LaBella curls gel- not sure about it ?

krispy · 03-25-2008, 09:22 AM

Well, i just used it today for the first time. My hair is soft, but really not a whole heck of a lot of definition. i used about a tablespoon for my chin length hair. i also walked to work with a hood on (is spring ever gonna come to boston???

), so that could have something to do with the lack of definition. Should I use more? I , of course, was hoping for spectacular results and didn't get them

curlyclaudia · 03-25-2008, 09:26 AM

Krispy, I'm with you on this. I also tried it and had horrible frizz and stringy curls. The moment I started to scrunch it in, I knew it, it felt really drying on my hair. I was so hoping to be able to replace my Arc Angell and pay only $2.95 for a huge bottle.

GettinControl · 03-25-2008, 09:32 AM

I tried this gel several times and have to say it just doesn't work for my hair. And Curlyclaudia I noticed the same thing you did when I applied the gel I felt it was drying on my hair too. I noticed very little definition and lots of frizz and that it was drying to my hair, also no hold or crunch at all.

msgiblet · 03-25-2008, 09:47 AM

It's funny how everybody's hair reacts to things so differently. I use a LOT of this gel and my hair doesn't feel anywhere near as dry as it does with Angell or ArcAngell. I think you do have to use quite a bit to get any definition, though. I'm still experimenting with it, but so far I'm liking it. This morning I mixed a little leave-in with my first application and my hair is curling better than it did yesterday.

laurabeth33 · 03-25-2008, 10:02 AM

Are any of the other LaBella gels similar to the curls one?

I can't use products with menthol

(notice the face is on fire in the smiley...a great pictorial of my rosacea on menthol) in them that stay in my hair because it flares my rosacea when my hair touches my face.

I have to admit that reading these posts makes me wonder if the menthol is drying out some curlies' hair too.

CurlyVee · 03-25-2008, 10:16 AM

I didnt buy the pink one (for curls) I bought the white one so I will let you all know over the weekend how it worked

Most gels for "curls" that are sold in the drugstore doesnt work for me; must be my funky texture and curl mix. Thank goodness someone reccommended LA Looks or I'd be in big trouble...I'll keep you all posted !

HarleyCurl · 03-25-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgiblet

It's funny how everybody's hair reacts to things so differently. I use a LOT of this gel

I love this gel. You're right, it's funny how some peoples hair reacts differently to different things.

I do use a good bit on my hair when I use it. I use about a cupped hand(palm area only) and almost fill it about 1/2 to 3/4 full.

msgiblet · 03-25-2008, 03:02 PM

For those of you who are losing curl -- or getting more elongated curl -- with the La Bella, do you think a curl enhancer underneath, i.e., re:coil, RR, etc., would help? Or is there not enough hold in this gel for such an idea? Opinions/thoughts?

myCelia · 03-25-2008, 03:31 PM

Never could find the Lots of Curls gel so I tried LaBella's Super Spikes gel a couple of times.

The first time, I mixed with a bit of leave-in conditioner and it left my top canopy flat. Today I tried it on its own and the 'extreme hold' was nothing short of disappointing. On the upside, it did leave my hair soft and frizz-free, but I really need a product that holds much better than this one.

Notty · 03-25-2008, 03:38 PM

What I'm reading through this is that 2's like it and 3's don't. Krispy is 2 - 3a; curlyclaudia is 3b; GettinControl is 3a-3b; misgiblet is a 2 - 3. Wondering if the higher the number - the more the product doesn't work? Any thoughts?

SpunGold · 03-25-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgiblet

For those of you who are losing curl -- or getting more elongated curl -- with the La Bella, do you think a curl enhancer underneath, i.e., re:coil, RR, etc., would help? Or is there not enough hold in this gel for such an idea? Opinions/thoughts?

I'm still on the fence about this gel (getting good clumping and curl definition on the ends, but still dealing with surface frizz) - that said, I think magnesium sulfate would make the surface frizz worse, at least for me.

jillipoo · 03-25-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shell78

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgiblet

For those of you who are losing curl -- or getting more elongated curl -- with the La Bella, do you think a curl enhancer underneath, i.e., re:coil, RR, etc., would help? Or is there not enough hold in this gel for such an idea? Opinions/thoughts?

I'm still on the fence about this gel (getting good clumping and curl definition on the ends, but still dealing with surface frizz) - that said, I think magnesium sulfate would make the surface frizz worse, at least for me.

Yes, I'm in agreement with you, shell78. The first time I used this gel, it was perfect. The second time I used it, I frizzed a lot and attributed it to the fog I walked through. I used probably twice as much today to see if that would offer more protection and it was a miserable failure: it frizzed me again *and* made me heavy.

Which is exactly what CK does to me. First day, great. Subsequent days, not so much. I have no choice but to assume it's the glycerin.

So, yeah, for those of us with magnesium sulfate "allergies," RR or Re:coil would probably only exacerbate things. But I know where Msgiblet is going, in a way. It's like Lots of Curls needs something to work with it for some of us. Something that encourages curl and discourages frizz. I just fear that a curl creme (maybe white Boots or better yet, QCCC) is going to add weight. Nevertheless I might try that tomorrow....

Brio · 03-26-2008, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krispy

Well, i just used it today for the first time. My hair is soft, but really not a whole heck of a lot of definition. i used about a tablespoon for my chin length hair. i also walked to work with a hood on (is spring ever gonna come to boston???

), so that could have something to do with the lack of definition. Should I use more? I , of course, was hoping for spectacular results and didn't get them

I'm experiencing the same thing: really soft hair, but not alot of definition. I tried it for 3 days, applying different ways & different amounts with no more success. I didn't get alot of frizz with this and my waves looked nice, but I still like more ringlets when I can get them. I dunno. I may try next time with putting a bit of Boots curl creme underneath or getting that Giovanni conditioner to go with it. Any excuse to buy a new product!

Brio · 03-26-2008, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillipoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by shell78

Quote:

Originally Posted by msgiblet

For those of you who are losing curl -- or getting more elongated curl -- with the La Bella, do you think a curl enhancer underneath, i.e., re:coil, RR, etc., would help? Or is there not enough hold in this gel for such an idea? Opinions/thoughts?

I'm still on the fence about this gel (getting good clumping and curl definition on the ends, but still dealing with surface frizz) - that said, I think magnesium sulfate would make the surface frizz worse, at least for me.

Yes, I'm in agreement with you, shell78. The first time I used this gel, it was perfect. The second time I used it, I frizzed a lot and attributed it to the fog I walked through. I used probably twice as much today to see if that would offer more protection and it was a miserable failure: it frizzed me again *and* made me heavy.

Which is exactly what CK does to me. First day, great. Subsequent days, not so much. I have no choice but to assume it's the glycerin.

So, yeah, for those of us with magnesium sulfate "allergies," RR or Re:coil would probably only exacerbate things. But I know where Msgiblet is going, in a way. It's like Lots of Curls needs something to work with it for some of us. Something that encourages curl and discourages frizz. I just fear that a curl creme (maybe white Boots or better yet, QCCC) is going to add weight. Nevertheless I might try that tomorrow....

I suspect my hair may not like glycerin, either.r

msgiblet · 03-26-2008, 08:04 AM

Anybody getting an itchy head with this stuff? I was ready to scratch the scalp right off my head by the time I got home from work last night. Don't know if it's something in the gel, the leave-in I don't normally use or if I had some build up or something so thought I'd check in with the rest of you before I toss it.

sessac81 · 03-26-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Anybody getting an itchy head with this stuff?

I did... BAD. I thought I was nuts, but it drove me crazy until I washed it out.

I havent had any luck with this gel at all. I've tried several ways of application and no luck at all.

hmkenny · 03-26-2008, 08:15 AM

It did not irritate my scalp after using it four days in a row.

This gel did not work for me either. It just didn't do much of anything -- no curl boosting, no hold, no definition, no shine. I intended to get rid of it, maybe give it to my curly niece but the PJ in me keeps telling me to hang on to it, give it another try.

medusahair · 03-26-2008, 08:41 AM

Yeah it makes me itch too. My scalp is sensitive so I assumed it was just me.
Man my hair is dry after using this several days in a row!
Now it's dry here so maybe that's it.

I did use suave #8 today after using a heavier rinse out and my SheaM and my hair is still a bit dry so I can't tell if it's recovering or just dry and nothing to do with the gel.

Ah the experimenting goes on. Now to oil down my hair so it looks like hair and not a wig lol

Added: I forgot to say, I do like the huge clumping I get but my hair is heavy so it can't curl up as nicely if I get those huge clumps. For those that like that though it gives huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge clumps and big volume.
Now volume I like

jillipoo · 03-26-2008, 08:49 AM

No, I have no scalp itching but my hair does look dry. I have tried this three days now and I am convinced that the glycerin in it is too much for my hair. I can use it for one day and then I have to stop because my hair will OD on glycerin. (Symptoms of OD: frizz, lack of definition)

I will say that it only weighed my hair down when I used twice as much as I normally would of any gel. Otherwise, though, hair was light, which was nice.

Today I am completely glycerin-free to give my hair a break and to see how it behaves/recovers.

msgiblet · 03-26-2008, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillipoo

No, I have no scalp itching but my hair does look dry. I have tried this three days now and I am convinced that the glycerin in it is too much for my hair. I can use it for one day and then I have to stop because my hair will OD on glycerin. (Symptoms of OD: frizz, lack of definition)

I will say that it only weighed my hair down when I used twice as much as I normally would of any gel. Otherwise, though, hair was light, which was nice.

Today I am completely glycerin-free to give my hair a break and to see how it behaves/recovers.

I'm not sure it's the glycerin making my hair feel dry because my Mop Top & Fuzzy Duck have glycerin and my hair never feels dry with those -- I think the glycerin being so high up on the ingredients list is what's pulling, elongating and overall giving me less curl, though. I think all the oils in this gel or what's making my hair feel dry -- weird, I know, but some oils seem to do this to me. Could be the menthol making me itch, maybe. In a nutshell, I don't have a clue. I'm going to give it 1-2 more tries and then into the trash it goes! Glad it was so cheap.