Equality

I've got curly hair, I'm 36 & I've tried it all. I finally came across a stylist with curly hair that understands curly hair - the first I've come across in my life. Absolutely without question, not all shampoos are the same. Cheap shampoos from the grocery store are more filler & less cleaning agent - that's why you need less of a salon shampoo to get your hair clean - it's more concentrated with the cleaning agents. But cheapness is not the issue for those of us with curly hair. Most shampoos - even expensive shampoos - have an ingredient that is very drying, frizzing and harmful to curly hair. The trick is to avoid that ingredient. The reason is that the curly hair cuticle is a oblong rather than round and it soaks in more product than straight hair. Therefore, what is drying to curly hair isn't as damaging to straight hair. The ingredients you need to avoid is all sulfates - look at the back - it will say "Sodium laurel sulfate" or "Sodium laureth sulfate." Find a shampoo that doesn't have these ingredients or says "Sulfate free" on the front. They are difficult to find. If you don't mind spending money, you can find Deva Care products online - they are really good. But you can also find less expensive products if you know what to look for. I would recommend looking at naturallycurly.com - they have a lot of suggestions of products and other ideas to help manage curly hair. Since I've been using different products & learning to manage my curls, I have never felt better about my hair - the texture totally changed over the first 6 months of using less damaging product. If you want ideas on other products that are good or bad for frizz, message me. A lot of products that are out there build up in curly hair & really affect your curl. It's a serious learning process! I can also recommend the book "Curly Girl." Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

www.naturallycurly.com

OMG, I love that web site!! They also reference the book "Curly Girl," which I see that another poster mentions here. I've been fighting with my curly hair since I was a little girl & those two helped me so much! I'm actually still fighting a frizz issue, but I have a 17-month-old baby so I have this weird new growth thing going on. Other than that, my hair has never been better!

I think you'll probably need to experiment with some products to see what works best for YOUR hair. Right now I'm using Suave Naturals conditioners in place of shampoo (they have enough detergents in them--as do most conditioners!-- to get your hair clean w/o drying it out) and then I use the generic version (from Sally Beauty Supply) of Matrix Biolage Conditioning Balm. Then Aussie Sun-Touched Shine gel for scrunching.

Aside from finding the products that work best for your hair (and I am definitely in favor of avoiding dimethicone even though it can be hard to do) my best tips are: 1) rinse hair w/cold water after your shower 2) after cold rinse DON'T wring it out, only *scrunch* the water out and 3) don't use a regular towel to dry your hair, squeeze excess water out using an old t-shirt. Those 3 steps alone will probably make a big difference in terms of frizz!

Best of luck!

HI there. I am curly headed as well and just like you I love my curls but in the past have had a hard time to keep them in control. I would suggest to use products that are purchased in a salon. The prices are reasonable to me as long as it's not over 20 bucks for a bottle. The cheap stuff never worked well. There is a serum I use after washing that helps keep down the frizz as well as keep the shape. It's healthy for the hair too as it is a serum. The name is Catwalk by Tigi the type is Curls Rock Curl Amplifier. Since applying a serum or cream to your hair after every wash and condition causes buildup, you have to wash your hair with clarifying shampoo twice a month to reduce dullness. Good luck!

There are a couple of main ingredients that make the difference- all the other stuff is just fluffy stuff.

Look for shampoos that contain sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate (I think spelling is right). They will be gentle, yet effective, shampoos. Ammonium lauryl/laureth sulate is harsh for hair, thus more likely to increase the frizz factor.

Or you can join the "no poo" movement, which is ditching shampoo entirely and just using a baking soda wash (1 tsp. of baking soda to one cup water). It's gaining popularity, but I still haven't had the guts to try it for a long period of time.

They're not all the same, but it can be hard to know if you're paying for ingredients that actually do something, or if you are just paying for nice fragrance or a pretty bottle. I suggest you look at the Paula's Choice Web site. It's www.paulaschoice.com. She is known as the "Cosmetics Cop" and has a not of scientific, unbiased reviews of many products posted. She has written a couple of excellent books, but you can look at reviews and such for free. I use that line of skin care and I can honestly say I am no longer tempted by the pretty cosmetics at the department store counters--Paula's Choice stuff is less expensive and is the best I've ever used.
She has some hair products, but the only one I have personal experience with is the very basic, no-frills shampoo which works great for my sensitive-skinned children. My sister-in-law has very curly hair and says she liked the information she got from reaidng the book "Curly Girl." I think it's available on Amazon.com, and if you searched for it, you'd likely find many other book suggestions for curly hair. I rememebr one of the main things she learned was to wash her hair with shampoo far less often, and wash it with a lightweight conditioner most days.
Consumer Reports did a series of shampoo and conditioner tests a couple years ago; if you have a subscription to their web site or are willing to visit the library, you could look at their results.
Best wishes!

I am a licensed hairdresser and I would recommend salon quality products, they really are better for your hair. They are made with less harsh ingredients etc. They can be more expensive up front but you dont need to use nearly as much because they are more concentrated and less watered down. I would recommend Redkens "Curl life" shampoo and conditioner.. its amazing! Also Sebastian has a moose foam, called "Whipped cream that is excellent for taming the curls and making them less frizzy and more defined.. Good luck hope this helps =)

http://www.mixedchicks.net/instructions.html
OR

http://www.curls.biz/curly-hair-products/Curlicious-Curls...

I have curly hair and have used just about every product out there and lived in a variety of climates. If you're willing to spend a little bit more, I haven't found anything that works as well as Ouidad products on my hair. It's a whole line of products just for curly hair. It's easier to find in salons on the East coast but there are some here in the West and I usually just order mine from their website. www.ouidad.com. It seems pricey but I've found a 32 oz. bottle will last me for almost two years. Good luck!

It does seem like you get what you pay for. Before being a mom I used the solon Redkin brand and loved it. Now I dont get to splurge so I have tried everything out there it seems. The less expensive the worse the frizz was for me ( I did like the Suave curl, but cant find it anymore) So now what works best for my mop at an acceptable price is Pantene's curl shampoo and conditioner. After I towel dry I use the Suave Healthy Curls scrunching mousse. This works great cuz I am not a style my hair type of gal, I get to scrunch and run. Best of luck to you.

curls rock works well for my daughter's curls-found at salons like fantastic sams, cost cutters, etc. Pricey, tho.

I also have curly hair and really like Tresemme's Curl Moisturizing line. Also, the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle stuff is great. If you find out if they are all created equal, please let me know!!

Dear E.,
They are not created equal & in fact many can be VERY harsh on hair. But that doesn't mean you have to pay & arm & a leg either. Look for a botanically based, hydrating shampoo & conditioner. I use Arbonnes NEW FC5 shampoo & conditioner. It is hydrating & repairative. Also the detox hair mask sounds like a must for you. You will not believe the results. But what I love is that they back all of their products with a 45 day money back guarantee. Even opened!

You can see more info at www.naturallylovely.myarbonne.com

I was a rep for Aveda. I love the product but believe the price has nothing to do with performance. The marketing is really a function of packaging and smell. These products look good and smell good in your bathroom. Not to say you can't find a similair product on the shelf of the grocery store.

Ask you sylist what she suggests and try it. If you are on a budget, find a like product at the grocery store.

I say they are different. My hair is thin, long and brittle at the ends. It is hard to get it to look nice. When I use cheap shampoos like suave, etc. It looks awful later in the day. I decided to go to Sally's to pick up some more expensive shampoo, and having been using it for quite a while, it really does work sooooooo much better. my hair stays looking nice for much longer and is probably healthier too

Not all shampoos are created equal. Some, generally the cheaper brands, have a ton of fillers and low quality ingredients. Salon brands are generally high quality and last a lot longer. I personally use biolage (sp?) and I love it. I only use a tiny bit and my hair (which is difficult) does great. Talk to the hairstylists at the salon, they can help you find the formula that is right for your hair.

I enjoy using Tresemme products and feel they are BETTER than salon products. I have been able to recently compare their curl enhancing products with Fantastic Sams products and prefer Tresemme. I use Sunsilk Hairapy Captivating Curls shampoo & condition with success as well. Good luck!

Make it a GREAT day!

S.

They're not. I like my Herbal Essence shampoos because they smell great but for my long hair they're just not doing the trick anymore. I got the Great Clips version of salon moisturizing shampoo & loved it! Hated the price ($12) but I was previously using the cheap Suave or VO5 before that. Actually to me, the Walmart version of HE was working great, but my Walmart stopped selling it. I'd ask at a salon & see what they recommend, then see if they've got a store version. My $12 bottle lasted me over 6 mos because I was using less & it was thicker.

Hello E.,
I like to use tigi curls rock shampoo and conditioner. They are a little pricy but I buy the big bottles and they usually last me 6 to 8 months. Look for the buy one get one deals. i go to a beauty supply shop off 15th and grove.