It’s been 20 years since Michelle Breyer co-founded NaturallyCurly, and she still has not gotten tired of trying new products. In fact, out of all of the Product Junkie editors in the NaturallyCurly offices, Michelle is *still* the most eager to try something new and change up her routine. These are the products working for Michelle’s Type 3 curls, including many of our 2018 Editors’ Choice winners. Find the full Editors’ Choice list here.
Michelle has a mix of 3a, 3b and 3c curls, depending upon what part of her head you’re looking at (3a in the front, 3b on the sides and back, and 3c on the nape”>. Depending on the occasion, she may be wearing her curls in a bun on top of her head or down and curly, the bigger the better. With so many great products to try this year – we received more submissions for Editors’ Choice than ever before – it was hard to narrow down. But here are some of her go-to products.
Not sure what your curl pattern is? Take our quiz.
Wash Routine
Step 1: Since Michelle does hot yoga 5-6 times a week, she regularly wets her hair. But she only shampoos 2-3 times a week. Her favorite right now is Amika Velveteen Dream Smoothing Shampoo or The Mane Choice Super Pink Lemonade & Coconut Super Antioxidant & Texture Beautifier Shampoo. When she’s been using a lot of styling products/hairspray, she likes to clarify with DevaCurl Buildup Buster, which removes the gunk without stripping the hair.
Step 2: She loves a daily conditioner that has good slip that detangles and moisturizes. She loves Eden Bodyworks Citrus Fusion Conditioner and Innersense Hydrating Cream Conditioner, which is super thick and hydrating. A good leave-in is a staple for her, and she’s loving Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner.
Treatment
At least once every two weeks, she will do a treatment, especially if she’s been using a heat appliance or washing her hair more often. Olaplex No. 3 perfector is an amazing reconstructor that seems to magically undo damage. She’s also a fan of Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment. She’ll often put on a treatment and leave it on while she’s cleaning the house.
Michelle’s a big believer that scalp treatments are a necessary part of her regimen, and she’s in love with Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Charcoal & Coconut Oil Exfoliating Shampoo and Tea Tree Oil Scalp Treatment.
Styling Routine
She starts her styling routine before she ever leaves the shower, putting in her styling product when her hair is soaking wet. For humid, summer days, her favorite is Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel. For less humid days, she loves Curl Junkie Spiral Lotion, which is a cream gel. She will take the product and rake it through her wet hair, scrunching it with her Hair Remedie Frizz Eliminating Towel. She’ll scrunch in a little more product. Then she’ll put in some duckbill clips around her face to get some volume. To get the most volume and curl formation, Michelle always uses a dryer with a diffuser, drying one side at a time and then turning upside down and letting her hair fall into the diffuser bowl.
If there are some wayward curls, she’ll apply some FORM Protect Heat Serum – rubbing a few drops between her palms and raking it through her curls. Then Michelle uses her Amika Curling Wand to reform the curls.
Michelle is a big proponent of hairspray. She likes flexible-hold, non-sticky formulas that lock her curls in place without adding crunch. She loves the new Tresemme Compressed Micro-Mist Hairspray, and has used several of the hold levels, including Level 1 Texture, Level Smooth Hold, and Level 3 Boost Hold.
Throughout the day, to keep her curls frizz free and full, she’ll rub a pea-sized drop of Mielle Pomade to Oil Treatment with Mongongo Oil between her palms, bend over and twist it through her hair, using her fingers to fluff her hair – the bigger the better. Then she’ll spritz in some more hairspray.
