Advice about hair products for curly hair.

**dragoose01** · December 17th, 2021, 03:33 PM

Hello! I am searching for advice/general knowledge. So, I have noticed that my hair actually has more defined curls when I don't put anything in it and my scalp doesn't get itchy, but my hair gets frizzy. It feels like if any product touches my scalp, I end up with a very itchy scalp.

I currently use Viori rice water shampoo and conditioner bars, which I feel like my hair likes. It seems to help with hair fall and such.
I also was using the Mielle rosemary mint daily styling creme and TRESemme flawless curls mousse.
For oils, I use the Mielle rosemary mint scalp and hair strengthening hair oil and the mane choice multi-vitamin scalp nourishing hair growth oil. I recently started using coconut oil maybe like once a week.

I am currently taking a break from the styling creme and mousse. I use the oil maybe 2-3x a week.

So my question is do any of my fellow curly haired people have any advice concerning products? Or about growing out your curly hair in general?
Thank you for taking the time to read!

**shelomit** · December 17th, 2021, 03:46 PM

Sounds like you are dealing with a sensitive scalp but happy lengths. Are able to wash it with something/apply a product without allowing it to touch your scalp at all? This depends somewhat on texture/thickness as well as length.

I'm a mere wurly, but I also find that my hair looks/feels its best without any products. Rinse-out oil before washing helps a little bit with frizziness, but that's a battle I've never completely won.

**lapushka** · December 17th, 2021, 04:26 PM

Was there a time, like say before you went into curly methods, where your scalp was happier? Do you recall? Only asking because you probably are not the first one to switch over to say CO-washes or gentler shampoos and get a more problematic scalp.

**dragoose01** · December 17th, 2021, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by shelomit

Sounds like you are dealing with a sensitive scalp but happy lengths. Are able to wash it with something/apply a product without allowing it to touch your scalp at all? This depends somewhat on texture/thickness as well as length.

I'm a mere wurly, but I also find that my hair looks/feels its best without any products. Rinse-out oil before washing helps a little bit with frizziness, but that's a battle I've never completely won.

I think my hair type is 3b/m/ii maybe 3a/3bf/m/ii if that helps clarify anything with texture/thickness. I'm fairly new to learning all of the hair science things, so I never knew that there might be products that are best for my hair.

I am glad that someone else feels that their hair looks best without products. I feel like that idea goes against everything I had learned in the wavy/curly hair community groups, haha!
Do you feel that your hair stays healthier without using products? I worried that maybe since I decided to stop using products my hair/ends wouldn't get the right protection/moisture anymore and affect my hair growth.

**dragoose01** · December 17th, 2021, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by lapushka

Was there a time, like say before you went into curly methods, where your scalp was happier? Do you recall? Only asking because you probably are not the first one to switch over to say CO-washes or gentler shampoos and get a more problematic scalp.

It's hard to remember. I feel like I may have always had a slightly itchy scalp but had not noticed it as much until I started paying more attention to the products I use. I had an issue with dandruff growing up but it seemed to go away for a while. I really hadn't thought about it, but maybe you do have a point. Do you have any suggestions for maybe doing something different?

**lapushka** · December 17th, 2021, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by dragoose01

It's hard to remember. I feel like I may have always had a slightly itchy scalp but had not noticed it as much until I started paying more attention to the products I use. I had an issue with dandruff growing up but it seemed to go away for a while. I really hadn't thought about it, but maybe you do have a point. Do you have any suggestions for maybe doing something different?

Not really. Can't suggest something if your routine is a mystery to me.

I don't know if you CO-wash, sulfate wash, sulfate-free wash. Any of those things. But if you clarify wash (with a sulfate, preferably) at least once to twice a month, you should be fine.

If, however, you still have dandruff, even mild, once in a while, I would clarify with Head & Shoulders. Suds it up, let it sit for 2 minutes, suds it up some more, wash really well with it all, and rinse very well. That should work wonders already.

**dragoose01** · December 17th, 2021, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by lapushka

Not really. Can't suggest something if your routine is a mystery to me.

I don't know if you CO-wash, sulfate wash, sulfate-free wash. Any of those things. But if you clarify wash (with a sulfate, preferably) at least once to twice a month, you should be fine.

If, however, you still have dandruff, even mild, once in a while, I would clarify with Head & Shoulders. Suds it up, let it sit for 2 minutes, suds it up some more, wash really well with it all, and rinse very well. That should work wonders already.

oops! Sorry! I sulfate-free wash. I will definitely try the clarifying wash, thanks!

**lapushka** · December 18th, 2021, 03:34 PM

Originally Posted by dragoose01

oops! Sorry! I sulfate-free wash. I will definitely try the clarifying wash, thanks!

With some dandruff left (if any) that could be an issue in and of itself. See, dandruff means fungal overgrowth and that means you usually need a good cleansing agent, which sulfate-free does not always offer (not always). So clarifying at least 2 times a month and/or throwing an anti-dandruff shampoo in there once in a while might solve all of this.

**shelomit** · December 18th, 2021, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by dragoose01

I am glad that someone else feels that their hair looks best without products. I feel like that idea goes against everything I had learned in the wavy/curly hair community groups, haha!
Do you feel that your hair stays healthier without using products? I worried that maybe since I decided to stop using products my hair/ends wouldn't get the right protection/moisture anymore and affect my hair growth.

I don't think that my hair is necessarily healthier without products, but it is definitely better-looking (IMO) and easier to manage. Pretty much any styling product, even in the most miniscule amount, breaks my hair up out of its locks and into little limp greasy strands--which, yes, is pretty much the opposite of the received wisdom on "textured" hair.

It doesn't seem like limited protection for your ends would affect hair growth at all, but it could affect length retention; i.e., it's possible the hair could get very brittle at the tips and crumble away from the bottom at the same rate that it grows from the scalp. Anecdotally, most people I see here complaining about very brittle ends ascribe them either to dyes/relaxers/perms, growing out old heat damage, or stress from elastic ponytail holders. If you're worried about retaining moisture in your ends, you could always try 1) using some moisture-sealing product only on the very tippy-tip-tips of your hair and leaving the rest alone, or 2) keeping regular track of your hair length to see if you are indeed gaining length. Measuring, sadly, is always a little more complicated for curlies ) :