Hey, I have curly hair, which products do I use on my hair?! HELP!

Source

 The shelf shown in the photo above must be overwhelming to the female who may be searching for hair products such as shampoos, conditioners, and stylers. One might think where do I start? How do I know which ingredients to look out for that would work best for my hair type? What about the cost? I want a good product for my hair, but I also don't want to break the bank in doing so. Hmm, this is going to be a long day! *sighs* 

 I have used many products on my hair; some of which I probably wouldn't be able to recall at this moment. However, in the last few years, I have learned much about curly hair. I have learned how to care for it, what types of ingredients in products that works best for it, how to style it, as well as what kinds of styles aids in its preservation and helps it retain length, etc. My understanding of hair products is that it doesn't primarily help hair grow, but rather it is to help support the hair by enhancing its physical appearance and durability; along with proper styling, thus enabling one to retain length. In this post, I will discuss my experience with the products that I currently use on my hair. I will discuss the shampoos that I use that I have found to work best on my hair. I will also consider the conditioners and stylers I presently trust for my hair. I hope one will learn something from this post and though all of our hairs are beautifully different as God intended it to be, and that not all products that work for my hair type may work for your hair type, I sure hope that this post will nevertheless, serve as a guide to you as you search for curly hair products for your hair. 

When it comes to shampoos, my main goal is for the shampoo to have a foaming agent. This foaming agent is best known as Sodium Laureth Sulfate; another is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Many females with curly hair fear to use any hair product with these agents present in it as it is scientifically proven that it strips the hair of its natural oils. Although true, if one has learned the art of restoring the moisture stripped by these agents back into their hair after cleansing, there is absolutely no need to fear. In order to replenish my hair after shampooing, I apply coconut oil onto my hair and it immediately eliminates any 'hard' feeling or any 'squeaky clean' feeling that the shampoo might have left behind off of the surface of my hair and on my scalp as the oil penetrates the hair shaft--strengthening the hair. I am somewhat selective of shampoos. I almost use any shampoo on the shelf (except for dandruff shampoos and non foaming shampoos) as long as it has a foaming agent. But I would have to say that my favorite shampoo to use is the VO5 Moisture Milks Shampoos line specifically the strawberry and cream. It is a very moisturizing shampoo even though it has a foaming agent in it. I have tried non Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate shampoos and I DID NOT like it; it made my hair feel unnecessarily hard. In addition, it took too long for my hair to get cleansed due to its lack of "foam." 

Disclaimer: 

I am in no wise forcing anyone to use any of the hair products already mentioned and will be stated in this post as one continues to read. Neither am I encouraging nor discouraging anyone from using shampoos that have Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate as part of their ingredients list. I am only speaking strictly from MY experience. I am just sharing what works best for my hair hoping that it will help someone else out there. 

Let's move on, shall we? :)

The area of conditioners is where I become slightly selective.  I have found that conditioners that have a thick consistency outstandingly benefits my hair; lighter consistency conditioners leave my hair less moisturized and almost dry. Therefore, when shopping for conditioners there are some key words that I keep in the back of my mind. These include words like "thick," "rich," "creamy,""moisturizing," "for dry hair" also "with 100% natural ingredients." Conditioners that have these words written on them as an advertising tool in my experience, "replenishes and leaves my hair well-nourished and beautiful." My favorite conditioners are Suave Professionals almond and shea butter conditioner. I love this product! While in need of a good conditioner for my hair and after hearing plenty of good reviews about it, I decided to buy. I basically fell in love after the first use! (lol) My hair felt amazing! It softened my hair enough for me to detangle, it added a noticeable sheen to my hair and an incredible softness even after I rinsed the conditioner out of my hair! Also, the awesome smell of this product is definitely an added bonus! ;) I also like the "Herbal Essences" line; specifically Hydralicious Reconditioning Conditioner" and "Hello Hydration." These two are great products as well. Both have a thick consistency, super moisturizing, and smells amazing! ;) The best thing about the aforementioned hair products and about having curly hair in general is that one doesn't have to spend too much on products in order to achieve healthy hair, and to be able to manage their hair. These products are very much affordable AND work great!

I try to be minimal with products that I use on my hair overall, but especially those for styling. Again, when searching for stylers one should try to keep in mind the set of words discussed earlier for finding conditioners. As for me, I still use my shea butter mix as a styler mainly for two strand twisting my hair. It can be found in more detail here. But, I also use Carol's Daughter Hair Milk The Original Curl Definer. I really like this product. I don't normally comb my hair when it is dry. I mostly comb when I detangle during washing. I often use this product on my hair when I have worn my hair in a curly style for a while and I want to revitalize the style. To revive the style, I would have to comb through my hair to get a smooth look. Consequently, this product helps soften the hair for combing and keeps the hair well moisturized. Added to my styling arsenal is a product that I've come to really like lately called Palmers Coconut Oil Formula with Vitamin E Moisture Gro Shinning Hair Dress. This stuff is good! It's consistency is light yet creamy, it's made with pure coconut oil, and it smells yummy! :) I use it to twist, or as a moisturizer after I have finished washing my hair before I thread my hair. Threading helps elongate the hair for further styling. It's a great moisturizer and makes the hair feel soft to the touch which is always nice. I use all of my hair products based on availability and according to my mood on a particular styling day :)

So, those are the products that I currently use on my hair and that helps contribute to the overall health and sustenance of my hair. I hope one will take something away. If there are any questions, please do ask! :)

Furthermore, if a new product gets added to my current list of products or any of the ones mentioned gets subtracted from the present list, I will update.

P.S. please click on the name of the products in this post to view a photograph of it.

Thanks so much for reading, and God bless!

-Charity