Need product recs for my 2a hair and allergies!

LisaM · 01-19-2010, 10:01 AM

I'm new to this whole "embracing my wavy hair" thing.

Currently, I wash every other day or so with just conditioner; once a week, I use olive oil, a sulfate-free shampoo, then conditioner. The olive oil is mostly for my scalp, since I have eczema, but I've found that it makes my hair nice and soft so I can't complain there.

What I'm looking for is some type of styling product/leave-in-conditioner to prevent frizz. I've never had luck with hair gel, but maybe that's because I wasn't taking proper care of my hair before. I definitely need a leave-in conditioner; I think that alone might take care of it.

Now, the factors that make this a problem:

-Obviously, I don't want any silicones. They build up on my hair like you wouldn't believe (within three days, my hair looks pretty much like it does when I'm oiling it.)

-I prefer sprays. Because my hair is very fine, things that aren't sprays tend to weight it down quite a bit.

-I'm allergic to aloe.

Everything that I've found in my looking around that fits the first two criteria ends up having aloe in it. It's frustrating, because I like to use organic/mostly-natural products, but the vast majority have aloe.

Right now, the selection is slightly overwhelming. The only product I saw that fit the ingredients requirement and was a spray was something by Carol's Daughter (sorry I can't remember what it was), but the reviews all indicated that it was too heavy for fine hair.

My hair is short (chin-length), so when it frizzes it really really frizzes.

Any recs you guys can give would be awesome.

Also, I apologize if this is in the wrong spot - I couldn't find a specific forum for product recs.

missmagoo · 01-19-2010, 11:24 AM

Have you tried the Kiss My Face Upper Management gel? No aloe there- I really like it (although I do sometimes add a firmer hold gel on top, but for 2a hair it might be enough hold on its own).

It's not a spray, but if you wet your hands and apply some blobs I don't think it'll weigh your hair down. You also might be able to thin it with water and put it in a spray bottle.

LisaM · 01-19-2010, 12:09 PM

Oooh, I think I might have to try that. In the store here, I found this: http://www.curlmart.com/CURLS-Quench...zer-p-889.html which I think might also be a good thing to try.

I tend to be a bit scared of anything that says "curly" in the title, because my hair is wavy and very fine so most products for curls are a bit too intense for my hair! I think they have Kiss My Face stuff at the grocery store I go to, as well, so will have to check that.

Thanks!

kathymack · 01-19-2010, 02:03 PM

Curl Junkie's new Curls in A Bottle is not a spray but meets your no aloe requirement:

Ingredients: Water, Hydroethylcellulose, Agave Nectar, Propylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Matricaria Recuitita (Chamomile) Flower Water, PVP, Panthenol, PEG-8 Dimethicone*, Polyquaternium-10, PEG-8 Raspberriate**, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Fragrance. *Water soluble-rinses clean!, **Derived from Raspberry Oil.

It was made to be an "All in One" product, but many of us like it with a leave in. I'd have to think on that--most ingredient lists start with aloe.

Laura Lee · 01-19-2010, 02:50 PM

Just curious how you know you're allergic to aloe (and not another ingredient in whatever it was that gave you the bad reaction). Have you had allergy testing done to ensure that it's aloe that you're allergic to? I don't even know if they have a test for that though now that I'm really thinking about it. Of course, it's never a bad idea to get allergy testing done anyway, just to find out if you're allergic to anything else. An aloe allergy isn't too common (but entirely possible). Have you tried using 100% pure aloe vera and seeing how you react to that?

LisaM · 01-19-2010, 06:46 PM

Laura Lee - I found out from 100% pure aloe gel. This was back in the day, before they put it in everything. I had a sunburn on my whole back. It was a less than pleasant experience.

I'm mildly allergic enough that I don't have to worry about soap at friends' houses, but definitely allergic enough to need all of my personal stuff to be aloe-free.

kathymack - that does look good; I might have to try it!

Laura Lee · 01-19-2010, 07:42 PM

Just wanted to make sure you were positive so you didn't order something with another allergy trigger in it

I'll keep wracking my brain for aloe free things