Help–I cannot find the right products for my 3b high density and coarse hair.
For many of us curlies, tending to our tresses can be tricky. There are characteristics that should be taken into consideration in addition curl pattern (and you understand that”>. Hunting for products that will effectively maintain and style your hair can quickly become a full-time job due to the amount of time and effort it takes. NaturallyCurly community member Maya.Pik is in the midst of her search, so she posted this question in our Q&A section:
We recently received this question from NaturallyCurly community member Maya.Pik:I have 3b hair, with medium porosity: high density, coarse width. I cannot seem to find products to my hair. I tried a lot of products, although most I cannot find in my country. Most times I do LOC, which is great, but I need to find the right products (oils, leave-in conditioner, cream”> and also shampoo and conditioner. I use Garnier Fructis right now.
What works for your hair type?
The first step to finding products that work for your Type 3b, coarse, highly dense, medium porosity curls is to understand what types of products work best for those characteristics.
High density
Hair density refers to the amount of strands that are on your head. Having high density curls requires products with heavy oils, milks and butters in order to keep moisture, hydration and definition.
Coarse width
Hair width signifies the thickness of each strands. If your hair is coarse, then you have the widest type of hair which makes it strong and resistant to breakage and damage. You may want to reach for strong hold styling products like gels to keep your curls clumped and defined throughout the day.
Porosity
Hair porosity refers to the ability of your hair to lock in moisture. This is the main indicator when choosing products that are a right fit for your type of curls. Medium porosity curls mean that your hair is normal when it comes to moisture absorption. It looks like you added color to it, which causes hair to be high porosity (unless that was a temporary color like hair chalk”>. If this is the case, then you will want to deep condition to give your hair a moisture boost, and the LOC method is a good routine to be using. Type 3b curls range from tight ‘s‘ shaped ringlets to tighter corkscrews, so to maintain frizz-free, perfectly formed curls, products that have a heavy consistency and a high amount of slip will work highly in your favor.
Products to try
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Made with nutrient-rich vegetable butters that condition and soften the hair without adding weight, this product controls the frizz of coarse, thick strands. It also contains neem oil to smooth down your halo.Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream
This ultra-moisturizing co-wash will assist in keeping down the frizz but won’t weigh the natural volume of your curls down.Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment
A conditioning formula with a thick consistency, this treatment is made out of cocoa and shea butters to add some serious moisture and penetration to dry, porous curls.DIY
If curl products are difficult to find where you live, you can always make your own cleanser, conditioner and deep conditioner. Here are some quick and easy recipes that you can make with common household ingredients.
Aloe vera gel
This is a product that you can find at health food stores, and while it is not a hair product, it works exceptionally well on curly hair. Check the ingredients label to ensure that it is pure aloe vera gel with few additives (most products will have some additives to keep the product shelf stable”>. Aloe vera gel can be used in every step of your regimen from cleansing to conditioning to styling, check out all of the ways you can use aloe vera gel on your hair here.
NaturallyCurly world, what would you suggest for this community member?
What’s next?
Not sure what “LOC” refers to? Read LOC Method: The Routine Every Curly Should Know.
If you’re on the search for products, check out the Best of the Best curly hair products, as voted by the NaturallyCurly community.
Not sure what your hair type is? Find out here.
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