Do you use styling products?

MessyRosie

I hate the feeling od gels, mooses and all those other nasty chemicals in my hair. I can't imagion they do it any good either. I use Giovanni tea tree tripple treat zero-sulphate shampoo and the Giovanni Smoothe as Silk conditioner. Would it be bad for my hair to just do this and skip the business of styling? Or maybe do you have any reccomendations?

I also have Faith In Nature shampoo&condish being shipped over from the UK (I'm in Seattle). Please share your natural hair care secrets!

cara4curls

Yes, totally - I'm not one who can just wash and go without putting ANYTHING in my hair. If I do, it just looks shapeless(and this is with an excellent cut too)poofy and frizzy(I have 2C-3A hair). I just use cheap gel(LA Looks Curl Look, but I'm test-driving the Sport one too right now). But for a change of pace, depending on your hair, try extra-virgin coconut oil. It also does double-duty as a leave-in conditioner. I just did this recently, and my hair just LOVES it! so this is part of my routine now. I'm going to experiment with using this underneath a lighter application of my gel and see what that does. But the coconut oil by itself makes my hair comes out curlier, and so soft too. The next day or two, before another washing(I'm still shampooing, on account of still being on the fence about CG right now)I spritz with water that has some lavender essential oil in it.
I wish I could go product-less but it ain't gonna happen - LOL! I think I'm not alone in this sentiment too.

MessyRosie

I think I might just be super neirotic - I hate the feeling of products in my hair even though I KNOW they make it look better. I wonder if I use too much and don't give products a chance. Maybe it's just a cause of lessening the amount I use ... I love the idea of naturally beautiful hair but I don't think twelve differant products slopped on myu head can be called natural haha. Will just have to experiment more methinks.

gemini12

I think it really depends on your hair and how you want it to look. If you like the way your hair looks without styling products then there's nothing that says you need to use them! You can always check out natural products like cara4curls mentioned--natural oils (coconut, jojoba, avocado, etc), mists made from essential oils, etc.--as alternatives to commercial hair styling products.

gemini12

MessyRosie wrote: »

I think I might just be super neirotic - I hate the feeling of products in my hair even though I KNOW they make it look better. I wonder if I use too much and don't give products a chance. Maybe it's just a cause of lessening the amount I use ... I love the idea of naturally beautiful hair but I don't think twelve differant products slopped on myu head can be called natural haha. Will just have to experiment more methinks.

You might want to check out L'Oreal's Melting Gel. There's a whole thread on it and most of the ladies say that it feels like "nothing" on their hair...

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/showthread.php?t=54581

rainshower

MessyRosie wrote: »

I hate the feeling od gels, mooses and all those other nasty chemicals in my hair. I can't imagion they do it any good either. I use Giovanni tea tree tripple treat zero-sulphate shampoo and the Giovanni Smoothe as Silk conditioner. Would it be bad for my hair to just do this and skip the business of styling? Or maybe do you have any reccomendations?

I also have Faith In Nature shampoo&condish being shipped over from the UK (I'm in Seattle). Please share your natural hair care secrets!

i have 3c-4a hair and i do not use styling products of any kind.

i'm enjoying using a green clay paste with a few drops of oil mixed in as a natural scalp and hair cleanser. i add a few drops of apricot kernel oil to my ends and that's basically it.

no pomades, no shea butter, no mousse, no gels (not even aloe from the plant), no sprays, no leave-ins, no lotions, serums, curl activators, etc.

my hair is soft and my scalp is healthy with no itchiness or flakes.

MessyRosie

See this sounds like a lovely routine. I have 3a hair and I think that having quit sulphate and cones I might get away with not styling. I know I could 'improve' the look of my hair but I think I'd rather let it be.

tc

I have 2bish hair I don't use any styling products except for apricot kernel oil. I love apricot kernel oil to devolumize and defrizz without making my hair look oily.

QuirkyYogini

Well, I guess you might say I do. I use SheaMoisture leave-in conditioner, or I'll use a little of the conditioner that I used in the shower when styling. That will give me moisture and hold. I've also recently started to try aloe vera gel (AVG) but I'm not sure how I like it. That's all that I typically use these days.

MessyRosie

I realise that whilst I like the idea of a de-frizzer, the fact that it allways ends up de-voluming my hair isn't helpful! I think I might just go productless. I got told to use KY jelly which i did today - I have defined shiney curls, less frizz but no volume. Poop!

tc

yeah I can see how devolumizing might not be helpful for everyone.... I need it so badly though. my hair is thick and huge, and my head is rather large on top of that, so it is helpful to devolumize as much as possible. I feel like a lot more haircuts and lengths would be open to me if I had "smaller" hair! the grass is greener on the other side I guess!

orange

rainshower wrote: »

i have 3c-4a hair and i do not use styling products of any kind.

i'm enjoying using a green clay paste with a few drops of oil mixed in as a natural scalp and hair cleanser. i add a few drops of apricot kernel oil to my ends and that's basically it.

no pomades, no shea butter, no mousse, no gels (not even aloe from the plant), no sprays, no leave-ins, no lotions, serums, curl activators, etc.

my hair is soft and my scalp is healthy with no itchiness or flakes.

you must have very healthy hair. i can't leave the house without either a ponytail, a hat, or products.

rainshower

orange wrote: »

rainshower wrote: »

i have 3c-4a hair and i do not use styling products of any kind.

i'm enjoying using a green clay paste with a few drops of oil mixed in as a natural scalp and hair cleanser. i add a few drops of apricot kernel oil to my ends and that's basically it.

no pomades, no shea butter, no mousse, no gels (not even aloe from the plant), no sprays, no leave-ins, no lotions, serums, curl activators, etc.

my hair is soft and my scalp is healthy with no itchiness or flakes.

you must have very healthy hair. i can't leave the house without either a ponytail, a hat, or products.

yes, it is. i keep my scalp healthy and clean and keep my ends trimmed regularly. aside from a little natural oil that i apply to condition my hair, i don't need anything else.

i will add that i don't wear my hair in a cut or salon style. this allows me to get away with not having to use styling products because i don't have a precision cut to maintain.

over the years, i've grown my hair out to one length all around, which is very easy for me to maintain. i wear my hair in a giant twisted updo secured with a clamp, or in pocahantas plaits, or in jumbo 2-strand twists. these are simple styles that allow me to get away with not having to rely on styling products. a little water and oil and a soft brush is enough to slick down frizzies and keep them down most of the day.

OperaCurls

I've been using plain ol' conditioner and homemade flax seed gel on my hair for the last few days, and it makes my hair look fabulous and feels like I have no product on it at all, even when I'm applying it. If you have days where you want some hold and frizz control without sacrificing volume, this might just be the ticket. Here's the basic recipe:

1 cup water
4 tsp whole flax seeds
2 tsp - 1 Tbsp aloe vera gel (optional)

Bring water to boil, stir in flax seed and cook for 7 minutes. Strain immediately into a bowl, then return strained gel to heat for 3 - 5 minutes or to desired thickness. Let cool, then add aloe vera and whisk. Transfer to container and refrigerate. Lasts 1 - 2 weeks in fridge.

HTH

QuirkyYogini

Do you blowdry? Maybe try the pixiecurl method of diffusing. http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/showthread.php?t=34025&highlight=pixiecurl+method

You can even just diffuse partially, and that might help give you volume without frizz.

FeedYourHead

Hi MessyRosie--

Good to hear from another Seattleite!

I have my routine down to three products:

1. Nature's Gate Jojoba conditioner as a co-wash
2. AOHR as my conditioner
3. FOTE!

Strictly speaking, I don't use any styling products either--though I do scrunch the FOTE into my hair like you would a gel.

Zoyia

Hi Messyrosie, where do you buy the Faith in nature products. I heard lot of good comments about this brand. I am willing to try but haven't found any store online for the US. I am in florida

Do you find the conditioners moisturizing enough?
Do you thing it's enough moisture for a normal to dry 4a that is fine but very dense?

About the shampoo do they clean well, lather a lot or about the same as other natural shampoo (most natural shampoos I tried do not lather very well and sometimes do not clean well either plus I have an oily scalp)

Which one did you like and didn't like?
Aloe
Ginko bilboa
Lavender & geranium
Chocolate
Jojoba
hemp & Meadowfoam
Neem propolis
rosemary
Seaweed
tea tree

Also about the scent: soft, too much or just about right (I am super scent sensitive)

Thanks in advance for your review

ninja dog

I hate the feeling od gels, mooses and all those other nasty chemicals in my hair.

Moose wouldn't feel good in my hair, either. All those legs and fur and everything.

Curly Girl Fla

ninja dog wrote: »

I hate the feeling od gels, mooses and all those other nasty chemicals in my hair.

Moose wouldn't feel good in my hair, either. All those legs and fur and everything.

I've been DYING to write a moose comment somewhere for days, now-it seems the critters are popping up all over the boards-well they and the infamous mouse, too. I really needed that laugh!

ninja dog

They're really better off left in nature, and not forced to assist us in having perfect curls. Sad, but true.

irishprincess

MessyRosie-
One member suggested a mix of I believe it was 1 squirt KY and 2 squirts aloe vera gel in 8 oz. water put in a spray bottle. (Either that or 2 squirts KY and 1 AVG). She uses it for her fine hair as a kind of spray gel because she has to keep her products light. Good luck on your quest!

rymorg2

I'm finding that it's the DIFFUSER I need more than the products. I don't use product on a regular basis at all.

kema1v

Hi Zoyia,
I've tried a Faith in Nature conditioner (Hemp & Meadowfoam) and didn't find it very moisturising. It's quite light but it is good for co-washing. I really like the scent of lemon and ginger and don't find it too strong. But if you're looking for something moisturising and not strongly scented then it's probably not for you!

Zoyia

Thanks kema1v for the review

swirlygirl

when you ladies use the apricot kernel oil is it when your ends are wet or after they are dry?

rainshower, what clay are you using?