| Mixed curly head question?Ok, I'm not trying to be mean but I would like it if only a hair expert or mixed girl with curly hair answered this, because a lot of white women have tried to style my hair thinking it's like their hair but it really isn't at all. So I want to know numerous things. What product is best or what do you use? I usually use a gel and a creme because I live in florida so when I stay inside a creme is fine, but I need the gel for extra strength even if I'm outside for just a little bit. Best conditioners? Shampoos? How does the hairstylist cut your hair or how should it be cut? One hairstylist thinks it should be cut wet while another says it needs to be cut dry, one says layers, one says no layers, and its just confusing. Also what product can help keep my hair straight? I can get it pretty straight with some work but then I walk outside and it gets all kinky and frizzy, I used treseme heat something last time I straightened it. I live in a small town and can't really rely on anyone else, so what do you guys think? Any hairstylists out there? Any help is appreciated, Thanks!
Asked By: - 1/23/2011 |
Oh GIRL i am so glad you asked this question. i'm mixed too AND live in georgia/florida, and hair is a serious struggle. i have tight ringlets that can get very frizzy, and i've gone through many a hairdresser who thought she could handle it. personally, i think the best thing you can do is do some research, track down a stylist who REALLY knows about our specific type of hair, and go there at least a couple of times for good advice, even if you have to travel a bit or if it's a little pricey. they're out there, and no kidding, finding a guy who could take care of my hair changed my life!
however, there are also lots of products out there specifically for mixed/curly hair that you can check out on your own. i'm most familiar with Miss Jessie's, my personal favorite...the leave-in conditioner called Creme de la Curl makes your hair feel so nice! they also make a styling cream called Curly Meringue, which keeps my hair looking really shiny and nice, even outside in the humidity. PLUS, Target carries Miss Jessie's now, which is great because it used to be hard to find. an even more specialized brand is Mixed Chicks, which i have never used myself but i've heard great things about it, and one stylist who did a great job with my hair swears by it.
i've also had great results with other, not-so-specialized products. i also usually use both gel and cream, and anything natural tends to be the best for our type of hair, since it's usually kind of sensitive and dries out easily. one great brand is Design Essentials, which is a black hair care line, but i really like their Conditiong Shampoo and rinse-out Stimulations Super-Moisturizing deep conditioner, both of which i've been using for years. DE isn't very expensive but i think it's mostly only sold in salons or online. Aveda has a lot of great curl products too; two of my favorites are a curl enhancing cream called Be Curly and a very light but strong liquid gel called Confixor. if you can't find those products or they're too expensive, John Frieda is good too. i recently tried a JF rinse-out conditioner called Root Awakening that i really liked, and their gel is good too. not quite as great as Aveda or Miss Jessie's, but it's cheaper and they sell it at CVS and i'm in college haha.
what's always worked really well for me is to detangle my hair as much as possible while it's dry. then i shampoo my hair as soon as i get in the shower, rinse it well, and then put a good amount of the conditioner all through it and cover it with a shower cap. then it just sits and deep conditions your hair in the steam while you finish your shower, and right before you get out take the cap off and rinse it really well so you don't leave residue. when you get out you can detangle a little more if necessary with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb, but don't pull too hard while it's wet. and then choose your products and style away! i do the whole deep condition thing every time i shampoo, which is about once a week, and on the other days i just put the conditioner on at the beginning of my shower and rinse it out at the end, but you can do whatever works for you.
as far as haircuts/hairdressers, i'm not a stylist and have never seen your hair so i'm obviously not going to try and tell you what you should do, but i know it depends on how often you like to wear your hair curly, straight, and in braids/twists/etc. that's why you need a stylist who is very familiar with your type of hair, so they can cut it such that it looks good every way you like to wear it. in my case, i kinda switch off between curly and straight every few weeks, and my hair is very long, so it's cut in these kind of soft, long layers, so that it looks healthy and has volume when it's straight and then when it's curly it has a nice, rounded, not-too-poofy shape.
and finally, the absolute, all-time, VERY VERY BEST thing you can do is exactly what you just did - reach out and ask questions! there are SOOOOO many people with hair like ours who want to discuss the best things to do to it. blogs are one of the best resources. a personal favorite is Beads, Braids, & Beyond. it's by a young mom who i believe is either white or Hispanic and her husband is black, and the blog is all about her little girl's hair. it's particularly great if you like to wear braids or twists because she styles her daughter's hair in all kinds of adorable ways, but she also talks A LOT about the best natural products and care techniques to use, which has been very helpful for me. there are plenty more out there though, so just start googling, girl. you may even find somebody who can recommend a salon/stylist in your area.
so, sorry that was so ridiculously long, but i hope that's what you wanted! best of luck, POWER TO THE CURLS!
Answered By: - 1/23/2011 |