Help me find a styling product!

[Eolan]

Okay, so I need something that will help tame my flyaways/frizz/sticky outy hairs. It would also be nice if it provided some hold. This might mean that I am looking for two products.

Some background information that might be good:

I would like the product(s) to be conefree, since I am conefree and SLS free. My hair is fine both with and without these products, but I have found that my scalp is so much happier without them. I have psoriasis on the scalp and have not had an outbreak in months, eventhough we have a severe winter here right now. I'd like to keep it that way.

I have tried oils, aloe vera, Nightbloomings Panacea and combinations of them, and although I love them for moisture, they do absolutely nothing for styling. My hair also gets oily easy. I have tried shea butter, it was hard to get on my hair, made it sticky and greasy.

I have tried Jon Masters Organics hairgel. It was pricey, did not hold and gave me white flakes in my hair.

I live in Sweden. Alot of the brands that are awailable in the US (especially cheap drugstore brands) are not awailable here, unless I can by them online.

Due to taper because of a shed last year, I am about to do quite a big cut. This will mean that I will have faceframing layers, as the most significant taper is around my face. I am also considering getting some long layers in the back.
I have always thought I had stick straight hair. I have always been told I have stick straight hair. It's not true. I have some waves. I'd like to work with them if possible, and a product of some kind would sertainly help.

I am open to both conventional and unconventional products. Sorry about the rant, but I hope I can get some help this way, and perhaps this thread will benefit someone else too.

Thanks, LHC! :flower:

[Eolan]

Awww, no one? :(

[Nae]

Awww, no one? :(

Sorry Eolan, I am thinking about it, but your first post knocked out all my ideas. :( That and I am not too sure what hair products are typical in Sweden. Are their some popular brand names that you see in stores that might help jog some thoughts?

[lapushka]

I use this one. Same packaging as in my country, though the name is somewhat different. It does contain silicone, but it's pretty nice for controlling frizz. It doesn't always kill all the fluffy bits, but... can't complain.

Looked it up for you on a Swedish site.

got2be Smooth 'n Chic Smoothing Lotion:
http://eleven.se/en/got2b-smooth-n-chic-smoothing-lotion-8727.html

[suicides_eve]

For fly aways and frizz I use a super light hold hair spray. Nexus Comb Thru is my personal favorite.

As for cone free stuff I can only recomend the clear hair gel from the dollar general. I have curly hair and frizz is curse that follows me.

[jaine]

Max green alchemy scalp rescue sculpting gel!!!
It's cone free, has amazing hold, no flakes, paraben free with very natural ingredients, and they ship anywhere.

To get smooth shiny loosened waves in my hair I comb this gel through damp hair, part it how I want it to lie, and air-dry until my hair is hard without touching it, and finger-comb the crunch out. It's smoother than a blowout and gets all my random curly hairs in line with the others.

I can also use it to get smooth shiny frizz-free waves & curls - by scrunching it into soaking wet hair, blotting carefully with paper towels, let it air dry hard without touching it, then scrunch out the crunch when it's totally dry.

[jaine]

Ps. It is also possible to use my favorite gel on dry hair, which I do sometimes to touch up behead or smooth an updo, although I get shinier hair if I do it when my hair is still wet.

[lapushka]

I used Jessicurl styling products for a while before going back to cones. The gel without alcohol is amazing for hold but not so much for frizz, and so you need one of the other styling products for that, one's for thick hair, the other for finer hair.

[Eolan]

Sorry Eolan, I am thinking about it, but your first post knocked out all my ideas. :( That and I am not too sure what hair products are typical in Sweden. Are their some popular brand names that you see in stores that might help jog some thoughts?

All hair products are typical here! :) When it comes to brands, we have alot of the bigger brands, both cheap and pricey. There are probably billions of examples but I can't think of all of them... Some examples of the top of my head: L'oreal, Schwarchkopf, Matrix, Biosilk, Kerastase, Nexxus, Redken... Most pricey brands in my head, apparantly. :p What I meant was that alot of people on this sight uses what appears to be local brands that I have never heard of. Also, thank you for your concern. :D


I use this one. Same packaging as in my country, though the name is somewhat different. It does contain silicone, but it's pretty nice for controlling frizz. It doesn't always kill all the fluffy bits, but... can't complain.

Looked it up for you on a Swedish site.

got2be Smooth 'n Chic Smoothing Lotion:
http://eleven.se/en/got2b-smooth-n-chic-smoothing-lotion-8727.html

How kind of you to look it up for me! I see that bottle everywhere, so if I reconcider the silicone thing I'll pick it up. Thank's!


For fly aways and frizz I use a super light hold hair spray. Nexus Comb Thru is my personal favorite.

As for cone free stuff I can only recomend the clear hair gel from the dollar general. I have curly hair and frizz is curse that follows me.

Nexxus I have heard good about. The Dollar Store we don't have. :) Thank you!


Max green alchemy scalp rescue sculpting gel!!!
It's cone free, has amazing hold, no flakes, paraben free with very natural ingredients, and they ship anywhere.

To get smooth shiny loosened waves in my hair I comb this gel through damp hair, part it how I want it to lie, and air-dry until my hair is hard without touching it, and finger-comb the crunch out. It's smoother than a blowout and gets all my random curly hairs in line with the others.

I can also use it to get smooth shiny frizz-free waves & curls - by scrunching it into soaking wet hair, blotting carefully with paper towels, let it air dry hard without touching it, then scrunch out the crunch when it's totally dry.

Sounds nice! Thank you!


I used Jessicurl styling products for a while before going back to cones. The gel without alcohol is amazing for hold but not so much for frizz, and so you need one of the other styling products for that, one's for thick hair, the other for finer hair.

I guess I could look up a chepo gel here, since the chepo once often don't have cones. Thank's for the inspiration!

[jaine]

Sounds nice! Thank you!

Np, I think you will love it :) I even have a picture of what my hair looks like with the max green alchemy gel + air-dry method that I love so much ... I apologize it's not a close-up but there were no visible sticky-outy hairs, and no frizz at all. just be careful not to bother it while it's drying. A fan helps. I like to dry it at night since the smooth effect lasts for 3 or 4 days easily in my hair, especially with a satin pillowcase or satin sleep cap.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6736&pictureid=89707

for comparison here's a picture of all of my sticky-outy new hairs if I don't use the gel (this was a professional blowout actually... I was surprised that my own air-drying method got my hair much smoother and more shiny)
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=6736&pictureid=91934

and also a picture of how frizzy my hair is if I don't use ANY products :D
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=4650&pictureid=88456

[Delila]

I like the George Michael InStar styling spray, it removes with just water, so buildup's not an issue. Not sure it's available where you live, but I thought I'd mention it just the same.

[Kaijah]

I want to recommend Biotera gel, (http://www.amazon.com/Biotera-Styling-Firm-Hold-13-5/dp/B001KYU8KM) but I have no idea if you'll be able to get it other than online. It's cheap, a good consistency, gives good hold, and is only mildly scented (clean, kind of generic hair product scent).

Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee (http://www.amazon.com/Biosilk-Rock-Hard-6-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001EWF1OS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1293761120&sr=8-3) has A LOT of hold, so you could mix it with something else (like aloe gel or a bit of conditioner) to add moisture and help keep away the crunchy feel. It has a lot of protein in it, so you'd have to watch for dry hair if you're protein sensitive.

Other than that, the Herbal Essences gels are okay. Their Set Me Up (http://www.drugstore.com/qxp159844/herbal_essences/set_me_up_gel_max_hold.htm) Gel is pretty good, but I liked the Body Envy (http://www.drugstore.com/qxp159835/herbal_essences/body_envy_weightless_volumizing_gel.htm?fromsrch=b ody+envy) one more. Their other gel had silicones in it, so I never tried it... I think it was called Totally Twisted.

Hopefully some of that stuff is actually available to you... :o

[Eolan]

Np, I think you will love it :)

Yeah, I think I will after having seen your hair. It's gorgeous! And what a explicit and nice explanation, very kind of you.


I like the George Michael InStar styling spray, it removes with just water, so buildup's not an issue. Not sure it's available where you live, but I thought I'd mention it just the same.

I don't know either, it might or it might not. Thank you either way! As I said in my first post, this thread might also help someone else. I hope so!


I want to recommend Biotera gel, (http://www.amazon.com/Biotera-Styling-Firm-Hold-13-5/dp/B001KYU8KM) but I have no idea if you'll be able to get it other than online. It's cheap, a good consistency, gives good hold, and is only mildly scented (clean, kind of generic hair product scent).

Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee (http://www.amazon.com/Biosilk-Rock-Hard-6-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001EWF1OS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1293761120&sr=8-3) has A LOT of hold, so you could mix it with something else (like aloe gel or a bit of conditioner) to add moisture and help keep away the crunchy feel. It has a lot of protein in it, so you'd have to watch for dry hair if you're protein sensitive.

Other than that, the Herbal Essences gels are okay. Their Set Me Up (http://www.drugstore.com/qxp159844/herbal_essences/set_me_up_gel_max_hold.htm) Gel is pretty good, but I liked the Body Envy (http://www.drugstore.com/qxp159835/herbal_essences/body_envy_weightless_volumizing_gel.htm?fromsrch=b ody+envy) one more. Their other gel had silicones in it, so I never tried it... I think it was called Totally Twisted.

Hopefully some of that stuff is actually available to you... :o

Everything that is available online is available to me, as long as they ship to the cold north! :D Thank you!

[virgo75]

I want to recommend Biotera gel, (http://www.amazon.com/Biotera-Styling-Firm-Hold-13-5/dp/B001KYU8KM) but I have no idea if you'll be able to get it other than online. It's cheap, a good consistency, gives good hold, and is only mildly scented (clean, kind of generic hair product scent).

Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee (http://www.amazon.com/Biosilk-Rock-Hard-6-Ounce-Bottles/dp/B001EWF1OS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1293761120&sr=8-3) has A LOT of hold, so you could mix it with something else (like aloe gel or a bit of conditioner) to add moisture and help keep away the crunchy feel. It has a lot of protein in it, so you'd have to watch for dry hair if you're protein sensitive.

Other than that, the Herbal Essences gels are okay. Their Set Me Up (http://www.drugstore.com/qxp159844/herbal_essences/set_me_up_gel_max_hold.htm) Gel is pretty good, but I liked the Body Envy (http://www.drugstore.com/qxp159835/herbal_essences/body_envy_weightless_volumizing_gel.htm?fromsrch=b ody+envy) one more. Their other gel had silicones in it, so I never tried it... I think it was called Totally Twisted.

Hopefully some of that stuff is actually available to you... :o


2nd Herbal Essences Set Me Up Gel.
It works well and is affordable.
It also doesn't seem to flake or make my hair really dry(which most gels do for me).

I have tried teh Totally Twisted and it didn't seem to have much hold at all. It was like putting good smelling water in my hair. :p

Good luck with your hair styling. :flower:

[Eolan]

2nd Herbal Essences Set Me Up Gel.
It works well and is affordable.
It also doesn't seem to flake or make my hair really dry(which most gels do for me).

I have tried teh Totally Twisted and it didn't seem to have much hold at all. It was like putting good smelling water in my hair. :p

Good luck with your hair styling. :flower:

Haha, I can relate to the good smelling water thing. :) Thank you for your input.

I am currently trying out a chepo gel that I got from my local supermarket. I think it's their own brand and it cost me practically nothing. All okay stuff in it, so I'm hoping it'll work. I'll report back!