2C hair - gel or mousse?

Sami · 06-11-2012, 10:01 PM

Hi guys,

I have pretty much all 2C hair with a little 2B in the back. I have actually not gone curly girl yet, but I plan on doing so sometime very soon. However, I have been taking better care of my hair (deep conditioning, coconut oil, no brushing, no terrycloth, etc). I just need to get rid of the sulfates and silicones!

Anyway, when I do go full on curly girl, do u guys recommend gel or mousse? For the past two months, I have been using just a small amount of mousse in my wet hair and it seems to be working very well! However, I'm pretty sure it's not cg friendly. It's called Aussie opposites attract strong hold mousse. I prefer this because my hair doesn't get frizzy or crunchy but the curl still holds! However, it only holds for the day I wash it. The next day, it's just a poofy mess

I also have no prior experience with gel.

One more thing, I heard somewhere that mousse is very drying/unhealthy for your hair if used often. Is this true?

Thanks everyone!

naturalblondie88 · 06-12-2012, 12:26 PM

I don't think mousse is necessarily bad if you are using the right one. I'm no expert yet, but I would imagine the trick is to deep condition hair once a week and use a mousse without alcohol in it, as that would be the ingredient that would dry your hair out.

Again, this is just my best guess. I'm still relatively new to the site and all the methods! I use mousse every time I wash, but I also CO wash and use a leave-in first bc my hair needs lots of moisture.

Lucky Charm · 06-12-2012, 02:24 PM

I'm a gel girl myself. The harder hold the better. Let it dry crunchy, then simply scrunch out the crunch for soft, crunch-free waves.
I think the gel vs. mousse argument is a personal one. Try both for yourself and see which works better for you.

naturalblondie88 · 06-12-2012, 02:44 PM

I agree. Personally I have to use a little of both. I need a good gel for hold and mousse for volume (I like BIG hair).

If I do just one or the other, my hair is a limp mess. It's all about experimenting with the right amount of product and what works best!

kimmidawn · 06-13-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky Charm

I'm a gel girl myself. The harder hold the better. Let it dry crunchy, then simply scrunch out the crunch for soft, crunch-free waves.
I think the gel vs. mousse argument is a personal one. Try both for yourself and see which works better for you.

I completely agree, I need a pretty hard hold gel to get enough hold for my waves to have any hope of 2nd day hair.

Quote:

Originally Posted by naturalblondie88

I agree. Personally I have to use a little of both. I need a good gel for hold and mousse for volume (I like BIG hair).

If I do just one or the other, my hair is a limp mess. It's all about experimenting with the right amount of product and what works best!

How do you apply mousse to get big hair? I'm wanting to get bigger hair, but don't really know how to go about it.

Sami · 06-13-2012, 09:49 PM

Thanks for the answers! I think I'm gonna buy some gel, probably LA Looks Sports Gel, and see how that works for me.

Does anyone know if Aussie opposites attract strong hold mousse is cg friendly???? I love that stuff and really want it to be!

As for getting big hair, I usually just flip my hair upside down and scrunch in mousse. That way, when you flip your hair back up, you get volume!!(:

carriek38 · 06-17-2012, 11:11 AM

I don't know for sure, but I don't think it is.

I use both--Herbal Essences Tousle me softly mousse to support volume & clumping, scrunched in at the root, & a good healthy handful of Garnier Fructis Pure Clean gel scrunched in throughout the length.

Sami · 06-17-2012, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carriek38

I don't know for sure, but I don't think it is.

I use both--Herbal Essences Tousle me softly mousse to support volume & clumping, scrunched in at the root, & a good healthy handful of Garnier Fructis Pure Clean gel scrunched in throughout the length.

The only ingredient I doubt in the mousse is laureth-4. Is this ok? Also, my rinse out conditioner has bis-aminopropyl dimethicone. Is that cg friendly?

Thanks so much!

kimmidawn · 06-17-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sami

Thanks for the answers! I think I'm gonna buy some gel, probably LA Looks Sports Gel, and see how that works for me.

Does anyone know if Aussie opposites attract strong hold mousse is cg friendly???? I love that stuff and really want it to be!

As for getting big hair, I usually just flip my hair upside down and scrunch in mousse. That way, when you flip your hair back up, you get volume!!(:

Just so you know, if LA Looks Sports Gel doesn't work for you, other hard hold gels might. I tried LALSG when I first started my CG journey and all it did was pull out what little wave I had and made my hair stringy. I personally get much better results from Aussie Instant Freeze gel, so if LALSG doesn't work for you, try that

Curly_Lyn · 06-18-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sami

The only ingredient I doubt in the mousse is laureth-4. Is this ok? Also, my rinse out conditioner has bis-aminopropyl dimethicone. Is that cg friendly?

Thanks so much!

I believe the laureth-4 is OK. However, the bis-aminopropyl dimethicone is not water-soluble, so you would need a shampoo or conditioner containing cocamidopropyl betaine (more gentle that sulfates) to get it out.

I think I read somewhere that this specific 'cone doesn't necessarily build up, though? In that case, you might not need to worry about getting it out that often. But I definitely could be wrong about that...

Sami · 06-19-2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curly_Lyn

I believe the laureth-4 is OK. However, the bis-aminopropyl dimethicone is not water-soluble, so you would need a shampoo or conditioner containing cocamidopropyl betaine (more gentle that sulfates) to get it out.

I think I read somewhere that this specific 'cone doesn't necessarily build up, though? In that case, you might not need to worry about getting it out that often. But I definitely could be wrong about that...

Well ive been using that conditioner for a long time now and I haven't had any build up at all. Maybe I'll do an occasional low poo to be sure. It's herbal essences hello hydration btw

Lucky Charm · 06-19-2012, 09:07 AM

I think I read that the bis-cone will initially put a layer on the cuticle, but wont build up over the initial later. I've used it in the past with no issues, but I also low-poo once a week or so.

Sami · 06-19-2012, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky Charm

I think I read that the bis-cone will initially put a layer on the cuticle, but wont build up over the initial later. I've used it in the past with no issues, but I also low-poo once a week or so.

Well I swim everyday so I have to low poo everyday which is probably why I don't have any build up! I wish swimming wasn't so bad for my hair tho -.- I put on conditioner and a swim cap first and then after I low poo and condition and use a leave in and gel. My hair looks good, I guess, but I always think it feels healthier when I don't swim

naturalblondie88 · 06-25-2012, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimmidawn

How do you apply mousse to get big hair? I'm wanting to get bigger hair, but don't really know how to go about it.

My hair routine is a leave in followed by gel w/ anti frizz serum "cocktailed" in. Next I flip my head over and scrunch in mousse, mostly at the roots. Air dry and scrunch out the crunch with a pomade

The pomade also help with volume bc it provides a good hold.

Volume seems to come better when I style and apply products with my head flipped over. No idea if it's helping or not. Also, I pineapple my hair at night for second day hair and get fabulous volume the next day!