For curly hair! I don't want it to look wet, but I don't want it to look like frizz, just a good curl defining gel/cream. What do you use? I cannot find the happy medium where it doesn't look wet.
I hair isn't very curly but wavy. It is frizzy though. I use Aveda products just for frizz control and they don't give my hair wet look.
To me, the best ever is the Kerastase brand. Use the shampoo, conditioner and the curling creme. Don't wrap your hair in a towel, pat with towel instead until just damp. Then use the curling creme, only about a quarter and only on the hair not the roots. Finger style, then do not touch it the rest of the day. That's where I always go wrong.....but touching it is supposed to be what causes frizz.
I also like the John Freida Frizzease line which is much more affordable and is the best (I think) of the stuff available in grocery stores. Same styling instructions as above. Good luck!
Bumble and Bumble (brand) Be Curly (product) ...then on particularly humid or rainy days, I add a bit of Jason (brand) Pomade (product - I think that's what it's called - it has a light citrus scent and looks a little like bees wax, but it's great). Yes, they are pricey, but they work better than anything else I've tried and only take a tiny amount of each per use, so they last a long time. Good luck!
Hands down, Moroccan Oil.
I wash my hair and condition it with the shampoo made for curly hair. Then I use the Suave mousse. It has a wide nozzle at the end and it's for curly hair. It doesn't look wet. I comb my tangles out in the shower with a wide tooth comb. Then I get out and towel dry my hair. By rubbing a bit of the mousse in my hair then finger combing it I loosed the curls and I can even use the blow dryer on the roots to help it dry a bit.
I have extremely curly hair & frizzy too. If I don't use any product I look like I have dreadlocks. I use a product called Re-Coil, found at Ulta. It's about $25 for a large bottle.
I have tried soooo many products on my curly hair and the one I keep going back to every time is Paul Mitchell extra body styling foam. I know, extra body for curly hair? I don't know why but it just works better than anything else. Just like you say, it does not leave it looking wet especially if I flip my hair over and shake my head around a few times as it dries (if I don't dry it with a diffuser) but it keeps the curls defined and the frizz under control for the most part. If its really humid I generally also spray it with a shine spray that also helps control frizz. Doesn't seem to matter which one of those I use as long as I have used the Paul Mitchell first. It is the only thing that's ever worked for me. I've also always heard the advice not to touch it but who can do that?
I have curly hair and have to tame the frizz, too. It takes several products. I use John Frieda Anti Frizz serum on my wet hair. It has the dimethicone. And I spray it with John Frieda's Dream Curls, let dry, and finger brush. That's the key. Don't use a brush. To reactivate it the next day if you don't want to wash your hair every day, wet your hair brush and brush your hair just to get it a little damp, then let it dry again and finger brush it.
I too have struggled with finding the perfect product...and FINALLY I have - Aquage Defining Gel. AMAZING! You can find it online - they sell it locally (Cleveland, OH) here too. I towel dry, put on product, and scrunch (try using an old pillow case...the texture of the towel can frizz your curls). I try to leave it air dry as long as I can, then just shoot it with the blow dryer. Curls are soft, not crunchy, don't look wet, and keep their shape well. If I get a little frizz, which BARELY happens, I just wet my fingers to reactivate the get. It is AMAZING stuff!!! Good luck! I know how hard it is to find the right combo for curly hair...
Curls Rock! You won't ever use another product!
