I have two words for you my friend: melting gel. Despite the name, it is not, I assure you, intended for bedroom use. L’Oreal, you cheap bastards, discontinued my favorite anti-frizz gel a while back. But you’ve made it back into my good graces with your latest light headed "non-hardening" gel… Strong Hold Without Stiffness. You define and separate my curls without leaving me in flakes and crunch (ooh, now I want a sushi tempura roll). I’m just payin’ it forward to all my curl girl friends because when a cheap but effective hair product is discovered, it’s no time for hushed secrets. Now, my glossy locks and I are off to pack for Napa and SF.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Oh man, I remember when I lived to find the right product like that. Now I just straighten, which takes time but ends up being easier
Have a great trip!
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July 14th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Thank you. I've been looking for a new curly-hair gel.
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July 14th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
The evil L'Oreal also discontinued my fave product when they bought Kiehl's. And had sworn they would not do such a thing!
They must be stopped – but, first, I think I'll try the gel.
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July 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Merci. I've been using Aveda's Go Curly for years now but I think Manhattan is being especially humid this summer. Will check it out.
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July 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Good find. I'd been using their "aqua-gel", then they changed all their packaging and it took me a while to realize they hadn't discontinued the gel, just changed the name. I like it, it's not crunchy, but it doesn't have much staying power. By the end of the day my curls look like I just ran a brush through them. I'll have to give this a shot.
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July 14th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
…it's called "liqui-gel" instead of "aqua-gel" now. It's a thinner consistency than most gels – reminded me of the product you used to talk about on here.
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July 14th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Ahh, that anti frizz gel was such a love of mine…as was Aussie Curing Muddy. Both discontinued, the bastards.
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July 14th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Does it put back all the moisture that the Austin sky sucks from your hair? If so, I must try it. Please tell the San Francisco fog that I miss it so.
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July 14th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Another cheap, awesome gel for curly girls is LA Looks, the yellow one. I stress the yellow one because all of the other colors get flakey. I believe its #8?
I tried Melting Gel by accident and loved it as well.
Good call and have a great trip!
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July 14th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Thanks for the tip! I'm used to throwing my ringlets into a banana clip but someone told me they've been out of style for a while now. *sigh* I just parted ways with my scrunchie….
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July 14th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
As one who has recently decided to embrace the curls rather than forcing them straight, I've got to reccommend "Smooth Infusion" by Aveda. It's one of the best frizz-stopper, humidity-blocking products out there. A bit pricey, but worth every penny! Also – helps stop my hair from curling up again in humidity when I do straighten it. I'm a believer!
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July 14th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Thanks for the info. Have you ever tried L'Oreal Springing Curls (mousse)? I've been using it for years… love it. Also Biolage mousse, bumble & bumble curl conscious creme, KMS, etc, etc, etc… anything that promises 'silky, bouncy curls' in the product name. This curly head just got 11 inches of hair cut off, donated it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. WOW… surprisingly, I don't miss it. Well, not that much anyway, I actually like my curls better now. Now I'll have to go add your recommendation to my curly-hair stash.
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July 14th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Have you ever tried the Frederic Fekkai Luscious Curls products? The styling lotion is really nice…great hold but soft curls at the same time. Again, expensive but worth it for a nice head of curly locks. Have a great time in CA…here's hoping you'll take lots of pictures to post.
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July 14th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Bless YOU!!!!
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July 14th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
That L'Oreal anti-friz gel was your favorite, too? I am mostly still raging pissed about it. Thanks for the recommendation. The closest I've come to that discontinued L'Oreal gel (have erased the name from my brain during the grieving process) is Herbal Essences Totally Twisted. But it is really too crunchy and wet.
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July 14th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I've always been on the lookout for curly hair stuff….always spend too much money…so i decided to try the Hairapy products cuz they're cheap and I was pleasantly surprised.
They have a curl cream in a see-through bottle that has two twirling products inside. also leaves hair soft and best of all no alcohol. I don't use gel anymore because it damages hair, unless maybe this gel has no alcohol.
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July 14th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Thank you for posting this info. I have yet to find something for my curls that actually works. I have tried Aveda and now i'm using Redkin..which isn't all that bad but it's not the best. I'll definitely go out and try this. I'm sick of straightening my hair.
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July 14th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
For my curly hair, I love ISO Bouncy Creme and Marc Anthony's Curl Defining Lotion. Both leave my curls looking defined by not crunchy, and with tons of bounce. Better yet, the Marc Anthony stuff smells like lemon meringue pie–good enough to eat.
Here are links to both:
ISO Bouncy Creme http://www.amazon.com/ISO-Bouncy-Creme-8-5oz/dp/B0002Z8MLC
Marc Anthony Curl Defining Lotion
http://www.marcanthony.com/insite.html
Hooray for curly girls!
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July 15th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Good stuff! And a shout-out to the wavy-haired girls–I had been using Jonathon Product Dirt for a couple years. I stopped getting an employee discount on it and I thought…what can I get for not as much money? I ripped through Sephora, drug stores, and friends medicine cabinets and finally found my new love – Garnier's Surf Hair. It's the first texturing paste that doesn't make my hair sticky in a Something About Mary way if I use too much. http://www.americarx.com/Products/8396.html?source=googleps
Also the SunSilk waves of envy and captivating curls sprays and cremes are pretty sweet.
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July 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I use mousse in a purple bottle, Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse. I have long curly hair and it's the bombdiggity! I don't like the weight and crunch from using gel so I use mousse on the recommendation of my hair stylist.
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July 15th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
SK, what do you use before the gel (leave in conditioner-wise?)
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July 15th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I love Paul Mitchell mousse. It's not crunchy, smells great and is great for curls!
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July 16th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Does it seem, to anyone else, that every few months you have to change the product you're using. For a while I was using Redken Curl Creme and that stopped working, then I was using Aveda phomillent and loved that at first then my hair turned to straw. Then I was using fruictis etc…Why can't one product just work forever?
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July 18th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I tried it! I like it! I still hate my curly hair, though….
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July 28th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Oh my gosh… I've used this product for a couple years and I love it!
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August 1st, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I tried this stuff yesterday and love love love it! My hair looked even better when i woke up today lol. I have never used anything like this. Thanks so much Steph! You just saved my hair.
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