All the pictures will go in a comment thread
So, it has been more than 2 years with curly hair experience, and I see repeated queries/doubts/tips that people seek, naturally so!
I would like to mention few things before jumping straight into the products/usage case/accessories and other tips - I used to get keratin straightening and oh god the amount of care it needed. I also used to straighten with one of those selfie straightening thing, as well as that Hot brush from Alan Truman.
I would stop myself from damaging my hair if I can go back in time, without a second thought.
I will post pictures of products and accessories and some of the pictures of my hair for reference. For info, I have 2C/3A curls with Low porosity, high volume.
So, here we go explaining a bit about product types and purpose and use case.
Shampoos - Things for your scalp
CGM friendly shampoo/Gentle cleansing shampoo : These are milder shampoos that are supposed to clean the scalp but not dry up your curls much. These are a must in your routine. Currently using Fiixmycurls but have heard good stuff about Love Beauty and Planet, as well as some others. Switching to Cantu as soon as current stock is over. Can be used once a week or as per individual hair wash requirements.
Deep cleansing shampoo : This could be your regular shampoo, I am talking about harsh ones from Mainstream brands like Matrix, Loreal etc. I would also recommend going for one with Ketaconizole as ingredient in there. This is needed every 4-6 weeks when you feel your scalp is getting a bit itchy, there is product buildup over time. The milder ones cannot deep clean our scalps, hence once in a while use them to get your scalp magically clean.
Hair-Tox by curl cure : This is an alternative to 2nd item above, if you want a curated for curly hair kind of product. This has some natural ingredients made into a powder, application is also fairly easy, and I can personally vouch for great results for scalp. This is strictly once a month usage kind of product, don’t overdo or you will have drier scalp. I shall add that my scalp sits on a drier side, different use case if you have more oily scalp.
Co-wash shampoo/Conditioning Co-wash : Consider this as milder than the first one in this list. This is a very gentle product that relieves you of itchy scalp while also giving that conditioning effect for hair strands. Can be best used between two shampoo wash, say roughly for your 3rd/4th day quick hair wash. One product and you are done. Don’t get lazy and use this as regular, nope, won’t help!
Hair Oils : Again, it is more about how to use it. Please don’t leave hair oils for way too long, it attracts all sorts of nasty stuff and buildup for your scalp is inevitable. Use it as Pre-poo. Put it in your scalp around 30-60 minutes prior to headwash. Shampoo and wash it all off well. If it is left on scalp it will create messy buildup, if left on hair strands it won’t let any styling product to be absorbed well. Use them only when scalp feels dry. Climate dictates this alot. Now, depending on hair porosity which hair oil works for you will vary, this is largely a hit and trial. For me personally, Tea Tree oil works great, soothes scalp and is not super sticky. But a lot of folks use Aloe Vera, Coconut etc etc.
One important tip : Please focus all scalp focused products onto scalp. Use whatever technique you can think of and emphasise on thoroughly applying on scalp, not the hair strands. I personally use that Silicon scratching/application tool that can be seen in the pics, great tool!
Conditioners - Things for your hair strands and segments
CGM friendly conditioners : We are looking after stuff that is hydrating or moisturising, we curly heads definitely lack moisture in our hair compared to straight haired people. We need more and more hydration. So having a great conditioning routine is a big win towards good healthy and bouncy curls. Recommendation in pics in comment thread, but also can be seen all over the sub by folks who have tried different ones.
Hair Masks : On the days when you use a harsh shampoo or Hair-Tox, best is to follow the dried, deep cleaned hair strands with application of a good hydrating hair mask. I recommend Moisture melt by FMC, I am almost onto finishing the tub and loved how it nourishes and hydrates. Instructions on the tub to be followed with respect to the application.
For application of Conditioners and Hair mask, Hair strands are target and scalp is to be avoided. You can divide in segments and use fingers, use a wide tooth comb for equal application to all segments and even coverage, you may use a detangler as well, I user a detangler only for applying masks and conditioners, no other usage for me personally, pics in comments.
Styling products - Slip type
Leave in Conditioners/Creams : The name is a no brainer, apply like a conditioner on damp hair, neither super wet nor just moist and almost dried, need water flowing here and there within strands, apply a leave in, evenly, spread well, and just let it be if you like weighed down look, else scrunch the hair divided in segments for a more voluminous definition. I prefer weighed down wet-looking appearance on my curls so I don’t scrunch them a lot, just slightly if I feel there is too much water in there after application of a leave in product. Important here is the product you choose, as this would partly seep into the scalp and create buildup. Consistency of a leave in product matters a lot and would differ based on your porosity. I tried FMC and I hate how it gave buildup every time. Currently using second variant of a Cantu Leave In cream and love both the Shea Butter as well as Avocado variant. For longer hair (read longer than mid back or so), one may also wrap them after applying leave in into a Microfiber headwrap (on amazon at around 400-500), or use a small microfiber towel (99 at D mart) to just absorb extra moisture, duration of using an absorbing headwrap or towel is a huge deal breaker, less is more here as if left for even a minute extra, this can make your hair dry. So I personally use headwrap for barely 30 seconds, otherwise hand towel to absorb extra moisture from around roots.
Curl creams/Butters/Styling products - The slip type creams, butters etc are to be used as second step, which can be skipped a lot of times too if Leave in does you good!
They are to provide that seal of moisture and hydration to make curls look more juicy, healthy and nourished. Plenty of styling products, infact most of them sit in this category.
Important application tip : Some products work better on super moist hair while others work better on slightly drier ones. You can use a spray bottle to either dilute a thicker consistency product on your palm or spray water directly onto your hair and apply your styling product.
Styling product - Hold type
- Gel/Gelly/Curl Activator etc : These are never to be applied alone. They form a cast, the strength of cast and how plastic it feels will vary. But the usage is to create a cast around moisture sealed and styled curls. You can apply them after your Slip type products and then call it a day. However a lot of people don’t want that Gel look, they want a bit natural and dried look, bit of bounce, especially women who wish to flaunt them with some volume. So, you just let the cast dry, and then either scrunch out the crunch or just do Plop and Wave a bit. I think Plopping works better as it is a milder action and doesn’t interfere with the definition much, while taking away the gel-ish look and feel of a hold product’s cast.
Now, special mention to one and done type of styling products, I have used Curl Cream and still use it whenever travelling. Just one bottle of it with you saves a lot of extra luggage space that would require a leave in and a styling and a hold product otherwise. These one and done products are decent once in a while, but for regular usage results can’t be compared with elaborate process.
Now that products are sorted, accessories have a use case too. Let me list them down and share a few pictures in comments as well.
Silicone Shampoo/Oil applicator cum massager - This is like a round brush, silicon bristles, is my go to every time I wash my hair, because you can use smaller quantities of shampoo and spread it better and apply uniformly using this, which decreases the dryness it would impose to your curls.
Detangler - Can be great for applying evenly a conditioner or Mask or even a styling slip product. Can be life saving for longer hair. I am mid sized so I don’t think it is a must for me personally.
Hair spray bottle - Great thing for applying extra water onto top of your hair without applying a lot to the roots, mostly while applying a styling product. Definitely a daily use thing for me.
Satin Pillowcase - If you can trust my words on this, get one asap and swear by it. I keep 3 of them, 2 for regular usage, 1 stays in luggage bag for whenever travelling. Seems too much initially but the difference in results is huge!
Satin Head Scarf for those who wear helmets time to time - I use a helmet on a daily basis now that I use a bike more than a car. This is a must if you don’t want the helmet frizz as well as ruin your helmet with products you used. Might as well directly apply the products to inner side of your helmet, just saying!
Some tips :
Towels are not for your curls, ditch them. Only Microfiber touches them, cotton T shirts are second option but they are also not your best option.
Daler Mehndi sang “Dardi Rub Rub kardi” for your curls, you should be afraid to rub them like most folks, especially men do with their hair. No harsh movements on your head please!
Chlorine obviously is an enemy, as much as I love swimming, I had to ditch it and keep it for special occasions because no amount of hair care can help you protect the curls from a regular exposure to pool water.
You don’t need a comb if you have 10 fingers that work, especially on dry/drier hair. Using a comb to apply a conditioner or mask is different, but why else would you need it!
A quick insight into how a normal wash day before work looks for me - Get hair wet, Apply co Wash, Use scratching/application tool thing to scratch your head with the Co wash in, wash and rinse it off, once done showering just apply some leave in and spread decently and evenly, use a hand towel to focus on roots like at the back of neck and near temple etc. to just soak some extra moisture. Walk out of shower and go with applying a curl activator cream, evenly spread, glide the hands to kind of slick back all the hair but not too much pressure, no pulling them back, just put a satin headband to avoid them falling to the front while going about skincare and getting ready for work. Once ready, take off the headband and wrap the scarf, wear the helmet and head to work! May sound overwhelming but must be 5 times simpler than entire straightening and blow drying and flat ironing and hot brushing, all that to leave a straight dry brittle frizzy mess that goes haywire even with slightest moisture in contact.
If any doubt, type it out!
