heat + low airflow	Prevents stretch

2	Start diffusing at the roots first	Sets curl near scalp

3	Hold diffuser bowl close to scalp but not touching	Encourages lift

4	Diffuse in short holds (15–30 sec), then move	Prevents frizz

5	Tilt head side to side, forward slightly	Creates root bend

6	Diffuse lengths last	Prevents pulling curls down

7	Stop at 90–95% dry	Avoids over-dry stretch

After shower:

STEP	WHAT TO DO	WHY

1	Let hair cool fully	Sets curl

2	Scrunch out cast gently	Softens curls

3	Separate only thick clumps	Less Victorian look

4	Optional serum on ends	Seal, don’t weigh down

Front hair line:

STEP	WHAT YOU DO	HOW / NOTES

1	Hair fully wet + styled	Curl retainer already applied

2	Apply extra-light retainer at hairline	Use residue on hands only

3	Root pinch at hairline	Small sections, pinch upward 2–3 sec

4	Tilt head slightly back	NOT upside down

5	Place diffuser bowl close to scalp	Do not press into skin

6	Hold diffuser 15–20 seconds	Then lower gently

7	Move bowl along hairline	Temple → center → temple

8	Stop when hairline is 80–90% dry	Over-drying flattens

Pinch → tilt back → bowl close → short holds

Day 2 refresh:

STEP	WHAT YOU DO	HOW / NOTES

1	Lightly mist roots first	Spray or wet fingertips

2	Optional: diluted curl retainer	Pea-size TOTAL, watered down

3	Root pinch at flat areas	Especially hairline + crown

4	One light scrunch mid → root	Stop early

5	Diffuse on low heat + low airflow	Same settings as wash day

6	Start diffusing at roots	Roots before ends

7	Tilt head side-to-side	Encourages bend

8	Stop at 90% dry	Prevents frizz & stretch

Mist roots → pinch → light scrunch → diffuse roots → stop early

Hair will not curl at roots.


Like did it really have to be so perfectly and offensively round ???
Routine:
Just washed with the garnier avocado oil shampoo and apploed the tiniest bit of as i am double cream for slip when picking
Air dried

Of course my hair had to look this good on a random tuesday when i have nowhere to go


I am extremely prone to headaches, any slight pressure or even super thin ties feel like an object pressing into my scalp and instant headache, if I sleep like that it turns into a monster migraine. Even the most gentle tightening mechanism is a no go. I tried tying in the front and back

I’ve tried a scarf and that was even worse, and it didn’t even stay on

Satin pillow case + no bonnet also doesn’t work out because I have a chronic pain condition and need good neck support, and instead of getting my neck laid in the right position and it staying there comfortably, satin cases cause my head to gradually slip off and end up in a painful position. Regular fabric keep my head in place. Feels like a lose-lose situation.

I’m on a very tight budget so I can’t afford anything luxurious. Any suggestions welcome, thank you!

Routine:

\- Holy Naturals Shampoo

\- Diluted ACV for conditioner

\- Flaxseed gel

\- Air dry

Regular bonnet won’t stay on, ones with ties cause headaches! Solutions?


I have a lot of baby hairs which always end up sticking out as the day progresses. Think the handle of a teacup on both sides of your head.

Anyone else have this issue? I'm happy with my hair texture otherwise, I even get compliments when I wear my hair down. It's when I'm forced to tie them back that I have problems.

I've tried mousse, gel, oil, sticking them down when I wear my bonnet to bed, hidimg them in bigger curl clumps, and hairspray (I hate the crunchiness that hairspray brings). These tricks work for an hour or so, but as the day progresses, they spring back up. With more product I just have a neater-Iooking teacup handle. Clipping them back gives me a headache, else they slip out over the day. I don't want to use heat. So I think the only route now, I guess, is to see if I can style my hair differently.

\[Routine:

Head and shoulders (can't change)

Lush Power conditioner

Then it's variable\]

People with lots of curly baby hairs who need to tie all their hair back because of their jobs, what is your preferred hairstyle?


Hi! I've bitched about my fine curly hair on this sub before, and while I am perfectly okay with my current routine (it terms of how it makes my hair feel), I am still at a loss with the general shape of my hair, especially my roots constantly falling flat.

My current cut is grown out, but I initially asked  for shoulder length layers and an eye length bang. It looks fine for about a month but my hair grows so fast that my roots end up looking flat again, I find myself having to trim at home but there is only so much I can cut off. My hairstylist trims/reshapes every four months. I've tried root clips and foams, but neither give me a consistent or lasting lift. Root clips actually will slip out of my head when styling sometimes.

current routine for guidelines:

1. clarify once every 3-5 days with ouai detox shampoo. apply leave-in conditioner as needed afterwards.

2. Detangle, then define curls while wet. Seperate clumps.

3. Microflop until damp, then apply mousse/foam (I alternate between NYM Curl Talk, Herbal Essence's Mousse, and Innersense I Create Lift)

4. Diffuse upside down (kinda wanna stop doing this, it's hurting my back), incorporate root clips once 50% dry. Add a tiny bit of foam at the lengths for extra grit.

5. Finish off with hair spray.

How should I cut my hair if I have fine, flat roots?


hey everyone!
so recently i’ve been going through a hair journey to try and restore my curls

CURRENT ROUTINE NOW:
as i am black castor oil shampoo
as i am ceramide vitamin c conditioner

styling:
as i am leave in, scrunched in and raking
aussie moist waves coconut mousse, also scrunch+raking
—
may 2025 routine:
not your mother shampoo (god i forgot im sorry😭)
camille rose guava slip conditioner

kinky curly knot today leave in, scrunch+rake
not your mother mousse, scrunch + rake
as i am curling jelly, scrunch + rake

i blow dry diffuse on low heat until cast happens, i break it with rosemary oil and finish drying until 90% done, i let my hair air dry after

no refresh routine i always shampoo daily, satin pillowcase + bonnets always
—
this all started after i got a haircut during the summer, practically cut all my hair off and ever since then my hair has been growing straighter and straighter, losing all its texture

i had a problem with my scalp at the time, (odor but i fixed it now) leading me to try new routines over and over again, ultimately switching to head and shoulder shampoo and suave essentials conditioner for a good 4 months with no styling and improper drying as my hair grew

i’ve only recently been trying to recover my curls (past 2 months) but my efforts are futile, i can only get the front part of my hair to curl and everything else just lays straight and flat (last two pictures)

not to mention everytime i try to scrunch conditioner/products in, i don’t feel any sort of curls clumping together at all like i used to. i only feel it in the front part of my hair

my question is do you think this is fixable? is it weighed down? should i switch back to my original original routine throughout the golden years (march-may 2025)? is my hair damaged?

thank you!

my waves/curls are gone


I seriously cannot figure out how to do my hair. Some days it’s frizzy curly, some days its very poofy weak waves. I have tried diffusing, finger coiling, brush styling, just washing and wet combing, etc. My hair just always looks frizzy, stringy, flat, and dull. If i somehow manage to get a decent wash day going, the next day it falls completely flat and feels so lifeless.

I don’t really care anymore about wether or not its curly. I just want my hair to look shiny, healthy, and well done.

Here is my current wash routine!

1. double shampoo with h&s clean shampoo

2. camille rose guava slip leave in conditioner

3. section hair into 3 large horizontal sections:

add gel to each large section, then brush style small vertical sections with bounce curl brush

4. remove excess water with cotton t shirt & air dry

Notes:

my hair reacts horribly to coconut oil! It gets squishy and extremely stringy so i try to avoid it.

i work in fast food, so the majority of my week my hair is in a tight slicked back bun underneath a hat.

I just want nice hair! Tips?


Does anyone have some suggestions for brands where I can find quality, comfortable 100% mulberry silk bonnets and/or hair scarves?

My current bonnets give me a headache and always slip over my eyes at night or off my head.

I’d also love to find a good silk scarf to use to put my hair in a pineapple at night, so I don’t dent my curls like what happens with a silk scrunchie.

It’s so difficult finding authentic silk hair care products. (Doesn’t have to be mulberry silk, btw). Let me know if you guys have any ideas. Thanks!

—

Routine: Wash w/ R+Co Cassette and condition w/ Curlsmith (Essential Moisture or Multitasking), then use Curlsmith Air Dry Cream or Multitasking as a leave-in & finish with Hydro Style FlexiJelly (brushed through, praying-hands, light scrunch). I air-dry only, and sleep with a silk bonnet and silk pillowcases.

Silk Bonnet/Scarf recommendations?


So basically I’m suffering from moisture overload and i’m wondering if this is a good product to use to get rid of it.

Routine: As I am Rosemary shampoo and conditioner, Camille rose guava slip leave in, air dry hair

Is the ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor a good product to fix moisture overload?


I’m very disappointed, I have purchased a bonnet pack from wear silky bonnets and I’m shocked to say the least. Every review I’ve seen says it’s polyester/satin and I just want a real silk bonnet that works! The one I got from slip also doesn’t work because it was WAY too tight on my head. Other people seem to have the same issue. Where can I purchase a genuine and practical silk bonnet?

Routine:
I wash my hair as needed and usually end up with frizzy hair the next day because it rubs on my pillow case so much.

Where do I get a good genuine silk bonnet


A mixture of being a chronic hair twirler, having a looser curl pattern, and hair weighed down by length often makes people think I don’t have curly hair. Sometimes I like to prove them wrong haha

Not my best hair day, and I honestly am not mad at the messy look, it’s what my hair wants to do! But if anyone has similar hair and routine tips they’d be super appreciated! I definitely wouldn’t mind it being a bit more defined

Routine (changes constantly but this was today’s)

All products used are from Mielle’s Avocado and Tamanu Anti-Frizz line

\-Shampoo and rinse 2x

\-Apply conditioner and let sit for a few minutes before finger combing and rinsing

\-Squeeze hair with microfiber towel to stop dripping

\-Spray on Slip and Seal Leave In Conditioner

\-Section hair into 2 parts and smooth Curl Perfector over both sections

\-Smooth mousse over hair and scrunch with head upside down

\-Diffuse until mostly dry with head upside down

Happy with hair but could be better


If anyone is still doubting, I hope this is your sign to go curly on your wedding day :)
So, tbf, I don't know exactly every product that went into the hair routine this time, since my hairdresser came to our venue the morning of and I was just giving. But this is what I know:
- Shampoo used the evening before: Camille Rose guava slip
At night I just wore my hair in a pineapple with a satin scrunchie.
On the day itself
- Water spray used throughout, combed through by hand
- Conditioner: Camille Rose Morrocan Pear Conditioning Custard and Curly Secret Curl Activator
- Gel: Innersense I Create Hold
- Drying: This contraption in the third picture which basically existed of a hairdryer blowing into a satin bonnet with a long trunk.

I got married and the curls were popping ❤


I'm physically disabled with full body chronic pain from CRPS. I can no longer keep up with a normal hair routine,  Brushing my hair, applying product and diffusing all causes me too much pain now.  i had to find a better way that was easy, accessible, affordable,  and maximized the beauty i wanted.

i decided to experiment and this is the routine  that created  the hair above, the hair i have wanted for literal years:

 dry brush and detangle (my dad helps me with this)

 Shampoo really well

 Conditioner in mid section and ends, not roots

 Squeeze out excess water and blot with the towel

 Take a curl brush with slightly damp, NOT REALLY WET, hair, brush upward against the grain of your hair from the underneath brushing up, this is done to create curl sections

flip your head upside down, gently loosen your roots with your fingers so your roots are not stuck your  head, and then scrunch all the way to the root

flip all your hair forward infront of your face. air dry like that, you basically have to look slightly down till its dry.

once fully dry flip upside down, fluff the roots, then spread your fingers wide, slip your fingers in the mid section of your hair, and shake. do not brush out  the curls with your hands, just shake.

flip right side up, fiddle with it for i minute, fluff where you need to, and your done.

i know this wont work for everyone, for some this will dry out your hair too much, but i did everything the beauty industry tells you not to do with curly hair and my hair has literally never looked better. i don't  care if this is somehow unhealthy for my hair, im simply too disabled to do more effort than this. maybe if it gets dry I'll do a night with coconut  oil to rehydrate, but this is my routine  forever  now.

 I wasted so many years thinking there was something wrong with me or my hair or that the way I wanted my hair wanted to look was not possible,and it was just lies. the thing that was making my hair look bad was product. my hair has always been hypersensitive  to product, even a half dollar size of mouse weighs down my hair. with nothing my hair is so soft, light, and fluffy. i have the volume i want, the definition, everything.  And I do not care if I was possibly using the wrong product and different product would help my hair more,  Like I've said I'm too disabled for a 5 step product routine these days. this routine  is what I've  needed. its perfect.

 Maybe you don't need 5 different $30 hair products, maybe  the issue isn't  the wrong product, its product at all. maybe with no product  but the right styling  method, you can have what you want ¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯. maybe try going no product and air drying, then slowly incorporate each product to better understand your hair, idk.

good luck to all others on your curl journey. im very happy i finally  figured  this out. oh also please do not give me any advice, im content with what im doing! <3 i just wanted to share this success in hopes it can help others.

I found the secret


This year I have finally mastered how to detangle and wash my hair, and since then my hair has gotten much longer and denser. It’s been over 5 years since I grew out my hair from literally 1 cm and it is now just past my waist when stretched. This routine has been optimized for fine textured, dense, 4a-c hair:

1) The most important step— I detangle with african pride pre poo AND aussie miracle moist conditioner. The combination gives INCREDIBLE slip that is akin to detangling in the shower, but without wasting all that water. I finger detangle, then use the tangle teezer for fine and fragile hair, as well as the unbrush (depending on how fine textured the section of hair is). I twist my hair in 8-9 twists to prep it for washing.

2) Im currently using Donna’s choice moisturizing shampoo and deep condition with TGIN honey miracle; both are amazing for winter haircare. I shampoo and deep condition my hair while is in twists. The trick is to twist it so that the twists are loose in the roots, but firmer in the mid shaft and ends.

3) I towel dry and apply camille rose butter gel and chebe-infused hair grease (I literally mix a chebe pomade I found on etsy with Softee hair grease).

Chebe is works wonders length retention and is a ritualistic beauty practice for women in Chad.

I braid my hair in a couple braids overnight, then twist it then next night so I can have a bomb twist out. The key is to keep your hair tucked away most of the week—claw clips, twisted/braided up dos, ponytails, buns, etc.

Daily— I spray my hair with either water, Oyin juices and berries leave in, or a fenugreek and rosemary spray from etsy (Queensanity). It depends on the humidity in the air, because glycerin and dry winter air doesn’t always mix!

Monthly—I do a protein treatment with Curlsmith bond repair, and clarify my hair with the Strands of Faith clarifying mask. I’ve also started using Pattern clarifying shampoo, which works pretty well.

Quarterly—I trim my own hair after using the revair to stretch it. Staying out of the salon helped my length retention exponentially.

my very effective length retention routine (fine, 4b hair)


Only for special occasions! Routine: Camille Rose Guava Slip Shampoo ➡ rizos deep conditioner ➡ worked my hair in too many sections and raked through texture ID aloe Vera gel (feels more like a hydrating product) ➡ finger coiled ➡ scrunched in doux bee girl gel for a cast ➡ diffused with hair clips for volume

Finger coiling can be worth it… sometimes!


I feel like my hair just will not cooperate with me? The top always feels flat no matter what even if I pick the roots out and I hate showing my forehead so my front is bugging me a lot and with my hairline looking how it is idk what to do really? I also feel like my hair is thin and never stands up because how much is needed for just 1 curl. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Routine: I usually use the bumble and bumble conditioner and shampoo and I condition twice a week and shampoo during the weekend once a week, then I usually just use a leave in conditioner specifically as I am coconut, and Camilla rose curl love rice milk or the guava slip detangling from the same brand. I also just let it air dry 90% of the time. This hair is with the curl lala defining curl custard being my first time using it.

Is it just how my hair is?


The Natural Hair Reset: A Focused Guide for Coils, Kinks, and Curls from R/TheNaturalJourney

Introduction: Why You Need a Reset, Not a Product Hoard

You’ve been there: the bathroom cabinet overflowing with half-used jars, the graveyard of products that promised definition, moisture, and growth, but delivered only frustration and buildup. If you have Type 3c-4c hair, you know the struggle is real, often exacerbated by a beauty industry that frequently excludes or misunderstands our textures. This isn't just a hair guide; it's a reset.
The core problem isn't your hair—it's the system. It’s the marketing aimed at looser textures, the generic ingredients that coat rather than penetrate, and the constant cycle of buying products that don't address the specific needs of coily and kinky strands. We are resetting two things: your hair and your mindset. Over the next few chapters, we will cleanse your scalp and strands, simplify your routine, and most importantly, equip you with the knowledge to read labels like a boss, so you never fall for marketing hype again. This reset is about moving from confusion to clarity, from dependency to mastery, and truly celebrating the natural crown you wear.

Chapter 1: The Great Detox: Stripping Down to Basics
Before you can begin to effectively moisturize and grow your hair, you must remove the barriers. Many "heavy" creams, butters, and some popular conditioners designed for general curly hair contain ingredients that sit on top of your low-porosity coils, leading to dullness, dryness, and breakage. This chapter is your blueprint for the Great Detox.

The Detox Steps (The First 30 Days):
1. The Final Wash: Removing Buildup
Use a clarifying, sulfate-based shampoo (yes, sulfates!) one last time. This step is non-negotiable. Its purpose is to completely strip away all silicones, heavy mineral oils, and synthetic waxes that have built up over time. If your hair feels dry immediately after, that’s proof the cleanse worked. Follow this immediately with a deep conditioner.

2. Ban the Heavies
For the duration of the reset, put away all heavy hair butters (like shea butter and cocoa butter) and pure oils (like coconut or mineral oil). While these have their place, they are often misused and can clog the hair shaft during the reset phase. Focus on lighter humectants and moisturizers.

3. The One-Product Test
After the final wash, use only one moisturizing leave-in conditioner or styling cream for your entire wash day routine for at least two weeks. This helps you isolate which product is actually performing, rather than guessing which one of your ten products is responsible for the result.

Chapter 2: Decoding Ingredients: Active Agents and Red Flags

Mastery over ingredients is your key to purchasing power. We look for two kinds of ingredients: the foundational moisturizers that seal the strand, and the advanced active agents that optimize the scalp and follicle for growth.
The 'Non-Negotiable' List (What to Seek):
Water (Aqua): Always the first ingredient. If it isn't, put the bottle down. Water is the only true moisturizer.

Humectants (Glycerin, Aloe Vera, Propylene Glycol): These draw moisture from the air into the hair shaft. Essential for keeping coils plump and hydrated.

Emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Oil, Olive Oil): These are 'fatty alcohols' or light plant oils (used correctly) that soften the hair and prevent water loss. They are critical for managing friction and reducing breakage.
Hydrolyzed Proteins (Keratin, Wheat, Silk): Look for these when your hair feels weak or mushy. They temporarily patch gaps in the hair shaft, providing strength.

The Power of Active Treatments (Peptides & Niacinamide)
These ingredients are typically found in scalp serums, not styling products. They work by improving the environment where hair is born.

Peptides: Think of these as the "building blocks" for your follicles. They signal the scalp to increase collagen and keratin production around the root. This strengthens the hair anchor, potentially reducing shedding and supporting overall density. Look for products labeled "Hair Density Serum" or "Scalp Treatment."

Niacinamide (Vitamin B_3): This acts as a powerful scalp balancer. It reduces inflammation, regulates sebum (oil) production, and improves the skin barrier of the scalp. A calm, balanced scalp is the optimal environment for strong, undisturbed hair growth.

The 'Watch List' (Use Sparingly or Avoid):
Heavy Silicones (Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane): These smooth the cuticle but require a strong clarifying shampoo (sulfates) to remove, or they build up and block moisture.
Mineral Oil / Petrolatum: Cheap fillers that coat the hair, giving the illusion of moisture while actually preventing real water-based moisturizers from penetrating the shaft.

Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben): Primarily used as preservatives. While widely debated, many users prefer to avoid them. Choose products with alternative preservatives like phenoxyethanol if you are sensitive.

Chapter 3: The Moisture Matrix: Structuring Your Wash Day
Wash day is the foundation of the Natural Hair Reset. We are flipping the script: instead of detangling after shampooing when hair is stripped and vulnerable, we detangle before with a potent, natural pre-poo.

1. Pre-Poo Power: Slip, Strength, and Detangling
Pre-poo is a treatment applied to dry hair before shampooing. Its primary job is to provide slip to detangle and create a protective barrier that reduces how much the shampoo strips the hair of its natural oils.

Recipe Spotlight: Flaxseed Gel Pre-Poo
Flaxseed gel is a natural marvel, providing unparalleled slip for detangling knots gently, which is the key to length retention.
Preparation: Simmer \text{1/4} cup of flaxseeds in 2 cups of water until the mixture thickens into a slippery, egg-white consistency (about 8-10 minutes).

Application: Strain the gel into a bowl. Working in small sections on dry hair, saturate the strands with the warm gel, focusing on the ends.
Detangle: Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle each section. The flaxseed provides natural mucilage that makes knots melt away.

Wait Time: Leave the flaxseed gel on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing lightly and proceeding to the next step.

2. The Shampoo & Deep Conditioning
Shampoo: Focus cleanser primarily on the scalp. Allow the rinse-off to clean the length of your hair to avoid unnecessary stripping.
Deep Conditioning: This is where you restore moisture lost during cleansing. Apply a quality deep conditioner to damp hair, cover with a plastic cap, and use heat (a steamer or hooded dryer) for 30 minutes to maximize product penetration.

3. The Fenugreek Hair Mask (Protein/Moisture Balance)
Fenugreek (or Methi seeds) is a powerhouse of protein, amino acids, and nicotinic acid. It’s an effective natural strengthening treatment that reduces shedding and can promote growth.
Recipe Spotlight: Fenugreek & Coconut Milk Strengthening Mask

This mask provides a necessary protein boost while keeping the strands flexible.
Preparation: Soak \text{1/4} cup of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Blend the soaked seeds with 1 cup of coconut milk or aloe vera juice until a thick, smooth paste forms. Add a tablespoon of honey for added humectant moisture.
Application: After deep conditioning (or in place of it, depending on your hair's needs that week), apply the paste liberally from root to tip.

Wait Time: Cover your hair with a cap for \text{30-60} minutes.
Rinsing Tip: Fenugreek residue can be tricky. Rinse thoroughly with water, and follow up with a light conditioner to help remove any remaining grit.

Chapter 4: Length Retention: The Science of Low Manipulation
Every strand of hair is always growing, but your goal isn't just to grow hair—it's to retain length. This is the key difference between seeing constant shedding and seeing actual progress. Length retention is a numbers game: we must ensure that the hair we grow from the scalp doesn't break off at the ends.

The Growth vs. Retention Equation
Your hair grows at a consistent rate, generally about \text{0.5} inches per month, controlled by genetics, nutrition, and scalp health (where our Peptides and Niacinamide focus comes in).
However, what you see is your Retained Length.
If you grow \text{0.5} inches, but \text{0.5} inches of older hair breaks off, your visible length gain is zero (\text{0}).

The goal of Low Manipulation is to ensure that \text{0.4} inches of that new growth is kept.
The oldest, most fragile part of your hair is the ends. If these ends are constantly being rubbed against clothes, manipulated during styling, or damaged by split ends, they break off at the same rate the hair grows—creating the illusion that your hair has "stopped growing."

The Three Pillars of Low Manipulation
The primary cause of breakage in coily hair is mechanical damage (friction and tension). Low manipulation is your defense system, designed to reduce how often and how roughly you touch your hair.

1. Minimize Detangling Sessions (The Pre-Poo Priority)
Detangling is the most dangerous activity for your hair. Every time you pull a comb through a knot, you risk snapping multiple strands.
The Solution: Increase the gap between detangling sessions (ideally, only on wash day). By using a high-slip agent like our Flaxseed Gel Pre-Poo before you even start cleansing, you dramatically reduce the force needed to separate the strands. This single practice is one of the most effective ways to retain length.

2. Protective Styling (Hands-Off Defense)
Protective styles are your best friends because they keep the vulnerable ends of your hair tucked away from the environment and your hands.
Ends Tucked: Styles like braids, twists, buns, or simple high-ponytails shield the ends from friction with collars, scarves, and coats.
Reduced Frequency: They also naturally extend the time between styling sessions. If you manipulate your hair every day, you cause friction 365 days a year. If you keep it in a protective style for four weeks and then style it once a week, you've significantly reduced the total stress.

3. The Critical Role of Trims
This is the most misunderstood aspect of length retention. Trims DO NOT make your hair grow faster (growth happens at the root), but they DO make your hair break slower.
The Split End Problem: A split end is damage that travels upward. If you leave a split end, it will break further and further up the hair shaft until it meets healthy hair, causing you to lose several inches over time.
Trimming as Damage Control: A consistent micro-trim (every 3-4 months) removes the damage at its lowest point, stopping the split end from traveling. This allows the healthy hair grown over the last few months to be retained, leading to visible length gains.

Conclusion: Length retention is not a mystery; it is a discipline. By focusing on low manipulation, proper detangling (Pre-Poo!), and timely trims, you directly control the breakage rate, allowing the hair that is constantly growing to finally show up in your mirrors and length checks.


Hi! My hair is fairly long and ALWAYS getting tangled. I absolutely have to brush it (or untangle thoroughly with fingers) after the first day post-wash. And that’s WITH gentle finger-detangling throughout the day.

Routine:
Seaweed Bath Co. Gentle Shampoo
Acure Ultra Hydrating Conditioner
+ ion hard water shampoo approx every 5 weeks

I’ve tried leave-ins, I’ve tried oils, I’ve tried a detangler. Anything to hydrate (it can be pretty dry) and/or generate slip. For the most part they have made it worse or not helped. The only thing that’s seemed to help at ALL is jojoba oil, and that’s still pretty minimal.

I will say I haven’t been able to experiment as much as I’d like with products because I don’t have the money. I’m hoping ya’ll have some insight🤞

P.S. this is by far my hair’s favorite conditioner, out of what I’ve tried over the years.

Need hair mask suggestions for low-po 2c/3a fine hair?


I've been brushing my hair and treating it as if it was straight for YEARS. On accident, I discovered my hair actually has some good curl to it! Now I'm trying to figure out how to best maximize that and embrace it. However, I'm having huge problems with frizz, and with Day 2 or Day 3 hair.

Right now I use Curly Pop shampoo and conditioner, scrunch with Fenty Homecurl after shower, and either wrap in a cotton T-shirt or diffuse dry. I have a satin pillowcase and bonnet (haven't been the best at wearing the bonnet though).

I have fine hair, I'd say, and I know it's low porosity. I've heard about cowash but any time I look for products I'm just lost with the amount! I do have Rizzos Curl Custard, but it has extreme "slip" (still not sure what that means) and I don't seem to be able to get it to work for me, so I've been sticking with Fenty Homecurl. But even with that, my day 2 hair is pretty rough.

Any suggestions on routine, product recommendations, etc., would be very appreciated!

https://preview.redd.it/p77el2wbun4g1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bf809ea01974bb3e10f54c721eae1c950d032d28

https://preview.redd.it/7x3nksvbun4g1.jpg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f01a7999f70504eed562b349891119e09ee9e4f8

What products should I use?


(Anymore)

My one hour shower routine is as follows:

Wet hair, wash it with a moisturising shampoo or clarofying depending on my what style. (Moisturising for wash and gos since I keep them for a week and clarifying for a protective style cuz I use grease and keep them for 3 weeks)

Follow up with Nizoral for eczem@, let it sit on scalp for 5 minutes.

Conditioner/mask then brush it through, wrap ot in garbage bag. Bath while letting it sit. Wash it out and done.

Slip is the number one thing. I curently use Carol's Daughter's mask but Cantu and African Pride had good slip. Also good for a leave in since I detangle dry after taking out a protective style. I use an EZ detangler dupe from my pharmacy and brush it at a three quarter angle. No pain or arm workout. And if I wasn't detangling properly, I'd dread.

I see youtubers with loosers curls than mine struggle detangling even with that unbrush and they also have this big matted mess of knots. I would literally burst into tears when my mother did my hair as a kid, not anymore.

Ps: I currently have bra strap length hair but it used to be waist length.

Anyone else not struggle with detangling?


Didn’t know I had a hair type and started catering to it. Vary happy to see how far it’s came. :))
First pic was brushing daily no hair protectant, damaged hair. Honestly the least frizzy photo I had lol. Previous to this, my hair was a completely uncontrollable mess. Now, it actually has life to it!😁 Can’t wait to see how farther along it gets!

        🎀 HAIR ROUTINE 🎀
Ask for face framing long

- [x] 1st Week: Hydration Week → Hydration Shampoo, Hydration Hair Masque, Hydration Conditioner (add Hydration Masque only once if washing more than once that week)

- [x] 2nd Week: Protein Week → Hydration Shampoo + bonding protein treatment. Light.

- [ ] 3rd Week: Hydration Week → Hydration Shampoo + Conditioner (Hydration Masque if dry)

- [ ] Clarify Week → Clarifying Shampoo (2 lathers) + Protein Masque

⸻

🧴 Wash Products

1. SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo
	•	Use: Weekly (non-clarify weeks)
	•	How: Focus on scalp & roots only. Massage with fingertips (not nails). Let suds run through lengths as you rinse.
	•	Rinse: Thoroughly with lukewarm water.

2. SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Conditioner
	•	Use: Weekly (after Hydration Shampoo, except Clarify Week)
	•	How: Apply to mid-lengths & ends (avoid roots to prevent heaviness). Use wide-tooth comb or fingers to detangle.
	•	Rinse: After 3–5 minutes, rinse lightly (leave a little slip if your hair likes it).

3. SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Masque
	•	Use: Every 1–2 weeks (instead of conditioner).
	•	How: Apply generously mid-lengths → ends. Detangle with wide-tooth comb. Smooth with “praying hands.”
	•	Wait: 10–15 minutes (cover with cap for extra effect).
	•	Rinse: Fully.

4. SheaMoisture Protein Masque
	•	Use: Once a month (after Clarifying Shampoo).
	•	How: Section hair, apply mid-lengths → ends first, then lightly on roots if needed. Brush through for even coverage. Light scrunch to help curls.
	•	Wait: 10–15 minutes.
	•	Rinse: Fully.
	•	Conditioner: Skip (this masque replaces it).

5. SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore Clarifying Shampoo
	•	Use: Once a month (Clarify Week).
	•	How: Do 2 lathers — first lifts buildup, second deep cleans. Focus on scalp, let suds rinse through lengths.
	•	Follow with: Protein Masque (not conditioner).

6. SheaMoisture Bond Repair Masque (optional/alternate)
	•	Use: Every 2–3 weeks or when hair feels weak/breaking.
	•	How: Same as Hydration Masque — mid-lengths → ends, detangle, smooth in.
	•	Rinse: Fully.

⸻

🌿 Leave-In & Styling Products

7. Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream
	•	Use: Daily or after every wash/restyle.
	•	How: Apply to damp hair (after wash, or re-wet for daily refresh). Rake through with fingers from roots to ends, then smooth with praying hands.
	•	Amount: Start with a nickel-sized amount per section, adjust as needed.
	•	Finish: Scrunch lightly to encourage waves/curls.

8. Curlsmith Frizz Rescue Curl Retainer
	•	Use: After cream (daily).
	•	How: Scrunch into damp hair, focusing on mid-lengths & ends. This helps lock curl shape and reduce frizz.
	•	Tip: Use hands or microfiber towel to “cup & scrunch” upward.

9. Curlsmith Frizz Rescue Finishing Serum
	•	Use: After styling, when hair is 100% dry.
	•	How: Warm 2–3 drops in hands, then scrunch out any crunch or frizz. Glide lightly over surface for shine.
	•	When: End of styling, or as touch-up on dry hair between washes.

⸻

3.7 months of curl training!


I sweated so much from dancing so my curls kinda fell out the next day, but it was worth it! Routine: Camille Dose guava slip shampoo -> rizzos deep conditioner -> kinky kurly leave in -> doux banana gel -> diffused -> jobojoa oil

Hair came through for best friend’s wedding!!


My current routine: uncle funkys daughter rich shampoo, tresemme curl conditioner (just ran out of uncle funkys conditioner), kinky curly leave in and uncle funkys curl magic. I also clarify and deep condition every other week.

About 1-2months ago the results I was getting from the Uncle Funkys Curl Magic started to change. Typically this product gives me a lot of slip and big juicy curl clumps in the shower. More recently, when I apply this product I experience what I think is flash drying— instead of big juicy curl clumps and lots of seaweed-y slip, it’s like a bunch of moisture is instantly sucked out and my curl clumps are very small and stringy. I added the leave in to see if that would help, but nope. I’m still able to get a decent result by layering Eco gel and brush styling, but it’s not ideal.

Idk if it’s happening because of the weather change? (I’m in the mid Atlantic US), or just with prolonged use? It’s happened with other products before but I can’t remember if it coincided with seasons changing. Anyone experience this or have any insight?

Results suddenly changed with same products


Routine:
1. Cantu shampoo: double washed
2. Cantu conditioner: put in enough for hair to have slip, and left it in for a few minutes before detangling.
3. Cantu leave-in: applied generous amount then brushed it in
3. Scrunch and air dry

Day 3 Hair


apologies in advance for a long post but thanks in advance if you read it all

hair texture:
my hair seems to have two different curl patterns. the top half (the crown area) is closest to 3C, while the bottom layer is more like a 4A. the top layer holds curls nicely for the most part, but has some frizzy areas. even though i have fewer problems with this layer, i still feel “bumpy” hair strands throughout. if i run a strand between my fingers, it feels almost like ridges along the strand. sometimes these break easily.
the bottom layer is much more kinky, thin, and brittle. it constantly feels dry and straw-like no matter what i do. i’m afraid there’s been too much damage due to my curl styling brush and protein overload, because i’ve noticed a lot of hair strands have a rough texture near the root before smoothing out a little. there’s been a lot of breakage in this layer to the point where i am extremely self conscious. the ends of my hair are very thin and tangle easily as well.

what ive tried:
i posted on here months ago with the complaint of overly dry hair, and many of you helped direct me away from shea moisture (thank you) and towards moisturizing products. i have now cut all shea moisture products out and have tried using more lightweight products since my hair is finer than i thought. here’s how the products worked out…

camille rose moisture milk - helps add a nice slip and keep my hair looking healthier
mielle curl defining mousse - has a nice hold but makes my hair feel dry
camille rose curl maker - decent but can make my hair feel gummy, i like to mix it with water for a lighter hold
mizani true textures curl enhancing lotion - the only thing that doesn’t feel too gummy or dry in my hair
ouidad heat and humidity gel - sometimes i add a tiny bit of this for more of a cast
i’ve also tried raking oils through my hair before bed (castor oil, rosehip oil, coconut oil) to try to get some moisture back and maybe prevent hygral fatigue but it doesn’t seem to be doing much of anything.

current routine:
1. wash with black african soap shampoo (i used this recipe) 1-2 times per week to remove buildup
2. on days i don’t shampoo, i co-wash with Cantu conditioner
3. rinse with cool water and shake out before styling (no towel, sometimes i will lightly pat with a microfiber)
4. use a dime sized drop of camille rose moisture milk to rake through hair
5. section off top half of hair, use a dime sized drop of mizani to rake through bottom section of hair. i use a detangling brush with flexible teeth (bc i was afraid of damage) to curl my front tendrils that frame my face. i dont use the brush on the rest of the bottom half.
6. unclip top half, re-wet if necessary and rake through about a quarter size drop of mizani.
7. lightly style with brush in small sections
8. rake through a pea size drop of ouidad climate control gel if it’s going to be a long day where i need the extra hold.
9. hover diffuse for 3-5 minutes (i use the cool setting)

my hair feels so nice RIGHT before it’s completely dry. once it’s fully dry, the texture is awful. what am i doing wrong? please help bc i want to cut it all off right now

hair texture is the worst its ever been :(


I tried posting in my dreadlock group but got absolutely no help. The ends of my hair keep getting extremely dry all of a sudden and I have no idea what products or what to use to prevent them from locking with the rest of my hair! I think my hair type is 3a/3b if that helps. It’s just been dry and crusty feeling since I got pregnant. I feel like my curls aren’t even defined our coiled anymore. I really want to figure out a routine before baby gets here!! Currently I am using Aussie products on just the loose ends. I use dreadlock hq shampoo on just the top and just changed to the mane choice shampoo and conditioner. It looks a little better but still matting up with the rest of my hair. The picture of them wet is right after washing with Cantù curl activator. Atp I just want a detangler with insane slip that will keep my curls separate from the rest of my hair!!!

Please Help!!


Main point: really need a moisturizing shampoo that has good slip and can be my everyday shampoo.

I have been using Olaplex line for a while before recently realizing it’s actually made my hair & scalp worse this entire time. Just not for my fine, thinner 2C/3A hair at all.

A part of my routine that works well for my hair is using the “It’s a 10 leave-in conditioner” after my full hair wash routine. It provides great moisture and helps to maintain frizziness. (Just mentioned to follow the posting guidelines lol)

Anyways would love to hear/look into any recommendations anyone has for a good everyday shamp option :) thank you

Looking for an affordable “everyday” shampoo with good slip (must not to be stripping or clarifying), please


my hair can get ratty in the back after a few hours. my current leave-in/curl cream/mousse in my routine doesn't prevent tangling from happening.

does anyone know of a leave-in or cream that actually gives slip? maybe with water soluble silicones?

leave-in with actual slip?


My son has beautiful curly hair but it’s very fine and gets frizzy and tangly so easily. Is there any way to keep his curls mostly intact overnight? I’ve tried a bonnet, but they typically slip off his head while he’s sleeping so now I do a loose bun on top of his head. Sometimes in the morning, I can take out the bun, wet the hair that gets frizzy around his face and it’ll do in a pinch. If I want the curls to look nice again though, I completely wet it with water and leave in conditioner and comb it out. This definitely works, but I feel bad sending him to school with damp hair, especially in the colder months. Are there any other options to keep his curls overnight or to refresh them in the morning without getting his hair completely wet? Any suggestions would be so appreciated!

I have straight hair and my husband has much thicker curly hair so these types of curls are new to him too so we’re both trying our best to learn as we go.

(The first picture is of his hair still a little damp and freshly washed and the second picture shows his hair let down from sleeping in a bun and fixed up as much as I could without starting from scratch)

Our wash routine: We wash with Honest shampoo and conditioner, then use finger comb through a bit of Alaffia leave in conditioner and let air dry.

Kiddo curly hair help!


Whenever I get my hair cut the hairdresser will pretty aggressively comb my hair beforehand causing a bunch of breakage usually, in order to prevent this I started to carefully dry comb my hair before going so that it's easier to get through but there would still be a bunch of hair snapping when they go through it again.

My hair is pretty tough to get through since I have very dense but fine hair with 3a curls, I get a bunch of snapping when I brush it too just a lot less, is that normal?

The last time I went I washed it the night before and put conditioner in and then they said my hair was greasy and washed it again in the salon, are you not supposed to put conditioner in? Do you just wash it with shampoo and let it dry right before going? My hair is like ultra dry so that really only makes it worse usually.

I've been to a couple hair salons but usually it's the same issues and my hair always comes out in much worse shape than before.

My current wash routine once a week:

Wet the hair thoroughly, put in shampoo and rub the scalp, wash it out, put it conditioner, wait 5-10 minutes (sort of a hair mask light honestly), comb it with a wide toothed comb while the conditioner gives it slip getting some breakage often due to knots, wring it out a little, put in a leave in conditioner while still wet and comb it out again this time I don't get any breakage, put a tshirt on my hair but I don't tie it up or anything it's mostly just to keep my wet hair off my body while I do skincare like lotion and also my face, then I take the tshirt off and put argon oil in my hands and run them through my hair to coat it and then I let it air dry.

Daily I wet my hands with water and my fingers through my hair to wet it a little and then I do the same with argan oil to coat them again. Getting some snapping the process too.

Also my hair really sucks like it's always frizzy and dry no matter what I do, So I guess general help would be appreciated too.

What do you do with your hair before getting it cut?


So, I have a question regarding silicones and sulfates when using hair extensions. I've been using extensions for a couple of years now, and I've alwas heard that silicones (especially dimethicone and other non water soluble silicones) should be avoided, and that sulfates should be avoided due to stripping moisture of the hair. Although, it's commonly recommended to use a deep cleaning shampoo with tape in extensions, as it's important that the scalp stays clean because the tapes can tend to make the scalp extra dirty + if the scalp is too oily, it can dissolve the glue (so I've heard).

I've never been afraid of silicones in haircare, but I tend to stay away from silicones when I have extensions, because I want to do what's recommended.

But, on later days, I've wondered a lot about if silicones and sulfates really ARE that bad for extensions? Like, the silicone gives the hair that extra slip + capsulate moisture, and the sulfates work wonders to clean the scalp so it stays clean and gives the tape a better enviroment. Like, the hair on the extensions are as dead as the rest of the hair on ones head, so why would silicones and sulfates cause EXTRA damage to the extensions?

I've tried to find sources regarding the claim that silicones are bad for extensions, but I can only find hair salons, or brands that sell products that are specifically made for extensions - and they all claim that silicones just makes the hair of the extensions tangle more because of the build up. But, I mean, it's not like the regular hair on my head have some kind of natural self silicone cleanse, and yeah - we trim the ends of our hair, new hair grows out.. But we also replace the extensions after a while anyways, so..?

Hair extensions (like tape in extensions) + silicones and sulfates