Suzanne Schroeder

My Thanksgiving Day is spent mostly getting ready for the meal. It is all hustle-bustle to get the food to the table. There is always the last-minute carving of the turkey by my dad and a mad rush to get the chairs pulled to the table. Once we all get to the table we do what I imagine most families do. Pray, eat and talk about what we are thankful for. All of the “giving thanks” is thoughtful and funny. We all realize how lucky we are to have our freedom, health and loved ones in our daily existence. I am thinking this year I am going to give thanks for my curls. I don’t think once at Thanksgiving have the curlies spoken about their curls. My dad and brother are the only curlies besides myself at the table. They both keep their curls very short and have very little experience dealing with the real power of curls. Superficial as it might sound at first, curls represent a bigger world than what is just on my head. Acceptance of anything that is not the “norm” is the beginning of peace with oneself and the rest of the world.

Most curlies have struggled for a very long time with managing their hair. Whether it is worn curly, twisted, straightened, in a weave, relaxed, pressed, ironed, blown out or always pulled back in a ponytail, the love for curls is a rocky road. Hair is so tightly connected to our self-esteem. I am thankful that I have curly hair not only because it is unique but because it automatically connects me to other amazing curlies. There is an immediate mutual understanding of the struggles involved with having curly hair. We all are very aware of the humidity and dew points. We all have history with good and bad haircuts. The joys and struggles with hair care products and second-day hair are universal. An immediate understanding that swimming, riding in a convertible car, and being caught in a rainstorm can all be a potential curl disaster. I am thankful for the honesty and support that all the other curlies have offered me in my life.

I am also thankful, of course, for NaturallyCurly.com and all that goes with the site. I have had those bad hair days and found myself wanting to click my heels together, Dorothy-style, to get back to NaturallyCurly.com. I have found answers, ideas, products and a huge amount of support from all the curlies on the site. I am also thankful for the stylists who have embraced cutting curly hair bravely and with enthusiasm. They have made so many of us happy with our curls. I hope I never have to endure another bad haircut or the blow out that never looks right. I am also inspired by the women that have taken their curls to high places and become icons in our world. Seeing women with curly hair develop curly hair care product lines, opening salons, writing curly hair blogs, interviewed in magazines, on NPR and in newspapers thrills me. Actors, athletes, musicians, writers, models, all the YouTube videos made by curlies and curlies in everyday life always offers me inspiration and a feeling of embracing everyones unique differences.

As I am looking for new and exciting pie recipes and emailing my mom about the grocery lists, I am also thinking about my turn at the table to give thanks. I hope it is a good hair day!

Healthy curls are what we all want, but that is not the day-to-day reality for many of us. It can be a frustrating struggle to get those frizz-free, defined and bouncy curls. Yet it is necessary to our self-esteem to feel good about how our curls look. We spend lots of money and time trying to get our curls looking great and feeling healthy. Loving your curls on the good hair days is easy. Figuring out how to get fewer bad hair days is the challenge. As I was answering my CurlySuzy emails the other day, I had this “moment” while looking at all the subject lines from Curlies needing advice. I was struck by the humor and the honesty of so many Curlies. Here are a few of them. It is a poem of curly despair.

HELP! My hair is driving me crazy!

• Stubborn dry hair
• Sad and confused
• Help for damaged blond highlights
• Menopausal hair
• SOS — curls with multiple personalities
• Blending Multiple Hair Types
• Help! Big hair with a curl and wave
• Fried hair
• At a loss, with my curls
• Frizzy poufy hair
• Curl crazy
• Curly vs straight
• Curl catastrophes
• Help needed for a curly mess…
• Schizophrenic hair
• Hair’s a nightmare
• Split ends galore
• Help!!
• Frustrated curly girl
• Hair needing some direction
• Mature, fine & thinning curly hair
• Help with humidity!
• Dryness
• Overwhelmed!
• Help for my overly porous hair…please

Curly hair is a part of who we are. It is always changing from day to day. Our love for products is fleeting and obsessive at the same time because of this.

What would help all of us get through the frustration is some extra-time deep conditioning. Sitting down once a week for 30 minutes with your favorite deep conditioner on your curls. Doing this works wonders for dry curls and curls that need a jump start. Your products will work better and the frizz is diminished right away. Take that 30 minutes and relax. I know I hardly ever do that once a week. My relaxing time is mostly when I am sleeping. We all need to stay healthy and keep our curls healthy as well. Slowing down and treating ourselves to a deep conditioning session with heat will soothe our curls.

When I take my 30 minutes for my curls I sit under my hooded dryer and read. Sometimes I do yoga with a hat on, letting my body heat warm up the conditioner. Using the Heat Therapy Wrap works well too. Try to use that 30 minutes just for yourself and your curls.

I know when my curls start getting frizzy and too big I am burning that candle at both ends. Curl are complicated, frustrating and glorious all at the same time, just like our lives. I am thrilled on a good hair day and still disturbed on a bad one. Usually my curls are trying to tell me something on those bad days.

That something is: slow down and relax. Take some time for yourself and your curls.

Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioner

Top favorite deep conditioners:

• Arbre de Vie Shea Hot Oil Treatment
• Blended Beauty Herbal Reconditioner
• DevaCurl Heaven In Hair
  HPO Butter Drops
• MYHoneyChild Olive You Deep Conditioner
• Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioner
• CURLS Curl Ecstasy Hair Tea Conditioner
• First Aid Kit
• Curl Junkie Hibiscus & Banana Deep Fix Moisturizing Conditioner

To cut or not to cut. That used to be the ongoing conflict with me. Once I would decide it is time for a cut or a trim I was in for another dilemma. Should I do it myself? Then I would remember I threw away my scissors after a late-night cut that was a slight disaster. I had purchased the scissors trying to fix my curls after a bad salon haircut. My curls looked worse rather than better when I left the salon.

We as curlies have all had this experience at some point in our lives. I have always had to schedule an appointment on days where I had at least 2 free hours following my cut in case I had to repair the damages of a styling nightmare. Walking into a salon with a sense of pure dread was the usual emotion. I think it gets right down to an honesty and communication issue in the salon.

Honesty is complicated. In situations like “honey do these jeans make me look fat?” or “do my curls look too frizzy today?”, I want a combination of honesty and a bit of fibbing. The perfect response would be something like “you look great but those jeans aren’t my favorite” and “your hair looks super today except there are a few curls misbehaving”. I know this is borderline fantasy, but wouldn’t it be great?

My fantasy comes to a halt immediately when I walk into a salon. How many times have we been told by a stylist “your hair looks fantastic” and it looks awful after it has been cut and styled. Or we got a haircut that we did not ask for. The curls are too short or have big gaps. One side looks different than the other, and the curls were forced into a semi-straight style that you know will just expand and frizz. I have had a lot of bad hair cuts. Sitting in a chair in a salon I now want complete honesty and good communication from the stylist.

The best way that I have learned to get a good, yes, even amazing, curly hair cut, is to be prepared. Do some research. Use the NaturallyCurly.com Salon Search. Ask a curly girl who has fantastic hair where she gets it cut. Once you have a person in mind, go into that salon with a purpose. Make sure it is a good hair day for you. You should walk in there with the best curls you can get. Bring photos of what you want. Tell them exactly what you are hoping for. Be specific about how you style your curls and your drying routine. Then explain your curls. Include information about shrinkage and disparity in curl springiness. Show the stylists your different curl types in different places. Explain the beautiful uniqueness of all your curls.

Then ask a lot of questions before they get the scissors on your curls. Ask if they are going to cut your curls wet, dry or a combination of both. Ask where and how much they plan to cut. You have to have a clear picture of the plan. If you don’t or you are getting a bad feeling about it, stand up and leave that salon. Do not sacrifice your curls to another bad hair cut. There are a lot of good curly stylists out there; you just have to be sure about the one you find. Be honest with what you want and expect total honesty from the stylist.

I learned all of this when I had my first great curly haircut. Christo from the Curlisto Salon came to Texas for a NaturallyCurly.com event. The first thing I noticed was how great the woman’s curls looked who had just gotten up from his chair. Her hair looked perfect. I then watched him cut and style another curly and, again, super. When it was my appointment time, I talked to him. I explained my curls and showed him a picture. He listened, looked and touched my hair a lot before we even got started. He then told me exactly what he was going to do. He cut a few long layers in the back and sides. He cut a few shorter layers around my face and that was it. He then used products explaining what they were for and how much to use them. After he dried my hair with a diffuser it was really unbelievable. I loved it. I now knew what a good haircut was all about.

Since then I have found other stylists who can do this. I have learned to take the haircut experience into my own hands and find the stylist who likes curly hair and knows how to cut it and style it. There are several different techniques for cutting and styling curly hair that are fantastic. The trick is to find a stylist and a method that you feel comfortable with. Curly hair is hard to cut and style correctly. We know this better than anyone. A stylist that can do this is so important. They are out there, just a little harder to find. When you do find one spread the word and say a huge thank you to them!

Can it really be time to start thinking about back to school and fall weather? In the north you might be getting ready to enjoy the end of the season with those beautiful Indian summer nights. In south, where we are, I can only think about the fall weather as something in the distant future. What we all have in common, though, is healing our summer curls.

Whether your summer included a great vacation in the tropics, mini weekend getaways or a stay-cation, the curls were in the summer elements. The pool, beach and summer humidity have most likely left your their mark on your locks. To begin preparing for Fall the first step would be to do some rescue treatments for your thirsty and parched curls. Our First Aid Kit has all you need to start this. Give your dry and damaged curls the love they need. Lots of deep conditioning is a great place to begin. Deep Conditioners and Oils tend to be thicker and more moisturizing than a daily conditioner. Be sure to leave on the deep conditioner or oils on for 30 minutes with heat. The heat swells the cuticle and allows the conditioner to better penetrate the hair shaft. Get a magazine or book and put a conditioning treatment in your curls. Cover your curls with a cap and sit under a dryer or use the a Hair Therapy Wrap. Your curls will say a big thank you.

My Favorite Deep Conditioners

• First Aid Kit
• Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment
• Curl Junkie Hibiscus Banana Deep Fix Moisturizing Conditioner
• Curlisto Deep Therapy Masque
• MYHoneyChild Olive You Deep Conditioner
• Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment
• DevaCurl Heaven in Hair
• HPO Butter Drops
• Hair Therapy Wrap
• Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner
• Ouidad Deep Treatment Intensive Conditioner

Once the cool weather does finally arrive, you should have your curly cold weather routine ready. The key is to plan ahead. In the fall and winter, you will need to replenish the moisture in your curls. The extreme cold temperatures outside and the dry indoor heating are going to pull all of the precious moisture out of your curls.

Washing your hair less often or co-washing to keep as much moisture in your hair is a good way to begin taking care of your winter curls and waves. Lots of conditioners should be ready and waiting in your cabinets.

Next, it is time to start switching from your summer styling products to the cold weather line up. In doing this there are a few things to consider. When you are cleansing less and co-washing, the styling products you should avoid are ones that will cause a lot of build-up.

Ingredients that have a high wax and resin content, heavy oils and non-water soluble silicones are going to cause build-up. The best plan for product build-up is to avoid it in the first place. Be a label and ingredient reader. Another quick way to know if a product will cause a lot of build-up is if you can’t wash a product off your hands with cool water easily, then it’s not going to come out of your hair easily, either. Rich creams, puddings, custards and leave-in conditioners with lots of humectants and butters are going to be great. Curl refreshing sprays and pomades are super winter products as well.

Fall and Winter Conditioners:

• Curl Junkie Curl Theory Moisturizing Hair Conditioner
• Curls Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner
• DevaCurl One Condition
• HPO Spa Hair Conditioner
• Jessicurl Too Shea Extra Moisturizing Conditioner
• MYHoneyChild HoneyNutt Conditioner
• Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner

Fall and Winter Styling Products:

Leave-in conditioners

• Kinky Curly Knot Today
• Curl Junkie Curl Assurance LEave-in Conditioner
• John Masters Organics Neroli Detangler
• Long Lovely Locks Coco Light
• Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Milk

Creams, puddings and custards

• Kinky Curly Curling Custard
• Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme
• Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding
• Curl Junkie Coffee Coco Curl Creme
• MOP C-Curl Curl Defining Cream
• AG Re:coil
• Oyin Handmade Whipped Pudding

Refreshing sprays and pomades

• Blended Beauty Kick for Curls Aloe Juice Spritz
• Devacurl Mist-er Right
• Curl Junkie Curl Fuel Curl Enhancing Spray
• Curls Quenched Curls Moisturizer
• Kinky Curly Gloss Pomade
• MOP Glisten High Shine Pomade
• Oyin Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade
• Wild Woozle Tiare Pommade

In addition to products for the winter months you can also re-think how your hair is going to dry. That sunshine and warm air are gone for air drying your curls. Absorbent smooth towels and a diffuser for your hair dryer are what you need for the cold weather.

With all these changes in climate and your curly routine it may take a few weeks to get your winter curls looking the way you want them to. In the meantime, keep a cute hat or a cloth hair tie in your bag for curl emergencies.

Some curlies may want to experiment with a new fall hair style by planning once a week to establish a curl pattern by re-twisting curls in sections and then taking it out. There are lots to choose from, like a twist-out, coil-out, double strand twist, bantu knot or braid-out, recommends Titi Branch of Miss Jessie’s. Keep these styles safe by wearing a satin cap or sleeping on a satin pillowcase, she adds.

Right now we are all wishing for some cool autumn breezes. In the meantime, getting your curls ready for them is what August is for.

Fall and winter curly extras:

• DevaCurl DevaFuser Kit
• Professional Finger Diffuser
• Curls Like Us Cloth
• Curl-ease Towel
• Charmeuse Satin Pillowcase

Move over, summer reading list, and make way for the Favorite Curly Celebrities, the Best Curly Columnist and all the Best Curly products with NaturallyCurly’s Best of the Best list. You will be happy to see some of your favorites and will be inspired to try some new products that you may have wondered about.

Having curly hair and trying new products is an ongoing project. I am constantly reading product labels, product reviews, curly hair blogs and magazine articles to find out about curly styling products. NaturallyCurly’s Best of the Best now tops my list.

Since I have become so obsessed with hair products, I can’t go to the drugstore, Target or grocery store without a quick trip down the hair-care aisle. I always notice people with really great curls and wonder what their secret is? What are their favorite products? But there is always room for more, which is why Best of the Best is so much fun.

What keeps me interested in all of this is my ever-changing curly hair. My products and my curls never stay the same. I used to think that there was one perfect combination that I could use every day, with never a worry about the weather or frizz. My bathroom cabinet would have a clean, minimalist look.

Now, I know this is impossible. We all have our favorites and lots of them. Instead of the clean, empty bathroom cabinet, I have the categorized cabinet: one row for humidity, another for dry cold weather.

The list continues, as all curlies know. Looking at the Best of the Best I am rethinking what I have and what I want to try. As the dog days of summer drag on, I plan to keep going down the Best of the Best list throughout the summer.

Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment

My eye goes first to the deep conditioners on the Best of the Best list. My highlights are looking a little frizzy, and I need to spend 30 minutes doing a conditioning treatment. Those topping the list are: Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner, Ouidad Deep Treatment Intensive Conditioner and Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment.

I tried Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Conditioner first and was thrilled. It’s definitely one of the best deep conditioners. I already really like the Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment and agree it is another good deep conditioner. The Ouidad is next on the list, and I love this stuff! My hair was dramatically different. It’s well worth the price.

All three of the Best of the Best mousses — Joico JoiWhip, Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam and Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse — are new to me, so I am going to see how I like those.

Then I will move on to the leave-in conditioners. All this summer heat has my curls begging for more moisture, and Kinky-Curly Knot Today, Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Milk and Giovanni Direct Leave-in Weightless Moisture Conditioner all sound like amazing products.

I will keep you posted about where my Best of the Best journey takes me, and whether I’ve found any new Holy Grail products. Stay tuned.

Dear CurlySuzy writes articles on ingredients and finding the right products for your curls.

Summer is nearly here. Thoughts of white jeans and tropical drinks are welcome after months spent in sweaters and indoor heating. The weather is changing from dry and cold to warm and humid. And your hair routine has to change as well.

It is time to really listen to your curls. If you have a lot of tangles, your locks are feeling rough and there is breakage, you need some serious rescue from the winter wear and tear. And you need to protect your locks from the stresses yet to come from summer sun, chlorine and salt water.

Our First Aid Kit

Healthy, moisturized hair at the beginning of the summer is the best way to combat the dreaded frizz. To help you, NaturallyCurly.com has developed a First Aid Kit for your curls. The five products in the kit are all about rescue and replenishment.

• HPO Happy Scalp is a rich blend of oils to sooth your scalp and get rid of product build up.
• AG Split End Spa is damage control for the frayed ends, and it also protects hair color from the summer sun.
• Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment is the perfect rich, rejuvenating conditioner for the summer.
• Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioner strengthens and adds serious moisture to your curls, preparing them for the summer.
• Arbre de Vie Shea Hot Oil Treatment will reduce breakage and leave your curls shiny and healthy.

The First Aid Kit is a great smart way to get your curls ready and healthy for the summer. Now that you have gotten your new summer season hair routine organized, you can breath a sigh of relief.

But what do you do with your hair at the pool or beach? We all know the curly challenges we face when we go swimming. There we are, outside in the sun and salt air, without a dryer, mirror or our HG products. What’s a curly girl to do? The very idea of it is enough to keep a curly girl like me away from water.

But there is another option. Along with water, a trashy novel, and sunscreen, I keep my beach bag well stocked with curly products, and some tips for keeping my curls looking good:

• • Use products that contain SPF protection or high levels of shea butter, a natural sun shield. UV protection sprays are great, such as Ouidad Sun Shield Sun & Sport Leave-in Conditioner.
• • Wear a cute hat or scarf to protect your hair from sun and wind.
• • Have a good, manageable hair cut and hair style.
• • Get your hair wet and put conditioner in before swimming or spending time in the sun. Wet hair absorbs less salt or chlorine. Some conditioners to try include Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Daily Hair Conditioner, Curlisto Botanical Rinse, Curls Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner, Curly Hair Solutions Conditioner, Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner.
• • After swimming, rinse your hair. Chlorine and salt can make you hair very dry and brittle if it isn’t rinsed out.
• • Avoid washing your hair too often and use a mild non-sulfate cleanser. Some to try include Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo, Kinky-Curly Come Clean Moisturizing Shampoo, HPO Hair & Body Shampoo, Oyin Honey Wash, John Masters Organics Evening Primrose Shampoo.
• • Co-washing is a great summer routine using your favorite light conditioner.
• • Leave your conditioner in longer than usual when you are showering.
• • Add a leave-in conditioner to your hair styling routine. Some good ones to try include Curl Junkie Curl Assurance Leave-in Conditioner, Curly Hair Solutions Silk Leave-in Conditioner, Long Lovely Locks Coco Light, John Masters Organics Citrus Neroli Detangler and Kinky-Curly Knot Today.
• • Use styling products that are frizz fighters and are moisturizing.
• • Read labels; be sure your stylers are water-based. Product build-up will create limp, dry hair.
• • Limit your use of hot tools. Air dry, when possible.
• • Use moisturizing refreshing sprays midday or in the evening to tame and smooth your summer locks. Try Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Moisture Mist, Ouidad Botanical Boost, Curl Junkie Curl Fuel Curl Enhancing Spray, Blended Beauty Kick for Curls Aloe Juice Spritz, DevaCurl Mist-er Right, Innersense Sweet Spirit Leave-in Conditioner, Oyin Handmade Frank Juice and Jessicurl Awe Inspiraling Spray.
• • Deep conditioning your hair on a weekly basis will keep your hair well-moisturized. Alternate between hot-oil treatments and deep conditioning treatments. Some of my favorites are: Miss Jessies Rapid Recovery Treatment, MyHoneyChild Coconut Papaya Hair Paste, Blended Beauty Herbal Reconditioner, Curlisto Deep Therapy Masque, Curl Junkie Hibiscus Banana Deep Fix Moisturizing Conditioner and HPO Butter Drops.

---

Enter our First Aid Kit Contest

CurlySuzy has created a dreamy First Aid Kit, and we now have a contest to go with it! Tell us what has been your personal concoction for refreshing those parched summer curls? The four most creative answers win their own CurlySuzy’s First Aid Kit!

• Tell us about your concoction in a list format
• Enter between June 9 and June 16

Enter the contest at YouTube, Twitter, Facebook or CurlTalk .

Dear CurlySuzy writes articles on ingredients and finding the right products for your curls.

You have had a perfect curl day for your special occasion. Whether it is an updo, adding flowers or a special hair accessory, it has been a great hair day. You feel beautiful. By the end of the day, you are thinking “too bad my perfect curls won’t last for a few more days.”

Even more pressing: “How am I going to manage my curls tomorrow?” Bed-head — or second day hair — has a completely different meaning when curls are involved. How much do you really want your loved one to know about you and your curls in the morning? Most curlies would answer: “as little as possible!”

I have tried embracing the idea that my hair couldn’t look that bad in the morning. I imagine there will be a smile with cute amusement at the state of my curls. In a moment of complete denial, I have even had the thought that my curls could have that sexy wild look. At this point, reality comes crashing in. The special occasion curls are now frizzy, smashed and unruly, which can cause looks of shock and confusion. The reaction can be as unpredictable as the curls.

There are those rare magical mornings when the curls miraculously survive. I truly wish this upon all the curlies of the world. Many curlies are so thrilled about their super second day hair they admit to skipping the shower and saving those curls. “If I take a shower on one of these days, I might as well kiss my good hair day good-bye” says CurlTalker TC. CurlTalker Whatsercurl says, “I skip the shower. I’d rather stink than mess up my hair.”

One strategy to attaining second-day curls is sleeping on a satin pillowcase. Other curlies gather their curls in a scrunchie on the top of their head, a technique known as “The Pineapple.” CurlTalker Irish_Carrottop says “I am in love with pineappling! I love it because it doesn’t smoosh my curls when I sleep.”

Another possibility is plopping. CurlTalker Littleamazon says “I’ve heard a lot of good things about plopping (the thing where you wrap the t-shirt around your head right.) A friend of mine does it every night before bed and her hair comes out great!” I prefer a cuter method of using the Curl-Ease towel instead of a t-shirt. But really none of these options is very attractive.

If the the second-day hair miracle doesn’t occur, the pillowcase has failed you and the pineapple or plopping doesn’t pan out, here’s another plan of action. Try to revive the curls from last night. Wake up quietly, get your products and get busy. The trick is not to overdo it with products. A curl refresher spray can do wonders. Some curlies prefer water but that tends to cause more frizz for me. Spray the ends and the root area to add some life to the curls. If the frizz is really extreme, spray the product in the palms of your hands and smooth over your curls. These are some of my favorite curl refresher sprays.

Curl Junkie’s Curl Fuel

Blended Beauty’s Kick for Curls

MOP C-Curl Refreshing Spray

Jessicurl Awe Inspiraling Spray

Curlisto Curl Reform

DevaCurl Set It Free

Using a pomade or a light cream after the spray can activate the smashed areas and take away the frizz. Here are a few good ones to try

MOP Glisten High Shine Pomade

Curly Hair Solutions Tweek

Innersense Inner Peace Whipped Creme

Kinky-Curly Curling Custard (only if used the day before)

Jessicurl Rockin Ringlets mixed with Confident Coils

CurlTalker Plink suggests this method for applying products to second day hair: spritz hair with water (not too much), wet hands with water, put tiny dollop of product on palms and rub hands together, along with the water. Smooth over the canopy, like making a ponytail. Gently flip over and scrunch remaining product in, smoothing over canopy again if needed, but don’t pull at it. Once dry or mostly dry, SOTC (scrunch out the crunch).

If all else fails, be sure to have your favorite hat or scarf. Why all this crazy effort for my curls? I think they’re worth it. I will always have them in the back of my mind. I will always be trying new products and routines for them. Maybe there is a special curl-saving pillow that I don’t know about yet! How will I fit that in my bag? I’m sure I’ll find a way!

Editor’s Note: CurlyCurly answers your questions in her weekly Dear CurlySuzy and writes articles on ingredients and finding the right products for your curls.

Being healthy, buying natural products and living green are on the top of my “To Do” list. Earth Month, and watching the movie “An Arctic Tale” with my kids, reminds me that going green is the only way to go. I now take my own shopping bags to the grocery store, I use less energy in my house, and I ride my bike more.

Going green while still keeping my curls looking good is also on that “To Do” list. But that task is a little more challenging for me.

Of course I love trying new products and new styling routines. But doing that while going green takes some extra work. My bad hair days still haunt me. So I have to talk myself into alternating or maybe switching to products that aren’t in my Holy Grail arsenal. Some I will never give up, while others I replace with greener options.

CurlySuzy is doing her part to save polar bears.

I am trying to find that green healthy balance in my curly products. Thinking about the polar bears and their melting world seriously motivates me. Instead of reminding my kids to turn the lights off, I just say “polar bears.” So when it comes to going green with my hair, I think “polar bears” as I’m grabbing new products to try.

The good news is that I’ve found some great options. And I’d love to hear more from you if anyone wants to add comments or email me. So here are some helpful hints and some suggestions form my green shopping cart:

Helpful Hints

Become a Label Reader. Look for ingredients that you recognize as natural, such as essential oil, fruits, vegetables, herbs, coconut milk, honey, olive oil, and butters. If an ingredient is hard to pronounce it is more than likely hard on your hair too. Hair is super-absorbent, like our skin is, so try to avoid petroleum and petroleum derivatives, as well as phthalates, formaldehyde, parabens, hair dyes with carcinogenic coal tar and synthetic fragrances.

Look for seals and labels. Some good labels to look for include ECO-Cert, USDA Organic and CSC compact

Buy Big. Try to buy liter sizes and use a pump to get every last drop of that precious hair product.

Brrrr! Use cold water to rinse your hair. Save on energy while keeping your hair shafts closed and moisturized.

Read more about hair products in Naturallycurly.com’s CurlProducts section. We have lots of reviews and ingredient listings on all the products available from CurlMart and products that are sold in other stores, salons and drugstores.

Swap Products. Trade products that don’t work for you instead of throwing them away. Your mantra should be, trade away instead of throw away.

Curly Green Shopping List

MOP C (Modern Organic Products) has lots of organic ingredients and smells great too. The Curl Defining Cream accentuates and maintains the curls. I like to use it as a leave-in conditioner.

HPO (Happy People Only) is a new line for us that I just love. The name thrills me as much as the products do!
The Spa Hair Conditioner nourishes my curls with avocado and honey. It is my new very favorite conditioner.

John Masters Organics are gentle and healthy products filled with organic & natural ingredients. The non-sulfate Evening Primrose Shampoo is a good one for delicate, dry curly locks.

Oyin Handmade are natural products that focus on styling, nourishment and the health of hair and skin. The Honey Hemp Conditioner is a do-all conditioner. Use it as a daily conditioner, deep treatment or a leave-in.

Kinky-Curly, a line we can barely keep on the shelves. It is so popular and great for your hair. The Knot Today is a super-charged detangler and moisturizer. That marshmallow root must have some magic in it.

Curl Junkie products are super healthy and moisturizing. The Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment is a rejuvenating, restorative deep conditioner. Lots of healing butters and oils in this one.

Product is a simple and unique styling aid. It works well with all hair types and lengths. Perfect for fly-aways and split ends. Leaves hair soft, smooth and healthy.

MYHoneyChild products are one step away from needing to go in your refrigerator. They are full of the healthy green ingredients. The HoneyNutt Scalp Cleanser is a gentle shampoo that will leave your curls soft and shiny.

Innersense Organic Beauty has lots to choose from. My favorite is the Inner Reflection Finishing Polish. It is adds shine and a flexible hold to any curly style.

Arbre de Vie Shea Hot Oil Treatment is a nutritious treatment to hydrate your curls. Take 30 minutes out of your day for this one.

Little Sprout for babies and up. Only the good stuff for our little ones. My top favorites are the Children’s Curl Calmer and the Children’s Miracle Detangler . Both are lifesavers in the morning or after a nap.

You can look great without breaking the bank!

Introducing CurlySuzy, NaturallyCurly’s personal curl shopper, who will write a regular Q&A column in addition to occasional articles. The long-time product junkie and curlygirl has become the go-to gal for thousands of curlies. Whether you have loose waves or tight kinks, she can help you get the look you want, whatever your budget. She knows that many people have had to cut back on what they spend. But who says you can’t have great curls on a budget? We offer some of CurlySuzy’s picks for best curl products at a great value, as well as other tips for looking great on a budget.

$10 and under

Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner, $8.00.
Co-washing curls with a good conditioner instead of shampooing is a golden rule with many curlies. Save your curls and your dollars by not shampooing all the time.

Oyin Handmade HoneyWash, $9.00
A curls to toes HoneyWash that moisturizes and gently cleanses your hair, face and body. Honey, aloe vera gel, jojoba and walnut seed oil will leave your skin and hair silky smooth.

Best products at a good value

Curl Junkie Curl Fuel, $9.00
A few pumps of this spray will refresh products that you put on in the morning. No need to re-apply your favorite creams and gels to tame frizz or fly-aways. Add shine and definition without taking another dip into your styling products.

ISO Bouncy Creme, $9.99
Just like a new pair of shoes can spiff up any outfit you’ve had in your closet for awhile, a great new styling product can do the same for your curls. A longtime legend on NaturallyCurly.com, ISO Bouncy Creme gives you soft and frizz-free curls.

Miss Jessie’s Quick Curls, $9.00
A quick and easy weightless spiraling cream. Have a brown bag lunch and spend your extra cash on your curls.

$15 and under

Tigi Bed Head Foxy Curls Shampoo, $14.36
This is a great, inexpensive, sulfate-free shampoo. Great smelling and very moisturizing. How can you resist the price and the possibility of foxy curls?

Jessicurl Too Shea! Extra Moisturizing Conditioner, $12.75
Super-luxurious, thick conditioner with shea butter and 14 different herbs and spices. Get some early springtime moisture into your curls with basil, peppermint,rosemary and lavender. Skip the expensive perfume and flaunt those lovely smelling locks.

Kinky-Curly Knot Today, $12.00
Smooth and detangle those knots and snarls. No more tugs and pulls to add to the daily stress of life. Another super leave-in conditioner that is well worth the affordable price.

Curl Junkie Coffee Coco Curl Creme, $14.
A rich curl creme that works like a leave-in conditioner and a gel put together. Moisturize those curls and have a light hold. It is a very concentrated cream that will last you for months. As our Depression-era grandmothers reminded us, a little goes a long way.

$20 and under

Curl Hair Solutions Curl Keeper, $15.50.
An absolute top favorite, Holy Grail, can’t-do-without product on NaturallyCurly. This water-based styler fights the toughest frizz and always wins. It is one of the hardest-working products, and plays well with most creams and gels.

AG Re:coil, $18.00
This curl-activating cream, created with input from NaturallyCurly members, moisturizes and controls frizz. It creates great curl separation and definition, a priceless tool for curlies. It is another highly concentrated product, so one tube can last for several months, depending on the length and thickness of your curls and kinks.

Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Milk, $16
There is a lotta love flowing toward this hair milk. This is a multi-talented product that can be used as a rinse-out conditioner or a leave-in. When your hair is dry, use it as a refresher and moisturizer for the ends.

DevaCare No-Poo, $17.95
Coloring your curls can be fun. But the ongoing upkeep can take its toll on your paycheck. Make that color last longer with this no-fade, uber-moisturizing cleanser.

HPO Simply Curly Conditioning Styling Pudding, $17.50
This is for anyone who fights the frizz battle. It is an ultra-rich styling pudding that works for any hair type, from waves to kinks, giving you smooth, defined curls without stickiness. This big jar will last you months!

Buy more to last longer

We all love and need conditioner. Buy liter sizes of conditioner and save while you condition or co-wash.

What about transforming your home into a curly salon?

Splurge on the Gold N Hot Professional Bonnet Dryer, $49.99

It may seem too pricey, but it will make your curls feel like they have had an expensive salon visit. It’s also a quick way to dry curls that will be frizz free and a great way to do deep conditioning and roller sets. I love sitting under my pink and white dryer thinking about how much I didn’t spend at the salon.

Book personal time with Arbre de Vie Shea Hot Oil Treatment, $4.95

Your first appointment should be for a hot oil treatment. Indulge your hair with this all-natural moisturizing oil. A treat you, your curls and pocketbook will love.

Mix up your own recipes

Search on NaturallyCurly.com CurlTalk for recipes that will deep condition your curls without leaving your kitchen. Put that apron on and create a great deep conditioner right from your refrigerator and pantry.