Co-washing is a way of cleansing your hair with a creamy conditioning cleanser instead of traditional shampoo. This method is particularly beneficial for coarse, thick, or dry hair, and leaves your locks feeling healthy and hydrated instead of dry and brittle. 

In this guide, you’ll discover what co-washing means and why it’s become so popular. We’ll explain how to choose a cowash product and share some of the best products on the market, together with step-by-step instructions. 

What Is a Co wash?

Co-washing is short for conditioner-only washing, which means washing your hair with conditioner alone. It’s sometimes called the no poo method, as in no shampoo. 

Most conditioners contain tiny amounts of a type of detergent called cationic surfactants, such as cetrimonium and behentrimonium chloride. When you apply conditioner to your scalp and hair, these surfactants pick up debris, which is then rinsed away with the conditioner, leaving your hair feeling clean.  

Cleansing your hair in this way won’t leave it as clean as shampooing, but you also avoid the drying effect of the sulfates and other harsh ingredients found in many shampoos. If your hair is thick or coarse, you can even co-wash daily without it becoming dry and brittle. 

Co-washing retains more moisture than when you shampoo your hair. This means that the moisturizing agents in your conditioner work more effectively, leaving your locks soft, shiny, and manageable.

Choosing the Right Product

If your hair is fairly thick, you can probably use your regular conditioner. However, it’s best to avoid conditioners that contain silicones like dimethicone. These ingredients help smooth your hair cuticle but can build up on your strands, leaving your hair flat and limp.

If your hair isn’t quite as thick, cleansing conditioners or a dedicated co-wash might give you better results. These are specifically designed for co-washing and contain ingredients which will wash your hair gently. 

Look out for the following on the ingredient list:

• Emollients like shea butter, argan oil or castor oil to soften and smooth your hair – though these can be heavy so consider your hair type.
• Proteins like wheat or soy protein to give your hair a protective coating
• Humectants like honey or panthenol to lock moisture into your strands
• Moisturizers like aloe vera or amino acids to leave your locks soft and shiny

Benefits of Cowashing

Transitioning from your regular routine can have several benefits for your tresses.

Avoid Sulfates

Many people choose to co-wash because they want to avoid sulfates and other harmful ingredients that strip the natural oils from curly hair, leaving it dry, brittle, and frizzy.

Preserve Your Hair’s Natural Oils

Avoiding sulfates will help to maintain the oils that keep your scalp and hair healthy.

Maintain Hair Moisture

Using a conditioner or co-wash product will moisturize your mane more effectively, leaving it hydrated, more manageable, and frizz-free.

Make Detangling Easier

Using the co wash method will also lubricate your strands, making them easier to detangle and less prone to split ends and breakage.

Problems with Cowashing

Buildup

The most common issue with cowashing is buildup. One thing you need to make sure you do is clarify on a regular basis to avoid this problem. While cowashing is great, you do need to do a more thorough cleanse on a monthly basis so that your hair can actually absorb the moisture and stay healthy.

Loss of Hold or Curl Pattern

Because of the amount of moisture you get from cowashing, it can lead to minimal hold from your styling products. It can also stretch out your curl pattern over time. If you notice either of these happening, it means that cowash may not be the best choice of hair cleanser for you or that you need to do a clarifying wash.

How to Co wash Effectively: Step-By-Step

Washing your hair without shampoo will take some adjustments to your hair care routine, but following these step-by-step directions will make the transition easy.

1 – Saturate Your Hair Completely

Saturate your strands with water until your scalp and hair are soaking wet. This will loosen dirt, sebum, and product buildup, making them easier to rinse out. It also makes distributing the cleanser easier. 

2 – Be Generous

Ignore the instructions on your conditioner bottle; you don’t need a dime-size dollop of conditioner or co wash. You need to use enough product to coat your scalp and wet hair completely from root to end. Depending on the length of your locks, this could mean an amount the size of a golf ball. 

3 – Apply the Conditioner

Massage your conditioner thoroughly into your scalp to break down any buildup of sebum and styling products. Then distribute it evenly through to the ends of your hair and leave for three to five minutes, or even longer if your hair is very dry or damaged.

4 – Rinse and Reapply 

Rinse your hair thoroughly with warm water until all of the product has been washed out, then reapply your conditioner according to the instructions on the bottle to condition your hair and rinse again. Alternatively, you could use a leave-in conditioner at this stage.

5 – Dry and Style As Usual

You may find that your hair needs less styling product when it is properly hydrated. 

Co-wash vs Traditional Shampoo

Shampoo often contains sulfates, a type of detergent that gives you squeaky-clean hair. These are highly effective at removing dirt and debris from your hair and scalp, including:

• Dead skin cells
• Sweat
• Sebum
• Styling products
• Environmental pollutants

However, they can also strip the natural oils and moisture from your strands, leaving them dry and prone to breakage. 

Switching to a co-washing regimen can leave your mane softer and more manageable initially, but many people find that their hair can start to feel weighed down over time.

A good compromise is to use a clarifying shampoo once or twice a month to deep-clean your hair. Another option is to alternate between conditioner washing and using a sulfate-free shampoo.

Is Cowashing Suitable for All Hair Types?

Most hair types will benefit from co-washing, especially if your hair is dry or damaged.

Not sure which hair type you have? Our curly hair type quiz will help you find out!

Curly type 3 hair and coily type 4 hair both tend to be coarse and naturally dry. That’s because the curls and kinks make it more difficult for sebum to travel down from your scalp to the tip of each hair shaft.

So, these natural hair types will clearly benefit from co-washing with rich conditioners or co washes. You could even leave the product on for a bit longer than five minutes, but be sure to rinse it all out thoroughly. 

Wavy and finer curly hair types are usually not as dry, so it’s better to stick to a light co-wash. Also, low porosity hair that struggles with buildup may do better with regular shampoo.

Co washing is also excellent for color-processed hair as long as your scalp is healthy and unbroken. This technique doesn’t strip pigment like shampoo, so it can help your color last longer.

Who Shouldn’t Use a Co-Wash?

Co-washing is not recommended if you have certain scalp issues like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis. These conditions can worsen if you use co-wash products, as co-washing isn’t enough to break up the flakes or remove excess oil from your scalp. 

Instead, you could try using medicated shampoos like Neutrogena T/Gel or T/Sal.

If you have fine, straight locks, co-washing could result in them becoming weighed down and limp. Sticking with your regular shampoo and conditioner routine might be better for your locks.

The Best Conditioners for Cowashing

If you’d like to try co-washing your hair, these are some of the best co washes and cleansing conditioners to try:  

Miribel Naturals Creamy Hair Cleanser

I don’t love cowashes for my fine hair but this one is the one I’d use if my hair did well with them. It has a nice light lather, gentle exfoliating beads, you don’t need too much, it’s very lightly scented, and I love the natural formulation.

Miribel Naturals Creamy Hair Cleanser

$32.00 ($4.00 / Ounce)

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12/17/2023 06:26 am GMT

Pantene Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash

This ultra-rich cleansing conditioner contains argan oil to gently cleanse your locks and infuse them with rich hydration. This product was specially developed for natural hair and is free from parabens and sulfates.

Gold Series from Pantene Sulfate-Free Deep Hydrating Co-Wash with Argan Oil

$8.99 ($0.59 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 02:51 pm GMT

Shea Moisture Curl Moisture Co-Wash

This deeply moisturizing cowash smells gorgeous and keeps your curls clean, soft, and tangle-free. It’s enriched with certified organic raw shea butter, making it perfect for dry, damaged curls or coils.

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Co-Wash Conditioning Cleanser

$15.60 ($1.30 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 12:36 am GMT

Live Clean Ultra Light Apple Cider Conditioner

This gentle, hypo-allergenic conditioner contains apple cider vinegar, organic chamomile extract, and sunflower oil to remove residue and restore moisture to your locks. It’s cruelty-free and free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, and dyes.

Live Clean Conditioner, Ultra Light Apple Cider

$13.26 ($1.10 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 12:46 am GMT

As I Am Coconut Cowash

This cowash contains a rich blend of caster oil, coconut oil, and nourishing ingredients to cleanse and hydrate your hair. It removes product buildup and sebum while conditioning your strands and keeping curls tangle-free. 

As I Am Coconut Cowash

$7.99

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12/18/2023 01:51 am GMT

Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Sulfate Free Cleansing Conditioner

This conditioner will moisturize your hair from roots to ends while rinsing away impurities. It delivers deep hydration and makes detangling curly hair easier. 

Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Sulfate Free Cleansing Conditioner

$9.29 ($0.77 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 12:51 am GMT

FAQs

Still looking for more information about co-washing hair? These Frequently Asked Questions might help:

How Often Should You Co wash?

It’s fine to co-wash your hair daily or just a few times per week. If your hair is very coarse or dehydrated, you might want to cleanse your hair more often, and unlike using regular shampoo, daily co washes are safe for your hair.

Can Cowashing Replace Traditional Shampooing Altogether?

Cowashing alone won’t cleanse your hair as thoroughly as regular shampoo. Without properly cleansing your hair with a clarifying shampoo every few weeks, your hair may develop a buildup of conditioner, styling product, sebum, or sweat.

Can I Use Any Conditioner for Cowashing?

Your regular conditioner may be suitable for washing if you have thick or coarse strands. However, avoid using conditioners that contain silicones, and you will probably get better results from one of the dedicated co-wash products listed in this guide.

The Bottom Line

Co-washing has become a popular way to care for hair, particularly curly and coily hair types, which can be naturally dry and brittle. This technique allows you to avoid the harsh, drying effects of sulfates and other harmful ingredients in many regular shampoos.

Finding the right conditioner and a washing schedule can take time. It’s essential to choose carefully, as ingredients like silicones will weigh down your locks. 

You might still need to use clarifying shampoo to give your locks an occasional deep cleanse. But switching your regular shampoo for a conditioning cleanser or co-wash could be the key to soft, shiny, healthy-looking hair.

The post What Is a Cowash? The Hair Care Technique You Need To Know appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

These medicated shampoos are specially formulated to treat dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, and other scalp conditions. They can help clear flaky scalps, break down skin cell buildup, and reduce itching and inflammation. 

But which is the best shampoo for your needs?

In this guide, we’ll look at how Neutrogena T/Sal and Neutrogena T/Gel work, their active ingredients, and the differences between the shampoos. This will help you decide which therapeutic shampoo will be best for your symptoms.

What is T/Gel Shampoo?

Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo is a medicated shampoo used to treat mild scalp conditions, including seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and dandruff. 

Its active ingredient, coal tar extract, is an effective deep cleanser for your scalp, removing flakes and treating minor scalp infections. 

T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo is also available in an Extra Strength version, which contains more coal tar extract than the regular formulation. This can be used to treat scalp conditions that have more severe symptoms. 

Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo

$25.19 ($5.72 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 06:41 am GMT

What Does T/Gel Do?

Neutrogena T/Gel shampoo is an excellent choice if you suffer from mild symptoms associated with scalp conditions. 

It offers fast relief from the discomfort of a dry, itchy scalp and the coal tar extract also helps to reduce redness, flaking, and scaling. 

T/Gel is easy to use and mild enough to be used daily, even on sensitive scalps. Using T/Gel at least two times a week or according to your doctor’s instructions is recommended. 

T/Gel Shampoo Ingredients

Coal tar extract is the main active ingredient in T/Gel shampoo. Coal tar has been used for treating scalp conditions for hundreds of years and is thought to work by slowing skin cell growth.

This helps reduce the inflammation, itching and flaking caused by dandruff, psoriasis, and other scalp issues. 

Other ingredients in this shampoo include Sodium laureth sulfate and Cocamidopropyl betaine to cleanse your scalp and hair. 

Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo Side Effects

You may experience mild side effects when using T/Gel, such as a skin irritation or your scalp becoming dry, red, or irritated. These usually resolve themselves if you continue using the product.

However, T/Gel is unsuitable for anyone allergic to coal tar, and you should not use it if you have rashes or broken skin on your scalp. 

If you notice any allergic reaction to this product, seek emergency medical advice and stop using the shampoo immediately.

What is T/Sal Shampoo?

Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo is a therapeutic scalp shampoo. It’s recommended by dermatologists to soothe itching and clear scalp buildup and flaky scalp caused by severe skin conditions like dandruff and chronic scalp psoriasis. 

This gentle formulation will leave your hair and scalp feeling clean and refreshed without drying them out.

As well as removing dead skin cells and sebum buildup, T/Sal unclogs pores and clears away any residue of styling products and conditioners. 

Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo, Scalp Build-Up Control

$20.48 ($2.28 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 01:11 pm GMT

What Does T/Sal Do?

Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo is ideal if you have problems with a flaky and crusty scalp. It is a powerful deep-cleaning shampoo that eliminates the crusty scalp build up of natural oils and skin cells caused by dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. 

It can also give long lasting relief from an itchy and inflamed scalp infection, reducing the urge to scratch which can cause hair loss. 

T/Sal is gentle enough to be used daily to maintain a healthy scalp and should be used at least twice weekly or as your doctor advises. It starts working after just one application, but you will see the best results after using it for a few weeks. 

T/Sal Shampoo Ingredients

The main active ingredient in T/Sal shampoo, salicylic acid, works by breaking down skin cells and hard sebum buildup. This makes it an excellent solution for severe dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis. 

T/Sal medicated shampoo contains gentle cleansers that clean your hair and scalp without drying them out, and is free from added colors, preservatives, and fragrances.

The formulation is mild enough to be used daily and should be used at least twice per week or as your doctor advises. 

Neutrogena T/Sal Shampoo Side Effects

Salicylic acid can cause a severe but rare allergic reaction. This can result in symptoms including intense itching, hives, breathing difficulties, light-headedness, or swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face.

If you notice any allergic reaction to this anti dandruff shampoo, stop using it and seek medical advice immediately.

TGel vs TSal: Similarities

There are many similarities between these two shampoos:

• They’re both medicated shampoos.
• You can buy T/Sal and T/Gel shampoos over the counter.
• Both are made by Neutrogena.
• Both shampoos target scalp conditions like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis.

Both products are also used in the same way. Gently massage a small amount of T/Gel or T/Sal into your wet hair and scalp. Leave the lather to work for a few minutes, then rinse and dry your hair as normal.

Either shampoo can be used daily, but you should use it at least twice per week or more frequently, according to your doctor or dermatologist’s advice.

T Gel vs T Sal: Differences

Here’s a summary of the main differences between T/Gel and T/Sal to help you choose between them:

Active Ingredients 

T/Gel shampoo features coal tar extract as the main active ingredient, which will deep cleanse your scalp to stop the source of your scalp problems. 

The main active ingredient in Neutrogena T/Sal shampoo is salicylic acid, which is more effective at breaking down a hard buildup of dead skin cells and sebum on your scalp.  

Appearance and Fragrance

T/Gel shampoo is a dark brown color and has a powerful scent of tar. You may prefer to use a highly-scented conditioner after this shampoo to mask the scent.

T/Sal shampoo is clear in color and has a light antiseptic scent that smells quite medicinal. 

T Gel vs T Sal: Customer Reviews

Customer reviews can be a great way to see how effective a product is. Both T/Gel and T/Sal have many online reviews, so let’s examine how their Amazon ratings compare.

Over 10,000 bottles of Neutrogena T/Gel Therapeutic Shampoo Original Formula were sold in the month before this post was written. At the time of writing, it has an average score of 4.6 stars off nearly 9000 ratings, with 76% giving it a perfect 5-star rating and only 3% awarding a 1-star rating.

Neutrogena T/Sal Therapeutic Shampoo scores similarly, with 77% 5-star and 4% 1-star ratings. However, this product sold around 800 bottles in the previous month and only has about 900 ratings in total.

So, both products appear very effective and popular with their users, but T/Gel may be better known than T/Sal. 

T Gel vs T Sal Shampoo: Which To Use?

Now that you have all the details about these two medicated shampoos, you might be wondering which one to pick. 

T Gel is probably used by more people than T/Sal, but that doesn’t mean it’s more effective. Each shampoo has different benefits and will suit different needs.

If you have more severe scalp conditions, like excessive flaking or buildup on your scalp, the salicylic acid in T/Sal medicated shampoo will be more effective.

But T/Gel would be a good choice if you have less severe scalp conditions that don’t cause much buildup, like mild psoriasis, dandruff symptoms, or an itchy scalp. The coal tar extract it contains will help relieve flaking and scalp itching, but it could take a few weeks to take full effect. 

I personally use the T Gel shampoo to control my dandruff and itchy scalp. It works well even though I don’t like the smell. I alternate it with my clarifying shampoo and regular shampoos.

Ultimately, your decision may be a matter of personal preference. If you’re struggling to decide, you could try using one brand for a while and switch to the other if you don’t see good results.

Whichever shampoo you try first, you should give it a few weeks to work. 

FAQs

If you need more information about choosing between Neutrogena T/Gel and T/Sal, here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions:

Can You Use Neutrogena T/Gel or T/Sal Every Day?

Neutrogena T/Gel and T/Sal are both gentle enough for everyday use. 

Can I Use T/Gel and T/Sal Together?

T/Sal and T/Gel are both very potent shampoos that can occasionally cause scalp irritation and side effects. Combining the two shampoos may increase the risk of side effects like intense itching or breathing difficulties.

If you want to use T/Gel and T/Sal together, you should consult your doctor or dermatologist first. They may advise using both shampoos if your scalp is severely affected and will be able to tell you how to proceed safely.

Does T/Gel or T/Sal Damage Color-Treated Hair?

Neither of these products is marked as color-safe. T/Gel contains coal tar extract, which can discolor blonde hair or hair that has been color-treated. However, this effect is usually temporary. 

T/Sal contains Salicylic acid, an ingredient that could alter or fade your hair color. 

How Frequently Should I Use T/Gel or T/Sal Shampoos, and for How Long?

T/Gel and T/Sal shampoos should be used at least two times a week or as your doctor directs you. You may need to use the shampoo for several weeks and should see an improvement during this time. 

TSal vs TGel: Which One Should You Pick?

This guide has explained the difference between Neutrogena T/Sal and Neutrogena T/Gel, and hopefully has made choosing the right shampoo for your scalp condition easier. 

Your decision will partly come down to personal choice. However, generally speaking, T/Gel is more effective at treating mild scalp conditions, while T/Sal is better suited to more severe crusting and scalp conditions.

Side effects from using T/Gel or T/Sal are rare, but carrying out a patch test before using a therapeutic shampoo for the first time is recommended.

If you experience any side effects or find that your symptoms are worsening, you should stop using the shampoo and seek medical advice right away.

T/Gel and T/Sal are both high-quality, effective treatments for skin conditions. So, whichever you choose, there is a good chance that you’ll see a significant improvement in your symptoms.

The post TGel vs TSal: Choosing the Right Scalp Solution for Relief appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

Hair loss has many causes, from chemotherapy treatment and stress to sudden weight loss and vitamin deficiency. Women may also experience postpartum hair loss after the birth of a baby or experience hair loss during perimenopause and after menopause.

But it can be possible to regrow hair, especially if you start hair growth treatments quickly. Nutrafol and Viviscal are two popular hair growth supplements containing essential vitamins and other nutrients that support good hair health. Both have excellent results in treating thinning or slow-growing hair. 

If you’re considering a hair growth supplement but aren’t sure which one is best for you, this comparison of Nutrafol vs Viviscal will help you choose.

Disclaimer

This guide is a summary of information from trustworthy sources. However, we are not doctors and cannot provide medical advice. We recommend consulting a healthcare professional before taking any supplements. 

Viviscal vs Nutrafol: Which Is Better for Hair Growth?

Nutrafol and Viviscal are excellent hair growth supplements that have been thoroughly tested and clinically proven to support hair growth. Whichever hair growth supplement you choose, you should see thicker hair after 3-6 months of regular use. But which is the right supplement for you?

Nutrafol has a more diverse list of ingredients, which means it can take a broader approach to the causes of thinning hair. It’s also the best choice if you want an all-natural supplement. However, it is more expensive than Viviscal, and you have to take more tablets each day.

Viviscal is cheaper than Nutrafol, and you only need to take two pills per day. However, it does contain some artificial additives and doesn’t help with the hormonal imbalances that can lead to hair shedding. 

That’s just a quick summary of the differences between these two hair growth supplements, so now, let’s look at Nutrafol vs Viviscal in more detail. 

Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements for Women	Nutrafol Women's Balance Hair Growth Supplements (Ages 45+)
4.3	4.3
$76.01 ($0.42 / Count)	$88.00 ($0.73 / Count)
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Pros: More affordable Smaller dose, bottle lasts longer Clinically proven to support hair growth and fullness	Pros: Large nutrient profile Unique formulations for men and women of different age ranges Clinical research supports each ingredients' effectiveness in growing hair 100% natural ingredients with transparency in sourcing
Cons: Can cause nausea Takes 3-6 months to work Contains biotin which can cause acne and gastrointestinal discomfort Fewer nutrients in formulation No zinc Once you stop taking it, your hair will return the condition it was in before	Cons: More expensive Daily dosage is 4 pills High amount of biotin Cannot be used while pregnant or on blood thinners Takes 3-6 months to work Once you stop taking it, your hair will return the condition it was in before

Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements for Women

4.3

$76.01 ($0.42 / Count)

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Pros:

• More affordable
• Smaller dose, bottle lasts longer
• Clinically proven to support hair growth and fullness

Cons:

• Can cause nausea
• Takes 3-6 months to work
• Contains biotin which can cause acne and gastrointestinal discomfort
• Fewer nutrients in formulation
• No zinc
• Once you stop taking it, your hair will return the condition it was in before

Nutrafol Women's Balance Hair Growth Supplements (Ages 45+)

4.3

$88.00 ($0.73 / Count)

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Pros:

• Large nutrient profile
• Unique formulations for men and women of different age ranges
• Clinical research supports each ingredients' effectiveness in growing hair
• 100% natural ingredients with transparency in sourcing

Cons:

• More expensive
• Daily dosage is 4 pills
• High amount of biotin
• Cannot be used while pregnant or on blood thinners
• Takes 3-6 months to work
• Once you stop taking it, your hair will return the condition it was in before

12/17/2023 09:11 am GMT

What Is Viviscal?

Viviscal is a leading brand of hair growth supplements for men and women formulated using vitamins, minerals, and Viviscal’s exclusive AminoMar® complex. Viviscal hair supplements are designed to reduce hair thinning, nourish each hair follicle, and extend the growth phase of the hair cycle. 

The Viviscal product range includes:

• Viviscal: For women experiencing hair thinning, slow hair growth, or hair damage.
• Viviscal Man: For men experiencing thinning or slow growth of hair
• Viviscal Professional: A higher dosage supplement for men and women experiencing thinning hair or slow hair growth. 

Viviscal also produces topical hair growth products, including a shampoo, conditioner, scrub, and hair serum for promoting hair growth. These are 100% drug-free and made with natural ingredients. 

How Does Viviscal Help Hair Growth?

Viviscal focuses on nourishing hair follicles, supporting scalp health, and creating an optimal environment for hair growth. 

The vitamins and minerals in the Viviscal range of hair supplements provide a steady supply of nutrients for healthy hair. 

Viviscal Ingredients

Although not 100% natural, each Viviscal hair growth pill contains mostly natural ingredients that reduce hair thinning, promote existing hair growth, and boost the volume of your hair. The key ingredients include:

AminoMar® complex: A unique formulation exclusive to Viviscal, containing a blend of fatty acids and marine collagen proteins from shark cartilage and oyster extract powder. This has been clinically proven to boost hair volume and support healthy hair growth.

Horsetail extract: Stabilizes the levels of calcium and magnesium in the body, which balances hormones. It also improves hair elasticity and reduces scalp inflammation.

Niacin (Vitamin B3): This vitamin supports blood circulation, which helps deliver more nutrients to your hair follicles, stimulating hair growth and improving hair’s fullness. 

Biotin (Vitamin B7): Increases keratin production, which boosts your hair’s shine and volume and supports hair growth. 

Vitamin C: This vitamin has anti inflammatory properties that support a healthy scalp, strengthens hair and enhances shine. It also makes it easier for your body to absorb iron.

Iron: Boosts red blood cells and blood flow to the scalp, which nourishes hair follicles and boosts hair growth. It also helps reverse hair shedding in people with iron deficiency anemia.

Viviscal Man also contains zinc to strengthen hair follicles, increase hair growth, and reduce shedding. 

Benefits of Viviscal

The cost of Viviscal is much cheaper than Nutrafol, and you can receive discounts on bulk purchases. Subscribers also receive free gifts and naturopathic consultations.

You take fewer tablets each day compared to Nutrafol, so the bottle will last longer. 

The product range includes several hair products, including shampoos, scalp scrubs, and serums. 

The AminoMar® blend of marine collagen and nutrients is exclusive to Viviscal. It has been clinically proven to support hair growth and fullness. 

There have been many clinical studies that have proven the effectiveness of Viviscal. It has been shown to reduce shedding and increase hair thickness within 3-6 months of regular use.

The few side effects reported are mostly nausea due to the fishy smell and taste of the supplement.

Disadvantages of Viviscal

This hair growth supplement contains some artificial additives, so it isn’t suitable if you want a 100% natural supplement.

Viviscal contains biotin, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, bloating and cramping. Taking the supplement with food is the best way to reduce these unwanted side effects of Viviscal.

Viviscal doesn’t contain as wide a range of nutrients compared to Nutrafol. 

Although the men’s formula contains zinc, this vital mineral is missing from the women’s supplement. Zinc has been proven effective against hair thinning in women, so this omission is surprising.

It can take several months before you see the results. The manufacturer recommends using Viviscal for at least three months and, ideally, for six months to see the best results. If you stop taking Viviscal, the condition of your hair will return to how it was before you started taking the supplement. 

What Is Nutrafol?

Nutrafol is a range of drug-free hair supplements designed to target several causes of hair loss. 

One of Nutrafol’s significant advantages is its personalized approach to hair growth treatment. The online Hair Wellness Quiz helps you identify the causes of your thinning hair and recommends the appropriate hair supplement to suit your needs. 

The Nutrafol product range includes:

• Nutrafol Men: Suitable for men aged 18+ who are experiencing thinning hair
• Nutrafol Women: Targets the root causes of hair loss in women aged 18-44, such as stress, lifestyle, and nutrition
• Nutrafol Women’s Vegan: A version of Nutrafol Women that’s suitable for vegan diets
• Nutrafol Women’s Balance: Designed for women aged 45+ who are experiencing perimenopausal or postmenopausal hair loss
• Nutrafol Postpartum: Designed to target postpartum hair loss

You can use Nutrafol’s targeted boosters to increase hair growth further, and they also offer their subscribers access to free hair mineral analysis. This helps you learn how your overall health is impacting your tresses. 

How Does Nutrafol Help Hair Growth?

The Nutrafol range of hair growth supplements contains ingredients specifically chosen to help prolong the hair’s anagen phase (growth phase). They also delay the telogen phase, when the strand stops growing, thins, and hair naturally falls out.

Nutrafol also helps reduce oxidative stress and balances the body’s levels of hormones to give improved hair growth.

In addition, Nutrafol hair supplements contain key ingredients that will hydrate your existing hair and encourage sebum production to grow healthy hair. 

Nutrafol Ingredients

Nutrafol contains a rich blend of 100% natural ingredients clinically proven or shown to support healthy hair growth and reduce shedding. Vitally, it also contains specific nutrients that make it easier for your body to absorb these vitamins and minerals more efficiently. 

Some of Nutrafol’s key vitamins, minerals and clinically tested plant extracts include:

Ashwagandha: Also known as Indian ginseng, this medicinal herb balances cortisol levels, which can help with hair thinning.

Saw Palmetto: This anti-inflammatory is a clinically proven natural DHT blocker that can help with various types of hair loss, including female or male pattern hair loss and telogen effluvium. 

Resveratrol: Reduces oxidative stress and stimulates your hair to shift from the telogen or resting phase into the anagen or growth phase of the cycle.

Marine Collagen: Provides the hair protein keratin essential for good overall hair health. 

Curcumin: Another anti-inflammatory that can boost metabolic function, support the immune system, and improve hair growth. 

Kelp: This seaweed is packed with hair-nourishing vitamins and minerals including vitamin E, zinc, and iodine.

Horsetail Extract: This can improve your scalp’s blood circulation and contains silicon to enhance the strength and quality of your hair strands. 

Hyaluronic acid: This ingredient will moisturize your dry, itchy scalp and lock hydration into your strands to fight frizz.

Vitamin A: Supports sebum production for a healthy, moisturized scalp and hydrated strands. 

Vitamin C: This antioxidant vitamin supports hair and scalp health and enhances your hair’s shine.

Zinc: Strengthens hair follicles to prevent hair loss and can also increase hair thickness. 

Vitamin D: Supports hair follicles to stimulate hair growth.

Biotin: Boosts keratin production to improve hair growth and give your strands added shine and volume.

The Nutrafol Women’s Balance formula also contains Maca root, which supports hormone regulation during perimenopause and post-menopause.

Benefits of Nutrafol

Nutrafol has a broader nutrient profile than Viviscal. It contains many of the same ingredients as Viviscal, plus others that will help improve hair health. The Nutrafol website also features details of clinical research showing how each ingredient supports healthy hair.

Nutrafol contains 100% natural ingredients, and the company is transparent about where they source their ingredients. 

The Nutrafol range includes specific product formulations for men and women and booster supplements that target specific causes of thinning hair. 

Taking out a Nutrafol subscription will give you access to a targeted strategy to treat the root causes of thinning hair. You will receive ongoing support and personalized naturopathic recommendations. 

Discounts are available on bulk purchases, and you can sign up for auto-delivery, saving you money and ensuring you never run out of supplements. They also offer free shipping within the United States. 

Disadvantages of Nutrafol

Nutrafol is more expensive than Viviscal, and because you take four pills daily, you’ll go through a bottle quickly. However, discounts are available for larger purchases.

Nutrafol contains more biotin than Viviscal, so you may experience side effects like nausea and stomach cramps. Taking the supplement with food can help reduce these side effects.

The booster supplements can only be purchased in bundles with the Women, Women’s Balance, or Men supplements, which will increase your overall cost.

Nutrafol hair supplement is not suitable for use during pregnancy or if you are on blood thinners. It contains marine proteins, so it will not be suitable if you are allergic to shellfish or other marine proteins.

It can take a long time to see any effects from taking Nutrafol. The manufacturer recommends taking it for three to six months before deciding if it doesn’t suit your needs.

If you stop taking Nutrafol, your locks will gradually return to the condition they were in before you started taking the supplement.

Nutrafol vs Viviscal: A comparison

Here’s a summary of the main differences between Nutrafol and Viviscal to help you choose the right supplement for your needs.

Side Effects

Both Nutrafol and Viviscal are dietary supplements and don’t have many side effects. You may find that the biotin in them can make your stomach gassy or crampy, and because you take more Nutrafol tablets, this side effect can be stronger.

As with any supplement, if you experience any allergic reaction, such as itching or swelling, you should stop taking the supplement and seek emergency medical attention.

Effectiveness

Viviscal and Nutrafol have both undergone clinical testing, proving their effectiveness in improving hair growth and reducing hair shedding. 

Whichever brand you choose, you will need to take the supplement for 3-6 months to see optimal results. Nutrafol recommends taking their supplements for at least six months.

Ingredients and Formulation

Viviscal and Nutrafol are both high-quality supplements containing naturally sourced ingredients from reliable sources. If natural ingredients are a priority for you, you may prefer Nutrafol as it has 100% natural ingredients. Viviscal does contain some artificial fillers and additives.

Nutrafol is only available in pill form, while the Viviscal range also includes shampoos, conditioners, and an elixir. 

Cost and Affordability

If budget is an important factor in your decision, Viviscal is a clear winner. It costs $40 for a single purchase compared to $88 for a single purchase of Nutrafol. 

Both products offer monthly delivery options that save you money on regular purchases. 

User Feedback and Reviews

At the time of writing, Viviscal and Nutrafol both have a 4.3-star average rating on Amazon. However, Viviscal for Women has over 17,000 ratings, while Nutrafol Women has around 15,000 ratings. 

Both products have a similar proportion of 1-star ratings (7% for Viviscal, 8% for Nutrafol). So, they are very evenly matched regarding user feedback, but Viviscal has slightly more ratings. 

Viviscal vs Nutrafol: FAQs

If you’re still confused about which supplement to choose, these frequently asked questions may help:

Are Viviscal and Nutrafol Available Without a Prescription?

Both of these supplements can be bought online or from local retailers without a prescription. 

Can You Take Viviscal and Nutrafol Together for Better Results?

Viviscal and Nutrafol do not interact with each other, so you could take both supplements together. However, this would be expensive and could overload your body with nutrients, so it’s better to choose one supplement and stick with it for at least 3-6 months.

Is It Necessary To Continue Using Viviscal or Nutrafol Once I Achieve My Desired Hair Growth?

If you stop taking Nutrafol or Viviscal, your tresses will likely return to how they were before you began treatment. The stimulation from the ingredients will slow down, and you’re likely to experience a shedding phase around 1-5 months later.

Is Viviscal or Nutrafol FDA Approved?

Viviscal and Nutrafol aren’t eligible for FDA approval because they are classed as dietary supplements rather than medications. 

Does Nutrafol Affect Eyelashes?

Yes, Nutrafol can help with eyelash growth as well as improving scalp coverage.

Do Nutrafol or Viviscal Cause Weight Gain?

Although there are some anecdotal stories about people gaining or losing weight while taking Nutrafol or Viviscal, there’s no clinical evidence that either supplement causes weight gain.

Is Nutrafol or Viviscal Vegan?

Viviscal is not vegan as it includes shellfish extract. The standard Nutrafol products are not vegan, but they have a Nutrafol Vegan supplement suitable for vegan diets.

Viviscal vs Nutrafol: The Bottom Line

Viviscal and Nutrifol are two highly effective supplements that can help boost the health of your hair. They have both been clinically tested, contain natural ingredients, and have minimal side effects. 

There are several factors to consider when comparing Nutrafol vs Viviscal, including the price, ingredients, and dosage. This guide has given you all the details you’ll need to make an informed choice between them. 

While there isn’t a miracle cure for hair loss, supporting your body with good nutrition is an important step towards treating it. And with three to six months of regular use, both of these supplements can give you healthier, fuller, thicker hair with more scalp coverage.

The post Viviscal vs Nutrafol: Which Should You Use For Hair Growth appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

But whether you use a blow dryer to straighten hair, a curling wand for some different ringlets, or a flat iron, you can cause irreparable heat damage by heat styling curly hair with these tools. So the heat protection offered by a good heat protectant for curly hair makes it an essential part of your curly hair care kit.

Let’s take a look at heat protectants for curly hair, how to use them, and what benefits they can offer to keep your curly hair healthy. We’ll also share some of our favorite products and help you choose the right heat protectants for natural hair.

What Is the Best Heat Protectant for Curly Hair?

Are you wondering which heat protectant is best for your curls? Here are some of our favorite heat protectants for natural hair:

Best Heat Protectant Spray

For the most lightweight option, a spray is usually your best bet. Sometimes the application can be tricky so I spray it into my hands and then apply it through my hair with my hands.

Best Heat Protectant Serum

Serums offer a little more sealing power than sprays, so they’re usually not as lightweight as sprays. One exception is the WonderBalm.

Best Heat Protectant Cream

Cream heat protectants are great to use if your hair prefers creams in general. Creams offer more moisture than leave-ins and sprays but are a bit heavier.

What Is Heat Protectant for Curly Hair?

A heat protectant is a specialist hair product designed to protect your hair from the heat damage caused by heat styling tools. 

Many different formulations are available, so you could choose a heat protectant spray, serum, or a cream. Each of these options will create a protective barrier that shields your hair strands, reducing their exposure to heat. 

This protective shield helps you achieve your desired style without the risk of long-term damage to your curls. 

Many heat protectants for curly hair also contain lightweight hydrating ingredients like jojoba oil, argan oil, and coconut oil. These nourish your hair and add moisture, giving a healthy shine without weighing down your tresses.

Why Does Curly Hair Need Heat Protectant?

If you want to style your curls with blow dryers, hot irons, or curling tongs, using a heat protectant is one of the most important ways to care for your curls. It adds a protective layer to the outside of your hair shafts, shielding them from the harmful effects of heat exposure.

So, what happens if you don’t use a heat protectant on curly hair?

If you apply heat to your curls without any protection, you risk causing permanent heat damage to your curl pattern. That’s because the protein structure that makes your hair curl can be damaged by heat exposure, leaving your curly hair straight, limp, and lifeless.

As well as damaging your curl pattern, the heat will break down the keratin bonds that give your hair strength and elasticity. It also opens up your hair cuticles, resulting in moisture loss that leaves you with dry, frizzy hair and split ends. 

You might be able to repair some of the heat damage by using deep conditioning treatments and protein treatments. However, if the damage is severe, your only option may be to cut out the damaged hair or wait for it to grow out.

That’s why it’s so important to use a heat protectant every time you use your blow dryer or other heated styling tools.

Benefits of Using a Heat Protectant for Curly Hair

Heat protectants add a protective layer to your hair shaft, which has several benefits for curly hair:

Heat Protection

Heat protectants help to prevent heat damage by forming a protective barrier around the strands of hair. This shields hair from direct heat exposure, helping to prevent dryness, frizz, and split ends. 

Many products also offer UV protection to help prevent damage from exposure to the UV in sunlight, which is especially helpful for color treated hair.

Preserves Curl Pattern

Straightening your curls without heat protectant damages the protein structure in the hair shaft. Repeated damage will eventually cause permanent damage to the curl pattern, which you can only treat by cutting the straight parts off or letting them grow out. Protecting your hair before styling will help prevent this type of heat damage. 

Minimizes Breakage

Exposure to heat from blow drying or using hot styling tools dries out your strands, leaving you with dry, brittle hair that’s prone to breakage. Applying a heat protectant reduces the heat exposure and lubricates your strands, which makes them less likely to snap during brushing or detangling.

Makes Styling Easier

A heat protectant protects hair by wrapping the shafts in a smooth coating. Your brush or styling tools will glide over the surface of the strands, making styling easier and resulting in a sleeker, shinier finish.

Enhances Hair Health and Appearance

Using a heat protectant consistently helps to prevent damage from everyday styling and exposure to environmental stressors like sunlight. It will also help keep your curls frizz free by sealing the hair cuticle, which makes your hair less porous and less likely to react to humidity.

Boosts Moisture Retention

As well as helping to hydrate your locks, many heat protectants help lock in moisture for healthier hair that’s less prone to dryness.

Potential Side Effects of Heat Protectants

Heat protectants are generally safe to use on your hair when applied correctly. However, excessive heat exposure can damage hair health, so you should limit heat styling to once or twice a week. 

This type of product often contains silicones, as they are one of the best ingredients for heat protection and can give your hair a brilliant shine. Using silicones too often can cause buildup on your hair, making it look limp, flat, and greasy.

To avoid this, use a clarifying shampoo every few weeks to remove the product buildup.

Also, I have found that the EVOLVh WonderBalm uses a silicone alternative that provides the same protection but does not buildup on the hair. Curlsmith is also silicone free. So if buildup is an issue with your hair, I’d stick with either the WonderBalm or the Curlsmith spray.

Choosing the Best Heat Protectant for Curly Hair

Here are a few key factors that you need to consider when you’re choosing the best heat protectant for curly hair.

Specifically formulated for curly hair

Look for heat protection products that mention curly or natural hair and frizz control, as these are formulated to meet the unique needs of natural hair types.

Moisturizing and nourishing ingredients

Check the label to be sure that the product contains ingredients like coconut oil, argan oil, or pure shea butter. These will hydrate your curly hair texture and stop your locks becoming dry or brittle.

Maximum heat protection

Make sure you choose a product suitable for the temperatures you’ll be exposing your hair to, especially if you plan to use a flat iron or curling irons.

Application method

If you have thin or fine hair, a lightweight heat protectant spray will suit your hair better. On the other hand, if you have coarse or thick hair, a rich cream or serum could be better.

How to Properly Apply Heat Protectant

It’s better to apply a leave in conditioner before heat protectant to give your curls maximum hydration.

It’s essential to ensure that you cover your entire head of hair evenly, so apply your protectant to damp or dry hair, section by section. If you are using a heat protectant spray, spray it evenly over your curls from about 15cm away from your head.

Once you’ve applied the protectant, comb it through to distribute it evenly throughout your hair.

FAQs

Still need more info about heat protectant for curly hair? Take a look through these frequently asked questions:

How Often Should I Use a Heat Protectant?

You should apply a heat protectant whenever you use hot styling tools on your curls. However, it’s better not to use heat on natural hair types more often than twice per week to avoid damaging your curls.

The one exception is diffusing as this does not really cause heat damage.

Should I Use Leave-In Conditioner With Heat Protectant?

Heat draws moisture from your strands, so always use a leave in conditioner before applying heat protectant to hydrate your hair, improve manageability, and minimize breakage.

Cream typically takes the place of a leave-in conditioner so if you use a heat protectant cream, you don’t also need a leave-in.

Can I Straighten My Curls Without Using Heat Protectant?

If you’re styling natural hair with heated straightening irons, you should always use a heat protectant to protect your hair from the high temperatures. 

If you have a fine to medium wavy hair type, it may be possible to straighten your waves without heat. However, you won’t achieve the glossy straight style that heated straighteners will achieve

You could try using rollers, wrapping the hair around your head, or brushing your hair while drying it using your blow dryer’s cold setting. Your hair could take several hours to be totally dry, and you should apply hair oil afterward to keep your hair frizz free.

Can a Heat Protectant Be Used on Wet or Dry Hair?

Depending on which product you choose, you may be able to use it on either damp or dry hair. You can use your protectant on wet hair before blow drying and on dry hair before using heat styling tools like curling irons or flat irons. 

The Bottom Line

Heat exposure can damage healthy curls, which are naturally prone to dryness, frizz and breakage. So if you choose to use heat styling tools on your curls, applying a heat protectant for curly hair is essential to reduce the risk of heat damage. 

Heat protectants also nourish your tresses with ingredients like argan oil, black castor oil, or shea butter, and lock moisture into every strand. All of this helps make styling easier, so you can achieve the glossy, frizz free hair of your dreams.

Whether you choose a heat protectant spray, cream, or serum, it’s essential to choose a heat protectant specifically formulated for curly hair. This will provide your curls or coils with a protective shield from the heat of your blow dryer, curling wand, or flat iron.

And with so many excellent products to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect heat protectant for your hair type.

The post The Best Heat Protectants for Curly Hair & Their Benefits appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

Steam is a fantastic way to get moisture deep into your curls, especially if they’re dry, damaged, or low porosity. So, if you want to experience the benefits of steam on your natural hair, this guide is for you.

First, we’ll take a look at how hair steamers work and the advantages of hair steaming. We’ll also look at the different types of hair steamer and explain how to choose and use the best hair steamers.

In a rush, here are our top hair steamer recommendations:

What Is a Hair Steamer?

Basically, a hair steamer uses heat to turn distilled water into steam, allowing it to surround your tresses with moisture. 

There are various styles of hair steamers, and we’ll discuss the different kinds in detail later in this guide. Some look like the hood-shaped steamers you have seen at the salon and envelop your entire mane in steam. Others are handheld devices that look like a blow-dryer and allow you to direct steam at a specific area. 

However, it’s important to remember that hair steamers don’t work like a hair dryer and won’t dry your locks. They’re also not the same as steam straighteners, a hot styling tool that incorporates steam.

How a Hair Steamer Works

Just as a facial steamer uses steam to open up your pores, a hair steamer works in the same way by bathing your locks in the moist heat of steam. This is gentler and less damaging than the dry heat of a blow dryer or the direct heat from hot styling tools. 

The steam opens up the cuticle on your hair shafts, which allows cleansers to clear away buildup more easily and lets moisture flow into your hair. 

It also allows conditioning treatments to penetrate more deeply into the hair shaft so that your locks get maximum benefit from them.

Is Steaming Your Hair Good for Your Hair?

Everyone wants soft, shiny, healthy-looking locks, and adding moisture is one of the best ways to achieve this. Steaming is a great way to boost hydration, making it easier to style and less prone to split ends, tangles, and breakage.

Whatever your natural hair texture, steaming can help make your mane smoother and shinier. It’s especially beneficial for the tight coils of type 4 hair, which can be prone to dryness, and can even be used on damaged hair that’s been exposed to chemicals like colors and relaxers. 

Not sure of your hair type? Our natural hair type quiz can help!

Can You Steam at Home?

There are many different hair steamers that you can use at home, from handheld steamers to full salon-style hood steamers. You can even buy microwavable steam caps that will give you a quick boost of steam in between washes.

So there’s no need to go to the salon for your steam treatment unless, of course, you want to!

Benefits of Steaming for Healthier Hair

Hair steaming can have a lot of advantages for your hair health:

1. Improves Hair Hydration

Steaming hair allows moisture to penetrate into the hair shaft more easily. It’s perfect for low porosity hair, which can struggle to absorb conditioners because the cuticle lays flat against the shaft.

Using a hair steamer will open up the cuticle, allowing the shaft to absorb moisture and nutrients from any conditioner you use.

2. Deep Cleaning

Another benefit is that steaming allows you to thoroughly deep cleanse your hair. This is great for high porosity hair, which has a more open cuticle that can quickly soak up oils and creams.

3. Enhances Hair Elasticity

Hair steamers allow moisture to penetrate deep into the hair, enhancing its elasticity. This makes it easier to style your hair and reduces tangles and breakage. 

4. Deep Conditioning

Applying a deep conditioning treatment before you steam your hair will allow it to absorb the product more effectively. And that means you’ll get the maximum benefits from your deep conditioner, oil, or curl cream, leaving you with soft, hydrated tresses.  

5. Enhances Curls

The moist heat from a hair steamer is perfect for refreshing and rehydrating your curls until you next wash it. It will give your natural hair improved curl definition and encourage clumping without leaving your tresses limp or flat. 

6. Promoting Hair Growth

Steaming might not make your hair grow faster, but it does support your scalp and hair health. Applying steam can increase blood flow in your scalp and encourage the production of sebum, the natural oils that moisturize your locks. 

Better hydration stops your strands from becoming brittle and breaking or developing split ends. This supports length retention, making it easier for you to reach your hair length goals.

7. Promotes a Healthy Scalp

It’s easy for dirt, dead skin cells, and products to build up on your scalp, but using a hair steamer helps to loosen this buildup. This results in a healthier scalp, which is the basis of healthy hair.

Disadvantages of Hair Steamers

If you steam your hair correctly, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about any risks associated with steaming.

However, you shouldn’t steam too long or too often. Exposing your hair to too much heat can damage it, making it dryer and causing split ends and breakage.

Too much exposure to moisture through steaming could also lead to hygral fatigue. This is where excessive moisture reaches the inner cortex of the shafts, causing them to swell. It results in reduced elasticity, causes frizz, and leaves your hair looking dull. 

However, it’s easy to avoid these risks simply by limiting your steaming sessions to no more than 20-30 minutes once every 7-10 days.

Choosing the Best Hair Steamer

You’ll find a wide range of hair steamers available online and in stores, but how do you pick the best hair steamer to suit your needs?

Here are a few tips on how to choose from the best hair steamers:

Type of Steamer

Several types of steamer are available, and the best hair steamers often have additional features like adjustable heat controllers or auto shut-off.

You could buy a floor-standing steamer with a hard hood, similar to the ones you’ve seen in salons. These take up more room than any other hair steamer, so be sure you’ve got room to store it when it’s not in use.

Other steamers still have a hard hood but sit on a tabletop. They’re more compact than stand steamers but still take up quite a lot of room.

There are also portable options that look similar to a hair dryer but blow out steam rather than dry air. These are good if you need more focused steam for specific areas that have a different curl pattern. 

And finally, you could buy a microwavable steam cap or a hair steaming hood, which attaches to your blow-dryer and pumps steam over your hair. These are cheaper and take up only a little room.

Your Hair’s Needs

If you have low porosity hair, you’ll benefit from the full-head coverage of a hooded steamer. But if you only need to focus on a few patches of dry hair, a portable handheld steam could be perfect.

You might struggle to fit a cap steamer over long, thick curls or hair that’s in protective styles. In this case, using a handheld steamer or a steamer with a wide hard hood could be easier.

A steam cap will be enough to boost the effects of a deep condition treatment on healthy hair. But if you want to hydrate and define dry curls or help colored hair absorb treatments better, a steamer hood would be better.

Your Budget

It’s also essential to consider your budget, as this could help you pick the best hair steamer. A hair steamer cap or inflatable blow-dryer attachment will start from as little as $20, but you could spend $80 on a handheld steamer or up to $100 on a tabletop steamer. And if you’ve set your heart on a salon-style hair steamer, that could cost you $150 or more. 

The Best Hair Steamers for Curls

Ready to go shopping? Here are some of the best hair steamers on the market to choose from:

Handheld Steamers

Q-Redew Hair Steamer

This steamer looks like a regular blow dryer and is incredibly easy to use. Its finger-like prongs make it easy to work the steam into dry curls, so you can refresh and define your curls between washes. The Q-Redew Hair Steamer is ideal for natural type 4 curls needing more focused steam treatment in specific sections. 

I have this one and have used it for a long time when I first started embracing my curls and my hair was dry and damaged. It’s been a few years since I’ve touched it since my hair doesn’t need the extra hydration.

Q-Redew Handheld Hair Steamer

These are great to refresh hair in the mornings and works better than a steamy shower. It can also be used with hair masks to help them penetrate curls better.

*This steamer is often out of stock on Amazon and on their own website, so it can be hard to find, but I use and recommend this one.

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Hair Steamer Cap

Vicarko Hair Steamer Thermal Heat Cap

This hair steamer heat cap is easy to use and easily packed away afterward. Just plug the thermal heat cap in, put it on over your shower cap, and choose from High and Low heat settings. It’s light, comfortable, and heats up within one minute. However, the heat cap might not be large enough to cover long locks, braids, or twists. 

VICARKO Hair Steamer Thermal Heat Cap

$21.99

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12/17/2023 12:16 pm GMT

Free-Standing Hair Steamer

Artist Hand Professional Hair Steamer

The Artist Hand Professional Hair Steamer is one of the best hair steamers you can buy. It is a hard hood steamer with added features like adjustable heat control and auto shut-off. This is a great hair steamer if you like to steam regularly and want to get the full salon experience at home. 

Artist Hand Professional Hair Steamer

$119.99

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12/17/2023 12:21 pm GMT

Tabletop Steamer

Kingsteam Hair Steamer 2-in-1 Ozone Facial Steamer

This powerful steamer has a hard hood attachment for steaming your hair and a separate facial steamer wand attachment. The dome is large enough for long hair and produces plenty of steam, but doesn’t have a heat controller. 

Hair Steamer Kingsteam 2 in 1 Ozone Steamer

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FacialSteamer

NanoSteamer Large 3-in-1

This facial steamer can be used on your hair too. Just add water, plug it in and turn it on, and when it’s ready, you can move your hair into the stream of the steam. It gets too hot to pick it up and move it so you need to keep it on the counter. 

NanoSteamer Large 3-in-1

$39.95 ($39.95 / Count)

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12/17/2023 01:51 pm GMT

How to Steam Hair at Home

Steaming at home is easy if you follow these simple steps. Be sure not to use your steamer for longer than 20-30 minutes or more than once a week. If you start to feel any pain or burning, stop steaming immediately. 

Set up your space

You’ll probably be using your steamer for 15-20 minutes, so pick a comfortable spot. Handheld steamers can be used anywhere with a plug outlet nearby, but if you’re using a tabletop steamer, you’ll need to ensure you can position the hood high enough. 

Select your products

Gather together any conditioning products you plan to use during your steaming session. 

Time to steam

First wash your hair with your regular shampoo. Starting your steaming session with freshly washed, wet hair helps it absorb all the gorgeous nutrients and hydration from your conditioner. 

Steam your locks for five minutes to open the hair cuticle, then apply your conditioning treatment, and follow up with a full 15-minute session for fabulously soft, hydrated locks.

Rinse and finish

When your steaming session ends, rinse with cool water to help close the hair cuticles again. Follow up with hair oil from root to tip to lock in that juicy hydration.

Should You Steam Your Hair With Conditioner or Without?

You can steam dry hair without any hair product as a great way to revive your locks between wash days. Just 5 or 10 minutes under the steamer will add hydration and refresh your natural hair.

But you can also use hair products to get even more benefit from hair steaming. Some of the options to try include: 

Deep conditioners

After your shower, apply a deep condition treatment to the entire length of your wet hair before steaming. This will help the formulation penetrate each strand for intensely conditioned locks.

Curl creams

Applying your favorite curl cream to freshly washed and conditioned hair before steaming will help your strands absorb all the moisturizing ingredients. Your curly hair will retain moisture better and experience less shrinkage.

Hair oils

Steaming hair with oil is a great way to prepare your hair for shampooing after it’s been in a protective style, like braids or twists. Apply liberal amounts of oil through your curls to thoroughly saturate every strand, then sit under the steamer for 15 to 20 minutes. Shampoo as usual afterward.

Can You Use a Steamer on All Hair Textures?

Hair steaming is beneficial for every hair type and is particularly helpful for naturally curly hair. That’s because natural hair tends to be dry as the natural sebum struggles to travel all the way down the strands. Steaming replaces lost moisture in dry hair, helping to reduce the risk of breakage.

If you have low porosity curls, steaming is an excellent way to care for your curly hair. 

How Often Should Hair Be Steamed?

When you see how hair steaming improves the look and feel of your mane, you might be tempted to steam hair more frequently or spend longer under the steamer.

However, this could expose your hair to heat damage. You could even risk hygral fatigue, the damage caused when your hair shaft repeatedly expands and contracts due to excess water exposure. 

To keep your hair hydrated without risking damage, the recommendation is to steam your hair for around 20 minutes every 7 to 10 days. Healthy hair may only need to be steamed once a month as a special pampering treatment, and you should absolutely avoid steaming your hair for longer than 30 minutes. 

FAQs

If you’d like more information on using a hair steamer, here are some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic:

Is It Okay to Steam Hair Every Day?

No, using a hair steamer every day will expose your hair to excess heat and moisture, which can lead to hygral fatigue. It’s safer to apply steam no more than once every 7 to 10 days. 

How Much Does a Hair Steamer Cost?

A wide range of hair steamers is available to suit all budgets, from inflatable blow dryer attachments costing less than $30 to salon-style hair steamers costing $150 or more.

Can I Use a Hair Steamer on Chemically Treated Hair?

Hair steamers are very beneficial for hair that’s been exposed to a chemical treatment like a color or relaxer. It will help to hydrate your dry locks, leaving them looking and feeling more moisturized.

Can Using a Hair Steamer Cause Damage to My Hair?

Steaming your hair for too long or too often can damage your hair, causing it to become weak and limp. So, it’s essential to follow the guidance included in this article.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, a hair steamer is a fantastic addition to your hair care kit, and there are many different types to suit all budgets and needs.

Steam provides effective hydration and helps your locks absorb conditioners and products more deeply. Using a hair steamer for 20 minutes every week will leave your mane looking healthier, softer, and more manageable, and is an easy way to give your dry curly hair some extra TLC.

The post Hair Steamers for Curly Hair: The Ultimate guide appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

But what is a protein treatment, how can you tell if you need one, and which products should you try? And, more importantly, how can you have protein moisture balance? Read on for all the details.

In a hurry? Check out our top picks:

Top Pick	EVOLVh UltraRepair Hair Masque 4.8	$21.00 ($10.50 / Fl Oz) Shop on Amazon Buy from EVOLVh
	Hairfinity Hair Strengthening Amino Treatment Masque 4.5	$19.99 ($2.50 / Fl Oz) Shop on Amazon
Strongest!	Aphogee Two-step Treatment Protein for Damaged Hair 4.5	$25.49 ($1.59 / Fl Oz) Shop on Amazon

Top Pick

EVOLVh UltraRepair Hair Masque

4.8

$21.00 ($10.50 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

Buy from EVOLVh

Hairfinity Hair Strengthening Amino Treatment Masque

4.5

$19.99 ($2.50 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

Strongest!

Aphogee Two-step Treatment Protein for Damaged Hair

4.5

$25.49 ($1.59 / Fl Oz)

Shop on Amazon

12/17/2023 07:11 pm GMT

What is a protein treatment?

Our hair is primarily made up of the protein keratin. Keratin is what keeps it healthy, strong, and full of elasticity.

Damage to our hair from the environment, processing, and styling causes the keratin to break down.

A protein treatment is a treatment that infuses a boost of protein into your hair. It works to strengthen and repair the keratin.

Benefits of a protein treatment for hair

Protein treatments offer several benefits, especially for damaged hair. If your hair is chemically processed or has heat damage then most likely protein treatments will help improve the health of your hair.

Some benefits of a protein treatment are:

• strengthens hair
• reduces frizz
• improves curl definition
• adds volume
• smoothes the hair cuticle
• increases shine
• helps grow hair longer
• increases elasticity

How do you know if you need to do a protein treatment?

If your curls are limp, frizzy, don’t hold their curl for long, or feel too soft then it likely needs a boost of protein.

The Stretch Test

Try the stretch test to check for the elasticity of your hair.

In order to test for elasticity, take a single strand of hair between both thumbs and forefingers and stretch the hair (it may be necessary to detach a hair from the client’s head) (source).

Healthy hair will stretch roughly an extra 1/3 its length and return to its original size. Damaged hair may not return fully to its original size, whilst dry or brittle hair may break when put under tension (source).

If your hair snaps quickly, it needs moisture. If it stretches a lot, it needs more protein.

Usually, low porosity hair dislikes too much protein while high porosity likes more protein. This is not an absolute, as every person is different and the ingredients in your products will have an effect on how often you will need to do protein treatments.

If you don’t know your hair porosity, then read this post.

Now, these are some of the same reasons you would need to clarify so take that into consideration. Ideally, you should be clarifying on a regular basis so that shouldn’t be the case.

You should also check out these 11 reasons your hair is frizzy if you’re having frizz problems.

Still not sure if your hair needs protein or not? Try a rice water rinse first. Rice water is a protein mimicker and will provide similar benefits. If your hair responds well to the rinse, then it probably needs protein.

How to identify proteins in Hair products

Many products will advertise if they’re protein heavy with words like “strengthening” or “repairing”. Check the ingredients list to find proteins.

If you’re not sure what to look for, some of the most common proteins found in products will be listed as the following:

• hydrolyzed protein
• keratin
• oat flour
• soy
• collagen
• amino acids
• silk
• wheat protein

Quick tip: anything “hydrolyzed” is a protein

You could also simply use http://www.isitcg.com/ and paste the ingredients list in. It will tell you exactly which ingredients are proteins so you don’t have to figure it out.

You’ll know a product is really a protein treatment if there is at least one protein in the top 5 ingredients.

The best Protein Treatment Products For Curly Hair

If you prefer ready to purchase products then there are a few protein treatments to choose from:

EVOLVh UltraRepair Reconstructing Masque

This is my absolute favorite for my fine hair because it is lighter on the moisture, which is hard to find in protein treatments. Many times they load up on the moisturizing ingredients to combat the extra protein.

Top Pick

EVOLVh UltraRepair Hair Masque

$21.00 ($10.50 / Fl Oz)

Lightweight moisture with a good amount of protein makes this mask a great pick for finer hair that tends to get weighed down by treatments.

Use code HE15 to save on your first order with EVOLVh.

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Buy from EVOLVh

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12/17/2023 07:11 pm GMT

Curlsmith Bond Curl Rahab Salve

This is a great pick if you need a bonding treatment as well. This is extremally helpful for color treated and damaged hair.

Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve

$22.00 ($2.75 / Fl Oz)

If your hair needs a boost of protein without a lot of moisture, this is a great pre shampoo treatment. It's also a bond building treatment that strengthens and repairs hair form the inside out.

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Buy from Curlsmith

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12/17/2023 07:06 pm GMT

Ecoslay Matcha Boost

This is another favorite of mine for the lower moisture content. Just note that this product needs to be refrigerated after opening.

Matcha Boost Protein Shake

$22.40 ($2.80 / Ounce)

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12/18/2023 12:01 am GMT

Aminotouch

This is a unique product because it is just pure protein drops that you can add to any other product and apply to your hair. This makes it very customizable and easy to use.

Aminotouch Pure Protein Treatment

$18.95 ($9.29 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 12:21 am GMT

Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Mask

This is a popular intensive hair mask that repairs and conditions.

Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Mask

$8.54 ($1.07 / Ounce)

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12/18/2023 12:11 am GMT

Hairfinity Hair Strengthening Amino Treatment Masque

This is another popular protein treatment and the formulation is very nice.

Hairfinity Hair Strengthening Amino Treatment Masque

$19.99 ($2.50 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 06:21 pm GMT

Aphogee Protein Treatment

This is one I don’t like to recommend too often because it is very strong and it can be easy to overdo it and damage your hair. So this is for extreme cases. Please be careful!

Aphogee Two-step Treatment Protein for Damaged Hair

$25.49 ($1.59 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 06:01 pm GMT

DIY protein treatments for curly hair

If you’re looking for DIY protein treatments, the only option I know of that actually works is a gelatin treatment. This is not vegan which I know is a concern for some people.

You might find recipes for DIY protein hair masks made with foods like eggs and yogurt but every hair expert I’ve heard speak on this has said that the molecules in these foods are too big to penetrate the hair shaft so these don’t actually work. This is the case for rice water too.

Many people recommend a rice water rinse as a protein treatment. Rice water rinses are amazing and offer similar benefits but it’s not truly a protein treatment. Regardless, it can be used for the same reasons and give you nearly the same results. Check out my rice water rinse routine here.

I have done the gelatin treatment once before and it was actually too much protein for my hair so I prefer to do the rice water rinse. If you want to try out the gelatin, check out this post.

Other Protein Products

You could also incorporate protein into your daily routine by using products with some protein in them. Then, you may not need to do protein treatments at all. I actually recommend this.

There is some experimenting with this though. Some hair loves protein in cleansers and conditioners but not in styling products (like mine!), and others prefer the opposite. You’ll have to find out what your hair likes.

So check your current products and see if they have protein. Think about how your hair does when you switch to products with more or less protein in them.

I recommend you keep a record when you’re testing out new products, tweaking your routine, or trying to figure out how certain ingredients affect your hair. This curl tracker is a great, easy way to keep track of this.

Here are some popular curly girl products with protein in them:

• Briogeo Curl Charisma leave-in – the whole Curl Charisma line has protein but I really love the leave-in
• Curls Blueberry Bliss leave-in
• Bounce Curl – everything has protein
• TreLuxe Hi! Definition Gel
• Mop Top Curly Hair Custard
• Mop Top Bamboo Essence leave-in conditioner
• Mop Top Daily Conditioner
• Mop Top Light Conditioner

Protein Overload

One thing you need to look out for is protein overload. This is the result of not getting enough moisture into your hair and can cause chemical damage to your hair. This is why I don’t recommend straight protein treatments be used regularly.

Signs of protein overload include:

• Hair snaps off when you do the hair strand test
• Unusually dry/lifeless and brittle
• Less natural shine/luster than it used to have
• Heavy shedding and tangles
• Feels very straw like and stiff

If this happens you want to reduce the use of protein in your routine. Remove as much protein as you can and add in lots of moisture.

It can take weeks to overcome this so be diligent and patient.

What about OLAPLEX?

OLAPLEX 3 is a great product for color treated hair but it is not a protein treatment, it is a bond builder. It reduces breakage and visibly strengthens hair and it can be used along with protein treatments.

Olaplex No. 3

$60.00 ($7.06 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 03:26 pm GMT

Protein Moisture Balance

Protein moisture balance seems tricky and I see questions every day from others wondering if their hair needs protein or moisture.

Don’t complicate this. Your hair needs both. Just keep a balanced routine and you shouldn’t have to worry about this.

Ensure your line of products is moisturizing and provides some protein, but not too much protein. Check the ingredients on all your products and make sure there is at least one protein in a few of your products.

I usually advise against using straight up protein like the drops or Aphogee because they’re so strong. It’s safer to cut down on moisture and add products with more protein in them if you want more protein.

Likewise, if your hair is in protein overload, cut back on the protein heavy products and add in more moisture.

Maintain a balanced routine and keep track of your treatments to keep the balance. Again, you can use the curl tracker to build and maintain a balanced routine.

The first step anytime you’re not sure what’s going on with your hair and you don’t know what it needs is to clarify.

After clarifying, check the chart above to see if your hair needs more protein or moisture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of protein treatments for curly hair?

Protein treatments can help strengthen your curls and improve their overall health. These treatments work by filling in gaps in the hair cuticle, which can result from chemical processes, heat damage, or general wear and tear. By repairing these gaps, protein treatments can prevent further damage, reduce breakage, and improve the elasticity and shine of your hair (source).

How often should I apply protein treatments to my curly hair?

The frequency of protein treatments varies depending on your hair type and the product you’re using; however, a general guideline would be once or twice a month. It is essential not to overuse protein treatments, as too much protein can make your hair brittle (source).

Can homemade protein treatments work for high porosity hair?

No, homemade protein treatments are not effective for high porosity hair. This is because food ingredients typically used in DIY recipes contain proteins that are too large to be absorbed by the cuticle (source).

How do I decide between protein and moisture treatments for frizzy curls?

It can be helpful to examine the signs that your hair is exhibiting. If your hair is dry, dull, and frizzy, it may benefit from a moisture treatment. On the other hand, if your hair is weak, breaks easily, or lacks elasticity, it could benefit from a protein treatment. Pay attention to how your hair reacts to the treatments and adjust accordingly.

But also remember that protein helps your hair hold onto moisture, which is why we need both.

What are the signs that my curly hair needs a protein treatment?

Signs that your curly hair may need a protein treatment include breakage, excessive shedding, a lack of elasticity, and a rough texture. If your hair feels weak or limp, it’s possible that a protein treatment could help restore its strength and resilience (source).

Want to remember this? Save Protein Treatments For Hair – A Guide To Protein & Curly Hair to your favorite Pinterest board!

The post The Best Protein Treatments For Curly Hair appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

It can get confusing with all the curly hair lingo and endless products you’re ‘supposed’ to use, so I’m sharing my basic framework on the order of curly hair products to help you keep it simple. This is a starting point that you can tweak as needed for your hair type and needs.

Order of Hair Products For Curly Hair

The basic order of hair products for all hair types is to go from lightest to heaviest, or from more moisturizing to the highest level of hold. This is true regardless of hair type, but wavy and curly hair usually require more moisture and hold than other types, so we end up using more products most of the time.

Here is the basic order to apply your hair products:

1. Cleanser
2. Conditioner
3. Leave-in Conditioner/Cream
4. Mousse/Foam/Serum
5. Gel/Custard/Jelly

If you need more help in choosing specific products based on your hair type, check out my product finder, the Curly Product Handbook.

This guide will show you how to identify your hair type and characteristics, provide some styling tips, and list exact products that will work on your hair type. Click here for more info.

Read more: How To Choose The Right Curly Hair Products

Cleanser

The first product is your cleanser. This can be a cowash, low poo shampoo, or a clarifying shampoo. You only need one, but you can repeat this step if you feel the first time didn’t get your hair and scalp clean enough.

Wondering which cleanser is right for your hair? Make sure you take the Curly Hair Type Quiz to determine your needs.

Then check out these resources:

• 10 Best Curly Girl Approved Shampoos
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• 7 Best Clarifying Shampoos
• Curly Product Handbook

Conditioner

You can use a regular conditioner or deep conditioner for this step, but not both. Conditioning products soften the hair, help with detangling, add moisture for definition, and provide nutrients to the hair to help strengthen it.

Hair masks are also sometimes considered deep conditioners. Read the label to see how a product should be used so you can tell if it’s a conditioner or not.

Many deep conditioners target either moisture or repair. Be sure to follow the directions on the label so you don’t overdo it.

Once you know your hair type and its needs, use the resources below to help you find the right conditioners:

• 10 Best CGM Conditioners
• How To Squish to Condish For Your Best Curls
• 10 Best Deep Conditioners for Curly Hair
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• Curly Product Handbook

Leave-in Conditioner/Curl Cream

After your conditioner, you would apply a leave-in conditioner or curl cream. These products help lock in moisture and prepare your hair for styling.

A leave-in conditioner is lighter and works on all curl types, while a curl cream is heavier and best suited for curls that need extra moisture and definition.

If your hair is really, really dry then you can use both a leave-in conditioner and a curl cream.

Once you know your hair type and its needs, use the resources below to help you find the right leave-in products:

• 10 Best Leave In Conditioners for Curls
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• Curly Product Handbook

Mousse/Foam/Serum

The next products would be either a mousse, a foam, or a serum. These products help to define and enhance curls, and sometimes add volume. Curl activators are often serums and would be applied at this point, but some activators double as gel or cream.

All of these products are optional and you can totally skip using these altogether and just use a gel. You only need one but can use more if you want.

Once you know your hair type and its needs, use the resources below to help you find the right mousse, foam, or serum products:

• The Best Curl Activators For All Curl Types
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• Curly Product Handbook

Gel/Custard/Jelly

These will provide hold and definition for a lasting style. Gels lock in the moisture you added with the previous products. Gels are key to having a style that lasts more than a day. And you can still have soft curls even when using gel – you just have to know how to use it the right way. Scrunch out the crunch is your friend here.

Again, you only need one but some people like to use more than one. If you struggle with definition and have really thick hair, go ahead and use a good amount or layer two gels if you want.

Once you know your hair type and its needs, use the resources below to help you find the right gel products:

• 10 Best Curly Girl Approved Gels
• DIY Flaxseed Gel Recipe & Tutorial
• 60+ Affordable Curly Girl Products
• Curly Product Handbook

Conclusion

Hopefully, this post has helped you with knowing how to layer products on curly hair so you can plan out your wash day and simplify your routine. Below are some more resources that may be helpful for you:

• The Curly Girl Method For Wavy And Curly Hair Beginners
• The Curly Girl Method: How It Turned My Damaged Waves To Beautiful Curls
• Curly Girl Method Routine – Curly Hair Routine For 2B 2C 3A Hair
• Drugstore Curly Girl Products List
• The Ultimate Curly Girl Method Glossary – Curly Hair Terms Explained
• How To Repair Damaged Curly Hair
• 11 Surprising Reasons You Have Frizzy Curls And What To Do About It

If you want help with embracing your naturally wavy or curly hair, you can join my FREE email course and download my FREE pdf guide, THE QUICK START GUIDE TO MASTERING YOUR CURLS, full of everything you need to know to get started and bring out your beautiful waves and curls.

The post How To Layer Products On Curly Hair appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

Finding affordable that actually work for most hair types almost seems like a unicorn, but lately, more brands are coming out with products that cater to all hair types. Lucky for you, I’ve rounded up over 50 affordable curly girl products!

Buy Products For Your Hair Type

Before you start shopping for hair products, it’s helpful to know your hair type. Choosing the right products is based on the characteristics of your hair, and not your curl pattern. Not all curly hair products work on all curly hair. I learned that the hard way.

If you don’t already know your texture, density, and porosity, take the quiz below. You’ll also get product and styling tips based on your hair type.

How to tell if hair products are curly girl approved

If you have my getting started guide, you already know this. But you can also do it the easy way.

Check if products are curly girl approved by using the site isitcg.com. You just search for the product or paste the ingredients in and it will tell you if it’s CG approved or not.

Curly Girl Approved Shampoo

Top Pick

Giovanni Cosmetics Eco Chic Smooth as Silk Shampoo

$9.54 ($1.12 / Fl Oz)

This is our top pick for a budget-friendly shampoo because it cleans well, is gentle, and has great ingredients.

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12/18/2023 01:06 am GMT

1. Acure Mega Moisture shampoo
2. Acure Lemongrass shampoo (this shampoo is not clarifying even though it says it is on the label)
3. Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat shampoo (also not clarifying but it’s not very moisturizing)
4. Desert Essence Organic Pure Shampoo Fragrance Free
5. SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
6. Desert Essence Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner Bundle
7. As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
8. Inahsi Soothing Mint Sulfate Free Gentle Cleansing Shampoo
9. Giovanni Smooth As Silk Shampoo
10. Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Shampoo

Curly Girl Approved Clarifying Shampoo

*Note: to be clarifying a shampoo must have the ingredient olefin sulfonate

Top Pick

TWIST Hit Reset Light Clarifying Shampoo

$9.49 ($0.73 / Fl Oz)

The TWIST Hit Reset Light Clarifying Shampoo is not too strong but strong enough to remove buildup without stripping your hair.

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12/18/2023 02:06 am GMT

1. Kinky Curly Come Clean clarifying shampoo
2. Mop Top Gentle shampoo
3. Mop Top Detox clarifying shampoo
4. Inahsi Naturals clarifying shampoo
5. Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo
6. Cantu Cleansing Cream Shampoo
7. TWIST Hit Reset Light Clarifying Shampoo

Curly Girl Approved Conditioner

Top Pick

TWIST Gimme It All 4-in-1 Hydrating Conditioner

$9.99 ($0.62 / Ounce)

This TWIST conditioner is a great balance of what our curls need for softness and minimal frizz at a low price.

*Note on the ingredient isohexadecane: Many sites say this is not an approved ingredient. However, this will completely wash out even with only cowash so it is indeed safe.

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12/17/2023 09:06 pm GMT

1. Desert Essence Fragrance Free Conditioner
2. Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat conditioner
3. Desert Essence Conditioner Coconut
4. Nature’s Gate Tea Tree Calming Conditioner
5. SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner
6. Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner
7. Mop Top Daily Conditioner
8. Mop Top Light Conditioner
9. Everyone Volume Conditioner
10. Alaffia Everyday Shea conditioner
11. Andalou Naturals Brilliant Shine conditioner
12. TWIST Gimme-It-All Conditioner
13. Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Conditioner

Curly Girl Approved Leave-in Conditioner

Top Pick

Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner

$14.77 ($1.85 / Ounce)

KCKT is a cult favorite because of its great slip for detangling and softening, while not being heavy.

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12/17/2023 08:46 pm GMT

1. Giovanni Direct Leave-in conditioner
2. Kinky Curly Knot Today leave-in conditioner
3. Andalou Naturals Argan Oil leave-in conditioner
4. Curls Blueberry Bliss leave-in conditioner
5. Mop Top Bamboo Essence leave-in conditioner
6. Cantu Natural leave-in conditioning cream

Curly Girl Approved Deep Conditioner

Top Pick

Garnier Fructis Smoothing Treat 1 Minute Hair Mask with Avocado Extract

$14.50 ($4.26 / Fl Oz)

The Garnier Avocado Mask is a steal for its value. You can't beat the effectiveness at this price point!

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12/17/2023 08:51 pm GMT

1. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
2. Andalou Naturals Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
3. Pacifica Pineapple Hydrate Mask
4. Garnier Fructis Avocado mask
5. Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner
6. Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask

Curly Girl Approved Styling Products

Top Pick

Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Styling Gel, 6.8 Ounces

$4.73 ($0.70 / Fl Oz)

This Garnier Furctis gel will give you definition, hold, reduce frizz, and last for days at a great price.

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12/17/2023 08:56 pm GMT

1. Giovanni L.A. Natural gel
2. Giovanni Natural Mousse
3. As I Am Smoothing Gel
4. Garnier Fructis Style Pure Clean Styling Gel
5. Garnier Fructis Style Curl Treat Shaping Jelly
6. SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
7. SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Frizz-Free Curl Mousse
8. Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk
9. SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Souffle
10. Kinky Curly Curl Custard Gel
11. Mill Creek Styling Gel
12. Mop Top Curly Hair Custard
13. Cantu Shea Butter Hair Curling Custard
14. Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Hydrating Curl Smoothie
15. Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Scrunching Jelly

Curly Girl Method Accessories

I’ll only mention a few of the accessories I use on a regular basis to help keep my curls looking good and last between washes. None of these are necessary but they help.

• Hair buff
• hairdryer and this diffuser attachment (yes it fits the dryer)
• silk pillowcase
• satin pillowcase
• Invisibobble
• root clips
• hair towel use code HOLISTICENCHILADA to save 15%

Product Matching Guide

You should also check out my product matching guide, The Curly Product Handbook, to help you choose the right products for your hair type. There are so many things to consider when choosing products and this guide will help you narrow down what you need to look for.

This product guide will help you identify your hair type and characteristics, provide some styling tips, and list exact products that will work on your hair type. Click here for more info.

A Note on Affordable Curly Girl Products & Ingredients

While I absolutely love EVOLVh, I know it seems pricey to some. This stuff lasts me an entire year and therefore is actually cheaper than budget brands, but I know the upfront cost is a barrier to some.

So here I list some more affordable curl girl friendly brands and products you can try. These are all cleaner as some do have fragrance or a questionable ingredient.

If you are picky about using clean ingredients then make sure you read the ingredients label before purchasing any of these. They are all curly girl method approved products so you only need to look for ingredients you’re avoiding for other reasons.

With some of these, like Shea Moisture, they can cause buildup over time so you would need to clarify regularly (once a month). Also, ensure you’re deep conditioning 1-4 times a month.

For more info on the curly girl method, check out my basic guide for both wavy and curly hair, or join my course Fabulous Curls Academy.

If there are other products you know of let me know so I can add them to the list. This list is specifically for nontoxic curly girl products so that is why I have left out some of the other popular brands and products.

Check out my Favorite Products for Fine Curly Hair if you have hair like mine and want to see what’s working for me. You should also know your hair porosity to figure out which products will work best. Check out my Guide to Hair Porosity to figure that out and get more tips.

Click here for tips on product application and methods.

If you want help with embracing your naturally wavy or curly hair, you can join my FREE email course and download my FREE pdf guide, THE QUICK START GUIDE TO MASTERING YOUR CURLS, full of everything you need to know to get started and bring out your beautiful waves and curls.

Want to remember this? Save Affordable & Clean Curly Girl Method Approved Products to your favorite Pinterest board!

The post 60 Affordable Curly Girl Method Approved Products 2023 appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

*A note on their rebranding: the packaging has changed to squeeze tubes instead of jars.

Disclaimer: All three products were gifted to me but of course, I’m sharing my honest opinion about them.

Miribel Naturals Creamy Hair Cleanser

Right away I want you to know that I am not a fan of cowashes. I think they do a poor job of cleansing the scalp and lead to lots of buildup. They are the reason so many curly girls struggle so I don’t recommend them often.

But this cowash is different. This one does actually clean the scalp. It leaves my hair feeling so light and clean, even though it doesn’t lather!

This cowash has jojoba beads to exfoliate (love that!), apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil to soothe the scalp, and is lightly moisturizing. It’s not loaded with a bunch of butters and oils so it doesn’t build up over time as most cowashes do.

I like to use this in between regular washes, when I need to wash soon after using shampoo, on days I work out and sweat a little too much, or if my hair is feeling dry and I don’t want to use regular shampoo.

I do find that I need quite a bit of product to cover all of my scalp and feel clean. That’s the one negative to this product. But otherwise, I love this cowash!

To use it, you wet your hair thoroughly. Scoop out some hair cleanser and scrub your scalp for 5 minutes. Then rinse out and follow with leave in or stylers.

Miribel Naturals Creamy Hair Cleanser

$32.00 ($4.00 / Ounce)

Code HOLISTICENCHILADA saves you 10% at miribelnaturals.com

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12/17/2023 06:26 am GMT

Miribel Naturals Protein Leave In

The Protein Leave-In is a conditioner that can be used as a rinse out conditioner or a leave-in conditioner. It has 2 proteins, hydrolyzed rice protein and hydrolyzed wheat protein, and a few conditioning ingredients so it’s not heavy. It’s a creamy consistency- not too thin or thick.

My favorite thing about this leave-in is the slip I get. It’s great for detangling and softening the hair. Since I don’t use leave-in, I use this as a rinse out or to refresh the next day if my ends are dry (very watered down of course).

Like the other products, it has a light scent. I also find it to be pretty lightweight for a conditioner, which is rare. So as a rinse out, this is a great option for those of use with easily over conditioned hair.

Miribel Naturals Powerhouse Protein Cream

$34.00 ($4.25 / Ounce)

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12/17/2023 05:16 pm GMT

Miribel Naturals Flaxseed Gel

Flaxseed gel is pretty amazing and I always recommend it to everyone. It defines, softens, adds shine, provides hold, moisturizes, and leaves curls bouncy. It works on pretty much all curl types which is why it’s so popular.

The My Soigne flaxseed gel contains more than just flaxseeds and water. It has a preservative so you can keep it on the bathroom shelf for up to 1 year. It also has aloe, polyquat-10, and lavender essential oil.

It’s a great formulation, but it’s too moisturizing for my hair. Although post wash my curls are defined, soft, and bouncy, they are too soft so they don’t hold up over time. If I layer a hard hold gel like Giovanni over it, it works better as the Giovanni gel can be a bit drying so it balances my hair. But as a standalone product, this wasn’t enough for me.

I do think though that for most people this would be enough. It provides a medium hold that’s flexible and creates a light cast that’s easy to remove. In helping other curl friends over the last few years I know most need more moisture than I do so I believe this gel would work well for most.

To use this gel, apply to wet hair after conditioning or leave in/cream. Rake through and scrunch. The wetter your hair is, the easier it is to distribute. You can use a brush to get it through as well. This provides good slip so tangles while styling should not be an issue.

Miribel Naturals Medium Hold Flaxseed Gel

$29.99 ($3.75 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 08:06 am GMT

Miribel Naturals 3 Product Routine

Below is my full routine using only these 3 products! I love simple and quick and these 3 products are really all you need.

Final Thoughts on Miribel Naturals Products

Overall, these products are great. They are very good quality, water-soluble, and do what they’re supposed to.

I can recommend these products to all curl types that don’t struggle with over-conditioning issues as my hair does.

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The post Miribel Naturals (My Soigne) Review For Fine curls appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.

Clarifying is an important step to include in your hair care regimen to have a healthy scalp that produces healthy hair. The right shampoo for your curly hair needs is key, as curls have different needs than other hair types.

Read on to find the best clarifying shampoos for curly hair!

Top Pick

Malibu C Un-Do-Goo Clarifying Shampoo

$17.00 ($1.89 / Fl Oz)

This is my top pick for clarifying all hair types. It removes buildup the best and is still gentle on curly hair.

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12/17/2023 02:01 am GMT

Clarifying Shampoo For Curly hair

Clarifying shampoos often contain a mix of cleansing agents, sulfate, or olefin sulfonate. Some are milder than others, and some are more suited for product buildup removal than others.

If you are following the curly girl method and are looking for curly girl approved clarifying shampoos (sulfate-free options), you’ll need to find options with multiple cleansers in the ingredients or olefin sulfonate, which is the strongest. Most of the options below are curly girl approved but some do have sulfates.

Read more about how to clarify curly hair to learn what to look for and how to know when you need to clarify your curls.

1. Malibu C Un-Do-Goo – Best clarifying shampoo all around

This sulfate-free clarifying shampoo is the industry standard. All curl specialists seem to recommend this one since it does such a good job at removing buildup without stripping the hair.

It has olefin sulfonate which is a stronger cleanser and a couple of moisturizing ingredients to help balance the hair. Plus, it smells so nice thanks to the orange and vanilla notes.

Top Pick

Malibu C Un-Do-Goo Clarifying Shampoo

$17.00 ($1.89 / Fl Oz)

This is my top pick for clarifying all hair types. It removes buildup the best and is still gentle on curly hair.

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12/17/2023 02:01 am GMT

2. Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Shampoo – Best For problematic scalp

If you suffer from dry or itchy scalp, give this clarifying shampoo a try. It contains olefin sulfonate to clarify, and an herbal infusion that soothes and moisturizes the scalp.

This shampoo has clean ingredients and is curly girl approved. You might need to use it twice if you notice it doesn’t lather much the first time. Be sure hair is thoroughly wet before applying.

MGA Scalp Rescue Shampoo

$23.70 ($2.69 / Fl Oz)

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12/16/2023 11:21 pm GMT

3. TWIST Hit Reset Light Clarifying Shampoo – Best for dry curls

This is a gentle clarifying shampoo that works for all hair types but is probably the best option on this list if your hair tends to get dry from shampoo. I can actually use this one on a daily basis as my regular shampoo.

It has a mix of gentle surfactants to cleanse the scalp and hair. It has added moisturizers to help balance the cleansing effects and provide some slip. It does have fragrance, which smells like cologne to me, so that’s the one negative to this product. However, the scent is not too strong.

Top Pick

TWIST Hit Reset Light Clarifying Shampoo

$9.49 ($0.73 / Fl Oz)

The TWIST Hit Reset Light Clarifying Shampoo is not too strong but strong enough to remove buildup without stripping your hair.

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12/18/2023 02:06 am GMT

4. Suave Daily Clarifying – Best affordable option

This is a very strong option since it has a sulfate, but it’s pH balanced so it won’t damage your hair. It does what it’s supposed to and you can’t beat the price. It’s also not the cleanest of options – with ingredients like synthetic colors and fragrance, but it’s still better than most other affordable options and a good choice if you’re on a tight budget.

Be sure to use a good conditioner or even deep conditioner after this one since it can be drying. Some also do well with a pre-poo treatment before a strong clarifying wash.

Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo

$7.92 ($0.35 / Fl Oz)

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12/17/2023 06:46 pm GMT

5. MopTop Detox Shampoo – Best Dupe for Un-Do-Goo

MopTop is one of my favorite brands because of the quality of their products, price point, and results. And this clarifying shampoo is one I always have on hand.

This water-soluble clarifying shampoo is a bit stronger than the Miche Beauty Detox shampoo but still leaves hair soft. I love the natural citrus scent and how effective it is, most like the Un-Do-Goo but more affordable.

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MopTop Detox Shampoo

$17.99 ($2.25 / Fl Oz)

A light clarifying shampoo for all hair types.

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12/18/2023 03:56 am GMT

6. Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo – Best chelating clarifying shampoo

If you have hard water, then you need a chelating shampoo that removes mineral buildup. This sulfate-free clarifying shampoo removes product and mineral buildup and is usually stylists’ top pick for those dealing with hard water.

But first, curl specialist Cain recommends using the Malibu C Hard Water Remedy Packet to remove all the hard water buildup. Then you maintain it with the Hard Water Wellness Shampoo on a monthly basis.

Malibu C Hard Water Wellness Shampoo

$17.00 ($1.89 / Fl Oz)

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12/18/2023 01:26 am GMT

7. Vida Bars Clarity Shampoo Bar – Best low waste option

If you want a low waste option, this clarifying shampoo bar will not disappoint. I always take these bars when I travel as my only shampoo and conditioner.

This curly girl approved clarifying shampoo bar contains olefin sulfonate along with kaolin clay, peppermint essential oil to soothe the scalp, and cetearyl alcohol to moisturize hair.

Clarity Shampoo – The Vida Bars

$16.00

My favorite shampoo bar which also happens to be clarifying.

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Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a clarifying shampoo to revive your curls, then give one of these shampoos a try. You’ll have those bouncy, shiny curls back after a wash or two with the right clarifying shampoo.

Please do me a favor and share this post to social media, as it helps me grow my audience and spread the word about our curly hair movement! And remember to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more curly hair tips and product recommendations. Thanks!

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The post 7 Best Clarifying Shampoos for Curly Hair appeared first on The Holistic Enchilada.