My crazy Interracial curls - I need a product NOW.

My hair is my life.

No, seriously. It was the topic of my college application essay.

And I know I’m not alone. Black women and their hair... it's always a saga, always a battle, but ultimately, always an infinite source of pleasure when a style comes out right or a product does what it's supposed to.

My African-American mom gave me the kink, while by Italian father graciously donated his unbelievably thick, tight curls (which were often the topic of ignorant neighborhood kids racist little teases) to my genes.  I’ve endured day-long braiding sessions (with my mom and David Hasselhoff by my side), hotcomb face and scalp scalds, relentless detangling, relaxer burns… you know, the usual. That was basically my childhood.

So long story short, I grew my hair out natural two years (relaxer, bye bye) and really didn’t know what to do with the madness. I love my curls, but I didn’t know how to tame them. And then I found the best product ever: Garner Pure Fix Extra Strong hold. It gave me ringlets! It gave me joy!

And THEN Garner discontinued the product! I’m crying on the inside. I’ve been scowering the net trying to find some remnant bottles (and I’ve found a few, God bless EBay). I’m also looking for a new product. I found a great blog called AfroBella that I’ll be checking frequently for tips, but I’d also like to ask the general public and my readers for help!

Are there any other women out there with crazy curls who can help me out? What products do you use to moisturize your hair? To define your curl? To enrich your soul?? ;)

Comments

[jerseybred]

Hi, I found you through Afrobella. Maybe try something else in the Garnier line. I hear alot about Mixed Chicks but haven't tried it. For hold I use to use Fantasia IC hair polisher don't use alot, I hear it can make your hair crunchy-but it has never happened to me. Right now, I don't use anything for hold...I let my hair do it's thing.
Oh, Aloe Vera gel might work.
Sorry all the info I have have the Lysol douche on my mind.

[Create]

I have tried Miss Jessies, Garnier products, Curls by Mahisha Dellinger, Blended Beauty, Aloe vera gel, etc. They were pretty good but..

Mixed chicks deep conditioner and leave-in is the bomb. Also Kinky-curly curling custard.

[Create]

Somebody is selling some on Ebay. It is the strong though. Not the extra strong gel.

[Jay I.]

Mixed Chicks has HIS MIX for guys and it is working for this dude!

[jc]

i am a single dad with a ten tear old girl. my ex, was white. my problem is to do her hair. tangle tangle tangle, do i need to say more. what can i use to solve my problem. any help will do. thanks in advance.

sincerely jc

[jc]

YOU CAN E-MAIL ME ABOUT A PRODUCT TO USE FOR MY 10.YRS OLD ABOUT TANGLE TANGLE HAIR AT [email protected] AS I SAID I AM SINGLE AND MY EX. IS WHITE. IT TAKES ME 30MINS. TO DO HER HAIR EVERY MORNING.

SINCERELY JC

[RyanB]

Hi JC -
While I don't have any kids of my own, here's some advice:

Products that work for me (my hair is SUPER thick, your daughter's might not be as thick as mine)
- Any shampoo that claims to condition while you wash. I use Mizani conditioning shampoo.
- Herbal Essence None Of Your Frizziness shampoo and conditioner
- Mizani Kerafuse deep conditioner
- Garnier Fructise Soft Curl for styling

I've heard that the Curls products are good for young interracial hair. They have a whole line for kids: http://www.curls.biz/curly-hair-products/curly-hair-products-curly-q-for-kids.html

Have your daughter wash her hair once/week. Any more will make it dry, but less and she'll get huge knots and tangles. Have her comb her hair while she's in the shower with the conditioner all through it. This way, she'll get rid of the tangles without breaking or damaging her hair.

Once she gets out of the shower, have her towel dry her hair lightly. Then, finger comb a moisturizing styler through her hair (don't use an actual comb, just fingers). Try the Curly Q Milkshake.

Then, smooth her hair over with the Garnier Soft Curl. Put her hair into a high ponytail and finger comb more soft curl into the ponytail. That'll make the hair in the ponytail look curly and cute. Put her hair up while it's still wet. Then blow dry it with the ponytail in place or just let it hair dry.

That's just a quick style. You can keep it looking nice all week by redoing the ponytail, wetting the hair in front, taking an old toothbrush (I know that sounds weird) and brushing the hair in the front back with some Garnier Soft Curl.

Hope this helps! Let me know how it works for you.

[jc]

HELLO RYAN,
THANKS A MILLION FOR THE HAIR ADVICE YOU GAVE ME.
NOW I CAN REST EASY. THANKS AGAIN.

JC

[TB]

I second the rec for kinky-curly.com curling custard. gives nice definition. the "knot today" conditioner is the only thing that leaves my natural hair soft with out feeling greasy or heavy.

[Mrs Jay]

Go to Sally's beauty supply store and buy a siverberg blow dryer running about $40. It gets my hair really straight to the point were I can wear it just as is, also buy a Chi flat iron on ebay thats runs close to $50. Use the two together with oil from Sally's called 7 natural oil, just a palm size will do but use it after you towel dry your hair, directly after blow dry and flat iron. TRUST ME!!!!!! Your hair will be beautiful,my hair is just as curly as yours and all I have to do is wash my hair back to curly. Try it it will work :)

[Avery]

Garnier Hard curl works pretty well for me, and you can see in my website pictures that i have very curly hair.

some other good products: ojon hydrating styling cream, basically any ojon products, oscar blondishampoos and conditioners, paul mitchell leave in conditioners.

[marci]

hey. i'd like to let you in on a really nice line of products for our type or hair in walgreens! The stuff is cheap and easy to use, non-greasy and it keeps the hair well moisturized. The line is called Organics and I use the deep conditioning treatment and the Curl Keeper after I've rinsed out the conditioner. The trick to keeping your do silky and curly all day is to wash out most of the conditioner (not all of it) and follow-up with the curl keeper after you've shaken the water out. Hope I helped. Good Luck!

[Tameca R]

I use Ouidad. I am African-American with curls similar to your picture above. My hair forms spiral ringlets on its own, but it's very thick. I've found that many curl products separate the curls and add volume which works for most women, but not for me when my hair is already so thick. Ouidad is developed for curly heads across the races. It is an investment, but the products last a very long time. I'm just finishing an 8 oz bottle of gel that I bought almost 7 months ago.

I use the Quench shampoo and conditioner, Sun Shield leave-in spray and Moisture Lock creamy leave-in, Climate Control gel, and Shine Glaze. The CC gel is its strongest holding gel, and dries soft, not crunchy. I get at least 5 days to a week out of this regimen.

I'm also tried Curls, Blended Beauty, Mixed Chicks, and Kinky Curly Knot Today and Curling Custard. The first two gave me great conditioning but too much volume. The second two gave me serious product build-up, and some crunchiness.

I hope this helps.