Hi from Holland!

Lauraimes · 11-29-2012, 06:44 AM

My name is Laura and I'm a 21-year-old student, living in the Netherlands. I absolutely love this website, especially because we lack information on how to handle curls. What's even worse is that there aren't that much curl products, let alone that they meet my requirements.

Enough about the Netherlands, moving on to my curls.

In a nutshell (according to my own observations):
Hairtype 2c
High porosity
High density
Coarse hair
Long hair

My hair is thick and coarse, and tends to curl the most when I just have had a haircut. I've got more curls than waves, and sometimes even have a few ringlets. The underlayer of my hair is straight, unfortunately. When my hair grows a bit longer, it really weighs down and reduces my curls more into waves.

I am currently using ABBA True Curls shampoo and conditioner, but I recently found out that I can't get new bottles any more. Right now, I am looking for SLS- and cone-free products that do not contain almond milk or oil (as I am allergic to almonds). The difficult thing though is that I am not sure where to start. I prefer natural ingredients over chemicals, yet those are very hard to find here. I'm always happy to hear advice and recommendations!

Also, I haven't figured out how you all seem to know so much about what specific ingredients your hair loves or dislikes. I am not sure if this is the right board for that, but I would be glad to get some tips.

As for now, have a nice day!

ShubhoR · 11-29-2012, 07:21 AM

Hi . I'm new to this website too. I'm 21 and I live in Kolkata , India. I totally understand your concern about not finding SLS and cone free products that your hair will love . infact almost every brand of shampoo or conditioner I turn to at the supermarkets contain cones. I'm currently using herbal essences, enliven and garnier.

Natural products suit me very well.. Vinegar for cleaning and olive oil and coconut oil as conditioners. maybe you might want to try them out ?

Also, it's a matter of time before you come to know how your hair reacts to what. It's a matter of trial and error.. It took me quite a lot of time before I found out what my hair likes.

Keep prowling through this website, you will learn a lot! I did, and I'm still learning. Have fun !

Sent from android curltalk app.

curlypriya · 11-29-2012, 08:34 AM

Hi laura R u familiar with CG method?

Gretchen · 11-29-2012, 08:41 AM

Welcome, Laura!

Lauraimes · 11-29-2012, 10:55 AM

@ShubhoR: Welcome to you too, then! By natural products, I simply mean shampoos and conditioners that only use natural ingredients rather than synthetic/chemical :-) I am curious to learn more about the coconut oil you talk about. Maybe that'll do the trick!

I've actually known NaturallyCurly for a long time now and figured it would be nice to be part of the curl community as well :-)

@curlypriya: No, not yet! Feel free to fill me in because I noticed it is pretty popular on NC.

@Gretchen: Thank you!

Lauraimes · 11-29-2012, 11:34 PM

I have checked out the CG method and especially the before/after pictures. The differences are amazing and I definitely want to give it a try. It's a great timing because I have to try a new conditioner. I'm using the ABBA True Curls range (no SLS or cones, only natural ingredients) but it's not in stock any more

So now I'm thinking about buying either:
- Green and Spring
- Love+Toast

I would still buy the shampoos as well. They do not contain SLS or cones, and I think I actually might enjoy an occasional shampoo rinse, so to say.

Basically, what I would do is co-wash my hair once a week and style it with the Tigi Bed Head Foxy Curls Contour Creme. I'm just not sure if this is really CG.

Also, I'm always very weary of switching products. Is there anyone who would like to look at the ingredients of Green and Spring and Love+Toast and advice as to which one probably would react best to my hair? (my hair properties are below).

I'm sorry for all the questions, but I want to have those marvellous curls as well and I'm really excited :-)

Aqua_Lily · 11-30-2012, 12:08 AM

Welcome! ^^ always nice to see a fellow Dutchie here

Do you want to buy products online? If you want to buy products in store I have a few tips for you: Neutral conditioner (several supermarkets like Jumbo), l'Oreal Elvive hydra curl hair mask, l'Oreal Elvive Volume collageen, Inecto Coconut conditioner, Kruidvat cremevoeding (leave-in), olive line / aloe vera line (Action), Yes to Carrots/Tomatoes/Cucumbers (De Tuinen)

All these products are sulfate/cone free ^^

Btw, since you have coarse hair, your hair might not like proteins.

Hope you have fun here ^^

Lauraimes · 11-30-2012, 06:51 AM

Thanks Aqua_Lily!

I don't mind buying my products online. Actually, I always order my hairproducts on eBay, so feel free to recommend anything. As I said earlier, I'm thinking about trying Green and Spring or Love+Toast, and I would have to order them online as well.

I've tried to read up on proteins and why my hair might not like them, but I'm not sure yet. Do you happen to have any experience with this?

Aqua_Lily · 11-30-2012, 07:14 AM

My hair likes protein

it's just that coarse hair GENERALLY doesn't like proteins. I can't say for certain that your hair won't go well with proteins. But it's all trial and error, really. If you don't know whether your hair likes proteins or not, you should just try sometime. It's good to know as much as possible about your hair, and what it likes/dislikes. When you've used proteins and your hair feels like straw, and frizzy and dry, then you're most likely protein sensitive.

I recommend Kinky Curly Knot Today as a leave in btw

As for buying hair products online, I really recommend iHerb.com - Vitamins, Supplements & Natural Health Products. GREAT webshop, they have an impressive collection of natural conditioners, shampoos, oils, stylers. They also have brands like Kinky Curly. Their shipping costs are REALLY cheap and I've only had good experiences with them so far.

Good luck!

TamaraW · 12-13-2012, 04:13 AM

all the tips are not for my hair type but I wanted to say how wonderful it is that each of you tries to help

really great community !!

rapunzel4ever · 12-17-2012, 02:12 PM

Hello Lauraimes, I'm from the Netherlands as well. I am NC for 1,5 years now. You can see my hair properties and products in my signature. (I might be somewhat of a PJ

) I've tried even many more products than in my siggy.

Products like Jessicurl, Kinky Curly and Curl Junkie I buy online at Haarproducten voor kroes en krullend haar online kopen - Mariposa Import
It is a Dutch company, so you don't pay too much delivery costs and most of the times they deliver the day after ordering.

The cheaper (but not the lesser) products I purchase at the Etos: they sell the CPR Motions triple action Leave-in conditioner that I love so much and at the Kruidvat: the (very cheap!) detangler and LI: Kruidvat cremevoeding and Inecto Cocos conditioner.
I use the Leave-ins mostly as Rinse Out, because I don't need a lot of extra moisture since I use very moisturizing curl products like coconut oil (as a LI), Curl Junkie, Jessicurl and Etos solid power gel (great stuff! no -cones, no alcohol, doesn't flake).

What kind of products are you looking for? Mousses, gels or moisturizers? What does your hair need?
When your hair already curls a lot you might want to start with a low-poo (CJDF?), followed by a conditioner (CPR Motions Li/KCV), then seal with a nailtip of coconut oil (De Tuinen, 100%organic), maybe plop for a little while (can be beneficial for long hair) and diffuse or air dry the rest. When your hair still frizzes too much you could add a hold product like a gel(ly) to your regime.

It's always okay to PM me if you have any questions. Good luck!

Lauraimes · 03-01-2013, 02:28 PM

Hi rapunzel4ever!

I just installed the iPhone app and then discovered that I hadn't replied yet. I'm still puzzled as to why not, but here's my reply! Better late than never, right?

Before going CG, I used to wash my hair with ABBA True Curls shampoo and conditioner (both discontinued now), once a week. Both are entirely natural (even vegan, I believe) and I've been doing that for 1,5 years. My daily styling routine consisted of spraying my hair with water, then combing it with a wide tooth comb (otherwise it would frizz like crazy), and scrunching in some Tigi Bedhead Foxy Curls and that would be it.

About a month ago, I bought Curl Junkie Beauticurls Argan & Olive Oil Conditioner and Curl Queen at Mariposa (wonderful service btw). I didn't intend to buy these as I wanted the Daily Fix conditioner and Coffee CoCo Curl Cream Lite (I love cremes!). Unfortunately, they weren't in stock so I picked the products I currently have since I was out of shampoo and conditioner.

I was still a bit lost at the whole CG routine (all the information is a bit overwhelming) but I washed my hair with a SLS-containing shampoo from Rituals and then got started with no-poo. However, for some stupid reason it didn't occur to me that I had to massage my scalp just as thoroughly as when I used shampoo.

Anyway, I still wash my hair on a weekly basis and I use just the one conditioner I have. After that, when my hair is still soaking wet, I apply Curl Queen and then use a cotton t-shirt to scrunch out the excess water.

The rest of the week, I still spray water on my hair, make sure it's soaking wet and basically use the same technique to style my hair.

Whenever the Daily Fix and CoCo Curl Creme are back in stock, I will order them and see what happens. So far, my curls are more defined but still adjusting to my new routine.

rapunzel4ever · 03-25-2013, 12:33 AM

Hi Lauraimes, just read your reply

It's difficult sometimes to keep track of all interesting threads of this board, since there are a lot of them. How is it going with your routine? Still trying the CG method? Have you figured out your hair properties yet?

_____
2b-c/3a med/fine- low porosity- normal elasticity, BSL

Lauraimes · 03-25-2013, 04:51 AM

Hi rapunzel4ever!

I know, that's why I'm so happy with the app on my iPhone because it shows unread messages in threads where I posted :-)

I'm still working on my routine, and I think I'm going to try mod-CG for a while (so actually what I've been doing before by low-pooing) because I found out that my current conditioner is actually not the right conditioner for my hair. I have observed how my hair behaves very closely and realised that it is actually not coarse, but probably fine. Co-washing my an emollient heavy conditioner weighs it down and low-pooing probably helps already. Also, Curl Queen is a protein bomb that does not make my hair straw-like at all, which was the first clue in discovering that I'm probably not coarse.

That being said I haven't figured out all my properties, but I'm well on my way. I actually started a thread about that where you can read all the updates if you like (and I believe there are some pictures as well).

Confused about porosity and width

Right now (I need to update my signature), I think my properties are: fine hair, high density, medium porosity, normal elasticity. I'm very certain about density and elasticity, and getting more certain about the width. It's just porosity that I have no clue about.

rapunzel4ever · 03-27-2013, 03:08 AM

@lauraimes: porosity can be a tricky thing. After almost two years I still find it hard to figure out my porosity level. I think I started out with low porosity, but my hair is getting curlier and I need more protein these days, so maybe my porosity changed somehow or just the needs of my hair? I can't figure it out. Hair properties are changing somehow, I just go with my hairs needs.
Thanks for the link

_____
2b-c/3a med/fine- low porosity- normal elasticity, BSL

curlypearl · 03-27-2013, 05:08 AM

Hi - Just want to send a belated Welcome to Laura and Rapunzel from the Netherlands. It's so exciting to be able to talk with curlies all over the world! Good luck and please continue to post your results with your products and techniques!

ETA: AquaLily, CurlyPriya and Shubhor - welcome to you too! I just read through the thread and saw all your responses. Glad you are all part of the forum!

Lauraimes · 03-27-2013, 09:52 AM

Hi curlypearl! Thanks for your kind message

I also think it's amazing to be in touch with people from all over the world. But hey, perhaps that's just me because I'm fascinated by other cultures - whatever culture it is.

But I do have to confess that I'm an Anglophile, haha.

Lauraimes · 03-27-2013, 09:55 AM

Oh, I just noticed that you use some products that I want to order next time I get new stuff. What's your opinion on CJ Beauticurls Strengthening Conditioner and CJ Repair Me?

I'm thinking I have fine hair and that it needs protein. I'm suspecting that Curl Queen, although a protein bomb, does not suffice on its own.

rapunzel4ever · 03-31-2013, 03:17 AM

Thanks Curlypearl! Nice to hear from you as well

_____
2b-c/3a med/fine- low porosity- normal elasticity, BSL