It has taken me DECADES to finally embrace my textured hair. I put my poor locks through the ringer all throughout middle & high school, college and beyond. Years of straightening and heat and damage led to me chopping all of my hair off nearly five years ago and it was the best possible decision I ever could have made for my hair.
Fast forward to today and I gotta say, I love my curls. But even more than that, I love that I love my curls. I no longer try to hide my natural texture because another style is prettier/more accepted/etc. It’s taken me a while to get here and it’s also taken me quite a while to find products that serve my hair. I made the mistake in the beginning of just sticking to products that I saw other curly girls post on social media. I realized later in my journey that everyone’s curls are different and everyone’s curls need different products to thrive – and that’s okay. So, I’ll preface today’s post with this – what works for me might not work for you. This combination has taken me months of trial and error, swapping out different products and trying new things. I encourage you to try out a few of the products below and also be patient as you discover the products that work best for your curls & textured locs. This routine also might change in a few months but as of right now, these are the things my curls seem to respond the best to so I of course had to share
My Favorite Curly Hair Products | Vol. 3
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
This product is probably my most essential. My curls are color treated (surprise – I’m not a natural ashy platinum blonde lol). My stylist and I only touchup my color twice a year and when we do, it’s a slow and long process. We don’t just pour a bunch of bleach and tone. I’m usually in the chair for 6+ hours but it’s worth it to know we’re taking the safest approach to protective the curls. Even so, I like to use the Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector at home at least once per week to repair and strengthen. I usually let it sit for a a few hours if I have time but even just leaving it in for 3-5 minutes goes a long way. Highly recommend this for anyone with color treated or dry/damaged curls.
Aluram Coconut Water Based Purple Shampoo
The second most essential product for my ashy/platinum blonde girls out there – a good purple shampoo. I love LOVE the Aluram Purple Shampoo. It’s sulfate free and literally transforms any yellow/brassy pieces into ashy blonde tendrils. It’s incredible. Warning for any first time users – the purple shampoo is a deep purple when it comes out of the bottle. It shocked me the first time and did leave my hands a little purple before I rinsed. But no worries – it does not stain!
Carol’s Daughter Coco Creme Curl Quenching Conditioner
I’ll be honest – I tend to use a different conditioner every few months. I love the Carol’s Daughter Coco Creme Curl Quenching Conditioner though and it’s usually a staple I always have on hand. Not only does it smell incredible but it leaves my dryer/color treated curls feeling soft and hydrated after every use.
Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In Conditioner
If you’re not using a leave in conditioner, you need to grab one asap. I personally love Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In Conditioner. It’s one of the first products that I found works really well for my curls and haven’t looked back since. I use this for both styling my curls and when I’m just pulling my hair back into a bun. It’s lightweight and does have a heavenly blueberry scent. My curls just feel so much more hydrated when I use this product.
Paul Mitchell Neon Sugar Cream Braid Cream
Hear me out. I know this product says braid cream but my stylist used this on my curls last time I was in the chair and my curls have literally never looked better. I use a small amount of the Paul Mitchell Neon Sugar Cream Braid Cream on sections of my hair as I’m styling/twisting/raking my curls and they turn out SO good. They’re soft but defined which is exactly the vibe I’m going for.
The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam
I think the The Doux Mousse Def Texture Foam is the holy grail for my defined curls. I apply a small amount in tangent with the Paul Mitchell Sugar Cream to sections in my hair before I rake/twist individual pieces (usually just round the crown of my hair) and just love the results. Unlike other mousses I’ve used in the past, this product doesn’t leave my hair feeling crunchy or stiff. A little goes a long way and provides such a great hold for long lasting curls!
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