I have thick, naturally curly hair that goes down to about the middle of my back. I would really like to have the loose, bouncy curls; however, I just don’t seem to be able to achieve that look. I want it to be curlier than it naturally is. Curlers give me really tight curls that just don’t look all that great. Also, my hair is so thick that it take forever to get it all on the curlers and then there isn’t even room for all of the curlers on my head! Using a curling iron would take so much time that I just cannot fit it into my morning schedule. So I was wondering: Do any of you know of any curl enhancing gel or stuff like that that I can put in my hair? If it reduces frizz, all the better. It seems like I’ve tried just about every product out there that deals with this, but nothing seems to help. Thanks in advance!
You could check out the cream rinses from Pantene, I use “sheer volume” (not for curls, but just for volume) and it works pretty well, maybe they have one for curls.
But I thought in your op you said you had naturally curly hair? Have you tried blow drying your hair with a diffuser to make it more curly? Sometimes that works.
When I want to be curly, I pull out the Frizz Ease - you can’t use too much or it weighs your hair down a bit, but you just put it on when your hair is soaking wet (all you do is squeeze some of the water out), put the gel in, and sort of finger style your hair, depending on what you want it to do.
You might also see if you can find information over at naturallycurly.com
Have you tried curlers that you heat up for 2 minutes? Conair has one with large curlers. Removes frizz and gives loose bouncy curls. You could experiment with one and then return it before the 30 days if you don’t like it.
I have long curly hair that I have battled all my life. I have a cast-iron routine that always works for hair:
Run Frizz-Ease thru freshly washed hair (not too much, or it will make your hair look greasy).
Follow up with a light gel. I use Loreal Studio Line Lasting Curls Gel. If I want my hair to be really curly, I follow up with a light misting of Studio Line Pumping Curls.
Scrunch your hair lightly. Over scrunching will make your hair frizzy.
Get a cheap 1600 power blowdryer. High-end blowdryers will blow too hot and hard and will frizz your hair. Buy one of those Euro diffuser attachments - make sure it’s a diffuser that looks like a bowl with fingers.
With the hairdryer on low, use the diffuser to cup your hair close to your head. Constantly move around the dryer until you’re hair is 90% dry. Overdrying will cause the dreaded frizz.
The two products I have had the BEST results with in loose hair are Aveda Phomollient and Aveda Be Curly. They are best applied on - hair that has been washed the NIGHT BEFOREHAND and tied back in a bun. Untie hair next morning, mist thoroughly with water, and apply Aveda product lightly (not too much, else you’ll look greasy. You want to enhance curl and play down frizz). Let hair airdry - as it has been partly drying all night, it won’t take TOO long. You can also use a diffuser with your hair dryer with these products for looser curls.
Now, for hair that’s ‘up’ or tied back in pigtails or ponytails, I use a medium hold gel, salon quality. I usually follow almost the same regimen as above, however this works well with wet hair as well. I apply gel, tie hair up (attempting to keep everything as smooth as possible) and (if braiding) braid smoothly (if not braiding) twirl hair in direction of natural curl. If you have one ponytail, you end up with a nice big sausage curl, if you have 2 ponytails, you’ll have 2 really cute curls. You can also use the medium quality gel in your hair for straightening with a blow drier or for a smooth wavy look with airdrying.
I spent a few years tangling with the same issue you have The aveda products are PRICEY but can’t be beat from my experiences.
You said that you had hair to the middle of your back. It could be that the weight of the hair is pulling the curl out. If you like your current hairdresser, ask for his/her advice. You might be advised to cut a few inches off and to use different hair products. Good Luck!!
Like Venoma I’ve used Aveda products. I had to quit though, the day I ran all over town and couldn’t find a single hair salon that had the stuff (my usual shop was closed). It seems that Aveda runs a nazi-esque campaign whereby you have to agree to exclusively sell Aveda and no other products, period. I won’t support that kind of business practice anymore. If they want me to continue using their product, they can make it available to me.
Now I use this wonderful product that my hairdresser showed me this product that is amazing. You literally cannot use too much- it never looks greasy and takes out almost all the frizz- it’s called Saturation, by some company called Brocato. Anyway- 12 oz for about $7 and I’ve used half a bottle in five months. Not bad.
A trick I recently learned for naturally curly hair is to rinse it in cold water- before you put on any products. I have a movable shower head on a hose, so it’s pretty easy for me. The amount of water in your hair as it dries matters too. If you rub your head with a towel until a lot of the moisture is out, you’ll have looser, more frizzy curls. If you just pat dry and leave a good amount of water in, you get more largely defined, tighter curls. Keeping the dead ends clipped is important. So many curly headed people wait way to long to get hair cuts because they lose so much percieved length, even with a trim. Good luck.
medstar has a very good point. the longer your hair the less curl you will have.
i had long straight hair for quite some time. i decided to go short, as my hair was being cut, the stylist suddenly said: “whoa, where did this wave come from?” turns out if my hair is above my shoulders i have somewhat wavy hair. below shoulder length totally straight.
have you seen pictures of ms kidman when she had shorter hair? she has very, very, curly red hair. by going with the length she has now, she has much more control of her curl. rather nice corkscrews.
I have long, naturally-curly hair that tends to frizziness. Sebastian Cello-fix is a leave-on conditioner usually only available at a salon or beauty-supply store, but it makes my hair curl up very nicely. A cheaper alternative that is available in the grocery or drug store is Infusium 23 leave-on conditioner. Neither is gummy or lotion-ey but light, and they don’t give you the “wet-look” like gels do.
Also, you have to let it air-dry, never blow-dry. I usually shampoo, put on the Infusium, comb it out wet in the shower, wrap a towel around my head but no rubbing, then after a few minutes or whatever I scrunch it up on top of my head and hold it there with a big scrunchy band and let it dry as long as possible. If you absolutely must blow-dry, use a diffuser.
I agree with medstar about the length; the shorter, the curlier, for my hair, anyway.
Quick aside here - the salons I have bought Aveda from have also sold many other lines, such as Bed Head, Redken, etc. However, this WAS in Canada - things may be different down here in the USA.
Ah ha! I figured this must be the case. My hair is nearly down to my waist(when I used to straightened it, it was down to my waist), and while it’s very wavy, it doesn’t have those full curls that people seem to get from perms. I’d rather have it just be wavy than have it short or perm it, though.
The length is important. I keep my curly hair long, but I have my stylist cut long layers then lightly razor vertically down my hair. That helps the layers blend so you avoid the ziggarat look and the curls bounce right up.
The aveda products are PRICEY but can’t be beat from my experiences.