Need LONG LASTING, STRONG hold that doesn’t weigh down

CTcurlygirl

Hi! I am looking for recs on a strong hold but even more important long lasting gel that won’t weigh down fine, easily gunked up curls.
I have low porosity, 3a-b hair that loves protein and loses its shape and becomes flat, frizzy and undefined very quickly but is easily weighed down by heavy products (and seems to lose its shape with heavier products also regardless).
Right now I am getting great results in terms of definition, volume and clumps with a touch of leave in followed by FSG, but I lose all 3 of those things within half a day. I am looking for something to help hold my results from those first few hrs.
My hair seems to like a less is more approach, especially for volume - is there a product I can add to my fsg or apply afterward to give it long lasting hold without gunking my hair up or sacrificing volume?

Guide 65

I suggest a good strong protein treatment. My hair is the same, but when I do a protein treatment, my hair has more body, the curl pattern is stronger (I don't mean curlier, just that the curls don't droop as quickly). It feels stiffer, in a good way. Normally my hair is super soft and silky, and with protein, I lose some of the softness and silkiness, but I gain more strength and body and the curls don't get weighed down by everything. Curls and volume last all day, and I can even get pretty good second day hair.

CTcurlygirl

Thank you so much for your post Janie!

I’d love to hear which protein treatments you use/how often you do them/if you use heat. I do notice a difference after protein treatments but maybe I am not using a strong enough formula or not letting it sit long enough. I have been using Curl Junkie Repair Me about once/week and have been letting it sit for about 10 min while I shave etc in the shower.

I have not found that my hair gets over-proteined & would love to hear yours/other curlies’ protein treatment products/routines!

Therese1

For a gel, I have had good luck with Ouidad Tress Effects gel and Intelligent Nutrients Styling Gel. I also used to use Max Green Alchemy Sculpting Gel but stopped because my hair reacted to the soy protein (my hair is protein sensitive).

I find that if I spray my hair with hairspray after I'm done diffusing, I get better multiple-day hair. I use Intelligent Nutrients Perfect Hold Hairspray and Intelligent Nutrients Moisture-Replenishing Hairspray.

You could try adding gelatin to the FSG to increase hold. I'm not sure how much you would add, though, since I've never done it.

Therese1

For a gel, I have had good luck with Ouidad Tress Effects gel and Intelligent Nutrients Styling Gel. I also used to use Max Green Alchemy Sculpting Gel but stopped because my hair reacted to the soy protein (my hair is protein sensitive).

I find that if I spray my hair with hairspray after I'm done diffusing, I get better multiple-day hair. I use Intelligent Nutrients Perfect Hold Hairspray and Intelligent Nutrients Moisture-Replenishing Hairspray.

You could try adding gelatin to the FSG to increase hold. I'm not sure how much you would add, though, since I've never done it.