Fellow 2cs Help!!! What Products Do I Use?

irishwavie79 · 09-07-2012, 11:18 PM

Hi
I found the Naturally curly website back in 2010 and got really frustrated with trying to wear my hair in its natural wave pattern. Finding the right products are extremely overwhelming. SO I gave up and went back to straightening. However I am now a mother of a very active 1 yr old and can not devote the time needed to straighten my hair... I am giving the CG method a 2nd try. My last resort is to have a keratin straightening treatment which I really don't want to do! Please help with product recs!! And as a wavy, do I follow the CG method of cowashing etc? Is it the same for wavies? I have done a little research and here is what I have come up with:
Pattern 2c
Medium Density
High Porosity
Coarse
Possible sensitivy to proteins, not exactly sure
Allergic to anything with tree nut oil or extracts, as well as shea butter
My waves always frizz!!!
Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!!!!

Corrina777 · 09-08-2012, 08:51 AM

My hair properties are very different from yours, so I probably can't help much with product suggestions. Whether you choose to co-wash, low-poo or some combination of the two is going to be a bit of trial and error. I know wavies on both ends of the spectrum.

What you might want to do is check out the "Share Your Hair Biography" thread in the 2s forum (it might be several pages back). Look for people with similar properties to get some ideas of where to start.

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irishwavie79 · 09-08-2012, 08:49 PM

Thanks for your response. I did look at the hair bios and some of it was helpful.

bluebonnet · 09-11-2012, 11:07 AM

Hi! My hair properties are exactly the same as yours! You should be able to use some of the same products as me. I list them in my signature. I do cowash almost exclusively. Coarse hair seems to respond really welll to cowashing, and also to not washing daily (i wash only 1-2 times a week).

If I were to tell you my favorite products, I would say VO5 clarifying kiwilime condish for cowashing, SN for rinse out conditioner, Aussie Aussome Volume gel, and John Frieda mousse. They are all under $10, and you can get them at a grocery/drugstore. I also use the following techniques: super soaker, plopping and pixie diffusing. You can find a dedcription of these if you do a search on the forums. GL!

bluebonnet · 09-11-2012, 11:10 AM

I thought you said low porosity, not high. So that's different but you might be able to still use some of the same products. Im also sensitive to proteins except collagen. Sorry!

jsuzkelley · 09-11-2012, 01:21 PM

Like Corrina, my properties are different than yours, so what I use may not work for you. But I'm happy to make some suggestions

Whether or not you can co-wash really depends more on your hair properties, not your wave/curl pattern. Since you mention that your hair is high porosity, you're likely to lose moisture easily, so that will be important to consider when you're looking at products. Your allergy to shea butter stinks, as that is a main ingredient in a lot of moisture-rich products, but it's not impossible. Since your hair is course, you're probably right that you may be sensitive to protein. Some people do okay with certain types and not others, so you'll just have to be cautious and see how your hair reacts.

GVP conditioning balm found at Sally's (knock-off of biolage conditioning balm) is very moisturzing, and does not contain shea butter or protein (I think the Biolage version has hydrolyzed keratin, but lower down on the ingredient list). A lot of people use this as a RO or DT. You can also take a cheap condish that you know doesn't react badly with your hair, and just add oil to it for added moisture (I like to add olive oil and coconut oil to Tresemme Naturals conditioner for my DT - this is another protein free conditioner that provides decent moisture and slip). You may also want to think about sealing to lock in moisture - some popular oils are grapeseed, sweet almond, apricot kernal, coconut, or olive oil. If you don't already, you might want to think about a leave-in conditioner too.

As far as styling products, a lot of wavies/curlies like either a firm hold gel or gelly product. Some examples are KC Curling Custard and Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee. These will help hold your wave/curl pattern and reduce frizz (the KCCC is protein free, but I believe the BRHG has silk protein - neither contain any shea butter). Some people also like to use mousse - a popular one is Sauve captivating curls (I believe this contains dimethicone). Others like more of a serum type product - Tigi Control Freak is supposed to be great at fighting frizz and provides some soft hold (I believe it has a water-soluble cone).

One other thing to consider when it comes to frizz, is technique. My hair responds better when I apply my products to very wet hair, not just damp, and when I plop and then air dry without touching it.

Hopefully some of those suggestions help - I know there is a lot out there to try, so just be patient - and good luck!