OK, ladies. This is going to be quick and painless today. Recently, I’ve had a couple people ask me about what I use in my hair and I thought I’d answer their questions here.
See, while it’s true that my hair color is interesting to most people, that’s not the whole story. Anyone with curly or wavy hair will tell you what a pain it can be to try to find the Holy Grail of product + regimen. And here’s the thing– It’s so individualized! What works for my hair may or may not work for yours. What worked for my hair before it turned gray (and changed texture completely) doesn’t work for it anymore. As my grandmother would say, wavy hair is very picky-tooky.
It takes lots of trial and error to find the right combination of manageability and hold because hair like this tends to have a mind of its own. We don’t want it to be too crunchy, but we don’t want it weighed down, either. And then factor in heat and humidity and the daily frizz factor and …. OY!
So, today, I’m going to lay out for you exactly what products I use, why I like them, and the routine I follow. Sound good? Keep in mind that it may or may not work for you, but I hope it will at least be helpful. Let’s do this!
Step 1: Wash and Condition
Here’s a little confession. I probably only wash my hair twice (mayyyyyybe 3 times) a week. Partly because I’m lazy and partly because I find that a little grime in my hair makes it behave better.
The one tip I will tell you for washing and conditioning wavy hair is to avoid sulfates. My favorite shampoo for when I really need a deep clean and to take all of the buildup out is the tea tree shampoo from Trader Joe’s. I use that once every other week or so. Otherwise, I just go back and forth between what I can find on sale that meets the sulfate-free requirement. OGX is a great brand and has all kinds of different flavors!
Personally, I shampoo my hair as soon as I get in the shower. Then I rinse it out, apply the conditioner and leave that in for the remainder of the time I’m in there. Then comes the next step.
Step 2: Product and the Right Towel
These right here are currently my favorite products. I use the Wave Maker when I’m going for a more textured, looser wave. The B’Leave-In is what I’ll reach for if I want something more like a gel that results in tighter, shinier curls. Both of these, though, I apply when my hair is still very wet.
I’ll wring my hair out with my hands while I’m in the shower. As soon as I’m out, I apply a good amount (more than what’s recommended on the packaging thanks to having incredibly thick hair) of whichever of those two I’m in the mood for. Then, I grab my microfiber towel and scrunch the product into my hair and wrap it up, turban-style, while I finish getting ready.
Once I’m dressed and make-upped and everything, I’ll take the towel off and shake out my hair. If I have time, I like to let it air-dry the rest of the way. If not, then I’ll use a diffuser attachment on my blow-dryer to finish it off.
Here’s an important tip from my stylist about blow-dryers! For frizz-prone, wavy hair, look for an ionic dryer with multiple heat and airflow settings. When you diffuse your hair, you want the highest heat and the lowest airflow.
Now, the Shine Bright Taming Serum comes into play. If I’m still feeling a little frizzy after all of that, I use just a tiny smidge of this and follow the application directions on the tube. Works like a charm to tame any fuzz and leaves my hair shiny, but not weighed down.
Step 3: Finishing and Follow-Up
Yes, friends. I am a child of the 80s. And, while I left my Rave and AquaNet back in the last century, I still don’t feel complete unless I’ve used at least a little hairspray. This Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine has been my go-to for several years now. It smells great, isn’t sticky, and provides hold without forming a helmet on my head.
And, just for some extra fun and because I live in the South where everyone knows that “the higher the hair, the closer to God”…or something like that…
I love giving my roots a shot or two of the L’Oreal Boost It! Part texturizer, part hairspray and part placebo, I feel like it gives my roots just a bit of lift on the days that bedhead has struck, but I’m not prepared to start this whole crazy process over again.
What are your favorite products for wavy/curly hair?
