Curl on a Mission

Old Friend, New Friend

Summertime in New Orleans is a beast. With temperatures soaring into the low 100’s and humidity reaching 90 percent or higher, finding frizz controlling hair products is key to looking presentable.

I’ve been using Ouidad’s Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel for a few years now. I typically only need it in the summer because of aforementioned conditions. While I still have not found a “miracle gel” (if that even exists), this one does a pretty great job. It’s not sticky, the gel cast scrunches out very easily, and it leaves my hair feeling soft and lightweight.

BUT… this summer I needed another layer of frizz control. I’m still trying to gauge which products work in my hair at this new, shorter length. Shea Moisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie, my old standby, is too heavy now. I am also trying to make an effort to use products of the same line, since companies always say they work better together. So  I recently added Ouidad’s Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream to my product mix. Here’s how they worked…

How I Apply the Products

On freshly shampoo’d, conditioned, and t-shirt blotted hair, I shake my hair to let it fall into its natural curl pattern. I rake a nickel sized amount of the styling cream through my hair with my fingers, focusing on the crown, front and side sections. I then rake a nickel sized amount of gel through the same sections, finger coiling sections that are prone to frizz. To avoid sleeping on wet hair, I diffuse on the low, warm setting, sealing it with a shot of cold air.

The immediate results are good!

Pros:

Lightweight

Too much of any product tends to weigh down my hair, but even with these two together, if feels like I have nothing in my hair. My hair is extremely soft, touchable and light. In addition, there is no feeling of product build-up. (Note: these products do contain amodimethicone, but when my hair is properly moisturized, these light silicones are not a problem for me. I found a really helpful article on NaturallyCurly.com explaining what amodimethicone is and how it functions.)

Moisturizing

My hair gets oily at the root, so with short hair, I don’t need a ton of added moisture. But I do need a bit, especially on the ends. With ingredients like olive oil and Meadowfoam seed oil, the Featherlight Styler seems to provide just the right amount.

Cons:

Doesn’t Fight Frizz for the Long Haul

To clarify, the gel on its own does fight frizz for me, regardless of the day. But I’ve noticed that it is much more effective when I combine it with a different leave-in, like Shea Moisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie or Giovanni’s Direct Leave-in Weightless Moisture Conditioner.

When I use the Featherlight Styling Cream, I notice that I have more frizz past day 1 or 2 (compared to other styling creams). I believe the culprit may be the high amount of glycerin in the product. I live in a VERY humid climate, and I think the glycerin is just drawing in too much moisture into my hair, causing it to swell and raise the cuticle (aka frizz). However, when I recently visited Atlanta, which has less humidity, I had incredibly smooth and frizz-free hair with the Ouidad cream and gel duo.

In summary, I do think the styling cream can be an effective product, just not for my extremely humid climate. The gel continues to work for me and I will purchase it again.

I hope this review is helpful! Have you tried these two products together, or anything else from the Ouidad Climate Control line? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.