Paul Mitchell’s Sculpting Glaze was the first product I ever used on my curls. It was 11th grade of high school. Before that, I can’t remember what I used to style my curls. The Sculpting Glaze had my curls defined and gave it a wet look. At the end of school days people would ask if my hair is wet or that it looks like I just got out of the shower. I haven’t used it since then because it was hard for me to find ( I kept seeing the gel instead) and I started trying other products.
SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie is my everything. It is one product I will make sure I always have. It smells amazing and I always get compliments on how good my hair smells when I use it. It defines and moisturizes my curls and I love the consistency of the product. It’s thick, not sticky, and I don’t need a lot to get the job done.
EcoStyler Gel is the only gel I’ve ever used, and will ever use. It has a clean scent to it which is cool. It also has hydrolized wheat protein, which is supppsed to be extremely good for the health of your hair, if it isn’t intolerant to too much of it. I mainly use it if I want to give my Curl Enhancing Smoothie an extra umph! Or to increase the longevity of my curls.
Kinky Curly Curling Custard. During my all-natural research phase, this is the product I got into. It smells amazing! I was complimented on the smell of my hair when I used this product as well. The curl definition is amazing. The texture of the product is like a jelly, which I’m not fond of, but it’s definitely not a deal breaker. It’s another product that you don’t need to apply a lot. Too much can create a cast but is easily removed when you crunch your hair (to me, this statement is true for every product). It is recommended to use this product on wet hair, which definitely helps with distribution. The Curling Custard is more expensive, which is why the Curl Enhancing Smoothie is my main go-to for regular, basic days.
Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls is another expensive product that I love. My curls are defined and light-weight, feel soft, and look fluffy. The texture of the product isn’t thick like the Curl Enhancing Smoothie, but it is silky. I’m the type of person where if the product isn’t thick then I have to be more generous with it, but I still don’t go overboard with the Pillow Soft Curls.
Cantu Leave-In Conditioner is the only leave-in I use. I was late to this band wagon because I was too busy trying other products and not being wowed. This product is thick and creamy, which is what I wanted in a leave-in conditioner. I don’t need to use a lot, but even if I do the-more-the-merrier. I’ll add an oil to it if I want to be extra that day.
Hask Charcoal Clarifying Shampoo. This is a more recent find, going on a year, and it is the best shampoo I’ve ever used. It cleans my hair better, faster, and with minimal effort on my part. I suck at shampooing, but the Charcoal Clarifying Shampoo has been “IT” for me. It has a citrus scent and leaves my scalp feeling silky clean and not stripped.
Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner has been my thing for the past year and a half. I got back on it, and it may stay this way. The smell is out of this world! I’ve never had a problem detangling my hair with any conditioners, so I’m not sure how to rate this product on that level. I do like the way this product makes my hair feel more than Tresemme’s Curl Hydration. The Hello Hydration Conditioner also gets me excited when it’s time for me to condition my hair.
GreenBeauty Hydrolyzed WheatProtein is a liquid treatment you use while your shampooing your hair, or add it to your conditioner to create a deep treatment mask. This product is pure hydrolyzed wheatprotein, so depending on your hair’s porosity and sensitivty to protein, too much use of this can make your hair look and feel brittle. I used this product two weeks ago and my hair felt moisturized, soft, and silky after it had dried with no product in it.
Coconut/Almond/Jojoba/Avocado/Castor Oil are my favorite oils. Coconut oil is the thinnest and smells the best out of them all. It is light-weight on the hair. Almond, Jojoba and Avocado oil are medium and adds more moisture without being heavy or greasy. Have one of these three is like having them all, in my opinion, but the Avocado oil may be slighting thicker and more moisturizing. Castor oil is EXTREMELY thick and can feel sticky when applying to your hair. I prefer applying it to my roots to promote thick hair ( it also makes my baby hairs pop) and my ends for much needed moisture. Too much can make your hair greasy, but after a couple days it will absorb some. I also use these oils to moisturize my body (either alone or with lotion), except Castor oil I use that solely for my eyebrows and eyelashes.
These are all of the products that I love. They work great for me, alone or with other products. What are your staple products and why?
– A Dose of Denise
A Dose of Denise 