Tried and Tested
(Hair products that I use)
After years of trying out TONS of curly hair products, I have finally found THE staples for my hair. I have 3c curls and am prone to lots of frizz. Typically, I use products that are thicker in consistency, highly moisturizing, and defining to help accent my natural curls. The products I list vary in texture, performance, and price, though all leave my hair looking/feeling its best! I also mix and match different lines of hair products on wash days to see which products layer well with each other.
If you want to know which products are right for your hair type, follow this hair texture guide.
For reference, here are what my curls look like:
So let’s jump right in!
Pre-Shampoo:
Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve $30
As of late, the weather has been leaving my curly hair frizzy and a bit dry. This can be due to the high levels of humidity. To help add more moisture to my hair, I use the Bond Curl Rehab Salve as a pre-shampoo treatment (on damp, dirty hair.) Not only does it add moisture to my curls, but it also leaves them more defined which I love! I use this product every few weeks and leave it on for about an hour before going in with my regular wash routine. This is the only Curlsmith product I have tried but seeing how well it works, I will consider trying out the rest of their line!
Shampoo:
Odele Clarifying Shampoo $11.99
If you want to begin using clarifying shampoos, Odele is the brand to reach for. I had never tried a clarifying shampoo and I must say that I was missing out. I usually have tons of product buildup on my hair/scalp, but Odele’s shampoo leaves my hair feeling squeaky clean!
I don’t experiment much with shampoos because I use the same shampoo every week. Sometimes, I skip shampoo altogether and use a hair mask and a conditioner if my curls are dehydrated.
Hair Mask:
tgin Rosewater Hydrating Hair Mask $18.99
tgin Miracle Repair Deep Hydrating Hair Mask $18.99
Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque $10.99
After I shampoo my hair, I always use a hair mask. My hair is typically dry so this is a must in my wash routine. (I have swapped conditioner for regular hair masks.) As you can tell by the headline image, I tend to reach for tgin products as my hair absorbs their products well. Both the rosewater and miracle repair hair masks hydrate and restore damaged hair. After using these in my routine, my hair has felt more moisturized. In addition, Mielle’s Rosemary Mint Hair Masque is a must-try! This masque is probably one of my favorites. My curls love this product! It makes detangling super easy and my hair feels amazing after using it.
Leave-In Conditioner:
Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner $19.99
Miss Jessie’s Leave-In Condish $15
Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner $10.99
Choosing a favorite leave-in from the ones I have listed wasn’t easy. If you want your curls to look/feel light and defined, I’d recommend Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner. The consistency is a bit watery but does wonders for my curls. It defines my hair so well, that I can use this product alone and still have fluffy curls! If you are looking for an ultra-moisturizing and thicker hair product, Miss Jessie’s Leave-In Condish is your go-to. It has a jelly-like consistency and moisturizes and protects your curls. This leave-in is one that I usually reach for as I use it almost every wash day. Mielle’s Rosemary Mint Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner is also a favorite of mine. Not only does it make your hair smell amazing but it also encourages hair growth. I use this leave-in after using the Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Mask.
Tip: To ensure your leave-in is evenly distributed throughout your hair, apply it in the shower on soaking-wet hair with a wide-tooth comb.
Curl Cream:
tgin Sweet Honey Hair Milk $12.99
tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer $15.99
Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls $22
Miss Jessie’s Multicultural Curls- Hair Lotion $17
Curl creams are my favorite product to experiment with. I have tried creams from brands like Cake Beauty, Shea Moisture, Not Your Mother’s, Camille Rose, PATTERN, Aunt Jackie’s, and the list goes on…but nothing leaves my hair feeling as great as these products above. The Sweet Honey Hair Milk moisturizes equal to the Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer. A bit of product goes a long way with these stylers as they are pretty thick in consistency and help with frizz. Similarly, Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls and Multicultural Curls are truly amazing! Both stylers leave my hair feeling soft, fluffy, and defined without a curl gel or mousse!
Holding Products:
tgin Rose Water Curl Defining Mousse $12.99
I have only listed two products as my favorite “finishers.” Both of these products are water-based and are great at defining and reducing frizz on curly hair. Although the Foaming Gel is on the watery side, it doesn’t leave your hair feeling crunchy like traditional hair mousse. These defining products help my curls last longer throughout the week. As an honorable mention, I would like to add Aunt Jackie’s Frizz Patrol Anti-Poof Setting Mousse as a great holding product. I have not had much success with Aunt Jackie’s line, but this setting mousse helps refresh my hair midweek. Not only can you use this product on wet hair, but it can be used on dry hair to tame frizz and define your curls. This is the only product that I use by Aunt Jackie. I stay away from hair gel as most gel products I use on top of curl creams start to break down and leave white flakes throughout my hair. Water-based setting products (and certain types of mousse) work well for my hair type.
Oils:
TWIST Curl Reign Multi-use Miracle Oil $4.99
If there’s one product that I need in my hair routine, it’s a good hair oil. Oil helps break hard casts from hair mousse or gel and helps with moisture, shine, and definition. Mixed Chicks hair silk leaves my hair shiny and smooth while TWIST’s Miracle Oil provides ultimate moisture to my curls. I like to add hair oil to my ends after applying a holding product, as my ends are usually severely dry. You can also add oil to your hair by placing a dime-sized amount in the palms of your hands and gently gliding your hands over your dry curls to break a gel cast. Your hair should look more voluminous after this step.
Conclusion:
Most curly hair products claim to help with frizz and definition, but water is a curly girl’s best friend. Depending on your hair texture, your hair might need to be soaking wet or damp for any styling products to have results. Make sure to section your hair for even product distribution. For my hair texture, products absorb better when my hair is soaking wet, so I usually apply my leave-in conditioner in the shower on wash days. I am not a curly hair expert, but this is the best way for my hair to absorb any product. I am a fan of air drying (which might cause excess frizz) but I find that diffusing is a painstaking process that I prefer to endure in the colder seasons.
You don’t always need to use four (leave-in, curl cream, gel, and oil) products on your hair to have the best curls. Many of the products listed work well alone or paired with one product. For my hair type, the longer I wait to wash my hair, the better as my hair is more dry.
I’d rather not splurge on expensive products, but lines like Miss Jessie’s, Mixed Chicks, and tgin make every penny worth it. I usually like to shop at TJMAXX where I can find affordable products from brands like tgin, Mixed Chicks, and Curlsmith. CVS and ULTA sell lots of hair products as well. I would also like to state what works for me might not work for others with curly hair, so it’s best to experiment to see what your hair likes best!
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