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Curly Hair Q&A: How do I Use Curl Keeper?
Curly Hair Q&A: How do I Use Curl Keeper?
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I have used Curl Keeper and it makes my hair very fuzzy and fine feeling without any curl definition. Any tips?

Dear Janie: Curl Keeper is a very unique leave-in conditioner. You have to use it with a gel or cream over it for best results. Also you have to apply it correctly or you will not get great results.

After you cleanse and condition your curls apply the Curl Keeper to very wet hair and use a lot of it. As you scrunch it in it should make a squashy sound. You have to use a lot of it. Then you would apply your styling product. AG Re:coil is the best curl cream to use over the Curl Keeper. It is a very concentrated cream that has great frizz control and curl definition. You would apply that in sections.

Try not to touch your hair when it is drying. Then when this combination is dry it will have a crunch or glaze. You have to very gently scrunch out the crunch. If you scrunch too much it will get frizzy so be careful! I hope this helps and the Curl Keeper performs better for your curls using these tips.

CurlySuzy Q&A: I Wish My Hair Looked as Good Dry as it Looks Wet
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: My name is Kaci and I’m an African American teen with (who would know!”> curly hair. I’ve been natural all my life, but since I’ve had my hair straightened for as long as I remember, it has never showed. I would simply stare at the beautiful washed wet hair before me and dream of having that hair and not the dried poof that followed. The reason I’m mailing is because I’m having a little trouble with putting my hair into a category. My hair looks exactly like this when wet and applying KCCC, but what type is it? What other products would you recommend for this type of hair? So far, I have only used Carol’s Daughter and Kinky Curly. The two products have worked great for me. I’m pretty new to being a curly girl and would love to show off my curls instead of destroying them with a straightening comb. I would really appreciate your help!

Dear Kaci: Your hair type I think is a 3c. You are using great things so far. KCCC and Carol’s Daughter products are really fantastic. Have you added or tried the Kinky-Curly Knot Today to the KCCC? That can give you a little more softness and control.

The other line you might consider is Curl Junkie. The owner has hair that is 3c. Here is a pictures of her. She has a lot of hair but the curl type is 3c.

My favorite Curl Junkie products are:

Good luck and please email me again if you have any more questions. I love getting emails from teens that are proud of their curls. You are great role models.

Curl Care for Winter Athletes
By Curly Suzy ·

Lindsey Jacobellis

The winter season is the toughest on Curls. Especially if you are out in the elements—running, skiing, snowboarding or ice skating. Winter curly athletes need to protect their hair from the blustery cold air and wind. Whether your are a USA Olympic curly like Lindsey Jacobellis, Stacey Cook, Sarah Schleper, Jessie Vetter or an otherwise avid winter sports athlete, you are going to have to take extra good care of your winter curls.

Curls are already prone to dryness and frizz and the winter weather makes taking care of those problems more of a challenge. A healthy winter hair care routine should start by reducing the frequency of cleansing or shampooing your hair. Try to avoid shampoos that have sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium myreth sulfate. On the days when you don’t wash your hair, co-wash with a moisturizing conditioner.

It is important to always use a conditioner on your hair after you wash or co-wash your curls. A good conditioner should have essential fatty acids (EFAs”>, cetyl or stearyl alcohols, humectants, essential oils and vitamin E. All of these healthy ingredients help prevent dryness and will make your curls happy. You can also add jojoba oil to your conditioner or use it once a week as a hot oil treatment. Jojoba is a great extract for your curls because is similar to sebum and is easily absorbed into your scalp and hair.

Check out this article about some adorable winter hats.

When you are in the shower avoid washing and conditioning your curls in hot water. Warm or cool water will lessen the dryness and help lock in the moisture. This will be a great help to your curls as well as your skin.

Once you are out of the shower, using a leave-in conditioner is a must for any curly in the winter. Follow with your favorite winter stylers. Air drying is the best practice for your curls. If you don’t have the time, don’t go outside with wet hair. You will be risking breakage caused by your curls freezing! Instead, use a diffuser on your hair dryer. Your hair dryer should be on the cool setting. Once again avoid adding extra heat to your hair.

Jessie Vetter

Now that your curls are looking great and you are ready to go, you look out the window. Freezing winds, snow and ice are all ready to ruin your curls. Wearing a hat is a necessity. Hats are warm and provide protection for your curls, but there are a few things to be cautious about. A hat can cause a whole new set of problems. Make sure the hat isn’t too tight. It can constrict circulation to your scalp. This causes your sebum glands to go into overdrive producing more oil which can lead to greasy limp curls. Hats can also cause split ends, static electricity and frizz. If your wear dreadlocks the wool fibers can lodge themselves into the locks and loosen the lock strands. Hats can be a problem for curlies, but I am not suggesting giving them up, just a little modification can do the trick. Be crafty and turn around bad hat head curls. Sew a silk or satin lining into your hats, or if crafty is as scary as the bad hair days, wear a silk or satin scarf under your hat. This will reduce the friction that hats cause and your curls will thank you. Winter hair breakage and damage is as much about dryness as it is about what you put on your head.

Wearing your curls in protective styles is also a good option. The winter weather will tangle and snarl curls faster than a snow flake melts on your tongue. Whether you are racing down a mountain or jogging through a snow covered park, the more precautions you take to protect your curls the better. Keeping your hair out of harms way by wearing protective styles is another perfect winter hair care solution. Braid, twist or gently pull back your curls so they are safe and healthy.

This evening sit by the fire or under a warm blanket and make your winter hair care list. Get crafty with your favorite warm hat or do a hot oil conditioning treatment. Your newly moisturized and well cared for surls will look great while you are out in the cold weather enjoying your winter sports and later when you are indoors.

Here are some of my favorite winter hair care products from Shop.NaturallyCurly.com.

Cleansers

Share your winter hair care tips in the comments area below!

Highlights Made My Hair So Dry
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I can’t decide what type of curls I have. My hair is shoulder-length, processed and medium to course in texture. Areas of my hair have ringlets and others larger curls. If left alone with no product it is a frizz machine. With product I can make it look ok until I recently had it highlighted. Here is the issue. Now I am REALLY, REALLY dry. It gets in tiny knots, it doesn’t look smooth on the ends, and I can even see split ends. I need product advice to get my hair back in condition.

Dear Aimee: The answer is deep conditioning! Once a week for 30 minutes with heat. Follow with a cool rinse. That should really make a world of difference. Also use a sulfate-free cleanser. That will preserve your highlights and will be a lot more moisturizing. I will give you a bunch of suggestions below. I also really love Aubrey Organics HoneySuckle Rose cleanser and conditioner. (usually in health food sections of grocery stores and we will be selling it soon at CurlMart!

You might also want to think about trimming the end just a bit. Here is a link to our salon search if you need a good Curly Stylist.

Deep Conditioners

Sulfate-free Cleansers and Favorite Conditioners

Do you have a question for CurlySuzy? Post it below!

Where Do I Even Start for Curly Hair Products?
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear Curly Suzy: For the past 3 years I have been wearing my curls rather than straightening them. I get many compliments on them from both friends and my husband. I am very interested in your curly hair products but don’t know where to start. I am a little unusual so if I describe my hair could you recommend something?

Type: 2b (I think”>

Length: Long

Color: Blond

Weight: Thick

My hair has wave when it is wet and holds it when it dries. As the day goes on, I can NOT touch it much because the curl drops. It also tends to frizz in the back of my crown so I use a curling iron to define it slightly. Do you have a product to eliminate this curling iron step and the frizz? Keep in mind that m hair is thick so it has to be thick. I like to use liquid gel as it distributes best. Also How do I use those duck-type clips?

Dear Jane: I would say to add another product over the your gel or mix with your gel. Some like to use a leave-in conditioner. Others mix two different gels together. Another option is to mix a mousse with the gel or put it over the gel. Your styling products just need a little extra power.

This combination should help with frizz and holding the curl better throughout the day. When the products are drying, try really hard not to touch your hair. When the curls are dry, gently scrunch out the glaze the products will leave. Be especially gently in the area where your curls lose their definition. A lot of curlies like to use a pomade to scrunch out the crunch the products have when they dry. That will also help with with frizz. You can’t use too much, though, or it will weigh down your curls.

The duckbill clips are used by some curlies to avoid pyramid head. They lift the curls at the roots while your hair is drying. You open the clips and gently slide them sideways along the top of your scalp. You close the clip with the under layers of the curls in the clip. I use about 6 clips, some people use more. It takes a few times to get use to doing it. It is hard to explain, so if this is confusing please email me again and I will try to be clearer.

Favorite Mousses

AG Hair Cosmetics Mousse Gel

Curlisto Bio Gel Mousse

This is sort of like a leave-in conditioner, works best combined with a gel

Curlisto Structura Lotion

A fantastic leave-in conditioner, works great with a mousse or a gel over it

Kinky-Curly Knot Today

Combine with a mousse for best result

Curlisto Control I Gel

A good strong gel and can be combined with a leave-in(Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper”> or another gel(Curlisto Structura Lotion”>

Curlisto Control II Gel

Another great gel, a lot of hold and can be combined with a leave-in(Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper”> or another gel(Curlisto Structura Lotion”>

Batia & Aleeza Bio Herbal Mineral Sculpting Gel

A totally new combination for you:

Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper

AG Re:coil

These two products work really well together. Apply a lot of the Curl Keeper (a very unique leave-in conditioner”> on very wet hair, it should make a squashy sound as you are putting it in your curls. Follow with the AG Recoil, use a dime size and apply in sections, you might need more but be careful it is very concentrated.

I love both of these for scrunching out the crunch

Curly Hair Solutions Tweek (more of a liquid, very very concentrated”>

MOP Glisten High Shine Pomade

Help My Hair Grow Faster!
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I was wondering if you know of any curly hair products that can make your hair grow a little faster. I have type 3b hair and I got my hair just trimmed in the beginning of September and it looks as if my hair hasn’t grown at all since it got trimmed..(and it’s not just me that thinks that!”> Some of my hair isn’t even touching my shoulders and I really really want it to grow longer. When it’s short my ends have way too much body in them and I feel like a triangle! And if I use a diffuser to give my roots more body to match my ends it gets too poofy and I hate it. Also, are there any products that you recommend that have protein in them? I have breakage in the back of my head and a hairdresser said I should get some products with protein.

Dear Stacie: Here are some products that might help with getting your hair to grow. Growing longer curls sometimes takes a huge amount of patience. Also here are some product suggestions that have protein in them. They are deep conditioners. They work best if you leave them on for 30 minutes with heat and then follow with a cool rinse. Please email me if you have any more questions.

Best,

Suzy

I Need a Good Deep Conditioner
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I live in Cape Coral, Florida and I have type 3c, very thick hair. It’s past my shoulder blades when wet, but just touches the tips of the shoulders when dry.

I have two issues I would like your opinion about. First, I would like your recommendation on a deep conditioner. When I lived in NY (back in the days”>, I used to use L’Oreal Mermade Deep Penetrating conditioner, but it has been discontinued. Can you recommend a similar type of product currently on the market?

Also, I texturized about 6 months ago (I used a store-bought product and applied at home”>. At times, my hair has that “straight at the ends” look. I’d like to get it “trimmed”, but the last time I went to a hair stylist (based on salon listed on the website”>, I received a shorter than expected haircut. I really don’t want to lose the length because it takes FOREVER to grow. I haven’t really seen anyone with my same hair type. I have talked to friends, but their recommendations haven’t helped; the stylists I’ve gone to can’t even style my hair right! Any recommendations?

Dear Lisa: I think doing a deep conditioner once a week for 30 minutes (with heat”> is the answer to both of your questions. The more moisture the you have in your hair the healthier it will be. I think that might let you go a little longer with out getting it cut. I use to live in NYC way back when also. I didn’t use that conditioner though. I should have, my curls weren’t at their best then. I know it was super popular and very moisturizing. Here are some deep conditioners that are great. Maybe they are close to what you used to use.

Also here is a link to our curl community and a thread for your curl type. There is a lot of information when have time for reading. It is all very helpful!

Deep Conditioners

2010: Clarify with CurlySuzy
By Curly Suzy ·

It is 2010 and my curly hair has a holiday hangover. All the products that I used for the updos, twenties-style curls and big waves are now making my hair feel limp and lifeless. I want to get all the 2009 gunk out of my hair. I know I need to use a clarifying shampoo. I follow a shampoo free routine, so the word “shampoo” doesn’t really excite me. I immediately start worrying about how dry my curls might feel. Then I remember my hair is already dull, dry and I have poor curl definition. Why am I hesitating? My hair looks bad, and I need to deal with it.

Dealing with it means that I actually need to buy some hair products. I am usually shopping for hair products out of curiosity or hopefulness that some truly amazing discovery is still out there waiting for me.

There are a lot of clarifying options. One is to go to the CurlTalk thread about hair care recipes.

I like the baking soda recipe for a mild cause of product build-up and for cleansing the scalp. I also think the apple cider vinegar rinses can be a good solution. Mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar with a cup of water and use the rinse before you cleanse, condition and deep condition. Using the rinse first is best for curlies with very brittle, dry hair. You can also use the ACV rinse after you cleanse and condition if your curls aren’t as moisture-deprived. It can be a nice finishing rinse.

My favorite Naturallycurly.com contributor, Tonya McKay Becker, aka CurlChemist, writes “Vinegar is very useful as a rinse for the hair for several reasons. Acetic acid is a mild chelating agent, so it can be useful in removing mineral deposits on the hair that accumulate over time due to impurities in the air and hard water. The clarifying properties of ACV and other vinegars also extend to the removal of accumulated sebum or other waxy buildup from products.”

The clarifying shampoo options are limitless if you don’t want to involve your kitchen in the process. If the buildup isn’t too severe, you can use a cleanser with cocamidopropyl betaine and cocobetaine in them. Cocamidopropyl betaine is a medium-strength surfactant, while cocobetaine is a milder one. These surfactants help make the cleanser foam and bubble without stripping too much oil or irritating your scalp.

If you are going to use a clarifying shampoo that contains the big bad harsh anionic surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, and ammonium lauryl ether sulfate, it is extremely important to deep condition those precious locks for 30 minutes with heat and then follow with a cool rinse to close the hair cuticle.

I want to get the bounce back in my curls for 2010. I am going to clarify my hair and start the New Year with happy fresh curls.

Here is my shopping list for clarifying shampoos and cleansers and few other goodies:

Curl Friends Clarifying Shampoo

Curlisto Aqualizer

CURLS Clarifying Shampoo

Elucence Volume Clarifying Shampoo

Hair Rules Aloe Grapefruit Purifying Shampoo

Greenridge Herbals Herbal Vinegar Rinse

HPO Happy Scalp

Where Do I Start?
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear Curly Suzy: For the past 3 years I have been wearing my curls rather than straightening them. I get many compliments on them from both friends and my husband. I am very interested in your curl products but don’t know where to start. I am a little unusual so if I describe my hair could you recommend something?

Type: 2b (Learn more about Hair Types here“>

Length: Long

Color: blonde

Weight: Thick

My hair has wave when it is wet and holds it when it dries. As the day goes on, I can NOT touch it much because the curl drops. It also tends to frizz in the back of my crown so I use a curling iron to define it slightly. Do you have a product to eliminate this curling iron step and the frizz? Keep in mind that m hair is thick so it has to be thick. I like to use liquid gel as it distributes best. Also How do I use those duck type clips?

Dear Jane: I would say to add another product over the your gel or mix with your gel. Some like to use a leave-in conditioner. Others mix two different gels together. Another option is to mix a mousse with the gel or put it over the gel. Your styling products just need a little extra power.

This combination should help with frizz and holding the curl better through out the day. When the products are drying try really hard not to touch your hair. When the curls are dry gently scrunch out the glaze the products will leave. Be especially gently in the area where your curls lose their definition. A lot of Curlies like to use a pomade to scrunch out the crunch the products have when they dry. That will also help with with frizz. You can’t use too much though or it will weigh down your curls.

The duckbill clips are used by some Curlies to avoid pyramid head. They lift the curls at the roots while your hair is drying. You open the clips and gently slide them sideways along to top of your scalp. You close the clip with the under layers of the curls in the clip. I use about 6 clips, some people use more. It takes a few times to get use to doing it. It is hard to explain, so if this is confusing please email me again and I will try to be more clear.

Favorite Mousses

I Need a Good Deep Conditioner
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I live in Cape Coral, Florida, and I have type 3c very thick hair. It’s past my shoulder blades when wet, but just touches the tips of the shoulders when dry.

I have two issues I would like your opinion about. First, I would like your recommendation on a deep conditioner. When I lived in NY (back in the day”>, I used to use L’Oreal Mermade Deep Penetrating conditioner, but it has been discontinued. Can you recommend a similar type of product currently on the market?

Also, I texturized about 6 months ago (I used a store-bought product and applied at home”>. At times, my hair has that “straight at the ends” look. I’d like to get it “trimmed”, but the last time I went to a hair stylist (based on salon listed on the website”>, I received a shorter than expected haircut. I really don’t want to lose the length because it takes FOREVER to grow. I haven’t really seen anyone with my same hair type. I have talked to friends, but their recommendations haven’t helped; the stylists I’ve gone to can’t even style my hair right! Any recommendations?

Dear Lisa: I think doing a deep conditioner once a week for 30 minutes (with heat”> is the answer to both of your questions. The more moisture you have in your hair, the healthier it will be. I think that might let you go a little longer with out getting it cut. I use to live in NYC way back when also. I didn’t use that conditioner though. I should have, my curls weren’t at their best then. I know it was super popular and very moisturizing. Here are some deep conditioners that are great. Maybe they are close to what you used to use.

Also here is a link to our curl community and a thread for your curl type. There is a lot of information when have time for reading. It is all very helpful!

And you might check our stylist/salon recommendations to find a stylist who might be a better fit for you.

Deep Conditioners

Arbre de Vie Shea Hot Oil Treatment

Blended Beauty Herbal Reconditioner

Curl Junkie Curl Rehab Moisturizing Hair Treatment

Curls Curl Ecstasy Hair Tea Conditioner

Jessicurl Weekly Deep Conditioning Treatment

MYHoneyChild Honey Hair Mask

MYHoneyChild Intensive Oil Treatment

MYHoneyChild Organic Shea Butter Hair Paste

I hope this helps and please email me if you have more questions.

CurlySuzy Q&A: What Products Will Help My Hair Grow Faster?
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I was wondering if you know of any curly hair products that can make your hair grow a little faster..I have type 3b hair and I got my hair just trimmed in the beginning of September and it looks as if my hair hasn’t grown at all since it got trimmed..(and its not just me who thinks that!”> Some of my hair isn’t even touching my shoulders and I really really want it to grow longer. When it’s short my ends have way too much body in them and I feel like a triangle! And if I use a diffuser to give my roots more body to match my ends it gets too poofy and I hate it. Also is there any products that you recommend that have protein in them? I have breakage in the back of my head and a hairdresser said I should get some products with protein. Thank you so much!

Dear Stacie: Here are some products that might help with getting your hair to grow. Growing longer curls sometimes takes a huge amount of patience. Also here are some product suggestions that have protein in them. They are deep conditioners. They work best if you leave them on for 30 minutes with heat and then follow with a cool rinse. Please email me if you have any more questions.

Nourish Hair Nutrition Vitamins

HPO Happy Scalp Oil

Curlisto Deep Therapy Masque

DevaCurl Heaven in Hair

Elucence Moisture Extended Moisture Repair Treatment

CurlySuzy’s Gift Guide
By Curly Suzy ·

HOLIDAY SPECIAL

Order the Heat Therapy Wrap today and you will receive a FREE 2 oz NelsonJ’s Brazilian Hair Mask!

It is December and I am counting my shopping days until the holidays. I’ve got my list and I am checking it twice. Whether your curls have been naughty or nice and you need holiday products or you’re shopping for the Curlies in your life, here are some fun Curly gift ideas.

Start by shopping in CurlMart and use the 15% discount coupon code GIFT. Hurry, the coupon is valid for seven days only, expiring December 7.

Here are some helpful hints below for that perfect Curly present. You might have to put some in your own stocking as well. Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

Do you know a Curly who is always on the run? Wet curls and cold winter air are not a healthy combination. My grandmother’s voice is ringing in my head, “you will catch a deadly cold in that winter air with wet hair”. The new Hand Dry Hair Glove ($22.95″> is the perfect answer. It will drastically reduce the time it takes to dry curls.

One of the beauties of the Glove is that it allows you to style your hair while drying it. Buy the Glove on its own or splurge on the Holiday Hair Glove Kit ($44.99″> which includes the Glove and the popular and can’t live without Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper and Slip Detangler. The Kit comes wrapped and ready to give in a simple holiday bag.

We all need a good hair clip for our curls while we are at the gym or in the kitchen cooking for the holidays. Wouldn’t it be great if it looked good with our holiday outfit as well? With all the rushing around in the holiday season, who has time to re-style their curls? The Flex-8 Hair Clip is the perfect answer. Update that plastic jaw clip you’ve had for ages with the Flex-8 Hair Clip. It is comfortable, durable and comes in many sizes and styles to fit every curl. It will never slip and you will hardly know it is there. Every Curly here at NaturallyCurly.com is loving them.

For a limited time for Naturallycurly.com Curlies *Shop Now* and buy 4 clips and get one free!

Got a Curly in your life with dry, damaged and frizzy hair? This is a perfect gift to heat and treat their curls. Curly hair can be taken to a new level with the cordless Heat Therapy Wrap ($18.66″> and your favorite deep-conditioning treatment. A fast, easy, heated treatment system that heats in just 80 seconds in the microwave! Give your curl friends and relatives what they deserve this holiday season.

For the practical, no-nonsense Curly in your life, choose the Jessicurl You-Build-It Kit ($33.66″>. It includes three full-sized products from Jessicurl’s fabulous lineup, and all the goodies will come packed in our exclusive tote bag. Re-use the bag and rejoice in having great products for your curls.

Calm, soothe and de-stress the Curls this season. Give the gift of oils. Indulge and deep condition with our great assortments of oils.

Oil Treatment for Transitioning Curlies:

MYHoneyChild Intensive Hair Oil Treatment $20

Organic Oil Treatment for Natural Curlies:

Greenridge Herbals Hot Oils Hair Treatment $16

Oil Treatment for Curlies with an unhappy scalp:

HPO Happy Scalp $11

Oil Treatments for healthy hair growth:

Jessicurl Stimulating Scalp Massage Oil $10.00

Most Curlies are product junkies. We love to try new products, and are always looking for the perfect combination of products to have a frizz-free day. We’ve done the work for you and created Curly Cocktails ($45.95 – $79.95″>. These Cocktails were created using some of our favorite Holy Grail products and a lot of experimenting. Curly Cocktails are the perfect gift for any Curly. Choose from 9 different Cocktails, each one designed for a specific type of Curl. Packaged in a recyclable kraft gable box. The Cocktails includes products that work beautifully together, a recipe card, wide-toothed hanging shower comb and a spunky swizzle stick.

Curls can’t survive on products alone. Every Curl deserves to be happy this season. Surprise your best Curly friend with a set of curl friendly towels. The Curls Like Us Cloths ($24″> are smooth-surfaced, absorbent towels designed to reduce frizz and drying time while creating beautifully defined curls.

Help Me Use Kinky Curly Products Properly
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I hope you can help me. I have been curly now for five years. I have 4a hair which I get slightly relaxed or texturized about every five months to control the bulk. I used to get it bone straight. I absolutely love my curly hair. My problem is that after spending literally hundreds of dollars on different products, what really works for me especially in reducing bulk, giving me shine and nice curl definition is Kinky-Curly Curling Custard. I love this product. I also use the Knot Today. My problem is this. When I use anything else with this product I end up with tons of white flakes in my hair, and I am not exaggerating. I like to condition wash, and when I use the Come Clean shampoo, I like to use conditioner after. But everything I use seems to produce tons of white flakes. I e-mailed Kinky-Curly and they said to stay away from any silicone products, which they said could possibly be the cause. So have you heard of this problem from others? What conditioners would you recommend? I love my curly hair but this is really getting to me. Please HELP!!

Dear Lucy: I need some clarification. After you wash your hair with Come Clean, you then use a conditioner, then the Knot Today and then the Curling Custard? Do you ever skip the Knot Today and just use the Custard? What I have heard is that the Custard does strange things, mostly involving white flakes or, worse, white clumps (yuck”> when used without the Knot Today. The Custard is a tricky but amazing product. It could very well be reacting to your conditioner if you are not using the Knot Today.

Another bit of information could be that when you are putting the Custard in your curls your hair has to be VERY wet. The Knot Today should be put on VERY wet hair, and then add the Custard. While you are putting the Custard in — if the sections where you have not gotten to are starting to dry, spray that part with some water before you put the Custard on.

If you are using the Knot Today and you are still getting the white flakes, another thought is you might be using too much Custard? In regards to the silicone/conditioner issue, I agree that could be a problem. The build up of the silicone will not allow products to get absorbed into your hair shaft. You curls could be coated with the silicone and then the product flakes and turn white. Here are some silicone-free conditioners below.

Please let me know if any of this is useful. I value Curly information on any product! The Kinky Curly products are really fantastic, the Custard included. It is just tricky.

Silicone free conditioners:

CurlySuzy Q&A: Help Me Decide
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: Thanks so much for all of this great advice. I am trying to decide between the John Masters shampoo/conditioner or HPO shampoo/conditioner. Do you prefer one over the other? Also, for the deep conditioners you say to apply heat. How do I do that?

Dear Allison: The best way to apply heat is to put a plastic shower cap over the deep conditioner and sit under a hooded dryer. Of course both of those items might be things you do not have. Wrapping saran wrap over your hair and using a regular hair dryer will work (great upper arm work out”>. I have even put the plastic over my head and then put a warm hat on and done yoga. The heat from your head will do the trick. Only in the privacy of my home do I do any of these! Try to do the heat method for 30 minutes and then follow with a cool rinse.

If I had to pick between the John Masters Organic Evening Primrose Shampoo and the HPO Hair and Body Shampoo I think I would pick the John Masters. That is a hard choice, though. Maybe when you run out, switch to the other.

Help Me With Sulfate-Free Products
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I’m looking for a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Can I use Elucence Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner? I do not see sulfates on the ingredients!

Dear Suzie: The Elucence Moisture Balancing Conditioner is fine and sulfate-free. The Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo has-sodium myreth solfate (coconut oil-derived”>. C14-16 olefin sulfonate (mineral-derived_, cocomidopropyl betaine (coconut oil-derived”>hydrolyzed wheat protein, tocopherol acetate, Panthenol (provitamin”>.

Those are not the harshest sulfates. They are the mildest. We don’t “tag” them as sulfate free because strictly speaking they are sulfates. It just depends how strict you are. I hope this helps. I do really like both these products and they are wildly popular.

Please email me if you have questions or if this is confusing.

I Need to Reduce Volume
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I have chin length, thick, 2c/3a curly hair. My main issues are poofiness and lack of curl definition. I generally use Shea moisture leave in, followed by Biosilk Rock Hard Gel. I’ve tried to reduce volume in my hair by applying these right side up. Nevertheless, when my hair dries, it feels like cotton candy, it doesn’t hang down right, if you know what I mean. I’ve tried billions of products and they either make my hair poof, or my hair is stuck to my head with no movement! You’re my last resort!!

Dear Kris: That gel is super popular. You might try using Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper under it. That is a popular combination. Curl Keeper is a unique leave-in with a lot of power. You have to apply it to very wet hair and scrunch it in, section by section. It should make a squashy sound when you do this. Then follow with the Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee. Another super popular combination with Curl Keeper for definition and frizz control is AG Re:coil curl creme.

Another thing you might try is cleansing your hair with a sulfate-free cleanser. That is going to add a lot more moisture than a regular shampoo. Regular shampoos are harsh and drying. That could be part of the problem. L’Oreal Ever Pure line, Tigi Bedhead Foxy Curls and Superstar, Aubrey Organics and Giovanni Organics all have sulfate-free cleansers. We sell some as well.

Next, lots of conditioning and deep conditioning. The more moisture in your curls the less frizz and poof you will struggle with. I hope all of this helps. Please email me if you have more questions.

Sulfate-free cleansers and silicone-free conditioners:

Styling Product Combo:

These two products work really well together, super popular combination. Apply a lot of the Curl Keeper on very wet hair, it should make a squashy sound as you are putting it in your curls. Follow with the AG Re:coil, use a dime size and apply in sections, you might need more but be careful it is very concentrated.

CurlySuzy Gives Thanks
By Curly Suzy ·

My Thanksgiving Day is spent mostly getting ready for the meal. It is all hustle-bustle to get the food to the table. There is always the last-minute carving of the turkey by my dad and a mad rush to get the chairs pulled to the table. Once we all get to the table we do what I imagine most families do. Pray, eat and talk about what we are thankful for. All of the “giving thanks” is thoughtful and funny. We all realize how lucky we are to have our freedom, health and loved ones in our daily existence. I am thinking this year I am going to give thanks for my curls. I don’t think once at Thanksgiving have the curlies spoken about their curls. My dad and brother are the only curlies besides myself at the table. They both keep their curls very short and have very little experience dealing with the real power of curls. Superficial as it might sound at first, curls represent a bigger world than what is just on my head. Acceptance of anything that is not the “norm” is the beginning of peace with oneself and the rest of the world.

Most curlies have struggled for a very long time with managing their hair. Whether it is worn curly, twisted, straightened, in a weave, relaxed, pressed, ironed, blown out or always pulled back in a ponytail, the love for curls is a rocky road. Hair is so tightly connected to our self-esteem. I am thankful that I have curly hair not only because it is unique but because it automatically connects me to other amazing curlies. There is an immediate mutual understanding of the struggles involved with having curly hair. We all are very aware of the humidity and dew points. We all have history with good and bad haircuts. The joys and struggles with hair care products and second-day hair are universal. An immediate understanding that swimming, riding in a convertible car, and being caught in a rainstorm can all be a potential curl disaster. I am thankful for the honesty and support that all the other curlies have offered me in my life.

I am also thankful, of course, for NaturallyCurly.com and all that goes with the site. I have had those bad hair days and found myself wanting to click my heels together, Dorothy-style, to get back to NaturallyCurly.com. I have found answers, ideas, products and a huge amount of support from all the curlies on the site. I am also thankful for the stylists who have embraced cutting curly hair bravely and with enthusiasm. They have made so many of us happy with our curls. I hope I never have to endure another bad haircut or the blow out that never looks right. I am also inspired by the women that have taken their curls to high places and become icons in our world. Seeing women with curly hair develop curly hair care product lines, opening salons, writing curly hair blogs, interviewed in magazines, on NPR and in newspapers thrills me. Actors, athletes, musicians, writers, models, all the YouTube videos made by curlies and curlies in everyday life always offers me inspiration and a feeling of embracing everyones unique differences.

As I am looking for new and exciting pie recipes and emailing my mom about the grocery lists, I am also thinking about my turn at the table to give thanks. I hope it is a good hair day!

Do You Recommend Natural-Laxer?
By Curly Suzy ·

Dear CurlySuzy: I am asking you to be candid about the Baka Beautiful Natural-Laxer. I am only writing to you because I trust your site beyond question. I am new to my natural curly hair. I have 6″ of 3C/4A textured hair and have not had any chemicals in it since 12/08. I did the big chop this past May. Your site has been a constant source of information and has offered everything that I need to make this a pleasant journey to date. I cannot thank you enough for that.

To that end, I am considering the Natural-Laxer because I do not want to damage or ruin my hair with chemicals but I would love to loosen up my natural curl just a bit to make wash and go styles still easy as my hair gets longer. I do not really enjoy twists, braids,etc. in my hair. I am strictly a wash-and-go person.

In your opinion, which I trust, do you think that this product is worth trying and do you think it might do as it claims of loosening my curls slightly? If not, I am open to any suggestions that you may have.

Dear Iva: Thanks for all your nice words. So great to read! In regard to Baka Beautiful, I think it is a complicated product. I do think it will loosen your curls and many people with your curl type love the product. The downside is it is pretty messy to use. Be prepared for that. Second: it can be drying. So be sure to use very moisturizing shampoos and conditioners. Baka Beautiful recommends products that have silk protein in them. I would also try to stick to sulfate-free cleansers as well.

Here are some cleansers that are sulfate-free and have silk protein in them:

Here are some conditioners with silk protein in them:

Here is a styling product that might help with elongation. As an alternative to the Baka Beautiful product. You can cleanse your curls, apply this product and be on the go. Please Follow her styling instructions exactly for best results.

I hope this helps you make some decisions. Please email me again if you have any more questions.

Best,

Suzy