4 Great Products For Curly Hair

I was born with a mop of hair on my head and grew up thinking I had the worst hair in the world. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think of the single hairstyle I had all throughout school that made me look like part of the Jackson 5.
I tried cutting it short – didn’t work.

I tried straightening it – didn’t last.

And then I thought, “let’s just leave it the way it was meant to be – wild and freeeee.”

There are many breeds of curly haired girls – the ones with soft wavy curls and the ones with the killer permed-curls.
But that was never me. I was more of the “frizz and unruly strands” girl

Let me tell you a thing or two about our hair care regimen:

1. We don’t wash our hair a lot – Alternate days? Nope. Every other-other day? Nah. Twice… even once a week is more like it. And it always looks best on the third or fourth day. Don’t ask me why.
2. You won’t believe how much hair we lose – Just running our fingers through our hair will leave us with a fist full of it. It’s a miracle we still have some on our head.
3. We don’t own a hairbrush. Yes, you read that right.

The struggles are real.
Random people coming up to you and asking “Can I touch your hair” is normal.
Losing hairpins in our hair happens every day (wherever they are, I hope they’re happy.)
And we absolutely must carry a spare hair tie or clip for when the one we’re wearing snaps. That reminds me…. Combs’ breaking is normal too.

Does it end there? Oh no!

We often show up to places with wet hair – because who can wait six to eight hours for it to dry? Plus, we do the same thing to it every day, yet it never looks the same on two occasions.
Going to the beach or driving with the windows down = giant frizz ball.
I could rant for hours, but only a fellow curly would truly understand.

MY TOP PICKS
Anyways, after years of experimentation, I’ve narrowed it down to a few hair care products that *actually* do what they promise. Take a look:

HERBAL ESSENCES – TOTALLY TWISTED 
Not only does this smell like a treat – it works brilliantly! I don’t know how they do it, but this shampoo can gently remove oil, gel or whatever products you have in your hair with one wash, while leaving the natural oils intact. It also de-tangles hair and keeps it frizz free.

The conditioner defines curls like a dream! I love that it reduces volume, keeps your hair squeaky clean and leaves curls springy and well defined.

Cost: depends where you buy it from. I pay Rs. 205 each but it can go up to Rs. 1200 + online.

SCHWARZKOPF “EXTRA CARE”
This tongue-twisting brand has a wonderful range of Shampoos and Conditioners – and I especially love the “Extra Care” range. I’ve tried the gold bottle (Ultimate Oil Elixir), the brown bottle (Marrakesh Oil and Coconut) and the blue one (Moisture Gloss). They all had pretty much the same result. They made my hair shinier than I’ve ever seen it before, well hydrated and really soft. It does wonders for greasy hair!

The Schwarzkopf “Repair Rescue” range sounded like something curly hair could use, but that made my hair fall like crazy. However, it may suit your hair type. It comes in a long white and red cylindrical bottle.

Cost – Varies between Rs. 275 to Rs. 550/- each depending on the type.

L’OREAL PROFESSIONAL WILD STYLERS – SCRUFF ME

My hero! I started using this around 6 months ago and can’t imagine my life without it. Just two or three pumps of it works wonders in creating that perfect out of bed, disheveled look. All you need to do is apply it onto damp hair, scrunch it up with your fingers and leave it to dry naturally
The best part is that you can work it in your hair on one day and just use wet fingers to touch it up on the days to follow.Using too much will make your hair crunchy, though.Cost – Rs. 700/-

L’OREAL PROFESSIONAL HAIR SPA
I don’t know about you, but I find all these fancy salon services a complete rip-off. Hair is just as bad a day later.

L’oreal Hair Spa is my substitute to oiling hairas it has the same benefits, minus the greasiness. It hydrates well and nourishes deeply.

Work it through damp hair and tie your hair up with a soft cloth. Rinse after 15-20 minutes. Using it once every 15 days or so does the trick.

Cost – Rs. 570/- for 490 gms.

TGG Tips for girls with curls:

• Never, ever buy the hair products you see on TV. Go for the professional stuff.
• Only comb while conditioning your hair in the shower – however rare that may be.
• If you find a hairdresser who understands your hair, stick with him/her. Follow them out of the country if you need to.
• Don’t dry with a towel – use a T-shirt.

So now that you’ve got some insight, and secrets, into the life of a curly, it’s time to wash my hair. Excuse me while I gather up my weapons and prepare for battle. You should meet me three days from now… my hair will be perfection.

Got any great hair products or tips I need to try out? Let me know!

Cya next time!