Product Staples – Curl on a Mission

Staple Products for Frizz-Free Curls

Published on October 15, 2018June 23, 2019 by Thaïs2 Comments

Products to control frizz in hot, humid weather — Results from styling with Giovanni and Ouidad products

Since I’ve been letting my hair grow out from a pixie, I’ve had to relearn my curls. They behave completely differently than they did when I had long hair. I’ve learned I cannot use all the same products I did back then. May hair used to LOVE curl creams – thick, butter-based creams that provide moisture and hold. Now, these types of products are too heavy for my shorter hair.

Lately I’ve been relying on water-based leave-ins and lightweight gels that don’t weigh my hair down. I’ve also had the compound challenge of finding products that control frizz in hot, humid conditions. Here are the two styling products that have gotten me through six months of hair growth and a sweltering summer in New Orleans:

iK3AWC3jQyetKKYqflzYgg

Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen me mention Giovanni’s Direct Leave-In several times. I used this conditioner when I had long hair for braid-outs, or when I didn’t care much about definition, but it has been a lifesaver for my short curls. My hair requires some type of moisture under a gel, but I can’t use anything too heavy. I’ve also noticed that in very humid conditions, products with a high glycerin content give me lots of frizz. Giovanni’s Direct Leave-in is glycerin-free, silicone-free, and extremely lightweight. I cannot use it alone as a styling product, but it’s exactly the dose of moisture I need before styling. I apply it to soaking wet hair while still in the shower, then blot excess product with a cotton t-shirt.

Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel

I recommend this gel to everyone I know looking to control frizz in a hot, humid climate. It works! Ouidad’s Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel has a thin, watery consistency and is extremely emollient – it literally glides over my hair as I’m applying it. I like my hair big and bouncy, and this gel gives it to me without frizz. As expected with any gel, my hair does dry in a cast, but it scrunches out easily and leaves my hair with lots of movement and body. This gel is a Curl on a Mission award-winner, for sure.

Here’s a video of my hair after I styled with these two products. I get consistent results each time I use them together!

These were my go-to products this summer to maintain volume and fight frizz. Now that my hair is growing and the air is cooling ahead of winter, maintaining volume is becoming even more difficult. I’ve started looking into products especially for this purpose, so stay tuned for what works.

Do your products change with the seasons? Let me know below!

Review of Righteous Roots Hair Rx

Published on August 16, 2018June 23, 2019 by ThaïsLeave a comment

I came across Righteous Roots Hair Rx by way of a few curly ladies on Instagram. Here was one oil serum that was being used as a hair thickener, growth agent, detangler, scalp stimulator, pre-poo, deep conditioner, anti-itch product, and seemingly a million things in between. I am a fan of oil for a variety of hair uses, so I had to give it a try.

My main goals with this product were: 1) scalp stimulation, 2) anti-itch and 3) hair growth. Hair Rx is formulated with 11 of the best oils for hair, including: coconut, Jamaican black castor oil, olive, grapeseed, sesame, peppermint, tea tree, jojoba, argan and rosemary. Each of these oils has stand-alone benefits, but together can theoretically cure any hair ailment.

As far as my goals are concerned, this product definitely offers a stimulating scalp massage. The peppermint and tea tree oils leave the scalp ever so tingly, or “airy,” as I like to describe it. That means it’s working on those follicles. The smell is a mix of minty/woodsy/earthy. For me, it’s not great, but not bad either. The good news is the smell doesn’t linger too long in the hair, so it shouldn’t be of concern. I massage my scalp with 5-6 drops of this oil every other day. It feels like a mini spa moment (exhale…).

As for goal #2, anti-itch, this is a relatively new issue for me since I’ve started growing out my pixie cut. I’ve been trying to pinpoint the problem, since I don’t suffer from dry scalp, dandruff or any more serious skin conditions. I’ve read that itchy scalp could be caused by hair growth, product build-up, or just an irritation from an ingredient. While I’m figuring it out, Righteous Roots Hair Rx has come to the rescue. It provides fast relief, at least enough so that I don’t scratch the hell out of my scalp. The back of my hair, close to the nape of my neck, is the itchiest, so I’ll even spot treat that area once a day if I need to, massaging about 2 drops into that area alone.

I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to attribute hair growth (goal #3) to this product alone. But I do believe that everything I’m doing (scalp massage, essential oils, no heat or bleach, deep conditioning) contributes to my hair’s fast growth rate.

Overall, I would recommend this product for any of its promoted uses. You really can’t go wrong with essential oils. It’s easy enough to mix your own oils, but for those who don’t have the time to figure out the perfect balance, this product is it.

Review of Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

Published on August 1, 2018June 23, 2019 by ThaïsLeave a comment

Review of Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque

I have been using the Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque fairly consistently over the last few months. I have to say, it really delivers! This deep treatment is packed with luscious ingredients that make my hair soft, shiny and moisturized. It seriously reduces my frizz and the good smell lingers for days.

When I wore my hair in a pixie I was using this hair masque only in the shower, leaving it on for maybe 10 minutes before rinsing it out. But when I decided to grow out my hair and revert back to my curls a few months ago, I knew I had to intensify my deep treatments.

These days I’m using it about once a week, leaving it on for the recommended 30 minutes under a shower cap. (I need to buy more heat caps. These are the ones I’ve used in the past). But even with only the heat generated from my head, this deep conditioner goes to work.

Here’s a summary of the featured ingredients from the packaging:

Manuka Honey: Anti-inflammatory properties soothe the scalp. Helps create a moisturizing barrier.

Mafura Oil: High levels of beneficial oleic acid help replenish oils stripped from hair.

African Rock Fig: Contains antioxidant Vitamin C, which helps keep hair looking vibrant.

Of course it contains Shea Moisture’s signature coconut oil and shea butter, PLUS avocado oil, mango seed butter and aloe leaf extract. What !?!?

This is an effective deep conditioner that gives me consistent results, reviving my curls each time I use it. I’ve definitely added this to my list of staple hair products.

Have you used this masque? Do you love it? Let me know!

-Thaïs

My Current Curly Hair Staples…and Why

Published on August 28, 2013July 26, 2018 by Thaïs19 Comments

Let me start by saying that I don’t consider myself a “product junkie.” I’m not even sure what the definition of a product junkie is, but I imagine it to be someone to buys new products before their old ones run out. As more women embrace their natural curls, more cosmetic companies are creating products specially formulated for textured hair, and let’s face it – it’s tempting. But it’s also expensive, so I try very hard to use up what I have before trying new things. There are, however, a few products I’ve grown to love over the last year, and I buy them again and again.

Coconut Oil
If I had to throw out everything in my cabinet except one hair product, this would be the one left standing. There is ALWAYS coconut oil in my hair. There always HAS been coconut oil in my hair. My mother has been using this on my hair since I can remember. Lately, I prefer unrefined virgin coconut oil. It’s pure, lightweight, and has all kinds of nourishing ingredients. Applied wet or dry, my hair soaks it right up, resulting in moisturized, smooth, shiny locks. I also use it for my hot oil treatments and as a serum to eliminate frizz.

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
I haven’t used a sulfate shampoo in months, except occasionally when I need one to break down heavy silicones or oils in my hair. Shampoo is very important to me. I’ve tried shampoos that strip my hair of so much moisture that it literally feels like straw while wet. I’ve also tried co-washing with an inexpensive conditioner like Suave naturals, but the oils built up and my hair got very heavy. I’ve also used “moisturizing” shampoos that leave a thick coating of something on my hair. Yuck. Shea Moisture’s shampoo is all natural with healthy ingredients like shea butter (obviously), coconut oil, silk protein and neem oil. It lathers on my scalp, which I do like, but it doesn’t strip my hair at all. My hair feels so moisturized after using this shampoo I could almost detangle it.

TRESemmé Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner
As all curly girls know, conditioner is right up there with water in terms of moisturizers we can’t live without. Also as we know, we can run through three bottles of conditioner before we finish one bottle of shampoo. So at about $5 a pop, this conditioner has been my best bet. It’s silicone-free with moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera and avocado, and it has incredible slip for detangling. I’ve noticed TRESemmé changed the formula recently, and I actually prefer the old one (it was a bit thicker), but the new one still works wonderfully.

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
The Shea Moisture development team really hit the nail on the head when they made this product. Like all their products, it’s free of parabens, sulfates and mineral oil, it’s thick, super-moisturizing, and a little goes a very long way. I rake this through my hair to coat all the strands and define my curls, it leaves my hair so soft, and it smells amazing. I mainly use this product for my wash-and-gos.

Giovanni Direct Leave-In Weightless Moisture Conditioner
I’d heard so much about this leave-in that I broke my rule and bought it before I ran out of my Curl Enhancing Smoothie. And I’m glad I did! Like the bottle claims, this is a very light-weight conditioner that still delivers moisture with ingredients like aloe vera juice and sunflower seed oil. I’ve been using this product whenever I do my french braid-out, since it dries quickly and doesn’t leave my hair heavy when I take out the braids. I do use a bit of coconut oil over this product to tame the bit of frizz it leaves.

L’Oréal EverStyle Curl Defining Gel
Gel, oh gel. I have such a tenuous relationship with thee. OK, I know that gel makes my hair super defined and frizz free, but I cannot STAND how it feels once it dries. So I don’t buy or use much of it. During one of my 20-minute visits to the hair section at Tar-jay, I saw this and thought I’d give it a try. It’s alcohol-free, but what really convinced me is that it contains orange peel oil, and my hair loves a good, lightweight oil. Lo and behold, it wasn’t bad! I use it very sparingly, just a light coating over the crown of my hair while it’s still wet, and it dries crunch-free and fights the frizz. For a gel, I give it a thumbs-up.

This is it – what I use in my hair every time I wash it, and so far they’re doing a great job. Of course, there are a TON of products I want to try, but I guess we’ll have to wait until I run out of something!

~Thaïs