(Part 2) Best products from r/curlyhair

Hi, fellow curlies! Long time lurker, but I created a separate account to show off my 3a/3b work in progress! I’ve divided this up into sections because it’s definitely of TL;DR length, so skip right to the routine part if that’s what you’re after.


HAIR STATS

Mostly very strong 3a, but there’s a good chunk of something approaching 3b at the crown.

Really thick, I can’t use small hair clips or ties, even with it being shorter. It feels like it’s become a tad less thick, maybe due to age (I’m in my 30s).

Last cut in March (8 months ago), it’s a shorter curly cut that’s growing out but still looks decent.

Highlights and color applied at last cut. The highlights were subtle, the color was close to my natural hair color to help cover the whites coming in.

No flat iron/high heat for the last 4+ years. Most heat I’ve used is a dryer on low with bursts of cold air.

No “bad” products for the last 4+ years. It’s only been curly approved products with no traditional shampoo! Only No Poo with the occasional clarifying shampoo.

Very dry climate. So dry here I have a sinus moisturizing gel I shove up my nose before bed to avoid nosebleeds. I know most curlies hate the humidity but I wish I had a little bit, I think my hair would benefit.

Hair washed once weekly, twice weekly at most. More often during the week if I’m exercising (which I haven’t done much of lately, hah), but coarse/dryer hair + very dry climate = fewer washings. I do a lazy pineapple to pin it up when I do quick body-only showers.


HAIR HISTORY

It’s a story that’s all too familiar here: My hair was NOT cool as a kid— the 90s were not nice to big hair, and I was also one of the only “ethnic” people in super white schools. When in its natural state, it was almost nothing but fuzz and it almost looked like I had an afro. Stylists had no clue what to do with my hair, so the cuts never helped. Of course, I hated it, and I spent my teens and early 20s straightening it, tying it back, or clipping it into this nasty rat’s nest on the top of my head to get it off my face.

I first heard about the curly method in 2009 or 2010. Even though that wasn’t THAT long ago, the spectrum of products we have available now versus then is night and day. With my limited hair understanding, I took the plunge and went natural, but it didn’t look so great. I stuck with it, though, mostly out of laziness because life got really busy and stressful. Straightening my hair literally takes hours, so laziness won. Used to use DevaCurl No Poo and One Condition in the shower before crunching in the DevaCurl Light Defining Gel. Never experimented with other stuff because, again, I was lazy and busy.

Recently, my hair was going limp and was feeling greasy no matter what I did, so I started reading through the links in this subreddit and experimenting with newer products now that my life has slowed down. I bought a few new products based on recommendations here, and what I outline below is after playing around with a few different things for the last couple of months.


NEW "ROUTINE"

“Routine” is in quotations because routine suggests I do this with regularity when this is the first time I’ve done this whole “routine” as outlined below.

I realized I last clarified my hair when my hairdresser cut it several months ago, so I figured it was time to clarify. The pics are from last night, a couple of hours after washing.

1. Clarify with Kinky Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo. I really spent my time massaging it into my scalp, and I liberally applied to my hair and worked it until it had the “squeaky clean” feel. I used a rake comb to help detangle and make sure the shampoo was applied evenly throughout. I NEVER, EVER tug at any tangles, I take my time gently combing them out. (I really love how my hair turned out, I’m not sure if I’m going to just clarify every time I wash my hair. I wash it so infrequently and it has so much product applied to it each time that I think I’ll be fine, but I’ll edit this post if it turns out to be a bad idea.)
   
   
2. Crunch out excess water.
   
   
3. Condition with Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-In Conditioner. I applied liberally, massaging it into scalp and crunching it up into my hair until my hair felt smooth/soft. I crunched by leaning my hair to the side (and switching sides periodically) and making sure the crunch action reaches my scalp to ensure that the product it applied throughout. DON'T RINSE IT OUT. NB: Don’t over-apply to the point that the conditioner is dripping out of your hair, it’s wasteful and doesn’t add anything more to your hair apart from making it feel too greasy later.
   
   
4. Crunch out excess water. Crunching will be your life for the next 20-30 minutes.
   
   
5. Crunch gently with a towel. I just used my regular bath towel. Same crunch method as detailed in #3. I crunch until the dripping mostly stops.
   
   
6. Apply Miss Jessie’s Multicultural Curls. I squeezed out a generous palmful, tilted my head to the side, and crunched it up into my hair. Same crunch method as detailed in #3. I crunched until I felt I’d crunched it up evenly throughout and my hands weren’t covered in product.
   
   
7. Apply Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls. Same directions as in #6.
   
   
8. Get a handheld hair dryer, remove whatever piece is at the head of it so the airflow isn’t concentrated in any particular way. I have a Che hairdryer I bought 10+ years ago that works well. (I had a diffuser, can’t find it, if I find it/use it I’ll edit this post. If anyone has any diffuser recs for someone with 3a/3b hair, let me know, I may have gotten rid of mine accidentally, oops.)
   
   
9. Tilt your head upside-down, and dry with the hairdryer on low heat setting with one hand kept a few inches away while your other hand continues to crunch. Occasionally shift your hair to either side of your head and back to upside-down.
   
   
10. If your hair dryer has a cold burst setting, use it for 20 seconds every 60 seconds or so. If not, just remove the heat for a few seconds as you continue crunching. CRUNCHING IS LIFE, IT IS THE ONLY LIFE YOU NOW KNOW.
    
    
11. Dry your hair until it feels dry, never stop crunching. Your hands shouldn’t be damp or wet. I always used to rush through this part and the curls aren’t the same, the more time I spend with any low kind of heat (either with this hair dryer or using the helmet dryer at the salon), the better for me.
    
    
12. Finish your hair with a small amount of shine serum. I plopped my head upright and scrunched in a small palmful of serum, focusing on the hair at the crown, the most coarse/fuzzy. I have some old DevaCurl MirrorCurls Serum lying around. I don’t like the smell, I’m open to trying something else.
    
    
13. Fin. Maybe now is a good time to go gather the hair from the drain trap before your spouse yells at you for secretly threatening him with tribbles.
    
    
    GOALS
    
    I’m happy with my hair, but I have some things to work on:
    
    
14. Fuzz. It’s still a little fuzzy at the crown, way better than before, maybe I need to make peace with it? Maybe a diffuser would help.
    
    
15. Length. I haven’t had long hair in years, I’d like to continue growing it out and seeing how much more the thickness/length of the hair will weigh it down and make it less bouncy.
    
    
16. Finding these products in bulk. It seems impossible, but I won’t give up hope. I would be willing to spend more money upfront for this stuff if it meant it was cheaper per ounce.
    
    
17. Figuring out how to keep it looking good through the week. I do the pineapple at night with a giant, silky scarf and then cover the top with a night cap, but it still looks fuzzier/less awesome the next day. What do you recommend? This climate is WAY TOO DRY for me to do this this whole routine any more than twice/thrice weekly.
    
    
    Wow, that was a novella. Thanks for reading, and best of curls to you all!

Hi! Don't feel bad about all those years of shampooing and not conditioning. I was raised female, and still made that mistake. I'm 29 and didn't start conditioning until April of this year. I thought I was too greasy for conditioner!

On to your questions!

1. Nizoral is the bomb! I have scalp issues too-- my scalp gets super greasy, and I have eczema. Grease + sweat and dirt and debris = major issues with scalp eczema. If you want to pick it up at a store local to you, I find it's usually in the Beauty section. It's the only shampoo that's helped with my scalp issues, and the one sulfate in it is low on the list. Before I went mod CG, I loved the way my hair felt after washing with Nizoral, and hadn't had that kind of luck with a shampoo in a long time, despite trying all the usual dandruff shampoos (and some odd ones).
   
   If you want to totally ditch sulfates but still take care of your dandruff, you can experiment with Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle, Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat, or Shea Moisture African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo. I'm pretty sure there are more CG options I'm forgetting, but those are the ones that I remember off the top of my head. I've been experimenting with the Giovanni TTTT, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. It seems fine with my hair, but my scalp seems to have issues in general with every tea tree product I try. It's often paired with mint/mentholatum, which is a skin irritant.
   
   
2. You can dry your hair with an old t-shirt (the softer it is, the more absorbent it seems, to me). You can scrunch your hair with the towel, and Curly Penny gives a pretty decent demo of this. You can also use a hair dryer, and the general consensus seems to be: use a finger diffuser (also called a bowl diffuser), use low speed/air, and low-medium heat and don't dry all the way with a blow dryer. You can also use a microfiber towel (the ones in the automotive section are cheaper, although they're smaller). Experiment to figure out which method works best not just for your hair, but for keeping your routine manageable.
   
   I get the best results with using a t-shirt to get my hair just dry enough not to drip, and then air-drying. But if I need my hair to be dry for some reason, I do break out the diffuser.
   
   
3. A lot of people swear by using a wide-tooth comb, with their head upside down, in the shower, with their hair full of conditioner. The conditioner does help, by providing slip so tangles come out easily and gently instead of causing hair to break or rip when you detangle. A wide-tooth comb reduces the likelihood of breakage as well.
   
   A Denman brush is this. As near as I can tell, it just means the bristles are spaced further apart, again to help prevent breakage and further tangling when you detangle-- but bear in mind that I don't really understand the Denman brush thing, either. It just looks like a brush to me. A wide-tooth comb has the bristles or tines spaced further apart as opposed to a fine tooth comb. I like a comb that has the tines almost chopstick-width apart. You can also just comb your hair in the shower with your fingers and your conditioner-- I like using a comb better because it feels more effective, to me.
   
   The other reason we don't comb after showering is because it breaks up clumps-- you want clumps if you want strong curls and good definition. Otherwise it can look stringy. I recently read someone talking about curly haircuts saying "ends need friends"-- and so they do, for curls to look right.
   
   I think this stuff is hard, and a lot of us just don't get good info on hair or skincare. Good luck to you.

Okay, I'm a guy but I have the best curly hair in the entire world.

Here's what I do:

Step 1:

You need to find a leave in conditioner. The best one I've used so far is Acanthe, by Rene Furterer.

Expensive, but worth it.

How I use it:

I take a shower, (or whenever,really) and I put it in while my hair is a bit damp.

After an hour or two, I play with my hair again and my hair is dry, but it's no longer frizzy and the curls are defined, can be styled, and the hair is super soft.

Step 2:

You need to find a good shampoo that won't dry your hair out, I use Molton Brown.

Shampoo every other day, condition every day.

The conditioner can be whatever, but try to find one that is dedicated to curly hair.

Step 3:

When shampooing, comb your hair, and leave the shampoo in your hair for 2-3 minutes. Make sure it's there from the root to the tip.


Step 4:

When drying your hair, just dry it enough so that it isn't soaking wet. That is the best time to apply the leave-in conditioner.

The most important part of this step, wait for at least an hour, don't touch your hair. Style it with the conditioner, then wait for that hour and play around with it. It's amazing

A good leave in conditioner is the BEST and most important tool.

Links to good products I use:


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018KAH8M4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNTJHQO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AEBFN8Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Hope this helps.

Howdy, I have wavy hair as well, and a full CG method just didn't work for my hair. I'm about to go on a full ramble and give my routine, things that have worked/don't for me, and resources I find helpful. Take them, leave them, laugh, you choose! I just know I appreciate seeing other people's routines so I can mix and match for me. If you only read one bit, please read the first bullet point and visit this woman's youtube channel! She really validated my wavy feelings and has great suggestions.

• First, I super recommend going to this youtube channel. She focuses a lot on wavy-specific issues and helps us wavies navigate a wavy/curly advice. Turns out, what works for curlies can sometimes be a wavy downfall! Life changing. Her hair is shorter, but her advice is still great. I'd start with "Top 5 mistakes wavies make when starting CG" and then watch her wash day routine.
  
• Shampoo- my hair and scalp cannot handle no-poo or co-washing only. I also struggle with dandruff and build-up, product tends to sit on my hair and scalp. SheaMoisture Dandruff Shampoo has been a life-saver. Ingredients are approved, and it does have some mild shampoo qualities so it helps clarify. Important note: this shampoo does take some elbow grease on our end. We gotta emulsify this to really work it into our hair/scalps and to manually break up what we want to clean from our hair. My solution was to get a shampoo scalp scrubbie to help with the process. I wash 1-2x a week, and am not above a reset 1x a month. The scrubbie has also really helped with my dandruff because it basically helps exfoliate my scalp!
  
• Conditioner- I do a fairly normal conditioning routine. However, I do a quick dunk under the shower head before squishing to condish. My hair is just too prone to build up. I'd say it's about 50% rinse, then 50% squish.
  
• After I squish to condish, I just...keep squishing after I turn the shower off. My curl pattern is very fragile, so I try to squeeze those waves into place by squeezing a ton of water out of it, otherwise the water weighs them flat and then I frizz out later. The more I squish the water out, the more my hair stays.
  
• Hair still wet, but not dripping- I apply Garnier Fructis Pure Gel. I use prayer hand at first to apply. After I prayer-hand it, I act like that gel was conditioner and I flip my head right back over and start squishing again. Once the gel is in, I keep squishing back toward my scalp to encourage those newly gelled strands into a curl pattern (and to get rid of a bit more moisture).
  
• Drying, with lots of time- If it's a weekend, I'll plop forever, basically. At some point, I usually take it out once the towel/shirt is more damp than dry. Then I typically get two scrunchies and create two crazy lumpy buns on either side of my head (sorta like this) that preserve and squish my curls together (I swear even gravity kills my curl pattern). I'll let air dry from there- it takes forever so sometimes I take them down once the hair closest to my scalp feels dry.
  
• Drying, low on time- diffusers are my best friend on a blow-dryer. I keep my hair in their crazy bun if I'm not blow-drying that section. I use low/no-heat setting. The woman I linked in the first bullet point covers diffusing in her videos quite nicely.
  
• Brush/combing- I will use a widetooth shower comb after applying conditioner to help move it through my hair. And, I commit sacrilege frequently. People say NEVER brush dry- but I tend to brush out my dry hair (gasp) immediately before getting in the shower with a tangle teaser. I am what I am...

\> with short hair is it really worth it?

Anything is worth a try, but whether it's worth it to keep it up is your call once you see how you like it.

\> Or would a gel be better?

Gel is certainly easier and cheaper, so we recommend it as a starting place. LOC is great too but having that many steps introduces more potential for troubleshooting problems.

\> Can I use tiny butterfly clips to curl my hair while my hair is wet and has styling products to help add more curl?

Yes! Or flat, metal root clips like these (just picked a random one off amazon to link).

​

You'll also want to experiment with adding protein or not, since your hair feels coarse. I'm not sure whether you'll need more or less (guessing more?) but that's another variable to play around with to improve the texture.

Good luck with everything! Hope that helps.

creme does not hold up as well as gel does, but i think it looks nicer, on my hair at least.

Maybe you could find a picture of what you want your hair to look like to give me an idea? Like what is your goal, what would you want your hair to look like.

It sounds like you might want more...volume? Your hair seems more on the fine side and like a 3B/3C. I follow the curly girl method, you can learn more about that on the sidebar. I use Yes to Carrots Conditioner, but I'll be stopping that when the new formula makes it to the local grocery stores (they just started adding silicones, but old formula, which is still available near me, doesn't have that in it). And I use Curls Goddess Curls for gel. For creme, I use whatever I find on sale that fits curly girl friendly.

Gel is great for humidity, it also is lighter and helps curls curl better. Cream is heavier, better for dryer conditions because it adds moisture, but it's heavier and will loosen curls.

And you have to find the right balance of conditioner so your hair isn't too weighed down, but also isn't frizzy. For your hair, I'd think a poker chip size amount of conditioner would do and then half of that for the styling product.

If you're looking for a place to start, try adding a gel or curl cream to your hair before you use the wet brush. This will hopefully give you more consistency and hold. There are a LOT of budget-friendly options - I love Aussie Instant Freeze (available at most grocery stores for something like $4) and this sub often sings the praises of blue LA Looks. I'm also a huge fan of La Bella Lots of Curls gel (a huge bottle for $2).

If you want to try CGM, just know it breaks down into two basic rules: no sulfates, no silicones.

These rules are because 1. Sulfates are incredibly harsh cleansers that damage your hair cuticle and strip your hair of the natural oils that keep it healthy (especially damaging for curly girls, because our hair cuticles are naturally more delicate and the oils at our scalp naturally take longer to work themselves down the hair strand), 2. Most silicones cannot be removed without using sulfates, so if you cut out sulfates but not silicones, you'll get an intense amount of product build-up which feels and looks quite bad.

The easiest way to know if a product is "CG-friendly" (free of silicones and sulfates) is to copy and paste the ingredients into http://www.isitcg.com/.

Learning about CGM can be very confusing at first - before you go out and buy any new products, read read read and read some more until you feel like you have a grasp on how the method works. Also, don't be afraid to break from "strict" CG - if it works for you and your hair, then do it!

That said... you have to ditch the dish soap. Part of the reason your hair is getting so greasy within 18 hours of washing is your scalp is overproducing oil as a result of using dish soap to clean it - the soap completely strips your hair of any natural (healthy!) oils, and your scalp responds by overproducing. I hope that makes sense!

As for scalp issues, I myself have a few spots on my scalp that are prone to itchiness, dandruff, and build-up if I'm not careful, and it's one of the reasons I waited so long to take the plunge into CG. Here are the things that helped for me:

• A scalp scrubber. I got one very similar to this, and it has been a total game changer. I can scrub for less time and get better results at truly cleaning my scalp, even in areas where my hair is super-thick.
  
• Finding an effective cleanser. I live in an area with hard water, and CG never worked for me until I found a conditioner to cleanse with that had a chelating agent (a chemical that removes hard water). Thankfully, it's 88 cents a bottle - Alberto VO5 Kiwi Lime Squeeze Clarifying Conditioner (the chelating agent is disodium EDTA).
  
• Spending an appropriate amount of time cowashing. I'm a very bad judge of time, so to train myself to scrub my scalp long enough, I put on a playlist for the shower and scrubbed my scalp for at least three entire songs. You will scrub until your arms hurt. You will scrub to a point that feels ridiculous. But it's the best way to get allllll the gunk off your scalp without removing natural (healthy) oils.
  
• Extra clarifying during transition. For the first... three months? after I switched to the CGM, I kept a bottle in my shower of 1/4 apple cider vinegar, 3/4 water, and coated my scalp and hair in it and left it for 3-5 minutes after every wash. Eventually, I didn't need that extra cleansing boost, but it was vital to keeping my hair clean.
  
• More wash days during transition. Today, 8 months into CGM, I can go 5-6 days without washing my hair. At the beginning, I was cowashing every. single. day. because otherwise my hair was an absolute disaster. It's a pain, but I promise it's worth it.
  
• Adding protein to my routine. There's lots of info on this sub about the protein/moisture balance and why it's important. Protein can be tricky, and using too much of it will make your hair brittle and prone to breakage, so please be careful! For me, the easiest way to use protein is to get a bottle of Neutral Protein Filler from Sally's and add a couple of drops to my leave-in conditioner every time I apply it. Less time hunting down protein-rich products (which are often on the high price end), and way more control over how much or how little protein I add to my hair on any given wash day, depending on what it needs.
  
• Time. The transition period is real, and you will absolutely be tempted to go back to dish soap because of how greasy your hair gets. Resist! Lean into ponytails, ball caps, buns, and braids! It will get better as your scalp adjusts to how much oil your hair needs when you aren't using such a harsh cleanser.
  
  I hope this helps! In my experience, CGM requires a time investment upfront to learn about the method and what products/techniques work for you, but the overall amount of time I spend worrying about my hair is way less and my hair is also way more healthy.

Get this aphogee: just the protein bottle of the 2 step treatment and use your deep moisture mask of choice for the "second step." 2 minute treatment is completely different and weak compared. This is an actual protein treatment like you'd get at a salon.

It's awkward the first time. You need to wash with a clarifying shampoo, towel dry, then add the liquid protein into your hair in sections. It gets really sticky once it starts drying and you'll want to refrain from touching your hair too much once it is actually dry because protein makes it rock hard and it will rip out or break of you pull hard enough. Once you're saturated, the best thing to do is use a hair dryer with a bonnet attachment like this but a diffuser will work as well. Heat will make the process faster and technically stronger but you can also air dry but it will take a while and gets uncomfortable with super sticky protein soaked hair.

After your hair is dry, wash it out completely. Take a few minutes to get it all out. Use a good deep conditioner after since your hair will feel dry and stiff from the protein right after. I like to leave it in for at least 30 min and add heat if I'm up for it.

Usually, my hair feels decent right after everything is done but it's truly magical after the 1st wash a few days post treatment. I get better culrs than I've ever had in my life, stronger hair, and need less styling products than normally.

My hair loves protein too but not even the strongest protein conditioner or leave in comes close to what a true protein treatment can do.

It's recommended to be repeated every few months after that and you can judge yourself.

Non-Fluffed Album
Fluffed Version Album

Anyway next month I will have exactly 1 year of hair length I have never grown it out at all and this subreddit has been very helpful in taming my mane. It's been a very pleasant experience but as any guy growing out long hair... I really am alone in my endeavors and critique/advice is seldom. I just worry if im starting to look silly, so far I've gotten a lot of praise but at the same time I have gotten a lot of quiet stares. As usual my own folks hate it and rather prefer me clean cut. I figure I might as well get it over with now rather than regret it later. /worse im a guy and the potential to go bald can happen...

I like my hair a lot, I feel it makes me unique I however am mixed with the size of my forehead (more like a fivehead... sixhead maybe!) and the empty corners of my forehead have always been huge!! It makes it hard to emulate a male celebrity being that they don't have a huge forehead like mine. So far I try to emulate David Bisbal If you have any ideas what I should do please let me know.

My method. Basically I do my routine in about 15-20 minutes. I wake up rinse my hair in the sink do a fast version of squish to condition using Yes to carrots. Once I feel it is seaweed like during rinse... I then pat down with a t-shirt to remove excess water. Afterwards I apply Eco Style Gel olive oil in a squish-to-condition manner. My hair is flipped in curls to the front of my face covering my entire forehead and I then leave to work. I don't use a hair dryer... Im a guy and "ain't nobody got time for dat" the best thing I have is using my A/C on full blast in my truck. My commute is about 20-25 minutes and at about the 15 minute mark when im driving, once I feel that the gel has semi-hardened, I flip it back. it has to be a little hardened in order for my hair to have a bit of volume otherwise its just flat and lifeless hanging from my scalp. Sometimes I part it to the side or tuck one side behind the ear. It takes about 3 hours to fully dry at work I occasionaly scrunch it once or twice breaking the gel masque in order to achieve a softer look/feel. After the 3 hours have passed and its fully dry I decide if I want to fluff or not. Essentially I just pass my hand at the base of my scalp and gently tussle until I get the needed volume. And there you have it!

I have read here / seen on YouTube that a lot of curlies have success with this diffuser which can attach to this dryer. I think depending on shipping / any discounts you'd be right around $50 maybe a lil over. I think you can technically attach the diffuser to other hair dryers but may have to do some handiwork to get it secure. :-)

I got this one years ago (before I started CG) and it came with the diffuser pictured, it's still going strong all these years later and for the way I diffuse it is perfect. Gotta love the $25 price and the cold shot button.

I hope this helps! :-)

Edit: forgot words

I’m not entirely CG anymore.
I have fine, relatively thin hair that’s porous (color treated; however, I chopped most of the dead stuff earlier this year, well before discovering that my hair wasn’t “frizzy wavey straight”). It’s about to the bottom of my shoulder blades/a little higher, depending how much curl it’s feelin’ that day.

My routine is definitely a work in progress (and open to CC and recommendations, noting I’m a non-paid working student that’s broke as a US American joke), but goes something like this:

I haven’t had my hair actually dyed since May (y’kno, MONIES) or cut. It could certainly use a trim, but it’s not bad considering it’s been three months.

Every two weeks, I use a clarifying sulphate shampoo (VO5 kiwi Lomé currently, snagged from Dollar Tree). I usually lather up twice, and I use my shampoo brush (this one, definitely recommend ) to scrub the roots gently.
I follow that up with a mix of this Texture ID masque (noting its a little strong for my hair type) and Arctic Fox color depositing conditioner. I let that sit ~1-2 hours, sometimes overnight if I’m feelin’ it. The rest is mentioned below, sans the additional washing portion.

My “every day” routine is I try to only wet it once every 2-3 days, dependent upon how nasty it feels in this heat.
I like this Shea Moisture low-poo every 2-3 washes (I do some form of washing every time I wet my hair).
Otherwise, I’ll use either this protein-enhanced VO5 conditioner or Suave clarifying conditioner to cowash. Unless my hair feels like seaweed, I follow up with a non-CG friendly OGX tea tree conditioner (honestly purchased on smell alone, but gives the BEST slip). I’ll brush through my hair with a wet brush and generally try to rinse everything out so it doesn’t weigh it down. I’ve been experimenting with herbal essence mousse - but I found the day I tried to only use mousse, I used HALF of a bottle of V05 conditioner to detangle and I was still shredding my hair apart. I’ve been experimenting with it just at the roots.

After it’s rinsed, while in the shower, I spray down my wet hair with the Renpure leave in spray and brush it through to keep it in 1 clump. With my hair dripping wet, I add an emulsified palm full ofLA Looks Sports Gel and plop as long as I want. Sometimes I try to diffuse, but I try to wash it at night and plop overnight.

Then I just SOTC when it’s dry and go about my business.

Edit: I meant to add, I think this spray balances out excessive moisture for my waves if cowash with some protein, but my hair digs protein!

This is my ultra-minimal, starting out recommended routine. I use this, with a few additions (see the bottom).

CLEANSING SHAMPOO: $1.79, V05 Clarifying Shampoo, available from any corner store, target, etc. Get this one, that says "clarifying" on it. Do one final rinse w/ that, and set it aside for now.

CONDITIONER: $6 Start w/ this enormous bottle of TRESemme for $6 from Target or Walgreens or Amazon.

It's suuuuper light but pretty moisturizing so it works for a range of hair textures and curl patterns. You will use it as a co-wash, no more shampoo or conditioner. If you end up getting build-up, do a rinse w/ the clarifying shampoo from above (but give it at least a month before you do that). Edit: Be sure to get THIS EXACT ONE w/ the green text and a coconut. The other versions have protein in them, which is too many variables to track right now. We're starting MINIMAL.

GEL: $9 LA Looks gel is super cheap and works well for almost everyone.

My additions and routine:
After rinsing out 80% of the TRESemme w/ my head upside-down, I put about a quarter-size amount of Kinky Curly Knot Today through my hair as a leave-in. Using handfuls of water, I squish about 20% of this out, trying to clean the root area but leave lots in the ends. Then I grab a nickel-sized amount of Kinky Curly Curling Custard and squish that all over my head. At this point I flip over, and try to make sure I get lots of gel in the underside of my hair as well. I do a final squish on the very ends w/ just a dime-sized amount of LA Looks. Then I squeeze w/ a t-shirt, and let it air dry! If I want things to be extra curly I'll diffuse but it takes foreverrrrrrrr so I only do that on special occasions.

Edit:

Minimal total cost: $16.79, and the TRESemme and LA Looks last me for MONTHS.

My actual routine total cost: less than $30 too lazy to look it up.

Hi! I'm not the commenter but I also clip my roots and it honestly could be a game changer for you I think! I like double prong clips, like the devacurl ones. These are the ones I use, way cheaper than devacurl's- https://www.amazon.ca/Hairdressing-Wobe-Setting-Alligator-Hairpins/dp/B07C17DYNS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=curl+clips&qid=1565656971&s=gateway&sr=8-3

And then for how to clip them, I tried of techniques from this video- https://youtu.be/LFLCD12RKbw

Good luck :)

Pshhh, as long as you put the old shower head back on when you move out, there's nothing they can do to penalize you. They're fairly easy to attach/detach without many tools. I just had to do this for my disabled mother, and I love that I can wash all the pink hair dye off the shower walls now!

I have scalp dryness/dandruff and have been using Sage shampoo about 1-2 times per week. While its nice that it's sulfate free, be warned it smells like a Whole Foods beauty aisle. It does seem to dry my hair out a little bit (feels squeaky when rinsing) so I combat that by running conditioner through the length of my hair before shampooing and sometimes follow up afterward with a deep conditioning treatment (I use DevaCurl's Heaven in Hair) to restore more moisture.

If it helps, I bought this one off Amazon. I had to TAPE it to my hairdryer because it didnt fit, but it works AMAZING now that I just gave it a dedicated hairdryer. For under $6 it was one of my best curl investments.

Hair Diffuser on Amazon

I have a shoulder length bob and am 2B on top and a 2C underneath. Here is what my current routine is:

In shower:

1. As I Am Cowash to cleanse hair. Apply just around scalp. (going to have to change this, because I just discovered it is not 100% CG friendly, I love it soo much though)
   
   
2. Completely rinse that out
   
   
3. One pump of Deva Curl - One Condition, run through bottom length of hair.
   
   
4. One more pump of Deva Curl - One Condition, flip head upside down and finger come hair out, trying to avoid scalp until most of conditioner is off of my hands.
   
   
5. Fill a cup with water, flip head upside down and then pour water into cupped hand to squish to condition, one cup is usually enough. I use this method until all of my waves/curls are nicely grouped and there are no stray hairs.
   
   
6. With head still upside down squish excess water out of hair with hands (squish up towards scalp)
   
   
7. Go about the rest of my business, being sure to not get hair any wetter
   
   
8. After drying myself off, I use my towel to wrap up my hair in a twisty turbine method. I don't rub my hair in the towel, just twist it up. I used to wrap my hair up pre CG, and when I first started CG method, I avoided this, because terry cloth is supposed to be bad for curls. I hated squishing with t-shirts or microfiber towels, because my hair still seemed so we afterwards. Between the two methods I don't notice a frizz difference, so I do what is easier for me and it doesn't stretch my curls out.
   
   
9. Take hair out of towel and put a big glob of Eco Olive Oil Styling Gel (from Sally's beauty supply) in hands, evenly distributed. Smooth down hair right around my part then scrunch it into all of my hair. I usually use 3-4 globs (comes in a tub, I love it!). Flip head upside down and squish some on the underside. My hair only gets a little crunchy, if I air dry, or don't completely dry it out before I head out for the day. Usually scrunching it gets rid of any crunchiness.
   
   
10. Plop hair into long sleeve t-shirt. This step is magical and very important.
    
    
11. Take down and diffuse with hair dryer.
    
    I still have a little more frizz than I'd like, so I'm looking for a new product to help with that and I just bought this hooded bonnet to dry my hair instead of using the diffuser.
    
    My waves have really amped up since I've gone CG. I am so thrilled with how they've improved over the past 2 years and am never going back.
    
    (edit: grammar and format)

I had a similar problem but for a while it was RIGHT after a shower and my hair dried. Grease. My hair didn't used to be like this it just decided to one day. I've found using Giovanni Tea Tree Shampoo has helped me combat this almost entirely. It's not totally CG if I remember correctly but IDGAF if it gets rid of my grease. And honestly it makes my hair wonderfully shiny...hopefully this helps you! Good luck!

I would recommend to stop brushing. If you really just want to brush, only do so when soaking wet. Apply your cream (and think about adding a gel or something to hold the curl better) to damp but not wet hair and diffuse or air dry and use a pick to help shape and get volume. As for sleep, try a silk pillow case like [this]
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070U9GSU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) or a hair buff to sleep in like this

ETA: My favorite products for my hair, which is similar to yours are Cantu Curl Activator and [LA Looks Gel] (https://www.amazon.com/LOOKS-SPORT-XTRME-HLD-Pack/dp/B005JT5XLI/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1518620771&sr=1-2&keywords=la+looks+hair+gel).

my hair is extraordinarily thick. it just loves to be frizzy. I also plop overnight, otherwise, my hair will be wet the entire day.

like you, I never know what to expect. I can leave the house with it looking presentable, but if I happen to glance in a mirror a couple hours later - it looks like I've been frolicking with the mad hatter!

I get disappointed with most drug store conditioners, which aren't thick or moisturizing enough for my hair. I even splurged on expensive quality conditioners my curly hair salon sold me- but the conditioners weren't strong enough. I use this conditioner: http://www.amazon.com/Ors-Olive-Hair-Masque-Ounce/dp/B005YH1AC6
It is one of the best I have found- and it costs a reasonable $10. I apply it liberally. One bottle lasts me 2-3 months, since I only wash about 2-3 times a week. The conditioner is very thick and it moisturizes very well. I'm not sure how the instructions say to use it, but I use it like a regular conditioner. I squish to condish with it.

Also, I find that my hair always looks best with regular haircuts. If I let too much time go by without a haircut, it starts to look very drull and lifeless.

Yeah, the smoothie one is the WORST! It feels terrible to even put it on my hair. The leave-in conditioner seems to be the best thing I bought, but it's still not great. I did the same thing at Target :) I ended up with this: Organic Root Stimulator Masque. It's supposed to be a weekly treatment, but I've used it for the past 3 days straight. I'm hesitant about it though, I have no idea if the ingredients are good. And it doesn't say anywhere that it's gluten free (I have celiac disease). It makes my hair feel kind of light and silky, but it's still super frizzy.

I am a 3b (I think) and am having frizzing issues.

I use Regenepure, primarily for the active ingredient, for shampoo and a conditioner reccomended in the FAQ: Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner/Detangler

I use Beyond-Zone-Noodle-Head-Moisture and apply when wet straight out of the shower. It hardens, which I dislike, and after about 4 hours dries to give my hair the best appearance from all products I've tried (not many)


However, my hair has become drier, I know not whether this is due to the weather or what but my hair has become frizzier and harder to have those good hair days. I'm looking to try a new leave in conditioner/curling moisturizer. My hair isn't as thick as it appears, it just holds a lot of volume, especially when dry. I'm looking for something that is great for retaining moisture.

Any ideas?

Hi! I haven't used that one, but I got one on amazon from Inkach here- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077L2M4KJ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I think it's a great dupe for the DevaCurl diffuser, but it simply didn't work well for my 2c hair. If you're a wavy, beware that 'cup diffusers' are much better for making curls, whereas these are more for adding volume to naturally 3a+. Hope this helps!

The only thing I could suggest is to talk to a Deva cut stylist about keeping the length, but cutting some layers in, perhaps? Also, experiment on your hair during your days off: try a lightweight leave-in conditioner, air dry your hair in a heavy duty hair net, called a triangle net (like this one:https://www.amazon.com/Diane-Cotton-Triangle-Net-Black/dp/B003SYVKCC/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481562681&sr=8-8&keywords=Hair+net#customerReviews) You might be able to find one at your local Sally Beauty Supply. Also, experimenting with washing you hair at night, and sleeping on a satin pillowcase is an option too. Good luck!

It was literally called free and clear. amazon link here. I'm pretty sure it's not sulfate free but it was recommended by my derm and was on my allowed product list (i also had eczema on my eyelids so I had to completely remove all fragrance from my routine and wanted to be safe).

I've also used jessicurl's no fragrance added products and they were fine for me but they do have some added oils and watnot that may irritate. If you're looking to go fragrance free make sure the product says fragrance free and not just scent free or unscented because those products can still have masking fragrances which can also cause reactions.

I suggest you see a dermatologist. You said you saw your GP about this issue, but she never identified the issue. I think a dermatologist would be able to help you more. It's difficult to give any helpful product recommendations without knowing what exactly your skin is reacting to (i.e., which product ingredients).

In the mean time, you can try the free and clear shampoo and conditioner. They're specifically designed for people with reactive skin.

For controlling the frizz, try using a gel. Apply it to your hair when it's wet, but not dripping wet. You said you're using a cream, but creams help moisture and define your curls; they don't provide the best hold or frizz protection. A gel would be better suited to minimizing frizz.

Biotin is a B vitamin and it's good for your hair skin and nails. It makes my nails and hair grow faster and my hair just looks healthier and my curls look better.

As for the filter, I have hard water (means it's full of minerals) and porous hair, so I got myself a showerhead with a charcoal filter from Amazon and I've been much less frizzy since then. There's something in the sidebar about testing the porosity of your hair, if you can't find it just respond here and I'll dig it up for you. Good luck!

Me too, that will make it easier for me to help :)

I like VO5 Moisture Milks as a co-wash. It's CG-friendly, inexpensive, and runny/thin, so it spreads easily and rinses out easily. No residue at all. If you find yourself running into the greasy-scalp issue, alternate between co-washing and non-sulfate shampoo for 3-4 weeks. The sulfate-free shampoo will still lather and down out the grease while your scalp is adjusting. Shea Moisture tends to be the favorite, I like their 10-in-1 Superfruit.

Conditioners are totally hit-or-miss depending on the person and hair type. I'm fine, thin, and low-porosity, so what works for me may not work for you. I have yet to find a rinse-out conditioner in a store that I like, so I buy mine online - Darcy Botanicals Vanilla Delight is my favorite, but I think the company may be going out of business :( , so my regular is Yes To Carrots Nourishing Conditioner.

I'm not 100% CG, and I use a leave-in that has a non-water-soluble silicone. It gives me the best shine and moisture and clumping, no matter what extra gels (etc) I use. Its available online or in drugstores, Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream.

As for styling products beyond that - what's your goal? Do you want curl clumping, volume, loose curls, tight-and-smooth, etc?

Nizoral is super drying! I'm assuming you are using it because you have dandruff. If you felt comfortable switching shampoos, I've read that tea tree oil really helps with dandruff because its antimicrobial. I use the Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo maybe once a week. If not, I would try giving your hair an oil treatment right before you shower. Leave it in for maybe a half hour. You can just put coconut oil in your hair, then once in shower try to use the same amount of shampoo you always do, rather than using more to make up for the additional oil in your hair.

A lot of people with curly hair find silicone to be drying, so check the back of your conditioner bottle and see if there are any 'cones in there. If so try a different conditioner. I really like the DevaCurl Decadence conditioner, but it's a bit pricey.

Edit on shampoos: I also saw this one at Marshall's today that looked good!

Well...I don't really know. My hair just does that on its own most of the time. I have to put an effort in to get it to stop doing that.

>Herbal Essences Totally Twisted gel

Use products for curly hair. Herbal Essences, Dove and other mainstream beauty products that market to "curly" hair are actually made for very wavy or loosely coiled hair.

Your hair loss may be from using horrible products on your hair. I know if you're using Herbal Essences, you are probably also sleeping with a cotton pillowcase, so that could be a reason also.

After you wash it, you should put in a leave in conditioner, followed by an oil and then a gel or a cream.

This my favorite detangler/conditoner if you need a product recommendation. To grow you hair back you could try a shampoo and conditioner with argan oil or black castor oil. Mane and Tail also makes a hair growth line.

Alopecia Free With Jass is a youtube channel that also might help you deal with alopecia. You could also try taking biotin.

Here is a link to the cream!

Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream, 12 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LTIAU7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1zqmDb5HSJJ6P

In this photo my hair is about 90% air dried. Once I got out of the shower I held the diffuser about an inch away from my head and put some heat on it to kind of get rid of some of the dampness (it was soaking wet) but once it wasn’t dripping wet anymore I stopped diffusing

I also own a denman brush! It definitely helps clump the curls together, reduces frizz, and helps distribute product throughout the hair. I will use it about every other time I wash my hair to REALLY detangle and smooth. I’ll put conditioner in it and run the brush through to smooth out the cuticle and form clumps.

i use argan oil to treat define curls Just apply a few drops to the palm of my hand. Run your hand through your hair, focusing on the ends and layers this is my prefer naturel product i bought it in amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01INMXG66 //

Try the Crave Detangling brush (only while wet). No ouchies! It has been the solution for both my toddler and I. I also set my daughters hair with Snip-It's Morning Miracle (spray gel? Spray mousse?) which is for kids and super light. Sometimes I'll even use the tiniest bit of argan oil in her hair. http://www.amazon.com/Detangling-Brush-Detangler-Tangle-Adults/dp/B00CGN9LQ8

Have you tried a scalp scrubber/massager? I bought the one below and love it. I’ve noticed that it helps a lot and I find that I don’t have the itching that I used to have.


Scalp Massager

I haven't used that one, but my cheapo Conair has been great for the last 5 years!

Kinky curly knot today is great for me. In very dry weather, I'll use regular conditioner, but this is my favorite most of the time. https://www.amazon.com/Kinky-Curly-Knot-Today-Conditioner-Detangler/dp/B00128WK4I/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1494388438&sr=8-1&keywords=Kinky+curly+knot+today

I have low-porosity hair that's fine and thin, so while I don't get the heavy head, I do get the long dry time.

You could try switching your plop material partway through? I plop with a t-shirt for the first half hour, then swap to a cotton net like they use for curlers. Here is what I bought. I ended up with a box of 12, I don't know if that's intentional or a misship by the seller, but I'll accept it. Hell, if you're interested, I'll send you one, I still have the 11 extras, LOL.

Sure do. I bought this one and I love it. I'm sorry the link is mobile. I'm on my phone.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0006VVN1S/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

Oh god, yeah it does. Go my friend and never look back upon your hard water days.

Thank you! I’ll try spritzing them.

This is the diffuser I use. :)

Try coconut oil, and use hair extension brushes because they don't pull on knots. https://www.amazon.com/Detangling-Brush-Detangler-Tangle-Adults/dp/B00CGN9LQ8/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=hair+extension+brush&qid=1567493249&s=beauty&sr=1-8

In any case, your hair is SO pretty!

Your curl type is 3c but you've got heat damage so they're loose and stringy.

Find a good deep conditioner (I use this one ) and DC once a week with moisturizing sessions in between. I DC on Sunday then moisturize on Wednesday by spraying my hair with a leave in and water mix then top it off with JBCO .

As another user said, look up the LOC or LCO method. You'll probably need LCO since heat damaged hair has a high porosity and dries out quickly.

Mixed Chicks has a really good line and it's cheap so you won't feel bad if it doesn't work on your hair. Cantu and Bella Curls are my go to as well.

I bought it on Amazon for around $9. Sometimes you can find it in local beauty supply stores.
http://www.amazon.com/Jamaican-Black-Castor-Oil-8oz/dp/B003CTTZQQ

EDIT: Try Sally's for this one first. Happens to have rosemary in it too and it's cheaper.

I've had good results with this diffuser, which was recommended by someone here! https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N05UG34/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Sure :)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C17DYNS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kQOKDb5NDR581

INFINITIPRO BY CONAIR 1875 Watt Salon Performance AC Motor Styling Tool/Hair Dryer; ... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FNQRCS4/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_0ekWBbT1K133V

You have to remove the inner silicone ring on the inside of the diffuser, but then this dryer fits. It’s very easy to remove the silicone ring from the diffuser. It pops right out.

I’m not sure, but it is on Amazon. I bought mine at Dollar General and I’ve seen it at Target.

Link Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream, 12 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LTIAU7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wmHQCbGFZP0S7

I've had some luck with this product: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNTJHQO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I think it is CG friendly but either way, I am normally no-poo and using this every week or so hasn't been a problem.

I have a dry itchy scalp and use Yes to Carrots. It really helps with the flaking and as far as I can tell it's curly friendly.

I don't know if there's really any difference in brand as long as it's 100% actually jamaican black castor oil. I'm pretty sure you can find it at sally's or any supplement place. but here's one from amazon and another from shea moisture:
https://www.amazon.com/Tropic-Isle-Living-Jamaican-Plastic/dp/B003CTTZQQ?th=1
https://www.sheamoisture.com/100-pure-jamaican-black-castor-oil-head-to-toe-restoration.html

I forgot to mention about diffusing! You can use a hairdryer with either a diffusor attachment, or you can get a diffuser bonnet

Otherwise, you can let your hair air dry :)

You can leave the one you have now. Also, you can look into getting soft bonnet attachment like this one . You attach it to your blow dryer and can sit under the heat for fifteen - thirty
Minutes for your treatment (while wearing the plastic cap). It’s done wonders for my deep treatments.

Thanks for the advice. I just ordered this detangling comb and this detangling brush, and I should be receiving them in the mail in about two days.

How often you clarify is really up to you. I find that I need to do it about every 3 weeks (more/less depending on how often I've gone to the gym or other things that tend to get my scalp gross).

Root clipping is where you put little clips like these in your hair right up to the scalp. There's a few different ways to do it. I found this one to be the most helpful, but there's plenty of videos and tutorials.

The hydrating shampoo contains SLS and the conditioner contains parabens. You need something that doesn't contain SLS or silicones. Here is a shampoo you can get from Amazon. I suggest you check your hair's porosity before buying a conditioner. Here is how to test porosity. If you're high porosity, this is a good option, if you're low, I'd go for this. If you need a leave-in conditioner, go for this.

Oh I like that it does that, but if I don't want it to do that I got this net that keeps the clumps intact:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SYVKCC/

I've had this one for the last few months and it works well for my hair!

https://www.amazon.com/Culligan-WSH-C125-Wall-Mount-Capacity-Showerhead/dp/B0006VVN1S

I use Giovanni Tea Tree Shampoo and it works really well.

Duct tape it to your hair dryer for tonight.
I have this one...works well on multiple dryers and limits air flow well
https://www.amazon.com/Hairizone-Universal-Diffuser-Adaptable-D-1-7-Inch/dp/B01N05UG34?keywords=diffuser%2Bhair&qid=1537920360&sr=8-3&ref=mp_s_a_1_3&th=1&psc=1

I looked back at some of your posts, and I think you're on the right track with products and S2C, etc. Hard water is the WORST, and I saw someone else recommend this, can't vouch for it myself (we have a water softener) but if you can swing this, it should help with hard water
http://www.amazon.com/Culligan-WSH-C125-Wall-Mount-Capacity-Showerhead/dp/B0006VVN1S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421985548&sr=8-1&keywords=showerhead+filter

It's this one. I love it so much https://www.amazon.com/Cantu-Butter-Natural-Moisturizing-Activator/dp/B01LTIAU7Y/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1540409944&sr=8-4&keywords=cantu+curl

This one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006VVN1S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'll look that up. That's new to me

Edit: Found it, if anyone else is curious?

I use this stuff:

Conditioner 1

gel


conditioner 2


It frizzes out all the time, but such is life in the south. I don't rinse anything out. I don't use a lot of the gel. I'll update again when I go full simba.

Get a universal diffuser. They're designed to work with most blow dryers. I kept breaking the diffusers that came with my blow dryers, so I bought one of these I can even use it with those tiny blow dryers in hotels.

Cowash: Yes to Carrots Nourishing Conditioner

Conditioner: Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner (Also my leave-in if needed)

Deep Conditioner: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Mask (Once a week)

Shampoo: Creme of Nature Argan Oil Moisture & Shine Shampoo (Once a week)

I don't really style my hair because I'm scared of picking the wrong styler. :/

I mostly only do it near my part, in one of these styles. I'm really bad at it, but you can get results even if you don't do a super great job. I think I got some cheap pack from amazon. When I'm removing them, I pull a lot of single hairs which is pretty annoying and if plopped or diffused after putting them in, it can be a huge pain.

The results are so nice though!

I've watched so many YouTube videos and have followed the guides on here and product recommendations, they are so helpful!

So I have low porosity/thin/fine hair and I've been trying to take care of my hair more (I bleached my virgin hair last year and I regret it; I also cut my own hair recently using the double ponytail method and it has given me a boost in volume!). I have a new routine down that's been giving me amazing results but I still need to figure out how to keep this style to last for days...

Once a week my routine is this (ALERT - not a true CG method):

Pre-poo: I heat up a small amount of a homemade mix of coconut, jojoba, and caster oils. I rub that into my scalp and the lengths of my hair. I put it in a heat cap and leave it for 10 mins.

Shampoo: I shampoo TWICE using a sulfate free/clarifying shampoo (Giovanni). I do this and use this specific kind of product because my hair is low porosity so it gets weighed down easily from a lot of product build up. Cowashing is the enemy for low porosity. I suffer from oily/itchy scalp and dry hair so this really helps it to tone down.

**ACV RINSE**

Conditioner: My hair detangles like A LOT and I lose A LOT of hair. By the end of the week, my hair is rat's nest. I used to use my fingers and/or a wide toothed comb to detangle, but recently I just bought the Wet Brush Pro Quick Dry and it helped decrease my detangling time by 30% plus I shed a lot less. I just use a conditioner with lots of slip. I'm still trying to find one that is CG-approved and has lots of slip for my type of hair, but Giovanni does the trick right now. SQUISH TO CONDISH!

I rinse some of the conditioner out and put a deep conditioning masque on along with the heat cap again for 10ish minutes. I've been using a random one I found, but I'm going to be trying a SheaMoisture one soon.

I make sure to rinse all of the conditioners out AND rub my scalp to make sure it doesn't stay and cause buildup under hot water.

I then run Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-in Conditioner through my hair, followed by LA Looks gel (just tried this out!). I style my hair using the denman brush (brush outwards from the scalp, scrunch, then push back. I put a little bit more of gel on my hands and scrunch the end a bit more.

I put my hair in a silk cap, air dry for 10-15 minutes, diffuse until 80% dry, SOTC, and fluff.

​

Items:

Heat cap: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07174WPZX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Detangling brush: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BE8XJOK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Denman brush: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OUBC8A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Shampoo/conditioner (Giovanni): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HDNB9SY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Deep Conditioner: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I32AN4K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Leave-in conditioner: https://www.amazon.com/Kinky-Curly-Today-Leave-Conditioner-Detangler/dp/B00128WK4I/ref=sr_1_2?almBrandId=VUZHIFdob2xlIEZvb2Rz&crid=HLNTF6DKTGEZ&fpw=alm&keywords=kinky+curly+knot+today&qid=1574052033&sprefix=kinky+curly%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-2

Gel: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007RRNE2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I believe the parts of my hair that are colored are damaged have high porosity while the parts that are brown have low porosity. I thought maybe I needed moisture, so I did a hot grapeseed oil treatment followed by another reset wash. It didn’t help. I am now thinking maybe I need to try a protein treatment? I am considering Alikay Naturals Honey and Sage Deep Conditioner.

Here is my current routine:

I do cardio every day and sweat a lot, so I shower daily. Every three days I use the low poo Maple Holistics Sage Shampoo for Anti Dandruff (it is CG approved) and condition with Alberto VO5 Pomegranate Bliss. Other days I just condition with Alberto VO5. These both have humectants, but I live in Seattle so not a hot or dry climate. In the shower I use a wide tooth comb when conditioner is in. For gel I use Herbal Essences Totally Twisted. I tried squish to condish with leaving some conditioner in. I tried the super soaker method. Both looked worse than this picture - more stringy and oily. My method: I apply gel with prayer hands and scrunch while head is flipped over. Once right side up again, I put a little more gel in hands and scrunch areas that need more gel. I plop with microfiber towel for ~5-10 min. Then I diffuse on low heat and low power for just a few minutes. I tried not diffusing, and again it looked much worse. I let the remainder air dry and then break the gel cast. I put just a little jojoba oil on my hands while breaking the cast to minimize frizz. I O-clip for volume while the remainder air dries. At night I pineapple and I have a satin pillowcase.

There is one product that I use that is not CG approved. Every 7-10 days I use Overtone Deep Treatment. Unfortunately I just bought two tubs before starting CG. I am careful not to get it on my scalp. The same day I use overtone, I also reset wash with Neutrogena Anti-Residue Formula (clarifying shampoo) to avoid build up. Going forward I will use Arctic Fox for color.

Any thoughts on what my problem could be? Could the Overtone be my main problem or is it likely something else? If my issue is that I need protein, is Alikay Naturals Honey and Sage Deep Conditioner a good one? Any advice on routine tweak is appreciated.

My hair goal: defined waves that look fuller and are not stringy

Edit: added more detail on how I use gel, goal, and humectants