Women are rarely happy with their hair. Watch commercials for styling products and you’ll see perfect examples–gals with straight hair longing for volume and curl, and those with curly hair wanting to flatten and smooth it all out. Women with wave and curl, however, have more challenges in their path to getting beautiful hair. Most hairdressers are only trained for cutting straight hair, accessories are made for fine hair, and until recently, conditioning and styling products favored the straight hair crowd. “Volumizing” has always been a big component of shampoos and conditioners–the exact opposite of what women with big curls and waves need.
New product lines have brought hope back to women with curly hair. If you’ve ever woken up looking like Gilda Radner’s SNL character Roseanne Roseannadanna, or if you’ve ever broken a barrette just by attempting to close it over a portion of your thick tresses, this article is for you. For years I’ve tried shampoos, conditioners, mousses, gels and serums. My pain is your gain, for here are five products/collections that can help you tame your curly mane–without cutting it all off or flat-ironing it for two hours every morning!
John Frieda Sheer Blonde, Brilliant Brunette, and Radiant Red Shampoos and Conditioners
It was sheer joy when I first tried the Sheer Blonde products. After dozens of conditioners, I’d finally found one that worked. Each line is specially designed to work with the color of your hair, regardless of whether it’s natural or dyed. While not specifically targeted at curly hair, it helps keep things shiny as well as smooth. The conditioner has a heavy consistency, and as you work it through your wet hair, you can actually feel it smoothing out the frizz.
My former hairdresser used to tell me to “use a dime-sized amount of conditioner”. After one strand of my hair soaked up that dime-sized bit, she’d use twelve more applications without saying a word to me. Moderation is not advised for those of us who are curly and frizz-prone. For thick tresses, especially if somewhat coarse, don’t be afraid to use what’s necessary. Start with tablespoon-sized amounts and apply it to the fullest part of your hair. I usually apply in several sections–each side and a few across the back, depending on how dry or tangled my curls are. Don’t overdo it on the top sections because it can flatten it too much or make your bangs look oily.
The John Frieda conditioners don’t require as much as less expensive conditioners, so be generous without going overboard on application. Spraying water over the hair makes the conditioner more pliable so you can work it into the ends and underneath. Rinse thoroughly until hair is silky to the touch, not greasy. This is not a conditioner you can leave in.
The conditioner will work well with any other product, but it does work especially well in tandem with the matching John Frieda line of shampoos. There are different varieties to address different concerns, so read the labels to find the one that applies to your hair’s particular needs.
Herbal Essences None of Your Frizziness Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner
The one thing about the John Frieda line is that the bottles are smaller and the prices higher than your average product. In my search for a more reasonably priced alternative, I tried out the Herbal Essences line. It’s not a perfect match in results, but I was surprised how well it worked for a considerably lower price. It smoothes out frizz, greatly reduces tangles, and has a pleasant citrus scent. If you have long curly hair and feel like you’re buying conditioner practically every week, it’s worth checking out the Herbal Essences line to save yourself some cash.
The important thing is to buy this exact product: “None of Your Frizziness”. The “Herbal Essences Totally Twisted” line promised to make hair curly and manageable, but the result for me was that it made it a tangled, dry mess. Everyone’s hair is of a different consistency, so it might work for people with finer strands and looser waves. If your hair is coarse and has a tendency to frizz, the None of Your Frizziness line is the definite choice.
The conditioner is not as thick as those in the John Frieda collection, but if used with the matching Herbal Essences shampoo, it’s not necessary to use a larger amount of the product. The conditioner does not work as well with other brands of shampoos, so I definitely recommend buying the set.
If you want to split the difference between the highest quality and the lower price, the Herbal Essences None of Your Frizziness shampoo sets the stage well for the John Frieda conditioners. If you tend to have oily rather than dry curls, this could be the best combination. The John Frieda products are heavier and doubling up may weigh your curly hair down too much.
Garnier Fructis Style Curl Construct Mousse
This is the magic potion of curly-haired girls everywhere. Don’t even try to style your hair without it. It picks up any slack from your conditioner and makes styling a breeze.
This mousse works best on wet hair. It doesn’t have to be soaking wet, but don’t leave hair wrapped in a towel too long or let the ends start to dry up and curl. The mousse doesn’t spread as evenly once the curls begin to dry, so the finished product isn’t as polished. Spraying the foam onto a paddle brush and then slowly working it through the hair works best for even distribution. As with the conditioner, apply in sections until every bit of hair is smooth.
For tighter curls, use your fingers to twist small sections of hair together. Work as evenly as possible around your head, and scrunch the ends when finished. It can be time consuming, but if it’s humid and you’re tending towards extreme frizziness, the twists help keep your curls under supreme control.
For looser, all-over curls, scrunch damp hair all round with your fingers. Lean over and turn head upside-down so you can easily scrunch the top and under-layers. Let dry naturally. Periodically scrunching as it dries will help it from being too stiff. Drying slightly with a diffuser will also soften the curls, and add volume, but be aware that it might also add a bit of frizz back in.
If you’re looking for more of a wavy look, comb hair straight back from forehead after applying Curl Construct Mousse. Let dry for five to ten minutes, then scrunch bottom half of hair only. Let it dry naturally, periodically scrunching to keep hair soft. When hair is close to being completely dry, run fingers through the top layers a few times to loosen it up and keep it from looking too styled. Letting the hair dry for awhile before scrunching helps to weigh it down and relax the curls.
John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Crème
Frizz-Ease products haven’t always worked that well for me. The silicon-based serums and sprays usually just make my hair sticky and plastic-y looking. An exception is the Secret Weapon Crème–it truly performs just as its name suggests. As the bottle reads: “Instantly Camouflages imperfections; leaves dull, dry hair shiny, soft & supple. Use anywhere, anytime.”
Small amounts of this product work well. Rub the crème between your palms before applying to dry hair. Curly-haired gals generally long for that perfect “second-day hair”, when curls are shiny but not so stiff. The Secret Weapon crème helps to smooth out any frizz on second (or even third) day hair. Work the crème through hair thoroughly and work in small sections–if overapplied it can make hair too greasy.
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Crystal Clear Shape & Shimmer Hairspray
For days when you want extra shine and control, or to support an elaborate updo, this hairspray works great even if you aren’t blonde. The whole purpose of the Sheer Blonde hairspray is to not leave any color or residue to darken blonde hair, so it’s a nice airy spray that controls hair without making it sticky or wet-looking. A light spray over curls will hold them nicely. For supreme hold on smooth sections, spray onto your palm and then rub hand firmly over hair.
With today’s new products, curly-haired girls no longer need to wish for someone else’s hair. Put away the scissors, flat-irons and head scarves! Follow the strategies above and you’ll be well on your way to having the beautiful, enviable bounce of waves and curls you’ve always wanted!
