Best products from r/CurlyHairUK

YES I WAS HOPING SOMEONE WOULD ASK ABOUT PRODUCTS!!!

I actually am still looking for my holy grail shampoo and conditioner, but everything else I'm describing below I'm super pleased with. I try to avoid super strong sulphates but what made a bigger difference to me was not using it everytime I wash. So I have this kinda half cowash. I generally alternate the days, so I'll use shampoo on one wash and skip it on the next if that makes sense?

Shampoos

Macadamia Natual Oil Rejuveneting Shampoo Smells Amazing and is super gentle. This one happens to be CG friendly and I'm all about it.

Korres Almond and Linseed This one is too strong for every wash but I like it once a week or so for a deeper wash.

Lush big. This is my favourite shampoo in the history of ever. If I could afford it I'd only ever buy it.

Hask Water Cactus This is a weird one because it actually didn't really work for me BUT I could tell that it was a good product. Just not for my hair. It smells fucking dreamy too. As a side note the coconut water conditioner is brilliant.

Conditioners

Here's where I struggle the most. I actually just threw away a half finished bottle of Essano which is a CG that has been raved about and it just didn't fucking hydrate my hair. It just sat there and sucked moisture. It's cancelled.

Korres Almond and Linseed Pair for the shampoo above. It was good, not as a good as I wanted it to be but deffo the closest I've gotten to in the past year.

I actually just got a bottle of Tresemme Botanique Nourish and Replenish. Let's see what it does.

Hair mask

I actually don't really use hair masks often because I find it a bit too heavy on my hair. I prefer leave in every day. I ran out of my Korres Linseed and Almond (can you tell I was in Greece recently?) and I actually my get it again. I really liked it, nurtured without making my hair heavy.

I really like Lee Stafford masks, specially the hair growth one - but I somehow always struggle to justify the price of their products. Writing this reminded me I haven't used it in a few years, Imma give the cactus one a go I think.

Styling

UG Curl Jelly. This one is CG and it's the one product, along with Big Shampoo that I actually really love and am a bit fanatical about. I love it. It crunches just right for me. VO5 Mega Hold actually let me do the scrunch the crunch better but I really hated the packaging, smell and how it felt before. I take less hold for the good balance of the UG.

Twisted Sista Curl Activator Creme. Jury still out on this one for me. I find all products from this brand REALLY heavy. I got their gel recently and it's not really doing it for me, all of their formulating are really heavy on hydration which is perfect for definition but I like that 80 puff look ya know?

Bed head curl rebound Had this for literally a week and I'm obsessed. Bed Head products really click with hair in general though. Their Small Talk Volumising Cream is a dream when styling with iron or curlers.

John Frieda 6 effects serum. I need a serum and I find Moroccan Oil too heavy and Nuxe too light. this one hits the right spot for me and i just need the tiniest, tiniest pea sized drop.

I just got got2b curl mousse. Haven't tried yet though, we'll see.

Shit that doesn't work for me

Aussie. Adding this here because I do LOVE Aussie, but it builds like crazy and I don't have the patience to clarify my hair all the time. If you do though, I really love their shampoo/conditioner combos.

Garnier Herbal Blends. The only one that kinda works is the coconut water and then only barely. All the rest is way to heavy for my hair and I find it builds up like crazy. Anything that is too rich just weighs my hair down and that's actually the biggest issue I had with CG. A lot of the recommends are quite heavy and because you avoid sulphates, everything builds and I found it difficult to get rid of, even with regularly using clarifying shampoo.

Dr Botanicals. Just meh.

Twisted Sista. This might be amazing for some people but it's way, waaaay too heavy for me. If you're after definition and ringlets though, this is the one. Is just not the look I want for me. I do use their 30-second curl spray (though I really heavily diluted it) and it worked well for the day after my wash and mornings.

Noughties, turned my hair into fucking straw. I used it for a week and chucked it. Could not stand it.

Boots curl creme. Another one that even my stylist recommends as being the best. I don't know I just find it a bit plain and boring which for the price is understandable but I like more of a scent on the stuff I use.

Cantu, way too heavy.

Coconut oil, shea butter, honey/royal jelly, almond butter, banana. It sounds dumb but any ingredient that would make a better milkshake/cream or butter than juice in general doesn't work for me. Case in point, coconut water is amazing on my hair. I always look for combos of volume and nourishment.

Sorry, just realised I wrote a wall. My bad.

It looks amazing! Really beautiful waves, but I think with a bit of time, they will get a nice curl.

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The as I am cowash is perfect to use on its own, it doesn't need any shampoo or low poo. Its a cleansing conditioner, so just need the one product. I love it so much, made my hair so clean and soft, but its too much moisture for my hair to use regularly.

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If you are willing to spend some money to buy some products, there are some really great gels available online. Aussie Instant Freeze gel is such a winner. I don't think I've ever seen a curly not love it. Its only available in the US, but amazon deliver to the UK. Aussie Instant Freeze Gel comes in a pack of 3 too!

Hiya :)

Firstly, they are definitely different products.

Secondly, are these the right ones?

https://www.johnsonsbaby.co.uk/johnsons-baby-shampoo

https://www.johnsonsbaby.co.uk/johnsons-top-to-toe-wash

If so, they're both OK according to curlsbot :)

(if you're not aware of curlsbot, then I recommend it: https://www.curlsbot.com/)

The shampoo isn't "gold", so if this is the one you mean:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007HLGAKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HLBrDbXN79SXH

Then this is not CG. I think this is being discontinued - it's not on Johnson's website anymore and they've updated lots of other things in their range recently.

Finally, reset shampoo uses sulphates to clear any silicones (e.g. in non-CG conditioners/styling products). Hence old "gold" for use as a reset... Lo or No-Poo use more gentle cleansers and so are CG approved - this applies to the other two.

Hope this helps :)

I use this one

It is a universal one but it fit my ancient blow dryer. The end is like a silicone tube that slides over the hair dryer so I think it would work for most dryers.

It's huge, which I love because you can fit loads of hair in the bowl. I don't find it heavy and never have a problem with it coming off the dryer. The only downside to its size is it would be impractical for travel.

I bought this one and its great! ORGANIC ARGAN OIL TREATED SLEEP CAP FOR PREVENT BREAKAGE(3001) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IE3JAJC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YXRZDbD1BRDCC

Beautiful Textures Curl Definer Mousse is my favourite :) I also really like the ECO styler gel (can find in boots)

I got mine from Amazon

Gama Professional Italy AV11.600 Universal Super Diffuser https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00O34C3NG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lpKPBbBMY0BC4

You need something like this

Silverline 318092 Aluminium Spray Bottle 300 ml https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0058CNY2G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.mdxCb50PT3HY

A trigger action water bottle (Not a button version). Spray a good misting of water until damp. Scrunch and go.

I used to use a wide tooth comb until I went to a curly hair specialist who recommended getting a Denman brush - so much quicker than a comb and makes helps keep curls together.

Fyi I only ever brush my hair when wet, and section my hair into either quarters or sixths to detangle when I’m washing it.

I like aussie freeze gel for a crunchy cast. 3 for £20 on amazon

Aussie Instant Freeze Sculpting Gel 7 oz. Maximum Hold (Pack of 3) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000NFCWZ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_CrzoDbT447VA6

Edit: I too was using VO5 before I switched to this. I found V05 a bit stickier than aussie.

Oooh, interesting! Is the oil this one perchance?

Could this be done daily on my parting after I've put my hair up?

Why don't they fit? Is your hairdryer nozzle too large or too small? I have a Babyliss professional dryer that's too small for most diffusers. I've found three that work. From smallest to largest, they're a collapsible silicone one like this, the Gama Professional (Amazon link) and the Diva Pro XXL.

Thanks, I can't find one by that name, is it this one?

Protein typically comes from ingredients such as:

• wheat protein
  
• keratin
  
• silk protein
  
• soya protein
  
• collagen
  
• oat protein
  
  For some people, oils can have a similar effect.
  
  Also, if you're using this V05 mousse, it contains denatured alcohol, which can dry hair out. You could try skipping the mousse and seeing if that helps with the dryness.

I have used the UK product list to see which shampoo & conditioner I should buy ( the above are on the list of CG approved) but I am not sure the best method to apply and if I need anything more to help me get started?
I nearly brought the £40 Deva curl shampoo and conditioner set :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DevaCurl-How-Quit-Shampoo-236/dp/B001NZYAYI/ref=asc_df_B001NZYAYI/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310776493634&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11314135146054483987&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045483&hvtargid=pla-617140403967&psc=1

but I think this is a bit expensive for a beginner.

Don't forget to do a reset wash before switching to co-washing if you've previously been using products with silicones — I ordered this one from Amazon. You only need to use it once, at the start, before you switch to CG-only products.

I got this one after it was recommended by another poster on here

Gama Professional Italy AV11.600... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00O34C3NG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Scalp brush: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077PQB2HC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Loh0DbG2PFQ2P
(Using your fingers to scrub in your cowash works fine, I just have soft flaky nails so find this easier.)

Wet brush: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MPP3SYS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_-mh0Db1EYNKRW

Bit of a secret here but I’ve found the ‘gym’ smooth microfibre towels are cheaper than the specified ‘curly girl’ towels that are now popping up, but they’re exactly the same product! https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LBI56GC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Srh0DbN589WZ4

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Looks-Sport-Activity-Proof-X-Treme/dp/B0007RRNE2/ref=sr_1_3?crid=11GG87IDWSQK4&keywords=la+looks&qid=1558610721&s=gateway&sprefix=arctic+fox%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-3

this one?

The Curly Co. Collapsible Hair Diffuser https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019GBG0IE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DvNJDbJP53CCC

I use this; it's a powder and I mix it with my regular shampoo. My curls bounce back every time. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Malibu-Hard-Water-5g-Sachet/dp/B0019HYC6G/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=malibu+chelating+shampoo&qid=1571866786&sprefix=Malibu+che&sr=8-1-fkmr0

This one gives me quite a hard cast : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Looks-Sport-Activity-Proof-X-Treme/dp/B0007RRNE2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1GT69N5VB2OK8&keywords=la+looks+gel&qid=1564049648&s=gateway&sprefix=la+looks+gel%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-1