I’m having a particularly good hair moment, which is quite unusual occurrence for me, and especially so in the summer. I’ve got coarse, dry, frizzbo hair, and the humidity this time of year—especially out in Sag Harbor, where I am right now—plays hell with it. But I’ve come up with a regimen that really seems to be working lately, and it starts with this shampoo, which cleans without stripping hair of natural oils and drying it out.
I follow it with this conditioner, which is effective enough to feel like you deep conditioned, but doesn’t make your hair feel coated with gunk—even after you rinse—the way that can happen with some deep conditioners.
After towel drying with this, I spray probably more of this All in One Milk than is probably recommended, and it detangles and smooths hair, and also protects hair from the extreme heat of the blow dryer.
And here is my blow dryer. It is not cheap, but Dermstore often runs specials on it. It cuts down on drying time significantly, and is more smoothing than any blow-dryer I’ve tried.
As you might have noted, I am a newfound superfan of the brand Sachajuan, which I discovered at my hair salon. This stuff adds shine and smoothness but doesn’t make hair feel coated, as some serums can do.
I use a curling iron instead of a straightening iron to smooth out my hair once it’s dry, because they don’t do quite the damage that straightening irons can do. I’ve had this one for years, and it is lightweight and effective, and heats up fast.
My last step is this anti-humidity spray, which doesn’t feel tacky like hairspray sometimes can, and really seems to help matters
The Sachajuan scalp shampoo works wonders ( for me) in case anyone is wondering .. it has really helped with my persistent/ annoying scalp issues… doesn’t seem to turn my hair into straw either !
Since I’ve let my greys go in, my hair always looks quite frizzy. I’m only about 10% grey, but it’s at the top of my head and at the hairline. When I was in Scotland recently at my SIL’s house, I borrowed this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MSHNZ0B?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details. It’s cheap and it takes care of the frizz! I only used her shampoo, but I’ve since used the conditioner as well.
I got my first Cezanne keratin treatment a few weeks ago and now I’m wondering why I didn’t try it years ago. It’s the best! My hair is about 50% gray and typically turns into a frizzy mess every summer. It’s feels so smooth and air dries beautifully after having the keratin treatment.
My beyond favorite moisturizer for my curly frizzy ends and gray hairs was Burt’s Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment. It’s been discontinued and if anyone else was a fan and has found a good replacement please let me know.
I have dry frizzy curly hair. I use Redken Curveacous leave in/wash out conditioner and Oribe Styling Bugger Curl Enhancing Crème – the best! Also use Humectress conditioner when I can get it.
Really helpful post, thanks! I have dry, curly hair—is there any other kind of curly hair?? I’ve been using all R+Co styling products, but I’m going to try Sachajuan when those run out.
I echo the Davines ‘All in One Milk’ recommendation. Best leave-in I’ve ever used.
I’m going to try this routine! I went curly after menopause, which was meant a totally new routine for me. And for some reason (meds?) I cannot seem to get enough moisture in my hair, and I don’t blow-dry or use tools. Any ideas, savvy GOACA’s?
I’ve been using Hairstory products since somebody recommended them. They will definitely put the moisture back but I have to wash more often. Worth a try and for me at least they don’t bother my scalp.
I’ve been using Hairstory for over a year now and cannot believe how crappy my hair looks when i use anything else! Definitely takes some getting use to, I took the advice of Jayne Edo and use a lot more product than usual shampoo to get your hair really feeling clean, and that did the trick. Even cleaning three times a week, a little pouch last me about three months, and my scalp has never felt better.
I have dry, frizzy hair too. What is helping is using an oil (Kerastase has a good one) after shampoo, conditioner…before I blow dry. You just need a dab of it on wet hair. I tried it several days later (with my dry hair I only need to wash twice per week) on dry hair to calm it down..it can get so “puffy”
Some meds may affect hair dryness, but more likely it’s because the change in hormone levels after menopause, especially estrogen, cause our scalp to produce less oil. Basically, any product you like that can coat the hair strands — I’ve cycled through K18 leave-in conditioner, various heat balms, argan oil conditioner, even a little The Ordinary squalene oil rubbed on my hands and then added to the dry ends — seems to help. My stylist tells his older clients, especially those with some gray hair, to turn down the heat on their dryers and curlings irons to keep from overheating hair and to keep the grays from turning yellowish.
Yes – I once had oily hair. Of course it does not help that I wash it every day.
My hair dude tells me all curly hair is dry, fwiw. And I always air dry, too. What helps me is washing g as infrequently as possible, and sleeping in a hair cap (this one https://www.graceeleyae.com/collections/slaps-turbans/products/gray-slap-satin-lined-cap?variant=1202152265 ). I wish I had better tips! I guess I’m resigned to my fate!
The Sachajuan conditioner didn’t work for me, but my hair type is very different from yours: stick straight, dry, color treated with highlights, and prone to frizz. Shu Uemura’s shampoos and conditioners along with their Essence Absolue oil is the only stuff that works for me, and I’ve tried everything. Although, I also used a sample of a Kerastase ultra-violet hair mask for blondes yesterday that also made my hair feel super soft and moisturized.
I think the best hair products I’ve ever used have been by Shu Uemura. Thanks for the reminder, Liz!
The best system for dealing with frizz with curly or wavy hair is the LUS brand. It’s sold online and is reasonably priced. I love the 3-in-1 styling cream. It’s a game changer.
I love Davines Curl Building Serum, it’s hydrating and helps with frizz. ‘Ouidad’ products are great too for all types of curls. And ‘Pattern’ sold at Ulta the conditioner is very thick and you only use a small amount. It’s years of trial and error but Im finally pleased with the results.
I didn’t have good luck with SachaJuan products nor Ouidad products. The OLD DevaCurl products worked best on my hair, but they’ve changed their formulas and now DevaCurl only sort of works. Their CurlBond Conditioner is supposed to be fabulous. Don’t know. Super frustrating. Also, the water at my East Coast location is MUCH harder than the water at my Texas location. Hard water is very tough on hair. If you want to bother (I don’t) I was told to do a final rinse on my hair with distilled water and that would help with both moisture and frizz. I have not tried it so it could be a piece of advice as trustworthy as Clarence Thomas.
hard water is a thing … I lived in Switzerland and had a big issue with the hard water there. Easy solution is the distilled water with just a drop or two of vinegar as final rinse. Cheaper than the products in the post. That is not a dis, always love your recommendations Kim- just wish there was an easier way to try a product. It is so personal, what works for someone doesn’t work for another. companies give us a way to sample!
Interesting, Ceejay, about the hard water––I guess it is a thing! (and how cool to live in Switzerland!!) I did get a generous sample of DevaCurl’s CurlBond Conditioner that they included (unasked for) with my last order––I just haven’t used it yet. Will post about it when I do.
Ceejay — I agree! I’ve had some luck ordering travel size of various shampoos and conditioner. For example, I just discovered that the Shu Uemura shampoos come in travel size. At $19 still not exactly cheap, but better for trying than ordering a $49 shampoo and hoping it works.
I’ve let my hair go back to its natural curl after years of straightening but yes, some curl days are great and some days Im dealing with a frizzy mess.
plus I colour so much as I have gray regrowth – every two weeks!
I do wish i was brave enough to go silver!
I’m intrigued how you smooth your curls with curling tong? do you create curls then brush it out?