# Help re: products for curly hair. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2001, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851 "2001-09-15T18:09:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nocturne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9fc348/32.png) [@Nocturne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nocturne)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/1 "2001-09-15T18:09:10Z")
I’m a curly-haired female…and I love it. It’s so pretty. But it is damn frustrating… My hair has decided that it will no longer be nice smooth curls, but frizz-city. I’ve tried mousse (recommended by my stylist) but it’s not working too well. Even when I wrap my fingers around the curls to “define” them, it doesn’t work. I end up with stiff frizzies that look like they’re running away from the well-behaved curls. Do any of you have any tips or recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![tempest2\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@tempest2\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tempest2_2)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/2 "2001-09-15T18:24:03Z")
I use Frizz-ease by John Freida…works for me but it costs a pretty penny, usually $9-$10 for a small bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/3 "2001-09-15T18:55:46Z")
I use Frizz-ease as well. For my hair, it’s essential that I put it on my hair while it is quite wet(I used to be able to use it damp, but my hair changed, I suppose), then either blow-dry or let it dry naturally. Either way, I get great curls. The other place you might check is [naturallycurly.com](http://www.naturallycurly.com). ---
**Author:** ![Rally\_Vincent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@Rally\_Vincent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rally_Vincent)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2001, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/4 "2001-09-15T22:33:37Z")
I’ve used BedHead leave in conditioner and that helps a lot. I’ve also stopped blowdrying my hair at all, and that also seems to help. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/5 "2001-09-16T01:29:37Z")
I wish I had pretty curls. I have frizzy, tiny, kinky curls that never do what I want them to. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Margarita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@Margarita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Margarita)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/6 "2001-09-16T01:50:55Z")
I recommend Pantene’s Curl Defining Mousse. And it’s less than $4. It has eliminated my frizz, even in Midwestern summer humidity. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/7 "2001-09-16T01:59:01Z")
I use Pantene Hydrating Curls shampoo and conditioner. Then I brush out the snarls and let my hair air dry. It’s a little expensive, but unless you have a lot of hair, it’ll last a long time. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/8 "2001-09-16T02:04:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rally Vincent \* > \*\*I’ve used BedHead leave in conditioner and that helps a lot. > > I’ve also stopped blowdrying my hair at all, and that also seems to help. \*\* I use BedHead leave in conditioner and the emollient as well. I skip the blow dryer and let it air dry. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/9 "2001-09-16T03:49:33Z")
I use L’Oreal curl defining spray and L’Oreal curl shaping mousse. The combination of the two calms down my frizz (and believe me - I have a _lot_!). You might also try a type of wax pomeade. My hairdresser says if you’re going to go the pomeade route, don’t get anything with water in it - water will make your frizz worse. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/10 "2001-09-16T04:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by **ladyfoxfyre** \* > > \*\*I have frizzy, tiny, kinky curls that never do what I want them to. > \*\* Mmmmmmmmmmm!!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/11 "2001-09-16T05:06:34Z")
[ul][list][list][list][list][list][list][list] **Corn rows** …:eek:… [/ul][/list][/list][/list][/list][/list][/list][/list] [sub]Just kidding. Try Google for sites like this[/sub] [http://www.womentodaymagazine.com/beauty/frizzy.html](http://www.womentodaymagazine.com/beauty/frizzy.html) ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/12 "2001-09-16T15:51:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ShibbOleth \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by **ladyfoxfyre** \* > > > > \*\*I have frizzy, tiny, kinky curls that never do what I want them to. > > \*\* > > Mmmmmmmmmmm!!! 😃 \*\* Thanks **ShibbOleth** , but I blow dry my hair straight. And I know you’re going to make up some quirky comment on “blowing” my hair straight, so I don’t even want to go there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/13 "2001-09-17T00:27:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pepperlandgirl \* > \*\*I use Pantene Hydrating Curls shampoo and conditioner. Then I brush out the snarls and let my hair air dry. It’s a little expensive, but unless you have a lot of hair, it’ll last a long time. \*\* As do I. However, I have long hair, so I tend to go through it quickly. I decided to try Physique’s curl defining stuff once, and it is not nearly as good. I think I’ll stick with Pantene, which is the best thing I’ve found since I stopped straightening my hair instead. I like it wavey now…fortunately it don’t curl quite enough to frizz, but I think it might were it shorter. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/14 "2001-09-17T00:28:49Z")
don’t?? Argh, I meant doesn’t, of course. ---
**Author:** ![xekul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/838e76/32.png) [@xekul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xekul)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-re-products-for-curly-hair/81851/15 "2001-09-17T00:57:49Z")
Leave-ins and creams are always good. I’ve had success with Sebastian Potion 9 and Rusk Wired, but both of them might be too heavy if your hair isn’t coarse like mine. A tiny amount of jojoba oil helps too. The advice I usually hear regarding pomades is that water-based pomades are easier to wash out and don’t make your hair greasy like wax- or oil-based pomades. Aveda makes a highly regarded anti-humecant pomade that keeps moisture out of hair if that’s your goal. I’ve tried many products and I believe that salon products are usually worth the extra money. I’ve found that it helps a lot to air dry hair from when it’s dripping wet, if you have the time to do so. The most violent action I’d take with a towel is to pat the moisture out of my hair; anything else disturbs the curl formation. I have very thick, very coarse medium-short curly hair. This is what I do in the morning: - Wash with Artec Textureline Smoothing Shampoo, condition with Smoothing Conditioner - Squeeze the water out with my hand - Spread ~3 mL of Rusk Wired throughout, particularly to the ends - Spread ~3 mL of Dep moisturising gel throughout, particularly to the roots - Shake head vigorously to separate curls - Shape with fingers. I usually tuck it behind my ears, but if you’re a girl you can get away with being more expressive. Then I let it air dry, even if it’s -20 Celcius outside and I have to walk to class. One web site and message board you might find useful is at [http://www.naturallycurly.com/](http://www.naturallycurly.com/) By the way, if your hair used to be obidient but now it’s misbehavin’ have you tried clarifying and then deep conditioning?