Nashville with Brandy and a bottle of  Tresseme Smooth Frizz-Fighting Hair Spray Gel
Know what kills me about living in Boca Raton? No, it’s not the humidity. It’s seeing the same uglyass hair on every other woman. We all know the difference between curly hair that’s been ironed and the thick enviable sheen of an Asian woman’s bouncy locks. Naturally straight hair is glossy in a way your limpy wimpy waves gone straight by route and root of Brazil or Keratin will never be. At this age [insert any age over 24], haven’t you gotten over your wolf dressed up as a sheep routine? Be who you are and own that shit already.

Notice how the curl starts close to the base of my head? That’s what you want. You don’t want straight that suddenly breaks into curl any more than you want a mullet. Also, my hair in the above front / back photos was unimaginably soft! No hardness or sticky at all.
I’ve been playing hair chef these past few weeks, trying and buying everything. Mouse, gel, spiral curling gel, spray gels, gels that promise less frizz, leave-in’s promising better sex, thick creams insisting there’s nourishment within. Here’s my verdict. Know how you might enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, but you have your go-to dazzle dish when you want to impress? Maybe you’ve mastered the perfect souffle. That’s how I feel about my hair. I have two power moves; here are my cocktails of choice:

1. Aveda Prep. I stopped a woman on the street, kind of stalked her, then asked. What, oh what, do you use? And she swore by this product. I am so so thankful. It’s slime glory. It’s wonderful. I don’t know what it does exactly, but it does it well.

2.  Kiehl’s Silk Groom. I discovered this product when I asked three different friends with long curly ropes of hair what they used. This product somehow makes the curls “group” together, like it has some magnetic effects. I can’t explain it better than that.

3. Later in the day or days to follow, to refresh curls, I’ve tried everything, every brand. I’ve found two products that work without becoming unbearably sticky:

A must: a real favorite that I use daily when my hair is still wet, just out of the Aquis Towel (and again as a really great reviving spray that doesn’t get sticky or hard) is the Ouidad Botanical Boost. Love this product! I know what you’re thinking. A spray won’t do shit for my hair. But this stuff really does.

One other product that I’ve already FINISHED: Tresseme Smooth Frizz-Fighting Hair Spray Gel. This stuff CURLS your hair (see above). Like, ridiculous. I’ve never found a product that measures its equal. It’s insane. It’s great to spray on the specific parts of your hair where you’ve lost any curl (like random ends). I usually break this out at the end of Day 2, before going out. It really does breathe life back into your hair. But, after sleeping on it for a night, you will absolutely have to shampoo the next morning. Also, I found this stuff in a drug store and ever since I haven’t been able to find it anywhere but online. Do not confuse this product with the similar looking Thermal line. Totally different.

When I feel like perfect curls and I have the time, I’ll go 100% Ouidad (it’s not even close. This stuff isn’t even in the same league as DevaCurl. Ouidad is just a superior product without the sticky hard look or feel. But… the DevaCurl Dryer & DevaFuser duo is totally on my wishlist. I’m now obsessed with ordering one.). When I do this fancier curl, here’s my formula:

1. & 2. Ouidad Clear Shampoo (but personally, I wouldn’t go out and buy any curl-specific shampoo. I just don’t think it does much. But I do love their Climate Control Defrizzing Conditioner.

2. Ouidad Botanical Boost, combed through with a wide-tooth comb. Mine has missing spokes, so I’m now buying the Double Take Comb. That’s not its name, but it should be. The Double Detangler.

4. Tress Effects. I’ve written about this product for years. I like it as much as the Climate Control Gel (which is costlier but kills frizz), and I prefer Tress Effects and Climate Control to Curl Quench, which is for super thirsty kinky curls. Tress Effects and Climate Control have a good thin slime texture, exactly what I look for in a gel. I “rake & shake” very small sections of hair after coating in Tress Effects or Climate control. I pin the tops of curls with duckbill clips, up off my scalp, so my hair doesn’t dry flat on top. Air dry or defuse without touching your hair.

5. Once hair is dry, the curls will feel a little stuck in place. Not crunchy, but stuck. They key is loosening the curls with Shine Glaze serum, used sparingly. I turn over, so the nape of my neck is facing the ceiling, and I take my hands (coated in Shine Glaze) flatten on my scalp with curls between my fingers, and shake gently. I do this everywhere, until my hair looks full and feels luxuriously soft. My curls make me deliciously happy when I do them this way. And if they look a little sad, I Botanical Boost them into shape.

Below, photos of me with the Hair Recipe footnoted.

Primary ingredient used above: Botanical Boost (curls aren’t as curly because my layers were much longer, weighing down the curl)

Tresseme Hair

Dirty Hair. That’s right. My hair Day 3, with the help of my Kick Ass Curling Iron to frame the face and manage the random stragglers.

I still use all of the products above! Especially love the stuff by Ouidad. And the duckbill clips make a difference!

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