Need product/routine recs for my daughter

jsuzkelley · 06-17-2012, 02:37 AM

I just posted in the parents of curlies forum, but thought I would post here too.

I have a 10 yr old daughter with fine, dense 2a-2b hair. Right now her hair is shoulder length (growing out from a horrible bob cut - bad stylist **shudder**). She tries to brush it straight, but the ends always flip out or under, and she has a strong cowlick at her crown. Her hair does tend to frizz some, I think mostly from all the brushing and blow drying she does. She didn't used to like her hair because it wouldn't stay straight. But after seeing me care for my own curls, she's decided she wants her hair curly. Her hair is not as curly or dry/frizzy as mine, so what works on my hair doesn't work for her. She gets beautiful bends/waves, and even some loose curls after washing, but they don't hold. Her moisture level is good (she tends to over condition when she uses my stuff), but I'm looking for products and a routine to help gently cleanse/moisturize and help hold the wave/curl without weighing down her hair. Also, the routine should be simple/easy as she does her own hair (I like to provide advice and info, but give her the freedom to do it how she likes). TIA for your help. Below is a pic of her hair freshly washed and conditioned.

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kimmidawn · 06-17-2012, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsuzkelley

I just posted in the parents of curlies forum, but thought I would post here too.

I have a 10 yr old daughter with fine, dense 2a-2b hair. Right now her hair is shoulder length (growing out from a horrible bob cut - bad stylist **shudder**). She tries to brush it straight, but the ends always flip out or under, and she has a strong cowlick at her crown. Her hair does tend to frizz some, I think mostly from all the brushing and blow drying she does. She didn't used to like her hair because it wouldn't stay straight. But after seeing me care for my own curls, she's decided she wants her hair curly. Her hair is not as curly or dry/frizzy as mine, so what works on my hair doesn't work for her. She gets beautiful bends/waves, and even some loose curls after washing, but they don't hold. Her moisture level is good (she tends to over condition when she uses my stuff), but I'm looking for products and a routine to help gently cleanse/moisturize and help hold the wave/curl without weighing down her hair. Also, the routine should be simple/easy as she does her own hair (I like to provide advice and info, but give her the freedom to do it how she likes). TIA for your help. Below is a pic of her hair freshly washed and conditioned.

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Your daughter's hair sounds a lot like my hair; I have 2b (naked it's closer to 2a), fine, medium-high density, normal elasticity and normal porosity hair. I would agree that a lot of the frizz is probably from brushing and (my guess towel drying) her hair. See if you can get her to use a wide tooth comb while her hair is wet rather than a brush while her hair is dry; also, get either microfiber towels or flour sack towels (flour sack towels can be bought for around $1/towel in the kitchen section of walmart, I keep at least five around so I don't have to wash them as often). Fine hair usually benefits from protein so if you have Sally's near you, try getting Ion Effective Care (the conditioner rather than shampoo) and have her leave it on for 5-10 mins to see if it helps make her hair perk up. Also, if she is willing to have crunchy hair for some time, using a hard hold gel and then scrunching out the crunch when dry is the best way to get waves to have staying power (Aussie Instant Freeze gel is firm hold and cheap). Hope this helps

jsuzkelley · 06-17-2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimmidawn

Your daughter's hair sounds a lot like my hair; I have 2b (naked it's closer to 2a), fine, medium-high density, normal elasticity and normal porosity hair. I would agree that a lot of the frizz is probably from brushing and (my guess towel drying) her hair. See if you can get her to use a wide tooth comb while her hair is wet rather than a brush while her hair is dry; also, get either microfiber towels or flour sack towels (flour sack towels can be bought for around $1/towel in the kitchen section of walmart, I keep at least five around so I don't have to wash them as often). Fine hair usually benefits from protein so if you have Sally's near you, try getting Ion Effective Care (the conditioner rather than shampoo) and have her leave it on for 5-10 mins to see if it helps make her hair perk up. Also, if she is willing to have crunchy hair for some time, using a hard hold gel and then scrunching out the crunch when dry is the best way to get waves to have staying power (Aussie Instant Freeze gel is firm hold and cheap). Hope this helps

Thanks kimmidawn - I actually have a lot of that stuff already (flour sack towels, wide tooth combs, and some AIF and BRHG). I don't like to use regular gels, but they might be perfect for her. She already uses sulfate/silicone free shampoo and condish, but I was noticing it seemed like her hair was a little over conditioned. Maybe the extra protein is the trick. I've got some Cure Care at home already, so I might try that first before I buy the Ion stuff. Do you use an extra LI under your stylers? I'm not sure she needs one, as her hair seems pretty moisturized, and I don't want to weigh it down. I think the biggest struggle will be getting her to part with the hairbrush (she brushes her hair multiple times a day - not kidding. Constantly find myself telling her to put the brush down - lol!).

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kimmidawn · 06-17-2012, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsuzkelley

Thanks kimmidawn - I actually have a lot of that stuff already (flour sack towels, wide tooth combs, and some AIF and BRHG). I don't like to use regular gels, but they might be perfect for her. She already uses sulfate/silicone free shampoo and condish, but I was noticing it seemed like her hair was a little over conditioned. Maybe the extra protein is the trick. I've got some Cure Care at home already, so I might try that first before I buy the Ion stuff. Do you use an extra LI under your stylers? I'm not sure she needs one, as her hair seems pretty moisturized, and I don't want to weigh it down. I think the biggest struggle will be getting her to part with the hairbrush (she brushes her hair multiple times a day - not kidding. Constantly find myself telling her to put the brush down - lol!).

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You could use Cure Care as either a leave in or rinse out condish, I've certainly done both. My hair is generally not dry, so I don't always need to use a leave in, but it makes my hair feel nice without weighing it down (I usually use a protein heavy conditioner so I'll use a light moisturizing leave in and rinse it through a little so it gets out any extra). Honestly, getting away from the whole brushing thing will probably make the biggest difference; see if you can get her to only comb for 2-3 days and hopefully she'll see enough of a difference to at least cut back.

jakrussel3 · 06-18-2012, 12:05 PM

I don't use LI either and my hair is very similiar to KimmieDawn's. She gave really good suggestions. Stay sulfate/cone free, no brushing, protein here and there, and gel. If your daughter feels up to it, or maybe just for special occasions, she could even pixie diffuse. Pixie diffusing brings out way more wave/curl than letting mine air dry.

jsuzkelley · 06-18-2012, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakrussel3

I don't use LI either and my hair is very similiar to KimmieDawn's. She gave really good suggestions. Stay sulfate/cone free, no brushing, protein here and there, and gel. If your daughter feels up to it, or maybe just for special occasions, she could even pixie diffuse. Pixie diffusing brings out way more wave/curl than letting mine air dry.

Thanks for the suggestions - we're going to try the Cure Care condish and AIF tonight. If she'll sit long enough, we might try pixie diffusing too. How much gel do you guys use? Her hair is about shoulder length, but she has a lot of it. Also, do you recommend scruching the gel in to encourage waves/curls, or do you apply it another way?

wavymom · 06-18-2012, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsuzkelley

Thanks for the suggestions - we're going to try the Cure Care condish and AIF tonight. If she'll sit long enough, we might try pixie diffusing too. How much gel do you guys use? Her hair is about shoulder length, but she has a lot of it. Also, do you recommend scruching the gel in to encourage waves/curls, or do you apply it another way?

I have fine wavy/ whurly (2c) hair. I would definitely agree with protein-containing products for her fine hair. Adding protein into my regimen is the #1 thing that has helped me on my curly journey.

For gel, I would recommend scrunching it in her hair. At least for me, raking styling products through my hair is a disaster, I have to scrunch them in. I'm a fan of applying styling products / gels to dripping wet hair, and then really scrunching them in well (scrunch and pump, or just lots of scrunching!). That gets my waves and curls going. AIF tends to give me frizz as the day goes on, and lots of it if I use it multiple days in a row (I blame the polyquat in it). Just something to be aware of, lots of people love it though. BRHG on the other hand, I can use day after day and it's fantastic for me.

She could definitely play around with diffusing as well, since it helps set the gel cast around the curls without them being weighed down by just dripping dry. With that said, I personally almost always air dry for convenience but my hair definitely has less volume than if I diffuse even for a few minutes.

jakrussel3 · 06-18-2012, 09:00 PM

My hair is right about at my shoulder blades and I use a quarter size blob of AIF. I "scrunch & pump" it in. I don't seem to have frizz problems with it, but that could also be because i rake in a couple of half dollars of Curl Keeper before applying the gel.

jsuzkelley · 06-18-2012, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakrussel3

My hair is right about at my shoulder blades and I use a quarter size blob of AIF. I "scrunch & pump" it in. I don't seem to have frizz problems with it, but that could also be because i rake in a couple of half dollars of Curl Keeper before applying the gel.

Hmmm...I have some curl keeper too. Didn't think about trying that on her hair. Didn't get to experiment tonight (forgot I had rehearsal) but we have plans to try stuff out tomorrow. Thanks for all of your suggestions you guys - will let you know the results tomorrow!

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kimmidawn · 06-19-2012, 01:26 AM

For my hard hold gel, I probably scrunch in two quarter sized blobs for my whole head; hope you guys have fun tomorrow

jsuzkelley · 06-19-2012, 10:39 PM

Okay, here are results from our experiment tonight. I washed her hair with L'Oreal Evercreme sulfate-free poo, then let Cure Care condish sit on hair for about 5 minutes before rinsing out. Raked in about 1 palmful of CK and then scrunched in quarter sized blob of AIF. Scrunched and pumped and then plopped for about 20 min (didn't mean to plop that long, but lost track of time. Tried to diffuse but she got a little impatient (only lasted about 5 minutes!) so air dried the rest. Results came out nice. I'm thinking next time I might try some JC RR under the AIF instead of the CK.

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pixie · 06-21-2012, 11:02 AM

I love ag recoil and brhg these definitely work for me, so may work for your daughter as we have similar properties. I like to scrunch product into wet hair upside down, scrunch and pump and then scrunch with a cotton t shirt before plopping for about 15 mins, then pixie diffuse upside down till its about 50 to 70% dry. Then right side up for a while, then air dry and scrunch out the crunch. Good luck hope you find the right products for her

jsuzkelley · 06-21-2012, 11:14 AM

Thanks pixie - I'm planning to try the BRHG next. I don't have any AG recoil (returned it as it was horrible in my hair), but I'm thinking of trying some JC RR under the BRHG - have you used that and what did you think?

pixie · 06-21-2012, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsuzkelley

Thanks pixie - I'm planning to try the BRHG next. I don't have any AG recoil (returned it as it was horrible in my hair), but I'm thinking of trying some JC RR under the BRHG - have you used that and what did you think?

I didn't like the JC RR made my hair limp, Very similar to KCCC for me, although I didn't try them under brhg. I think my hair likes cream products best

Although I would like to try the AIA curling jelly and the ss cej even thought they are jellies

jsuzkelley · 06-21-2012, 01:31 PM

Hmmm, good to know about the JC RR; will see if the same happens for my daughter. Kimmidawn just posted in another thread that she's been having really good results with the SS CEJ (and I love it in my hair too), so that is also on the list of things to try.